South Asia

20 articles from this region

South AsiaDawn·15h ago

Petroleum levy collection hits record Rs1.57tr

GeoBrief AI

•Petroleum levy collection reached record Rs1.57 trillion in fiscal year 2025-26.
•Civil government operating costs rose 16 percent to exceed Rs1 trillion for the first time.
•Fiscal deficit contracted to 2.6 percent, driven by provincial surpluses and reduced interest payments.
•Defence spending increased 18 percent in fiscal year 2025-26.
•Primary surplus reached record 2.9 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2025-26.

South AsiaDawn·1d ago

Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia will form political, military mechanisms to coordinate under defence pact, Ankara says

GeoBrief AI

•Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia will establish political and military coordination mechanisms under a defence pact, according to Turkiye's defence ministry.
•The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed last week by Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia.
•The alliance will deepen defence industry cooperation among Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia.
•The defence pact was signed amid US-Israeli military operations against Iran affecting regional stability.
•The US-Israeli war on Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

South AsiaDawn·1d ago

AJK police claim JAAC 'abducted' 8 highway police personnel on election duty

GeoBrief AI

•AJK police spokesman Khawar Ali Shaukat alleged JAAC attacked security forces deployed on election duty in the region.
•Eight highway police personnel on election duty were abducted by proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee according to AJK police Thursday.
•AJK police released photographs of the eight abducted officials during a televised press conference by spokesman Khawar Ali Shaukat.
•JAAC is designated as a proscribed organization according to AJK police statement regarding the abduction incident.

South AsiaDawn·1d ago

'A service to the world': Norwegian minister praises Pakistan's leadership for US-Iran mediation efforts

GeoBrief AI

•Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide praised Pakistan's mediation role in the US-Iran conflict as a service to the world.
•Eide stated Norway appreciates Pakistan's mediatory efforts during a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
•Norwegian Foreign Minister Eide visited Pakistan for two days and met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
•Pakistan is engaged in mediating the ongoing US-Iran conflict according to Norwegian diplomatic statements.
•Eide commended Islamabad's mediation efforts upon arrival in the Pakistani capital during his visit.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

'We aspire for it to grow': Turkiye's Erdogan eyes expansion of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

GeoBrief AI

•Turkish President Erdogan stated he hopes more countries will join the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed last week.
•Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Friday to stabilize the region.
•The agreement was signed as the Middle East deals with fallout from the US-Iran war affecting regional players.
•The US-Iran war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
•Erdogan indicated the vision for the defence agreement extends beyond its three current member states.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

'Our vision is not limited': Turkiye's Erdogan eyes expansion of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

GeoBrief AI

•Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated he hopes more countries will join the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed last week.
•Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Friday to stabilize the region.
•The Middle East faces fallout from US-Iran war involving regional players and disrupting Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea shipping.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

After death of 3 Pakistani sailors, FO says Islamabad will implement maritime coalition 'in full earnest'

GeoBrief AI

•Three Pakistani sailors died in Houthi strikes on a Saudi cargo ship on Tuesday.
•Pakistan's Foreign Office stated it will implement multinational maritime defence coalition commitments in full earnest.
•Saudi Arabia unveiled a multinational maritime defence coalition last month to protect Red Sea shipping and energy routes.
•Fourteen countries, including Pakistan, are signatories to the recently announced maritime defence coalition.
•Pakistan is implementing maritime coalition commitments following deaths of Pakistani sailors in Houthi attacks.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

Trump says secret flight change at directives of Secret Service, plane ultimately used faced 'greater risk'

GeoBrief AI

•Donald Trump secretly switched planes in Türkiye last month at Secret Service direction due to Iranian assassination threat.
•Trump transferred from Air Force One to a military plane via catering truck following NATO summit in Ankara.
•Trump stated the plane he ultimately flew on faced greater risk than Air Force One.
•White House did not disclose the plane change and it remained secret until Trump's Wednesday statement.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

FO says Naqvi's visit to Iran aimed at discussing bilateral relations, regional peace and stability

GeoBrief AI

•Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for discussions with senior Iranian officials.
•The Foreign Office stated Naqvi's visit aimed to discuss bilateral relations, security matters, and regional developments.
•FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi announced the visit at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday.
•Pakistan and Iran used the visit to discuss peace and stability in the region.
•The visit provided both countries an opportunity to address bilateral relations according to the Foreign Office.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

Pakistan condemns Houthi attack in Red Sea that claimed lives of 3 nationals

GeoBrief AI

•Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea.
•The Houthi attack on the Tanzania-flagged vessel Tihamah killed three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national.
•Ishaq Dar stated Pakistan was in contact with relevant authorities to obtain further details about the Red Sea attack.
•The Houthi attack on the Tihamah caused deaths and injuries among the vessel's crew members.
•Pakistan's government responded to the Red Sea incident through a public statement by its Deputy Prime Minister on social media platform X.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

3 Pakistanis die as multiple ships attacked in Gulf waters

GeoBrief AI

•Six people killed in attack on Tanzania-flagged ship in Bab el-Mandeb, according to Yemen government.
•Three of the six fatalities were Pakistani nationals, per reports.
•Houthis claimed responsibility for attack on Saudi ship in Red Sea.
•US forces disabled Panama-flagged container ship attempting to breach blockade in region.
•Three separate ship attacks occurred in Red Sea and Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.

South AsiaDawn·2d ago

Islamabad looking to breathe new life into mediation push

GeoBrief AI

•Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Tuesday.
•Pakistan's Khawaja Asif stated warring sides are nearing 'some sort of an arrangement' regarding the conflict.
•Iran views the Islamabad MoU as the 'only legitimate framework' for resolving the wider war.
•Trump criticized Iranian negotiators as 'devious' in relation to ongoing negotiations.
•Pakistan is attempting to revive the stalled Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding through mediation efforts.

South AsiaDawn·3d ago

Ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia

GeoBrief AI

•A Syrian court sentenced Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
•Al-Assad fled to Moscow with his family in December 2024 as rebels advanced toward Damascus.
•Syrian transitional authorities began trying former government figures in person and in absentia during 2025.
•The death sentence represents the first ruling under Syria's transitional authorities against al-Assad.

South AsiaDawn·3d ago

3rd phase of AJK elections: PM Rathore trails PML-N rival in unofficial results

GeoBrief AI

•PM Faisal Mumtaz Rathore trailed PML-N rivals in unofficial results from AJK's 3rd election phase.
•Sitting PM Rathore and both predecessors lost in three of four Poonch division constituencies on Monday.
•Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan was defeated in LA-14 (Dhirkot) constituency.
•AJK election was marred by rigging allegations, violence, polling disruptions, and suspension at some places.

South AsiaDawn·4d ago

3rd phase of AJK elections: Polling concludes in Poonch Division's Bagh, Haveli districts

GeoBrief AI

•Third phase of AJK elections concluded in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts on Monday.
•Polling occurred in four constituencies across Bagh and Haveli districts as part of AJK elections.
•Polling stations operated from 8am to 5pm in the third phase of AJK elections.
•Election Commission classified most of 803 polling stations in four constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive.
•Government officials anticipated clashes in some areas during third phase AJK elections in Poonch Division.

South AsiaDawn·4d ago

Iran says Pak-Saudi-Turkiye deal shows 'change in perception' towards US

GeoBrief AI

•Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah on Friday.
•The defence pact empowers signatory states to treat an attack on one as an attack on all.
•Iran's foreign ministry characterized the pact as a sign of changing regional perception towards the United States.
•The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.

South AsiaDawn·4d ago

3rd phase of AJK polls: PPP continues to allege rigging as voting under way in Poonch Division's Bagh, Haveli

GeoBrief AI

•PPP alleges rigging in the third phase of AJK elections currently underway in Poonch Division.
•Voting in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts runs from 8am to 5pm.
•Election Commission classified 803 polling stations across four constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive.
•Government officials anticipate clashes may occur in some areas during the third phase polling.

South AsiaDawn·4d ago

3rd phase of AJK polls: Voting underway in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts

GeoBrief AI

•Third phase of AJK elections is underway in four constituencies in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts.
•Polling in AJK's third phase began at 8am and will continue until 5pm.
•Election Commission classified most of 803 polling stations in four AJK constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive.
•Government officials anticipated clashes in some areas during AJK's third phase of voting.
•Additional 10,300 personnel were dispatched beyond regular police to four AJK constituencies for the election.

South AsiaDawn·4d ago

3rd phase of AJK polls: Voting begins in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts

GeoBrief AI

•Third phase of AJK elections began in four constituencies within Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts.
•Polling stations opened at 8am and will close at 5pm in the third election phase.
•Election Commission classified 803 polling stations across four constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive.
•Government officials anticipated clashes in some areas during third phase voting.
•10,300 additional troops were dispatched beyond regular police to polling areas.

South AsiaDawn·5d ago

Pakistan to partner with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar on oil storage scheme

GeoBrief AI

•Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced plans for an oil storage scheme with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.
•Pakistan lacks strategic petroleum reserves and remains vulnerable to oil supply shocks from the US-Iran conflict.
•The US-Iran war has reduced oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting Pakistan's energy security.
•Pakistan has been planning since May to increase domestic crude oil and refined product storage capacity.
•The proposed oil storage partnership aims to strengthen Pakistan's energy security.