How Pakistan helped secure a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran

Pakistan has a historic relationship with Iran, but an agreement was far from certain, writes the BBC’s Caroline Davies

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran just hours before a deadline set by President Trump to either reach a deal or initiate a large-scale bombing campaign against Iranian infrastructure. Pakistan, having acted as the primary mediator in the recent U.S.-Iran tensions, is pushing for a short-term pause in hostilities to allow diplomatic negotiations to continue. Sharif emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that diplomatic efforts are advancing with strength and hold the potential for meaningful results soon. The proposal underscores Pakistan’s active role in trying to de-escalate a critical international conflict.

On April 7, 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire following a mediation effort led by Pakistan. The proposal, endorsed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, prompted President Trump to halt imminent military strikes on Iran. In exchange, Iran agreed to fully and safely reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. Defense official confirmed that the ceasefire was in effect, although noted potential delays in communication to all Iranian forces. Israel, also involved in regional strikes, agreed to the ceasefire and will pause its military operations. Financial markets responded positively to the announcement. Both U.S. and Iranian officials acknowledged Pakistan's diplomatic efforts. The situation remains fluid and subject to updates.

Pakistan has proposed a two-stage plan to end the US-Israel war on Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides now mulling the framework, a source has told the Reuters news agency. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday acknowledged diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, which has shared a plan with Iran and the United States to end hostilities, according to Reuters.

Pakistan has shared a proposed ceasefire framework with Iran and the US to end hostilities, according to source reports. The plan envisages an immediate ceasefire followed by a final agreement within 15 to 20 days.

Pakistan, along with regional mediators, is engaged in intensified diplomatic efforts to broker a potential 45-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States, according to a report by Axios citing multiple US, Israeli and regional sources. The proposed truce is being viewed as a possible first step towards negotiating a permanent end to the ongoing conflict. However, officials familiar with the talks have cautioned that the likelihood of reaching even a limited agreement within the next 48 hours remains low. They described the current initiative as a critical opportunity to prevent further escalation, including large-scale strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and retaliatory attacks on energy and water facilities across Gulf states.

Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, stepping back from a planned military strike hours before a deadline following what officials described as a high-level diplomatic intervention by Pakistan. The agreement came after direct contacts between Trump, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, says The Tribune. 'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran... I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.'

Iran has formally conveyed its response to the United States’ proposal for ending the ongoing conflict, rejecting a temporary ceasefire and emphasizing the necessity of a permanent resolution, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

Pakistan has adopted a policy of official neutrality in response to the 2026 Iran war, which began in February of that year after joint airstrikes on Iran by the United States of America and the State of Israel. Pakistan, which shares a 900-kilometer border with Iran and has close ties with both Iran and Saudi Arabia, has condemned attacks by all sides while engaging in shuttle diplomacy and facing domestic protests and an energy crisis linked to the conflict, and while simultaneously fighting Afghanistan.