Pakistan

Iran's foreign minister Araghchi meets Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday met Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir here, as Islamabad continued its efforts to facilitate engagement between the US and Iran. The meeting, according to a short video posted by the Iranian embassy on social media, was also attended by Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Iran's ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam. Araghchi calls on Munir, the embassy said in the video caption. It did not provide further details about the discussions. Araghchi arrived here late Friday for engagements with the Pakistani leadership. He was received by senior officials, including Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. However, there is no clarity on whether direct talks between Washington and Tehran will take place during the visit. "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," Baqaei said in a social media post on ...

No clarity on US-Iran peace talks as Islamabad stays under lockdown

Large parts of Pakistan's capital remain under a tight security lockdown for over a week on Saturday, even as uncertainty persisted over the proposed second round of talks between the US and Iran. Arterial roads leading into Islamabad are sealed, while the Red Zone, housing key government buildings and diplomatic missions, remains under a strict security cordon. In the adjacent commercial 'Blue Area', markets are deserted, cafes are running short of supplies, and public transport disruptions with no service at bus terminals have left commuters stranded. For residents, uncertainty has become the hardest part. Islamabad is a city of transients, where many residents work during the week and return to family homes at the weekend. This is the second lockdown in recent weeks. Islamabad was earlier sealed on April 11 for talks between the US and Iranian delegations that ended without a deal. The city briefly reopened before restrictions were reimposed as Pakistan prepared to host another

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in Pakistan for peace talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late Friday night to discuss regional developments and the US-Iran ceasefire with Pakistan's top leadership, reviving hopes for the second round of talks with America to end the war in West Asia. He is accompanied by a small delegation, which includes Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Araghchi would meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir, a Pakistani official said, adding that the Iranian minister may also meet the US officials for the second round of peace talks. US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are travelling to Pakistan on Saturday for direct talks with the Iranian delegation, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. The Pakistan Foreign Office said the Iranian leader was received by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Munir along with other senior officials upon arrival. "During the visit, the Ira

No direct talks planned with US representatives in Islamabad: Iran

Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US." Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations. Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its "ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression." The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.

Trump to send Witkoff, Kushner to Pak for talks with Iran, says White House

The White House also said that Iran had reached out and requested an in-person meeting

Pakistan repays $3.45 billion loan to UAE after receiving aid from Saudi

Pakistan has returned the total USD 3.45 billion it owed in debt to the United Arab Emirates, the country's central bank said Friday. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a social media post confirmed the repayment and said that the transaction was completed on Thursday. "State Bank of Pakistan repaid a deposit of USD 1 billion to Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), UAE on April 23, 2026. Deposits of USD 2.45 billion were repaid last week. This completes the repayment of total deposits of USD 3.45 billion to UAE," it said. The announcement came days after Pakistan received a USD 3 billion financial aid from Saudi Arabia. The deposit came in two tranches, with the second tranche of USD 1 billion received on April 21. The UAE had asked for the immediate return of the funds in the wake of the recent situation in West Asia following the US-Israel war on Iran. These funds were part of external financing support extended by the UAE in 2019 to help stabilise Pakistan's balance of payme

Talks with US in Pakistan was 'strategic mistake', says Iranian lawmaker

Member of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Mahmoud Nabavian said - 'Putting the nuclear issue on the negotiation table in Pakistan was a strategic mistake'

Vance's Islamabad trip on hold as Iran stays silent on US' proposal: Report

Iran is yet to take a final call on joining the proposed talks in Pakistan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday

JD Vance likely to travel to Islamabad today for next round of peace talks

US Vice President J D Vance is likely to travel to Islamabad on Tuesday for peace talks with Iran to end the seven-week war, according to a media report. On Monday, US President Donald Trump told The New York Post that the Vance-led delegation was already en route to Islamabad, while other media outlets reported that the vice president was very much in Washington. Vance is expected to reach Islamabad as the two-week ceasefire, agreed to between the US and Iran on April 8, ends amid threats by Trump to bomb bridges and power plants in Iran if both sides fail to reach a deal. With Vance expected to reach Islamabad late Tuesday, Trump has effectively extended the ceasefire by a day till Wednesday. "Vice President Vance is expected to depart for Islamabad by Tuesday morning for talks with Iran over a potential deal to end the war," American news outlet Axios reported, quoting three US sources. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to join Vance. The fragile cease

'We don't accept negotiations under shadow of threats': Iran Parl speaker

"We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats," Parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf wrote early Tuesday morning in Tehran in a social media post on X. He accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender and said that on the contrary, Iran has been preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff would be going Monday to Islamabad, where Pakistani officials were preparing the venue, but Iranians made no commitment to a second round of talks with the US, and Vance's motorcade was later spotted at the White House. Trump said he's "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire before it expires at 0000 GMT Wednesday (8 pm ET Tuesday.) The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after nearly two months of fighting that Iran's forensic chief has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran. Israel and Lebanon meanwhile said

Pakistan prepares for peace talks despite US seizure of Iranian cargo ship

President Donald Trump is defending his Iran war strategy, attacking critics and skeptics on Monday as "TRAITORS, ALL" after a second round of talks with Iran were thrown into doubt by the US Navy's seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. It was the first such interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week, and Iran's military vowed to respond. Trump said Vice President JD Vance, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff would be going in Islamabad on Monday, where Pakistani officials were preparing the venue, but Iranians made no commitment to a Round Two of talks with the US, and Vance's motorcade was later spotted at the White House. Trump appeared to throw cold water on hopes for an agreement, telling Bloomberg News Monday that he's "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire before it expires Wednesday. The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after nearly two months of ...

Trump says team led by Vance heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran

Trump said the team would include Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner

'Monumental setback': Congress slams govt over Pak's role in US-Iran talks

The Congress on Monday took a swipe at the Modi government over Pakistan's role in the US-Iran peace talks, saying Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir becoming a "huge favourite" of American President Donald Trump is a "monumental setback" for India which needs a complete overhaul of its diplomatic engagement strategy. The opposition party claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "simply incapable" of the overhaul of India's diplomatic engagement strategy that is needed. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The 'dalal' country, as the erudite and always nattily dressed External Affairs Minister described it, is reportedly hosting the second round of US-Iran peace talks today." After the completion of the first round of these talks on April 12th, Pakistan borrowed USD 6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to repay a USD 3.5 billion loan taken from the UAE and to retire a USD 1.43 billion tranche of Eurobonds, he pointed

Committed to advancing regional peace, security: Pak PM to Iranian Prez

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, during his telephonic conversation with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirmed the country's "honest" and "sincere" efforts to advance regional peace and security. During the approximately 45-minute conversation on Sunday, the two leaders engaged in detailed exchanges on the current regional situation, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. Prime Minister Sharif thanked President Pezeshkian and the Iranian leadership for sending their high-powered delegation, led by Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, for talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12. The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad aimed at ending their conflict, but the talks concluded without any agreement. US President Donald Trump's announcement of the fresh round of talks raised hopes of extending a two-week ceasefire that expires by Wednesday. Also on Sunday, Trump announced t

Pakistan juggles mediation role abroad, deepening power crisis at home

Blackouts, LNG shortages and policy lapses hit Pakistan as it hosts key US-Iran talks amid rising energy stress

Iran rejects second round of talks in Pak, cites 'ceasefire breach' by US

Iran cites 'excessive demands' and ceasefire breach by United States, rejects claims of second-round talks in Pakistan

West Asia conflict: US team in Pakistan on Monday; no word from Iran yet

Vance, Witkoff and Kushner to lead the delegation

Islamabad turns fortress as US envoy heads to Pakistan for Iran talks

The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad aimed at ending their conflict, but the talks concluded without any agreement

Standstill at Strait of Hormuz weighs on US-Iran peace deal hopes

Threatens to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy

Pak plunging into darkness as war in Persian Gulf cuts off oil, gas supply

The crunch could not come at a worse time for Pakistan, just as the heat rises ahead of the monsoon season, boosting air conditioner use and power demand