Pakistan says ready to host US-Iran talks

ISLAMABAD, April 2. /TASS/. Pakistan is ready to host and mediate talks between the United States and Iran to help resolve Middle East crisis, official Foreign Ministry representative Tahir Andrabi said. "It would be an honor for us to host and facilitate meaningful negotiations between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict," the diplomat told a news briefing. A five-point initiative proposed earlier by China and Pakistan to restore peace and stability in the Middle East has been met with approval in the region and beyond, Andrabi said. This initiative is an attempt to end the war and pave the way for a sustainable settlement in the Middle East. China and Pakistan’s initiative envisages dialogue and diplomacy as the only way to resolve the conflict in the region, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran and the Persian Gulf countries, and renounces the use of force during peace negotiations. Beijing and Islamabad called for ensuring the safety of civilian facilities by completely stopping attacks on civilians, energy infrastructure, desalination plants and peaceful nuclear facilities.