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The Diplomatic Insight Weekly

The Diplomatic Insight Weekly: 13th-19th March

Published 20 days ago • 3 min read

The Diplomatic Insight Weekly

The world changes within seconds; And it's been a week!

Hello Reader

Trump’s call for help went unanswered!

Does Europe’s refusal signal an end to the long US‑Europe camaraderie?

Yet Iran’s message remained clear: the Strait of Hormuz will be their “guardianship.”

Here’s your weekly roundup of the week’s most important stories, news, and articles from The Diplomatic Insight.

Top Stories of the Week

1. US, Iran Officials Make First Contact Since War: Reports​

Sounds like a bluff!

Reports of a possible text-message exchange between Steve Witkoff and Abbas Araghchi, though contested, highlight the evolving nature of diplomatic backchannels.

2. Iran War Started on Israel Pressure, US Counterterrorism Director Resigns​

The first visible rupture at home!

Joe Kent’s resignation signals a rare ideological fracture within the "America First" movement.

3. US Temporarily Allows Sale of Russian Oil to Ease Global Energy Crisis​

Tariff war to Iran war, Trump benefited Russia

By pausing the Tariff War Against Russian Oil to mitigate the Iran War supply shock, Washington has effectively prioritized global market liquidity over Moscow's isolation

4. European Leaders Demand Details on Trump’s Iran Objectives​

Europe demanding deadline from U.S.!

Europe is asking for a vivid road map, reflecting a deepening anxiety that the U.S. is operating on a day-to-day basis rather than toward a defined strategy.

5. North Korea Fires Ten Ballistic Missiles as US–South Korea Hold Military Drills​

North Korea lock and loaded?

Pyongyang’s ten-missile salvo exploited a perceived overstretch in U.S. missile defense assets, signaling while Washington is focused on the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific remains a hair-trigger theater.

It's EID!

Ambassadors have joined the people of Pakistan in Eid festivities with wishes of peace, prosperity, and abundance.

Happy Eid from The Diplomatic Insight!

From DiploTV

In this engaging and insightful episode of 'Conversation With a Diplomat', we engaged with H.E. Altamash Wazir Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kyrgyz Republic, for a glimpse into the life and journey of a seasoned diplomat.

video preview​

Pakistan-Focus

​PNSC Oil Vessels Reach Karachi Under Pakistan Navy Escort​

A quiet assertion of maritime security, signaling Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard energy lifelines amid rising regional volatility.

​Pakistan’s Green Future Rests on Youth Leadership, Says UK Climate Expert​

The climate conversation shifts from policy rooms to people power, positioning Pakistan’s youth as the decisive force in long-term sustainability.
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​UNICEF-KSrelief Partnership Protects 2.8m Children Against Polio in Pakistan​

A reminder that global health diplomacy, when sustained, can still deliver tangible victories against entrenched challenges.
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​US Embassy in Islamabad Extends Visa Services Suspension Amid Iran War​

Consular slowdowns reflect how distant conflicts quietly disrupt mobility, reshaping people-to-people ties and diplomatic rhythms.
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​PM Shehbaz Assures Saudi Crown Prince of Pakistan’s ‘Full Solidarity and Support’​

Prime Minister Shehbaz’s "full solidarity" with Riyadh, signals Islamabad’s continued alignment with Gulf partners as regional alliances recalibrate.
​

​Pakistan to Direct Surplus Food Exports to Gulf as Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains​

Crisis-induced market gaps are turning into strategic trade openings, offering Pakistan a chance to reposition itself in regional food security.
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​PIA Suspends Flights to UAE’s Fujairah Amid Middle East Tensions​

PIA’s retreat from Fujairah reflects a broader, systemic recalculation of regional airspace safety, amid the growing geography of the Iran-Israel conflict.

A Deeper Look

​Arctic: The Next Global Power Battleground?​

While all eyes are fixed on Hormuz, only few can see through and across an emerging strategic water passage.

The most significant is the Northern Sea Route, along Russia’s northern coastline. This corridor can reduce travel distance between Asia and Europe by up to 40% compared with the the Suez Canal.

argues Iram Zahid

​The Enduring Power of Faith in Global Politics​

Turns out, the divide between state and religion was only hypothetical at best.

"Public discussions about figures such as Pete Hegseth—who has been associated with imagery such as the crusader cross—illustrate how historical religious symbols can resurface in contemporary political narratives."

writes Idrees Khan

​$300B Refinery Deal: How Favorable Is the Masterstroke by Trump & Ambani for India?​

Narendra Modi has declared his ambition to turn India into a global refining hub.

When India’s largest company builds a new refinery in the US, investment, business & employment are effectively shifting to America rather than India.

writes Aalok Bajpai

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​Across Cultures and Continents: How the World Celebrates Spring​

Same season, different celebrations! And every single one worth knowing about.

"In Japan, it arrives in a quiet, almost philosophical picnic beneath cherry blossoms. In India, it is an explosion of color and drumbeats. In Scotland, it is fire on a hillside at midnight."

Learn how cultures celebrate spring

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