ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi indicated on Wednesday that a 60-day extension in the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was under consideration, expressing hope that the ceasefire can be extended if there was a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue.
“Even now, a few days remain, so we are not closing the chapter. We hope that even if the deadline is not met, an extension will eventually take place and the parties will return to dialogue,” said the spokesperson as the US-Iran ceasefire is set to expire on August 17.
Speaking at his weekly media briefing, he said that a framework for follow-up dialogue already existed in the Islamabad MoU and the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Statement.
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Andrabi added that Pakistan remains engaged alongside other brotherly states in sincere efforts to resolve the crisis in the Gulf and the Middle East. Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table.
The FO spokesperson said, “We remain optimistic that a solution can be in sight, stating the parties have resorted to talks after escalation – there have been periods of heightened escalation, followed by relative calm and eventual dialogue. This is the natural progression of any armed conflict of international significance.”
Pakistan, he said, is not discouraged by escalations, just as it does not get overly optimistic when there is a period of calm. “We maintain sustained engagement with the parties to resolve the conflicts.”
Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi is visiting Tehran for meetings with senior Iranian officials. His visit provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional developments, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability, and constructive engagement in the region.
He said Pakistan is deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident involving an attack by Houthi rebels on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. According to the information available as of now, three Pakistani nationals have lost their lives, and one has sustained injuries. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Pakistan strongly condemns this attack on a non-combatant commercial vessel. Such attacks endanger innocent lives, constitute a violation of international law, and pose a serious threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Pakistan is a signatory to this coalition and abide by its communiqué. We are ready and willing to assist Saudi Arabia and other coalition partners in the operationalization of this communiqué to preserve the safety and security of the global supply chain, as well as maritime traffic.
To a question, Andrabi categorically rejected the baseless statement and allegations made by the Indian MEA regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir. India’s professed concerns for human rights in AJK are disingenuous, given its own well-documented record of repression in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, suppression of political freedom, and sweeping powers of security forces under the draconian laws enacted there.
The spokesperson responding to another query said, “We have seen the US Department of State’s Fiscal Transparency Report 2026, which is mandated by the US Congress, I understand. Pakistan is included amongst the 67 countries that did not meet these minimum criteria.”
He highlighted that Pakistan is currently in an IMF programme, which, by its design, is focused on structural reform and improving fiscal management. Pakistan has completed three IMF reviews, and its reform process and the measures taken under the process have been widely appreciated, including the credit rating upgrades by the three international rating agencies, as well as by the IMF.
On the visit of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Tehran, the spokesperson declined to share the details of what exactly the message was, but this is essentially in the context of peace efforts. The Interior Minister visited Tehran and carried our messages. These are part of the regular diplomatic exchanges. Of course, I understand the visit of the Interior Minister also has a certain bilateral context with respect to his portfolio as the Minister for Interior, and that he held meetings in this regard with his Iranian counterpart.
About talks with Iran in the future, the spokesperson said that an invitation to the Foreign Minister of Iran and the Speaker of Parliament has been extended by Pakistan. We are expecting the visit on mutually convenient dates in the future. If talks on the wider peace process in Islamabad are to take place, this can take place as and when the parties wish to have such a dialogue.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026