Pakistan asks US, Iran to 'give peace a chance' as tensions begin to de-escalate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday urged the United States and Iran to "give peace a chance", one day after President Donald Trump offered peace to Tehran as rising tensions threatened a military confrontation between the two foes. 

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui, said Trump's speech hinted towards peace with Iran. 

She said Pakistan wished peace and stability prevailed in the Middle East and that "all parties should give peace a chance".

Tensions between the two countries soared after Iran attacked two military bases housing US troops in Iraq. Tehran said the move was retaliation for a US drone strike ordered by President Trump that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. The American president blamed the Iranian general for killing thousands of Americans and Iraqis, saying in his Wednesday speech that Soleimani was "planning more attacks against the US". 

Read more: Top Iran commander Qassem Soleimani killed in US strike on Baghdad

Farooqui said Turkish President Erdogan will visit Pakistan in February where bilateral relations between the two countries will be discussed.     

Trump backs off from military confrontation with Iran

United States President Donald Trump Wednesday offered peace to Iran, saying Tehran was "standing down" after missile strikes on US troop bases in Iraq that resulted in no American or Iraqi deaths.

Read more: Trump says Iran standing down, US 'ready to embrace peace'

Trumps comments came as tensions between Washington and Tehran soared after two military bases housing American troops in Iraq were attacked with missiles from Iran.

He gave a message to the "people and leaders of Iran" that the US was "ready to have peace with all those who seek it".

Trump said the US wanted Iran to have a "great and prosperous future with other countries of the world".

PM Imran directs FM Qureshi to diffuse tension between US and Iran

Prime Minister Imran had asked Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to tell their leaders that Pakistan was "ready to play its role for peace but it can never again be part of any war".

Read more: PM directs Qureshi to visit US, Iran, Saudi Arabia as part of Pakistan's 'role for peace'

In a tweet shared Wednesday evening, he wrote: "I have asked FM Qureshi to visit Iran, KSA & USA to meet with respective foreign ministers, Secretary of State."

The prime minister had also asked Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa "to contact relevant military leaders to convey a clear message: Pakistan is ready to play it's role for peace but it can never again be part of any war."