ISLAMABAD, MAY 17 /DNA/ – Pakistan’s leadership has received a telephone call from Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, during which the two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional and international situation.

In the conversation, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability. The Pakistani side deeply appreciated Qatar’s constructive diplomatic role and conveyed special gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, for Doha’s strong support for Pakistan-led peace efforts aimed at de-escalation.

Looking ahead, Pakistan extended a warm invitation to His Highness the Amir, with both sides expressing anticipation for his visit to Pakistan in the near future.

Reiterating their resolve to work closely together, Pakistan and Qatar pledged to continue joint efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Interior minister holds separate meeting with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf

DNA

TEHRAN: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts for peace in the Middle East, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, amid Islamabad’s efforts to keep US-Iran dialogue going.

Naqvi held a 90-minute meeting with the Iranian president, discussing bilateral ties and Islamabad’s mediation efforts, according to the reports.

During the meeting, President Pezeshkian said that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran were aimed at spreading insecurity inside the country.

However, the plans failed due to regional countries’ refusal to allow use of their soil for the attacks, he added.

The Iranian president thanked Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan for not allowing their territory to be used for military actions against Tehran.

The interior minister also held a separate meeting with Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was part of Tehran’s delegation in the Islamabad talks.

During the meeting, Naqvi and Ghalibaf exchanged views on key matters, according to Iranian media reports.

The interior minister arrived in Tehran a day earlier “to facilitate” peace talks between the two sides, Iranian media reported.

“Mohsin Naqvi arrived in the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official two-day visit as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate talks and promote regional peace,” the Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

Following his arrival, Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who lauded Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts to help resolve tensions with the US.

Naqvi’s meeting with President Pezeshkian comes shortly after Iranian media said that Washington failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Tehran’s proposal for negotiations to end the war.

Fars news agency said that Washington gave a five-point list, which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.

Mehr news agency, meanwhile, said: “The United States, offering no tangible concessions, wants to obtain concessions that it failed to obtain during the war, which will lead to an impasse in the negotiations.”

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pakistan received Iran’s response to the US proposal.

“Right now, the Field Marshal [Asim Munir] informed me that [we have] received Iran’s response. I cannot go further into details,” he said while addressing an event in Islamabad on May 10.

Later, the Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that Islamabad forwarded Tehran’s response to Washington’s proposal for a lasting peace.

“The US-Iran peace process is underway. We are engaged in it and remain hopeful,” he said.

Pakistan has been serving as a key mediator between the US and Iran since brokering a ceasefire between the two sides on April 8, ending six weeks of hostilities that have upended global oil and energy markets.

The war in the Middle East began after the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran targeted Israel and US bases across the region, while effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Islamabad hosted both sides for peace talks between April 11 and 12; however, the dialogue ended without an agreement for a permanent end to the conflict, as Tehran and Washington disagreed on key issues such as Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes and control over Hormuz.

Fiaz Ch

ISLAMABAD: The Zil Hajj moon has been sighted and Eid ul Adha will fall on May 27 in Pakistan, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad announced on Sunday.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the committee held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Karachi, with Maulana Azad in the chair.

The meetings of the zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees were also held at their respective provincial headquarters.

TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD, MAY 17: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts for peace in the Middle East, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, amid Islamabad’s efforts to keep US-Iran dialogue going.

Naqvi held a 90-minute meeting with the Iranian president, discussing bilateral ties and Islamabad’s mediation efforts, according to the reports.

The interior minister also held a separate meeting with Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was part of Tehran’s delegation in the Islamabad talks.

During the meeting, Naqvi and Ghalibaf exchanged views on key matters, according to Iranian media reports.

The interior minister arrived in Tehran a day earlier “to facilitate” peace talks between the two sides, Iranian media reported.

“Mohsin Naqvi arrived in the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official two-day visit as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate talks and promote regional peace,” the Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

Following his arrival, Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who lauded Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts to help resolve tensions with the US.

Naqvi’s meeting with President Pezeshkian comes shortly after Iranian media said that Washington failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Tehran’s proposal for negotiations to end the war.

Fars news agency said that Washington gave a five-point list, which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.

Mehr news agency, meanwhile, said: “The United States, offering no tangible concessions, wants to obtain concessions that it failed to obtain during the war, which will lead to an impasse in the negotiations.”

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pakistan received Iran’s response to the US proposal.

“Right now, the Field Marshal [Asim Munir] informed me that [we have] received Iran’s response. I cannot go further into details,” he said while addressing an event in Islamabad on May 10.

Later, the Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that Islamabad forwarded Tehran’s response to Washington’s proposal for a lasting peace.

“The US-Iran peace process is underway. We are engaged in it and remain hopeful,” he said.

Pakistan has been serving as a key mediator between the US and Iran since brokering a ceasefire between the two sides on April 8, ending six weeks of hostilities that have upended global oil and energy markets.

The war in the Middle East began after the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran targeted Israel and US bases across the region, while effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Islamabad hosted both sides for peace talks between April 11 and 12; however, the dialogue ended without an agreement for a permanent end to the conflict, as Tehran and Washington disagreed on key issues such as Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes and control over Hormuz.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 17: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting to sight the Zil Hajj crescent moon began in Karachi at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday.

The meetings of the zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees were also being held at their respective headquarters.

If the moon is sighted today, Eid ul Adha will be observed on May 27; otherwise, the religious festival will fall on May 28.

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has forecast that the new moon is expected to be sighted on May 17.

A spokesperson for the country’s space agency said that the new moon was born on May 17 at 1:01am, adding that its age at sunset on the same day would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes.

The official said that atmospheric and astronomical conditions appear to be favourable for the crescent moon to be sighted on the evening of May 17.

The spokesperson added that in coastal areas in particular, there was likely to be a gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset, which significantly improves the probability of the moon being visible.

On the basis of these projections, the first day of Zil Hajj is expected to fall on Monday, May 18, while Eid ul Adha is likely to be observed on May 27, subject to final confirmation.

However, the agency clarified that the official and final decision regarding the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon will be taken by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which is responsible for the formal announcement of the Islamic lunar calendar in the country.