News Analysis India

Tag: Pakistan

  • Afghanistan crisis: Need to review foreign policy regarding neighbouring nations, says Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, NCP president and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday underlined the need to review India’s foreign policy concerning all the neighbouring countries.

    “We should be alert and will have to take precautions in the long run. There was a time when except Pakistan and China, our relations with other neighbours were good,” he told reporters when asked about the Afghanistan crisis.

    ALSO READ: How did the Taliban take over Afghanistan so quickly?

    Taliban insurgents swept into Afghanistan’s capital on Sunday after the government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani left the country.

    Unprecedented scenes and being witnessed in the Afghan capital Kabul, where panic-stricken people are scurrying to escape from the country.

    “It is time to review our foreign policy concerning other countries. The situation is not good. But it is a sensitive issue. We will cooperate with the government since this is about national security,” the former Defence Minister said.

  • Will teach Pakistan a lesson if they try to be adventurous, warns Punjab CM in his I-Day address

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in his Independence Day speech, vowed to protect the state borders against the ‘nefarious desigs of Pakistan’.

    He said that since his government has come to power, 47 Pakistani terror modules and 37 gangster groups have been neutralised.

    Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, which continued to foment trouble even 75 years after independence, Amarinder asserted that he will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory. Addressing the people of the state after unfurling the national flag, he said, “We will teach them (Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous.”

    Pointing to the use of drones by the neighbouring country to smuggle arms and drugs into the state, Amarinder warned that Pakistan will not leave any opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerability in Punjab.

    Stressing the need to ensure peace in the state to promote development and progress of its people, he said his government would not tolerate any threat, including those from gangsters and terrorists. “We will deal with them squarely,” he said, adding that “Any threat to Punjab would be a danger to our entire nation.”

    Later, interacting informally with some mediapersons, he expressed concerns over the continuing agitation of the farmers and said he had raised the issue recently during his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. He said he demanded the repeal of the farm laws, which were anti-farmer and against the spirit of the constitution. He made it clear that he would continue to fight with the farmers for the revocation of these legislations, and would not let the sacrifices of those who had lost their lives in this struggle go in vain.

    In his official address, referring to the gains made by his government in its fight against the deadly menace of drugs, he highlighted the 47,510 cases registered under the NDPS Act and the 216 ‘big fish’ (caught with 5 kg or more of heroin) arrested so far. More than seven lakh patients are undergoing treatment as part of the de-addiction programme, he added.

  • Indian, Pakistani troops exchange sweets along LoC in Kashmir on Pak’s Independence Day

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Army personnel on Saturday greeted their Pakistani counterparts on their nation’s Independence Day and exchanged sweets along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

    The sweets were presented by the Indian Army personnel to their Pakistani counterparts at Chilehana Tithwal Crossing Point in The Tangdhar sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

    “On August 14, the Indian Army as a warm gesture, presented sweets to the Pakistan Army at Chilehana Tithwal Crossing Point to extend best wishes to Pakistan on their Independence Day displaying the will to maintain peace along the LoC,” an army official said.

    On the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Indian Army exchanged sweets with Pakistan Army in Poonch & Mendhar: 16 Corps, Indian Army pic.twitter.com/RS9yAMLuNA
    — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2021
    He said over the years, India has continuously endeavoured to strengthen the bilateral relations with Pakistan through goodwill gestures like this one across the spectrum to ensure peace and tranquility in the region.

    “The Awam (people) has appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army to maintain peace in the villages along the LoC. These positive endeavours by the Indian Army will further the cause towards prolonged peace along the LoC,” the official said.

  • Pakistan’s allegations against India on terror attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ‘lies’: MEA

    At least 13 people were killed when the bus carrying the Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the under-construction Dasu Dam exploded on July 14.

  • Not very hopeful about improvement in Indo-Pak relationship: Ex-Pakistan Ambassador Abdul Basit

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan Ambassador to India Abdul Basit said on Friday he is not hopeful about the improvement in India-Pakistan relationship currently and the two countries can move forward only when they develop the courage to take difficult decisions.

    “I am not very hopeful, under the given circumstances, about this relationship. We may have — one year down the road — some process in place but unless there is some desire to move forward decisively, there is simply no room for any improvement in relationship,” he stated.

    “We have seen our hostility reflect also in Afghanistan,” Basit said during a webinar titled ‘India-Pakistan: Is there a way forward?’, which was organised by think tank Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC).

    “How ironic it is that in Doha, Qatar is forced to arrange two separate meetings where India and Pakistan are present. It has come to this pass that our two countries cannot sit in a meeting — where both the countries are present — related to Afghanistan,” Basit mentioned.

    India had on Thursday joined a regional conclave hosted by Qatar in Doha to discuss ways to contain the escalating situation in Afghanistan in the backdrop of the Taliban’s continued offensive across the country.

    Basit said that as India and the US are fostering their strategic partnership, Pakistan, obviously, has a strategic partnership with China.

    “That is negatively affecting Pakistan-India dynamics as well,” he added. Calling the current situation “demoralising”, Basit said South Asia would remain hostage to Pakistan-India hostility.

    “We will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities unleashed by globalisation. It is so unfortunate that intra-regional trade continues to be under 5 per cent,” he stated.

    Basit said he has come to the conclusion that no matter which approach is adopted at the end of the day, Pakistan-India relations will continue to be hostage to mutual hostility unless and until “we found solutions to our core problems — and there I must mention the Jammu and Kashmir dispute”.

    He said some people do not agree with him and they still believe perhaps the best way forward is to take baby steps, and try to have a congenial environment through confidence-building measures, people-to-people contacts, cultural relations, economic relations, etc.

    “But our experience tells us we have tried all these things in the past and nothing has really worked, so much so that we tried confidence-building measures related to Kashmir in 2005-2007. Even those confidence-building measures have unravelled over time,” he mentioned.

    He said there is no appetite left in Pakistan to really “engage with India for talks for the sake of talks” particularly after the steps taken by India on August 5, 2019, in relation to Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Narendra Modi government had on August 5, 2019 revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories.

    “Though there have been some back channel interactions, and we saw as a result of that, there was recommitment to the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC). But…we are again searching for possibilities.”

    Following talks between the Directors-General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan over a hotline, a joint statement was issued on February 25, 2021, in which the two countries agreed to the strict observance of all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the LoC and all other sectors with effect from the February 24-25 midnight, 2021.

    There is no doubt that diplomacy is the art of the possible, he said.

    “But unless there is a mutual desire, political will and the two sides must have courage to take decisive difficult decisions, I do not see as to how the two countries can move forward,” he noted.

  • Security forces alert to scuttle Pakistan-based terrorists’ plan to carry out major strikes in J-K: DGP 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Just days ahead of the Independence Day, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh disclosed on Wednesday that Pakistan-based terror outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are planning major strikes in the Union Territory, while asserting that the security forces are alert to thwart any such attempt.

    He also said anti-terrorism operations are going on in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir and the security forces are keeping a tight vigil to frustrate Pakistani attempts to lure youngsters into committing terror activities.

    “There are reports that Pakistani terror outfits like LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and JeM are looking for an opportunity to carry out major terror attacks in the Jammu region as well as in the Kashmir region.

    “Our forces are alert and the police are working in close coordination with the intelligence agencies and other security agencies. I am confident that we will be able to thwart such designs of the terrorists,” the police chief told reporters in Kishtwar district.

    After visiting Rajouri the previous day, the DGP reached Kishtwar on Wednesday morning to review the security situation ahead of the Independence Day in the district that saw repeated attempts by the ultras to revive terror activities.

    On the arrest of two newly-recruited HM terrorists from the Dachhan area of the district two days ago, Singh said, “It is an ongoing process. The operations are going on all over the Kashmir and Jammu regions.”

    “In Rajouri, two terrorists were eliminated in a joint operation by the police and the Army in the Pangai area. There are reports about the presence of more terrorists in the area who have crossed over from Pakistan,” he added.

    The DGP said Pakistan and agents sponsored by the country are trying to activate certain overground workers (OGWs) of terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “The Kishtwar police was keeping track of such elements and they were able to lay their hands on some of them who had joined terrorist ranks and were just about to go active and resort to acts of terror,” he said, referring to the arrest of the two newly-recruited terrorists from Dachhan.

    Lauding the police and other forces working in the district, Singh said, “They are also on the look out for some others who are hand in glove with the elements (terrorists) working in Kashmir.

    “They have expressed their desire to join terrorist ranks and resort to terror violence. I am sure the police and the security forces will be able to take care of them.”

    He said Pakistan and the agents sponsored by it are looking out for those who could be involved in terror activities and “hunting for people” in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and some parts of Reasi district in the Jammu region.

    “Our police and intelligence agencies are keeping a watch and we know the way to crack down on them,” the DGP said.

    He said the support structure, which includes separatists and elements working with Pakistan-based terror outfits, are active along with those who are misusing the social media to lure youngsters into terrorism, but “we are countering the adversaries who are misguiding and misleading the youngsters”.

    “Our effort is to ensure that those boys who are being lured into terrorism, despite joining terrorist ranks, are brought back and given a chance to return home. We have been successful as 40 such youngsters were reunited with their families even after being caught in live encounters,” Singh said.

    Asked about his message for the youngsters of Jammu and Kashmir, the DGP said the Centre and the Union Territory administration sincerely want that a turnaround in the security situation paves the way for lasting peace and development.

    “The security situation is now better in Jammu and Kashmir. The youngsters should focus on their education, their future and also support their parents,” he said.

  • On the run for 3 years, man wanted for facilitating hawala payments to Pakistani handlers held in UP

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terror Squad has arrested a man from the state’s Gorakhpur district for his alleged involvement in sending money through the hawala route to Pakistani handlers, officials said on Monday.

    The accused, Dinesh Kumar Singh alias Ajay Kumar Singh alias AK Singh (46), a resident of Gorakhpur, was arrested on Sunday.

    He was evading arrest for the past three years and carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, they said.

    In a statement issued here, the ATS said, “Information was received that on the instructions of Pakistani handlers, some people were using fake documents to open accounts in different banks, duping people to deposit money in those accounts, withdrawing the deposited money and sending it to the Pakistani handlers through the hawala route.

    ” “On March 24, 2018, accused persons Arshad Naeem, Naseem Ahmed, Mukesh Prasad, Musharraf Ansari alias Nikhil Rai alias Dabloo, Sushil Rai alias Ankur Rai and Dayanand Yadav were arrested,” it said.

    In this regard, a case was registered on March 25, 2018 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the ATS police station in Lucknow and during investigation, Singh’s name came to light, it added.

    “Accused Dinesh Kumar Singh along with Musharraf used fake documents and his photograph to open accounts in different banks.

    He used to hand over the accounts to Musharraf, who withdrew money from the accounts and sent it (to Pakistani handlers) through hawala.

    “This gang had opened more than 150 accounts using fake documents and carried out transactions worth lakhs of rupees.

    After withdrawing the money, it was sent to Delhi through other members of the gang and from there it was sent outside (the country) through hawala,” the statement said.

    “On August 1, Dinesh Kumar Singh was arrested from Gorakhpur by the ATS,” it said.

    An Aadhaar card, a PAN card, a Delhi Metro card, the registration certificate of a motorcycle, a diary and a purse, among other things, were recovered from him, the ATS said.

    “The arrested accused is being presented before a court, and seven days’ police remand will be sought for him.

    During this period, an investigation will be carried out into bank account transactions and people who had helped in opening the bank accounts,” the statement said.

  • 89 militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year; over 200 still active, say security officials

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Security forces have killed 89 militants, including seven Pakistani nationals, in Jammu and Kashmir this year so far, top Army and police officials said on Saturday, maintaining that over 200 ultras are still active in the union territory.

    “Out of these 89 terrorists, seven were FTs (foreign terrorists or Pakistanis). It (number) is lesser than the last year, but more top commanders were killed this year,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said.

    He was addressing a joint press conference with GoC of Army’s 15 Corps Lt Gen D P Pandey and GoC of south Kashmir-based Victor Force Major Gen Rashim Bali.

    To a question about the number of militants present in J-K, Lt Gen Pandey said about 200-225 ultras were active across the UT.

    He, however, said there has been no successful infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) so far this year.

    “There has been information about one or two infiltrations. We have launched operations, which are on to check or neutralise them (infiltrators). But, according to ground inputs, there has been no successful infiltration or intrusion in the 15 Corps zone in the Valley so far,” LT Gen Pandey said.

    Asked about the operation in Shokbaba Sumlar-Aragam area of Bandipora in north Kashmir in which three militants were killed last week, the Army officer said out of the three ultras, two had travelled through proper visa route to Pakistan in 2017-18.

    “This is a design to take youth from here, train them there (in Pakistan), and then send them back as terrorists. At least 40 youth have travelled on visa to Pakistan for studying purpose after being given proper certificates for visa, but they were sent back here as terrorists,” he said.

    The GoC said those youth who return from there in the “right manner” will be welcomed, but those who come back with weapons will be neutralised.

    The IGP said out of the 40 youth who had taken visa and travelled through the Wagah border route in Punjab to Pakistan, “27 came back with weapons and have been killed in encounter” “Rest are still across, a few of them are in touch with their families. We are keeping a watch,” he said.

    Security forces on Saturday killed two Jiash-e-Mohammed militants, including a top Pakistani ultra belonging to the family of the group’s chief Masood Azhar and involved in the planning of the 2019 Pulwama attack, in an encounter in Pulwama district, police said.

  • Attempt to camouflage illegal occupation: India slams Pakistan for holding polls in PoK

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Slamming Pakistan for holding assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), India on Thursday said it was nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and that it has lodged a strong protest with that country over the issue.

    Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi asserted that Pakistan has no locus standi on these Indian territories and it should vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

    “The so-called elections in Indian territory under the illegal occupation of Pakistan are nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and the material changes undertaken by it in these territories,” he said at an online media briefing.

    His strong assertion came days after Pakistan conducted elections to the legislative Assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

    The elections were marred by allegations of irregularities and violence.

    Asked about the polls, Bagchi said India has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistani authorities on this “cosmetic exercise”, which has also been protested and rejected by the local people.

    “Such an exercise can neither hide the illegal occupation by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people in these occupied territories,” he said.

  • ‘We are talking to China which has occupied our land’: Mehbooba Mufti wants Indo-Pak talks

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said India should talk to Pakistan for resolution of Kashmir issue and putting an end to the bloodshed in the region.

    She made the remarks at a party gathering to commemorate the 22nd raising day of the PDP here.

    “The ceasefire between India and Pakistan (in February this year) was a result of dialogue. Then what’s wrong when Mehbooba Mufti says hold talks with Pakistan for resolving the issue and ending the bloodshed?” she said.

    The former chief minister said there should be no hesitation in holding talks with the neighbouring country for improving the situation.

    “The ceasefire has resulted in peace along borders and lesser infiltration. This has brought relief to the people,” she said.

    “We are talking to China which has occupied our land. You (the government) might not admit it but that is the case. Shimla Agreement and Tashkent agreement between India and Pakistan were about Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba Mufti added.

    She said PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s dream of trade and travel between divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir was realised by the efforts of then prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

    “Hold talks with Pakistan again and open the Muzaffarabad and Rawalakote trade routes again, ” she said.

    Mehbooba Mufti said during the all-party meeting with the prime minister last month, she reiterated that dialogue was the only way out.

    “I also said that we will continue our struggle for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status which was taken away unconstitutionally. We will not restore till we get it back with interest,” she said.

    The PDP president said there were allegations that three youths were killed in separate fake encounters recently.

    “Don’t we raise our voice against these injustices?” she asked.