Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of building upon the understandings established under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), describing it as the sole viable path toward enduring peace in the region. He made these remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on Monday, held on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) Meeting in Kyrgyzstan.
The prime minister highlighted the necessity of restraint and ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure lasting stability and peace in the region. Notably, on June 18, the United States and Iran reached a 14-point interim agreement known as the “Islamabad MoU,” aimed at halting conflict in the Middle East.
During their warm and cordial discussions, both leaders reaffirmed the longstanding and close relationship between their countries. They stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, in line with decisions made during President Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan in June of this year. They also reviewed ongoing initiatives to improve regional connectivity and foster people-to-people exchanges.
The leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional dynamics. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to sincere efforts in regional peacebuilding. He also noted that the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to Tehran, along with his constructive engagements, was a positive development in this regard.
President Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s consistent diplomatic endeavors aimed at regional peace and security. He underscored the deep-rooted strength of Pakistan-Iran relations, which are founded on centuries of shared history, culture, and faith. The Iranian president reaffirmed Tehran’s strong desire to expand cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors and emphasized the need for unity among the Ummah to address contemporary challenges.
In a significant development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to President Pezeshkian for an official visit to Pakistan at the earliest opportunity. The Iranian president, in turn, invited the prime minister to attend the upcoming ECO summit scheduled to take place in Tehran in December 2026.
The meeting was attended by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and other senior officials.
