Aisha Farooqui takes charge as Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson

The high-level meeting took place during Wagle's first official visit to India since assuming office as Nepal's Finance Minister. India's Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs also attended the discussions.

Beijing reiterated its opposition to "long-arm jurisdiction" and unilateral economic sanctions, stating that any sanctions not authorised by the UN Security Council have no basis in international law. Defending sovereign trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said normal economic and trade cooperation between sovereign nations is not directed at third parties and should not be subjected to external coercion or interference.

International experts and human rights advocates at a conference held on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) backed India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, arguing that the issue needs to be examined in the context of security, human rights and the water rights of communities dependent on the Indus River system.

Marking the commencement of the annual cleanliness drive, the Foreign Secretary administered the official ‘Swachhata Pledge’ to MEA personnel, planted saplings under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ environmental initiative, and participated directly in Shramdaan (voluntary labor) to maintain tidy office surroundings. 

Residents of Reshun, Zait and Kuragh villages have resumed their protest after a 15-day deadline given to the provincial government to rationalise electricity bills expired, according to a report by Dawn.