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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to work together for regional peace and stability as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East following the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a restricted meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, where the two leaders reviewed regional developments and bilateral cooperation. The premier was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and&nbsp;Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Syed Asim Munir. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the discussions focused on the evolving security situation in the region and the need for coordinated efforts to maintain stability. &ldquo;Both leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the region and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability,&rdquo; the statement said. During the meeting, PM Sharif conveyed his best wishes to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s longstanding support for Pakistan. The prime minister also reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s solidarity with Riyadh amid the ongoing regional crisis. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed full solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,&rdquo; the PMO said, adding that he assured the crown prince that Pakistan &ldquo;would always stand firmly with Saudi Arabia and strive for their mutual desire for peace in the region.&rdquo; The high-level talks come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, raising concerns about the security of Gulf states and key global energy routes. The meeting also reflects the deepening strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, formalized through a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed during PM Sharif&rsquo;s 2025 visit to Riyadh. Under the agreement, both countries pledged closer defense cooperation and committed to supporting each other in safeguarding regional stability. Military-level coordination between the two allies has also intensified in recent days. CDF Munir visited Saudi Arabia earlier this month and met Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, where both sides discussed the regional security environment and the need for joint efforts to address emerging threats. Officials said the meeting underscored continued strategic coordination between Islamabad and Riyadh as leaders across the region seek to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to review regional developments and strengthen bilateral ties, reaffirming Islamabad’s solidarity with Riyadh and commitment to coordinated efforts for stability.

PM Sharif, Saudi crown prince agree to work together for regional peace amid escalating Iran war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday for a brief official visit as tensions across the Middle East intensify following the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.&nbsp;According to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO), PM Sharif is expected to hold discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the evolving regional situation, security dynamics and bilateral relations between the two longstanding allies.&nbsp;&ldquo;During the stay, the prime minister will have a brief visit to the Kingdom and will return to Pakistan after holding a meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince,&rdquo; the PMO said in a statement.&nbsp;Sharif was received upon arrival at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport by Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, along with Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, Consul General Syed Mustafa Rabbani, and other diplomatic officials.&nbsp;The visit comes at a time of heightened regional uncertainty after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, raising fears of a wider conflict that could draw in Gulf states and threaten critical energy routes.&nbsp;Pakistan has consistently called for restraint and diplomacy as the crisis deepens. In a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s concerns over the escalating hostilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan also strongly condemned attacks by Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,&rdquo; Andrabi said, describing them as violations of the sovereignty of Gulf states.&nbsp;The prime minister&rsquo;s visit underscores the close strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh at a time when regional leaders are intensifying consultations to prevent further escalation and protect stability across the Middle East.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Jeddah for a brief official visit, meeting Saudi Crown Prince to discuss regional security, bilateral ties, and escalating tensions following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, the PMO said.

Pakistan PM lands in Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran war

WASHINGTON: Two people were injured and the gunman is dead following a shooting on Thursday at Old Dominion University in the southern US state of Virginia, the school said.&nbsp;The gunman opened fire in a building on the campus in Norfolk, injuring two people, the university said in a statement. The victims were taken to a hospital.&nbsp;It said police and emergency personnel &quot;responded immediately&quot; and &quot;the gunman is now deceased.&quot;&nbsp;The university said classes had been suspended for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;School shootings are a shockingly regular occurrence in the United States, where guns outnumber people and regulations on purchasing even powerful military-style rifles are lax.

Americas

A gunman opened fire inside a building at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, injuring two people before dying, the school said. Victims were hospitalized, police responded quickly, and the university suspended classes today.

Two injured, gunman dead in shooting at Virginia university

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as an &ldquo;unwarranted attack&rdquo; against Iran while also criticizing Tehran&rsquo;s strikes on several Gulf countries, warning that the rapidly expanding conflict risks destabilizing the wider Middle East.&nbsp;Speaking at a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Islamabad was deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities and called for restraint from all sides.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan condemns the unwarranted attack against Iran,&rdquo; Andrabi said, warning that such actions undermine regional peace and stability and could have &ldquo;far-reaching consequences.&rdquo;&nbsp;The remarks come as tensions across the Middle East continue to surge following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region, raising fears of a wider conflict involving multiple countries and key global energy routes.&nbsp;Amid the escalating confrontation, Andrabi said the attacks occurred at a moment when diplomatic efforts were underway to find a negotiated solution.&nbsp;&ldquo;These attacks occurred at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The spokesperson also condemned Iran&rsquo;s strikes targeting several Gulf states, describing them as violations of their sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan also strongly condemned attacks by Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,&rdquo; Andrabi said, calling them &ldquo;a blatant violation of the sovereignty of these Gulf states.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said Pakistan stands in solidarity with the affected countries and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan stands in solidarity with these countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint,&rdquo; he added.

Islamabad warns the expanding Middle East conflict risks wider instability, saying attacks occurred despite ongoing diplomatic efforts while calling for restraint from all sides and expressing solidarity with Gulf states affected by the escalating regional tensions.

Pakistan condemns Iran attack, urges restraint as Middle East war escalates 

ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that US military bases across the Middle East could be targeted if they are used to launch attacks against Iran, in his first public message since assuming power during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The written statement, broadcast on Iranian state television and read by a presenter while a still image of Khamenei appeared on screen, comes nearly two weeks after the war began following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. In the message, the new Iranian leader said Tehran had already targeted military installations used in attacks against the country and warned that further strikes could follow. &ldquo;In the recent attack some military bases were used,&rdquo; Khamenei said in the statement. &ldquo;As we had clearly warned, and without attacking those countries themselves, we targeted only those bases.&rdquo; &ldquo;From now on we will be forced to continue doing this,&rdquo; he added. Khamenei also urged governments across the region to reconsider hosting foreign forces. &ldquo;These countries must determine their position toward those who have attacked our homeland and killed our people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I recommend they close those bases as soon as possible.&rdquo; The message marks Khamenei&rsquo;s first official statement since becoming Iran&rsquo;s third supreme leader after the death of his father during the opening wave of strikes that triggered the widening regional war. Although the statement addressed the nation and regional governments, it was not delivered in person and Iranian authorities have not released video or audio of the new leader, leaving questions about his whereabouts and condition following the strikes that killed the previous leadership. In the written message, Khamenei praised Iran&rsquo;s armed forces and called for continued resistance against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel. &ldquo;The demand of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,&rdquo; he said. He also signaled that Iran would continue to use strategic pressure points in the conflict, including the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. &ldquo;Certainly the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,&rdquo; he wrote. Khamenei added that Iranian officials were studying the possibility of expanding the conflict into additional fronts if the war continued. &ldquo;Studies have been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and is highly vulnerable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Activating them will take place if the state of war continues and if it serves our interests.&rdquo; The statement also vowed continued retaliation for Iranian casualties during the war. &ldquo;We will not ignore revenge for the blood of your martyrs,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;Every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy becomes an independent case for revenge.&rdquo; The conflict has rapidly widened across the region since the initial strikes on Iran, with missile attacks, drone operations and clashes involving allied groups spreading across multiple fronts and raising fears of a broader Middle East war.

 Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei

Middle East

In his first message since taking power, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows continued military resistance, threatens retaliation for “martyrs,” and says Tehran may open additional fronts while keeping the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

Iran leader warns US bases in region could face attacks

ISLAMABAD: In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), former chief minister Farooq Abdullah had a narrow escape when a gunman opened fire from behind while the veteran leader was leaving a marriage venue, Indian media reported on Thursday. The incident happened during a marriage function on Wednesday night. The assailant, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, allegedly targeted Abdullah, who is the president of the ruling National Conference, during the event in the Greater Kailash area. The gunman was overpowered and arrested after he fired a gunshot, Indian media reported.&nbsp; Abdullah said the assailant had managed to get right behind his neck.&nbsp; &quot;At the last minute, he was overpowered by the security personnel, including the NSG. I was immediately put into my car and driven away safely,&quot; he added. While the senior Abdullah declined to comment on the security lapse, his son and IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern in a post on X. &quot;....what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point-blank range and discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot and ensured the assassination attempt failed,&quot; he said. He also said, &quot;There are more questions than answers at the moment, including how someone was able to get this close to a Z NSG-protected former CM.&quot;&nbsp; Following the incident, the chief minister drove straight to his father&#39;s residence. Measures to further tighten protection are underway, including the upgrading of jammers used in convoys.

India

The assailant, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, allegedly targeted Abdullah, who is the president of the ruling National Conference, during the event in Greater Kailash area.

Former Indian occupied Kashmir CM Abdullah survives attempt on life, man arrested  

PARIS: The Mideast war &quot;is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market,&quot; as Iran&#39;s chokehold on regional supplies forces Gulf producers to slash production, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. In its latest market report, the IEA said crude production was currently down by at least 8.0 million bpd, with an additional 2.0 million related to petroleum products, including condensates, shut off. The conflict, which was triggered on Feb. 28 by American-Israeli attacks on Iran, is hampering the global economy&#39;s supply of oil and weakening production capacity. The war has seen Iran tighten its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude passes, &nbsp;effectively all but shutting it down. IEA said current flows through the strait were moving at less than 10% of pre-crisis levels, which in 2025 were around 15 million barrels per day -- with &quot;no signs of a de-escalation in hostilities or a clear timeline for a recovery in flows through the Strait.&quot; It stressed that a resumption of lows would be key in minimizing the war&#39;s impact on global markets. Against that backdrop, major European stock markets were off by more than 0.5% in early-morning trading. In Asia, Japan&#39;s Nikkei shed 1% at the close, while Hong Kong closed down 0.7%. A threat from Tehran to bring down the global economy overshadowed the impending IEA release of strategic crude. On Wednesday, it said its 32 members had agreed to unlock 400 million barrels of oil from reserves, their largest release ever. &#39;Stop-gap measure&#39;&nbsp;&quot;The coordinated emergency stock release provides a significant and welcome buffer, but in the absence of a swift resolution to the conflict, it remains a stopgap measure,&quot; the IEA warned. The United States has proposed partially lifting sanctions against Russia to offset the fallout from the squeeze on the Strait of Hormuz, but the Group of Seven nations on Wednesday rejected the idea. Oil prices have gyrated since the crisis began, rising more than 30% to around $120 a barrel only to drop back. Prices again topped $100 Thursday but then fell again to around $92 a barrel, representing a day rise of some six percent as analysts predicted elevated prices for the foreseeable future amid reports of more Iranian attacks on vessels, notably off the coast of Iraq. The IEA said in its report that the shortfall could be partially addressed by alternative routes, such as transit through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait from the Red Sea, although this route has, in recent years, &quot;carried a risk of Houthi (rebel) attacks.&quot; Despite efforts to stave off the disruption through emergency stockpiles, the IEA forecast that global oil supplies in March would drop by 8 million bpd to 98.8 million bpd, the lowest level in four years. &quot;For forecasting purposes, we have assumed only minimal flows through the Strait of Hormuz in March,&quot; it stated. Losses depend on duration of warThe IEA added that supply curtailments in the Middle East are being partly offset by higher output from non-OPEC+ producers, Kazakhstan and Russia. While overall supply losses would depend on the duration of the war, it is estimated that global oil supply would rise 1.1 million bpd in 2026 on average, with non-OPEC+ producers accounting for the entire increase. Citing the &quot;geopolitical alarm&quot; in the region, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said that &quot;in brokerage jargon, the IEA&#39;s decision (to release emergency supplies) is equivalent to using a garden hose to put out a refinery fire.&quot; Kathleen Brooks, director of research at XTB, observed that &quot;the conflict has intensified this week, and the longer the oil price remains elevated, the more damaging and long-lasting the inflation shock will be for the global economy.&quot; The IEA concluded that even if the conflict intensity recedes to the extent oil flows can resume, &quot;it will take several days to weeks&quot; for the backlog of tankers on both sides of the Strait to clear. &quot;Additionally, shut-in upstream production will take weeks and, in some cases, months, to return to pre-crisis levels depending on the degree of field complexity and the timing for workers, equipment and resources to return to the region.

In its latest market report, the International Energy Agency says crude production is down by at least 8.0 million bpd, with an additional 2.0 million related to petroleum products, including condensates, shut off.

Oil shock 'largest supply disruption' in history: IEA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left on Thursday for a brief visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to meet with the crown prince to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. The visit will focus on Pakistan&rsquo;s positive and active role in international diplomacy, and the country will continue to play a constructive role in this regard, the statement read.

PM Shehbaz meets Crown Prince of Saudia (APP)

PM Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional tensions, security, and matters of mutual interest between the two countries.

Pakistan PM to discuss bilateral ties during Saudi Arabia visit

ISLAMABAD: Iran&#39;s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, said that Iran is not in a position to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is set to start on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.&nbsp; The situation has become uncertain after the US and Israel launched strikes on the country.&nbsp; The crisis intensified after the killing of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and other countries hosting US military bases.&nbsp; Earlier on Wednesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said US President Donald Trump had told him Iran is &quot;welcome to compete&quot; at this summer&#39;s finals.&nbsp; In an interview with the IRIB Sports Network, Donyamali said that the current circumstances make participation impossible. &quot;Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.&rdquo; Donyamali added that ongoing conflicts have heavily affected the country. &ldquo;Over the past eight or nine months, two wars have been imposed on us and several thousand of our people have been killed and martyred. Therefore, we definitely do not have the possibility for participation.&rdquo;

Football

Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali says the country cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to the ongoing war following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iranian minister says country will not play in FIFA World Cup

ISLAMABAD: The United States Trade Representative has launched a Section 301 investigation into India and other countries regarding structural excess capacity in manufacturing, evaluating whether these practices unfairly impact US commerce, according to a statement released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Wednesday. &ldquo;Today, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the initiation of investigations regarding the acts, policies, and practices of various economies under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 relating to structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors,&rdquo; the statement said. It added that the &ldquo;investigations will determine whether those acts, policies, and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce.&rdquo; According to the statement, India and other US trading partners are subject to these investigations. &ldquo;The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us. Today&rsquo;s investigations underscore President Trump&rsquo;s commitment to reshore critical supply chains and create good-paying jobs for American workers across our manufacturing sectors,&rdquo; said Ambassador Greer. Structural excess capacity and production&nbsp;The statement quoted the ambassador as stating, &ldquo;The Trump Administration&rsquo;s reindustrialization efforts continue to face significant challenges due to foreign economies&rsquo; structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors. Across numerous sectors, many US trading partners are producing more goods than they can consume domestically.&rdquo; &ldquo;This overproduction displaces existing US domestic production or prevents investment and expansion in US manufacturing production that otherwise would have been brought online. In many sectors, the United States has lost substantial domestic production capacity or has fallen worryingly behind foreign competitors.&rdquo; Section 301&nbsp;Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting US commerce, the statement said. An investigation under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act examines whether the acts, policies, or practices of a foreign country are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce, it added.

Asia

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says, ‘The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us.’

PM Sharif, Saudi crown prince agree to work together for regional peace amid escalating Iran war

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