Middle East & Central Asia News
LAST UPDATE: October 9, 2025
IMF Says Further Talks Needed Before Next Pakistan Loan Tranche
The IMF said additional negotiations are required to resolve outstanding issues before releasing the next tranche of financial aid for Pakistan.
Insight
This underscores how conditional and delicate IMF disbursements are, especially for countries under heavy debt stress.
From pride to burden: Pakistan’s national airline set for privatisation amid IMF pressure
Pakistan plans to privatize its loss-making national airline (PIA) under IMF pressure as part of structural reforms.
Insight
The move reflects the burden state-owned enterprises place on fiscal balance and the tough choices imposed by conditional lending.
Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister visits India to build closer ties
The Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made a diplomatic visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties, the first such trip by a senior Taliban figure.
Insight
The trip signals the Taliban’s push for regional legitimacy and strategic engagement with key neighbors.
Syrians return home to a land littered with explosives
As displaced Syrians go back home post-war, they face widespread danger from landmines and unexploded ordnance scattered across towns and farmlands.
Insight
The explosive remnants of war pose a long-term barrier to safe reconstruction and return, requiring massive demining efforts and international assistance.
