Iran conflict exposes Pakistan's claim of being Middle East security guarantor

IANS | March 5, 2026 9:26 PM

Islamabad, March 5 (IANS) The reverberations of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's subsequent response has also exposed fissures within Pakistan's own society, experts reckon. Shia communities, in particular, took to the streets in protest after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, demanding solidarity and also questioning Islamabad's posture. These demonstrations were not just about Pakistan's foreign policy; they were about identity, belonging, and whether the State’s priorities align with the realities facing its citizens.

Iran war to increase India's oil import bill: Amitabh Kant

IANS | March 5, 2026 8:10 PM

New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) Rising geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict could significantly increase India's oil import bill and bring the rupee under pressure, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Thursday.

Maharashtra ATS arrests engineering student over alleged links to JeM, ISIS

IANS | March 5, 2026 10:16 AM

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 21-year-old engineering student, Ayan Sheikh, for his alleged links to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the proscribed global terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), officials said on Thursday.