By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - With just over 24 hours remaining before a fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is set to expire, Pakistan on Tuesday has urgently called on both sides to extend the truce and give dialogue a genuine chance.

The appeal came during a meeting between U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Tuesday, where discussions focused on rapidly evolving regional developments.

Dar "underscored Pakistan's consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability," according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He "stressed the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urged both sides to consider extending the ceasefire, and to give dialogue and diplomacy a chance."

Baker conveyed U.S. appreciation for Pakistan's "constructive and positive role in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue," the statement added.

Despite Pakistan's diplomatic push, U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled little willingness to extend the truce, which he announced on April 7 and which is set to expire on Wednesday evening, U.S. Eastern Time.

Trump told Bloomberg on Monday that extending the ceasefire is "highly unlikely" if a deal is not reached before the deadline. He warned that "lots of bombs start going off" if the ceasefire expires without an agreement.

"The Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until a peace agreement is finalized," Trump said. "They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I'm not opening it until a deal is signed".

Asked if military strikes would resume immediately after the ceasefire expires, Trump said: "If there's no deal, I would certainly expect".

- Iran: 'We Will Not Negotiate Under Threats'

On the other side of the divide, Iranian leaders have hardened their stance. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who heads Iran's negotiation team, declared on X that Tehran "will not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats".

"Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table — in his own imagination — into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering," Ghalibaf wrote.

He added that Iran has spent the past two weeks preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield" .

President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the sentiment, posting on X: "Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. government conduct remains, while unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message: they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force".

Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position. Islamabad has invested significant diplomatic capital in hosting the first round of talks, with security forces sealing the Red Zone and making extensive preparations for high-level delegations for second round of talks.

However, Iran has yet to officially confirm its participation in the second round. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Tehran "currently has no plan" for a second round, citing U.S. "provocative actions" and violations of the ceasefire as major obstacles.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during phone calls with his Pakistani and Russian counterparts, condemned U.S. actions against Iranian commercial shipping -- including the reported seizure of the container vessel Touska -- and cited "contradictory positions and rhetoric of threat" from Washington.

China, a key trading partner of Iran, has also called for restraint. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the conflict is at a "critical stage of transition between war and peace".

"At such a moment, it is all the more necessary for all parties to show the utmost sincerity, remain committed to a political solution, maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations," Guo said.

The U.S. delegation -- led by Vice President JD Vance -- is expected to arrive in Islamabad, according to U.S. officials. However, Iranian state television has broadcast messages stating that "no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad... so far".

Pakistani officials remain cautiously optimistic. According to The Associated Press, Pakistan-led mediators have received confirmation that both Vance and Ghalibaf will arrive early Wednesday.

But with Trump threatening bombs, Iran vowing not to surrender, and the ceasefire clock ticking down to Wednesday evening, the window for diplomacy is closing fast.

Pakistan has done what it can. Now, the world waits to see if the two adversaries will step back from the brink.