Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran is making steady progress, with technical-level talks continuing under the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar.&nbsp;Addressing the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said the peace process remains on track following the signing of the Islamabad MoU on June 18.&nbsp;He noted that Pakistan and Qatar hosted a high-level committee meeting in Switzerland on June 21, bringing together senior representatives from the United States and Iran to discuss implementation of the agreement.&nbsp;According to the spokesperson, both sides have agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days.&nbsp;&ldquo;Working groups have also been established to address key issues, including sanctions, nuclear matters, dispute resolution mechanisms, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.&rdquo;&nbsp;He described the continuation of talks as a &ldquo;significantly positive development&rdquo; and a breakthrough for regional diplomacy.&nbsp;The Islamabad MoU was digitally signed by the United States and Iran on June 18, marking a major step toward ending the 2026 US-Israel war on Iran.&nbsp;The agreement was reached after intensive diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan, with support from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt.&nbsp;&nbsp;The mediating countries facilitated dialogue between Washington and Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.&nbsp;The MoU laid the foundation for a broader peace process, including negotiations on sanctions, regional security, maritime navigation, and other outstanding issues between the two countries.&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;On the situation in Lebanon, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar provides for the creation of a de-confliction mechanism involving Lebanon to help prevent misunderstandings and support regional stability.&nbsp;The spokesperson emphasized that Lebanon&rsquo;s sovereignty must be respected and welcomed efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.&nbsp;Palestine&nbsp;Regarding Palestine, Andarabi reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s strong condemnation of ongoing Israeli actions against Palestinians.&nbsp;The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in a joint statement by eight Islamic-Arab countries condemning attacks on Palestinian places of worship in the occupied West Bank and stressing the need to uphold international law and humanitarian principles.&nbsp;The Foreign Office spokesperson maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective tools for resolving regional conflicts and promoting long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan said the Islamabad MoU between the US and Iran is progressing, with technical talks ongoing under Pakistan-Qatar mediation. A roadmap aims for a final deal within 60 days, covering sanctions, nuclear issues, dispute resolution, and Strait of Hormuz navigation.

Pakistan says US-Iran talks progress under Islamabad MoU mediation framework

GENEVA: The global risk &quot;remains low&quot; from a deadly Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization chief said Wednesday, after a case was confirmed in France. France on Wednesday announced its first confirmed case of Ebola identified on its territory: a doctor who had flown back from the DR Congo, which is fighting a major outbreak. The case is the first of the deadly haemorrhagic fever identified outside the African continent during the current outbreak, which has also affected Uganda. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned against &quot;over-reaction&quot; to the case -- the first ever detected in France. There is &quot;no need for panic&quot;, he said, insisting that &quot;the risk to the rest of the world is low&quot;. He underlined, though, that the case served as &quot;a reminder of the risks faced by frontline responders&quot;. &quot;Almost 80 health workers have been infected, highlighting the risks they face and the importance of strengthening infection prevention and control,&quot; he pointed out. The case confirmed on Wednesday involved a doctor who had been working with the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), the NGO said. The patient &quot;boarded a commercial flight from Kinshasa and was almost asymptomatic -- except for headaches&quot;, the French health ministry said. The patient&#39;s condition &quot;slightly deteriorated during the flight&quot;, after which they were immediately isolated and taken into care upon landing in Paris, even before the disease was officially identified, the ministry added. The patient was in a &quot;stable condition&quot; and their viral load was &quot;very low&quot;, the ministry added. Efforts were under way to identify potential contacts. The WHO was advising countries &quot;to support the safe deployment of personnel responding to this outbreak&quot;, Tedros said. &quot;This includes ensuring that organisations deploying staff provide clear information on risks, how to reduce and manage the risks of exposure, and that countries are prepared to facilitate evacuation if needed.&quot; The DRC&#39;s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several unexplained deaths in the mineral-rich but volatile eastern Ituri province plagued by armed groups. According to the latest official figures, more than 1,000 cases have been recorded, including 267 deaths, representing a fatality rate of around 25 percent. WHO assesses the public health risk level as &quot;very high&quot; for the DRC, &quot;high&quot; for Uganda and other countries bordering DRC, and &quot;low&quot; for the rest of the world. Tedros called for putting the case in France in &quot;perspective&quot;, urging against &quot;over-reaction&quot;. He pointed out that while thousands of Ebola cases have been detected in Africa over the past half century, &quot;in the past 50 years, the number of cases that were detected outside Africa are less than 30&quot;.

A healthcare worker takes samples from a patient suffering from Ebola virus disease at the Ebola Treatment Center of the Center Médical Évangélique (CME), in Bunia, Ituri, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Benedic

Europe

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned against "over-reaction" to the case -- the first ever detected in France. There is "no need for panic", he said, insisting that "the risk to the rest of the world is low".

Global Ebola risk 'remains low', WHO chief says

BEIRUT: Lebanon has transferred 128 Syrian convicts to their home country, a Lebanese security source told AFP on Wednesday, the second batch of handovers under an agreement the two sides signed earlier this year. Overcrowded Lebanese prisons host around 2,000 Syrian nationals held on various charges. Many are still awaiting trial, while hundreds have been brought before military courts on charges of &quot;terrorism&quot; or related offences, including attacks on Lebanese forces. Others are in custody for alleged membership in jihadist or armed groups that were opposed to now-ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who was supported by Lebanon&#39;s Hezbollah group during the Syrian civil war. The security source, who requested anonymity, said that Beirut &quot;handed over the second batch of Syrian convicts in Lebanon to Damascus, numbering 128 convicts&quot; on Wednesday. The transfer follows the handover of more than 130 Syrian detainees in March, under an agreement signed between the two countries the previous month, which will cover almost 300 convicts who have served 10 years or more in Lebanese prisons. Under the agreement, they will be required to complete the remainder of their sentences in Syria. At least 260 convicts have now been sent to Syria&#39;s Adra prison out of 356 in Lebanon&#39;s Roumieh, the source added. The issue of the detainees had been a sticking point in Beirut-Damascus relations following Assad&#39;s overthrow in December 2024. It was discussed by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during his visit to Damascus in May, where he met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Over the past year, both sides have repeatedly expressed their determination to open a new chapter in their relations.

Middle East

Under a bilateral agreement between the two countries, Lebanon transferred more than 130 Syrian detainees earlier this year; the move marks the first phase of prisoner transfers aimed at improving post-Assad relations.

Lebanon transfers 128 Syrian convicts home under agreement

PARIS: At least 94 million people in Europe are expected to experience temperatures over 35&deg;C on Wednesday, most of them in France and Spain, according to AFP calculations.&nbsp; And more than 350 million people across Europe (excluding Turkey) are expected to experience temperatures above 30&deg;C. That represents nearly two-thirds of the population, according to an analysis based on forecasts from the German weather service (DWD) and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre. The figures broadly align with projections from the Austrian NGO Klimadashboard. They show that more than 90 million people are set to be affected by temperatures exceeding 35&deg;C in the European Union, including 50 million in France and 20 million in Spain. Almost all residents of mainland France and around 38 million people in Spain are expected to experience temperatures above 30&deg;C on Wednesday. Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Hungary are also expected to be significantly affected. AFP used a method similar to the one used by Klimadashboard, cross-referencing the DWD weather forecast model (calculated at 0000 GMT) with population density. Residents are counted if the model predicts temperatures exceeding 30&deg;C or 35&deg;C at their location at any point during the day. As the model has a resolution of approximately 6.5 km, it cannot fully capture urban heat islands, David Jablonski of the NGO Klimadashboard told AFP. Consequently, &quot;we likely underestimate affected people in dense urban areas&quot;, the organisation noted on its &quot;European Heat Tracker&quot; website.

A woman shields herself from the sun during Pope Leo XIV's weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in the Vatican on June 24, 2026 (AFP)

Climate

More than 350 million people across Europe (excluding Turkey) are expected to experience temperatures above 30°C. That represents nearly two-thirds of the population, according to an analysis based on forecasts from the German weather service (DWD) and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre.

Heat set to surpass 35°C for at least 94 mn in Europe: AFP analysis

ISLAMABAD: Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates acknowledged in testimony before the House Oversight Committee that he may have been in the presence of victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while maintaining that he never interacted with them directly or witnessed any sexual misconduct, House Oversight Committee reported.&nbsp; A transcript of Gates&rsquo; closed-door interview, released Tuesday by the committee, sheds new light on his relationship with Epstein, which Gates described as professional in nature and lasting roughly three years. During the voluntary interview on Capitol Hill earlier this month, Gates repeatedly denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein&rsquo;s criminal conduct. But when Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia noted that some of Epstein&rsquo;s employees were later identified as abuse victims, Gates acknowledged the possibility that he had been around them. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a very good point,&rdquo; Gates said, according to the transcript. He recalled seeing female employees at the conclusion of a meeting aboard one of Epstein&rsquo;s private planes and added, &ldquo;I may have been in the presence of victims.&rdquo; The committee sought Gates&rsquo; testimony as part of its ongoing investigation into Epstein&rsquo;s network and associates. Lawmakers renewed their interest following the Justice Department&rsquo;s release of additional Epstein-related files earlier this year. The committee also released testimony Tuesday from Epstein&rsquo;s longtime assistant, Lesley Groff, who described her former employer as a &ldquo;master manipulator&rdquo; and said she was unaware of his crimes during her years working for him. Groff testified that she connected Epstein and President Donald Trump by telephone on multiple occasions over a decade, though she said she did not know the substance of their conversations. Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has rejected allegations of sexual misconduct. In his testimony, Gates detailed what he characterized as Epstein&rsquo;s efforts to pressure him using personal information. Gates said Epstein was aware that he had been unfaithful in his marriage and attempted to leverage that knowledge after their relationship ended. Gates testified that after severing ties with Epstein in 2014, Epstein sent an email requesting &ldquo;reimbursement&rdquo; for expenses related to a woman with whom Gates had an affair. &ldquo;I communicated to my key person, top person at Gates Ventures, Larry Cohen, that we were never going to pay anything,&rdquo; Gates told investigators. Gates said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 through Dr Boris Nikolic, a longtime adviser and former associate. He said he believes Nikolic informed Epstein about two extramarital affairs. Committee investigators also questioned Gates about whether he had other affairs that could have connected him to Epstein. Gates and his legal team argued there was no evidence of additional relationships and pointed to draft emails Epstein allegedly wrote to himself in 2013 containing various accusations against Gates. According to Gates, the draft messages included what he described as false and unverified claims. He argued that if Epstein possessed damaging information about additional affairs, he likely would have included it in those writings. &ldquo;I think that Epstein, when he was writing emails to himself, took every potential negative thing he knew, and some that are completely false, and he put those into draft emails to himself,&rdquo; Gates testified. The draft emails reportedly included allegations that Epstein facilitated sexual encounters for Gates and helped him obtain medication to conceal a sexually transmitted infection from his then-wife. Gates has denied those allegations and characterized them as false.

Americas

Bill Gates told House Committee he may have been in the presence of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims but denied ever interacting with them or witnessing any misconduct.

Bill Gates says he may have been in presence of Epstein victims

PARIS: France on Wednesday announced its first confirmed case of Ebola identified on its territory, a doctor who had flown back from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is fighting a major outbreak. The case is the first of the deadly haemorrhagic fever identified outside the African continent during the current outbreak, which has also affected Uganda. It is the first time France has detected Ebola. In 2014, during a major outbreak in West Africa, two patients were transported to France, but they had been diagnosed abroad. The health ministry said it had identified &quot;a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory&quot;. The patient &quot;boarded a commercial flight from Kinshasa and was almost asymptomatic -- except for headaches&quot;, the ministry said. Their condition &quot;slightly deteriorated during the flight&quot;, after which they were immediately isolated and taken into care upon landing in Paris, even before the disease was officially identified, the ministry added. The patient was in a &quot;stable condition,&quot; and their viral load was &quot;very low&quot;, the ministry added. Efforts were underway to identify potential contacts. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu&#39;s office said he was monitoring the situation &quot;very closely&quot;, but the health ministry stressed that the risk of transmission remained low. ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action), an international medical humanitarian organization, said the patient was one of its doctors. US surgeon recoveredThe DRC&#39;s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several unexplained deaths in the mineral-rich but volatile eastern Ituri province plagued by armed groups. According to the latest official figures, more than 1,000 cases have been recorded, including 267 deaths, representing a fatality rate of around 25%. Many experts consider it likely that the scale of the outbreak has been underestimated, as it is affecting remote regions. The Bundibugyo strain of the virus that has caused the outbreak currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. Existing Ebola vaccines, developed between 2018 and 2019, are only effective against the Zaire strain, which caused previous major outbreaks. In May, an American surgeon who contracted Ebola in the DRC was flown to Germany for treatment. A Berlin hospital discharged the missionary earlier this month, saying he had recovered following 17 days of medical care. The doctor, identified as Peter Stafford of the Serge charity, had received care that included &quot;experimental therapies currently being trialed for this type of virus&quot;, said the hospital. Public health experts estimate that the risk of the outbreak spreading worldwide remains low, due to the relatively low contagiousness of the Ebola virus. &quot;The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considers the risk of infection to be low for European residents and travelers going to areas with active transmission, and very low for the general European population,&quot; said the French health ministry.

 A team of doctors wearing protective suits works in a red zone inside the morgue, close a body bag containing the remains of a man who died from Ebola virus disease on June 13, 2026. (AFP)

The country's health ministry confirms the "identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory," while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office says he is monitoring the situation "very closely."

France detects first Ebola case outside Africa in current outbreak

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was elected vice-chair of the General Assembly of State Parties to&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistani-folk-instrument-added-to-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">UNESCO</a>&#39;s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in France. In a post on Facebook, the embassy said Pakistan pledged to collaborate with member nations on efforts to protect and transmit living cultural expressions to coming generations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2069519229838299427&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b17aad47e43394809bb52d343896b4d1baa264c4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2069519229838299427"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan has six UNESCO <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/haiti-fort-stampede-kills-at-least-30-authorities" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Heritage Sites</a>, according to the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO.&nbsp; They include the Archaeological Ruins at Mohenjodaro, Taxila, the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol, the Fort and&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/shalimar-gardens-where-water-marble-and-moonlight-tell-lahores-oldest-stories" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shalimar Gardens in Lahore</a>, the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and Rohtas Fort. The country also maintains 26 properties on UNESCO&#39;s Tentative List for future World Heritage consideration, according to the organization. Preservation of World Heritage Sites is overseen by provincial governments under Pakistan&#39;s post-18th Amendment framework, while the federal National Heritage and Culture Division remains responsible for coordination with UNESCO and the issuance of excavation permits, according to official government documents. Day-to-day conservation and site protection are carried out by provincial archaeology authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1975 and related provincial laws, which provide penalties for&nbsp;unauthorized construction, vandalism and encroachment around protected sites, according to the National Heritage and Culture Division and the Department of Archaeology and Museums. Conservation work is funded through federal and provincial development programs. According to government planning documents, Punjab authorities have allocated funding for preservation projects at Taxila and Rohtas Fort, while the Taxila 2055 Archaeological Master Plan was developed to support long-term conservation through tourism-related revenues. Pakistan has also expanded efforts to protect heritage sites from climate-related risks. According to UNESCO, restoration work was carried out at the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro following monsoon damage, alongside measures aimed at reducing future flood-related threats. Government agencies have also introduced digital inventories (Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums), three-dimensional mapping (Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology) and training programs (jointly executed by Federal National Heritage Fund and the Provincial Heritage Departments) for site managers as part of broader efforts to preserve cultural assets and improve heritage management.

Culture

Pakistan currently holds six World Heritage Sites and maintains 26 properties on UNESCO's consideration list.

Pakistan secures UNESCO Heritage leadership role in Paris

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;India&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;Cockroach Party&quot; announced a &ldquo;diaper donation drive&rdquo; as part of its continuing campaign against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging supporters to bring diapers to protest sites, write messages calling for his resignation on them and take part in an event titled, &ldquo;Diaper A Day Keeps Leaks Away&quot;, according to Indian media.&nbsp; The party&#39;s founder, Abijeet Dipke, in his message on X wrote, &ldquo;Bring a diaper, write your demand for his resignation on it, and we&rsquo;ll make sure it reaches the education minister.&rdquo; The protest is aimed at highlighting the group&rsquo;s allegations that the government has failed to address concerns over the integrity of the NEET-UG exams.&nbsp; The examination, taken by millions of students seeking medical college admission, faced controversy after allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities emerged. The Education Ministry and authorities have denied wrongdoing and said investigations were conducted into reported irregularities.&nbsp; The government has said action would be taken against those found responsible.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2069280070678782021&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3657f152d93892f6c2f258995eb4d034c2c3ad4d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The CJP&rsquo;s latest campaign uses satire and public demonstrations to draw attention to its demand that Pradhan step down. The group said the donated diapers would be delivered as a symbolic message to the minister. Meanwhile, Dipke alleged that Delhi Police attempted to reduce the size of the protest site late on Monday night. &quot;Delhi Police tried to move barricades and squeeze the protest site into a smaller area,&quot; he claimed in a social media post. According to Hindustan Times, earlier, Dipke had also alleged that police were preventing students from joining the protest by asking for Aadhaar cards. Delhi Police denied the claim, calling it &quot;factually incorrect&quot; and stating that no Aadhaar checks were being conducted at the venue.

India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against alleged irregularities in country's major examinations at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on June 14, 2026. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP)

India

The Cockroach Janta Party launched a satirical 'diaper donation' campaign demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged NEET-UG exam leak irregularities and concerns about exam integrity.

India's 'Cockroach Party' launches 'Diaper Drive' seeking education minister’s resignation

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: When Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stepped off his aircraft in Islamabad on Tuesday, it was more than a routine state visit. His arrival marked his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.&nbsp;He was welcomed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.&nbsp; The symbolism was difficult to miss. At a time when negotiations, ceasefire arrangements, and post-conflict diplomacy continue to shape the region&#39;s future, Pezeshkian chose Islamabad as his first foreign destination. The visit capped months of diplomatic activity that gradually transformed Pakistan&#39;s capital from a regional political center into one of the most consequential diplomatic venues associated with the US-Iran crisis. The turning point came on April 8, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a brokered ceasefire between the US and Iran. The agreement halted weeks of direct military confrontation and created the first meaningful opening for diplomacy since the conflict began. Just days later, on April 11 and 12, senior American and Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan for what would become known as the Islamabad Talks. Among the participants were US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and a range of regional interlocutors operating through diplomatic backchannels. The 21-hour talks produced no final agreement but kept communication channels open and laid the groundwork for further negotiations at a time when direct engagement between the parties had become increasingly difficult.&nbsp; The Islamabad Memorandum of UnderstandingPakistan, alongside regional partners including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, continued its diplomatic engagement as negotiations progressed.&nbsp; The process later produced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a framework that outlined the path for further negotiations and helped sustain momentum toward a broader settlement.&nbsp; As talks expanded, Switzerland hosted parallel discussions that contributed to the diplomatic process and helped maintain channels of communication between the parties.&nbsp; Those efforts culminated in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar on June 22, announcing that Iran and the United States had agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days and immediately begin further technical talks.&nbsp; Yet the significance of recent diplomacy extends beyond any single agreement.&nbsp; The traditional model of international mediation centered on a single neutral venue is increasingly giving way to a more distributed system in which multiple capitals perform different diplomatic functions.&nbsp; While Geneva continues to provide institutional infrastructure for diplomacy, Islamabad has increasingly emerged as a venue capable of bringing together actors from across geopolitical divides.&nbsp; Pakistan&#39;s growing diplomatic influenceUnlike traditional neutral mediators, Pakistan&#39;s role has been shaped less by formal neutrality and more by its relationships. Islamabad maintains longstanding ties with Tehran while also engaging closely with Washington, Beijing and key Gulf partners. The Iran negotiations demonstrated how those connections can be translated into diplomatic influence. Pakistan was able to engage stakeholders across the spectrum, helping create conditions for dialogue while other partners and venues sustained the broader process. This is why Pezeshkian&#39;s visit matters. His arrival is not simply another bilateral engagement between neighbouring countries. It reflects Pakistan&#39;s growing relevance within an evolving diplomatic landscape and highlights the role Islamabad has played in facilitating dialogue during one of the region&#39;s most consequential crises. The events of recent months suggest that international diplomacy is increasingly taking place across interconnected hubs rather than a single location. In that evolving system, Islamabad has emerged as a significant address for regional diplomacy.

US Vice President JD Vance (R) shakes hands with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir next to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21, 2026. (AFP

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's first foreign visit since the US-Iran war highlights Pakistan's growing diplomatic role after Islamabad hosted ceasefire talks, facilitated negotiations and helped establish a roadmap for further US-Iran discussions.

From Geneva to Islamabad: How Pakistan became the new capital for diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that the recent visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and follow-up talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had reinforced its belief that &ldquo;dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means for peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Iranian president visited Pakistan this week at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and held meetings with Pakistan&#39;s civilian and military leadership. &quot;The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explored avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchange, as well as regional connectivity,&quot; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;He said discussions also covered the ongoing peace process following the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran, announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on June 18. As part of follow-up efforts, Pakistan and Qatar hosted the first high-level committee meeting under the framework of the Islamabad MoU in B&uuml;rgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21. According to the spokesperson, the meeting helped the parties &quot;reach an understanding on various aspects of the implementation of the Islamabad MoU.&quot; He said the sides agreed to establish a high-level committee for political oversight, create working groups focused on sanctions, monitoring, and dispute resolution, and adopt &quot;a roadmap toward reaching a final deal in 60 days.&quot; Another key outcome was the establishment of communication channels to avoid incidents and miscalculations, including ensuring the &quot;safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; he said. A technical committee meeting involving the parties was subsequently held on June 22, with Pakistan and Qatar continuing to engage with US and Iranian technical teams. &quot;The Islamabad MoU and the Lucerne Summit reinforce our faith in dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means for peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts,&quot; he said. International recognition The spokesperson added that Pakistan welcomed a positive international recognition of its mediation efforts, saying such acknowledgment reflected &quot;the international community&#39;s trust in Pakistan&#39;s commitment to advancing dialogue, peace, security and stability.&quot; He praised the Pakistani media for maintaining confidentiality throughout the process. &quot;Pakistan&#39;s media demonstrated professionalism and maturity by respecting the strict requirements of confidentiality, discretion, and trust that are indispensable to any credible facilitator or mediation effort,&quot; he said. Diplomatic outreachAndrabi said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the fourth meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt in Cairo on June 21, where the participants reviewed progress on the Islamabad MoU and broader regional developments. The spokesperson also detailed Dar&#39;s diplomatic outreach over the past two weeks, including telephone conversations with counterparts from Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Italy, Canada, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and T&uuml;rkiye, as well as senior European Union officials. &#39;Difficult issue&#39;On Pakistani sailors being held by Somali pirates in Somalia&#39;s Puntland region, the spokesperson said the government remained engaged in efforts to secure their release. &quot;The government&#39;s priority at this stage is diplomatic and humanitarian endeavors to secure the safe release,&quot; he said, adding that Pakistan was in contact with Somali authorities, international organizations, and friendly countries while maintaining engagement with the families of the hostages. He said the situation is a &quot;difficult issue&quot; and that an inter-ministerial mechanism had been established to coordinate the government&#39;s response. On Palestine, he said Pakistan joined eight Arab and Islamic countries in issuing a joint statement condemning escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on religious sites near Ramallah. The spokesperson also said Pakistan facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals this week, including fishermen rescued by a British vessel and crew members from a ship intercepted by US authorities. Separately, the spokesperson welcomed the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2823, a Pakistan-led initiative aimed at strengthening accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers. The resolution, co-sponsored by 153 UN member states, calls for credible investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators and mandates annual reporting on the issue. &quot;The resolution reflects Pakistan&#39;s leadership role in enhancing the safety and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping reforms as well as UN peacekeeping operations,&quot; he said.

FILE: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi speaks during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, May 14, 2026. (X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Spokesperson says Pakistan welcomes positive international recognition of its mediation efforts, says such acknowledgment reflects 'the international community's trust in Pakistan's commitment to advancing dialogue, peace, security and stability.'

Pakistan says US-Iran talks progress under Islamabad MoU mediation framework

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