Islamabad, April 26 (IANS) For Islamabad, it would be wiser to “redirect its diplomatic initiatives toward internal stabilisation rather than focusing on mediating distant conflicts”, an opinion piece in the local media said.The neighbouring country has attempted to mediate between the US and Iran amid the West Asia conflict.In the middle of the war in the Middle East, Pakistan and China had announced a Five-Point Initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East…
Latest Gulf News & Updates
New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) The government on Saturday said that around 12.65 lakh passengers have travelled from the Gulf and West Asia region to India since February 28.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely tracking developments in the region, with a strong focus on the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community.Indian missions and posts across the Gulf and West Asia are operating round-the-clock helplines and are actively assisting citizens while remaining in cons…
Islamabad, April 25 (IANS) Pakistan’s “drama diplomacy”, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, is being viewed as a desperate attempt at “face-saving” outreach, following the collapse of the first round of talks between the United States and Iran. According to a report in India Narrative, amid the shifting dynamics in the Gulf, Pakistan appears to be engaging in theatrics by pushing for a second round of talks, which is already on shaky ground and carries negligible diplomatic weight to deliver meanin…
Washington, April 24 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said that the United States will keep control of the Strait of Hormuz until Iran agrees to a deal, using the vital oil route as leverage in the ongoing standoff.“We have total control of it,” Trump said. “It’ll open when they make a deal or something else happens that’s very positive.”He made clear the closure is intended to pressure Iran’s economy. “If we open the strait, that means they’re going to make $500 million a day….
New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Apart from becoming the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India is emerging as a new global centre of gravity — capable of providing a bridge between countries in a world that is fragmenting into competing blocs, according to an article in The Times of Israel.It highlights that India is the central voice of the Global South and a preferred partner for digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, energy transition, and security cooperation across Africa, the Gulf an…
New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) With the conflict in the Middle East leading to disruption in oil supplies and soaring prices in global market, South Asian countries are turning to India, rather than China, to tide over the fuel crisis, according to an article published by OCRA (Organisation for Research on China and Asia).For South Asian economies already operating with limited buffers, a prolonged disruption could translate into sustained price pressures and mounting fiscal strain.In this context, …
New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Bangladesh has failed to get any breakthrough at the IMF-World Bank Spring meeting, held earlier this month, on the stalled IMF programme, and no assurance that the expected $3.2 billion in budget support from the World Bank, the ADB, the AIIB, and Japan can be mobilised within the government’s timeline, a local media report said.At a time when tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are already unsettling global energy and freight markets, this ambiguity could not have come …
Tehran, April 19 (IANS) The Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vess…
Washington, Apr 18 (IANS) U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran “can’t blackmail us” even as Washington is holding talks with Tehran, signalling a mix of pressure and diplomacy amid rising tensions. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the United States was engaged with Iran but would not ease its stance.“We’re talking to them… ” It’s working out very well,” he said. “We’re taking a tough stand.”He said Iran had “gotten away with murder for 47 years” bu…
New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Fundamental issues continue to plague Pakistan, including in the Middle East, where a dispute over financial deposit repayments threaten its relationship with the UAE, according to a new report.Earlier this month, the Pakistan government announced that it would be repaying $3.5 billion worth of loans to the UAE.This includes a loan of $450 million that Pakistan has owed the UAE since the late 1990s, according to the report in Geopolitical Monitor.The report says that t…