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At UN, Pakistan pushes for peace in eastern DR Congo amid rising security fears

UNITED NATIONS: Despite diplomatic progress aimed at ending the brutal conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan told the UN Security Council that continued violence, humanitarian pressures and internal displacement in the country’s east underscored the urgency of restoring peace and stability on the ground.

“The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains fragile and deeply concerning,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said during a debate in the 15-member Council on the situation in DRC and wider Great Lakes region.

“We reiterate the need for full implementation of resolution 2773 and stress that progress toward a durable ceasefire remains essential for stabilizing the region and creating space for a political solution,” he added.

Tensions have been high between ethnically aligned armed groups in parts of the region for decades, punctuated by the horrific killing of nearly a million people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. More recently, in 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed group’s intervention on Congolese soil. A peace agreement — known as the Washington Accords — was brokered in June 2025 and endorsed by the Council in resolution 2803 (2025), though fighting continues.

In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy welcomed the sustained diplomatic engagement in support of de-escalation, including efforts under the African Union-led mediation, the Washington process and the Doha Framework.

“These initiatives, together with the good offices of the United Nations and regional organizations, represent important and mutually reinforcing pathways toward restoring trust between the parties and advancing a comprehensive settlement.”

Ambassador Asim Ahmad also takes note of progress toward the operationalizing ceasefire oversight and verification arrangements and supports MONUSCO, the UN peace-keeping force, playing a constructive role in ceasefire implementation, once conditions permit.

The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, a 2013 agreement signed in Addis Ababa to end the persistent violence in eastern DRC, continues to provide a comprehensive platform for addressing the root causes of instability in the Great Lakes region, with its commitments relating to dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building remaining essential for advancing regional stability.

“The illicit exploitation and trafficking of critical natural resources also remains a structural driver of instability in eastern DRC,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding it requires strengthened regional cooperation, transparency in supply chains and effective implementation of existing regional mechanisms to ensure that natural resources become a source of shared prosperity, and not conflict and chaos for the people.

In conclusion, Ambassador Asim Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Islamabad’ commitment to advancing lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

Earlier, Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN-Women told the Security Council, “Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will only be secured when women are treated not as collateral victims and their bodies as spoils of war, but as empowered agents of stability, accountability and peace.”

Describing the opportunities for women’s leadership in the Great Lakes region as “unique and transformative”, she said countries of the region already have some of the highest percentages of women’s representation in politics in the world. However, the region’s security now hinges on ending violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Without safety, women cannot lead, and without their leadership, peace and recovery efforts fail,” she stressed.

Against that backdrop, Ms. Bahous asked the Council to redouble its support for women’s equal representation in peacemaking and for the work of women-led civil society organizations. She also urged members to protect funding for MONUSCO, whose work supports local women and includes crucial protection for women human rights defenders.

Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, outlined the various diplomatic initiatives focused on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those included the signing of the Washington Accords in December 2025, the resumption of negotiations in Washington in March and the resumption of the Doha Framework talks aimed at defusing the violence perpetrated by the M23 militia.

Despite those efforts, he said “the violence has taken on a new dimension” marked by the increasing use of advanced military technology, drone attacks and GPS jamming. Human displacement is widespread, food insecurity is rising and there has been an increase in sexual violence. “This is compounded by a worrisome rise in hate speech and identity-based polarization,” he said, warning that the conflict could exacerbate tensions between countries in the region.

Indeed, he said, a persistent sense of mistrust among countries demonstrates the need to address the root causes of the conflict. The Council should lend its full support to regional talks led by Togo, as the African Union’s mediator, including at the financial and technical levels.

Appealing directly to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and all relevant actors to resume “frank dialogue”, he cautioned: “No resolution, no mediation, no verification mechanism can succeed unless the parties directly concerned choose the path of peace.”

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Water supply in parts of Karachi to remain suspended for two days: KWSC

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) on Friday announced that water supply in parts of the port city would remain suspended for two days starting Saturday due to work at the Dhabeji Pumping Station.

In a statement, a KWSC spokesperson said the supply would be temporarily suspended to connect a newly constructed line with the existing network at the Dhabeji Pumping Station.

As per the new schedule issued by the water distribution body, nine of the pumps at the station will remain shut for 48 hours, the spokesperson added.

Work at the pumping station will begin at 12 noon on April 25, the official said, adding that seven out of nine pumps will resume operations on April 27.

The remaining two pumps will be shut for another five days, the official added.

The spokesperson said that water supply to parts of Karachi would remain temporarily suspended during the period due to disruption from K2 and K3.

Water supply in North Karachi, Surjani, Scheme 33, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, Landhi, Korangi and Chanesar Town would remain suspended for 48 hours, the spokesperson added.

Hydrants in Nipa, Safoora and Sakhi Hassan will also remain closed due to maintenance, the spokesperson added.

Due to the closure, the city will face a shortage of about 250 million gallons of water per day, the official said, adding that Karachi is supplied with around 650 million gallons daily.

KWSC urged residents of the affected areas to use water efficiently during the work, the spokesperson added.

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Islamabad police issue updated traffic plan ahead of potential US-Iran talks

Islamabad: Traffic Police (ITP) has issued a special traffic plan for the federal capital, with complete closure of the Red Zone and extended Red Zone, along with suspension of traffic on Islamabad Expressway from Korral to Zero Point.

According to the advisory, traffic on the Srinagar Highway may also be stopped at different times due to security arrangements.

The advisory comes amid Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s expected arrival in Islamabad on Friday night, without providing details about who he was likely to meet.

Iranian state media reported that Araghchi will depart on Friday (today) for a tri-nation tour that includes visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow.

“The purpose of this visit is to hold bilateral consultations and discuss current developments in the region, as well as the latest situation in the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran,” the state news agency IRNA said.

Meanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan on Saturday for a new round of talks with Iran on ending the war, the White House said.

“I can confirm Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Friday.

Leavitt said that Vance remained ready to fly to Pakistan but will not for now. “Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary,” she said.

Islamabad has been gearing up for an anticipated second round of talks between the United States and Iran. The talks would come more than two weeks after Vice President JD Vance held the first round of talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan.

During the first round of talks in Pakistan, Vance said that Iran refused US demands on constraints on its contested nuclear programme.

In its advisory issued today, ICT Police said that entry of all types of heavy traffic into Islamabad will remain banned, while transporters have been advised to avoid travelling towards the capital.

Residents of G-5, G-6, G-7, F-6 and F-7 can use Margalla Road and 9th Avenue for travel to and from Rawalpindi. Traffic from Faisal Avenue towards Zero Point will be diverted to 9th Avenue.

In case of closure between Zero Point and Korral Chowk, commuters can use Srinagar Highway to 9th Avenue, then Stadium Road, Murree Road (Chandni Chowk) and Rawal Road to reach Korral.

Traffic from Park Road towards Club Road will be diverted to Tramri Chowk.

Commuters travelling from Bhara Kahu to Rawalpindi are advised to use Korang Road, Bani Gala and Lehtrar Road.

Traffic from Rawalpindi Saddar to Islamabad can use Colonel Sher Khan Road via Faqir Aipee Road or 9th Avenue.

Heavy traffic from Peshawar to Lahore will be diverted via Taxila Motorway, Chakri Interchange, Chak Beli Road and Rawat GT Road.

Similarly, heavy traffic from Lahore to Peshawar will use Rawat GT Road, Chak Beli Road, Chakri Interchange and Taxila via the motorway. The traffic plan will come into force from Saturday.

Citizens have been advised to follow alternate routes and cooperate with the traffic police.

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Pakistan urges UNSC to push India to restore Indus Waters Treaty a year after its suspension

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to address India’s suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning of “grave” security, environmental, and humanitarian risks for 240 million people.

A letter from Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, addressed to Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain, which hold the 15-member Council’s presidency for the month of April, draws attention to India’s “illegal” decision to hold the IWT in abeyance one year after its suspension amid heightened political tensions with Pakistan.

The letter was handed over to the Security Council President by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, according to a press release issued by the Pakistani Mission.

DPM/FM Dar urged the Security Council to take cognizance of the alarming situation and call on India to restore the full implementation of IWT, resume all Treaty-mandated cooperation and data-sharing without delay, desist from any form of water coercion, and comply fully with its international obligations in good faith.

In this regard, Ambassador Asim Ahmad also briefed the Security Council president on the “regurgitation of baseless allegations and propaganda by India at a time when Pakistan is engaged in serious mediation efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.”

The Pakistani envoy also underscored that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute – a longstanding item on the Security Council’s agenda – was the root cause of instability in South Asia that necessitated a just and lasting settlement in accordance with relevant Council’s resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The 66-year-old treaty governs the distribution of waters from the Indus river system, allocating the western rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, primarily to Pakistan, which depends on them for most of its agriculture. The agreement has long been seen as one of the most durable arrangements between the two countries, surviving wars and decades of hostility.

However, India announced on Apr. 23, 2025 it was holding the treaty in abeyance. The move came as India, without producing any evidence, accused Pakistan of being behind a militant attack in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Pakistan categorically denied any involvement it in the attack, which led to a brief but intense military conflict between the two countries in May 2025.