Pakistan hails US-Iran peace process as 'triumph of diplomacy'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday described the ongoing United States-Iran peace process as a major diplomatic success, stating that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and subsequent negotiations in Switzerland have reinforced confidence in dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective tools for resolving international disputes.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Islamabad MoU represented a historic breakthrough and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace, stability and constructive engagement.

“The Islamabad MoU and the Lucerne Summit reinforce our faith in dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means for the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts,” he said.

Andrabi recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced on June 18 the electronic signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran, marking a significant diplomatic milestone.

As a follow-up to the agreement, Pakistan and Qatar jointly hosted the first High-Level Committee meeting under the MoU framework in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21.

According to the spokesperson, the meeting successfully helped the parties reach understandings on several aspects related to the implementation of the accord.

Among the key outcomes was the establishment of a High-Level Committee tasked with providing political oversight of the mediation process. Chief negotiators from both sides will regularly brief the committee while leading specialised working groups focusing on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring mechanisms and dispute resolution.

“The parties have agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days,” Andrabi said.

The spokesperson highlighted that the parties also agreed to establish a dedicated communication channel to prevent misunderstandings and incidents, particularly concerning the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, a deconfliction cell involving the negotiating parties, the Lebanese government and the mediators has been established to oversee compliance with commitments aimed at maintaining regional stability.

He said a technical committee meeting was subsequently held in Bürgenstock on June 22 under the joint mediation of Pakistan and Qatar.

“The technical teams from Pakistan and Qatar will remain engaged with their counterparts from the United States and Iran in the coming weeks to facilitate effective implementation of the Islamabad MoU,” he added.

Andrabi welcomed the positive response from governments and international partners regarding Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and de-escalation in the region.

He said the recognition reflected growing international confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and conflict resolution.

“Pakistan remains grateful to all countries that supported our efforts in facilitating this important process,” he remarked.

The spokesperson also praised Pakistan’s media for demonstrating professionalism, discretion and responsibility throughout the negotiations.

He noted that the media’s restraint and avoidance of speculation contributed significantly to creating an environment conducive to trust-building and productive dialogue.

Highlighting recent diplomatic engagements, Andrabi said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

During the visit, President Pezeshkian held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explored opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade, energy, border management, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

Regional and international developments, including the implementation of the Islamabad MoU, also featured prominently in discussions.

The spokesperson also highlighted the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt — known as the Hour Four (H4) Grouping — held in Cairo on June 21.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar led Pakistan’s delegation, while the ministers reviewed progress on the Islamabad MoU and developments arising from the Bürgenstock talks.

The four countries later issued a joint statement reaffirming support for dialogue, regional stability and peaceful conflict resolution.

Andrabi noted that Dar had maintained intensive diplomatic engagement over the previous ten days, holding discussions with counterparts from Switzerland, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Japan, China, Canada, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Turning to the issue of Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates, Andrabi said the government remained fully committed to securing their release.

He revealed that Pakistan had launched a sustained diplomatic and humanitarian effort involving direct engagement with Somali authorities, international organisations, friendly countries and relevant stakeholders.

A technical team from Pakistan’s mission in Djibouti has been actively engaging local authorities and partners in Somalia, while senior officials continue diplomatic outreach at multiple levels.

“We fully understand the pain and concerns of the affected families and remain committed to pursuing every possible avenue for the safe release of the hostages,” he said.

On the Palestinian issue, Andrabi said Pakistan joined eight Arab and Islamic countries in issuing a joint statement condemning escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The statement specifically denounced attacks on religious sites and stressed that such actions violated international law, international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The spokesperson also announced that Pakistan had facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals during the week.

The group included eight fishermen rescued by a British vessel after their boat ran aground and 22 crew members from a vessel intercepted by US authorities.

Pakistan coordinated closely with Iranian, British and American authorities to ensure the safe transit of the individuals back to Iran.

Concluding the briefing, Andrabi highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic success at the United Nations, where the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2823, sponsored by Pakistan with support from Denmark.

Co-sponsored by 153 UN member states, the resolution seeks to strengthen accountability for crimes committed against United Nations peacekeepers.

Introduced by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the resolution calls for credible investigations, prosecutions and accountability for attacks targeting peacekeepers, while mandating annual reporting and enhanced institutional coordination within the UN system.

The spokesperson described the adoption of the resolution as further evidence of Pakistan’s growing leadership role in advancing international peace, security and multilateral cooperation.