Pakistan military chief, PM head home after Iran war diplomacy blitz

Pakistan's top civilian and military leaders have concluded extensive diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering peace in the ongoing Iran war. Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, wrapped up a crucial three-day visit to Tehran, engaging directly with Iran's highest leadership, including the president, foreign minister, and Parliament Speaker. This visit underscored Pakistan's "unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement" and promote regional stability, as stated by the Pakistani military.

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The visit showed Pakistan’s “unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement... and to promote peace, stability, and prosperity”.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also concluded his diplomatic engagements, returning from a three-country tour that included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. This tour was part of a broader initiative to push the peace process forward, following the high-level, yet ultimately inconclusive, US-Iran talks held in Islamabad the previous week. The prime minister's engagements with regional partners are seen as vital in building consensus and encouraging a peaceful resolution.

During his visit to Tehran, Field Marshal Munir stressed the importance of "dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of outstanding issues through sustained diplomatic engagements." These discussions occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with Iran having threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States persisted with its blockade of Iranian ports. This threat came shortly after Iran announced the reopening of the strategic waterway following a ceasefire in Lebanon, highlighting the volatile nature of the situation.

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In Tehran, “the Field Marshal underscored the need for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of outstanding issues through sustained diplomatic engagements”.

The coordinated diplomatic push by Pakistan's leadership comes ahead of a second round of expected US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The previous round, which involved the highest level of face-to-face contact between the two nations in decades, ended without an agreement. Pakistan's active role in mediating these critical discussions positions it as a key player in efforts to achieve peace and stability in a region fraught with conflict.

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Tehran threatened on April 17 to shut the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States continued its blockade of Iranian ports, hours after Iran announced it had reopened the strategic waterway in the wake of a ceasefire in Lebanon.