US-Iran war impact on Pakistan: oil import bill rises, Sharif updates Cabinet on talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US-Iran war has damaged Pakistan’s recent economic gains. Shehbaz told a Cabinet meeting that Pakistan will keep working to reduce tensions. Shehbaz said the aim is to support peace in West Asia. Shehbaz added that collective action is needed to manage the pressure.

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Shehbaz said the conflict has pushed up Pakistan’s oil import costs. Shehbaz said the bill rose from USD 300 million before the war. Shehbaz said it has climbed to USD 800 million since then. Shehbaz also noted lower petroleum use this week than last week.

US-Iran talks and Pakistan efforts to ease tensions

Shehbaz said a task force is watching developments every day, an official statement said. Shehbaz told the Cabinet that Islamabad made efforts for regional stability. Shehbaz said the government wants to help both sides step back. Shehbaz also said Pakistan’s economic progress over two years has suffered.

Shehbaz spoke about talks between Iran and the United States held in Islamabad on April 11. Shehbaz said the discussions lasted 21 hours. Shehbaz described them as marathon talks and a key diplomatic moment. Shehbaz said Pakistan worked in a coordinated way for the talks to succeed.

Shehbaz said Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and senior officials supported the process. Shehbaz said the outcome helped extend the ceasefire. Shehbaz said the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was extended. Shehbaz added that it continues to hold.

US-Iran war and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits

Shehbaz told the Cabinet that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi came to Pakistan with a delegation. Shehbaz said there were several rounds of talks. Shehbaz said one meeting with Araghchi lasted two hours. Shehbaz said Araghchi promised a positive reply after consulting Iran’s leadership.

"Before the Iranian foreign minister visited Russia, I spoke with him on the phone, in which he assured me that all his meetings in Oman were held with sincerity of intent, and after consultation with his leadership...he will give a positive response soon,\"

Shehbaz referred to Araghchi’s weekend travel to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. Shehbaz said Araghchi made two brief visits to Pakistan within 48 hours. Shehbaz said Araghchi met Field Marshal Munir and PM Shehbaz. Shehbaz said the meetings focused on the regional situation and the conflict.

US-Iran war and ceasefire developments under Trump

Shehbaz said Pakistan plans to host a second round of talks. The report said Trump on Sunday repeated that US and Iranian officials can speak by phone. It said Trump backed a peace solution to the conflict. Shehbaz said there is hope the fighting ends soon.

The report said Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely last week. It said the move was to give Tehran more time. It said Iran was asked to prepare a unified proposal to end the war. The report linked this step to attempts to keep the ceasefire in place.

The report said the war started after US and Israel attacks on Iran on February 28. It said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top commanders were killed. It said Iran’s retaliation widened the conflict. It said the fighting then spread across the Gulf region.

With inputs from PTI