In partnership with
Profit
Iran says ‘no fInal decIsIon’ on Us deal as PakIstan-led dIPlomacy PUshes ahead Monday, 15 June, 2026 | 29 Zilhaj, 1447
g
FARS REPORTS TEHRAN HAS NOT APPROVED MEMORANDUM UNDER NEGOTIATION WITH WASHINGTON
I g
g
PAKISTAN SAYS ELECTRONIC SIGNING PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY AS DEAL NEARS FINAL STAGE
ISRAELI MILITARY TARGETS HEZBOLLAH SITES AS LEBANON TENSIONS ESCALATE, COMPLICATING EFFORTS TO REACH A PEACE DEAL ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN SALEEM JADOON
RAN has “not yet” taken a final decision on signing a proposed agreement under discussion with the United States aimed at ending their months-long war, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Sunday, even as Pakistan signalled that the deal was closer than ever and preparations were underway for an electronic signing of the document. The development comes amid renewed volatility in the region, after the
Israeli military said it launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut on Sunday, a move that could further complicate diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan, alongside Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and other regional partners, to secure an agreement intended to end the conflict that began in late February and is currently paused under a ceasefire reached on April 8. The prospective agreement has also faced internal opposition within Iran, where some figures argue that the deal does not serve Tehran’s strategic interests and could weaken its leverage over
the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy shipping route handling roughly one-fifth of global oil flows, which has seen intermittent disruptions since the start of hostilities in late February. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet taken or announced its final decision concerning the memorandum of understanding proposed during negotiations,” Fars reported, citing “a well-informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team.” The outlet is considered close to conservative circles in Iran. US President Donald Trump had
eign ministry maintained that there were currently no plans for its negotiating team to travel to Geneva or Islamabad in the coming days to sign the agreement, Al Jazeera reported. According to the Foreign Office (FO), Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and welcomed the encouraging progress towards an understanding between Washington and Tehran. Both leaders expressed hope that the positive developments would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region and agreed to remain in close contact regarding further developments, the FO said in a post on X.
WASHINGTON / BEIRUT / TEHRAN
Pakistan rallies regional support as US-Iran accord enters final stretch ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday intensified Pakistan's diplomatic engagement with key regional capitals, holding separate telephone conversations with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts as momentum built towards a potential USIran peace agreement, amid growing optimism that the anticipated accord could help avert a wider regional conflict and open a path towards lasting stability. The diplomatic outreach came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that the proposed "peace deal" between Iran and the United States could be finalised within the next 24 hours. However, Iran's for-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
AGENCIES
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the signing of a long-anticipated US-Iran deal aimed at ending the conflict remained on track, though he blamed Israel for causing delays following fresh regional escalation involving strikes in Beirut and heightened tensions across the Middle East. Global Affairs Correspondent for Axios, Barak Ravid, reported that Trump said in a brief interview that the “signing of the US-Iran deal for ending the war is still on track for Sunday despite the Israeli strike in Beirut and the Iranian threat to retaliate.” “It shook it up. It delayed the signing by a few hours. It was supposed to
INFORMATION MINISTER SAYS DIFFERENCES MUST BE RESOLVED THROUGH DEMOCRATIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Amid escalating tensions over the upcoming elections for the 12 refugee seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly and the PPP's call for withdrawal of the election schedule, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar on Sunday urged all stakeholders to resolve differences through democratic and constitutional means, stressing that AJK remained among Pakistan's foremost national priorities. The refugee seats issue has emerged as a major point of contention between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the AJK government, with the committee continuing to press its demand for the abolition of the seats reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir settled in Pakistan after 1947. The dispute has intensified in recent weeks, prompting the PPP-led AJK government to proscribe the JAAC under the Anti-Terrorism Act amid an ongoing standoff over the issue. Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Tarar emphasized that elections remain the most effective democratic means of securing a public mandate and said matters concerning national interest and public welfare should take precedence over political considerations. “Azad Jammu and Kashmir is at the top of Pakistan’s priorities and public welfare measures will continue in the region,” he said. “The federation is committed to resolving public issues and accelerating the development of AJK,” he added, noting that substantial allocations had been earmarked in the upcoming federal budget for public facilities in the region, including the power sector. While reaffirming citizens’ right to peaceful protest, Tarar stressed that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. “Everyone has the right to protest, but taking the law into one’s own hands cannot be allowed,” he said. “No opinion can be imposed by force. Peaceful protest is the right of every citizen, and differences should be resolved through dialogue.”
AJK unrest benefiting ‘India-Israel nexus’, damaging Kashmir cause: Bilawal ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said the continuing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was hurting both the Kashmir cause and Pakistan’s image, and urged protesters to end their demonstrations peacefully. In a statement, Bilawal said the situation in AJK was creating space for hostile forces to take advantage of the turmoil. He warned that the unrest was benefiting what he described as the India-Israel nexus, while stressing that political disputes should be addressed through democratic and constitutional channels rather than confrontation on the streets. "The situation [in AJK] was providing an unnecessary opportunity for hostile elements and India-Israel nexus to exploit,"
JAAC CALLS FOR PROTESTS The JAAC has announced widespread protests against the July 27 elections for the 12 refugee seats, demanding their abolition. The seats are elected separately from the 33 general seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly, with refugees registered in 12 constituencies across Pakistan voting for their representatives. The constituencies have long remained politically sensitive due to recurring disputes over voter lists, delimitation and constitutional amendments. PPP SEEKS WITHDRAWAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE Earlier, addressing a press conference at Kashmir House after a meeting of the party’s core committee, PPP-AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin urged the AJK Election Commission to withdraw the election schedule for the refugee seats. He argued that announcing the schedule shortly before JAAC’s protest call was not an appropriate decision and warned that conducting
Bilawal said. He said parliament and the political process were the appropriate forums for settling such matters, and added that his party had already called for the Election Commission to withdraw the premature election schedule. Bilawal said the PPP remained committed to a political settlement and would work toward setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address unresolved grievances and help bring the matter to a fair conclusion. He also appealed to protesters to conclude their demonstrations peacefully and asked those who had broken the law to surrender to the local authorities so that legal proceedings could move forward. At the same time, he said the people of Kashmir should not be subjected to protest, confrontation and uncertainty.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 elections under prevailing circumstances could prove difficult. “Under the current circumstances, holding elections appears difficult. The Election Commission should withdraw the schedule and move the consultative process forward. PPP is not in favour of any confrontation or clash. Twelve refugee seats cannot be more valuable than human lives,” Yasin said. He stressed that dialogue and political consensus were essential to defuse tensions and address challenges facing the region. Highlighting PPP’s longstanding commitment to the Kashmir cause, Yasin said the party had always placed the issue at the centre of its politics and recalled the international advocacy efforts of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He noted that over the past seven months, the government had implemented 37 of the 38 demands agreed upon with JAAC last October.
tarar invites opposition to sign charter of economy, defends fy27 budget ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
posted on social media on Saturday that the agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed the following day, coinciding with his 80th birthday.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Trump says Iran deal on track despite Israel blame as ME tensions surge
Tarar calls for dialogue as PPP seeks poll schedule withdrawal over AJK refugee seats row g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 81 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
be now. Now it is scheduled for a few hours from now,” Trump said during a phone call, according to Ravid. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Israel had the right to defend itself, but argued that the latest strike was disproportionate and should not derail ongoing diplomatic efforts. “Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless; nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and it should not disrupt this important process,” he said. Trump added that the Israeli strike on Beirut should not have taken place at a time when Washington was “very close” to reaching a peace agreement with Iran.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday called on the opposition to join a Charter of Economy as he mounted a defence of the federal budget for 2026-27 during proceedings in the National Assembly. Speaking on the floor of the house, Tarar credited the government’s economic management for what he described as improved conditions and presented the budget as a measure aimed at broad relief. He told lawmakers that the government’s policy approach had been prudent and said the latest budget was designed to benefit different segments of society. In his remarks, the minister said the budget had proposed the abolition of the super tax, adding that the move had the approval of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He also pointed to an increase in revenue and foreign remittances, and urged opposition members to acknowledge what he described as the government’s sound decisions, including its efforts related to peace in the Middle East. Tarar said the economy had moved onto a better course. "It’s a friendly and relieforiented budget for all," he said. He also asserted: "Today the economy is on the right track," BUDGET DEBATE UNDER WAY IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The federal government had presented the FY27 budget on June 12, announcing relief measures for salaried individuals, companies, the real estate sector and exporters in an effort to support economic activity. The proposals place greater weight on enforcement steps instead of broad-based new taxation, though they also include taxes on social media income and a fixed tax scheme for small traders and shopkeepers. The National Assembly formally opened a general discussion on the budget on Saturday. Lawmakers delivered lengthy speeches that largely focused on political matters and constituency concerns rather than the budget’s detailed proposals.