Says Pakistan wishes them all the best, bringing good intentions from the entire international community
In a recent interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Shaikh highlighted the key diplomatic efforts surrounding the Pakistan-Iran dispute. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, on Saturday expressed hope for a solution, stating that Pakistan’s role as a facilitator was to bring the US and Iran together, stressing that it was now up to the parties involved to find a solution.
“As a facilitator, Pakistan’s role is to bring the conflicting parties together and allow them to decide what satisfies them or what does not. In diplomacy, we say that if both parties feel an equal degree of comfort or discomfort at the end of any negotiation, then the negotiations are successful because a way forward has been found,” he said during his appearance on NBCs Meet the press NOW.
Washington and Tehran are to begin talks aimed at ending the six-week-old Iran war that has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, disrupted energy supplies, fueled inflation and slowed the global economy.
The Iranian delegation, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Pakistan last night. Meanwhile, the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, landed in Islamabad this morning. The US delegation also included key Middle East envoys from President Donald Trump’s administration, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
During an interview, Sheikh further explained that Pakistan as a facilitator essentially brought the parties together and we were ready to offer advice if requested or required to the extent necessary.
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“But in the end, it is up to the conflicting parties themselves to find a solution. While we wish them well, we bring the good intentions of the entire international community,” he said.
Sheikh also mentioned the overwhelming support Pakistan had received, stating: “Our leadership has received calls – over 50 calls just yesterday – of support. While everyone is watching with bated breath and hoping for a positive outcome, the exact outcome that both sides are looking for will only be known at the end of the process.”
He acknowledged the intense diplomatic efforts that had gone into bringing the situation to this stage. “Pakistan, in line with its long-standing tradition of making things happen on the international stage, has certainly played a key role. Our partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have also made significant efforts, as have many other countries, to bring things to this stage,” he said.
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The ambassador added: “I think the threads for further discussions are present in the talks themselves. Once the parties sit down in Islamabad and discuss matters at length, any issues that need to be addressed can be resolved.”
He emphasized that the commitments made during the discussions prior to these negotiations must be respected. “Whether it is one point or another, this will certainly have a positive impact, not only on the optics or the completion of the process that has brought us here, but also on the substantive discussions themselves.”
In closing remarks, Sheikh said: “The constructive spirit in which both sides have approached this process is what matters most and this will be key as we move forward.”
