Mediators make fresh contacts with US, Iran to halt further military strikes: Pakistani sources

Sources stress Israeli hostilities in southern Lebanon are a ‘key factor’ behind non-implementation of Islamabad MoU

Pakistan and Qatar have made fresh contacts with the US and Iran to halt further military strikes and return to negotiations “as per agreement,” Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Thursday.

“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 said.

The source was referring to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the US and Iranian presidents last month, which gave the two sides 60 days to finalize a pact to permanently end their months-long war.

The development came after a fresh round of strikes and counter-strikes by the two sides following Iranian missile attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Islamabad MoU was “over.”

Pakistan, however, remains confident that the Islamabad MoU will stay intact despite renewed hostilities, according to the sources.

“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 said, adding: “Both sides fully understand that a full-scale war is not in their interest.”

“One should not rule out further skirmishes in the future considering the nature of issues between the two sides,” the source said.

Pakistan and Qatar have made fresh contacts with the US and Iran to halt further military strikes and return to negotiations “as per agreement,” Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Thursday.

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“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 said.

The source was referring to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the US and Iranian presidents last month, which gave the two sides 60 days to finalize a pact to permanently end their months-long war.

The development came after a fresh round of strikes and counter-strikes by the two sides following Iranian missile attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Islamabad MoU was “over.”

Pakistan, however, remains confident that the Islamabad MoU will stay intact despite renewed hostilities, according to the sources.

“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 said, adding: “Both sides fully understand that a full-scale war is not in their interest.”

“One should not rule out further skirmishes in the future considering the nature of issues between the two sides,” the source said.