NEW YORK, MAY 26 /DNA/ – DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov on the sidelines of the #UNSC Open Debate in NY.

The two affirmed shared commitment to the UN Charter, state sovereignty & territorial integrity, and emphasized the vital voice of the Global South in a fair international order.

Both sides hailed historic defense ties and the strong momentum generated by PM Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz & President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership. They agreed to boost economic returns by optimizing the Preferential Trade Agreement & Transit Trade Agreement frameworks and expanding energy/LNG cooperation.

UNITED NATIONS / ISLAMABAD, 26 May /DNA/ – Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, today warned that the greatest crisis facing the international system is not the absence of principles, but their selective application, as he addressed the UN Security Council Open Debate on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System.”

Speaking at a debate convened by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi during its Security Council presidency, Deputy PM Dar commended China’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism, stating that at a time of deepening divisions and growing disregard for international law, China’s call for a strong UN-centered system was “most timely and vital.” He also thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his principled leadership.

Senator Dar underscored that the UN Charter is “not merely a legal instrument” but the moral foundation of the international order, affirming sovereign equality, prohibiting the threat or use of force, and mandating the peaceful settlement of disputes. For Pakistan, he said, these principles are “sacrosanct” and form the basis of its foreign policy and contributions to global peacekeeping.

He recalled that Pakistan successfully piloted UN Security Council Resolution 2788 in July 2025 on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, reaffirming that “diplomacy is not weakness; dialogue is not concession; peaceful settlement is not an option of last resort.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy, the Deputy Prime Minister revealed that during his visit to Beijing on 31 March 2026 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan and China jointly announced the ‘Five Point Initiative for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region.’ He noted that Pakistan has exerted sincere efforts to facilitate a durable solution, thanking parties for their confidence in Pakistan and partners including China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar for their support. “The entire world is watching – we must succeed in the interest of regional and global peace and security,” he declared.

Senator Dar reminded the Council that for nearly eight decades, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has remained unresolved despite clear Security Council resolutions promising self-determination. He warned that durable peace in South Asia cannot coexist with attempts to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, stressing: “Water must never be weaponized; treaties must be honoured.”

On Palestine, he called the situation in Gaza and the West Bank “increasingly volatile,” and urged sustained momentum behind the New York Conference on the Two-State solution and the Gaza Peace Plan presented by President Donald Trump, endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2803. Pakistan reaffirmed unwavering support for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

In a sharp critique, the Deputy Prime Minister stated: “The crisis lies in selective application. When sovereignty is defended in one case but disregarded in another, the Charter is weakened. When occupation is condemned in one region but tolerated in another, justice is diminished. When powerful States act outside the law, smaller States are left to wonder whether the Charter protects all nations equally.”

Rejecting any creation of new permanent seats, Senator Dar called for comprehensive reform of the Security Council based on an increase in elected non-permanent seats allocated to regions, alongside improved working methods. “Reform must not enlarge privilege… A reformed Council must reflect the collective interests of the wider membership, particularly developing countries,” he said.

Concluding, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that peace is “not merely the silence of guns” but the presence of justice, protection of civilians, dignity, development, and equal rights. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work with all Council members to uphold the Charter, strengthen the UN-centered system, and build an equitable international order “where power is restrained by law, disputes are resolved through dialogue, and peace is secured through justice.”

TEHRAN, MAY 26: In the ongoing US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, Iran may consider transferring its 60% enriched uranium to China. The uranium currently lies beneath the rubble of bombed nuclear facilities, but it has the potential to be quickly weaponized.

Multiple media have carried similar reports, and China has not denied them, while a response from its Foreign Ministry seems to leave the possibility open.

In response to a question at a press conference on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded: “Since the outbreak of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, China has maintained close communication with all relevant parties, including Iran, and has been working tirelessly to stop the fighting and promote peace.”

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“We will continue to uphold the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal and play a positive role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East and the Gulf region as soon as possible,” the ministry continued.

Next, it stated, “Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, we have consistently supported the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation, and hope that all relevant parties can seize the opportunity to reach a solution that takes into account the legitimate concerns of all parties through negotiations.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 4, 2026.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 4, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/FLORENCE LO)
Chinese Foreign Ministry agrees to play role in Iran nuclear issue
Most critically, the ministry said, “We are also willing to continue to play a constructive role in the political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world.”

It is unclear whether Iran’s latest raising of the China option as a transfer destination for its 60% enriched uranium is its true desired position in light of the overall negotiations context, or an attempt to probe and press the US on the issue.

Under the 2015 Obama nuclear deal – almost all of Iran’s medium and low enriched uranium at 20%, 5%, and 3.67%, potentially enough for around 10 nuclear weapons – was transferred to Russia.

However, since then, the level of trust between the US and Russia has dropped significantly.

US, Russia nuclear agreements lapse
In 2015, the US and Russia had a substantial series of bilateral nuclear arms agreements in place, which mandated several foreign teams being present at each other’s nuclear facilities to ensure the parties’ joint obligations were being kept.

During the first Trump administration of 2017-2021, some of these deals lapsed, and the rest lapsed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to the cratering of American-Russian relations.

Washington and Beijing have never had the same kind of mutual nuclear inspections of each other’s facilities, and both parties are suspicious of the other stealing technology or spying on each other as they have entered an extended period of great power competition.

Accordingly, it is unclear whether the US would accept such a transfer without guarantees from Americans or IAEA UN nuclear inspectors having ongoing and indefinite access to and supervision of the nuclear material in China.

The removal or permanent dilution of the 60% enriched uranium is one of the main goals of the current US-Iran negotiations and Tehran’s refusal or slow move to agree to resolve the issue was one of the primary reasons leading to Israel’s attacks on Iran in June 2025 (with a smaller US contribution toward the end of that war) and the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran in 2026.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 26: Opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have rejected US President Donald Trump’s demand for Muslim countries to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel as part of any agreement to end the war with Iran.

In a statement on Tuesday, TTAP expressed concern over Trump’s demand and urged the incumbent government to take a clear and immediate position on the matter.

The statement came a day after Trump urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords en masse to normalise relations with Israel.

In a lengthy social media post, Trump said one or two of the countries he spoke with may have a reason for not joining, but most should be “ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be.”

“I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, ⁠if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements brokered under Trump in 2020. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed during Trump’s first term.

The opposition bloc, in the statement issued earlier today, said linking peace agreements to broader regional conditions reflected as a “clear Israeli agenda”.

The TTAP also called for the matter to be discussed in parliament. The statement further argued that countries which had accepted similar agreements had failed to secure a roadmap for an independent Palestinian state or to stop ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza.

The alliance said such accords risked weakening the unified stance of the Muslim world on the establishment of a free Palestinian state.

It also described the proposal as an attempt to provide legal cover to Israeli aggression and deception aimed at dividing Muslim unity.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja rejected Trump’s Abraham Accords move, saying “PTI is committed to a just resolution of the right to statehood of the Palestinian people that provides for an independent, sovereign Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.”

“The Abraham Accords or any other move that causes a diversion from this objective are unacceptable,” it added.

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman described the Abraham Accords as a “document of surrender”.

“The US president, who recognised occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and stood alongside Netanyahu in the destruction of Gaza, is once again pressuring Muslim countries to sign the Abraham Accords. In reality, this agreement is nothing but a document of surrender,” he said.

He further said the people of Pakistan would not accept any move aimed at legitimising Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem.

“The people of Pakistan will never accept any coercive attempt to legitimise and legalise Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem. Palestine belongs entirely to the Palestinians, and Jerusalem is its capital. Israel is an illegitimate state,” he added.

“This was the firm position of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and it is, and will remain, the position of every Pakistani,” he said.

Calling on the government, he urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reject the proposal.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should clearly announce the rejection of Trump’s illegitimate demand,” Naeem added.

MAKKAH, MAY 26: /DNA/ – Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the Pakistani Hajj camps in Mina. He inspected various camps and reviewed the facilities provided to the pilgrims. He met several pilgrims, especially elderly ones, and inquired about their well-being.
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‎Mohsin Naqvi also met a 100-year-old pilgrim personally and asked about his health, praising his determination and spirit.
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‎The Interior Minister asked the pilgrims about the facilities provided at the camps, including accommodation and food arrangements. The pilgrims stated that the arrangements this time were good, although they faced some issues which were resolved with the cooperation of the staff.
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‎Mohsin Naqvi appreciated the efforts made by Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and his team in resolving the pilgrims’ issues.
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‎Interior Minister said that every pilgrim is very special and that staff is available to resolve all their concerns.
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‎Mohsin Naqvi further stated that the Government of Saudi Arabia has provided excellent immigration facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims this year. He expressed special gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj.

ISLAMABAD, 26 MAY (DNA) —    Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police recovered an abducted three-year-old girl belonging to Islamabad’s Golra area from Abbottabad within hours through the help of modern technology, Safe City cameras and human intelligence.

An official told media on Tuesday that the parents of the minor girl, identified as Samra, daughter of Waqar, reported the kidnapping incident at Golra Police Station, upon which SSP Operations  Qazi Ali Raza took immediate notice and constituted special police teams under the supervision of SP Saddar Zone Kazim Naqvi.

The official said police teams launched immediate search and combing operations in different areas and traced the child using Safe City surveillance cameras, modern technology and human intelligence sources. During a successful operation in Abbottabad, police safely recovered the abducted girl and reunited her with her family, he added.

SSP Qazi said Islamabad Police utilized all available resources to ensure safe recovery of the child in the shortest possible time. The official said the parents thanked Islamabad Police for timely and effective action leading to the safe recovery of their daughter.— DNA