Says he is ‘hopeful’ for second round of direct US-Iran talks leading to lasting peace
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between the US and Iran as a “bright moment in our history” and says the evolving political-military coordination has helped improve Pakistan’s international image.
He made these remarks during an interview with The Sunday Times.
“It is one of the shining moments in our history. Pakistan is recognized worldwide as an honest broker and as a country in which international leadership has full confidence and faith. This is our shining hour and I feel a very proud Pakistani – so do 240 million Pakistanis,” he was quoted as saying in the interview published on Saturday evening.
The prime minister stated that he was “hopeful” of a second round of direct talks between the US and Iran leading to lasting peace.
“By sheer luck we have been placed in this prestigious position,” he said.
“Fortunately, Iran trusts Pakistan, as does the US administration – and also the Gulf states – and I am grateful to Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian for accepting our invitation,” he added.
Noting that Pakistan’s efforts for peace were ongoing, the prime minister added that “peace is never won easily”.
“You have to have patience, cleverness and the ability to move things despite the most difficult challenges.
“As we speak, we are still doing our best to ensure that this peace effort achieves a lasting peace through another session here in Islamabad, and we hope that it will happen,” he said.
“Our international image has been completely changed through this partnership by our political and military hierarchy.”
Paying tribute to the Chief of Defense Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Prime Minister said: “What we are seeing is a team effort by the political and military leadership. I must acknowledge that the Field Marshal has played a critical role which will go down in history.”
He also praised the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who he said had “engaged his colleagues and worked tirelessly”.
