Pakistan’s delegation says mediators Turkiye and Qatar have fully endorsed Islamabad’s position in the latest round of talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul, insisting Pakistan’s main aim is the elimination of cross‑border terrorism. Pakistani officials told local media the delegation presented “evidence‑based and reasoned” demands, and that both mediators have publicly backed Pakistan’s stance. […]
ceasefire
Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to curb cross-border terrorism
ISTANBUL/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated a firm stance during high-level talks in Istanbul, declaring it will not tolerate any terrorism originating from Afghan soil. The discussions, co-hosted by Türkiye and Qatar, mark the third round of principal-level negotiations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban aimed at consolidating a fragile ceasefire after deadly cross-border clashes last month. […]
Pakistan, Afghan officials resume Istanbul talks despite border gunfire incident
ISLAMABAD: The third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks opened in Istanbul on Thursday, surviving a brief but tense exchange of fire along the Chaman-Spin Boldak border, which threatened to derail a fragile ceasefire. The two-day talks, being held at the Conrad Hotel under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar, aim to finalise a monitoring and verification […]
Hezbollah reaffirms ‘legitimate right to resist’ Israeli occupatin
BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Hezbollah declared on Thursday that it retains the “legitimate right to resist Israeli occupation” and pledged its continued support for the Lebanese army amid renewed border tensions. In a statement, the group said Lebanon remains committed to the ceasefire but emphasized that it is “not obligated to enter political negotiations” with Israel. […]
Pakistan, Afghanistan resume key talks in Istanbul
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to begin the third round of crucial peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday, aimed at ending cross-border terrorism and reinforcing a fragile ceasefire between the two neighbouring nations. The two-day dialogue is being jointly mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, following weeks of shuttle diplomacy after deadly border clashes […]
Israel identifies remains of three hostages returned by Hamas
JERUSALEM: Israeli authorities have confirmed the identification of remains handed over by Hamas as those of three hostages taken in October 2023, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. The deceased include American-Israeli Captain Omer Neutra, 21, Corporal Oz Daniel, 19, and Colonel Assaf Hamami, 40, the highest-ranking officer killed by the group. […]
Kabul must act against militants after joint monitoring deal: Tarar
ISLAMABAD – Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that it is now Kabul’s responsibility to take decisive action against militants using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan, following the establishment of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism involving third-party mediators. His remarks came after Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan and Afghanistan […]
Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban’s claim over deportation offer
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has strongly rejected the Afghan Taliban’s claim that Islamabad refused Kabul’s offer to deport terrorists operating against Pakistan, calling the statement “false and misleading.” In an official post on X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said Pakistan “categorically rejects the deliberate twisting of facts” made by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid […]
Jordan, Germany call for UN Mandate for Gaza stabilization force
Jordan and Germany have stressed that any international force in Gaza must operate under a United Nations mandate. They made the statement following U.S. plans to support Palestinian police under a Gaza stabilization initiative. Officials said the mandate is crucial for the force to function effectively and maintain legitimacy under international law. The proposed force, […]
Jordan, Germany stress UN mandate for proposed Gaza stabilisation force
MANAMA — Jordan and Germany on Saturday emphasized that any international force supporting a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s post-war governance plan must operate under a United Nations mandate. The force, expected to include mainly Arab and Muslim nations, is intended to train and assist vetted Palestinian police in Gaza, […]