South Korea's Foreign Minister will visit China on September 17-18. The trip comes amid tensions between the two nations, with South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol having expressed concerns over China's human rights record. During the visit, Foreign Minister Lee Jung-hae is expected to discuss trade and economic cooperation with her Chinese counterpart. The talks will also focus on regional security issues, including North Korea's nuclear program.
Pakistan's seminar on "Civilian Protection in Multidomain Conflicts: Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives on Operation Sindoor" highlighted the need for diplomatic coalitions to address civilian protection violations. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasized the importance of building stronger diplomatic coalitions to bring attention to these violations at multilateral forums. Former minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi stressed the need for structured legal documentation and preparedness to pursue accountability under international humanitarian law.
The Consulate General of Malaysia in Karachi, in collaboration with Education Malaysia Global Services and leading Malaysian universities, hosted the Jom2 Malaysia Chalo2 2025 campaign and Study in Malaysia Education Fair Pakistan 2025. The event showcased Malaysia's diverse education opportunities, including cultural and trade exchanges, with MATRADE, Tourism Malaysia, ASEAN Missions in Karachi, Air Asia, and the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council participating. High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan Ambassador Dato' Mohammad Azhar Mazlan emphasized the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, highlighting the fair as a platform to strengthen these bonds. One-on-one engagements and career counselling sessions were also facilitated, supporting trans-national education and academic partnerships between Pakistani and Malaysian higher education institutions.
NATO is rushing troops to the region as China's influence in Greenland and the Arctic continues to grow. US Northern Command chief Gen. Gregory Guillot described China's presence as "unprecedented". This strategic move could involve a confrontation with Russia, prompting forces to flow into Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's recent strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, saying it would remove the "main obstacle" to ending the Gaza war. US diplomat Marco Rubio visited Israel, meeting with Netanyahu and US ambassador Mike Huckabee, amid criticism of the strike. The visit coincided with an emergency summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Qatar, where Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani addressed a preparatory meeting. Despite mounting international criticism, Netanyahu praised the strength of US-Israel ties, saying the alliance is "as strong, as durable as the stones in the Western Wall".
Pakistan and Iran have agreed to boost their road and rail infrastructure, as part of a broader economic partnership. The two countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion, with 12 agreements and MoUs signed covering trade, energy, connectivity, and cultural cooperation.
Pakistan's first-ever Trade Dispute Resolution Commission (TDRC) has begun operations, marking a significant step towards transforming trade dispute resolution in the country. The five-member Commission includes Chairman Umar Dad Afridi and members Javed Iqbal Khan, Muhammad Hamood-ur-Rauf, Muhammad Rauf Khan, and Riffat Inam Butt. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan announced immediate measures to ensure the Commission's functionality, including securing office space and launching an online complaint portal. The TDRC aims to offer a neutral, efficient, and transparent mechanism for resolving trade disputes, aligning with the global framework under the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). This move is expected to boost exports, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and strengthen Pakistan's credibility as a fair trading partner.
Pakistan's government plans to respond to Qatar's request for a deferment of 140 long-term LNG cargo shipments beyond 2030. The high-value cargoes, valued at around Rs9 billion each, are currently worth approximately $4.437 billion due to the exchange rate. A delegation led by Federal Minister Ali Parvaiz Malik visited Doha in August to discuss Pakistan's worsening gas demand situation and potential relief options under existing agreements. The proposed deferment is not covered under the current contract terms, as it only applies to cargoes valued at 13.37% and 10.2% of Brent prices, respectively.
The Commonwealth report on elections in Pakistan 2024 has been sought by the PTI party. The report highlights a campaign of mass arrests, office raids, and enforced disappearances targeting PTI leaders during the election period. The government's counter-terrorism strategy has been criticized for being "confused, myopic and flawed" amid a resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. The National Action Plan (NAP) commitments to KP for education, healthcare, and employment were also criticized for being unfulfilled.