International News
Pakistan a US ally, at White House convenience
New Delhi, Sep 26: Pakistan has historically been considered an ally of the United States – during and after the Cold War – with Islamabad ready to execute at White House bidding, either for a prize or a dressing down.
Geographically, Pakistan occupies a strategic position and diplomatically shares ties with China on the one hand, and the Arab countries on the other. With most governments in Islamabad being financially and morally bankrupt and powerless against their military, the rulers have been ductile and malleable to be coerced into most deals.
Knowing that proximity to China, India, and Afghanistan makes it a key player in South Asian geopolitics, the US is also aware that with growing ties with Saudi Arabia, including the recent mutual defence pact, it can be a reason for its neighbours and partners being wary.
Washington continues to view Pakistan as a strategic partner in regional security, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. Its role in conducting covert operations from Pakistani soil against the then Soviet occupiers in Afghanistan is no secret anymore. All these, and more, which US President Donald Trump considers to be of use to his idea of ‘Make America Great Again’, draw interest to the country. Thus, a new trade agreement was signed, including a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani imports and US involvement in developing Pakistan’s oil reserves.
Islamabad is looking at further US investments, especially in its mineral sector, which could provide a much-needed economic boost, provide jobs and infrastructure development for the beleaguered nation. Pakistan is thus trying to ignite US interest in the challenging geopolitical areas where even its military has been unable to put down the rebellion.
The US State Department has designated “The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and added the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation” in a statement on August 11.
The restive westernmost province of Balochistan holds a wide reserve of gold, silver, copper, iron, chromite, and lithium across 1,600 mines. The northern regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are said to be sitting on lithium reserves, while the Thar coalfield in Sindh, with 175 billion tons of lignite, further underscores the overall mineral reserve potential.
The US is interested in Pakistan’s rare earth minerals, crypto mining potential, and broader investment opportunities. But revolt by tribes in these areas and without a clear governance policy, the reserves remain mostly untapped. Islamabad anticipates taming the fierce uprising with US help. Thus, apart from interests in geopolitical developments, Pakistan General Asim Munir’s frequent invitations to the White House remain a matter of speculation.
Munir, who had previously been hosted for lunch by Trump a few weeks earlier, accompanied Shehbaz Sharif on the Pakistan Prime Minister’s first official visit to the White House on Friday. While the General’s presence reflected Rawalpindi’s influence over the political masters in Islamabad, there is an assumption that a solution for mining in troubled areas may have also been put on the table.
Meanwhile, reports from Washington hinted at President Trump making his guests wait about 30 minutes before hosting them for talks. That made sure that even a high-level delegation from Pakistan realised that they can not assume themselves too important.
International News
Iran’s IRGC says two ‘violating’ oil tankers disabled by blasts in Hormuz Strait

The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday that two “violating” oil tankers were disabled by explosions while crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night.
In a statement on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News, the navy said the two supertankers transited the strait despite frequent warnings from its centre for controlling traffic in the waterway about the “unauthorised and unsafe” nature of the southern route.
It added that the tankers were carrying more than 4 million barrels of oil in total, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The navy warned that the same fate will await any vessel that turns off its navigation systems in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf and cooperates with the U.S. military in crossing the waterway’s “unauthorised” southern route.
The Navy on Wednesday said a “violating” oil tanker caught fire earlier in the day after hitting naval mines east of the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday as the oil tanker was transiting the “unsafe and forbidden” region east of the waterway, the navy announced in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. It said that its naval forces are monitoring the strait’s eastern waters, stressing that safe passage through the waterway requires coordination with the Iranian armed forces and compliance with maritime regulations.
Separately, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Ali Abdollahi on Wednesday warned the United States and Israel against making any new miscalculation, saying that “any point that serves as a focal point for threats against the existence of the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran will become a direct target of asymmetric operations.”
He said in a message carried by Iranian media that the armed forces would carry out orders issued by the country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, without hesitation.
International News
One killed as three-storey building collapses in New York

At least one person was killed and 10 others injured after a three-storey building collapsed in New York City’s Brooklyn neighbourhood, authorities said.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, officials confirmed. Four people were taken to hospital in critical condition, while six others sustained minor injuries, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
The FDNY said it received reports of people being trapped at around 4:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday after the building collapsed on the edge of a construction site in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.
Videos from the scene showed firefighters digging through the rubble and pulling at least one person out of the debris.
Firefighters continued their search for another person believed to be trapped beneath the rubble and remained in communication with them as rescue operations progressed.
Several injured construction workers were taken to Kings County Hospital for treatment, although their medical conditions were not immediately known. Search and rescue operations were still underway following the collapse.
According to reports citing FDNY radio communications, at least 10 other people were injured in the incident.
Emergency response teams rushed to the site following reports of a partial building collapse at an apartment building in Brooklyn, with people feared trapped inside, according to FDNY officials.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) urged residents and commuters to stay away from the area around Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue following the incident.
In a post on X, the NYPD warned that road closures and traffic delays were expected in the area and advised motorists to use alternate routes to avoid disruption and allow emergency personnel to carry out rescue operations.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed condolences to the family of the person who lost their life in the building collapse. In a post on X, she said, “My heart breaks for the family who lost a loved one in today’s building collapse in Brooklyn. My administration has reached out and offered its full support as authorities investigate what happened.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani also commented on the incident, saying that emergency responders were working to secure the site and assist those affected by the collapse.
In his post on X, Mamdani said, “Flatbush Avenue is closed from Clarendon Road to Bedford Avenue – please avoid the area so rescue crews can work.”
He further said that the city would provide additional information once officials were in a position to confirm the details of the incident.
Further details are awaited.
International News
Iran designates Argentine Navy, Air Force as ‘terrorist organisations’

Iran Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the country has designated the Argentine Navy and Air Force as terrorist organisations.
The move came in response to the Argentine government’s decision in late March to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry described Argentina’s decision as “hostile and being in contradiction with the fundamental principles of international law,” saying Iran’s move was based on the principle of reciprocity and a domestic law on reciprocal action against the US designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
The law calls for equivalent countermeasures against countries that comply with or support Washington’s actions against Tehran, the statement said, Xinhua news agency reported. The ministry held the Argentine government responsible for all consequences arising from the decision, stressing that the IRGC is an integral part of Iran’s armed forces.
The office of Argentine President Javier Milei announced on March 31 that Argentina had designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
The decision followed calls by US President Donald Trump’s administration for its allies to designate the IRGC and Hezbollah as terrorist organisations.
The Argentine government said the measure had been adopted in response to the IRGC’s support for Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group, which Buenos Aires blames for a deadly 1994 bombing attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre in the capital city. The attack killed 85 people and injured over 300 others.
Earlier this month, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran had designated Britain’s Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Secret Intelligence Service as “terrorist and hostile” entities over the British government’s anti-Iran actions.
Meanwhile, Qatar said Tuesday that progress had been made in negotiations between the United States and Iran, describing recent White House talks involving Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani as positive, while cautioning that it was too early to predict when an agreement could be reached.
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