ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged all parties to exercise restraint, warning that violations of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran could undermine the peace process.

In a post on X, the prime minister called for full adherence to the two-week ceasefire, stressing that diplomacy must be allowed to take the lead in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. His appeal came less than 24 hours after Pakistan’s mediation efforts led to a temporary halt in the six-week-long war that caused widespread destruction and economic disruption across the region.

Sharif reiterated that the ceasefire is only the first step towards achieving lasting peace, adding that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating dialogue between the two sides. He also confirmed that leadership from both countries has been invited to Islamabad on April 10 for further negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement.

Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister said Pakistan has emerged as a respected nation on the global stage due to its diplomatic efforts. Cabinet members welcomed him with applause as he described the ceasefire as a significant success.

He credited coordinated efforts by the political and military leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir, for engaging with US and Iranian counterparts to secure the truce.

The prime minister also thanked Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump for accepting Pakistan’s proposal for a ceasefire. He acknowledged the support of key regional partners including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait, and China for their role in supporting peace efforts.

Sharif emphasised that Pakistan remained actively engaged with regional and global leaders throughout the crisis and would continue working to ensure that the temporary ceasefire evolves into a permanent resolution.