Article:
The successful mediation by Pakistan has left India reeling, with Indian analysts and commentators taking aim at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government. The diplomatic victory for Pakistan has been hailed as a major breakthrough, with the United States extending a two-week ceasefire in the Iran-US conflict, and Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, giving his approval for the ceasefire.
According to sources, the US-Iran talks will be held at the level of envoys in Islamabad. The Indian opposition party, Congress, has also taken a swipe at Modi, accusing him of personal diplomacy and claiming that Pakistan’s role in the ceasefire has exposed his “self-styled” foreign policy. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Pakistan’s involvement in the ceasefire has weakened India’s long-standing policy of isolating Islamabad on the issue of terrorism.
A senior Iranian official has said that Iran can control the Strait of Hormuz on Fridays, and then partially open it to limited shipping. Israeli Army Chief, General Eizenkot, has announced that they will continue to strike Hezbollah positions in Lebanon without a ceasefire. The ceasefire has been hailed as a positive development, with Austria’s leadership praising Pakistan’s role in the talks.
French newspapers have published reports on Pakistan’s role in the US-Iran talks, with some newspapers highlighting the special role of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Foreign Affairs Council President Josep Borrell have issued separate statements on the development.
The Chairman of the Kashmir Council, EU, Ali Raza Syed, said that Pakistan’s role in the US-Iran talks is commendable and a significant positive development. The UAE Ministry of Defense said that its air defense system had shot down 17 ballistic missiles and destroyed 35 drones fired by Iran.
The Islamabad administration has announced a public holiday on April 9 and 10. The wife of Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister and South Indian actor Pawan Kalyan has said that their son, Mark Shankar, was badly burned in a fire in Singapore last year, and investigations are still ongoing.
In a separate development, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that ceasefire violations are affecting the spirit of peace and have called for an immediate end to hostilities. US President Donald Trump has said that talks with Iran will begin soon, and it’s possible that Iran may not participate due to security reasons.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, has spoken to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, over the phone. The oil market has seen a decline in prices, with the Brent crude oil price dropping by 21% in the London market.
This development has been welcomed by the international community, with many world leaders praising Pakistan’s role in the negotiations. The ceasefire has been hailed as a major breakthrough, and the world is watching to see if this development will lead to a lasting peace in the region.
