Athens, April 29 (IANS) The United States continues to depend on Islamabad for mediation in conflict with Iran despite categorising Pakistan as high risk alongside other conflict-ridden countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen. Iran, meanwhile, regards Pakistan’s role as compromised by its perceived alignment with the US and Saudi Arabia, raising allegations of bias and procedural failures that undermined trust, a report said on Wednesday.”Although the United States Department of Sta…
Latest Saudi Arabia News & Updates
Islamabad, April 29 (IANS) Highlighting that Pakistan faced losses due to the restrictions imposed in Islamabad last week as the local authorities hoped that dignitaries would arrive for the Iran-US talks which eventually did not take place, several experts reckon that the country must focus on its own problems which have increased due to the US-Iran war instead of government showing unity and speed on global issues. “As Iran-US talks hit another snag, we must ask if a state with its own problem…
Bhopal, April 29 (IANS) A controversy has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh over the alleged non-availability of the historic ‘Rubat’ accommodation facility in Mecca and Medina for Haj pilgrims from Bhopal.Serious allegations have been raised against Saba Sultan, identified as the mutawalli (trustee) of the Auqaf-e-Shahi trust, and Sikandar Hafiz, described as a representative associated with the management of the trust properties.According to a memorandum submitted by Congress MLA Arif Masood and othe…
New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Pakistan repaid $3.5 billion to the United Arab Emirates last week, and immediately Riyadh stepped in with financial support, which sparked debate over Islamabad’s growing reliance on Gulf financing, a new report has said.Turkey based media house Anadolu Agency said that Saudi Arabia averted an immediate reserves shock, but it increased Pakistan’s dependence on a single benefactor at a time of heightened regional realignment.Saudi Arabia immediately made a $3 billi…
Riyadh, April 29 (IANS) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said on Tuesday that GCC states have rejected Iran’s illegal measures to close the Strait of Hormuz and obstruct navigation through the waterway. The statement was made at the 19th Consultative Meeting of GCC leaders held in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah on Tuesday.Albudaiwi said the leaders also rejected any measures that would negatively affect navigation through the strait, including the impo…
New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it was leaving the OPEC and OPEC+ cartels in what is seen as a major setback to the group of oil-exporting countries led by Saudi Arabia.The UAE said the decision reflected its “long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile”.The Gulf state’s Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said that being a country with no obligation under the groups would provide more flexibility.In a public statement shared o…
Islamabad, April 27 (IANS) Pakistan is mediating between Iran and the US out of necessity. For Pakistan, a destabilised Iran increases space for militants on the western flank and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran risk triggering pact obligations, a report has stated. By mediating between the US and Iran, Pakistan has gained visibility. However, diplomatic access does not lead to an agreement and leverage does not imply a cash flow. Until each gets paid, packaged and converted, Pakistan is …
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) As the overall flight situation in the Gulf region continues to improve, Air India and Indigo are also planning to resume flight operations from Qatar to India soon, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday.With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is already operating flights to various destinations in India, according to a statement issued by the MEA.Additional flights are now operating from the Middle East, with around 105 flights expected on Mon…
Seoul, April 27 (IANS) Hanwha Systems Co., the defense solutions arm of Hanwha Group, said on Monday it swung to a net loss in the first quarter from a year earlier, citing substantial equity losses tied to its US shipyard investment.For the three months ended March, the company reported a net loss of 95.75 billion won ($65 million), compared with a net profit of 24.36 billion won a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency.The decline was largely attributed to increased equity losses from Hanwha…
Coimbatore, April 27 (IANS) Tender coconut exports from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district have been severely disrupted over the past two months, with shipments to key international markets coming to a halt due to escalating freight charges and prolonged transit delays linked to the Iran–Israel conflict. The sharp increase in shipping costs, coupled with uncertainty over delivery timelines, has rendered exports commercially unviable for traders.As a result, several consignments have …