US and Iran ready for ‘direct’ nuclear talks
TEHRAN: Iran for the first time said it was open to direct nuclear negotiations with the United States, which declared itself ready to hold talks “urgently” – in a possible turning point in efforts to salvage the 2015 nuclear accord.
‘Empty words and promises’: Greta Thunberg questions climate talks
MILAN: Greta Thunberg and fellow youth campaigners struck a sceptical tone for this week’s climate talks in Italy, saying much has been promised but little done to tackle global warming in almost three decades since the landmark Earth Summit. Fears
Afghan leaders leave for Doha to revive stalled peace talks
KABUL: A delegation of Afghan political leaders led by top peace official Abdullah Abdullah left for Qatar on Friday to attempt to breathe life into stalled talks with the Taliban as violence escalates around the country. Abdullah, head of the
Pakistan to welcome third-party facilitation by Saudi Arabia on talks with India: FM
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan would welcome the third-party facilitation by Saudi Arabia or any other country for resumption of talks with India. “Pakistan is ready for third-party facilitation. It is India that has always shied away
US sanctions on oil, banks should be lifted: Iran’s negotiator
VIENNA: Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said Tehran expects US sanctions on oil, banks and most individuals and institutions to be lifted based on agreements so far in Vienna talks, while Washington played down the prospect of an imminent breakthrough. Russia
Pakistan ready to talk if India revisits August 5 decisions: Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan would willingness to talk out differences and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue if India was willing to revisit the unilateral decisions taken on August 5, 2019. “If India is willing to
Pakistan not holding any backdoor talks with India: FM Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has categorically rejected the speculations of any secret talks between Pakistan and India through backdoor channels or third party involvement particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “We are not having any talks [with India]
FM Qureshi arrives in Tehran for talks with Iranian leadership
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Tehran on a three-day official visit to Iran for talks with the Iranian leadership on bilateral relations and regional situation. On arrival, the foreign minister was warmly received by Iranian Foreign Minister’s
Backdoor diplomacy
For several months, there have been reports that Pakistan and India are holding covert backdoor talks to calm tensions between the two countries particularly over Kashmir. These talks have not been denied nor acknowledged, neither is it known what exactly
Iran resumes nuclear talks amid strains over enrichment, Natanz attack
TEHRAN: Iran and global powers resumed talks to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal in an effort complicated by Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium enrichment and sabotage at a nuclear site. Tehran announced its decision to enrich uranium at 60%
India, Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai over Kashmir: Sources
NEW DELHI: Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over Kashmir, people with close knowledge of the matter told Reuters news agency in Delhi. Ties
Iran rejects ‘step-by-step’ lifting of US sanctions
TEHRAN: Iran wants the United States to lift all sanctions and rejects any “step-by-step” easing of restrictions, the foreign ministry said ahead of planned talks in Vienna next week on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. The comments came as France
US, Iran head to Vienna for indirect nuclear deal talks
WASHIGTON: Iran and the United States said they would hold indirect talks in Vienna from Tuesday as part of broader negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers. Tehran has ruled out face-to-face bilateral discussions, but
UAE royals brokered secret India-Pakistan peace talks: Reports
ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly brokering peace between Pakistan and India, a report in the leading news outlet Bloomberg said. Just weeks ago, Pakistan and India had agreed to observe ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
US, Chinese diplomats clash publically at start of first talks
ANCHORAGE: The United States and China leveled sharp rebukes of each other’s policies in the first high-level in-person talks of the Biden administration with deeply strained relations of the two global rivals during a meeting in Alaska. The United States,
Next round of Afghan talks
The next round of negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and the government will be held in Qatar from next month. Pakistan has reiterated its commitment as the peace process makes encouraging progress towards a political solution to the conflict. Pakistan’s
Pakistan to negotiate trade agreement with Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started consultation with all stakeholders for negotiating a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Afghanistan. Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood was holding a consultative meeting at the Ministry of Commerce on matters
Desire for peace
Ever since the fascist Modi government came to power, relations between Indian and Pakistan have plummeted. This reached its lowest ebb with the unilateral decision revoking Kashmir’s autonomous status last year with no chances of getting normalized anytime soon. National
Afghan govt appreciates Pakistan’s support for peace
ISLAMABAD: Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar has appreciated Pakistan’s support for lasting peace in Afghanistan. In a tweet, the Afghan leader said that he fully shares the view of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Foreign Office
Afghan govt, Taliban arrive in Doha for peace talks
DOHA: The long-awaited peace talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban are set to begin in Qatar on Saturday. Afghan government’s 21-member negotiating team is led by Masoom Stanekzai, a former intelligence chief. The Taliban are led by Mawlavi
Intra-Afghan talks to commence in Doha tomorrow
KABUL: The long-awaited talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban will take place in Qatar’s capital Doha from Saturday. Qatar’s foreign ministry made the announcement on Thursday as a final hurdle over the release of six Taliban prisoners appears
Taliban prisoners’ release
After months of political wrangling and animosity between the two sides, Afghanistan is finally ready to hold intra-Afghan peace talks aimed at ending two decades of war. The latest hurdle regarding the release of Taliban prisoners has been removed and
China welcomes resumption of Pak-Afghan trade
BEIJING: China has welcomed the resumption of trade relations and people exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Pakistan and Afghanistan overcome impact of the Covid-19 and restored their trade and people to people exchange. China applause that,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson
Trump holds phone call with Taliban political chief Baradar
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump spoke by phone call with the leader of the Taliban on Tuesday days after Washington signed a historic deal with the insurgent group. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had “a very
Pakistan has made considerable progress in advancing reforms: IMF
ISLAMABAD/ WASHINGTON: Pakistan has achieved all of its economic goals in terms of performance and structural benchmarks have been completed, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo was in
Mini-budget
An IMF delegation is in Islamabad for the second review of the economic situation for the bailout package given to Pakistan last year. The talks are expected to last for around two weeks and on completion, the IMF could release
IMF to begin talks under $6 billion EFF from February 3
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected to start negotiations on the second review under the US$ 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) beginning on February 3. The meeting was verified on Thursday by IMF representative Teresa Daban
Afghan govt asks for ceasefire amid US-Taliban talks
KABUL: Spokesperson of the Afghan government Sediq Sediqqi said the Afghan government and people denounce the Taliban’s suggested “reduction in violence” as an “ambiguous term without any legal or military criteria.” Sediqqi said while addressing a Saturday news conference in
India unwilling for bilateral talks on Kashmir: Qureshi informs UN
NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a substantive meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Wednesday in New York on Kashmir issue, he said India was unwilling to negotiate bilaterally on Kashmir. After meeting with
Resumption of US-Taliban talks is a positive development: FM
ISTANBUL: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has underscored the need for achieving the goal of a secure and stable Afghanistan for the economic progress and prosperity of the entire region. Addressing the 8th Ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul
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