Islamabad, April 25 -- In a frantic attempt to project regional relevance, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, even as the highly anticipated second round of US-Iran peace talks in the capital teeter on the brink of total collapse.

According to a statement released by the Office of Pakistan's Prime Minister on X, Araghchi arrived at the Prime Minister's House for discussions focused on the "situation in the region".

Significantly, the civilian leadership was closely flanked by the military establishment, with Pakistan Army Chief Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also participating in the talks.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi held a...