ISLAMABAD: The civil and military leadership on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating and providing all out support to the United States and Iran to arrive at a peacefully negotiated settlement.
Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Asim Munir called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here.
The leadership appreciated the restraint demonstrated by all sides and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating and providing all out support to both the sides to arrive at a peacefully negotiated settlement, the PMO said in a statement. Shehbaz lauded the commitment of the parties involved in the process and wished them success in their pursuit of peace. He also renewed his invitation to the arriving delegations and assured them of the highest consideration and support by Pakistan.
The dignitaries reviewed the progress of Pakistan’s mediatory efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region. They expressed satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far and emphasized the need for maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties.
Mariana Baabar adds: Pakistan along with several world capitals, including Iran, on Thursday condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon and demanded that Lebanon be included in the temporary ceasefire agreed upon by Pakistan, Iran and the United States.
Tehran has warned that further attacks would impinge on the Islamabad dialogue this weekend. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir assured that the dialogue was on track and Pakistan was committed to the upcoming talks between Iran-US in Islamabad. They reiterated that Pakistan was committed to facilitating and providing all out support to both sides to arrive at a peaceful negotiated settlement.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that further continuation of Israeli strikes against Lebanon would render negotiations meaningless. In a statement, he said, “Renewed aggression by the Zionist regime against Lebanon blatantly violates the initial ceasefire. Such actions signal deception and no-compliance, rendering negotiations meaningless. Our hands remain on the trigger; Iran will never forsake its Lebanese brothers and sisters.”
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of Lebanon on Thursday evening and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing peace efforts, including facilitating dialogue through the upcoming Iran-US talks in Islamabad.
“I strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon and offered condolences over the loss of thousands of precious lives in Lebanon as a result of these hostilities,” Shehbaz said.
Nawaf appreciated Pakistan’s peace efforts and underscored the need for its support in securing an immediate end to the attacks targeting Lebanon and its people.
Reiterating its unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon, Pakistan condemned in the strongest terms, the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and widespread destruction of infrastructure, said the Foreign Office.
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz also warned against Israeli attacks on Lebanon saying, “We view the situation in southern Lebanon with particular concern as the severity with which Israel is waging war there could cause the peace process as a whole to fail, and that must not be done.”
Shehbaz also received a phone call from the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Appreciating Pakistan’s successful diplomatic efforts for the US-Iran ceasefire and resumption of dialogue, Meloni felicitated the prime minister on hosting the forthcoming peace negotiations between the US and Iran.
Underscoring the genuine and sincere desire of Pakistan for peace and stability in the region, Shehbaz welcomed the joint statement issued by key European and international leaders, including Prime Minister Meloni, in support of Pakistan’s peace efforts.
The two leaders also expressed their serious concern over the ongoing hostilities in Lebanon and agreed on the need for coordinated international efforts to prevent further escalation, so as to pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region.
Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker also held a warm telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While fondly recalling their recent meeting during his official visit to Vienna in February this year, the prime minister appreciated the Austrian chancellor’s strong message of endorsement and support for Pakistan’s efforts that have led to the US-Iran ceasefire, as well as ensuring resumption of negotiations between the two sides.
Both leaders stressed upon the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire be upheld by all sides, thereby strengthening the prospects of successful negotiations that could bring lasting peace and stability to the region and beyond.
In an important development, the UAE also condemned Israeli attacks across Lebanon and expressed concern over continued escalation and its repercussions on regional security and stability, said a statement from its Foreign Office.
In a breakthrough, the foreign minister of Iran telephoned his Saudi counterpart for the first time after Iran was attacked, with the Saudi Foreign Ministry noting, “During the call, they reviewed the latest developments and discussed ways to reduce tensions to restore security and stability in the region”.
Shehbaz and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke to several of their counterparts, who while lauding Pakistan’s efforts for the Islamabad dialogue also agreed that Lebanon should be included in the temporary ceasefire agreement. They congratulated Pakistan for its sincere efforts to facilitate the ceasefire between Iran and the US as well as helping to bring both to the negotiating table.
Shehbaz spoke to President Emmanuel Macron and both expressed “our deep concern over the ongoing aggressions in Lebanon and emphasised the urgent need to end violence and loss of innocent lives, so that peace can be restored throughout the region,” said the prime minister.
Taking X, Shehbaz also appreciated the endorsements coming from Chancellor Christian Stocker of Austria, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and president of Kazakhstan, lauding Pakistan’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dar in two calls with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, while discussing the latest regional developments, expressed deep concern over the ceasefire violations in Lebanon and stressed the urgent need for full respect and implementation of the ceasefire to ensure lasting peace and stability.
In a call with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, both sides expressed concern over the serious violations of ceasefire in Lebanon and emphasised the importance of its full implementation of the temporary ceasefire in the Middle East.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she had spoken several times to Dar to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East. “He shared that new negotiations will take place later this week. I thanked him for Pakistan’s continued efforts, including its role in helping secure the current two-week ceasefire, and reiterated that Canada stands ready to support these talks. We agreed on the need for the ceasefire to hold and extend to Lebanon, and to remain in close contact as discussions move forward,” she said.
UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in a call with Dar paid tribute to Pakistan for its role in achieving the ceasefire and expressed support for its efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the region.
DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday.
According to a press release, they exchanged views on the latest developments in the regional situation. FM Hakan Fidan appreciated and extended full support to Pakistan for its role in helping secure the recent ceasefire.
Underscoring the importance of continued engagement, both leaders hoped that the ceasefire would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region.
They reaffirmed strong and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and agreed to remain in close contact.
Asim Yasin adds: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday discussed the national and regional situation, with particular focus on the developments surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire.
In a telephonic conversation, Shehbaz briefed Bilawal on Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements and efforts contributing to the US-Iran de-escalation. Bilawal appreciated the prime minister’s proactive diplomatic engagement and commended Pakistan’s broader diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.
The PPP chairman observed that Pakistan’s calibrated diplomatic strategy had played a role in averting the risk of a wider global conflict, while underscoring the country’s constructive role in promoting peace.
Emphasising the importance of unity at a critical juncture, the PPP chairman expressed full support and solidarity with the government, calling for national cohesion to effectively navigate emerging challenges.
Shehbaz thanked Bilawal for his support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing peace, stability and dialogue in the region through continued diplomatic efforts.
Both leaders agreed on the need to sustain diplomatic momentum to ensure regional stability.
