Latest news with #Dar
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar defends decision to nominate Trump for Nobel prize
ISLAMABAD: Defending the decision to nominate US President for Nobel Peace Prize, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan still backs its choice and considers Donald J Trump as a 'Man of Peace'. 'The decision rests with the Norwegian committee. We are uncaring to the outcome, having only acknowledged what Donald Trump initiated,' Dar told this during a news conference here at the Foreign Office (FO) on Friday to brief the media about his recent multi-nation foreign tours. The foreign minister clarified that both the government and the establishment recommended US President for the peace prize in a letter signed on June 11. 'We consider Donald Trump the 'Man of Peace' and I myself signed the nomination letter,' he remarked. Pakistan recommends US President for Nobel Peace 'Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in raising the Kashmir issue, as this matter had been sidelined since the former US President Bill Clinton era,' Dar added. He; however, claimed that Trump's willingness to arbitrate to settle Kashmir dispute and assure a peaceful resolution marked a significant shift in global perception. He stated that a tariff accord with the United States is set to be announced on 'win-win' basis. Dar announced that China has principally agreed to Pakistan's proposal to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. In addition, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are set to sign a trilateral railway framework agreement with Afghanistan in the near future for better regional connectivity and economic cooperation. He said that Pakistan and the UAE have signed a protocol during the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting in Abu Dhabi for visa exemption for Pakistan's diplomatic and official passports holders. With regard to economic cooperation, the Emirate leadership has agreed to invest in Pakistan in a manner similar to its previous deposits with the State Bank of Pakistan, Dar said. He disclosed there were positive developments in long-stalled negotiations with Etisalat to settle the issue pending for last 18 years. To a query, Dar said Pakistan continues to plead for improved visa processes for its citizens. Responding to questions, DPM/ FM reiterated that Pakistan did not seek or begged a ceasefire with India but agreed to it in a dignified manner. 'Pakistan is always ready for dialogue— on terrorism, trade, Kashmir, and the Indus Waters Treaty— but only through a composite framework,' he stated. On Israel, he reaffirmed Pakistan's stand, stating there would be no recognition until a two-state solution is realised. Pakistan will assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July, with peaceful resolution of disputes set to be a central theme, Dar announced. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Pakistan follows independent policy'
Pakistan may have good relations with the United States but that does not mean Islamabad would support Washington's actions that it deems not right, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said here on Friday, dispelling the impression that Pakistan would follow the US policy on all issues. Speaking at a news conference, Dar said there were speculations that Pakistan would not take a clear stance against the United States after it bombed three nuclear sites of Iran. But Pakistan, Dar said, issued a statement taking a firm position against such strikes. He emphasised that having good relations with the U.S. does not mean supporting them when they are in the wrong. The Trump Administration abandoned the 45-year-old policy of the United States not to launch a direct strike on Iran when it sent B-2 bombers and targeted nuclear facilities through bunker buster bombs. Pakistan condemned the US strikes and said Iran had the right to respond to such attacks. "We were aware that Iran would not remain silent without retaliating. In response, Iran targeted the US base in Qatar. Iran has now come out of this crisis with dignity after taking its revenge. The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is still holding," Dar continued. He further said that Iran appreciated Pakistan's efforts at the UN Security Council and expressed gratitude in its Parliament. During the Iranian President's address, the Parliament echoed with chants of "Thanks to Pakistan." In the background, Pakistan was extending full political support to Iran to ensure it wasn't isolated or undermined in this crisis. Dar added that particularly when the U.S. attacked Iran and Pakistan's Army Chief was returning to the country, upon Pakistan's suggestion, he stopped in Istanbul. A meeting had already been confirmed with President Erdogan. The meeting included the Field Marshal, the Foreign Minister (Dar), and Pakistan's ambassador. On the Turkish side were President Erdogan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, the intelligence chief, and senior members of the leadership. The focus of the meeting was the Iran issue. According to Dar, Iran informed Pakistan that although it was peaceful and not in favor of developing nuclear weapons, it would not refrain from responding to the US strike. Iran coordinated with Qatar before launching its retaliatory attack on the US airbase located there. The Foreign Minister also highlighted that, thanks to Pakistan's initiative, a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Occupied Kashmir was also convened. He recalled that Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey were the founding members of RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development), which was later expanded into ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization). To a question, Dar said Pakistan would not request or ask anyone to persuade India to start talks with Pakistan. "We are not begging for talks. We are not asking anyone to persuade India to talk to us," he explained. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan was not shy away from holding talks with India. The Indian Foreign Minister said New Delhi would only engage with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, Dar said adding that Pakistan was ready to discuss the issue of terrorism as well as Kashmir and Indus Waters Treaty. "There are 200 countries and I am sure Pakistan and India can find a suitable venue for talks," he said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Emergency, seen in the cartoons of Sudhir Dar
Many see the Emergency as the harshest test the Press has faced since Independence. In the early hours of June 26, 1975, when the Emergency was declared, citing 'internal disturbances', the Press was the first casualty. Challenged and threatened, the Press persevered through various means and techniques. The common folks who read between the lines in the cartoons had the last laugh. (Sudhir Dhar) The Hindustan Times attempted reporting the events as they were, trusting their readers to read between the lines. When it became hard to get past the chief censor appointed for the purpose, Sudhir Dar's cartoons became the vehicle of the occasional satire couched in various disguises. Electricity to most media houses had been cut off to paralyse them but the June 28 edition reported to its readers thus: 'The city edition on Friday and the dak editions of Friday and Saturday could not be brought out as no power was available from 12:45pm on Thursday till 7:15pm on Friday'. It was hard to miss the irony implied in simply placing this announcement between two articles headlined 'Mrs Gandhi believes in Press freedom' and 'Press censorship for first time,' respectively. The same edition of the paper also carried a blank white space where perhaps the editorial ought to have been, marking the impact of censorship. Although it caught attention, this technique of blank spaces was not a sustainable one given that the Emergency was indefinite. Sudhir Dar's 'This Is It!' cartoons carried the satirical baton forward. A man in a cartoon published on March 11, 1976, complains about the increase in rail fare: 'My wife went home to Kerala three months ago… Now I can't afford to bring her back'. And then, lest the cartoonist be hauled up for attacking the authorities such, he transforms the cartoon into a misogynist joke by having the male listener think to himself, 'And he's complaining!!'. When he really struck, Dar's political comments were marked by a scathing sense of humour. In a cartoon published on July 15, 1976, Dar makes a direct comment on the state of democracy. The domestic help of a couple in their house carries a tray in his hand but the tea-cup and saucer are precariously balanced on his head. While the man looks aghast the woman consoles him: 'His mind is like the De ______ these days… frequently cloudy!'. The readers' prior knowledge from reading the newspapers in those days helps them fill in the blank with the oft-used word: Democracy. In another cartoon on September 16, 1975, Dar uses a carefully chosen newspaper headline to set the context: 'Man slashes Dutch masterpiece'. Dar unexpectedly transforms this into a direct comment on censorship of the time as a reporter in the cartoon entering what looks like the office of a media house thinks to himself: 'Somebody slashes Indian masterpieces every day!'. The comment is evidently upon the censor who rejects publication of the work of hard-working reporters. So, what did these cartoons achieve? Before announcing the general elections in 1977, the Prime Minister consulted her Cabinet and the newspapers to know if national sentiments were conducive for the same. But both had been effectively censored. Contrary to their predictions, the ruling party lost by a significant margin. The common folks who read between the lines in the cartoons had the last laugh. Neha Khurana teaches Liberal Arts at Vidyashilp University (Bengaluru). The views expressed are personal.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Strong ties with US don't mean blind support for unjust policies, says Ishaq Dar
FM Ishaq Dar in meeting to review ongoing evacuation of Pakistani nationals/zaireen presently stranded in Iran & Iraq on June 18. Photo: Strong ties with the United States will not mean unconditional support for its policies, especially when they are unjust, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday. Briefing the press in Islamabad, the deputy PM emphasised that Pakistan was aware that Iran would not remain passive after the US bombed three of its nuclear facilities. Dar was speaking in reference to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, where the 12-day Iran-Israel war was a primary topic of discussion. He highlighted Pakistan's efforts to ensure that a special session on Iran was held, which was agreed upon by the foreign ministers of OIC member states. Dar also noted that Pakistan had been in constant communication with Iranian officials, including discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Iranian leadership. During the briefing, Dar explained that Iran had praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in both the United Nations Security Council and their parliament. He shared details of an important meeting in Istanbul, which took place during a visit by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, which was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other Turkish leaders to address the situation in Iran. Dar said that after the US attack on Iran, Pakistan had been informed by Tehran that while Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, it could not ignore the US attack and would retaliate. Iran's response entailed an attack on a US airbase in Qatar. Dar made it clear that while Pakistan values its relationship with the US, this does not mean aligning with Washington on every issue, especially when it comes to unjust military actions. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to a peaceful resolution and its efforts to ensure the ceasefire holds.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's energy sector challenges: Dar directs ministries to develop actionable solutions
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasised the need for reforms in the energy sector and directed relevant ministries to present concrete, actionable solutions to address these challenges while avoiding any increase in gas tariffs for the domestic consumers. Deputy Prime Minister Dar chaired a high-level meeting to review critical challenges facing the energy sector. The meeting was attended by the ministers for Petroleum, Power and Food; SAPM Tariq Bajwa; National Coordinator on Power reforms; secretaries Petroleum and Power, and other senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
