Full efforts are still being made to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday, a day after talks between the two sides, held in Islamabad, ended without agreement.
“The ceasefire is still holding and, as I speak, full efforts are underway to resolve the outstanding issues,” Shahbaz told a cabinet meeting in brief televised remarks.
Shahbaz apprised the cabinet members that the US and Iranian senior delegations arrived in Islamabad on Pakistan’s request and held face to face talks for the first time in decades. For which, he said, he was thankful to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump who accepted his invitation and before coming to Pakistan, they agreed for a ceasefire for two weeks.
“Allah (SWT) gave Pakistan this chance for mediation and peacemaking, which is an honour for entire Pakistan,” he added.
The premier cited historical accords which took even years to reach a conclusion to clarify that peacemaking can take some time.
“Pakistan’s leadership worked day and night to make Islamabad Talks happen,” he stated, paying tribute to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his team for tirelessly working in this regard.
He also appreciated Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his role in making this happen.
“CDF Munir and his team had sleepless nights in a bid to broker the peace,” he maintained.
Later the federal cabinet passed a resolution honouring Field Marshal Asim Munir and Ishaq Dar for their role in bringing the US and Iran to the negotiating table over the weekend.
According to state broadcaster PTV News, which has published the resolution in full on X, the cabinet paid tribute to Munir and Dar for convening the talks and bringing “the two warring parties to the table with tireless dedication, hard work, and wisdom,” and ending a “stalemate spanning nearly half a century.”
“The federal cabinet particularly regards with the highest esteem the day-and-night efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who stayed awake nights to handle matters in the most excellent manner,” it adds.
