Bürgenstock (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on held a meeting with United States Vice President JD Vance in Bürgenstock, Switzerland on Sunday.
The other members of the US delegation including Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also present on the occasion.
The meeting was conducted on the sidelines of the ongoing US-Iran technical-level negotiations, which are being held as part of efforts to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The engagement took place in a cordial and friendly environment, with both delegations exchanging warm sentiments and goodwill.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of the High-Level Talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, focused on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.#PakistanForPeace pic.twitter.com/7HTVLvPYhQ
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 21, 2026
Separately, Vice President JD Vance commended Pakistan for its notable diplomatic contributions. Speaking to reporters in Bürgenstock, he expressed strong appreciation for the country when responding to a media query, saying, "We Love Pakistan. Thank you."
The US-Iran technical talks, which became possible after both countries signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding brokered by Pakistan, have been given the title of the ‘Lake Lucerne Summit’. The discussions are set to continue over the next four days.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that PM Shehbaz Sharif reached Zurich on Sunday alongside a senior delegation to attend crucial discussions regarding the implementation of the Islamabad MoU.
According to the PMO, PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, will "participate in the High-Level Talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.”
During his stay in Bürgenstock, Prime Minister Shehbaz is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with representatives from Iran, the United States (US), Qatar and Switzerland.
Earlier in the day, the Foreign Office (FO) said these engagements are intended “to reaffirm Pakistan's enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region”.
The talks had originally been planned for Friday, but Switzerland’s foreign ministry later announced that the meeting would not proceed as scheduled and did not provide any explanation for the postponement.
The prime minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, left for Switzerland on Saturday night to take part in the discussions.
The FO described the gathering as “the first formal engagement after the signing of the Islamabad MoU on June 17, 2026”.
The meeting in Switzerland serves as the first official follow-up since the agreement was signed earlier this week. Senior-level delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States are participating in the dialogue.
“Pakistan will continue to support and advance the implementation of the understandings reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States,” the FO statement said.
The FO also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the crisis, saying they reflected its “principled, balanced, and constructive approach throughout the crisis”, including “hosting earlier rounds of US-Iran talks and sustained diplomatic contacts that culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding”.
On June 18, PM Shehbaz formally signed the Islamabad MoU in his role as mediator, marking a significant diplomatic achievement between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The 14-point agreement extends a ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days, including in Lebanon, to allow the two sides to negotiate a final truce. Both Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have digitally signed the memorandum in English and Farsi, US and Iran officials said, with Iran's foreign ministry saying the agreement was already in effect as of Wednesday.
The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran, killing 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders on the first day.
The confrontation rapidly expanded into a wider regional war that has left more than 7,000 people dead, most of them in Iran and Lebanon. The war has also pushed energy prices higher, intensified inflationary concerns and heightened fears of a serious food supply crisis in developing nations.