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ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s top security official, Dr. Ali Larijani, arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a historic and unprecedented visit, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam confirmed.&nbsp;Larijani, who serves as secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council and advisor to Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, is also a former chairman of parliament. His visit marks a significant moment in the evolving relationship between the two neighboring states.&nbsp;In a tweet in Urdu, the secretary said, &ldquo;The Iranian people will never forget that in the 12-day war imposed on Iran by America and the Zionist regime, the Pakistani nation stood alongside the Iranian nation.&rdquo; &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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; 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=1992869087882449281&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cefb2ab88bd37cd941b7cb64462aeea56225c54e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>During his stay, Larijani is expected to meet Pakistan&rsquo;s top leadership, including the prime minister and the chief of army staff. Talks will focus on security partnerships, improved border management, counter-terrorism cooperation, economic ties, and broader regional stability. Both Iran and Pakistan see themselves as central players in ensuring sustainable security across the region. A need for closer tiesAmbassador Reza pointed out, &ldquo;This historic milestone marks a pivotal moment at which the already solidified and time-tested relations between our two brotherly nations are set to enter another strategic phase&rdquo; in a tweet on X.&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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 659px; 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=1992945025232392607&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cefb2ab88bd37cd941b7cb64462aeea56225c54e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, also confirmed the visit on X and said, &ldquo;The visit is part of extensive interactions between leaderships of the two countries to reinforce our ties.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;The visit will play a crucial role in further solidifying Pakistan-Iran historical and deep-rooted ties.&rdquo; Future cooperationThe latest engagement offers an opportunity to align policies and build a unified front against common challenges. Tehran and Islamabad hope to expand bilateral trade from over $3 billion to $10 billion through coordinated planning.<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: 702px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1992889225365119019&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cefb2ab88bd37cd941b7cb64462aeea56225c54e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Officials noted that Larijani&rsquo;s visit is part of a series of extensive interactions aimed at upgrading ties into a more durable strategic partnership.

Foreign Affairs

Iran’s top security official Dr. Ali Larijani arrived in Islamabad for a historic visit focused on strengthening Pakistan–Iran ties, discussing security, economic cooperation, and regional stability, while both sides seek to elevate their partnership to a strategic level.


Iran’s top security official arrives in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;The European Union (EU) and Pakistan pressed Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to take &ldquo;constructive&rdquo; steps on regional security as cross-border tensions rose in October, according to a joint communiqu&eacute; issued this week by Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office following the seventh EU&ndash;Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Brussels.&nbsp;Co-chaired by Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, the meeting reviewed progress under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan and reaffirmed what both sides called a &ldquo;shared commitment&rdquo; to regional peace, stability and the rules-based international order.&nbsp;Dar said Pakistan remained committed to &ldquo;resolving issues through dialogue between neighbors,&rdquo; while Kallas underscored the EU&rsquo;s emphasis on &ldquo;peaceful solutions, full respect for international law and close cooperation on security challenges.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to help &ldquo;root out terrorism from Afghan soil,&rdquo; warning that regional stability hinged on effective counterterrorism efforts.&nbsp;The communiqu&eacute; noted concern over Afghanistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;deteriorating socio-economic conditions&rdquo; and backed a &ldquo;credible political process&rdquo; aligned with the UN-led Doha framework and the Taliban&rsquo;s previous commitments to the international community.&nbsp;Acknowledging Pakistan&rsquo;s decades-long role in hosting millions of Afghans, the EU stressed that any returns must be &ldquo;safe, dignified and in line with international standards.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides also called on Kabul to ensure protection of human rights, &ldquo;especially for women, girls and vulnerable communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;The dialogue also covered trade, migration, climate, food and energy security, and education cooperation through Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe.&nbsp;Both reaffirmed strong political commitment to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences, described as a key pillar of EU&ndash;Pakistan relations, while the EU briefed Pakistan on the process toward adopting a new GSP framework.&nbsp;The delegations exchanged views on Ukraine, Jammu and Kashmir and the Middle East.&nbsp;They welcomed the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict, urging all parties to respect the ceasefire, implement subsequent phases and allow unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.&nbsp;According to the Foreign Office, the EU and Pakistan agreed to hold the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad.

Two sides urge Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to curb terrorism, protect rights and support regional stability, the Foreign Office says after their Brussels strategic dialogue.

EU, Pakistan push Afghanistan to curb terrorism, safeguard human rights commitments

NEW DELHI: India said Monday it had signed a &quot;significant&quot; deal that will see the United States supply nearly 10 percent of the Asian giant&#39;s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports as it seeks to diversify its energy sources. Relations between Washington and New Delhi plummeted in August after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on India to 50 percent, with US officials accusing the country of fueling Russia&#39;s war in Ukraine by buying its discounted oil. Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to cut its Russian oil imports as part of a prospective trade deal &mdash; something New Delhi has not confirmed. India and the United States remain in talks despite disagreements over a range of issues including agricultural trade and the Russian oil purchases. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said India had signed the one-year deal for 2.2 million tonnes per annum of LPG, sourced from the US Gulf Coast, providing &quot;close to 10 percent&quot; of India&#39;s annual imports of the fuel. Puri said it was &quot;the first structured contract of US LPG for the Indian market.&quot; &quot;In our endeavour to provide secure, affordable supplies of LPG to the people of India, we have been diversifying our LPG sourcing,&quot; Puri said in a statement, adding that &quot;one of the largest and the world&#39;s fastest growing LPG market opens up to the United States.&quot; In October, Indian state-backed refiner HPCL-Mittal Energy said it halted purchases of Russian crude after Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow&#39;s two largest oil companies. Reliance Industries, the privately owned main Indian buyer of Russian crude, has also said it is assessing the implications of the US restrictions, as well as those imposed by the European Union. India&#39;s economy, the fifth-largest in the world, grew at its fastest pace in five quarters in the three months ending June 30, helped by higher government spending and improved consumer sentiment. But US tariffs continue to overshadow the economy, with experts projecting that they could shave anywhere between 60 to 80 basis points off GDP growth this fiscal year if there is no relaxation soon.

FILE PHOTO - US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in the Oval Office of the White on November 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Americas

Asia

India said Monday it had signed a "significant" deal that will see the United States supply nearly 10 percent of the Asian giant's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports as it seeks to diversify its energy sources.

India strikes US gas deal under Trump pressure

Reuters

Euro zone government bond yields fell to multi-month lows on Friday as US-China trade tensions and signs of credit stress in the US banking system weighed on risk sentiment, driving investors into safe-haven assets. China on Thursday accused the US of stoking panic over its rare earth controls and rejected a White House call to roll back the curbs. US bank stocks, including Zions Bancorporation, Jefferies and Western Alliance, fell sharply on Thursday as investors grew uneasy about risk in the sector, which has been shaken by exposure to two auto bankruptcies. Germany&rsquo;s 10-year Bund yields, the euro zone&rsquo;s benchmark, were down 4 basis points to 2.53%, after hitting 2.524%, their lowest since June 25. &ldquo;Risk sentiment remains fragile, with US regional banks leading the move lower,&rdquo; said Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies. &ldquo;Investors are long in risk assets, and there are enough reasons to be concerned short term &mdash; valuations, AI bubble, politics. This makes investors sensitive to any negative headlines,&rdquo; he added. Money markets raised bets on European Central Bank rate cuts. They priced in about an 80% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by July EURESTECBM7X8=ICAP, up from around 65% the day before. The key rate is seen at 1.78% in December 2026 EURESTECBM10X11=ICAP from the current 2%. Germany&rsquo;s two-year yields DE2YT=RR, more sensitive to ECB rate expectations, dropped 5 bps to 1.87%, after hitting 1.869%, their lowest since July 24. The yield gap between safe-haven Bunds and 10-year French government bonds DE10FR10=RR &mdash; a market gauge of the risk premium investors demand to hold French debt &mdash; widened 4 bps to 78.50. It hit 87.96 bps earlier this month, the highest since Jan. 13, on concerns about the French fiscal outlook, but fell below 75 bps after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in parliament on Thursday.

Futures-options traders work on the floor at the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Banking

Euro zone government bond yields fell to multi-month lows on Friday as US-China trade tensions and signs of credit stress in the US banking system weighed on risk sentiment, driving investors into safe-haven assets.

Euro zone bond yields hit multi-month lows amid US, China trade tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Vietnam&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;agreed to start negotiations leading to a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), aiming to boost bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries by the end of this year. The signing of the agreement to begin talks took place during the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Forum held in Islamabad. The session was co-chaired by Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Di&ecirc;n, according to a statement by Khan on his social media handle X. Jam Kamal Khan described the Vietnamese minister&#39;s visit as a sign of the two nations&rsquo; evolving economic partnership rooted in longstanding friendship and mutual respect.&nbsp; Minister highlighted that while progress was achieved in the bilateral trade between the two countries, it remained &ldquo;below its potential.&rdquo;&nbsp; He identified key sectors with potential for collaboration, including textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, fisheries, construction materials, and information technology. The signing of the joint statement on launching negotiations was hailed as historic, setting a structured timeline to conclude the agreement by year-end. The PTA will provide a comprehensive guideline to bolster market access, diversify trade baskets, and remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, the statement read.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is expected to foster a balanced and mutually beneficial trading partnership, boosting competitiveness and export potential for both countries&rdquo;, it said. The minister also encouraged the private sectors of both countries to see each other as long-term collaborators rather than short-term trading partners. According to the statement, he also invited Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for joint ventures, manufacturing partnerships, re-exporting, and people-to-people partnerships.&nbsp; Kamal highlighted the potential for cultural and religious tourism in Pakistan&rsquo;s Gandhara and Taxila civilizations, which are some of the world&#39;s sacred Buddhist heritage sites.&nbsp; Both sides are committed to enhancing connectivity through direct flights and visa facilitation to promote trade and tourism. The commerce minister concluded by stating that the signing represents the beginning of a new chapter in our bilateral relations &ndash; one defined by trust, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity. The Business Forum included several Pakistani federal ministers and senior officials alongside diplomats and business leaders from both countries.

Economy

The PTA launch at the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Forum in Islamabad signals deeper economic partnership, focusing on textiles, agriculture, technology, and connectivity, with commitments to balanced trade, investment, tourism, and cultural collaboration

Pakistan, Vietnam set to begin negotiations leading to trade agreement

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.

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.

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.

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