A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group photo with foreign ministers and representatives of the United States, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during Iran nuclear negotiations at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, July 14, 2015. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday expressed cautious optimism that a deal could be reached between the United States and Iran, even as it acknowledged that no breakthrough had emerged from the 21-hour marathon talks held in Islamabad.
In his first official briefing after the negotiations, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized the continuity of its role as facilitator, emphasizing that although no concrete document has been finalized, the process remains firmly intact.
Tahir Andrabi described the talks as “constructive” and stressed that despite the absence of a major outcome, there was also no collapse of dialogue.
“It’s very difficult to assign a metric system to inches, meters, centimeters,” Andrabi remarked when asked to quantify progress.
“Pakistan remains positive, optimistic about reaching an agreement/understanding and we approach the process with the same positivity.”
“There certainly hasn’t been any major progress, but there hasn’t been a break either,” he said.
This high-stakes engagement, which extended well beyond 24 hours in full attendance, reflected what officials described as “intensive and in-depth negotiations,” with both delegations demonstrating endurance and commitment under demanding conditions.
“Twenty-one hours of insomnia applying your thinking to complex issues is commendable,” noted the spokesperson, saluting the resilience of both parties.
Islamabad took the opportunity to highlight its evolving diplomatic footprint, positioning itself as a credible broker capable of maintaining trust with both Washington and Tehran.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan’s role did not end with the Islamabad Round but evolved into a sustained diplomatic effort to maintain the momentum.
“Pakistan’s role as mediator and facilitator did not stop at the conclusion of the Islamabad talks. It continued,” he said.
This ongoing commitment includes high-level outreach across the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are currently visiting Tehran as part of parallel efforts to maintain direct channels.
“These initiatives should be seen as part of a continuum,” Andrabi explained, adding that Pakistan would “continue to advocate for peace, prosperity and stability” while keeping the lines of communication open between the two adversaries.
“We will not comment on the details,” the spokesperson said, reiterating that discretion remains essential. “The position of the parties involved is their trust in us. We keep that trust and we maintain confidentiality.”
He further clarified that Pakistan’s position remained “impartial with respect to individual positions but pro-peace”.
Pakistan has also sought to broaden support for its mediation efforts by keeping key partners informed. The spokesperson noted that friendly countries are regularly briefed as part of an effort to build what he described as an “open peace pact.”
While welcoming the support of global players, including Russia, Andrabi stressed that “the main channels of communication pass through Islamabad”.
