Pakistan Foreign Policy

World

U.S. Diplomatic Missions Ordered to Scrutinize Global Aid for Compliance with Expanded Social Policy Restrictions

Exclusive: A newly revealed State Department cable directs embassies worldwide to audit all assistance programs against stringent new rules prohibiting funding for groups involved in abortion services, diversity initiatives, and gender identity advocacy, expanding a long-contested policy to nearly $30 billion in foreign aid.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Bangladesh's Pivotal Vote: A Strategic Reckoning for India, China, and Pakistan

As Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12 under an interim government, its geopolitical alignments are shifting. The outcome will test the influence of regional powers India, China, and Pakistan in a nation navigating a post-Hasina political landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Coordinated Assaults Rock Balochistan: Pakistan Hunts Separatists After Deadly Two-Day Siege

Pakistan launches a sweeping manhunt for Baloch separatist militants following a devastating wave of coordinated attacks across the volatile province. With over 190 dead, the government vows retaliation as the region reels from assaults on security installations, banks, and prisons.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark move, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling core tenets of two decades of socialist policy. The overhaul aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over its ultimate beneficiaries.

Feb 2, 2026

World

UK's Gridworks Inks $400M Ethiopia Power Deals as Foreign Minister Visits to Address Migration Pressures

During UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper's visit to Addis Ababa, British investor Gridworks signed landmark agreements to develop two major transmission projects. The deals, part of a broader UK strategy linking economic development with migration management, mark Ethiopia's first public-private partnerships in its power transmission sector.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Operation in Balochistan After Deadly Coordinated Assaults

Following a series of brazen, coordinated attacks claimed by a separatist group that killed dozens, Pakistani security forces report a sweeping response resulting in over 140 militant casualties, as tensions with neighboring India and Afghanistan flare.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Explainer: The Baloch Liberation Army – Pakistan's Persistent Separatist Challenge

A recent wave of deadly attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province, claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has spotlighted the escalating capabilities and ambitions of a group that threatens regional stability and critical Chinese investments.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Operation After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead

Pakistani security forces have killed 145 militants in a large-scale, two-day military operation across Balochistan, officials said Sunday. The offensive was launched in response to a wave of coordinated assaults by separatist fighters that killed nearly 50 people, marking one of the deadliest escalations in the restive province in recent years.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Claims Major Counterterrorism Success in Balochistan, Accuses India of Backing Militants

Following a series of deadly coordinated attacks that left 33 dead, Pakistani security forces report killing 145 militants in a sweeping 40-hour operation across Balochistan. Officials allege the fighters were backed by India, a claim vehemently denied by New Delhi.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Election Integrity in Focus: Watchdog Warns of Foreign Funding, Noncitizen Voting Ahead of Midterms

As states finalize legislation before the 2026 elections, a conservative-leaning watchdog group highlights vulnerabilities in the voting system, pushing for reforms to curb foreign influence and clarify citizenship requirements for voters.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Amnesty Hopes Rise Among IS-Linked Foreign Women in Syrian Camp as Government Offensive Shifts Power

Foreign women detained in Syria's Roj camp, linked to the Islamic State group, see a potential path to freedom following a government offensive that weakened their Kurdish guards. As political dynamics shift, their hopes for amnesty or repatriation collide with international reluctance and an uncertain future for the camps.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

BetMGM Cracks Down: Sportsbook Rolls Out Sweeping Anti-Harassment Policy to Shield Athletes and Staff

In a major move for industry accountability, BetMGM announces a zero-tolerance policy allowing it to suspend users for harassing athletes, coaches, or team personnel, as sports betting-related abuse incidents rise.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Investment Outlook 2026: Four Sectors Facing Headwinds Amid Shifting Monetary Policy

As the Federal Reserve prepares for a potential policy shift in 2026, analysts flag real estate, financials, energy, and consumer discretionary as vulnerable sectors. Structural challenges and changing macroeconomic conditions could pressure performance despite broader market gains.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Withdraws from High-Stakes India World Cup Clash, Citing Security and Political Tensions

Pakistan has announced it will not play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India, a decision linked by officials to recent deadly attacks in Balochistan and broader geopolitical disputes involving Bangladesh's tournament exclusion.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Detains Four Foreign Nationals Amid Post-Protest Crackdown

Iranian authorities announced the arrest of four foreigners allegedly involved in last month's widespread unrest, seizing homemade explosives in the operation as the government continues to blame external actors for domestic turmoil.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan's Military Intensifies Crackdown in Balochistan After Wave of Coordinated Attacks

Following a devastating series of insurgent assaults that left at least 33 dead, Pakistani security forces have launched a sweeping counter-operation, resulting in the deaths of 177 militants over 48 hours—a death toll not seen in decades, officials confirmed Monday.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Precious Metals Plunge: Gold and Silver See Sharpest Drop in Decades Amid Policy Shifts

Gold prices tumbled from a record $5,600 to $4,770 per ounce, while silver plummeted 31% in a single day—the steepest decline since 1980. Analysts point to shifting U.S. monetary policy expectations and eased geopolitical anxieties as key drivers behind the sudden sell-off.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Weekend Rundown: Boy, 5, Released from Immigration Custody as Broader Policy Battle Rages On

A five-year-old boy, whose detention made him a symbol of U.S. immigration enforcement, has been released with his father. Their case highlights the ongoing political stalemate over border policy and government funding, with a partial shutdown looming.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Banking on a Loyalist to Reshape Central Bank Policy

President Trump nominates former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, setting the stage for a potential shift in monetary policy and a test of the institution's famed independence.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Navigating the Financial Sector: Two Stocks to Watch, One to Avoid Amid Policy Uncertainty

While the financial sector remains the economy's cornerstone, policy headwinds have capped its recent performance. We analyze one credit rater and a fintech disruptor that show resilience, alongside a legacy asset manager facing challenges.

Jan 30, 2026