Ali Bin Mubarak Al-Khateer

In a world where conflict too often overshadows cooperation, the State of Qatar has pursued a path firmly anchored in the principles of peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. Qatar has earned a global reputation as a neutral and reliable mediator trusted to facilitate dialogue and bring parties together. This is not merely a policy choice of convenience; it is a constitutional commitment. Article 7 of Qatar&rsquo;s Constitution clearly stipulates mediation as a cornerstone of our foreign policy: &ldquo;based on the principle of encouraging peaceful resolution of international disputes.&rdquo; Guided by this principle, Qatar has consistently worked to manage conflicts and foster peaceful settlements, whether at the inter-state level or between states and non-state actors. Since the early 2000s, Qatar has successfully mediated ceasefires, facilitated hostage releases and prisoner exchanges, launched national dialogue processes among other initiatives, contributing to peace facilitation and agreements in many conflicts at both regional and international levels. Nowhere is Qatar&rsquo;s commitment to peace more visible than in its sustained mediation efforts regarding Palestine. Qatar has consistently supported international initiatives to alleviate humanitarian suffering and facilitate dialogue aimed at ceasefires and long-term stability. Qatar&rsquo;s efforts have included humanitarian assistance, reconstruction support, and diplomatic engagement with all relevant actors, always with the goal of protecting civilian lives and advancing the cause of a just and lasting peace.&nbsp; Our efforts are not conducted in isolation. Qatar has built partnerships with leading countries in the field of mediation, including memoranda of understanding with Sweden, Norway, and Finland. These agreements, and others with bilateral partners, enhance knowledge sharing and cooperation, ensuring that best practices inform every negotiation process. For Pakistan, a brotherly nation with whom we share deep historical and cultural ties and a common vision of regional stability, Qatar&rsquo;s mediation efforts hold special significance. Pakistan&rsquo;s own contributions to regional peace reflect its understanding of the challenges of conflict resolution. Together, our two countries can promote dialogue, cooperation, and diplomacy across South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Qatar promotes both Track I diplomacy (state-to-state negotiations) and Track II approaches that include civil society, women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and other marginalized groups. This inclusive approach reflects our belief that sustainable peace requires the voices of all stakeholders. Qatar&rsquo;s mediation affirms that peace is not the monopoly of the powerful, but the responsibility of all. Guided by respect for sovereignty and non-interference, Qatar will continue to act as a bridge-builder and engage in mediation only with the consent of all parties. This principle of consent and neutrality is precisely why Qatar has been consistently invited to facilitate some of the world&rsquo;s most complex and sensitive dialogues. At a time when the world is marked by uncertainty, Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering dialogue and reconciliation. We stand ready, with partners like Pakistan, to demonstrate that peaceful resolution is not only possible but essential for a stable and just global order. The author is the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani

Articles

Qatar, guided by its Constitution, has built a reputation as a neutral mediator, advancing peace through dialogue, humanitarian action in Palestine, and partnerships with countries like Pakistan to promote regional stability and conflict resolution.

Qatar and international conflict mediation

BERLIN: A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online &quot;death sentences&quot; with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz. The 50-year-old German-Polish man, partially named as Martin S., admitted to operating an anonymous darknet platform called &quot;Assassination Politics&quot;, during the trial held in the western city of Duesseldorf. He was convicted of crimes including terrorist financing, providing instructions about committing terrorist acts and building explosive devices including Molotov cocktails, a court spokeswoman said. Martin S. on the site called for attacks on public figures, and reportedly published lists of names in &quot;criminal files&quot; along with &quot;death sentences&quot; he had pronounced for alleged crimes such as &quot;high treason&quot;, the court said. He holds &quot;far-right views,&quot; the court&#39;s press office told AFP. A source close to the initial investigation has told AFP that while Martin S. acted alone, he had links to a broader right-wing conspiracy theorist movement, and that Merkel and Scholz were among those on his hit list. Prosecutors said that he also solicited cryptocurrency donations intended to serve as &quot;bounties&quot; for the killings, although the court noted that no such donations were actually made. The platform also contained sensitive personal data regarding potential victims. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence, while the defence had argued for acquittal. The verdict is not yet final and may be appealed. In recent years, Germany has dismantled several far-right or conspiracy-driven networks suspected of plotting to target the country&#39;s institutions and leaders. In 2022, members of a group including an ex-MP and former soldiers were arrested over a plot to attack parliament, overthrow the government and install aristocrat and businessman Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss as head of state.

Europe

A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online "death sentences" with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.

German court jails man over online 'death lists' of politicians

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced one of its largest fuel price reductions in recent years, lowering petrol by Rs74 ($0.25) per liter and diesel by Rs67 ($0.24) per liter as global oil markets steadied following the end of the US-Iran conflict. The government reduced petrol prices to Rs299 ($1.08) per liter and diesel prices to Rs311 ($1.12) per liter. The move comes days after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which ended 110 days of conflict that disrupted regional trade, threatened energy supplies and fueled volatility in global oil markets. For Pakistan, the reduction represents the first major economic dividend from the easing of tensions in the Middle East. During the conflict, Islamabad faced the same challenge confronting many Asian energy-importing nations: protecting consumers from rising fuel costs while operating under tight fiscal constraints.&nbsp; Unlike wealthier economies that relied on larger financial reserves and extensive subsidy programs, Pakistan sought to cushion the impact through austerity measures, targeted support and efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, the government utilized Rs129 billion ($455.8 million) generated through spending adjustments and austerity measures to shield consumers from the effects of rising fuel prices during the crisis. &ldquo;The benefit of improved economic conditions in the region and declining oil prices is being passed on immediately to the public,&rdquo; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in the statement. &ldquo;Since the beginning of this crisis, we have made every possible effort to reduce fuel prices using our available resources.&rdquo; The Prime Minister&#39;s Office said Pakistan avoided the shortages and supply disruptions experienced in some markets during the regional crisis.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thanks to effective measures, there were no fuel shortages, no long queues, and no disruption in the supply of petroleum products to the public,&rdquo; the statement said. PM Sharif also linked the latest fuel-price reduction to broader diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions.&nbsp; &ldquo;By the grace of Allah, peace became possible amid tensions in the Middle East due to Pakistan&#39;s mediation efforts,&rdquo; he said. The government said it would continue pursuing policies aimed at maintaining economic stability, reducing inflation and providing relief to consumers, while presenting the fuel-price reduction as evidence that lower global oil prices are beginning to translate into benefits for ordinary Pakistanis.

Economy

Foreign Affairs

Islamabad says prudent economic management and sustained regional diplomacy enabled it to protect consumers and deliver relief despite months of energy-market uncertainty, as US and Iran advance technical negotiations under a 60-day implementation framework.

Pakistan cuts fuel prices as oil markets stabilize after Islamabad MoU

GENEVA: The fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly, the World Health Organization warned Friday, despite accelerating efforts to tackle the virus. The WHO said it was still racing to catch up with the worsening situation gripping the northeastern DRC. &quot;The outbreak remains serious&quot; and is &quot;evolving so fast&quot;, said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, the WHO Africa emergencies chief. &quot;However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day,&quot; she told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Bunia, the capital of the DRC&#39;s Ituri province, the outbreak&#39;s epicentre. The outbreak was declared on May 15, though transmission had been going undetected for some time beforehand. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. There have been 896 confirmed cases so far in the DRC, including 232 confirmed deaths, with&nbsp;21 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest WHO update. More than 90 percent of known cases in the DRC have been in conflict-wracked Ituri. The outbreak has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Belizaire said the epidemic was evolving so quickly that the response was racing to keep pace with the virus, which spreads by close contact and infected bodily fluids. The number of treatment beds available for Ebola patients had gone from zero to more than 500, she said. And surveillance teams were now investigating nearly 400 alerts and were capable of administering more than 2,000 tests a day, she added. Belizaire also highlighted that efforts to trace contacts of known Ebola cases had ramped up, with 75 percent of all contacts now being reached. The WHO has said 95 percent of contacts must be traced to get on top of the outbreak. Belizaire said some people falling ill were staying at home, then going to traditional healers, before finally going to healthcare centres, delaying access to treatment. In the DRC, 78 people have recovered after contracting Ebola, which she called a &quot;powerful reminder that a timely diagnosis, access to quality healthcare can save lives&quot;. Health workers killedBelizaire said health workers were hit hard in the early stages of the epidemic. So far, 75 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola, of whom 17 have died, she said. &quot;In DRC, as we are seeing a large community outbreak, we cannot say for sure they have been infected in a health facility,&quot; she added. &quot;It is a really high price that the healthcare system is paying.&quot; Belizaire said a Chinese medical team had arrived in the capital Kinshasa and would be heading to Bunia. In neighbouring Uganda, the only other country hit, there have been 19 confirmed cases including two deaths, and 10 recovered patients. Uganda has reported no new cases for 12 days. Meanwhile the UN migration agency said it had done more than a million health screenings at borders and on travel corridors as part of surveillance measures aimed at detecting potential cases.

Africa

Warns the fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly

Ebola spreading 'fast' in DR Congo, warns WHO

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed Friday that a rudimentary drone belonging to the Afghan Taliban regime was shot down after it violated Pakistani airspace near the Shinko area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The ministry&rsquo;s fact-checking account said on X that the &ldquo;rudimentary drone&rdquo; was detected and &ldquo;neutralised&rdquo; by Pakistan Air Force air defense systems shortly after crossing the border area. <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" 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=2067891361253355663&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=57b61abf57d830b246f9169d39b52db3194a465e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The statement comes after the regime&#39;s Ministry of Defense falsely claimed to have targeted what it described as &ldquo;terrorist hideouts&rdquo; in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.&nbsp;&quot;The Afghan Taliban regime, through their various propaganda mouthpieces and official statements, are claiming to have targeted some alleged ISKP camps in border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan using rudimentary drones,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ministry confirmed that these &quot;claims are false as usual&quot; and that the terrorist camps, including that of Daesh and more than two dozen other terrorist organizations are factually located, run and patronized from inside the territories under control of the Afghan Taliban regime. &nbsp; &quot;To cover their patronization of terror waged in neighboring countries and region, including that from Daesh, Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK), Fitna Al Hindustan (FAH) and others, the Taliban regime is used to issue such fake and nefarious statements,&quot; it said.

A photo released by the Information Ministry on June 19, 2026, shows a “rudimentary drone” the Afghan Taliban reportedly launched and which was shot down in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. {Photo: X/FactCheckerMoIB)

Security

The ministry’s fact-checking account says on X that the “rudimentary drone” was detected and “neutralised” by Pakistan Air Force air defense systems shortly after crossing the border area.

Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban's claim of strikes in border areas

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the country&#39;s parliament, on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution commending the country&rsquo;s political and military leadership for their role in facilitating a landmark diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran, aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. The resolution, presented by the country&rsquo;s Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, welcomed the cessation of hostilities and the signing of a framework agreement between Washington and Tehran. The National Assembly Secretariat released the text of the resolution the same afternoon.<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: 648px; 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=2067902416268538350&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d703acd5d212c79d895530748da146b132de9ebe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2067902416268538350"></iframe></div></div>Lawmakers said the breakthrough was a significant step toward reducing long‑standing regional tensions that have threatened peace, security and global economic stability. The resolution said the House noted the development &ldquo;with immense satisfaction and pride.&rdquo;&nbsp;The assembly expressed its &ldquo;profound appreciation&rdquo; for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other officials involved in the diplomatic effort.&nbsp;It credited their &ldquo;sincere and tireless&rdquo; work with strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s standing as a trusted, neutral mediator.&nbsp;Members also congratulated the leaders of the United States and Iran on concluding negotiations, calling the agreement historic and expressing hope it would lead to lasting peace, greater regional stability, and improved economic and energy security.&nbsp;The unanimous vote, the resolution said, reflects broad parliamentary support for Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement and the country&rsquo;s commitment to peaceful dialogue and international cooperation.

Politics

Unanimously passed resolution praises the Shehbaz Sharif government and military leadership for facilitating the US-Iran peace framework; Describes Pakistan as a trusted neutral mediator for regional stability

Pakistan's National Assembly adopts resolution hailing US-Iran MoU, Islamabad's role

ISLAMABAD: Oil prices fluctuated on Friday, and shipping traffic slowly began to flow through the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with industry data showing over 500 vessels still stranded, while Brent crude traded around $77 a barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate hovered near $74. The signing of the accord this week was intended to end the conflict in Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin talks on wider issues, including Tehran&#39;s nuclear programme.&nbsp; However, Switzerland announced on Friday that planned talks following up on the deal to end the Middle East war had been postponed. Ships passing throughDespite the diplomatic breakthrough, maritime traffic remains far below normal levels. A total of 25 commercial vessels crossed the newly reopened Strait on Thursday, the highest number since mid-April, according to data from maritime tracking firm AXSMarine published on Friday. On June 18, &quot;we observed 25 verified commercial vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz -- the highest single-day count since 18 April and more than five times the average daily level recorded during the first ten days of June,&quot; AXSMarine said in a news release. Before the war, about 120 vessels a day had passed through the strait, according to the leading shipping journal Lloyd&#39;s List. AXSMarine said crossings averaged 7.6 a day from the start of March. American forces on Thursday lifted their naval blockade of Iranian ports that had prevented ships from sailing to or from the Islamic Republic, the US military said, noting that American warships &quot;will remain in the general area&quot;. Activity was still muted in the Strait of Hormuz, but three Saudi oil tankers left the Gulf through the strait on Thursday, maritime trackers said, as did a French vessel loaded with liquefied natural gas. The exact number of stranded ships varies across industry trackers, but all indicate a substantial backlog. &quot;There are some 550 merchant ships of above 10,000 dwt that will need to be prepared to exit the Middle East Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 containerships, and 10 vehicle carriers, but greater clarity is needed before shipowners can begin transiting en masse,&quot; Lloyd&#39;s said, citing industry bodies. More than 500 commercial vessels are still stuck in the Gulf, with about 11,000 seafarers on board, according to the IMO. It says 20,000 seafarers in the region have been affected by the war overall. Shipping industry reports, citing the latest Kpler data, indicate over 600 vessels were still effectively trapped, with mine-clearance operations and safety concerns delaying departures. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV (which TV), quoting the country&#39;s Supreme National Security Council, said that ships &quot;seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz must submit their request&quot; to a new government body tasked with overseeing the waterway. In keeping with the terms of the deal, it added, &quot;no fees whatsoever will be collected from applicants for a period of sixty days&quot;. Oil prices fluctuateOil prices fell more than 3% on Thursday after the signing of the accord. At around 0625 GMT, the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), sank 3.4% to $74.18 a barrel. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude was down 3.02% at $77.15 a barrel. However, oil prices, which have tanked around 10% this week, rose again, with WTI going up up around 1.8%&nbsp;after the postponement of the planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Bloomberg, citing Vortexa data compiled independently, reported that 40 very large crude carriers holding almost 80 million barrels of non-sanctioned crude from Persian Gulf producers were stuck inside the Gulf. The news sparked a reversal in several equity markets that had been heading for a positive end, with profit-taking adding to the selling. Seoul, which has hit multiple records this week and topped 9,000 points for the first time on Thursday, ended in the red after a strong start to the day led by tech firms. Losses were also reported&nbsp;in Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Jakarta, but Wellington and Manila edged up. &quot;With the deal signed, that geopolitical cloud is lifting, but markets have learned more than once that a resolution can unravel quickly,&quot; Josh Gilbert, at eToro, said. The gains also followed a strong lead on Wall Street, where the tech-heavy Nasdaq soared almost 2% thanks to heavyweights including Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia. &quot;The repricing this week has been drastic, and part of that came about because of the resumption of Iranian oil almost instantaneously,&quot; Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, told Bloomberg Television. &quot;What comes next is the execution risk. There&#39;s a lot of details still to be nutted out.&quot;

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on June 18, 2026, vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)

Americas

Middle East

"There are some 550 merchant ships of above 10,000 dwt that will need to be prepared to exit the Middle East Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 containerships, and 10 vehicle carriers, but greater clarity is needed before shipowners can begin transiting en masse," Lloyd's said, citing industry bodies.

Ships begin moving through Strait of Hormuz as oil markets fluctuate

TIJUANA: Iran&#39;s World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday. &quot;Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran&#39;s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff&#39;s plans,&quot; the spokesman said. Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. But the Iranian federation said its request was turned down. &quot;Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,&quot; the spokesman said. &quot;The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations. &quot;Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.&quot; The Iranians were also angry that they had to leave Los Angeles the night of their first game of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game. &quot;The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,&quot; Giuliani told CBS News. &quot;They&#39;ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they&#39;ll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.&quot; He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran&#39;s final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran's defender #23 Ramin Rezaeian and midfielder #31 Mehdi Ghayedi take part in a training session ahead of Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G football match against Belgium at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Guillermo Arias 

Football

"Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match," the spokesman said; Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game.

Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup restrictions

ISLAMABAD: India&#39;s National Congress, the leading opposition party in the country, has launched a sharp political offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing him of failing to safeguard the country&rsquo;s national interests during his recent interactions with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. In a statement issued by the party&rsquo;s foreign affairs department, the party said that Modi could have leveraged the event to assert India&rsquo;s role in the Global South. The statement was widely covered in the Indian media, which criticized PM Modi&#39;s failure to defend the country&#39;s interests during his interaction with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">&nbsp;the French town of Evian-les-Bains, near Switzerland,&nbsp;on June 15-17. &ldquo;The Congress had hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would leverage the G7 Summit in France as an opportunity to assert India&rsquo;s leadership role in the Global South and stridently defend India&rsquo;s energy sovereignty, economic interests, and strategic autonomy. Instead, the Summit exposed a troubling gap between rhetoric and results,&rdquo; said the Indian Congress Party statement.<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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; 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=2067586198189801554&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ad9bf86eee7a7792310f209c1a92e4c9851430a1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Congress alleged that Modi missed an opportunity to firmly reject Trump&rsquo;s repeated claims regarding his role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during the recent military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Congress questions Modi&rsquo;s silence&nbsp;The controversy erupted after Trump once again claimed that trade considerations helped bring about a cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan.&nbsp; Congress leaders argued that the Prime Minister should have publicly contradicted the US President&rsquo;s assertions and defended India&rsquo;s long-standing position that bilateral issues with Pakistan are resolved without third-party mediation. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Modi had failed to protect India&rsquo;s diplomatic interests and questioned why the Prime Minister did not issue a stronger rebuttal during the G7 engagements.&nbsp; According to Congress, Trump&rsquo;s repeated statements undermine India&rsquo;s official stance on Kashmir and regional security matters. National interest above personal diplomacy&nbsp;The opposition further argued that personal rapport with world leaders should not come at the expense of national interests.&nbsp; Congress leaders stated that friendship with foreign leaders cannot override the need to defend India&rsquo;s established diplomatic positions. Former Union minister Salman Khurshid also weighed in on the debate, emphasizing that national interest must remain paramount in foreign policy decisions.&nbsp; His remarks were widely circulated on social media as the political dispute intensified. Congress criticises government&rsquo;s Israel policy&nbsp;Separately, Congress accused the Modi government of pursuing a &ldquo;blind devotion&rdquo; to Israel amid escalating tensions in West Asia.&nbsp; The party argued that India&rsquo;s traditional foreign policy has historically maintained balanced relations across the region and said New Delhi should adopt a more nuanced approach. Congress leaders maintained that India&rsquo;s strategic interests require engagement with all major stakeholders in the Middle East rather than appearing aligned with a single side.

India

India's Congress party accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to defend national interests at the G7 Summit; Mentions Trump's mediation claims and criticizes New Delhi's foreign policy positions

India's Congress accuses Modi of failing to defend country's interests at G7

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to take immediate notice of India&#39;s continued violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that recent actions could jeopardize regional peace and stability, said a statement posted on Friday on the X account of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN. According to the statement, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad handed over a letter from the country&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to the President of the UN Security Council for June 2026, Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres of Colombia. The statement said that the letter highlights Pakistan&#39;s concerns over two Indian infrastructure projects linked to the Chenab River system, which Islamabad alleges are aimed at diverting water flows governed under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.<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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 840px; 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=2067659819834597383&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=0be7df0dc1e8635e8707c1c6e58e3e3246454abf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;Pakistan maintains that the projects reflect India&#39;s intention to alter the Treaty-regulated use of the Western Rivers, describing the move as an attempt to &quot;weaponize water&quot; with serious implications for Pakistan&#39;s water resources, food security, economy, and regional stability.&quot; &quot;The Foreign Minister&#39;s letter urges the Security Council to take cognizance of the &#39;fragile and deteriorating situation&#39; and hold India accountable for what Pakistan terms as &#39;brazen violations&#39; of the Treaty,&quot; added the statement. The statement further said that during the meeting, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also briefed the Security Council President on the broader situation in South Asia and reiterated Pakistan&#39;s position regarding India&#39;s compliance with UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The development comes amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India over water-sharing arrangements under the Indus Waters Treaty, which has governed the distribution of river waters between the two countries for more than six decades.

Urges the UN Security Council to address India's alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty; Warns that new water diversion projects threaten regional stability, food security, and peace.

 Pakistan asks UNSC to act against India's Indus Waters Treaty violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday called for immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, warning that the territory remains trapped in a severe humanitarian crisis despite recent diplomatic efforts, a statement from Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the United Nations said.&nbsp;Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, Pakistan&rsquo;s permanent representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said progress after the endorsement of the Comprehensive Plan and adoption of Resolution 2803 has not eased conditions on the ground.&nbsp; He thanked UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher for his briefing and urged the Security Council to continue close monitoring.<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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 655px; 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=2067756657292238880&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4b3744f201525e3d6f02677b0b9862eebbb43e27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Ambassador Ahmad warned that ceasefire violations persist and civilians face widespread killing, displacement and deprivation. He said more than 90% of Gaza&rsquo;s population has been displaced and only half of hospitals remain partially functional. Daily meal distributions have dropped by over 50%, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk of acute hunger, he added. Overcrowding, poor sanitation and limited healthcare, the envoy said, increase the threat of disease outbreaks, especially among children.&nbsp;The ambassador accused Israel of arbitrarily restricting and delaying humanitarian assistance, calling such measures violations of international law and the obligations of an occupying power.&nbsp; He insisted humanitarian access must not be used as a political tool and urged the immediate opening of all border crossings, including Rafah, to allow aid, commercial supplies and medical evacuations.&nbsp;Pakistan also called for lifting the Gaza blockade, warning it amounts to collective punishment of more than two million Palestinians, and demanded an end to opaque restrictions on so‑called &ldquo;dual‑use&rdquo; items needed for relief operations. While welcoming the Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund and pledged reconstruction finance, Ambassador Ahmad warned the UN&rsquo;s 2026 Flash Appeal remains severely underfunded and urged the international community to close the gap.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s long‑standing position, he said a durable solution requires an end to occupation and the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre‑1967 borders with Al‑Quds Al‑Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan's UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad urged unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, condemned Israeli restrictions, called for lifting the blockade, and reaffirmed support for an independent Palestinian state.

Articles by Ali Bin Mubarak Al-Khateer