Says there is a sense of satisfaction after the first round of talks, with no negative developments reported so far
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. Photo: Screengrab
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the next round of talks between Iran and the US is expected soon, with positive progress being observed.
His statement came a day after marathon talks between the two sides in Islamabad ended without an agreement after more than 21 hours of negotiations.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House today, the minister noted that there was still scope for renewed dialogue between Tehran and Washington, adding that after the latest round of talks, there had been a sense of satisfaction with no negative developments reported so far.
“Only positive progress has been observed,” he noted, indicating that ongoing diplomatic efforts were moving in a constructive direction.
Read: ‘Draft was ready’: how US-Iran talks narrowly missed historic deal in Islamabad
Responding to a question on whether Pakistan would play a decisive role in shaping the region’s future, Asif said the final decisions rest with Allah.
Commenting on India, the defense minister struck a critical tone, saying there appeared to be unrest there, with mixed reactions emerging.
He maintained that the broader diplomatic process in the region was developing positively and that continued negotiations were improving the prospects for peace and stability.
The United States and Iran failed to agree to end their war despite marathon talks that ended Sunday in Islamabad, putting a fragile ceasefire at risk. Each side blamed the other for the 21-hour talks failing to end the fighting that has killed thousands and sent global oil prices skyrocketing since they began more than six weeks ago.
US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan after announcing that intensive discussions with Iran had failed to reach an agreement, while appreciating Pakistan’s efforts.
“We had been at it for 21 hours and had had several substantive discussions with the Iranians. That was the good news. The bad news was that we had not reached an agreement, and I think that was bad news for Iran much more than it was for the United States,” he said while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.
Also read: Dar meets Chinese Ambassador to discuss developments after ‘Islamabad Talks’
On the other hand, Iran accused the US of derailing the talks in Islamabad after the two sides came close to reaching an agreement. “We had engaged in good faith with the United States to end the war,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement.
After the failed talks, US President Donald Trump had thanked Pakistan for hosting the talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, while also announcing that the US Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz after talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
The United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28, killing thousands of people in Iran, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and leaving tens of thousands injured, with civilian areas, including residential buildings and religious sites, among those affected.
The conflict also expanded geographically. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that host US military assets. It also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
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.
