Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

    
     FGN29: PAK-INDIA-5THLD STRIKE
     *Pakistan says it will consider de-escalation if India stops further attacks
     Lahore/Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday said it will consider de-escalation if India stops further attacks, as the militaries of the two countries targeted each other's installations, further escalating tensions.
    
     FGN24: PAK-INDIA-LD DAR
     Would consider de-escalation if India stops attack: Pak foreign minister
     Lahore/Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said Islamabad will consider de-escalation if India stops further attacks, but added that its military is operating on the defensive and taking minimum action.
    
     FGN21: PAK-INDIA-ASIF-NUCLEAR
     India-Pak tensions: Pak defence minister says 'nuclear' not on cards right now
     Lahore: The option to go nuclear is not on the cards right now, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said as Indian and Pakistani militaries targeted each other's installations, escalating the already serious confrontations.
    
     FGN26: PAK-IMF
     IMF approves USD 1 billion loan for Pak; India abstains from vote, opposes funds to terror-sponsor
     New York/Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund has approved the immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility.
    
     FGN31: PAK-INDIA-LD SAUDI
     Saudi Foreign Minister speaks with EAM Jaishankar, Pak FM Dar; discusses efforts to de-escalate tensions
     Dubai: Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday evoked its “close and balanced relations” with both India and Pakistan and discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions and end ongoing military confrontations between them.
    
     FGN27: RUSSIA-SANJAY SETH
     Russia assured full support to India in its fight against all manifestations of terrorism: MoS Defence
     Moscow: Russia has assured full support to India in its fight against all manifestations of terrorism and promised to promptly fulfil military orders in the pipeline, visiting Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said on Saturday.*

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)