Hajj on track?
Reports on Hajj flight suspensions
Hello all, it is Monday March 16 and apologies, yesterday’s newsletter didn’t get to you because of a technical glitch.
It’s also Day 16 in the war and I’ve summarised the major events of this morning and the weekend. In highlights, interesting story coming out of the Vatican today and Pakistan is about to lose a big loan if we don’t stop fighting on who gets the monies.
Let’s start this week on a positive note, despite feeling like we’re living through the strangest time yet.
As always, do share the newsletter. Hope to hear from you soon too!
Security forces killed five India-backed terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat, recovering a significant cache of weapons and ammunition. The ISPR reaffirmed its commitment to Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, noting that over 680 militants have been killed since the start of "Operation Ghazab lil-Haq". Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also condemned the Afghan Taliban for a deliberate artillery attack in Bajaur that martyred four brothers, dismissing Kabul’s claims of indiscriminate Pakistani strikes as a cover for their own aggression.
Pakistan is on the verge of losing a massive $360 million (Rs108 billion) loan meant for building major highways. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is tired of the project being stuck in legal fights for over a year, so they’ve issued a final warning: Pakistan has until April 5, 2026, to figure it out and sign the contracts. If the government doesn’t meet this deadline, the money disappears, which would be a major blow to the economy. The legal feud is between the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) over whether the winning bidders were properly qualified. The Supreme Court recently ruled in favour of the NHA, but the ADB has now set a date to sign the contracts or lose the funding entirely.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has dismissed “baseless” reports of Hajj flight suspensions, confirming that the 2026 schedule remains on track despite regional Middle East tensions. Visa processing is currently underway at full pace, with the official flight schedule set to be released immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr.
To help passengers travel for the holidays, Pakistan Railways has announced four Eid special trains departing from Lahore, Quetta, and Karachi between March 16 and March 18. This announcement comes alongside the official Eid-ul-Fitr holiday notification, ensuring maximum facilities for those heading home during the festive break.
Billionaire tech mogul Peter Thiel (who is also close to the Trump administration) has sparked controversy in Rome with a secretive, invite-only conference exploring the theological concept of the Antichrist. The closed-door lectures, which have drawn sharp criticism from the Catholic Church, focus on Thiel’s concerns that a global figure might emerge to create a “one-world government” to solve possible threats like AI, climate change, or nuclear disaster.
The War on Iran: Day 16
The war continues and today’s summary has been taken from Al-Jazeera, Dawn and a paper in the Netherlands to confirm the ‘Dutch hack’ story.
The UAE under fire
This morning, a drone-related incident targeted a fuel tank right near Dubai International Airport, sparking a massive blaze that sent plumes of smoke over the city. While civil defense contained the fire, the impact on the ground was immediate. Dubai Police were forced to close Airport Road and the Airport Tunnel, causing massive gridlock. All flights were temporarily suspended all flights at the airport as a precaution.
Yesterday, Iran officially warned the UAE that it considers several locations “legitimate targets” because they host US military interests. Iran urged civilians in the UAE to evacuate areas near Jebel Ali port (Dubai), Khalifa port (Abu Dhabi), and Fujairah.
This move follows a massive US strike on Friday that hit 90 military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island (the source of 90% of Iran’s oil exports). The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval chief Alireza Tangsiri warned that the US attack on Kharg Island will “create a new and harsh equation for energy prices and distribution” around the world.
However, UAE officials blasted the Iranian strategy as “moral bankruptcy,” arguing that Iran is targeting Gulf neighbors because it is unable to effectively confront US/Israeli strikes directly.
In the last 24 hours, countries like Kuwait intercepted two drones, and Saudi Arabia destroyed a staggering 37 drones in a single 90-minute window in its eastern region.
Rare Gulf Unity
In a surprising twist, these attacks are pushing regional neighbors into a rare united stance. The GCC, along with the UK and Jordan, issued a joint statement condemning Iranian aggression. Behind the scenes, the Qatari Prime Minister and Saudi Foreign Minister held urgent phone talks, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reaffirmed that GCC states will stand together to defend their territories. The UAE and Saudi have not been on good terms for a while so the development was surprising.
Proof of life
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video from a Jerusalem cafe to debunk viral rumors of his death following an Iranian strike. In the clip, he jokingly quips that he is “dying for a coffee” and mockingly flashes both hands to the camera to disprove AI-conspiracy theories that he had six fingers. He used the appearance to reassure the public that he is actively managing “very strong operations” currently hitting targets in both Iran and Lebanon.
UN Peacekeepers caught in the middle
In Lebanon, on Sunday, three separate UN patrols were fired upon by ‘non-state armed groups,’ and for the first time in a long while, the peacekeepers returned fire in self-defense. No injuries were reported this time, and the UN is calling it ‘unacceptable’. This follows an incident last week where a UN base was hit by Israeli artillery fire, injuring three Ghanaian peacekeepers. UNIFIL is currently investigating if that strike was a deliberate target.
The $106 barrel and ‘fuel tourism’
Since the war started on February 28, oil prices have jumped 50%, with brent crude hitting $106.11 a barrel. In the Netherlands, diesel is now nearly $3 per liter, which has triggered a wave of “fuel tourism.” Motorists are trekking across borders from high-tax countries into Belgium and Germany to save money, often filling up rows of jerrycans in their trunks despite major safety warnings. Some told a dutch paper they were saving 40 to 50 Euros on a full tank.
Trump’s NATO ultimatum
Trump is demanding that allies like Japan, South Korea, and the UK send their own warships to “police” the Strait of Hormuz. He told the Financial Times that NATO faces a “very bad future” if they don’t help protect the waterway. So far, the response is a lot of “No’s.” Japan, Australia, and Germany have all officially stated they aren’t considering sending ships right now. Meanwhile, the IRGC has dared Trump to send his ships into the Gulf “if he dares,” claiming their missile cache is still mostly untouched.
‘Ecocide’ in Tehran
As US and Israeli forces pound Tehran, Hamadan, and Isfahan, Iran’s Foreign Minister has labeled the strikes on fuel depots as “ecocide.” He claims the contamination of soil and groundwater will have generational health impacts.
Today, your life will change in a way you could’ve never imagined.
We’re on a mission to bring sharp, easy-to-digest stories straight to your inbox — but we need your help. If you’ve been enjoying the newsletter, please share it with your friends and family. A quick forward or a simple “hey, check this out” could make a huge difference. More readers means more impact, and we’d be so grateful for your support. 💌