By Fatima El Hashimi Pakistan is undergoing a quiet conversion, from the military simply holding influence, to now holding permanent constitutional and institutional power, achieved without ever declaring martial law at all.
Pakistan’s troubled relations with its religious minorities are only part of the story. The post The Minorities Who Built Karachi appeared first on The American Conservative .
Religion Religion The Minorities Who Built Karachi Pakistan’s troubled relations with its religious minorities are only part of the story. Photo by Camille Delbos/Art In All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images Pakistan has been in the news recently, for reasons that would have seemed improbable a few years ago. It has become an intermediary between the United States and Iran, while also forging new strategic ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey through the Mecca Defense Pact. Yet for all the attention garnered by its geopolitical moves, Pakistan—the real Pakistan—remains a…Open
State of the Union: Unconfirmed reports say Iran has been invited to join a Saudi–Turkish–Pakistani defense pact. The post Iran War Day 177: Pakistani Army Chief Heading to Tehran for Talks appeared first on The American Conservative .
Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir will visit Iran Monday to continue peace talks, the Iranian foreign ministry said Sunday. In June, Pakistan helped broker a framework U.S.–Iran agreement—the memorandum of understanding (MOU)—that quickly fell apart but still offers a possible off-ramp from the war. A Pakistani government source told Reuters that Munir planned to discuss recent threats of economic warfare by President Donald Trump, among other issues. “He will discuss peace under Islamabad’s MOU, Trump’s warning, and the situation after the Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arab Agreement and Houthi issues with Iranian leaders,” the source said. Al Arabiya, a Saudi television channel, reported that Munir will convey messages from…Open
The Trump administration and Iran are close to a deal to end the war , with remaining gaps focused on "wording" of several points, a U.S. official briefed on the negotiations said Saturday. Why it matters: It's one of the strongest signals yet that the nearly three-month-old war could be nearing an end. - The official stressed no final decision has been made by President Trump. Reality check: Trump and his advisers thought they were close to a deal several times at earlier stages in the war, but none materialized. The latest: Trump held a call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. - According to a source briefed on the call, several of the leaders urged Trump to take the deal. - Trump…
President Trump told Axios on Saturday that he would be meeting with his negotiators later in the day to discuss Iran's latest offer, and would likely decide by Sunday whether to resume the war. The big picture: Trump said it was a "solid 50/50" as to whether he would be able to make a "good" deal or else "blow them to kingdom come." Driving the news: Trump said he'd meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner later on Saturday to discuss Iran's latest response. Vice President Vance is also expected to join. - Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been mediating between the parties, left Tehran on Saturday after meeting top officials there and trying to push a deal across the line. - A deal was not finalized but Pakistan said there…
State of the Union: Iran and Oman discussed partnering to charge fees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The post Ceasefire Day 45: Peace Talks Move ‘A Little Bit’ as Pakistani Mediators Go to Tehran appeared first on The American Conservative .
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that indirect talks between Washington and Tehran over a potential deal to resolve the Iran War had seen “a little bit of movement, and that’s good,” as a ceasefire to the conflict entered its 45th day on Friday. Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir departed for Tehran on Friday to discuss the status of peace negotiations. His visit comes as Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi held another meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday. Bloomberg reported Thursday that Iran felt the latest U.S. deal proposal has “narrowed the gaps,” citing the Iranian Student News Association. ISNA did not disclose the source for that information. Reuters reported that Iran’s…Open
Pakistan's top military commander, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is traveling to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement, a Pakistani security source told Axios. Why it matters: Munir has been the lead mediator between the U.S. and Iran since the war began. The fact that he is heading to Tehran after several days of lower-level talks could signal a final push by Pakistan to try to get a deal. Driving the news: The mediators are trying to finalize a letter of intent that includes an agreement to end the war and principles for another 30 days of negotiations on a broader deal that would also address Iran's nuclear program. -…
The Persian Gulf remains the narrow throat through which much of the modern world still breathes. Oil tankers, naval task forces, insurance markets, commodity prices, and the confidence of nations all pass through those waters. In recent weeks the United States, Israel, and Iran moved from open confrontation to a tenuous ceasefire brokered in part […] The post ISLAMABAD AND THE ART OF WALKING AWAY appeared first on StoneZone .
The Persian Gulf remains the narrow throat through which much of the modern world still breathes. Oil tankers, naval task forces, insurance markets, commodity prices, and the confidence of nations all pass through those waters. In recent weeks the United States, Israel, and Iran moved from open confrontation to a tenuous ceasefire brokered in part through Pakistan. Yet diplomacy built in haste is often architecture built on sand. On April 25, 2026 President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a planned American delegation to Islamabad Pakistan for the next round of negotiations with Iran, signaling that the Pakistan mediation channel had, at least for now, collapsed under the weight of mistrust, confusion, and irreconcilable demands. This was…Open
President Trump convened a White House Situation Room meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the renewed crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations with Iran , according to two U.S. officials. Why it matters: The situation with Iran is at a critical point, with the ceasefire expected to expire in three days, and no final date set for a new meeting between U.S. and Iranian negotiators. - Iran's Saturday announcement about the renewed closure of the Strait, as well as multiple attacks by Iran on several vessels in the waterway, came less than 24 hours after Trump said a deal to end the war could happen "within a day or two." - A senior U.S. official said that if there is no breakthrough soon, the war could resume in the coming…
TUESDAY: TRUMP TELLS REPORTER TO HOLD ON TIGHT ... ANOTHER ROUND OF IRAN NEGOTIATIONS COULD BE COMING ... NY POST: Trump tells The Post US-Iran talks ‘could be happening over next two days’