CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (August 15-21, 2026)

228

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Pakistan issues demarche to US over Kashmir remarks by American ambassador to India

https://www.dawn.com/news/2023924

Ø  ‘$10b US facility not a loan’

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624819/10b-us-facility-not-a-loan

Ø  Pakistan refiner Cnergyico expands US crude imports amid Hormuz disruption

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/pakistan-refiner-cnergyico-expands-us-crude-imports-amid-hormuz-disruption-2026-08-17/

Ø  US officials meet Pakistan provincial leaders to discuss critical minerals cooperation

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2655232/pakistan

Ø  What it will take for the US and India to conclude a trade agreement

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/what-it-will-take-for-the-us-and-india-to-conclude-a-trade-agreement/

Ø  Why Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey just signed a defense pact

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/why-saudi-arabia-pakistan-and-turkey-just-signed-a-defense-pact/

Ø   Don’t Punish Seoul to Appease Pyongyang

https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/dont-punish-seoul-appease-pyongyang-patrick-cronin

Ø   US Today Lacks Meaningful Leverage in Afghanistan

https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/us-today-lacks-meaningful-leverage-afghanistan-luke-coffey

Ø   Trump’s Steam Obsession Risks Crippling the US Carrier Fleet

https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/trumps-steam-obsession-risks-crippling-us-carrier-fleet-bryan-clark

Ø  PM hails UN’s continued support for Pakistan’s uplift, humanitarian priorities

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/08/20/pm-hails-uns-continued-support-for-pakistans-uplift-humanitarian-priorities

Ø  Pakistan rejects India’s bid for permanent UNSC seat

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624467/pakistan-rejects-indias-bid-for-permanent-unsc-seat

Ø  Pakistan assumes presidency of UN Conference on Disarmament

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624407/pakistan-assumes-presidency-of-un-conference-on-disarmament

Ø  International Criminal Court: New US sanctions ‘a flagrant attack’ against its independence

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168168

Ø  Occupied West Bank: Settler siege of Palestinians marks a new low

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168130

Ø  Migration must be central to development agenda, says IOM chief

https://news.un.org/en/interview/2025/07/1165221

Ø  Raising alarm over new illegal Israeli outposts, UN condemns attacks, incitement against Palestinians

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168171

Ø  Aid workers under fire as drones reshape warfare

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168153

 

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Without action wildfires in Europe will increase 39% even in best-case climate scenario, study finds

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/13/falling-danube-flow-forces-shutdown-of-romanias-sole-nuclear-plant

Ø  How China and Russia could hobble Trump’s plans to isolate Iran

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/20/how-china-and-russia-could-hobble-trumps-plans-to-isolate-iran

Ø  Can China’s new Arctic sea route to Europe replace Middle East chokepoints?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/18/can-chinas-new-arctic-sea-route-to-europe-replace-middle-east-chokepoints

Ø  The strategic imperative: Why Europe cannot afford to sideline Pakistan

https://www.dawn.com/news/2023032

Ø  NATO ‘prepared’ to defend allies amid report of Iranian strike plans

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/19/nato-prepared-to-defend-allies-amid-report-of-iranian-strike-plans

Ø  Why is Russia threatening UK with ‘consequences’ over Ukraine drones?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/18/why-is-russia-threatening-uk-with-consequences-over-ukraine-drones

Ø  Top Russian economist ousted after warning of growing costs of Ukraine war

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/18/top-russian-economist-ousted-after-warning-of-growing-costs-of-ukraine-war

 

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp

Ø  The unfinished bargain

https://www.geo.tv/latest/677690-the-unfinished-bargain

Ø  Pakistan expects progress on US stabilisation facility request by September

https://www.geo.tv/latest/678309-pakistan-expects-progress-on-us-stabilisation-facility-request-by-september

Ø  Problematic food economy

https://www.dawn.com/news/2023252/problematic-food-economy

Ø  Pakistan’s crypto gamble

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624264/pakistans-crypto-gamble

Ø  Oil set for second weekly rise as unsettled US-Iran war crimps supply

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-set-second-weekly-rise-unsettled-us-iran-war-crimps-supply-2026-08-21/

Ø  Child stunting is Pakistan’s hidden economic crisis

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624266/child-stunting-is-pakistans-hidden-economic-crisis

Ø  The paradox of wheat policy

https://www.dawn.com/news/2023250/the-paradox-of-wheat-policy

Ø  Why Europe Keeps Being Pummeled by Heat Waves

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/climate/europe-heat-waves-jet-stream.html

Ø  New satellite images show Europe’s disappearing rivers due to drought

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/16/new-satellite-images-show-europes-disappearing-rivers-due-to-drought