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FM Dar speaks with UAE counterpart as US-Iran diplomacy ramps up

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday exchanged views with Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the evolving regional situation as diplomacy ramps up to resolve the conflict between Iran and the United States. Since the start of the war between the US, Israel, and Iran, Pakistan’s leadership has stepped up diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate tensions. Dar has held telephonic conversations with his counterparts from several Gulf states and other countries, stressing the importance of de-escalation and emphasising the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. In a talk with his UAE counterpart today, FM Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path forward, the Foreign Office (FO) said on X. He also expressed sorrow over the loss of live...

US State Dept denies reports of travel ban list

The US State Department has dismissed reports suggesting that the government is preparing a list to impose new visa restrictions on several countries. Reaffirming its commitment to resettling Afghans who assisted the US mission in Afghanistan, the department clarified that no such list exists. At a recent news briefing, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce acknowledged that the Trump administration was conducting a broader security review of visa policies, following an executive order issued on January 20. However, Bruce refuted claims that Afghanistan was on a list of nations facing a full suspension of visa issuance. “There is no list. What people are looking at over these last several days is not a list that exists here that is being acted on,” she stated. She further explained that the review is part of an ongoing process to evaluate visa policies and improve US security. The spokesperson's response follows the emergence of a draft list that reportedly includes 41 countries, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, categorised into three groups, each subject to different levels of travel restrictions. The memo, which was seen by Reuters identifies 41 countries, proposes a full visa suspension for a first group of nations, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. In the second group, five countries would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions. In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.

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