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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Araghchi, on Wednesday reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote regional stability, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.&nbsp;During their telephonic conversation, the two leaders reviewed the state of Pakistan-Iran relations and exchanged views on regional developments, the foreign office said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;They stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in both bilateral and multilateral forums,&rdquo; it added.&nbsp;According to the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad, both sides remain committed to advancing shared objectives despite shifting regional dynamics.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistan and Iran stand united amid the changing regional landscape, dedicated to promoting peace, stability, and security,&rdquo; the embassy said in a post on X.&nbsp;The Foreign Office also noted that both ministers reiterated their unwavering support for Palestine, describing it as a shared cause that remains &ldquo;steadfast now and forever.&rdquo;&nbsp;The call followed a visit to Tehran by Pakistan&rsquo;s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, who met his Iranian counterpart Reza Bahrami to discuss regional security, terrorism threats, and Afghanistan&rsquo;s humanitarian and economic challenges.&nbsp;Ties between Islamabad and Tehran have gained momentum in recent months, particularly after Pakistan played what officials in Tehran described as a &ldquo;positive role&rdquo; during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, helping de-escalate tensions in the region.

Foreign Affairs

Islamabad and Tehran reaffirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and regional peace in a phone call, stressing cooperation in multilateral forums and support for Palestine, as recent diplomatic exchanges signal renewed momentum in their relationship.

Pakistan, Iran pledge deeper ties, stress peace in regional dialogue

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan restored internet after a two-day blockage following directives from the office of the interim Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund, the state-owned TOLO news agency said on Wednesday. Panic spread across the country on Monday when internet connectivity, including mobile services, was abruptly cut without any prior warning from the Taliban administration, leaving approximately 42 million people disconnected from the world. This nationwide disruption affected government institutions, banking sectors, customs operations across the border, and visa application processes. Several Afghan provinces confirmed the internet shutdown followed a decree by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada aimed at combating immorality, reported&nbsp;AFP. &ldquo;From the past 24 hours, we have been trying to reach our father, but every call goes unanswered,&rdquo; said Jameela from Pakistan, who had been desperately trying to contact her father in Kabul. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know if he is safe.&rdquo; While reports emerged of the restoration of internet services in parts of Afghanistan following directives, millions like Jameela were affected by the internet blackout. This disruption not only upended lives across Afghanistan but also caused disturbances in neighbouring Pakistan. Visa disruptionThe internet disruption also severely affected consular services. The Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul was unable to issue visas to Afghan nationals during the outage, according to Pakistani digital media outlet&nbsp;The Khorasan Diary. In addition, the internet blackout caused serious problems for people applying for visas, said Afghan journalist Farishta Aziz. Since most visa procedures are online, applicants must submit forms, upload documents, and book appointments through the internet, she added. &ldquo;During the outages, many were unable to complete their applications on time or follow updates from embassies. As a result, some families lost important opportunities, increasing their stress and anxiety,&rdquo; Aziz said.&nbsp;Trade between Pakistan and AfghanistanBilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan also suffered. The absence of internet services meant that trade processes could not be computerized, resulting in delays in the clearance of goods, particularly for traders handling perishable items. For any goods to be transported across the border, online verification by authorities is mandatory. Speaking to Pakistan TV digital, local trader Ibrahim Shinwari said, &ldquo;Since the internet was disrupted, all goods requiring verification from Afghan trading authorities couldn&rsquo;t be processed.&rdquo; Due to the disruption in internet service, former president of the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce Shahid Khan said transactions across the banking sector came to a sudden halt. &ldquo;There is still a fear among the people that if any disruption emerges again, it would further impact the already stalled bilateral trade between the two countries,&rdquo; said Khan. Communities and traders fear the uncertainty surrounding the future of internet services in Afghanistan. Any new decisions could not only disrupt bilateral trade but also deeply affect people&#39;s lives.

Afghanistan

Kabul restored internet after a two-day nationwide shutdown ordered by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to combat “immorality,” disrupting banking, trade, and visa services, while leaving 42 million disconnected and sparking regional impacts including delays in Pakistan-Afghanistan commerce.

Afghanistan restores internet after two-day nationwide blackout 

ISLAMABAD: Ambassadors from seven ASEAN member states have agreed to strengthen trade and economic ties with Pakistan, reaffirming commitment to deeper cooperation across technology, infrastructure, and skills development, the commerce ministry said Tuesday.&nbsp;Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan hosted the envoys of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, and Myanmar at the ministry in Islamabad, where both sides discussed boosting investment and expanding bilateral and regional trade.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is immense potential to go further,&rdquo; Khan said, citing opportunities in value-added agriculture, technology transfer, and skilled labor. He also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic location as a gateway to Central Asia, with enhanced port connectivity under new transit trade agreements.&nbsp;The minister briefed diplomats on Islamabad&rsquo;s revised trade and tariff policies, vehicle import reforms, and progress on a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). He invited ASEAN businesses to invest in Special Economic Zones under CPEC, citing improved macroeconomic indicators and a more investment-friendly climate.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s new Trade Dispute Resolution Commission, the first of its kind, was also introduced to help international companies resolve issues more efficiently.&nbsp;The Malaysian envoy offered opportunities for Pakistani firms in Malaysia&rsquo;s chip-making sector, while other ambassadors noted ongoing ASEAN investments in Pakistan&rsquo;s construction and energy sectors.&nbsp;All envoys welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach and agreed on the need to accelerate cooperation through trade, tourism, skills exchanges, and supply-chain integration.&nbsp;Pakistan, a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN since 1993, is actively seeking Full Dialogue Partner status, despite a current moratorium.

Economy

Pakistan and ASEAN countries agreed to expand trade, investment, and cooperation in key sectors during a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the commerce ministry said Tuesday. Both sides pledged to chart a roadmap for deeper ties.

Pakistan, ASEAN countries agree to deepen trade and investment ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a three-day visit, his ministry said, leading Islamabad&rsquo;s delegation at the 22nd Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC).&nbsp;A critical round of talks aimed at accelerating implementation of recent bilateral trade agreements and pushing toward a $10 billion trade volume target, the statement added.&nbsp;The JEC, co-chaired by Iran&rsquo;s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, comes on the heels of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian&rsquo;s high-profile visit to Islamabad in August, during which 12 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed in sectors ranging from tourism and agriculture to technology, transport, and trade.&nbsp;The commission is expected to provide a concrete platform to translate those MOUs into actionable projects. Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam said on X that the JEC would &quot;pave the ground for an effective platform to advance the implementation of agreements reached between the high-ranking officials of the two countries.&quot;&nbsp;According to Iran&rsquo;s state media outlet IRNA, the commission&rsquo;s proceedings are seen as instrumental in meeting the ambitious $10 billion bilateral trade goal set by both governments.&nbsp;In an interview with IRNA, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, said that the meetings would comprehensively address trade, border management, and economic cooperation, with favorable outcomes expected from talks between senior officials.&nbsp;During his visit, Kamal is also scheduled to meet several key Iranian ministers and senior officials, underscoring Pakistan&rsquo;s intent to revitalize commercial ties and deepen strategic economic engagement with its western neighbor.

Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal begins three-day Tehran visit to advance $10 billion trade agenda.

Articles tagged with "Trade"

Pakistan, Iran pledge deeper ties, stress peace in regional dialogue

Afghanistan restores internet after two-day nationwide blackout

Pakistan, ASEAN countries agree to deepen trade and investment ties

Pakistan eyes $10 billion trade goal during Tehran visit