Qatar Signals Progress in US-Iran War Talks
Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have reached "very progressive stages" in efforts to end the US-Iran war, pushing Brent crude down more than four percent.
Global Affairs
Aurangzeb Pitches Pakistan Economy at IMF-WB Meetings
Key Takeaways
- 1.Pakistan's IMF programme backing may be reinforced by US Treasury engagement
- 2.AIIB disbursement lag could slow infrastructure project delivery
- 3.Eurobond re-entry may signal improving Pakistan sovereign credit access
April 23, 2026 · 1 min read · By Rishabh Bhardwaj
·
AI-assisted, human-reviewed · Our editorial standards
Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held bilateral meetings with US Treasury Deputy Secretary Francis Brooke and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi on the sidelines of the WB-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, running April 13, 18. The engagements signal Islamabad's active effort to consolidate external financial support as it navigates a critical phase of macroeconomic stabilisation. Aurangzeb briefed Treasury officials on Pakistan's stabilisation progress, planned re-entry into international capital markets, and external debt management strategy, while pitching investment opportunities in the minerals and energy sectors. He also updated the US side on digital and virtual asset regulation and underscored the importance of continued American backing for Pakistan's IMF programme. In the AIIB meeting, Aurangzeb noted the bank's existing Pakistan portfolio of approximately $1.7 billion, with a further $1 billion in the pipeline, and flagged regional tensions affecting Pakistan's energy supply chain. Both sides acknowledged that Pakistan's disbursement rate with AIIB trails its performance with the World Bank and ADB, a gap Islamabad is now pressing to close by aligning AIIB engagement with its infrastructure priorities.
Continue Briefing
Qatar Mediates US-Iran Talks But No Direct Contact Planned
Qatar confirmed it is mediating between the US and Iran but said no direct talks are currently planned. The clarification follows conflicting statements from President Trump, who claimed talks are under way, and Tehran, which denied any dialogue is happening.
Aramco Q2 Profits Surge as Iran War Lifts Oil Prices
Saudi Aramco reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 profits as the Iran war restricts global oil supply and pushes crude prices up. Other oil supermajors also posted outsized earnings, raising concerns about sustained fuel cost pressure for importing economies.
Trump Issues Last Chance Warning on Iran Talks
President Trump called current Iran negotiations the "last chance" to end five months of conflict, pushing oil prices higher. Tehran denied formal talks are taking place, raising the risk of a diplomatic breakdown with direct consequences for global energy markets.