Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, the US and Houthis step up attacks on each other, Trump will meet Putin tomorrow, and India-New Zealand free trade talks. Locally, a parliamentary panel to meet on rising terror attacks, a suicide bombing kills five in Balochistan, and KP CM to decide on Afghan repatriation.

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Around The World

Updates from Yemen. The US launched what it called a "decisive and powerful" wave of air strikes on Houthi targets on Saturday as part of efforts to stop Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Yemen's Houthi rebels say that the number of dead has risen to 53, including 5 children. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels launched 18 missiles and a drone at the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships, calling it “retaliation” for US strikes.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed an unrelenting missile campaign until the Houthi attacks stop. On the other hand, the Houthis promised to target Red Sea shipping until Israel lifts its blockade of Gaza, and in response to the US strikes.

On the books. President Donald Trump said he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, and that the negotiators working to end the Russia-Ukraine war have already discussed dividing up certain assets. Putin’s response so far has been ambiguous as he also set out tough conditions, demanded concessions from Kyiv, and repeated his claim that the current Ukrainian government was part of the root cause of the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian drone attacks continued overnight, while Ukraine says Russia is still trying to invade the Sumy region of northern Ukraine. Live updates here,

Gimme more. India and New Zealand restarted free trade talks a decade after negotiations fell apart over issues such as market access, in a major breakthrough in the economic relationship between the two countries. Bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at under $2bn. Besides trade, New Zealand said it was deepening its engagement with India across defense, security, sports, and environment, adding that economic ties with Delhi were a key priority.

Pakistan

Sounding the alarm. The government has called an in-camera meeting of a parliamentary panel on national security tomorrow to discuss rising terror attacks in Balochistan and KP, following the Jaffar Express hijacking. PM Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Gen Asim Munir will attend, with military leadership briefing attendees. The meeting will include members of defense and foreign affairs committees, cabinet members, chief ministers, and parliamentary leaders. The government is also considering a large-scale operation against the BLA and other militant groups and plans to hold a Multi-Party Conference on security.

Noshki attack. A vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) convoy in Balochistan’s Noshki district yesterday, resulting in the martyrdom of three security personnel and two civilians, with at least 12 others injured. Following the attack, security forces conducted a clearance operation, killing three assailants in an exchange of fire. State media reported that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was behind the attack.

All love lost. A newly formed 26-member jirga, consisting of experienced tribal elders and traders, will resume talks in Afghanistan today on reopening the Torkham border. The border has been closed since February 21 after Pakistan objected to the uncoordinated reconstruction of an Afghan security checkpoint.

Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated that his government would decide after March 31 whether to follow the federal directive to expel Afghan residents. He criticized the repatriation policy as "inhumane and oppressive," arguing that forcibly deporting Afghans without proper arrangements in their home country violates basic human rights. Gandapur also noted that the federal government had not consulted him on the issue.

Getting it together. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced plans for nationwide protests after Eid, alongside PTI, to protest corruption and security failures in Balochistan and KP. He criticized the federal government’s neglect of the provinces and dismissed speculation of JUI-F joining the ruling coalition, calling it a "dummy government." Fazl also accused the leadership of prioritizing foreign interests over national concerns and called for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with Afghanistan.

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