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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.

Foreign Affairs

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.

Pakistan, Bahrain reaffirm commitment to deepen economic partnership

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar landed in Russia on Monday to share the country&#39;s perspective on regional and global issues at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting&nbsp;in Moscow. Dar is leading Pakistan&#39;s delegation at the two-day meeting, which runs from November 17-18. The event is being held at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, according to a statement from Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. <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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 948px; 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=1990284237715730603&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b93cea67d457c50ae4be591fd9102aada938c5a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> The CHG meeting will be attended by the heads of government of Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the Vice President of Iran and the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India. Leaders&nbsp;from Mongolia, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan will also participate. Representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are also expected to attend. Pakistan&rsquo;s address The country&#39;s FM&nbsp;will use his address at the meeting to outline Pakistan&rsquo;s position on key regional and global issues, and discuss ways to strengthen the SCO for the benefit of the region. The CHG is the second-highest decision-making body within the SCO. It provides guidance on economic, trade, connectivity, and socio-economic matters, and is responsible for the organisation&rsquo;s budget. The meeting will also adopt a Joint Communiqu&eacute; and make important decisions. On the sidelines, Dar is expected to hold bilateral talks with leaders from other SCO countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The deputy prime minister of Pakistan, Dar, will also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of other SCO countries on the sidelines of the council.

Dar to share Pakistan’s perspective on regional, global issues at SCO meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing parliamentarians from across the world at an international conference on Wednesday, said cowardly acts would not shake Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve against terrorism. He was speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers&rsquo; Conference (ISC) held at Pakistan&rsquo;s capital, Islamabad, according to a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988549845091762214&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c22b723185f45f52bf63f64329199b676d12b8d1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Speaking about the recent terror incidents, Dar said, &ldquo;Just yesterday, we witnessed two heinous acts of terrorism in Wana and Islamabad, resulting in loss of fifteen precious lives.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;We categorically reject acts of terrorism in all forms and manifestations, whether these take place in Islamabad, or anywhere else in the world.&rdquo; &ldquo;We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Let me be clear: these cowardly acts will never shake or weaken our national resolve.&rdquo;<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1988558728501788922&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c22b723185f45f52bf63f64329199b676d12b8d1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;If anything, they reaffirm our conviction that dialogue, understanding, and partnership are the only sustainable paths to peace and security,&rdquo; Dar added. Dialogue and cooperation&nbsp;He told the audience that their participation proved that dialogue and cooperation among nations were the surest path to peace and progress. Dar said that the conference &ldquo;marks another milestone in Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained efforts to advance peace, security, and development through multilateralism.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;It is also a moment to celebrate parliamentary diplomacy as the voice of the people in global affairs.&rdquo; &lsquo;Parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy&rsquo;The Pakistani foreign minister stated that &ldquo;diplomacy today extends beyond ministries and diplomatic missions. It increasingly draws strength from public awareness and growing parliamentary engagement, while remaining firmly grounded in our national and strategic interests.&rdquo; &ldquo;Parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by bringing the perspectives of people&rsquo;s representatives into international discourse.&rdquo; Dar said, &ldquo;By engaging with peers across borders, parliamentarians share experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss the application of fundamental principles of governance, rights, and democracy.&rdquo; &ldquo;These interactions inform national foreign policies, strengthen interstate relations, and enrich global cooperation; ensuring that diplomacy reflects the aspirations, values, and interests of citizens worldwide.&rdquo; &lsquo;Regional connectivity&rsquo;&nbsp;The Pakistani foreign minister said, &ldquo;Through regional connectivity, trade facilitation, and investment partnerships, our economies can move towards growth and shared prosperity.&rdquo; &ldquo;We meet at a time of profound global transformation. Old certainties are fading; trust in multilateral institutions is under strain. Geopolitical rivalries, economic divides, climate crises, terrorism, and widening inequalities threaten the cooperative spirit that sustained peace for past many decades.&rdquo; &ldquo;At such a moment, forums like this conference carry exceptional significance,&rdquo; the Pakistani foreign minister stressed. &ldquo;This reminds us that multilateralism must not only be preserved &mdash; it must be revitalized through openness, inclusion, and the active participation of people&rsquo;s representatives.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;This is how we can rebuild trust in international cooperation based on dialogue, diplomacy, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.&rdquo; &lsquo;Peace, Security, and Development&rsquo;Speaking at the theme of the conference, &ldquo;Peace, Security, and Development,&rdquo; Dar said, &ldquo;at both domestic and international levels, peace enables growth, development sustains peace, and security and cooperation fortify the foundations for progress.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;Peace and security are not abstract ideals, they are essential conditions for human progress.&rdquo; Dar said, &ldquo;The persistence of conflicts and unresolved disputes continue to cast long shadows over our shared aspirations.&rdquo; &ldquo;These challenges transcend borders, demanding collective resolve and coordinated action; No nation, no matter how strong or self-reliant, can confront these alone.&rdquo; &ldquo;One of the major global challenges of our time is terrorism,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;Pakistan has been a bulwark against this menace that does not recognize any boundary, religion, gender, ethnicity or race.&rdquo; &lsquo;Preferred instrument&rsquo;&nbsp;Dar said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign policy is firmly anchored in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations &mdash; sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference, and friendly relations among nations.&rdquo; &ldquo;Dialogue has always been our preferred instrument for stability and progress. We have consistently advocated for regional cooperation, conflict prevention, and equitable development as the foundations of a peaceful world order.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our decades-long commitment to multilateralism reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s enduring belief that dialogue, not discord, must define humanity&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s experience uniquely positions it as a bridge between the Global South and Global North, and between regions and civilizations.&rdquo; &lsquo;Dialogue and cooperation&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Let us reaffirm our faith in dialogue and cooperation. Let us demonstrate that parliaments and governments, working together, can rebuild trust in multilateralism and renew hope in collective action,&rdquo; said Dar. Pakistan stands ready to continue serving as a bridge-builder; uniting regions, amplifying the voices of the developing world, and promoting peace through justice and dialogue. &ldquo;People-centered diplomacy ensures that peace dividends reach citizens, that development is inclusive, and that international cooperation is measured by human progress, not just political agreements,&rdquo; he added. The Inter-Parliamentary Speakers&rsquo; Conference embodies that approach; diplomacy rooted in representation, anchored in accountability, and driven by empathy, the Pakistan foreign minister said.

Emphasizes dialogue, multilateral cooperation, and parliamentary diplomacy at the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, highlighting peace, security, development, regional connectivity, counterterrorism, and people-centered diplomacy as foundations for global cooperation and trust-building.

Cowardly acts won’t shake resolve against terrorism: Pakistan’s minister  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Islamabad had presented &lsquo;concrete evidence&rsquo; of attacks from Afghan soil to Kabul in recent talks. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; He was responding to concerns expressed by opposition lawmakers in the Senate of Pakistan. FM Dar said that recent dialogues with the interim Afghan government, held in T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, focused on engaging Afghan authorities to curb cross-border terrorism. He said that groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and the Balochistan Liberation Army were operating from Afghan soil and conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan. Combating terrorism&nbsp;The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to combating terrorism, urging the interim Afghan government to ensure its territory is not used for hostile activities against Pakistan. Speaking in the Senate, he said that incidents of terrorism have increased even more than in 2012. Agreements made with Afghan Taliban previously, too&ldquo;[Yesterday] Mr Muttaqi called us six times. I told him we want only one thing from you: that your soil should not be used against Pakistan,&rdquo; said the foreign minister. &ldquo;[I told him that] the government has taken a decision, and we will fight [terrorism] to the last breath.&rdquo; Dar said that till 2018, because of Pakistan&#39;s security forces&#39; operations, terrorist attacks in the country had gone down considerably. He said that after the Afghan Taliban came to power, for four years, there were no formal engagements between the two countries. &ldquo;I went to Afghanistan, talked with them, and made agreements.&rdquo; The foreign minister said he asked only one thing of them: that Afghanistan&rsquo;s territory not be used against Pakistan. Dar said that an effort was made to start a train service from Afghanistan to other countries. Unfortunately, with the current government in Afghanistan, violent incidents have increased daily, affecting plans for such a project. Releasing terrorists from prison a mistakeThe foreign minister said that 40,000 TTP members came to Pakistan from Afghanistan, and that the government at that time released more than 100 hardcore terrorists from prisons. Such mistakes, he said, should never have been made. He said that a few years ago, there were 38,000 religious seminaries, and now there are 150,000. He expressed hope that talks between the two sides in Istanbul on Nov. 6 will advance. Trump&rsquo;s active role during Pak-India conflictDar said that US President Donald Trump played an active role during the Pak-India conflict from May 6 to 10, and that the UAE, the UK, and Qatar maintained extensive contact during that period. India had launched 80 drones against Pakistan; the army neutralized 79 of them, while one caused minor damage to military installations, he said. The foreign minister said that India&rsquo;s attempt to construct a false narrative was exposed. The operation against India began at 4 a.m. and ended at 8 a.m. At 8:17 a.m., he said, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called to say that India was ready for a ceasefire. Dar said that the letter recommending President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize was written on June 11. &quot;The role played by the United States was acknowledged through that letter, which was sent under my signature,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The letter will be considered next year, as nominations for the Nobel Prize are accepted till January, he added.

Speaking in the Senate, he said that terrorist groups were operating from Afghan soil and conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan. 

Kabul was presented 'concrete evidence' of Afghan-based attacks: Pakistan foreign minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Monday to attend the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers, convened to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the latest developments in the region, the Foreign Office said. The foreign minister met his Turkish counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the Coordination Meeting.&nbsp; According to a post on X by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: &ldquo;...the ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-T&uuml;rkiye bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening cooperation across political, economic, and defence spheres.&quot; &quot;Both leaders reaffirmed the strong bonds of brotherhood and mutual support that continue to underpin Pakistan&ndash;T&uuml;rkiye relations and agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues.&quot; The talks, which began at around 4 p.m. Pakistan time, will be followed by a news conference, AFP reported. <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=1985265992746844404&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49bdb60b115106e376e5f4079c3e8c9945d24a8a&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Gaza ceasefire agreementThe ceasefire agreement, which was signed between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 9, included provisions for the exchange of captives and prisoners as part of the first phase of a peace initiative led by US President Donald Trump. However, despite the agreement, Israel has reportedly resumed its military operations in Gaza. Pakistan, along with seven other Arab-Islamic countries, has remained engaged in the peace efforts that culminated in the Gaza Peace Agreement, signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, which reaffirms Pakistan&#39;s support for peace, justice, and the dignity of the Palestinian people.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the Co-ordination Meeting; reiterates commitment to further deepening cooperation across political, economic, and defence spheres with Turkiye; urges implementation of a complete ceasefire in Gaza

Pakistan to reiterate demand for full Gaza ceasefire at Istanbul meeting

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said &quot;the Muslim world must move beyond words,&quot;&nbsp;hinting at joining forces if a Middle East coalition is formed to counter Israeli aggression. &quot;Pakistan has a very large, known, very effective army, very effective air force, very effective navy &hellip; We have proved that we can beat [our opponent] even conventionally, if challenged,&quot;&nbsp;Ishaq Dar said during an interview with Al Jazeera, when asked how Pakistan might respond if a united Middle Eastern body were formed to counter Israeli aggression.&nbsp;The interview, recorded ahead of the recently concluded Arab-Islamic summit, following Israel&rsquo;s strikes in Qatar and published late Monday night, featured Dar sharing his views about a possible Muslim coalition against Israel&rsquo;s aggression.&nbsp;Asked if the formation of a united body in the Middle East, away from the United Nations&#39; structure, to intervene in Gaza was an option, Dar said, &ldquo;vis-&agrave;-vis the UN Security Council, a mechanism could be chalked out.&rdquo;&nbsp;<div style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted">He stated that the UNSC can impose severe economic sanctions.&nbsp;It can cause a &quot;very severe economic dent or pain,&quot; he added.</div>&nbsp;&ldquo;There has been some talk of a &lsquo;combined security force&rsquo; among Arab nations and the Arab League,&rdquo; Dar revealed. &ldquo;Why not? They should form a force, not for aggression, but for peacekeeping and for stopping the aggressor, the occupier, the one who doesn&rsquo;t listen,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;Asked where the nuclear-powered Pakistan would stand in such a scenario, Dar said Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear arsenal is intended only as a deterrent, not a weapon of first use.&nbsp;&nbsp;The UN has failed to maintain peace Earlier in the interview, Dar also addressed Israel&rsquo;s recent strike in Qatar that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha. He called the attack &ldquo;baseless&rdquo; and &ldquo;rogue,&rdquo; stressing that Qatar was mediating peace efforts alongside the US and Egypt at the time.&nbsp;He pointed to a broader pattern of Israel striking various Middle Eastern countries and ignoring international norms. &ldquo;International law, humanitarian rules, OIC and UN resolutions seem not to affect one country that repeatedly acts however it wants.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dar argued this underscores the urgent need for UN reform. &ldquo;The UN Security Council is supposed to maintain peace. But if its resolutions are being discarded by Israel in Gaza and Palestine, and by India in Kashmir, what do we expect from the multilateral system?&rdquo; &nbsp;&ldquo;This is the need of the hour,&rdquo; Dar emphasized, hinting at legal, diplomatic, and financial measures that Islamic countries may collectively consider.

Middle East

Pakistani foreign minister says that while the UNSC can impose serious economic sanctions, it has largely failed to deter aggressor nations like Israel.

Articles tagged with "Ishaq Dar"