ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka said today [July 5] that the renunciation of the nuclear weapon option by the littoral and hinterland states of the Indian Ocean region was vital to the concept of the proposal of making the Indian Ocean a zone of peace. This was stated in a joint communique issued simultaneously from Islamabad and Colombo after talks held in Colombo … between Pakistani Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi and his Sri Lankan counterpart W.T. Jayasinghe. … …[T]he Foreign Secretaries … had an in-depth discussion of bilateral, regional and international issues of interest to their countries. The discussions confirmed a close identity of views on bilateral issues. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Islamabad,] the Royal Government of Saudi Arabia has prohibited the entry of non-Muslim citizens resident in Saudi Arabia, or who arrive there on visit visa or transit visa, into the holy places of Mecca and Medina says a notification of the Saudi Government received here. Such persons have, therefore; been advised to keep off these places while moving from one place to another ... in Saudi Arabia, the notification said.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2025