'War is not an option': Bilawal calls 'Islamabad Talks' key to regional peace
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaking to Al Jazeera ahead of the Islamabad Talks 2026. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said “war is not an option” and welcomed the Islamabad Talks as a key opportunity for peace as US and Iranian delegations arrived in Pakistan.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bilawal said the negotiations come after weeks of devastation, noting that the world is watching “with cautious optimism” as efforts are made to move from conflict towards dialogue.
“The fact that these talks are taking place is the biggest achievement so far,” he said, adding it is significant that “the ceasefire is in effect” and that “the bombing has stopped across most of the Middle East.” He added that there is hope the current ceasefire can lead to “a more lasting and permanent resolution to this conflict.”
Live: Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's interview with Al-Jazeera English https://t.co/ccmip7dhUb
Referring to the broader diplomatic effort, he said multiple countries have played a role in creating space for dialogue, including Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar. “Everybody has been affected by this, so everybody is making a collective effort to create the diplomatic space for this ceasefire to take place,” he said.
However, he cautioned that the path ahead remains difficult, adding the talks are “complex and challenging,” but stressed that “war is not an option,” warning the conflict will continue to have serious consequences unless a middle ground is reached for lasting peace.
Responding to questions regarding alliances being redrawn in the Gulf region, Bilawal said regional actors remain focused on resolving the ongoing conflict. “I think everybody is focused in the now, in resolving this current conflict,” he said, adding that the situation has had the “most impact on the Middle East,” including Iran and several Gulf countries.
He further noted that broader questions about shifting alliances would need to be addressed later, stressing that this would only be possible “if this ceasefire is permanent and we have a solution to this conflict.”
He also warned of wider consequences if efforts fail, saying there remains “the danger that we don’t achieve that,” adding that such an outcome would have repercussions “for the entire region.”
United States Vice President JD Vance has landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss US-Iran ceasefire dubbed the 'Islamabad Talks 2026', the Foreign Office said on Saturday. The delegation included Vance, and President Donald Trump's key Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf landed in Pakistan late on Friday night to attend high-stakes negotiation talks with the United States.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) extends its sincere prayers for the success of the ongoing US-Iran talks currently underway in Islamabad. It is our earnest hope that these deliberations will produce constructive and mutually beneficial outcomes, advancing the collective interests…
Meanwhile, Pakistani lawmakers and political figures across the aisle have welcomed the talks, describing them as an honour and emphasising the need for dialogue. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a post on X, expressed hope for the success of the ongoing US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The party said it offers “sincere prayers for the success” of the negotiations and hopes the deliberations will produce “constructive and mutually beneficial outcomes.”
PTI said the talks should help “advance the collective interests of the Muslim Ummah,” while also reinforcing Pakistan’s strategic interests and promoting “peace, stability, and prosperity” in the wider region.
“May Allah Almighty bless these efforts with wisdom and guidance,” expressing hope that the discussions lead to “fruitful resolutions that serve the greater good of all concerned parties,” it added.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, also in a post on X, said Pakistan is “honoured to host the Islamabad Peace Talks” and to facilitate efforts to bring “the warring sides from the battlefield to the negotiating table.”
Pakistan is honoured to host the Islamabad Peace Talks and to play its part in bringing the warring sides from the battlefield to the negotiating table. I pay tribute to the leadership of Pakistan, Iran, and the United States, and to all brotherly countries whose constructive…
He said, “Our effort has been guided by a simple conviction: that mistrust must yield to dialogue, restraint must prevail over escalation, and wisdom must triumph over the impulse for war.”
The minister said the “burden of failure will not fall on the combatants alone,” but would be felt by “ordinary men, women, and children across the world” through rising insecurity, inflation, and instability.
Iqbal warned that continued conflict would be “catastrophic not only for the region, but for the global community.” He expressed hope that the talks would succeed, saying their outcome will be crucial for “regional peace” and the “economic security and future of millions of families worldwide.”
Today is a proud moment for Pakistan. Few could have imagined our nation taking a leading role on the global stage, yet here we stand.
The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and our Field Marshal have played a pivotal role in restoring the country’s stature and pride. Their…Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described recent developments as a “proud moment for Pakistan,” saying the country has emerged in a leading role on the global stage in a post on X.
The chief minister praised the country’s leadership for restoring Pakistan’s stature internationally. “Today is a proud moment for Pakistan. Few could have imagined our nation taking a leading role on the global stage, yet here we stand,” Maryam said.
The leadership, including that of PM Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, was credited with playing a “pivotal role in restoring the country’s stature and pride.” She added that their efforts had brought “renewed confidence and honour to Pakistan,” making “every Pakistani truly proud.
Today is not just another day; it is a defining moment in Pakistan’s history. With the arrival of the US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, the city now hosts one of the most significant diplomatic negotiations of our time between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan stands tall at… pic.twitter.com/slsDzWXSa3
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also said the arrival of US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad marks a “defining moment in Pakistan’s history.”
In a post on X, he said, “Today is not just another day; it is a defining moment in Pakistan’s history,” adding that Islamabad is hosting “one of the most significant diplomatic negotiations of our time between Washington and Tehran.”
The governor added that Pakistan “stands tall at the heart of global diplomacy,” helping guide the region and the world away from conflict and towards lasting peace.
Calling it a moment of national significance, he said, “With the world watching, this is a moment of pride for every Pakistani and a diplomatic victory for Pakistan.”
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Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the region. On February 28, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.
To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The meeting grabbed the world's attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan's efforts.
Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.