The United States President Donald Trump has clarified in plain words that the cancellation of his visit to Pakistan does not mean the start of war. In a statement, Trump said that he had canceled his trip to Islamabad, which was scheduled to discuss possible talks with Iran, along with Secretary of State Steve Biegun and Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, Elliot Abrams.
Trump stated that he had informed his people earlier that they were not going to Pakistan, saying, “We have all the cards, the Iranians can call us when they want to, but you’re not going to waste 18 hours of your time going there and saying nothing.”
Trump’s announcement came ahead of reports that his special envoy, Steve Biegun, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were set to visit Pakistan today. The cancellation of the trip has sparked concerns about the potential for war between the United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made separate phone calls to the prime ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group claims that Araghchi has launched attacks on Israeli forces in northern Israel and Lebanon.
Trump has also spoken with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the phone. An investigation into the attack on a police station in Northern Ireland has led to the detention of a teacher and a student.
According to reports, at least 10 serving military personnel have lost their lives since the beginning of 2026, with six reported deaths in April alone. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Pakistan after a trip to Oman.
Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ideology is gaining momentum in the country. The visit of British King Charles III to the United States has been affected by the Washington shooting incident.
Israel has appointed its first ambassador to the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia. The Hajj pilgrimage season has seen over 20,000 pilgrims arrive in Medina, with more expected to arrive in the coming days.
The United Arab Emirates has approved a one-billion-dinar package for the industrial sector. In a separate incident, the Mali military said that an attack on the home of a former soldier, Sadou Camara, in the town of Katia near Bamako had left one person dead.
The United Nations has warned of the risk of human suffering due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait. In a lighthearted moment before a White House dinner, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany joked that “we’re going to have some shooting today in Iran.”
However, Iranian media have reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Pakistan again before traveling to Russia. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has condemned the Washington shooting incident.
The Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification for the Pakistan Trade Transit Order 2026, which will come into effect immediately. A worker, Abdul Wahab, has narrated his ordeal of being trapped in a marble mine in Dir for 17 days.
