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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Beijing, China, leading a high‑level Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz (PML-N) delegation for the second Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and the 4th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism.&nbsp;Dar reached Beijing accompanied by the Minister for Planning, Development &amp; Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal. Upon arrival at Beijing airport, he was warmly received by Vice Minister Sun Haiyan of the International Department of the Communist Party of China&rsquo;s Central Committee (IDCPC).<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2058180484421615822&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a68cc03651fd282476f4be353d0cc978abde75be&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Dar is scheduled to be the chief guest on behalf of the PML‑N at the 2nd Pakistan&ndash;China Political Parties Forum and the 4th CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism, alongside H.E. Liu Haixing, Minister of the IDCPC.&nbsp;The forums will bring together representatives from around 12 Pakistani political parties, including the PML‑N, to discuss CPEC, regional cooperation, and party‑to‑party ties.&nbsp;The consultations are also expected to review progress on CPEC-related cooperation and explore ways to enhance coordination between political parties of the two countries.&nbsp;Before departing, members of the delegation praised Hangzhou for its modern infrastructure, economic dynamism and cultural charm, describing the visit as productive and memorable.&nbsp;PM Sharif is currently on an official visit to China aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar along with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal arrive in Beijing to attend 2nd Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and the 4th CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism. (Photo: X/@MIshaqDar50)

Foreign Affairs

Dar is part of Pakistan’s delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which is on a four-day visit to China -- aimed at bilateral cooperation and advancing projects under CPEC Phase-II.


Pakistani FM arrives in Beijing to attend key Pakistan-China political forum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed ambassadors posted across the Gulf and broader region for a high-level diplomatic conference in Islamabad, as the country steps up regional engagement amid ongoing Middle East tensions and efforts to sustain dialogue between regional powers.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received Pakistani envoys attending the Regional Envoys&rsquo; Conference, being held in Islamabad from May 14 to 18, as Islamabad continues positioning itself as an active diplomatic player during a fragile regional ceasefire and ongoing negotiations linked to the Iran conflict.&nbsp; <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; text-align: left; 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=2054863085740158996&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=90c3a94cb4ef6394433d8571a4a85a65c7b96317&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;At a time of evolving regional and global dynamics, Pakistan remains committed to proactive diplomacy, stronger strategic partnerships, enhanced economic cooperation with our brotherly countries, and continued efforts for regional peace and stability,&rdquo; Dar said in a statement posted on X.&nbsp;The conference brings together Pakistani diplomats serving in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and other key regional capitals to review geopolitical developments, bilateral relations and economic cooperation priorities at a time of heightened uncertainty across the Middle East.&nbsp;Dar stressed the importance of &ldquo;focused and productive&rdquo; deliberations and directed envoys to present &ldquo;practical recommendations&rdquo; to further advance Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic and economic objectives in the region.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with our envoys, remains at the forefront of promoting Pakistan&rsquo;s interests abroad and reinforcing the country&rsquo;s role as a constructive partner for regional peace, connectivity, and shared prosperity,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;The conference comes as Pakistan maintains active diplomatic engagement with Gulf states, T&uuml;rkiye, Iran and other regional partners amid continued efforts to support dialogue and reduce tensions following months of conflict that disrupted shipping routes, energy markets and regional stability.&nbsp;Pakistan has expanded its diplomatic outreach in recent years, hosting several high-profile foreign leaders and senior officials in 2025, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Masoud Pezeshkian, Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah II and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflecting Islamabad&rsquo;s growing regional diplomatic profile.

Pakistan Foreign Office will convene a Regional Envoys’ Conference in Islamabad from May 14 to 18 that will review regional and global developments, said the Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday.

At Islamabad envoy forum, Pakistan pushes broader regional diplomacy efforts

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar kicked off a busy day of diplomacy Tuesday with a phone call to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, followed by a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, as discussions centered on escalating regional tensions.&nbsp;Dar first spoke with Abdelatty about the latest developments, with both emphasising dialogue and engagement for peace and stability and agreeing to remain in close contact. <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" 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-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2046501154121527747&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b909f9899687ff4a9f9bd982c027710a9f4a2b49&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Later in the day, the Chinese ambassador called on Dar, conveying Beijing&#39;s full support and appreciation for Pakistan&#39;s ongoing efforts to facilitate US-Iran engagement for broader regional calm.&nbsp;Dar reaffirmed the robust Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, underscoring strong bilateral ties and the need for continued high-level exchanges.&nbsp;These back-to-back engagements signal Pakistan&#39;s pivotal role in mediation amid Middle East uncertainties.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong calls on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on April 21, 2026. (Photo: X/ @ForeignOfficePk)

Pakistan engages with China, Egypt on regional stability amid US-Iran tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Tuesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and proposed a five-point initiative to review the situation in the Gulf and Middle East region as Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Ishar Dar meet in Beijing, said the Foreign Office in a statement. Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, according to the Foreign Office statement. According to it, particular emphasis was placed on &ldquo;advancing high-quality development, deepening economic and strategic cooperation, including under CPEC 2.0,&rdquo; and enhancing high-level exchanges and collaboration across all domains. Dar is on an official one-day visit to China at the invitation of his counterpart Wang Yi, where both leaders will review bilateral ties and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, said the Foreign Office earlier.&nbsp;This is Dar&rsquo;s second trip to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Foreign Office Statement earlier, the Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, Wang Yi, and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, met in Beijing. The two sides put forward the five-point initiative to review the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East region. &#39;Immediate Cessation of Hostilities&#39;Both sides called for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. The statement added that the humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas&nbsp;&#39;Start of peace talks as soon as possible&#39;China and Pakistan called for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and the Gulf states, which should be safeguarded. &ldquo;Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts,&quot; the statement added. The statement reaffirmed support for the involved parties to start talks, with all sides committed to peacefully resolving disputes and avoiding the use or threat of force during negotiations.&nbsp;&#39;Security of nonmilitary targets&#39;According to the statement, the principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. &ldquo;China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants,&quot; added the statement.&nbsp;&#39;Security of shipping lanes&#39;The statement said that the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters are a crucial global shipping route for goods and energy. It called on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz while allowing the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships and restoring normal passage through the Strait &ldquo;as soon as possible.&rdquo; &#39;Primacy of the United Nations Charter&#39;It called for efforts to practice &ldquo;true multilateralism,&rdquo; to jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN, and to support the conclusion of an agreement to establish a comprehensive peace framework and realize lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.&nbsp;All-weather strategic cooperative partnersPrior to Dar landing in Beijing, responding to a question regarding the Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&#39;s ongoing visit to China, the China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning called the bilateral relations between the two &ldquo;all-weather strategic cooperative partners&rdquo; that support each other. &ldquo;The two countries share similar positions and maintain close communication on major international and regional issues,&rdquo; she said. The spokesperson said that she believes that the foreign ministers of the two countries will strengthen strategic communication and coordination on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the situation in Iran. &lsquo;Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks&rsquo;This is Dar&rsquo;s second trip to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.&nbsp;The crisis began late last month following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which were followed by retaliatory actions. The situation has since heightened tensions across the Gulf and affected global energy markets, contributing to rising oil prices and inflation.&nbsp;Dar said the participating foreign ministers expressed full support for the possibility of US-Iran talks being held in Islamabad and agreed to establish a committee of senior officials to work out the next steps.&nbsp;He emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only practical path to avoid further conflict and ensure regional peace.&nbsp;In recent days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have also held several discussions with Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while maintaining coordination with the United States.&nbsp;Dar added that Pakistan welcomes the trust shown by both Iran and the US and would be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the near future.&nbsp;&#39;Diplomacy a gradual process&#39;Echoing this stance, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said that diplomacy takes time but remains essential to easing tensions. &ldquo;Diplomacy is a gradual process. It takes patience, but we hope to move things forward faster in the interest of the broader region,&rdquo; he said in an interview with Fox News, expressing optimism about de-escalation efforts.

Both sides reaffirm strategic partnership, propose a five-point peace plan addressing Middle East tensions, urging ceasefire, dialogue, civilian protection, secure shipping routes, and UN-led multilateral diplomacy

Pakistan, China call for ceasefire, propose five-point Middle East plan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Saturday spoke with Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders discussed the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/internet-connectivity-in-iran-improves-slightly-netblocks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">current situation</a> in Iran and the wider region. Dar expressed hope for peace and stability, and both sides agreed to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest.<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-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2012390102509793696&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cc4702313c36faf2a97d4ebfdadf06a71ae0e6a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&#39;Early normalization&#39;Earlier, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, on Thursday said that the country hoped for an &ldquo;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-hopes-for-early-normalization-situation-in-iran-expresses-support-all-diplomatic-efforts" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">early normalization</a>&nbsp;of the situation in Iran,&rdquo; expressing support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at regional peace and stability.&nbsp; &ldquo;A stable and peaceful Iran is in the interest of Pakistan, the region, and beyond,&rdquo; Iftikhar 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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 656px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2011947345001263561&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cc4702313c36faf2a97d4ebfdadf06a71ae0e6a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

Foreign ministers Dar and Araghchi discuss the current situation in Iran and the wider region; Dar expresses hope for peace and stability; both sides agree to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest.

Pakistan FM expresses hope for peace in call with Iranian counterpart 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing on Saturday to co-chair the 7th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said in a statement.&nbsp;According to the statement, Dar was received upon arrival by China&rsquo;s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and senior officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.&nbsp;The Foreign Office said the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs. Dar is the first foreign dignitary to visit China in 2026.&nbsp;Describing the significance of the engagement, the statement said the Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Strategic Dialogue is &ldquo;the highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China,&rdquo; providing a structured platform to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.&nbsp;&ldquo;During the dialogue, the two sides will review ongoing collaboration, identify new areas of partnership, and take forward the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said.&nbsp;The two foreign ministers are also expected to announce a series of initiatives and commemorative activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China in 2026, the statement added.&nbsp;The visit forms part of regular high-level exchanges between Islamabad and Beijing and reflects the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral ties, while reaffirming mutual support for regional peace, stability, and sustainable development, the Foreign Office said.

The 7th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue reviews bilateral cooperation, explores new partnerships, and advances the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership during Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing

Pakistan, China hold strategic dialogue as Dar visits Beijing

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held an urgent briefing for the diplomatic corps on Thursday evening, raising concerns about India&rsquo;s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty that Islamabad says threatens peace, stability, and the livelihoods of millions in South Asia. The foreign minister highlighted India&rsquo;s &ldquo;unilateral abeyance&rdquo; in April 2025&nbsp;of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between the two countries, calling it a gross contravention of international law, including Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, according to a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.<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=2001919279214793215&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d7d005dc982602002ec7dd57b9c25405b8db01e2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He said that India&rsquo;s actions have escalated to material breaches of the treaty, citing abrupt variations in the flow of the River Chenab during April-May 2025 and December 7-15, 2025, which Pakistan attributes to unilateral water releases by India without prior notification or data sharing, as required under the treaty. The briefing noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s Indus Water Commissioner had written to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification on these recent variations.&nbsp; &lsquo;Weaponization of water&rsquo;The foreign minister emphasized that these actions exemplify what Pakistan considers the &ldquo;weaponization of water,&rdquo; threatening agriculture, food security, economic stability, and the livelihoods of Pakistani citizens.<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" 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=2001911420137673190&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d7d005dc982602002ec7dd57b9c25405b8db01e2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the minister, India has repeatedly sought to undermine the IWT, including by constructing hydropower projects such as Kishanganga and Ratle, which Pakistan says violate the treaty&rsquo;s technical specifications.&nbsp; India is also accused of halting the sharing of hydrological data and joint oversight, increasing risks of floods and droughts in Pakistan. The minister warned that India&rsquo;s conduct contravenes international human rights and humanitarian law and could trigger a humanitarian crisis, while undermining progress on the Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and hunger.&nbsp; He also criticized India for refusing to participate in the treaty&rsquo;s dispute resolution mechanisms, including proceedings before the Court of Arbitration and Neutral Expert. Pakistan reiterated that the IWT is a binding legal instrument vital to regional peace and stability.&nbsp; The minister cited recent rulings by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in June and August 2025, which reaffirmed the treaty&rsquo;s validity and binding dispute-resolution mechanisms.&nbsp; He also referenced communications from UN Special Procedures and Mandate Holders expressing concerns about India&rsquo;s actions, which were made public on Dec. 15. The briefing further noted India&rsquo;s June 21 declaration by its Home Minister, stating that India would &ldquo;never&rdquo; restore the treaty and intended to divert waters to Rajasthan via a new canal.&nbsp; &lsquo;Water is life&rsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s National Security Committee has reportedly declared that any attempt to block or divert water under the treaty would be considered an &ldquo;Act of War.&rdquo; The foreign minister underscored the potential human rights impact of India&rsquo;s actions, including threats to the rights to work, livelihood, water, food, adequate living standards, and a clean environment.&nbsp; He called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to address the situation and urged diplomats to advocate for the restoration of the treaty, an end to the &ldquo;weaponization of water,&rdquo; and adherence to international law. &ldquo;Water is life and cannot be weaponized,&rdquo; he concluded, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution while insisting that it will not compromise on the water rights of its people.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held an urgent briefing for the diplomatic corps, raising concerns over India’s actions that Islamabad says are threatening peace, stability, and the livelihoods of millions in South Asia.

Pakistan urges international community to advocate for restoration of Indus Waters Treaty

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said it is strategically possible for Dhaka to join a regional grouping with Pakistan without India, though such an arrangement would be difficult for Nepal or Bhutan, according to Bangladeshi media. &ldquo;It is possible for us strategically &hellip; but it is not possible for Nepal or Bhutan to form a grouping with Pakistan excluding India,&rdquo; he told reporters at the foreign ministry, according to state-run BSS News reported. His comments followed Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&rsquo;s recent statement at the Islamabad Conclave that a new trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan had begun and could expand to other countries.&nbsp;Touhid said Dar &ldquo;has said something, and perhaps at some point this could see some progress,&rdquo; noting that he had only seen the information through the media. Improving Pakistan-Bangladesh tiesThe remarks come amid warming relations between Islamabad and Dhaka following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.&nbsp; In August this year, Foreign Minister Dar visited Bangladesh for the first time in 13 years. In September,&nbsp;Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the D-8 Summit, signaling a reset in ties. Bilateral trade also rose by about 20 percent in FY2024-25, from nearly $712 million to $865 million. Direct sea trade resumed for the first time in more than 50 years, and Bangladesh later cleared Pakistan&rsquo;s Fly Jinnah to begin direct Karachi-Dhaka flights. High-level military contacts also restarted, with exploratory talks on defense cooperation. The Yunus-led interim government has adopted a broader foreign policy approach, moving away from the Awami League&rsquo;s India-focused posture. This has created space for pragmatic engagement with Islamabad, though the unresolved legacy of the 1971 Liberation War remains a major hurdle.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain says such an arrangement, however, would be difficult for Nepal or Bhutan.

Bangladesh open to joining regional bloc with Pakistan excluding India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the United Nations&#39; request to allow humanitarian aid to Afghanistan would be considered, and the process would likely begin on Sunday. He was speaking to the media at the Foreign Office on Saturday. The foreign minister highlighted key official tours and developments that occurred during his recent overseas visits. Speaking on Afghanistan, Dar said that, following a UN request, Pakistan would resume humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. &ldquo;I received a request from the UN via the Foreign Office yesterday to reconsider the suspension of humanitarian aid [food, etc.] for Afghanistan,&rdquo; Dar added. &ldquo;I believe we should take positive action for the common Afghan people,&rdquo; he said. The foreign minister said that he had consulted Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and would soon consult the prime minister. He said that he was hopeful that permission for humanitarian relief would be granted by tomorrow. &ldquo;We will hopefully grant permission for essential food relief on humanitarian grounds by tomorrow,&rdquo; Dar stated. &#39;Dialogue, diplomacy&#39; preferredDiscussing terrorism-related activities across the country, the foreign minister said that since the Afghan interim regime came into power in 2021, 2,000 people had been martyred while another 20,000 had been injured, stressing that the &ldquo;situation is not sustainable.&rdquo; &ldquo;I stressed that Pakistan has the power to take kinetic action, but that it is undesirable against a brother nation,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If they don&#39;t resolve the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] issue, we have other options. Dialogue and diplomacy are the answers, but they must look inward and address their weaknesses,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;It takes two to tango,&rdquo; he remarked. Qatar, T&uuml;rkiye as mediatorsDar recalled that Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye hosted mediation between Pakistan and Afghanistan; however, power centers in Afghanistan prevented a unanimous decision. &ldquo;Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye attempted mediation, but two power centers in Afghanistan prevented decisions from taking effect,&rdquo; he added. Dar stated that Pakistan was prepared to launch a cleanup operation in Afghanistan when Qatar, alongside T&uuml;rkiye, offered to mediate between the two countries.&nbsp; &ldquo;They were likely aware of our planned kinetic operation, and their government was in contact with me on an hourly basis to facilitate mediation,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;He added that the mediators had to withdraw in embarrassment after the Taliban refused to soften their position. Border issues with AfghanistanRegarding border issues, the foreign minister said that Pakistan had hosted over &ldquo;4 million Afghan brothers for decades.&rdquo; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that during his visit to Kabul, the Afghan interim foreign minister informed him that the Taliban had detained around a hundred TTP terrorists along with several of their facilitators. Dar acknowledged the arrests but stressed that &ldquo;this is not enough.&rdquo;&nbsp; He said Kabul had invited Pakistan to send a delegation to verify the detentions, yet Islamabad maintains that far more decisive and sustained action is needed against TTP elements operating from Afghan soil. Recalling the Economic Cooperation Council&#39;s virtual meeting, Dar said that Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, &ldquo;provoked me&rdquo; by accusing Pakistan. The foreign minister reiterated that stability in Afghanistan was imperative for peace and stability in the entire region. Pakistan to &lsquo;positively consider&#39; contributing forces as Gaza peacekeepersResponding to a question on the International Stabilization Force (ISF), Dar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given an &ldquo;in principle indication&rdquo; that Pakistan would also positively consider sending its forces. &ldquo;My counterproposal was that if it is not a UN Peacekeeping Force, it must be sanctioned by the UN Security Council. The subsequent US resolution&rsquo;s wording was unacceptable to us.&rdquo; He added that there was &ldquo;a thought&rdquo; that the ISF might be mandated to disarm and de-weaponize Hamas. To this, he stated: &ldquo;We are not ready for that. Our job is peacekeeping, not peace enforcement; that is the role of Palestinian law enforcement agencies.&rdquo;

Security

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says Pakistan is considering resuming humanitarian aid to Afghanistan following a UN request, stressing regional stability, dialogue over force, and conditional support for international stabilization efforts in Gaza.

Pakistan weighing resumption of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: FM Dar

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to advancing ties with Bahrain during meetings in Manama with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">H.E. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Al-Qudaibiya Palace, the prime minister invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in food security, information technology, construction, mines and minerals, healthcare, renewable energy, and tourism, Radio Pakistan reported.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He also proposed enhanced port-to-port connectivity between Karachi, Gwada,r and Khalifa Bin Salman Port, describing the expanded link as a key driver for trade and logistical cooperation.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a post on X, Sharif said the meeting with the crown prince was &ldquo;warm and most cordial&rdquo; and that both sides reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and agreed to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and defence areas.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prime Minister Sharif said both countries aim to translate &ldquo;excellent political goodwill into meaningful and tangible outcomes,&rdquo; with the discussions expected to elevate Pakistan&ndash;Bahrain cooperation further.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 726px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=1993882486024061337&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard&sessionId=07432a2de99e7fec841b199edda31e7e338b7b5d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar also met Bahrain&rsquo;s Minister of Finance and National Economy, H.E. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, during this visit. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Bahrain relations, with a particular focus on expanding economic cooperation.<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=1993938644466585884&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2448%2F&sessionId=8741f748336569ac057f0bfb67f6fd1cc77dc1ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 750px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Both ministers highlighted significant potential in fintech, banking, and financial services and agreed to intensify collaboration in these sectors. They also discussed possibilities for central bank-level cooperation, including the creation of joint working teams to develop a comprehensive roadmap for enhanced economic engagement. Pakistan and Bahrain underscored that deeper economic ties would help unlock new opportunities for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth, reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

The two sides reaffirm their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Bahrain relations, with a particular focus on expanding economic cooperation.

Articles tagged with "Ishaq Dar"