PM Shehbaz’s planned Switzerland visit postponed at last minute

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s planned visit to Switzerland has been postponed, hours after the United States and Iran electronically signed a peace agreement today, diplomatic sources said.

According to sources, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was supposed to leave for Switzerland today. According to the Iran-US agreement, the initial talks will be held tomorrow at the Bergenstock resort.

Diplomatic sources said that it has been signed electronically by the signatories, has become effective, and is being implemented.

Once there was a diplomatic breakthrough at the topmost levels, a ceremonial visit was less pressing than making sure the follow-up was disciplined.

The task assigned to Pakistan was to provide the agreed framework, defuse the crisis, and lay out a process for implementation. All that has been accomplished.

The next stage will consist of different tracks dealing with sanctions relief, maritime security, nuclear issues, verification, sequencing, and regional assurances.

This means that Islamabad did not just facilitate an event but has helped in establishing a framework that needs expert-level handling. The point needs to be emphasized that the visit is delayed, not because diplomacy failed, but because diplomacy succeeded.

It should be remembered that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as an intermediary today; US President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Peshmerga also signed the agreement. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was supposed to leave for Switzerland today with a delegation, but his visit was canceled.