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Wednesday, 5 August, 2026 | 21 Safar, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 131 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
Pakistan, Qatar PreParing document for reoPening Hormuz amid indirect us-iran contacts: sources g
SINGLE-PAGE DOCUMENT CONTAINS MATTERS ONLY RELATED TO STRAIT OF HORMUZ, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO RESUMPTION OF LONG-STALLED DIRECT US-IRAN TALKS: REPORT
SOURCES CLAIM INDIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN US AND IRAN THROUGH PAKISTANI AND QATARI IN ‘FINAL STAGE’ TO FINALIZE THE DOCUMENT
IRAN WILL REOPEN STRAIT, AND IN RETURN, US WILL LIFT ITS BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS, ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT, SAID SOURCES
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ISLAMABAD AGENCIES
AKISTANI and Qatari mediators are preparing a document to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after intensifying contacts with the United States, Iran and other regional partners, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Tuesday. The sources added that indirect contacts between the US and Iran through Pakistani and Qatari mediators are in the "final stage" to finalize the document. "A major development concerning reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding is expected this week as Pakistan and Qatar have intensified diplomatic contacts
with Washington, Tehran and several other regional partners," said a source familiar with the developments. Oman, which has been in talks with Iran about future management of the Strait of Hormuz, is also "actively" involved in the latest diplomatic efforts to end hostilities and reopen the strait, said sources. The single-page document, according to sources, contains matters only related to the Strait of Hormuz, which would subsequently lead to the resumption of long-stalled direct talks between the US and Iran. Iran will reopen the strait, and in return, the US will lift its blockade of the Iranian ports, according to the document, said the sources. There is no mention of Tehran's nuclear program in the document, they said.
Following implementation of the document, mediators will finalize the date and venue for the resumption of direct talks in consultation with Washington and Tehran, the sources added. Contentious issues The sources said that the two warring sides are still at loggerheads on several issues, mainly tolls. "The US side is insisting that the Strait of Hormuz should be completely toll-free for commercial shipping as it was before the start of the war. While Tehran wants a 'service fee' to cover environmental and security costs," they said. The mediators, it added, are trying to find a solution which might offer a "middle way" to resolve the issue. Also, a source said Tehran is opposing the idea of different shipping corri-
dors in the strait. The New York Times reported earlier that Iran and Oman are close to reaching an agreement to restore commercial maritime traffic through the strait. Under the potential deal, the report said, vessels entering the Gulf would travel through a shipping channel controlled by Iran and close to its coast, while outbound traffic would use a channel near Oman. Iranian officials told The Times that no tolls would be charged but said the agreement includes a "service fee" to cover environmental effects, security for cargo ships and tankers, and staffing costs. They added that the revenue would be shared equally between Iran and Oman.
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dar departs for Jordan to join ministerial meeting on Jerusalem ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed for Jordan on Tuesday on a one-day official visit to participate in a high-level ministerial meeting on Jerusalem, where regional leaders will seek to forge a unified position on the deteriorating situation in the occupied city and reaffirm support for the Palestinian cause. According to the Foreign Office (FO), Dar left for Amman at the invitation of Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem, scheduled for August 5. The meeting will bring together foreign ministers from member states of the Arab League and a group of Islamic countries to deliberate on the latest developments in occupied Jerusalem and the broader humanitarian situation in Palestine. In a statement shared on X, the FO said Dar would reaffirm Pakistan's "unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause" and reiterate Islamabad's longstanding commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Palestine issue. During the visit, the participating foreign ministers are also expected to call on King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. On the sidelines of the conference, Dar is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts to exchange views on regional developments, particularly the worsening humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Munir says armed forces ready to back relief operations during monsoon ISLAMABAD
NEWS DESK
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday said Pakistan’s armed forces are fully prepared to support the civil administration and the National Disaster Management Authority in relief, rescue and rehabilitation work during the monsoon season. Munir made the remarks during a
visit to the National Emergencies Operation Centre at NDMA headquarters, where he was briefed on disaster preparedness and the country’s coordinated response arrangements for the ongoing rains, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. During the visit, the army chief stressed operational readiness, close coordination among institutions and a swift response to protect lives and critical infrastructure. He also praised the NDMA’s
efforts to strengthen national disaster management capacity. The NDMA chairman briefed Munir on the NEOC’s operational capabilities and its technology-enabled response systems, including “Disaster Lens 2026”, which tracks the prevailing monsoon situation and wider multi-hazard monitoring mechanisms. Flooding risks persist in several regions The visit comes as officials continue to monitor rain-related emergencies in
different parts of the country. In a recent meeting of the Emergency Response Committee, officials said recent downpours had caused flooding in several areas and that response operations were continuing through federal, provincial and district authorities. Officials also warned that rainfall is expected to continue over northern and central parts of the country in the coming days, while isolated rain is also likely in parts of southeastern Sindh.