ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has thanked his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, for appreciating Islamabad’s efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East.
In a post on his X handle on Thursday, the Prime Minister said we will continue to work tirelessly with our friends and partners in our shared pursuit of lasting peace in the region.
Thank you Prime Minister @AlboMP for your endorsement of Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace.
We will continue to work tirelessly with our friends and partners in our shared pursuit of lasting peace in the region. https://t.co/LZkCBslKuq
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 9, 2026
Earlier, Anthony Albanese welcomed the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.
“The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now,” his office said in a statement.
“We have been clear the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost,” the statement noted.
Australia has been collaborating with international partners to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring that essential supplies can reach those in need, particularly the most vulnerable.
“We thank and support the work of negotiators, including Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, in advancing de-escalation efforts,” it added.
Pakistan is set to host high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran this weekend, as a two-week ceasefire — brokered through Islamabad’s intensive diplomatic efforts — entered its second day on Thursday.
Delegations are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday, with formal negotiations scheduled for Saturday.
The talks mark a pivotal moment in efforts to de-escalate a conflict that had threatened to engulf the wider Middle East, with Pakistan now positioned at the centre of global diplomacy.
