World news from The Thursday Times' foreign desk.
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.
