Pakistan is in discussions with Saudi Arabia and China for financial support to compensate for a loan of about $3 billion that Islamabad will be forced to pay back to the United Arab Emirates, people familiar with the matter said.

With the U.S. and Iranian delegations gone from Islamabad and the cease-fire uncertain, Pakistan faces its own economic and diplomatic challenges.

The recent geopolitical turbulence surrounding the United States-Israel-Iran conflict may become a pivotal moment for Pakistan-United Arab Emirates ties after nearly a decade of simmering mistrust.

The streets of Islamabad have been emptied by a sudden two-day public holiday, declared to enforce a strict security lockdown in the Pakistani capital.

By Asif Shahzad, Mubasher Bukhari and Timour Azhari ISLAMABAD/DUBAI, April 11 (Reuters) - Pakistan has sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defence pact between the two countries,

Afghanistan and Pakistan said that they won’t “take actions that would escalate or complicate the situation” while China mediates over the deadly cross-border conflict.

Pakistan this month failed to reach an agreement with the UAE to roll over the debt for the first time in seven years

Pakistani authorities said they remain cautiously optimistic about the prospects for continued engagement between the two sides