Pakistan has welcomed the extension of the Iran ceasefire and expressed strong hope that the ongoing diplomatic efforts in Islamabad will lead to a broader and permanent peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared the development in a post on X, stating that the ceasefire extension came after a request from Islamabad. He thanked US President Donald Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request and allowing more time for negotiations.
The prime minister said that on his personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, he sincerely appreciated President Trump for graciously agreeing to extend the ceasefire so that diplomatic efforts could continue.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts to support a negotiated settlement of the conflict and remains confident in the peace process.
He expressed hope that both sides would continue to respect the ceasefire and move towards a comprehensive peace deal during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad.
US President Donald Trump also confirmed the extension of the Iran ceasefire just hours before it was set to expire. He stated that the move was made at Pakistan’s request to give Tehran time to prepare a unified proposal and allow discussions to continue.
Trump said the ceasefire, which began two weeks ago, would remain in place until Iran submits its proposal and negotiations are completed. However, he added that US forces would remain on standby while maintaining pressure, including a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The extension comes as Islamabad prepares to host the second round of talks between Washington and Tehran. The United States has confirmed that a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will soon travel to Pakistan for the negotiations.
According to reports, the US delegation may also include Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Meanwhile, Iranian state media has stated that Tehran has not yet made a final decision regarding participation.
The first round of talks lasted nearly 21 hours but ended without an agreement due to major differences over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the Strait of Hormuz, and US sanctions.
The conflict originally began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a joint bombing campaign against Iran, leading to wider tensions across the region, including military actions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on US and Israeli positions.
Pakistan first helped broker the ceasefire on April 8 and invited both sides to Islamabad for negotiations, strengthening its role as a key diplomatic bridge in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also urged both Washington and Tehran to extend the ceasefire and give dialogue and diplomacy a chance for lasting regional peace and stability.
