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

Iran said on November 2 that it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days and restart nuclear talks, shortening a plan it had earlier said would take a week. The offer kept its conditions: the US must lift sanctions on Iranian oil, accept a ceasefire that covers Lebanon, and let ships use a route agreed with Oman under Iranian supervision.

Updated Yesterday

Force in Play

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

Britain is sending Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters to help Saudi Arabia defend cities and oil sites from Houthi missiles and drones. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the jets will fly defensive sorties only and will not strike Yemen. Pakistan's Foreign Office said on October 16 that Islamabad is 'fully on board' with the Makkah pact.

Updated Oct 27

Force in Play

Framed the pact as defensive in nature

Turkey's parliament is considering the Mecca defense agreement after the government sent it for ratification on October 20. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia finished their own approval processes by October 23, leaving Turkey as the last of the three to sign off.

Updated Oct 24

Force in Play

As of May 2026: 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

As of May 2026: 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