ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon in a call with his Lebanese counterpart on Thursday, as continued hostilities in West Asia highlighted the fragility of a ceasefire mediated by Pakistan between the United States and Iran that Islamabad is trying to build into a broader peace deal.
The two-week truce, announced earlier this week shortly before a deadline set by President Donald Trump to target critical Iranian infrastructure, included Israel’s consent, as Tehran said it would extend to Lebanon, a claim Israel denied.
The condition was also mentioned in a social media post in which the Pakistani prime minister announced the ceasefire breakthrough, which he said would take immediate effect. Israel’s latest strikes in Lebanon have killed hundreds of people, highlighting the risk of a widening war even as Pakistan prepares to host US and Iranian officials in Islamabad for talks aimed at a longer-term settlement.
“I spoke with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, this evening,” Sharif said in a social media post on X. “I strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon and offered condolences over the loss of thousands of precious lives in Lebanon as a result of these hostilities.”
“Grateful to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam who expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s peace efforts and underscored the need for our continued support in securing an immediate end to the attacks targeting Lebanon and its people,” he added.
Pakistan’s foreign office earlier condemned Israeli attacks in Lebanon “in the strongest terms,” calling them a violation of international law and warning they could derail broader peace efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire.
MACRON CALL, EUROPEAN BACKING
Sharif also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, discussing the situation in Lebanon and broader regional tensions.
“Received a warm and substantive telephone call from President Emmanuel Macron, this afternoon,” he said in another social media post.
“President Macron graciously congratulated Pakistan on its sincere efforts in facilitating the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, and for helping bring both sides to the negotiating table.”
“I deeply appreciate his kind words as well as his good wishes for the success of the upcoming peace talks in Islamabad,” he added.
“We also shared serious concern over the ongoing aggression in Lebanon and underscored the urgent need to end the violence and loss of innocent lives, so that peace may be restored across the region.”
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, European leaders — along with Canada and Australia — welcomed the ceasefire and thanked Pakistan and other partners for their role, but warned that only rapid negotiations could secure a lasting end to the conflict and avert a “severe global energy crisis.”
They called on all sides to implement the ceasefire “including in Lebanon,” highlighting fears that continued hostilities there could widen the conflict despite the agreement between Washington and Tehran.
The war, which began on Feb. 28, has shaken markets and threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, highlighting the stakes for world powers pushing for a diplomatic resolution.
