US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised Pakistan for its growing role in regional diplomacy, describing the country as a “true friend” of the United States during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday.
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Hegseth commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their efforts in facilitating peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran. He said both leaders were playing an outstanding role in attempts to revive dialogue and reduce tensions in the Middle East.
“Pakistan is a true friend of the United States,” Hegseth said, highlighting Islamabad’s contribution to ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict involving Iran.
Despite Pakistan’s mediation efforts, a final peace agreement remains out of reach. A White House official stated that President Donald Trump would only approve a deal if Iran meets all US conditions, including commitments related to its nuclear programme and regional security concerns.
The conflict intensified after coordinated US and Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran on American military installations across the region. Pakistan later helped broker a ceasefire and hosted rare direct talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad, marking the first such engagement in nearly five decades.
Although negotiations ended without a breakthrough, Pakistan continued to facilitate communication between both sides and played a key role in extending the ceasefire.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently thanked Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts, describing Islamabad’s role as effective and constructive in helping move negotiations forward.
The United States has also repeatedly acknowledged Pakistan’s importance as a key mediator in ongoing discussions with Iran, underscoring Islamabad’s growing influence in regional peacebuilding efforts.
