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In Focus
15 people killed in militant attack on security checkpost in KP?
Military blames TTP for attack in Tank district; 12 militants killed as authorities announce curfew and clearance operation
On 24 July, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported that 15 people, including 12 soldiers, two policemen and a Forest Department official, were killed in a terrorist attack on a joint security checkpost in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attempted to storm the checkpost. Still, they were repelled by security forces, who killed 12 attackers before the militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall, causing extensive damage. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, while the military said operations would continue under the “Azm-i-Istehkam” counterterrorism campaign.
Following the attack, authorities imposed a daytime curfew across Tank district and launched a clearance operation to locate any remaining militants. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report on the incident, while officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and cooperate with security forces. The attack comes amid a broader rise in militant violence in northwestern Pakistan, where security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations following a series of recent attacks targeting police and military personnel. (“Terrorist attack on joint police checkpost in KP’s Tank martyrs 15, including 14 security personnel: ISPR,” Dawn, 24 July 2026; “12 military men among 15 martyred in terrorist attack on security check post in K-P's Tank,” The Express Tribune, 24 July 2026)
SCO Meeting: Foreign Minister urges action on terrorism from Afghanistan?
Pakistan calls for regional cooperation while promoting diplomacy and future economic integration
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers that terrorism originating from Afghan territory remained Pakistan’s most pressing security challenge. He urged the SCO to press the Afghan Taliban to honour its counterterrorism commitments, saying more than 560 Pakistanis had been killed in over 2,000 terrorist attacks this year and alleging that militant groups continued to recruit and operate from Afghan soil. Dar said lasting regional peace and economic development depended on eliminating cross-border terrorism while reiterating Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Dar also called for the SCO to prioritise digital connectivity, technological inclusion and energy security over the coming decade, while reaffirming Pakistan’s support for dialogue to resolve regional conflicts. Highlighting Islamabad’s role in facilitating US-Iran talks and the June 2026 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), he urged the international community to build on recent diplomatic progress toward lasting peace. On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar held bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, focusing on regional cooperation, bilateral ties and Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO in 2026-27. (“Peace, stability only possible by eliminating terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, Dar says at SCO meeting,” Dawn, 24 July 2026)
In Brief
EXTERNAL
United States unveils new tariffs on 60 trade partners, including Pakistan, over forced labour concerns
On 24 July, Dawn reported that the United States will impose new tariffs, ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent, on 60 trading partners including Pakistan, India, China and the European Union over forced labour concerns, replacing an expiring global duty; Pakistan is among 17 economies facing the lower 10 per cent rate, effective 25 July. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the country has enforced a forced labour import ban "for nearly a century" and that trading partners should do the same. At the same time, Islamabad had submitted detailed responses to the USTR ahead of trade talks earlier this month. The move follows the Supreme Court's February decision striking down earlier Trump tariffs, is considered more resistant to legal challenge, and comes as Washington separately investigates 16 economies over excess industrial capacity, with analysts noting it signals a more durable, protectionist US trade posture and shows that even signed US trade deals remain fragile. ("US unveils new tariffs on 60 trade partners, including Pakistan, over forced labour concerns," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Pakistan explores fresh push to mend US-Iran fences with China's backing
On 25 July, Dawn reported that Pakistan is exploring a path towards resuming stalled US-Iran talks, nearly five months into their war, following a push initiated by China, as exploratory discussions took place during Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni's second Islamabad visit within 10 days; the development came as US missiles struck Iranian targets, including the Revolutionary Guards Navy headquarters in Gilan and the city of Ahvaz, killing four, after President Trump vowed "major military punishment" over Houthi and Iranian attacks extending the war to the Red Sea. China's foreign ministry said it "supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties." At the same time, Qatar's prime minister separately urged all parties to implement the US-Iran memorandum of understanding to preserve regional security. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyrgyzstan, stressing the need to build on the Islamabad MoU of June 2026, and separately noted that Pakistan's hosting of April's US-Iran talks had enabled the first high-level direct contact between the two sides in 47 years; Trump, meanwhile, said Iran was growing "more and more serious" in talks while warning China and Russia against getting involved in the conflict. ("Another bid to mend US-Iran fences 'with China's blessing'," Dawn, 25 July 2026)
Pakistan-China health investment conference yields agreements worth USD 629.5 million
On 23 July, Dawn reported that a Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical & Healthcare B2B Investment Conference held in Islamabad on 17-18 July resulted in 22 companies signing agreements worth USD 629.5 million and 84 memorandums of understanding worth an estimated USD 800 million, Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal said, with the deals covering vaccine production, active pharmaceutical ingredients, medical devices and clinical trials; Kamal also cited the government's newly approved National Local Vaccine Production Policy, aimed at building domestic manufacturing capacity as Pakistan currently imports all 13 vaccines used in its national immunisation programme. ("Over 20 deals worth $629.5m inked at Pak-China health moot," Dawn, 23 July 2026)
UK explores deeper institutional trade mechanism with Pakistan
On 24 July, Dawn reported that British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal discussed transforming the existing Pakistan-UK Trade Dialogue into a more structured mechanism with defined sectors, working groups and timelines, with both sides agreeing to intensify trade engagement and hold the next Trade Dialogue in Islamabad this autumn; Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul noted two working groups are already operational and called for a stronger role for the UK-Pakistan Business Council. Separately, Kamal welcomed Meta's plan to train 1,000 Pakistani SMEs in digital business and AI tools between August and November, to be implemented locally by AtomCamp. ("UK eyes strong trade ties with Pakistan," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Finance Minister pushes for deeper economic partnership with US beyond IMF framework
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's three-day Washington visit sought to move Pakistan's economic relationship with the US beyond IMF-driven crisis support toward investment partnership, with no major financial package announced but discussions opened on several fronts; besides IMF meetings highlighting improved fiscal and reserve indicators, Aurangzeb reportedly requested a USD 10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a request Washington has not officially acknowledged. Separate talks with the US Export-Import Bank and the International Development Finance Corporation focused on building a pipeline of bankable projects in energy, IT, infrastructure, minerals and agriculture, alongside a Honeywell Technologies proposal to modernise Pakistan's refinery sector. ("Aurangzeb for deeper partnership with US," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Pakistan, seven Muslim countries condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa incursion
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Pakistan joined Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a joint statement condemning Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's incursion into Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound with hundreds of Israeli Jews, calling it a "flagrant violation" of international law and the decades-old status quo under which Jews may visit but not pray at the site; the ministers called on Israel to immediately remove access restrictions to the Old City and urged the international community to compel Israel to halt its "ongoing violations." The incursion, Ben Gvir's latest of more than a dozen since taking office, coincided with the Jewish fasting day of Tisha B'Av. ("'Unacceptable': Pakistan, 7 other countries condemn Israeli minister Ben Gvir's Al Aqsa incursion," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Foreign Minister stresses building on Islamabad MoU commitments in meeting with Iran's Araghchi
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyrgyzstan, stressing the need to build on the Islamabad MoU of June 2026 amid renewed US-Iran strikes since 8 July that have cast doubt on the agreement's future; Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its diplomatic support and for facilitating the repatriation of Iranian fishermen and sailors interdicted by the US. The meeting came as US Central Command carried out a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military and coastal targets near the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media reporting missiles hitting Qeshm Island. ("DPM Dar stresses need to build on Islamabad MoU commitments in meeting with Iran's Araghchi," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Iran calls for expanding strategic cooperation with Pakistan amid Gulf tensions
On 25 July, Dawn reported that Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam called for expanding bilateral strategic cooperation, describing Islamabad's diplomatic engagement as a constructive contribution to regional peace, at a Centre for International Strategic Studies roundtable on Pakistan-Iran relations amid the wider Gulf conflict; former ambassador Masood Khan noted Pakistan's advocacy of peaceful dispute resolution had strengthened its credibility as a facilitator, while speakers including Dr Nazish Mahmood and retired Rear Admiral Faisal Shah pointed to cooperation on border security, trade and energy, and the strategic risks of continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz. ("Iran calls for expanding strategic cooperation with Pakistan," Dawn, 25 July 2026)
ECONOMY
PM Shehbaz inaugurates Pakistan's largest data centre, Sky47 AI cloud, in Islamabad
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated Sky47's Karakorum-01 data centre in Islamabad, an 8.5-megawatt facility he called "awe-inspiring," built under the supervision of Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, with a further 5-megawatt centre planned at Port Qasim by September and additional sites in Karachi and Lahore; IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the infrastructure would underpin "token intelligence" production as global data centre demand is projected to triple by 2030, citing McKinsey and Goldman Sachs figures, and linked it to the government's broader Digital Nation Pakistan initiatives including the 5G spectrum auction and undersea fibre expansion. ("PM Shehbaz inaugurates country's 'largest' data centre, AI cloud Sky47 in Islamabad," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Short-term inflation climbs for 67th consecutive week on food and energy prices
On 25 July, Dawn reported that the Sensitive Price Index rose 9.66 per cent year-on-year for the week ending 23 July, up 0.91 per cent from the previous week, marking its 67th consecutive weekly increase, driven mainly by costly perishable food items and steadily rising petroleum prices pushing up transport costs; the sharpest annual gains came in tomatoes (253.04 per cent), onions (81.55 per cent), wheat flour (74.13 per cent), LPG (46.87 per cent) and diesel (31.92 per cent), while potatoes, sugar and chicken saw annual price declines. Week-on-week, 22 of the index's 51 items rose, eight fell and 21 held stable, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. ("Short-term inflation climbs for 67th week," Dawn, 25 July 2026)
SECURITY
Bannu: Security operation kills four more militants as total rises to 48
On 24 July, Dawn reported that four more suspected militants were killed and five others arrested during a joint intelligence-based operation in the Talgai area of Bannu's Wazir subdivision, bringing the total killed in the ongoing operation to 48. Personnel from Bannu Police, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), and the Rapid Response Force (RRF) took part in the sweep, during which two alleged terrorist hideouts were demolished, and weapons and ammunition were recovered. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the operation. Separately, the local business community staged a protest demanding the immediate restoration of mobile and internet services, which had been suspended in Bannu due to the ongoing operation. ("4 terrorists killed in Bannu operation," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Mastung: Six militants killed in Khud Kocha operation as curfew continues
On 24 July, Dawn reported on six militants being killed during a security operation in the Khud Kocha area of Mastung, Balochistan, conducted based on credible intelligence. Several women suicide bombers and their facilitators were also arrested during the same operation, and multiple militant hideouts were destroyed. The Balochistan Home Department had imposed an indefinite curfew in the Khud Kocha area the previous night specifically to facilitate the operation, which comes amid a sustained security push across the province. ("Six terrorists killed in Mastung operation," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Lieutenant General Aamer Raza named Pakistan's first Commander National Strategic Command
On 24 July, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Lieutenant General Aamer Raza, who served as chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, had been promoted to a four-star general rank and appointed as the first Commander National Strategic Command (CNSC). The CNSC post was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment to assume the nuclear management role previously held by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), a post that was abolished following the amendment. The appointment of the CNSC is tied solely to the recommendation of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. ("Lt Gen Aamer Raza promoted to 4-star rank, appointed first Commander National Strategic Command," Dawn, 24 July 2026)
AF-PAK
PM Shehbaz urges Kabul to act on terrorism; announces PKR 300 billion Balochistan highway
On 25 July, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif again called on the Afghan interim government to act against terrorist organisations and stop Afghan soil from being used to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, saying Kabul had failed to take effective action despite repeated requests. Speaking at a National Workshop on Balochistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz announced a PKR 300 billion Karachi-Chaman dual carriageway project to be completed within two years, along with an additional 10 per cent laptop and scholarship quota for Balochistan students and the conversion of 27,000 agricultural tube wells to solar energy under a PKR 75 billion initiative. He also inaugurated Pakistan's first Sky47 artificial intelligence (AI) cloud computing facility alongside CDF Field Marshal Munir. ("PM again urges Kabul to act against terrorist groups," Dawn, 25 July 2026)
SOCIETY
3172 cases of gender-based violence recorded in first half of the year
On 24 July, Dawn reported that as per Sahil’s Six Months Cruel Numbers Report, a total of 3,172 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported across Pakistan during the first half of 2026, including 18 cases involving transgender persons. The report documented data from January to June 2026, and recorded 644 murders, 514 cases of torture, 462 abductions, 363 suicides, 280 rapes, 175 injuries, 132 honour killings, and 21 other crimes, including harassment, gang rape and pornography. According to the report, 334 victims were aged between 21 and 30 years, while 306 victims were in the 11-20 age group and 120 were aged between 31 and 40 years. The ages of victims were not mentioned in 71 per cent of the cases. The six-month report is based on information collected from national and regional newspapers across all four provinces, as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory, "Azad Jammu and Kashmir", and Gilgit-Baltistan. It found that 54 per cent of the incidents occurred in the victims’ own homes, while 12 per cent took place at the perpetrator’s residence, making these the two most common locations for gender-based violence. (“3172 gender violence cases reported in six months,” Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Government prepares a strategy to address population growth
On 24 July, Dawn reported that during a meeting on population welfare chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal government decided to convene a National Population Council meeting with the provinces, the administrations of "Gilgit-Baltistan" and "Azad Jammu and Kashmir", and other stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive strategy to reduce the country’s population growth rate from the current 2.55 per cent to 1.25 per cent by 2035. The Prime Minister stressed the need to align population planning with national development, economic stability and human resource development, and called for enhanced coordination among the provinces and effective public awareness campaigns to curb population growth. The meeting was informed that the operating procedures for the National Population Council Secretariat had been finalised, while the National Population Stabilisation Plan 2026-2035 was being prepared. The plan aims to provide a unified national framework to reduce the population growth rate from 2.55 per cent to 1.25 per cent by 2035. (“Govt to unveil strategy to curb population growth,” Dawn, 24 July 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
The Middle East
Editorial, “A new chokepoint,” Dawn, 24 July 2026
"With free transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz blocked due to the US-Iran conflict, a new chokepoint has emerged in the region: Bab al-Mandeb on the Red Sea. If free flow of marine traffic is also blocked through this passage, the impact on global commerce would be catastrophic, while the hostilities in and around the Gulf would surely spread to the Red Sea and its environs."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2017938/a-new-chokepoint
Climate change
Editorial, “Climate change and public health,” The Express Tribune, 24 July 2026
“Climate scientists and activists have long alerted the world to the perils of climate change that extend far beyond melting glaciers and rising temperatures. When the equilibrium of the planet is disturbed, its ripple effects reach every facet of life - especially public health. Over the span of four years, nearly one million infectious disease cases have been found in just three coastal districts of Pakistan."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619879/climate-change-and-public-health
Health
Zafar Mirza, “The task force test,” Dawn, 24 July 2026
“HIV AIDS is a window to our health system. Instead of erecting mental walls of apathy and ignorance, the spread of HIV among children through our so-called healthcare system, helps us open a window through which the whole system can be revisited. Only if we are for windows and not walls."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2017943/the-task-force-test
Diplomacy
Shahzad Chaudhry, “The wars within,” The Express Tribune, 24 July 2026
“How can Pakistan then hope to bring peace to people who each have their own reasons to fight and endure? There are some things best left to themselves. Fires in the bellies have their own timeline to fizzle. They need time to play out. Leave Iran to its whims and Trump to his shenanigans. Wars may be easier and louder to write about, but societies decay in silence. Home beckons. It is time to come back home."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619881/the-wars-within
Karachi
Noman Ahmed, “Life and livability,” Dawn, 24 July 2026
“A homeless flower vendor, asleep on a footpath in Karachi’s DHA area, was tragically killed when he and his young son were run over by a recklessly driven vehicle. This was not simply a ‘road accident’; the incident exposed an ever-present threat to the lives of thousands of homeless people who sleep on footpaths, bus stop benches, near shop fronts and in other public spaces. It is no surprise that Karachi, with its homelessness and rising crime graph, fared poorly on the recent EIU Global Livability Index."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2017939/life-and-livability
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