Pakistan, Afghanistan trade strikes; ‘open war’ warning issued
Afghan and Pakistani forces traded airstrikes and artillery fire along the Durand Line on Thursday night, killing dozens on both sides, as Pakistan’...
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have strengthened their energy partnership with the launch of a joint exploration project in the Ustyurt region, highlighting growing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The ceremony, held in Tashkent and attended by Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, showcased the deepening ties in the regional energy sector.
During the event, Minister Shahbazov noted that political will and personal trust between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
The minister highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in the Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State and the opening of the Zangezeur corridor, which strengthens the significance of the Middle Corridor for regional integration.
The joint Ustyurt project between SOCAR and “Uzbekneftegaz” will enhance knowledge and technology exchange in the hydrocarbon sector, boost regional energy integration, and create new opportunities for joint participation in energy supply.
Minister Shahbazov also emphasised the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor project, which will connect the electricity systems of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan for the first time.
The initiative is expected to expand Azerbaijan’s transit role and enable the transfer of renewable energy along the Middle Corridor between Asia and Europe.
The project follows the signing of a Production Sharing Agreement on 24 July 2025, which formalised cooperation between SOCAR, “Uzbekneftegaz,” and the Republic of Uzbekistan for geological exploration, development, and production in Uzbek investment blocks.
The ceremony also highlighted other international energy collaborations, involving countries such as Türkiye, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China.
This joint venture marks a new chapter in Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan energy cooperation, underlining the growing strategic and regional importance of both nations in Central Asia’s energy landscape.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 46, authorities said, with 21 people still reported missing. The storms triggered landslides and widespread flooding, displacing thousands across Juiz de Fora and Uba.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
Syria’s economy is showing clear signs of recovery, with economic activity accelerating in recent months, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday.
The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford near Israel as part of a growing military build-up amid tensions with Iran, while governments around the world urge their citizens to leave parts of the region.
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
Israeli strikes killed five people in Gaza on Thursday (26 February), according to health officials in the territory. The Israeli military said separately that it had killed a militant who posed an imminent threat to its forces in southern Gaza.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.
Ankara has rejected media reports claiming it plans to deploy military forces into Iranian territory in the event of a U.S. attack on the Islamic republic.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment