00:00Well, there are signs pointing to possible ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran.
00:05President Trump has even suggested they may return to Islamabad,
00:09putting Pakistan back at the center of efforts to end the conflict.
00:12Pakistani Senator Anwar ul-Hakhar is in Islamabad joining us now.
00:17Thank you so much for your time.
00:18From what you know and what you're able to tell us,
00:21how likely are we to see another round of U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan
00:27before the ceasefire runs out in less than a week?
00:32Well, thank you so much.
00:35There is a high probability and the people on Pakistan's side is quite sanguine
00:44who are involved in the process and to whom I've spoken.
00:49They have an assessment based on the information through their encounters with the American side
00:56and the Iranian side both, that the efforts behind the scene,
01:00which apparently thought that there was a collapse of the negotiation between U.S. and Iran,
01:08now people would mildly put it as a fall.
01:11It was a sort of a pause rather than an utter collapse.
01:16And this is exactly what we are seeing.
01:18And this is exactly what is being expected.
01:23Bearing in mind that in 2015, the nuclear agreement that was made with Iran took over 20 months to negotiate,
01:31do you think even if a second round of talks occurs in Pakistan in the coming days,
01:35an agreement will be reached?
01:38Well, as you have indicated yourself, it's not just even since 2015.
01:45We've got a history of almost 50 years or five decades
01:51where the Iranian perspective and its outlook on the region and on global affairs
01:56with the rest of the world is altogether different.
02:00And there has been different occasions, different challenges.
02:06But what does that mean?
02:08If we become a prisoner of past and do not allow ourselves and the rest of the world an opportunity
02:21because past is not a great guide in this case particular,
02:26that would be a wrong approach.
02:28So much is at stake right now for everyone around the globe.
02:33If you speak of European Union, if you speak of the U.S., if you speak of China, GCC, Iran
02:41itself, Pakistan, India,
02:44more or less the whole of globe economically or otherwise with this escalation of this conflict
02:53would be the victim of this conflict.
02:56So, yes, I know 2015 was very difficult and its outcome was altogether and unexpected
03:05and it didn't go the way it should have been.
03:09But even then, we have to be pretty much optimist to give it a fresh chance.
03:16Very briefly, how concerned are you that the ceasefire will be destroyed by the rhetoric and the increasing tension around
03:25the Strait of Hormuz?
03:28Well, there is always a chance, but I'm pretty much sure that it's all about posturing rather than serious intent
03:38of continuation of a perpetual war.
03:41So, I am quite hopeful that it would not lead towards the violation of ceasefire or the continuation of an
03:51extended conflict.
03:53All right. Well, thank you for your words.
03:54I really appreciate it.
03:55Pakistani Senator Anwar ul-Hakha in Islamabad.
03:59And that's the world today.
04:00Thanks so much for watching.
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