Syria-Pakistan Trade Push: Syrian FM Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Pakistan’s commerce leadership in Islamabad, pitching reconstruction priorities and wider trade in textiles, pharma, food and IT, while PM Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed support for Syria’s sovereignty and invited President Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit, with direct flights flagged to boost people-to-people ties. Regional Security Shockwaves: Israel’s strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase has triggered a fresh diplomatic and military standoff, with Turkey denying any troop presence and Israel warning it will not tolerate Turkish deployments, while reports say Israel is even assessing NATO Article 5 implications for forces operating outside Turkey. Civil Society Under the New Syria: Damascus is reshaping how associations operate after Assad’s fall, with licensing now easier but still politically sensitive, as civil society leaders describe a shift from intelligence-run oversight to a more unsettled state regulation model. Business & Policy Angle: Syria’s FM also said Damascus is reviewing the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement but has not decided to join, while ruling out dialogue with Iran unless Tehran changes its approach toward Syrians. Middle East Finance Pressure: Iran dismissed US “economic warfare” threats, as sanctions and settlement disputes continue to roil regional markets and humanitarian operations.