Pakistan says Iran ready to talk with US in Islamabad as mediation continues

Pakistan said on Thursday that Iranian officials are ready to travel to Islamabad for potential talks with the United States, signaling a possible diplomatic opening amid ongoing tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

Speaking at a weekly briefing, a Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan remains ready to facilitate dialogue, describing Islamabad as a secure venue for high-level engagement. The spokesperson dismissed concerns over safety and said the country maintains diplomatic channels with both Tehran and Washington.

The development follows an offer by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on March 29 to host talks between the United States and Iran, part of broader regional efforts to ease tensions and seek a negotiated outcome to the conflict.

Dar made the offer after the second round of quadrilateral consultations held in Islamabad, which brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. The meeting followed an earlier round in Riyadh on March 19, as regional powers intensified coordination amid concerns over the war’s humanitarian and economic fallout.

Participants agreed to work collectively to reduce the risk of further military escalation and to help create conditions for structured negotiations, reflecting a growing push for diplomatic solutions.

Pakistan-Afghanistan talks

Separately, Pakistan confirmed that talks with Afghanistan’s interim authorities are underway in China, focusing on cross-border security concerns. A Pakistani delegation is currently in Urumqi for discussions aimed at addressing the use of Afghan territory by militant groups targeting Pakistan.

“Our position is clear: Afghan authorities must take effective action against terrorist elements operating from their soil,” the spokesperson said, adding that dialogue remains ongoing. Pakistan also said it continues to engage China on the issue as part of broader regional efforts to stabilize the situation.

He added, however, that there has been no material change on the ground, saying the ongoing counterterrorism operation Ghazab lil Haq continues as planned and current talks do not affect operational decisions.

The Foreign Office also warned of what it described as a coordinated misinformation campaign targeting Pakistan’s diplomatic role, particularly in relation to the Iran-US situation.

The spokesperson said false reports originating from abroad were attempting to misrepresent Pakistan’s position, adding that a statement attributed to Iran’s Foreign Ministry had been inaccurately reported and later clarified by Tehran. Authorities urged media and the public to remain cautious of unverified information and misleading narratives.