PM Shehbaz addresses joint statement with Iran president
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently addressing a joint press briefing with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is on an official visit to Pakistan. Addressing a delegation-level meeting earlier, PM Shehbaz said it was a “great pleasure once again to welcome you to Pakistan”. He said Pezeshkian’s acceptance of his invitation after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was a “matter of great happiness and satisfaction for all of us”. The premier requested Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei for his “sagacious leadership that Iran has been able to achieve this MoU and as a result, a ceasefire with dignity and honour”. He also offered his deepest condolences “on the killings of innocent Iranian brothers and sisters, children, which run into thousands of people”. PM Shehbaz said: “Yet, under your sagacious and very calm, visionary leadership, today, thanks to God, we are sitting here to peep into a very bright future, and I am very grateful to you and the Iranian leadership for having abiding trust in Pakistan’s ability to mediate with honesty and sincerity. “I want to assure you that as brothers, we will never let you down,” he affirmed. “As they say, true brotherhood doesn’t have any questions to answer. And here we are,” the prime minister said. He further assured the Iranian leader that Pakistan will “carry on this important role until we have everlasting peace in place, on terms and conditions which are dictated by dignity and honour”. He also hailed the courage of Iranians. During his speech, PM Shehbaz highlighted the role and “outstanding contribution” of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, which “led to this ceasefire” and the signing of the Pakistan-mediated MoU. “He has toiled and worked untiringly through the nights, through those dark days with one mission: come what may, we will do everything humanly possible to stop this war, which can burn vast swath