Amb. Waheed Ahmad (Former Diplomat):At the invitation of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, A very high level delegation of Pakistan led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other senior government officials attended funeral of late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Presence of high level delegation of Pakistan at funeral ceremony is crucial because Pakistan needed to send strong message of solidarity with Iran to the world as well as to Iranian people. Iran has been close hearts of Pakistanis since ever and it is positive to be present there among the global leaders and delegations. Moreover, meetings  of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir with Iranian leadership are also very important for regional peace and order. Definitely, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir might have pressed on Iranian leadership to remain firm on implementation of Islamabad Accord. I am fully optimistic that both Iran and the US will reach permanent agreement within the given deadline of 60 days.

 Amb. Haroon Shaukat (Former Diplomat): Top Pakistani civil military leadership’s presence in the funeral of late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is a good and positive gesture and it speaks the volume of importance of Iran for Pakistan.  Iran Pakistan brotherly countries and whole Pakistani nation extend heartfelt sympathies and condolences with Iran. Pakistan helped Iran to reach a peace deal with US. Iran has emerged as a major regional power out of conflict with Israel and US. Pakistan has played miraculous diplomatic role in recent conflict. I think that the prevailing situation in the Mideast is hinting a lot about future regional geopolitical landscape. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye are going to lead the region in future from security and other perspectives. Iran and GCC countries may have some sort bilateral agreement on respecting each other’s sovereignty and security. It may reduce foreign presence and intervention in the region and reduce influence of Israel and US in the region. A number of countries have sided with Iran in the past against US sanctions on Iran. Collective will of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye along with Russia and China may reshape regional political landscape in future