Latest news with #RegionalStability
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
OIC blames Kashmir dispute for latest India-Pakistan standoff, urges peaceful resolution
ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday said the recent standoff between India and Pakistan was rooted in the unresolved Kashmir dispute, urging the global community to press New Delhi for a 'peaceful and expeditious' settlement to ensure regional stability. The remarks came during an event marking the sixth anniversary of India's 2019 decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and integrate the Muslim-majority Himalayan region into the rest of the Indian union. The move triggered a sharp response from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties, a situation that remains unresolved. Both countries claim Kashmir in full but control only parts of it. Speaking at the United Nations, OIC Permanent Observer Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru linked the latest military escalation to the decades-old territorial conflict. Earlier this year, India and Pakistan engaged in a brief but intense four-day exchange of drone strikes, missiles and artillery fire in May, following a gun attack on tourists in the Indian-administered town of Pahalgam. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, while Pakistan denied any involvement and demanded an independent probe. 'The OIC has continued to renew its call on the global community to lean on the Government of India to allow an expeditious but peaceful resolution of the Jammu Kashmir dispute, in line with the UN Charter and the basic principles of international law,' Opeloyeru said. 'Without doubt, the people of Jammu Kashmir do enjoy the inalienable rights to self-determination as established under international law, including the UN Charter.' 'It is evident that the unresolved Kashmir dispute is the root cause of the recent hostilities in West Asia,' he added. 'To this end, the OIC promptly expressed its concern on the Pahalgam attack on Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and later welcomed the ceasefire, which was established on 10 May 2025 and which continues to hold.' The OIC also criticized India's decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-brokered agreement governing river water distribution with Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. Islamabad has already described such a move as 'an act of war,' though the OIC has urged both sides to adhere to bilateral agreements and resume dialogue. At the same event, the OIC reiterated its rejection of India's 2019 revocation of Kashmir's special status and what it described as efforts to alter the region's demography. The group reaffirmed its support for the Kashmiri people's 'legitimate struggle' for self-determination, citing resolutions adopted at its ministerial session in Istanbul in June 2025.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan president reaffirms commitment to EU strategic plan, says ties vital for global peace
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to fully implement the Pakistan–European Union Strategic Engagement Plan, calling the EU 'a key trade and investment partner' and stressing that stronger ties contribute to regional stability and global peace. Zardari made the remarks during a farewell meeting with Dr. Riina Kionka, the outgoing EU ambassador to Pakistan, at the President House in Islamabad. The Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP), signed in 2019, is the main framework guiding Pakistan-EU cooperation on political, economic and security issues, including trade, migration, development, climate change and education. 'Pakistan is fully committed to the implementation of the Pakistan–EU Strategic Engagement Plan,' the president said, according to an official statement issued after the meeting. 'We attach special importance to our multifaceted relationship with the European Union, which plays a vital role in regional stability and global security.' The SEP also complements Pakistan's access to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), a vital EU trade arrangement that grants Pakistan duty-free access to most EU markets in return for progress on human rights, labor standards and environmental protection. The scheme has significantly boosted Pakistan's exports to the EU, making it one of the country's most valuable trade frameworks. Zardari also praised the EU's contributions in education and research, especially through initiatives like Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe, which he said offer 'valuable academic and research opportunities' to Pakistani youth. 'Shared goals in areas such as trade, climate, migration and regional peace will further strengthen Pakistan-EU cooperation,' the statement quoted Zardari as saying. The president also acknowledged Dr. Kionka's role in promoting Pakistan-EU ties during her tenure and extended best wishes for her future endeavors.
Wall Street Journal
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Regime Change in Tehran Isn't Worth the Risk
Seth Cropsey writes that the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue is by overthrowing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ('The Perfect Time for Regime Change in Iran,' op-ed, July 9). Yet this recommendation is based more on hope than good sense. Such efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya—all of which created more problems for the U.S. than they solved, at a higher cost than anticipated—inspire no confidence that a similar campaign in an even larger country would be any different. Decapitating the Iranian regime sounds manageable if it weren't for the risks, including unleashing the infighting between various domestic constituencies that we saw in Iraq. The difference is that the fallout to regional stability would likely be greater today. Even in its weakened state, Iran has more capacity to inflict problems than Saddam Hussein ever had, leading to the possibility of U.S. troops being deployed to stabilize any flare ups.
Times of Oman
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
HM receives phone call from KSA Crown Prince
Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Sunday received a phone call from Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The telephonic conversation addressed the rapidly escalating tensions and dangerous developments between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, as well as recent U.S. intervention targeting Iranian facilities. The urgent need to intensify regional and international efforts to halt this destructive conflict and establish pathways for dialogue and understanding were emphasized during the phone call. The telephonic discussions also underscored the importance of safeguarding lives, preserving resources, and ensuring security and stability for all parties concerned.
Irish Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Israel-Iran war: Gulf states scramble to secure diplomatic solution
Arab Gulf states have engaged on multiple diplomatic fronts to end the Israel-Iran war and return to regional stability as tensions rise. Unanimous Gulf condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran has presaged a battle for self-preservation. The war could destroy decades of economic advancement achieved by the Gulf countries and destabilise the region. Having cultivated relations with Iran for years, the six Gulf Co-operation Council states – the United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Oman, Bahrain , Qatar and Kuwait – are campaigning for an end to hostilities. They fear US intervention on Israel's side could prompt Iran to retaliate by striking US military bases in the Gulf, dangerously widening the conflict. An Emirati analyst who has close ties to his government said the Gulf leaders 'may not support US intervention [by] allowing airspace access or the use of bases, but they can't prevent it'. Iran could retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil flows, while Israel could bomb Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, located on the Gulf coast, which would release land, sea and air pollution. READ MORE Due to its ties to both Iran and Israel, the Emirates has taken the lead. President Mohammed bin Zayed told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that the Emirates has been engaged in 'intensive consultations with all concerned parties' to de-escalate the crisis. Bin Zayed has also contacted Russian president Vladimir Putin , who in turn has spoken to Pezeshkian, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US president Donald Trump with the same objective. Oman has been incensed over Israel's attack, which disrupted talks the sultanate had mediated between the US and Iran on limiting Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The cancelled sixth round of talks was to take place last Sunday, 48 hours after Israel began bombing Iran. Tehran has said Iran will resume the talks once there is a ceasefire. Having restored diplomatic ties with Iran in 2023 after six years of estrangement, Saudi Arabia has engaged with Tehran and Washington since 'day one', according to Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi. The best outcome would be a deal between Iran and the US, he said. Crown prince and de facto Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman has discussed the situation with the Iranian and Emirati presidents. The prince fears war could disrupt his 2030 plan to develop the kingdom's economy and reduce its dependence on volatile oil revenues. [ Israel-Iran latest: Israeli minister says Khamenei 'can no longer be allowed to exist' after hospital strike Opens in new window ] Qatar – which has mediated between Hamas and Israel – has been 'engaging daily' with the US, its foreign ministry spokesman said. Kuwait could be the Gulf country to suffer most from a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz as 90 per cent of its exports pass through the waterway. Its government fears spillover from the Israel-Iran war could extend far beyond the Gulf region.
