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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, with both leaders reaffirming support for Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to advance peace in the Middle East.&nbsp;During the meeting, Erdoğan praised Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic initiative and said T&uuml;rkiye would &ldquo;continue to support Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to bring peace to the region,&rdquo; according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;The talks come as Islamabad plays a central role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran following a fragile ceasefire.&nbsp;PM Sharif thanked Erdoğan for his support and shared updates on efforts to sustain the ceasefire and resume negotiations.&nbsp;Both leaders stressed the importance of using the current momentum to achieve a &ldquo;durable and lasting regional peace,&rdquo; amid ongoing diplomatic engagement linked to the Islamabad Talks.&nbsp;The two sides also reaffirmed their longstanding strategic partnership, expressing satisfaction over growing bilateral ties and agreeing to convene the next High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara later this year, while exploring avenues to deepen economic cooperation.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and Türkiye reaffirm cooperation, with Tayyip Erdoğan supporting Pakistan’s peace efforts in Middle East talks. Both leaders strengthen ties and continue working together to promote regional stability and lasting peace.


Sharif, Erdogan meet in Antalya, reaffirm support for peace efforts

GENEVA: Over 38,000 women and girls were killed in the Gaza war by the end of 2025, the UN estimated Friday, amounting to over half of the 71,000 deaths recorded by the territory&#39;s health ministry.&nbsp;&quot;Between October 2023 and December 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza -- the result of Israeli air bombardment and land military operations,&quot; the UN Women agency&#39;s spokeswoman Sofia Calltorp told a press briefing in Geneva.&nbsp;&quot;This includes over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, amounting to an average of at least 47 women and girls killed every day.&quot;&nbsp;The agency said the true figures were likely to be higher, with bodies still buried under rubble and reporting systems severely constrained.&nbsp;&quot;Women and girls accounted for a proportion of deaths far higher than those observed in previous conflicts in Gaza,&quot; Calltorp added.&nbsp;A UN Women report found that women and girls made up 15 percent of those killed in the 2008-2009 conflict and 22 percent in the 2014 conflict.&nbsp;UN Women said those who had survived face daily threats to their lives, starvation, recurrent displacement, and deeply restricted access to essential services.&nbsp;&quot;On top of a staggering death toll, nearly 11,000 women and girls in Gaza have sustained injuries so devastating that they survive only with lifelong disabilities,&quot; said Calltorp.&nbsp;She said the war had reshaped Palestinian families, with tens of thousands of Gaza households now headed by women, who having lost their husbands, were now having to sustain their families &quot;without income, without support, or access to essential services&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;HorrorNearly a million women and girls have been repeatedly displaced during the conflict, while nearly 790,000 females having experienced crisis-level or catastrophic-level food insecurity.&nbsp;Calltorp said the Middle East war, which erupted with the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, had escalated the difficulties in Gaza, due to &quot;border crossing closures and humanitarian access constraints.&quot;&nbsp;At least 766 Palestinians have been killed since the truce came into effect, according to the Gaza health ministry, which is under Hamas control and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.&nbsp;Despite the ceasefire, killings of women and girls have persisted in recent months, said UN Women.

Middle East

UN reports over 38,000 women and girls are killed in Gaza by end of 2025 amid war, with widespread injuries, displacement, and famine, while ongoing violence continues despite a fragile ceasefire.

More than 38,000 women, girls killed in Gaza war by end of 2025: UN

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump thanked Pakistan for its role in mediating between the United States and Iran, praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir while confirming that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to global shipping.&nbsp;In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump hailed Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, calling Sharif and Munir &ldquo;fantastic people,&rdquo; as he acknowledged Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again,&rdquo; he said, adding that the waterway would no longer be used as a &ldquo;weapon against the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;The development follows Iran&rsquo;s announcement that the critical global oil route is now &ldquo;completely open&rdquo; to commercial traffic, after weeks of disruption during the conflict.&nbsp;Iranian officials indicated that the reopening is linked to the ongoing ceasefire and diplomatic engagement, including talks hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad.&nbsp;The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes, had been impacted during the escalation, when Iran restricted access in response to US-Israel strikes.&nbsp;Its reopening has helped stabilise markets, with oil prices falling sharply amid renewed optimism over easing tensions.&nbsp;International benchmark Brent crude dropped to around $89 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell to about $84, reflecting market confidence following the ceasefire and Pakistan-mediated talks.

Americas

Asia

US President Donald Trump thanks Pakistan, especially PM Shehbaz Sharif and CDF Asim Munir, calling them “fantastic people” for mediation efforts between the US and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz reopens, easing tensions and contributing to a fall in global oil prices.

Trump thanks Pakistan leadership as Strait of Hormuz reopens

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday he was &quot;furious&quot; after it emerged his sacked US ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/uk-top-official-to-step-down-over-exenvoys-failed-vetting-reports" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Mandelson</a>&nbsp;was appointed despite failing security vetting, as the scandal again threatens his hold on power. The beleaguered British leader, who has been dogged for months by the controversy, claimed he and other ministers were not told Mandelson had failed the vetting process, branding that &quot;unforgivable&quot;. Starmer has faced repeated calls to quit since his 2024 decision to appoint Mandelson as Britain&#39;s top diplomat in Washington backfired spectacularly over the envoy&#39;s longstanding ties to late US sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/anil-ambani-sought-jeffrey-epsteins-help-on-usindia-defense-ties-nyt" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeffrey Epstein</a>. Starmer sacked Mandelson in September, just seven months after taking up his post. A longtime insider with the ruling center-left Labour party, Mandelson had held multiple ministerial posts since the late 1990s, but was tarred by repeated scandals which earlier twice forced him out of office. &quot;That I wasn&#39;t told that he had failed (security vetting) when I was telling parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable,&quot; Starmer told broadcasters on Friday during a visit to Paris. &quot;Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I&#39;m absolutely furious about that,&quot; he said, adding he would address parliament on Monday &quot;to set out all the relevant facts in true transparency&quot;. Top officials fired Starmer&#39;s government has blamed Foreign Office officials for allowing Mandelson&#39;s appointment to proceed &quot;against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting&quot;, with the ministry&#39;s top civil servant, Olly Robbins, ousted late Thursday. The prime minister had &quot;lost confidence in him&quot; over the botched process, senior minister Darren Jones said. Parliament&#39;s main foreign affairs watchdog committee said Friday it has requested Robbins give evidence about the issue next Tuesday. Despite the government&#39;s stance, The Independent newspaper reported last September of &quot;serious concerns&quot; Mandelson &quot;did not clear security vetting for the role but the prime minister pushed through his appointment anyway&quot;. Five months later, Starmer insisted publicly Mandelson had passed vetting. Calls for the UK leader to resign have intensified, with the leaders of all the UK&#39;s main opposition parties urging him to quit since The Guardian first reported the security vetting story Thursday. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X that &quot;Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go&quot;. Jones denied Starmer was at risk, claiming &quot;the public can see in Keir Starmer that they have a strong, credible leader who has influence on the world stage&quot;. The ambassador to Washington is seen as Britain&#39;s most prestigious and most important diplomatic post, in charge of nurturing the so-called &quot;special relationship&quot; with the United States. Earlier in the year, two of Starmer&#39;s top political aides resigned as the scandal grew. Police probe Starmer himself has faced repeated judgement questions over selecting Mandelson. He has accused the ex-envoy of lying about the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process. Starmer fired Mandelson as ambassador after documents released by a US Congressional committee revealed new details about the depth of his ties to Epstein. Police have now opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson, who was arrested and released on bail in February. He has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. The force is investigating Mandelson over allegations he leaked sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a government minister, including during the 2008 financial crash. The advice submitted to Starmer in December 2024 noted a series of reports detailing Mandelson&#39;s links with Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008, including soliciting a minor. It said their relationship &quot;continued across 2009-2011&quot;, beginning when Mandelson was a government minister and continuing after the UK&#39;s last Labour government ended in 2010. It also noted that Mandelson &quot;reportedly stayed in Epstein&#39;s house while he was in jail in June 2009&quot;. Lawmakers earlier this year ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/who-is-shabana-mahmood-the-hardline-uk-labour-minister-tackling-migration" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Labour government</a>&nbsp;to release tens of thousands of emails, messages and documents detailing how Mandelson was vetted for the role. The second tranche of documents is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media at the airport in Doha, Qatar on April 10, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

The British leader stated he and other ministers were not told Peter Mandelson had failed the vetting process, branding that "unforgivable".

British PM says 'furious' after fresh revelations over sacked US envoy

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: New York Post correspondent Caitlin Doornbos has said Pakistan&rsquo;s ability to maintain working relationships with both the US and Iran has positioned it uniquely in the conflict, allowing it to serve as a bridge in one of the most sensitive geopolitical standoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Caitlin Doornbos underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s position as a key mediator in efforts to bridge tensions between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad as an inimitable diplomatic channel trusted by both sides. She said Islamabad has become a critical venue for dialogue, with direct exchanges and consultations taking place through Pakistan as the leadership remains actively engaged in facilitating communication and maintaining diplomatic momentum between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;Doornbos also referenced her conversation with US President Donald Trump, saying he expressed strong trust in Pakistan&rsquo;s role in ongoing US&ndash;Iran negotiations, spoke positively about Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership and its engagement in regional stability, and emphasised that Islamabad plays an important role in facilitating dialogue.&nbsp;She said such mediation efforts are rare, especially between two adversaries with long-standing distrust, and that Islamabad&rsquo;s role has gained increasing international attention.&nbsp;Her remarks collectively highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s role as both a key host of high-stakes diplomatic engagement and an increasingly important bridge in efforts to manage US&ndash;Iran tensions, reflecting its growing relevance in regional and global diplomacy.&nbsp;Beyond the diplomatic discussions in Islamabad, Doornbos also reflected on her personal experience in Pakistan, praising the hospitality toward visiting journalists and officials attending the Islamabad Talks.&nbsp;She said she has greatly enjoyed her time in the country, describing the warmth and generosity of the people as deeply welcoming and overwhelmingly positive.&nbsp;Doornbos said she did not expect the level of public engagement she received, joking that she had, in a sense, become a &ldquo;Pakistani celebrity&rdquo; through her interactions both online and on the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;She added that she has been immersing herself in local culture, wearing traditional attire, listening to regional music, and indulging in delightful Pakistani cuisine.

World This Morning

New York Post correspondent Caitlin Doornbos, speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, has said Pakistan’s ability to maintain working relationships with both the US and Iran has positioned it uniquely in the conflict, allowing it to serve as a bridge in one of the most sensitive geopolitical standoffs.

Pakistan serves as bridge in US-Iran standoff: Doornbos

GENEVA: Last year was the deadliest on record for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-plans-ai-tool-to-target-illegal-bangladeshis-and-rohingyas-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rohingya refugees</a> fleeing by sea, with deaths continuing to soar in 2026, the UN said Friday, after hundreds were lost in a shipwreck earlier this month. &quot;In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal,&quot; the United Nations refugee agency&#39;s spokesman Babar Baloch told a press briefing in Geneva. That marks &quot;the deadliest year on record&quot; for the region, according to data from UNHCR, he said. Baloch highlighted that out of the more than 6,500 Rohingya who had attempted perilous sea crossings last year, &quot;one in seven (were) reported missing or dead&quot;. That, he said, was &quot;the highest mortality rate worldwide of any major route for refugee and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/21-bangladeshis-rescued-after-deadly-mediterranean-migrant-ordeal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">migrant sea journeys</a>&quot;. The Rohingya mainly leave from huge camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar, where more than a million refugees forced to flee across the border from war-torn Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state live in squalid conditions. Rakhine state has been the scene of fierce fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group. The Rohingya undertake perilous sea journeys every year in search of better living conditions, traveling aboard rickety boats often operated by trafficking networks. &#39;Unmarked graveyard for thousands&#39; Baloch roughly estimated that &quot;nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees ... have taken these dangerous sea journeys since 2012&quot;. And, he estimated, &quot;more than 5,000 Rohingya refugees have lost their lives during these dangerous sea journeys over a decade&quot;. &quot;This makes, sadly, the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal an unmarked graveyard for thousands of desperate Rohingya refugees in recent years.&quot; Baloch pointed out that most Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh wanted to return to Myanmar &quot;once conditions allow for a voluntary, dignified and safe return&quot;. But he stressed that &quot;ongoing conflict, persecution and the absence of citizenship prospects leave them with little hope&quot;. Limited humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, &quot;compounded by insecurity in the camps and limited access to education and livelihoods&quot;, pushes refugees towards dangerous journeys, he explained. In recent years, more than half of those attempting such crossings have been women and children, according to UNHCR data. This year, Baloch said, &quot;with more than 2,800 Rohingya undertaking dangerous sea journeys between January and April 13&quot;. His comments came days after news emerged that a boat carrying about 280 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi migrants had capsized in the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/about-250-people-feared-missing-after-boat-capsizes-in-andaman-sea-un" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andaman Sea</a>. The boat, which left the southern Bangladeshi port of Teknaf on April 4 and was on its way to Malaysia, sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, according to the United Nations. Bangladeshi authorities said nine people had been rescued, while Baloch said an estimated 250 people are missing. &quot;UNHCR is providing counselling and referrals for medical and psychosocial support to Rohingya survivors,&quot; he said. The UN refugee agency said it was calling on states to &quot;address the root causes of displacement, expand safe and legal pathways, and strengthen regional cooperation to save lives and combat smuggling and trafficking&quot;.

Rohingya refugees sit together on board a National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) vessel after they were rescued from their capsized boat in waters some 29 kilometers off west Aceh on March 21, 2024. (AFP)

Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees dead, missing in shipwrecks in 2025: UN

ISLAMABAD: A US panel investigating the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal has reviewed nine million documents on the collapse, roughly 3,000 times more than the previous government inquiry, according to a statement published by the US Department of War. The Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel has completed interviews with dozens of senior military and civilian leaders, the department reported on its website. Panel chairman Sean Parnell said the inquiry is the most &ldquo;comprehensive military after-action review&rdquo; in modern history. A prior review commissioned under former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin examined approximately 3,000 documents. The statement said that review was over-classified at the highest levels, keeping critical information from public scrutiny. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established the panel at the direction of President Donald Trump. Among those interviewed were General Mark A. Milley, retired former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kenneth F McKenzie Jr, the retired former Commander of US Central Command, and General Austin S. Miller, the retired former Commander of US Forces&ndash;Afghanistan. Also interviewed was General Christopher T. Donahue. A Pentagon image distributed by AFP showed Donahue as the last US service member to board the final departing aircraft when US forces left Kabul airport on August 30, 2021. AFP reported Taliban fighters entered the airport immediately after and declared Afghanistan had achieved &ldquo;full independence.&rdquo; The withdrawal involved an 18-day airlift that evacuated more than 122,000 people, as reported by AFP. Correspondents on the ground described panic and pandemonium as thousands flooded the airport perimeter. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was &ldquo;mathematically impossible&rdquo; to evacuate all eligible Afghan personnel before the deadline. A confidential UN threat assessment obtained by AFP indicated Taliban forces conducted targeted door-to-door visits to identify individuals who had worked with US forces, despite public promises of amnesty. According to the US Department of War&#39;s statement, the panel is now integrating its documentary record and preparing findings. The final report is to be delivered to the Defense Secretary and the public in the coming months.

Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport in Kabul on August 16, 2021, as thousands of people mobbed the city's airport trying to flee. (AFP)

A Pentagon review panel examines the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, interviewing senior military leaders and reviewing millions of documents as it prepares a comprehensive report on the evacuation and aftermath.

US panel reviews nine million documents on Afghanistan withdrawal collapse

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr Khalilur Rahman exchanged views on regional developments, said a post shared on X by Pakistan&#39;s top diplomat on Friday.&nbsp; In his post, Dar stated: &quot;Pleased to meet Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of #ADF2026 today.&quot; &quot;We discussed strengthening Pakistan&ndash;Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue.&quot; &quot;I look forward to our continued positive and forward-looking engagement.@AntalyaDF,&quot; Dar added.<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=2045079112276943229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=420462fc3fb48d709c7cd70509daeff023269ed3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2045079112276943229">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Meanwhile, FM Dar also met with Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum, said a social media post by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.&nbsp; &quot;Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, particularly for education and welfare of the Pakistani diaspora in the TRNC.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;They also agreed to maintain close engagement and continue working together to promote the mutual benefit of their peoples,&quot; the post said.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2045059709057859624&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=420462fc3fb48d709c7cd70509daeff023269ed3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; 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Pakistan FM Dar says, 'We discussed strengthening Pakistan–Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue.' 

Pakistan, Bangladesh FMs exchange views on regional developments, strengthening ties  

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia agreed Friday to extend the maturity of a $3 billion deposit held at Pakistan&#39;s central bank, delivering a fresh boost to Islamabad&#39;s foreign exchange reserves. According to a post on X (Twitter), the Ministry of Finance reported that the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan signed the extension agreement on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington. <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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2044950727072809149&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5340%2F&sessionId=24a6d90f2e85ae93786957329068a0fc0d5d343d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2044950727072809149"></iframe></div></div> Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh witnessed the signing. SFD Chief Executive Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed on behalf of the Saudi fund. State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad signed for the central bank. The ministry said the extension reflects the &quot;strong and longstanding economic partnership&quot; between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will further support Pakistan&#39;s external sector stability. Friday&#39;s agreement comes amid a broader shift in the two countries&#39; financial relationship. In April 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite a $5 billion investment package representing a transition from loans to equity stakes in Pakistani projects, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2024, the two sides signed 34 business agreements worth $2.8 billion across agriculture, energy, and information technology, as per AFP. Saudi-based ACWA Power has committed to renewable energy projects worth $2 billion in Pakistan, per the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. On October 28, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Economic Cooperation Framework to steer the relationship toward joint ventures in mining, information technology, and tourism. The two countries also signed a Mutual Defence Pact in September 2025. Saudi Arabia&#39;s financial support for Pakistan spans decades. Following Pakistan&#39;s 1998 nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia cushioned the impact of international sanctions through deferred oil payments, per Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). After the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan, Saudi Arabia delivered an aid package of $573 million, and during the 2010 floods became Pakistan&#39;s largest international donor, pledging $105 million, according to FPCCI. Total trade between the two countries stands at $3.5 billion, with Pakistan&#39;s imports from Saudi Arabia at $3.2 billion against exports of just $316.3 million, according to FPCCI. Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan&#39;s largest source of remittances. Over 2.7 million Pakistani workers reside in the Kingdom, generating approximately $9 billion annually, roughly 25% of Pakistan&#39;s total global inflows.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb witnesses the signing of an agreement in Washington extending a $3 billion deposit between the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan on April 17, 2026. (Ministry of Finance/X)

Economy

Saudi Arabia extends maturity of $3 billion deposit at Pakistan’s central bank as officials sign agreement in Washington during World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit to bolster Pakistan's economy

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.07px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held in Tehran on Thursday, Iranian President&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Masoud&nbsp;Pezeshkian praised the commander&rsquo;s effective role as well as that of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the mediation process and facilitating the establishment of a ceasefire, and also appreciated the proper hosting of the Iranian delegation during the Islamabad negotiations with the US, according to Tasnim News Agency. The Iranian president, emphasizing the principled approach of Iran toward the Muslim world, stated that Iran considers all Islamic countries as its brothers, noting that this perspective is rooted in the tradition of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).&nbsp; He added that Iran&rsquo;s recent actions targeting US military bases in the region were carried out within defensive necessities and in response to imposed conditions. Pezeshkian pointed out that the source of many wars and instabilities in the region stems from conspiracies by the Israeli regime aimed at creating divisions among Islamic countries, stressing that the Islamic Ummah must, through convergence and cooperation, prevent the Israeli regime from exploiting Islamic lands against Muslims themselves.&nbsp; He added that unity among Islamic countries would eliminate the possibility of the region being driven toward war by this regime. Referring to the aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, the president questioned under what authorization and for what reason such actions&mdash;resulting in the martyrdom of Iran&rsquo;s Leader, the destruction of schools and hospitals, and the killing of innocent children and civilians&mdash;had been carried out. Pezeshkian stressed that since assuming office, all efforts had been focused on strengthening friendship and brotherhood domestically and regionally, but hostile and provocative actions by the US and the Israeli regime had been observed from the outset.&nbsp; He added that Iran has not sought instability in the region and is instead pursuing the expansion of brotherly relations with neighboring and regional countries. Special appreciation&nbsp;The president expressed special appreciation for Pakistan&rsquo;s role as an Islamic country in pursuing the cessation of the war, describing Islamabad&rsquo;s responsible and persistent efforts as a source of satisfaction and urging other Islamic countries to adopt a similar approach, noting that such unity would prevent enemies of the Islamic Ummah from advancing their objectives. He reaffirmed Iran&rsquo;s commitment to international legal frameworks, stating that the country seeks to secure the rights of its people within international law and that, following the end of the war, regional countries should enhance mutual cooperation to lay the groundwork for lasting peace and security. Pezeshkian also raised the question of why regional countries should not be able to independently ensure their own security, noting that just as Europe manages its security through mechanisms such as NATO, Islamic countries could similarly resolve their issues through collective cooperation based on shared religious and cultural ties. He added that war benefits none of the parties, stating that the United States would not emerge victorious from the conflict, while regional and global countries would bear serious losses, and that only the Israeli regime seeks to achieve its ambitions. The president also referred to the Iranian people&rsquo;s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests. Pezeshkian asked the Pakistani army chief to convey the warm greetings of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the prime minister and the noble people of Pakistan.

Refers to the Iranian people’s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests.

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