Reforms in Pakistan were never designed to succeed amid IMF bailouts: Report

IANS | June 20, 2026 6:06 PM

New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) Pakistan has seen several International Monetary Fund (IMF) programmes to improve its economy in the past but reforms have failed and the country stares at a bigger economic crisis. The question isn’t why reform failed but whether it was ever designed to succeed, argues a new report.

India's balanced approach to Myanmar gains strategic importance

IANS | June 20, 2026 6:00 PM

Athens, June 20 (IANS) The recent visit of Myanmar’s President U Min Aung Hlaing to India carried significance beyond diplomatic protocol. It reflected Myanmar's search for a balancing strategy, gave India an opportunity to engage with a volatile neighbour whose instability directly impacts the Northeast, and served as a reminder for China that influence does not necessarily translate into trust.

Rising crimes under Taliban rule in Afghanistan challenge claims of restored security: Report

IANS | June 20, 2026 4:51 PM

Kabul, June 20 (IANS) The rise in criminal incidents across Afghanistan is not a peripheral issue but a stark reflection of the Taliban's governance failures. Having returned to power pledging to restore order and end chaos, the Taliban has instead presided over a reality marked by diminished freedoms, weakened justice, limited accountability, and persistent insecurity, a report has highlighted.

Pakistan slashes climate spending despite rising vulnerability to extreme weather

IANS | June 20, 2026 4:36 PM

New Delhi , June 20 (IANS) Despite mounting evidence that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the federal government has sharply reduced climate-related development spending in its budget for FY2026-27, even as neighboring countries continue to increase investments in climate resilience and adaptation, a report has said.

Bangladesh: Report flags widespread class discrimination inside prisons

IANS | June 20, 2026 4:25 PM

Dhaka, June 20 (IANS) Bangladesh's prisons have increasingly deteriorated into a deeply discriminatory state mechanism. Within this system, imprisonment for those with wealth and power translates into a “life of pampered luxury" while for ordinary, poor citizens, it amounts to a "living hell".

Pakistan’s governance failures tarnishing global reputation further

IANS | June 20, 2026 4:12 PM

Male, June 20 (IANS) Pakistan's governance failures have extended beyond domestic politics and are increasingly affecting its global standing. The United States Trade Representative has concluded that Islamabad has failed to effectively enforce prohibitions against forced labour, while the European Union (EU) has pressed Pakistani authorities to deliver meaningful progress on human rights, labour protections, and governance reforms, a report has stated.