PM Shehbaz commends US, Iran leadership for commitment to constructive engagement

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday commended the leadership of both the United States as well as Iran for their continued commitment to constructive engagement, after the first round of talks between high-ranking US and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended.

“Alhamdulillah, the First High-Level Committee Meeting under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has concluded successfully in Bürgenstock, Switzerland,” PM Shehbaz said, according to the PM Office.

The discussions were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress, including agreement on a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days, the establishment of a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight, and the commencement of further technical talks, the premier said.

He also thanked all brotherly and friendly countries for their valuable support in advancing this historic process.

“In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to our brotherly country Qatar, for its critical support in creating the conditions necessary for these negotiations to move forward.

“A word of thanks to the Swiss government (as well) for their facilitation in hosting these talks,” he maintained.

Shehbaz paid special tribute to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir “whose untiring efforts made these talks a success”.

“His dedication, commitment and perseverance are indeed commendable without which there would have been no progress,” he stated.

The premier also paid compliments and heartfelt gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, for his diplomatic efforts along with his team at the Foreign Office. “I also deeply appreciate the hard work of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi who contributed immensely to the success of these talks,” he added.

Pakistan, he said, would continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution.

A joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan also confirmed that the US and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, according to the statement.

The parties agreed to a mechanism to end the fighting in Lebanon and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the contested strait, the statement said. US Vice President Vance had opened talks with Iranian officials on Sunday under the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days. The discussions continued until the early hours of Monday.

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In a post on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan for Iran.

He also acknowledged that tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War.

The Iranian Student News Agency reported on Monday that technical talks between Iran and the United States on mechanisms to implement their memorandum of understanding and forming related technical working groups will begin in Switzerland on Monday.

Iran’s delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and includes political, economic and legal experts.

The talks are also being attended by representatives of mediator countries Pakistan and Qatar, while Iran’s main negotiating team headed by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has returned to Tehran.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz has departed for Pakistan after concluding his visit to Switzerland. Senior Swiss officials and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland Marghoob Saleem Butt saw off the prime minister at Zurich Airport.