Page 4 - Pakistan

US-Iran peace talks begin in Islamabad under Pakistan's 'mediation'

The White House declined to confirm whether direct meetings between US and Iranian officials had taken place, stating only that there had been a bilateral engagement with Pakistani officials earlier

Iran, US delegations meet Pakistani leaders separately ahead of peace talks

An Iranian delegation held meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir on Saturday to discuss issues related to the peace talks with the US and bilateral matters. The delegation, which includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad on Friday night for peace talks with the US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance. Prime Minister Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had said that the US and Iran would hold talks in Islamabad this weekend. On Saturday morning, the Iranian delegation held meetings with senior Pakistani civilian and military leaders, including Prime Minister Sharif and Army Chief Munir, among others, state-run Press TV reported, without providing any details. The peace talks are taking place during a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the former launching attacks on the latter on February 28. Sharif also held

US-Iran talks in Islamabad likely to proceed via indirect channels: Reports

The process is expected to follow a facilitated format aimed at "keeping dialogue alive", with mediators shuttling between delegations, rather than seeking an immediate breakthrough

Pakistani handler expanding network in India via social media: UP police

Two men arrested in Bijnor for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Saudi Arabia told police that the Pakistani handler was expanding his network in India via social media. Circle Officer Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi, said on Saturday that police arrested Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider in Bijnor following a tip-off regarding their alleged links with Aqib, a native of Sathla village in Meerut's Mawana area who is currently staying in West Asia. According to police, Aqib earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram on November 23, purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives. During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, disseminating radical and inflammatory ideas on Instagram, the officer said. Police said both the arrested men came in contact with Aqib and Maizul (who is based in South Africa) three yea

JD Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner reach Pak as Iran-US talks set to kick off

Iran's 71-member delegation will be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati

India's 5-year opportunity: Stay disciplined in a shifting world order

We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pak sees as its moment in sun

US-Iran talks in Islamabad: Timing, venue, agenda; check key details here

Pakistan hosts US-Iran talks under tight security as a fragile ceasefire holds, with tensions over Lebanon, and Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz complicating efforts towards a lasting truce

Iranian delegation reaches Islamabad for crucial peace talks with US

The delegation came amid speculation making rounds on social media, casting doubts on the visit by the Iranians due to the strikes by Israel in Lebanon

'Iran has no cards': Trump threatens Tehran as Vance heads to Pak for talks

While the two-week ceasefire was broadly holding across West Asia, the situation with the strait and continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon threatened to complicate negotiations

Vance warns Iran not to 'play' US; Iranian delegation reaches Pak for talks

US Vice President J D Vance on Friday warned Iran not to "play" the US as he headed overseas for negotiations aimed at ending the war. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the six-week-old conflict with Iran to now find a resolution and stave off the US president's astonishing threat to wipe out its "whole civilisation". Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two to make his way to the talks in Pakistan. But he added, "If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive." Vance also said that Trump "gave us

Trump expresses confidence ahead of talks, confident of Hormuz reopening

President Donald Trump has expressed confidence ahead of talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the conflict, expected to start Saturday in Islamabad, with Vice President J D Vance leading the US delegation. "I wished him luck. He's got a big thing," Trump said in his parting message to Vance before he began his journey to lead the president's delegation for the critical talks. "We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated." Trump, who spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One to head to a Friday evening fundraiser in Charlottesville, Virginia, also reiterated his confidence that the Strait of Hormuz will soon be opened up. "And now we're going to open up the Gulf with or without them," Trump said, referring to the Iranians, who have effectively shuttered the critical waterway. "But that'll be open," he said.

West Asia war: Who is the real force in Pakistan powering US-Iran talks?

With Munir at the helm, a social media charm offensive is reshaping Pakistan's image as a peace facilitator

US, Iran prepare for ceasefire negotiations as Vance heads to Pakistan

Vice President JD Vance on Friday warned Tehran not to "play" the US as he departed for Islamabad for negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the US president's astonishing threat to wipe out its "whole civilisation." Vance, who has long been sceptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, "We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's gonna be positive. We'll, of course, see." He cited Trump in saying, "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand." But he added, "If

Chris Wood thinks Karachi-listed stocks can be a good trading bet; here's why

Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE 100)-listed stocks can be a good trading bet, according to Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, especially around the IMF bailout periods.

Pakistan West Asia talks: No official word on arrival of US, Iran delegates

Uncertainty shrouded the US-Iran dialogue, as there was no official word about the arrival of delegates on Friday, the day set for the start of talks between the two warring sides, even as Pakistan waived visa requirements for journalists and officials attending talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had stated that the two countries would hold talks in Islamabad on April 10. He had tagged presidents of the United States and Iran and other officials in his statement on X. Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amir Moghadam in a statement confirmed that a 10-member Iran delegation would arrive in Islamabad. "Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran," he said on X on Thursday. Hours later, he deleted t

Israel denounces Pak Defence Minister Khwaja Asif for 'outrageous' comments

In a strong denouncement of "outrageous" remarks made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Israel has raised doubts about his country's role as a "neutral arbiter". "Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X. "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," the PMO said Thursday evening. Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend. However, Asif, in a social media post, called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", giving a call "to get rid of European Jews". Asif also claimed that as "peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon". "Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," Asif said.

Why West Asia peace is hanging by a thread despite US-Iran ceasefire

Ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, the ceasefire faces pressure from Israeli strikes in Lebanon, disputes over Iran's nuclear programme and tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz

Pakistani man pleads guilty over plot to attack Jewish centre in New York

A Pakistani man pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge on Wednesday, saying it was a "morally reprehensible idea" to support the Islamic State group by plotting to use automatic weapons to kill Jewish people at a Brooklyn centre. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 21, said he answered the group's call for Muslims to kill Jewish people by plotting to attack the Jewish centre in October 2024. He entered the plea in Manhattan federal court over 18 months after he was brought to the United States from Canada, where he was arrested on September 4, 2024, in or near Ormstown, Canada, which is 12 miles from the US border. In a release, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A Eisenberg, said Khan planned a mass shooting to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks "with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible". Eisenberg said Khan, also known as "Shahzeb Jadoon", had boasted that he would carry out the largest attack on US soil since the September

Trump admin knew about Pakistan's ceasefire post on X before it went public

Pakistan's prime minister posted a public plea on X for President Trump to extend his Tuesday evening deadline for Iran; White House was directly involved in shaping the message

Worried by rising oil prices, US pushed Pak to broker ceasefire with Iran

Worried about surging oil prices and surprised by a resilient Iranian regime, the White House pushed Pakistan to broker a temporary ceasefire with Tehran, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. For weeks the Trump administration was leaning on Islamabad to convince the Iranians to agree to a pause in fighting where it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the newspaper said, quoting "people familiar with the talks". "Pakistan's crucial role, as a Muslim-majority neighbour and intermediary, was to sell it to Tehran," the report said. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran as proposed by Pakistan. Trump, worried about surging oil prices and surprised by a resilient Iranian regime, was eager for a ceasefire since at least his first threat on March 21 to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, according to five people familiar with the Pakistan-led back channel, the Times reported. It said Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Mar