PM speaks with Qatar, Saudi envoys
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with the ambassadors of Qatar and Saudi Arabia and shared his concerns on the latest escalation following Iranian missile strike on a US base in Doha.
Speaking with Qatar's Ambassador Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater, Shehbaz expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Qatar at this difficult time. He stressed that "all efforts must be made" to de-escalate tensions and restore peace in the region.
The Qatari ambassador thanked the prime minister for immediately reaching out to him after this most unfortunate development, as well as for the expression of solidarity with the leadership and people of Qatar at this critical time.
Also, the prime minister spoke with Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malki of Saudi Arabia and expressed his serious concern over the reports of missile attacks on a US military base in Qatar. He said that Pakistan would continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia to intensify peace efforts.
The Saudi ambassador thanked the prime minister for reaching out to him immediately. He agreed that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan must continue to work together and coordinate closely to ensure an early peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
KSE-100 surges over 5% amid ceasefire reports, triggering market halt
Buying spree returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as investors rejoiced after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 5,900 points during the intra-day trading on Tuesday. At 11:30am, the benchmark index was hovering at 122,045.62 level, an increase of 5,878.15 points or 5.06%. Following a 5% gain, trading activity at PSX halted for 1 hour, the market will open at 12:31pm. 'All TRE Certificate Holders are hereby informed that due to a 5% increase in the KSE-30 index from the previous trading day's close of the index, a Market Halt has been triggered as per PSX Regulations and all equity and equity-based markets have been suspended accordingly,' read the notice. Across-the-board buying was observed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks including HUBCO, ARL, SSGC, PSO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, UBL and HBL traded in the green. 'The ceasefire announcement and a 3-4% drop in international oil prices are driving the buying rally at the bourse,' said Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), told Business Recorder. 'The market believes the geopolitical situation will now come under control,' she added. Intense selling pressure gripped the PSX on Monday amid escalating geopolitical tensions following a US attack on Iran, with the benchmark KSE-100 settling with a loss of nearly 3,900 points. At close, the KSE-100 Index settled at 116,167.47 level, a decrease of 3,855.77 points or 3.21%. Internationally, global shares rallied and the dollar extended declines on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, sending oil prices into a deep dive as concerns over supply disruptions ebbed. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks. Oil prices fell over 3%, having already slid 9% on Monday when Iran made a token retaliation against a US base, which came to nothing and signalled it was done for now. With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly over, U.S. crude futures fell another 3.4% to $66.15 per barrel, the lowest since June 11. Risk assets rallied, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures 0.9% higher. EUROSTOXX 50 futures jumped 1.3% and FTSE futures rose 0.4%. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 1.8% while Japan's Nikkei rallied 1.4%. This is an intra-day update
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Trump says Iran-Israel ceasefire in force
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was in force on Tuesday, urging both sides to 'not violate it' on the 12th day of the war between the two arch-foes. 'THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!' he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The US leader had earlier said the truce would be a phased 24-hour process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations first. He said Israel would follow suit 12 hours later. Israeli rescuers said four people were killed in an Iranian strike, after state media in the Islamic republic reported waves of missiles were headed toward Israel. Neither Iran nor Israel have confirmed the agreement touted by Trump on ending the conflict that has killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel. Only hours before Trump's latest announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that 'as of now, there is NO 'agreement' on ceasefire or cessation of military operations'. 'However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,' he said on social media. But Israel's army said sirens were activated in northern Israel – where moments before Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported a wave of missiles were headed. Gaza rescuers say Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid At least four people were killed in the multi-wave Iranian missile attack shortly before the staggered ceasefire announced by Trump was meant to enter into force, emergency services and the military said. The Magen David Adom rescue service said three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a strike in the southern city of Beersheba while a fourth was added in an update to its figures. Explosions also continued to rock Tehran overnight, with blasts in the north and centre of the Iranian capital described by AFP journalists as some of the strongest since the conflict broke out. Any cessation in hostilities would come as a huge relief to world leaders frantic about an escalation in violence igniting a wider conflagration. The adversaries had been swapping missile fire since Israel carried out surprise 'preemptive' strikes against Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites, and prompting Trump to warn of a possible 'massive' regional conflict. Strikes on US base The US leader's truce announcement came hours after Iran launched missiles at the largest US military facility in the Middle East – Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar – in a move Trump shrugged off as 'very weak.' Calling for a de-escalation, Trump said Tehran had given advance notice of the barrage. Iran's National Security Council confirmed having targeted the base 'in response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities'. But it added that the number of missiles launched 'was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used' – a signal that it had calibrated its response to be directly proportional rather than escalatory. 'This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off ramp for both sides,' Ali Vaez, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. The offensive came after the United States joined its ally Israel's military campaign against Iran, attacking an underground uranium enrichment centre with massive bunker-busting bombs and hitting two other nuclear facilities overnight Saturday into Sunday. 'Blatant aggression' Iran said its assault in Qatar wasn't targeting the Middle Eastern neighbour, but the government in Doha accused Tehran of 'blatant aggression' and claimed its right to a 'proportional' response. Iran's state media quoted the Revolutionary Guard Corps announcing that six missiles had hit Al Udeid, which had been evacuated beforehand, according to the Qataris. Israel reports waves of Iranian missiles, soon after Trump announced ceasefire The broadside was made up of 'short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles,' a US defence official said. AFP reporters heard blasts in central Doha and in Lusail, north of the capital, on Monday evening, and saw projectiles moving across the night sky. Iranians gathered in central Tehran to celebrate, images on state TV showed, with some waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting 'Death to America'. Qatar earlier announced the temporary closure of its airspace in light of 'developments in the region', while the US embassy and other foreign missions warned their citizens to shelter in place. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people, Iran's health ministry has said. Twenty-four people have died in Iran's attacks on Israel, according to official figures.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
KSE-100 surges nearly 5,900 points as ceasefire hopes drive rally
Buying spree returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as investors rejoiced after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 5,900 points during the intra-day trading on Tuesday. At 11:30am, the benchmark index was hovering at 122,045.62 level, an increase of 5,878.15 points or 5.06%. Across-the-board buying was observed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks including HUBCO, ARL, SSGC, PSO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, UBL and HBL traded in the green. 'The ceasefire announcement and a 3-4% drop in international oil prices are driving the buying rally at the bourse,' said Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), told Business Recorder. 'The market believes the geopolitical situation will now come under control,' she added. Intense selling pressure gripped the PSX on Monday amid escalating geopolitical tensions following a US attack on Iran, with the benchmark KSE-100 settling with a loss of nearly 3,900 points. At close, the KSE-100 Index settled at 116,167.47 level, a decrease of 3,855.77 points or 3.21%. Internationally, global shares rallied and the dollar extended declines on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, sending oil prices into a deep dive as concerns over supply disruptions ebbed. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks. Oil prices fell over 3%, having already slid 9% on Monday when Iran made a token retaliation against a US base, which came to nothing and signalled it was done for now. With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly over, U.S. crude futures fell another 3.4% to $66.15 per barrel, the lowest since June 11. Risk assets rallied, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures 0.9% higher. EUROSTOXX 50 futures jumped 1.3% and FTSE futures rose 0.4%. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 1.8% while Japan's Nikkei rallied 1.4%. This is an intra-day update
