Pakistan and Qatar have initiated fresh contacts with both the United States and Iran to stop further military strikes and return to negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to Pakistani government sources speaking to Anadolu on Thursday.
Mediation Efforts Underway
“Pakistan, together with Qatar, is in touch with Washington and Tehran to persuade the two sides to end hostilities and return to negotiations as per agreement,” a source close to the mediation process told Anadolu. The source referred to the Islamabad MoU, signed by the US and Iranian presidents last month, which provided a 60-day window to finalize a permanent end to their months-long conflict.
Recent Escalation
The diplomatic push follows a fresh round of strikes and counter-strikes after an Iranian missile attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the Islamabad MoU was “over.” However, Pakistani sources remain confident that the agreement will hold despite the renewed hostilities.
Pakistani Confidence in Pact
“What is happening right now is not unexpected as the issues between the two sides are chronic and highly complex,” the source said. “However, Pakistan is confident that the ongoing situation will not escalate into a full-fledged war,” the source added, emphasizing that “both sides fully understand that a full-scale war is not in their interest.” The source also cautioned: “One should not rule out further skirmishes in the future considering the nature of issues between the two sides.”
