Islamabad (GNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif gave a warm welcome to Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation on their arrival in Islamabad, using the occasion to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to advancing bilateral ties across trade, economic development, infrastructure, and reconstruction, while also promoting peace and stability in the region.
Opening the delegation-level talks, the Prime Minister said he was genuinely pleased to host the Iranian President and thanked him for taking up his invitation to visit Pakistan.
Shehbaz said he had every confidence that the Iranian people, resilient and talented, with vast natural resources, would transform their country into a thriving economy, and that Pakistan and Iran would continue to work side by side toward shared prosperity.
He thanked the Iranian leadership for placing its trust in Pakistan’s mediation efforts and assured Tehran that Pakistan would remain a constructive force in supporting durable peace. He described the bonds between the two nations as the kind of brotherhood that speaks for itself and needs no justification, saying Pakistan would keep backing peace initiatives grounded in dignity, mutual respect, and honour.
The Prime Minister passed on his warm regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader and praised the Iranian leadership for its role in bringing about the Memorandum of Understanding and a ceasefire achieved, in his words, with dignity and honour intact. He extended heartfelt condolences to the Iranian people for the lives lost during the recent conflict — including children and civilians — and commended President Pezeshkian for the steady and measured leadership he had shown throughout a difficult period.
Shehbaz paid particular tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, crediting his relentless behind-the-scenes work during the most difficult stretch of negotiations as a decisive factor in facilitating the dialogue that led to the MoU. He described the Field Marshal as having worked without rest, with a single purpose: to do everything possible to prevent a war that could have brought devastation to a vast part of the region.
He also acknowledged the first round of technical talks held in Switzerland and thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their persistent diplomatic efforts and shuttle diplomacy throughout the process. Further thanks went to Qatar and other friendly nations for their backing of the peace initiative, and to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for their contributions toward regional stability.
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The Prime Minister noted that he had briefed Parliament on President Pezeshkian’s visit and said the Pakistani public shared in the warmth of welcoming the Iranian leader. He summed up the relationship between the two countries simply: Iran and Pakistan are brothers who stand by each other in both good times and difficult ones.
He also moved to put to rest speculation about the MoU’s contents, stating clearly that ballistic missiles were neither discussed during negotiations nor included in the agreement in any form, as the issue was never on the agenda. He called for clarity rather than confusion about what the MoU actually covers, noting that certain quarters had tried to sow doubt about the peace effort. He was unequivocal that the agreement is focused on promoting peace and stability and carries no provisions related to missile programmes.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
