Iranian FM leaves Pakistan after holding talks with PM Shehbaz, Army Chief Munir
Islamabad (PTI): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday after holding discussions with Pakistan's top civil and military leaders on the regional situation and the US-Iran ceasefire, ending the possibility of a second round of US-Iran talks this week.
As Araghchi left Pakistan, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan said on X, but did not provide details about their discussions.
Trump told Fox News that it’s not worth the US delegation making the 18-hour flight to Pakistan when the US holds all the cards in the conflict with Iran.
He added that the Iranians can call the US at any time they want.
"I've told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, 'nope, you're not making an 18 hour flight to go there. We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18 hour flights to sit around talking about nothing’," Trump told Fox News.
Araghchi is now headed to Oman on the second leg of his three-nation tour.
This was supposed to be the second round of talks after the first on April 11-12 ended without a deal.
“Araghchi met Munir in a formal huddle and discussed matters concerning peace talks with the US,” a senior government official told PTI.
The Iranian delegation later called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the two sides "reviewed bilateral matters as well as regional developments," the Iranian embassy said.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army chief Munir were also present at the meeting, where the two sides discussed the situation in the region, the prime minister's office said.
“Araghchi seems to have conveyed 'certain concerns' of Iran to Pakistan, which Islamabad will share with the visiting US delegation upon its arrival. If the US agrees to placate these concerns and give some understanding, then the second round of direct talks will take place between them later in Islamabad," the official said.
Earlier, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Baqaei said that "no meeting" was planned to take place between Iran and the US during the visit of Araghchi, who will also travel to Oman and Russia.
"Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," he said.
Araghchi, before leaving for Islamabad, on Friday said that he was embarking on a timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, and the purpose of his visits is to "closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments".
"Our neighbours are our priority," he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dar on Saturday said that Pakistan is facilitating the Iran-US talks and it will continue with efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Dar, who held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the latest developments in the region, underlined that Pakistan's official policy statements on the Iran-US facilitation process are only those issued by official sources, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“Unnamed Pakistani officials or sources, whether quoted in print or social media, do not reflect Pakistan's official position,” he added.
Dar also advised print and electronic media to refrain from speculative reporting and focus on official statements only.
In a related development, Dar spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and shared developments regarding Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“He emphasised that sustained engagement through dialogue and diplomacy remains the only viable means for promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond,” according to FO.
On Friday night, Dar discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, highlighting the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.
“They emphasised the importance of sustained engagement to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the FO said.
Dar has been leading Pakistan’s telephone diplomacy and has been regularly talking to the foreign ministers of various countries since the conflict between the US and Iran began.
The first round of US-Iran talks held on April 11 and 12 failed to produce a breakthrough, prompting a flurry of diplomatic efforts by host Pakistan to cool tensions and revive hopes for another round of dialogue.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
Meanwhile, large parts of Pakistan's capital remain under a tight security lockdown for over a week on Saturday.
Arterial roads leading into Islamabad are sealed, while the Red Zone, housing key government buildings and diplomatic missions, remains under a strict security cordon.
In the adjacent commercial 'Blue Area', markets are deserted, cafes are running short of supplies, and public transport disruptions with no service at bus terminals have left commuters stranded.
For residents, uncertainty has become the hardest part. Islamabad is a city of transients, where many residents work during the week and return to family homes at the weekend.
This is the second lockdown in recent weeks. Islamabad was earlier sealed on April 11 for talks between the US and Iranian delegations that ended without a deal. The city briefly reopened before restrictions were reimposed as Pakistan prepared to host another round of engagements.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
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Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
