Political

The Thursday Times’ Pakistani news section dives into the pulse of Pakistani politics, offering sharp analysis and timely updates on the decisions and debates shaping the nation’s future, from the corridors of power to grassroots movements.

Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks on Red Sea oil tankers

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers and reaffirmed Pakistan's full support for the Kingdom during a call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Both leaders pledged closer cooperation to protect regional stability and vital maritime trade routes.
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وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا سعودی ولی عہد سے رابطہ، سعودی آئل ٹینکرز پر حوثی حملوں کی شدید مذمت

وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا سعودی ولی عہد محمد بن سلمان سے ٹیلیفونک رابطہ۔ بحیرۂ احمر میں سعودی آئل ٹینکرز پر حوثی حملوں کی شدید مذمت، پاکستان کا سعودی عرب کے ساتھ مکمل یکجہتی کا اعادہ۔ فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر اور پوری پاکستانی قوم اس نازک وقت میں سعودی قیادت اور برادر عوام کے ساتھ مضبوطی سے کھڑے ہیں۔
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China throws fresh weight behind Pakistan’s US-Iran mediation

China has renewed its backing for Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating engagement between Washington and Tehran, with Ambassador Jiang Zaidong conveying Beijing’s “full support” during a meeting with Ishaq Dar as the next phase of talks approaches a decisive moment.
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Pakistan urges the United States to give diplomacy more time

Pakistan’s foreign minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, told the American chargé d’affaires in Islamabad that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only workable path to regional stability, urging Washington and Tehran to consider extending the ceasefire and give negotiations more time.
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Pakistan awaits Iran’s decision as ceasefire deadline nears

Pakistan said late Tuesday that it is still awaiting formal confirmation from Iran on whether Tehran will attend the proposed Islamabad peace talks, as the ceasefire nears expiry and Islamabad intensifies last-minute diplomacy to keep negotiations alive.
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Imran Khan predicted Islamabad Talks in 2002, claims Sohail Afridi

Sohail Afridi, the Chief Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has claimed that Imran Khan first proposed the peace talks now unfolding in Pakistan as far back as 2002, adding a new burst of controversy to the country’s already charged political landscape.
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Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad for US-Iran peace talks

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.
International

Islamabad locks down as Trump hints at high-stakes Iran deal

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.
International

Pakistan escorted Iranian negotiators home amid Israeli threat fears

After the Islamabad Talks, Pakistan reportedly launched a major air operation to escort Iran’s negotiators home amidst an Israeli terror threat, reflecting both the danger hanging over the diplomatic track and Islamabad’s increasingly central role in trying to keep dialogue alive.
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Ishaq Dar blames India for regional paralysis as Pakistan advances alternative ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said India has remained the principal obstacle to regional cooperation, as Pakistan steps up efforts to build alternative links through travel, trade and tourism while calling for dialogue from Kashmir to Palestine.
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IRGC gun boats open fire on tanker off Oman, crew reported safe

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.
International

وزیراعظم شہباز شریف نے ڈیزل کی قیمت میں 32 روپے 12 پیسے فی لیٹر کمی کی منظوری دے دی

وزیراعظم شہباز شریف نے ڈیزل کی قیمت میں 32 روپے 12 پیسے فی لیٹر کمی کی منظوری دے دی۔ ڈیزل کی نئی قیمت 353 روپے 43 پیسے فی لیٹر ہو گی جبکہ پیٹرول کی قیمت کو برقرار رکھا گیا ہے۔
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Trump signals Pakistan visit as Islamabad emerges as hub for US-Iran deal

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.
International

Saudi Arabia stabilises Pakistan with $8 billion injection

The package, including an extended $5 billion deposit and a new $3 billion injection, underscores deepening ties between Riyadh and Islamabad while helping Pakistan navigate mounting economic pressures.
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