US, Iranian delegations to hold talks in Pakistan, Sharif urges respect for ceasefire

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said US and Iranian delegations will arrive in Islamabad on Friday for talks after the South Asian nation secured a ceasefire between the two warring sides.

Sharif also called for respect for the ceasefire amid reports of violations in the conflict zones.

"I thank Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump for accepting my request for the ceasefire and agreeing to hold talks," Sharif said while addressing a Cabinet session.

Islamabad has been facilitating indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.

"US and Iranian delegations will arrive in Islamabad on Friday for talks," he said, expressing hope that the upcoming talks will result in a “durable peace.”

"This is a temporary ceasefire. But Insha’Allah (God willing), this temporary ceasefire will be converted into a durable peace, and the flames of war will be extinguished permanently."

He thanked China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and other allies for their “invaluable support” in securing the ceasefire.

The government has announced public holidays in Islamabad on Thursday and Friday for security and preparations for the talks.

Tehran has confirmed its participation in the talks, but the format of the negotiations remains unclear.

However, government sources in Islamabad told Anadolu that Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan.

Sharif earlier on Wednesday announced the two-week ceasefire between the warring parties and invited delegations from the US and Iran to Islamabad on Friday “to further negotiate a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.”

Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying Tehran presented a “workable” 10-point proposal for negotiations.

The ceasefire announcement came less than two hours before the expiration of a deadline Trump had repeatedly extended for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept an agreement or face “the destruction of an entire civilization.”

Separately, Sharif said violations have been reported in some areas of the conflict zone, which “undermine the spirit of the peace process.”

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” he said on the US social media platform X.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,400 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.