PM Shehbaz addresses joint statement with Iran president

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently addressing a joint press briefing with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is on an official visit to Pakistan.

Addressing a delegation-level meeting earlier, PM Shehbaz said it was a “great pleasure once again to welcome you to Pakistan”.

He said Pezeshkian’s acceptance of his invitation after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was a “matter of great happiness and satisfaction for all of us”.

The premier requested Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei for his “sagacious leadership that Iran has been able to achieve this MoU and as a result, a ceasefire with dignity and honour”.

He also offered his deepest condolences “on the killings of innocent Iranian brothers and sisters, children, which run into thousands of people”.

PM Shehbaz said: “Yet, under your sagacious and very calm, visionary leadership, today, thanks to God, we are sitting here to peep into a very bright future, and I am very grateful to you and the Iranian leadership for having abiding trust in Pakistan’s ability to mediate with honesty and sincerity.

“I want to assure you that as brothers, we will never let you down,” he affirmed.

“As they say, true brotherhood doesn’t have any questions to answer. And here we are,” the prime minister said.

He further assured the Iranian leader that Pakistan will “carry on this important role until we have everlasting peace in place, on terms and conditions which are dictated by dignity and honour”. He also hailed the courage of Iranians.

During his speech, PM Shehbaz highlighted the role and “outstanding contribution” of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, which “led to this ceasefire” and the signing of the Pakistan-mediated MoU.

“He has toiled and worked untiringly through the nights, through those dark days with one mission: come what may, we will do everything humanly possible to stop this war, which can burn vast swathes of land and devastate everything,” the prime minister remarked.

Recalling the first session of the US-Iran technical discussions at Burgenstock, the premier appreciated the efforts of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his team, as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, for “his fine shuttle diplomacy”.

“In that, brother Abbas Araghchi has played a pivotal role,” he said, acknowledging the “support” that Pakistan has received from Qatar.

Earlier, the Iranian president was welcomed at the Prime Minister’s House with a guard of honour, and the two held a meeting before delegation-level talks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was at the direct talks held between the United States and Iran in Switzerland over the weekend, is also accompanying Pezeshkian during the visit.

At PM House, the Iranian president engaged in a bilateral meeting with PM Shehbaz, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

A statement from the PMO said that Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar were in attendance.

It added that delegation-level talks would take place later.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq were also expected to call on the Iranian president, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

Iran’s state media IRNA reported that FM Araghchi held talks with President Zardari and PM Shehbaz “only hours” before Pezeshkian landed in Pakistan.

‘Principled support for Iran’s peace’

President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s “principled support for Iran’s peace” as President Pezeshkian paid a visit to Islamabad.

In their meeting at Aiwan-i-Sadr, President Zardari welcomed his Iranian counterpart on his first state visit to Pakistan since the US-Iran war, the presidency said.

“The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, mainly regional peace and security, bilateral and regional connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest,” the statement said.

President Zardari noted that the visit reflected the “longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries and a desire to stay together in good and bad times”.

He stressed that Pakistan has “consistently opposed one-sided initiatives and has supported dialogue and diplomacy as the means to achieve a durable and sustainable solution to regional and global challenges”.

He also underscored Pakistan’s “commitment to preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah while maintaining strong fraternal relations with the countries of the Gulf region”, the presidency said.

President Zardari congratulated Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran and “expressed the hope that the ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in permanent peace in the region”.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s “principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The president again expressed his condolences on the “martyrdom of His Eminence Ali Hosseini Khamenei”, who was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and said that Pakistan would participate in his funeral.

Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its “positive and constructive efforts in support of peace and dialogue and appreciated the support extended by Pakistan during [the] recent challenging circumstances”, the presidency said.

The Iranian president said his country “attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to further expanding cooperation in political, economic, security and regional matters”

President Zardari requested President Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

The Iranian president was accompanied by FM Araghchi, Chief of the President’s Office Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Chief of Political Affairs of President’s Office Saeed Abbas Mousavi and Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam.

From the Pakistani side, Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar, PPP Chairman and former FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, Senate Chief Whip Saleem Mandviwala and ex-senator Dr Asim Hussain were present during the meeting.

CDF Munir, Pezeshkian discuss ‘peace initiatives’

CDF Munir called on the Iranian president, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

They exchanged views on “regional developments and peace initiatives”, the ISPR said in a statement.

CDF Munir, along with PM Shehbaz, had participated in the US-Iran talks in Switzerland, where they discussed a framework for regional peace.

Both leaders have been involved in efforts to secure peace in the Middle East after the US-Iran war erupted on February 28 as US-Israeli strikes hit Tehran.

During his meeting with the army chief, Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability”, the ISPR said.

It added that he acknowledged Pakistan’s “consistent efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges”.

On his part, CDF Munir reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region, the statement noted.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the shared objective of advancing peace, prosperity and stability across the region,” it read.

Iran president, FM arrive

Pezeshkian and Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on separate flights earlier in the day. The Iranian president flew to the federal capital from Iran, while the foreign minister’s last engagement was in Oman.

President Pezeshkian, upon his arrival at the Nur Khan airbase, was received by President Zardari, PM Shehbaz, Deputy PM Dar, Naqvi, Bilawal and Ambassador Moghaddam.

FM Araghchi, who had already landed in Pakistan, was also present to welcome his president.

Pezeshkian was accorded a 21-gun salute, while fighter jets conducted a flypast in his honour, state-run APP reported. The president waved in response to the children’s welcoming slogans, it added.

Upon his arrival at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan airbase earlier in the day, Araghchi was welcomed by Dar, Naqvi and Bilawal.

“The leadership and people of Pakistan extend a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Araghchi and the Iranian delegation to Islamabad,” the FO said.

In an earlier statement, the FO noted Pezeshkian’s visit was his second to Pakistan in his capacity as the president of Iran.

It said the visit would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity.

It also termed the visit an “important opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest”.

“The forthcoming visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to further deepen their historic and cultural ties and underscores their common aspiration for peace, stability, and sustainable progress in the region,” the FO added.

IHC, FCC cancel judicial work; govt tells Red Zone employees to work from home

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also cancelled judicial work for Tuesday, due to the closure of the Red Zone for the Iranian president’s visit. A notification issued by the IHC said that Tuesday’s cause list had been cancelled, adding that officials were directed to work from home.

However, it added that district courts would function as per routine.

Similarly, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) also announced the suspension of judicial work at its principal seat in Islamabad due to the closure of the Red Zone in Islamabad.

“Consequently, the cause list of the Court stands cancelled. However, all officers and staff shall work from home and shall not leave the station. Besides, all four branch registries of the court shall remain open for judicial and administrative work,” the notification said.

Separately, the federal government issued a notification implementing a one-day “work from home” directive for various ministries.

According to a notification issued by Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, employees of ministries, divisions, and government offices located inside Islamabad’s Red Zone will work remotely. Furthermore, autonomous bodies and attached departments operating within the Red Zone will observe a full holiday.

However, essential federal institutions and banks were exempted from this order. These included the Prime Minister’s Office, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the Federal Board of Revenue, and the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, commerce, industries, law, parliamentary affairs, and planning division, alongside all federal banking institutions.

Bus stands closed

All bus terminals operating in the capital were closed on Monday night as a security measure in view of the arrival of the Iranian president.

Officials of the capital administration and police said that the capital police, under directives from the capital administration, approached the managements of bus terminals in the capital, including those at Faizabad and Chongi No 26, and asked them to shut down their operations before midnight.

The managers were further asked to suspend their operations on Tuesday. The terminals will remain closed until the departure of the Iranian president. Besides, the Islamabad Red Zone has also been sealed as a security measure. Entry will be allowed only to concerned officials.

Further, Islamabad District Magistrate Irfan Nawaz Memon ordered the immediate closure of all popular hiking routes in the city.

The restriction applies to Trail 2, Trail 3, Trail 4, Trail 5, and the hiking tracks located behind Saidpur Village, remaining effective from Tuesday until further notice.

US-Iran talks in Switzerland

Pezeshkian’s visit follows key direct talks — dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit” — held between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, kicking off negotiations under the Islamabad MoU signed on June 18.

Under the 14-point accord, Washington and Tehran agreed on a framework to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate on key issues within 60 days of the signing.

The US-Iran talks in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock were mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir representing Pakistan.

The Lake Lucerne Summit created a mechanism for further technical talks, which will continue this week, and also set up communication lines to end the fighting in Lebanon and to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open.

“Encouraging progress has been made,” the mediators said in their joint statement, including a contact channel set up to “avoid incidents and miscommunication” in the Strait of Hormuz.

A “de-confliction cell” between the parties and the Lebanese authorities has also been agreed upon to prevent fighting from erupting again.

Additional input from APP ...