OMM Redaksiyası
Pakistan is “absolutely determined” to make progress in efforts to de-escalate the conflict between the United States and Iran, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday, according to remarks reported by the source.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations in New York, where he is attending the 81st session of the General Assembly, Sharif said Pakistan was acting as a “sincere and honest mediator” between Iran, its neighbour, and the United States.
Islamabad continues mediation efforts
Sharif referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, US President Donald Trump and himself. He said developments after the agreement had become “a bit unpredictable”.
“Pakistan is completely focused. We have not lost hope; we are absolutely determined that we will further make efforts and make progress to de-escalate the situation,” the prime minister said.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Pakistan later helped secure a ceasefire on April 8 and hosted more than 20 hours of talks between US and Iranian officials in Islamabad.
Ceasefire framework followed by renewed strikes
After weeks of mediation, Pakistan and Qatar helped broker the Islamabad memorandum, signed on June 18. The agreement gave the two sides a framework and 60 days to negotiate a longer-term deal aimed at ending the war.
However, the two countries soon resumed retaliatory strikes, and tensions have continued. Iranian and US negotiators also held indirect talks on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Asked whether further meetings could take place, Sharif described the mediation as a “continuous process” and said that “all friendly countries are contributing to achieve peace”.
