ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed profound gratitude to regional and global countries for their support in securing a US–Iran ceasefire, as Islamabad prepares to host high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States to achieve a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict.
In a message posted on X, Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the critical role played by countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar, as well as member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. He appreciated their “invaluable and all-out support” in enabling diplomacy to prevail.
PM Sharif also commended the leadership of other countries and the United States for demonstrating “exceptional strategic foresight, sagacity and patience in giving peace a chance” and paving the way for the upcoming Islamabad Talks.
“I also thank all our partners and friends across the globe who have reached out and acknowledged Pakistan’s sincere efforts for the global peace,” Prime Minister Sharif said.
“Let us all work together to forge a lasting peace in the region and beyond!,” the Pakistan PM concluded.
As we proceed to *Islamabad Talks*, I wish to extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Türkiye, Arab Republic of Egypt and State of Qatar for extending invaluable and all out support…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026
Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif said that the US, its allies, and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire “everywhere”, including Lebanon, following mediation by his government to stop weeks of fighting.
“I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,” Sharif posted on X.
With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
I warmly welcome the…— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 7, 2026
He added that Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, would welcome delegations from both countries on Friday to hold negotiations aimed at reaching a “conclusive agreement”.
“We earnestly hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days,” he said.
Both Tehran and Washington announced they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.
Accepting Pakistan’s suggestion of a two-week ceasefire, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of military action against Iran following discussions with Pakistan’s leadership.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF IRAN: pic.twitter.com/IZ9qoGpgK8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026
Trump said that after speaking with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, he agreed to pause planned strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz “completely, immediately, and safely”.
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that US military objectives had already been achieved and that the pause would allow both sides to finalise a comprehensive agreement.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 7, 2026
Earlier, Trump had set an 8:00 pm Eastern Time (0000 GMT Wednesday) deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of oil and gas. He warned that failure to comply would result in devastating consequences, saying “a whole civilisation will die tonight”.
Sharif, in a post on X, had urged both sides to observe a two-week ceasefire to “allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war”.
Trump also confirmed that Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, describing it as a “workable basis” for negotiations.
“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated,” he said.
