Speaking on Friday in his first interview since the latest diplomatic visit, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Field Marshal Asim Munir’s two visits to Iran this month suggested there were positive developments.
“Why would the Field Marshal be going twice if it is not for some positivity? So yes, of course,” he said when asked whether the visits were a positive sign.
However, he stressed that Pakistan remained “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects for a breakthrough.
Chaudhry also warned that “powerful spoilers and detractors” still believed the conflict served their interests, although he did not identify them.
Munir travelled to Tehran on Monday, accompanied by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. The delegation held meetings with senior Iranian officials.
Following the talks, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said regional security should be managed by countries in the region without foreign intervention.
Rezaei described the discussions as positive, saying the four countries believed closer cooperation could help address regional challenges. He also expressed hope that the meeting would lead to practical steps towards stronger regional cooperation.
Pakistan's efforts to revive negotiations
The diplomatic initiative comes as Pakistan seeks to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran following months of fighting that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February and expanded into a wider regional conflict.
Islamabad brokered a ceasefire in April, bringing an initial phase of intense fighting to a halt. However, efforts to reach a lasting settlement have since stalled.
Pakistan has continued urging both sides to return to negotiations, including through an Islamabad-brokered memorandum of understanding. In October, the Foreign Office said direct communication between Washington and Tehran had indicated progress in the mediation process.
On October 26, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to continue dialogue aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
Saudi Arabia later called on the parties to engage constructively with the outcome of the Tehran meeting and pursue negotiations to prevent further military escalation.
The talks are taking place amid wider regional tensions, including concerns about maritime security and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy supplies.
The participation of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye alongside Pakistan highlights a broader regional effort to contain the conflict and encourage a diplomatic settlement.
