Days after Nana Patekar's death, old friend and actor Susmita Mukherjee remembered him with a soul-stirring tribute. Sharing pictures from Deepti Naval's birthday party on 3rd of February, 1991, Sushmita mused over the lost time, innocence and moments that became intrinsically attached with persons who were part of the memory. "Just the four of us. Wine, music, laughter, and even a piano. A little world of our own, untouched by the complexities of life that lay ahead. "And then, one of us slipped away. We mourned not just the person we had lost, but also the absence of what once was - the moments, the togetherness, the innocence, and a time we could never return to," wrote Susmita. Susmita recalled the bygone time when a dear friend of 38 years sent her a bunch of photographs. "The memories were hazy, the details blurred by time. But the moment I looked at those photographs, something magical happened. They awakened a part of my brain where memor...
US President Donald Trump has triggered intense diplomatic speculation regarding a potential mediating role for Islamabad in the ongoing Washington-Tehran standoff, after he shared an official statement from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The move follows a post on X by Prime Minister Sharif, in which he expressed Islamabad's eagerness to facilitate a diplomatic resolution to the regional crisis. Sharif stated that Pakistan was "ready and honoured" to moderate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the United States and Iran, provided there is a mutual agreement from both parties.
Expanding on Islamabad's position, the Prime Minister noted, "Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the war in the Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in the region and beyond." He further clarified that, "Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict."
President Trump's decision to share the post on his Truth Social account without further comment has been viewed by observers as a sign of active backchannel diplomacy. This development aligns with international reports suggesting that Pakistan, alongside Egypt and Turkiye, is quietly working to broker a peace deal in the Middle East.
While Islamabad is reportedly being positioned as a potential neutral venue, the White House has maintained a stance of strategic caution. US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the current environment as "sensitive" and "fluid," advising against treating unconfirmed reports as definitive.
"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House," Leavitt cautioned. This statement comes amidst unverified claims that Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff could potentially meet Iranian officials on Pakistani soil.
Despite the lack of formal confirmation, indirect communication appears to be intensifying, with Islamabad reportedly serving as a critical conduit for messages. According to reports from CNN, the United States has utilised Pakistani channels to transmit a 15-point list of requirements to Tehran. The network further indicated that high-ranking Pakistani intelligence officials have maintained active communication with US figures, including Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, to facilitate these diplomatic exchanges.
The sudden diplomatic momentum follows President Trump's recent declaration of a five-day pause on planned strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. Trump attributed the pause to "very good and productive conversations" with Tehran, claiming the US is in contact with a "top person" in Iran. Conversely, Tehran continues to maintain that it has not entered into direct negotiations with Washington since the commencement of the hostilities.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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