EU signals tougher sanctions on Russia, Iran as Kaja Kallas warns of strained global order
BRUSSELS, Thursday, January 29, 2026 (WNP): European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, on Thursday warned that the international rules-based order is under severe strain, as the EU prepares tougher measures against Russia over its war in Ukraine and against Iran over human rights abuses and regional security...
Pakistan Academy of Letters honors Turkish Scholar Halil Toker for landmark contributions to Urdu, cultural diplomacy
ISLAMABAD, Thursday, January 29, 2026 (WNP): The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Thursday hosted a special literary and cultural event to honor renowned Turkish writer, scholar, and researcher Professor Dr. Halil Toker (Sitara-e-Imtiaz), in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to language and literature, particularly the promotion and study of Urdu. The ceremony brought together leading figures from...
Iran, Pakistan step up high-level diplomatic engagement amid evolving regional landscape
ISLAMABAD, Thursday, January 29, 2026 (WNP): Iran and Pakistan on Thursday intensified high-level diplomatic engagement as senior leaders from both countries held a series of telephone conversations aimed at reinforcing bilateral cooperation and coordinating positions on emerging regional developments. According to diplomatic sources, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, while...
Türkiye, Pakistan explore expanded agricultural cooperation to strengthen food security, rural development
ISLAMABAD, Thursday, January 29, 2026 (WNP): The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of agriculture and rural development, as its Country Coordinator, Saliha Tuna, paid a visit to the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Islamabad. During the visit, Saliha Tuna met with Director General NARC Dr....
Iran accuses foreign-backed violent groups for exploiting peaceful economic protests, reaffirms commitment to rights
ISLAMABAD, Thursday, January 29, 2026 (WNP): Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, on Thursday accused foreign actors of exploiting peaceful economic protests in Iran to foment violence and unrest, while reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to constitutional rights, lawful protest, and dialogue with citizens. Briefing journalists at the Iranian Embassy here, the ambassador provided a detailed chronology of events following the...
Pakistan, Türkiye move to deepen agricultural trade, focus on boosting rice exports amid global competition
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (WNP): Pakistan and Türkiye have stepped up efforts to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding Pakistan’s rice exports, as Islamabad seeks to protect farmer incomes and maintain competitiveness in increasingly crowded global markets. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held detailed talks with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Irfan Neziroglu...
Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Pakistan urge stronger trilateral cooperation for regional stability, shared prosperity
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (WNP): The ambassadors of Türkiye and Azerbaijan on Wednesday called for deepening strategic, economic and institutional cooperation with Pakistan, stressing that closer trilateral coordination among the three countries is essential for regional stability and collective prosperity amid growing global uncertainty. The call was made at the inaugural seminar of the Institute of Regional Studies’ (IRS)...
Pakistan weighs skipping IRF Summit 2026 over concerns of political bias, strategic implications
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (WNP): The religious, diplomatic and policy circles in Pakistan are expressing serious reservations about official participation in the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2026, scheduled for February 2–3 in Washington, D.C., citing its controversial track record and perceived ideological bias. The IRF Summit bills itself as the world’s largest global gathering on religious freedom, drawing...
Uzbekistan-Pakistan strategic partnership gains momentum, reshaping connectivity between Central, South Asia
By Nigora Sultanova, Chief Research Fellow, Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 (WNP): The deepening partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is rapidly emerging as one of the most consequential strategic alignments across Eurasia, with both countries leveraging shared history and geography to build a modern framework of connectivity...
Pakistan–Türkiye Essay Competition 2025 celebrates youth, shared history, enduring fraternity
ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 (WNP): The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, in collaboration with the National Book Foundation (NBF) of Pakistan and the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center, on Tuesday hosted the prize distribution ceremony of the National Essay Writing Competition 2025, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting academic excellence and deepening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and...