CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (July 11-17, 2026)

3866

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  FBI chief Kash Patel hosts Naqvi in Washington, hails ‘critical partnership’

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015325

Ø  Has Pakistan taken a back seat?

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618501/has-pakistan-taken-a-back-seat

Ø  US says it supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against ‘terrorist attacks’

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-says-it-supports-pakistans-right-defend-itself-against-terrorist-attacks-2026-07-02/

Ø  Pakistan, US launch trade talks

https://www.dawn.com/news/2014506

Ø  Pakistan, US make ‘significant progress’ in talks on proposed reciprocal trade agreement

https://www.dawn.com/news/2014597

Ø  Pakistan Railways to add 43 US locomotives, 70 power plants

https://mettisglobal.news/Pakistan-Railways-to-add-43-US-locomotives-70-power-plants-61864

Ø  Pakistan expresses ‘deep concern’ over Middle East escalation, urges all sides to exercise restraint

https://www.dawn.com/news/2014857

Ø   Trump’s threats – and U-turn – on Hormuz fees further undermine US credibility in the Gulf

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/07/trumps-hormuz-fees-threat-further-undermines-us-credibility-gulf

Ø   The Future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Representative Mike Lawler

https://www.hudson.org/events/future-us-foreign-policy-middle-east-representative-mike-lawler

Ø  PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618156/pakistan-reaffirms-support-for-saudi-arabia-at-un-condemns-houthi-attacks

Ø  UN humanitarian chief commends Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015688/un-humanitarian-chief-commends-pakistans-diplomatic-efforts-in-middle-east

Ø  Pakistan tells the UN that India’s IWT suspension threatens the water security of 240 million people

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/07/16/pakistan-tells-un-indias-iwts-suspension-threatens-water-security-of-240m-people

Ø  UN relief chief discusses Afghanistan aid corridor with Pakistan

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2651062/pakistan

Ø  Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development at UN forum

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015393

Ø  ‘We face a new ordeal’: Gaza’s search for the dead goes on

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167922

Ø  Gulf crisis: Guterres calls for de-escalation, warns against return to full-on war

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167949

Ø  Peak heat in Europe just broke historic 1970s records

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167911

Ø  International Criminal Court ‘a critical cog’ in global justice efforts

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167932

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Pakistan remains largest beneficiary of GSP+, says European Commission

https://www.geo.tv/latest/673395-pakistan-remains-largest-beneficiary-of-gsp-says-european-commission

Ø  Russia’s diesel export ban deepens supply crunch

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2617770/russias-diesel-export-ban-deepens-supply-crunch

Ø  Andy Burnham in line to become British PM after securing party support

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/13/andy-burnham-in-line-to-become-british-pm-after-securing-party-support

Ø  Russia-Ukraine war: What is Europe’s new ballistic missile shield plan?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/14/russia-ukraine-war-what-is-europes-new-ballistic-missile-shield-plan

Ø  Germany’s Merz hails nuclear deterrence cooperation with France

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/germanys-merz-hails-nuclear-deterrence-cooperation-with-france

Ø  EU urges Israel to halt settlement expansion as settlers attack children

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/eu-urges-israel-to-halt-settlement-expansion-as-settlers-attack-children

Ø  Azerbaijan considering full withdrawal from Council of Europe, Aliyev says

https://www.euronews.com/2026/07/13/azerbaijan-considering-full-withdrawal-from-council-of-europe-aliyev-says

Ø  EU notes ‘issues’ in Pakistan’s GSP+ compliance, urges Islamabad to address ‘shortcomings’

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015939

Ø  Ukraine ‘cuts off’ Crimea from Russia, plunging it into an energy crisis

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/ukraine-cuts-off-crimea-from-russia-plunging-it-into-an-energy-crisis

Ø  OPINION: Reconnecting Eurasia — how Pakistan is building a new vision for trade and regional connectivity

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015948

Ø  Russia, China vow deeper ties with Pakistan in focus

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618480/russia-china-vow-deeper-ties-with-pakistan-in-focus

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

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

Ø  The remittances challenge

https://www.dawn.com/news/2014915/the-remittances-challenge

Ø  Gulf war triggers investment outflow from Pakistan

https://www.dawn.com/news/2016026/gulf-war-triggers-investment-outflow-from-pakistan

Ø  Trade deficit hits decade-high $39.4b

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618521/trade-deficit-hits-decade-high-394b

Ø  Oil settles up on renewed US-Iran hostilities and threat of Red Sea closure

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-rises-intensifying-us-iran-hostilities-threat-red-sea-closure-2026-07-17/

Ø  Interprovincial water discord and Irsa

https://www.dawn.com/news/2014980/interprovincial-water-discord-and-irsa

Ø  $5 billion Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project to remain ‘offline’ until 2028

https://www.geo.tv/latest/672564-5-billion-neelum-jhelum-hydropower-project-to-remain-offline-until-2028

Ø  Adopting modern tech to strengthen food security

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2617879/adopting-modern-tech-to-strengthen-food-security

Ø  Pakistan’s Ground Zero

https://www.dawn.com/news/2015802

Ø  Heat and health

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health

Ø  Rising dust pollution across Europe in a changing climate

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10743-w

Ø  Wheat costs more despite record crop

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618662/wheat-costs-more-despite-record-crop