A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group photo with foreign ministers and representatives from the United States, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, July 14, 2015. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan expressed cautious optimism Thursday that a U.S.-Iran deal “is achievable,” even as it acknowledged that no breakthrough emerged from marathon 21-hour talks in Islamabad.
In his first formal briefing after the negotiations, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized continuity in its facilitating role, highlighting that while no concrete document has been finalized, the process remains firmly intact.
Tahir Andrabi called the talks “constructive” and stressed that, despite the absence of an important result, the dialogue did not fail either.
“It’s very difficult to attribute inches, meters, centimeters to a metric system,” Andrabi said when asked to quantify the progress.
“Pakistan remains positive, optimistic that an agreement/understanding is possible and we are approaching the process with the same positivity.”
“There certainly wasn’t a breakthrough, but there wasn’t a collapse either,” he said.
The high-stakes engagement, which extended well beyond 24 hours in full presence, reflected what officials called “intense and extensive negotiations,” in which both delegations demonstrated resilience and commitment under demanding conditions.
“It is commendable to spend twenty-one sleepless hours applying your mind to intricate issues,” the spokesman said, praising the resilience of both sides.
Islamabad used the occasion to highlight the evolution of its diplomatic footprint, positioning itself as a credible intermediary capable of maintaining trust with both Washington and Tehran.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan’s role did not end with the Islamabad round but became a sustained diplomatic effort aimed at preserving momentum.
“Pakistan’s role as a mediator and facilitator did not stop when the Islamabad talks concluded. It continued,” he said.
This ongoing commitment includes high-level outreach activities across the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are visiting key capitals, while Chief of Defense Staff and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran as part of parallel efforts to maintain direct channels.
“These initiatives must be seen as part of a continuum,” Andrabi explained, adding that Pakistan “will continue to advocate for peace, prosperity and stability” by keeping lines of communication open between the two adversaries.
“We will not comment on specific details,” the spokesperson said, reiterating that discretion remains essential. “The position of the interested parties is their trust in us. We maintain this trust and maintain confidentiality.”
He further clarified that Pakistan’s stance remains “impartial towards individual positions but partial towards peace.”
Pakistan has also sought to expand support for its mediation efforts by keeping key partners informed. The spokesman noted that friendly countries are regularly briefed as part of an effort to build what he described as an “open pact of peace.”
While welcoming the support of global players, including Russia, Andrabi emphasized that “the main channels of communication are occurring through Islamabad.”
