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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged stronger cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union in a statement at a UN Security Council meeting on the EU&#39;s partnership with the UN, saying deeper collaboration had become strategically vital at a time of mounting global instability. According to the ambassador&rsquo;s statement released by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, he said the widening geopolitical divide was putting growing strain on multilateralism and pushing the rules-based international order towards a dangerous tipping point. The ambassador said Pakistan valued the EU&rsquo;s longstanding support for multilateralism, international law and the UN Charter, and welcomed its continued commitment to working with the UN as the central pillar of international cooperation. The statement said the ambassador warned that strategic competition was increasingly replacing cooperation at a time when the world most needed collective action to bridge development gaps and promote shared prosperity. In that context, he said cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter should be treated as a strategic necessity.<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=2043868463551397947&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=695618f6f280be58ce22ef01cddd46d57957413f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Referring to the role of regional bodies, the ambassador said organisations such as the EU were important partners in advancing peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. He also recalled Security Council Resolution 2788, adopted during Pakistan&rsquo;s presidency of the Council last July, which recognised the contribution of regional and sub-regional organisations in complementing UN efforts to prevent conflict and encourage peaceful dispute resolution, according to the statement. The statement said Ahmed pointed to ongoing conflicts in West Asia, Europe and the Middle East as evidence that crises no longer remain confined to their immediate geographic areas. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s position remained anchored in the UN Charter and in support for dialogue, de-escalation and peaceful settlement of disputes. The ambassador also expressed appreciation for EU backing for Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful outcome in West Asia. On Palestine, the ambassador said the EU remained a significant diplomatic and humanitarian actor and acknowledged its support for a just and lasting two-state solution in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, the statement said. He added that the bloc could play a greater role in efforts to ease Palestinian suffering and advance Palestinian rights, including self-determination and statehood. The statement said the ambassador also voiced hope for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and highlighted a range of global challenges disproportionately affecting the Global South, including food insecurity, freshwater scarcity, energy volatility, supply chain disruption, pandemics, climate change and natural disasters. He further praised EU support for the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, humanitarian assistance and reform of the international financial system, while also commending EU-UN cooperation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, according to the statement. Highlighting bilateral ties, Ahmad said the EU was Pakistan&rsquo;s largest trade and investment partner and described the GSP Plus framework as a mutually beneficial model that had supported growth in Pakistan-EU trade, the statement added.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s UN ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad urged stronger UN-EU cooperation at the Security Council, saying global instability, conflict and development challenges require deeper multilateral partnership, while also highlighting Palestine, Ukraine, peacebuilding and Pakistan’s growing economic ties with the bloc.

Pakistan calls for deeper UN-EU partnership at UNSC

BEIJING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China this week, Beijing said on Monday, as the two sides hope to boost cooperation. &quot;Russia&#39;s foreign minister Lavrov will pay an official visit to China from April 14 to 15,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference. Lavrov will hold talks with China&#39;s top diplomat Wang Yi in which the two will &quot;exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern&quot;, Guo said. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Beijing and Moscow are close economic and political partners, and the relationship has deepened further since Russia&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wang held a call with Lavrov on April 5, when the pair agreed Beijing and Moscow would work together to deescalate tensions in the Middle East.

China

Asia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China on April 14-15 for talks with Wang Yi on bilateral ties, Ukraine and the Middle East, as Beijing and Moscow seek closer coordination.

Russian FM to visit China April 14-15: Beijing

BEIJING: China&#39;s President Xi Jinping met Taiwan&#39;s opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, telling the visiting delegation he had &quot;full confidence&quot; that Taiwanese and Chinese people would be united. Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng is the party&#39;s first leader to visit China in a decade, but her trip has sparked debate in Taiwan with critics accusing her of being too pro-Beijing. China severed high-level contact with Taiwan in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency and rejected Beijing&#39;s claims that the self-ruled island is part of its territory. Xi told Cheng as the two met on Friday that &quot;the general trend of compatriots on both sides of the Strait getting closer, edging nearer and becoming united will not change&quot;. &quot;This is an inevitable part of history. We have full confidence in this,&quot; Xi said during the talks carried by Taiwanese media. He also said China was willing to strengthen dialogue with groups in Taiwan, including the KMT, on the &quot;common political foundation of... opposing Taiwan independence&quot;. The KMT supports closer relations with China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it. Cheng echoed Xi&#39;s stance, telling a press conference after their meeting that by &quot;opposing Taiwan independence, we can avoid war&quot;. She also told Xi earlier that the Taiwan Strait would &quot;no longer be a focal point of potential conflict&quot; and &quot;both sides should transcend political confrontation&quot;. Beijing has sworn to take Taiwan and has not ruled out using force, ramping up military pressure around the self-ruled island in recent years. China conducts near-daily deployments of fighter jets and warships near the island and regular large-scale military drills. Taiwanese lawmakers have been at loggerheads over the government&#39;s plan to spend NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) on defence, which has been stalled for months in parliament, controlled by Cheng&#39;s KMT party. - Defence spending - Cheng&#39;s trip comes a month before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing for a summit with Xi. The United States has been piling pressure on Taiwanese opposition lawmakers to back a proposal for defence purchases, including US weapons, to deter a potential Chinese attack. Cheng has railed against the government&#39;s proposal, insisting &quot;Taiwan isn&#39;t an ATM&quot; and instead backed a KMT plan to allocate NT$380 billion ($12 billion) for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions. While KMT party members regularly fly to China for exchanges with officials, its last leader to visit was Hung Hsiu-chu in 2016. Cross-strait relations have worsened in particular since the election of Tsai&#39;s successor, Lai Ching-te, who Beijing considers a separatist. Lai said in a Facebook post on Friday that &quot;China&#39;s... military threats in and around the Taiwan Strait and the island chain have severely undermined regional peace and stability&quot;. Cheng landed in Shanghai on Tuesday evening, saying shortly after her arrival that &quot;the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared&quot;. The KMT leader also travelled to the eastern city of Nanjing, where she visited the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, one of the few Chinese historical figures revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

Xi Jinping met Taiwanese Opposition Leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, voicing confidence in eventual cross-strait unity, while the visit stirred controversy in Taiwan amid rising military tensions and disputes over defence spending.

Chinese, Taiwanese will unite, Xi tells Taiwan opposition leader

ISLAMABAD: Forty days of war. That is the backdrop as diplomats and the media arrive in the capital for the Islamabad Talks, bringing a language all their own. Words like &ldquo;mediator,&rdquo; &ldquo;facilitator,&rdquo; and &ldquo;ceasefire&rdquo; are already filling the coverage. While they may sound interchangeable, they are not. Here&#39;s a look at the words readers are likely to see more of in the coming days. A &ldquo;mediator&rdquo; actively shapes outcomes, drafting proposals, pressing both sides and steering talks toward agreement.&nbsp; A &ldquo;facilitator&rdquo; does something quieter: it creates conditions for talks to happen without prescribing where they should land. A country offering its good offices goes further still, lending only its prestige to bring rivals into the same room, then stepping back entirely.&nbsp; Running alongside all of this, usually invisible to the public, is &quot;backchannel diplomacy&quot;: unofficial contacts where discussions happen and the outlines of a deal are sometimes sketched. Then there is the process itself.&nbsp; &ldquo;Talks&rdquo; suggests an early, exploratory stage. &ldquo;Dialogue&rdquo; implies something more sustained; a deliberate effort at mutual understanding, even if no deal is imminent. &ldquo;Negotiations&rdquo; is somewhat loaded, implying structure, a concrete goal, and genuine give-and-take. Then there are words used to describe a halt in fighting. A &ldquo;truce&rdquo; is informal and usually short-lived. A &ldquo;ceasefire&rdquo; is broader &mdash; an agreement to stop hostilities &mdash; but it suspends a conflict rather than ending it. That would happen after a &ldquo;treaty&rdquo; is formally agreed and signed. At the far end of the diplomatic spectrum sit &ldquo;normalization&rdquo; and &ldquo;reconciliation,&rdquo; words that are often conflated but describe very different things.&nbsp; &ldquo;Normalization&rdquo; is a transaction between governments: embassies reopened, trade resumed. &ldquo;Reconciliation&rdquo; is harder and slower: the rebuilding of trust between people. None of this vocabulary is accidental. When a country calls something a &ldquo;dialogue&rdquo; rather than &ldquo;negotiations,&rdquo; it is managing expectations. When analysts reach a &ldquo;stalemate&rdquo; rather than an &ldquo;impasse,&rdquo; they are making a quiet judgment about how much room for movement remains.&nbsp; In diplomacy, the words chosen to frame a process are themselves part of the process.

In diplomacy, the words chosen to describe a process are never accidental; knowing the difference between them can bring a reader closer to understanding what is actually happening.

Words matter: The vocabulary of peace

ISLAMABAD: World leaders on Wednesday publicly thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Messages on X from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern officials emphasized Islamabad&#39;s role as a crucial diplomatic channel in reducing tensions. The United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the announcement, calling on all the parties to comply with their &quot;obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.&quot; According to a statement issued by spokesperson St&eacute;phane Dujarric, the secretary-general expressed &quot;sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire.&quot; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she welcomed the ceasefire and &ldquo;thank[ed] Pakistan for its mediation,&rdquo; while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also said he welcomed the pause in fighting and thanked Pakistan for its role.<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=2041755410290393255&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;European Council President Ant&oacute;nio Costa said he welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire announcement and urged all sides to uphold its terms to achieve a lasting outcome, while the European Union&rsquo;s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the deal as a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation.<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" 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=2041784093843521606&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Portugal&rsquo;s foreign ministry also welcomed the ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adding to a broader European chorus backing diplomacy over further military action.&nbsp;Support for Pakistan&rsquo;s role also came from beyond Europe. New Zealand said it welcomed the announcements by Washington and Tehran and all efforts to end the conflict, while Oman&rsquo;s foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire declaration and praised mediation efforts.<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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041684624091574750&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Kazakhstan&rsquo;s presidency said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the agreement on a full ceasefire and truce in the Middle East, reached with the assistance of international mediation.<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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041752473862598933&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Ukraine&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv welcomed the agreement to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and cease fire, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation efforts, underscoring how widely Islamabad&rsquo;s role was being acknowledged across different regions.&nbsp;Norway&rsquo;s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide likewise said the temporary ceasefire gave diplomacy a chance at a moment when the world had stood on the edge of a wider confrontation.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign ministry said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had been engaged with foreign counterparts as the ceasefire took shape.&nbsp;Taken together, the wave of public messages and statements shows that Pakistan has earned visible international recognition for its mediation efforts. Reaction from world leadersLeaders from Europe and East Asia welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday. In the statement, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, the European Commission, the European Council, and Japan jointly thanked Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this &ldquo;important agreement.&rdquo; &ldquo;The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means,&rdquo; the statement said. It also encouraged quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement, adding that this will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. &ldquo;It can avert a severe global energy crisis,&rdquo; it added. &ldquo;We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners,&rdquo; the statement said.

World leaders from Europe, Asia and the Middle East publicly thanked Pakistan for helping mediate the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, underscoring Islamabad’s diplomatic role in opening channels for de-escalation, easing tensions and supporting renewed dialogue during a dangerous regional crisis.

‘Islamabad Diplomacy’ hailed as world leaders praise Pakistan’s Iran mediation

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday ordered a diplomat at the British embassy in Moscow to leave the country over allegations he was working as a spy, Russia&#39;s FSB security service reported. Moscow and London have expelled multiple embassy staff over the last decade, both trading accusations of espionage. Expulsions from one side have typically been followed by a tit-for-tat response from the other. The diplomat, whom the FSB named as 29-year-old embassy secretary Albertus Gerhardus Janse Van Rensburg, was expelled for engaging in &quot;subversive intelligence activities that threaten Russia&#39;s security&quot;, the FSB said. &quot;A decision was made to strip Janse Van Rensburg of his accreditation, and he was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks,&quot; it added. The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned Britain&#39;s charge d&#39;affaires over the incident and warned the United Kingdom not to retaliate. Relations between London and Moscow, currently at a low point over the Ukraine war, have been strained by spying allegations for decades. In 2006, former FSB officer and Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko was killed in London, poisoned by polonium in what British investigators said was a hit by the Russian secret service. In 2018, the UK said Russian double agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in the British cathedral city of Salisbury. One member of the public was killed after handling the delivery device, a discarded perfume bottle, triggering the largest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats alleged to be spies in decades. The UK has, however, refuted Russia&#39;s claim. UK calls Russia claims of spying &#39;complete nonsense&#39;Britain on Monday accused Russia of an &quot;aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment&quot; after a British diplomat was expelled from Moscow over allegations he was working as a spy. &quot;The accusations made today by Russia against our diplomats are complete nonsense,&quot; a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding Russia was &quot;pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work&quot;.

Europe

Russia ordered a British embassy diplomat to leave within two weeks, accusing him of espionage. The move deepens already fraught UK-Russia ties, marked by years of mutual expulsions, spying allegations and tensions heightened further by the war in Ukraine.

Russia expels UK diplomat on spying allegations

MIAMI: President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his disappointment with NATO allies over their refusal to send military to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington may not help them in future if asked to do so. &quot;They just weren&#39;t there,&quot; he said at an investment forum in Miami. &quot;We spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on NATO, hundreds, protecting them, and we would have always been there for them, but now, based on their actions, I guess we don&#39;t have to be, do we?&quot; &quot;Why would we be there for them if they&#39;re not there for us? They weren&#39;t there for us.&quot; Since the start of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran a month ago, Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over Western allies&#39; lack of support and reluctance to commit forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea lane for Gulf oil and gas exports vulnerable to Iranian attacks. Traffic through the narrow waterway has ground to a virtual standstill, leading to a surge in global energy prices. Six key powers including Britain, France, Germany and Japan say they are ready to &quot;contribute to appropriate efforts&quot; but have not made any commitment. Trump has reserved some of his toughest criticism for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Last week, he dubbed its other members &quot;COWARDS,&quot; and declared the alliance was a &quot;paper tiger&quot; without the United States. On Thursday, he said on his Truth Social platform that the United States &quot;needs nothing from NATO.&quot; &quot;NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran.&quot;

US President Donald Trump speaks at the FII PRIORITY Summit at the Faena Hotel on March 27, 2026 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo: AFP)

Americas

Reiterates his disappointment with NATO allies over their refusal to send military to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington may not help them in future if asked to do so.

Trump says US may not be there for NATO if needed

NEW YORK CITY: The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday debated Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Pakistan telling the 15-member body that an enduring situation lies in embracing diplomacy rather than abandoning it &ldquo;for short-sighted policies.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is clear that dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement remain the only viable way forward. And yet, diplomacy has been forfeited in favour of military means,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN), said during a discussions on the UN &lsquo;Committee 1737&rsquo;, which oversees international sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear and missile programs. &ldquo;The developments since last June as well as the ongoing situation that started with the unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on Iran have deeply impacted the context of Iran nuclear file,&rdquo; he said.<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=2032313042986271046&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c248310fe0919f799bba80033d73f620b941b880&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 841px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Regretting the breakdown of diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Pakistani envoy said the validity of the fundamental principles and the multilateral spirit that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, remained intact as also the consensus adoption of resolution 2231 in 2015. (But President Donald Trump, during his first term announced in 2018 the withdrawal of the United States (US) from JCPOA, terming it a &ldquo;horrible,&rdquo; &ldquo;one-sided&rdquo; deal that failed to protect US national security interests.) &ldquo;More than ever, and even during the current conflict and heightened tensions, it is clear that an enduring solution lies in embracing those time-tested principles rather than abandoning them for short-sighted policies,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. The JCPOA, he said, &nbsp;was a &ldquo;unique instrument &ldquo;, manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism, highlighting that it was the outcome of painstaking and arduous, yet constructive negotiations that charted a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of the parties based on reciprocal actions and thus embodying peaceful resolution of disputes that is at the heart the UN Charter. &ldquo;Pakistan lent its support to the negotiated settlement of the issue, and it remains our core position till today&rdquo;, he added. &ldquo;We have condemned all use of force, targeting of civilian infrastructure, and strikes on nuclear sites under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards&rdquo;, the Pakistani envoy said, pointing out that strikes against nuclear facilities carried huge environmental and safety risks for the local population and people all around the region.He warned against disrupting IAEA&rsquo;s crucial verification mandate, saying that the agency is responsible for verifying compliance with respective nuclear safeguards obligations of Member States in an objective, impartial and credible manner on technical grounds. &ldquo;The IAEA should be enabled to fulfill this statutory function and its verification activities in Iran should resume unimpeded,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy said.Pakistan, he said, &nbsp;calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, and urged all parties to show maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, institute a permanent ceasefire, and resume dialogue. &ldquo;All our efforts aim in that direction&rdquo;, he said.

Pakistan told the UNSC that diplomacy, not military action, remains the only viable solution to Iran’s nuclear issue, urging restraint, ceasefire, renewed dialogue, and unimpeded IAEA verification activities.

As UNSC debates Iran nuclear program, Pakistan stresses diplomacy only way forward

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemned the escalating violence in the Middle East on Saturday, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent attacks across Gulf countries, emphasizing the urgent need for diplomacy and regional stability, according to official statements.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, saying, &ldquo;Spoke with my dear brother HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this evening to express Pakistan&rsquo;s strong condemnation of the dangerous regional escalation following the Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent attacks in the Gulf region.&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-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=2027756179066392803&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9543b1882a24efc166071ff1a387a651168967ef&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp; He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to support Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, adding, &ldquo;We remain ready to play a constructive role for peace and pray that the blessings of Ramadan bring calm and stability to our region.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office expressed regret over the breakdown of diplomatic talks and the outbreak of hostilities. <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: 850px; 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=2027769233443328272&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9543b1882a24efc166071ff1a387a651168967ef&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The spokesperson said, &ldquo;Pakistan condemns the unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks come at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution. Such a course of action will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far-reaching consequences.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement also condemned Iranian retaliatory attacks on Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, calling them &ldquo;blatant violations of the sovereignty of the brotherly Gulf states&rdquo; and highlighting the death of a Pakistani national in the UAE missile strike.&nbsp;The Foreign Office urged all sides to refrain from actions that could further escalate the crisis.&nbsp;PM Sharif also held separate telephone conversations with Qatar&rsquo;s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.&nbsp;During the calls, he strongly condemned the regional escalation and expressed Pakistan&rsquo;s full solidarity with the Gulf nations. Referring to attacks on Qatar and the UAE, he expressed condolences over the death of a Pakistani national and assured both countries that Pakistan would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with their leadership and people amid the crisis.&nbsp;In response to the evolving situation, Islamabad issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. Nationals currently in Iran are advised to remain cautious, limit movement, and stay in regular contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions.&nbsp;The Embassy in Tehran and consulates in Zahidan and Mashhad have provided landline and mobile numbers for assistance.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s statements underline the country&rsquo;s call for all parties to respect international law and uphold the principles of the UN Charter. Officials emphasized the urgent need to resume diplomatic efforts and pursue a negotiated, peaceful resolution to prevent further destabilization across the region.

Middle East

In telephone conversations with Saudi Crown Prince, UAE President, and Qatar Emir, Pakistan’s Prime Minister condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, expresses solidarity with Gulf states, urges diplomacy, calls for restraint and issues travel advisory for Pakistani nationals

Pakistan PM condemns attacks on Iran, urges peace across Middle East

BRUSSELS:&nbsp;EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged a &quot;diplomatic solution&quot; on Iran on Monday ahead of expected talks between Tehran and Washington, as US President Donald Trump threatens strikes on the country. &quot;We don&#39;t need another war in this region. We already have a lot,&quot; Kallas said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. &quot;It is true that Iran is at its weakest point that they have been. We should be really using this time to find a diplomatic solution.&quot;

Says the world does not need another war; 'we already have a lot.'

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