He warned that the latest tensions risked undermining the fragile gains made in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement in separate telephone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as Islamabad worked to prevent further regional escalation from undermining a hard-won peace process it helped broker between Tehran and Washington.
According to statements released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz warned that the latest tensions risked undermining the fragile gains made in recent weeks and stressed that all parties must honor commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the negotiated framework with Pakistan and Qatar’s mediation to end the months of conflict.
“I spoke today with my brother the President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian,” the prime minister wrote on X after the conversation. “We discussed the evolving regional situation and underlined the imperative of restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to safeguard the hard-won peace gains of recent months.”
“I reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to continue playing its role as an honest and sincere mediator for lasting regional peace,” he added.
The outreach comes amid growing concerns in Islamabad that renewed military tensions in the Gulf could jeopardize the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed after months of negotiations aimed at ending hostilities and creating a road map for broader normalization.
During his conversation with Pezeshkian, Shehbaz expressed “deep concern” over the recent escalation and highlighted the “urgent need to restore regional peace and stability,” according to the prime minister’s office.
He called on Iran and “all other parties” to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could jeopardize the peace gains made in recent months. Shehbaz also described the Islamabad MoU as a sustainable framework to promote mutual understanding, respect and shared prosperity, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to continue facilitating dialogue.
The Iranian president praised Pakistan’s efforts, thanking Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other Pakistani officials for attending the funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace and appreciated Islamabad’s role in promoting regional stability, according to the Pakistani statement.
The two leaders reviewed progress on decisions taken during Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad last month and agreed to accelerate the implementation of bilateral initiatives.
In another call with the Emir of Qatar, Shehbaz expressed Pakistan’s solidarity over the recent attacks on Qatar and thanked Doha for its “constant and unwavering support” for the diplomatic efforts that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the first round of high-level technical talks held in Burgenstock, Switzerland.
Both leaders agreed that sustained diplomacy and compliance with commitments made under the peace memorandum remained essential to preserve regional stability.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Qatar’s Emir thanked Sharif, Foreign Minister Dar and Field Marshal Munir for what he described as Pakistan’s leading role in promoting peace efforts and pledged Qatar’s continued support for the diplomatic process.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a key broker in efforts to prevent wider regional conflict, leveraging its close ties with Tehran and Gulf Arab states while maintaining engagement with Washington.
Officials in Islamabad have repeatedly warned that any further confrontation could not only destabilize the Middle East but also threaten global energy supplies and regional security.
Friday’s calls underscored Islamabad’s determination to preserve the diplomatic momentum generated by the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, even as new tensions test the deal’s durability.
