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Pakistan committed to diplomacy, regional peace through dialogue: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional peace and stability through diplomacy and dialogue, saying it remained actively engaged with regional and international partners to support de-escalation efforts and constructive engagement.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan believed that constructive partnerships and sincere dialogue are essential to advancing peace, security and shared prosperity for all.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held telephonic conversations during the past week with the leaders of Qatar and Azerbaijan, during which views were exchanged on the evolving regional situation and Pakistan’s peace efforts through diplomacy.

The spokesperson said the prime minister also conveyed best wishes to the president of Azerbaijan for the upcoming World Urban Forum.

He said UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict, Jean Arnault, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability.

According to the spokesperson, Ishaq Dar discussed recent regional developments and Pakistan’s engagement with all relevant parties to promote dialogue and de-escalation, while expressing gratitude to the UN Secretary-General for continued support toward Pakistan.

The spokesperson said the deputy prime minister and foreign minister remained actively engaged with his counterparts as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach.

On May 8, Ishaq Dar held separate conversations with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding the welfare and repatriation of Pakistani and Iranian seafarers aboard vessels seized by US authorities near Singaporean waters.

He said Ishaq Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on May 11 to discuss the evolving regional situation and matters of mutual interest.

The Saudi foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic role and supported Islamabad’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, particularly amid ongoing engagement between Iran and the United States, the spokesperson added.

Both sides also emphasized the importance of maritime security, including safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

On May 12, Ishaq Dar held telephonic conversations with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on regional developments and Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate Iran-US engagement.

The spokesperson rejected media reports suggesting that China had asked Pakistan to “do more” regarding mediation efforts, saying Foreign Minister Wang Yi had instead appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and expressed full support for its efforts.

Responding to questions, the spokesperson termed voices within India calling for dialogue a “positive development” and expressed hope that “sanity will prevail” over warmongering and belligerence.

He also welcomed the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to China, saying Pakistan supported engagement and cooperation between the two countries on global matters.

On reports regarding Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase, the spokesperson categorically rejected a CBS News report as “misleading and speculative,” clarifying that the aircraft arrived during the ceasefire period for diplomatic and logistical purposes linked to the Islamabad Talks and had no military role.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires following the terrorist attack on Fateh Khel Police Post in Bannu on May 9 that resulted in the martyrdom of 15 police personnel.

He said preliminary investigations and technical intelligence indicated that the attack was orchestrated by terrorists operating from Afghan soil. Pakistan urged Afghan authorities to take immediate action against terrorist groups including Fitna-al-Khawarij, Fitna-al-Hindustan and ISKP/Daesh.

On Somalia, the spokesperson said Pakistani nationals held by Somali pirates remained safe, according to information shared by Somali authorities, although they continued to face harsh living conditions.

He said a two-member team from Pakistan’s Embassy in Djibouti visited Mogadishu and held meetings with Somali officials and maritime authorities regarding the matter.

The spokesperson explained that Somali pirates negotiate directly with ship owners rather than governments, adding that Pakistan remained engaged with Somali authorities for the safe and early release of its nationals.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position on Taiwan, the spokesperson said Pakistan remained firmly committed to the One-China principle and considered Taiwan an inalienable part of China.

He also welcomed Australia’s designation of the BLA as a terrorist entity, calling it a result of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement and growing international recognition of the group’s terrorist activities.

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Pakistani Students’ UK Visa Delays Raised by Azam Nazeer Tarar with British High Commissioner

Azam Nazeer Tarar with UK High Commissioner

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year. He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard.

The Federal Minister briefed the British High Commissioner that, on the directives of the Prime Minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the High Commissioner that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, the committee had finalized its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The Federal Minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed.

The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

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Naqvi Sets September 30 Deadline for Completion of Islamabad Safe City Expansion

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, visited the Islamabad Safe City Headquarters on Friday and chaired a special meeting to review progress on the Safe City Expansion Project, directing officials to complete the ambitious initiative by September 30.

During the briefing, officials informed the minister that overall work on the expansion project has reached 85 percent completion. Installation of the new surveillance network is also 85 percent complete, while 415 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid to support the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture, and cybersecurity infrastructure has also reached approximately 80 percent completion.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, Naqvi stressed that the remaining tasks must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said the government’s vision is to transform the Islamabad Safe City into a modern, smart, and world-class institution comparable to those in developed countries.

The interior minister said the technologically advanced Safe City system would significantly strengthen public safety through enhanced surveillance, effective monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

He noted that the project would play a vital role in improving law enforcement efficiency and ensuring better security for residents of the federal capital.

Naqvi also assigned officials the task of completing the state-of-the-art Fusion Centre within the next three months, describing it as a critical component of the upgraded Safe City network.

He further directed the relevant authorities to finalise the Safe City Bill at the earliest and present it before the National Assembly without delay to provide the legal framework necessary for the project’s long-term operation and expansion.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), senior Safe City officials, and other relevant officers, who briefed the minister on the progress and future roadmap of the expansion project.

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PM Shehbaz, high-level delegation perform Umrah; pray for country’s progress

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-level delegation, performed Umrah here on Friday.

He was accompanied by his delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

The door of Khana Kaaba was opened specially for the prime minister and his delegation.

Following the completion of the Umrah rituals, the prime minister, field marshal, and other members of the Pakistani delegation offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country, the safety and unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for regional and global peace.

The prime minister arrived in Jeddah on Thursday evening for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Besides meeting with his Saudi counterpart, he will also pay a visit to the Roze-e-Rasool (PBUH) in Madinah.