Less than 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that delegations from the United States and Iran would visit Pakistan on Friday for talks aimed at a peaceful settlement to the war in the Middle East.
Addressing the federal cabinet, PM Shehbaz said that the war had been delayed for the time being.
“A ceasefire is the first step. But our destination is lasting peace… Day after tomorrow (Friday), at my invitation, a US delegation is coming to Pakistan. In the same way, an Iranian delegation is also coming to Pakistan,” he said.
During his address, PM Shehbaz also called the current situation a “shining moment” in Pakistan’s history. He also praised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in this regard.
“I haven’t seen this coordination and selfless efforts between political and military hierarchies in my whole 40-year career,” he said, adding, “This will be a lesson for the upcoming generations.”
PM Shehbaz also expressed the hope that the April 10 talks between Iran and the US would be successful.
According to the PMO statement, Pezeshkian “confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad”.
Terming the conversation “warm and cordial”, the PMO said the premier conveyed his “deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in agreeing to the ceasefire and for accepting the prime minister’s offer to host negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad later this week”.
The prime minister also conveyed his respects to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to PMO, President Pezeshkian thanked PM Shehbaz and “appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani leadership to bring about a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US and conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan”.
“Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact,” the statement added. The prime minister also posted on X about his phone call.
Terming his conversation “warm and substantive”, Shehbaz said he appreciated the Iranian leadership for “accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work jointly for the return of peace to the region”.
“Pakistan remains committed to working closely with all its friends and partners to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the premier reaffirmed.
The conversation comes after Pakistan announced that Iran and the US, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, including in Lebanon, effective immediately.
PM Shehbaz also invited delegations from both sides to Islamabad on April 10 to “further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes”.
US President Donald Trump, responding to Pakistan’s request to “extend the deadline for two weeks”, had announced he would suspend the bombing of Iran for two weeks if Tehran fully reopened the vital Strait of Hormuz.
In turn, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared a statement on behalf of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council declaring that if attacks against the country were halted, it would cease its defensive operations.
“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,” he added.
Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday received a telephone call from President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who conveyed heartfelt felicitations on Pakistan’s historic peace initiative aimed at ending hostilities in the Gulf region and promoting regional stability.