2. Filistin devlet başkanı
Araghchi: US now begging to talk on Iran's terms
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States unsuccessfully tried to force Tehran into surrender during the war, AzerNEWS reports.
'Solution lies in seriousness': Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tells opposition offer for talks still on table
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the PTI-led opposition on Monday that the government’s offer for talks remained on the table, urging them to demonstrate seriousness. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the minister said, “The solution lies in seriousness,” and called on the opposition to agree on a time and venue for negotiations. “On one hand you are not serious about talks, and on the other, you want to derail the system,” Chaudhry remarked. Senator Abdul Qadir also called for dialogue during Senate proceedings, saying political problems could only be resolved through political means. He urged the opposition and government to sit together and agree on terms of reference (TORs). “If you don’t accept the system, then you should not accept the leader of the opposition seat either,” he said. Later in the day, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Chaudhry met the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and the leader of the opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, in the NA opposition leader’s chamber. The two sides discussed the appointment of the chief election commissioner of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the country’s political situation, and mutual political matters, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP). The two sides agreed to continue the meetings. In December 2025, PM Shehbaz had extended an offer for talks with the opposition, but emphasised that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on “legitimate matters”. At the time, the PTI had outright rejected talks, but TTAP, of which the PTI is a part, stated its openness to negotiate with the government. Since then, the government has repeatedly urged the PTI-led opposition to engage in dialogue. In July, Abbas, who is also the chief of the PTI-allied Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and part of TTAP, confirmed that opposition was ready to hold talks and had sought a “neutral venue” for the proposed dialogue. Speaking to DawnNewsTV, Abbas confirmed that the government had invited opposition leaders for talks at the PM’s Office. However, he maintained that they had sought to hold the meeting in Parliament House. Earlier this month, in a meeting with PTI Chief Whip in the National Assembly Aamir Dogar, Chaudhry agreed to invite the PTI-led opposition for negotiation at the proposed venue; however, PTI maintained that any dialogue was conditional on improved meeting facilities and access to medical care for its founding chairman, Imran Khan. Speaking to Dawn after the meeting, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram had said the party made it clear that negotiations could not take place unless a conducive environment was created. He said the party had demanded permission for meetings with Imran and access to his personal doctors. “Otherwise, we cannot sit with the government merely for photo sessions,” he added.
Restored temples of Makhad Sharif revive forgotten heritage
Standing majestically on the eastern bank of the Indus River in Jand, a remote town of Attock, the centuries-old Hindu temples of Makhad Sharif are once again emerging as symbols of Pakistan’s rich and diverse civilisational heritage. Once left to the mercy of time, weather and neglect after Partition, the remarkable monuments are now undergoing a scientifically planned conservation and restoration programme by the Punjab Department of Archaeology, bringing new life to one of Attock district’s significant yet overlooked archaeological treasures. Situated at the confluence of the Indus and Soan rivers, Makhad Sharif has for centuries occupied a strategic position on historic trade routes connecting northern Punjab with Sindh. Long before the advent of the railway system, the town flourished as an important river port where merchant vessels transported grain, textiles, timber and other commodities through the Indus trade network. The restored ceiling and walls reveal original artwork and an architectural landscape reflecting the multicultural character of pre-Partition Punjab. Its commercial prosperity attracted wealthy Hindu merchants, Muslim traders and Sikh businessmen, who collectively transformed Makhad into one of the region’s vibrant trading centres during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Their prosperity gave rise to magnificent temples, imposing merchant havelis, elegant mosques and public buildings, creating a remarkable architectural landscape that reflected the multicultural character of pre-Partition Punjab. The temple is being restored to its original grandeur. Among these monuments, the ancient Hindu temples occupy a special place. Built on elevated ground overlooking the Indus River, the temples are distinguished by towering shikharas, intricate brick masonry, ornamental frescoes and finely executed architectural details. Their commanding location made them visible from passing boats on the Indus, serving both as places of worship and landmarks for traders navigating the river. Following the migration of the Hindu community during Partition in 1947, the temples gradually fell silent. Without caretakers, decades of exposure to harsh weather, moisture, biological growth and structural settlement caused significant deterioration. Cracked masonry, damaged plaster, fading frescoes and weakened foundations threatened the survival of the monuments. Recognising their historical and cultural value, the Directorate General of Archaeology Punjab has initiated an extensive conservation programme aimed at preserving the temples in accordance with internationally recognised principles of architectural conservation. “The restoration project marks a milestone in Punjab’s heritage conservation efforts and reflects a growing commitment to preserving monuments belonging to all faiths and cultures that have shaped the history of the region,” said Director General of the Punjab Department of Archaeology Zaheer Abbas Malik. An artist gives the finishing touches to artwork inside the temple. He said the initiative would not only safeguard an irreplaceable architectural legacy but also transform Makhad Sharif into an important destination for cultural, historical and religious tourism. Mr Malik said one of the most delicate aspects of the restoration was the conservation of the temple’s historic frescoes, which represented an invaluable artistic legacy. Conservation specialists are undertaking painstaking cleaning of painted surfaces, consolidating fragile plaster layers, stabilising detached pigments and preserving surviving decorative motifs using internationally accepted scientific methodologies. “Every intervention is aimed at retaining the maximum amount of original artistic material so that the temple’s historic decorative character remains intact for future generations,” he added. He described the ongoing work as a model of scientific restoration, where the objective was not to create a new structure but to conserve the authentic historic fabric with the least possible intervention. Imran Zahid, director of construction and development at the Directorate General of Archaeology, told Dawn that unlike ordinary renovation, the project followed globally accepted conservation standards that emphasised minimum intervention, preservation of original historic fabric, reversibility wherever possible and the exclusive use of traditional materials and indigenous craftsmanship compatible with the monument’s original construction. He said that before restoration began, conservation architects and heritage specialists carried out an exhaustive condition assessment and scientific documentation of the entire monument. “Every crack, structural weakness, deteriorated surface and damaged architectural component was carefully mapped and analysed to identify the causes of decay and formulate an appropriate conservation strategy,” he said. One of the first phases of the project involved the painstaking removal of biological growth, including algae, moss, lichens and microbial deposits that had accumulated on the historic masonry over several decades. A traditional mural depicting Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, apparently portraying an episode from their forest exile in the Ramayana, is preserved on the walls of the historic Hindu temple at Makhad Sharif. — Photos by the writer Mr Zahid said conservation experts employed carefully controlled cleaning techniques to eliminate harmful biological agents without damaging the original bricks, stone surfaces or decorative elements. “This meticulous process has significantly reduced moisture retention within the masonry, preventing further biological deterioration while revealing much of the temple’s original architectural beauty,” he added. Responding to a question, he said specialised underpinning works were being undertaken beneath the monument to address structural instability caused by foundation settlement. Raja Noor Muhammad Nizami, a historian of the Potohar region, believes that, together with its spectacular Indus River landscape, ancient river port, traditional architecture and rich archaeological remains, the restored temple complex has the potential to place Makhad Sharif prominently on Pakistan’s cultural tourism map. “The site offers exceptional opportunities for archaeological research, heritage education and responsible tourism while contributing to the local economy,” he said. of preserving the nation’s priceless historical legacy for generations to come. Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2026
Gizli kanal iddiası...
ABD merkezli haber sitesi “Axios”un üç yetkili kaynağa dayandırdığı haberine göre, Donald Trump yönetimine bağlı müzakereciler, Mayıs ayının ortalarında savaşı sona erdirmek amacıyla bir yol ararken, farklı bir yönteme başvurdu; karşılarındaki İranlı müzakerecilerin Devrim Muhafızları’nın görüşlerini ne ölçüde yansıttığından emin olamayınca doğrudan Devrim Muhafızları liderliğiyle iletişim kurmaya çalıştı. Bu kapsamda Beyaz Saray’ın, hem ABD yönetimi hem de Devrim Muhafızları tarafından güvenildiği değerlendirilen Irak Kürdistan Bölgesi Başkanı Neçirvan Barzani’den yardım istediği öne sürüldü. Habere göre bu vesileyle Trump yönetimi, İran’ın resmi müzakerecilerini aşıp Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu’yla bire bir görüştü. Üç kaynağın doğrudan bilgisine dayanan ve daha önce kamuoyuna yansımayan bu girişim, Mayıs ayının ortalarında yaşandı. Habere göre söz konusu iletişim kanalı, ABD’li yetkililerin, İran İslami Danışma Meclisi Başkanı Muhammed Bakır Kalibaf ile Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi’nin Washington ile bir anlaşmaya varma yetkisine sahip olup olmadığından yahut Devrim Muhafızları’nın olası bir anlaşmayı engelleyip engellemeyeceğinden emin olamadığında denendi. Şifreli telefon Habere göre 10 Mayıs’ta, dönemin ABD Ulusal İstihbarat Direktörü Tulsi Gabbard, Başkan Donald Trump’ın onayıyla Barzani ile iletişime geçti ve Devrim Muhafızları Komutanı General Ahmed Vahidi ile doğrudan temas kurulmasına yardımcı olmasını talep etti. 14 Mayıs’ta İranlı bir yetkili, Barzani’nin Erbil’deki ofisine bir şifreli telefon getirdi ve böylece iki isim güvenli bir görüşme yaptı. Görüşmede Barzani, Devrim Muhafızları’nın müzakereleri destekleyip desteklemediğini sordu. Vahidi’nin olumlu yanıt vermesi üzerine bu bilgi Gabbard’a, ardından da Beyaz Saray’a iletildi. Bu temaslar daha sonra, Barzani’nin ev sahibi ve arabulucu olarak görev yapacağı, ABD ile İran’dan üst düzey yetkililer arasında Erbil’de yapılması planlanan gizli toplantı önerisine dönüştü. Tahran bu öneriyi doğrudan reddetmese de, İsrail istihbaratının Kuzey Irak’ta geniş bir ağa sahip olduğu ve İran heyeti üyelerinin Erbil’de ya da intikal süreçlerinde hedef alınabileceği yönündeki güvenlik endişelerini dile getirdi. Dolayısıyla toplantı gerçekleşmedi. Haberde ayrıca, Barzani’nin o tarihten bu yana Beyaz Saray’a müzakerelerin yeniden başlatılması konusunda yardım teklif etmeyi sürdürdüğü belirtildi. Gemi krizinin ardında İran saldırıları varmış Son dönemde ABD donanması ve özellikle de USS Abraham Lincoln gemisinde yaşanan sorunların, savaşın başında İran tarafından Bahreyn’deki Amerikan üssüne düzenlenen saldırılarla bağlantılı olduğu belirtildi. “The New York Times” gazetesinin haberine göre, İran’ın savaşın ilk gününde Bahreyn’deki ABD Donanması üssünü füze ve saldırı dronlarıyla ağır biçimde vurması, USS Abraham Lincoln’ın tedarik sorunlarının başlangıcını oluşturdu. Saldırıda, donanmanın onlarca yıldır kullandığı önemli bir lojistik merkez büyük ölçüde tahrip edildi. Donanma, savaş uçaklarının saldırı görevlerini ve daha sonra İran limanlarına yönelik ablukayı sürdürebilmek için yeni bir lojistik merkez aradı, Hint Okyanusu’ndaki Diego Garcia ana tedarik noktası haline getirildi. Ancak Diego Garcia, Umman Körfezi’nde faaliyet gösteren iki ABD uçak gemisi taarruz grubundan yaklaşık 3 bin 500 kilometre uzakta. Bu mesafe gıda, yakıt, mühimmat ve diğer temel malzemelerin ulaştırılmasını zorlaştırıyor. Katar yalanladı İran ısrarlı... İran ile Katar arasında İranlı savaş pilotları üzerinden süren gerilim devam ediyor. Tahran, ABD-İran savaşının başlangıcındaki bir askeri operasyon sırasında iki savaş uçağının Katar hava savunma sistemleri tarafından vurulmasının ardından esir alındığını söylediği üç pilotun serbest bırakılmasını isterken, Katar, bu iddiaları kesin bir dille reddetti, “bu yanıltıcı açıklamalar karşısında şaşkınlığa uğradığını” söyledi. İran, savaş sırasında kaybolduğu belirtilen pilotların akıbetinin araştırılması için Katar’a uzman ekip göndermek istediğini kaydederken, İran Silahlı Kuvvetleri, Doha yönetiminden açıklamayı yalanlamak yerine araştırma ekibine ülkeye giriş izni vermesini talep etti.
ABD'den İran'da Devrim Muhafızları ile gizli temas iddiasıPTI keeps doors open for talks as ‘deal’ rumours swirl
• Insiders say govt approached party senator with proposal to hold meeting in Parliament House • PTI parliamentary party to meet today to prepare strategy ISLAMABAD: As rumours swirl of a possible deal between the main opposition party and the powers that be, senior PTI leaders say that while they have never closed the door on talks, there has been no fresh development so far. However, internal discussions within the PTI’s parliamentary party WhatsApp group suggest the party has received a message from the government, indicating that a meeting could be held in Parliament House, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself could participate and hear their grievances. In anticipation of the huddle, the PTI has called a meeting of its parliamentary party today (Monday), where recent developments and the possibility of headway in talks will be discussed. The reports come even as speculation regarding some sort of backchannel patch-up between the party and the powers that be has reached fever pitch. Observers has pointed to the amount of media coverage being afforded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, and the sudden increase in activity among party workers on the ground. A senior PTI leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that two days ago, one of the party’s senators informed colleagues that she had received a call from MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, inviting them for talks with the prime minister. Mashal Yousafzai informed the parliamentary party that she had spoken to Mr Chaudhry, who told her he was sitting with the prime minister and Rana Sanaullah, and offered to hold negotiations with the party. According to Ms Yousafzai, the minister had said the venue for the meeting would be the Constitution Room of Parliament House, where the prime minister would also be in attendance. This lines up with an earlier claim by Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas, a staunch PTI ally, who had indicated that the party wanted to hold discussions with the government at a ‘neutral venue’, such as Parliament House, rather than the PM Office. “A senior leader asked why Tariq Fazal had contacted Mashal Yousafzai when he had the contact numbers of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Amir Dogar, Gohar Khan and other PTI leaders. However, Ms Yousafzai insisted that she had received the call and that the offer was serious,” the party insider said, recounting the discussion. “We have decided to hold a parliamentary party meeting on Monday (today), where the entire situation will be discussed. Since Imran Khan has authorised Mr Achakzai to hold talks, he will also be consulted,” he explained. However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja told Dawn that all such reports were purely speculative. “We are standing firm. If the government wants to hold talks, it will become clear soon. We are ready to talk with all segments of society, including political parties and other stakeholders. If the ‘system’ wants to talk, it should take the first step,” he said. Mr Raja said no decision could be made without the will and approval of founding chairman Imran Khan. However, he said PTI’s doors remained open for talks. PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram told Dawn that the party was technically not engaged in any talks with the government. Dawn also reached out to Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry for comment, but did not receive a response until the filing of this report. Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2026
Trump yönetimi, İran müzakerecilerini aşıp orduyla gizli kanal üzerinden görüştü iddiası
Axios, Neçirvan Barzani'nin, Beyaz Saray ile İran Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu arasında gizli bir kanal kurulmasına aracılık ettiğini iddia etti. ABD merkezli haber portalı Axios'ta pazar günü Barak Ravid imzasıyla yayınlanan bir haberde, Irak Kürt Bölgesel Yönetimi Başkanı Neçirvan Barzani'nin, İran İslam Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu ile Beyaz Saray arasında gizli bir iletişim kanalı kurulmasına yardımcı olduğu iddia edildi. Habere göre bu vesileyle Başkan Donald Trump yönetimi, İran'ın resmi müzakerecilerini aşıp Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu'yla birebir görüştü. Habere göre söz konusu iletişim kanalı, ABD'li yetkililerin İran İslami Danışma Meclisi Başkanı Muhammed Bakır Kalibaf ile Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi'nin Washington ile bir anlaşmaya varma yetkisine sahip olup olmadığından ya da Devrim Muhafızları'nın olası bir anlaşmayı engelleyip engellemeyeceğinden emin olamadığı mayıs ayı ortasında ortaya çıktı. Temaslar hakkında doğrudan bilgi sahibi üç kaynağa dayandırılan habere göre Beyaz Saray; “hem Washington hem de Tahran ile uzun süredir devam eden güçlü bağları ve üst düzey İranlı yetkililerle olan doğrudan temasları” nedeniyle Barzani'ye başvurdu. 10 Mayıs tarihinde, dönemin ABD Ulusal İstihbarat Direktörü Tulsi Gabbard, ABD Başkanı Donald Trump'ın onayıyla Barzani ile iletişime geçerek Devrim Muhafızları Komutanı General Ahmed Vahidi ile doğrudan temas kurulmasına yardımcı olmasını talep etti. 14 Mayıs'ta İranlı bir yetkili, Barzani'nin Erbil'deki ofisine şifreli bir telefon getirdi ve bu sayede iki isim güvenli bir görüşme gerçekleştirdi. Görüşme sırasında Barzani, Devrim Muhafızları'nın müzakereleri destekleyip desteklemediğini sordu. Vahidi'nin olumlu yanıt vermesi üzerine bu bilgi Gabbard'a, ardından da Beyaz Saray'a iletildi. Bu temaslar daha sonra, Barzani'nin ev sahibi ve arabulucu olarak görev yapacağı, ABD ve İran'dan üst düzey yetkililer arasında Erbil'de yapılması planlanan gizli bir toplantı önerisine dönüştü. İran tarafı öneriyi doğrudan reddetmese de İsrail istihbaratının Kuzey Irak'ta geniş bir ağa sahip olduğu ve İran heyeti üyelerinin Erbil'de ya da intikal süreçlerinde hedef alınabileceği yönündeki güvenlik endişelerini dile getirdi. Ancak söz konusu toplantı gerçekleşmedi. Haberde ayrıca, Barzani'nin o tarihten bu yana Beyaz Saray'a müzakerelerin yeniden başlatılması konusunda yardım teklif etmeyi sürdürdüğü belirtildi.
Medical disability alone cannot justify job termination, rules Sindh High Court
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has observed that mere medical disability for a particular assignment cannot mechanically justify termination from services, as protection of the livelihood and service benefits of a disabled employee formed part of the constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity and non-discrimination. A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon also noted that where an employee acquired disability during service, the employer was under an obligation to consider reasonable accommodation and adjustment to a suitable post or alternative duties before resorting to compulsory retirement or removal from service. It has also overturned a decision of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) regarding the premature and compulsory retirement of an employee on the pretext of visual impairment. It directed the university to reinstate the petitioner forthwith, with continuity of service and all consequential service benefits, and to further examine and provide reasonable accommodation or adjustment to a suitable post compatible with the petitioner’s medical condition, strictly in accordance with the law. Court orders reinstatement of Fuuast employee retired over visual impairment Ali Abbas had petitioned the SHC last year and submitted that he had been serving at Fuuast since 1996 and had earned promotions from BPS-1 to assistant superintendent (BPS-16) in the central library at the Abdul Haq Campus of the varsity. He also argued that despite developing permanent visual impairment during service, he had continued to discharge his duties diligently, but the university had unlawfully issued an order in March last year prematurely retiring him from service, as he had raised concerns regarding employees’ financial hardships and non-payment of salaries. The counsel for the respondent university raised preliminary objections to the maintainability of the petition and argued that the service of the university’s employees was governed by non-statutory rules and that the SHC lacked jurisdiction to interfere in actions taken in good faith under the relevant law. The lawyer also contended that the petitioner was lawfully retired on medical grounds after due inquiry proceedings, medical examination and approval by the syndicate, while complaints about his conduct and disruptive behaviour led to disciplinary proceedings and a medical examination wherein he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and declared fit only for duties of a “counsellor”, though no such post existed at the varsity. The bench in its order said that the objection about maintainability of the petition did not appear to be sustainable in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the present case, as the grievance of the petitioner was not merely to a service dispute simpliciter but to allegations of discriminatory treatment, denial of due process and unlawful deprivation of livelihood on account of disability, thereby bringing the matter within the constitutional domain. It also noted that the impugned action appeared to have been triggered only after disputes arose between the petitioner and certain university officials following complaints and grievances raised by him regarding administrative matters, and such surrounding circumstances cannot be ignored while examining the bona fides of the impugned action. It further observed that the respondent university primarily relied upon the opinion of an ophthalmologist diagnosing the petitioner as a case of retinitis pigmentosa and opining that he was fit only for duties of a “counsellor”. However, admittedly, it stated that no medical board was constituted to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the petitioner’s overall functional capacity and extent of disability or possibility of adjustment to another suitable assignment. It also noted that the failure to constitute a medical board assumed greater significance in this case because the petitioner had continued serving for years with the same condition, and there was material on record, including testimonials from his immediate supervisory officer, reflecting satisfactory performance of duties. “It is a settled principle of law that where an employee acquires disability during service, the employer is under an obligation to consider reasonable accommodation, adjustment to a suitable post, or alternative duties before resorting to compulsory retirement or removal from service”, it added. The bench further said, “Mere medical unfitness for a particular assignment cannot mechanically justify termination, as protection of the livelihood and service benefits of a disabled employee forms part of the constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination”. The SHC observed that it is also unable to accept the contention that the university was absolved of its obligation merely because no sanctioned post of “counsellor” existed in the establishment. “It is now a settled principle of law that where an employee acquires disability during service, the employer is under a legal and constitutional obligation to consider reasonable accommodation, adjustment to a suitable post, or alternative assignment compatible with the employee’s medical condition before resorting to compulsory retirement or removal from service, while interpreting protections available to disabled employees, we are of the view that an employee acquiring disability during service cannot be mechanically dispensed with merely because he becomes medically unfit for the original post, and that the employer must explore alternative placement with protection of service benefits”, it added. While setting aside the impugned order of the varsity, the bench said that the same suffered from procedural impropriety, non-application of mind and failure to observe the constitutional and statutory obligations relating to reasonable accommodation of a disabled employee. Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026
Iran fires back at Trump’s Hormuz claim
• Tehran says waterway will remain under its control, vows to maintain blockade • White House official says president’s remarks were ‘a joke’ • Pezeshkian acknowledges economic toll of war; Araghchi rules out talks without strict conditions • Iranian military calls for release of three pilots ‘detained’ in Qatar; Doha denies holding any DUBAI: Iran fired back on Saturday at US President Donald Trump’s claim that he would soon declare the strategic Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, asserting the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded will indefinitely remain under Iranian command. The rhetorical clash comes as attacks on Emirati oil tankers brought maritime traffic in the vital waterway to a near standstill. “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X. “This strait will be opened and closed only at Iran’s command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” he added. Trump, speaking at a rally in New York on Friday, said that after the US defeated Iran, he would “pretty soon” declare Hormuz US territory. A White House official later attempted to soften the statement, saying the president had been joking. Diplomatic efforts to end the standoff remain frozen. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that Tehran has not decided to resume negotiations with Washington. He clarified that messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not amount to negotiations, adding that the US must meet strict conditions for shipping to resume. A top Iranian official, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, outlined those conditions last week, demanding an end to the “war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq”, alongside the termination of crippling sanctions and compensation for wartime damage. As diplomacy stalls, violence in the strait persists. The United Arab Emirates’ state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the strait on Friday evening, following similar attacks on two ADNOC vessels Thursday. No injuries were reported. Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a bulk carrier was struck in the hull by an unknown projectile in the strait on Friday. The attacks have dramatically slowed traffic. Vessel-tracking data from Kpler showed only two non-oil vessels passing through on Friday with no crude shipments visible, a stark contrast to the more than 130 ships that traversed it daily before the conflict began in late February. For Gulf economies built around oil exports, the disruption has created a crisis that extends far beyond the battlefield. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s chief executive described the country’s oil sector as “paralysed”, with more than 90pc of government income dependent on crude exports travelling through Hormuz. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said reopening Hormuz was a priority and that he had discussed ending the war and Washington’s role in doing so with Trump. Despite Iran’s defiant tone regarding the strait, President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the war’s severe economic toll on his country. In remarks carried by state media, Pezeshkian attributed rising inflation to the US blockade and the destruction of industrial facilities. “Our revenues have declined. We used to sell oil, but now we cannot sell it,” Pezeshkian said, noting that damaged factories have decimated tax revenues. Washington has signalled further economic pressure, with Treasury secretary Scott Bessent promising measures aimed at placing Tehran under unprecedented isolation. The US military has also vowed to maintain an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports. However, the closure of Hormuz has also created a political headache for Trump ahead of the November congressional elections. The average US price of a gallon of gasoline reached about $4.08 on Friday, up 29pc from a year earlier. Vice-president JD Vance said keeping energy prices low was Washington’s top priority, even as Trump urged Americans to accept higher petrol prices as the price of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Separately, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday to help secure the release of three Iranian pilots allegedly held in Qatar. The military’s Missing Persons Search Committee said pilots Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian were captured alive in March after their Su-24 fighter jets were shot down during an operation against a US base. The committee accused Qatar of violating the Geneva Conventions by denying the prisoners communication with their families. In response, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on X: “We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots & are surprised by these misleading statements.” Qatar rescuers “carried out their duties to the fullest” searching for the pilots, he added. It had “communicated with the Iranian side to coordinate the handover of the remains of one of the pilots who was found”, said Ansari. “Qatar also issued an invitation for an Iranian team to visit the Qatar to be briefed on the details of the search & rescue operations in April, but the Iranian side has yet to respond to the invitation,” he added. Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026
ABD-İran Mutabakatına Rağmen İsrail'den Lübnan'a Kanlı Saldırı: 4 Ölü- Güvenlik15 Ağu
Women exercising lawful rights should not be subjected to violence with impunity: SC
While rejecting an appeal by a convict who murdered his former wife just two days after she obtained a judicial decree dissolving their marriage, the Supreme Court on Saturday ruled that women who exercise their lawful rights should not be subjected to violence with impunity. “This court, being mindful of the constitutional imperative to protect the life and dignity of women and to ensure that those who exercise their lawful rights are not subjected to violence with impunity, finds no basis to interfere with the concurrent conviction,” observed Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar. Headed by Justice Kakar, a three-judge Supreme Court bench, also comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, took up an appeal against the Lahore High Court’s June 25, 2025, rejection of his plea. According to the prosecution’s case, petitioner Wasim Abbas on Oct 11, 2020, at approximately 3pm, forcibly entered the home of Irshad Begum in Lahore. Armed with a .30-bore pistol, he was also accompanied by two unidentified accomplices on a motorcycle. The petitioner entered a room where his former wife, Shehnaz Bibi, and Naeem Bibi were resting on charpoys. After taunting the deceased about her demand for divorce, Abbas fired multiple shots at her, inflicting six firearm wounds to her abdomen, hand, thighs and back. An accomplice fired an additional shot below her right knee. Shehnaz Bibi succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The SC noted that the motive was a deep-seated resentment stemming from the deceased’s successful suit for dissolution of marriage. An ex parte divorce decree had been passed in her favour on Oct 9, 2020 — merely 48 hours before the murder. Justice Kakar, writing the judgment, emphasised that the deceased had lawfully exercised her rights under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, and the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. The four-page judgment underscored the constitutional obligation under Articles 9, 14 and 25 of the Constitution to protect the life, dignity and equal treatment of all citizens, including women. The judgment also cited the 2019 Shazia Perveen case to highlight that a woman who seeks legal dissolution of marriage through the proper judicial process is exercising a fundamental right. Any violence perpetrated against her for exercising such a right strikes at the very heart of the constitutional order and must be met with the full rigour of the law. Earlier, the trial court had convicted Abbas under Section 302(b) of the PPC, sentencing him to death as ta’zir, along with a direction to pay Rs500,000 in compensation to the legal heirs under Section 544-A of the Cr.P.C. He was also convicted under Section 449 of the PPC and sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs50,000. All sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The Supreme Court found the ocular evidence provided by Irshad Begum (PW-8) and Naeem Bibi (PW-9) to be “reliable, trustworthy and confidence-inspiring”. The court noted that, as inmates of the deceased’s parental home, they were natural witnesses to the domestic crime. The court further highlighted that the incident took place in broad daylight, reducing the possibility of mistaken identity. Abbas was personally known to the witnesses by name and face as the former husband of the deceased. Additional corroborating evidence included the recovery of the crime weapon on Abbas’s pointation, with a ballistic examination confirming that the empties recovered from the scene matched the seized weapon. Medical evidence also provided strong corroboration of the prosecution’s case. Rejecting any leniency, the bench observed that “no extenuating or mitigating circumstances” existed to warrant commutation of the death penalty. The court characterised the offence as “exceptionally brutal, calculated, premeditated and cold-blooded”, carried out inside the sanctity of the deceased’s home. The judgment emphasised that the murder, committed just 48 hours after the judicial decree, demonstrated “ruthless defiance of the law”. In cases involving deliberate violence against women exercising their legal and marital rights, the court held that “the capital penalty is fully justified to uphold the rule of law and satisfy the ends of justice”.
Ukraynalı komutandan Türk denizcinin kardeşine hadsiz mesaj
Ukrayna İnsansız Sistemler Kuvvetleri Komutanı Robert Brovdi, Novorossiysk açıklarında Rusya'dan Trabzon'a kömür taşırken insansız hava aracı (İHA) saldırısıyla vurulan Türk bayraklı gemide yaşamını yitiren Savaş Çakar'ın kardeşi gazeteci Abbas Çakar'ın köşe yazısına yorum yaptı. Ukraynalı komutan, resmi e-posta adresinden gönderdiği mesajda Çakar'ın ağabeyi için, "Hak ettiğini aldı" dedi.
Filistin'de 20 yıl aradan sonra bir ilk! 'Kayıt süreci başladı'
Filistin Merkezi Seçim Komisyonu'ndan yapılan açıklamada, işgal altındaki Batı Şeria'da sabah saatlerinde açılan merkezlerin, seçmen kayıtlarının yapılması ve bilgilerin güncellenmesi için 19 Ağustos Çarşamba gününe kadar hizmet vereceği belirtildi. '17 YAŞINI DOLDURANLAR KAYIT YAPTIRABİLECEK' Açıklamada, gerekli şartları taşıdığı halde seçmen kütüğünde yer almayan vatandaşlar kayıt yaptırmaya, kayıtlı seçmenler ise bilgilerini güncellemeye çağrıldı. Genel seçimlerin işgal altındaki Doğu Kudüs dahil Batı Şeria ve Gazze Şeridi'nde yapılacağı belirtilen açıklamada, 17 yaşını dolduran her Filistin vatandaşının seçmen kaydı yaptırma hakkına sahip olduğu kaydedildi. Açıklamada, seçmen bilgilerinin güncellenmesi işleminin yalnızca Batı Şeria'da yapılacağı, Gazze Şeridi'ndeki vatandaşların ise Filistin Nüfus Kayıt Sistemi üzerinden seçmen kütüğüne otomatik olarak kaydedileceği belirtildi. NE OLMUŞTU? Filistin Devlet Başkanı Abbas, 9 Temmuz'da imzaladığı başkanlık kararnamesiyle, 2006'dan bu yana yapılamayan milletvekili genel seçimleri için 28 Kasım 2026 tarihini belirlemişti. Abbas, 28 Kasım'deki milletvekili seçimlerinin ardından Ulusal Konseyin oluşturulacağını ve 2027'de devlet başkanlığı seçimlerinin gerçekleştirileceğini açıklamıştı. Hamas Siyasi Büro Üyesi ve Ulusal İlişkiler Ofisi Başkanı Husam Bedran da Hamas'ın Filistin seçimlerine "mümkün olan en geniş ulusal ittifak" içinde katılacağını duyurmuştu.
Babar advised rest after hand injury in tour match
LONDON: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam was advised to take no further part in the team’s three-day practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI on Friday after being struck on the right hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board said. According to the PCB, Babar was hit while batting on the second day of the match at the Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham. Following an assessment by the team doctor, he was advised to rest for the remainder of the fixture as a precautionary measure. The PCB said Babar would participate in Pakistan’s practice session at Headingley Cricket Ground on Monday, two days before the first Test against England begins at the same venue. The development came as Pakistan were bowled out for 238 in their first innings on the second day, having resumed at 44 without loss in reply to the PCC Select XI’s 305. Pakistan’s innings followed a strong opening day for the hosts, who were dismissed for 305 despite four half-centuries, with Saif Zaib top-scoring with 65, Matt Fisher remaining unbeaten on 62, Caleb Falconer making 59 and Tom Haines scoring 51. Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas claimed three wickets apiece for Pakistan, with Ali finishing with three for 23 and Abbas three for 37. England opener Emilio Gay fell for a duck early in the innings, edging Abbas to Salman Ali Agha in the third over after Pakistan had appealed off the first delivery of the match. Abbas then had James Rew caught behind for four before Haines launched an aggressive counterattack, reaching his half-century from only 30 balls, including 12 fours. He was eventually trapped lbw by Ali. Falconer and Zaib then put on 110, though both benefited from dropped chances. Falconer, on 29, edged Ubaid Shah but was dropped by Abdullah Shafique at first slip, while Zaib survived a stumping opportunity against Sajid Khan. Zaib eventually fell for 65 while attempting to hook Khurram Shahzad, with Awais Zafar taking a difficult catch on the boundary. Falconer was subsequently caught behind off Abbas for 59. Ali struck twice in quick succession later in the innings, removing Luc Benkenstein and Noah Thain, while Aamer Jamal dismissed Charlie Tear. Fisher and James Sales added 55 before Sales edged Ali Usman to Saud Shakeel. Speaking after the first day, Ali said the pitch offered sufficient assistance to fast bowlers despite not having the lush-green appearance that had been discussed before the match. “I think the pitch was very good for fast bowling,” Ali said. “If you bowl consistently in good areas, I still feel there is enough assistance for the fast bowlers.” He acknowledged Pakistan had allowed Fisher to score too freely but felt the bowling effort had otherwise been encouraging. “During the period when we conceded around 50 runs to Matt Fisher, we did not bowl particularly well. Apart from that, throughout the day we bowled very well,” he said. Ali also underlined the value of the match in preparing for England’s conditions, which he said differed from those Pakistan had encountered in the West Indies. “Here, you have to pitch the ball a little fuller to get the maximum results and take enough wickets,” he said, describing the three-day fixture as “ideal preparation” for the Test series. Pakistan’s first innings of 238 leaves them 67 runs behind the PCC Select XI, with play continuing on Friday. The Beckenham fixture was originally scheduled as a four-day game but was reduced to three days because of player availability, with it agreed that all 14 members of Pakistan’s Test squad could participate. The opening Test against England starts at Headingley on Aug 19, followed by Tests at Lord’s and The Oval. Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026
Presidency announces 355 civil awards on Independence Day
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved several summaries sent by the prime minister, including the conferment of military and civil awards and a special remission of sentences for eligible prisoners. According to the Presidency, President Zardari approved military awards for 1,172 personnel of the armed forces and civil armed forces in recognition of their services. In addition, the president approved the conferment of national civil awards on 355 individuals on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day, honouring achievement across science, engineering, education, medicine, the arts, literature, sports, journalism, social welfare, philanthropy and public service, alongside a large slate of gallantry decorations dominated by personnel of the Federal Constabulary who were killed in the line of duty. The awards, announced on August 14, will be formally conferred at an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, March 23. Nishan-i-Pakistan The country’s highest civil award for a foreign national goes to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, United Arab Emirates. Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam Two physicians who attended to the founder of Pakistan, Dr Jal Rattanji Patel (Late) and Dr Jal Daeboo (Late), are recognised more than seven decades on. Nishan-i-Imtiaz Six government figures and one literary personality will be conferred the award: poet and writer Asad Muhammad Khan, Ishaq Dar, Mohsin Naqvi, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Bilal Azhar Kayani and the late Austro-Hungarian Muslim scholar Muhammad Asad (Late). Hilal-i-Pakistan Six foreign dignitaries were recognised for their services to Pakistan: Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Deemah Al Yahya, Russian Deputy PM Alexey Logvinovich Overchuk, and Hiroji Kataoka. Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam The award went to Carey Schofield, an educationist working in Chitral. Sitara-i-Pakistan Three Turkish ministers and a Spanish senator were honoured: Hakan Fidan, Yasar Gular, Omer Bolat and Senator Vicente Azpitarte. Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam The award went to six recipients drawn from China, Spain, France and Malaysia. They included Yang Baoning of the China Academy of Space Technology, Master Yuan Xikun, Professor Zhou Yushu, Antonio Gutierrez Limones, Pascal Allizard, and Dr Maszlee bin Malik. Hilal-i-Imtiaz The award was conferred on fifteen recipients across the realms of technology, higher education, medicine, broadcasting, letters, the senior bureaucracy and the diaspora. These included Interactive Group CEO Dr Shahid Mahmud, NUTECH Rector Lt Gen (r) Moazzam Ejaz, renowned transplant surgeon Dr Faisal Saud Dar, HUM Network’s Sultana Siddiqi, and poets Ejaz Rahim and Khurshid Ul Hasan Rizvi. Five senior public servants were also honoured, including DG IB Fuad Asadullah, AGP Mansoor Usman Awan, Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, FBR chief Rashid Mahmood Lagrial, and Establishment Secretary Barrister Nabeel A. Awan. The remaining awards went under the services to Pakistan head to Saudi Assistant Minister for Investment Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, and to three overseas Pakistanis: Dr Ghulam Murtaza in the UK, the late Prof Ahmed Ali in China, and Sardar Muhammad Ilyas Khan in Saudi Arabia. Sitara-i-Imtiaz In science and higher education, the award went to Kohat University of Science and Technology VC Prof Dr Syed Zafar Ilyas and Balochistan Public Service Commission member Prof Dr Mudassir Asrar, along with ICCBS Director and Unesco Chair Prof Dr Muhammad Raza Shah, FJMU Lahore VC Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, PIDE VC Dr Rashid Amjad, and Taaleem Foundation founder Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir. Two of the five medical awards are posthumous, going to bone marrow transplantation pioneer Prof Dr Tahir Shamsi (Late) and infectious diseases specialist Dr Naseem Salahuddin (Late). The others went to SICHN Executive Director Prof Dr Syed Jamal Raza, Battagram neurosurgeon Dr Shah Khalid, and physician Prof Dr Muhammad Khurram. Ten artists were recognised: actor Balqees Bano (Nisho Begum), comedian Iftikhar Ahmed Thakur, naat khawan Syed Fasih Uddin Soharwardhy, composer and compere Shakir Hussain, singer Taranam Naz, Sufi opera singer Saira John Peter, the late painter and art historian Abida Ehsan (posthumously), painter Raja Changez Sultan, theatre and TV artist Muhammad Naeem Tahir, and miniature painter Bashir Ahmed. In literature, the award went to short story writer Shakeel Adilzada, Iqbal scholar Prof Brig (r) Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq, poet Maqsood Hussain Jafri, naat writer Riaz ul Haq Tahir Riaz Majeed, writer Muhammad Hafeez Khan, historian Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, novelist Hashim Nadeem, and poet Syed Ghulam Abbas (Muhsin Naqvi). Boxing coach Atta Mohammad Kakar and martial artist and yoga pioneer Dr Waseem A Tai were honoured in sports, journalists Muhammad Saleh Zaafir and Haji Nawaz Raza in journalism, WHO technical officer Dr Maryam Mallick and Nayyab Ali in social welfare, and Shanawar Khan in philanthropy. Twenty-eight public servants also received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while under gallantry and public service, the award went to Ahmad Arifeen and to three Punjab police officers recognised for the Kacha operation — IGP Abdul Kareem, DIG Waqas Hassan and DIG Tanveer Hussain Tunio. Danish citizen of Pakistani origin Justice Muhammad Ahsan and UAE-based Haji Khan Zaman Saroor were honoured for services to Pakistan. Tamgha-i-Imtiaz The Tamgha-i-Imtiaz is the largest single category on the list. In science, it went to One Health and AMR focal person Dr Sajjad Hussain, PIEAS Deputy Chief Scientist Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Jaffery and GIS specialist Dr Urooj Saeed, and in engineering to UET Peshawar VC Dr Muhammad Sadiq and PIEAS Principal Engineer Prof Dr Naeem-ul-Haq Tariq. Sixteen educationists were honoured: Women University Mardan and Swabi VC Prof Dr Ghazala Yasmeen, AIOU VC Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, LUMS Dean Prof Dr Faisal Bari, former LCWU VC Prof Dr Sabiha Mansoor, University of Loralai VC Prof Engr Dr Ehsan Ullah Kakar, IBCC chief Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah, TCF’s Riaz Ahmed Kamlani, retired FDE principals Sabah Faisal and Muhammad Rafique Malik, Cambridge Advisors Network co-founder Syed Azhar Afaq Rizvi, former Sindh High Court judge Qazi Khalid Ali, Diamer-Astore Education Director Faqir Ullah, Abdul Sattar, researcher Dr Ruhi Khalid, CPSP fellow supervisor Prof Dr Sardar Muhammad Ali Ayaz Sadiq, and educationist and philanthropist Yasmeen Dadabhai. In medicine, the award went to CDA Hospital surgery head Dr Naeem Taj, Quetta cardiac surgeon Dr Abdul Wasay, Hashmanis Group chairman Dr Mohammad Sharif Hashmani, and bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon Dr Maaz Ul Hassan. Twelve artists were recognised: actor and anchor Noor Ul Hassan Malik, host Shafat Ali, singer and composer Shiraz Uppal, singer Jabbar Abbas, painter Ali Saad, khussa maker Muhammad Ramzan, shoemaker Jahangir Khan, stone carver Ghulam Haider, Balochi chawat maker Rozi Khan, naat khawans Akhtar Qureshi and Khan Muhammad Chachar, and fashion designer Rubina Kazmi. Ten literary figures were honoured: writer Farida Hafeez, novelist Agha Gul, writer Noor Khan Muhammad Hasni, writer and translator Khalid Fateh Muhammad, poet Haleem Qureshi, writers Manzoom Ali and Sherbaz Ali Khan Barcha, the late historian and archaeologist Muhammad Siddique G Memon (posthumously), Iqbal scholar Prof Dr Haroon-ur-Rasheed Tabassum, and author Qaiser Abbas Sabir. Athlete Faiqa Riaz was the sole sports recipient. Seven journalists were recognised — Muhammad Riaz Khan, culture journalist Shoaib Ahmed, Ammar Masood, news anchors Dr Maria Zulfiqar, Adil Shahzaib and Hammad Hassan, and Tasawwar Arafat. Religious scholars Qari Rooh Ullah Madani, Hafiz Asad Ubaid, Syed Riaz Hussain Najfi and Bishop Humphri Sarfraz Peters were honoured under social welfare, while Haripur Chamber of Commerce President Atif Ikram Sheikh, National Forum of Women with Disabilities Chairperson Abia Akram and Pakistan Association of the Blind President Riaz Hussain Memon were recognised for philanthropy. President’s Pride of Performance Forty-six people will receive the President’s Award for Pride of Performance, most of them from the performing and visual arts. Thirty arts recipients were named. Among the actors and directors are Mahmood Aslem, Sarfraz Hussain Ansari, M Ehtesham Warsi, Arshad Hussain, Ghazala Kaifi, Khawaja Saleem Ahmad, Shazma Haleem, Syeda Maria Wasti and Sania Saeed. From music, the award went to sarangi players Ustad Mazhar Umrao Bundu Khan and Zohaib Hassan, singer Rafia Bano, classical musician Jahangir Iqbal (Ustad Ejaz Tawakal Khan), BJS Qawwal Group’s Nadeem Salamat, harmonium soloist Shahbaz Ali, ghazal singer Gulshan Ara Syed, the late folk singer Talib Hussain Dard (posthumously), singers Mushtaq Shifai and Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan (Zulfi), and choreographers Shaukat Hussain Samrat (Pappu Samrat) and Syed Wahab Hussain Shah. In the visual arts and crafts, it went to painter and illustrator Aftab Zafar, painter and sculptor Tayyeba Aziz, artist Aleem Dad Khan, boreendo maker Allah Jurio, Kashmiri embroidery artist Sheikh Muhammad Yousaf, natural-dye block printer Ameer Buksh, painters Nasir Shahzad and Muhammad Imran Qureshi, and sculptor and cultural consultant Hidayat Ullah Khan. Eight literary figures were recognised: Dr Shahida Shaheen, Ali Muhammad Farshi, Aslam Javed, Muhammad Muti-Ur-Rehman Mumtaz (Rehman Faris), Syed Farid Ullah Shah Hassas, Shafqat Ullah Mushtaq, Nizakat Kalsoom (Kalsoom Zeb) and Syed Wasi Ahmad Fatmi. Six athletes made the list — wrestler Bashir Bhola, shooter Kishmala Talat, squash player Noor Zaman, ramp jumper Sultan Muhammad Golden, boxer Muhammad Waseem and cricketer Sadiq Muhammad — along with journalist Syed Hammad Ghaznavi and photojournalist Muhammad Amir Khan. Gallantry awards Security and law-enforcement personnel account for the single largest bloc on this year’s list, with 91 gallantry decorations approved in addition to the awards named above. Forty-eight were conferred Sitara-i-Shuja’at awards, 24 received the Tamgha-i-Shuja’at while 19 officials were awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for gallantry and public service. These are separate from the military awards for 1,172 serving personnel of the Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces approved by the president on the same day. Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıWorld leaders extend greetings to Pakistan on Independence Day, hail bilateral ties
Felicitations poured in from other nations on Friday as Pakistan celebrated 79 years of independence. World leaders and diplomats, from the Iranian president to US State Secretary Marco Rubio, not just wished Pakistan and its people on the country’s 80th Independence Day, but also took the opportunity to hail Islamabad’s ties with their countries. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated President Asif Ali Zardari, wishing the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). King Salman also praised the “strong relations” between the two countries, highlighting the “shared commitment to advancing cooperation across all fields”, SPA reported. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, described Pakistan’s Independence Day as a valuable opportunity to honour the achievements of the nation, reaffirming Tehran’s firm resolve to further strengthen its relations with Pakistan, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported. He also expressed “readiness to take more effective steps to advance bilateral ties” and “secure the common interests of both sides”, the report said. It added that Pezeshkian noted that the “shared interests of the Iranian and Pakistani nations have become inextricably interwoven, a reality that underscores the need for greater synergy and closer cooperation” and stressed that a “new turning point has begun in deepening and expanding the longstanding and strategic relations” between Tehran and Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, according to IRNA. The state-run Iranian news agency reported that Araghchi said that continued political consultations and the strengthening of economic, trade, border, security, and cultural cooperation between the two countries would pave the way to leverage existing capacities and secure their shared interests. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his message on Pakistan’s Independence Day, appreciated “the partnership between our nations and the bonds of friendship between our peoples”. “Together, through our cooperation on regional mediation, critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism, cultural heritage, and trade and investment, we are turning potential into progress and delivering real results for Americans and Pakistanis alike,” Rubio said. In Islamabad, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met Dar and congratulated him. Turkiye’s foreign ministry also extended felicitations to the “friendly and brotherly Pakistan”. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Dar and “extended warm greetings on Pakistan’s Independence Day to the leadership, government and people of Pakistan, and conveyed his best wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity,” the FO said in another post. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Zardari and PM Shehbaz, commending Pakistan-Russia relations. “I am confident that we will continue our constructive joint efforts to further strengthen the entire spectrum of our partnership for the benefit of the friendly peoples of Russia and Pakistan, and in the interests of enhancing international security and stability,” a post on the Russian embassy’s X account quoted him as saying. Meanwhile, UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “conveyed warm wishes” on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Foreign Office (FO) said on X. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met Dar, congratulated him and reaffirmed the “close and time-tested ties between” Islamabad and China, according to the FO. Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement posted on X, congratulated the Pakistani government and people, adding that “Romania remains committed to further strengthening our bilateral relations, including under the EU-Pakistan framework”. Georgia, meanwhile, expressed its “cordial wishes for peace and prosperity of Pakistani people”, adding that it was looking forward to “further advancing our friendly relations”. Azerbaijan also extended “heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly people and the government of Pakistan”.
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıUS, Iran play ‘claim game’ over Hormuz
• Tehran warns no tanker can pass safely without approval from its armed forces; demands compensation for damage from Qeshm oil spill • Hegseth says US can maintain naval blockade of Iran indefinitely • Pakistan urges UN to protect seafarers from attacks in Red Sea DUBAI: The Strait of Hormuz is “under Iran’s control and management”, the recently appointed head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary unit said on Thursday, rejecting claims by US President Donald Trump that the United States had “total control” of the strategic waterway. The competing claims follow the breakdown of a ceasefire in a war that began Feb 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Following the conflict’s outbreak, Tehran effectively shut the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas previously shipped. The US subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping and ports, stating it would protect freedom of navigation for vessels travelling to non-Iranian ports. In a Wednesday post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the US “has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!” “Our naval blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it,” he added. Iranian officials firmly denied the assertion. Hossein Taeb, head of the Basij forces under the Revolutionary Guard, told the semi-official Fars news agency that the US sought to disrupt the Islamic Republic’s popularity in the region by launching another war but had been defeated. “Today you see that the Strait of Hormuz is under the management and control of the Islamic Republic, and our country continues on its path in complete security,” Taeb said on state television. Iran’s military command also issued denials. “The false claims of the United States that ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz normally … are nothing more than lies and fabrications,” Iran’s central military command spokeperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said. He added that no commercial ship or tanker will have the possibility of safe passage “without the permission and supervision of the powerful Iranian armed forces”. Since the war began, Iran has controlled the vital energy route, hindering passage from US allies and imposing fees. Senior military official Rasoul Sanaei-Rad warned Iran would not reopen the strait unilaterally unless the US fulfilled its commitments. Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, wrote on X Thursday that the US has “long miscalculated due to intelligence failures”, pointing to its stance on the waterway as an “even bigger miscalculation”. Despite Iran’s assertive stance, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the president’s assertion on Thursday. “Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we’ll continue to,” Hegseth told reporters in Panama. Compensation for environmental damage Amid the military standoff, Iran warned of environmental degradation in the strait after an oil spill reached its southern Qeshm island. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said preliminary evidence pointed to a foreign bulk carrier, arguing that countries benefiting from the strait had a legal and moral duty to help remedy the damage. The spill comes after another slick in recent days near neighbouring Oman from a tanker that ran aground. An AFP investigation previously found the ship had been stranded for weeks near Oman’s Al-Qibliyyah island after it was damaged by explosions. Pakistan urges the UN to protect seafarers Meanwhile, Pakistan urged the UN Security Council on Thursday to protect international shipping and seafarers from deadly attacks and keep Yemen’s worsening humanitarian crisis at the forefront of its attention. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, including an Aug 11 attack that killed three Pakistani crew members and one Indonesian. “The safety and security of international maritime shipping and protection of seafarers must be respected in accordance with international law,” Mr Ahmad stressed. Pakistan also condemned Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, describing them as a grave threat to regional stability, while expressing unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty. The Pakistani envoy warned that Yemen’s acute humanitarian needs must not be overshadowed by the wider regional confrontation, noting renewed fighting and economic disruption could aggravate an already fragile situation. The Council held an open debate on Yemen as tensions triggered by the US-Iran war continued to ripple across the Middle East. Members discussed renewed Houthi military activity and the growing risk that the escalation could undermine the UN-mediated truce that has kept large-scale fighting in Yemen at bay since 2022. Mr Ahmad emphasised that a peaceful resolution hinges on dialogue. “A Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process … remains the only viable path towards a comprehensive and sustainable settlement,” he said. Anwar Iqbal in Washington also contributed to this report Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026
ABD-İran Mutabakatına Rağmen İsrail'den Lübnan'a Kanlı Saldırı: 4 ÖlüIran warns US over 'misinformation'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States to exercise caution over what he described as misinformation and inaccurate intelligence, amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington.
'We aspire for it to grow': Turkiye's Erdogan eyes expansion of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he hoped more countries would join a defence agreement signed last week between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, aimed at stabilising a region wracked by conflict. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday as the Middle East grapples with fallout from the US-Iran war, which has dragged in regional players and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. “Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries,” the Turkish leader told the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat daily. “Rather we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday said Turkiye expected Egypt to join the pact “in the next stage”, telling the Anadolu state news agency only “a few technical issues” stood in the way. Egypt has not commented on the agreement nor on the remarks by Fidan, who will visit Cairo on Thursday and Friday. Cairo has robust military cooperation with Ankara, but has given no indication it intends to sign up to the new security alliance, which contains a Nato-style clause saying any attack on one would be seen as an attack on all. The five-month US-Iran war has upended the security architecture in the region and forced a rethink of decades of conventional wisdom rooted in US military supremacy. Erdogan said the pact emerged out of the “new circumstances” in the Middle East with regional players seeking to assume greater responsibility for their own security and stability. “Regional issues should be resolved by regional actors, and with this action, we consider that we have taken a first step toward achieving that goal,” he told the Saudi-owned newspaper. “Resolving regional issues must be carried out away from formulas imposed from the outside. We know very well that solutions imported from abroad only bring disasters.” The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has been hailed by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an “important strategic step”. Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia are among the countries that have welcomed it. Iran’s comments also took a rather positive tone, stressing its stance of pursuing “security mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries”. On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed that the defence pact was “entirely for defensive purposes”, and not for any aggression. Addressing the federal cabinet on Monday, PM Shehbaz stressed that the objective of the pact is to “promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the region”. While the pact comes in the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran, Bloomberg had reported in January — before the conflict began — that Ankara was seeking to join a separate mutual defence pact between Islamabad and Riyadh. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh last September, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both. In January, Reuters quoted Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj as saying that a draft had been prepared after 10 months of talks. Turkish FM Hakan Fidan had said Ankara favoured an “inclusive platform that creates wider, bigger cooperation and stability”. Pakistan has also sought to mediate efforts to end the US-Iran war, while Turkiye has played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Israel ‘removing Palestine’ from world agenda Erdogan also accused the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “remove Palestine” from the world’s agenda. “The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new conflicts in the region,” Erdogan said at a joint news conference with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas. “No matter what they do, they will not succeed. The Palestinian cause will continue to grow in people’s hearts as they try to destroy it,” he stressed, vowing Turkiye would fight for the establishment of a Palestinian state. A strong advocate of the Palestinian cause, Erdogan has repeatedly lambasted Netanyahu’s government, accusing the Israeli prime minister of committing “genocide” in Gaza and of pursuing expansionist policies in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and beyond. Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday accompanied by his diplomatic adviser Majdi Khalidi, intelligence chief Majed Faraj and senior Palestinian official Ziad Abu Amr. He met Erdogan on Wednesday with the pair discussing developments in the region in talks the Palestinian leader described as “important and fruitful”. “I hope the decision to hold legislative and presidential elections in Palestine after a long time will bring good fortune … [and] will advance the reconciliation process,” Erdogan said, in a nod to the historic rivalry between Abbas’ Fatah movement and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Abbas also hailed the defence pact between Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad, saying it was “of utmost importance” and expressing hope it would help enhance security and stability in the region.
Erdoğan Mekke Ortak Savunma Anlaşması'nın Genişlemesini Hedefliyor'Our vision is not limited': Turkiye's Erdogan eyes expansion of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he hoped more countries would join a defence agreement signed last week between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, aimed at stabilising a region wracked by conflict. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday as the Middle East grapples with fallout from the US-Iran war, which has dragged in regional players and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. “Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries,” the Turkish leader told the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat daily. “Rather we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday said Turkiye expected Egypt to join the pact “in the next stage”, telling the Anadolu state news agency only “a few technical issues” stood in the way. Egypt has not commented on the agreement nor on the remarks by Fidan, who will visit Cairo on Thursday and Friday. Cairo has robust military cooperation with Ankara, but has given no indication it intends to sign up to the new security alliance, which contains a Nato-style clause saying any attack on one would be seen as an attack on all. The five-month US-Iran war has upended the security architecture in the region and forced a rethink of decades of conventional wisdom rooted in US military supremacy. Erdogan said the pact emerged out of the “new circumstances” in the Middle East with regional players seeking to assume greater responsibility for their own security and stability. “Regional issues should be resolved by regional actors, and with this action, we consider that we have taken a first step toward achieving that goal,” he told the Saudi-owned newspaper. “Resolving regional issues must be carried out away from formulas imposed from the outside. We know very well that solutions imported from abroad only bring disasters.” The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has been hailed by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an “important strategic step”. Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia are among the countries that have welcomed it. Iran’s comments also took a rather positive tone, stressing its stance of pursuing “security mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries”. On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed that the defence pact was “entirely for defensive purposes”, and not for any aggression. Addressing the federal cabinet on Monday, PM Shehbaz stressed that the objective of the pact is to “promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the region”. While the pact comes in the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran, Bloomberg had reported in January — before the conflict began — that Ankara was seeking to join a separate mutual defence pact between Islamabad and Riyadh. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh last September, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both. In January, Reuters quoted Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj as saying that a draft had been prepared after 10 months of talks. Turkish FM Hakan Fidan had said Ankara favoured an “inclusive platform that creates wider, bigger cooperation and stability”. Pakistan has also sought to mediate efforts to end the US-Iran war, while Turkiye has played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Israel ‘removing Palestine’ from world agenda Erdogan also accused the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “remove Palestine” from the world’s agenda. “The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new conflicts in the region,” Erdogan said at a joint news conference with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas. “No matter what they do, they will not succeed. The Palestinian cause will continue to grow in people’s hearts as they try to destroy it,” he stressed, vowing Turkiye would fight for the establishment of a Palestinian state. A strong advocate of the Palestinian cause, Erdogan has repeatedly lambasted Netanyahu’s government, accusing the Israeli prime minister of committing “genocide” in Gaza and of pursuing expansionist policies in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and beyond. Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday accompanied by his diplomatic adviser Majdi Khalidi, intelligence chief Majed Faraj and senior Palestinian official Ziad Abu Amr. He met Erdogan on Wednesday with the pair discussing developments in the region in talks the Palestinian leader described as “important and fruitful”. “I hope the decision to hold legislative and presidential elections in Palestine after a long time will bring good fortune … [and] will advance the reconciliation process,” Erdogan said, in a nod to the historic rivalry between Abbas’ Fatah movement and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Abbas also hailed the defence pact between Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad, saying it was “of utmost importance” and expressing hope it would help enhance security and stability in the region.
Erdoğan Mekke Ortak Savunma Anlaşması'nın Genişlemesini HedefliyorMahmud Abbas Ankara'da! Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'dan resmi karşılama
Filistin Devlet Başkanı Mahmud Abbas, Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'ın daveti üzerine Türkiye'ye geldi. Abbas, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi'nde Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan tarafından resmi törenle karşılandı. İki liderin görüşmesinde, Filistin'deki son gelişmelerin yanı sıra Filistin Barış Planı'nın ikinci aşamasına geçiş süreci ele alınacak. Barış Planı'nın ikinci aşamasının uygulanıp uygulanmayacağına ilişkin henüz net bir açıklama yapılmış değil. Sürecin ilerletilmesi için diplomatik temaslar sürerken, Türkiye de hem liderler hem de dışişleri bakanları düzeyinde yoğun görüşmeler gerçekleştiriyor. Bu kapsamda Erdoğan-Abbas görüşmesi kritik önem taşıyor. GÜNDEMDE ÜÇ KRİTİK BAŞLIK 7 Ekim 2023'ten bu yana Gazze'de yaşanan gelişmeler kapsamında görüşmede üç temel başlığın öne çıkması bekleniyor. Bunlardan ilki, ateşkes ve barış planının uygulanması. İkinci başlık, Gazze'ye insani yardımların ulaştırılması. İsrail'in çeşitli noktalarda yardımların girişine yönelik engellemeleri nedeniyle bu konu da müzakerelerin önemli başlıklarından biri. Üçüncü başlık ise savaş nedeniyle büyük ölçüde yıkıma uğrayan Gazze'nin yeniden imarı ve yeniden inşası. ABBAS ÜÇ YIL ÜST ÜSTE TÜRKİYE'DE Mahmud Abbas, 2024 ve 2025'in ardından bu yıl da ağustos ayında Türkiye'yi ziyaret etti.
After death of 3 Pakistani sailors, FO says Islamabad will implement maritime coalition 'in full earnest'
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that Pakistan would implement the multinational maritime defence coalition “in full earnest”, after the deaths of three Pakistani sailors in strikes by Houthi rebels on a Saudi cargo ship on Tuesday. Last month, Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for a defence coalition to protect shipping and energy supply routes in the Red Sea region. The coalition was supported by 14 countries including Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt in a joint statement. Answering questions at a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan was a signatory of the recent joint statement supporting a multinational maritime defence coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, to protect shipping and energy supply routes. “Pakistan is a signatory to this maritime coalition communique and we will implement it with full earnest,” Andrabi said, adding that the country was engaged with the Saudi authorities in this regard. Andrabi further said that on the directions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan was ascertaining the details of the agreement. In his opening statement, the FO also said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Iran was aimed at discussing bilateral relations, security-related matters and regional developments, particularly peace and stability in the region. He said Naqvi — who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday — was holding meetings with senior Iranian officials. He added that the visit provides the two countries the opportunity to discuss “bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional development, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability, and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region and regional developments”. Naqvi was received in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian media reported. A diplomatic source had told Dawn from Tehran that the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the US. Speaking further on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan remained engaged alongside “brotherly states” in “sincere efforts” to work towards a resolution to the crisis. “Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and the Islamabad MoU and pave the way for peace and stability in the region,” he said. He also warned that Pakistan would continue to “offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels” and ensure the continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. During the Q&A session, responding to a question regarding the status of the Islamabad MoU, the spokesperson said, “Whenever the rationality for dialogue will overcome the logic of escalation, the template for peace is provided in the Islamabad MoU and Pakistan-Qatar joint statement.” The current deadline for the 60-day period for US-Iran negotiations under the Islamabad MoU is Aug 17. Andrabi, however, noted that this deadline “can always be extended” if there is the intention to hold dialogue. “Even then, five days still remain, so we are not closing the chapter,” he added. “But we hope that even if the deadline is not implemented, the extension will take place eventually and the parties will revert to dialogue.” Asked about the basis for Pakistan’s continued optimism amid the US-Iran conflict, the spokesperson said, “As a mediator and facilitator of talks, we remain optimistic that a solution is in sight.” He pointed out that during the conflict, the countries had cycled through periods of heightened escalation followed by relative calm and eventual dialogue. He termed this “the natural progression of any armed conflict of international significance”. “We are not discouraged by escalations, as much as we do not get overly optimistic when there is a period of calm,” he said, while highlighting Pakistan’s sustained engagement with the parties to resolve the conflict. The country would continue its engagement with optimism “that ought to be there in any credible facilitator and mediator”, he added. Makkah pact reflects ‘resolve for sharing burden of regional peace’ The FO spokesperson also spoke of the defence pact signed last week between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which he said was “highlight of the week”. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. He said the agreement reflected the three nations’ “commitment to further strengthen their collective security, promoting peace security and promoting peace security and stability in the region and beyond”. He said the agreement reflected the “long-standing brotherly relations” among the three countries and “displays our resolve for sharing the burden of regional peace and security”. “The agreement is purely defensive in nature and allows unified efforts to confront threats and security challenges to the member states,” Andrabi added, recalling Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement congratulating the nation on the agreement on August 10, wherein he held the agreement was defensive in nature and not against any country. Responding to a question, he noted that while the agreement was open to other countries, he was not “particularly aware” of which specific countries may join it in the future. He also said that he was not aware of any consultations with the US and China regarding the agreement, calling this “a matter of diplomatic exchange”, but noted that channels of communication with both countries remained open. FO rejects Indian MEA’s ‘baseless’ remarks on AJK When asked about the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ recent remarks regarding alleged human rights abuses in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the FO spokesperson rejected the “baseless” statement. The region has been gripped by unrest since early June as elections are also being held. “India’s professed concerns for human rights in AJK are disingenuous given its own well-documented record for repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, suppression of political freedom and sweeping powers under the draconian laws enacted there.” He added that India’s “politicisation” of developments in AJK was “misleading and cannot divert attention from the stark realities in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir”. “Pakistan remains fully committed to the protection of fundamental rights and the democratic freedom of AJK,” he said. He added that rather than making such statements over AJK, India would be “well advised to honour commitments made by its founding fathers and uphold the right of the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to freely determine their future through a United Nations plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
Üç Pakistanlı Denizcinin Ölümü Sonrası Pakistan'dan Deniz Koalisyonuna Tam DestekAfter death of 3 Pakistani sailors, FO says Pakistan will implement maritime coalition 'in full earnest'
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that Pakistan would implement the multinational maritime defence coalition “in full earnest”, after the deaths of three Pakistani sailors in strikes by Houthi rebels on a Saudi cargo ship on Tuesday. Last month, Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for a defence coalition to protect shipping and energy supply routes in the Red Sea region. The coalition was supported by 14 countries including Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt in a joint statement. Answering questions at a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan was a signatory of the recent joint statement supporting a multinational maritime defence coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, to protect shipping and energy supply routes. “Pakistan is a signatory to this maritime coalition communique and we will implement it with full earnest,” Andrabi said, adding that the country was engaged with the Saudi authorities in this regard. Andrabi further said that on the directions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan was ascertaining the details of the agreement. In his opening statement, the FO also said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Iran was aimed at discussing bilateral relations, security-related matters and regional developments, particularly peace and stability in the region. He said Naqvi — who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday — was holding meetings with senior Iranian officials. He added that the visit provides the two countries the opportunity to discuss “bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional development, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability, and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region and regional developments”. Naqvi was received in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian media reported. A diplomatic source had told Dawn from Tehran that the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the US. Speaking further on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan remained engaged alongside “brotherly states” in “sincere efforts” to work towards a resolution to the crisis. “Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and the Islamabad MoU and pave the way for peace and stability in the region,” he said. He also warned that Pakistan would continue to “offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels” and ensure the continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. During the Q&A session, responding to a question regarding the status of the Islamabad MoU, the spokesperson said, “Whenever the rationality for dialogue will overcome the logic of escalation, the template for peace is provided in the Islamabad MoU and Pakistan-Qatar joint statement.” The current deadline for the 60-day period for US-Iran negotiations under the Islamabad MoU is Aug 17. Andrabi, however, noted that this deadline “can always be extended” if there is the intention to hold dialogue. “Even then, five days still remain, so we are not closing the chapter,” he added. “But we hope that even if the deadline is not implemented, the extension will take place eventually and the parties will revert to dialogue.” Asked about the basis for Pakistan’s continued optimism amid the US-Iran conflict, the spokesperson said, “As a mediator and facilitator of talks, we remain optimistic that a solution is in sight.” He pointed out that during the conflict, the countries had cycled through periods of heightened escalation followed by relative calm and eventual dialogue. He termed this “the natural progression of any armed conflict of international significance”. “We are not discouraged by escalations, as much as we do not get overly optimistic when there is a period of calm,” he said, while highlighting Pakistan’s sustained engagement with the parties to resolve the conflict. The country would continue its engagement with optimism “that ought to be there in any credible facilitator and mediator”, he added. Makkah pact reflects ‘resolve for sharing burden of regional peace’ The FO spokesperson also spoke of the defence pact signed last week between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which he said was “highlight of the week”. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. He said the agreement reflected the three nations’ “commitment to further strengthen their collective security, promoting peace security and promoting peace security and stability in the region and beyond”. He said the agreement reflected the “long-standing brotherly relations” among the three countries and “displays our resolve for sharing the burden of regional peace and security”. “The agreement is purely defensive in nature and allows unified efforts to confront threats and security challenges to the member states,” Andrabi added, recalling Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement congratulating the nation on the agreement on August 10, wherein he held the agreement was defensive in nature and not against any country. Responding to a question, he noted that while the agreement was open to other countries, he was not “particularly aware” of which specific countries may join it in the future. He also said that he was not aware of any consultations with the US and China regarding the agreement, calling this “a matter of diplomatic exchange”, but noted that channels of communication with both countries remained open. FO rejects Indian MEA’s ‘baseless’ remarks on AJK When asked about the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ recent remarks regarding alleged human rights abuses in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the FO spokesperson rejected the “baseless” statement. The region has been gripped by unrest since early June as elections are also being held. “India’s professed concerns for human rights in AJK are disingenuous given its own well-documented record for repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, suppression of political freedom and sweeping powers under the draconian laws enacted there.” He added that India’s “politicisation” of developments in AJK was “misleading and cannot divert attention from the stark realities in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir”. “Pakistan remains fully committed to the protection of fundamental rights and the democratic freedom of AJK,” he said. He added that rather than making such statements over AJK, India would be “well advised to honour commitments made by its founding fathers and uphold the right of the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to freely determine their future through a United Nations plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
Üç Pakistanlı Denizcinin Ölümü Sonrası Pakistan'dan Deniz Koalisyonuna Tam DestekFO says Naqvi's visit to Iran aimed at discussing bilateral relations, regional peace and stability
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Iran was aimed at discussing bilateral relations, security-related matters and regional developments, particularly peace and stability in the region. Addressing a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Naqvi — who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday — was holding meetings with senior Iranian officials. He added that the visit provides the two countries the opportunity to discuss “bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional development, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability, and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region and regional developments”. Naqvi was received in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian media reported. A diplomatic source had told Dawn from Tehran that the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the US. Speaking further on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan remained engaged alongside “brotherly states” in “sincere efforts” to work towards a resolution to the crisis. “Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and the Islamabad MoU and pave the way for peace and stability in the region,” he said. He also warned that Pakistan would continue to “offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels” and ensure the continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. Makkah pact reflects ‘resolve for sharing burden of regional peace’ The FO spokesperson also spoke of the defence pact signed last week between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which he said was “highlight of the week”. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. He said the agreement reflected the three nations’ “commitment to further strengthen their collective security, promoting peace security and promoting peace security and stability in the region and beyond”. He said the agreement reflected the “long-standing brotherly relations” among the three countries and “displays our resolve for sharing the burden of regional peace and security”. “The agreement is purely defensive in nature and allows unified efforts to confront threats and security challenges to the member states,” Andrabi added, recalling Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement congratulating the nation on the agreement on August 10, wherein he held the agreement was defensive in nature and not against any country.
Naqvi's visit to Iran aimed at discussing bilateral relations, regional peace and stability: FO
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Iran was aimed at discussing bilateral relations, security-related matters and regional developments, particularly peace and stability in the region. Addressing a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Naqvi — who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday — was holding meetings with senior Iranian officials. He added that the visit provides the two countries the opportunity to discuss “bilateral relations, security-related matters, and regional development, with a particular focus on efforts to promote peace, stability, and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region and regional developments”. Naqvi was received in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian media reported. A diplomatic source had told Dawn from Tehran that the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the US. Speaking further on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan remained engaged alongside “brotherly states” in “sincere efforts” to work towards a resolution to the crisis. “Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and the Islamabad MoU and pave the way for peace and stability in the region,” he said. He also warned that Pakistan would continue to “offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels” and ensure the continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. Makkah pact reflects ‘resolve for sharing burden of regional peace’ The FO spokesperson also spoke of the defence pact signed last week between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which he said was “highlight of the week”. The joint defence agreement, signed in Makkah on Friday, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. He said the agreement reflected the three nations’ “commitment to further strengthen their collective security, promoting peace security and promoting peace security and stability in the region and beyond”. He said the agreement reflected the “long-standing brotherly relations” among the three countries and “displays our resolve for sharing the burden of regional peace and security”. “The agreement is purely defensive in nature and allows unified efforts to confront threats and security challenges to the member states,” Andrabi added, recalling Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement congratulating the nation on the agreement on August 10, wherein he held the agreement was defensive in nature and not against any country.
New regional security order
THE triangular defence pact signed last week by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is the most consequential geopolitical development reshaping the strategic landscape of the region and beyond. It has been concluded in the midst of a war that not only affects the region but also has far-reaching implications for the wider world. The three countries span the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. Despite facing diverse security challenges, they are bound together by a common defence pact. While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were already bound by a bilateral agreement signed last year, Turkiye’s entry has broadened the scope of the pact. The collective strength of these three countries has made the grouping a formidable force in the region. Although the full text of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has not been made public, it does declare that “any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all”. It also states that the pact is not directed against any country but serves as a deterrent against external aggression. It is, however, silent on the question of where the common threat lies. This question becomes all the more pertinent as the triangular agreement has taken shape while America’s war on Iran drags on and Israel continues its expansionist war, threatening regional security. While Saudi Arabia has been directly affected by the war, Pakistan and Turkiye have remained on the fringes. The Makkah Agreement is being viewed as similar to Nato’s Article 5, but any military response would still require political decision-making. The immediate practical emphasis may be on intelligence-sharing and deterrence. It is wrong to brand the newly formed defence bloc a Muslim alliance or, more narrowly, a Sunni one. It represents an emerging regional security architecture that reduces dependence on the US and pushes back against Israel’s expansionist agenda. Other Gulf countries — which have borne the brunt of Iran’s retaliation targeting US military bases on their soil — could also join the grouping. The Makkah Agreement has fundamentally altered the strategic landscape of the region. Questions have been raised about the reliability of the US as a defence guarantor for its Middle Eastern partners. Instead of ensuring security, the presence of US military bases has made these countries — many of which also have security pacts with Washington — more vulnerable. Lessening this dependence, however, does not mean severing ties with America. All three countries maintain good relations with Washington, despite President Donald Trump having destabilised the region through his unprovoked war on Iran and his continued support for Israel’s expansionist agenda. There has been a curious silence in Washington over the alliance. Egypt was another country expected to join the grouping. The North African country has been part of a quad alongside these three allied nations, helping to find a negotiated resolution to the conflict. Cairo is believed to have reservations, however, about joining a regional security architecture that could affect its peace treaty with Israel. According to some analysts, Cairo appears to view the pact as much a political instrument as a military one. The group remains hopeful that Egypt will join the defence pact at some stage. Further complicating matters is Iran’s mixed reaction to the agreement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a message calling on Muslim states to stand together, describing the moment as one in which they should rely only on themselves and embrace true brotherhood. The post left it unclear whether he was referring to the trilateral agreement. Earlier, Araghchi is also reported to have said that Tehran was ready to partner with Persian Gulf states to build a new regional security architecture, arguing that recent events had demonstrated the need for regional countries to take responsibility for their own security. He said any security framework should include economic cooperation and stressed that military powers from outside the region should be excluded. Meanwhile, Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of parliament’s national security committee, said that the “Saudis should understand that a paper agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as decades of one-sided dependence on the Americans failed to do so”, thus reflecting the scepticism over the agreement among certain sections of the Iranian leadership. However, as reported, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said that “the pact reflected a changing regional perception of US and argued that countries in the region could no longer rely on Washington”. Predictably, the Makkah Agreement has provoked a strong reaction from Israel’s right-wing government, which views the development as a serious threat to its security. India has concerns over the triangular agreement, of which Pakistan is a key partner. According to some reports, the pact has accelerated the India-Israel security partnership. On Aug 7, the day the trilateral agreement was signed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the Special Strategic Partnership between their two countries in a telephone call. The two countries had formally elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity during Modi’s state visit to Israel this year. That visit produced concrete defence and technology agreements. According to the Israeli media, both leaders recognised that they now face a shared strategic challenge: a bloc combining Saudi money, Turkish drones and a nuclear-armed Pakistan. The Makkah Agreement has fundamentally altered the strategic landscape of the region. But there are also questions about how the partnership will actually work, given the varied security concerns of its members. While agreeing to a joint defence strategy, each country also brings its own conflicts and security problems. That raises the question of whether the partners would be drawn into one another’s conflicts. While Pakistan’s principal security threat comes from India, Turkiye, a Nato member, has long-running territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea. There is also a view that, in practice, the pact is more about Saudi Arabia’s immediate security concerns stemming from regional non-state groups than Turkiye’s or Pakistan’s. These are issues that will require a more coherent collective response. For all the questions it raises, the Makkah Agreement marks a decisive shift in how the region’s major powers conceive their own security. The writer is an author and journalist. zhussain100@yahoo.com X: @hidhussain Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026
Mekke Savunma Anlaşması Küresel Yankı Uyandırdı; Yunanistan'dan Tepki ÇağrısıMideast outreach
OVER the past few days, Pakistan has been going the extra mile to assure Iran that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement it signed last week with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye poses no threat to Tehran. In a recent telephone call, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that the pact is “not an instrument of confrontation”. Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the cabinet that the agreement is “entirely for defence purposes”. Tehran seems to have understood the messaging, as the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said his country had no reason to believe the pact was aimed at encircling it, and that it showed that countries of the region could not depend on the American security umbrella. Perhaps the reason for speculation surrounding the deal was the mutual defence component, which says that an attack on one signatory is an attack on all. Considering the targeting of US military assets in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states by Iran during the active phase of hostilities with America, observers have debated whether the signatories of the deal could step in militarily. However, the clarifications regarding Iran are welcome. In fact, what is needed is a new regional security architecture that binds the Arabs, Iranians and other states together. Achieving this would be difficult, considering the pro-America stance of the GCC states. However, the American military footprint in the Gulf and larger Middle East may eventually shrink, which means that regional states will have to eventually work out a security framework amongst themselves. The Makkah pact could provide a blueprint for such defence cooperation. The Turkish president has already said that the pact is open to other countries. If Iran were to be brought on board, it could significantly alter the regional security landscape. For this to happen, the existing high levels of mistrust between the Arabs, particularly Saudi Arabia, and the Iranians, would need to be reduced. But states such as Pakistan and Turkiye, which maintain cordial ties with both sides, can attempt to bridge the gap. As a CBM, Iran should open up the Strait of Hormuz, as its continued closure is battering Gulf economies. The Arab states should also pledge to disallow outsiders from staging aggression against Iran from their soil. Instead of depending on extra-regional powers, the states of the Gulf and Middle East must themselves create a new security architecture. Not only would this reduce the tensions that exist between them, it could also serve as an expanded defence pact to deter Israel from attacking regional states. Tel Aviv has attacked Iran and its allies, as well as pro-America states like Qatar, hence an effective regional defensive bloc could make Israel think twice about its violent adventurism. Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026
Mekke'de Savunma Anlaşması: Pakistan, Suudi Arabistan ve Türkiye'den Ortak HamleIslamabad looking to breathe new life into mediation push
• Mohsin Naqvi meets Pezeshkian and Araghchi in Tehran • Khawaja Asif says warring sides nearing ‘some sort of an arrangement’ • Tehran sees Islamabad MoU as ‘only legitimate framework’ for resolution of wider war • Trump rails against ‘devious Iranian negotiators’ ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Tuesday to follow up on the stalled Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as Islamabad seeks to revive its mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. Naqvi, who arrived in Tehran earlier in the day, was received by his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Araghchi. The two interior ministers are also expected to hold detailed bilateral discussions during the visit. A diplomatic source told Dawn from Tehran that the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the Islamabad MoU and Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the US, which has remained largely dormant as Oman took the lead in negotiations over arrangements for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The reported progress in Oman-Iran dialogue has created an opportunity for Islamabad to move for reviving the broader process that had emerged from the June agreement. Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg that the United States and Iran are close to “some sort of an arrangement”. “Things are shaping up again in favour of a peace arrangement or a deal. The signals over the last three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement,” he added. Diplomatic efforts Pakistan had recently invited Araghchi and Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Islamabad at the “earliest possible opportunity”. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, however, said on Monday that the visit of the two Iranian leaders would take place “at an appropriate time”. Naqvi’s visit assumes significance as an effort to keep Pakistan’s mediation channel active rather than wait for the Iranian leadership to visit Islamabad. The Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, remains locked in a fragile “no war, no peace” situation following the collapse of Islamabad MoU reached between Iran and the US in June. In his meeting with the Iranian president, Naqvi described the relationship between the neighbours as “strong, long-standing and unbreakable” and conveyed Islamabad’s “serious determination and will” to pursue the comprehensive development of ties with Tehran. President Pezeshkian also noted that Iran-Pakistan relations would serve the two countries’ national interests as well as contribute to regional stability and security. The emphasis on bilateral ties came days after Pakistan signed a trilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, an arrangement Islamabad has repeatedly stressed is defensive in nature and not directed against any country. On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and shared the contours of the agreement, underscoring its objectives of strengthening strategic cooperation and contributing to regional peace and security. Hormuz future The disagreement over the future management of the waterway had emerged as one of the principal fault lines in the implementation of the agreement and contributed to the subsequent escalation. Iran and Oman have since been negotiating a new arrangement for safe passage through the strait, with the talks focused on a possible new shipping route and mechanisms for its management. Tehran, however, has maintained that an understanding with Oman would constitute only a technical or first stage arrangement and would not by itself amount to a full reopening of the waterway. Iran is adamant that it will reopen the strait only after US has redressed all alleged violations of Islamabad MoU. According to the diplomatic source, Iran’s position conveyed to foreign capitals remains that full reopening of Hormuz is linked to implementation of the Islamabad MoU by US. Iran, the source said, has insisted that the MoU, having been concluded at the presidential level, remains the only legitimate framework for resolving the wider dispute and should be implemented in the form in which it was signed rather than renegotiated through selective reinterpretation. The source said Tehran was also seeking evidence of US political willingness to restore the process before moving towards what he described as the next phase leading to reopening of Hormuz. Iran, he said, wants concrete and verifiable assurances rather than verbal commitments, particularly on whether Washington is prepared to return to its obligations under the MoU. Trump rails against ‘devious negotiators’ Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described Iran’s negotiators as “devious” and “dishonest”. “They’re very devious negotiators because they’ll agree to something, then they’ll go out and tell the press that they never agreed to it. They’re very dishonest people,” he said in an interview with US outlet Real America’s Voice. He added that Iran’s economic situation and inflation was unsustainable, suggesting that the US could either wait and “just keep that going”, or “hit them really, really hard”. The third option, he said, was to “beat them economically — but we’re doing that anyway”. He claimed that Iran was economically “a mess”, saying: “They can’t borrow money. We control their money … they had a lot, and we have total control… I’m their banker.” Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026
İran’dan zafer ilanı: Hem savaşı hem diplomasiyi kazandık
İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Erakçi, ABD-İsrail'in 28 Şubat'taki saldırılarıyla başlayan savaşı kazandıklarını ve bunu çeşitli ülkelerin yetkililerinin de kendisine söylediğini ifade etti.
İran Dışişleri Bakanı Erakçi'den "Hem savaşı hem diplomasiyi kazandık" açıklaması
İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Erakçi, ABD-İsrail'in 28 Şubat'taki saldırılarıyla başlayan savaşı kazandıklarını ve bunu çeşitli ülkelerin yetkililerinin de kendisine söylediğini ifade etti.
Woman ‘tortured’ for taking possession of grabbed land in Sahiwal
SAHIWAL: A woman, who had taken possession of her inherited land after being illegally occupied for around 30 years, was allegedly abducted, tortured and humiliated by 12 armed attackers, including three women, at Chak 93/9-L. The victim, Mardan Bibi, got possession of her land she had inherited under Ghori Pal Scheme, with the help of Pera Force, police, revenue department and the district administration, following 30 years of illegal occupation. As per the First Information Report (FIR), registered under sections 50, 148, 149, 447, 511, 365, and 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of her son, Nomir Abbas, the attackers, armed with pistols and rifles, kidnapped Mardan Bibi, subjected her to torture, and fled on the arrival of a team of Yousafwala police, which came to rescue her. As per police sources, the land inherited by the victim had been illegally occupied by one Khudayar Baloch and others for nearly three decades. After repeated appeals by Mardan Bibi, Sahiwal Commissioner Asif Tufail ordered the revenue department, Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) Force, and district administration officials to restore possession of the land to the legal owner, Mardan Bibi. Accordingly, in an operation led by Assistant Commissioner Nouman Qasir, the land was retrieved from illegal occupants and its possession was given to the complainant. However, as soon as the officials team left the village, Khudayar Baloch, Ali, Sarfraz, Yaseen Baloch, Gulaan Bibi, Nooran, Sheenan, Allah Maafi, and their four unidentified accomplices returned with arms. The FIR says that the suspects dragged the victim by her hair, and forcibly took her away on a motorcycle, after covering her face with a piece of cloth. When her cousin Akram tried to intervene, he was injured by the suspects. However, the police, on being informed of the attack on the 15 helpline, arrived at the scene, rescued the woman and arrested six of the suspects, while others managed to escape. The police say raids are underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects. Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2026
Sahiwal'da 30 Yıllık İşgali Sona Erdiren Kadın Kaçırılıp İşkence GördüKontrol kimde olacak?
ABD ve İran arasında bir anlaşma sağlanması için diplomatik çabalar sürerken, Hürmüz Boğazı konusunda dikkat çeken açıklamalar yapılıyor. İran Meclisi Ulusal Güvenlik ve Dış Politika Komisyonu üyesi Fedahüseyin Maliki, İran ile Umman arasında Hürmüz Boğazı’nın kullanımı, yönetimine ilişkin görüşmelerde ilerleme sağlandığını ve anlaşmanın sonuçlanma aşamasına geldiğini açıkladı. ABD’nin üçüncü ülke olarak görüşmelere dahil olmaya çalıştığını söyleyen Maliki, Washington’un Umman karasularında bulunan güney su yolu ve güney koridorunda rol üstlenmek istediğini ancak Tahran’ın buna izin vermediğini savundu. Maliki, görüşmelerin Hürmüz Boğazı’nın “etkin kullanımı, yönetimi ve kontrolü” konularına odaklandığını belirterek, Umman tarafının da geçici olarak güney güzergahının kullanılmaması konusunda mutabık kaldığını ileri sürdü. ‘Sadece su yolu değil’ Öte yandan Hürmüz Boğazı’nın İran açısından sadece bir su yolu değil aynı zamanda bir çatışma alanı da olduğunu belirten İran Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu Sözcüsü Tuğgeneral Hüseyin Muhibbi, ülkesinin stratejisinin “ABD, Tahran’ın tüm şartlarını kabul edene kadar Hürmüz Boğazı’nı kontrol altında tutmak” olduğunu söyledi. İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi ise “Umman ile yürüttüğümüz müzakereler, Hürmüz Boğazı’nın açılacağı anlamına gelmiyor. Bunun gerçekleşmesi için başka şartların da sağlanması gerekiyor” derken ABD ile şu anda herhangi bir müzakere yürütmediklerini belirtti. ‘Satranç oyunu gibi’ ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, Axios’a yaptığı açıklamada, İran’la devam eden müzakere sürecine ilişkin önceki tutumunun aksine, ilişkileri “sessizce” yürütmeyi benimsediklerini söyledi. Trump, “İran’ın yüksek enflasyon ve parasızlığını sadece izliyoruz” derken “İşler yoluna girecek, her zaman yoluna girer. Bu bir satranç oyunu gibi” değerlendirmesinde bulundu. Husiler, Suudi Arabistan’ı vurdu Yemen’deki İran destekli Husiler, Suudi Arabistan’ın Cizan bölgesindeki Aramco rafinerisini İHA’yla hedef aldıklarını ve tesisin vurulduğunu öne sürdü. Husi sözcüsü Yahya Seri, İHA’nın Saudi Aramco tesisine isabet ettiğini öne sürerek, saldırının Suudi Arabistan’a ait İHA’ların Yemen hava sahasındaki uçuşlarına misilleme olarak gerçekleştirildiğini savundu. Öte yandan Husilerin Yemen’in Moha liman kentine yönelik saldırısında en az 11 kişinin öldüğü bildirildi. Yemen hükümetinin kontrolündeki Moha’da yaşanan saldırılarda 3 sivil ile 8 askeri personelin öldüğünü öğrenildi. İsrail tek davranabilir! İsrail’in, İran’a yönelik olası tek taraflı askeri operasyonlara hazırlandığı öne sürüldü. Kanal 13’ün haberinde, Washington’ın doğrudan askeri müdahaleden geri adım atması durumunda dahi İsrail’in bağımsız hareket etme seçeneğini kullanabileceği iddia edildi. İsrailli yetkililer, İran’ın balistik füze programı ve nükleerle ilgili altyapı gibi yeteneklerini yeniden inşa etmesini veya genişletmesini asla kabul etmeyeceklerini belirtiyor. İsrail’in bağımsız hareket etme yeteneğini korumak istediğine dikkat çekildi. ‘Daha iyi olur’ Öte yandan İsrail Enerji Bakanı Eli Cohen, ABD ile İran arasında bir anlaşmaya varılmamasının Tel Aviv için daha iyi olacağını belirtti. Kanal 14 televizyonuna konuşan Cohen, “Bence bizim açımızdan bir anlaşma olmaması daha iyi olur. İran’a baskı yapmaya devam edebiliriz” dedi. Cohen, Tahran yönetiminin iki veya üç yıl sonra devrileceğini ileri sürdü. ABD silah üretimini hızlandıracak Pentagon’un, İran’a yönelik saldırılarla mühimmat stokunun azalması nedeniyle savunma sanayisi şirketlerinden silah üretimi ve teslimatını hızlandırmalarını istediği öne sürüldü. Washington Post’un ulaştığı ve daha önce yayımlanmayan Pentagon belgesine göre Savunma Bakan Yardımcısı Steve Feinberg, savunma sanayisi şirketlerinin yöneticilerine gönderdiği yazıda kritik askeri kabiliyetlerin üretim ve teslimat süreçlerinin hızlandırılmasını talep etti. ABD’nin İran’daki savaş dolayısıyla mühimmat sıkıntısı çektiği iddia edilmişti. Ruslar geri döndü! Rus devlet nükleer enerji şirketi Rosatom, uzmanlarının İran’daki Buşehr Nükleer Güç Santrali’ne geri dönmeye başladıklarını bildirdi. Sonbahara kadar nükleer santraldeki personel sayısının 100’e ulaşacağı ifade edildi. Mücteba Hamaney’in yeni görüntüleri yayınlandı İran devlet medyası, ülkenin dini lideri Mücteba Hamaney’e ait yeni görüntüler paylaştı. Tahran yönetimi, Hamaney’in sağlık durumuna ilişkin spekülasyonların artması üzerine harekete geçti. İran medyası, Hamaney’in daha önce kamuoyuyla paylaşılmamış görüntülerinin yer aldığı bir videoyu yayınlarken, dünya basınında geniş yer bulan görüntülerde, Hamaney’in İran Cumhurbaşkanı Mesud Pezeşkiyan ile bir araya geldiği toplantıdan kısa süre sonra kamuoyuyla paylaşıldığı öğrenildi.
ABD, İran’a yönelik saldırı hazırlığında ama bölgesel misillemeden çekiniyorIran says Oman deal is in ‘final stages’ but US must act to open Hormuz
Iran said on Sunday that a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages but reiterated that the waterway would only reopen once the United States met other conditions. A US official said on Friday that an agreement between Iran and Oman was close and could soon reopen the waterway, which carried a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before Iran blocked it in response to US and Israeli attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas...
- İnsani09 Ağu
Minchinabad police ‘ignore’ court orders in minor’s rape case
BAHAWALNAGAR: The Minchinabad Police have been allegedly ignoring court orders in a minor’s rape case even after a court ordered to register FIRs against four SHOs concerned and prohibiting the case investigating officer (IO) from any public role on account of the misconduct. As per details, a cleric was arrested on July 13 for sexually assaulting his 14-year-old student over a two-year period and impregnated her. During a court hearing on July 14, IO Shehnaz Akhtar in her report stated that the victim studied and worked as a domestic help inside the seminary. The court ordered a 13-day remand for the accused with a follow-up on July 17. On July 16, the victim’s father filed an application to the court alleging that the accused’s influential family had pressured the victim’s mother, the complainant in the case, into a settlement involving Rs1.05 million for her and case witnesses with police complicity. Also ignores court’s letter directing DPO to file FIRs against all SHOs of the circle The application sought an independent adviser for the minor’s rights and raised safety concerns. It also requested the victim’s custody or send her to the Child Protection Bureau, while the court ordered the girl to be moved to the child bureau. On July 17, the court issued a show-cause notice to the IO and proceedings were postponed as she did not appear before the court. Even on July 21, no police official appeared, leading to a new hearing scheduled for July 27, where the court demanded the victim’s presence and relevant records. However, the IO defied this order as well and took the victim to a different district court in Pakpattan to record her statement. In response, Magistrate Muhammad Qasim Rasool termed the police’s actions insulting and delinquent in two letters to the DPO Office on July 27, copies of which are available with Dawn. He ordered an inquiry against the IO and prohibited her from public interest assignments. The court directed the DPO to file FIRs against all SHOs of the circle. However, despite the passage of 11 days, there has been no apparent action taken on the court orders. In this regard, Advocate Khalid Shahid, representing the victim’s father, criticised the deputy commissioner’s office for neglecting the case. He highlighted that as per the Anti-Rape Act, anti-rape crisis cells (ARCC) were to protect children’s rights, overseen by local DCs or commissioners alongside medical and police staff. Advocate Khalid pointed out that despite a court-marked application, no actions were taken by the cell. When contacted, Bahawalnagar DC Syed Muhammad Abbas Shah and DPO Muhammad Imran did not respond to requests for comments. However, DPO’s spokesperson Zahid Rasool, while refuting bribery allegations, claimed that the court had rescinded its directions of registering FIRs against the SHOs. He stated that the IO was removed and an inquiry was initiated against her. He claimed that a medical examination was not undertaken based on the written request of the victim’s mother. Meanwhile, the Minchinabad DSP said that despite the confession, the accused had to be released since the victim spoke in the court in his defence. In response to the police’s account, Advocate Khalid asserted that the police were not legally obligated to obtain consent for a medical check-up in cases involving minors. Meanwhile, court sources denied the police claims and said that the court had not withdrawn any of its directions. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2026
Hint Mahkemesi, Tehelka Editörüne Tecavüzden 10 Yıl Hapis Cezası Verdi Üç ülkeden tarihi savunma adımı: Erdoğan’ın hamlesi dünyada yankılandı
Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın liderliğindeki Türkiye’nin bölgesel ağırlığı, Suudi Arabistan ve Pakistan ile imzalanan Mekke Ortak Savunma Anlaşması’yla yeni bir boyut kazandı. Üç ülkeyi ortak savunma zemininde buluşturan anlaşma dünya basınında geniş yankı bulurken, uluslararası medya Türkiye’nin artan askeri ve stratejik etkisine dikkat çekti. CNN, anlaşmayı “İran ile savaş yaklaşırken Suudi Arabistan, tarihi bir savunma anlaşmasıyla askeri güçleri önde gelen Müslüman ülkelere yöneliyor” başlığıyla manşetine taşıdı. CNN’nin haberinde, Riyad’ın İran’la savaş ihtimalinin gündemde olduğu bir dönemde ülkesinin savunması için İslam dünyasının en güçlü askeri güçleri arasında yer alan Türkiye ve Pakistan’a yöneldiği belirtildi. ‘İş birliğini pekiştirdi’ Associated Press (AP) ajansının haberinde, anlaşmanın “güvenlik endişelerinin arttığı bir dönemde üç bölgesel güç arasındaki iş birliğini pekiştirdiğini” belirtti. Haberde, Türkiye’nin savunma alanında son yıllarda artan etkisine dikkat çekildi. BBC haberinde “Pakistan, Suudi Arabistan ve Türkiye, her biri farklı nitelikler sunarken, anlaşmadan her biri de bundan farklı şeyler bekliyor” ifadelerine yer verildi. Ülke sayısı artabilir The New York Times gazetesinin haberinde, 3 ülkenin yetkililerinin anlaşmanın savunma amaçlı olduğunu, herhangi bir ülkeye yönelik olmadığını ve diğer ülkelerin de anlaşmaya katılabileceğini belirten benzer açıklamalar yaptığına işaret edildi. Financial Times gazetesi de haberinde, “Üç müttefik ülke, savaşlar ve istikrarsızlıkla başa çıkmak amacıyla bölgesel güvenlik işbirliğini derinleştirmeyi hedefliyor” yorumu yaptı. Wall Street Journal ise, üç ülkenin bölgede bir süredir devam eden kargaşanın ardından güvenliği sağlamak için daha yakın askeri bağların temelini oluşturduğu kaydedildi. ‘Tek şemsiye altında’ Middle East Eye, anlaşmanın “dünyanın en büyük üç Müslüman ülkesini ilk kez tek bir güvenlik şemsiyesi altında birleştirdiğine” dikkat çekildi. Al Jazeera’de ise bölgedeki krizlerin ve askeri gerilimin arttığı bir dönemde güvenlik iş birliğini derinleştireceği vurgulandı. Yunanistan’da yayımlanan Kathimerini anlaşmanın Atina’da hayal kırıklığına yol açtığını belirtirken, ABD’nin bölgesel tehditleri kontrol altına almakta zorlandığına dikkat çekildi. Mekke Ortak Savunma Anlaşması Anlaşma, herhangi bir ülkeyi hedef almayan, külfet paylaşımı ve ortak güvenlik anlayışı temelinde bölgesel ve küresel barış, istikrar ve refahın korunmasına yönelik taahhütleri güçlendirmeyi amaçlayan savunma odaklı işbirliği niteliği taşıyor. Herhangi bir saldırganlık eylemine karşı kolektif caydırıcılığı güçlendirmeyi amaçlayan anlaşma, üç devletten herhangi birine yönelik herhangi bir silahlı saldırının, hepsine yönelik bir saldırı olarak kabul edileceğini öngörüyor. Anlaşmanın, üç ülkenin birbirlerinin güvenliğini destekleme taahhüdünün yanı sıra savunma sanayisi işbirliğini ve askeri birlikte çalışabilirliği geliştirmeyi amaçlayan savunma odaklı bir düzenleme niteliği bulunuyor. İran’dan karışık sinyal Mekke Ortak Savunma Anlaşması, İran’da da tepkiyle karşılandı. İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, sosyal medya hesabından yaptığı paylaşımda, “Artık sadece kendimize güvenmenin ve gerçek kardeşliği kucaklamanın vaktidir” ifadelerini kullandı. İran Ulusal Güvenlik Komitesi üyesi İbrahim Rezai ise Türkiye ve Pakistan ile imzalanan anlaşmanın “Suudi Arabistan’ın güvenliğini garanti etmeyeceğini” söyledi. Konuyla ilgili daha olumlu konuşan İran lideri Mücteba Hamaney’in Başdanışmanı Ali Ekber Velayeti ise bölgedeki güvenliğin bölge ülkeleri arasındaki işbirliğinin artırılmasıyla sağlanabileceğini belirtti. Velayeti, “ABD ve İsrail’in yenilgisi, bölgedeki güvensizliğin ana nedeni olan yabancı güçlerin bölgeden ayrılması gerektiğine dair inancı güçlendirmiştir” dedi.
Mekke Savunma Anlaşması Küresel Yankı Uyandırdı; Yunanistan'dan Tepki ÇağrısıHürmüz Boğazı’nda biyolojik tehdit
Meltem Güneş - ABD ve İran arasındaki savaşın bölgedeki etkileri sadece sosyal, siyasi ve ekonomik değil. Özellikle savaş nedeniyle önce İran tarafından kapatılan, daha sonra da ABD’nin abluka uyguladığı Hürmüz Boğazı, ekolojik bir krize de neden olabilir. BBC’nin özel haberine göre uluslararası bir deniz biyologları ekibi, Hürmüz Boğazı’nın kapanmasının “büyük bir uluslararası biyolojik güvenlik tehdidi” olduğu ve “bir ekolojik krize” yol açabileceği uyarısı yaptı. Biological Invasions dergisinde yayınlanan makaleye göre, bilim insanları, gemilerin aylarca sabit kalmasının, istilacı türlere gemilere ilişmek için uzun bir süre tanıdığını söylüyor. Biyologlar, bu gemiler dünyanın dört bir yanındaki noktalara doğru yeniden sefere başladığında, bunun “büyük ölçekli, denizlere özgü biyolojik istila olayı”başlatabileceğini söylüyor. Önlem alınmalı Hürmüz’ün kapalı olması dolayısıyla bölgede 1500’den fazla gemi mahsur kaldı. Hareketsiz kalan gemilerde biyolojik kirlenme çok hızlı olurken, bu gemilerin önlem alınmadan sefere başlaması büyük bir tehlikeyi beraberinde getiriyor. Nitekim Uluslararası Denizcilik Örgütü, uzun süre atıl durumda kalan gemilerin tekrar sefere çıkmadan önce biyolojik kirlenmeyi gidermeye yönelik önlemler almasını tavsiye etti. ‘İstilacı türler’ Gemilere yapışan organizmalar daha sonra yeni yaşam alanlarına taşınırsa, “çok büyük” ekonomik ve ekolojik hasara neden olabilir. Uzmanlara göre, “İstilacı türler yerli organizmaları yerlerinden edebilir, yerel türlerin yok olmasına neden olabilir, balıkçılık ve su ürünleri yetiştiriciliğini etkileyebilir ve hatta enerji santrallerinin soğutma sistemlerini tıkayabilir”. Uzmanlar, “Boğazın yeniden açılmasıyla birlikte yerli olmayan organizmaların girişinin olacağından eminiz” ifadelerini kullanıyor. Deniz sistemlerinde bir kez yerleştikten sonra, ortadan kaldırması çok zor olan bu istilacı türler, başka yerlere yayılırlarsa, gelecekte sıcaklıklar yükselirse yerli türlerden daha dirençli hale gelebilirler. Bilim insanları ideal senaryoda, atıl durumdaki gemilerin Körfez’den ayrılmadan önce temizlenmesi gerektiğini söylüyor. ‘Riskler göz ardı edilmemeli’ Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Öğretim Üyesi Prof. Dr. Ali Serhan Tarkan, Milliyet’e yaptığı değerlendirmede, mahsur kalan gemilerin tekrar sefere başladığında biyolojik bir istilaya yol açma ihtimalinin olduğunu söyleyerek, şunları aktardı: “Özellikle istilacı türlerin en önemli hayatta kalma, yerleşme kaynağı o gemilerin orada kalma sürelerinin uzaması. Gemilerin o kadar sürede orada kalmasının getireceği potansiyel riskler var tabii ki. Gemi tabakasına yapışan canlılar, belirli bir süre sonra oraya iyice yerleşiyor. Yerleştirdikten sonra da hızla çoğalıyorlar. İstila süreci de böyle başlıyor zaten. Riskin boyutu ne kadar olur onu kestirmek zor ama ‘risk yok’ diyemeyiz. Risk var. İstilacı türlerin yayılma riski artacaktır. Örneğin orada o gemilere yapışan midyeler var. İki-üç haftalık süreçlerde bile yoğun bir şekilde popülasyon oluşturabildiğini biliyoruz bazı türlerin. Örneğin bizim Karadeniz Havzasında olan bazı midye türleri ya da balast sularıyla taşınan bazı türlerin gidip Kuzey Amerika’daki büyük göller sistemlerinde çok büyük problemlere yol açtığını biliyoruz. İstilacı türler çok dayanıklı türler, kötü koşullarda hayatta kalabiliyorlar. Su kaynağı olarak kullanılan göllerde su borularını tıkıyorlar, balıkçının ağlarını kullanılmaz hale getiriyorlar. Bu türlerin yeni bir ortama yerleşmesini engellemek en büyük hedefimiz. Yerleştikten sonra mücadele zorlaşıyor. Çıkış yolu aranıyor ABD ve İran arasında bir anlaşma sağlanması için diplomatik çabalar sürerken, Amerikan yönetiminden isimlerin ülkeyi bu savaşın içinden çıkarmak için yollar aradığı öne sürüldü. ABD Genelkurmay Başkanı Dan Caine’in, İran ile savaşın tırmanmasının yeni riskler yaratabileceği ve yalnızca hava saldırılarıyla ABD Başkanı Trump’ın hedeflerine ulaşılmasının zor olduğu gerekçesiyle çatışmadan “çıkış yolu” aradığı iddia ediliyor. Amerikan CNN kanalının konu hakkında bilgi sahibi üç kaynağa dayandırdığı haberinde Caine’in, son haftalarda İran ile savaşın geldiği noktaya ilişkin endişelerini ABD yönetimindeki üst düzey yetkililerle paylaştığı belirtildi. Caine’in, CIA Direktörü John Ratcliffe, Dışişleri Bakanı Marco Rubio ve Başkan Yardımcısı JD Vance ile yaptığı görüşmelerde, çatışmayı tırmandırabilecek askeri seçeneklerin yaratabileceği riskleri ve yalnızca hava saldırıları düzenleyerek Trump’ın savaş bağlamındaki hedeflerine ulaşılmasının zor olduğunu gündeme getirdiği ileri sürüldü. Görüşmelerde Caine’in, gerilimin azaltılmasına imkan sağlarken ABD’nin hedefleri doğrultusunda ilerleme kaydedildiğini gösterebilecek bir “çıkış yolu” üzerine yoğunlaştığı iddia edildi. Öte yandan kaynaklar, Trump’ın, İran’a kara birlikleri gönderilmesine sıcak bakmadığını, hava saldırılarının ise Tahran’ı ABD’nin çıkarlarını gözeten bir anlaşmaya zorlayabileceğini düşündüğünü aktardı. ‘Hürmüz ABD’ye bağlı’ İran Devrim Muhafızları Ordusu Sözcüsü Tuğgeneral Hüseyin Muhibbi, Hürmüz Boğazı’nın yeniden açılmasının İran’ın belirlediği mekanizma ve koşulların ABD tarafından kabul edilmesine bağlı olduğunu söyledi. İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi de, Hürmüz Boğazı’ndaki geçiş güzergahının belirlenmesine ilişkin Umman ile görüşmelerin sürdüğünü ve anlaşmaya çok yaklaştıklarını belirterek, Boğaz’ın açılmasının ABD’nin mutabakat ihlalini telafi etmesi başta olmak üzere bazı şartların yerine getirilmesine bağlı olduğunu ifade etti. Öte yandan ABD Başkan Yardımcısı Vance ise, “İranlılar bize Hürmüz Boğazı’ndan geçiş ücreti alma planlarının olmadığını söylediler. Ancak yine de gerçekte ne gibi adımlar atılacağını göreceğiz” dedi.
Tazminat krizi ve suikast tehdidi Hürmüz müzakerelerini çıkmaza soktuIran links Hormuz reopening to US meeting promises
• Pezeshkian insists now is ‘best time’ to end war as Iran ‘victorious’ • Tehran seeks US compensation, end to threats, lifting of sanctions • Muscat terms talks ‘positive’; Araghchi sees deal ‘very close’ • UAE accuses Iran of hitting another tanker • Trump’s top general seeks an ‘off-ramp’ from the war DUBAI: As Iran has linked the reopening of Strait of Hormuz to the Unites States meeting commitments, not to any deal with Oman on new shipping arrangements, President Masoud Pezeshkian said he believed this was the best time for an agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and Oman were “very close” to agreement on a new shipping route through the strait but that reopening it depended on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran. Tehran earlier on Saturday claimed an agreement with Oman on new shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to reopen the waterway. The claim comes at a time when the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of targeting a tanker belonging to its state-owned oil company in the strait, after an unknown projectile hit the vessel. Oman said negotiations with Iran about the future administration of the strait were “positive and constructive”, but warned against repeated attacks on shipping. Agreement between Iran and Oman over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb 28 and led to Tehran establishing a chokehold over the major energy export route. A US official said on Friday Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume. The secretary of Iran’s top national security body, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, listed other demands including ending US threats against Iran, stopping aggression against Iran and its Lebanese, Palestinian, Yemeni and Iraqi allies, lifting a blockade and sanctions on Iran and freeing Iranian assets. Iran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait and wants to charge users for passage, repeatedly attacking ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route. The US vehemently opposes any Iranian tolls in the strait, though a June deal struck by the warring parties does allow Tehran to hammer out arrangements for the “future administration” of Hormuz in dialogue with fellow coastal state Oman. Araghchi said the previous shipping traffic separation scheme through the strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran and that Iran was discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved. The Revolutionary Guards underscored the point, saying: “The opening of the Strait of Hormuz has its own mechanism and has nothing to do with the negotiations between Iran and Oman.” “The enemy is forced to accept Iran’s conditions for the opening of the strait and to refrain from the interference that it is currently making in the negotiations, which have almost reached their end, between Iran, Oman and other countries,” the Guards said. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi stressed that “whenever the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened”. “There is cohesion, strength and unity in the country, and as far as I know, Iran is considered victorious and powerful in this war,” Mr Pezeshkian said. US officials debate risks US Vice President J.D. Vance said a potential understanding with Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to normal commercial traffic, while former defence secretary Mark Esper warned against giving Iran and Oman a role in administering the strategic waterway. Vance told Fox News’ “Saturday in America” that Washington expected oil and gas shipments through the strait to return to pre-war levels, saying Iran had assured the US that it had no plans to impose tolls on shipping. “Our expectation is you’re going to see the same amount of oil and gas come out of the Gulf that you saw before the conflict started,” Vance said. “That is what the Iranians have told us that they are going to do.” He cautioned, however, that Washington would judge Tehran by its actions rather than its assurances. Meanwhile, Esper, appearing Friday on Fox News’ “America Reports”, warned against any arrangement that would give Iran and Oman control over traffic through the strait. He said reports indicated that Tehran and Muscat were nearing an agreement that could divide passage through the waterway, with a northern route leading into the Persian Gulf and a southern route running along Oman’s coast. “They may or may not charge a fee, but they would administer and control it in one way, shape or form, which would be a very bad outcome for us,” Esper said. Amid the optimism and warning, CNN reported that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine has privately been seeking an “off-ramp” from the war, warning Trump administration officials that available military options may not be sufficient to achieve the president’s stated objectives. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that Caine had discussed finding an “off-ramp” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vance and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. With input from Anwar Iqbal Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2026
İran duyurdu: Hürmüz Boğazı için anlaşma çok yakın
İran, küresel enerji ticaretinin en kritik geçiş noktalarından Hürmüz Boğazı için Umman'la yürütülen görüşmelerde anlaşmaya çok yaklaşıldığını duyurdu. Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Erakçi, önceki geçiş düzeninin Tahran açısından artık kabul edilemez olduğunu belirterek yeni haritalara dayalı geçici bir güzergâh üzerinde çalışıldığını açıkladı.
Hürmüz Boğazı'nda geçici rota pazarlığı
İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, Hürmüz Boğazı'nda geçici bir seyrüsefer rotası belirlenmesi amacıyla Umman ile yürütülen müzakerelerde anlaşmaya yakın olduklarını duyurdu. İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, Hürmüz Boğazı'ndaki gemi trafiğini yönetmek ve geçici bir seyrüsefer rotası oluşturmak amacıyla Umman ile sürdürülen hukuki ve teknik müzakerelerde nihai anlaşmaya yaklaştıklarını açıkladı. İran resmi ajansı IRNA'nın aktardığına göre bugün Tahran'da düzenlediği basın toplantısında değerlendirmelerde bulunan Arakçi, iki ülkenin askeri ve deniz kuvvetlerinin mevcut haritalar üzerinden görüşmeler gerçekleştirdiğini ve nihai değerlendirmelerin ardından yeni rotanın netleşeceğini söyledi. Boğazdaki mevcut Trafik Ayrım Düzeni'nin (TSS) artık Tahran yönetimi açısından kabul edilebilir olmadığını vurgulayan Arakçi, teknik ve hukuki karmaşıklıklar nedeniyle öncelikle kalıcı rotaya altlık oluşturacak geçici bir güzergah üzerinde durulduğunu kaydetti. İran Dışişleri Bakanı, Hürmüz Boğazı'nın seyrüsefere tamamen açılmasının ABD'nin İslamabad Mutabakatı ihlallerini tazmin etmesine ve diğer koşullara bağlı olduğunu savundu. İslamabad Mutabakatı'nın beşinci maddesinin İran tarafından uygulandığını ve iki hafta içinde trafiğin yüzde 60 oranında normale döndüğünü öne süren Arakçi, ABD'nin boğazda yeni rotalar oluşturmaya çalışarak İran'ın seyrüsefer yönetimini zedelemeyi hedeflediğini ve bu durumun kabul edilemeyeceğini beyan etti. SEKTÖR KAYNAKLARI YAPTIRIMLARA İŞARET EDİYOR Öte yandan Tahran ve Maskat yönetimleri arasında yürütülen görüşmelere karşın nakliye ve sigorta sektörünün temsilcileri, öngörülen mekanizmanın uygulanmasının son derece zor olduğunu değerlendiriyor. Üst düzey bir İranlı kaynağın Reuters haber ajansına aktardığı taslağa göre Tahran yönetimi boğaza giren gemilere müdahale yetkisini elinde tutmayı, çıkış yapacak gemilerin ise İran'a bildirimde bulunulmasının ardından Umman üzerinden seyrüsefer yapmasını hedefliyor. Söz konusu plan kapsamında Tahran yönetimi Hürmüz Boğazı'nı kullanan gemilerden taşıdıkları yükün değerine oranla yüzde 5 ile yüzde 7 arasında geçiş ücreti talep etmeyi amaçlarken Umman yüzde 3 seviyesinde bir oranı tartışıyor. Washington yönetimi ise boğaz geçişlerinden herhangi bir ücret alınmasına karşı çıkıyor. Dünyanın önde gelen denizcilik birlikleri, Uluslararası Denizcilik Örgütü'ne (IMO) gönderdikleri ortak mektupta, boğazdan zorunlu geçiş veya hizmet ücreti alınmasının örtülü bir harç niteliği taşıyacağını ve uluslararası seyrüsefer rejimini zedeleyeceğini belirtti. IMO İdari Konseyi de Hürmüz Boğazı'na kıyıdaş ülkelerin ayrım gözetmeksizin ve ücret ödenmeksizin transit geçiş hakkını garanti altına alması gerektiğini vurguladı. Denizcilik şirketleri ve petrol tüccarları açısından ise ABD'nin mayıs ayında İran tarafından kurulan Basra Körfezi Boğaz Yetki Kurumu'nu yaptırım listesine alması hukuki riskler yaratıyor. ABD Hazine Bakanlığı'nın Amerikalı kişi ve kuruluşların İran hükümetinden güvenli geçiş garantisi kapsamında hizmet almasını yasaklaması nedeniyle, yapılan herhangi bir ödemenin varlıkların dondurulmasına yol açabileceği ifade ediliyor. Diğer yandan Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) bünyesindeki savaş riski sigortacılarının temmuz ayı sonunda yürürlüğe koyduğu özel bir madde, Hürmüz Boğazı'ndan geçiş için harç veya ücret ödeyen gemilerin sigorta teminatlarını iptal ediyor. Bu da gemi sahiplerini ödeme yapılması halinde sigortasız kalma, yapılmaması halinde ise geçiş engeliyle karşılaşma riskiyle baş başa bırakıyor. ARAKÇİ'DEN HAZAR DENİZİ KONVANSİYONUNA DAİR AÇIKLAMA İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, Hazar Denizi'nin Hukuki Statüsüne İlişkin Konvansiyon'un meclise sevk edilmesine dair soruya da yanıt verdi. Konvansiyonun 2018 ve 2019 yıllarında meclise sunulduğunu hatırlatan Arakçi, kıyıdaş diğer dört ülkenin metni onayladığını, İran'ın katılımının ise meclis onayına bağlı olduğunu ifade etti. İran'ın Hazar Denizi'ndeki payının konvansiyon metninde yer almadığını açıklayan Arakçi, esas hatların belirlenmesi ile deniz yatağı ve su kitlesinin paylaşımındaki görüş ayrılıkları sebebiyle ülke payı konusunun konvansiyondan çıkarılarak ikili ve üçlü müzakerelere bırakıldığını bildirdi. Arakçi, Rusya gibi ülkelerin konvansiyonun bir an önce yürürlüğe girmesini istediğini belirterek anlaşmanın Hazar Denizi'nde yabancı askeri güçlerin varlığını yasakladığını sözlerine ekledi.
Tazminat krizi ve suikast tehdidi Hürmüz müzakerelerini çıkmaza soktuIran, Oman agree on route thru Hormuz
• Tehran says ‘geographical coordinates of route’ agreed upon, joint statement expected soon • Oil prices fall after rising amid Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers • Trump claims successful ‘day-long talks’ with Tehran • Report says Iran ‘warned of targeting energy installations in Gulf’ if US renewed attacks TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: Iran and Oman have agreed a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are putting the final touches on arrangements for jointly managing the waterway, Iran’s foreign ministry said. Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday after ticking higher following the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen saying it had fired on a Saudi-flagged tanker in the Red Sea, the latest attack on Middle East shipping that has disrupted global energy supplies. But official sources briefing Iranian media stressed that any reopening of the strait would depend on the United States fulfilling what Tehran sees as its commitment to end its own naval blockade of Iran’s ports. “The geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by the two sides have been agreed upon and, if certain third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement of the two countries, containing the main considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final review and drafting stage,” spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Baqaei told journalists that talks with Oman were moving forward, but that even if an understanding was reached, it would not mean that the strait had become safe for all passing vessels. “The factors making the Strait of Hormuz insecure still exist on the part of the United States, particularly the naval blockade and other aggressive and threatening actions against Iran and its interests,” he said. After imposing an effective blockade on the strait, Iran has insisted ships take a route that hugs the Iranian coast. Many vessels have instead chosen to take a southern route, close to Oman on the opposite side of the strait, occasionally coming under fire. The proposed deal could give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Although US officials have repeatedly said that they would never accept any arrangement that lets Iran control access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies, it seems that this was one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran. President Donald Trump had claimed there was an “all-day negotiation” on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran “really hard” if a deal with Tehran was not reached. Trump told Fox News the two sides were having very good discussions. The Strait of Hormuz “is going to be open very soon,” Trump said. “If they back out again, they are going to get hit really hard.” However, Reuters quoted regional sources as saying that there were still details to be determined about how “control” would be defined, with Gulf negotiators insisting regional countries supervise inspections of ships, and that any payment of fees be voluntary. The senior Iranian source said the text of an agreement already on the table envisioned Iran having control of ships heading into the Gulf through the strait, and one of the main sticking points was what role Iran would also have over ships heading in the opposite direction. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said later in comments to IRNA: “A significant portion of this new route is located in Iranian territorial waters, and a part of it is in Omani territorial waters. “It is designed in such a way that commercial ships will pass through Iranian territorial waters, both on the inbound and outbound legs of their journey.” He said the talks with Oman had “reached fundamental understandings” on issues including the map of the routes for the entry and exit of maritime traffic. “This progress is on the verge of being finalised.” Iran warns Gulf states In a separate development, the Reuters news agency reported that Tehran had warned several Gulf states that any new US attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the region. The warning was delivered through a flurry of high-level diplomatic contacts after President Donald Trump threatened on July 28 to strike Iran’s energy network and infrastructure, sources said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with his Saudi, Turkish and Qatari counterparts, as well as a top Pakistani official, the report said. Araghchi urged Washington’s Gulf allies to use their influence with Trump to dissuade him from launching renewed strikes, the senior diplomat said, warning that any attack on Iran would prompt retaliation against US assets and energy facilities across the Gulf. “We’re ready to retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction across the region,” sources quoted the Iranian foreign minister as saying. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently spoke with Trump, urging him to delay military action, return to negotiations, secure a ceasefire and pursue a diplomatic settlement, the senior diplomat and Gulf sources said. Houthi attack Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked two of Riyadh’s oil tankers, taking the total number of Saudi ships targeted since the start of the blockade to nine. The group “successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker Wafa in the northern Red Sea, off the coast of Yanbu, with a number of ballistic missiles”, spokesperson Yahya Saree said, in a video statement. In a later statement, Saree said the rebels targeted the “Saudi oil tanker Daisy in the Gulf of Aden with a ballistic missile”, referring to the waterway that connects to the Red Sea. Saudi authorities had no immediate comment on the report. Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2026
Tazminat krizi ve suikast tehdidi Hürmüz müzakerelerini çıkmaza soktuPakistan beat West Indies by eight wickets to draw series
Pakistan beat the West Indies by eight wickets on the fourth day of the second and final Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Wednesday to level the series. Beaten by 90 runs in the first Test the previous week, the visitors were left with a target of only 75 runs after the home side — already in deep trouble overnight at 103 for six in the second innings — were dismissed for 117 half an hour into the start of the day’s play. Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guided their team to victory after openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais fell cheaply to pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, with Babar hoisting consecutive sixes off spinner Jomel Warrican to seal the result. Babar Azam (L) of Pakistan hits 6 and Shai Hope (R) of West Indies watch during the 4th day of the 2nd Test match between West Indies and Pakistan at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on August 5, 2026. — AFP It gave Pakistan a share of the series in the same manner as their last campaign in the Caribbean in 2021, when they rebounded similarly from losing the first Test to take the second, both matches played then at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Their last meeting in Pakistan, for two Tests in Multan in January of 2025, also finished 1-1. This match was a personal triumph for Shafique. Not included in the original touring party and only flown in last week as a replacement for the injured Shan Masood, his unbeaten 160 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s first innings total of 387. Ali Usman (L), Mohammad Ali (C) and Mohammad Rizwan (R) of Pakistan celebrates the dismissal of Shamar Joseph of West Indies during the 4th day of the 2nd Test match between West Indies and Pakistan at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on August 5, 2026. — AFP This was also Pakistan’s first Test victory at Queen’s Park Oval since 1977, when captain Mushtaq Mohammad’s all-round performance took his team to a series-levelling win in the fourth Test of a five-match series. West Indies, however, won the decider in Kingston to take that rubber 2-1. Frontline spinners star Pushing aside the hotly-debated omission of senior seamer Mohammad Abbas on the first morning of this Test, Pakistan prevailed with their two frontline spinners starring in the victory. Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was not picked for the first Test, made the most of his recall with a match haul of eight for 117, although he was not required on the final morning as the other spinner, left-arm orthodox Ali Usman, took two of the last three wickets to fall to claim four for 39 in the innings and match figures of six for 119. West Indies were hampered by the absence of regular opening batsman Brandon King, who was unable to bat because of back spasms suffered in effecting the run-out of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for 88 the day before. Khan had taken four for 32 to engineer the West Indies’ second innings collapse late on day three, yet Babar opted for the combination of Usman and seamer Mohammad Ali to complete the job on the fourth morning. They were aided, though, by poor shot selection from the hosts’ lower order. Kemar Roach, noted for his tailender’s defiance as displayed in the first innings, swung hopefully at the second delivery he faced from Usman to be bowled for a “duck”. Justin Greaves, the last real hope for any meaningful West Indian resistance, dragged an attempted pull at Mohammad Ali onto his middle stump, and the innings was wrapped up when Shamar Joseph, having already struck two boundaries, essayed another big swing at Usman only for a skied leading edge to be easily pouched by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan’s win also broke a streak of eight consecutive Test match defeats away from home, which started with a 360-run annihilation at the hands of Australia in Perth in December, 2023.
Seven ‘Umrah pilgrims intending to reach Europe’ offloaded in Sialkot International Airport
GUJRAT: The immigration wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded seven passengers allegedly travelling to Europe via Saudi Arabia under the guise of Umrah pilgrims, at the Sialkot International Airport on Tuesday. As per the FIA, fake visas and nationality cards of different countries were also recovered from these passengers, who were offloaded from different flights. Four of them intended to travel as a group from Saudi Arabia to Cyprus. A senior FIA official told Dawn that during the passengers clearance process for Flight No PF 720, a group of four passengers belonging to Pasrur tehsil of Sialkot district – Ahsan Raza, Sayed Ameer Haider, Sayed Karam Abbas Kazmi and Syed Gohar Abbas – was detected. They apparently intended to go to Saudi Arabia on Umrah Visa. During Immigration clearance, the counter officer referred these four passengers to the shift in charge for verification. During their profiling, the official said, it transpired that they were actually intending to skip from Saudi Arabia and go to Cyprus. He said that the WhatsApp chat of Karam Abbas showed that his relative Meesam Raza, also from Pasrur and currently living in Cyprus, had struck a deal with him and three others to send them to Cyprus after receiving Rs1.8 million from each of them. They had paid Meesam Rs1m each in advance. The proof of these bank transactions have also been found, the official added. Similarly, he said, during the immigration clearance of Flight No FZ 338, a passenger, Rana Mateen, of Gujranwala, was traced, who apparently intended to visit Saudi Arabia on Umra visa. He said that during his personal search, two Pakistani passports – issued in the names of Azhar and Imran – and Lativan visas were recovered from him. Both Pakistani passport and Latvian visas were found to be fake, he added. The passenger disclosed that passports were handed over to him by an unknown person on the direction of his friend Awais, who is currently residing in Austria. He further disclosed that he was about to deliver the passports to Azhar and Imran. The official said that Mateen also disclosed that his Umra visa and ticket was arranged by Awais, who promised that he would be paid Rs100,000 for delivering the passports and visas. He said that investigations show that Azhar (real name Danish Khan) and Imran (real name Talat Ahmed), have already departed to Malaysia from the Allama International Airport, Lahore, on their genuine passports. Meanwhile, two other passengers – Zahid of Asghar Town, Gujrat and Kamran Munsif were also offloaded from a Saudia-bound flight after the French visa of Zahid and Italian citizenship card of Kamran were found to be fake. Both were traveling as Umrah pilgrims. The offloaded passengers were handed over to Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the FIA for further action. Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2026
Pakistan to host Iranian officials as Trump’s patience wears thin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday invited Iran’s parliament speaker and foreign minister for urgent consultations on regional developments, as Tehran described Islamabad as its primary mediator with the US. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator with Washington and speaker of parliament. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, meanwhile, invited his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The invitations were delivered in Tehran late Monday night after Dar spoke with Araghchi. “They exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the deteriorating situation in Occupied East Jerusalem,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. It remained unclear when Ghalibaf and Araghchi would travel to Pakistan. A diplomatic source said both men had been asked to come as soon as possible for discussions on regional and international developments. Araghchi was in Iraq on Monday for Arbaeen, which is being observed on Tuesday. The invitations came roughly 36 hours after US President Donald Trump announced he had canceled imminent strikes against Iran. Trump said allies had urged him to hold off because a deal appeared imminent. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump and persuaded him to call off the planned military action. Trump had also named UAE and Qatar as among the countries that had asked him to cancel the planned strikes. Iran has been holding talks with Oman about the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities say they are close to an agreement but have not indicated whether the waterway would reopen or remain closed. Pakistan has been relatively quiet on the mediation front compared with earlier efforts that produced the Islamabad MoU. It has, however, remained engaged through back channels with Iran and, together with Qatar, proposed a ceasefire plan during a nearly 13-day period of escalation. Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday insisted that Pakistan is the main mediator with US. Spokesman Esmail Baqaei said: “The mediator in the discussions related to Iran and the US is Pakistan, and Qatar also helps in cases where necessary. To say that we have added a new mediator to the existing mediators is not, in the strict sense of the word, the case.” Meanwhile, President Donald Trump accused Iran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous” after Tehran denied that any negotiations were underway with the US. The exchange renewed threats from Trump, who warned Iran faced “decapitation” and said he would keep up military pressure until there was a “deal, or total surrender”. “I think we’re going to maybe get something, but I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump said, reiterating his threat to launch a major attack on Iran. The war of words follows a familiar pattern in the five-month conflict between Washington and Tehran. The president, who on Sunday said renewed talks would begin “tomorrow afternoon” without naming a venue or participants, added that the US Navy maintains complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. “Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a deal, or total surrender, is accomplished,” he said. Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One that Iran, along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, had asked him to hold off on what he claimed would have been “the biggest attack since World War II”. “Would I rather make a deal? I’m not looking to kill people,” Trump said on Sunday. He described ongoing discussions as a “last chance for them to sign a good document”. With input from Agencies Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026
Trump'ın sabrı tükenirken Pakistan İranlı yetkilileri davet ettiTrump İran’a rest çekti: Başka seçeneğiniz yok
ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, İran yönetimine yönelik açıklamalarında tonu sertleştirerek Tahran’ın önünde “anlaşma ya da tam teslimiyet” dışında bir seçenek bulunmadığını savundu. İran ise Washington ile doğrudan veya dolaylı bir müzakerenin yürütülmediğini, yalnızca Umman’la Hürmüz Boğazı konusunda diplomatik temasların sürdüğünü açıkladı. Trump, Truth Social hesabından yaptığı paylaşımda İran yönetimini “ikiyüzlü” davranmakla suçladı. İran’ın görüşme talebinde bulunduğunu, temaslar başladıktan sonra ise kamuoyu önünde ABD ile herhangi bir görüşme yapılmadığını söylediğini öne süren Trump, Tahran’ın yalnızca Umman’la temas kurduğu yönündeki açıklamalarına tepki gösterdi. ABD Başkanı, İran’ın Hürmüz Boğazı üzerindeki kontrol iddialarını da reddederek stratejik su yolunun ABD Donanması tarafından kontrol edildiğini ileri sürdü. Trump, “Biz istemedikçe İran’a hiçbir şey ulaşamaz, anlaşma ya da tam teslimiyet sağlanmadıkça da hiçbir şey geçemez.” ifadelerini kullandı. İran’ın nükleer silah edinmesine izin vermeyeceklerini yineleyen Trump, “İran hiçbir zaman nükleer silaha sahip olmayacak.” dedi. İRAN: ABD İLE MÜZAKERE YOK İran Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü İsmail Bekayi ise Washington yönetiminin açıklamalarını yalanladı. Bekayi, ABD ile görüşme yapılmadığını ve gün içinde böyle bir görüşmenin planlanmadığını belirtti. İranlı yetkililer, buna karşın Umman ile Hürmüz Boğazı’ndaki gemi trafiği ve geçici bir deniz ulaşım koridoru kurulması konusunda temasların sürdüğünü bildirdi. Görüşmelerin, boğazdaki ticari geçişlerin yeniden düzenlenmesi ve güvenli seyrüsefer koşullarının sağlanması üzerinde yoğunlaştığı ifade edildi. İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi’nin son günlerde Türkiye ve Suudi Arabistan’ın da aralarında bulunduğu bölge ülkelerindeki mevkidaşlarıyla telefon görüşmeleri yaptığı belirtildi. İran Cumhurbaşkanı Mesud Pezeşkiyan da ülkesinin bölgedeki gerilimi ve güvensizliği artırmak istemediğini ancak İran’ın güvenliğini, ulusal çıkarlarını ve toprak bütünlüğünü korumak için bütün gücüyle karşılık vermeye hazır olduğunu söyledi. Tahran yönetiminin açıklamaları, diplomasi kapısının tamamen kapatılmadığı ancak muhtemel bir askeri çatışmaya karşı hazırlıkların sürdürüldüğü mesajı olarak değerlendirildi. TRUMP’TAN PETROL ŞİRKETLERİNE FİYAT ÇAĞRISI Trump, İran’a ilişkin açıklamalarının yanı sıra ABD’li petrol şirketlerine de akaryakıt fiyatlarını düşürme çağrısında bulundu. Chevron Üst Yöneticisi Mike Wirth’ü hedef alan Trump, şirket yöneticisinin petrol sektörüne sağlanan hükümet desteğinden söz etmediğini savundu. Trump, kendi yönetiminin politikaları olmasaydı ABD petrol sektörünün ciddi sorunlarla karşı karşıya kalacağını ileri sürerek, “Tüketiciye yansıyan perakende petrol fiyatlarını hemen düşürün.” ifadelerini kullandı. Küresel petrol fiyatları, Trump’ın hafta sonu İran’a yönelik yeni bir saldırı düzenlemekten vazgeçtiğini ve hızlı bir anlaşma arayışında olduğunu açıklamasının ardından sert geriledi. Ancak İran yönetimi, ABD ile planlanmış bir müzakere bulunmadığını yineledi. CENTCOM: BİNDEN FAZLA GEMİYE YARDIM ETTİK ABD Merkez Kuvvetler Komutanlığı, mayıs ayının başından bu yana Hürmüz Boğazı’ndan geçen yaklaşık bin ticari gemiye destek sağlandığını açıkladı. CENTCOM’a göre destek verilen gemiler, toplamda yaklaşık 500 milyon varil ham petrol taşıdı. ABD ordusu, kuvvetlerinin yüksek alarm seviyesinde bulunduğunu ve stratejik su yolundan geçmek isteyen ticari gemilere destek vermeye hazır olduğunu belirtti. Dünya petrol ticaretinin barış dönemlerinde yaklaşık beşte birinin geçtiği Hürmüz Boğazı’ndaki gelişmeler, enerji fiyatları ve küresel tedarik güvenliği açısından yakından izleniyor. PAKİSTAN’DAN İRAN’A ZİYARET DAVETİ Pakistan Dışişleri Bakanı Muhammed İshak Dar da İranlı mevkidaşı Abbas Arakçi ile telefon görüşmesi gerçekleştirdi. Görüşmede bölgesel ve uluslararası gelişmelerin yanı sıra işgal altındaki Doğu Kudüs’te kötüleşen durumun ele alındığı bildirildi. Pakistan Dışişleri Bakanlığının açıklamasına göre Dar, Arakçi’yi mümkün olan en kısa sürede Pakistan’ı ziyaret etmeye davet etti. Pakistan, İran ile ABD arasındaki gerilimin azaltılmasına yönelik diplomatik girişimlerde aktif rol üstlenen bölge ülkeleri arasında bulunuyor.
Trump'ın Seçmen Desteği Yüzde 32'ye Gerileyerek Yeni Dibe UlaştıTahran'dan ABD'ye Hürmüz resti: "Müzakere halinde değiliz"
İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Erakçi, Umman Dışişleri Bakanı Bedr bin Hamed el-Busaidi ile görüştü. İran Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü İsmail Bekayi, bugün yaptığı açıklamada "ABD ile müzakere halinde değiliz....Devamı için tıklayınız
HEALTH: UNCOVERING WHY BABIES DIE
Field teams actively track children under five years of age every three months to closely observe health trajectories and vital events. Expectant mothers within the target areas are systematically registered and followed up with | AKU & CHAMPS programme At first glance, the Changan Karvaan parked outside one of Aga Khan University’s (AKU) field sites in Karachi’s Bhains Colony looks like an ordinary white minivan. Boxy, tinted windows, no markings to set it apart. It’s only when you get in that the disinfectant and medical equipment give it away. Under the bright clinical lights, you will find surgical gloves, syringes, tissue covers… everything needed to perform MITS, or minimally invasive tissue sampling, on even the smallest of babies in the localities of Ali Akbar Shah, Ibrahim Hyderi and Bhains Colony. This unusual approach to forensics has helped researchers paint one of the clearest pictures yet of why these babies die before their fifth birthday. In three of Karachi’s poorest neighbourhoods, a minimally invasive autopsy technique is doing what verbal accounts and hospital records couldn’t: naming the exact cause of death in babies before age five WHAT IS MITS In 2015, the Gates Foundation launched the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme to better understand why babies and young children die in poor countries. It was coordinated by University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Centre and aimed to combine clinical records, laboratory testing, verbal autopsies and, where families consent, MITS, to pinpoint the biological causes of stillbirths and deaths among children under five. MITS is a post-mortem exam in which tiny amounts of tissue and fluid from key organs are taken using fine needles. These samples are analysed for pathogens, infectious disease and malignant tumours. The results reveal the exact cause of death without a full surgical autopsy. The goal is to arm governments and health agencies with evidence, so they can tackle preventable child deaths. “Children die because of certain reasons — there’s intrauterine deaths, which are before birth,” says Dr Asim Beg, parasitologist at AKU who specialises in vector-borne diseases. “The real cause for those is also more speculative because, in Pakistan, a Muslim country, they don’t do post-mortems normally,” he tells Eos. The study operates across nine countries on two continents, but Pakistan posed an obstacle unique to it: a widespread religious conviction that invasive sampling would disrespect the dead. It took at least 28 fatwas [religious edicts], countless meetings and debates with local leaders, and deep community involvement before families started to consent. “When the surveillance team first approached families, the response was overwhelmingly negative,” says Sajid Abbas, a research manager for the study. “At least 60 to 70 per cent of households refused outright.” The data collected from a MITS sample is just as comprehensive as what you’d get from a full open autopsy, according to Dr Momin Kazi, the study’s lead researcher. Tissue is collected from the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys, and, for stillbirths, the placenta is taken in its entirety. Organ samples are obtained through a puncture no larger than a pen’s tip, alongside cerebrospinal fluid, nasal, rectal and stool swabs, plus biometric measurements and photographs. MITS identifies the cause of death in 98 to 100 per cent of cases, researchers say, because they draw on polymerase chain reactions (PCRs), chromatography, and every other test available. That level of accuracy is possible because findings are deliberated upon by a panel of 12-13 experts, including professors, government representatives and specialists from private hospitals. They systematically eliminate possibilities to find the cause. Often, the visible symptoms were the ones already treated, but an underlying condition went undetected, with no symptoms. The sample size isn’t yet enough for policy, researchers say, but MITS has revealed unprecedented detail: exact pathogens, hidden causes beneath treated symptoms and new local strains no other method would catch. Researchers deliberately chose this stretch of Karachi’s coastline as a study site because it functions as a “mini Pakistan”, with families from all linguistic backgrounds and faiths. RACE AGAINST TIME When a stillbirth occurs or a child under five dies, burial usually happens within two to four hours — arrangements are minimal, beyond a ghusl [ritual bath] and shrouding. Many such deaths happen at home and are rarely logged with a hospital, leaving the cause unknown. The team’s challenge was to even find out about these mortalities. “It’s not as if every death comes through a hospital,” says Abbas. So the team mapped out the path a burial takes and everyone involved, at every step — a network that included religious figures who lead burial rites, shopkeepers and coffin makers, informal healthcare providers, ambulance drivers, and even nightwatchmen. “These are the people who alert us, and our team is available around the clock to respond, reach the family and seek consent for a sample,” explains Abbas. Mirzaadi is one such woman. She’s spent years as a community health worker in Bhains Colony, logging new families, marriages, births and deaths, long before CHAMPS operated in the area. When her daughter Rafiya was born at Koohi Goth Hospital two years ago, the baby hadn’t cried or urinated since birth. “She was passing discoloured fluid from her mouth,” Mirzaadi recalled. The family was told that the child’s organs were damaged. She was eventually put on a ventilator and died 12 days later. With Mirzaadi not in a state to engage, the project team quickly took consent from her husband Mushtaq, himself a senior research assistant on CHAMPS. The blood culture result following MITS indicated that Rafiya’s likely cause of death was acute gastroenteritis. It wasn’t her kidneys as initially suspected. The culprit was the qehva [green tea] that was given to the newborn. According to Dr Vinod Kumar from The Indus Hospital, common practices such as prelacteal feeding (giving any substance other than breast milk to newborn babies during their first threedays) compromise a baby’s health. “[People say] let’s give honey, or water, or qehva or unpasteurised goat milk,” he tells Eos. Any of them can lead to an infection. MITS has helped families uncover the reason for multiple child deaths. In one case, for example, a virus was detected and treated so the couple’s subsequent children survived. A child infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, for instance, might also test positive for cytomegalovirus — these opportunistic pathogens strike children who are already sick and more vulnerable. A child placed on a ventilator who then develops ventilator-associated pneumonia, for example, points to a clear, fixable gap: infection control on the equipment itself needs to improve. LOCAL BUGS The pathogens behind neonatal sepsis in Pakistan, according to neonatologist Dr Kumar, look nothing like what doctors encounter in higher-income countries. “We majorly deal with a few of the common bacterial organisms, which include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli,” he says, contrasting this with the Group B Streptococcus that dominates in Western neonatal units. Most of these bugs are hospital-acquired — a consequence of overcrowded wards, thin nursing ratios, where “one nurse is looking after four or five babies, or sometimes eight”, making cross-infection almost inevitable. CHAMPS’ initial data supports this. Hospital-acquired and drug-resistant superbug infections, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, occurred overwhelmingly or exclusively in hospitals, showing how drug-resistant bugs thrive in clinical wards The initial data shows a stark contrast between deaths taking place at home and those at a hospital. Measles was the leading cause of death, indicating that these children were not getting their routine immunisation. More troubling was that Streptococcus pneumoniae (six cases) occurred exclusively at home — proof that fatal respiratory infections were killing children before they ever reached a hospital. Among the deaths for which parents consented to MITS, 31 percent were stillbirths, 63 percent involved infants younger than one year of age and six percent occurred among children aged one to five. Although child mortality in these coastal neighbourhoods remains alarmingly high, families now have something they previously lacked: the chance to know exactly why their child died. The writer is a member of staff. She can be contacted at yumnakhan@outlook.com Published in Dawn, EOS, August 2nd, 2026
Pakistan'da Bebek Ölümlerinin Perde Arkası: AKU ve CHAMPS Saha Ekipleri İz PeşindeJustin Greaves steadies West Indies in second Test against Pakistan
Justin Greaves made an unbeaten 64 to steer West Indies to 239-5 at stumps on a rain-shortened opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Trinidad on Sunday. After a match-winning display with the ball in the first Test last week, Greaves displayed what has now become his trademark ease and composure at the crease in a battling knock at Queen’s Park Oval. His only error of judgement came just after reaching the half-century mark when captain Babar Azam put down a straightforward chance at leg-slip off spinner Sajid Khan. Greaves at that time was almost hobbling after a left leg injury sustained while completing a sharp run that necessitated lengthy treatment on the field. His sixth-wicket partnership with Roston Chase (36 not out) was worth 66 runs at the close of play and Greaves will be hoping for a return to his usual athletic mobility when he resumes the innings with his captain on the second morning. He had come to the crease in mid-afternoon at 91 for three as Kavem Hodge became Khan’s first wicket. When Amir Jangoo fell to a leg-side catch to give debutant pacer Ubaid Shah his first Test wicket with the first ball of a new spell, Pakistan sensed the chance to break the back of the West Indies resistance. However Greaves and Shai Hope provided a measure of stability in a 53-run stand until seamer Mohammad Ali, the most impressive of the bowlers on the day, bowled Hope off the inside-edge for 29 to leave the innings in the balance at 173 for five. Pakistan omit Abbas Earlier, Pakistan’s bewildering decision-making — on and off the field of play — highlighted a rain-affected morning session. Mohammad Abbas, the tourists’ best bowler by some distance from the 90-run defeat in the first Test, was dropped despite a match haul of eight for 85, including five for 22 in the second innings. A second Pakistani debutant, Awais Zafar, got his chance due to the finger injury sustained by former captain Shan Masood while compiling a determined century in the first Test. Pakistan’s think-tank seemed convinced of the wisdom of playing an additional slow bowler on a surface devoid of grass, drafting in Khan as an off-spinning option alongside left-arm orthodox bowler Ali Usman, who went wicketless on debut in the first Test. Khan’s first notable act in the match was to take the catch at long-leg which sent Tagenarine Chanderpaul to the pavilion for 15 as he failed to control a hook shot off Mohammad Ali after a brisk opening stand of 49 with Brandon King. “We needed those partnerships at the end of the day and it was good to see those guys (Greaves, Hope and Chase) making those contributions,” said King in summing up the day’s effort. “It would be nice if we get more of the same from them tomorrow and Justin and Roston can go on to get hundreds.” As easily as the runs flowed, especially off King’s bat, in the early exchanges after Chase opted to bat first, both could have been dismissed earlier with more attacking tactics as they each benefited from edges at catchable height through the vacant third slip position. Mohammad Ali was even pleading with Babar for additional support in the slip cordon following the third of those fortunate escapes. King’s luck ran out though following the 90-minute rain break as Usman snared him for his first Test wicket, leg-before for 46.
Iran, Oman near Hormuz deal after Trump calls off strikes
• Baqaei says this does not mean ‘reopening’ of the strait • US president speaks to MBS; says ‘perimeter’ of a deal is there • Pezeshkian terms Islamabad MoU ‘centre of gravity’ of Iran’s future foreign ties; Iranian official says efforts on to ‘revive’ agreement • OPEC+ okays production quota increase of around 188,000 barrels per day from Sept TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: Iran on Sunday said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the Strait of Hormuz, hours after the US called off major strikes to allow for diplomacy. On Sunday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state television that a deal was close with Oman, which sits on the other side of the strait, over a new route through it. “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides — neither the northern route nor the southern route — but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he said. He insisted though that such an agreement did not mean the reopening of the strait. US President Donald Trump had said a day earlier that his country and Israel had agreed to hold off on new strikes on Iran, saying the “perimeter” of a deal was there. The foes have been at war since Feb 28, when the US and Israel launched surprise strikes against Iran, though months of on-off diplomacy have led to periods of relative calm. Earlier, the IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that negotiations with Oman, the other littoral state on the Strait, “were on track for finalisation and were going through their final stages”, without providing further details. Muscat did not immediately comment on the matter. Following a return to strikes last month, fears had mounted that the fighting could escalate once again. Trump had threatened to hit Iran “very hard” and was reportedly considering renewed attacks including against energy infrastructure, with US embassies across the region on alert. Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler said Friday that traffic through Hormuz had dropped sharply. But the US leader appeared to have changed course after a flurry of diplomacy, including speaking with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. In his call with Trump, the Saudi crown prince stressed the “necessity of prioritising dialogue to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East, according to Saudi Arabia’s state news agency. A White House official told Reuters that the two had spoken but did not provide details. Trump said “we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to”. “Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. It was not immediately clear what the US president meant about the state of negotiations. Iranian media denied that Tehran had asked Trump not to strike. Efforts to ‘revive’ MoU Referring to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says that the country “must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed”. In a post on X, he said, “The memorandum [of understanding] that was signed is the result of the collective wisdom of Shura Council’s members, and all members are in sympathy with it.” “I believe this memorandum will be the centre of gravity of our foreign relations in the future. We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.” “The security of the country, the region, and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum,” President Pezeshkian stated. His comments came after Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the parliament’s national security commission, said on Sunday that mediators were trying to revive the so-called Islamabad memorandum of understanding, which was agreed in June. “They know that the main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” Ghashghavi said. OPEC+ oil quota increase Meanwhile, OPEC+ approved an oil production quota increase on Sunday of around 188,000 barrels per day from September, the producer group said, in a move that completes the unwinding of a layer of voluntary output cuts. Due to export disruptions from the Gulf, Russia and Kazakhstan caused by the Iran and Ukraine wars, successive monthly OPEC+ hikes over most of this year have remained largely on paper with little impact on the market. The September increase finishes the phased rollback of a 1.65 million bpd supply cut originally agreed in 2023. Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026
Trump'ın Saldırıları İptalinin Ardından İran-Umman Hürmüz MutabakatıSON DAKİKA | ABD Başkanı Trump tarih verdi! 'İran'la müzakereler başlıyor'
ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, İran'la Hürmüz Boğazı konusunda anlaşma sağlandığını, nükleersizleşme konusunda da anlaşma olacağını açıkladı. İlginizi Çekebilir Trump ayrıca İran'la müzakerelerin bugün öğleden sonra başlayacağını duyurdu ve "müzakerelerin formatı konusunda görüşüyoruz" dedi. İRAN'DAN HÜRMÜZ MESAJI İran resmi haber ajansı İRNA'ya göre, İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, Hürmüz Boğazı'na ilişkin açıklamada bulundu. Arakçi, Umman ile Hürmüz Boğazı'na ilişkin müzakerelerde son aşamada olduklarını açıkladı. Öte yandan İran Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü İsmail Bekayi de Hürmüz Boğazı’nın statüsünün savaş öncesi dönemdeki gibi olmayacağını söyleyerek, "İran ile Umman arasındaki müzakereler sonuçlandırılma aşamasında olup, son safhasına geçmektedir. İran ile Umman arasındaki görüşmeler iki taraflıdır ve diğer tarafı ilgilendirmiyor." ifadesini kullandı. İran'dan müzakere açıklaması: Hürmüz Boğazı'nda son aşamadayız
Trump: İran'la müzakereler bugün başlayacak
ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, İran'la müzakerelerin bugün öğleden sonra başlayacağını açıkladı. ABD Başkanı Donald Trump, İran'la Hürmüz Boğazı konusunda anlaşma sağlandığını, nükleersizleşme konusunda da anlaşma olacağını açıkladı. Trump ayrıca İran'la müzakerelerin bugün öğleden sonra başlayacağını duyurdu ve “müzakerelerin formatı konusunda görüşüyoruz” dedi. İRAN'DAN HÜRMÜZ MESAJI İran resmi haber ajansı İRNA'ya göre, İran Dışişleri Bakanı Abbas Arakçi, Hürmüz Boğazı'na ilişkin açıklamada bulundu. Arakçi, Umman ile Hürmüz Boğazı'na ilişkin müzakerelerde son aşamada olduklarını açıkladı. Öte yandan İran Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü İsmail Bekayi de Hürmüz Boğazı’nın statüsünün savaş öncesi dönemdeki gibi olmayacağını söyleyerek, "İran ile Umman arasındaki müzakereler sonuçlandırılma aşamasında olup, son safhasına geçmektedir. İran ile Umman arasındaki görüşmeler iki taraflıdır ve diğer tarafı ilgilendirmiyor." ifadesini kullandı. Bekayi, ülkesinin, ABD'nin tehditleri karşısında pozisyon değiştirmeyeceğine atıf yaparak, "ABD'liler eğer maceracılık peşinde koşarsa kesin bir cevap alırlar." dedi.
Araghchi said to have agreed to reopen Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed to a proposal by the Qatari and American mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting United States President Donald Trump to cancel his planned attack on Iran, Israel's Channel 12 reported on Sunday, citing two diplomats familiar with the talks, AzerNEWS reports.
Iran warns Saudi Arabia of 'decisive' response to any attack
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart on Saturday that Tehran is prepared to defend its sovereignty against Washington and its allies, warning that any attack or participation by regional countries would trigger a "decisive and proportionate" response from Iran's armed forces.