Ishaq Dar

Force in Play

Pakistan confirmed the formal signing will be held in Geneva on June 19 rather than Islamabad; Pakistan and Qatar co-hosting the ceremony as co-mediators

The June peace deal collapsed on July 18 when Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi formally suspended Iran's commitments under the memorandum of understanding, citing US strikes that killed at least 50 people since late June. The breakdown followed a new escalation cycle that began July 7 when Iran attacked three ships in the Strait, prompting Trump to reimpose oil sanctions and declare the ceasefire 'over' at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.

Updated Jul 18

Force in Play

Leading diplomatic response to the crisis

Pakistan has the second-largest Shia Muslim population on earth — roughly 30 million people. On February 28, joint United States-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Within hours, grief and fury erupted in every major Pakistani city.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

Chairman of South Asian Games Organizing Committee

Pakistan last hosted a major regional sporting event in 2004. Twenty-two years later, Lahore opened the 14th South Asian Games on January 23, 2026, welcoming over 3,500 athletes from eight nations to compete across 27 sports through February 6. The Games mark Pakistan's first hosting outside Islamabad and its third overall, following the 1989 and 2004 editions.

Updated May 23

Force in Play

Conducting shuttle diplomacy between Riyadh and Tehran while Pakistan's troops remain deployed to Saudi Arabia

Pakistan sent about 8,000 troops, 16 JF-17 fighter jets, two drone squadrons, and a Chinese HQ-9 air defense system to Saudi Arabia in early April. Reuters and Bloomberg confirmed the deployment on May 18. The forces arrived during active fighting; on April 8, Pakistan announced a ceasefire that both Washington and Tehran credited.

Updated May 19