Three-time former prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday lauded the federal government alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their significant role in mediating between the US and Iran. Speaking at a meeting of the PML-N’s parliamentary board for Gilgit-Baltistan, Nawaz was joined by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
He specifically commended the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Dar and Field Marshal Munir, emphasizing that Pakistan’s diplomatic stature has been notably enhanced. The country gained international attention after Islamabad successfully brokered a US-Iran ceasefire just hours before US President Donald Trump’s deadline, described as a “hell” warning, was set to expire on April 8.
In a significant development earlier this month, President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran following discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir. During this critical juncture, PM Shehbaz had appealed to Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to progress, a request the US president accepted.
Subsequently, Pakistan hosted rare direct talks between US and Iranian officials, marking their first face-to-face contact in over ten years. Although the initial meeting concluded without a formal agreement to end the Middle East conflict, there was no immediate resumption of hostilities. A second round of discussions between senior US and Iranian representatives is anticipated to take place in Islamabad this week.
At the high-level meeting, Nawaz also praised the Punjab government’s achievements and encouraged other provinces to emulate its progress in development projects and administrative efficiency. Conversely, he criticized the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its deteriorating law and order situation, questioning whether anyone there feels secure.
Highlighting the development initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan, Nawaz asserted that the PML-N has contributed across all sectors and fronts, reinforcing the party’s commitment to the region’s advancement.
