Pakistan | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has emerged at the center of international diplomacy following its role in facilitating a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, with world leaders reaching out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to acknowledge Islamabad’s peace efforts aimed at ending regional hostilities, including the US-Israel.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has expressed strong appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday reviewed the “progress of Pakistan’s mediatory efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region”. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said CDF Munir called on PM Shehbaz. “The dignitaries reviewed the progress of Pakistan’s mediatory efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far and stressed upon the need for maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties,” it said. “The leadership appreciated the restraint demonstrated by all sides and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate and provide all-out support to both sides to arrive at a peacefully negotiated settlement,” the statement said. The statement said the premier lauded the commitment of the parties involved in the process and wished them success in their pursuit of peace. “He also renewed his invitation to the arriving delegations an...

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, in which he sought Pakistan’s support for bringing an immediate end to Israeli attacks on his country, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The statement said that during the call, PM Shehbaz strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon and expressed condolences over the loss of thousands of precious lives in these hostilities. “The prime minister said that Pakistan was engaged in sincere efforts for regional peace and it was in this spirit that the peace talks between Iran and the US were being convened,” it said. “While thanking PM Shehbaz for his peace efforts, the prime minister of Lebanon sought Pakistan’s support for bringing an immediate end to the attacks targeting Lebanon and its people,” the statement said, adding that both leaders agreed to remain in contact. PM Shehbaz also posted on X about the phone call, saying, “Grateful to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam who expressed...

Pakistan has started resuming flight operations after the recent ceasefire in the Middle East, with air traffic gradually returning to normal at major airports across the country.

Pakistan and Ethiopia have agreed to explore the establishment of a trilateral maritime alliance, potentially involving Djibouti, aimed at enhancing trade connectivity between Asia and Africa.

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s mediation that helped bring about a temporary US–Iran ceasefire has drawn global attention, with Islamabad’s envoy to Washington reiterating that the breakthrough was the result of “an intense diplomatic effort that was in progress over the past few weeks.” In an interview with CNN, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said Islamabad’s role was underpinned by trust from all sides, careful consultations, and a commitment to discretion. The interview on Wednesday came as Washington announced dispatching a high‑level negotiating team led by Vice President J.D. Vance to Islamabad to begin formal talks on ending hostilities following the ceasefire announced early Wednesday. China’s quiet but crucial role While Ambassador Sheikh did not map out specific country roles in detail, he acknowledged Beijing’s constructive stance. “China, from the very start, has also been mentioning the exercise of restraint and affording space for diplomacy to both sides,” he told CNN — a comment th...

Less than 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that delegations from the United States and Iran would visit Pakistan on Friday for talks aimed at a peaceful settlement to the war in the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during a conversation with PM Shehbaz, had earlier in the day confirmed Tehran’s participation in Pakistan-offered peace talks, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Addressing the federal cabinet, PM Shehbaz said that the war had been delayed for the time being. “A ceasefire is the first step. But our destination is lasting peace… Day after tomorrow (Friday), at my invitation, a US delegation is coming to Pakistan. In the same way, an Iranian delegation is also coming to Pakistan,” he said. During his address, PM Shehbaz also called the current situation a “shining moment” in Pakistan’s history. He also praised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role...

ISLAMABAD - The international community yesterday widely welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with global leaders acknowledging Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue and creating momentum toward peace, as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar intensified diplomatic outreach with.

Pakistan on Wednesday expressed concern at the storming and vandalism of Kuwait’s consulate in Iraq’s Basra, saying the act was “inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and international law”. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on X, Pakistan called for a thorough investigation into the incident and bringing those responsible to justice. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted with deep concern the reported storming and vandalism of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Basra, and the violation of the sanctity of the consular premises yesterday,” the statement said. “Pakistan strongly condemns such acts, which are inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and international law, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” it added. Pakistan emphasised the importance of ensuring the security and inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions, the FO said, adding the country called for a “thorough investigation into the incident, as well as bringing those ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that tensions between the United States and Iran have eased, crediting Pakistan’s constructive diplomacy for helping bring about a ceasefire.

“The optics of the [US-Iran] ceasefire are significant for Pakistan on the world stage.” This is what The Independent wrote in its analysis after Islamabad brokered a ceasefire between the United States and Iran in the early morning hours of Wednesday. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump warned that a “whole civilisation will die” and gave Iran an ultimatum to make a deal. Barely an hour before his deadline was set to expire, both Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities along with a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The development came after PM Shehbaz urged Trump to extend his deadline for two weeks to allow diplomacy a chance, which was ultimately accepted by the latter. Islamabad will host talks between both the countries in the upcoming days to reach a long-term solution to the conflict. While the ceasefire has brought relief for almost every country on the planet, many say it has also pushed Pakistan into the role of a “peacemaker”. The Independent In its analysis, T...

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to avoid any escalation in their armed conflict, during talks hosted by China in recent days, Beijing said on Wednesday. “Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held a week of informal meetings in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from April 1 to 7,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. The three delegations “engaged in frank and pragmatic discussions in a positive atmosphere”, she said at a regular news conference in Beijing. According to the spokeswoman, Afghanistan and Pakistan stated “their commitment to resolving their differences as soon as possible and realising a return to normalcy in bilateral relations, agreeing not to take any actions that would escalate or complicate the situation”. The Foreign Office (FO) has not issued any official statement on the matter yet and declined to comment on the development when approached by Dawn. Since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan in late February, diplomatic co...

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan is gaining recognition as a reliable mediator on the international stage after contributing to efforts that helped ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

Hanif Abbasi has said that Pakistan has demonstrated its capability to promote global peace as a responsible state following the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

World leaders have welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, while praising Pakistan and other nations for their role in facilitating the agreement.

The Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan has launched a new training initiative, the Upskilling Training Program (USTP), aimed at developing specialized skills in the semiconductor sector as part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global technology market.

Islamabad - Pakistan and Turkiye have underscored the importance of further strengthening military cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on training and joint military exercises.

Pakistan on Tuesday condemned Iranian missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities, terming the attacks as “a dangerous escalation” that undermined regional peace and stability. In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said, “The government of Pakistan expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the missile and drone attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran last night against energy facilities in the Eastern Region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The statement said that Pakistan also mourned the loss of life resulting from these attacks and “strongly deplores the damage inflicted on vital infrastructure”. The statement also conveyed Pakistan’s condolences to the families of the victims, adding that the country firmly stood in solidarity with the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this difficult time. “The government of Pakistan considers these attacks a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a dangerous ...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) by Israeli occupation forces.