West Asian War Daily Bulletin – March 31, 2026

Pakistan and China release a joint five-point peace proposal for West Asia. The US national average retail price of gasoline crosses $4/gallon for the first time in over three years. An Iranian loitering munition strikes a Kuwait-flagged oil tanker at Dubai port. The UAE’s air defence systems have intercepted 433 ballistic missiles and 1,977 drones since the start of the war.

March 31, 2026

Iran
West Asia

Authors

Today’s Key Developments

This space provides a daily brief tracking key developments in the West Asian conflict.

Geopolitics

Pakistan

  • Pakistan and China released a joint five-point peace proposal for West Asia, following Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing to seek Chinese support for Islamabad’s faltering mediation efforts.
  • The Pakistani foreign minister confirmed at the conclusion of the Islamabad four-nation summit that the US and Iran had both expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate direct talks. Islamabad said it was “honoured” to host them “in the coming days, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict.”
  • Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif held a 90-minute call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of the summit, briefing him on Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach to the US, Gulf states, and Islamic nations.

The United States

  • US President Donald Trump lashed out at the UK and other countries, telling them to “go get your own oil” from the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The US has stepped up air-refuelling and reconnaissance flights over the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Global Systems

Energy & Supply Chains

  • The US national average retail price of gasoline crossed $4 a gallon for the first time in more than three years.
  • Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker anchored at Dubai port, owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
  • The closure and partial control of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed global oil-insurance and shipping-cost benchmarks sharply higher.
  • Global oil benchmarks including Brent crude moved above $110–115 per barrel in early Asian trading, reflecting markets’ fears of a full-scale blockade of the strait and further attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure.

Diaspora

  • Authorities in Gulf states have flagged that foreign nationals, including Indian and Pakistani workers, are among those caught in disruptions to ports, airports, and some industrial zones, especially in the UAE and Kuwait.

Defence & Security

Weapons Systems & Defence Tech

  • A US-Israeli strike targeted infrastructure in Isfahan. GBU-27 bunker-buster bombs were primarily used in the strikes.
  • The IRGC claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9B Reaper drone over Isfahan. The MQ-9B is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
  • An Iranian loitering munition struck a Kuwait-flagged oil tanker near Dubai port, which caught fire. Dubai authorities confirmed the fire was extinguished with no oil spill and no injuries among the 24 crew members.
  • The UAE’s Ministry of Defence reported that its THAAD and Patriot systems have successfully intercepted 433 ballistic missiles and 1,977 drones since the beginning of the war.

This bulletin is prepared by the Takshashila West Asia Desk. For queries, contact research@takshashila.org.in.