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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio named Pakistan the primary mediator in US-Iran peace talks, praising Field Marshal Asim Munir's "admirable job." Munir has arrived in Tehran in a final push for a deal. Key sticking points remain. Military options are still on the table. The Thursday Times reports.
The Cockroach Janta Party crossed 20 million Instagram followers and launched a petition to sack Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Volunteers took to the streets in cockroach costumes. Congress protesters adopted the movement's symbolism. Seven days old. Still growing. The Thursday Times reports.
When India's Chief Justice compared unemployed youth to cockroaches, Abhijeet Dipke turned the insult into a political movement. In six days the Cockroach Janta Party accumulated over 20 million Instagram followers, outpacing every political party in India. Its X account was withheld. It came back. Now it wants a seat in Bihar. The Thursday Times has the full story.
The Indian rupee has weakened nearly thirteen per cent against the Pakistani rupee since Operation Sindoor, according to exchange-rate data reviewed by The Thursday Times.
Senior US Congressman Jack Bergman, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, has formally thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for Pakistan's role in the ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations, describing Islamabad's contribution as "indispensable" and a demonstration of "true statesmanship" in a letter dated 15 May and sent on House of Representatives letterhead.
Donald Trump has dismissed Iran’s latest response as “totally unacceptable”, adding fresh tension to a fragile diplomatic moment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan has received Iran’s response, signalling that Islamabad’s mediation channel remains active as regional diplomacy enters a sensitive phase.
A resolution submitted in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Al Green praises Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate peace between the United States, Israel and Iran, as Islamabad’s role in back-channel diplomacy draws growing attention in Washington.
President Donald Trump has cooled expectations of an imminent Islamabad signing ceremony, saying it is “too soon” for such a trip despite signs that US and Iranian negotiators are moving closer to a possible peace framework.
Pakistan has strongly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure in the UAE, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing solidarity with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and urging all sides to preserve the ceasefire for diplomacy and peace.
The call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed underscored the Gulf’s growing concern over Iranian escalation and placed Saudi Arabia firmly beside the UAE at a moment of regional strain.
Iran’s attack on the UAE has drawn sharp condemnation from Donald Trump, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Gulf rulers and the United Nations, with world leaders warning that the crisis could threaten regional stability and global energy flows.
US President Donald Trump said American forces had destroyed multiple Iranian “fast boats” targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington moves to secure maritime routes amid rising Gulf tensions.
UAE air defences intercepted Iranian-origin drones over territorial waters after emergency alerts were issued across major cities. Authorities confirmed no direct impacts and urged public caution.
The U.S. has transferred crew from a seized Iranian vessel to Pakistan, signalling trust in Islamabad as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz. The move highlights Pakistan’s growing role as a key intermediary as Project Freedom reshapes Gulf maritime dynamics.
U.S. President Donald Trump unveils Project Freedom to move trapped ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, combining naval pressure, humanitarian messaging and fresh diplomatic signals toward Iran.
Jemima Goldsmith is reportedly engaged to Irish financier Cameron O’Reilly after a relationship that began through film and documentary circles, marking a quieter new chapter after years of public attention around her marriage to Imran Khan and relationship with Hugh Grant.
Washington has awarded a $488 million F-16 radar support contract that includes Pakistan among several operators. The move follows an earlier package focused on Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and continues existing defence sustainment cooperation.
Donald Trump offered unusually warm praise for Pakistan, Islamabad, the Prime Minister and the Field Marshal during a media exchange, saying Pakistan’s leadership remains engaged with the United States as Iran negotiations continue.
UNICEF warns Afghanistan could lose 25,000+ female teachers and health workers by 2030, as restrictions on girls’ education and women’s work continue under Taliban rule.
Trump has cancelled his representatives’ planned trip to Islamabad for talks with Iran, saying too much time was being spent on travel and that Tehran can contact Washington directly if it wants negotiations.
Pete Hegseth has promised a historic review of the Afghanistan withdrawal, saying the department will examine the decisions that led to Abbey Gate, the Kabul evacuation and what he described as a wider loss of American deterrence after 2021.
Donald Trump said the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons in the war with Iran, insisting Tehran has already been badly weakened by conventional military force. He also signalled he is not interested in a rushed settlement, saying any agreement with Iran must be durable and lasting.
A senior adviser to President Trump used a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to publicly praise Pakistan’s role in mediation, regional stability and ongoing peace efforts.
The second phase of the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor is set to launch soon, with Islamabad offering 500 scholarships at leading universities in a move that highlights growing educational and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
As a fragile cease-fire holds, President Trump has signalled that a new round of U.S.-Iran talks could take place within days. In Islamabad, where security has tightened and diplomats are working back channels, Pakistan is trying to turn a brief pause in fighting into a second chance for negotiations.
Donald Trump says he extended the ceasefire with Iran after requests from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, thrusting Islamabad into the centre of a rapidly narrowing diplomatic window between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan has condemned the entry of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the raising of Israeli flags inside its courtyard, calling the act a violation of international law and warning that such provocations could further inflame regional tensions.
The New York Post’s Caitlin Doornbos told The Thursday Times that meeting Pakistanis was “the added sugar on top” of covering the US-Iran talks, but said no reporter could predict where they would lead.
Iranian's foreign ministry has said that Pakistan is now their only official intermediary with the United States, placing Islamabad at the centre of one of the the world's most sensitive diplomatic channels.
The Israeli military has said it confirmed the veracity of a viral photograph which appeared to show one of its soldiers smashing a statue of Jesus Christ to pieces with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon.
A post by menswear commentator Derek Guy praising Shehbaz Sharif’s tailoring has ignited an unexpected debate about diplomacy, symbolism and why some non-Western leaders may now wear classic suits better than the West itself.
Trump says his representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are travelling to Pakistan for peace negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, after issuing a sharp warning to Tehran, placing Pakistan at the centre of a fast-moving diplomatic showdown.
Pakistan’s capital region moved into an unusual state of alert after hotels were reportedly cleared, transport was suspended in Rawalpindi and security tightened across key routes, sharpening speculation that Islamabad could soon host another major diplomatic push tied to the US-Iran crisis.
Ali Şahin, a prominent Turkish parliamentarian, has called for Pakistan to become a full member of the Organization of Turkic States, saying centuries of cultural links and growing geopolitical cooperation have created a bond deeper than ordinary diplomacy.
Indian defence analyst Pravin Sawhney has argued that Pakistan could play a major role in the emerging world order, describing a multipolar system in which each region is shaped by a key state that acts as a centre of balance, wisdom and influence.
Britain has removed Gilgit-Baltistan from the restricted section of its Pakistan travel advice, easing a notable warning on the country’s mountainous north in a move which could positively affect tourism, insurance and international perceptions of the region.
Two Iranian IRGC gun boats opened fire without warning on a tanker 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The vessel and its crew were reported safe, while authorities investigate, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre.
Polymarket now gives Trump roughly a one-in-three chance of visiting Pakistan by May 31, reflecting how Islamabad’s growing role in U.S.-Iran diplomacy has moved from back-channel intrigue to public speculation.
Trump signals visit Pakistan if a US–Iran deal is signed in Islamabad, praising Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while placing Pakistan firmly at the heart of the diplomatic drive.
