Islamabad, March 28 Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian via phone on Saturday regarding the ongoing hostilities in West Asia and condemned the continued Israeli attacks on Tehran.
“During their detailed conversation that lasted over an hour, the two leaders discussed the ongoing situation in the region and efforts towards peace,” a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.
Sharif informed the Iranian president about the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by him, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the statement said.
Pakistan is engaging with the US, Gulf, and Islamic countries to create a conducive environment for peace talks, the statement said.
The prime minister briefed the Iranian president on Pakistan's strong support for the peace initiative and expressed the hope that a viable path towards ending hostilities could be found collectively, the statement said.
Sharif also reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including the recent attacks on civilian infrastructure on Friday.
He reaffirmed “Pakistan's solidarity and support for the brave people of Iran, in these challenging times”, and also offered condolences for the loss of over 1,900 lives and prayed for the recovery of the injured and displaced.
The Iranian president, appreciating Sharif's diplomatic efforts, shared his perspective on the ongoing hostilities perpetrated by Israel against Iran, the statement said.
Pezeshkian stressed on the need to build trust in order to facilitate talks and mediation.
Sharif in a social media post said that he held a detailed telephone conversation with “my brother President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran earlier today, lasting over an hour”.
“I reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, and conveyed Pakistan's solidarity with the brave people of Iran,” he said.
Sharif also expressed his condolences on the “tragic loss of precious lives and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and displaced”.
The prime minister also thanked the president for his appreciation of Pakistan's sincere efforts to advance peace and facilitate dialogue in the region.
“I apprised him of Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic outreach - engaging the United States and brotherly Gulf and Islamic countries - to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey for discussions on a wide range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia amid the war in Iran, the Foreign Office said on Saturday.
Pakistan said on Thursday that it was “actively and constructively engaged” with all stakeholders in the region and beyond to peacefully end the Iran war.