Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, warning that renewed conflict and rising tensions threaten regional stability and could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace. According to a statement posted on X by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, Pakistan&rsquo;s representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, speaking at the Security Council briefing on non-proliferation on Tuesday, said that recent developments had highlighted the fragility of the current situation and the urgent need for diplomatic initiatives to succeed before tensions escalate further. The statement further said that Pakistan&rsquo;s envoy noted that the recent surge in violence served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by a fragile ceasefire and stressed that continued instability could have serious consequences for regional and global peace, security, and prosperity. <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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 651px; 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=2064458346200269074&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=6323c2657b960b6ab2dd3e7e6ea8e645dc9bcd04&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The ambassador also expressed concern that the outbreak of hostilities had negatively affected efforts to address the Iran nuclear issue, pushing parties further apart and disrupting the International Atomic Energy Agency&rsquo;s verification activities.&rdquo; Reaffirming support for peaceful conflict resolution, the statement added that Iftikhar emphasized that dialogue, diplomacy, and sustained engagement remained the only viable path to resolving outstanding disputes, including those related to Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program. According to the statement, Pakistan&rsquo;s envoy highlighted his country&rsquo;s role in facilitating diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran, noting that it had worked alongside international partners to encourage de-escalation and create conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations. He appreciated both Washington and Tehran for placing their trust in Pakistan and for participating in the &ldquo;Islamabad Talks,&rdquo; described as the highest-level direct engagement between the two sides in more than four decades. According to the statement, Islamabad has maintained close contact with both countries and coordinated with regional and international partners, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, and China, to promote dialogue and facilitate communication.&nbsp;Ambassador Iftikhar said Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts were aimed at saving lives, reducing hostilities, and giving diplomacy a chance to succeed.&nbsp; &ldquo;He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and continue pursuing peaceful solutions, expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic initiatives would ultimately lead to a negotiated settlement and durable regional peace,&rdquo; according to the statement.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's representative at the UN urges all sides to exercise restraint and support diplomacy; warns that renewed Middle East violence risks derailing ceasefire efforts, disrupting nuclear talks, and undermining regional peace and stability.

Pakistan urges restraint, calls for diplomacy as Middle East tensions threaten peace efforts

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, the latest in a series of high-level summits as Beijing asserts its position as a diplomatic superpower on the world stage. State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years. Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, which is one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and under heavy international sanctions. The upcoming meeting will be Xi&#39;s first official trip abroad this year, and comes after he hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin last month. &quot;China is meeting leaders from around the world, coordinating positions and playing a mediating role,&quot; Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea&#39;s Kyungnam University, told AFP. &quot;As China&#39;s international standing rises, Beijing is likely seeking to draw Pyongyang more actively into its diplomatic orbit as a partner in advancing a more multilateral order.&quot; Pyongyang depends on China for up to 95% of total trade and 85% of its exports, according to 2022 statistics from the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based think tank. But North Korea has drawn closer to Russia in recent years, particularly since Moscow&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Pyongyang sending thousands of troops and weapons to support the war effort. In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food, and energy, helping it circumvent sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes. Xi&#39;s choice of Pyongyang for his first overseas trip of 2026 is &quot;a deliberate visual rebuttal to the prevailing read in Western capitals that Pyongyang had quietly migrated into Moscow&#39;s orbit&quot;, said Seong-Hyon Lee from the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations. Managing the relationshipXi last met Kim in September, when he invited the North Korean leader and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin as guests of honor to a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over imperial Japan in World War II. In 2019, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed to North Korea with great pomp and fanfare to celebrate the two countries&#39; &quot;unbreakable friendship&quot;. Prior to that trip, no Chinese leader had visited the North since Hu Jintao in 2005. Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Pyongyang in April that China and Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues and &quot;maintain close communication and interaction&quot;. China&#39;s interests include keeping an eye on North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme, the advancement of which is &quot;extremely rapid&quot;, Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) told AFP. &quot;This aspect needs to be managed. If North Korea acts in a provocative and belligerent manner, it could trigger regional conflict, which could run counter to China&#39;s interests,&quot; Hong said. Kim vowed an &quot;exponential&quot; increase in nuclear military capabilities on Wednesday as he visited a new atomic facility, Pyongyang&#39;s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. South Korea&#39;s foreign ministry has said it hopes exchanges between North Korea and China contribute to peace and stability, and that China can play a constructive role. Pyongyang has repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. Traditional US allies, including Britain&#39;s Keir Starmer and France&#39;s Emmanuel Macron, have also come to Beijing. However, Hong, of KINU, judged the chances that Xi might help broker a meeting between Trump and Kim as &quot;very low&quot;.

This June 21, 2019 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 22, 2019 shows China's President Xi Jinping (centre R) speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front L) upon his departure at the airport in P

China

Asia

State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years.



China's Xi to visit North Korea next week

Shizza Jasmin

Media communications strategist Dan Qayyum joined The Chatroom with Shizza to discuss Pakistan&#39;s international image, public diplomacy and the role of strategic communication in shaping global perceptions.&nbsp;During the conversation, Qayyum reflected on an article he wrote earlier this year that gained widespread attention online and sparked discussion about Pakistan&#39;s identity and place in the world.&nbsp;The discussion also explored broader themes including nation branding, geopolitical narratives, Pakistan&#39;s role in regional diplomacy, and the country&#39;s efforts to project its image internationally.&nbsp;Asked about the prospects for future diplomatic engagement in the region, Qayyum said he believed further talks were likely and argued that Islamabad remained well-positioned to facilitate dialogue.&nbsp;He also cautioned against potential regional disruptions, saying, &quot;We need to be careful of Israel playing spoil sport.&quot;&nbsp;The episode further examines the West&#39;s relationship with the Taliban, Iran&#39;s post-war challenges, regional diplomacy, and the opportunities and limitations of Pakistan&#39;s global branding strategy.&nbsp;Watch the full episode of The Chatroom with Shizza to hear the complete discussion.

Chatroom with Shizza

Media strategist Dan Qayyum joins The Chatroom with Shizza to discuss Pakistan's global image, nation branding, public diplomacy and regional geopolitics, offering insights into strategic communications, international narratives and the country's evolving role in world affairs.

The Chatroom: Dan Qayyum on diplomacy, branding and geopolitics

NEW DELHI: BRICS nations, including Iran and Russia, met in New Delhi on Thursday, where India warned of &quot;considerable flux&quot; in a world hit by conflict, economic uncertainty and energy insecurity. The war in Iran and the related fuel crisis are dominating discussions in the two-day gathering. India was hosting the foreign ministers from the expanded bloc that now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- countries at odds over the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. &quot;We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations,&quot; India&#39;s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in his opening speech, before closed meetings began. Among the foreign ministers attending were Iran&#39;s Abbas Araghchi and Russia&#39;s Sergei Lavrov. &quot;Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape,&quot; Jaishankar added, saying many countries &quot;continue to face challenges on energy, food, fertilizer, and health security&quot;. Disruptions around Gulf shipping routes and the Strait of Hormuz continue to drive volatility in oil and gas markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing economies, including India. India&#39;s foreign ministry also condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged ship off Oman on Wednesday as &quot;unacceptable&quot; -- with all sailors rescued safely by Muscat. &quot;We deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,&quot; the foreign ministry said, without giving further details of who launched the attack. Araghchi, speaking in New Delhi, insisted that the Strait of Hormuz &quot;is open for all&quot; commercial vessels that &quot;cooperate&quot; with its navy. &quot;There is no such thing as a military solution to anything related to Iran,&quot; Araghchi said. &quot;We Iranians never bow to any pressure or threat, but we reciprocate the language of respect.&quot; &#39;Volatile global environment&#39;The conflict involving Iran has added strain to India&#39;s economy, which is heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy supplies and fertilizer imports, and has cast uncertainty over New Delhi&#39;s growth outlook. India, the world&#39;s third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that has been repeatedly blocked since the war began. Ship‑tracking and import data show that India has partially plugged the gap by turning to old allies, expanding promising ties and reviving suppliers it had not tapped in years. The biggest backstop has been Russian crude -- a fuel source New Delhi spent much of the past year trying to pivot away from under stiff US tariffs. Jaishankar met with Lavrov on Wednesday evening. &quot;Our political cooperation is even more valuable in an uncertain and volatile global environment,&quot; Jaishankar said in remarks at the meeting, adding that discussions included &quot;trade and investment, energy and connectivity&quot;. BRICS expandsBRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. The grouping, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since expanded, as members sought to boost the bloc&#39;s global political and economic influence. It now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. China&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was not attending, with US President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday. India will hold a leaders&#39; summit later this year, and the foreign ministers will also meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the foreign ministry said. With deep divisions among some members, including over the war in the Middle East and criticism of Western powers, it was unclear whether a joint statement would be released at the meeting&#39;s end.

Middle East

Africa

Americas

Ministers meet amid widening geopolitical tensions, energy shocks and trade uncertainty, with the war in Iran exposing divisions within the expanded bloc and raising doubts about a joint statement.

Iran war and oil dominate BRICS meet in India

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Pakistan remains engaged in regional diplomacy to support de-escalation between the United States and Iran following the announced pause in &quot;Project Freedom&quot; in the Strait of Hormuz. At the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed the timely announcement of a pause in military activity in the Strait of Hormuz and expressed hope that the current momentum will lead to a &quot;lasting agreement&quot; that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.&nbsp; Marka-e-Haq anniversaryThe spokesperson moved on to describe the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq as a defining moment in Pakistan&rsquo;s national journey, citing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&rsquo;s remarks that Pakistan&rsquo;s response under Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos was &quot;measured, lawful, and in line with the UN Charter.&quot; On May 5, Dar briefed the diplomatic corps on the anniversary, highlighting the military campaign as a symbol of Pakistan&rsquo;s unity, resilience, and the Armed Forces&rsquo; resolve to defend sovereignty, the briefing said.&nbsp; Regional diplomatic effortsThe spokesperson said Foreign Minister Dar had remained in contact with several counterparts as part of Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic outreach. On May 4, Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi regarding the regional situation and Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation efforts. According to the Foreign Office, the Iranian side appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s &quot;constructive and mediation role,&quot; while Dar stressed that dialogue remained the only path to peace. The briefing added that following diplomatic engagements, 22 crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship MV Touska were evacuated to Pakistan and later repatriated to Iran in what Islamabad described as a &quot;major confidence-building measure&quot; by the United States. The spokesperson said Dar also spoke with Kuwait&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on May 2, Jordan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on May 3, and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on May 4. The Foreign Office also reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained central to regional instability and warned against unilateral actions related to the Indus Waters Treaty. On Gaza, Pakistan, in a joint statement with Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, South Africa and Spain, &ldquo;condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla,&rdquo; a civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Repatriation of nationalsThe Foreign Office said Pakistan&rsquo;s missions abroad facilitated the repatriation of dozens of nationals detained in Cambodia and Uganda, including 54 Pakistanis arrested during a raid on a scam compound in Cambodia and 85 detained in Uganda for unauthorized employment.&nbsp; Officials said most of those held had already returned home, while Pakistani embassies provided consular access, emergency travel documents, food, water and medical assistance during their detention, and also extended support to Bangladeshi, Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals in similar circumstances. Maritime rescue operation&nbsp;The briefing concluded with details of a maritime rescue operation carried out by the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea after the offshore vessel MV Gautam, carrying six Indian and one Indonesian crew member, suffered a technical failure. Upon receiving the alert from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Mumbai, Pakistani authorities deployed the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ship Kashmir to provide the stranded crew with food, medical support, and technical assistance.

FILE: Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi (Photo: Associated Press of Pakistan)

Pakistan said diplomatic efforts continued with regional and international counterparts, while the Foreign Office also detailed the repatriation of detained nationals abroad and a maritime rescue operation involving an Indian-crewed vessel in the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan highlights mediation efforts, diplomacy at Foreign Office briefing 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as &#39;unprovoked&#39; cross-border firing by Afghan forces in South Waziristan, saying civilians, including children, were injured in the latest escalation along the frontier, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) said. In a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, said Afghan forces carried out firing and shelling on April 26 and 29 in border areas of South Waziristan adjacent to Bannu district, including Angoor Adda, damaging homes and wounding several people, among them children aged 3, 8, and 10. The ministry said residents and tribal elders had voiced concern over repeated incidents and demanded an immediate halt to cross-border attacks. It added that Islamabad had expressed &#39;strong condemnation&#39; and was taking measures to assist affected families and ensure civilian safety. Diplomatic engagement on ceasefire effortsThe Foreign Office said Pakistan had maintained &ldquo;sustained engagement&rdquo; with both Washington and Tehran over the past two weeks, supporting ceasefire efforts and dialogue aimed at de-escalation. &quot;Pakistan remains committed to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in addressing complex geopolitical challenges and managing complex disputes,&quot; said the spokesperson.&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan has maintained open channels of communication with the concerned parties&quot;, he added, highlighting a series of high-level engagements led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including multiple calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and consultations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and T&uuml;rkiye. According to the briefing, Sharif&rsquo;s recent visits to Riyadh, Doha, and Antalya focused on advancing regional peace efforts following a ceasefire between the US and Iran and talks hosted in Islamabad. The ministry said Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, remained engaged with key stakeholders to promote stability. Separately, the Foreign Office said a European Union business delegation was visiting Pakistan and had held meetings with government officials and private sector representatives, with more than 600 business-to-business interactions expected on the sidelines of the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. In the Middle East, Pakistan also joined international statements condemning Israeli actions, including the appointment of a representative to Somaliland and violations at Jerusalem&rsquo;s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The briefing concluded with an update on President Asif Ali Zardari&rsquo;s ongoing visit to China, describing it as part of continued high-level exchanges marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Weekly press briefing (Screen grab: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Islamabad flays Afghan cross-border firing in South Waziristan that injured civilians, including children, and damaged homes, while highlighting its ongoing diplomatic engagement with the United States and Iran to support de-escalation and regional stability.

Pakistan condemns Afghan border firing, highlights Iran-US de-escalation diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with EU Vice President and High Representative Kaja Kallas on Wednesday, discussing the evolving regional situation and its wider economic implications. According to the Foreign Office, the two sides reviewed recent regional developments and stressed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomatic engagement. Kallas appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;constructive and facilitative role&rdquo; in promoting regional peace and stability, the statement said. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to supporting dialogue and engagement, saying Islamabad would continue its efforts to reduce tensions and encourage peaceful solutions. <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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" 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=2049762340116353403&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=04e0aaccf35584dbdd98f5f0c9c8cbbc73cb1743&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 770px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The discussion also covered Pakistan-EU economic cooperation.&nbsp; DPM Dar welcomed the recent successful convening of the EU-Pakistan Business Forum in Islamabad, saying the platform had helped strengthen partnerships and open&nbsp;new opportunities for businesses on both sides. The forum was described as an important step in expanding trade, investment and private-sector linkages between Pakistan and the European Union. Both Dar and Kallas agreed to remain in close contact as diplomatic efforts continue.

Ishaq Dar and EU’s Kaja Kallas discussed regional developments, economic implications and peace efforts, while reaffirming dialogue, stronger Pakistan-EU business ties and continued diplomatic contact.

Pakistan DPM Dar discusses regional situation with EU VP Kallas 

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; 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">In just 24 hours, a flurry of fast-moving diplomacy has once again placed Pakistan at the heart of the 58-day Iran-US conflict. Here&#39;s what you need to know.

Shorts

In last 24 hours: Pause in US-Iran talks, but both sides praise Pakistan's peace efforts

ANTALYA: Turkey hosts a high-stakes forum Friday bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad pushes diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war. Pakistan&#39;s powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week war. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum when it opens on Friday in the Mediterranean holiday resort of Antalya. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to meet on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate. The timing of the meeting has not yet been announced. Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in regional diplomacy having hosted rare talks between Iran and the United States last weekend, which ended inconclusively. &quot;We are making the necessary efforts to reduce tensions, extend the ceasefire, and continue the negotiations,&quot; Erdogan said in an address to his ruling AKP party in parliament this week. &quot;Negotiations cannot take place with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire must be fully utilised.&quot; The White House has said further talks with Iran would &quot;very likely&quot; be in Islamabad, where Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation in the last round of negotiations. - Push for peace -Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who met Qatar&#39;s ruler in Doha on Thursday as part of a regional tour, will also join the forum and meet Erdogan on its margins, as Islamabad pushes for a US-Iran second round. &quot;We will continue to provide all the support we can to ensure that the ongoing temporary ceasefire turns into a permanent one,&quot; a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. &quot;We hope that this war -- whose effects are being felt increasingly not only regionally but also globally -- will come to an end as soon as possible, and that the parties will act constructively in the ongoing negotiation process,&quot; the source said. Turkey, while a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help reach a ceasefire in the conflict. Ankara has said the Middle East ceasefire should include Lebanon which is facing Israeli attacks. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday also the strategic Strait of Hormuz should be reopened &quot;as soon as possible&quot; while warning that its status would remain a key point of contention. He described the waterway as an &quot;international free passage zone&quot;, adding that any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.&quot; More than 150 countries are expected to take part in the Antalya gathering, including more than 20 heads of state and government. Among the participants are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Turkey’s Antalya forum brings together key regional powers as Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt intensify diplomacy to secure a lasting ceasefire, reopen Hormuz, and advance renewed US-Iran talks.

Turkey hosts latest diplomatic push on Middle East war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged stronger cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union in a statement at a UN Security Council meeting on the EU&#39;s partnership with the UN, saying deeper collaboration had become strategically vital at a time of mounting global instability. According to the ambassador&rsquo;s statement released by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, he said the widening geopolitical divide was putting growing strain on multilateralism and pushing the rules-based international order towards a dangerous tipping point. The ambassador said Pakistan valued the EU&rsquo;s longstanding support for multilateralism, international law and the UN Charter, and welcomed its continued commitment to working with the UN as the central pillar of international cooperation. The statement said the ambassador warned that strategic competition was increasingly replacing cooperation at a time when the world most needed collective action to bridge development gaps and promote shared prosperity. In that context, he said cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter should be treated as a strategic necessity.<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" 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=2043868463551397947&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=695618f6f280be58ce22ef01cddd46d57957413f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Referring to the role of regional bodies, the ambassador said organisations such as the EU were important partners in advancing peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. He also recalled Security Council Resolution 2788, adopted during Pakistan&rsquo;s presidency of the Council last July, which recognised the contribution of regional and sub-regional organisations in complementing UN efforts to prevent conflict and encourage peaceful dispute resolution, according to the statement. The statement said Ahmed pointed to ongoing conflicts in West Asia, Europe and the Middle East as evidence that crises no longer remain confined to their immediate geographic areas. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s position remained anchored in the UN Charter and in support for dialogue, de-escalation and peaceful settlement of disputes. The ambassador also expressed appreciation for EU backing for Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful outcome in West Asia. On Palestine, the ambassador said the EU remained a significant diplomatic and humanitarian actor and acknowledged its support for a just and lasting two-state solution in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, the statement said. He added that the bloc could play a greater role in efforts to ease Palestinian suffering and advance Palestinian rights, including self-determination and statehood. The statement said the ambassador also voiced hope for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and highlighted a range of global challenges disproportionately affecting the Global South, including food insecurity, freshwater scarcity, energy volatility, supply chain disruption, pandemics, climate change and natural disasters. He further praised EU support for the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, humanitarian assistance and reform of the international financial system, while also commending EU-UN cooperation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, according to the statement. Highlighting bilateral ties, Ahmad said the EU was Pakistan&rsquo;s largest trade and investment partner and described the GSP Plus framework as a mutually beneficial model that had supported growth in Pakistan-EU trade, the statement added.

Pakistan’s UN ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad urged stronger UN-EU cooperation at the Security Council, saying global instability, conflict and development challenges require deeper multilateral partnership, while also highlighting Palestine, Ukraine, peacebuilding and Pakistan’s growing economic ties with the bloc.

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