Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday spoke with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov to discuss bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest. According to the foreign office statement on X, the two diplomats discussed regional developments alongside Pak-Uzbek relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;FM Saidov also appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in mediation for regional peace &amp; security,&rdquo; said the statement. Pakistan and Uzbekistan have signed multiple MOUs earlier this year worth $3.4 billion to enhance and further trade between the two countries. Both countries vowed to increase bilateral trade to $2b within five years in February when the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a two-day visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan also continues to play an active role in mediating the conflict in the Middle East, which currently stands on a ceasefire brokered by Islamabad&#39;s leadership.

Foreign Affairs

FM Dar discusses bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov; the two diplomats discuss regional developments and Islamabad's role as a mediator.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan discuss regional stability

BEIJING:&nbsp;Donald Trump was due in Beijing Wednesday on the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade, as he seeks to ramp up trade. Leaving Washington on Tuesday on a trip that was delayed by his war, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-confirms-trumps-visit-this-week" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump</a> said he expected a &quot;long talk&quot; with counterpart&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-us-to-exchange-views-on-major-issues-during-trump-visit" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Xi Jinping</a> about Iran. But he also played down disagreements on Iran, saying that Xi has been &quot;relatively good, to be honest with you&quot;. &quot;I don&#39;t think we need any help with Iran. We&#39;ll win it one way or the other. We&#39;ll win it peacefully or otherwise,&quot; Trump told reporters as he left the White House. This week&#39;s trip -- the first since Trump visited in 2017 -- will involve high-stakes talks with Xi on Thursday and Friday, during a packed itinerary that includes a state banquet and tea reception. China&#39;s controls on rare earth exports and the countries&#39; trade relationship are among the topics expected to be taken up by the heads of the world&#39;s top two economies. The buildup to the superpower summit was already visible Tuesday on the streets of Beijing, with police monitoring major intersections and checking the ID cards of passengers on the metro, AFP journalists saw. &#39;Definitely a big deal&#39;&quot;It&#39;s definitely a big deal,&quot; said Wen Wen, a 24-year-old woman travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing, when asked by AFP about Trump&#39;s visit. &quot;Some progress will certainly be made,&quot; she said, noting that she hopes China and the United States can ensure &quot;lasting peace&quot; despite &quot;recent instability in the global situation&quot;. Trade ties between Beijing and Washington have been fraught in recent years. The two sides are currently maintaining a one-year truce in their tariff war reached at Trump and Xi&#39;s last meeting in South Korea in October. China&#39;s major surplus in trade with the United States has long irked Trump, who slapped tariffs on the country&#39;s goods during his first term in office. Trump will be accompanied in China by a large group of top US business executives, including Tesla&#39;s Elon Musk and Apple&#39;s Tim Cook, the White House has said. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Positive results&#39;</h2>For Li Jiahao, 30, who manages a Beijing karaoke bar, the summit will not necessarily solve all problems in China-US relations -- though he is hoping for &quot;positive results&quot;. &quot;Coming here and actually resolving the issues are two different things,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;China and the United States both have responsibilities as major powers,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;only through friendship can we achieve mutual development and become stronger&quot;. The war in Iran -- launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28 -- has presented new challenges in the already-complicated relationship between Beijing and Washington. The US Treasury Department on Monday sanctioned 12 individuals and entities -- including several based in Hong Kong -- it said facilitated sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China. Asked about the latest moves on Tuesday, Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for Beijing&#39;s foreign ministry, said that &quot;China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions&quot;.

Asia

China's controls on rare earth exports and the countries' trade relationship are among the topics expected to be taken up by the heads of the world's top two economies.

Trump heads to China for superpower summit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday met with the US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad to discuss the evolving regional situation. During the meeting, the two sides discussed broader bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States, according to a statement from the foreign office. FM Dar expressed hope that the &ldquo;ongoing diplomatic efforts would contribute to peace and stability&rdquo; in the region, which has been impacted by the US-Israel war on Iran. The foreign minister also appreciated Washington&rsquo;s assistance in the &ldquo;repatriation of Pakistani and Iranian seafarers through Singapore,&rdquo; said the statement. Later the same day, Dar also spoke with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the regional situation and matters of mutual interest. The Saudi Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role and reiterated support for Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability. &ldquo;Both leaders also exchanged views on the importance of safeguarding maritime security, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and agreed to remain in close contact on regional and international developments,&rdquo; the statement added. Pakistan continues to facilitate and mediate diplomatic efforts between US and Iran as which stands on a ceasefire at the request of Islamabad. UN envoy meets Pakistan FM in Islamabad Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General&rsquo;s Special Envoy for the Middle East Conflict, Jean Arnault, called on Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign minister. In a statement on X (Twitter), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Arnault commended Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. He reiterated continued United Nations support for such engagement. <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-2" 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-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2053848103925821598&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5818%2F&sessionId=4ec4793f203495461cdeb832f47a76ae2165f7b3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2053848103925821598"></iframe></div></div> The two leaders also exchanged views on recent regional developments. Dar outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing contacts with relevant parties and expressed appreciation for the UN secretary-general&rsquo;s support and contributions over the years.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker discuss regional tensions, bilateral ties, and diplomatic efforts linked to the Iran ceasefire.

FM Dar expresses hope for a ‘peaceful and stable’ region

TEHRAN:&nbsp;Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message on Thursday that the United States had been defeated in its war with the Islamic republic, as the Iranian leadership defied President Donald Trump&#39;s warnings of a prolonged blockade. &quot;Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world&#39;s bullies in the region, and the United States&#39; disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; said Khamenei in the message read on state television. The message by Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since his appointment on March 9 as Iran&#39;s new supreme leader, came on the annual national celebration of &quot;Persian Gulf&quot; day in Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei became the supreme leader after the US and Israel launched a massive campaign of strikes on Iran on February 28, killing his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. Last week, the New York Times, citing several unnamed Iranian officials, said the younger Khamenei was &quot;gravely wounded&quot; in the strikes but has remained &quot;mentally sharp.&quot; In his Thursday message, he said US bases in the region &quot;lack even the capacity to ensure their own security, let alone provide any hope of securing their allies.&quot; He hailed what he called Iran&#39;s &quot;new legal framework and management&quot; of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, as a means to bring &quot;comfort and progress&quot; for countries in the region. Bright futureThe strait has become a major flashpoint since the outbreak of the Middle East war, with Iran allowing only a trickle of ships to pass through the waterway. Last week, a senior lawmaker said Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strait. Khamenei predicted a bright future for the Gulf without the United States and condemned what he described as &quot;outsiders&quot;, saying those who interfere from thousands of kilometres away &quot;have no place there except at the bottom of its waters&quot;. He also lauded the people of Iran, who he said &quot;consider all national capacities -- identity, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial, and advanced technologies from nano and bio to nuclear and missile -- as their national capital&quot;. Earlier Thursday, Iran&#39;s President Masoud Pezeshkian had said a US naval blockade imposed in retaliation against Iran&#39;s action in Hormuz was &quot;doomed to fail&quot;. Pezeshkian added that such measures would &quot;not only fail to enhance regional security, but are in fact a source of tension and a disruption to lasting stability in the Persian Gulf&quot;. Other figures have also struck a tone of defiance, with Navy Commander Shahram Irani signalling that Iran will deploy &quot;in the very near future&quot; naval weaponry which it has recently developed.

Europe

Americas

Mojtaba Khamenei says the United States has been defeated in its war with Iran, as Tehran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and continues to defy US pressure.

Iran's supreme leader says US suffered 'disgraceful defeat'

HONG KONG: Stocks rose Friday with investors still optimistic about the shaky ceasefire in the US-Iran war ahead of planned weekend talks, though oil prices extended gains over worries Israel&#39;s continued attacks on Lebanon could shatter the peace process. Washington and Tehran&#39;s announcement Tuesday of a two-week truce that would see the Strait of Hormuz reopened, having been closed since the start of the war, sparked a wave of euphoria across markets. But hopes for an end to the crisis have been hit by squabbles between the two sides over the agreement and the future of the key waterway, through which a fifth of the world&#39;s oil and gas passes. US and Iranian delegations are due in Pakistan for peace talks, but they come as Tehran says Israel has already broken terms of the ceasefire by continuing to hit Lebanese targets, where Israel says Iran-backed Hezbollah is located. The United States and Israel deny an end to attacks on Lebanon was in the deal. Meanwhile, Trump warned on Thursday against Iran&#39;s plan to charge a toll for ships passing through Hormuz, saying on social media: &quot;They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!&quot; In a second message just a few minutes later, he added that &quot;very quickly, you&#39;ll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran.&quot; He also said Tehran was &quot;doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz&quot;. Just 10 vessels have passed through the waterway since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to maritime tracking data. Only one of those tankers is not Iranian. Equity markets, which have been hammered since the war broke out on February 28, extended the week&#39;s gains. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei all rose at least one percent, while Singapore and Manila were also well up, though Sydney slipped. The gains followed a second healthy run-up on Wall Street. Oil prices climbed around one percent but sat just below $100 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate briefly jumped above the key level on Thursday. Analysts said the equity gains were helped by news that Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington. That comes after NBC reported that Trump had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a scale-back in strikes on its northern neighbour to ensure the success of negotiations with Iran. With stocks rising, IG market analyst Fabien Yip said those &quot;that suffered the deepest drawdowns during the conflict are likely candidates for the sharpest near-term recovery&quot;. But she warned: &quot;The ceasefire is temporary and the details remain sparse. Iran&#39;s 10-point proposal and Washington&#39;s stated positions retain substantial differences, and the Islamabad talks carry no guarantee of success. &quot;Even the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz -- subject to Iran&#39;s &#39;technical limitations&#39; -- will take weeks, if not months, before shipping backlogs are cleared and supply chains normalise. &quot;Crude oil prices are therefore unlikely to revert to pre-war levels in the near term.&quot; Investors are also keeping tabs on the release later Friday of US inflation data, which observers say could provide an idea about the impact of the surge in crude on consumers. Prices are expected to have spiked 3.4 percent last month, from 2.4 percent in February, according to a Bloomberg survey. In company news, shares in Japanese retail titan Fast Retailing soared 10 percent to a record high after it hiked its full-year operating profit outlook, helped by healthy demand for its Uniqlo brand in the United States and Europe. Key figures at around 0230 GMTWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $98.67 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.6 percent at $96.51 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.5 percent at 56,728.95 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.1 percent at 26,029.69 Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 4,006.68 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1692 from $1.1707 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3428 from $1.3441 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.08 yen from 159.06 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.07 pence from 87.09 pence New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.6 percent at 48,185.80 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 10,603.48 (close)

Business

Global markets rebound as investors bet on US-Iran talks in Islamabad, but rising oil prices and continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon highlight risks to the fragile ceasefire and uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz access.

Stocks rally on optimism over Iran war ceasefire, oil extends gains

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host a quadrilateral meeting on March 30 (Monday), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as the four nations seek to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the US. Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office (FO) confirmed this development to Pakistan TV Digital on Saturday. Foreign Minister Dar, in a post on X on Saturday, stated: &quot;Looking forward to welcoming my brother Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt to Islamabad.&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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; 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=2037803935424241973&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=508bdc1df663a6cd45b8f63e44eed08fcf1b75e0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>A press release issued by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, stated: At the invitation of Foreign MinisterDar, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; the Foreign Minister of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan; and the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Dr Badr Abdelatty, will visit Islamabad from 29&ndash;30 March 2026. During the visit, the foreign ministers will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.&nbsp; The visiting dignitaries will also call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan highly values its relations with the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt, the press release said.&nbsp; The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s cooperation and coordination with these countries across multifaceted areas of mutual interest, it said. Earlier, Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a televised address to the nation on Friday, said: &quot;On one hand, we are making every possible effort to safeguard our national interests and protect the public from the catastrophic surge in oil prices in global market, while on the other hand, we are working day and night on the diplomatic front for the establishment of peace.&quot; He added that to bring an end to the war, &ldquo;Pakistan is making full and sincere efforts at the diplomatic level to mediate, so that the region and the brotherly Islamic countries can be saved from this devastating war and its negative consequences, and to pave the path to lasting peace through collective consultation and wisdom.&quot; Sharif said, &quot;As Muslims, we all have the same longing for peace in our hearts. In this context, I have held detailed discussions several times with the leaders of Iran and the Gulf countries.&quot;

Pakistan will host a quadrilateral meeting on March 30 (Monday), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as the four nations seek to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the US.

Pakistan to host quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers on Iran war: FO 

NEW YORK CITY: The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday debated Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Pakistan telling the 15-member body that an enduring situation lies in embracing diplomacy rather than abandoning it &ldquo;for short-sighted policies.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is clear that dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement remain the only viable way forward. And yet, diplomacy has been forfeited in favour of military means,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN), said during a discussions on the UN &lsquo;Committee 1737&rsquo;, which oversees international sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear and missile programs. &ldquo;The developments since last June as well as the ongoing situation that started with the unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on Iran have deeply impacted the context of Iran nuclear file,&rdquo; he 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-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=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032313042986271046&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c248310fe0919f799bba80033d73f620b941b880&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 841px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Regretting the breakdown of diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Pakistani envoy said the validity of the fundamental principles and the multilateral spirit that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, remained intact as also the consensus adoption of resolution 2231 in 2015. (But President Donald Trump, during his first term announced in 2018 the withdrawal of the United States (US) from JCPOA, terming it a &ldquo;horrible,&rdquo; &ldquo;one-sided&rdquo; deal that failed to protect US national security interests.) &ldquo;More than ever, and even during the current conflict and heightened tensions, it is clear that an enduring solution lies in embracing those time-tested principles rather than abandoning them for short-sighted policies,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. The JCPOA, he said, &nbsp;was a &ldquo;unique instrument &ldquo;, manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism, highlighting that it was the outcome of painstaking and arduous, yet constructive negotiations that charted a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of the parties based on reciprocal actions and thus embodying peaceful resolution of disputes that is at the heart the UN Charter. &ldquo;Pakistan lent its support to the negotiated settlement of the issue, and it remains our core position till today&rdquo;, he added. &ldquo;We have condemned all use of force, targeting of civilian infrastructure, and strikes on nuclear sites under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards&rdquo;, the Pakistani envoy said, pointing out that strikes against nuclear facilities carried huge environmental and safety risks for the local population and people all around the region.He warned against disrupting IAEA&rsquo;s crucial verification mandate, saying that the agency is responsible for verifying compliance with respective nuclear safeguards obligations of Member States in an objective, impartial and credible manner on technical grounds. &ldquo;The IAEA should be enabled to fulfill this statutory function and its verification activities in Iran should resume unimpeded,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy said.Pakistan, he said, &nbsp;calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, and urged all parties to show maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, institute a permanent ceasefire, and resume dialogue. &ldquo;All our efforts aim in that direction&rdquo;, he said.

Pakistan told the UNSC that diplomacy, not military action, remains the only viable solution to Iran’s nuclear issue, urging restraint, ceasefire, renewed dialogue, and unimpeded IAEA verification activities.

As UNSC debates Iran nuclear program, Pakistan stresses diplomacy only way forward

ISLAMABAD: Panic buying, long queues and delayed deliveries have spread across parts of India as fears over dwindling LPG supplies and rising prices triggered disorder at gas agencies and booking centres, Indian media reported on Friday.&nbsp; The Times of India reported that domestic consumers rushed to book cylinders amid anxiety over shortages, while glitches in IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) and online booking systems worsened the chaos and pushed more people into physical queues and literal fights outside distribution offices.&nbsp; The supply scare comes after a sharp increase in LPG prices earlier this month. Reuters reported that India raised the price of a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder by 60 Indian Rupees in Delhi to 913 rupees, while the price of a 19-kg commercial cylinder climbed to 1,883 Indian Rupees from 1,768.50 rupees. The hike added pressure on households as well as restaurants, hotels and small food businesses already worried about replenishment delays.<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" 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=2031966317839004101&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=128fdce1f836af0c87b6c296878f67133ef2e177&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The disruption has been linked to the conflict in West Asia and shipping constraints affecting energy imports. The Telegraph India reported that India, which imported about 60% of its cooking gas demand last year, has seen LPG supplies disrupted by constraints on Gulf shipping routes, prompting the government to curb industrial and commercial use in order to protect household distribution. Reuters also said New Delhi has begun sourcing more LPG from countries such as the United States, Norway, Canada and Russia. In a statement released by the Press Information Bureau, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, whose name is already embroiled in a scandal relating to &#39;Epstein files&#39;, said an LPG Control Order has directed refineries to maximise LPG output, raising production by 28% in five days. Even so, with panic spreading faster than official assurances, the LPG squeeze has already spilled into a full-blown public anxiety crisis.

India

Panic buying, long queues and rising prices have triggered chaos across India as LPG supplies tighten, with officials promising household priority while import disruptions and public anxiety deepen the crisis

Articles tagged with "US-Iran War"