Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the “positive and constructive” results of the first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland. In his first statement following the conclusion of the meetings, held under the auspices of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, Sharif affirmed his country’s commitment to continuing to play an “honest and impartial” role. He also emphasized the importance of advancing the dialogue process toward achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
A roadmap for peace in 60 days
Speaking on the X platform, the Pakistani Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved, describing it as “encouraging.” He noted that the meetings had resulted in a clear roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. The outcomes also include the establishment of a high-level committee to provide political oversight of the mediation process. Furthermore, a series of intensive technical talks have commenced and will continue throughout the week in Switzerland.
Pivotal role for Pakistani leaders
The Pakistani Prime Minister commended the diplomatic and security efforts that led to this achievement. He particularly praised the “crucial and persistent” role of the Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing his efforts in unifying positions as the cornerstone of the talks’ success. Sharif also thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, for their contributions to this matter.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar commended the constructive spirit shown by both Washington and Tehran. He affirmed that the Pakistani Foreign Ministry team would continue to work closely with the participating parties in the coming days to conduct the necessary technical discussions. Furthermore, Dar expressed his particular appreciation to the State of Qatar, describing it as a strategic partner in the mediation process alongside Pakistan.
Switzerland hosts the art dialogue
On the ground, senior Iranian envoys left Switzerland on Monday after a lengthy round of negotiations with the American side.
While Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the nuclear discussions had not yet entered into detailed discussions, the parties agreed to establish direct communication channels to ensure de-escalation on two critical issues. The first issue is securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The second is working to solidify the ceasefire in Lebanon.
These moves come amid great international anticipation. Islamabad and Doha are betting that this “quiet diplomacy” will succeed in translating political understandings into a stable reality on the ground. They also hope it will end decades of tension and ensure the security of waterways and regional stability in a highly complex international environment.
