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Monday, 18 May, 2026 | 1 Zilhaj, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 53 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
Pakistan intensifies iran-Us mediation as naqvi holds crUcial talks with Pezeshkian
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IRANIAN PRESIDENT PRAISES PAKISTAN’S ROLE IN STABILISING FRAGILE CEASEFIRE EFFORTS IN NEARLY 90-MINUTE MEETING NAQVI SAYS RECENT CRISIS RESHAPED REGIONAL ALIGNMENTS AND STRATEGIC CALCULATIONS
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TALKS COVER SECURITY, TRADE COOPERATION, WIDER REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN
TEHRAN, ISLAMABAD DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR REVIVING STALLED US-IRAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
Pm thanks qatar for sUPPort to Pakistan-led Peace efforts in key diPlomatic call ISLAMABAD
ASAD NIZAMI
SALEEM JADOON
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held high-level talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Sunday, with discussions focusing on regional security, recent hostilities and efforts to reinforce a fragile ceasefire amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, Iran’s WANA news agency reported. Quoting a statement from the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, the Iranian news agency said Naqvi held a nearly 90-minute private meeting with President Pezeshkian at the Presidential Administration complex, while his overall visit to the facility lasted around three hours. During the meeting, President Pezeshkian praised what he described as the responsible cooperation of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq in preventing their territories from being used for armed operations against Iran. He stressed that unity among Islamic countries was essential for regional peace and reducing the scope for external interference, including what he termed “adventurism by extra-regional powers and the Israeli regime.” The Iranian president also lauded Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement during the recent crisis, particularly appreciating the role played by the country’s political and military leadership in ef-
forts aimed at stabilising the ceasefire. “President Pezeshkian highly commended the active diplomacy of the Pakistani government — particularly Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir — in facilitating and stabilising the recent ceasefire,” the statement said. Interior Minister Naqvi, in turn, highlighted Pakistan’s continued diplomatic outreach focused on de-escalation and ending hostilities, saying recent developments had clarified regional alignments and “provided a vital baseline for future strategic decisions.” The meeting also covered broader regional developments, with President Pezeshkian condemning recent military actions against
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday held a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart, expressing gratitude for Doha’s “strong endorsement and support” of Pakistan-led peace efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability. According to a statement shared by PM’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi on X, the prime minister held a “warm and cordial conversation” with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, during which both leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional and international situation. The statement said the prime minister thanked the leadership of Qatar for its strong backing of Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.
Iran and describing them as unlawful attempts aimed at destabilisation. He maintained that such efforts had failed due to national unity and resilience. “The adversaries’ primary objective was to trigger domestic instability and dismantle the Islamic system,” the Iranian president said. On bilateral relations, Pezeshkian expressed interest in expanding trade, scientific cooperation and academic ex-
Centcom chief praises Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The United States Central Command has commended Pakistan for its cooperation in counterterrorism operations, with Centcom chief Admiral Brad Cooper describing Islamabad as an important partner in efforts against Daesh in the region. During a briefing to a US Senate committee, Cooper said Pakistan remained central to the regional campaign against the militant group. "Pakistan, especially, is a critical CT partner that is central to the fight against [Daesh] in the region," he added. According to the briefing, military cooperation between the United States and Pakistan has produced operational outcomes, including action against high-value targets connected to attacks on American personnel. Centcom said the relationship between the two militaries had yielded concrete results in dealing with individuals accused of involvement in attacks that killed Americans.
"Our strong military-to-military (mil-to-mil) partnership with Islamabad has produced tangible results against high-value individuals with American blood on their hands," Cooper said. The command also referred to Pakistan’s role in the arrest of Daesh operative Mohammad Sharifullah, who was taken into custody by Pakistan earlier in 2025. The report recalled remarks made in June 2025 by then-Centcom chief General Michael Kurilla, who had said: "They [Pakistan] have extradited back Jaffar, who was one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing." Centcom said cooperation with Pakistan had helped disrupt militant networks operating across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Alongside security coordination, the US command also highlighted Pakistan’s role in humanitarian response efforts. It said bilateral coordination had been important in enabling American assistance after severe flooding in Pakistan last September.
Centcom said the combined record of security cooperation and humanitarian coordination reflected an enduring friendship and shared resolve between the two countries. The Daesh operative mentioned in the briefing allegedly assisted in carrying out the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Counterterrorism cooperation highlighted The remarks by the Centcom chief underscored Pakistan’s role in regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly in operations linked to Daesh. The US command’s comments focused on both operational cooperation and broader bilateral coordination in response to humanitarian emergencies. The Senate briefing also placed emphasis on the military-to-military relationship between Islamabad and Washington, which Centcom said had contributed to action against militant networks in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
ISPR rejects Gen Dwivedi’s ‘geography or history’ remarks as ‘provocative, dangerous’ g
MILITARY TAKES EXCEPTION AFTER INDIAN ARMY CHIEF SAYS PAKISTAN SHOULD DECIDE BETWEEN BEING 'PART OF GEOGRAPHY' OR NOT RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s military on Sunday strongly rebuked Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi over his recent provocative remarks, warning New Delhi against pushing South Asia towards another conflict with “devastating” consequences for the entire region and beyond. Responding to the Indian army chief’s comments made during an interactive session in New Delhi a day earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that Gen Dwivedi had remarked that “Pakistan should decide if it desired to be part of geography and history”. Rejecting the statement as provocative and dangerous, the military’s media wing said: “Contrary to the delusional and hallucinational belief system and despite the omnipresent ill wishes that prevail in Hindutva-led India, Pakistan is already a country of consequence at
global level, a declared nuclear power and an indelible part of South Asia’s geography and history.” The ISPR observed that the remarks reflected the Indian leadership’s continued inability to reconcile with the existence of Pakistan even after more than seven decades. “The Indian leadership has neither been able to reconcile with the very idea of Pakistan nor it has learnt the right lessons, even after passage of eight decades,” the statement said. It further described the Indian mindset as “hubristic, jingoistic and myopic”, warning that such rhetoric had repeatedly pushed South Asia towards wars and major crises in the past. “Threatening a sovereign nuclear neighbour with elimination from ‘geography’ is not strategic signalling or brinkmanship; it is sheer bankruptcy of cognitive capacities, madness and warmongering,” the ISPR warned, adding that
any attempt at “geographic obliteration” would inevitably have “mutual and comprehensive” consequences. Stressing that responsible nuclear states demonstrate restraint and strategic maturity, the ISPR said the language of “civilisational supremacy or national erasure” was reckless and dangerous for regional peace. The military’s media wing advised the Indian leadership “not to attempt to push South Asia towards another crisis or war whose consequences would only be devastating for the complete region and beyond”. “India needs to reconcile with Pakistan’s salience and learn to peacefully co-exist with it. Otherwise, any attempt to target Pakistan can trigger consequences that shall neither be geographically confined nor strategically or politically palatable for India,” the statement added.
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PM Shehbaz also conveyed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s constructive role in regional diplomacy and its efforts in building consensus in support of ongoing mediation initiatives. Both sides agreed on the importance of continued close coordination and sustained dialogue among all stakeholders to address shared regional and global challenges. The statement further said the prime minister, while conveying warm greetings and best wishes, expressed his desire to welcome the Qatari prime minister to Pakistan on an official visit soon. Both leaders agreed to maintain regular high-level contacts to follow up on the outcomes of their discussions. Later, PM Shehbaz also shared details of the conversation on X, saying he had received a call from the Qatari prime minister.
aliyev, maryam nawaz discuss strategic ties as Pakistan-azerbaijan partnership deepens BAKU/LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
changes, saying recent developments had created “an ideal opportunity” to further deepen ties between Tehran and Islamabad. Naqvi underscored the “deep historical, cultural and grassroots ties” between Pakistan and Iran, expressing confidence that political will on both sides would elevate bilateral cooperation.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday underscored that relations between Islamabad and Baku are strengthening within a broader trilateral framework involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Pakistan, while commending the “fraternal ties and strategic partnership” between the two countries. According to a statement issued by the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office, President Aliyev made the remarks during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Baku. CM Maryam is currently on a three-day official visit to Azerbaijan, where she is representing Pakistan at the 13th UN World Urban Forum (WUF13). She arrived in Baku on Saturday. In a statement, the Azerbaijani presidency said President Aliyev emphasised that Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations were evolving within a trilateral cooperation structure involving Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Both sides, it added, “commended the development of fraternal relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.” The statement said the two leaders discussed cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic, defence and other sectors, while also highlighting opportunities for expanding trade and strengthening interregional connectivity. It was further noted that centres based on Azerbaijan’s “ASAN Khidmet” model have already been established in Pakistan, reflecting ongoing institutional collaboration. CM Maryam Nawaz, expressing satisfaction over participation in WUF13, thanked President Aliyev for the invitation and praised the event’s organisation, saying important global issues related to urban development would be discussed in Baku.
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