Latest news with #MohammadIshaqDar
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan
This handout photograph taken on April 19, 2025, and released by Afghan interim government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows its Acting MInister of Foreign Affairs Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi (left) shaking hands with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar upon his arrival for a bilateral meeting in Kabul. HANDOUT/AFGHAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS via AFP KABUL: Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to upgrade diplomatic relations with Pakistan, where the Taliban government's foreign minister is due to travel in the coming days, his office said on Saturday (May 31). The move signals easing tensions between the neighbouring countries, as relations between the Taliban authorities and Pakistan - already rocky - have cooled in recent months, fuelled by security concerns and a campaign by Islamabad to expel tens of thousands of Afghans. Pakistan's top diplomat on Friday said the charge d'affaires stationed in Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador, with Kabul later announcing its representative in Islamabad would also be upgraded. "This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan & Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains," the Aghan foreign ministry said on X. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is due to visit Pakistan "in the coming days", ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP. Muttaqi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in May in Beijing as part of a trilateral meeting with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Wang afterwards announced Kabul and Islamabad's intention to exchange ambassadors and expressed Beijing's willingness "to continue to assist with improving Afghanistan-Pakistan ties". Dar hailed the "positive trajectory" of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on Friday, saying the upgrading of their representatives would "promote further exchanges between two fraternal countries". Only a handful of countries - including China - have agreed to host Taliban government ambassadors since their return to power in 2021, with no country yet formally recognising the administration. Russia last month said it would also accredit a Taliban government ambassador, days after removing the group's "terrorist" designation. - AFP
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan joins China's new international mediation body
Listen to article Pakistan has signed on as a founding member of China's newly launched International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), a global dispute resolution body headquartered in Hong Kong, the Foreign Office said on Friday. Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 , on the Occasion of Signing Ceremony of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 30, 2025 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar signed the convention establishing the organisation during a ceremony attended by officials from several countries, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Serbia. Representatives from around 20 international organisations, including the United Nations, were also expected to participate, according to Hong Kong's public broadcaster RTHK. 'IOMeD also offers new opportunities and fresh hopes to build a more inclusive, more just and more equitable world. As one of the founding members of IOMed, Pakistan would continue to be an active voice in this noble mission,' the statement quoted him as saying. The new mediation body, spearheaded by Beijing, is intended to function as a neutral forum for peaceful dispute resolution and aims to match the standing of the International Court of Justice. Speaking at the event, Dar praised China's leadership for developing the initiative and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to multilateral diplomacy. 'The creation of IOMed underscores the indispensability and significance of multilateralism as the centrepiece for international peace, stability, and development,' Dar said. He added that Pakistan would remain an active participant in the forum and viewed the new platform as a means to create a more just and inclusive world order. A vision of shared peace The idea for IOMed was originally proposed during China's 2nd Belt and Road Forum in 2019, with formal negotiations beginning in 2021. Pakistan was invited as an early negotiating partner and co-signatory. The organisation is intended to promote trust-based dialogue, uphold respect for national sovereignty, and integrate diverse legal traditions into its mediation efforts, the Pakistani Foreign Office said. Dar used the platform to draw attention to what he called India's 'violation of international law', citing the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as examples. He also referenced the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. 'The resolution of longstanding disputes, particularly Jammu and Kashmir, in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, is vital for regional peace,' Dar said. China has promoted IOMed as an inclusive alternative mediation framework open to all countries, regardless of legal tradition or political alignment. 'Through our presence in IOMed, Pakistan brings not only its rich diplomatic experience but also an unwavering commitment to peace, equity, and justice,' Dar concluded, urging member states to empower the organization to reach its full potential.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar to visit Hong Kong from today
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will visit Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China, from 29-30 May 2025 to participate in the signing ceremony for the Convention on the establishment of International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed). Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement on Wednesday that the Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister will sign the IOMed Convention and address the ceremony on 30 May 2025. He will also hold several bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
FM Dar to embark on two-day visit to Hong Kong tomorrow
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China, from May 29 to 30 to attend the signing ceremony of the Convention on the establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed). DPM Dar is scheduled to sign the convention and deliver a keynote address at the ceremony on May 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. During his visit, he will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. Dar telephones Azerbaijan FM Pakistan is among the founding members of IOMed and has expressed firm support for the organisation's objectives. Islamabad views the initiative as a valuable step toward strengthening mediation and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. In a statement issued ahead of the visit, the Foreign Office emphasised that Pakistan remains committed to the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. It noted that mediation, diplomacy, and dialogue are essential tools in promoting global peace, security, and prosperity.
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First Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
China-Pak ties not 'directed at any third party': Beijing on Ishaq Dar-Wang Yi meeting
China's statement is seen as part of its broader diplomatic balancing act. Although a close ally of Pakistan and a major investor in the CPEC, Beijing is trying to rebuild substantial trade and diplomatic ties with India read more Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar had recently remarked that his nation Pakistan has agreed to deepen trade and investment with China. Media reports then suggested that China and Pakistan discussed security cooperation in the context of the recent India-Pakistan tensions. However, now, China seems to be distancing itself from such assertions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said regarding a media query about the meeting, 'China has released information on the meeting. You may refer to that. I don't have more specific information to offer, but what I can tell you is that China and Pakistan are traditionally friendly neighbours, and bilateral cooperation across various fields is very close. As for the current situation you're concerned about, I can assure you that China-Pakistan cooperation is not directed at any third party." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China takes middle ground China on Tuesday (May 20) had said it supports efforts by India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue and welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month following the worst fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in over two decades decades. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang said China supports both countries in pursuing 'a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire' and urged continued communication to maintain regional stability. The statement comes after India and Pakistan agreed to halt hostilities on May 10, following an escalation triggered by a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir region and retaliatory strikes by the Indian Army under Operation Sindoor. China's balancing act China's statement is seen as part of its broader diplomatic balancing act. Although a close ally of Pakistan and a major investor in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing is trying to rebuild substantial trade and diplomatic ties with India. That effort comes amid turbulent ties it has with US, especially since the new Trump administration imposed heavy tariffs on imports from China. With inputs from agencies
