Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir met on Tuesday his Lebanese counterpart Rodolphe Haykal, who began a visit to Pakistan on Saturday.

The two agreed to strengthen military cooperation between their countries, at a time when the US-Iran agreement to end the war in the Middle East remains out of reach.

Pakistan is playing a mediating role in US-Iran talks aimed at ending the war in the region, while Iran insists that any agreement with Washington must include a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran, a condition Israel rejects as it insists on separating the two tracks.

Haykal travelled on Saturday to Pakistan to meet his counterpart Asim Munir, according to the Lebanese army, in a visit that a knowledgeable source linked to the talks aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

Rodolphe Haykal (Lebanese Army Command)

The Pakistani army stated in a press release that the two commanders discussed “issues of mutual interest, the evolving regional security environment, defense cooperation, and prospects for strengthening bilateral military relations.”

The statement noted that Munir “emphasized the commitment of the Pakistani army to expanding defense cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces,” following an official reception ceremony that included a guard of honor parade in the city of Rawalpindi.

A source familiar with the details of the visit said that “Lebanon is a key part of the negotiations” between Iran and the United States.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that negotiators had reached the final stages of talks in an effort to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East.

Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on March 2 after Hezbollah targeted Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the US-Israeli war.

According to the latest figures from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks and strikes have killed more than 3,600 people.