Week of October 19

2026-W43: Oct 19 – October 25, 2026
FINAL: Last update October 23, 2026
COUNTRIES IN THE NEWS: India
Turkey
Qatar
Indonesia
Iran
United States
Saudi Arabia

PM Shehbaz pledges Rs160 billion for KP and defends emergency rule in the province

First published Thu, Oct 22

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to restore peace and development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and announced Rs160 billion for development projects in the province. He said KP cannot be left to burn and vowed to eliminate terrorism there.1 2 3

The pledges came after an emergency was imposed in KP and governor's rule was enforced in the province. Shehbaz defended both measures, citing rising terrorism, and blamed the PTI's "callousness" during its tenures for the province's problems.1 4 5

An apex committee reviewed the security situation in KP as the prime minister spoke about restoring peace. The committee's review ran alongside the funding announcement and the defence of the emergency measures.6 1

The prime minister also framed the package as a way to bring back development and prosperity to the province. He said his government would bring progress back to KP.7 1

Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir vows to hit India-backed militants 'hard' and continue anti-terror campaign

First published Fri, Oct 23

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's chief of defence forces, vowed to continue the campaign against terrorist outfits he described as Indian-sponsored and to strike them hard wherever they are. He said the terrorists would be defeated totally with public support.1 2 3 4 5 6

The army will carry on the anti-terror campaign vigorously, Munir said, framing the operations against India-backed groups as an ongoing commitment rather than a finished effort.6 2 5

Pakistan says 10 militants killed in Gwadar as president and PM praise security forces

First published Fri, Oct 23

Pakistan's military said security forces killed at least 10 terrorists, including a woman, in operations in Gwadar, foiling what it described as an attempt to undermine the state's writ in the coastal district. The Inter-Services Public Relations statement was carried by Business Recorder, Dawn and Radio Pakistan.1 2 3

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for repelling the attacks in Gwadar, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.2 1

Dawn reported the military's account that the 10 killed were India-sponsored terrorists, a characterization the outlet carried in its headline on the ISPR statement. Business Recorder's headline gave the toll without the sponsorship claim.3 1

The Gwadar operations came a day after the military said it repulsed coordinated attacks across Balochistan, with 92 terrorists killed and 15 security personnel martyred, according to ISPR figures carried by The Express Tribune and Dawn. In Khuzdar, four terrorists were killed and two explosives-laden vehicles destroyed in an intelligence-based operation, and in Turbat a Frontier Corps soldier was martyred and four terrorists killed when forces thwarted an attack on a naval base.4 5 6 7

Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia signed a defence cooperation accord named 'Badr' in Doha, according to Ankara

First published Wed, Oct 21

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia signed a defence cooperation accord named 'Badr' in Doha, according to Ankara. The four countries are the parties to the pact, which covers defence industry cooperation.1 2 3 4

Attributed claim: The agreement was reported as a defence cooperation accord by Reuters and Daily Sabah, while The Express Tribune described it as a defence industry pact the four countries were to ink. The Diplomatic Insight called the document a defence memorandum of understanding.2 3 5 6

The Times framed the accord around its implications for India, asking what the pact means for New Delhi. No source states the terms of the agreement or a signing date beyond the week's reports.7

Modern Diplomacy reported the pact as a step to deepen military cooperation among the four signatories. The Arab Weekly carried the accord as a defence cooperation agreement between Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia.8 9

Turkey moves to ratify Makkah defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

First published Wed, Oct 21

BACKGROUND

The Makkah defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey has been in place for years, but it drew fresh attention in September 2026 when Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia wounded scores of people and ignited fires at oil facilities. The assault was described as a test of the new pact, and it set off a round of diplomacy over how the partners would respond.

In early October, Turkey's president said he would send the Makkah mutual defence agreement to parliament, and Turkey began preparing military support for Saudi Arabia while the opposition raised objections over Yemen. He also discussed the Houthi crisis with the Saudi crown prince. Saudi Arabia is a country in West Asia occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by the Red Sea to the west and Yemen to the south, with Riyadh as its capital.

Turkey has moved to ratify the Makkah defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, a decade-long agreement that binds the three partners. A ruling party official said Turkey plans a mandate to send military personnel to Saudi Arabia.1 2 3

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and Indonesia also signed a separate defence cooperation pact, the 'Badr' pact. The Makkah agreement's text was published, and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.4 5 6

The Mecca Pact names no enemy, but it is raising concerns in India, which the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact is unsettling. A Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center analysis argues the pact is not a Saudi nuclear umbrella, pushing back on claims about the agreement's reach.7 8 9

An NDTV opinion piece argues the Saudi-Pak-Turkey defence pact may function as an intelligence network rather than a purely military alliance.10

Also this week

Published earlier this week and since overtaken by bigger stories. Open one to read it in full.

Federal Constitutional Court reinstates three Sindh anti-terrorism judges and voids provincial de-notificationFri, Oct 23The Federal Constitutional Court has reinstated three anti-terrorism court judges in Sindh and declared the provincial government's notification removing them null and void. The ruling overturns the Sindh government's de-notification of the judges, restoring them to the benches they had been removed from.

Federal Constitutional Court reinstates three Sindh anti-terrorism judges and voids provincial de-notification

First published Fri, Oct 23

The Federal Constitutional Court has reinstated three anti-terrorism court judges in Sindh and declared the provincial government's notification removing them null and void. The ruling overturns the Sindh government's de-notification of the judges, restoring them to the benches they had been removed from.1 2 3 4 5

The judges affected sit on anti-terrorism courts, with Karachi among the benches involved. The court's order voids the provincial notification in full rather than suspending it.4 5 3

The ruling places the reinstated judges back on the anti-terrorism courts in Sindh, including the Karachi bench, under the Federal Constitutional Court's order.4 5 3

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif chairs KP Apex Committee security review in Peshawar with army chief Asim MunirThu, Oct 22Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to review the province's security situation. Field Marshal Asim Munir, the army chief, was in Peshawar for the security review alongside the prime minister. The meeting was held in Peshawar, the provincial capital.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif chairs KP Apex Committee security review in Peshawar with army chief Asim Munir

First published Thu, Oct 22

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to review the province's security situation. Field Marshal Asim Munir, the army chief, was in Peshawar for the security review alongside the prime minister. The meeting was held in Peshawar, the provincial capital.1 2 3 4

The visit was Shehbaz's first to Peshawar since governor's rule was imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. News18 described the province as being under an emergency at the time of the review.5 6

Shehbaz told the meeting that his government "will not rest until the last terrorist is eliminated." The prime minister's pledge was carried in reporting on the Apex Committee session.7

Pakistan and Maldives sign 20 MoUs and set a $200m trade target for two yearsThu, Oct 22Pakistan and the Maldives signed 20 memoranda of understanding covering defence, IT, agriculture and tourism during the Maldivian president's visit to Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two countries would strengthen their ties "for all time to come". The Maldivian president was given a guard of honour at the Prime Minister's House.

Pakistan and Maldives sign 20 MoUs and set a $200m trade target for two years

First published Thu, Oct 22

Pakistan and the Maldives signed 20 memoranda of understanding covering defence, IT, agriculture and tourism during the Maldivian president's visit to Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two countries would strengthen their ties "for all time to come". The Maldivian president was given a guard of honour at the Prime Minister's House.1 2 3

The two governments set a target of $200 million in bilateral trade within two years. The agreements and the trade goal were announced as the centrepiece of the visit.4 1

The Maldivian First Lady, Sajidha Mohamed, visited the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, where Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar briefed her.5

Iran tells Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir no US talks until demands are metWed, Oct 21Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran for talks, where Iranian officials told him that Tehran will not negotiate with Washington until its demands are met. Iran also said its enriched nuclear material will stay in the country.

Iran tells Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir no US talks until demands are met

First published Wed, Oct 21

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran for talks, where Iranian officials told him that Tehran will not negotiate with Washington until its demands are met. Iran also said its enriched nuclear material will stay in the country.1 2 3 4

The visit produced a meeting between Munir and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which Dawn reported as raising hopes for peace. Pakistan has been trying to broker a deal between Iran and the United States.5 6

Attributed claim: Accounts of the reception differ. Moneycontrol described Munir's welcome in Iran as "hot and cold" as Pakistan struggles to broker the deal, while Dawn framed the Pezeshkian meeting as raising peace hopes.6 5

Tehran's position was carried by multiple outlets: no talks with Washington before Iranian demands are met, and no uranium leaving Iran. India Today reported the no-uranium message was delivered directly to Munir.2 7 8 9

Pakistan's Election Commission orders fresh schedule for long-delayed Islamabad local pollsWed, Oct 21Pakistan's Election Commission has ordered a fresh schedule for local government elections in Islamabad, ending a long delay in the capital's municipal vote. The commission said the polls will be held under the 2015 local government law.

Pakistan's Election Commission orders fresh schedule for long-delayed Islamabad local polls

First published Wed, Oct 21

Pakistan's Election Commission has ordered a fresh schedule for local government elections in Islamabad, ending a long delay in the capital's municipal vote. The commission said the polls will be held under the 2015 local government law.1 2 3 4

The order covers Islamabad's local government polls specifically, with the commission directing that the elections proceed under the existing 2015 framework rather than a new one. The decision was reported across Pakistani outlets on Wednesday.1 2 3

In a separate decision, the Election Commission rejected a request to postpone local elections in Punjab province. The rejection was reported alongside the Islamabad scheduling order.5

The Islamabad vote had been long delayed before the commission issued the new schedule. Minute Mirror framed the delay and the commission's handling of local polls as a case of democracy denied at the grassroots level.6 4

Pakistan raises petrol by 88 paisas and diesel by 53 paisas per litreWed, Oct 21Pakistan revised petroleum product prices on Wednesday, raising petrol by 88 paisas and high-speed diesel by 53 paisas per litre. The new rates took effect for October 21.

Pakistan raises petrol by 88 paisas and diesel by 53 paisas per litre

First published Wed, Oct 21

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

Pakistan revised petroleum product prices on Wednesday, raising petrol by 88 paisas and high-speed diesel by 53 paisas per litre. The new rates took effect for October 21.1 2

The government defended its practice of changing fuel prices daily during proceedings in the National Assembly. Prices were revised again on Thursday, with the state broadcaster announcing rates for the day, for Friday, and for the next three days.3 4 5 6

Attributed claim: Accounts of the size of the increase differ. Dawn and The Express Tribune report a rise of 88 paisas per litre for petrol and 53 paisas for diesel, while the Associated Press of Pakistan reports a cut of Rs5.16 per litre for petrol and Rs7.69 for diesel.1 2 7

The Nation also reported a revision of petrol and diesel prices, and Radio Pakistan carried the revision for Thursday and for today.8 6 9