ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that “full efforts” are underway to resolve outstanding issues following the weekend talks between the US and Iran, expressing satisfaction with the progress achieved.
Addressing a special meeting of the federal cabinet, broadcast live, Sharif stated that the ceasefire agreed upon at Pakistan’s request last week “remains in place” and that efforts continue to resolve remaining issues.
In his first public address since the Islamabad Talks, the prime minister said the discussions had lifted the clouds of war, giving Pakistan an opportunity to help turn conflict into lasting peace.
Describing the Islamabad Talks as a “historic moment,” he said: “If you look at history – the Oslo Agreement, the Geneva Accord, the Good Friday Agreement – it often took months, sometimes years, to end hostilities and build peace.”
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He revealed that the US and Iranian delegations had engaged in continuous negotiations for 21 hours.
“The dialogue was not indirect. For the first time, the two delegations sat face-to-face. I was a witness to it,” he said, highlighting Pakistan’s active role in bringing both sides together.
Sharif credited Pakistan’s leadership with ensuring the ceasefire remained intact, adding that every effort was being made to resolve outstanding matters.
“That is why I believe the Islamabad Talks were a historic event,” he said, noting that he had received congratulations from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and several European leaders for Pakistan’s role in de-escalating tensions. During the meeting, the prime minister particularly praised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and their teams, for their contributions.
Sharif said their “wisdom” had been crucial in brokering the two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
“Safeguarding national secrets is my responsibility, and I witnessed these moments firsthand. The Field Marshal and his team stayed up all night, with talks nearly breaking down but ultimately being salvaged,” he added.
He also briefed ministers on his forthcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and recent engagements with allied countries, which are expected to focus on developments in the Middle East and the ongoing Iran-US negotiations.
Following the talks, both the US and Iranian delegations issued separate statements that, according to Sharif, shared common themes.
“Both expressed gratitude to Pakistan for hosting the talks and praised the country’s political and military leadership for “playing a brotherly role,” he added.
Sharif said Pakistan had been given a unique opportunity to mediate between two sides “that were not even ready to meet for 47 years.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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