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IN 45-MIN CALL WITH PEZESHKIAN, PM REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL PEACE
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Monday, 20 April, 2026 | 2 Dhul-Qadah, 1447
g ‘DURING WARM AND CORDIAL’ TALKS, PREMIER SHEHBAZ
REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINED REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY EFFORTS
g ‘APPRECIATES IRAN’S ‘CONSTRUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS’ WITH CDF AND COAS FIELD MARSHAL SYED ASIM MUNIR DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO TEHRAN
P
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday underscored the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and sustained
Pakistan, 11 other Muslim nations reject Israel’s diplomatic appointment in ‘so-called Somaliland’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan, along with 11 other countries, has strongly condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic representative to the “so-called Somaliland,” terming it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a serious threat to regional stability. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and other Muslim-majority countries reaffirmed their unwavering support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, rejecting unilateral actions that undermine internationally recognised state sovereignty. “Such actions constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law, the United Nation’s Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and set a dangerous precedent that risks undermining stability in the Horn of Africa, which reflects negatively on regional peace and security as a whole,” the ministers said. The move comes after Israel last year decided to recognise Somaliland, a self-declared region that seceded from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognised by any United Nations member state.
g CEASEFIRE DIPLOMACY CONTINUES
AS PRESIDENT TRUMPS ANNOUNCES HIS DELEGATION HEADS FOR ‘NEW ROUND OF TALKS’
Iran rejects second round of talks with US: state media TEHRAN
agencies
lamabad for “another round of talks with Iran.” The first round of “historic faceto-face direct” US-Iran talks, held in Islamabad on April 11–12, ended without an agreement but also without a breakdown. The discussions took place as a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remained in effect, set to expire on April 22, pausing hostilities that began following USIsraeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The prime minister thanked President Pezeshkian and the Iranian leadership for sending a high-pow-
ered delegation led by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for the first round of talks in Islamabad on April 11–12. He also briefed the Iranian president on his recent engagements with several world leaders, including the leadership of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye, noting that these interactions had helped build consensus in favour of sustained dialogue and diplomacy aimed at lasting peace in the conflicthit region.
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Dar drives diplomatic push with key talks on Middle East peace
ISLAMABAD
WITH SEVERAL WORLD LEADERS, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP OF SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR AND TÜRKIYE
PAKISTAN’S ROLE AS BOTH SIDES VOW STRONGER BILATERAL TIES AHEAD
ISLAMABAD
staff report
g BRIEFS IRANIAN PRESIDENT ON RECENT ENGAGEMENTS
g TEHRAN PRAISES
saleem jadoon
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday held a “warm and cordial” telephone conversation, during which the two leaders exchanged detailed views on the evolving regional situation, with the premier reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to “honest and sincere efforts” to promote regional peace and security, according to state media. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held the call with President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss regional developments. It added that the “warm and cordial conversation” lasted around 45 minutes, during which both leaders engaged in detailed exchanges on the current situation. The premier reiterated that Pakistan would “remain fully committed to its honest and sincere efforts to advance regional peace and security,” the PMO said. The telephonic contact came shortly after US President Donald Trump confirmed that American representatives were heading to Is-
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engagement to resolve ongoing issues in the Middle East and Gulf region, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and constructive engagement during telephonic conversations with his Iranian, Egyptian,
Canadian and Polish counterparts, the Foreign Office (FO) said. In a statement on X, the FO said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a detailed telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which both sides stressed that continued dialogue and engagement were essential for the timely resolution of current issues and for promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond. The statement added that both leaders agreed to remain in close contact and also concurred on a possible phone call later in the day between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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Islamabad on high alert as transport suspended, red zone sealed ahead of ‘likely’ Iran-US talks ISLAMABAD
raja Kashif ashfaq
Amid anticipated high-level peace talks between Iran and the United States, the federal capital has been placed on an unprecedented security alert, with the district administration suspending public and heavy transport across the city until further notice. Authorities have urged citizens to cooperate fully with security agencies and avoid unnecessary travel. According to official sources, security teams accompanying the negotiating delegations are expected to begin arriving from tomorrow, prompting a complete lockdown of the Red Zone and adjoining areas. Additional contingents of police and Rangers have been deployed at all entry points to the city, where checking has been significantly intensified. All access routes to the Red Zone have been closed, with only Margalla Road kept open for limited movement. The administration stated that all forms of traffic have been barred from entering both the Red Zone and its extended perimeter. The Islamabad Expressway, from Korral to Zero Point, will remain closed to traffic, while movement on Srinagar Highway may be inter-
mittently suspended. Furthermore, heavy vehicles have been prohibited from entering the capital from any direction, with transporters advised to avoid travelling towards Islamabad during this period. To mitigate public inconvenience, an alternative traffic plan has been issued. Residents of sectors G-5, G-6, G-7, F-6, and F-7 have been advised to use Margalla Road and Ninth Avenue for commuting to Rawalpindi. Traffic from Faisal Avenue heading towards Zero Point will be diverted to Ninth Avenue. In case of closure between Zero Point and Korral Chowk, commuters may use Srinagar Highway, Ninth Avenue, Stadium Road, and Chandni Chowk as alternate routes. Similarly, traffic from Park Road will be diverted towards Tramri Chowk if Club Road is closed. Meanwhile, the metro bus service linking the twin cities has also been disrupted. Officials confirmed that service from PIMS Station to the Pakistan Secretariat has been fully suspended, while operations from Saddar to Faizabad will continue on a limited basis. Authorities further indicated that the Rawalpindi and Islamabad electric bus services may also face intermittent suspensions.
Iran on Sunday rejected the second round of talks with the United States, saying it would not take part in dialogue after President Donald Trump announced that US representatives would be in Islamabad on Monday for negotiations, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. The development came after Trump confirmed that US representatives would travel to Islamabad for the second round of talks with Iran aimed at addressing the Middle East crisis. “My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — they will be there tomorrow evening for negotiations,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In a post on X, the state news agency said: “Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire.”
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Trump says US representatives heading to Islamabad, will be ‘there tomorrow evening for negotiations’ WASHINGTON, DC agencies
Islamabad appeared all set to host a second round of talks between the US and Iran, with President Donald Trump announcing that representatives from Washington were heading to Islamabad and they would be “there tomorrow evening for negotiations”. The US president made the announcement in a Truth Social post, where he also insisted that Washington was offering Tehran “a very fair and reasonable” deal. “And I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he warned.
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