Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that 22 militants allegedly backed by India were killed in a joint operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The operation was conducted on April 21 after security and law enforcement agencies received information about the presence of militants in the area. According to the ISPR, the militants belonged to the group Fitna-al-Khariji.

The ISPR statement said the militants opened indiscriminate fire out of fear of being captured alive, resulting in the death of a 10-year-old child. Security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from the site. The ISPR added that the group had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region.

The announcement was made public on April 24, with the ISPR emphasizing that the operation aimed to eliminate threats posed by the India-supported group in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At least ten people were killed in an armed attack on a copper and gold mining project in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Officials said on Thursday that around forty gunmen on motorcycles and other vehicles attacked the National Resources Private Limited (NRL) project in the Darigwan area of Chagai district on Wednesday. According to a local administrative officer, the dead included seven workers and three security personnel.

The officer added that there were reports of some workers being taken hostage, though this information could not be confirmed. Another local police official, speaking anonymously, confirmed details of the attack. In a statement issued Wednesday night, NRL acknowledged the incident and said security forces responded quickly and secured the area.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault. However, in recent years, local ethnic separatist groups have increased attacks in the region, often targeting mining projects.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss diplomatic efforts related to the second round of US-Iran ceasefire talks. Following the meeting, Naqvi expressed hope for positive progress from Iran, noting that the talks had been delayed because Tehran had not yet confirmed its delegation.

In an official statement, Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir were making all-out efforts to help achieve a peaceful resolution and urged all parties to choose diplomacy. The statement added that Baker praised Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting peace.

Naqvi also commended US President Donald Trump for extending the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely just hours before it was due to expire, calling it a welcome step toward reducing tensions.

Around 3,000 containers destined for Iran have been stranded at Pakistan’s Karachi port due to heightened tensions and a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Documents recently surfaced requesting assistance to release the containers, which were originally meant to reach Iran through trans-shipment but were unloaded in Karachi instead. Discussions are underway with Pakistani authorities to use a land route to move the containers to the border, from where Iranian trucks would transport them into Iran.

Maritime experts and shipping industry sources noted that Iran has been collecting tolls from China in yuan and cryptocurrency, charging about one dollar per barrel of oil and setting cargo fees based on oil prices. This system has generated significant revenue for Iran. However, the United States has reportedly found ways to disrupt this supply chain, with several vessels already detained under the naval blockade.

Experts believe the blockade functions more as a pressure tactic against Iran than as a direct act of war.

A day after talks between the United States and Iran collapsed, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam in Islamabad on Wednesday. According to a statement released on the Pakistani government’s social media account, the meeting focused on the current regional situation and ongoing peace efforts.

The failed dialogue followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the Iran ceasefire indefinitely, just hours before it was set to expire, to allow more time for negotiations. Although a second round of talks was planned in Islamabad, it did not take place. The White House confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance did not travel for the meeting, while Iran made no formal announcement about sending a delegation.

The conflict began on February 28 after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which quickly spread across the region, including Lebanon. Amid this tension, Pakistan is seeking to position itself as a key mediator in regional peace efforts.

Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is under investigation after testing positive in a doping test. According to Geo Super News, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated a disciplinary process following official notification from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The sample was collected during the T20 World Cup held earlier this year in Sri Lanka, and the ICC confirmed the presence of a banned substance.

The development has already affected Nawaz’s professional commitments. He had signed with Surrey to play in England’s T20 Blast, scheduled to begin on May 26, and had received a No Objection Certificate from the PCB. However, the contract has been canceled following the start of the investigation, ruling him out of the tournament. Nawaz is currently playing for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League and recently bowled three overs against Rawalpindi.

A PCB spokesperson stated that the board has begun due process and will report the investigation’s outcome to the ICC soon. Nawaz’s future in international and overseas leagues remains uncertain until the final decision is made.

US President Donald Trump has announced an extension of the ceasefire, but Iran has yet to agree to talks with Washington. Pakistan is actively working to restart the stalled dialogue between the two nations, according to Maria Sultan, Director General of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University and adviser to Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence. She stated that Islamabad played a central role in extending the ceasefire and warned both sides that the alternative to dialogue is war.

Sultan told Al Jazeera that without the ceasefire extension, the Gulf region’s military situation could have escalated rapidly, worsening tensions in the Strait of Hormuz where US military presence has increased. She confirmed that Pakistan is engaged in close discussions with both Washington and Tehran and has called for direct talks in Islamabad.

Expressing optimism, Sultan said discussions could begin within 24 to 48 hours, emphasizing that both sides understand the grave consequences of renewed conflict for the region and the global economy.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump after the announcement of an extension to the ceasefire with Iran. In a social media post made late Tuesday night, Sharif thanked Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request to prolong the truce, which he said would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to continue.

Sharif stated that both he and Field Marshal Asim Munir appreciated the opportunity to advance peace initiatives. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing a negotiated settlement and voiced hope that both sides would maintain the ceasefire. According to Sharif, Islamabad is preparing for a second round of talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows recent developments involving Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.

Pakistan has expanded its strategic influence through a mutual defense agreement signed with Saudi Arabia in September 2025. The pact, built on decades of quiet military cooperation, reinforces Pakistan’s central role in Gulf security. Despite India’s major economic interests in the region, including remittances and energy dependence, New Delhi has failed to establish comparable defense or security frameworks, leaving it marginal in regional security architecture.

The analysis highlights Pakistan’s ability to convert limitations into strategic assets, contrasting with India’s cautious approach. Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran further demonstrate its growing indispensability in global diplomacy. Historically, Pakistan has leveraged its military ties and nuclear capability to maintain relevance, from facilitating U.S.-China rapprochement in 1971 to serving as a key partner in the Afghan conflict and the post-2001 war on terror.

The report concludes that Pakistan’s geographic position and strategic ambiguity, including hints of a potential “nuclear umbrella” for Saudi Arabia, enhance its importance in a volatile regional environment, while India’s strength has paradoxically limited its flexibility.

China has expressed full support for Pakistan’s efforts to advance peace talks between the United States and Iran. The statement came from China’s ambassador to Pakistan, who praised Islamabad’s initiative to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong to discuss regional developments. During the meeting, Jiang commended Pakistan’s continued efforts to ease communication between Washington and Tehran, describing them as helpful for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The discussion underscores China’s backing of Pakistan’s diplomatic role in regional peacebuilding, particularly in fostering dialogue between the US and Iran.

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to sources cited by Al Jazeera. He reportedly departed Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening and is scheduled to lead the US delegation in a second round of talks with Iran. The discussions are set to take place in Pakistan’s capital, with US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also likely to attend. The delegation composition will remain similar to the first round of talks.

Several US military aircraft have already landed in Pakistan ahead of the meeting, signaling preparations for the high-level dialogue. However, uncertainty surrounds Iran’s participation. Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would not engage in talks “under the shadow of threats,” raising doubts about whether the discussions will proceed as planned.

The situation leaves the timing and outcome of the second round of US-Iran negotiations unclear, with Pakistan hosting and China expressing support for its mediating role.

The government of Pakistan has advised US President Donald Trump to avoid harsh or provocative public remarks, according to a report by The Washington Post. The advice comes as Pakistan plays a mediating role to facilitate a potential second round of talks between Iran and the United States.

A Pakistani official told Reuters that Iran has responded positively and that the situation is improving. The official expressed hope that an Iranian delegation might join the discussions within one or two days. Pakistan has maintained close contact with both Tehran and Washington before the current ceasefire period ends to help advance the negotiation process.

The report also noted that Pakistan’s mediation efforts are aimed at ensuring progress in the dialogue, with the country actively engaging both sides to sustain momentum toward de-escalation.

US media reported that Vice President JD Vance will leave the United States on Tuesday for a visit to Pakistan. According to Axios, citing three sources, Vance is scheduled to depart by Tuesday morning. Multiple sources told CNN that a second round of discussions between US and Iranian delegations is planned for Wednesday in Islamabad, as reported by BBC Bangla.

A source told the BBC on Monday that a US delegation led by Vance would travel to Pakistan soon. However, Tehran has not yet confirmed whether Iran will participate in the upcoming talks. The reports indicate that Vance may arrive in Islamabad by Wednesday.

The visit comes as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Pakistan, and potentially Iran, though the details of the agenda and participants remain uncertain.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly leading a delegation to Islamabad for potential discussions centered on Iran, but international media outlets have provided differing accounts of the trip’s timing. According to The Guardian, citing the New York Post, the delegation—also including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner—has already departed and is expected to arrive in Pakistan within hours. President Donald Trump stated that talks are planned and suggested progress could lead to a meeting with Iran’s top leaders. However, Tehran has indicated it has no plans for another round of peace talks.

CNN, by contrast, reported uncertainty about the schedule, citing sources who said Vance is expected to leave Washington on Tuesday, with a second round of U.S.-Iran talks planned for Wednesday in Islamabad. The White House has not confirmed any specific timing, saying only that the delegation may depart soon. The differing reports follow a previous 21-hour meeting in Islamabad last week that ended without resolution over Iran’s nuclear program and mutual trust issues.

The situation remains fluid, with both U.S. and Iranian positions appearing cautious amid heightened rhetoric between the two nations.

A United States delegation led by Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Pakistan as Islamabad prepares to host a high-level meeting. Iran has not yet confirmed its participation, though Pakistani officials expect Iranian representatives to join the discussions. In preparation for the talks, Islamabad has implemented unprecedented security measures, deploying 20,000 personnel and sealing off large parts of the city, including two major hotels.

Over the past 24 hours, several US C-17 Globemaster aircraft have landed in Islamabad, with more expected to arrive. These flights are believed to have transported bulletproof vehicles and security teams for the American delegation. The scale of the security operation underscores the significance of the upcoming meeting.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee, stated that Iran intends to continue dialogue but not “at any cost.” The talks appear to be part of ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Pakistan, and potentially Iran.