Ayesha Mir

ISLAMABAD: JD Vance is en route to Islamabad to lead high-stakes peace talks with Iran, a rare diplomatic role for a US vice president that could shape the outcome of negotiations and signal renewed US engagement in the region.

Dossier with Ayesha

JD Vance is en route to Islamabad to lead high-stakes peace talks with Iran, a rare diplomatic role for a US vice president that could shape the outcome of negotiations and signal renewed US engagement in the region.

Anti-war JD Vance leads Iran peace talks in Islamabad

SAN DIEGO: The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts hurtled back into Earth&#39;s atmosphere Friday following a historic trip around the Moon, beginning a critical test of their heat shield which must protect the capsule from searing temperatures. Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman are in the final phase of their approximately 10-day journey that included a lunar slingshot, in which they will lose communications for six minutes. Following re-entry, they are expected to splash down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Artificial Intelligence

NASA’s Artemis II astronauts re-entered Earth’s atmosphere after a 10-day Moon mission, testing their heat shield. The crew experienced a brief communication blackout before an expected splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Artemis II astronauts descend into Earth's atmosphere in critical heat shield test

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host talks between Iran and the United States in a bid to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to a war that has left thousands dead and roiled global energy markets.&nbsp;Here are five things to know about the Islamabad talks:&nbsp;The war behind the talksOn February 28, the United States and Israel launched deadly coordinated strikes that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and struck Iran&rsquo;s military and nuclear infrastructure.&nbsp;More than 3,000 people were killed in Iran in five weeks, according to Iranian media and US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).&nbsp;Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf waterway through which about a fifth of global oil and gas passes, sending energy prices soaring and disrupting trade worldwide.&nbsp;On April 8, Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The ceasefire is expected to expire April 22.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s unlikely starring rolePakistan&rsquo;s value as a mediator rests on an unusually broad diplomatic network.Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan&rsquo;s statehood following independence in 1947, with the two neighbors sharing a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border and deep historical, cultural and religious ties.&nbsp;Pakistan is also home to more than 20 million Shia Muslims, the second-largest such population in the world after Iran.&nbsp;Islamabad has cultivated strong ties with Washington, Riyadh and Beijing.&nbsp;Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing at the end of March for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who backed Islamabad&rsquo;s mediation efforts as &ldquo;in keeping with the common interests of all parties.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump himself told AFP that China helped bring Iran to the negotiating table, an account backed by Pakistani officials.&nbsp;&ldquo;On ceasefire night, hopes were fading, but China stepped in and convinced Iran to agree to a preliminary ceasefire,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani official familiar with the negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;What&rsquo;s on the table?The gap between the two sides remains vast.&nbsp;Washington&rsquo;s reported 15-point proposal centers on Iran&rsquo;s enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Tehran has countered with a 10-point plan demanding control over the strait, a toll for vessels crossing the strait, an end to all regional military operations and the lifting of all sanctions.&nbsp;Lebanon is also a major sticking point.Israel has continued its strikes in the country targeting Hezbollah &mdash; after the ceasefire came into force &mdash; with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s assertion that the truce included Lebanon.&nbsp;US Vice President JD Vance appeared to take a softer tone, saying there may have been a &ldquo;legitimate misunderstanding&rdquo; from Iran that Lebanon would be included.&nbsp;Iran&rsquo;s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on X that Israel&rsquo;s strikes on Lebanon rendered the negotiations &ldquo;meaningless.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iran has also long refused to concede to Washington&rsquo;s demands on its nuclear program.&nbsp;Iranian sources have also told Iranian media that Tehran won&rsquo;t attend the talks unless a ceasefire is in place in Lebanon.&nbsp;Who are the negotiators?Vance will lead the American team, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.&nbsp;It marks the most senior US engagement with Iran since Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal.&nbsp;Witkoff held multiple rounds of Oman-mediated talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before the war cut the process short.&nbsp;Araghchi and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with other security and economic officials, have arrived in Pakistan, Iranian state television and the Pakistani government confirmed.&nbsp;Reporting their arrival, state broadcaster IRIB reiterated Tehran&rsquo;s position that talks will not begin unless its conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon.&nbsp;Islamabad on lockdownThe talks are being held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.&nbsp;The government has kept its cards close to its chest, not confirming the venue, but the Serena Hotel &mdash; located next to the foreign ministry in the capital&rsquo;s high-security Red Zone &mdash; asked its guests to clear out on Wednesday.&nbsp;Authorities in the capital announced a two-day public holiday on Thursday and Friday.&nbsp;The streets of Islamabad are flooded with armed security personnel in military fatigues, traffic diversions are in place and police checkpoints are set up.&nbsp;The talks are expected to be indirect: the two delegations sitting in separate rooms with Pakistani officials shuttling proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.

Asia

Pakistan will host Iran-US talks in Islamabad to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to war. Key issues include the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, Lebanon, and indirect negotiations under tight security.

Five things to know about the planned Iran-US talks in Islamabad

Faraz Saeed

ISLAMABAD: A statement from Islamabad moved S&amp;P 500 futures. Now, as Pakistan prepares to host US-Iran talks, global markets are reacting, Asia down, Europe in red, oil up nearly 7%.&nbsp; Markets aren&rsquo;t just watching Islamabad, they&rsquo;re moving with it, explains Pakistan TV Digital&rsquo;s Faraz Saeed.

Shorts

A statement from Islamabad moved S&P 500 futures. Now, as Pakistan prepares to host US-Iran talks, global markets are reacting, Asia down, Europe in red, oil up nearly 7%. Markets aren’t just watching Islamabad, they’re moving with it, explains Pakistan TV Digital’s Faraz Saeed.

Global markets shift as Islamabad prepares US-Iran talks

BEIRUT: Lebanon&#39;s presidency said Friday that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the start of negotiations between the neighbors.&nbsp;Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel.&nbsp;After a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran this week, Washington and Tehran have been at odds over whether it also applies to Lebanon, as Israel has kept up heavy strikes on the country and Hezbollah has responded with its own attacks.&nbsp;A statement from Aoun&#39;s office said that a first telephone call was held on Friday between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington and the US ambassador to Lebanon, who was also in the American city.&nbsp;&quot;During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday at the State Department to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices,&quot; the presidency statement said.&nbsp;A Lebanese government official told AFP on Thursday that Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting any negotiations with Israel.&nbsp;Earlier Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving &quot;free concessions&quot; to Israel and vowed that &quot;the resistance will continue until the last breath&quot;.&nbsp;Hezbollah has rejected direct talks between the two countries, instead calling for Israel&#39;s army to withdraw from Lebanon.

Middle East

Lebanon and Israel will meet in Washington to discuss a ceasefire and possible negotiations. Lebanon seeks a truce first, while Hezbollah opposes talks, urging continued resistance and demanding Israeli withdrawal despite ongoing clashes.

Lebanon presidency says Israel talks to take place Tuesday in Washington

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s capital is preparing to host high-stakes Iran&ndash;US negotiations, with delegations arriving and final arrangements in place after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed participation from both countries&rsquo; leadership.&nbsp;&ldquo;In response to my sincere invitation, the leaderships of both countries are coming to Islamabad. There, negotiations will be held for the establishment of peace,&rdquo; PM Sharif said in a televised address.&nbsp;The talks follow a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts, positioning Islamabad at the center of global attempts to de-escalate a conflict that has unsettled the region and global markets.&nbsp;An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has arrived in Islamabad for the talks scheduled on Saturday, according to Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8rciV8diBiY" title="YouTube Shorts video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;The delegation also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior military official Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, and politician-economist Abdolnasser Hemmati, underscoring Tehran&rsquo;s high-level representation. Vance heads to Pakistan&nbsp;On the US side, Vice President JD Vance is en route to Pakistan to lead Washington&rsquo;s delegation, marking a rare diplomatic role for a sitting US vice president.&nbsp;Before departing Washington for Islamabad, JD Vance expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming negotiations, saying the United States would pursue a constructive outcome while remaining firm in its approach. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UJzt6VgDsI8?si=xHzSSRp7Bo3Lujpl" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to try to have a positive negotiation,&rdquo; he told reporters, adding, &ldquo;If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we&rsquo;re certainly willing to extend the open hand&hellip; but if they try to play us, the negotiating team is not going to be receptive.&rdquo;&nbsp;The talks come after weeks of intense fighting that began late February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a wider regional conflict as Tehran retaliated against US and allied targets. Now in its second month, the war has spread across the Middle East, disrupted global energy flows, and raised fears of a broader escalation, even as a fragile ceasefire attempts to halt hostilities. &lsquo;Islamabad Talks&rsquo;Pakistan has moved to facilitate participation, offering visa-on-arrival for delegates and journalists.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has extended visa-free travel to delegates and journalists&hellip; for the duration of the talks,&rdquo; Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said.&nbsp;Security and logistical preparations have been reinforced. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pv2tF5LTFk?si=18Ta_81UIxY7OTi6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting reviewing arrangements, assuring &ldquo;foolproof security measures&rdquo; for visiting delegations.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s civil and military leadership reviewed the evolving situation. Pakistan Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir met Sharif, with both stressing the need to &ldquo;maintain peace and a ceasefire by all parties,&rdquo; according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;&ldquo;The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far&hellip; and reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to facilitate a negotiated settlement,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that arrangements for delegations had been finalized with &ldquo;highest consideration and support.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xesegfdX-Qg?si=xg7meWloYAWRXE1d" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;International backing for Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation continues to grow.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held calls with counterparts from the Netherlands and France, who commended Islamabad&rsquo;s role in securing the ceasefire and advancing a diplomatic pathway.&nbsp;&ldquo;Both sides underscored the importance of full implementation of the ceasefire to achieve sustained peace,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said. &lsquo;Indispensable role&rsquo;Beijing-based global affairs expert Victor Gao said Pakistan has played an &ldquo;indispensable role&rdquo; in bringing the United States and Iran to the negotiating table, calling the current ceasefire a critical breakthrough. &ldquo;I think mankind should give a lot of credit to Pakistan for the important and indispensable role&hellip; leading towards this two-week-long truce,&rdquo; Gao told Pakistan TV Digital, warning that continued conflict risked triggering a wider economic crisis. &ldquo;Otherwise this ongoing energy crisis will lead to a major economic crisis&hellip; one of the most important financial crises in human history.&rdquo; He said Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic engagement had been key in preventing further escalation and expressed hope that the ceasefire would hold. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSF7P0yi-Yk?si=SC2LjYFwG__w0WJv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div> &ldquo;Pakistan has been doing great&hellip; engaged in hectic negotiation and good offices between Washington and Tehran,&rdquo; he said, adding that Beijing and Islamabad were aligned in seeking an immediate end to the war. &ldquo;China and Pakistan share the same desire to see an end to this war immediately,&rdquo; Gao added.&nbsp;At the same time, concern is mounting over continued violence in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have intensified despite the truce.&nbsp;Dar, in conversations with international partners, stressed the need for &ldquo;full respect and implementation of the ceasefire.&rdquo; Deadly strikes in Lebanon Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for an immediate end to attacks, while the United Nations condemned the escalation.&nbsp;&ldquo;The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes&hellip; that resulted in significant civilian casualties,&rdquo; spokesman Farhan Haq said.&nbsp;Despite these challenges, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic outreach, with Sharif thanking global leaders for supporting what he described as Islamabad&rsquo;s &ldquo;sincere efforts&rdquo; to advance peace.&nbsp;&ldquo;I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint&hellip; so that diplomacy can take a lead role,&rdquo; he said earlier.&nbsp;With delegations arriving and global attention fixed on Islamabad, the talks are expected to test whether the ceasefire can hold and evolve into a broader framework for lasting regional peace.

Foreign Affairs

US Vice President JD Vance, an outspoken critic of war, heads to Islamabad to lead high-stakes Iran talks, as a senior Iranian delegation arrives; analysts say both sides appear ready for peace.

Iran delegation in Islamabad ahead of high-level US talks

RAMALLAH: Israel has approved the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports and the watchdog Peace Now, which said the decision was taken &quot;secretly&quot; in early April. &quot;The security cabinet secretly decided to establish 34 new settlements,&quot; Peace Now said in a statement released late on Thursday.The 34 settlements come on top of 68 others already approved since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing government came to power in 2022. The decision has not been officially published by any government body, and the defence ministry, in charge of settlements in the occupied West Bank, declined to respond to AFP&#39;s questions. &quot;We are not addressing this issue,&quot; a spokesperson for the ministry told AFP. According to news channel i24News, 10 of the 34 settlements are already existing outposts, which are illegal under Israeli law, but will now be retroactively legalised under the decision. The remaining 24 are yet to be built. All settlements are illegal under international law. News website Ynet reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned during the security cabinet meeting that took place on April 1 that the army could &quot;collapse&quot; because of increasing demands on its manpower. That included the legalisation of dozens of outposts, granting them official settlement status and therefore for protection from Israeli troops. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Excluding east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis now live there in settlements, among some three million Palestinians. Settlement expansion has been a policy under successive Israeli governments since 1967, but has accelerated significantly under the current Netanyahu-led coalition, widely regarded as one of the most right-wing in Israel&#39;s history. Rights groups say approvals of new settlements, land seizures and settler violence have further increased since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Israel has approved the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports and the watchdog Peace Now, which said the decision was taken "secretly" in early April.

Israel approves 34 new West Bank settlements

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Pakistan Navy for rescuing an 18-member crew during an emergency humanitarian relief operation in the North Arabian Sea, said a statement from the prime minister&rsquo;s office.&nbsp;The crew members included nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;The Navy picked a &ldquo;distress call from Merchant Vessel Gold Autumn,&rdquo; which was approximately &ldquo;200 Nautical Miles (370 km) off Pakistan&rsquo;s coast,&rdquo; ISPR confirmed.&nbsp;&ldquo;PNS Hunain provided medical aid, assisted in firefighting, carried out damage assessment, and successfully rescued the crew.&rdquo;&nbsp;The evacuated crew was safely transported to Karachi for medical care and repatriation to their respective countries. The prime minister remarked that the Pakistan Navy will continue to play its role as a first responder in all types of maritime emergencies.

Security

Shehbaz Sharif praises the Pakistan Navy for rescuing 18 crew members from a distressed vessel in the North Arabian Sea during a humanitarian operation, providing medical aid, and ensuring safe evacuation.

Pakistan Navy saves 18 crew members of merchant vessel in Arabian Sea

BEIJING: China and North Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues, Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during talks on Friday, according to Chinese state media. Wang is on a two-day trip to North Korea, his first visit since 2019, to step up ties between the East Asian neighbors following their resumption of transport links halted since the Covid-19 pandemic. China is North Korea&#39;s top trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support. &quot;China and North Korea should, while firmly safeguarding their respective sovereignty, security and development interests, further enhance communication and coordination in major international and regional affairs,&quot; Wang said during a meeting with Kim in Pyongyang on Friday, Xinhua reported. &quot;China is willing to work with North Korea to... maintain close communication and interaction, promote practical cooperation, and infuse new contemporary meaning into the traditional friendship between China and North Korea,&quot; Wang said. Wang&#39;s visit comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump mounts a push to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, eyeing a potential summit this year, potentially during Trump&#39;s visit to Beijing in May.

This picture taken on April 9, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 10, 2026 shows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shaking hands with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Geumsusan Guesth

Wang is on a two-day trip to North Korea, his first visit since 2019, to step up ties between the East Asian neighbors following their resumption of transport links halted since the Covid-19 pandemic.

China FM calls for closer ties with North Korea in Kim meeting

JERUSALEM: Israel said on Friday it had blocked Spain from participating in the work of a US-led center established to help stabilize post-war Gaza following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat was set up after the ceasefire took effect on October 10, with the goal of monitoring the truce and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory. As part of the CMCC, military personnel and diplomats from several other countries including France, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are also present and participate in meetings on security and humanitarian issues in Gaza, devastated by more than two years of Israeli siege. Representatives of Spain were also participating in the work of CMCC until now. But on Friday, Israel&#39;s foreign ministry announced it was preventing Spain from attending CMCC meetings. &quot;The Sanchez government&#39;s anti-Israel bias is so egregious that it has lost all capability to serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump&#39;s peace plan in the CMCC,&quot; Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement. &quot;Spain will not be permitted to participate in the CMCC in Kiryat Gat.&quot; Relations between Israel and Spain have deteriorated significantly since Madrid recognized a Palestinian state in 2024. Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel&#39;s war on Gaza. He had also opposed the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on February 28. Sarr has previously accused the Spanish government of &quot;standing with tyrants&quot; by opposing the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. He also accused Spain of being &quot;complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes&quot; after it recognized a Palestinian state. Spain only established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1986 following the death of dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975. Under Franco, Spain avoided recognizing Israel and maintained closer diplomatic ties with Arab states.

Flames rise after a strike on the vehicle of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Washeha in southern Gaza City on April 8, 2026. (AFP)

Israel bars Spain from a US-led Gaza coordination center, citing Madrid’s pro-Palestinian stance, as tensions rise after Spain recognized Palestinian statehood and criticized Israel’s war on Gaza.

Anti-war JD Vance leads Iran peace talks in Islamabad

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Five things to know about the planned Iran-US talks in Islamabad

Global markets shift as Islamabad prepares US-Iran talks

Anti-war JD Vance leads Iran peace talks in Islamabad

Lebanon presidency says Israel talks to take place Tuesday in Washington