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US-Iran Peace MeMorandUM SeT for SIGnInG In SwITzerland on frIday
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Wednesday, 17 June, 2026 | 1 Muharram, 1448
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SWISS AUTHORITIES CONFIRM BÜRGENSTOCK AS VENUE FOR HISTORIC SIGNING
US PRESIDENT URGES GREATER ISRAELI RESTRAINT IN LEBANON
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 83 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
TRUMP SAYS AGREEMENT EXPLICITLY BARS IRAN FROM ACQUIRING NUCLEAR WEAPONS QATAR PRAISES PAKISTANI MEDIATION, SEES PATH TO REGIONAL STABILITY
Pakistan, China welcome Iran-US peace deal, reaffirm support for regional stability ISLAMABAD
MIAN ABRAR
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ISLAMABAD/GENEVA AGENCIES
memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be formally signed on Friday at the Bürgenstock resort in central Switzerland, with Swiss authorities confirming preparations for the landmark event amid growing international optimism over prospects for regional peace and stability. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said it had been coordinating closely with the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar regarding arrangements for the signing ceremony. “At this stage, the signing is scheduled for Friday, June 19, at Bürgenstock in the canton of Nidwalden,” FDFA spokesperson Pierre-Alain Eltschinger confirmed.
According to Swiss officials, the venue was jointly proposed by Pakistani and Qatari mediators, as well as by Washington and Tehran. The Swiss government said it was acting as a facilitator by providing the practical and diplomatic conditions necessary for the meeting to take place on Swiss territory. However, officials declined to provide details regarding the contents of the memorandum or the signing process. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the agreement clearly stipulates that Iran will not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said he intended to release the full text of the memorandum in a formal setting after the signing ceremony. “The only thing that really matters to me is Iran will
UK minister thanks Pakistan for role in US-Iran ceasefire diplomacy
never have a nuclear weapon, and it says it loud and clear,” Trump said. He also indicated that he was open to submitting the agreement to the US Congress for review, following calls from some Republican lawmakers. “I like the idea. I will send it to Congress,” he told reporters.
Trump described the current accord as a framework agreement under which both sides would negotiate remaining details over the coming weeks. He expressed confidence that the next phase of negotiations would progress rapidly.
ContInUed on Page 03
Aurangzeb sees upside to FY27 outlook after US-Iran deal, says too premature to revise projections ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan and China on Tuesday welcomed the understanding reached between Iran and the United States under a recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as a significant step towards promoting lasting peace, stability and economic security in the region. The remarks were made during a telephone conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the breakthrough agreement between Washington and Tehran and underscored the importance of continued diplomatic engagement to ensure
the successful implementation of the understandings reached by the two sides. According to the Foreign Office, Wang Yi commended Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic outreach and mediation efforts, which helped create a conducive environment for sustained dialogue between Iran and the United States. The Chinese foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating negotiations and acknowledged its contribution to advancing international peace and regional stability. For his part, Dar appreciated China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy between Tehran and Washington. He also acknowledged China’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, particularly through Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Four-Point Proposal and the Pakistan-China FivePoint Initiative aimed at easing tensions and encouraging negotiations.
British Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer has praised Pakistan’s part in efforts that led to a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, while also announcing additional British funding for joint work with Islamabad on crime and illegal migration. During a two-day visit to Islamabad, Falconer said the agreement between Washington and Tehran marked an important development and conveyed his appreciation to Pakistan. In remarks cited by the British High Commission, he said Pakistan had played an important role in creating an opening for regional stability and that Britain was prepared to work with Islamabad in support of lasting peace. According to a statement issued by the British High Commission, Falconer personally thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for Pakistan’s role in reaching what it described as a significant moment. The statement said the minister reaffirmed the UK’s support for stability in the Middle East and said Britain would continue to work with partners including Pakistan to strengthen the opportunity for a durable peace. Falconer also said Britain remained thankful for Pakistan’s role in facilitating negotiations and added that the UK and its partners would continue working towards the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In a post shared during the visit, he said the next stage of talks would be vital for regional stability and for freedom of navigation in the waterway. Funding for migration and crime cooperation The British High Commission said Falconer, in meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership, committed an additional £8 million to support joint UK-Pakistan efforts against crime and illegal migration.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan may see an improvement in its economic outlook for fiscal year 2026-27 after the agreement between the United States and Iran to end the fighting, but cautioned that it is too soon to make changes to the budget projections. Speaking to Reuters hours after the US and Iran signed the deal, Aurangzeb said the conflict had pushed inflation back into double digits and that damage to energy facilities meant supply chains would not normalise immediately. He said the government had been assessing the wider effects if the
conflict continued. “We were looking at how we manage the second, third-order impact in case this conflict continues,” he said. “The energy infrastructure has been hit. And therefore, it will take time before we return to normalcy in terms of supply chains.” Aurangzeb added that there could be positive implications for the coming year’s projections, but said revising the budget at this stage would be premature. “I do see upsides in what we have projected for next year,” he added, but cautioned it would be “way too premature” to revise the budget. The budget for the next financial year, presented in parliament
on Friday, sets a growth target of 4 per cent and inflation at 8.2 per cent. It also increases defence spending by 18 per cent to Rs3 trillion, while counting on stronger tax collection to keep Pakistan’s $7 billion International Monetary Fund programme on course. Borrowing plans and creditor mix The finance minister also said Islamabad could turn to commercial borrowing in FY27 to alter the composition of its creditors without adding to the country’s total external debt. “Ideally, what we want to do is to see if we can replace some of the bilateral through commercial,” he said. “We do not intend to increase the size of our external debt.”
Four independent gB assembly members join IPP, boost party's presence in gilgit-Baltistan GILGIT
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
In a significant political development in Gilgit-Baltistan, four newly-elected independent members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Monday formally joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) during a meeting with party President Abdul Aleem Khan.
The lawmakers who announced their decision to join the IPP include Anwar Ali from GB-23 Ghanche, Asad Shafiq from GB-24 Ghanche, Muhammad Dilpazeer from GB-15 Diamer and Aman Ali from GB-21 Ghizer. Welcoming the new entrants, Abdul Aleem Khan said collective efforts were essential for ensuring the development and prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan. He emphasized
that healthcare, education, information technology and employment generation remained among the party’s top priorities. The IPP president said there was considerable scope for improvement in infrastructure and tourism sectors, adding that the party would continue to contribute actively towards the region’s progress and economic growth.
Govt finalises Muharram security plan, vows crackdown on sectarian incitement ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry on Tuesday chaired a special meeting of the Paigham-i-Aman Committee to review security arrangements for Muharram and discuss measures to promote religious harmony and curb sectarian incitement. The meeting focused on ensuring peaceful observance of Muharram and strengthening inter-sect unity across the country. Participants deliberated on steps to promote religious tolerance and prevent the spread of hate speech and sectarian narratives. The committee decided that strict action would be taken against individuals using social media platforms to spread incitement, sectarianism and hatred during the holy month. Addressing the meeting, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said maintaining close and continuous engagement with religious scholars remained a key priority of the Interior Ministry. He announced that the Paigham-i-Pakistan Committee would be activated and strengthened at the district level to enhance efforts aimed at promoting peace, national unity and countering extremist narratives. Naqvi stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah to combat terrorism and extremism. “There is no room in Islam for rebellion against the state and spreading chaos,” he said, urging religious scholars to guide the public and help strengthen social cohesion. The minister also announced the appointment of a coordinator for the peace committee and described the maintenance of law and order during Muharram as a collective national responsibility. Referring to recent diplomatic developments, Naqvi credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for leading Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran, which culminated in the announcement of a peace agreement. He also praised Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his role in the process, saying all stakeholders had worked together as a unified team. “A historic agreement between the two countries was reached as a result of teamwork and sincere efforts,” Naqvi said. The interior minister stated that the field marshal enjoyed the confidence of all parties involved in the negotiations and played an important role in advancing the dialogue process.
PTI rejects Budget 2026-27 as 'Budget of broken promises', cites 'eleven deadly sins' ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader in the Senate, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, on Tuesday strongly rejected the federal budget for fiscal year 202627, describing it as a “budget of broken promises” that fails to provide public relief or offer a credible roadmap for economic growth and employment generation. Taking part in the Senate debate on the budget, Zafar said every budget should pursue two fundamental objectives: ensuring that economic benefits reach ordinary citizens and presenting a sustainable strategy for long-term growth and job creation. “Unfortunately, this budget achieves neither objective. It neither provides meaningful relief to the common citizen nor sets out a credible long-term plan for economic development and employment generation,” he said. The PTI senator accused the government of ignoring what he termed 11 critical areas essential for national progress. These included a long-term growth strategy, industrialisation policy, agricultural development, export promotion, youth employment, expansion of the information technology sector, energy reforms, resolution of circular debt, water conservation, climate change mitigation, population management and education. He expressed particular concern over the education sector, arguing that the government had neglected one of the most important pillars of national development. “Education is the foundation of progress and prosperity, yet the government appears to have neglected it entirely. It is as though the government does not wish to spread the light of knowledge among the people but is instead content to leave them in the darkness of ignorance,” he remarked.
Security officials say Pakistan’s US-Iran mediation was aimed at regional stability ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Senior security officials said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s role in facilitating diplomacy between the United States and Iran was intended to support peace and stability in the region, not to secure any limited national gain. Their remarks came after the US and Iran confirmed late on Sunday that they had agreed to a peace deal mediated by Pakistan following a conflict that had continued for more than three and a half months. The officials said Pakistan engaged all major stakeholders to help prevent a wider conflict that, in their view, could have had grave consequences for regional peace and security. They credited Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir with playing a major part in the diplomatic effort and described the outcome as a strategic success achieved through engagement rather than war.
The officials said the mediation process required discretion and that Pakistan would not disclose the substance of the negotiations, their details or any next steps. They added that attempts to derail the peace effort could continue, but said Pakistan would keep working with partners to promote stability. The officials also praised Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia, for what they described as restraint and leadership during the crisis. They said ties with friendly countries should be seen as part of a broader diplomatic and strategic framework, and stressed that Pakistan’s foreign policy was independent. While describing relations with China as exceptionally strong, they also said Pakistan maintained its own ties with the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Remarks on regional and domestic issues Responding to a question about reported contact between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and a former army chief, the officials said the military had no role in
politics and that politicians should resolve political matters among themselves. They also said that such reports tend to surface when some individuals become irrelevant. On Afghanistan, the officials said terrorism remained an ongoing challenge and that Pakistan had repeatedly engaged the Afghan government on the matter. They said Pakistan had adopted a harder line because, according to them, calls for dialogue from Afghanistan continued alongside militant violence. The officials said more than 32,000 operations had been conducted up to June 15. They stated that 1,861 militants had been killed, including 991 inside Pakistan and 862 inside Afghanistan. They also shared figures saying that 74% of 2,170 operations were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 34% in Balochistan, while adding that 640 Pakistanis had been martyred and that an average of 10.3 militants were killed daily. The same briefing said precision strikes had been
used in Afghanistan to avoid civilian casualties and claimed that more than two dozen militant groups were operating there. Kashmir and water disputes On Kashmir, the officials said people in
Indian-occupied Kashmir were continuing their own movement and maintained that support for Pakistan could not be removed from their hearts. They also referred to Pakistan’s past wars with India over the dispute.