The world’s largest democracy, in its own words
Since July, a protest movement has tested how free India's institutions really are. The record the state has filed under oath keeps colliding with the one its own evidence shows.
International
Pakistan, Saudi, Turkiye military chiefs meet in Riyadh
Pakistan's Asim Munir, Turkiye's Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, and Saudi Arabia's Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili held urgent talks in Riyadh under the Makkah Alliance amid escalating regional security threats.
Boris Johnson has lost it on Imran Khan
Pakistan's courts are already ordering what Johnson demands. The man who slashed Britain's aid to Pakistan now wants to use "our leverage" to overrule its courts. Everything else in his Daily Mail column is wrong, half-told or left out.
Pakistan’s Saudi commitment: deployed, declared, undefined
"Pakistan stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia diplomatically and physically," the Pakistan military spokesman said this week, pausing to underline the second word himself. "We will go to any extent."
BRICS in New Delhi: Some skipped it, others skipped dinner
High-profile absences and early departures cast a shadow over Narendra Modi's showcase BRICS gathering in New Delhi. Brazil's Lula skipped it entirely, Saudi Arabia's crown prince never attended, the UAE's Crown Prince left before dinner, and Xi Jinping disappeared before the evening began.
Pakistan requests $10bn US exchange stabilisation facility, Reuters
Pakistan has formally requested a rare $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility from the United States, according to Reuters. The proposed arrangement could strengthen the country's foreign exchange reserves, support the rupee and mark a significant step forward in bilateral economic relations.
Trump reportedly rebukes Netanyahu as Israel’s Lebanon escalation threatens US-Iran diplomacy
Trump reportedly warned Netanyahu against further escalation in Lebanon as US-Iran diplomacy faced renewed pressure, with Pakistan and Qatar involved in efforts to preserve a fragile regional framework.
Field Marshal Munir played a central role in US-Iran mediation, New York Times
The New York Times reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir played a central role in US-Iran mediation and his overnight Tehran visit was an intensification of shuttle diplomacy. The Thursday Times traces how Pakistan's army chief built the trust of both Washington and Tehran, one visit at a time.
Trump wants to go to Pakistan. That’s why Vance has to stay home
Donald Trump has long favoured high-profile diplomacy and may want to fly in himself if Pakistan offers the chance for a final deal or landmark announcement, meaning JD Vance would likely need to stay home in Washington or return from Islamabad first.
The road to Islamabad
From calls with Tehran and Gulf capitals to ceasefire diplomacy and marathon talks in Islamabad, Pakistan has inserted itself into the most delicate phase of the U.S.-Iran crisis and emerged as an unlikely broker of dialogue.
