Pakistan and China Hold Talks as Islamabad Pushes Iran-US Peace Efforts

Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir joined Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday for high-level talks with Chinese leaders, as Islamabad continued its diplomatic efforts to help secure a formal end to the conflict between the United States and Iran.

State broadcaster PTV showed Munir alongside Sharif during meetings in the Chinese capital, underscoring Pakistan’s growing role in regional diplomacy following recent mediation attempts between Washington and Tehran.

Munir arrived in Beijing shortly after visiting Tehran on Friday and Saturday, where he met Iranian officials alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The trip formed part of Pakistan’s continuing push to bridge differences between the United States and Iran after earlier talks failed to produce a lasting breakthrough.

Sharif began his four-day official visit to China on Saturday in Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang province, before travelling to Beijing for meetings with Chinese leaders.

Addressing Chinese officials with Munir by his side, Sharif described the current international climate as a difficult period requiring diplomatic engagement and cooperation.

“The world is passing through a critical moment,” Sharif said, according to footage aired by PTV.

He highlighted Pakistan’s role in recent mediation efforts and praised China’s backing for peace initiatives.

“Pakistan has played a sincere role to mediate between US and Iran,” Sharif said. “Field marshal was in Tehran and did not want to miss this great visit. Things are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank China’s support to promote peace.”

China has signalled support for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and said it is prepared to work with Islamabad to help restore stability in the Middle East.

Chinese officials have maintained a relatively low-profile role during the crisis, focusing on diplomatic contacts and consultations with Gulf states affected by the conflict. Beijing has promoted dialogue while avoiding direct involvement in mediation talks.

Pakistan, however, has moved to the forefront of negotiations. Islamabad hosted rare face-to-face discussions between US and Iranian officials in April, marking the first direct engagement between the two sides since the outbreak of the war.

Munir played a prominent role during those negotiations, personally receiving both delegations upon arrival and engaging with senior American officials, including US Vice President JD Vance.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough represented by the meeting, negotiations ended without an agreement. Iranian officials later accused Washington of presenting what they described as excessive demands, while differences over key security and political issues remained unresolved.

Even so, Pakistan has continued efforts to keep communication channels open, with officials expressing hope that renewed diplomacy and regional support could help move talks forward.

The Beijing meetings are expected to focus on regional security, peace efforts involving Iran and the United States, and broader cooperation between Pakistan and China amid continuing instability across the Middle East.