Domestic

BALOCHISTAN

1. Police recovered two bullet-riddled bodies, including one identified as Imran, from the Kech Kur River area in Turbat (1.3.26).
2. A lecturer, Bilal (known as KD) from the University of Balochistan, was shot dead in Kharan district (4.3.26).
3. Three tribesmen were killed during a clash in Jhal Magsi district (5.3.26).
4. Two people, whose names are not known, were killed in shootings in Kech district (5.3.26).
5. The son of a tribal leader, whose name is not known, was killed and another person injured in an explosion caused by explosive material near their residence in Dera Bugti district (5.3.26).
6. Security forces killed 12 terrorists during an IBO in Harnai district (5.3.26).
7. Three terrorists were killed by security forces during an IBO in Basima district (5.3.26).
8. Naib Tehsildar Sher Dil was martyred after an attack on his vehicle by unknown gunmen in the Khatan area of Kachhi district (7.3.26).
9. A bomb planted near a survey team’s vehicle close to Well No. 10 exploded in the Pir Koh area of Dera Bugti district; no casualties were reported (7.3.26).
10. A fisherman, Muhammad Tayub, was killed after debris from an Israeli projectile intercepted by Iranian air defenses struck his boat in Iranian waters, as stated by DC Gwadar Najeebullah Kakar (9.3.26).
11. CTD Police Inspector Metha Khan was martyred during a targeted attack by unknown terrorists in the Killi Ismail area of Quetta (9.3.26).
12. Ten kidnapped labourers and a manager working on a World Bank-funded water channel project were recovered by police. They had been abducted at gunpoint on 22 October 2025 from Mola Tehsil in Khuzdar district while working on the project (10.3.26).
13. Five labourers from Sindh were injured during a grenade attack by unidentified motorcyclists on their house in the coastal town of Pasni (10.3.26).
14. Two people were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bal Kaherrian, Kech district (13.3.26).
15. Two girls were injured when a drone struck a house in the Sara-Ghargai area on the outskirts of Quetta (13.3.26).

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KPK)

1. The ATC court in Peshawar acquitted Jan Wali alias Sheena and Shakeel in the Army Public School (APS) attack case due to lack of evidence. It declared 16 others as proclaimed offenders and issued arrest warrants against them. The proclaimed offenders include Mangal Bagh, Haji Gul Bahadur, Commander Omar Khalid Khorasani, Commander Hafiz Saeed, Commander Aurangzeb, Commander Fazlullah, Hafiz Daulat, Qari Shakeel, Qari Saifullah, Islam Farooqi, Maulvi Faqir, Ajnabi, Angara Apaji, Abu Zar, and Sarwar Shah. Over 140 students were killed and 200 injured in the 16 December 2014 terrorist attack on APS, Peshawar.
2. Terrorists attacked three police installations, injuring two policemen and six civilians. Mattani and Badhber police stations, along with the Sra Khawra check post, came under attack, with police retaliating in Peshawar district (1.3.26).
3. Traffic police injured an attacker during retaliatory fire on armed motorcyclists on the Bannu–D.I. Khan Road, while the other assailant escaped in Lakki Marwat district (1.3.26).
4. Police Head Constable Uzair Khan was martyred by unidentified assailants in the main bazaar of Tank city (2.3.26).
5. Protesters set fire to a police station and a patrol vehicle after TikToker Mohammad Shahid was allegedly shot by a constable in the Boli area of Balakot in Mansehra district (2.3.26).
6. Former Pashtoon Students Federation (PSF) media coordinator Asad Khan was allegedly abducted and killed by unidentified armed men in Bannu district (2.3.26).
7. Two men, Asghar Khan and Yousaf Khan, were shot dead by unknown assailants on Manjiwala Link Road near Bhana Manjiwala in Lakki Marwat city (4.3.26).
8. Unknown gunmen martyred Police ASI Balawat Khan after an attack on a check post in the Badan area of War Mamund tehsil, Bajaur district (4.3.26).
9. A car driver, Abrarullah Shirani, was allegedly shot dead by police at Hathala check post in Dera Ismail Khan after failing to stop his vehicle (5.3.26).
10. The body of a 15-year-old boy, Imran, who was brutally killed with stones by unidentified men, was found near a hill in the Tanai area of Wana Tehsil in South Waziristan district (5.3.26).
11. One person was killed and 19 others, including two security personnel, were injured in an explosion near the Chashma Sarbandki check post on the Bannu–Miranshah main road in North Waziristan (6.3.26).
12. Two people, Zahid and Habib Noor, were killed and another injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on them in the Sholam area of Tehsil Birmal in South Waziristan district (6.3.26).
13. Security forces killed five terrorists during an exchange of fire in Bajaur district (6–7.3.26).
14. Three terrorists were killed in separate encounters in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts (6–7.3.26).
15. Five terrorists were killed during separate operations in Khyber and South Waziristan districts (6–7.3.26).
16. Two policemen were martyred and 22 people, including four policemen and 18 civilians, were injured in an IED blast in Rustam Bazaar of Wana town in South Waziristan district (7.3.26).
17. Two people, Shoaibur Rehman (brother of a police official) and Furqanullah, were killed and 10 others injured in a motorcycle bomb explosion outside a battery shop in the Serai-Naurang area of Lakki Marwat district (7.3.26).
18. A teenage girl was reportedly killed after a boulder struck a house during the detonation of unexploded explosives by security forces in the hilly area of Jamrud in Khyber district (7.3.26).
19. Suspected drug smugglers martyred policeman Hazrat Hussain during a raid in Jamrud, Khyber district (8.3.26).
20. Two terrorists were reportedly killed by security forces in an operation in Gandi Ashiq village, Daraban tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district (8.3.26).
21. Police reportedly repelled a terrorist attack on Aba Shaheed police station in Dera Ismail Khan district (10.3.26).
22. A bullet-riddled body of a person identified as Tahseenullah was found near Nursery Morr on the Bannu–Dera Ismail Khan section of the Indus Highway. A day earlier, two people, Sherdaullah and Mohammad Idrees, were also found dead near Wanda Hajigul in Lakki Marwat district (10.3.26).
23. Three young placer gold miners — Tahir, Asim, and Fahad — were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rehmanabad, Kohat district (10.3.26).
24. Three children were injured in a quadcopter attack in the Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat district (10.3.26).
25. A policeman was injured in a hand grenade attack on a police post by unidentified assailants in Khar tehsil, Bajaur district (12.3.26).
26. At least seven police personnel were killed when a roadside IED targeted a police vehicle during a routine patrol in Shadi Khel Bettani, Lakki Marwat district (12.3.26).
27. Police killed a miscreant while a constable was injured during the repulsion of an attack on an IDP camp check post in Bakakhel, Bannu district (13.3.26).
28. An explosion targeted a police mobile in Shadi Khel Bettani, Lakki Marwat district. It resulted in the martyrdom of SHO Sadr Azam and Constables Shah Barhan, Shah Khalid, Haji Mohammad, Gulzada, and Sakhizada (13.3.26).

GILGIT-BALTISTAN (GB)

1. Curfew in Skardu was lifted after 11 days, with internet and mobile services restored and flights resuming from Thursday. The curfew had been imposed following violent protests in Skardu and Gilgit after the reported assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Clashes between protesters and security forces killed over 20 people, including three security officials (13.3.26).

ISLAMABAD

1. An 18-year-old boy, Anis Baloch, son of a prayer leader, was shot dead under unclear circumstances at Golden Market, G-7 sector, Islamabad (5.3.26).
2. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, stated that entry points into the capital will be reduced from 109 to 25 to enhance law and order and civic facilities, with strict and effective checkpoint monitoring and a fully operational Red Zone (13.3.26).

PUNJAB

1. Two persons, Mehmood Ahmed and his son Aftab, were shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists outside their house in Langay village, Mungowal, in Gujrat district (4.3.26).
2. CTD police killed four terrorists while foiling an attack in an operation near Juttar village in Dera Ghazi Khan district (9.3.26).
3. Border Military Police (BMP) seized 40 kg of silver and a vehicle at Bewata check post in Dera Ghazi Khan district and later handed them over to Pakistan Customs (9.3.26).
4. Maryam Nawaz approved Punjab’s first Cybercrime Investigation Unit, made e-tagging mandatory for all vehicles, and ordered tighter surveillance under a “micro security iron shield.” She also directed the Crime Control Department (CCD) Punjab to expand into a premier investigation agency, launch a post-Eid crackdown on illegal weapons, and approved the Punjab Surrender Illicit Arms Act 2026 (2,11.3.26).
5. The Punjab government will expand the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) by setting up 16 new district stations to strengthen anti-narcotics operations. This was announced after a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman in Lahore, where DG CNF Brig Mazhar Iqbal reported 510 operations in six months, seizing 15.4 tonnes of drugs and arresting 407 suspects along with weapons and 12 quadcopters (13.3.26).

SINDH

1. Police registered three terrorism cases against unidentified suspects after 11 people were killed near the US Consulate in Karachi during violent protests on 1 March. IG Police Javed Alam Odho ordered the suspension of several officers and formed a six-member committee to investigate alleged negligence linked to the incident (3.3.26).
2. Police seized a statue depicting “Satan,” allegedly made by a religious party to be burned during a recent Al-Quds rally in Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi, after a viral video surfaced. No arrests or case have been reported yet (13.3.26).

LAW AND ORDER / SECURITY

1. At least 19 people, including 10 in Karachi, two in Islamabad, and seven in GB, were reportedly killed and over 100 injured nationwide after protests erupted over the reported killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. Deaths were reported in Karachi, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan office was torched, and authorities imposed bans and curfews in several areas (3.3.26).

DEFENCE / SECURITY

1. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, COAS & CDF, visited Wana, South Waziristan, to review the security situation, pay homage at the Shuhada Monument, and assess operational readiness along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border (5.3.26).
2. The COAS & CDF visited Saudi Arabia and met Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss Iranian drone and missile attacks and joint measures under the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement. Both sides urged Iran to act prudently to avoid miscalculation and support a peaceful resolution (7.3.26).
3. Pakistan Navy launched “Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr” to protect shipping and maritime trade. The operation ensures the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies and secures Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Pakistan Navy ships are escorting merchant vessels in coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), safeguarding vital sea routes that support 90% of Pakistan’s trade and regional maritime security (9.3.26).

DIPLOMATIC DEVELOPMENT / ECONOMY / SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1. Four ships carrying diesel and petrol arrived at Pakistan’s Port Qasim. Torm Damini offloaded 37,000 tonnes of diesel, while three petrol tankers are scheduled to berth in the coming days. Authorities are managing berthing and unloading to maintain steady fuel supplies amid global shortages (9.3.26).
2. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the UN Security Council that India was backing militant groups such as banned TTP and BLF from Afghanistan. He urged India to stop stoking terrorism and stated that peace in Afghanistan depends on Taliban commitments on counterterrorism and rights (9.3.26).
3. PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Syed Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s new Supreme Leader, reaffirming that Pakistan–Iran ties are based on shared faith, history, culture, and language (10.3.26).
4. PM Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, expressing Pakistan’s support and solidarity during a challenging time. Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and COAS Asim Munir also attended (12.3.26).
5. The US Department of State reportedly decided to permanently close the US Consulate in Peshawar to save approximately $7.5 million annually (2,12.3.26).
6. Al-Quds Day was observed across Pakistan on 13 March 2026 with rallies held in major cities under strict security measures.
7. Syed Nehal Hashmi was sworn in as Sindh Governor (13.3.26).

PAKISTAN–AFGHANISTAN ARMED CONFLICT

1. In early March 2026, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in response to cross-border attacks by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as Fitna al Kahwaraj, and other militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan had urged the Afghan Taliban government to curb these groups, which Kabul denied. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that by March 11, 641 Taliban fighters were killed and 855 injured, while 243 check posts and 219 military vehicles were destroyed in airstrikes on 65 sites.
2. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the situation as an “open war,” with strikes in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktika, and Nangarhar. Afghan Taliban forces launched retaliatory attacks and accused Pakistan of violating sovereignty. According to ISPR, rudimentary drones injured four people, including two children, while two drones were intercepted near Rawalpindi. Injuries were also reported in Quetta and Kohat. Security analyst Dr Naveed Elahi’s article “Afghan Taliban’s Nexus with Terrorism: TTP, Daesh & Al-Qaeda” was published on thestrategicbrief.com (10–13.3.26).
3. Earlier temporary agreements mediated by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia could not be prolonged, and trade between the two countries has remained suspended for several months. Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated that Ishaq Dar discussed the situation with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while Chinese envoy Zhao Xing and Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Amir Khan Muttaqi to encourage dialogue (13.3.26).

REGIONAL

AFGHANISTAN

1. Gul Hasan met Zamir Kabulov in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan–Russia relations and the armed conflict with Pakistan. Kabulov reportedly urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve the issue through dialogue, offering Russia as a mediator (Ariana News).
2. Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament, Majlisi Oli, approved a plan to build modern border facilities with advanced surveillance and communication systems to strengthen border security. China will fund and construct nine facilities worth 424.8 million yuan along the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border, expanding earlier cooperation after 12 posts were built in 2017–2018 (6,13.3.26).

ILLEGALLY INDIAN OCCUPIED JAMMU AND KASHMIR (IIOJK) / LOC

1. An aircraft-shaped balloon marked “PIA” was found in Rajouri in occupied Kashmir and taken into police custody after no electronic components were detected, according to Asian News International (2.3.26).
2. An army soldier was reportedly missing from a training centre, while an innocent Kashmiri youth, identified as Hamza Yousaf, was martyred by security forces in Rajouri.
3. National Conference President and former IIOJK CM Farooq Abdullah escaped a shooting incident at a wedding in Jammu, with NSG and police quickly subduing the attacker, Kamal Singh Jamwal.
4. The GOC-in-C, Indian Army’s Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, hosted a “synergy” conference with ITBP and BSF in Udhampur to enhance coordination. The conference focused on aligning strategies and sharing insights to address emerging security challenges.
5. He later visited Basantgarh, Udhampur, to review security and counter-militancy operations, and separately held a high-level conference with IIOJK DG Police Nalin Prabhat, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agency officials (7,9,10,11,13.3.26).
6. Veteran IIOJK freedom leader Shabir Shah (72) was granted bail by the Supreme Court after nearly seven years in Tihar Jail. He was arrested in 2017 over alleged terror financing and anti-national activities. Shah heads the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party and has spent decades in custody for political activism. He was among 12 individuals booked by the NIA alongside Yasin Malik and Engineer Rashid for allegedly conspiring against the Indian government and funding separatist activities (11.3.26).

INDIA

Defence / Security

1. Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat, GOC Rising Star Corps (XI Corps), headquartered at Yol, Himachal Pradesh, part of the Army Western Command, reviewed troop operational preparedness in the Mamun sector, covering Samba and Kathua in IIOJK (5.3.26).
2. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports suggest that India is the world’s second-largest arms importer, accounting for 8.3% of global imports from 2021–2025, including 140 aircraft from France and six submarines from Germany. However, India’s arms imports fell by 4% compared to 2016–2020, reflecting increased domestic production and indigenisation (9.3.26).
3. India reportedly plans to deploy 5,000 tethered drones for high-altitude surveillance in extreme conditions. These systems enable persistent monitoring, communications, and electronic warfare along the LoC, LAC, and Siachen. They have been proven effective in Ukraine, Israel, and limited Indian deployments for border security (10.3.26).
4. India and Indonesia are finalizing a deal for the sale of the BrahMos supersonic missile, boosting Indonesia’s maritime defence. The missile, with a range of nearly 300 km, will be sold as a complete battery with launchers and radars. India has previously exported BrahMos to the Philippines (10.3.26).
5. India’s military leadership may undergo changes as CDS Gen Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi approach retirement. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth will become Army Vice Chief on April 1, with Lt Gen Sandeep Jain and Lt Gen VMB Krishnan promoted as Southern and Eastern Commanders (10.3.26).
6. India unveiled a 20-year roadmap to modernize and integrate its Armed Forces during a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The plan focuses on jointness, innovation, indigenous technology, and multi-domain capabilities (10.3.26).

Law and Order / Security

• India’s Union Home Ministry will audit security arrangements for all VIPs following the assassination attempt on former IIOJK CM Farooq Abdullah. Around 400 VIPs are under central protection (13.3.26).

DIPLOMATIC DEVELOPMENT / ECONOMY / SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• The United States granted India a 30-day waiver to continue purchasing Russian oil to ease global supply disruptions caused by the war involving Iran (5.3.26).
• PM Narendra Modi, in a phone call with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed concern over regional tensions, civilian casualties, and infrastructure damage. He emphasized India’s priority on the safety of its nationals and secure energy transit. Modi also spoke with leaders of Gulf countries regarding approximately one crore Indians in the region (13.3.26).

IRAN

US–ISRAEL JOINT ATTACKS AND IRANIAN RESPONSE

1. The United States and Israel launched “pre-emptive” strikes on February 28, with President Donald Trump announcing major combat operations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, and Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s new Supreme Leader. More than 1,330 people have been killed in Iran and nearly 690 in Lebanon. Rising Brent crude oil prices and the war have increased air freight rates by up to 70% (13.3.26).
2. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities and US bases across the Persian Gulf region. Several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Oman, faced strikes and infrastructure damage. The conflict has severely disrupted global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz (13.3.26).
3. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that ending the war requires recognition of Iran’s rights, war reparations, and international guarantees. The IRGC warned that attacks on Iranian ports could lead to retaliation against neighboring countries’ ports (12.3.26).
4. Thousands protested in Tehran on Al-Quds Day. An explosion near Ferdowsi Square killed one person amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks. President Pezeshkian joined the rally alongside senior officials (13.3.26).
5. President Trump announced a major strike on Kharg Island, targeting military sites while sparing oil infrastructure. The UN warned that approximately 3.2 million people have been internally displaced in Iran (14.3.26).

IMPACT ON GLOBAL AND REGIONAL DYNAMICS

1. Analysts assess that the war is likely to have profound geopolitical and economic consequences globally. Rising oil prices and increased air and sea freight costs are expected to drive inflation worldwide.
2. Russia and China remain engaged diplomatically, seeking a resolution to the conflict. The possible involvement of Kurdish ethnic groups could further destabilize the region, given their presence across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.
3. Escalation between Iran, the US, and Israel, along with retaliatory actions in Gulf states, could draw additional countries into the conflict if a ceasefire is not achieved.
4. There is also growing discussion that a broader geopolitical contest is unfolding, with major powers positioning themselves while the United States bears the economic burden of prolonged military engagement.

IMPACT ON PAKISTAN

Comments & Analysis: The conflict may trigger economic, political, and sectarian challenges in Pakistan. An unstable Iran, sharing a 900 km land and maritime border with Pakistan, could create significant security risks, including militancy, refugee influx, and border instability.