ISLAMABAD: Foreign policy and security experts are calling on a third party like China to intervene in a brewing crisis between Tehran and Islamabad, after an Iranian strike on Pakistan this week drew a rapid military riposte and raised fears of greater regional turmoil.
Pakistan on Thursday conducted strikes on what it called “terrorist hideouts” inside Iran, in response to an attack by Tehran against alleged militants inside Pakistani territory. Iran says it had attacked Jash Al-Adil militants in Pakistan while Islamabad says it had hit hideouts of Balochistan Liberation Army separatist insurgents inside Iran. Both countries have for years exchanged accusations of cross-border militancy.
Both countries are also close partners of Beijing and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and China this week said it was willing to mediate.
“It’s a moment for diplomacy, possibly with help from an outside mediator like China, to try to set up a de-escalation path,” Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute Director at Wilson Center, told Arab News.
Tabadlab founder Mosharraf Zaidi also said China could be a useful mediator.
“China will most likely seek to intervene and talk down both parties but any further escalation by the Iranians will likely lead the region down a completely uncharted path,” he told Arab News.
“RESTORE DETERRENCE”
Analysts said Pakistan, which initially recalled its ambassador to Tehran, had responded militarily and hit militant targets in Iran to signal its capacity for deterrence.
“With Iran acting aggressively to target perceived threats around the broader region, Pakistan likely felt a sense of urgency to move quickly and restore deterrence to lower the risk of a future attack,” Kugelman said.
But as both strikes had reportedly hit children and other non-belligerents, it could be difficult to lower the temperature although further escalation could be “very costly,” the analyst added.
But while striking Pakistan may have satisfied domestic anger in Iran over recent security failures following high-profile bombings, experts said the motivations for Iran’s Tuesday attack were still largely opaque.
“Iran has initiated this exchange, but it is unclear what its near or medium-term goals could be,” Zaidi said.
Senator Sherry Rehman, a former federal minister and Pakistani ambassador to Washington, said Pakistan’s response has been “proportionate as well as calibrated.”
“This is not to say that we are seeking an escalatory spiral. I don’t think that’s been the case for Islamabad for a long time in any such conflict, but there has been a long investment in maintaining good relations and cordial relations with Tehran,” Rehman said.
“So, we have not shown belligerence or bellicosity but in fact been always invoking the need for strategic maturity and I think that’s where this should go.”
Brig. (Retired) Masud Ahmed Khan, a defense analyst, said Pakistan had allowed ample time for “diplomatic efforts” after Iran’s Tuesday attack but the response had not been “encouraging.”
“The statement by the Iranian foreign minister justifying the illegal act compelled Pakistan to retaliate and secondly, people [public] were also not satisfied until there was a retaliation,” he told Arab News.
Now, the ball was in Iran’s court to “calm the situation by acting responsibly” while both countries needed to sit together and use existing mechanisms to discuss and sort out differences.
“There is a bilateral agreement of 2013,” Khan said, “and also a 2018 agreement to form a joint task force, which was established to address these issues.”
Experts urge Chinese mediation after Iran-Pakistan flare-up
https://arab.news/9mpm4
Experts urge Chinese mediation after Iran-Pakistan flare-up
- Iranian strike on Pakistan this week drew a rapid military riposte and raised fears of greater regional turmoil
- Both countries are close partners of Beijing and members of SCO, China this week said it was willing to mediate
Gunmen kill two laborers from Punjab province in southwest Pakistan — official
- The two laborers were working inside a garage in Tump area of Balochistan's Kech district when they came under attack
- No group immediately claimed responsibility, but Baloch separatists have previously targeted people from other provinces
ISLAMABAD: Unidentified gunmen on Sunday shot dead two laborers, who hailed from the eastern Punjab province, in the country's restive Balochistan province, a local official said.
The two laborers were working inside a garage in Tump area of Balochistan's Kech district when they came under fire by gunmen riding motorbikes, according to Saeed Umrani, commissioner of Makran Division where Kech is located.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Baloch separatists have previously targeted people from other provinces on suspicion of spying for state agencies.
"Both laborers, who were residents of the Punjab province, were killed on the spot," the official said.
Umrani said bodies of the deceased had been sent to their hometowns and the district administration was hunting for the perpetrators.
The attack came two weeks after armed men abducted nine passengers, who hailed from Punjab, from a bus and killed them near Balochistan's Noshki district.
The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had information that plain-clothed spies were on the bus. The group offered no evidence to support its claim.
Balochistan has been the scene of a long-running insurgency by separatist militants who seek independence from the central government in Islamabad.
Although the government says it has quelled the insurgency, violence has continued to persist in the province.
Pakistan PM, Kuwaiti emir discuss transformation of bilateral ties into economic partnership
- The meeting came on the sidelines of a two-day World Economic Forum summit in Riyadh
- PM Shehbaz Sharif assured of efficient implementation of Pakistan-Kuwait deals signed in Nov.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday met with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Riyadh and discussed with him transformation of Pakistan-Kuwait ties into an economic partnership, Sharif’s office said.
The meeting came on the sidelines of a two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) summit on global collaboration, growth and energy on April 28-29.
PM Sharif thanked Sheikh Mishal for his congratulatory letter upon his re-election and congratulated him on assuming the role of the emir of Kuwait.
“The Prime Minister expressed his desire to work closely with His Highness to transform bilateral ties into a mutually beneficial economic partnership that would serve the best interests of the peoples of both countries,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
The development came months after Pakistan and Kuwait signed several trade and investment agreements worth $10 billion during the visit of caretaker Pakistan PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar to the Gulf country.
Besides these agreements, the two countries had signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of culture, environment and sustainable development.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, had also accompanied the caretaker prime minister on the Kuwait visit in November, which was part of the Pakistani leadership’s ambitious plan to attract investment from the Middle East amid an economic slowdown at home.
“The Prime Minister assured the Kuwaiti leadership that these MoUs and agreements would be implemented in an efficient and timely manner,” the statement added.
“In addition to bilateral ties, the regional situation, particularly with regards to the crisis in Gaza, was also discussed.”
PM Sharif, IMF chief discuss Pakistan’s new loan program on WEF sidelines in Riyadh
- Pakistan’s $3 billion IMF loan program, which helped Islamabad avert a default last year, is due to end this month
- Pakistan faces a chronic balance of payments crisis, with nearly $24 billion to repay in debt over next fiscal year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Riyadh, where the two figures discussed a new loan program for the cash-strapped South Asian country, Sharif’s office said.
The meeting between PM Sharif and the IMF managing director took place on the sidelines of a two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) summit on global collaboration, growth and energy in the Saudi capital on April 28-29.
Sharif thanked Georgieva for her support to Pakistan in securing a $3 billion IMF loan program last year that is due to expire this month. The IMF executive board is expected to meet on Monday to decide on the disbursement of the final tranche of $1.1 billion to Pakistan.
“MD IMF shared her institution’s perspective on the ongoing program with Pakistan, including the review process,” PM Sharif’s office said in a statement.
“Both sides also discussed Pakistan entering into another IMF program to ensure that the gains made in the past year are consolidated and its economic growth trajectory remains positive.”
Sharif informed the IMF chief that his government was fully committed to put Pakistan’s economy back on track, according to the statement.
He said he had directed his financial team, led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, to carry out structural reforms, ensure strict fiscal discipline and pursue prudent policies that would ensure macro-economic stability and sustained economic growth.
Pakistan secured the $3 billion IMF program in June last year, which helped it avert a sovereign default. Islamabad says it is seeking a loan over at least three years to help achieve macroeconomic stability and execute long-overdue reforms.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb has said Islamabad could secure a staff-level agreement on the new program by early July, though he has declined to detail what size of the program it seeks. If secured, it would be Pakistan’s 24th IMF bailout.
The $350 billion South Asian economy faces a chronic balance of payments crisis, with nearly $24 billion to repay in debt and interest over the next fiscal year — three-time more than its central bank’s foreign currency reserves.
Pakistan’s finance ministry expects the economy to grow by 2.6 percent in the fiscal year ending in June, while average inflation for the year is projected to stand at 24 percent, down from 29.2 percent the previous fiscal year.
Saudi ministers assure PM Sharif of support for Pakistan’s development — PM’s office
- PM Shehbaz Sharif is in Riyadh to attend WEF meeting on global collaboration, growth and energy
- On Sunday, he met with Saudi Arabia’s minister of finance, investment, and industry and minerals
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday met with Saudi Arabia’s ministers of finance, investment and industry in Riyadh on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, Sharif’s office said, adding that the Saudi ministers assured him of the Kingdom’s support for Pakistan’s development.
The Pakistan prime minister arrived in Riyadh on Saturday to attend the WEF meeting on global collaboration, growth and energy on April 28-29, after being extended an invitation by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Professor Klaus Schwab, the WEF executive chairman.
On the sidelines of the WEF meeting, Sharif held separate meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, and Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef, according to the Pakistan PM’s office.
In his meeting with the Saudi finance minister, the two sides agreed that Saudi Arabia would explore more opportunities for investment in Pakistan.
“The Saudi finance minister reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for Pakistan’s economic development,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
The Saudi investment minister acknowledged PM Sharif’s efforts for Pakistan’s growth and prosperity.
“A delegation of Saudi investors will soon visit Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by Sharif’s office.
“Pakistan is our priority in terms of investment. Both sides will continue to fully cooperate in agriculture, information technology (IT) and energy sector.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely working to increase their bilateral trade and investment, and the Kingdom recently reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion discussed previously with Islamabad.
In his meeting with the prime minister, Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef expressed “deep interest” in cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, minerals, IT and other sectors, according to Sharif’s office.
“I am in touch with Saudi private companies regarding investment in Pakistan and [representatives of] these companies will visit Pakistan very soon,” the Saudi minister was quoted as telling PM Sharif.
“Cooperation between private sectors of the two countries is among our top priorities.”
PM Sharif thanked Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as the Saudi ministers for supporting Pakistan in every difficulty.
“During my previous government, our economic situation improved, thanks to Saudi Arabia’s support and assistance,” he said, describing both countries as strategic partners.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and other members of PM Sharif’s cabinet were also present at the meetings.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar appointed deputy prime minister of Pakistan
- Dar, a chartered accountant and a seasoned politician, is considered closest ally of Nawaz Sharif, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s elder brother and three-time former PM
- Many believe Dar’s appointment indicates that Nawaz, who didn’t take PM’s office due to split mandate in Feb.8 vote, is trying to assert his control indirectly
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar deputy prime minister of the country, the Pakistani government said on Sunday.
Dar, who is a former four-time finance minister of Pakistan, was earlier made the head of a special committee of PM Sharif’s cabinet on privatization.
The 73-year-old chartered accountant is considered to be the closest ally of PM Sharif’s elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, who is also a three-time former prime minister.
“The prime minister has been pleased to designate Mr.Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect and until further orders,” read a notification issued from the Cabinet Division.
Nawaz, who returned to Pakistan in October 2023 after having spent years in self-exile, was seen as the favorite candidate for the PM’s office ahead of the Feb. 8 national election and was widely believed to be backed by the country’s powerful army.
But the three-time former prime minister decided not to take the PM’s office after the Feb. 8 vote did not present a clear winner, leading to speculation that his role in the country’s politics had come to an end.
But many believe Dar’s appointment to the deputy prime minister’s slot is an indication that Nawaz is trying to assert his control of government through indirect ways.
Prior to Dar, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was appointed the deputy prime minister of Pakistan in 2012.
