At the request of Pakistan\u2019s leadership, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, until Iranian officials submit a unified proposal and discussions were concluded on the matter.
\n\u201cBased on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,\u201d President Trump announced on his Truth Social account.
\nHe said that he had directed his military to continue the blockade and remain ready and able, and would \u201ctherefore extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.\u201d
\nTrump\u2019s announcement comes as the ceasefire between the US and Iran was set to expire on 4:50 am PST on Wednesday which was announced on April 8, on Prime Minister Shehbaz\u2019s request, who had also requested Iran to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period \u2013 hours before Trump\u2019s deadline for bombing on Iranian infrastructure and threatening to ending \u201ca whole civilisation.\u201d
\nFollowing the Trump\u2019s announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to his X timeline to express his appreciation for the decision. \u201cOn my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course,\u201d he wrote.
\nHe said that with the trust and confidence reposed in it, Pakistan would continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict.
\nHe expressed the hope that both sides would continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive \u2018Peace Deal\u2019 during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict.
\nOn Tuesday, Pakistan had requested both the countries to extend the ceasefire and announced that Iran\u2019s official response to participate the second round of Islamabad Talks was awaited.
\nDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in a meeting with US Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires Natalie A. Baker, stressed the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire, and to give dialogue and diplomacy a chance.
\nHe underscored Pakistan\u2019s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability.
\nLater, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, on his X account, said, \u201d Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited. Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.\u201d
\nCalling the Iran\u2019s decision to attend the talks before the end of two weeks ceasefire \u201ccritical\u201d, he said that Pakistan had made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue.
\nIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei had told Iran\u2019s state TV there has been \u201cno final decision\u201d on whether to agree to more talks because of \u201cunacceptable actions\u201d by the U.S., apparently referencing its recent blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the request of Pakistan\u2019s leadership, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, until Iranian officials submit a unified proposal and discussions were concluded on the matter. \u201cBased on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":543213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-543202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n