Islamabad
Dar and Omani FM discuss Hormuz, Gaza and Kashmir at joint commission
Ishaq Dar and Oman's Badr Albusaidi discussed regional tensions and vowed closer ties at the eighth Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad.
Journalist
Bilal Javed
Editor, World & Geopolitics
Bilal Javed edits The Indus Compass’s world and geopolitics coverage. He follows the United Nations, NATO, US politics, wars and conflicts, democracy and the global economy, and he also writes on business and sport.
His reports for the site include the US-Iran war and the mediation efforts around it, the Israeli election count, cases at the International Court of Justice, and the markets and oil prices that move with them. In stories on the Middle East he gives particular weight to the human cost of conflict and says where every casualty figure comes from.
He explains what each story means for readers in Pakistan.
Covers
- Geopolitics
- High-Profile International Stories
- United Nations
- US Politics & PACs
- NATO
- Global Economy
- Wars & Conflict
- Democracy
- Business
- Global Organisations
- Sport
Articles by Bilal Javed
299 articles · page 7 of 10
- Middle East
Iran steps up Hormuz ship attacks to keep oil prices high, officials say
Iranian officials told Reuters Tehran had changed tactics to target more ships in and beyond Hormuz before the US vote, as Brent crude rose to $106.32.
- Europe
Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery in Rome
Pope Leo XIV has lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said, after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a 90-minute operation in Rome.
- Middle East
Houthi missile hits Aramco office in Dhahran after Saudi strikes on Yemen
A Houthi missile hit an Aramco building in Dhahran, causing a limited fire, hours after Saudi-led strikes on fuel sites in Sanaa, Hodeidah and Dhamar.
- Economy
UNDP launches jobs and investment push for developing countries
UNDP chief Alexander De Croo said 'alarm lights' are on orange for developing countries hit by energy costs, high interest rates and a super El Nino.
- Americas
Trump administration asks Greece envoy Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign
The White House asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign over reports she sought money from a Trump supporter and took lavish hospitality.
- Middle East
Saudi crown prince rejects Israeli bid to join fight against Houthis
Mohammed bin Salman turned down an Israeli push, made through US mediation, to join the campaign against Yemen's Houthis, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
- Islamabad
Pakistan tells UN Israel must withdraw from all occupied Syrian land
Pakistan's envoy Usman Jadoon told the UN Security Council that Israeli military actions in Syria violate international law and undermine regional peace.
- Middle East
Gaza and Sudan hold 90pc of people in catastrophic hunger
About 641,000 people in Gaza and 637,000 in Sudan faced catastrophic hunger in 2025, as emergency-level food insecurity hit its highest level since 2021.
- Azad Kashmir
Four youths martyred by landmine from Indian side near LoC in Poonch
Four young men repairing a water pipeline near the LoC in Poonch, AJK, were martyred when a landmine that drifted from the Indian side exploded.
- Middle East
Houthis threaten US interests if Washington joins Yemen war
A Houthi official warned of a swift and painful response to any US role in the Yemen war, as Riyadh airport stays shut until October 17 after deadly strikes.
- Americas
US agents raid Ilhan Omar's home weeks before midterm elections
Homeland Security agents searched Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's Washington-area home in an immigration fraud probe, which she called political intimidation.
- Economy
Americans Hall and Woodford win Nobel economics prize for crisis models
Robert Hall and Michael Woodford won the 2026 Nobel economics prize for models that help governments and central banks steady economies in crises.
- Africa
Airstrikes on gold mine kill 72 workers on Sudan-Egypt border
At least 72 miners were killed in airstrikes on a gold mine on the Sudan-Egypt border, a Sudanese rights group said, blaming Egypt's air force.
- Middle East
Gaza photographer Mahmoud Abu Hamda wins top Bayeux war prize
Palestinian freelancer Mahmoud Abu Hamda won the Bayeux war correspondents' photography prize and the public vote for his Gaza work, 'What War Leaves Behind'.
- Middle East
US tells airlines to take care flying to or over Saudi Arabia
The FAA told US airlines to take care in Saudi airspace until December 10 after Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport killed 14, including a Pakistani resident.
- Middle East
Houthi missile strike on Riyadh airport kills 12, wounds over 300
A Houthi missile killed 12 and wounded 309 at Riyadh's airport, the worst attack on Saudi Arabia in a decade; Pakistan called it a heinous act of terrorism.
- Asia
Indian court frees Cockroach movement leader Abhijeet Dipke
An Indian court freed Abhijeet Dipke and two Cockroach Janta Party leaders after over 2,000 were held in Delhi; India rejected UN criticism as interference.
- Europe
Trump says Ukraine needs a new president in row over Russian diesel
Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president after Zelenskiy linked the US-Russia diesel deal to a Russian strike that killed 20 in Zaporizhzhia.
- Middle East
A year after the ceasefire, Gaza's promised recovery has not begun
One year after the Gaza ceasefire, Israeli attacks have killed over 1,470 Palestinians, Israel controls most of the Strip and reconstruction has yet to begin.
- Middle East
US fighter jet disables cargo ship trying to run Iran blockade
A US fighter jet disabled a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to run the blockade of Iran, as a tanker was hit near Hormuz.
- Islamabad
Pakistan tells UN Security Council it stands with Saudi Arabia
At the UN Security Council, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and said Pakistan's commitment to the kingdom is resolute.
- Americas
Trump casts doubt on livestreaming Fort Hood gunman's execution
Trump said officials are still deciding whether to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution, as Vance, the UN and senators from both parties criticised the plan.
- Asia
India locks down Delhi and detains protest leader Abhijeet Dipke
Indian police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and hundreds of protesters as Delhi was locked down before a rally against the poll chief.
- Energy
Trump lifts sanctions on Russian diesel after deal with Putin
The US temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel after Trump said Putin agreed to supply fuel to world markets; Zelenskiy called it a gift to Moscow.
- Energy
Oil falls after Trump rules out Iran attack before midterms
Brent fell to about $103 after Trump ruled out attacking Iran before the US midterms, as Tehran reviews a US reply on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
- Middle East
Saudia plane burns at Riyadh airport as airlines suspend flights
A Saudia plane caught fire at Riyadh airport after Houthi missile fire, as Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights and half of departures were cancelled.
- Americas
US to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood gunman
The Pentagon will livestream the army's firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 at Fort Hood in 2009, in what would be a first for a US execution.
- Football
Prosecutors seek up to 12 years for Maradona's medical team
Argentine prosecutors asked for prison terms of up to 12 years for the seven medics on trial over Diego Maradona's death, saying they left him to his fate.
- Trade
WTO raises trade forecast, names Pakistan among gainers from disruption
The WTO raised its 2026 trade growth forecast to 3.9pc on an AI boom and said Pakistan's sea freight services exports rose 73pc as shipping was rerouted.
