The Prime Minister hails the understanding as a ‘historic milestone’, calling it a matter of collective pride
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the National Assembly on Monday. PHOTO: NA/FACEBOOK
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the formal signing ceremony of the US-Iran deal will be held in Geneva on June 19 and will be hosted by Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Monday that the United States and Iran had reached an agreement after intensive negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Opening his speech in the National Assembly, the prime minister said: “Today, by the grace of Allah, the world has crossed a historic milestone. Describing the development as a turning point after a period of global tension, he said: ‘After the night of war, the sun of peace has risen.’
He said this development has been achieved after three months of intense challenges. The Prime Minister said the agreement, which included an end to military operations, has been announced.
Congratulating members of Parliament and the wider international community, the prime minister said: “I congratulate the Pakistani nation and the entire international community from the bottom of my heart.” Calling it a matter of collective pride, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan had played a constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement.
The Iranian ambassador also witnessed the proceedings in Parliament.
Shehbaz Sharif also thanked cross-party political leadership, including ruling and opposition benches, saying he had received full cooperation throughout the process.
He thanked former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his guidance. He also expressed gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other political figures including Aleem Khan, Chaudhry Associates, Dr. Mukul Siddiqui, Sardar Khan and others.
He said all political leaders deserved appreciation for their role.
Read: Political leadership welcomes US-Iran understanding, praises diplomacy
The prime minister said the agreement was not just between the two countries, but “a victory for peace and dialogue.” He called it a “success of diplomacy and failure of war.”
He stated that Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership had played an important role in supporting peace efforts, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and National Security Advisor Lt. Asim Malik.
The Prime Minister also praised international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and other members of negotiating teams.
He said Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had played a key role, along with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting diplomatic efforts.
The prime minister said Pakistan had supported talks through its diplomatic channels and the foreign ministry team. He said the crisis had put global economic pressure, including on Pakistan, but added that timely decisions had helped manage the impact and protect citizens from severe inflationary shocks.
He called for unity among federal and provincial governments and political forces. He said that Pakistan would work to ensure that the benefits of improved global conditions reached the common citizens.
Concluding his speech, he said that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif
Earlier in the session, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the Iran-US peace deal, scheduled to be signed on Friday, as a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan, the state-ruled Radio Pakistan reported.
Addressing the National Assembly today, he said that the country’s leadership through its vision, wisdom and diplomatic efforts has enhanced Pakistan’s prestige and status on the international stage. He said the recognition and respect earned by Pakistan through these efforts is unparalleled, describing it as one of the most significant achievements in the nation’s 78-year history.
He emphasized that the struggle Pakistan was waging on the diplomatic front was aimed at promoting peace. He recalled that Pakistan had also secured victory in a war fought on the military front almost a year ago. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would also achieve success on the economic front after its successes on the military and diplomatic fronts.
The defense minister thanked the United States for finally taking a big step toward peace and for recognizing the injustices that Iran is facing and has stated in the agreement to address them. He also congratulated the Iranian leadership and people for demonstrating unity at a very sensitive time.
At the outset, Spokesman Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also congratulated the entire Pakistani nation on the country’s diplomatic achievement in helping broker peace between Iran and the United States. In this regard, he appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik and the entire team of the Ministry of External Affairs.
