U.S. Vice President JD Vance (L) shaking hands with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during their meeting before U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, on April 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tenuous West Asia situation.

Mr. Sharif, in a statement on X, reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad’s unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

Also read | Trump’s use of Pakistan as possible mediator with Iran sparks memories of Nixon’s China talks and Bangladesh liberation 

“I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination,” he said.

Mr. Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom’s restraint and, “I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation”, and an end to hostilities.

During the conversation, he conveyed warm Id-ul-Fitr greetings to the Crown Prince, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that Mr. Sharif “reiterated Pakistan’s full support and commitment to standing firmly with the Kingdom against repeated Iranian attacks threatening its security and sovereignty.” The call comes a day after Mr. Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

In an X post on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), Mr. Sharif said that Islamabad was “ready and honoured” to facilitate “meaningful and conclusive talks” between the U.S. and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump shared Mr. Sharif’s post on his Truth Social platform.

According to media reports, the U.S. on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in West Asia.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

Also on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

“Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward,” it said.

Separately, Mr. Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two held discussions on the evolving regional situation.

Mr. Dar “underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict,” FO said.

The Deputy Prime Minister also met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him, and their discussions focused on the unfolding regional and global developments.

Mr. Dar “underscored the urgent need to promote de-escalation in the Middle East and the wider region through dialogue and diplomacy”.

Reiterating the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, they agreed to maintain close cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to the FO.

Starting February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The joint strikes came after days of build-up, with Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme.

Iran’s retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region.

According to official sources, Pakistan is in contact with both the U.S. and Iran, and facilitating backdoor communication, including initial drafts of respective demands for creating peace in the region.

Pakistan maintains close ties with both Iran and the Trump administration.

Mr. Sharif, on Monday (March 23, 2026), in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressed the urgent need for collective efforts for de-escalation in West Asia.

Published – March 25, 2026 05:39 pm IST

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. File photo: Pool via Reuters

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  said that Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis continue to move in unison to thwart any nefarious design against the country. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Islamabad:

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that more than 22 million children in the country were not attending school and also stressed the urgent need for Muslim nations to focus on girls’ education, the Dawn reported, citing state media reports.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day ‘International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities’ in Islamabad, Sharif acknowledged the significant barriers the Muslim world faces in providing equal access to education for girls, the Dawn reported.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that millions of young girls are set to enter the workforce in the coming decade, emphasising their potential to not only uplift themselves and their families from poverty but also contribute to the global economy.

He pointed out that while women represent over half of Pakistan’s population, the female literacy rate is just 49 per cent. He also mentioned that approximately 22.8 million children, aged between five and 16, are out of school, with a disproportionate number being girls.

“Denying education to girls is tantamount to denying them their voice and choice while depriving them of their right to a bright future,” said Shehbaz as quoted by Dawn.

The conference is being attended by several international representatives from Muslim-majority countries, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Malala expressed her excitement to join global leaders at the conference, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that she would address the importance of protecting girls’ rights to education and hold the Taliban accountable for their treatment of Afghan women and girls.

“I am excited to join Muslim leaders from around the world for a critical conference on girls’ education…On Sunday, I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls,” she said on X.

The summit will conclude with the signing of the Islamabad Declaration, which outlines a shared commitment by Muslim countries to empower girls through education, the Dawn reported, citing a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office on Wednesday.

Sharif further stated that this declaration would be presented to the UN, including the UN Security Council, as a collective goal for the Ummah (Muslim community).

The representatives also signed an International Partnership Agreement, pledging their commitment to advancing girls’ education worldwide.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Cairo:

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus said Thursday he had “agreed to strengthen relations” with Pakistan, a move likely to further test his country’s frosty relations with India.

Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation but split in a brutal 1971 war, with Bangladesh then drawing closer to Pakistan’s arch-rival India.

But Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi have frayed after a student-led revolution in August toppled leader Sheikh Hasina, who had the backing of India and now lives there in exile.

Yunus, who met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the sidelines of a conference in Egypt, said he wanted to resolve outstanding grievances from Dhaka’s 1971 bloody separation from Islamabad.

“The issues have kept coming again and again,” Yunus told Sharif, according to a statement from his office. “Let’s settle those issues for us to move forward.”

Sharif said he had a “warm and cordial exchange” with Yunus.

“Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to deepen bilateral and multilateral collaboration,” he said on social media platform X.

Both men “agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries through increased trade, commerce, and exchange of sports and cultural delegations” according to a statement from Yunus’ office.

In November, the first cargo ship in decades to sail directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh successfully unloaded its containers in the port of Chittagong.

The leaders were taking part in a Cairo summit of eight Muslim-majority countries, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.

Yunus said he was determined to revive the moribund eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) — largely stalled due to arguments between Islamabad and New Delhi.

“This is a top priority,” Yunus told Sharif. “I want a summit of SAARC leaders even if it is only for a photo session, because that will carry a strong message”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, aim to throw stones with slingshot following police fire tear gas shell to disperse them during clashes, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on November 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Supporters seeking the release of imprisoned Pakistani former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) broke through a ring of shipping containers locking down the capital Islamabad, while at least six people have died in protest-related violence. Protesters battled security forces and ignored a government threat to respond with gunfire.

The dead included four members of the security services and one civilian who were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack on Tuesday, saying an “anarchist group” was deliberately targeting law enforcement personnel. There were no claims of responsibility for the ramming. A police officer died in a separate incident.

Shortly after midnight, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi threatened security forces would respond with live fire if protesters fired weapons at them.

“If they again fire bullets, the bullet will be responded with the bullet,” he said.

Police used tear gas to try and disperse the crowds. Scores of people more have been injured, including journalists who were attacked by Khan supporters. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was being treated in a hospital.

Pakistani media have mostly stopped filming and photographing the rally, instead focusing on the security measures and the city’s deserted streets.

Khan, who has been in jail for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, remains popular. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated.

Authorities say only courts can order the release of Khan, who was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. He has been imprisoned since his first conviction in a graft case, in August 2023, and has been sentenced in several cases.

Khan’s supporters were around 10 km (6.2 miles) from their destination, the city’s Red Zone that houses key government buildings. Naqvi said Khan’s party rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city.

Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, who is leading the protest, told people to keep marching toward the Red Zone peacefully. She said another plan of action would be conveyed to protesters if Khan was not released. She also urged the government not to harm the demonstrators.

In a bid to foil the protest, police arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. On Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested.

Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All educational institutions remain closed. Mobile internet services and messaging platforms are experiencing severe disruption in the capital.

The PTI relies heavily on social media to demand his release and uses messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible even with a VPN.

The violence comes during an official visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

This week WorldView comes to you from Pakistan. S. Jaishankar traveled to Islamabad for the SCO and meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for one of many firsts:

– First visit by any Indian minister since 2016- when Home Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SAARC meet

– First visit by an Indian Foreign Minister since 2015- when EAM Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia conference

– Jaishankar’s first visit since December 2015, when EAM Sushma Swaraj and PM Modi visited

What happened at the SCO?

Now the SCO meeting itself was not the highest level, but Heads of Govt level of the 10 SCO countries Russia, China 4 Central Asian States Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, Pakistan and India.

The Meeting itself saw the signing 8 MoUs, mainly on economic cooperation, as well as passing the budget ahead of the next SCO Summit in China in 2025.

More importantly both India and Pakistan stayed away from the finger pointing of past meetings.

In stark contrast to former FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who travelled to Goa for the SCO FM, Mr. Sharif made no oblique reference to Kashmir.

And Mr. Jaishankar spoke about India’s concerns on terrorism, using only SCO charter language that identifies Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism as the evils the region is grappling with.

Jaishankar also made a reference to China’s BRI and India’s objections to it passing through disputed PoK- saying territorial sovereignty must be respected.

On the sidelines Jaishankar met with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar twice- once at dinner and once at a lunch both hosted by PM Sharif, and they are understood to have held “informal conversations. However, the MEA played down the substance of the talks.

“In Islamabad, you would have seen, the only bilateral meeting that our External Affairs Minister had was with Mongolia. Other than that, there were some pleasantries which were exchanged on the sidelines of the meeting, especially during lunch and dinner. That is all,” said Randhir Jaiswal.

Perhaps the clearest signal of some softening came not from the official, but non-official side, as former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of PM Shehbaz and Father of Pakistan Punjab CM Maryam Sharif sat down with Indian journalists to talk about his vision for a better state of relations. Here are the highlights:

– He said India and Pakistan must bury the past and loo.k to future cooperation in trade, energy, battling climate change- but declined to respond on past issues of terrorism for India and Kashmir for Pakistan.

– That he appreciated Mr. Modi’s Lahore visit, calling it no small gesture and attacked former PM Imran Khan for his personal criticism of Modi in 2019, comparisons to Hitler and Mussolini

– That he believes trade, rail and road links should be restored, that Pakistan snapped in 2019, high commissioners should be reappointed, and India and Pakistan cricket teams should resume playing in each other’s countries- beginning with the Champions trophy in Pakistan in February.

– Mr. Sharif’s message was the third in a series- In May he said that the Kargil war was a mistake, and the MEA welcomed what it called an “objective view” on Pakistani actions. In June he tweeted congratulations to PM Modi on his third term, and PM Modi responded warmly.

– Mr. Sharif is not in office, and so unclear whether he spoke for the government, but he is the president.

Timing for any new opening:

1. Both elections this year- governments are expected to be stable

2. Conflicts in other parts of the world- no appetite for hostilities between India and Pakistan

3. Pakistan economy troubles

4. Allegations against India from US, Canada, Qatar- and Pakistan- this may be time to address

5. South Asian turmoil- time to revive regional cooperation

Worldview Take:

Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan, while purely for multilateral purposes, signals a possible opening for engagement. To begin with, if India can send a minister to Pakistan for one regional cooperation meet like SCO, then why not another like SAARC. The two countries have too much bad blood for any real optimism for the future, but visits like this one can build the atmosphere for the restoration of ties- in the present trough- even the absence of negativity is a positive step.

Reading recommendations:

Poles Apart: The Military and Democracy in India and Pakistan by Aditya Sondhi

Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan by Ajay Bisaria

India’s Pakistan Conundrum: Managing a Complex Relationship by Sharat Sabharwal

The People Next Door: The Curious History of India-Pakistan Relations by T.C.A. Raghavan

Hostility by Abdul Basit

An Indian Woman in Islamabad: 1997-2000 by Ruchi Ghanashyam

In Pursuit of Peace: India-Pakistan Relations Under Six Prime Ministers by Satinder Kumar Lambah

Script and presentation: Suhasini Haidar

Production: Shibu Narayan and Sabika Syed

New Delhi:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the need for territorial integrity and cooperation based on mutual respect, in his remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Pakistan on Wednesday.

In the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan since Sushma Swaraj’s 2015 tour, Jaishankar called terrorism, extremism and separatism “three evils”. He added that cooperation between countries is built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas.

Jaishankar mentioned the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, along with the Covid pandemic, to state that the summit comes at a “difficult time in world affairs”. “Disruptions of various kinds – ranging from extreme climate events to supply chain uncertainties and financial volatility – impact growth and development. Debt is a serious concern, even as the world falls behind in achieving Sustainable Development targets. Technology holds great promise, as well as raising a new host of concerns. How should the members of the SCO respond to these challenges?” he said.

The EAM also stressed the need for multi-faceted regional cooperation, to drive growth and conflict prevention. “Activities across borders characterised by terrorism and extremism are unlikely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar arrived on Tuesday for his two-day Pakistan visit at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase, where he was welcomed by Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, Director General (South Asia) of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Children dressed in traditional attire presented him with flower bouquets. Later, he had a brief interaction with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today at an official dinner held for all the summit attendees.

The two-day meeting of SCO CHG, the second highest forum within the SCO, is being chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif as the current chair of the Council. The meeting’s focus is on the trade and economic agenda of the organisation.

Mr Sharif, meanwhile, called for the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance regional cooperation. “Flagship projects like the Belt and Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping…should be expanded focusing on developing road, rail and digital infrastructure that enhances integration and cooperation across our region,” Sharif said in his speech as the chair of the meeting.

The BRI is a $1 trillion plan for global infrastructure and energy networks that China launched a decade ago to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. Sharif said CPEC would also help enhance cooperation, adding that 40 percent of the world’s population lived in SCO’s 10 full member states.

Mr Sharif also called on the leaders to use the SCO meeting to “exchange ideas, share best practices and forge concrete action plans that will benefit our economies and societies”. He expressed his hope for “wonderful outcomes that will emerge from our in-depth deliberations”. “Our collaboration, joint teamwork expands academic and tourism linkages, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women and youth across the SCO region are reflection and commitment of our determination to promote prosperity through unity,” he said.

The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”. The group claims to represent 40% of the world’s population and about 30 percent of its GDP. Pakistan became a full member of the SCO at its 2017 summit in Kazakhstan.

– With inputs from agencies