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In Focus
Pakistan to stand by Saudi Arabia "practically and diplomatically" under Makkah Pact, says Defence Minister
Islamabad raises concerns at UNSC over Houthi attacks, saying they have brought regional conflict to "dangerous juncture"
On 16 September, Dawn reported that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would "practically and diplomatically" stand by Saudi Arabia against Yemen's Houthi rebels if the situation escalated. The statement came as the Saudi-led coalition accused Houthis of targeting the holy city of Makkah, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and deepening conflict roiling the region. Houthis swiftly rejected Riyadh's report as a "lie," claiming it shot down a drone from rebels heading towards Makkah. Asif, commenting on the Pakistan-Türkiye-Saudi Arabia trilateral Makkah Defence Alliance (MDA), affirmed an agreement was in place. However, he said even without such an agreement, Pakistan was bound by an "eternal agreement to respond if holy sites come under attack". "There are some worldly agreements, and they have their own sanctity and obligations, but protecting holy sites is our religious duty," he said. Asif maintained Muslims worldwide did not need an agreement to act if holy sites in Makkah or Medina came under attack. The defence minister said Pakistan would fulfil all obligations under the MDA in accordance with the terms between the three countries. On the US-Israeli war on Iran, Asif said it had become clear months into the conflict that Israel's calculations had not produced expected results. "Israel sucked America into war as a combatant party, but under present circumstances, the world and region need to realise Israel is the real culprit," he said.
Dawn also reported that Pakistan said Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia brought Middle East conflict to a "dangerous juncture" whilst the United States and China called for restraint and de-escalation in Yemen as renewed fighting and attacks on the kingdom threatened to destabilise the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait further. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. "Houthi military escalation inside Yemen, continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along Yemen's Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture," he said. The expansion of attacks in and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait represented "serious escalation". Ahmad warned that continued violations of international law against commercial shipping posed a growing threat to freedom of navigation and international maritime commerce. "Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponise vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security," he said.
He added that the relative calm painstakingly maintained in Yemen since 2022 collapsed, warning continued escalation risked reigniting full-scale conflict and drawing Yemen deeper into wider regional confrontation. China called for restraint and return to negotiations whilst stressing that protecting shipping in the Red Sea was shared international responsibility. US demanded Houthis halt advances, withdraw from seized territory and cease attacks whilst calling on Iran to end support for the group. ("Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have brought Mideast conflict to 'dangerous juncture', Pakistan tells UN," Dawn, 16 September 2026; "Pakistan to stand by Saudi Arabia 'practically and diplomatically' if Yemen conflict escalates: Asif," Dawn, 16 September 2026)
In Brief
EXTERNAL
IT Minister invites Japanese investment in Pakistan's technology and R&D sectors
On 17 September, The Express Tribune reported that Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja delivered a virtual address, "Pakistan's Digital Transformation and Opportunities for Partnership with Japan", at the Pakistan Business Seminar organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in collaboration with Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) in Tokyo. The seminar brought together senior government officials, business leaders, technology executives and industry leaders from both countries, exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration in technology sectors. Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan Abdul Hameed, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Shuichi Akamatsu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PSEB Faisal Jeddy, Executive Vice President of JETRO Akiko Okumura, and Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Naritoshi Takayama attended the event. Highlighting Pakistan-Japan's longstanding friendship, Minister Khawaja emphasised next chapter of the partnership would be defined by digital and technological collaboration. Pakistan's expanding digital infrastructure includes over 161 million broadband subscribers, a 17,200-kilometre fibre optic backbone, and the release of over 750 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum during the year, supporting next-generation connectivity and fifth generation (5G). With 68 per cent of Pakistan's population under age 30 and over 75,000 IT graduates and software engineers entering the workforce annually, Pakistan offers strong potential as a technology and innovation partner for Japanese industry. The minister called for greater Japanese investment in Pakistan's technology sector, including the establishment of research and development (R&D) centres. ("Japanese investment invited for tech, R&D," The Express Tribune, 17 September 2026)
CDF Munir discusses defence technology cooperation with POWERUS delegation
On 16 September, Dawn reported that Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff (CDF/COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed evolving trends in defence technology and potential areas of cooperation with United States-based defence and critical infrastructure company POWERUS. The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration in defence procurement, production and capacity building, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The POWERUS delegation was led by Robert Bret Velicovich. During the meeting, CDF Munir highlighted the "importance of technological innovation and advanced solutions in strengthening national security and resilience." The company builds "hardware and unified systems architecture that keep critical assets running in high-consequence environments." Both sides expressed interest in further developing engagement in areas of mutual interest. In January, US and Pakistan army soldiers completed training at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre during Exercise Inspired Gambit, focusing on combined infantry skills and tactics and counterterrorism operations. In December last year, the US approved the sale of advanced technology and upgrade packages for Pakistan's F-16 fighter aircraft valued at approximately USD 686 million. ("CDF Munir, US-based POWERUS discuss defence technology, cooperation," Dawn, 16 September 2026)
Pakistan and China activate Joint Commission to enhance cross-border cooperation
On 17 September, Dawn reported that Pakistan and China operationalised a long-pending joint mechanism for managing the common border, with Islamabad describing the move as a significant milestone in bilateral relations and a step toward closer coordination on border management, trade and cross-border connectivity. The inaugural meeting of the Commission was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Islamabad. The meeting was co-led by Li Ya, Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary, Director General (DG) for China at Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO). The FO described the operationalisation of the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission (PCBJC) as a "significant milestone for Pakistan-China relations", saying it would set the "stage for enhanced cooperation in border management, joint border surveys, trade flows and people-to-people connectivity." Commission has its origins in the 2013 Agreement on Boundary Management System signed during the visit of then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Islamabad. Article 45 provides for the establishment of a joint commission to oversee implementation of border management arrangements. The mechanism provides an institutional framework for dealing with practical issues along the border, including maintenance and inspection of the boundary, joint surveys, boundary marker issues, management of cross-border facilities and handling of incidents involving the border. Its activation gives the two countries a mechanism for regular coordination on the border, important for movement between Pakistan and China, including through the Khunjerab crossing, and for trade and connectivity linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Commission is distinct from the Joint Boundary Demarcation Commission established under the Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 02 March 1963. India rejected the new mechanism, stating, "There is no boundary between Pakistan and China. We reject the so-called Joint Commission, which is without any legal basis." ("Islamabad, Beijing activate joint border commission," Dawn, 17 September 2026)
ECONOMY
Government plans to introduce virtual grid system
On 16 September, Dawn reported that the Power Minister said the government was working to introduce a virtual grid system in the country. Under the virtual grid system, consumers would be able to generate and store electricity. The minister said that the regulations would be finalised by the last quarter of the current fiscal year, and power distribution companies (Discos) had also been directed to install batteries on their grids as part of efforts to improve the power system and promote energy storage. Regarding the energy situation, the minister said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had affected the Petroleum Division’s ability to receive LNG cargoes. He said the government was using locally produced gas for power generation. (“Govt working to introduce virtual grid system says power minister,” Dawn, 16 September 2026)
Pakistan launches Quantum Valley project in Islamabad
On 16 September, Dawn reported that the Quantum Valley Pakistan project was launched in Islamabad. The project aimed at connecting academia, entrepreneurs, government and investors to turn knowledge into solutions, startups into scalable ventures and innovation into national impact. The project aims to create new pathways for Pakistani talent in AI, quantum computing, fintech, agritech, biotechnology, medtech, digital solutions and autonomous technologies. California’s venture capital firm Plug and Play and the Cambridge Innovation Centre collaborated with the government for the project. During the launch of the project, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, said that the foundations for growth being established through Quantum Valley would allow Pakistan’s youth to compete with the youth of the world in terms of tech growth and startups. The ceremony also included the inauguration of the Global Venture Acceleration Programme for local startups, under which they would receive mentorship over 15 weeks, along with a two-week global immersion in Silicon Valley or Boston. (“New pathway for the future quantum valley Pakistan launched in Islamabad,” Dawn, 16 September 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
JI chief warns fourth round of talks may be the last if petroleum levy isn't scrapped
On 16 September, Dawn reported that JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned that Wednesday's fourth round of talks with the government, held at the Federal Secretariat with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal leading the government side, could be the last if the levy isn't withdrawn, rejecting PM Shehbaz Sharif's fuel relief scheme as inadequate since it offers only PKR 25 billion in relief against the PKR 1,567 billion the government collects annually through the levy; Rehman also criticised daily fuel price revisions and "lockdown measures" against traders, and confirmed the party's planned march on Islamabad on 20 September would go ahead regardless, alongside rallies already scheduled in Karachi, Lahore, Mardan and Peshawar this week. JI has been holding sit-ins across the country since 16 August over the levy and IPP agreements, with the government currently charging PKR 114 per litre in taxes on petrol and PKR 100 on diesel. ("JI chief warns talks with govt may end after 4th round if decision on abolishing petroleum levy delayed," Dawn, 16 September 2026)
Petroleum dealers demand clarity on who pays for PM's new fuel subsidy scheme
On 16 September, Dawn reported that petroleum dealers pressed the government to spell out a reimbursement mechanism for PM Shehbaz Sharif's fuel relief scheme, PKR 100 per litre on a monthly quota of 20 litres for motorcycles and autos, and 30 litres for vehicles up to 800cc, rolling out nationwide from midnight; PPDA chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said dealers couldn't absorb a PKR 100-per-litre loss or wait indefinitely for payment, and that Ogra, the Petroleum Division and Finance Ministry were each pointing to the other as responsible for funding it, though a Finance Ministry official assured dealers the State Bank would release funds within a day or two. PPDA vice chairman Tariq Hassan said around 14,000 dealers had struggled to get government engagement for three days, while Minister Shaza Fatima separately confirmed that a related SMS/telecom glitch had been resolved, with Jazz having completed the system update and other operators following by Thursday. ("Petroleum dealers demand govt devise mechanism for fuel subsidy reimbursement," Dawn, 16 September 2026)
SECURITY
Balochistan: Armed men attack PPP leader’s camp in Khuzdar
On 16 September, Dawn reported that armed men riding motorbikes opened fire on a camp of Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leader Mir Shafiqur Rehman Mengal in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district. The attack took place in the Aranji area of Khuzdar’s Wadh tehsil, near the Quetta-Karachi highway. Mengal, a tribal elder and head of the Jhalawan Awami Panel, was not present at the camp at the time of the attack. The attackers initially killed four security guards and kidnapped the policeman. They later killed the policeman and dumped his body before fleeing the area. A search operation was subsequently launched in the area to trace the attackers. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. (“Cop among 5 killed in armed attack on Shafiq Mengals Khuzdar camp,” Dawn, 16 September 2026)
POK
Interior ministry says it traced a weapons-supply network linked to banned JAAC
On 16 September, Dawn reported that Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said an intelligence-based operation, launched after a firing incident targeting security forces at Kashmir Mor, had led to the arrest of an alleged weapons dealer named Zia, who authorities say had been supplying arms directly to close associates of proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) member Sardar Amaan for the past two years; citing phone records and intercepted audio, Chaudhry traced the alleged network through associates named Majid, Zarshad and a government employee, Akbar, said to have used his institutional cover to move weapons along a route running from Afghanistan through KP's Bara into "AJK's" Kotli. Chaudhry argued the case validated the government's June decision to ban JAAC, said 37 of the group's 38 demands had already been agreed to before it called a long march timed to disrupt elections, and linked the episode to a broader "terror-crime network" the government says spans smuggled fuel, narcotics and vehicles with political cover, part of what he described as roughly 200 intelligence-based operations conducted daily nationwide. ("Weapons dealer among 'JAAC-linked network' caught during intelligence-based operation: Tallal Chaudhry," Dawn, 16 September 2026)
ON INDIA
Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft till 24 October
On 16 September, Dawn reported that Pakistan extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until 24 October, according to a Notice to Airmen issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). The restriction, effective from 10:45 am on 17 September, applies to Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines and operators, including military flights, across the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions. The ban was first imposed in April 2025 after tensions escalated following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and has since been repeatedly extended. The restrictions have forced Indian carriers to use longer routes, with Air India reporting fuel cost increases of up to 29 per cent and journey times rising by as much as three hours on some long-haul flights, particularly amid hostilities in the Middle East. (“Ban on Indian aircraft using Pakistani airspace extended until Oct 24,” Dawn, 16 September 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Politics & governance
Shahab Usto, “Some critical questions,” Dawn, 17 September 2026
"True to tradition, a ‘plan’ to ‘reset’ the country’s entire structure has come down like an epiphany from apparently ‘non-political’ quarters. The plan envisages creating multiple provinces and changing the country’s very tapestry — its geography, topography, demography, ethnic relations, resource distribution, power sharing, and broader political calculus. The situation raises critical questions."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2030559/some-critical-questions
External
Raashid Wali Janjua, “Ties with UAE,” Dawn, 17 September 2026
“Pakistan-UAE relations have stood the test of time despite geopolitical upheavals. The current souring of relations does not reflect the true potential of ties between the two countries. Bilateral ties are rooted in shared faith, cultural affinity, and enduring people-to-people bonds. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the UAE after the country’s founding in 1971. Since then, ties have continued to expand."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2030555/ties-with-uae
PIMS tragedy
Editorial, “Pims report,” Dawn, 17 September 2026
“Pakistan's health system is trapped in a loop of doom. A localised electrical failure caused the blaze that killed 14 newborns at the Pims nursery, says an inquiry committee’s report about last month’s tragedy in Islamabad. It holds the hospital management responsible for systemic and institutional collapse due to which the fire morphed into a calamity. More specifically, it suspects that either abnormal electrical heating due to excessive current, a high-resistance connection, or another fault triggered an insulation breakdown and set alight combustible material. These findings deepen concerns about the safety and quality of our healthcare delivery. The scourge of structural weaknesses has plagued this country for decades. It has reached a stage where both recovery and welfare are compromised."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2030552/pims-report
Society
Muhammad Hamid Zaman, “Who speaks for the future?” The Express Tribune, 15 September 2026
“It is indeed true that far fewer women are present in the workforce or professional sectors than men, but no one seems to be interested in asking the next obvious question. Why is that? Who gets to decide for a large number of women that they should stay at home, give up their education, or choose a tiny fraction of available careers with little possibility to professionally develop? The surveys showing that young women in medical schools never practice professionally rarely ask whether they had the full support of their fathers and husbands in pursuing a career, and chose to give that up themselves? Maybe the surveys do not need to ask those questions – we know the answers already."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629291/who-speaks-for-the-future
Economy
Danyal Adam Khan, “Whither austerity,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2026
“The government, surprisingly, believes that its so-called relief packages and austerity measures are a panacea for all inflation-driven ills. In a move that feels like déjà vu, it has introduced a Special Relief Scheme for low-income and middle-class consumers reeling under exorbitant fuel prices. Fuel subsidies, it says, will be provided to motorcyclists, rickshaw drivers and owners of vehicles up to 800cc. There is little clarity on how this will be implemented or what cost-effective relief will actually reach the downtrodden. The estimated cost of this benevolence is supposed to be around Rs25 billion per month. The point, however, is that a similar scheme announced earlier only gathered dust on the files, with hardly any trickle-down effect."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629521/whither-austerity-2
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