Pakistani PM Proposes Two-Week Ceasefire to US and Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Call for Diplomacy in the Middle East
On Tuesday, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, made a significant appeal to US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders, advocating for a two-week ceasefire. This proposal aims to create a temporary halt in hostilities, facilitating diplomatic discussions. Sharif's request was made shortly before Trump's 8:00 PM EST deadline, which could lead to a large-scale bombing campaign against Iranian targets if no agreement is reached.
Pakistan has recently taken on a crucial role as a mediator between the US and Iran, with reports indicating that negotiations have shown progress in the last day. The White House confirmed that Trump has been informed of Sharif's proposal, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come.”
Sharif highlighted the potential for diplomatic efforts to yield significant outcomes if given the necessary time. He expressed on social media, “Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in the near future.”
He further urged Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks to allow for diplomatic processes to unfold. Additionally, Sharif called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during this period as a gesture of goodwill.
In a broader context, Sharif appealed to all parties involved in the conflict to temporarily cease hostilities. He stated, “We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.”
A senior official from Iran mentioned to Reuters that Tehran is currently “positively reviewing” the proposal from Pakistan, suggesting that this plan could offer both nations a temporary reprieve amid escalating tensions.