Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and the broader region, his office said on Monday.&nbsp;During the call, both leaders exchanged views on regional developments and underscored the urgent need for de-escalation to maintain <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/oil-pares-gains-as-shares-rise-in-tokyo-seoul" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">peace and stability</a>.<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: 746px; 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=2041096471551025460&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1743acbe62f2ae41abf8b0a5442e2aebc6f32721&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Motegi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in facilitating diplomatic engagement and efforts toward regional stability.&nbsp;The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact and continue consultations on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

TEHRAN: A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP/File)

Foreign Affairs

Both leaders exchange views on regional developments and underscore the urgent need for de-escalation to maintain peace and stability.

Pakistan FM discusses Middle East situation with Japanese counterpart

TEHRAN: Israeli strikes hit Iran&#39;s largest petrochemical complex Monday, as the Islamic Republic defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A separate Israeli strike also killed a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, while Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israel, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Iran said &quot;much more devastating&quot; attacks would come if Trump followed through on his threat to hit civilian targets. The US leader had on Sunday threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran does not bow to his demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping by Tuesday 8:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday). Iran has all but blocked Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, sending oil and gas prices soaring and pushing countries around the world to enact measures to contain the fallout. In a stark, expletive-laden social media post on Sunday, Trump demanded: &quot;Open the Fuckin&#39; Strait, you crazy bastards, or you&#39;ll be living in Hell.&quot; On Monday, Israel said it had struck Iran&#39;s largest petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh on Iran&#39;s Gulf coast, where local media reported multiple explosions. The site accounted for about 50 percent of the country&#39;s petrochemical production worth &quot;tens of billions of dollars&quot;, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said. Ahead of the latest strikes, Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said Hormuz &quot;will never return to its former status, especially for the US and Israel&quot;. The Guards posted on Telegram Monday that their intelligence chief Majid Khademi had been killed at dawn in US-Israeli strikes. &quot;We will reach anyone who seeks to harm us,&quot; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, after Katz confirmed the country&#39;s military was behind the strike. Israel&#39;s defence ministry also said it would ramp up production of Arrow missile interceptors, part of the country&#39;s multi-layered air defences.<h2 style="line-height: 2;"> </h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">A deal?</h2>While the violence continued to spiral, reports surfaced of a potential push to halt the fighting. Citing US, Israeli and regional sources, US news website Axios said a deal mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey for a 45-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations on a more permanent peace was under discussion. Pakistan confirmed peace talks were underway but did not comment on the 45-day ceasefire report. Egypt&#39;s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had on Sunday confirmed he was engaging in talks with governments across the region, as well as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. &quot;Views and proposals were exchanged on ways to deescalate the military situation in the region given the delicate juncture it is currently facing,&quot; a statement from his ministry said. Trump told Fox News that Iran was &quot;close&quot; to making a deal, but Tehran has repeatedly denied it is engaged in any negotiations with the US or Israel. European Council chief Antonio Costa, one of the EU&#39;s top officials, called in an X post for a &quot;diplomatic solution&quot;. &quot;Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable,&quot; Costa said.&nbsp;

Middle East

Asia

Israel strikes Iran’s largest petrochemical complex as tensions with Iran escalate over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides trading attacks and threats amid tentative ceasefire talks.

Israel hits Iran gas complex after Trump threat

TOKYO: Oil prices pared gains Monday after a spike following fresh threats in the war in the Middle East, while Tokyo and Seoul shares closed higher. Many markets in Asia and Europe were closed for holidays on Easter Monday, which coincides with China&#39;s Qingming Festival. Crude oil contracts had surged at the week&#39;s market opening after US President Donald Trump made an expletive-laced threat to destroy Iran&#39;s civilian infrastructure, demanding Tehran bow to his demands for a deal to reopen the Gulf to shipping. But they fluctuated during the day, and by late afternoon US benchmark West Texas Intermediate had lost 0.7% at $110.75 a barrel, while North Sea Brent was up 0.2% to $109.20. Analysts said a report by Axios that said the United States and Iran were discussing terms with regional mediators for a potential 45-day ceasefire had calmed sentiment among investors. &quot;Markets are beginning to flirt with the idea of a peace dividend,&quot; wrote Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. However, it is &quot;a tentative recalibration, a market shading probabilities rather than rewriting the script&quot;, Innes added. Bloomberg Markets Live strategist Mark Cranfield said the reaction to the report &quot;shows how keen investors are to see a de-escalation in the Iran war, which is dominating a risk aversion theme across markets&quot;. &quot;Should President Trump push back against ceasefire hopes when he speaks later on Monday, this positive mood will reverse,&quot; he added. Tokyo closed 0.6%&nbsp;higher and Seoul ended the day with gains of 1.4%. Among other Asian markets open on Monday, Singapore was up 0.4% but Jakarta was down 0.5%. &quot;Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!&quot; Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Sunday, later telling Fox News there was a &quot;good chance&quot; Iran would agree to a deal. Hours later, Iran&#39;s central military command warned of &quot;much more devastating&quot; retaliation if its adversaries hit civilian targets. MUFG&#39;s Lloyd Chan said in a note that &quot;it remains to be seen whether this escalatory rhetoric ultimately proves to be another &#39;TACO&#39; moment&quot; a jokey acronym for &quot;Trump always chickens out&quot;. But &quot;the persistence of threats to critical Iranian infrastructure keeps escalation risks elevated&quot;, he said. The war, entering its sixth week since the US and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, has engulfed the Middle East in conflict and upended the global economy. Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world&#39;s oil and gas transits, sending petroleum prices skyrocketing. Key figures at around 0730 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6% at 53,413.68 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: CLOSED for holiday Shanghai - Composite: CLOSED for holiday Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1544 from $1.1535 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3229 from $1.3224 Dollar/yen: FLAT at 159.63 Euro/pound: UP at 87.27 pence from 87.22 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7% at $110.75 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2% at $109.20 per barrel New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1% at 46,504.67 (close) London - FTSE 100: CLOSED for holiday

A container ship is seen at berth at the container terminal of the port in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province on April 2, 2026.

Business

Oil prices eased after an early surge on Middle East tensions as tentative Iran ceasefire talks lifted investor sentiment, while Asian markets mostly rose in holiday-thinned trading.

Oil pares gains as shares rise in Tokyo, Seoul

ISLAMABAD: A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy. A bomb explosion at Manipur University on Sunday evening was a fresh sign that the conflict-hit state is still far from normal, despite repeated official claims of stability, the Times of India reported. According to local media reports, the blast took place near staff quarters on the Canchipur campus, damaging property and causing panic. No casualties were reported, but university officials described it as an attack on &ldquo;education, peace, and harmony.&rdquo; The blast came as opposition grows to the government&rsquo;s plan to go ahead with the national census. Thousands of internally displaced persons and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee have urged authorities to delay the exercise until people forced from their homes by the violence are properly resettled. Critics say a census held now would distort population data and affect future political representation and development planning. The dispute points to the deeper crisis in Manipur. As The Economist recently noted, &quot;the state is still shaped by the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023&quot; between the largely Hindu Meiteis and the mainly Christian Kukis. The conflict is rooted in long-running tensions over identity, rights and resources, and it has left hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed. Those figures broadly match international reporting. When New Delhi imposed President&rsquo;s Rule in February 2025, Reuters reported that at least 250 people had been killed and around 60,000 displaced. Yet even after such large-scale loss and displacement, both the state and central governments have continued to project an image of recovery and communal harmony. For residents of Manipur, the issue is no longer only the violence that erupted in 2023, but the unresolved fallout that continues to shape daily life. The blast at Manipur University and the objections to holding a census before rehabilitation show that security, displacement and political trust remain deeply contested.

India

A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy

Manipur University blast puts focus back on India’s festering crisis

ISLAMABAD: Indian students are among the most affected as international student visa rejections in Australia climbed to a 20-year high, reflecting tighter immigration controls, according to Australian media.&nbsp;Recent data showed refusal rates for student visas reached 32.5% in February, with Indian applicants facing around 40% rejection, Australian Financial Review reported.&nbsp;Even higher rejection rates were recorded for students from Nepal and Bangladesh, indicating a wider impact on South Asian applicants.&nbsp;The surge in refusals comes as Australia moves to curb migration levels amid domestic political pressure linked to housing shortages and population growth.&nbsp;Education sector representatives have raised concerns over policy inconsistency, saying universities are facing uncertainty after earlier signals of increased student intake.&nbsp;Analysts describe student visas as a key policy tool being used to manage migration flows.&nbsp;Australian officials, however, have defended the measures, maintaining that the country remains open to genuine students while strengthening checks to filter out non-serious applicants.&nbsp;Indian students are also facing similar<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-student-visa-rejections-soar-in-canada-us-amid-visa-fraud-surge" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer"> visa constraints in the United States</a> and Canada, where authorities have tightened scrutiny amid concerns over fraudulent applications and misuse of student visa pathways.&nbsp;According to media reports, Canada reduced international student permits for the second consecutive year in early 2025 as part of efforts to curb fraud and control temporary migration.&nbsp;Data showed that 74% of Indian student visa applications were rejected in August 2025, compared to 32% a year earlier, while only 24% of Chinese applications were turned down.&nbsp;The number of Indian applicants to Canada also declined sharply, dropping from 20,900 in August 2023 to 4,515 in August 2025, despite India remaining the top source of foreign students for more than a decade.

Indian students listen to Director of Partnerships and Pathways at KPU International Anita Hamm (L) at a Canadian education fair in Amritsar on September 16, 2015. (AFP/File)

Australasia

Recent data shows refusal rates for student visas reached 32.5% in February, with Indian applicants facing around 40% rejection.


Indian students among hardest hit as visa curbs tighten in Australia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed deep concern over an incident at Khorfakkan Port in the United Arab Emirates, where an intercepted projectile reportedly caused injuries to several civilians, including Pakistani nationals.&nbsp;In a statement shared on X, the prime minister conveyed his sympathies and offered prayers for the swift recovery of those injured. <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: 369px; 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=2041008107439181887&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9d9f075befa75ccd8791bdfb6e4fa79e521c0bb3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He said Pakistani authorities are coordinating closely with UAE officials to ensure all necessary assistance and support are extended to affected Pakistani citizens.&nbsp;The premier emphasized Pakistan&rsquo;s strong solidarity with the brotherly people of the UAE during this difficult time, underscoring the longstanding ties between the two countries.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan stands in solidarity with the UAE and reiterates the urgent need for restraint and de-escalation,&rdquo; the prime minister said, urging all parties to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region.

Khorfakkan Port, UAE. (File photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voices deep concern over an incident at Khorfakkan Port in the United Arab Emirates, where an intercepted projectile reportedly caused injuries to several civilians, including Pakistani nationals

Pakistan PM voices concern over UAE port incident

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to Pyongyang on Monday over drones sent into North Korea earlier this year, actions he called &quot;irresponsible.&quot; Seoul initially denied any official role in the January drone incursion &mdash; with authorities suggesting it was the work of civilians &mdash; but Lee said a probe had revealed government officials had been involved. The North warned in February of a &quot;terrible response&quot; if it detects more drones crossing the border from the South, prompting Seoul to investigate the claims. Pyongyang said it downed a drone carrying &quot;surveillance equipment&quot; in early January. Photos released by state media showed the wreckage of a winged craft scattered across the ground alongside grey and blue components that allegedly included cameras. &quot;It has been confirmed that a National Intelligence Service official and an active-duty soldier were involved,&quot; Lee told a cabinet meeting. &quot;We express regret to the North over the unnecessary military tensions caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals.&quot; He added that South Korea&#39;s constitution bans private individuals from conducting acts that could &quot;provoke the North.&quot; &quot;Such actions, even when deemed necessary for national strategy, must be approached with extreme caution,&quot; he said. Lee has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticizing his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang. His repeated overtures, however, have gone unanswered by the North. Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol is standing trial over charges that his administration sent drones into the North to provoke a backlash and create a pretext for declaring military rule. Yoon was impeached and ousted from office in April last year and has been sentenced to life in prison over his declaration of martial law. &#39;Most hostile state&#39; Lee&#39;s expression of regret follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s labelling of Seoul as the &quot;most hostile state&quot; in a policy address in March, in which he vowed to &quot;thoroughly reject and disregard it.&quot; Kim also reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the country&#39;s nuclear arsenal, describing it as an &quot;irreversible course.&quot; During Yoon&#39;s presidency, relations between Seoul and Pyongyang hit rock bottom, with the North sending balloons filled with garbage, including animal manure, in response to propaganda leaflets send northward by South Korea-based activists, many of them North Korean defectors. The two Koreas technically remain at war, as the 1950&ndash;53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and both enforce mandatory military service for men.

Seoul initially denied any official role in the January drone incursion — with authorities suggesting it was the work of civilians — but Lee says a probe had revealed government officials had been involved.



South Korea president says regrets 'reckless' drones sent to North

HOUSTON:&nbsp;The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon&#39;s gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth&#39;s. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. The astronauts entered what NASA calls the lunar sphere of influence about 0442 GMT Monday and will soon record the first lunar flyby since 1972. As they entered the Moon&#39;s gravitational influence, the crew was about 39,000 miles (63,000 kilometers) from the Moon and about 232,000 miles from Earth, a NASA official said on the agency&#39;s livestream of the event. The historic occasion comes alongside a constellation of firsts for the crew of three Americans and one Canadian. Victor Glover will go down in the books as the first person of color to ever fly around the Moon, and Christina Koch will be the first woman. Canadian Jeremy Hansen, meanwhile, will become the first non-American to accomplish the feat. Those three, along with mission commander Reid Wiseman, will spend much of their lunar flyby documenting the Moon. &#39;Far side of the Moon&#39;&nbsp;The astronauts have already started seeing features of the celestial body never before viewed with a naked human eye. In the wee hours of Sunday, NASA published an image taken by the Artemis crew that showed a distant Moon with the Orientale basin visible. &quot;This mission marks the first time the entire basin has been seen with human eyes,&quot; the US space agency said. The massive crater, which resembles a bullseye, had been photographed before by orbiting cameras. Koch, speaking to Canadian children live from space, said the crew was most excited to see the basin -- sometimes known as the Moon&#39;s &quot;Grand Canyon.&quot; &quot;It&#39;s very distinctive and no human eyes previously had seen this crater until today, really, when we were privileged enough to see it,&quot; Koch said during the question-and-answer session hosted by the Canadian Space Agency. Near the end of their flyby, the astronauts will witness a solar eclipse, when the Sun will be behind the Moon and hidden from view aside from its outermost atmosphere, the solar corona. The four astronauts will also spend some time testing their &quot;Orion crew survival system&quot; spacesuits. The orange suits protect the crewmembers during launch and reentry, but are also available for emergency use -- they can provide up to six days of breathable air. The astronauts are the first to ever wear the OCSS suits in space, and will test their functions, including how quickly they can put them on and pressurize them. While the four astronauts will not touch down on the lunar surface, they are expected to break the record for the farthest distance from Earth during their pass around the Moon. Over the next day, &quot;they will be on the far side of the Moon, they will eclipse that record, and we&#39;re going to learn an awful lot about the spacecraft,&quot; NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said Sunday during a televised interview with CNN. The information will be &quot;pretty paramount to set up for subsequent missions like Artemis 3 in 2027 and, of course, the lunar landing itself on Artemis 4 in 2028,&quot; he added. NASA said the Artemis crew has completed a manual piloting demonstration and reviewed their lunar flyby plan, including reviewing the surface features they must analyze and photograph during their time circling the Moon. &quot;We&#39;re focusing very much on the ecosystem, the life support system of the spacecraft,&quot; Isaacman told CNN. &quot;This is the first time astronauts have ever flown on this spacecraft before,&quot; he said. &quot;That&#39;s what we&#39;re most interested in getting data from.&quot;

In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon on April 4, 2026. (IN SPACE/

Americas

Former astronaut Charlie Duke, who walked on the Moon in 1972 as part of the Apollo 16 mission, gives ceremonial wakeup call to the crew; the astronauts have entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop called the "lunar sphere of influence," and will soon record the first lunar flyby since 1972.

Artemis mission approaches lunar loop for first flyby since 1972

Web Desk/AFP

'Major General Majid Khademi, the powerful and educated head of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was martyred in the criminal terrorist attack by the American-Zionist enemy... at dawn today,' said the Guards in a post on their Telegram channel.

US-Israeli strikes kill Iran Guards intelligence chief: IRGC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected statements by Afghan Taliban authorities regarding civilian casualties from its cross-border military campaign, reiterating that its operations are directed against terrorist infrastructure. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting&rsquo;s fact-checking unit said Pakistan&rsquo;s actions have been &ldquo;precise&rdquo; and focused on security objectives. &ldquo;It is well established that Pakistan has only undertaken precise targeting of Fitna al Khawarij and Afghan Taliban terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan,&rdquo; the ministry said. Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Fitna al Khawarij&rdquo; to refer to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, drawing on a historical reference to an early extremist faction in Islamic history that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims as unbelievers. The clarification comes as Operation Ghazab lil Haq continues following weeks of cross-border tensions, with Islamabad stating that the campaign targets infrastructure used to support attacks inside Pakistan. The ministry said operational updates, including details of strikes and outcomes, have been shared regularly. &ldquo;Air strikes, destruction and capture of posts&hellip; are updated regularly with even clips of the strikes for all to see,&rdquo; the statement said. It added that Pakistan&rsquo;s approach remains focused on countering terrorism while avoiding civilian harm. The ministry also referred to recent security incidents inside Pakistan. &ldquo;The whole world is witness to the terrorist attacks&hellip; including the recent attack in Domail, Bannu where civilians, including women and children, were martyred,&rdquo; the statement said. It further stated that Afghan nationals had been involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan, adding that related evidence had been presented at official forums, including the Balochistan home minister&rsquo;s conference. The ministry said statements and content circulated by Afghan Taliban-linked sources should be viewed with caution. It noted that certain spokespersons and affiliated outlets were &ldquo;well known to regularly post fake, old&hellip; propaganda videos and assertions,&rdquo; highlighting what it described as a pattern of contested narratives during the conflict. The development comes as Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement alongside its security operations. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Islamabad remains committed to dialogue but expects tangible steps on the ground. &ldquo;The burden of real process&hellip; lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using its soil against Pakistan,&rdquo; Andrabi said. Pakistan maintains that its operations are based on verified intelligence and are aimed at addressing threats posed by terrorist groups, while supporting efforts toward dialogue and regional stability.

 Pakistan’s information ministry says it is “well established that Pakistan has only undertaken precise targeting of Fitna al Khwarij and Afghan Taliban terrorist infrastructure”; Islamabad is participating in the dialogue process but expects concrete action from Afghan authorities.


Pakistan FM discusses Middle East situation with Japanese counterpart

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