PM Shehbaz urges restraint, reaffirms Pakistan's peace role in call with Iran's president

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged restraint and called for efforts to preserve regional peace during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while reaffirming Pakistan’s readiness to facilitate dialogue and support initiatives aimed at maintaining stability in the region, according to a statement from the PM Office.

During the call, PM Shehbaz expressed concern over the recent escalation in tensions in the region and underscored the urgent need to restore regional peace and stability.

He called on Iran and all other parties to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could jeopardise peace gains achieved over the past few months.

He stressed the importance of upholding the commitments undertaken under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as an enduring framework for promoting mutual understanding, respect and shared prosperity in the region and beyond.

“Reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to regional peace, the Prime Minister assured President Pezeshkian of Pakistan’s readiness to continue playing an honest and sincere role in facilitating dialogue and supporting all efforts aimed at preserving peace and stability.

“President Pezeshkian thanked the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior Pakistani leaders for attending the funeral ceremony of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. He also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace and appreciated Pakistan’s constructive support and sincere efforts for regional stability,” the PMO statement read.

The two leaders also reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken during Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad last month and agreed to expedite follow-up actions to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across diverse fields.

Telephone call with Amir of Qatar

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also held a telephonic call with Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh ‎Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.‎

“During their discussion, the Prime Minister ‎expressed his deep concern over the recent ‎escalation in tensions in the region. While conveying ‎Pakistan’s solidarity and support with the people of ‎Qatar on the recent attacks, the Prime Minister ‎stressed upon all parties to exercise restraint and ‎refrain from any actions that could undermine peace ‎in the region,” the PMO said in a separate statement.

PM Shehbaz conveyed Pakistan’s gratitude to His Highness the Amir for Qatar’s ‎role in the peace efforts ‎that culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of ‎Understanding and the first round of high-level ‎technical talks at Burgenstock.‎

“The two leaders agreed upon the importance of ‎sustained diplomatic engagement and dialogue, and ‎adherence to the commitments made by all parties ‎under the peace memorandum,” the PMO said.