Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar

Pakistan&rsquo;s recent success in Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos is a golden chapter in our national history. These operations not only safeguarded our borders but also infused new energy and confidence into Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomacy. Today, the world sees Pakistan as a nation that, while resolutely defending its security, also champions peace, cooperation, and global justice with credibility. In the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan&rsquo;s positions are being heard with renewed seriousness at the international level. At forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other regional platforms, Pakistan has articulated its narrative with greater confidence. The message has been clear: Pakistan is not only a military power but also an increasingly influential diplomatic player. A significant outcome of Marka-e-Haq has been the acknowledgment of Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative by major global powers. The United States, in particular, recognized Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices and success in defeating terrorism and maintaining regional stability. Continuous engagement at senior levels in Washington reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s voice is now being taken seriously in shaping regional security and counter-terrorism frameworks. This acknowledgment by great powers underscores the credibility Pakistan has earned through both military resilience and diplomatic outreach. Following this military success, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic activity has remained intense and continues unabated. In July, Pakistan assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council. During this tenure, Pakistan chaired three signature events: on multilateralism, UN-OIC cooperation, and a quarterly debate on Palestine. Under Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, Resolution 2788 was unanimously adopted, further cementing our credibility on the global stage. On Palestine, Pakistan raised its voice not only for justice but also as a rallying force for the Islamic world and the Global South. From August 17-19, I undertook an official visit to the United Kingdom, where renewed connectivity through the announcement of the resumption of PIA flights, a reinvigorated UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue, and engagement with the 1.7 million-strong British-Pakistani community opened new avenues of partnership. On August 20, I traveled to Kabul for the Trilateral Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Meeting with Afghanistan and China. The talks addressed transit trade, the signing of the framework agreement of the joint feasibility study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, and counter-terrorism, areas crucial for regional peace and connectivity. The very next day, on August 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Islamabad. During this visit, both sides agreed to elevate cooperation under CPEC 2.0, expand collaboration in minerals, ICT, and agriculture, and reaffirmed strong mutual support, particularly on the issue of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. Shortly thereafter, I undertook a historic visit to Bangladesh (August 23-24), the first by a Pakistani Foreign Minister in thirteen years. The visit yielded six agreements, enhanced scholarships for Bangladeshi students, and a renewed commitment to people-to-people ties. From Dhaka, I proceeded directly to Jeddah (August 25) to lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the OIC Extraordinary Session on Palestine. The conference adopted a strong resolution condemning Israeli aggression, reflecting the united stance of the Muslim Ummah. Pakistan&rsquo;s role in building consensus and pushing for accountability was widely acknowledged. More recently, the Prime Minister and I attended the SCO Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and Beijing (August 31-September 1). This engagement provided Pakistan with an important opportunity to deepen cooperation with member states across critical areas, including connectivity, trade, energy, and regional security. The Summit reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s role within SCO is central to advancing the organisation&rsquo;s vision of regional peace and shared prosperity. Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan also visited Islamabad (August 8-9), engaging in constructive discussions. In addition, several trade, defense, and government delegations have been visiting Pakistan, which is clear evidence that the world is now paying closer attention to us. These developments underscore an important truth: Pakistan today is not merely a military power; it is emerging as a diplomatic force. Whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, CPEC&rsquo;s expansion or the trilateral railway project, closer ties with the West and East, or Pakistan&rsquo;s enhanced role in the SCO, Pakistan is playing a meaningful and visible role at every front. Most recently, I participated in the preparatory ministerial meeting of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on September 14, ahead of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s participation the following day. Pakistan&rsquo;s position was clear and principled: we unequivocally condemned Israel&rsquo;s grave violations of sovereignty and international law, including the strikes against Qatar amid the ongoing onslaught in Palestine. We reaffirmed solidarity with Qatar, the Palestinian people, and all nations subjected to such unlawful aggression, while calling for enforceable measures to hold Israel accountable and for deterrent actions to prevent recurrence. Above all, we underlined that only a united and coordinated response by the Arab and Islamic world can ensure justice, safeguard peace, and uphold the collective security and sovereignty of the Ummah. Looking ahead, our responsibility is to translate this diplomatic strength into lasting national gains. That requires consolidating our economy, advancing the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s global standing. Together, military success and diplomatic achievement are the twin pillars that will continue to uphold Pakistan as a respected and sovereign state in the international community. The writer is the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

Articles

We need to translate our diplomatic strength into lasting national gains to consolidate our economy, advance the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthen Pakistan’s global standing.

Pakistan’s diplomatic strength post-Marka-e-Haq

MUMBAI: Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music through the 1970s and 80s, died Sunday in Mumbai aged 92, her family said. Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of &quot;extreme exhaustion&quot; and chest infection. &quot;My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,&quot; her son Anand Bhosle told reporters. Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven‑decade career. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; by her death. &quot;Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,&quot; he said in a post on X. &quot;She will continue to inspire generations, and her songs will forever echo in people&#39;s lives.&quot; Born on September 8, 1933, to a musical family, Bhosle began singing as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father&#39;s death. Often compared to Mangeshkar &mdash; revered as &quot;India&#39;s nightingale&quot; who died in 2022 &mdash; Bhosle forged her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk. Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16. She went on to become one of Indian cinema&#39;s most versatile and celebrated voices, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and earning two Grammy nominations. Bhosle continued collaborating with global artists well into her later years, including a recent feature on British virtual band Gorillaz&#39;s album The Mountain (&quot;Parvat&quot;). Beyond music, she nurtured her passion for food, launching her &quot;Asha&#39;s&quot; restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.

India

Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of "extreme exhaustion" and chest infection.



Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle dies aged 92

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed regional counterparts on the outcome of high-stakes Iran&ndash;US negotiations in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said late Sunday, urging all parties to uphold a fragile ceasefire following 21 hours of intensive talks between Washington and Tehran. The negotiations, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, come after weeks of conflict that disrupted global energy flows, pushed oil prices higher and unsettled financial markets, before a two-week truce created space for dialogue. While the United States said it had presented a &ldquo;final and best offer,&rdquo; Iran maintained that progress depends on &ldquo;seriousness and good faith&rdquo; and respect for its rights and interests. Speaking with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Dar shared updates on the Islamabad Talks and stressed that &ldquo;it is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&rdquo; He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving lasting regional stability. In separate calls with Egypt and T&uuml;rkiye, Dar reiterated the importance of sustained engagement, with the Foreign Office noting that he emphasised continued diplomacy as essential for peace. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan commended Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts, according to statement, with both sides reaffirming support for dialogue and de-escalation. The outreach comes as both Washington and Tehran signal continued engagement following the initial round of talks. US Vice President JD Vance said no agreement had been reached after extended discussions, while Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry said the two sides had reached &ldquo;an understanding on a number of issues&rdquo; despite &ldquo;differences of opinion on 2-3 important&rdquo; matters. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said &ldquo;no one&rdquo; had expected an agreement in a single round, emphasising that &ldquo;diplomacy never ends&rdquo; and that contacts with Pakistan and regional partners would continue, underscoring a shared willingness to keep the process moving forward.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefs counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt following high-stakes US-Iran talks in Islamabad, urging ceasefire adherence, continued diplomacy, and sustained engagement to build on a fragile truce and support regional peace efforts

Pakistan briefs allies on Islamabad Talks, urges ceasefire adherence

LONDON: The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country&#39;s emergency services. Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of &nbsp;protests on Tuesday over spiralling petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war. Since then the protests have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin&#39;s busiest streets, to a part blockade of Ireland&#39;s only oil refinery and restricted access to at least two other fuel depots. Finance Minister Simon Harris said later on Saturday ministers had held meetings with transport and agriculture sector representatives ahead of Sunday&#39;s meeting. The government was in the process of &quot;finalising a significant support package to address the ongoing crisis&quot;, a government statement added. Some protests rolled into a sixth day on Sunday. The government has urged the public not to panic buy as pumps at many fuel stations have run dry. Police on Saturday with the support of the armed forces deployed public order units to clear the blockade at Whitegate Refinery in southern Ireland. Irish police chief Justin Kelly said the action was taken as a last resort. The blockading of &quot;critical national infrastructure&quot; had &quot;resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service&quot;, he said. Elsewhere, police dismantled a makeshift barrier erected by protesters blockading western Galway docks. A late-night operation also targeted the blockade of the capital Dublin&#39;s main thoroughfare O&#39;Connell Street after multiple vehicles including tractors and lorries were removed. Justice Minister Jim O&#39;Callaghan said earlier the continuation of the protests despite the increasingly difficult situation had been &quot;unacceptable&quot;. &quot;While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner,&quot; he said. In March, Dublin announced a 250 million-euro package to reduce fuel costs, notably including a diesel rebate for road haulier There were now the &quot;bones of an agreement&quot; with the government, the president Ger Hyland of the Irish Road Haulage Association said on Saturday. &quot;It is a substantial package and we hope to have this over the line either late tonight or tomorrow,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Europe

The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country's emergency services

Irish ministers to hold emergency meet over fuel cost protests

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A stampede at historical fortress in Haiti has killed at least 30 people, a government minister told AFP on Sunday, with the crush reportedly involving several young visitors. &quot;The Minister of Culture and Communication has confirmed the deaths of 30 people at the Citadelle Henri on Saturday, April 11, 2026,&quot; culture minister Emmanuel Menard told AFP in a written message. &quot;The injured are currently receiving the necessary medical care, and a rescue team is searching for any missing persons,&quot; Menard said, without giving an exact figure of those injured. Citadelle Henri, also known as Citadelle Laferriere, is a 19th-century fortress and popular tourist spot. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was closed to visitors &quot;until further notice,&quot; Menard said. Haiti&#39;s prime minister&#39;s office expressed &quot;deep sadness&quot; in a government statement posted on Facebook, adding that the crush occurred during &quot;a tourist activity bringing together many young people.&quot; Jean Henry Petit, head of the civil protection office in Northern Haiti, told local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that the toll could rise due to the large number of people reported missing. Several dozen people were also injured and taken to hospital, the outlet reported. Initial reports said visitors, mostly young people, were crammed against a single entrance and a scuffle broke out between those trying to leave and enter the site. Other local media reports said the gathering took place after being advertised on TikTok. AFP was not able to immediately confirm the reports. The government urged citizens to &quot;be calm and cautious&quot; while it investigates. &quot;All competent authorities are fully mobilized and placed on maximum alert to provide, without delay, the necessary assistance, care and support,&quot; it added in its statement.

A view of Citadelle Laferrière, a 200-year-old fortress built by King Henri-Christophe of Haiti, near Cap-Haïtien. (UN Media)

Americas

Haitian authorities say dozens died in a stampede at the historic Citadelle Henri, with many young visitors involved, as rescue teams search for missing and treat injured.

Haiti fort stampede kills at least 30: authorities

INDIO: With a minimalist set and a trip through his musical past, pop superstar Justin Bieber returned to the stage on Saturday night to headline the second day of Coachella. The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella&#39;s size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues. Last year Bieber released the album &quot;Swag,&quot; quickly followed by his eighth studio album &quot;Swag II.&quot; While Bieber has recently played smaller shows, Coachella was billed as the start of his full-scale comeback. Bieber earlier said in an Instagram post that &quot;We WILL be singing at the top of our lungs on Saturday.&quot; Dressed in a red sweater, shorts and black boots, the 32-year-old artist made good on his promise, playing the role of DJ and taking requests from online viewers. After opening with several tracks from &quot;Swag II,&quot; Bieber sat at a computer and began a journey into the past, searching for his videos on YouTube and singing snippets from &quot;That Should Be Me,&quot; &quot;Beauty and a Beat,&quot; &quot;Never Say Never,&quot; the teen pop anthem &quot;Baby&quot; and others hits. &quot;This is special,&quot; he told the crowd. &quot;This is a night I dreamed about for a long time, so to be here is amazing.&quot; Bieber also showed his old clips on YouTube, as well as moments captured by the ever-present cameras following him and his wife, Hailey Bieber. Eclectic offerings Earlier in the day, New York City rockers The Strokes took the stage and announced a new album for June, following a six-year hiatus for the band. They played anthems including &quot;Hard to Explain,&quot; &quot;Reptilia,&quot; &quot;Last Nite&quot; and &quot;Someday.&quot; Other acts in the spotlight Saturday included Nine Inch Noize &ndash; the collaboration between legendary industrial band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize &ndash; who also have an album on the way. With dramatic lighting and intense sound, the band had fans jumping with versions of songs like &quot;Closer,&quot; &quot;Heresy,&quot; &quot;The Warning&quot; and &quot;Copy of A.&quot; The set by rising indie star Sombr featured Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and together they performed the rock band&#39;s 1990s hit &quot;1979.&quot; With nine stages, the festival hosted a wide range of genres, including Brazil&#39;s Luisa Sonza, influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae, Britain&#39;s PinkPantheress, K-pop star Taemin and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of the band Talking Heads. Coachella kicked off Friday with performances from headliner Sabrina Carpenter, Moby, Devo and surprise appearances from Lizzo, David Lee Roth and HUNTR/X, who performed their Oscar-winning &quot;Golden&quot; alongside KATSEYE. Carpenter&#39;s performance of hits like &quot;Manchild,&quot; &quot;Espresso&quot; and &quot;Please, Please, Please&quot; was helped by big-screen stars Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell, who rounded out her 90-minute set. The festival runs this weekend and next weekend, with a nearly identical lineup. It can be viewed on YouTube.

An employee shows a Justin Bieber shirt to a fan during during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 11, 2026. (AFP)

Entertainment

The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella's size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues.

Justin Bieber reconnects with fans on Coachella's second day

Moscow/Kyiv: Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter. &quot;A total of 1,971 ceasefire violations by units of the Ukrainian armed forces were recorded between 4:00 pm Moscow time on April 12 and 8:00 am on April 12,&quot; the Russian <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-reports-469-easter-truce-violations" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">defense ministry</a> said, as reported by the TASS news agency. Ukraine reports 2,299 Easter truce violationsMeanwhile, Russia has violated a truce in place for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/easter-truce-between-russia-and-ukraine-begins" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Orthodox Easter</a> nearly 2,300 times since it came into effect, the Ukrainian army said on Sunday. &quot;As of 7:00 a.m. on 12 April, 2,299 ceasefire violations were recorded. Specifically: 28 enemy assault actions, 479 enemy shellings, 747 strikes by attack drones... and 1,045 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; the Ukrainian military&#39;s general staff said in a post on Facebook. &quot;There were no missile strikes, guided aerial bomb strikes, or Shahed-type UAV strikes,&quot; it added.

Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter.

Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of nearly 2,000 Easter truce violations

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;Domestic migrants in India, who often travel thousands of kilometers for work are weighing up whether to leave New Delhi for good as energy resources choked by the US-Israel war on Iran war dwindle. Black market prices of cooking <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fuel-panic-deepens-indias-economic-strain" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">gas cylinders</a> have soared beyond what laborers living hand-to-mouth can earn and, even if energy flows resume soon, they worry it could take weeks for the impact to filter down to them. Crouched over smoky fires at dawn, using wood shavings to cook a breakfast of flat bread chapatis, dozens of construction workers say they are ready to return home. &quot;We will just leave when (the) money finishes,&quot; said Milan Kumar Mondal, who will make the 1,100-kilometer (685-mile) journey home to Katihar in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/panic-and-chaos-in-india-as-lpg-supply-dwindles-and-prices-surge" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bihar state</a>, when the last of his savings runs out.&nbsp;Millions of internal migrants&nbsp;India has more than 450 million internal migrants, according to the last census in 2011 and government estimates, forming the backbone of its informal economy. Many move seasonally from poorer states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to cities in search of construction, factory and daily wage work. The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the war. And while the government says there is no overall LPG shortage, and is ensuring the most vulnerable receive cooking gas, migrants in informal settlements say they are left out. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Savings uncertain&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Government rules mean a household can have only one registered LPG connection.&nbsp; For domestic migrants, that is back in their home village. Incomes are volatile and savings minimal, making them particularly vulnerable to sudden price spikes or supply disruptions. Mondal earns around 600&ndash;700 rupees ($6.50-7.50) a day for construction work but, with LPG prohibitively expensive, he is barely breaking even.&nbsp;Surge in prices&nbsp;Prices of cooking gas have surged by as much as five times on the black market, the only source he can access without formal paperwork. &quot;Earlier cooking gas was 80&ndash;90 rupees ($0.86-0.97) per kilogram... Now it is 300&ndash;400 rupees, even 500 ($5.40),&quot; Mondal said. Workers&#39; union leader Rajiv Kumar Pandit said swaths of migrant workers had left the city already. &quot;The situation is very bad,&quot; he said. &quot;Wages are irregular, gas is not available, and prices are extremely high.&quot; Ramesh Kumar Mahto, also from Bihar, is ready to return home once he is paid. &quot;I don&#39;t think I will return to Delhi,&quot; he said. &quot;The crisis has made savings uncertain,&quot; he said.<h2 style="line-height: 2;">&nbsp;</h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;What is left?&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Many initially turned to firewood gathered from city forests or wood shavings from construction sites, but even the cost of that has now nearly doubled. &quot;We were cooking on firewood for the first 15 days of the crisis,&quot; said Suresh Kumar from Bhagalpur district, noting that they cannot cook when it rains.&nbsp; &quot;Now, even wood has become expensive.&quot; Electric stoves are not an option, since their power connection in tight-packed rooms is often only strong enough for a single charging point. &quot;If we use a heater or induction stove, the fuse goes off, the wiring burns,&quot; Kumar said. Food stalls are unaffordable -- or mean the worker spends all that they earn. &quot;A laborer needs three meals a day because the work is heavy -- lifting stones, working on multi-story buildings,&quot; construction worker Lalu Singh said. &quot;If we spend almost everything on food, what is left? It is better to go home and be with your family&quot;. Work is uncertain back in their villages -- farming on leased land or daily wage labor -- but living costs are lower and families share expenses. Five-month pregnant Naseema, in Delhi&#39;s Noor Nagar district, gathers wood from scrubland to cook for her six children and husband. &quot;If we can manage with the wood, we will,&quot; she said. &quot;After that, what option do we have -- than to return back to our village?&quot;

The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Domestic Indian migrants weigh return home in energy crunch

JAKARTA: Indonesia&#39;s President Prabowo Subianto will depart for Russia on Sunday for talks with counterpart Vladimir Putin on oil, Prabowo&#39;s office said.&nbsp;The presidency in Jakarta confirmed to AFP that Prabowo would leave Sunday evening.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Sugiono said Saturday that oil, which is &quot;of strategic importance for the Indonesian nation&quot;, would be on the agenda.&nbsp;&quot;He will meet with President Putin and will also discuss global geopolitics and, certainly, the energy situation,&quot; said Sugiono, who like many Indonesians has only one name.&nbsp;Prabowo, who recently travelled to South Korea and Japan, has defended his foreign travels.&nbsp;&quot;Brothers and sisters, it&#39;s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,&quot; he said in an address to his cabinet last week.&nbsp;Like many nations, Indonesia has come under pressure from soaring global oil prices over the war in the Middle East.&nbsp;Southeast Asia&#39;s largest economy, where fuel is heavily subsidised, is an oil producer but nevertheless a net importer.&nbsp;Last month, Prabowo&#39;s government announced fuel rationing and mandated a day-per-week work-from-home policy for civil servants to conserve energy stocks.&nbsp;It has vowed not to increase the price of fuel in the near future.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov told reporters in March that his country was open to selling oil to Indonesia.&nbsp;&quot;If Indonesia needs it, so please tell us and you will have it,&quot; Tolchenov said as the countries prepared for joint military exercises at a Jakarta port.&nbsp;Last year, Jakarta joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and China.&nbsp;But Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called &quot;Board of Peace&quot;.&nbsp;

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will visit Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, focusing on oil supply, energy security, and geopolitics, as Jakarta faces rising prices, fuel subsidies pressure, and seeks stable imports amid Middle East tensions.

Indonesian president to meet Putin in Russia for oil talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that it is imperative that the US and Iran continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&nbsp; Dar said this while briefing media on Islamabad Talks on Sunday. The Pakistani foreign minister, expressed his deep gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America for responding to the call made by Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for an immediate ceasefire in the region as well as for accepting prime minister&#39;s invitation for holding peace talks in Islamabad.<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=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043183031121330312&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043183031121330312"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said that &quot;I along with the Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the two sides that continued through the last 24 hours and ended this morning.&quot;&nbsp; Dar said, &quot;On behalf of Pakistan, I would like to express gratitude to the two sides for appreciating Pakistan&#39;s efforts to help achieve the ceasefire and its mediatory role.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We hope that the two sides continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond.&quot;<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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043175378488041726&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 877px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043175378488041726"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said, &quot;It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.&quot;&nbsp;

Ishaq Dar Says, 'Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.' 

Pakistan foreign minister says 'imperative' for US, Iran to uphold ceasefire

KYIV: Ukraine&#39;s military command on Saturday reported nearly 470 Russian violations of a truce agreed to mark the Orthodox Easter.&nbsp;&quot;After 4:00 pm, 469 ceasefire violations were recorded, namely: 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling attacks, 19 strikes by attack drones... &nbsp;and 275 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; it said on Facebook.&nbsp;&quot;Today in total, the enemy carried out 57 air strikes and dropped 182 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it deployed 3,928 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,454 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops&quot;.

Ukraine’s military reported 469 Russian violations of an Easter truce, including assaults, shelling, and drone strikes. It said Russia also launched dozens of air strikes, dropped bombs, and carried out thousands of attacks on troops and populated areas, showing the ceasefire was largely ignored.

Articles by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar