TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed Tehran’s readiness to play a constructive role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stressing dialogue and regional cooperation as the only viable path toward stability, Tasnim News Agency reported.

According to the report, Araghchi said Iran is prepared to assist both neighbouring countries in resolving their differences and urged continued diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. He underscored that stability between Pakistan and Afghanistan is crucial for broader regional peace and security.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated into sustained cross-border hostilities following a series of militant attacks and retaliatory strikes, prompting a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbours. The situation intensified after exchanges of fire along the border and airstrikes targeting militant positions inside Afghanistan.

In response, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, a military campaign targeting terrorist networks along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, particularly groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Security sources describe it as a “precise and targeted” operation aimed at dismantling militant leadership, infrastructure, and logistics hubs, and maintaining that it will continue until its objectives are fully achieved despite diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile, China also facilitated exploratory trilateral talks in Urumqi involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Chinese officials, aimed at reducing escalating tensions.

The engagement was described as preliminary and part of an existing trilateral mechanism rather than formal mediation, with both sides represented by foreign office, defence, and security officials. Pakistan used the discussions to press for verifiable action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil, insisting that verbal assurances alone would not be sufficient.

At the same time, China has continued to stress for high-level negotiations, with Islamabad reiterating its demand for “concrete, verifiable action” against cross-border terrorism. The talks are focused on addressing Pakistan’s core security concerns while managing ongoing hostilities and preventing further escalation, even as counterterrorism operations continue on the ground.

China has since stated that both sides have agreed to explore a “comprehensive solution” to the conflict and avoid steps that could further escalate tensions. The emerging framework reportedly includes border de-escalation, cooperation against militant groups such as the TTP, phased restoration of trade routes, refugee management, and improved communication mechanisms, with Beijing positioning itself as a facilitator to stabilise relations between the two neighbours.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan rejected Indian propaganda linking it to the 2025 Pahalgam attack on Thursday, deploring that the neighbouring country was focusing on “weaponising its false narrative” in the midst on an ongoing regional crisis.

The April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam saw 26 people, mostly tourists, killed in what is being described as the deadliest armed attack in the disputed Himalayan region since the year 2000. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan without any evidence. For its part, Pakistan strongly denied the allegations and called for a neutral investigation.

On the attack’s one year anniversary, some in India appeared to link Pakistan again with terrorism. Meanwhile, the Indian army also said that a “response is assured” against acts of terrorism.

Subsequently, without referring to any particular instance, the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad said in a statement: “At a time when Pakistan, along with its international partners, is undertaking concerted diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace and security, it is deplorable that India has once again resorted to a campaign of baseless allegations and propaganda to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident.

“It is unfortunate that, in the midst of an ongoing regional crisis, India remains focused on weaponising its false narrative against Pakistan for narrow domestic political gains.”

The FO recalled the brief military conflict in May 2025 that followed the Pahalgam attack, saying: “After receiving a befitting reply to its misplaced adventurism in the form of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos last year, such allegations constitute yet another chapter from India’s playbook of creating a smokescreen for its continued sponsorship of terrorism across the region.”

It said fact remained that such propaganda campaigns could not distract the international community’s attention from India’s continued occupation of Kashmir and its denial of the right to self-determination to the Kashmiris, in violation of relevant UN resolutions.

“Nor can such gimmicks conceal the fact that India continues to undermine regional peace and security by resorting to inflammatory rhetoric, repeated provocations, and aggressive military posturing, including its illegal unilateral action to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, in clear violation of international law,” the FO added.

It expressed hope that the international community would call on India to demonstrate responsible behaviour and to refrain from all rhetoric and actions that may serve as a spoiler to ongoing efforts aimed at regional and international peace and security.

Two days after the Pahalgam attack, India had taken a series of aggressive measures against Pakistan, including unilaterally suspending the critical Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Pakistan retaliated by suspending all kinds of trade, closing its airspace for Indian flights and shutting down the Wagah border.

Subsequently, New Delhi launched deadly overnight air strikes on Pakistan on May 6 over allegations about the Pahalgam attack. In retaliation, Pakistan Air Force downed five Indian jets, later raising the tally to seven.

After tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally reach a ceasefire.

LAHORE: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday vowed that, if elected, the party would focus on development in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The remarks come ahead of the GB Assembly elections scheduled for June 7, with other parties also ramping up their preparations. Nawaz made the comments in a televised address to the PML-N’s parliamentary board for GB, where he highlighted past projects launched by the party in the region.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his younger brother, had the “same passion” for developing GB as him, noting that the region had massive potential.

The former premier highlighted road projects “worth $60-$65 billion”, adding that “24-hour journeys were reduced to 10 hours”. He recalled facing criticism for having a tunnel constructed in Chitral as it was sparsely populated.

Referring to the initiatives undertaken by PM Shehbaz during his time as the Punjab chief minister, and now by his daughter Maryam, Nawaz told the party members: “You should copy it, and all these things should be launched in GB as well.”

The PML-N supremo said: “He (Shehbaz) launched numerous projects during his time. Look at him, find out about them. […] And now Maryam has taken the responsibility to take his work forward, so see what is happening there. You should copy it.”

In a message to all the PML-N candidates, Nawaz said, “When your candidates are elected, God-willing, they must have this in mind that they have been elected for service, not for fun.”

He further said that if the party formed a government in GB, he would invite the regional leadership. “You may call Shehbaz Sharif sahib, I will also come with him. All of us sitting here will come, and will make efforts to resolve your issues.”

Nawaz asserted that GB “is as dear to me as the rest of Pakistan is, and as Azad Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KP are”. Noting that both Centre and Punjab were active in development, he called on the rest of the provinces to do the same.

“Politics is not that elections happen and we approve candidates […] those [elected] should do something, not sit like kings and travel in government vehicles,” he said.

The PML-N supremo praised PM Shehbaz’s leadership and the roles played by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in recent weeks on the diplomatic front.

“These are historic roles,” he said.

During his address, Nawaz also urged the GB government to find ways to generate funds itself, instead of “only looking towards the federal government” for support.

“People from around the world want to visit Skardu and Hunza, so you should also put in some part in that,” he said, highlighting the region’s potential for tourism.

“Your budget should not only go into people’s pockets but also be used on the ground [for public],” the ex-PM emphasised.

He noted that the current economic situation was “not good”, with rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict and development funds being pooled into absorbing the resulting economic shock.

However, the PML-N president pledged that any lack of funds would be provided by the Centre.

“Whatever we can do, we will provide it to you. I will be your biggest advocate. I will take money from Shehbaz sahib and give it to you.”

Stating that constructing motorways was “no favour”, he asserted: “Whether it is the development field, political field, or defence field, we have strongly fulfilled our role.

“Who knows GB more than PML-N? You all yourself are an example of the services we have rendered,” Nawaz remarked.