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The recently signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has triggered concerns in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as it promises to significantly reshape the European market for South Asian exports. Immediate Reactions Bangladesh’s interim government advisor, Mohammad Yunus, has urged the EU to expedite trade agreements with Dhaka. He met with the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, and Nuria Lopez, Chairperson of EuroCham Bangladesh, to discuss the implications of the new deal. Meanwhile, Pakistani trade experts have warned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government that delays in securing European trade deals could severely impact the country’s textile industry. What Changes for Pakistan and Bangladesh? Under decades-long arrangements, Pakistan and Bangladesh...

Kabul: The Taliban administration has welcomed India’s decision to increase development assistance for Afghanistan in the Union Budget 2026–27, describing it as a sign of improving ties between the two countries. In the latest budget, India raised its allocation for Afghanistan from ₹100 crore to ₹150 crore — an increase of ₹50 crore over the previous year. The funding will be routed through India’s Ministry of External Affairs as part of its overseas development assistance. Analysts say the move is expected to provide much-needed support to the landlocked country, which continues to face economic and humanitarian challenges. According to reports, Suhail Shaheen, Afghanistan’s ambassador in Qatar and a senior Taliban leader, praised the decision in remarks to WION. He said the increa...

Maldives has stirred a fresh geopolitical controversy in the Indian Ocean by staking a claim over the Chagos Islands, a group of nearly 60 islands located about 500 km from the Maldives. The largest of these islands, Diego Garcia, currently under UK control, hosts a major U.S. naval base. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has proposed a deal to former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the strategic island. Maldives’ Proposal to the U.S. In an interview with Newsweek, President Muizzu said he is open to an arrangement under which if Maldives assumes control of the Chagos Islands, the United States could continue to maintain its naval facility on Diego Garcia. This unexpected move comes despite Mauritius being recognized as the sovereign authority over the Chagos Islands by the Un...

Gwadar, Balochistan: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out highly coordinated attacks on Chinese infrastructure and security installations across Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan. The attacks reportedly inflicted significant losses on Pakistani security forces. In response, the Pakistani Army conducted at least 20 drone strikes targeting areas in Killi Jamaldini, Noshki district. Reports indicate that these strikes resulted in casualties among civilians, including women and children. According to the Balochistan Post, the drone operations began overnight following the BLA’s assault on over a dozen towns this week, during which the group claimed to have killed more than 200 Pakistani soldiers. China Suspends Operations at Gwadar PortFearing further attacks, China has tempo...

Kabul: Following the series of severe attacks across 12 cities in Balochistan, Pakistan attempted to deflect blame onto India and Afghanistan. While India firmly rejected Pakistan’s allegations, the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has directly exposed Pakistan’s false narratives. Hurryat Radio, Afghanistan’s state-run media outlet, published a report calling Pakistan “deceptive and dishonest.” The channel stated that “for years, the Pakistani military has relied on familiar tactics to divert attention from internal instability. Whenever internal divisions deepen, Pakistan activates its machinery of accusations, making Afghanistan the perennial scapegoat.” The report added that Pakistan’s strategy is designed to conceal failures and reinforce a narrative of national siege. This,...

Islamabad: India’s landmark free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, creating a climate of concern in Islamabad. Pakistani experts are warning that the country is falling behind India in global trade and urging immediate action to avoid economic setbacks. Since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency, global tariff wars have escalated, affecting countries from India to Europe. India, hit by 50% U.S. tariffs, has responded strategically by forging a massive trade deal with the EU, widely described as the ‘Mother of All Free Trade Deals.’ This move has alarmed not only the United States but also India’s regional rivals, Pakistan and Bangladesh. While Bangladesh is actively negotiating trade agreements with Europe, Pakistan faces the risk of ...

Washington/New Delhi: The United States is spearheading a major international coalition on critical minerals, named Pax Silica, aimed at reducing global dependence on China for rare earths. The alliance, which initially includes 20 countries, will hold its first meeting in Washington from 2–4 February. India, along with Australia, Japan, the European Union, the UK, and New Zealand, is participating in the summit. India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting will focus on forming a strategic partnership to secure the supply chain for essential minerals critical to semiconductors, AI technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), and clean energy infrastructure. Strategic Goals and Geopolit...

Canberra/New Delhi: The recent trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) has drawn global attention, with an Australian think tank calling it a “case study for strategic economic diplomacy.” The Lowy Institute, in a detailed report, highlighted how the deal reshapes global trade flows and offers lessons for countries like Australia. The study emphasized that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) connects two of the world’s largest democratic economies, signaling a shift from old trade certainties. “By linking two major democracies, this deal reconfigures global trade flows while demonstrating how leading economies adapt to an increasingly fragmented and unstable world order,” the report said. Strategic and Economic SignificanceThe Lowy Institute noted that the deal ...

Quetta, Pakistan: Baloch insurgents have carried out the largest coordinated attack in two decades in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault, which reportedly included female suicide commandos and targeted multiple cities across the region. The BLA has named this campaign HeroF 2.0 and asserted that the operations are ongoing. According to the group, Pakistani security forces suffered heavy casualties, and the insurgents temporarily gained control over several urban and rural areas. BLA spokesperson Jiyand Baloch stated that Islamabad’s military presence was pushed back, while clashes continued at multiple locations. Pakistani Soldiers AbductedThe BLA said its fighters struck Pakistani Army, police, and Fr...

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stark warning to the United States, accusing Washington of attempting to seize Iran’s oil, gas, and mineral wealth. Posting multiple messages on social media platform X, Khamenei emphasized that Iran’s resources, strategic geography, and energy reserves are highly coveted by the U.S., which previously exercised extensive influence over the country. “America controlled Iran’s resources, oil, politics, and security for over 30 years. Now, with their grip weakened, they are looking to return,” Khamenei wrote. “The Iranian nation stands firmly and will prevent any such attempts.” This comes amid ongoing threats of U.S. military action. While former President Donald Trump has claimed that Iranian officials are engaged in di...