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Saudi Aircraft picks Shahbaz Sharif for important meetings

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Saudi Aircraft picks Shahbaz Sharif for important meetings

US proxy Saudi Arabia plays important role, admits PML-N leader

In another big brotherly act, Saudi Arabia suddenly sent a special aircraft to Lahore to pick Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday evening for “important meetings” and perform Umrah, a mini pilgrimage at Mecca, the holiest site for world Muslims.

An unanimous Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML-N leader told Dawn  that for many years US used to play its role in Pakistani politics through Saudi Arabia and the chief minister’s visit should be seen in that perspective.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Admiral Nawaf Ahmad Al Maliki, along with envoys of around two dozen countries, had called on Shahbaz Sharif two days ago.

Shahbaz Sharif’s sudden visit to Saudi Arabia came at a time when he was recently nominated as PML-N candidate for the Prime Minister office.

Shahbaz Sharif is the most important political figure of Pakistan Muslim League (N) after resignation of Nawaz Sharif from then highest political office after being disqualified by Supreme Court in Panama papers scam. The ruling came in July after a probe into his family’s wealth following the 2016 Panama Papers dump linking his children to offshore companies.

Saudi Aircraft picks Shahbaz Sharif for important meetings

In May 2007, Saudi Arabia had hosted more than fifty heads of the governments and states of Muslim countries for arranging audience for US President Donald Trump in November this year.

This resembles to what Riyadh did with Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri  in early November. He was suddenly called to visit Riyadh on November 3. He was not received by any dignitary; instead his cell phone was confiscated. He was given a pre-written resignation to read in front of TV cameras.

New York Times, on December 25, has confirmed that Saad Hariri announced his short-lived resignation under heavy duress from Riyadh government. The report was based on the accounts of Lebanese, Western and regional officials and others figures close to Hariri.

Similarly, Mehmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian Authority was called to direct to consent for the proposed American peace plan with Israel. However, situation is completely changed with Trump’s Jerusalem move.

Dawn, quoting an official press release reports that during his visit Shahbaz Sharif will hold meetings with important Saudi officials and perform Umrah. The Saudi ambassador had a meeting with Shahbaz three days ago, after which he left for the visit, sources say.

However, Federal Minister Mushahidullah Khan has said that various issues of international and international importance would be discussed during CM’s meetings with Saudi officials. He called his visit a “good news” but did not elaborate.

Rana Sanaullah, a minister in the provincial government and a close aide to the chief minister has said: “Mian Shahbaz Sharif will definitely discuss issues of national importance — not just of Punjab — with his Saudi hosts. Saudi Arabia has been our trusted brotherly country for decades and we are relying on it in many economic and other matters of international importance.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said they’re concerned at the visit undertaken without any prior notice to any authority or institution. He said people should be taken into confidence about the purpose and objectives of the visit.

Sharif family has been enjoying  good relations with the Saudis for several decades. Riyadh rescued them from military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2000. The whole family spent its seven-year exile in Jeddah. But the relations were negatively affected after Islamabad refused to send its forces to participate in Saudi- led war against Yemen.

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

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PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

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