West Asia conflict | Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks: Foreign Office

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said it would be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi's statement comes two days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Islamabad was "ready and honoured" to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Shehbaz's announcement came in the background of media reports about backdoor efforts by Pakistan, along with Egypt and Turkiye, to broker peace in West Asia.

"We would be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict," Andrabi said at the weekly press conference here.

He also said that the five-point initiative proposed by China and Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in West Asia was a major outcome of the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Beijing and that the initiative had been well-received "across the region and beyond."

"It is an effort towards ending war, it is an effort towards cessation of hostility, and it is an effort towards paving the way for a sustainable pathway towards finding the lasting settlement of the ongoing hostilities," Andrabi said.

The quadrilateral consultations between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt provided an opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan's cooperation and coordination with these countries.

The spokesperson also said Iran and the US expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate talks aimed at ending the war in the region.

Pakistan has "a very important relationship" with the US and remained "actively engaged" with the US leadership to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful settlement of this conflict, he said.

Andrabi said Pakistan had also condemned the attack that was carried out against the Gulf countries by Iran, and also the attack on Iran. Pakistan's position is anchored on the principles of the UN Charter to promote peace and stability in the region, he added.

He said Pakistan's efforts would continue despite complications that may arise in the facilitation process.

The US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders.

The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region. The conflict has taken a major toll on energy supply chains, especially across the Strait of Hormuz.