ISLAMABAD: US’ special representative on Afghan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, in order to seek cooperation from Pakistan on expediting the peace talks with the Taliban, a statement released by the Foreign Office said.
Khalilzad, along with his team members, held delegation-level talks with additional secretary Aftab Khokhar and other officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Sunday.
“Both sides discussed bilateral relations, peace and security situation in the region, exchange of views on mutual interest including Afghan peace process,” excerpts from the statement read.
Khokhar, for his part, informed the delegation that Pakistan would continue to play its role in the Afghan peace process, as per the initiative taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Pakistan counselled all parties to move toward the political solution... in Afghanistan,” the statement said, even as Khalilzad reiterated that “Pakistan’s role is crucial for the lasting peace in the region.”
Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with Taliban representatives since October last year. However, despite positive signs, they haven’t reached a consensus on the matter.
On Friday, PM Khan met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the meeting by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, wherein they discussed solutions for a negotiated settlement to the 17-year-old Afghan war.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan,” the FO said on Saturday, adding that “[PM Khan] also underlined Pakistan’s firm support for an Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace process for political solution in Afghanistan.”
US special envoy arrives in Pakistan to take Afghan peace talks forward
US special envoy arrives in Pakistan to take Afghan peace talks forward
- Islamabad’s role is crucial for everlasting peace in the region, Khalilzad says
- Visit follows a meeting between PM Khan and President Ghani on Friday
Pakistan warns citizens in Iran to keep travel documents ready amid intensifying protests
- Iranian universities reschedule exams, allow foreign students to leave the country for one month
- Donald Trump pledges support for Iranian protesters as ‘activists’ report more than 2,500 deaths
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat to Iran on Tuesday urged Pakistani nationals to keep their travel documents handy and advised students to plan ahead after Iranian universities rescheduled examinations to allow international students to leave, as weeks-long nationwide protests further intensified.
Iran has been gripped by protests since late December after shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest worsening economic conditions, triggered by the Iranian rial plunging to record lows against the US dollar.
The demonstrations quickly spread beyond the capital, with unrest reported in most of the country’s 31 provinces and involving traders, students and other groups.
Authorities have responded with arrests, use of force and Internet and mobile network disruptions, which rights groups say are aimed at curbing coordination and limiting coverage of the protests.
At least 100 Pakistani citizens, including students and pilgrims, have returned home through the Pakistan-Iran border in the southwestern province of Balochistan, a Pakistani official told Arab News on Tuesday, though many are still believed to be in the neighboring state.
“I urge all Pakistani citizens in Iran to keep their travel documents, particularly immigration-related documents such as passport and ID cards, readily available with them,” Ambassador Mudassir Tipu said in a post on X. “Those who have expired documents, or their documents are not in their possession, they may kindly urgently approach us for timely and expeditious assistance.”
In a separate post, he said Iranian universities had rescheduled examinations and allowed international students to leave the country for one month, advising Pakistani students to make their plans accordingly.
On Jan. 1, Pakistan advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, citing safety concerns linked to the protests. The Pakistani embassy in Tehran also set up a crisis management unit to provide round-the-clock assistance to citizens.
Iran eased some restrictions on Tuesday, allowing international phone calls via mobile networks for the first time in days, but maintained limits on Internet access and text messaging as the death toll from the protests rose to at least 2,571 people, according to the Associated Press that quoted “activists.”
In a message on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters to continue their anti-government demonstrations, saying “help is on its way,” without providing details. Shortly afterward, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the United States and Israel of responsibility for the deaths of Iranian civilians.
Iranian state television said officials would hold funerals on Wednesday for “martyrs and security defenders” killed during the unrest, which has intensified over the past week.
