Pakistan urges Middle East restraint as peace deal nears

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for calm in the Middle East, urging all parties to give peace another chance as he claims negotiations are in their final stages. Sharif, who is acting as a mediator, described the recent surge in violence as a stark reminder of the perils of a fragile ceasefire.

He warned of the "unbearable consequences" should open warfare resume, emphasizing the need to stay on the path of peace and diplomacy. "Let us continue to stay on the path of peace and diplomacy, which have bright prospects of success, rather than violence and destruction," the prime minister stated.

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While we are working with seriousness and diligence (...) to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final goal is about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and give peace one more chance.

Islamabad's reaction follows one of the most severe escalations between Iran, the United States, and Israel since a previous ceasefire. This includes Israeli forces bombing Beirut, Iran launching over thirty missiles at Israeli territory, and subsequent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian soil targeting strategic defense systems and a petrochemical plant. These attacks have led Iran to cancel all domestic flights until further notice.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi delivered a new peace proposal to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, a message urgently sent by Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Islamabad is working to finalize a definitive agreement between Washington and Tehran to halt hostilities and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil trade. U.S. President Donald Trump has also called for an immediate ceasefire.

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Let us continue to stay on the path of peace and diplomacy, which have bright prospects of success, rather than violence and destruction.