Bilawal calls ‘Islamabad Talks’ key to regional peace

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Saturday that “war is not an option” and welcomed the Islamabad talks as an important opportunity for peace as US and Iranian delegations arrived in Pakistan.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bilawal said the talks come after weeks of devastation, noting that the world is watching “with cautious optimism” as efforts are made to move from conflict to dialogue.

“The fact that these talks are taking place is the biggest achievement so far,” he said, adding that it is important that “the ceasefire is in place” and that “the bombing has stopped in most of the Middle East.” He added that there is hope that the current ceasefire could lead to “a more lasting and permanent solution to this conflict.”

Referring to the broader diplomatic effort, he said several countries have played a role in creating space for dialogue, including Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar. “Everyone has been affected by this, so everyone is making a collective effort to create the diplomatic space for this ceasefire to happen,” he said.

However, he warned that the way forward remains difficult, adding that the talks are “complex and challenging”, but stressed that “war is not an option”, warning that the conflict will continue to have serious consequences unless a middle ground for lasting peace is reached.

Responding to questions regarding alliances being redrawn in the Gulf region, Bilawal said regional actors remain focused on resolving the ongoing conflict. “I think everyone is focused at the moment, on resolving this current conflict,” he said, adding that the situation has had “the most impact on the Middle East,” including Iran and several Gulf countries.

Read more: Pakistan’s envoy to the US says that Islamabad is acting as a facilitator in talks between the US and Iran, the outcome of which depends on the parties

He further noted that broader issues of shifting alliances would need to be addressed later, stressing that this would only be possible “if this ceasefire is permanent and we have a solution to this conflict.”

He also warned of wider consequences if the effort fails, saying there remains “the danger that we won’t get it,” adding that such an outcome would have ramifications “for the whole region.”

US Vice President JD Vance has landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss the US-Iran ceasefire, dubbed ‘Islamabad Talks 2026’, the State Department said on Saturday. The delegation included Vance and President Donald Trump’s key Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf landed in Pakistan late Friday night to attend high-stakes talks with the United States.

Meanwhile, Pakistani lawmakers and political figures across the aisle have welcomed the talks, describing them as an honor and stressing the need for dialogue. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a post on X, expressed hope for the success of the ongoing talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. The party said it offers “sincere prayers for the success” of the talks and hopes the discussions will produce “constructive and mutually beneficial results.”

The PTI said the talks should help “advance the collective interests of the Muslim ummah” while strengthening Pakistan’s strategic interests and promoting “peace, stability and prosperity” in the wider region.

“May Allah Almighty bless these endeavors with wisdom and guidance,” expressing hope that the discussions lead to “fruitful decisions that serve the greater good of all parties concerned,” it added.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also said in a post on X that Pakistan is “honoured to host the Islamabad peace talks” and to facilitate efforts to bring “the warring sides from the battlefield to the negotiating table.”

He said: “Our efforts have been guided by a simple conviction: that mistrust must yield to dialogue, restraint must prevail over escalation, and wisdom must prevail over the impulse to war.”

The minister said the “burden of failure will not fall on the combatants alone” but will be felt by “ordinary men, women and children across the world” through rising insecurity, inflation and instability.

Iqbal warned that continued conflict would be “catastrophic not only for the region but for the global community.” He expressed hope that the talks would succeed, saying their outcome will be crucial for “regional peace” and “the economic security and future of millions of families around the world.”

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described the latest development as a “proud moment for Pakistan” and said the country has emerged into a leading role on the global stage in a speech on X.

The Chief Minister praised the country’s leadership for restoring Pakistan’s stature internationally. “Today is a proud moment for Pakistan. Few could have imagined that our nation would take a leading role on the global stage, but here we stand,” Maryam said.

The leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, was credited with playing an “important role in restoring the country’s stature and pride.” She added that their efforts had brought “renewed confidence and glory to Pakistan”, making “every Pakistani truly proud.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also said the arrival of American and Iranian delegations in Islamabad marks a “decisive moment in Pakistan’s history.”

In a post on X, he said: “Today is not just another day; it is a defining moment in Pakistan’s history,” adding that Islamabad is hosting “one of the most significant diplomatic negotiations of our time between Washington and Tehran.”

The governor added that Pakistan “stands tall at the heart of global diplomacy,” helping guide the region and the world away from conflict and toward lasting peace.

Calling it a moment of national significance, he said, “As the world watches, this is a moment of pride for every Pakistani and a diplomatic victory for Pakistan.”

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Pakistan has emerged as an important mediator in the region. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and American military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.

To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting caught the attention of the world and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.

Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.