Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr Khalilur Rahman exchanged views on regional developments, said a post shared on X by Pakistan&#39;s top diplomat on Friday.&nbsp; In his post, Dar stated: &quot;Pleased to meet Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of #ADF2026 today.&quot; &quot;We discussed strengthening Pakistan&ndash;Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue.&quot; &quot;I look forward to our continued positive and forward-looking engagement.@AntalyaDF,&quot; Dar added.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2045079112276943229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=420462fc3fb48d709c7cd70509daeff023269ed3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2045079112276943229">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Meanwhile, FM Dar also met with Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum, said a social media post by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.&nbsp; &quot;Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, particularly for education and welfare of the Pakistani diaspora in the TRNC.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;They also agreed to maintain close engagement and continue working together to promote the mutual benefit of their peoples,&quot; the post said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2045059709057859624&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=420462fc3fb48d709c7cd70509daeff023269ed3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; 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Foreign Affairs

Pakistan FM Dar says, 'We discussed strengthening Pakistan–Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue.' 

Pakistan, Bangladesh FMs exchange views on regional developments, strengthening ties  

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday he was &quot;furious&quot; after it emerged his sacked US ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/uk-top-official-to-step-down-over-exenvoys-failed-vetting-reports" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Mandelson</a>&nbsp;was appointed despite failing security vetting, as the scandal again threatens his hold on power. The beleaguered British leader, who has been dogged for months by the controversy, claimed he and other ministers were not told Mandelson had failed the vetting process, branding that &quot;unforgivable&quot;. Starmer has faced repeated calls to quit since his 2024 decision to appoint Mandelson as Britain&#39;s top diplomat in Washington backfired spectacularly over the envoy&#39;s longstanding ties to late US sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/anil-ambani-sought-jeffrey-epsteins-help-on-usindia-defense-ties-nyt" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeffrey Epstein</a>. Starmer sacked Mandelson in September, just seven months after taking up his post. A longtime insider with the ruling center-left Labour party, Mandelson had held multiple ministerial posts since the late 1990s, but was tarred by repeated scandals which earlier twice forced him out of office. &quot;That I wasn&#39;t told that he had failed (security vetting) when I was telling parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable,&quot; Starmer told broadcasters on Friday during a visit to Paris. &quot;Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I&#39;m absolutely furious about that,&quot; he said, adding he would address parliament on Monday &quot;to set out all the relevant facts in true transparency&quot;. Top officials fired Starmer&#39;s government has blamed Foreign Office officials for allowing Mandelson&#39;s appointment to proceed &quot;against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting&quot;, with the ministry&#39;s top civil servant, Olly Robbins, ousted late Thursday. The prime minister had &quot;lost confidence in him&quot; over the botched process, senior minister Darren Jones said. Parliament&#39;s main foreign affairs watchdog committee said Friday it has requested Robbins give evidence about the issue next Tuesday. Despite the government&#39;s stance, The Independent newspaper reported last September of &quot;serious concerns&quot; Mandelson &quot;did not clear security vetting for the role but the prime minister pushed through his appointment anyway&quot;. Five months later, Starmer insisted publicly Mandelson had passed vetting. Calls for the UK leader to resign have intensified, with the leaders of all the UK&#39;s main opposition parties urging him to quit since The Guardian first reported the security vetting story Thursday. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X that &quot;Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go&quot;. Jones denied Starmer was at risk, claiming &quot;the public can see in Keir Starmer that they have a strong, credible leader who has influence on the world stage&quot;. The ambassador to Washington is seen as Britain&#39;s most prestigious and most important diplomatic post, in charge of nurturing the so-called &quot;special relationship&quot; with the United States. Earlier in the year, two of Starmer&#39;s top political aides resigned as the scandal grew. Police probe Starmer himself has faced repeated judgement questions over selecting Mandelson. He has accused the ex-envoy of lying about the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process. Starmer fired Mandelson as ambassador after documents released by a US Congressional committee revealed new details about the depth of his ties to Epstein. Police have now opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson, who was arrested and released on bail in February. He has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. The force is investigating Mandelson over allegations he leaked sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a government minister, including during the 2008 financial crash. The advice submitted to Starmer in December 2024 noted a series of reports detailing Mandelson&#39;s links with Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008, including soliciting a minor. It said their relationship &quot;continued across 2009-2011&quot;, beginning when Mandelson was a government minister and continuing after the UK&#39;s last Labour government ended in 2010. It also noted that Mandelson &quot;reportedly stayed in Epstein&#39;s house while he was in jail in June 2009&quot;. Lawmakers earlier this year ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/who-is-shabana-mahmood-the-hardline-uk-labour-minister-tackling-migration" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Labour government</a>&nbsp;to release tens of thousands of emails, messages and documents detailing how Mandelson was vetted for the role. The second tranche of documents is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts social media industry leaders to discuss child safety online, at Downing Street in central London on April 16, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

The British leader stated he and other ministers were not told Peter Mandelson had failed the vetting process, branding that "unforgivable".

British PM says 'furious' after fresh revelations over sacked US envoy

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: New York Post correspondent Caitlin Doornbos has said Pakistan&rsquo;s ability to maintain working relationships with both the US and Iran has positioned it uniquely in the conflict, allowing it to serve as a bridge in one of the most sensitive geopolitical standoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Caitlin Doornbos underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s position as a key mediator in efforts to bridge tensions between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad as an inimitable diplomatic channel trusted by both sides. She said Islamabad has become a critical venue for dialogue, with direct exchanges and consultations taking place through Pakistan as the leadership remains actively engaged in facilitating communication and maintaining diplomatic momentum between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;Doornbos also referenced her conversation with US President Donald Trump, saying he expressed strong trust in Pakistan&rsquo;s role in ongoing US&ndash;Iran negotiations, spoke positively about Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership and its engagement in regional stability, and emphasised that Islamabad plays an important role in facilitating dialogue.&nbsp;She said such mediation efforts are rare, especially between two adversaries with long-standing distrust, and that Islamabad&rsquo;s role has gained increasing international attention.&nbsp;Her remarks collectively highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s role as both a key host of high-stakes diplomatic engagement and an increasingly important bridge in efforts to manage US&ndash;Iran tensions, reflecting its growing relevance in regional and global diplomacy.&nbsp;Beyond the diplomatic discussions in Islamabad, Doornbos also reflected on her personal experience in Pakistan, praising the hospitality toward visiting journalists and officials attending the Islamabad Talks.&nbsp;She said she has greatly enjoyed her time in the country, describing the warmth and generosity of the people as deeply welcoming and overwhelmingly positive.&nbsp;Doornbos said she did not expect the level of public engagement she received, joking that she had, in a sense, become a &ldquo;Pakistani celebrity&rdquo; through her interactions both online and on the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;She added that she has been immersing herself in local culture, wearing traditional attire, listening to regional music, and indulging in delightful Pakistani cuisine.

World This Morning

New York Post correspondent Caitlin Doornbos, speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, has said Pakistan’s ability to maintain working relationships with both the US and Iran has positioned it uniquely in the conflict, allowing it to serve as a bridge in one of the most sensitive geopolitical standoffs.

Pakistan serves as bridge in US-Iran standoff: Doornbos

GENEVA: Last year was the deadliest on record for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-plans-ai-tool-to-target-illegal-bangladeshis-and-rohingyas-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rohingya refugees</a> fleeing by sea, with deaths continuing to soar in 2026, the UN said Friday, after hundreds were lost in a shipwreck earlier this month. &quot;In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal,&quot; the United Nations refugee agency&#39;s spokesman Babar Baloch told a press briefing in Geneva. That marks &quot;the deadliest year on record&quot; for the region, according to data from UNHCR, he said. Baloch highlighted that out of the more than 6,500 Rohingya who had attempted perilous sea crossings last year, &quot;one in seven (were) reported missing or dead&quot;. That, he said, was &quot;the highest mortality rate worldwide of any major route for refugee and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/21-bangladeshis-rescued-after-deadly-mediterranean-migrant-ordeal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">migrant sea journeys</a>&quot;. The Rohingya mainly leave from huge camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar, where more than a million refugees forced to flee across the border from war-torn Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state live in squalid conditions. Rakhine state has been the scene of fierce fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group. The Rohingya undertake perilous sea journeys every year in search of better living conditions, traveling aboard rickety boats often operated by trafficking networks. &#39;Unmarked graveyard for thousands&#39; Baloch roughly estimated that &quot;nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees ... have taken these dangerous sea journeys since 2012&quot;. And, he estimated, &quot;more than 5,000 Rohingya refugees have lost their lives during these dangerous sea journeys over a decade&quot;. &quot;This makes, sadly, the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal an unmarked graveyard for thousands of desperate Rohingya refugees in recent years.&quot; Baloch pointed out that most Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh wanted to return to Myanmar &quot;once conditions allow for a voluntary, dignified and safe return&quot;. But he stressed that &quot;ongoing conflict, persecution and the absence of citizenship prospects leave them with little hope&quot;. Limited humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, &quot;compounded by insecurity in the camps and limited access to education and livelihoods&quot;, pushes refugees towards dangerous journeys, he explained. In recent years, more than half of those attempting such crossings have been women and children, according to UNHCR data. This year, Baloch said, &quot;with more than 2,800 Rohingya undertaking dangerous sea journeys between January and April 13&quot;. His comments came days after news emerged that a boat carrying about 280 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi migrants had capsized in the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/about-250-people-feared-missing-after-boat-capsizes-in-andaman-sea-un" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andaman Sea</a>. The boat, which left the southern Bangladeshi port of Teknaf on April 4 and was on its way to Malaysia, sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, according to the United Nations. Bangladeshi authorities said nine people had been rescued, while Baloch said an estimated 250 people are missing. &quot;UNHCR is providing counselling and referrals for medical and psychosocial support to Rohingya survivors,&quot; he said. The UN refugee agency said it was calling on states to &quot;address the root causes of displacement, expand safe and legal pathways, and strengthen regional cooperation to save lives and combat smuggling and trafficking&quot;.

Rohingya refugees sit together on board a National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) vessel after they were rescued from their capsized boat in waters some 29 kilometers off west Aceh on March 21, 2024. (AFP)

Asia

Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees dead, missing in shipwrecks in 2025: UN

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia agreed Friday to extend the maturity of a $3 billion deposit held at Pakistan&#39;s central bank, delivering a fresh boost to Islamabad&#39;s foreign exchange reserves. According to a post on X (Twitter), the Ministry of Finance reported that the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan signed the extension agreement on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044950727072809149&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5340%2F&sessionId=24a6d90f2e85ae93786957329068a0fc0d5d343d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2044950727072809149"></iframe></div></div> Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh witnessed the signing. SFD Chief Executive Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed on behalf of the Saudi fund. State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad signed for the central bank. The ministry said the extension reflects the &quot;strong and longstanding economic partnership&quot; between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will further support Pakistan&#39;s external sector stability. Friday&#39;s agreement comes amid a broader shift in the two countries&#39; financial relationship. In April 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite a $5 billion investment package representing a transition from loans to equity stakes in Pakistani projects, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2024, the two sides signed 34 business agreements worth $2.8 billion across agriculture, energy, and information technology, as per AFP. Saudi-based ACWA Power has committed to renewable energy projects worth $2 billion in Pakistan, per the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. On October 28, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Economic Cooperation Framework to steer the relationship toward joint ventures in mining, information technology, and tourism. The two countries also signed a Mutual Defence Pact in September 2025. Saudi Arabia&#39;s financial support for Pakistan spans decades. Following Pakistan&#39;s 1998 nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia cushioned the impact of international sanctions through deferred oil payments, per Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). After the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan, Saudi Arabia delivered an aid package of $573 million, and during the 2010 floods became Pakistan&#39;s largest international donor, pledging $105 million, according to FPCCI. Total trade between the two countries stands at $3.5 billion, with Pakistan&#39;s imports from Saudi Arabia at $3.2 billion against exports of just $316.3 million, according to FPCCI. Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan&#39;s largest source of remittances. Over 2.7 million Pakistani workers reside in the Kingdom, generating approximately $9 billion annually, roughly 25% of Pakistan&#39;s total global inflows.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb witnesses the signing of an agreement in Washington extending a $3 billion deposit between the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan on April 17, 2026. (Ministry of Finance/X)

Economy

Saudi Arabia extends maturity of $3 billion deposit at Pakistan’s central bank as officials sign agreement in Washington during World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit to bolster Pakistan's economy

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.07px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held in Tehran on Thursday, Iranian President&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Masoud&nbsp;Pezeshkian praised the commander&rsquo;s effective role as well as that of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the mediation process and facilitating the establishment of a ceasefire, and also appreciated the proper hosting of the Iranian delegation during the Islamabad negotiations with the US, according to Tasnim News Agency. The Iranian president, emphasizing the principled approach of Iran toward the Muslim world, stated that Iran considers all Islamic countries as its brothers, noting that this perspective is rooted in the tradition of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).&nbsp; He added that Iran&rsquo;s recent actions targeting US military bases in the region were carried out within defensive necessities and in response to imposed conditions. Pezeshkian pointed out that the source of many wars and instabilities in the region stems from conspiracies by the Israeli regime aimed at creating divisions among Islamic countries, stressing that the Islamic Ummah must, through convergence and cooperation, prevent the Israeli regime from exploiting Islamic lands against Muslims themselves.&nbsp; He added that unity among Islamic countries would eliminate the possibility of the region being driven toward war by this regime. Referring to the aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, the president questioned under what authorization and for what reason such actions&mdash;resulting in the martyrdom of Iran&rsquo;s Leader, the destruction of schools and hospitals, and the killing of innocent children and civilians&mdash;had been carried out. Pezeshkian stressed that since assuming office, all efforts had been focused on strengthening friendship and brotherhood domestically and regionally, but hostile and provocative actions by the US and the Israeli regime had been observed from the outset.&nbsp; He added that Iran has not sought instability in the region and is instead pursuing the expansion of brotherly relations with neighboring and regional countries. Special appreciation&nbsp;The president expressed special appreciation for Pakistan&rsquo;s role as an Islamic country in pursuing the cessation of the war, describing Islamabad&rsquo;s responsible and persistent efforts as a source of satisfaction and urging other Islamic countries to adopt a similar approach, noting that such unity would prevent enemies of the Islamic Ummah from advancing their objectives. He reaffirmed Iran&rsquo;s commitment to international legal frameworks, stating that the country seeks to secure the rights of its people within international law and that, following the end of the war, regional countries should enhance mutual cooperation to lay the groundwork for lasting peace and security. Pezeshkian also raised the question of why regional countries should not be able to independently ensure their own security, noting that just as Europe manages its security through mechanisms such as NATO, Islamic countries could similarly resolve their issues through collective cooperation based on shared religious and cultural ties. He added that war benefits none of the parties, stating that the United States would not emerge victorious from the conflict, while regional and global countries would bear serious losses, and that only the Israeli regime seeks to achieve its ambitions. The president also referred to the Iranian people&rsquo;s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests. Pezeshkian asked the Pakistani army chief to convey the warm greetings of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the prime minister and the noble people of Pakistan.

Refers to the Iranian people’s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests.

Iranian president praises Pakistan's PM and CDF's 'effective role' in mediation process 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called for the immediate restoration of civilian passage through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that continued military escalation will drive economic hardship far beyond the Middle East, Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Thursday. The ambassador delivered the statement at a UN General Assembly Veto Debate on the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is adversely impacting countries around the world, including Pakistan,&quot; he said. The ambassador warned that consequences for the regional and global economy were &quot;evidently harsh.&quot; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 651px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044843624941470180&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5340%2F&sessionId=24a6d90f2e85ae93786957329068a0fc0d5d343d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Asim Iftikhar stated that the disruption extended beyond energy flows to fertilizers and other essential commodities. These directly affected food security, the cost of living, and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations. The ambassador stated that &ldquo;the IMF has warned of serious risks and raised alarms about rising public debt&rdquo; as governments respond to the energy crisis. He also cited that the New York Times carried the warning on its front page the same day. A separate headline in the same publication reported the stock market reaching a new peak, reflecting expectations that peace was near. Asim Iftilhar stated that Pakistan hosted talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, &ldquo;the product of direct engagement with the parties involved&rdquo; and outreach aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire. The ambassador said Pakistan has maintained sustained interaction at the leadership level with both Washington and Tehran, as well as with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, T&uuml;rkiye, China, and other regional partners. &ldquo;Islamabad has sought to facilitate the exchange of messages and help create conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations,&rdquo; he stated. The ambassador said Pakistan supports the &ldquo;sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and security of all countries&rdquo; in the region. He mentioned that Islamabad stands in &quot;complete solidarity&quot; with GCC states during the crisis. Asim Iftikhar called for the security of ships and crew members and the swift, safe passage of civilian vessels through the Strait. He stated &nbsp;that any arrangement related to Hormuz must account for the legitimate interests of GCC countries in accordance with international law. &quot;If the military escalation and disruptions persist, the suffering will prolong and extend far beyond the region,&quot; Ahmad said. &quot;Return to peace, on the other hand, will benefit all.&quot;

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad speaks during a UN General Assembly debate on the Strait of Hormuz, on April 16, 2026. (Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN/X)

Warning prolonged disruption threatens global economy, food security and vulnerable populations, Pakistan calls for ceasefire and safe civilian passage through the Strait of Hormuz at UN.

Pakistan urges Hormuz strait reopening, cites widespread economic fallout at UNGA

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan has ended an eight-year ban that kept cryptocurrency firms out of the banking system, allowing lenders to work with the sector under a tightly controlled framework. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a circular dated April 14 that banks can open accounts for virtual asset companies licensed by the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a body set up under the Virtual Assets Act passed in March.&nbsp; The move marks the country&rsquo;s first formal step toward bringing crypto activity into the regulated financial system since restrictions imposed in 2018. Access is limited to firms approved by the regulator. Companies holding only a no-objection certificate can open restricted accounts, while full transaction services are allowed only after a license is granted.&nbsp; Banks must verify each firm&rsquo;s regulatory status before onboarding.The central bank kept strict limits on lenders&rsquo; role.&nbsp;Banks are not allowed to trade, invest in, or hold cryptocurrencies, either for themselves or on behalf of customers.&nbsp; Their function is limited to providing accounts and payment services.&nbsp;The rules also require crypto firms to keep customer funds separate from their own.&nbsp; Due diligenceThese balances must be held in non-interest accounts in Pakistani rupees and can only be used to settle approved transactions.&nbsp;Cash deposits and withdrawals are not permitted, and the funds cannot be used as collateral. Banks must carry out full due diligence on each client and monitor transactions on an ongoing basis.&nbsp;Suspicious activity must be reported under existing anti-money laundering laws, extending current financial controls to the crypto sector. The policy shift follows rapid growth in crypto use despite the earlier ban. Pakistan ranked among the top countries in Chainalysis&rsquo; 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, reflecting demand for remittances, access to dollar-linked assets and wider use of mobile financial services.&nbsp; Industry estimates cited by officials put the number of users at more than 40 million, with annual trading volumes approaching $300 billion, much of it outside formal oversight&nbsp;Landmark momentSpeaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the PVARA chairman said &ldquo;This is a landmark moment. For eight years, a blanket prohibition cut Pakistan off from a financial innovation that the rest of the world was building infrastructure around. What SBP has done today is not just lift a ban. It is a formal acknowledgment that virtual assets are a legitimate part of Pakistan&#39;s financial system. That acknowledgment carries institutional weight.&rdquo;&nbsp;The timing matters too, he noted adding that &ldquo;The Virtual Assets Act 2026 created the legal foundation; PVARA is the regulatory authority; and now the SBP has opened the banking system to PVARA licensed operators. These three pieces together mean Pakistan has moved from prohibition to a complete, functioning framework in a single legislative cycle. That is not a small thing.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The most immediate impact is legitimacy. Exchanges operating in Pakistan have functioned in a grey zone, compliant with nothing because there was nothing to comply with. That changes now. A licensed VASP with a bank account is a regulated entity, subject to AML checks, transaction monitoring, and SBP oversight. That protects consumers and brings activity into the formal economy,&rdquo; he said, while highlighting the positive impact of the move.&nbsp;The second impact is remittances, Bilal added, noting that &ldquo;Pakistan receives over $38 billion annually from its diaspora. A meaningful share moves through informal channels because the formal ones are slow and expensive. Licensed exchanges with banking access can now offer a legal, fast, low-cost alternative. That is real money entering the documented economy.&rdquo;&nbsp;The third he mentioned is the investor confidence.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any serious crypto business evaluating Pakistan will look at banking access as a baseline requirement. We now meet that bar,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Authorities have moved in stages toward regulation.&nbsp;The government launched PVARA as an interim body in July 2025 before giving it statutory status through legislation this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Use of digital assetsThe regulator has already issued no-objection certificates to some exchanges as part of a phased licensing process.&nbsp;The banking decision comes alongside broader plans to expand the use of digital assets.&nbsp; The government has already moved to bring in global crypto players, signing a memorandum of understanding with Binance in December to ⁠explore tokenising up to $2 billion in assets and granting initial clearances to Binance and HTX to begin licensing. Pilot programs using dollar-backed stablecoins for remittances are under way, and work on a central bank digital currency is in progress.&nbsp; Officials have also outlined plans to direct surplus electricity to bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. Crypto businesses in PakistanCrypto businesses in Pakistan too see this as a lifeline.&nbsp;Access to banking means they can operate more like normal companies.&nbsp; They can pay rent, hire staff with direct deposit, accept payments from customers without complicated workarounds.&nbsp;Investment could pick up.&nbsp; International crypto firms that avoided Pakistan because of the banking ban might reconsider. Local startups that struggled to raise money might find it easier to attract capital now that they can manage funds through legitimate bank accounts. But the impact won&rsquo;t be instant. Banks need time to build out their processes. VASPs need time to get their licenses in order.&nbsp; The whole ecosystem has to shake off years of operating in the shadows. Consumer trust is another factor. Pakistanis who wanted to buy crypto but felt nervous about unregulated exchanges might feel safer now.&nbsp; Banking integration adds a layer of legitimacy that was missing before. That could bring new users into the market. Infrastructure development will probably accelerate. With banking access, crypto companies can invest in better platforms, customer service, security systems.&nbsp; The ban forced them to run lean and scrappy. Now they can build something more robust. The latest move signals a shift from restriction to oversight, as authorities seek to bring a large, informal crypto market into the formal financial system without exposing banks directly to digital asset risks.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a circular dated April 14 that banks can open accounts for virtual asset companies licensed by the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a body set up under the Virtual Assets Act passed in March. 

Pakistan ends crypto banking ban, opens door to regulated digital asset market

HONGKONG: Stock markets fell Friday as investors awaited news of an extension to the Iran-US ceasefire, while crude prices edged back down following the previous day&#39;s rally. The losses follow a healthy, record-breaking week for equities fueled by hopes the Middle East war, which is heading into a seventh week, could be close to an end after Donald Trump said negotiators were close to a deal. But worries abound that a shaky truce agreed earlier this month and which ends next week could fall apart and spark a fresh market rout. The US president on Thursday struck an optimistic tone, telling reporters that &quot;it&#39;s looking very good that we&#39;re going to make a deal with Iran, and it&#39;s going to be a good deal&quot;, adding that talks between Washington and Tehran could resume this weekend. He also claimed Iran had &quot;agreed to give us back the nuclear dust&quot;, using his name for the country&#39;s enriched uranium stockpile, and the deal would include &quot;free oil&quot; as well as the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;We had to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,&quot; Trump said at the White House. &quot;They&#39;ve totally agreed to that. They&#39;ve agreed to almost everything, so maybe if they can get to the table, there&#39;s a difference.&quot; Iran has given no public indication it would surrender its stockpile. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took a tough line on the situation earlier in the day, telling a Pentagon news conference: &quot;If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.&quot; Meanwhile, some Gulf Arab and European leaders fear a long-term agreement could take six months to achieve and called for the truce to cover such a time period, Bloomberg reported. They wanted the Strait of Hormuz, &nbsp;through which about a fifth of global oil and LNG passes opened immediately and have warned in private of a global food crisis if that is not achieved by next month, the report said. Fragile sentiment&nbsp;Stocks fell across the region, with Tokyo, which hit a record high Thursday, among the biggest losers, with Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Manila and Singapore also well down. Taiwan&#39;s TAIEX dropped. On Thursday it hit a market capitalization of US$4.14 trillion to top the UK&#39;s market capitalization and become the world&#39;s seventh biggest, according to Bloomberg data. London edged lower, Paris edged up and Frankfurt was flat. That came even after the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq enjoyed record closes on Wall Street. Analysts said traders were heading into the weekend to positioning for any surprise developments. Oil prices dropped, a day after sharp gains, though both main contracts remain just below $100 a barrel. There was some support from a 10-day ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at 2100 GMT Thursday. Tel Aviv has sent troops into its northern neighbor since militant group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks in support of Iran last month. Hezbollah has not officially said if it will recognize the ceasefire but one of its lawmakers told AFP on Thursday that the group would respect it if Israeli attacks on its militants stopped. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a &quot;historic peace agreement&quot;, but insisted that the disarmament of militant group Hezbollah remained a precondition. Trump said he will invite the countries&#39; leaders to the White House. &quot;While investors remain buoyed by talks of an extension in the US-Iran ceasefire and an announced Israel-Lebanon 10 day ceasefire, risk sentiment remains fragile as an immediate deal remains unlikely given that the countries remain far apart on key issues,&quot; wrote National Australia Bank&#39;s Skye Masters. Fiona Cincotta of City Index, said: &quot;While risks remain particularly around disruptions to key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz markets are increasingly pricing in a scenario where oil prices have peaked unless tensions re-escalate.&quot; But she warned &quot;the outlook remains fragile. A breakdown in diplomacy or renewed escalation could quickly reverse recent gains&quot;. Key figures around 0715 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.8% at 58,475.90 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.2% at 26,087.89 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1% at 4,051.43 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1% at 10,584.26 West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0% at $93.73 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.6% at $98.76 a barrel Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1777 from $1.1784 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3507 from $1.3529 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.40 yen from 159.14 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.17 pence from 87.09 pence New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.2% at 48,578.72 (close)

People walk past an electronic quotation board displaying stock price movements for various companies, including SoftBank Group (C), listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Business

Global markets dipped as investors weighed fragile Iran-US ceasefire prospects and easing oil prices amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Stocks reverse as investors await news on US-Iran peace talks

ANTALYA: Turkey hosts a high-stakes forum Friday bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad pushes diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war. Pakistan&#39;s powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week war. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum when it opens on Friday in the Mediterranean holiday resort of Antalya. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to meet on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate. The timing of the meeting has not yet been announced. Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in regional diplomacy having hosted rare talks between Iran and the United States last weekend, which ended inconclusively. &quot;We are making the necessary efforts to reduce tensions, extend the ceasefire, and continue the negotiations,&quot; Erdogan said in an address to his ruling AKP party in parliament this week. &quot;Negotiations cannot take place with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire must be fully utilised.&quot; The White House has said further talks with Iran would &quot;very likely&quot; be in Islamabad, where Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation in the last round of negotiations. - Push for peace -Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who met Qatar&#39;s ruler in Doha on Thursday as part of a regional tour, will also join the forum and meet Erdogan on its margins, as Islamabad pushes for a US-Iran second round. &quot;We will continue to provide all the support we can to ensure that the ongoing temporary ceasefire turns into a permanent one,&quot; a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. &quot;We hope that this war -- whose effects are being felt increasingly not only regionally but also globally -- will come to an end as soon as possible, and that the parties will act constructively in the ongoing negotiation process,&quot; the source said. Turkey, while a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help reach a ceasefire in the conflict. Ankara has said the Middle East ceasefire should include Lebanon which is facing Israeli attacks. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday also the strategic Strait of Hormuz should be reopened &quot;as soon as possible&quot; while warning that its status would remain a key point of contention. He described the waterway as an &quot;international free passage zone&quot;, adding that any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.&quot; More than 150 countries are expected to take part in the Antalya gathering, including more than 20 heads of state and government. Among the participants are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Middle East

Turkey’s Antalya forum brings together key regional powers as Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt intensify diplomacy to secure a lasting ceasefire, reopen Hormuz, and advance renewed US-Iran talks.

Pakistan, Bangladesh FMs exchange views on regional developments, strengthening ties

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