The Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) here on Tuesday signed an agreement to formalise cooperation between the two bodies in science diplomacy. The ceremony took place at Pakistan Academy of Sciences (Pas) where Comsats Executive Director Dr Imtinan Qureshi asserted the need for pragmatic and informed decision-making regarding issues of global climate change and international commitments and policies, leading to consensus on binding international agreements.

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel led a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan for the June 3 inaugural session of the U.S.-Pakistan Education, Science, and Technology Working Group, one of six such groups under the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. Under Secretary Stengel and Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal met in Islamabad to highlight the numerous higher education programs and exchanges between the United States and Pakistan, especially those in the fields of science and technology.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Wednesday said at least 7% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate was required to provide proper health, education and employment opportunities to youth. He was giving his opening remarks at meeting of US-Pakistan Education, Science and Technology Sixth Working Group here at "P" Block Auditorium here. 

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday denied any "flip-flop" in India's policy towards Pakistan and said talks with the neighbour can only be held in an atmosphere of "sadbhavna" or goodwill and without the involvement of a third party. Addressing a mega press conference here on the completion of the NDA government's one year in office, Sushma Swaraj said there were no talks planned with Pakistan as of now and also discounted media reports about cricket diplomacy being launched between the two countries. 

On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China, Xinhua published a rare opinion piece by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The obvious choreography of the visit and article shows the delicate balance in relations between China, India and Pakistan. For Beijing, both powers are important if it is to realize its ambitious strategy of trade and economic corridors emanating from the Middle Kingdom under the rubric of the Silk Road Economic Belt. 

Differences between nations and people are being bridged at the Venice Biennale, where India's Shilpa Gupta and Pakistan's Rashid Rana have come together for a unique art project, says Farah Siddiqui. 

Interestingly, the ‘Himalayan tragedy’ provided India with a readymade opportunity to score brownie points over its main rival and neighbour China on aid diplomacy and the Narendra Modi administration grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Although China had overtaken India as Nepal’s largest foreign investor in 2014, Beijing failed to catch up with New Delhi’s humanitarian diplomacy on this occasion.

When India’s premier wanted to signal a thaw in relations with rival Pakistan recently, he didn’t call a press conference or make a televised speech. He tweeted. (...) Since Mr. Modi took office last year as leader of the world’s largest democracy, policy pronouncements have come in 140-character snippets. He has used Twitter and other social-media services to engage in diplomacy and build his image in a way few other global leaders have.