President Asif Ali Zardari has warmly welcomed the signing of Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, describing it as an historic moment for the region and the world. In his message, the President said that the conflict which began in February this year inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of the region and caused severe disruption to global energy supplies, trade and economic stability. 

He expressed hope that such a tragedy would never be repeated and that the nations of the region would now devote their energies to development, prosperity and the well-being of their peoples. The President paid tribute to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi for their tireless diplomatic efforts that contributed significantly to bringing the parties to an agreement. 

He noted that Pakistan had played a principled, balanced and constructive role throughout the crisis, consistently calling for dialogue, restraint and a peaceful resolution of disputes while maintaining engagement with all parties concerned.The President also appreciated the leadership of both the US and Iran for ensuring a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and advancing the cause of peace.

He also acknowledged the valuable support of brotherly nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, as well as the Russian Federation and China, whose efforts and encouragement of dialogue contributed to the pursuit of peace. The President called upon all parties to implement Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding fully and expedite efforts to reach the final agreement within the stipulated timeframe to ensure lasting peace and progress. 

He expressed the hope that this MoU that has Islamabad and Pakistan written all over it, would serve as the foundation for a durable and comprehensive peace in the region, enabling nations to focus on economic development, energy cooperation and the advancement of their peoples. He said Pakistan will continue to stand in solidarity with all brotherly nations of the region in their collective journey towards peace and prosperity.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)