PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Asim Munir arrive in Switzerland for US-Iran talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Switzerland from Islamabad on Sunday. Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also accompanying the prime minister. In continuation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, technical-level talks between the US and Iran are scheduled to be held today (Sunday) in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will also participate in the discussions. US Vice President JD Vance earlier landed in Switzerland to attend discussions with Iranian officials. Separately, a high-level Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf earlier also arrived in Switzerland for talks on key issues. According to Radio Pakistan, delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States will also participate in the discussions, which represent the first formal engagement since the Islamabad MoU was signed on June 17. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the departure around 1am, noting that the visit forms part of ongoing diplomatic engagement linked to the recently signed peace framework. In a statement, the Foreign Office noted that the talks marked the first formal engagement between the US and Iran since the signing of the Islamabad MoU on June 17. It confirmed that high-level delegations from the US, Iran and Qatar will be part of the talks. “Pakistan will continue to support and advance the implementation of the understandings reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US, ” the Foreign Office affirmed. It added that Prime Minister Shehbaz is also “expected to hold bilateral interactions with the participating delegations from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Qatar, Switzerland and the US, to reaffirm Pakistan’s enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region”. “Pakistan’s facilitative role underscores its principled, balanced, and constructive approach throughout the crisis, including hosting earlier rounds of US-Iran talks and sustained diplomatic contacts that culminated in the Islamabad MoU. ” Pakistan said it would continue to support efforts to advance the understandings reached between Iran and the United States, underscoring its role in facilitating the diplomatic process.

Read full story on Aaj English Tv