Geneva(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that while the signing ceremony of an agreement reached between the US and Iran \u2014 aimed at ending a war that began three months ago \u2014 would be held in Geneva, it would be hosted by Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe [signing] ceremony of this historic agreement will be held on Friday, June 19, in Geneva, and by the grace of God, it will be hosted by Pakistan,\u201d he said while addressing a National Assembly session after he announced the agreement past midnight on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the agreement, the US and Iran have agreed on a framework to end the war, halt the US blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The war began in late February, with the US and Israel launching strikes on Iran. Throughout the conflict, Pakistan has remained actively involved in mediating for peace and also hosted the first round of talks between the two sides in Islamabad in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The historic direct US-Iran talks<\/u><\/a> had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was after Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the two sides, which has remained fragile but in place. Days later, PM Shehbaz announced on X that the two sides had reached a \u201cpeace deal\u201d after intensive talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoth sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing the NA today, PM Shehbaz said that today, the world had achieved a \u201chistoric milestone\u201d of peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier said that a new dawn had emerged as \u201cafter three months and 16 days of tireless efforts, the US and Iran announced an immediate and permanent end to military action, including in Lebanon\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentioning that the agreement\u2019s signing ceremony would be held in Geneva, he said Pakistan would be \u201chosting\u201d the ceremony and congratulated the people of Pakistan, the international community and the members of the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He further thanked PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif, whose guidance he said was always available to him. The premier also thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other party heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is not an agreement between two countries, but it is the success of peace and dialogue \u2014 a diplomatic success,\u201d the PM remarked, commending the top leadership of the US and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that throughout the negotiation process, the leadership from both the US and Iran displayed \u201cpatience and sense under difficult circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a result, the entire world has come to witness this great day,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He paid tribute to Qatar\u2019s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, for his \u201cpositive role\u201d in the peace process, as well as the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Turkiye\u2019s President Tayyip Erdogan for their \u201cleadership and cooperation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am also thankful to other countries of the world, including the UK, EU member states and other friendly countries, on this historic moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that nations have sought for decades the \u201crespect and honour\u201d which has been awarded to Pakistan for its efforts in the peace process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He reiterated that a \u201chistoric milestone\u201d had been achieved with the agreement and Pakistan\u2019s name will be written in \u201cgolden letters\u201d in history for its efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prime minister also lauded \u201cgreat son of the soil\u201d Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, who the premier said had \u201csacrificed day and night to extinguish the flames of war and worked towards restoration of peace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThroughout this period, he was awake day and night,\u201d the PM said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He recalled that during the negotiation process, \u201cthere were many moments where it felt like the negotiations would come to a halt\u201d. However, he said, CDF Munir did not give up and continued his efforts, as a result of which, the agreement\u2019s announcement was made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf this journey had not continued, the dream of peace would have been shattered,\u201d he said, reiterating his appreciation for CDF Munir, who he said played an \u201cunprecedented role\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier also thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, whose efforts, he said, also ensured the success of the peace process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz alA)so commended Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who \u201cplayed a very important role and engaged with Iranian brothers\u201d, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the NA and lauded the prime minister and CDF Munir for their contributions to the US-Iran agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is no doubt we are passing through historic times,\u201d Asif said. \u201cThe leadership of Pakistan \u2014 PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir and his team \u2014 resolved the sensitive matter with wisdom and patience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that Pakistan would have achieved \u201cmany milestones if such cooperation had existed between Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the last 75 years as well\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asif also congratulated the Iranian leadership \u201cfor leading the Iranian nation in such difficult circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He remarked that if the Muslims exhibited similar unity, \u201cthe day is not far when the Palestinian cause can be resolved as well, and the Muslims of Gaza can get justice\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thanked the US leadership for taking a step towards peace in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey recognised the injustices being done to Iran for decades, and they have identified those injustices in the agreement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concluding his remarks, the defence minister appealed to Gulf states to unite for \u201cin this moment of unity and peace\u201d and stand with Muslims in Gaza and Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa also spoke during the NA session and thanked Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, who was present at the session, for Iran\u2019s \u201csteadfast\u201d stance throughout the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also expressed caution that there remained a gap \u201cbetween the lip and the cup\u201d till Friday\u2019s signing, stating, \u201cwe never know that this is going to mature, but we hope, and we expect that it will\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Geneva(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that while the signing ceremony of an agreement reached between the US and Iran \u2014 aimed at ending a war that began three months ago \u2014 would be held in Geneva, it would be hosted by Pakistan. \u201cThe [signing] ceremony of this historic agreement will be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>Khawaja Asif lauds PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n