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Pakistan’s top civilian and military leaders have returned home after intensive diplomatic missions aimed at reviving stalled United States‑Iran negotiations. Field Marshal Asim Munir concluded a three‑day visit to Tehran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrapped up a tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. During his stay in Iran, Munir met President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the head of Iran’s military central command centre. The Pakistani military described the trip as a demonstration of Islamabad’s “unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement… and to promote peace, stability and prosperity.” Iran’s delegation, led by Ghalibaf and Araghchi, had visited Islamabad the previous week for face‑to‑face talks with the United States – the highest‑level contact between Washington and Tehran in decades. Those talks concluded without an agreement, and the ceasefire that followed is set to expire on April 22. Prime Minister Sharif’s itinerary focused on rallying regional support. After meetings in Riyadh and Doha, he and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey. Sharif posted on X that he left Antalya with “fond memories and a renewed commitment to further strengthening the enduring fraternal bonds” between Pakistan and Turkey, and to “continue our close cooperation to advance dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace and stability in the region.” The flurry of activity comes as Iran re‑imposed restrictions on the strategic Strait of Hormuz shortly after its brief reopening, accusing the United States of violating a reopening agreement. This move has intensified pressure on Washington to re‑engage in talks. Former President Donald Trump has hinted that a second round of US‑Iran negotiations could be hosted in Pakistan in the coming days, praising Munir as “doing a great job.” Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder reported that Munir landed back in Islamabad on Saturday, with Pakistani officials preparing for another round of talks expected “within the next few days.” While significant differences remain, the combined diplomatic outreach by Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership has drawn praise from the Trump administration and raised expectations that Islamabad could become the next venue for a breakthrough in US‑Iran relations.

The United Nations’ Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, warned the Security Council on Friday that South Sudan is at a dangerous crossroads, facing the prospect of a full‑scale famine and national collapse.Fletcher stressed that “hunger across South Sudan is tightening its grip,” noting that emergency‑level food insecurity is projected for all ten states during the lean season, which runs until the end of July.After a week‑long visit, he reported that humanitarian compounds have been looted and nutrition centres destroyed around Akobo in Jonglei State, where more than 140,000 people are in “dire need of help.” He warned that his next briefing could be dominated by famine warnings.According to the UN official, over 7.5 million South Sudanese will require food assistance this year. The situation is compounded by expected floods that will further isolate communities and damage livelihoods.Escalating violence fuels the crisisUNMISS head Anita Kiki Gbeho told the council that civilians continue to bear the brunt of intensifying clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A‑IO), especially in Jonglei.Fighting surged late last year after a 2018 peace deal ended a five‑year civil war. In December, opposition forces seized government outposts in Jonglei, prompting a retaliatory operation in January that forced more than 280,000 civilians to flee.Fletcher urged the Security Council to secure unhindered humanitarian access, increase flexible funding, and demand that all parties fully respect humanitarian law and protect civilians and infrastructure.As the council deliberates the renewal of the UNMISS mandate—currently set to expire on 30 April—Gbeho warned that “the scale and urgency of needs on the ground are not yet matched by the type of sustained commitment and investment required to fully meet the shared ambition of a sustainable path to peace.”

Sudan's Prime Minister has outlined a strategy to bring an end to the country's ongoing war, which has caused immense suffering and displacement. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure a sustainable peace.The war in Sudan has resulted in significant humanitarian challenges, with many civilians affected by the violence. The Prime Minister's plan aims to address these challenges and provide a framework for rebuilding and stabilizing the country.The international community has been closely watching the developments in Sudan, and the Prime Minister's statement is seen as a positive step towards finding a lasting solution to the conflict. The Prime Minister's strategy will likely face challenges, but it represents a crucial effort to bring peace and stability to Sudan.

Celebrations erupted in Lebanon after a 10‑day ceasefire took effect, with the U.S. State Department noting that the pause opens a window for longer‑term negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials.President Donald Trump declared that an agreement to end the war on Iran is "very close," hinting that the next round of talks could occur this weekend in Islamabad. Iran’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the truce, describing it as part of a broader effort with Washington to pause the regional conflict.Tehran‑based analyst Abas Aslani acknowledged progress in the U.S.–Iran dialogue but warned that significant gaps remain, noting that both sides are preparing for either a negotiated settlement or a possible return to hostilities, while Trump appears to be seeking an “off‑ramp” from the war.Trump also expressed hope that Hezbollah would "act nicely and well" during the truce and announced a White House invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.Speaking in Las Vegas, Trump dismissed warnings that the conflict could push oil prices to $300 a barrel, insisting that markets remain strong despite volatility and global fuel disruptions linked to the war.Netanyahu hailed the ceasefire as an opportunity for a historic peace agreement with Beirut, but reiterated that the disarmament of Hezbollah remains a non‑negotiable precondition.Hours before the truce began, an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Ghaziyeh killed at least seven civilians and wounded 33, intensifying Israeli public frustration over promises of a buffer zone in the north.Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the ceasefire, arguing it fails to remove the threat to northern communities and pledging that any future government would adopt a tougher stance.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the truce, and Trump confirmed that the agreement also encompasses Iran‑backed Hezbollah.Analyst Rami Khouri noted that Hezbollah is central to the ceasefire but operates “behind a curtain,” while residents in Sidon remain anxious as Israel demands Hezbollah’s disarmament yet refuses to withdraw, leaving the truce fragile and far from permanent.

In the midst of escalating tensions, a heart-wrenching story emerges from Gaza. Inaam al-Dahdouh, a 62-year-old mother, sits in her makeshift tent with her six grandchildren, clinging to a photograph of her three sons, who have been detained by Israeli forces for two years. As Palestinian Prisoners' Day is marked on April 17, Inaam's anguish deepens. Her sons, Mahmoud, Alaa, and Diaa, were arrested during an Israeli attack on al-Shifa Hospital in December 2023. They were bound, blindfolded, and taken away, leaving behind a family torn apart. The situation worsens with the recent approval of an Israeli law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. This move has sparked international condemnation and fears among families like Inaam's. Over 9,600 Palestinians are currently imprisoned, a nearly 83% increase since the war began, with 350 children and over 3,530 administrative detainees held without charge. Inaam's sons are civilians; Mahmoud is a father of six, Alaa had completed his law degree, and Diaa was about to start life after high school. Despite reassurances that the new law targets specific categories of prisoners, Inaam cannot shake off the fear that her sons might be affected. “They can endure hunger … we tell ourselves they can endure it. But execution? Not to that extent,” Inaam says, fighting back her emotions. She urges a global stance to pressure Israel to reverse its decisions against prisoners, emphasizing that a prisoner has the right to live and dignity. Inaam tries to fill the void by caring for her grandchildren and teaching them the Quran, a gift for her imprisoned sons. Her story highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the desperate need for a resolution to protect the rights and lives of Palestinian prisoners.

Amid a wave of Israeli air strikes that have killed hundreds and displaced roughly 20 % of Lebanon’s population from the south, Lebanese banker Antoun Sehnaoui attracted fierce criticism after being publicly praised for his pro‑Israel activities. Sehnaoui, who chairs Societe Generale de Banque au Liban (SGBL), attended an event at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – a venue he has financially supported. The commendation came from Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. Middle‑East envoy who, according to reports, is also Sehnaoui’s romantic partner. Ortagus framed support for Israel as a matter of "moral clarity", even when it entails personal risk. She highlighted Sehnaoui’s funding of a U.S.–Israeli opera project, noting that such transactions are technically illegal in Lebanon under the country’s ban on dealings with Israeli entities. Describing the banker’s lineage, Ortagus said he hails from generations of "committed Lebanese Christian Zionists" and that his family has been "trained to support the State of Israel and the Jewish people." She also referenced his father, Nabil Sehnaoui, a principal backer of the Lebanese Forces militia, which allied with Israel during the 1982 invasion and was implicated in the Sabra‑Shatila massacres. The timing of the endorsement proved especially contentious. Since mid‑March, Israel has been accused of employing a “quadruple‑tap” bombing technique designed to maximise civilian casualties, and more than a million southerners have fled their homes, deepening sectarian tensions. Lebanese social‑media users reacted with outrage, calling for Sehnaoui’s imprisonment, accusing him of betraying his nation, and even alleging he had converted to Judaism. One commentator, academic Makram Rabah, argued that while a museum visit should not be controversial, the overt support for Israel amid a fragile ceasefire is. Ortagus’s own record – marked by staunch opposition to Hezbollah and open advocacy for Israel since her appointment in April 2025 – has already drawn scrutiny over her suitability as a neutral broker in the region. Beyond the political backlash, Sehnaoui faces serious legal challenges. Lebanese prosecutors have filed money‑laundering charges against him and SGBL, alleging illicit currency‑trading activities that exacerbated the country’s financial crisis that began in 2019. The bank denies any wrongdoing. In the United States, a 2020 civil lawsuit filed by families of Hezbollah‑linked attack victims accuses SGBL of providing material support to the militant group – a claim the bank also rejects. Lebanese MP Paula Yacoubian warned that Sehnaoui’s recent maneuvers appear designed to secure personal immunity in exchange for facilitating Israel‑Lebanon normalisation, rather than delivering tangible benefits such as the safe return of displaced residents. While the controversy rages, a tenuous ceasefire has allowed tens of thousands of residents to return to the devastated south, many seeking the remains of loved ones or assessing the damage to their homes.

Syria has taken full control of every former U.S. military site, completing a handover that Damascus says demonstrates the successful absorption of Kurdish‑led fighters into national structures.The final U.S. convoy departed Qasrak air base in Hasakah on Thursday, ending a presence that began in 2014 when American troops entered the fight against ISIL alongside Kurdish units that later formed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).In Damascus, President Ahmed al‑Sharaa received the two most senior SDF officials – military commander Mazloum Abdi and political head Ilham Ahmad – accompanied by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al‑Shaibani and the presidential envoy overseeing the integration process.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the completed handover as evidence of the government’s drive to bring the entire country, including border areas and the northeast, under a single state authority. It stressed that the transfer was carried out in full coordination with the United States, pointing to a constructive relationship that dates back to al‑Sharaa’s 2025 meeting with then‑U.S. President Donald Trump.U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces have “completed turning over all of our major bases in Syria as part of a deliberate and conditions‑based transition.”The handover follows a January cease‑fire agreement between Damascus and the SDF and a March integration pact that places Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army, deploys Syrian security forces to the city centres of Hasakah and Qamishli, and transfers control of border crossings and civilian institutions to Damascus.Syria’s entry into the international coalition against ISIL in November reshaped its role from obstacle to partner, fundamentally altering the rationale for a continued U.S. military footprint.Analyst Charles Lister noted that the last U.S. convoy was routed overland through Jordan rather than Iraq to reduce exposure to potential attacks by Iranian‑backed militias operating in the region.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, a statement that raised hopes for de‑escalation in the Middle‑East conflict and sent global oil prices tumbling. President Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate the news, proclaiming it a "great and brilliant day for the world" and asserting that Iran had pledged never to shut the strategic waterway again. Trump also claimed that Tehran had agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely and would forfeit any frozen U.S. funds, suggesting that a deal‑making session could occur over the upcoming weekend. In contrast, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) offered only qualified support for Araghchi’s declaration, indicating that commercial traffic would be permitted only along a prescribed route and under IRGC naval permission. The United States, however, signalled that its naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in force until all transactions are completed, warning that few vessels are likely to risk passage under the current uncertainty. Oil markets reacted swiftly: Brent crude slipped below $90 per barrel, easing inflationary pressures that had surged after the strait’s earlier closure. Simultaneously, a ten‑day truce in Lebanon entered its second day, temporarily halting Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah‑aligned forces and offering a brief respite to civilians after weeks of intense fighting. Despite the truce, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed a civilian, and Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Israeli Defence Forces were not withdrawing and could resume operations. In Paris, representatives from roughly 40 nations gathered at a conference co‑chaired by France and the United Kingdom to discuss a coordinated plan for safeguarding the strait, which historically carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Araghchi’s statement but urged a "full, unconditional reopening" by all parties, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for any reopening plan to be "lasting and workable". The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general, Arsenio Domínguez, said the agency is reviewing the announcement to ensure it complies with the principle of free navigation for all merchant vessels. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, acting as a key mediator, arrived in Tehran to advance negotiations for a more durable peace, underscoring Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in the region. Overall, while the Hormuz opening has eased immediate market pressures, the broader geopolitical landscape remains volatile, with the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire set to expire soon and regional actors still poised for further confrontation.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a complex situation where multiple groups and individuals continue to engage in fighting. Despite efforts to broker peace, various armed groups remain active, pursuing their interests and agendas. The situation in Sudan remains volatile, with multiple factions vying for power and control. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with many civilians affected by the violence. Understanding the motivations and actions of these groups is crucial to grasping the dynamics of the conflict and potential pathways to peace. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, seeking ways to support a peaceful resolution.