IJR News

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey Activate Defense PactWorld — 6dSaudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have agreed to activate collective-defense measures under the Mecca alliance and swiftly deploy previously agreed forces and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks. The move puts Pakistan’s defense commitments to Riyadh to the test after Islamabad had earlier said a military response was not under discussion.

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Two Killed in Disputed India-Pakistan Border Shooting — 6dIndia and Pakistan exchanged diplomatic protests after Indian border guards killed two people in Punjab near the international border. Pakistan said the victims were unarmed civilians and called for an investigation, while India said the group had crossed into its territory despite warnings and posed a security threat.

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HBL Signs Pakistan’s First PayPak Credit Card DealBusiness — Oct 2, 2026HBL Microfinance Bank, 1LINK and Euronet Pakistan are partnering to launch the country’s first PayPak credit card, with multiple card options and plans for conventional and Islamic offerings. Separately, Pathfinder CITADEL launched a Karachi chapter focused on youth and technology, while Syngenta Pakistan’s country head stressed that practical, timely decisions by farmers are key to food security.

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Pakistan reports fuel aid reaching 9 million amid U.S.-Iran warWorld — 4dPakistan says its fuel-relief program has reached more than 9 million people as oil-price increases linked to the U.S.-Iran war strain household budgets. The scheme gives motorcycle and rickshaw users weekly fuel assistance and offers small-car owners a per-liter discount, though some motorists have reported registration and documentation problems.

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India Wins Asian Games Gold, Skips Pakistan Handshake — Oct 1, 2026India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s cricket final to win gold, but the teams continued their no-handshake pattern. In contrast, athletes from the two countries exchanged greetings and showed camaraderie in other sports, including volleyball.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Pakistan Minister Warns Food Insecurity Threatens National SecurityHealth — Oct 2, 2026Food safety advocates argue it should be embedded in business leadership and daily decisions, while a sharp U.S.-European regulatory divide and major 2026 outbreaks have renewed concerns about oversight and consumer protection. Separately, climate change, conflict and resource pressures are worsening food insecurity worldwide; Pakistan’s officials warn that water scarcity and extreme weather threaten agriculture and call for coordinated support for farmers.

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Afghanistan says forces killed 28 fighters crossing from Pakistan — Sep 27, 2026Afghanistan’s defense ministry says its forces killed **28** fighters and wounded 32 after a group it linked to Islamic State crossed from Pakistan into Nuristan.

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Maya Lindstrom Pakistan should tighten its side of the border so groups like this stop using it as a route.

IMF Reaches Staff-Level Deals Across Three Countries — 2dThe IMF reached staff-level agreements with Niger on a new 38-month program worth about $203 million, with an initial $36 million disbursement pending approval, and with Pakistan on reviews that could unlock up to $1.21 billion. Papua New Guinea could receive up to $189 million after final reviews, also subject to board approval, as the IMF forecasts slower growth and higher inflation amid weaker resource output, climate impacts and rising costs.

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Gunmen ambush traffic police vehicle in Pakistan's Tank district — Sep 28, 2026Gunmen killed three traffic police in Tank district on September 28, 2026, fled with their vehicle and weapons; police later recovered the vehicle from Garah Budha.

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Pakistani pilots vie for first foreign Tiangong crew — Sep 28, 2026Pakistan will choose Zeeshan Ali or Khurram Daud by mid-to-late October 2026 as the first foreign astronaut aboard China's Tiangong after months of Beijing training.

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Tom Gallagher Pakistan's choice between those two pilots for Tiangong marks real progress in their space program.

Suicide bombing kills 11, injures 30 in Pakistan — Sep 26, 2026Suicide bombing at Dera Ismail Khan police checkpoint kills at least 11 and wounds about 30 on Sept. 26, 2026; TTP claims responsibility.

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Quentin Tarantino vs Martin ScorseseYourlist — VS BattleThe video store savant versus the film-school don — two visions of American violence, guilt, and cool.

Pakistan Checkpost Blast Kills 11, Injures Dozens — Sep 26, 2026Blast at Aman Mela police checkpost near Darazinda kills at least 11 on September 26, 2026; 20-30 injured, including police and civilians.

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Franciscans mark 800th death anniversaryGood News — Oct 1, 2026Franciscan communities are marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death with jubilee-year services and events, including a Washington-area Transitus commemoration and celebrations in Pakistan centered on peace, humility and the saint’s legacy. The anniversary is also bringing attention to parish life and renewal in Vancouver, while events in Assisi combine worship, music and remembrance.

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Pakistan Plans Bigger China Swap, Awaits US Decision — Sep 17, 2026Pakistan will seek a bigger China yuan swap in 2027 after fully drawing 30 billion yuan, Aurangzeb said, while awaiting a U.S. decision within two months on a $10 billion facility.

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Rachel Meyers Relying on these external lines keeps reserves afloat but does little to fix underlying fiscal problems over time.

Reported Pakistani Strike Kills Three in Afghan Province — Sep 21, 2026"If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so," Mujahid said; a reported Kunar strike killed at least three.

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Derek Foss Afghanistan's warning about defending its land makes sense after this reported attack in Kunar.

The grammar gatekeeper testQuizie — QuizTwelve spelling and grammar traps that catch almost everyone. Pass, and the AI knights you. Fail, and it's gentle about it. Mostly.

Report Records 42 Attacks on Indian Higher EducationPolitics — Sep 26, 2026At a Texas Tribune festival, a UT professor denied tenure said he believes his politically sensitive research influenced the decision, raising concerns about academic freedom. Other commentary debates how to assess academic freedom and whether political or social agendas are shaping scholarship, while a separate essay urges Pakistan to reform public universities to drive research and innovation.

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Afghanistan-based group claims attack on Kohat mosque during Friday prayers — Sep 18, 2026A VBIED and gunmen struck worshippers and police at Old Police Lines on Sept. 18. IMP claimed it; tolls range from 16 to 27 as Pakistan vows to hunt facilitators.

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Tom Gallagher These attacks on worshippers during Friday prayers show the militants have no limits, and Pakistan must secure its borders better to stop them.

Pakistan Says It Struck Afghan Drone Sites — Sep 23, 2026Pakistani air defenses shot down eight drones launched by the Afghan Taliban near the Torkham border and Kohat, reflecting ongoing high alert along the western frontier. Security sources describe the drones as rudimentary and frame the incidents as evidence of cross-border threats and the Taliban's alleged support for terrorism.

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US inflation rises 0.4 percent in August as Pakistan weekly rate jumps — Sep 11, 2026Inflation remained stubborn in the United States in August, with the CPI up 0.4% month over month as gasoline prices surged, while core inflation cooled slightly but still pointed to tighter policy expectations for a Fed rate hike. Meanwhile in Pakistan, the Sensitive Price Index jumped 8.62% year over year for the week, led by onions and petroleum products, underscoring persistent cost pressures even as some food items fell.

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Dana Whitfield Core inflation easing slightly is welcome but the overall numbers still point to another Fed rate increase soon.

India Summons Pakistani Diplomat After Naval Ships Collide in Arabian Sea — Sep 16, 2026India summoned Pakistan Charge d'Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich after a Sept. 15 North Arabian Sea collision it called a breach of a 1991 three-nautical-mile separation rule.

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Sam Okafor Pakistan needs to explain how its ships ended up that close and work harder to prevent repeats of this incident.

U.S., Iran Hold Indirect Talks Amid Threats — Sep 19, 2026Iranian officials said there are no signs of a US message being conveyed through Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during his Tehran visit, which is instead aimed at following up on bilateral agreements. They also note Iran’s conditions for ending the war and rising regional tensions as the US issues security alerts amid the broader US-Israel-Iran dynamic.

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Taliban Seeks U.S. Return, Embassy Remains ClosedWorld — Sep 18, 2026Five years after the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul, the Taliban are seeking diplomatic engagement and an embassy, but Washington remains reluctant to recognize the government while regional powers including Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan push for talks amid security concerns like the TTP. At the same time, the regime is pursuing a UN-backed opium-ban effort that has dramatically reduced cultivation, a shift noted by UNODC, even as families of Afghanistan’s victims await justice five years on.

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Bangladesh factories cancel orders as Gulf LNG supplies tighten — Sep 17, 2026The Gulf crisis is triggering severe energy shortages in Bangladesh and Pakistan, with LNG and oil supply disruptions driving blackouts, higher fuel costs, and rising production costs for industries like garments in Bangladesh. Governments are resorting to subsidies and spot-market purchases to cope, while households face intermittent gas, long cooking waits, and power outages as regional energy markets feel the strain.

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UNICEF report says 1.5 million Pakistani children faced online sexual abuse — Sep 21, 2026UNICEF: about 1.5 million Pakistani children aged 12-17 faced online sexual abuse in one year; 85% of perpetrators were known to them and 71% told no one.

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Dana Whitfield One and a half million children in a single year is unacceptable and demands stronger online protections at home.