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Zardari hopes for lasting peace in meeting with Iran’s Pezeshkian after US talks

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Zardari hopes for lasting peace in meeting with Iran’s Pezeshkian after US talks

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday congratulated Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, expressing hope that ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in lasting peace in the region.

Pezeshkian landed in Islamabad for an official visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation, in the wake of the recent US-Iran conflict and Islamabad’s role in facilitating diplomatic efforts that culminated in the signing of the MoU.

According to a statement issued by the President’s House, Pezeshkian called on Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations, regional peace and security, connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

President Zardari welcomed the Iranian president on his first state visit to Pakistan after the recent conflict, noting that the visit reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries and their desire to remain together in good and bad times.

He congratulated President Pezeshkian on the signing of the MoU and expressed the hope that ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in permanent peace in the region.

The president reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Pakistan has consistently opposed one-sided initiatives and has supported dialogue and diplomacy as the means to achieve a durable and sustainable solution to regional and global challenges,” the statement quoted him as saying.

He also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to preserving the unity of the Muslim community while maintaining strong fraternal relations with the countries of the Gulf region.

President Zardari also expressed condolences on the martyrdom of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and said Pakistan would participate in his funeral.

President Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its positive and constructive efforts in support of peace and dialogue, and appreciated Islamabad’s support during recent challenging circumstances.

“Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to further expanding cooperation in political, economic, security and regional matters,” the Iranian president said.

President Zardari requested President Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Iranian president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Chief of the President’s Office Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Chief of Political Affairs of the President’s Office Saeed Abbas Mousavi, and Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam.

From the Pakistani side, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Senate Chief Whip Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Dr Asim Hussain were present during the meeting.

Pezeshkian receives guard of honour at PM House

Earlier, the Iranian president was received by President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, FM Dar and Iranian FM Araghchi. The Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 fighter jets flew a ceremonial flypast to honour the visiting dignitary, and upon arrival, a 21-gun salute was presented in Pezeshkian’s honour.

Children dressed in traditional attire welcomed the Iranian president with bouquets and waved the flags of Pakistan and Iran. President Pezeshkian acknowledged their welcome by waving back.

Later, the Iranian president arrived at the Prime Minister’s House, where he was received by PM Shehbaz. A contingent of the armed forces presented him with a guard of honour.

The two leaders exchanged pleasantries before attending a ceremony held in honour of the visiting president at the Prime Minister’s House.

President Pezeshkian is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of President Zardari and PM Shehbaz. The visit is his first since the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

During the visit, the Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons will confer an honorary fellowship on the Iranian president. The two leaders will also address the media.

CDF Munir, Iranian president discuss regional peace

Later, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir called on Pezeshkian, during which the two sides exchanged views on regional developments and initiatives aimed at promoting peace.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation and regional stability. He also acknowledged Islamabad’s consistent efforts to encourage the peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges.

Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability, the statement said.

The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran ties and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the shared objective of advancing peace, prosperity and stability across the region.

Araghchi arrives

Iranian FM Araghchi arrived in Islamabad earlier on Tuesday as part of the delegation accompanying President Pezeshkian on his visit, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office.

FO said Araghchi was “warmly received” by DPM Dar upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase. The statement added that Pakistan and Iran share “strong brotherly ties, deeply rooted in history, faith, and culture”, and extended a warm welcome to the Iranian delegation.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a meeting with President Zardari and PM Shehbaz just hours before President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan.

Official visit

The visit comes days after Iran and the US signed the Islamabad MoU, a framework agreement aimed at ending months of conflict and creating a pathway towards a comprehensive settlement. Pakistan played a central mediating role in the diplomatic process that led to the agreement.

During the visit, Pezeshkian is expected to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the quadrilateral talks-US-Iran-Pakistan-Qatar-in the Swiss lake city of Burgenstock on Sunday.

According to the Foreign Office, the two sides would review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity.

“The forthcoming visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to further deepen their historic and cultural ties and underscores their common aspiration for peace, stability, and sustainable progress in the region,” the statement said.

The visit will also provide an opportunity to discuss the implementation of understandings reached under the Islamabad MoU as well as broader regional and international developments.

Officials said the trip underscores the growing importance of Pakistan-Iran engagement at a time of major geopolitical shifts in the region and reflects the shared desire of both countries to promote peace, stability and economic cooperation.

President Pezeshkian, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior officials, is expected to personally convey Tehran’s appreciation for Pakistan’s diplomatic support during the conflict and its efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States, diplomatic sources said.

This will be President Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan since assuming office. The two neighbours have in recent years sought to strengthen economic ties, enhance border cooperation and increase bilateral trade. The one-day trip would be Pezeshkian’s first overseas visit since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran in late February.

Traffic plan and security arrangement

Meanwhile, stringent security arrangements have been put in place in Rawalpindi for the Iranian president’s visit, with heightened security deployed at Nur Khan Airbase and surrounding areas.

More than 600 officers and personnel of the Rawalpindi police have been deployed for security duties until the president’s departure.

According to the police, additional personnel have been stationed at key points connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while no cross traffic will be allowed during VIP movement.

Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) on Tuesday issued an alternate traffic plan following the arrival of foreign delegations and announced that the entry of all types of heavy vehicles into the federal capital from any direction would remain suspended until further orders.

An ITP official told APP that all entry points to the Red Zone, except those from Marriott and Margalla Road, would remain completely closed for all types of traffic, while special traffic arrangements and diversions had been put in place on major roads across the capital.

The official said traffic diversions would remain in effect on the Expressway from Koral to Faizabad, Murree Road and Club Road, while Srinagar Highway from Zero Point to Dhokri Chowk would remain completely closed for traffic movement.

According to the alternate traffic plan, traffic travelling between Faisal Avenue and Zero Point would be diverted towards 9th Avenue.

In case of closure between Zero Point and Koral Chowk, commuters may use Srinagar Highway, 9th Avenue, Stadium Road, Murree Road, Chandni Chowk and Rawal Road to reach Koral and adjoining areas. The official said traffic from Park Road would be diverted towards Tramri Chowk if Club Road remains closed.

Citizens travelling between Bhara Kahu and Rawalpindi have been advised to use Korang Road, Bani Gala and Lehtrar Road as alternate routes. Similarly, motorists travelling between Rawalpindi Saddar and Islamabad may use Colonel Sher Khan Road, Fakhr-e-Alam Road or 9th Avenue to avoid delays.

The official said heavy traffic travelling from Peshawar to Lahore via GT Road should use Taxila, Motorway, Chakri Interchange, Chak Beli Road and Rawat GT Road, while heavy vehicles travelling from Lahore to Peshawar should use Rawat GT Road, Chak Beli Road, Chakri Interchange, Motorway and Taxila.

Citizens were advised to plan their travel in advance and follow the alternate traffic plan to avoid inconvenience during the movement of foreign delegations.

For further information and real-time traffic updates, commuters may follow the Islamabad Traffic Police WhatsApp Channel, Islamabad Police social media platforms and tune in to ITP FM 92.4, the official added.

Earlier, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency also reported that President Pezeshkian was scheduled to visit Pakistan on Tuesday. Pezeshkian paid a state visit to Pakistan last August.

The news came a day after the US and Iran agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days after the conclusion of the first session of high-level talks held under the Islamabad MoU in Switzerland.

The first round of four-party talks involving Iran and the US, with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded in Switzerland, marking the first formal follow-up engagement since the signing of the agreement earlier this week.

On June 18, PM Shehbaz signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ as a mediator, formalising the major diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran. Israel, left out of the peace talks, has distanced itself from the US-Iran accord and kept up fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, also raising questions about whether ​the agreement would hold.

The US and Israel launched the war on Iran ⁠on February 28, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and military leaders on the first day. It quickly spiralled into a regional conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon; driven up energy prices; renewed inflationary pressures and sparked concerns about a ​major food supply crisis in developing countries.

NA passes FY2026-27 budget after opposition walkout

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NA passes FY2026-27 budget after opposition walkout

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the bill for the House to approve the budget proposals for the next fiscal year after the opposition’s walkout.

The walkout was preceded by a speech by NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who had criticised the government over several issues.

His speech was not livestreamed on the NA’s social media platforms or on television channels, even after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday lifted longstanding curbs on the airing and dissemination of opposition members’ speeches.

Later, Achakzai posted on X: “We have taken an oath to protect the Constitution of Pakistan. You have supported undemocratic forces in trampling the Constitution; through your vote, you have clipped the wings of the judiciary.”

According to Achakzai, this excerpt was from his address in the NA, which was “censored”.

Achakzai assails govt

Sparks flew in the House as Achakzai assailed the federal government, prompting a strong response from Speaker Sadiq.

The opposition leader began his speech by criticising Sadiq. “We will have to change our tone now that your government has completed 2.5 years,” he said, criticising Sadiq for his conduct as the speaker.

“You did not care about the Constitution and law as you dismissed 14 of your colleagues from the Assembly,” Achakzai said, seemingly referring to PTI’s disqualified members.

He also criticised the government for sentencing Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)’s Dr Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment.

The NA opposition leader further slammed the government for its response to the recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Turning guns on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was also present in the House, Achakzai referred to an earlier speech by him.

“I did not enjoy the way Shehbaz bhai spoke. He told me that we are here because Pakistan is still here, and I think he was absolutely correct in saying that,” Achakzai said. He, however, added: “But, Pakistan is not some imaginary country that exists in the skies. It means Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. Why don’t you see KP as part of Pakistan?”

The opposition leader accused the government of “clipping the wings” of the judiciary and “trampling the Constitution”.

“Mistakes happen, but let us strengthen this House with the support it needs,” he urged.

“What are you afraid of? Call the people of Balochistan here and tell them that your children have the right to Balochistan’s resources,” he urged the prime minister. “Say the same to Sindh and KP,” he added.

In response to Achakzai’s remarks, the NA speaker said the opposition was in a “state of confusion” and held that he would not allow anyone to speak against “Pakistan, armed forces, and the judiciary”.

“If you call this a violation of the Constitution, then I am willing to commit such violations,” he remarked.

He further stated that despite the opposition questioning the legitimacy of Parliament, “you speak for more than your allotted time; does the parliament not appear fake to you then?”

Rebuking the opposition leader, Speaker Sadiq further alleged that the opposition had always refused to participate in parliamentary committees despite being asked repeatedly.

“You are in a confused state of mind,” he said, reiterating that the House stood united “when it comes to Pakistan”.

In a statement issued later in the day, he freedom of expression “must be exercised within the framework of the Constitution, rules and established parliamentary norms”.

As per the statement, he said that maintaining the sanctity and dignity of Parliament remained his foremost responsibility, adding that “democratic institutions must be respected and strengthened through constructive engagement”.

The national interest, sovereignty, and stability should remain the collective priority of all elected representatives, the statement quoted the speaker as saying.

The opposition, including Achakzai, walked out of the NA midway through his remarks. However, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s members stayed in the House.

Israel’s Lebanon attacks delayed US-Iran talks: Dar

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Israel’s Lebanon attacks delayed US-Iran talks: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Sunday’s US-Iran talks in Switzerland were nearly “derailed” due to Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, it emerged on Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya, which was recorded before the talks began, DPM Dar said, “The parlays starting in Switzerland could have started a few days earlier, but Israel’s attacks on Lebanon derailed and stopped everything.”

At the outset of the interview, DPM Dar recalled Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts since the start of the conflict on February 28, recalling the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire followed by the talks in Islamabad in April.

“Those parlays were the first time direct talks between the US and Iran after 47 years, and Pakistan was asked to be the witness,” DPM Dar said.

He said that Pakistan’s continued efforts after the Islamabad talks culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 18.

“You see, during this period, Pakistan has been … very active. Not only were we mediating between the US and Iran, but we were also keeping our allies and friends in the region connected with us,” DPM Dar told Al Arabiya.

He continued: “In that process, we saw that a regional forum has been created which is Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye and we were dealing side by side with Gulf countries and also international partners.”

Shifting his attention to the talks in Burgenstock, he called the summit “phase two” of the negotiation process.

“There are three technical groups. One is to deal with the nuclear issue, the second is about sanctions and frozen assets and third is Lebanon,” DPM Dar said.

Talking about Lebanon, DPM Dar observed that the issue had “erupted time and again” during the course of the peace process and added that the Switzerland talks were nearly “derailed” due to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

“For certain items, they have 30 days to conclude, but the bulk and overall conclusion of the final deal timeline is 60 days, and this can be mutually extendable,” he said.

He said the world was already beginning to see the dividends of the peace, citing reduced energy prices and resumption of traffic flow in the Strait of Hormuz.

DPM Dar maintained that the Strait of Hormuz should be restored to pre-conflict status, which “means no fee and no toll at all”.

At this, he also recalled his March visit to China, where he said both China and Pakistan agreed, as per a five-point plan, that there should be free movement in the strait.

“No permits, no toll, no additional charge, whatever you name it; it should be free movement and sea lanes should be freely moving [on] both sides,” Dar said, noting the energy crisis that resulted in the wake of the closure of the vital Strait.

“This is the global understanding,” he said, observing that for “at least 60 days, there will be free movement” within the waterway.

When asked if any guarantees existed to contain Israeli actions in Lebanon, Dar responded: “The facilitator or mediator’s role is to keep trying and making efforts. There were points where things looked like that won’t be concluded, but we never gave hope [..] independently, there are spoilers who never wanted this deal to happen, and the moment this deal was signed, we saw that there was heavy bombing in Lebanon.”

Dar held that wisdom must prevail, and urged the international community to “convince, persuade, and influence” Israel to halt attacks in Lebanon.

At this, he also spoke of plans to revive efforts to ensure implementation of Gaza’s 21-point peace plan.

When asked about Iran’s Uranium stockpile, DPM Dar said that at the time of Islamabad Talks, Iran had expressed flexibility on the issue.

“It was at that time a question of US demand that they wanted to take it away. Iran was not willing to give it to us, but [..] it can be downblended from the claimed 60 per cent,” Dar said.

Recalling a conversation he had with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Rafael Grossi about the “downblending of the ‘nuclear dust’ to 0.7pc”.

Speaking to Al Arabiya, DPM Dar expressed hope that the final agreement will yield positive results.

“We have to be sincere to the cause; Pakistan has no personal vested interests, and we did the entire exercise with complete sincerity and pray to Allah to give both sides wisdom and foresight,” Dar said.

He continued: “I’m a born optimist, and I have full faith that with our efforts along with the global community and the support of brotherly countries, these two countries (US and Iran) will reach a final deal.”

On US sanctions on Iran, DPM Dar said that the issue was being dealt with by one of the three technical groups.

He recalled that the issue was discussed in Islamabad talks and it now remained to be seen how it would proceed.

“This new document (MoU) has been divided into two phases,” Dar said, explaining that the first phase had been completed and signed and urged that no one should doubt the “intentions of the signing parties”.

“We have no doubt that they are sincere and want to move forward,” Dar remarked.

Dar hoped that there would be no “negative play” by any party moving forward and added that “sanctions will be co-discussed and co-decided along with the nuclear and Lebanon issues in the 60-day phase”.

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian to visit Pakistan tomorrow: FO

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Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian to visit Pakistan tomorrow: FO

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian will undertake an official visit to Pakistan tomorrow, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday.

During his visit, which is at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the president will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and other high-ranking officials.

During his visit, Pezeshkian will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will call on the visiting dignitary, the FO said.

“This will be Dr Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan in his capacity as President of Iran,” the FO noted.

“During the visit, the two sides will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges, and regional connectivity,” it stated.

It also termed the visit an “important opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest”.

“The forthcoming visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to further deepen their historic and cultural ties and underscores their common aspiration for peace, stability, and sustainable progress in the region,” the FO highlighted.

Pezeshkian’s visit follows key direct talks — dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit” — held between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, kicking off negotiations under the Islamabad MoU signed on June 18.

Under the 14-point accord, Washington and Tehran agreed on a framework to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate on key issues within 60 days of the signing.

The US-Iran talks in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock were mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir representing Pakistan.

The Lake Lucerne Summit created a mechanism for further technical talks, which will continue this week, and also set up communication lines to end the fighting in Lebanon and to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open.

“Encouraging progress has been made,” the mediators said in their joint statement, including a contact channel set up to “avoid incidents and miscommunication” in the Strait of Hormuz.

A “de-confliction cell” between the parties and the Lebanese authorities has also been agreed upon to prevent fighting from erupting again.

Pakistan to continue facilitating dialogue with honesty, sincerity: PM Shehbaz

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Pakistan to continue facilitating dialogue with honesty, sincerity: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed Pakistan’s continued commitment to play an “honest and sinere” role in advancing dialogue in what were his first remarks after the conclusion of a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.

In a post on X, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction at the “successful conclusion” of the meeting held in Switzerland’s Burgenstock.

The premier stated that the discussions were held in a “positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress,” which included a roadmap towards the final deal within 60 days, the establishment of a high-level committee for political oversight and the commencement of further technical talks.

PM Shehbaz commended the leadership of both the US and Iran for “continued commitment to constructive engagement”. He also expressed thanks for “all brotherly and friendly countries for their valuable support in advancing this historic process,” particularly Qatar.

The premier thanked Qatar for its “critical support” in creating the necessary conditions for the negotiations to move forward.

“A word of thanks to the Swiss Government for their facilitation in hosting these talks,” PM Shehbaz said. He also paid a “special tribute” to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

PM Shehbaz said that CDF Munir’s “unitiring efforts” ensured the success of the talks.

“His dedication, commitment and perseverance are indeed commendable without which there would have been no progress,” the premier remarked.

He further thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

“Pakistan will continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution,” PM Shehbaz concluded.

Meanwhile, DPM Dar “warmly welcomed” the “substantial progress” achieved at the talks. He also congratulated PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir for their “visionary leadership and tireless efforts in achieving this milestone”.

“I would also like to express my deep appreciation for the constructive spirit shown by the United States of America as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the implementation of the Islamabad MoU and commend their continued commitment to dialogue and diplomacy. My deep gratitude also to the State of Qatar for its important role in the mediation process along with Pakistan,” he said.

“A team from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to remain engaged with the parties for technical-level talks for the remainder of the week at Burgenstock, Switzerland,” he said.

“Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role for achieving the goal of lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Dar said.

Iran’s senior envoys left talks in Switzerland on Monday after a marathon negotiating session with the United States, state media reported, as mediators claimed progress towards a definitive US-Iran deal.

The host nation said conditions were set for technical talks to immediately follow, with the sides at the beginning of a 60-day period to secure a long-term settlement.

The negotiators aim to tackle some of the most intractable issues that have dogged US-Iranian relations for decades, including Tehran’s nuclear programme and enriched uranium.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that “a very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details” and that nuclear talks had not begun.

All the while, the war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah has threatened to collapse the ceasefire, though the country has been relatively calm since Sunday.

Tehran and Washington, meanwhile, have set up communication lines to end the fighting in Lebanon and to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said, after the first round of talks.

PPP’s Amjad Hussain elected GB chief minister

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PPP’s Amjad Hussain elected GB chief minister

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elected PPP’s Advocate Amjad Hussain as chief minister on Monday, just hours after the newly elected assembly members took oath.

This came after the PPP’s Imran Nadeem Shigri and the PML-N’s Malik Kefayat were elected as the assembly’s speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

Earlier, during the first GB assembly session, 30 members took oath, which was administered by outgoing GB Assembly Speaker Nazir Ahmed at 10am.

The speaker then adjourned the assembly proceedings till 3pm.

The session resumed at 4pm, during which the speaker announced the election schedule for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker, and gave until 5:15pm for the filing and withdrawal of nomination papers.

Ahmed also suspended the rules after getting approval from members to conduct elections for speaker, deputy speaker and leader of the House on the same day.

PPP candidate Imran Nadeem from Shigar and PML-N candidate Malik Kefayat from Diamer had filed their nomination papers; however, no other candidates filed nomination papers for the positions and the two were elected unopposed.

The newly-elected GB speaker took oath from the outgoing Ahmed and took charge of the position.

Assuming the charge of speaker, Nadeem thanked the party leadership and Assembly members in his remarks for electing him unopposed.

He declared Malik Kifayatur Rehman as deputy speaker unopposed, as no other candidate had filed nomination papers. Keyafat then took oath from the newly sworn-in Nadeem.

Imran Nadeem was elected to the Assembly from GBA-12 Shigar, having previously been elected as a member of the Assembly in 2004 from the PML-Q, and remaining actively involved in regional politics and public affairs.

Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman was elected to the Assembly from GBA-15 Diamer-I (Tangir), where he secured victory against former chief minister Haji Gulbar Khan in the 2026 GB elections.

Nadeem later announced the election schedule for the leader of the House, gave until 7:40pm to file the nomination papers and withdrawals for the position of chief minister, and adjourned the session.

The PPP’s Amjad Hussain filed nomination papers, but no other candidate did so for the chief minister’s position. As a result, Nadeem announced at 8pm that Hussain was elected GB chief minister unopposed.

The assembly hall was overcrowded with the guests of members, journalists, politicians, visitors and VIPs, with the press galleries also crowded with supporters.

PPP Central General Secretary Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira, GB governor Syed Mehdi Shah, and other politicians were present in the VIP galleries.

The supporters chanted slogans in favour of the winning candidates.

Earlier, newly elected members of the GB Assembly were sworn in by the outgoing speaker.

A total of 30 members took the oath as the first session of the sixth assembly convened in Gilgit. These included 21 lawmakers elected on general seats, six women members on reserved seats and three technocrats. The results for three general constituencies remain pending due to ongoing legal and electoral proceedings.

The session was subsequently adjourned until 3pm.

The assembly session was summoned for 9am on Monday for the swearing in of the newly elected representatives, and for the speaker and deputy speaker elections.

Following the June 7 election, the PPP has won 13 seats, the PML-N nine, the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) six, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) and a PTI-backed independent one each.

The PML-N and the IPP had decided to support the PPP in the elections for the chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker. It should be mentioned that the PPP has announced that it would form a government in GB with the support of the PML-N.

Federal, Sindh govts declare Ashura holidays on June 25, 26

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Federal, Sindh govts declare Ashura holidays on June 25, 26

ISLAMABAD: The federal and Sindh governments on Monday announced public holidays on June 25 (Thursday) and 26 (Friday) on account of Ashura.

In a notification dated June 22, the Cabinet Secretariat said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared Muharram 9 and 10, falling on June 25-26, as public holidays.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Information Department also issued a notification to this effect on social media platform X.

The notification, issued by Sindh’s chief secretary, said. “The government of Sindh, hereby declares June 25 and 26, 2026 as public holidays throughout the province of Sindh, on the occasion of Ashura (Muharram 9 and 10, 1448 A.H).”

It added that all offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh, except essential services, would remain closed.

Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide.

It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where, amongst many, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Imam Husain (RA), was martyred and other family members were martyred or subjected to humiliation.

Religious processions are also held across the country.

US-Iran deal shaped through backchannel diplomacy, phased de-escalation talks

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US-Iran deal shaped through backchannel diplomacy, phased de-escalation talks

ISLAMABAD: For a few hours in Tehran, the Qatari mediators allowed themselves to believe the worst might be over.

After weeks of shuttling between two bitter foes, and an exhausting day of talks with Iranian officials, the small delegation saw a deal coming together that would include: an extended ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a framework for nuclear talks.

Then, as they prepared to fly back to Doha in the early hours of Thursday, US fighter jets hit Iranian targets in southern Iran. By the time the American bombing stopped, Iran was firing missiles and drones at US bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The Qataris looked on from the tarmac. For almost seven hours, until 7am, they waited on the runway as the fragile diplomacy they had tried to foster risked unravelling at double speed. “It was a rollercoaster,” said a person briefed on the talks.

The episode captured the central tension in a month-long diplomatic effort to keep the US and Iran from sliding back into war. Every time mediators appeared close to a breakthrough, another strike, threat or political intervention stymied their efforts to get the deal over the line.

The one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding being negotiated by Qatar and Pakistan was intended to extend the April 8 ceasefire.

But getting it over the line meant bridging almost half a century of distrust, US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability and impatience for a quick result, and Tehran’s need for any compromise to look legitimate at home.

One diplomat said one of the biggest challenges for mediators was the difference in “style”, contrasting Trump’s haste for a deal with Iran’s need for “process — weeks or years of negotiation”.

“It needs for it [the deal] to be seen to be legitimate in the Iranian system, and that it did not just go and capitulate,” the diplomat said.

The ‘piece of garbage’

One crucial turning point came in mid-May. Talks had floundered after the April 8 ceasefire and a follow-up meeting in Islamabad led by US vice-president JD Vance.

The truce appeared to be unravelling, with Trump warning that it was on “massive life support” and describing Iran’s latest proposal as a “piece of garbage”.

The risk of a return to war was rising despite back-channel negotiations.

Within a few days, Washington asked Qatar to step up. Until then Doha had been playing a supporting role to Pakistan, the surprise choice to lead the mediation, alongside Egypt and Turkey.

Qatar had carved out a role as one of Washington’s preferred channels to adversaries from Hamas to the Taliban and Venezuela’s Bolivarian regime. When the war started, Qatar, like other Gulf states, was targeted by Iran, and had taken a back seat in the diplomatic push to end the war.

But after Trump’s warning that the ceasefire was on the brink of collapse, the Qatari delegation, led by veteran mediators Ali al-Thawadi and Hamad al-Kubaisi, headed to Tehran, flying via Turkey in order to keep the mission secret.

Pakistan, newer to the mediation role, brought its own access to Trump’s circle after helping secure the April truce, which was followed by the highest-level direct talks between Iran and the US since 1979.

The trust problem

The overriding problem for the mediators was attempting to build even rudimentary trust between the two sides.

The Iranians “were very suspicious” of Trump’s intentions, people briefed on the talks said. Iran was twice attacked by the US and Israel when in the midst of talks — first before Israel’s 12-day June war last year and again when the US and Israel strikes launched the latest conflict on February 28.

“They felt like this is another precursor to attacks . . . that the Americans keep shifting positions, that there’s no real commitment,” said the person briefed on the talks. “And so part of the mediators’ job was building that trust.”

By the time the delegation departed Tehran in mid-May, the mediators felt confident they had a good proposal that had the buy-in of US officials.

But that optimism was dashed, however, when they were informed as they left Iran that Trump was considering striking.

In a bid to keep the diplomacy on track, Qatari, Saudi and Emirati leaders called the US president, telling him the mediators were close to a deal and urging him to keep his finger off the trigger.

Trump heeded their counsel. He posted that same day that he had suspended an attack on Iran scheduled for the following day as “serious negotiations were now” taking place with Tehran.

The next morning, Tuesday May 19, the Qatar delegation flew to Washington to brief Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, having spent months working with the last two on Trump’s plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Negotiating against the Trump clock

Then Trump set a deadline. The US president made it clear to the mediators that he needed the Iranian response by the weekend or he would not hold back on attacks. The Qataris and Pakistani negotiators prepared to head back to Tehran.

But again, the threat of renewed war hung over the mission. The night before mediators were expected in Tehran, the Qataris and the Pakistanis were informed by two western states that Israel was considering striking Iran later that week, two people briefed on the matter said.

Qatari officials frantically called the US and other allies to secure guarantees that Israel would not attack while their team was in Tehran, one of the people said. When those assurances came, they returned to Iran, landing in Tehran on the morning of Friday May 22.

The mediators spent hours locked in discussions with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi as they haggled over the details.

The key issues were Iran’s demand for a commitment to permanently end the war; securing assurances that Tehran would discuss with the US handing over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium; and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides felt they had the upper hand. Iran had effectively closed the strait after the US and Israel ignited the war on February 28, causing the worst global energy crisis in decades.

Emboldened by its newfound leverage, it had been insisting that it would charge a fee to ships passing the chokepoint.

But to get a deal over the line, the mediators needed to convince Iran to set that demand aside, at least for the 60-day ceasefire extension.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief, landed in Tehran on that same Friday evening to add to the push. “The Pakistanis were well briefed and the face of the process, thanks to the field marshal’s relationship with Trump, but the Qataris quietly did most of the heavy lifting to bridge the two sides,” said one western diplomat.

Trump had repeatedly insisted that Iran would have to hand over its stockpile of 440kg uranium enriched close to weapons-grade level. Iran finally agreed to commit to discuss diluting the uranium or handing over the stockpile before the Qatari delegation left in the early hours of Saturday May 23.

In return, the US agreed to a phased process of sanctions relief that would be dependent on the progress of talks towards a final deal.

By Saturday evening, Trump said that a deal had “largely been negotiated” and would “be announced shortly”.

But the parties continued to haggle. Ghalibaf and Araghchi travelled to Doha for yet more talks with Qatari mediators on Monday May 25, along with the Iranian central bank governor.

“The Iranians are very diligent negotiators; they check every word and negotiate the meaning of it,” said one of the people briefed on the talks.

Even after that, the Iranians did not sign off on the agreement as expected. Frustrated with the delay, the Trump administration amended language related to the details of reopening the strait and nuclear issues.

The Israel complication

In a bid to keep the diplomatic process on track, the Qatari mediators got back on a plane — this time to Miami where they spent a day in talks with Witkoff and Kushner. Their aim was to underline the urgency of getting a deal completed.

On June 6, Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, a close Munir confidant, was in Tehran on his fourth trip since the war started, carrying a letter for Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

But worse was to come. Israel’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to bomb Hizbollah targets in Beirut, escalating the conflict with the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon.

Iranian media reported that Tehran, which has insisted that conflict be included in its ceasefire with the US, had suspended talks with Washington as a result on June 1.

That caused Trump to get on the phone to Netanyahu that Monday afternoon and deliver his partner in the war an expletive-laden tongue-lashing. That seemed to calm the situation.

But the following weekend, Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the first time since the April 8 truce, after Israeli forces launched strikes against a building in southern Beirut, a stronghold of Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant movement that is Iran’s most important proxy.

The tit-for-tat ended after Trump intervened saying Israel and Hizbollah had agreed the “shooting will stop”.

The Apache setback

One potential deal-breaker had been dealt with, and on Tuesday last week the mediators again thought they were on the verge of a deal. But another quickly emerged after Trump blamed Iran for shooting down a US Apache helicopter the previous night.

The crew was rescued and Iran signalled it was a mistake, but Trump said he had to respond. It prompted two consecutive overnight exchanges of fire — including the clash that left the Qatari mediators stranded at the airport.

Once the Qataris had returned to Doha, a regional push was made to convince Trump a good deal was almost finalised and to hold off on further strikes.

According to Pakistani and Arab diplomats, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Pakistan’s powerful military chief all put in calls to the US leader to urge him against more attacks.

Trump began his Thursday threatening more strikes and warning that American troops could seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. But within hours, he said the final points of a deal with Tehran had been approved by “all parties” in what he called “a great settlement of the war”.

Throughout the week of skirmishes, the diplomacy continued in the background, with lower-level US and Iranian officials holding talks in Doha.

But on Friday, Trump, who had spent the week oscillating between saying a deal was close and venting his frustration at Iran, furiously claimed Tehran was distorting the agreement.

It again raised fears that he would attack just as mediators were preparing for a preliminary signing in Switzerland over the weekend. “The biggest obstacle to the deal had been the negative media and lobbying campaigns against the deal by both sides,” said the person familiar with the talks.

The final push

It was after Trump said on Saturday the MoU would be signed on the Sunday that Qatari negotiators returned to Tehran.

At that point Israel struck Beirut again — prompting another angry call from Trump, saying the strike “should not have happened” given it was responding to a “very small and meaningless” strike by Hizbollah.

Crucially, he added that there should be no more attacks by Israel “anywhere in Lebanon”.

The Qataris, for their part, were attempting to convince the Iranians not to retaliate.

They spent 17 hours in Tehran, at one point pausing to watch a football match at the World Cup in the US.

At another point, the Qataris threatened to walk away after the Iranians continued to push for tweaks to the language.

The Qataris warned that if a deal was not agreed before Trump went into the UFC event at the White House to celebrate his 80th birthday, they risked facing further American strikes the following day.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the first leader who announced a deal had been reached just before 1am Tehran time.

“It was very intense,” the person briefed on the talks said. “It was exhausting, but there was relief. It’s like when you finish a marathon, you are fully exhausted.

“There’s cautious optimism — there’s still five days until the signing.”

Courtesy: Financial Times

PPP wins 11 seats as GB election chief settles remaining petitions

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PPP wins 11 seats as GB election chief settles remaining petitions

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan on Wednesday announced decisions on three pending election petitions, giving the PPP 11 seats.

The election chief declared PPP candidate Attaullah Khan the winner from GBA-16 Diamer-II, PML-N candidate Malik Kefayat from GBA-17 and PML-N candidate from GBA-13 Astore-I.

The rival candidates had filed petitions with the GB Election Commission, challenging the Form-47 results.

After hearing arguments from both sides, CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan had suspended the results and reserved his verdict on the petitions.

With the announcement, the PPP has secured 11 seats, the PML-N has secured six, independent candidates — who joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) a day earlier — have won four, PTI-backed candidates have won two and the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has secured one seat.

The GB CEC said the notifications for the successful candidates would now be issued. He said six seats reserved for women and three technocrat seats would be distributed among parties according to the number of their seats after the official notification.

It is worth mentioning that the supporters of the independent candidate in GBA-16, Imam Malik, had been protesting by blocking the Karakoram Highway at Chilas and demanding re-polling at specific stations.

The GB CEC had earlier ordered re-polling at three stations in GBA-16 but had later rescinded the decision. He had also deferred results for GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II till June 17 (today).

According to the Election Commission, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on June 7 witnessed a high voter turnout of 70 per cent, which the CEC had earlier described as a reflection of the public’s deep confidence in the democratic process.

However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which observed the elections and had withheld its assessment pending recounting processes and the final consolidation of results, has expressed serious concern over the Election Commission’s decision to suspend re-polling in five constituencies shortly after ordering it and to proceed with the announcement of final results.

According to a statement issued by the HRCP on Monday, the initial decision to hold re-polling had prompted some opposition parties and candidates to allege that recounting and related measures could be used to influence electoral outcomes and shape the formation of the government.

The commission said that abrupt changes of this nature risk reinforcing existing perceptions of political interference and undermining public confidence in the electoral process and its administration.

Pakistan, UK agree to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism, illegal migration

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Pakistan, UK agree to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism, illegal migration

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation in counterterrorism, combating illegal migration and human smuggling, institutional collaboration and police training.

The understanding was reached as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met British Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia and the UN Hamish Falconer

According to the interior ministry, Falconer appreciated Pakistan’s “positive and significant” role in facilitating the US-Iran peace deal.

“Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir played a historic role for peace,” it quoted Falconer as saying.

“The US-Iran peace deal has projected Pakistan as a flag-bearer of global peace,” he added.

According to the statement, the two leaders also agreed on “enhancing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including counterterrorism, combating illegal migration, institutional collaboration, and police training”.

“Positive results are emerging from the UPSCALE Project and the capacity of Pakistani institutions has improved significantly,” the ministry quoted Naqvi as saying.

During the meeting, the interior minister assured that “indiscriminate action was being taken against illegal migration and human smuggling in Pakistan,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the two leaders also discussed Pakistan-UK relations and the overall regional situation, the ministry said.

“Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening relations with the UK,” the statement said.

“Both leaders agreed to work together to address the issue of fake student visas,” the statement said.

“Naqvi also emphasised that several terrorist organisations were operating from Afghanistan, and the Afghan government must prevent its territory from being used against Pakistan,” the ministry said.

In a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar earlier this week, Falconer had acknowledged that Pakis­tan has the right under inte­rnational law to defend itself against atta­cks originating from Afgh­anistan.

A day earlier, he had also announced an additional £8 million to support joint UK-Pakistan efforts to combat crime and illegal migration.

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