Latest news with #regionalPeace
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif visits Iran after Turkey trip
ALBAWABA- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tehran on Monday, just a day after concluding his visit to Turkey, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Also Read Indians call for Turkey tourism boycott amid India-Pakistan war He held a joint press conference in Tehran with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, reinforcing Pakistan's commitment to regional peace and deepening Pakistan-Iran relations. President of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif giving joint press statement, after delegation level talks, at Sa'dabad Palace in Tehran.#PMShehbazInIran 🇵🇰🇮🇷 — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 26, 2025 Describing Iran as his "second home," PM Shehbaz thanked Tehran for its support during the recent escalation between Pakistan and India. He reiterated Pakistan's backing of Iran's peaceful nuclear program and emphasized the countries' 'deep-rooted cultural and historical ties.' Both leaders pledged to enhance cooperation across various sectors. 'The decision to strengthen these relations through broader cooperation marks a new chapter in Pakistan-Iran ties,' Shehbaz said. He also acknowledged President Pezeshkian's diplomatic engagement during the South Asia tensions, praising Iran's concern for Pakistan's security. Touching on the conflict with India, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's preference for peace but defended the country's right to respond decisively when provoked. 'Pakistan seeks peace and wants a resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, in line with UN resolutions,' he noted. President Pezeshkian welcomed the recent Pakistan-India ceasefire and urged both nations to continue dialogue. He also condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and criticized Western silence, calling it 'morally indefensible.' Also Read Iran won't stop uranium enrichment to reach agreement with US As members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), both Iran and Pakistan, he said, are united in denouncing the atrocities in Gaza. The Prime Minister's visit to Iran and Turkey follows heightened tensions with India, including the downing of five Indian fighter jets by Pakistan and retaliatory strikes after cross-border escalations. His diplomatic tour is seen as an effort to consolidate regional alliances amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia: Regional Peace Starts with Recognizing State of Palestine
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to treat the recognition of a Palestinian state not as a symbolic move but as a strategic necessity for achieving lasting regional peace and stability. Speaking at a high-level preparatory meeting for the upcoming international conference on resolving the Palestinian issue, Saudi representative Manal Radwan emphasized that regional peace begins with the recognition of Palestine. The conference, jointly organized by Saudi Arabia and France, will be held at the United Nations in June. Radwan noted that establishing a Palestinian state is essential to ending a conflict that has lasted nearly eight decades. 'This is not just about ending a war, it's about ending a long-standing struggle,' she said. 'The time has come for irreversible and transformative change.' She stressed the urgent need for concrete action, especially as Gaza continues to suffer under a deepening humanitarian crisis. 'Civilians are bearing the brunt of a war that must end immediately,' she said, raising concerns about growing violence in the West Bank and the region-wide impact of continued instability. Radwan emphasized that a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue is more than a legal or moral duty, it is the foundation for a new regional order based on coexistence and mutual recognition. 'Recognition of a Palestinian state is the only way to replace despair with a political horizon grounded in rights and sovereignty,' she said. She also welcomed reform efforts by Palestinian leaders, including institutional changes initiated by President Mahmoud Abbas and the new government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, aimed at promoting transparency and economic recovery. Radwan also introduced the Global Coalition to Implement the Two-State Solution, launched by Saudi Arabia to coordinate political, financial, and security support for the initiative. She urged the coalition to function as a mechanism for real implementation, not just consensus-building. France, represented by Macron's advisor Anne-Claire Legendre, echoed the urgency, warning that the two-state solution is more endangered than ever. 'This conference must be a turning point, a shift from words to meaningful action,' she said.
