ISLAMABAD:
Backchannel efforts to arrange US-Iran talks are still ongoing, despite earlier attempts to convene a high-level meeting in Islamabad that failed to materialize, sources familiar with the matter said.
According to sources, Pakistan had been quietly facilitating preparations for a possible round of direct engagement involving a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials.
The proposed meeting to be held in Islamabad was seen as a potential opening for de-escalation amid heightened regional tensions.
But despite advanced preparations on more than one occasion in recent days, the planned engagements were postponed at the last minute, with both sides demanding additional time for internal consultations, sources said.
“Efforts are ongoing and there is still a willingness to explore diplomatic options,” one source noted, adding that the situation remains fluid given the broader regional dynamics.
Pakistan has actively positioned itself as a neutral facilitator, offering its good offices to help bridge the communication gap between Washington and Tehran.
The initiative reflects Islamabad’s broader aim to ease tensions in the region, particularly in the wake of recent military escalations involving the US and Israel.
Officials stressed that both Washington and Tehran face complex considerations that have contributed to delays in formalizing direct talks.
“These are sensitive engagements and timing, sequencing and internal considerations on all sides are critical,” said one source, stressing that such backchannel diplomacy often involves multiple false starts before progress is achieved.
Prior to the latest escalation, Pakistan had also explored the possibility of direct engagement with Iran at the highest political level.
Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by senior military leadership, had been prepared to travel to Tehran to consult the Iranian leadership.
However, this visit did not proceed due to changing security conditions and scheduling constraints at the time, highlighting the wider challenges facing diplomatic outreach in a volatile environment.
Behind-the-scenes efforts also intersected with broader regional diplomacy. During a meeting of foreign ministers from several Muslim countries in Riyadh on March 19, the situation involving Iran was prominent in the discussions.
Sources said there was extensive deliberation on the language of a joint statement, with some participants calling for more balanced wording that addressed the broader context of the crisis. The final statement, they added, reflected a degree of consensus following consultations among key stakeholders.
Pakistan’s diplomatic approach has throughout focused on de-escalation and maintaining a careful balance, avoiding positions that could further inflame tensions while encouraging dialogue between the parties concerned.
Despite the setbacks in arranging an initial meeting, sources stressed that diplomatic channels remain open and that efforts to facilitate dialogue have not been abandoned.
“Such initiatives take time, especially in the current circumstances,” an official said. “What is important is that the commitment is still being pursued.”
The near miss in host talks underscores both the potential and the inherent difficulties of quiet diplomacy as regional and international actors navigate a complex and rapidly evolving security landscape.
