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Islamabad welcomes US ceasefire extension, eyes breakthrough in Iran talks

Islamabad: Pakistan welcomes the extension of the Iran ceasefire, expressing hopes that ongoing diplomatic efforts in Islamabad will lead to a broader peace agreement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X.

The PM said the move came after a request from Islamabad and thanked US President Donald Trump for agreeing to extend the ceasefire to allow negotiations to continue.

“On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course,” he said.

He added that Pakistan would continue efforts to support a negotiated settlement of the conflict, expressing confidence in the process.

“With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict,” Sharif said.

The prime minister said he hoped both sides would observe the ceasefire and move towards a “comprehensive peace deal” during the second round of talks in Islamabad.

“I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘peace deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict,” he added.

US President Donald Trump extended the Iran ceasefire hours before it was due to expire, saying the move was made at Pakistan’s request to allow diplomatic efforts to continue and to give Tehran time to prepare a unified proposal.

In a post on social media, Trump said the ceasefire, which began two weeks ago, would remain in place until Iran submits its proposal and discussions are concluded.

He said US forces would remain on standby while maintaining pressure, including a naval blockade of Iran’s ports, which Tehran has described as an act of war.

The extension comes as Islamabad prepares to host a second round of talks between the two sides, with Washington confirming a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will soon travel to Pakistan. Tehran has said it has yet to decide on participation.

According to Axios, the US delegation may also include Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. At the same time, Iranian state media has denied reports that any delegation has departed for Pakistan.

The first round of talks, lasting around 21 hours, failed to produce an agreement as the two sides remained divided over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, the Strait of Hormuz, and US sanctions.

The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a joint bombing campaign against Iran, escalating into wider hostilities across the region, including Iranian moves in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on US and Israeli positions.

The ceasefire was first brokered on April 8 following mediation by Pakistan, which also invited both sides to Islamabad for negotiations.

However, US President Donald Trump earlier told Bloomberg the truce would expire on Wednesday evening Washington time, and in a separate interview with CNBC, said he was reluctant to extend it, arguing the US remained in a strong negotiating position.

US, Iran urged to give ‘dialogue, diplomacy a chance’

Earlier, Pakistan urged the warring sides to extend their two-week ceasefire, emphasising the need for dialogue and diplomacy.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the call during a meeting with US Charge d’Affaires Natalie A Baker, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

During the meeting, DPM Dar underscored Pakistan’s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address ongoing challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability, the FO said.

DPM Dar stressed the “need for engagement” between Washington and Tehran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire.

Baker conveyed Washington’s appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive and positive role in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue.

Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Pakistan was in constant touch with Iran and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

“Formal response from the Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited,” he wrote in a post on X.

Tarar noted that the ceasefire between the two sides is set to end at 4:50am (Pakistan Time) on Wednesday (April 22), saying that a decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the ceasefire was critical.

Pakistan made “sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership” to participate in the second round of talks, he said, vowing that Islamabad would continue its efforts to bring Iran back to the table.

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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.