Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday highlighted Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, affirming that Islamabad “never gave up”.
He made the remarks while addressing the 8th Global Security Forum being held in Qatar’s capital Doha. Convened under the title “The Future of Alliances“, the forum brings together high-ranking officials and dignitaries from over 100 nations, according to Qatar News Agency.
“The last few months have been very difficult for our region. The conflict involving Iran and the United States created serious risks not only for the Middle East, but for the entire world,” Naqvi noted.
He added that at such a critical time, Pakistan chose the path of peace and made “every possible effort to reduce tensions”.
Naqvi, who has been involved in Islamabad’s peace efforts and has made several trips to Iran since the war began, said, “There were moments when the situation was extremely tense, but we never gave up.”
He particularly highlighted the “remarkable role” of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Pakistan’s efforts to reduce tensions.
The interior minister recalled the June 18 signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US.
This, he noted, was followed by the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland, organised by mediators Pakistan and Qatar.
“There, I saw something I will never forget,” he said, adding that Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CDF Munir worked for “more than 16 hours without a single break”.
“No cameras, no announcements; only two men who refused to let the talks fail,” Naqvi remarked, emphasising that the only aim of the two mediating countries was to “stop further conflict”.
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