IRAN: Pakistan Urges Respect For Iran Ceasefire Ahead Of Islamabad Talks

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a statement on X, urging Iran, Israel, and the US to "respect" the Middle East ceasefire ahead of an expected first round of talks in Islamabad tomorrow. Ceasefire violations are common in the early hours of a new agreement. Similar violations were reported in the days following the recent Gaza and Lebanon ceasefires. The Iran ceasefire violations may be more frequent as Iran's fractured military leadership has made regional command operationally independent from Tehran. 

• While there is optimism for a breakthrough, talks hinge on compromise on issues that have stymied diplomats for decades, including Iran's nuclear enrichment, support for proxy groups, and ballistic missile programme. Diplomats will also have to resolve a standoff over navigation through the Straight of Hormuz.
• Sharif: "Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process. I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict."
• Pakistani sources report that US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf are expected to arrive in Islamabad today, per Reuters.
• It is unclear if talks will take place face-to-face or in an indirect format using intermediaries. All diplomatic engagements between the US and Iran have been indirect since Trump’s first term. US diplomats have noted that indirect talks have led to misunderstandings, as messages passed between rooms via intermediaries are prone to problems with translation and suffer from a lack of non-verbal communication. If talks are scheduled as face-to-face, it may be a positive sign that talks can deliver progress.