Author: EchoAsiaNews

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Wana to review the security situation along Pakistan’s western border, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Wednesday. Field Marshal Munir stated that lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan would only be possible if the Afghan Taliban ended their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations. During the visit, he was briefed on ongoing intelligence-based operations, border management measures, and developments related to Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. The COAS commended the professionalism, vigilance, and morale of troops deployed in forward areas and emphasised that the use of…

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military operations against Iran without congressional approval. The resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and supported by several lawmakers, sought to require the Trump administration to obtain explicit authorization from Congress before continuing hostilities against Iran. However, the Senate voted 53–47 against advancing the measure, effectively allowing the president to maintain control over the ongoing military campaign. The vote largely followed party lines, with most Republicans backing the administration’s actions while Democrats supported the resolution. Supporters of the measure argued that…

In the wake of brazen and illegal strikes by Israeli and U.S. forces, the Islamic Republic of Iran has exemplified extraordinary fortitude, safeguarding its territorial integrity and regional influence against a coalition bent on domination. As of March 4, 2026, this conflict, initiated by Israel’s aggressive incursions on February 28 under the guise of “Operation Epic Fury”, has underscored Iran’s legitimate right to self-defense while revealing the aggressors’ disregard for international law and human life. Iranian officials report that over 2,000 sites have been targeted, including civilian infrastructure, in what amounts to a systematic campaign of destruction. Despite inflicting heavy…

Turkey has prepared contingency plans for a possible influx of migrants from Iran as tensions escalate in the region, a Turkish government minister said on Tuesday. Officials said Ankara is closely monitoring the situation along its eastern border with Iran and is ready to implement measures if large numbers of people attempt to cross into Turkish territory. Turkey, which shares a long land border with Iran, has previously faced major migration waves from neighbouring countries during regional conflicts and is now preparing for a similar scenario if the security situation deteriorates further. Authorities said contingency planning includes strengthening border controls…

Pakistan is making diplomatic efforts to dissuade Iran from launching strikes against Saudi Arabia, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said, as tensions rise in the Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Speaking during a television programme, Sanaullah said Islamabad is working to prevent the conflict from expanding to other Gulf countries, urging Tehran not to target Saudi Arabia. He said Pakistan had communicated with both Tehran and Riyadh in an effort to reduce tensions and encourage restraint. According to Sanaullah, Iran had sought assurances that Saudi territory would not be used for attacks against…

Apple has unveiled a new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, priced at $599, as the tech giant moves to compete more directly with Chromebooks and low-cost Windows PCs in the global laptop market. The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in Apple’s iPhone lineup, marking one of the first times an iPhone-class chip has been used in a MacBook. The laptop features a 13-inch display (2408 × 1506 resolution), 8GB of RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. It also includes a Magic Keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, a 1080p webcam, two USB-C ports,…

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is reportedly assisting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in preparation for a potential uprising against the Iranian government, according to multiple sources who spoke to CNN. Sources said the plan involves arming thousands of Kurdish fighters based along the Iraq-Iran border, primarily within Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Groups participating include the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and other members of a recently formed Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan. A senior Kurdish official told CNN that opposition forces are prepared to enter western Iran in the “coming days,” with expected support from the U.S.…

A Suezmax oil tanker named Pola has made a rare transit through the Strait of Hormuz to the United Arab Emirates’ Jebel Dhanna port to load Abu Dhabi Murban crude bound for Thailand, industry sources and vessel‑tracking data show, a notable development amid a severe downturn in regional shipping activity. The tanker reportedly switched off its AIS tracking system near the Strait on March 2 and reappeared off the UAE coast by March 3, according to the sources. The move comes as most crude tanker traffic in the region has effectively stalled, with shipping disruptions tied to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military conflict…

A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could force major oil producers Iraq and Kuwait to sharply reduce crude oil exports within days, potentially cutting 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of output, analysts at J.P. Morgan said, marking a deepening threat to global energy supplies amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. In a research note on Tuesday, J.P. Morgan analysts said that if the narrow chokepoint, a critical transit route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, remains effectively closed due to escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, then Iraq…

South Korea’s government and legislature are intensifying efforts to pass a special bill implementing the country’s U.S. investment commitments, part of a broader trade framework aimed at averting punitive tariffs from Washington, with lawmakers and officials setting a new target of March 9 for parliamentary approval. Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo urged members of the National Assembly on Wednesday to pass the special legislation by March 9 as planned, describing timely passage as “extremely important” for stable trade ties with the United States amid growing economic uncertainty. The bill is tied to Seoul’s pledge under a Korea‑U.S. trade agreement to implement an extensive…