New Delhi: Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to travel to Washington Friday following a visit to Tehran, amid intense negotiations for the extension of a ceasefire in West Asia, Al Jazeera reported.
Talks between the US and Iran failed to yield results in Islamabad last week in what was the first high-level talks between the two countries in 47 years.
Munir’s schedule in Washington remains uncertain, and a meeting with US president Donald Trump has not been confirmed.
A Pakistani delegation, including Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran carrying a fresh message from Donald Trump, after he signalled that negotiations could resume this week following last weekend’s inconclusive talks in Islamabad.
According to reports in Iranian media, officials familiar with the discussions said Asim Munir’s visit had helped narrow some differences, though significant obstacles remain.
Iranian and American negotiators have made limited progress toward a broader agreement under Pakistani mediation, according to a senior Iranian official. But with more than half of a two-week ceasefire already elapsed, core disputes persist, particularly over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“The trip of the Pakistani army chief to Tehran was effective in reducing differences in some areas,” the official was quoted saying, speaking on condition of anonymity to Al Jazeera. “But fundamental disagreements still remain in the nuclear field.”
Among the most contentious issues is the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the duration of any nuclear restrictions.
The official added that there was growing optimism that the ceasefire would be extended and a second round of talks might be convened.
Pakistan hosted an initial round of negotiations last weekend in Islamabad, where delegations from both sides met for 21 hours but failed to reach a breakthrough. A spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Thursday that no date had yet been set for renewed talks.
The White House has credited Pakistan with playing a central role in maintaining dialogue. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described Pakistan as “incredible mediators” and said Washington intended to continue using the channel to pursue a deal.
At the same time, Leavitt pushed back on reports that the United States had sought an extension of the ceasefire. “That is not true at this moment,” she said, adding that negotiations remained “productive and ongoing”.
Trump in a Fox News interview suggested Tuesday that additional talks could take place within days, again in Islamabad.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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