ISLAMABAD: US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker on Monday held discussions with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, focusing on the “regional situation” and bilateral relations.
Baker called on Dar to “discuss the evolving regional situation and the broader Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relationship,” according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating communication between the United States and Iran and expressed hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts will contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The meeting came a day after Pakistan, which acts as a mediator in the West Asian conflict, confirmed receipt of Iran’s response to the U.S. peace overtures. But it is reported that US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to the peace proposal, calling it “completely unacceptable”.
During Monday’s meeting, Dar also expressed appreciation for the continued assistance provided by the United States for the repatriation of Pakistani and Iranian seafarers through Singapore, the FO said.
The conflict in West Asia, triggered by the United States and Israel’s joint attack on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, has been in a ceasefire since April 8.
On April 11, Islamabad hosted a round of direct talks between Iran and the United States, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment program remain key sticking points in the negotiations.
The conflict has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for global oil and gas, and Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium has been a concern for Western powers for years.
On April 21, Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely beyond the two-week deadline to allow more time for negotiations with Tehran.
The latest developments come as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported drone intrusions into their airspace, with a drone attack causing a minor fire on a commercial ship off the coast of Qatar.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
