The high-stakes diplomatic shuttle service in Islamabad has reached a critical juncture as Pakistan formally enters the fray to prevent a collapse of the current regional truce. In a significant and on-the-record move, CNN-News18 has learnt that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has officially requested both the United States and Iran to extend the existing ceasefire. This formal appeal was made during a high-profile meeting with the United States’s Chargé d’Affaires, Natalie A Baker, marking a public shift in Pakistan’s role from a behind-the-scenes facilitator to an active solicitor of regional peace. Pakistan government sources maintain that the talks are on track.
According to a Foreign Office communiqué released
shortly after the meeting in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar underscored Pakistan’s consistent position that dialogue remains the only viable mechanism to address the escalating challenges in West Asia. The Deputy Prime Minister specifically urged both Washington and Tehran to give “dialogue and diplomacy a chance” by prolonging the cessation of hostilities. This public stance is being viewed by experts as an attempt to lock in the fragile gains made during recent negotiations before the current ceasefire window expires and the region risks a return to open kinetic conflict.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the Iranian delegation has yet to provide confirmation, leaving the “Islamabad Process” in a state of high-stakes suspense. With the current two-week ceasefire set to expire at 4.50 am PST on April 22, Pakistan remains in constant contact with Iranian leadership, emphasising that a decision to engage before this dawn deadline is critical to preventing a return to regional hostilities. Despite Islamabad’s “sincere efforts” to anchor the dialogue, the fate of the truce now rests entirely on Tehran’s willingness to return to the negotiating table.
The meeting between Dar and Baker suggests that the United States is actively seeking Pakistan’s leverage with Tehran to manage the fallout of the recent stalemate. Cd’A Baker reportedly conveyed the United States’ appreciation for Pakistan’s “constructive and positive role” in facilitating dialogue, a diplomatic nod that confirms Islamabad is currently the primary conduit for messages between the two adversaries. Top Pakistan sources maintain that while the public rhetoric from Tehran has been rigid, intense back-channel talks are indeed happening, with Pakistan acting as the anchor for these 21-hour marathon sessions.
This formal request for a ceasefire extension comes at a time of immense pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is currently reviewing new US proposals delivered via military channels. By placing this request on the official record, Pakistan is signalling to the international community that the “Monday peace deal” is not yet dead, despite the Supreme National Security Council’s recent hardline statements. The move effectively places the ball in the courts of both the IRGC and the State Department, forcing a decision on whether to allow the diplomatic window to remain open or to let the clock run out on the current truce.
