Author: Amjad Qaimkhani

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran could be signed as early as this weekend, raising hopes of a breakthrough even as tensions remained high over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the White House, Trump said a settlement had been reached in principle and suggested the waterway could reopen once the agreement was signed. He said the signing could take place in Europe and indicated US Vice President JD Vance might attend. Trump claimed Iran’s supreme leadership had approved the arrangement, although Tehran has not confirmed this. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil…

Pentagon raises Israel counterintelligence threat to critical level amid alleged surveillance of senior US officials and worsening Washington Tel Aviv tensions By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The Pentagon had raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest level, “critical”, amid growing concerns that Israeli intelligence efforts had targeted senior US officials, media reported. The move had come as tensions had risen between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the direction of the wars in Iran and Lebanon, adding further strain to already fragile diplomatic relations. According to local media reports, the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence…

Pete Hegseth lauds Pakistan’s leadership under Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir for facilitating Iran peace talks amid fragile Middle East diplomacy By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said a “true friendship” was developing between the United States and Pakistan, praising Islamabad’s efforts to help bring a lasting end to the Middle East conflict. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in Washington’s peace negotiations with Tehran, according to Bloomberg. He described Pakistan as a “true friend”…

Marco Rubio and Ishaq Dar meet as Islamabad firmly rejects claims of endorsing Abraham Accords despite Washington engagement talks By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has firmly rejected speculation that Pakistan may join the Abraham Accords, reiterating that Islamabad’s position on Palestine and Israel remains unchanged until an independent Palestinian state is established with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital. Speaking at a media briefing at Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington on Friday after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Dar said there could be “no flexibility” in Pakistan’s longstanding…

By Amjad Qainkhani WASHINGTON:The United States and Iran have reportedly reached an outline agreement to extend their ceasefire for another 60 days, although the proposed deal is still awaiting approval from US President Donald Trump. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, both sides agreed on a memorandum of understanding aimed at prolonging the fragile truce amid continued regional tensions. However, the White House has so far declined to comment on the reported agreement. The development came shortly after renewed military exchanges between the two countries raised fears of another escalation. Iran reportedly targeted a US airbase following American strikes…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that any future agreement with Iran would be a “good deal,” insisting that he does not make bad deals and that the outcome would depend entirely on his leadership. In an interview with US broadcaster ABC News, Trump said that any potential agreement with Iran would be fair and strong, adding that it would be completely different from previous nuclear deals signed under former President Barack Obama. He claimed that earlier agreements had given Iran financial benefits and created conditions that could have led to nuclear weapons development, while saying…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that the United States does not want what he described as a “toll tax” in the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing tensions surrounding one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump said talks with Iran were currently underway, framing the diplomatic channel as still active despite broader regional strains. He said Washington’s position remained unchanged on Iran’s nuclear programme, insisting that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. He also claimed the US would seek to seize Iran’s stockpile…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Fears of a renewed conflict between the United States and Iran have intensified, with US and Israeli media reporting fresh discussions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the possibility of escalating tensions into war. According to reports, the Israeli military has been placed on high alert following the talks and is prepared to join potential US-led strikes against Iran. In the event of conflict, the Pentagon is said to have identified multiple targets inside Iran. US broadcaster CNN reported that President Trump is expected to consult his national security team later this…

By Amjad Qaimkhani UNITED NATION: The United States’ ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said Washington had detected what it described as an early recalibration in China’s approach towards Iran, following President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Beijing, in remarks that added fresh momentum to already tense geopolitical signaling between the world’s two largest economies. Waltz claimed that China had begun to scale back aspects of its alignment with Iran, including agreeing that Tehran should not pursue nuclear weapons. He further asserted that Beijing had indicated it would not introduce any form of “toll regime” in the Strait of…

By Amjad Qaimkhani UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has highlighted its deep and enduring connection with Buddhism, noting that monks, scholars and visitors from Buddhist countries continue to travel to Pakistan throughout the year to visit historic Buddhist sites, including Taxila, Swat and Takht-e-Bahi. Speaking at the commemoration of the International Day of Vesak 2026, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said these visits reflected not only a shared spiritual and cultural heritage, but also the warmth, respect and friendship that characterized Pakistan’s ties with Buddhist communities around the world. Ambassador Asim extended greetings to followers…