Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir conducted intensive negotiations with the Iranian leadership over the past 24 hours that have resulted in “encouraging progress towards a final understanding”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Saturday.

The engagements with Iran’s senior leadership were held in a “positive and constructive environment” and contributed meaningfully to the ongoing mediation process, the military’s media wing said following the conclusion of the army chief’s Tehran visit.

The visit came at a time when negotiations appeared to have moved beyond political signalling into detailed bargaining over a narrow interim framework dealing with the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and guarantees against renewed military action.

“During the visit, the field marshal held high-level engagements with Iranian leadership as part of ongoing mediation efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and constructive engagement, amidst the regional tensions that have simmered after the ceasefire on 8th April, 2026.”

The discussions between the two sides focused on expediting the ongoing consultative process to “support peace and stability in the region and to reach to a conclusive agreement”.

The statement further said that the Iranian leadership also appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and constructive role in facilitating the dialogue and the promotion of “peaceful settlement of regional issues”.

During his visit to the Iranian capital, the field marshal met President Masoud Pezeshkian, Speaker of Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock, sending the interior minister to Tehran on Wednesday for the second time in less than a week to resuscitate negotiations. He had previously met Iran’s president, parliament speaker and foreign minister over the weekend.

The CDF previously visited Iran for three days last month alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where he held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials. The military’s media wing described the visit as part of “ongoing mediation efforts” for de-escalation between Iran and the US.

The mediation process around Tehran has widened over the past 48 hours. Qatar also dispatched a negotiating team to the Iranian capital in coordination with the United States, while Saudi Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud spoke to Naqvi in Tehran.

An Iranian diplomat in China also praised Beijing for presenting a peace initiative during the war “with the support of Pakistan”.

Regional diplomats also pointed to signs of softer Emirati messaging in favour of de-escalation and uninterrupted maritime trade.

The latest round of contacts is taking place under heightened pressure from the US and its Middle East allies. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said talks in Iran were in the final stages, and also threatened to resume strikes if a deal is not reached in a “limited timeframe”.

Iran, meanwhile, warned of confrontation beyond the Middle East in the case of a US attack but also insisted that all paths were open to avert the resumption of hostilities.

‘Primary interlocutor’

A day earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised Pakistan’s mediation role, describing it as Washington’s “primary interlocutor” in the talks.

“The primary interlocutor on this has been Pakistan and continues to be, and they’ve done an admirable job,” Fox News quoted him as saying.

He also referred to Field Marshal Asim Munir’s Tehran visit, saying Washington was in “constant communication” with him at the highest levels.

“We’re in constant communication with him, and the highest levels of our government are constantly talking to him,” Rubio said.

Diplomats said the evolving process increasingly resembled a phased stabilisation effort rather than negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced four Eid holidays from May 26 to May 29 (Tuesday to Friday), according to a notification issued on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a notification issued today, the Punjab government announced three Eid holidays from May 26 to May 28 (Tuesday to Thursday) in line with the federal government’s Eid holiday schedule.

A day earlier, the Sindh government announced a four-day holiday, including Friday, the third day of Eidul Azha, in its holiday schedule.

Eidul Azha will be celebrated across Pakistan from May 27 to May 29.

The federal government on Wednesday announced a three-day public holiday from May 26-28 (Tuesday to Thursday) to mark Eidul Azha.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared May 26 to 28 as “public holidays on the occasion of Eidul Azha”.

The announcement was made after moon sighting testimonies were received from Karachi and other cities of Sindh, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and some other areas.

Celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj, Eidul Azha marks the culmination of Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Saudi Arabia is also set to mark the first day of Eidul Azha on May 27, Saudi Gazette reported.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday landed in Hangzhou, kicking off his four-day official visit to China.

Zhejiang province’s Vice Governor Xu Wenguang received PM Shehbaz at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport upon his arrival, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Islamabad’s envoy Khalil Hashmi were also present to welcome him.

PM signs MOUs, meets provincial official

Prime Minister Shehbaz signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang and Punjab during a meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee Secretary Wang Hao in Hangzhou.

A statement issued by the government of Pakistan on X said that during the meeting, PM Shehbaz witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents, including the MoU on the establishment of a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang and Punjab.

“The MoU aims to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges,” said the statement.

It added that PM Shehbaz also witnessed the signing of a document of understanding between Hangzhou Normal University and the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing for the establishment of the China-Pakistan Joint Technology Research Centre at the university.

“The centre will promote academic cooperation, applied research, technology exchange and institutional linkages between Pakistan and China,” it stated.

According to the statement, the prime minister appreciated the remarkable development achievements of Zhejiang province and praised the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping during his tenure as secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, particularly the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

“Zhejiang’s development offered an important example of how ecological conservation, green development and high-quality economic growth could advance in a mutually reinforcing manner,” the statement quoted PM Shehbaz as saying.

Pakistan attached high importance to strengthening cooperation with Zhejiang province, particularly in the fields of digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and skills development, the prime minister added.

“The provincial cooperation constitutes an important pillar of Pakistan-China relations and can play a significant role in advancing Phase II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through industrial cooperation, agricultural modernisation, technology collaboration and export-oriented development,” he said.

Highlighting the recent commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Beijing, PM Shehbaz said, “The two countries are entering a new phase of practical, people-centric and development-oriented cooperation.”

Detailing his Hangzhou itinerary, the PMO said PM Shehbaz will attend a business forum aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).

The PMO further said that the premier will engage with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of leading Chinese companies and visit the headquarters of Alibaba Group to strengthen economic cooperation.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, and PM’s adviser Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the premier on the trip.

A day earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had announced that the premier would undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26.

“The visit assumes special significance as Pakistan and China commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. It will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and advance the shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future,” it said.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz will hold meetings with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

“The two sides will review bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and strategic domains, with particular focus on the high-quality development of CPEC, trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agricultural modernisation, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges,” the FO said.

The premier will begin his visit in Hangzhou, where he will chair the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference. In Beijing, he will attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

“The visit is expected to further deepen political trust, strengthen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation, and consolidate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China,” the statement concluded.

Separately, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly press briefing that the US-Iran war was expected to come up during discussions between PM Shehbaz and the Chinese leadership.

“Pakistan and China have maintained close coordination on the standoff in the Middle East and our peace efforts in this regard,” Andrabi said, recalling DPM Dar’s visit to China last month.

“We agreed on a five-point principle, which was issued as a joint statement. So, yes, this issue will be discussed during the prime minister’s visit,” he added.