logo
‘Ready to solve long-standing problems,' Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif shows willingness to talk with India

‘Ready to solve long-standing problems,' Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif shows willingness to talk with India

The Print2 days ago

'We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks, on the table, and resolve our outstanding issues,' Sharif said.
Addressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif as per a report in Pakistani media outlet Dawn said, 'We are ready to talk, for the sake of peace on water issues with our neighbour.' He continued, 'We are ready to talk to promote trade and also, counter-terrorism…'
Tehran: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the country is ready to talk with India 'to find solutions' to 'longstanding problems', including Kashmir, water-sharing and trade. He made the remarks during a joint press conference during his visit to Tehran.
The Pakistan PM said, 'But if they accept my offer of peace, then we will show that we really want peace, seriously and sincerely.'
Sharif was in Iran on Monday, after a visit to Turkiye. After Iran, he is scheduled to visit Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.
Iranian state media IRNA reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian has voiced Iran's support for a durable ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling for dialogue between regional countries to resolve disputes and promote peace.
The Indus Water Treaty was put into abeyance after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack, which saw the death of 26 innocent civilians.
In the wake of the attack, the government took up a series of actions against Pakistan, of which one was putting the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance.
Previously, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also reiterated that the Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, is currently on hold due to Pakistan's cross-border terrorism. The treaty governs the sharing of water resources from the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan.
Previously, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that climate changes and demographic shifts have created new realities on ground.
'Now, as per CCS decision that I referred to of 23rd April, India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably, abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on ground as well,' Jaiswal said.
India had imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows, according to a notification by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UN nuclear watchdog flags Iran's growing uranium stockpile amid talks with US
UN nuclear watchdog flags Iran's growing uranium stockpile amid talks with US

Indian Express

time33 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

UN nuclear watchdog flags Iran's growing uranium stockpile amid talks with US

Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed Saturday, urging Tehran to urgently change course and cooperate with ongoing investigations. The report, seen by the Associated Press, comes amid several rounds of quiet talks between Tehran and Washington over a possible nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump is trying to finalise. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of May 17, Iran has accumulated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent—a 50 per cent rise from February's 274.8 kilograms. This level is just a technical step away from the 90 per cent enrichment needed for nuclear weapons. The IAEA warned that Iran is now 'the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material'— a development it described as a 'serious concern.' The agency noted that it is enough for about 10 nuclear weapons if further refined as 'approximately 42 kilograms of 60 per cent enriched uranium' is enough, if further enriched, to produce one atomic bomb. Though Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has previously warned that the country now possesses enough enriched uranium to potentially make 'several' nuclear bombs. Meanwhile, US intelligence assessments say Iran has not yet launched a weapons programme but has 'undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so,' AP reported. Grossi on Saturday reiterated his 'urgent call upon Iran to cooperate fully and effectively' with the IAEA's years-long investigation into unexplained uranium traces found at several undeclared sites. A second 22-page report, also shared confidentially with member states, criticised Iran's cooperation as 'less than satisfactory' and cited continuing concerns over locations where uranium particles were detected. These include Turquzabad, Varamin, and Marivan—sites the IAEA believes were linked to a 'structured nuclear programme' carried out until the early 2000s using undeclared nuclear material. One of these locations, Turquzabad, was first revealed in 2018 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described it as a 'clandestine nuclear warehouse' disguised as a rug-cleaning facility. Iran denied the claim, but IAEA inspectors later found manmade uranium particles there. A fourth site, Lavisan-Shian, which was demolished by Iran after 2003, remains part of the IAEA's probe despite never being inspected. The report could prompt further action from European countries, potentially including the reimposition of snapback sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, which is set to formally expire in October. Iranian officials have downplayed expectations of a deal. On Thursday, senior figures in Tehran said any agreement must involve the full lifting of sanctions and permit continued nuclear development. Their remarks followed President Trump's comment that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to delay any strike on Iran, giving Washington more time to pursue diplomacy. Trump said on Friday that he still believes a deal is possible in the 'not too distant future.' 'They don't want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,' he said of Iran. He added, 'That would be a great thing that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East.' However, Israel on Saturday accused Iran of being 'totally determined' to acquire nuclear weapons. 'Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever,' said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran's opposition to nuclear arms. 'If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,' Araghchi, who is also Iran's lead negotiator in the US-Iran talks, said in a televised speech, as per BBC. 'We agree with them on this issue.' (With inputs from Associated Press, BBC, Reuters)

Bangladeshi tribunal to hear charges against ousted PM Hasina; proceedings to be broadcast live on state TV
Bangladeshi tribunal to hear charges against ousted PM Hasina; proceedings to be broadcast live on state TV

First Post

time39 minutes ago

  • First Post

Bangladeshi tribunal to hear charges against ousted PM Hasina; proceedings to be broadcast live on state TV

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal is set to formally hear charges against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday allowing state run BTV to broadcast live the event, a first such instance in the country's history. read more Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal will officially begin hearing charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday, with state-run BTV set to broadcast the proceedings live—a first in the country's history. Hasina, who was removed from office on August 5 last year following widespread student protests, is facing several cases in Bangladeshi courts that have so far prohibited photography and live telecasts of her trial. However, the decision of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) to allow live streaming is set to break the tradition in the case of Hasina, who could face the death penalty on the charges brought against her. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The three-judge tribunal had earlier ordered on February 18 that the investigation against Hasina be completed by April. 'The prosecution will submit formal charges against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the ICT-BD tomorrow in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising,' the state-run BSS said. Hasina's Awami League regime was ousted in after mass protests led by a platform called Students against Discrimination (SAD) on August 5, 2024; three days later Muhamad Yunus took charge as Chief Adviser of the interim government. ICT-BD prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told reporters that the tribunal's proceedings would start at 9.30 am local time and that the official Bangladesh Television (BTV) has been asked to broadcast the proceedings live. 'The entire nation will witness the submission of the first formal charges to the tribunal against influential figures of the ousted Awami League government, including Sheikh Hasina,' Gazi said, adding that the move would 'ensure transparency in the judicial process'. ICT-BD's chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said the tribunal would simultaneously hear charges against former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, both in jail to stand trial. This tribunal was originally formed by the past regime to try hardened collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 Liberation War. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Six top leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and one leader of the former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were hanged to death after they were convicted by the court. The ICT-BD earlier issued an arrest warrant against Hasina while the interim government sought her repatriation from India in a diplomatic note. New Delhi has only acknowledged receipt with no further comment. Most senior leaders and officials of Hasina's party and government were arrested to face charges like mass murders to tame the protestors during the July-August violence when hundreds of people, including students and policemen were killed. According to a UN rights office report some 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as violence continued even after the fall of the past regime. With inputs from agencies

Drone threat persists, sparks smuggling fears on Western border
Drone threat persists, sparks smuggling fears on Western border

Time of India

time43 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Drone threat persists, sparks smuggling fears on Western border

Gandhinagar: While India thwarted more than 600 aerial attacks involving drones and missiles from Pakistan along the Gujarat and Rajasthan borders during the recent military conflict, the residents of the border areas are concerned that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by Pakistan may eventually open up a new smuggling route for contraband. On Saturday, Abhishek Pathak, inspector general of the Border Security Force Gujarat Frontier, which covers the international boundary between India and Pakistan along Gujarat and Munabao, Barmer, in Rajasthan, told the media that the security agencies foiled more than 600 drone attacks from Pakistan during this period, out of which about 40% attacks were targeted at Gujarat. Significantly, drones continued to be dispatched from across the border after the declaration of ceasefire between India and Pakistan. A villager told ET on condition of anonymity that the movement of flying objects from Pakistan continued several days after the ceasefire. "These movements have been rather frequent," he said, adding that unless checked, it might open up a smuggling route for contraband in the area. Munabao and its adjoining areas have rarely reported smuggling of contraband in recent years as the border is well-guarded. On the contrary, there has been a spurt in narcotics smuggling through the sea route. Live Events Speaking from Jamnagar, a senior member of the state security apparatus said that a Pakistani drone had reached the coastal town during the recent clash. "Not just the Rajasthan border, the drones can reach here as well and there is every possibility that they would be used for dropping contraband sooner than later," said the person.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store