President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. See what’s next in peace talks.

April 8 (Reuters) - Pakistan, a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, on Wednesday requested that U.S. President Donald Trump grant a two-week ceasefire and extension to a deadline ‌he imposed on Iran to end its blockade of Gulf oil, while U.S. and Israeli ‌strikes on Iran intensified during the sixth week of the war.

China’s government has said that Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed not to escalate their conflict and to “explore a comprehensive solution” after several weeks of cross-border fighting between the two countries that has left hundreds of people killed.

Pakistani officials have aggressively courted the Trump administration and made use of their longstanding ties to Iran.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have expressed "deep appreciation" for China's mediation efforts, describing Beijing as fair, impartial and fully committed, after seven days of informal talks in Urumqi, the Foreign Ministry says.

A high-ranking Iranian official has accused the U.S. of planning a ground invasion as part of the next stage in the Iran war, and said such an intervention would be met with force.

Pakistan’s prime minister posted a public plea on X for President Trump to extend his Tuesday evening deadline for Iran. The White House was directly involved in shaping the message.

Empty stadiums in PSL 2026 have sparked debate after Islamabad United owner Ali Naqvi linked the decision to Pakistan’s role in global peace efforts. His claim conflicts with PCB’s earlier explanation citing a fuel crisis.

China’s preferred style of mediation involves quiet and behind-the-scenes facilitation rather than high-profile spectacles or photo-ops.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s social media post that laid the groundwork for Tuesday’s two-week pause of U.S. attacks on Iran contained an odd edit, suggesting the announcement was written for him by people outside of the Pakistani government.