A rare and unusually long round of diplomatic engagement in Islamabad has drawn attention, after U.S. and Iranian officials held nearly 21 hours of discussions in what is now being viewed as an initial step toward a broader negotiating process.
The talks included senior U.S. figures such as JD Vance alongside Iranian counterparts, with discussions reportedly continuing through intense sessions over the weekend. Although no immediate breakthrough was achieved, the length and continuity of engagement have been interpreted by observers as a sign that both sides are still testing diplomatic space rather than abandoning it.
As a ceasefire-related deadline looms, Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is being described as actively encouraging both Washington and Tehran to remain engaged and return to structured negotiations rather than escalation.
According to reporting by CBS News journalist Imtiaz Tyab, Pakistani officials remain cautiously optimistic, suggesting that despite the lack of immediate results, communication channels between the two sides are still open and potentially expandable into a longer diplomatic track.
While the weekend discussions ended without a formal agreement, the extended duration of talks is being seen as a signal that both sides are still exploring terms, even if significant gaps remain.
