Prime Minister hails deal as ‘historic milestone’, calls it a matter of collective pride
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking at the National Assembly on Monday. PHOTO: NA/FACEBOOK
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the formal signing ceremony of the US-Iran understanding 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 intense negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Opening his speech to the National Assembly, the Prime Minister said: “Today, by the grace of Allah, the world has passed a historic milestone. Describing this event 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 that after three months of intense challenges, this progress has been achieved. The prime minister said the agreement, which included an end to military operations, had been announced.
The Prime Minister congratulated the members of the House and the international community at large, saying, “I congratulate the Pakistani nation and the entire international community from the bottom of my heart.” Prime Minister Shehbaz termed it a matter of collective pride and said Pakistan had played a constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement.
The Iranian ambassador also witnessed the House debates.
Shehbaz Sharif also appreciated the political leadership of all parties, including the ruling and opposition benches, and said that 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 External Affairs 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 recognition 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 a failure of war.”
He stated that Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders had played an important role in supporting the peace efforts, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and national security adviser Lieutenant General Asim Malik.
The prime minister also praised international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Iran’s leaders, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, and other members of the negotiating teams.
He said Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar had played a key role, along with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting diplomatic efforts.
The prime minister said Pakistan had supported the negotiations through its diplomatic channels and Foreign Ministry teams. He said the crisis had put economic pressure on the world, including Pakistan, but added that timely decisions had helped manage the impact and protect citizens from serious inflationary shocks.
He urged unity between federal and provincial governments and political forces. He said Pakistan would work to ensure that the benefits of improved global conditions reached ordinary citizens.
Concluding his speech, he said that Pakistan will 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 government said. Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking in the National Assembly today, he said the country’s leadership, through its vision, wisdom and diplomatic efforts, has enhanced Pakistan’s prestige and standing on the international stage. He said the recognition and respect earned by Pakistan through these efforts are unparalleled and described it as one of the most significant achievements in the nation’s 78-year history.
He stressed that the fight waged by Pakistan on the diplomatic front was aimed at promoting peace. He recalled that Pakistan also won 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 an important step toward peace and for recognizing the injustices Iran faces and indicating in the agreement how to address them. He also congratulated the Iranian leaders and people for demonstrating unity during a very delicate time.
At the outset, President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also congratulated the entire Pakistani nation for the country’s diplomatic achievement in helping mediate 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, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, National Security Advisor Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik and the entire team of the Ministry of External Affairs.
