Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif says US-Iran ceasefire covers 'everywhere' including Lebanon
However, Israel later contradicted the Pakistan prime minister's statement, saying that the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon".
First responders gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Saida, Lebanon on Apr 8, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Mahmoud Zayyat)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday (Apr 8) that the United States, Iran and their allies had agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere", including Lebanon, following mediation by his government to stop weeks of fighting.
"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Sharif posted on X.
He added that Pakistan's capital Islamabad would welcome delegations from both countries on Friday to hold negotiations aimed at reaching a "conclusive agreement".
"We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days," he said.
Both Tehran and Washington announced they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before US President Donald Trump's deadline to "obliterate" Iran was set to expire.
Pakistan, which has forged a close relationship with Trump and is sensitive to developments in neighbouring Iran, emerged as a channel for messaging between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks.
However, contradicting Sharif's statement, Israel said the US-Iran ceasefire deal "does not include Lebanon", which was drawn into the war after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.
"The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
The war began when Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader on Feb 28, sparking retaliatory strikes from Tehran on Gulf nations and Israel.
Lebanon has also been drawn into the conflict after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, which has since carried out strikes, including on the capital, and launched a ground operation in the south of the country.
