ISLAMABAD: Renewed efforts are underway to jumpstart stalled peace talks with the Taliban as a US envoy is in Kabul and Pakistani and Afghan officials are meeting in Islamabad.
US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad says he’s holding meetings with Kabul officials on Monday, seeking to bring about a new round of Afghan-to-Afghan talks, which he describes as essential to resolving the country’s nearly 18-year war.
The Taliban carry out near-daily attack, inflicting staggering casualties on Afghan forces, and now control about half of Afghanistan. Washington, meanwhile, has accelerated efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and has been pressing for direct talks between the Taliban and Kabul.
Meanwhile, Afghan and Pakistani officials from a group tasked with finding ways to cooperate on diplomatic, military and intelligence-sharing are meeting in Islamabad.
US special envoy launches new push on Afghan talks with Taliban
US special envoy launches new push on Afghan talks with Taliban
- Pakistan and Afghan officials are meeting in Islamabad on Monday
- US accelerated efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Afghan conflict
Pakistan says it will back Saudi Arabia ‘no matter what’ amid Iran strikes — Bloomberg
- Comments follow Iran missile and drone strikes on Gulf states after US-Israeli attacks on Tehran began last month
- Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed mutual defense pact last year, Riyadh is supporting Islamabad’s oil supply during crisis
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to support Saudi Arabia “no matter what” as tensions escalate across the Middle East following Iranian strikes on Gulf states, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing comments from the spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Mosharraf Zaidi told Bloomberg TV Islamabad would come to Riyadh’s aid whenever required, emphasizing the longstanding security partnership between the two countries, which was further strengthened by a mutual defense pact signed in September last year.
There was “no question we might, we will” come to Saudi Arabia’s aid “no matter what and no matter when,” Zaidi said.
“Both countries, even before the defense agreement, have always operated on the principle of being there for the other,” he added.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained close military and strategic ties, and the new agreement elevated their security cooperation at a time of heightened regional instability.
Zaidi said Pakistan was also working diplomatically to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the region.
“The real question is what is Pakistan doing to make sure things don’t come to a point where any of its closest partners are further embroiled in a conflict that could potentially undermine stability and prosperity in the region,” he said.
The comments come as Iran has continued missile and drone strikes against Gulf states following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, a conflict that has sent global energy markets higher and raised fears of broader regional escalation.
Zaidi said Saudi Arabia had made arrangements to support Pakistan’s oil and diesel supplies as the crisis pushes global fuel prices higher, posing a challenge for the import-dependent South Asian economy.
