News Analysis India

Tag: Pakistan

  • Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Gets Bail, But Release From Jail Uncertain. world news

    Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case related to an alleged leak of state secrets, possibly a huge win for his party ahead of national elections in February.

    The 71-year-old former cricket star has been embroiled in a tangle of political and legal battles since he was ousted as prime minister in April 2022. He has not been seen in public since he was jailed for three years in August for unlawfully selling state gifts while in office from 2018 to 2022.

    It was not immediately clear if or when Khan would be released from jail because of the number of arrest warrants issued against him, Salman Safdar, one of Khan’s lawyers who represented him in court, told journalists after the hearing.

    A three-member bench granted Khan and his deputy party leader, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, bail subject to surety bonds of one million Pakistani rupees ($3,600) each. Both were indicted earlier this month.

    The state secrets charge is related to a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington last year, which Khan is accused of making public. He denies the charge, saying the contents appeared in the media from other sources.

    Despite Friday’s bail, Khan remains disqualified from contesting national elections scheduled for Feb. 8 by virtue of the corruption conviction, which a high court refused to suspend on Thursday. He still plans on filing his nomination papers ahead of a Sunday deadline, his party said.

    Even if the charismatic Khan were unable to contest the election, his release would be a major shot in the arm for his party as it would enable him to lead its campaign in the lead-up to the polls.

    Khan is widely believed to be the country’s most popular leader and won the last general elections in 2018. He says he is being targeted by the powerful military, which wants to keep him out of the polls. The military denies the charge.

  • Pakistan: Thousands Join Baloch March Against Genocide As It Organizes Sit-In At Dera Gazi Khan | world news

    Dera Gazi Khan: Massive crowds gathered at Dera Gazi Khan in Balochistan as the March against Baloch genocide staged a sit-in against the arrest of several Baloch cadre as well as against the disappearance of Baloch people.

    Thousands of people were seen participating in the ongoing rally by the Baloch Unity Committee in Dera Ghazi Khan. Ghayur Baloch of Makran, Jhalawan, Sarawan, Kohistan, Koh-e-Sulaiman and Dera Ghazi Khan are raising their voice against state terrorism. The protesters held placards and banners with slogans like stop your terrorism in the state of Balochistan. The Protestors said the Baloch nation will no longer accept the process of kidnapping, killing and killing people in fake encounters.

    Mehrang Baloch a political worker in her post on youth in DG Khan. Baloch people should ensure their participation in Dharna and tomorrow’s protest rally.” Earlier, n Turbat, Balochistan, the Long March had faced resistance as at least 20 participants, including women, were detained as the Baloch Yakjehti Council’s (BYC) long march reached Dera Ghazi Khan, Dawn reported.

    Led by Mohammad Asif Laghari, the BYC’s long march was intercepted on Shah Sikander Road. The police claimed the participants resisted, leading to the detention of several men and women, although the women were later released.

    “Baloch Solidarity Committee’s Dharna is continuing at DG Khan, Gadai Changi, but the police have blocked the road from all sides and are continuously harassing and harassing the Baloch people participating in the dharna,” posted the Baloch Yakjahti Committee on X.

    ASP City Rehmatullah Durrani informed protesters of the imposition of Section 144, prohibiting processions or rallies, a directive the participants defied, as reported by Dawn. Legal proceedings have been initiated under Section 144, with police warning of action against violators until December 19, according to police.

    Previously, a rally in Barkhan expressed solidarity with Balaach Mola Bakhsh’s family. The BYC’s spokesperson reported the marchers’ departure from Kohlu town to Dera Ghazi Khan via Barkhan, where they were halted by a heavy police contingent. Attempts to enter Dera Ghazi town, observing a partial strike, resulted in a police baton charge.

    Approximately 20 participants, including two women, were taken into custody and moved to an undisclosed location. BYC leaders condemned the baton charge, vowing to continue their struggle and reach Islamabad to protest the ‘extrajudicial killing’ of Bakhsh.

    The committee also stated that the sit-in would continue until the arrested activists from DG Khan are released. “The sit-in of Baloch Yakjehti Committee continues at Gadhai Chowk, Dera Ghazi Khan till the arrested activists from DG Khan are released. Despite hurdles and repression, a huge amount of people came from all areas of DG Khan to welcome the Caravan of long march against the Baloch Genocide. We urge the people of Dera Ghazi Khan and peripheries to come and join the sit-in and protesting rally tomorrow at 12:00 am to halt the collective genocide of the Baloch nation,” the committee said in another post. on X.

    The committee also requested Baloch people of Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas to reach DG Khan where the dharna is currently being staged. The committee said “The brutal actions taken by the police in DG Khan for the last two days prove how much the state is afraid of the Baloch unity. By erecting obstacles in Sakhi Sarwar, Bawata Check Post and all other areas, the state sent a message to the Baloch that Baloch have no human and constitutional rights.”

    The Baloch Long March is being organized by the Baloch people who have called for an end to state terrorism and massacres in Balochistan.

  • We are not divorced yet, she can’t marry anyone else: Husband of woman who married friend in Pakistan

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The husband of Indian woman Anju, who has travelled legally to a remote Pakistan village to meet her Facebook friend, said Thursday they are not divorced yet and hence she cannot marry the man from across the border.

    “Anju has said she submitted divorce papers in Delhi three years ago but I have not received any summons or notice from the court yet. On paper, she is still my wife. She cannot marry anyone else. The government should get the matter investigated,” Anju’s husband Arvind Kumar told reporters in Alwar.

    According to a report Anju (34) married her Facebook friend in Pakistan after converting to Islam and now has a new name, Fatima.

    Kumar said on Thursday the government should also investigate her passport and visa documents to check if she used fake documents and signatures to travel to Pakistan.

    “She did not inform me about getting the visa process done,” he said, adding he will file an FIR in the matter after she returns to India.

    He said his daughter has denied accepting Anju as her mother and it will be difficult for him to settle with her in such a scenario.

    Asked about claims that Anju could be mentally disturbed and eccentric, Kumar said she used to get tensed due to work but he never imagined she would take such a step! He said theirs was an arranged marriage and she used to get along with the children well.

    He said if Anju intended to do anything she would get it done.

    Kumar said his children should live with him and the government should cancel her visa and passport and not allow her to go.

    Anju (34) was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in Alwar district of Rajasthan. She and Pakistani national Nasrulla (29) became friends on Facebook in 2019.

    Anju has travelled to Upper Dir district in the tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a valid visa to meet Nasrulla.

    JAIPUR: The husband of Indian woman Anju, who has travelled legally to a remote Pakistan village to meet her Facebook friend, said Thursday they are not divorced yet and hence she cannot marry the man from across the border.

    “Anju has said she submitted divorce papers in Delhi three years ago but I have not received any summons or notice from the court yet. On paper, she is still my wife. She cannot marry anyone else. The government should get the matter investigated,” Anju’s husband Arvind Kumar told reporters in Alwar.

    According to a report Anju (34) married her Facebook friend in Pakistan after converting to Islam and now has a new name, Fatima.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Kumar said on Thursday the government should also investigate her passport and visa documents to check if she used fake documents and signatures to travel to Pakistan.

    “She did not inform me about getting the visa process done,” he said, adding he will file an FIR in the matter after she returns to India.

    He said his daughter has denied accepting Anju as her mother and it will be difficult for him to settle with her in such a scenario.

    Asked about claims that Anju could be mentally disturbed and eccentric, Kumar said she used to get tensed due to work but he never imagined she would take such a step! He said theirs was an arranged marriage and she used to get along with the children well.

    He said if Anju intended to do anything she would get it done.

    Kumar said his children should live with him and the government should cancel her visa and passport and not allow her to go.

    Anju (34) was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in Alwar district of Rajasthan. She and Pakistani national Nasrulla (29) became friends on Facebook in 2019.

    Anju has travelled to Upper Dir district in the tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a valid visa to meet Nasrulla.

  • India to host SCO summit virtually on July 4, opts against in-person meet

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the virtual format on July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

    However, it did not cite reasons for holding the summit in the virtual mode.

    People familiar with the matter said the option of holding the summit in the virtual format was on the table considering various aspects and a final decision on it was taken following consultations with the member states.

    Last year, the in-person SCO summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that was attended by all top leaders of the grouping including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    In September, India will host the G20 summit for which it is going to invite Xi and Putin besides other leaders of the bloc.

    India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16 last year. “Under India’s first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the MEA said in a statement.

    India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa earlier this month.

    The MEA said all the SCO member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — have been invited to attend the summit.

    “In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair,” it said.

    The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Heads of the two SCO bodies — the secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) will also be present.

    The MEA said heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited to the summit. The organisations are the UN, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).

    The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’.

    The SECURE acronym was coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit and it stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India’s chairmanship of the SCO.

    “India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship — startups and innovation; traditional medicine; digital inclusion; youth empowerment; and shared buddhist heritage,” the MEA said.

    “In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO cultural and tourist capital for 2022-23,” it said.

    The MEA said India’s chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states.

    “India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings. India remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organization, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship,” it said.

    India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

    India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

    NEW DELHI: India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the virtual format on July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

    However, it did not cite reasons for holding the summit in the virtual mode.

    People familiar with the matter said the option of holding the summit in the virtual format was on the table considering various aspects and a final decision on it was taken following consultations with the member states.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Last year, the in-person SCO summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that was attended by all top leaders of the grouping including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    In September, India will host the G20 summit for which it is going to invite Xi and Putin besides other leaders of the bloc.

    India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16 last year. “Under India’s first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the MEA said in a statement.

    India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa earlier this month.

    The MEA said all the SCO member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — have been invited to attend the summit.

    “In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair,” it said.

    The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Heads of the two SCO bodies — the secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) will also be present.

    The MEA said heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited to the summit. The organisations are the UN, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).

    The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’.

    The SECURE acronym was coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit and it stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India’s chairmanship of the SCO.

    “India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship — startups and innovation; traditional medicine; digital inclusion; youth empowerment; and shared buddhist heritage,” the MEA said.

    “In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO cultural and tourist capital for 2022-23,” it said.

    The MEA said India’s chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states.

    “India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings. India remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organization, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship,” it said.

    India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

    India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

  • 198 Indian fishermen released from Pakistani jail

    By PTI

    KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have released 198 Indian fishermen, who were languishing at a jail here after being arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in the country’s waters, and handed them over to India at the Wagah border.

    The fishermen were released from the Malir Jail in Karachi on Thursday evening.

    Malir Jail superintendent Nazir Tunio said that they had released the first batch of Indian fishermen prisoners and two more batches would be released in June and July.

    “We released 198 prisoners on Thursday while 200 and 100 more would be released later on,” he said.

    Tunio said that 200 Indian fishermen were to be released on Thursday from Malir jail but two of them died due to illness.

    The two deceased fishermen included one Muhammad Zulfiqar who passed away on May 6 and Soma Deva who died on May 9 after prolonged illnesses.

    Their bodies have been kept in the Edhi Foundation mortuary till they could be flown out to India.

    Soma and his nephew were among a dozen Indian fishermen who were arrested at sea some four and half years ago and they were lodged in the Malir jail.

    Soma was twice sent to the hospital for treatment. Tunio said Zulfiqar died after a massive heart attack.

    Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Welfare Trust, which arranged the transportation of the fishermen from Karachi to Lahore via train where they were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border, said some of the Indian fishermen also looked unwell.

    “We do our best to make the journey back home of these Indian fishermen comfortable and easy. After all, most of them have been in jail for the last 4 to five years,” he said.

    Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum General Secretary Saeed Baloch said that under the agreement reached between the two governments, a second batch of 200 Indian fishermen would be released on June 2 and another 100 on July 3.

    Baloch said he had a lot of sympathies for the Indian fishermen as the majority of them were just out for a livelihood and did not even realise it when they crossed territorial waters between the two countries.

    “The sad part is that some of them even end up spending 7 to 8 years in jail before they get a chance to return home,” he said.

    Fishermen Cooperative Society, Sindh administrator Zahid Ibrahim Bhatti said that some 200 Pakistani fishermen were lodged in Indian jails and hopefully they, too, would come home soon after the release of Indian fishermen.

    Pakistan and India regularly arrest rival fishermen for violating the maritime boundary, which is poorly marked at some points.

    KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have released 198 Indian fishermen, who were languishing at a jail here after being arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in the country’s waters, and handed them over to India at the Wagah border.

    The fishermen were released from the Malir Jail in Karachi on Thursday evening.

    Malir Jail superintendent Nazir Tunio said that they had released the first batch of Indian fishermen prisoners and two more batches would be released in June and July.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “We released 198 prisoners on Thursday while 200 and 100 more would be released later on,” he said.

    Tunio said that 200 Indian fishermen were to be released on Thursday from Malir jail but two of them died due to illness.

    The two deceased fishermen included one Muhammad Zulfiqar who passed away on May 6 and Soma Deva who died on May 9 after prolonged illnesses.

    Their bodies have been kept in the Edhi Foundation mortuary till they could be flown out to India.

    Soma and his nephew were among a dozen Indian fishermen who were arrested at sea some four and half years ago and they were lodged in the Malir jail.

    Soma was twice sent to the hospital for treatment. Tunio said Zulfiqar died after a massive heart attack.

    Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Welfare Trust, which arranged the transportation of the fishermen from Karachi to Lahore via train where they were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border, said some of the Indian fishermen also looked unwell.

    “We do our best to make the journey back home of these Indian fishermen comfortable and easy. After all, most of them have been in jail for the last 4 to five years,” he said.

    Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum General Secretary Saeed Baloch said that under the agreement reached between the two governments, a second batch of 200 Indian fishermen would be released on June 2 and another 100 on July 3.

    Baloch said he had a lot of sympathies for the Indian fishermen as the majority of them were just out for a livelihood and did not even realise it when they crossed territorial waters between the two countries.

    “The sad part is that some of them even end up spending 7 to 8 years in jail before they get a chance to return home,” he said.

    Fishermen Cooperative Society, Sindh administrator Zahid Ibrahim Bhatti said that some 200 Pakistani fishermen were lodged in Indian jails and hopefully they, too, would come home soon after the release of Indian fishermen.

    Pakistan and India regularly arrest rival fishermen for violating the maritime boundary, which is poorly marked at some points.

  • Channel of finances for terrorism must be seized, blocked without distinction: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    BENAULIM: India on Friday called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to focus on firmly combating terrorism with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserting that the menace must be stopped in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

    In the presence of Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, China’s Qin Gang and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar, in his address at a conclave of the SCO, said taking the eyes off terrorism would be detrimental to the security interests of the grouping.

    The external affairs minister said the channel of finances for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction.

    While the world was engaged in facing the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated, he said, in remarks seen as directed at Pakistan.

    “We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism,” he said.

    Jaishankar said combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO. In his remarks, he also welcomed the delegates at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in this beach resort.

    “I am delighted to host you under the first-ever Indian presidency of SCO,” he said.

    He said India attaches great importance to the development of multifaceted cooperation in the SCO and to the promotion of peace, stability and closer interaction among the people of the member nations.

    As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and geo-political upheavals, the world today is facing a multitude of challenges and these events have disrupted the global supply chains, he added.

    In Afghanistan, he said the unfolding situation in the country remains at the “centre of our attention”.

    Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of Afghan people, he said.

    Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive government, combating terrorism and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities, Jaishankar said.

    BENAULIM: India on Friday called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to focus on firmly combating terrorism with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserting that the menace must be stopped in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

    In the presence of Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, China’s Qin Gang and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar, in his address at a conclave of the SCO, said taking the eyes off terrorism would be detrimental to the security interests of the grouping.

    The external affairs minister said the channel of finances for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    While the world was engaged in facing the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated, he said, in remarks seen as directed at Pakistan.

    “We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism,” he said.

    Jaishankar said combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO. In his remarks, he also welcomed the delegates at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in this beach resort.

    “I am delighted to host you under the first-ever Indian presidency of SCO,” he said.

    He said India attaches great importance to the development of multifaceted cooperation in the SCO and to the promotion of peace, stability and closer interaction among the people of the member nations.

    As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and geo-political upheavals, the world today is facing a multitude of challenges and these events have disrupted the global supply chains, he added.

    In Afghanistan, he said the unfolding situation in the country remains at the “centre of our attention”.

    Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of Afghan people, he said.

    Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive government, combating terrorism and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities, Jaishankar said.

  • Pakistan cries foul over India’s decision to hold G20 meeting in Srinagar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

  • Greater onus on Modi to bring peace: Pak ex-foreign minister

    Express News Service

    Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his 2015 book, Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove, had claimed that India and Pakistan nearly reached a path-breaking formula on Kashmir through back channel negotiations from 2004-07. Kasuri spoke to Preetha Nair about current Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent call for peace talks with India and more.

    Edited excerpts:

    Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview calling for peace talks with India has created a flutter. Doable or wishful thinking?I welcome any statements from India or Pakistan, which speak of improved relations. I am aware of the various factors and impediments on both sides. From my experience, given the political will on both sides, these can be overcome. I believe all problems and disputes between the two countries can be resolved, including Kashmir. Given the nature of the problems of both countries, there are too many actors looking for an opportunity at any time to rock the boat.So, my suggestion is that first talks should be conducted on the back channel so that neither party tries to make political capital through self-serving leaks. During our time, we almost agreed on the settlement framework of J&K. At that time also, the basic framework was discussed on the back channel so that spoilers got very little opportunity to poison the atmosphere.

    After the interview, there was a clarification by Pakistan PMO that dialogues can take place only after the reversal of the decision taken on J&K.The prevailing political polarisation in Pakistan may have necessitated this. The Pakistani PM was criticised roundly by the Opposition for that statement. I faced a similar situation when I was foreign minister but I refused to budge. Everybody is trying to make political capital out of anything the other party says. It doesn’t mean one should give up in despair. We can’t change the situation in India or in Pakistan. We have to learn to live with those realities and still be clear about the ultimate objective – peace.

    Pak PM also said that the country has learned lessons from three wars.First a correction. There were four wars, the last being at Kargil in 1999. Second, the sentence could have been better phrased. PM talks of both Pakistan and India and not just Pakistan when he talks of ‘learned lessons’. But your own question implies that only Pakistan is learning from its mistakes and that India need not.

    India, in response to Pak PM said that it wants a normalised atmosphere free from terror and violence. Your comments.It’s a chicken and egg situation. My advice would be to start something on the back channel. Recent ceasefire was also a result of back channel talks – though at military to military level in 2018 when the two DGMOs held talks. It could not have come out of the blue or without the blessings of the political masters in Delhi and Islamabad.

    Khurshid Mahmud KasuriFormer Pakistan Foreign MinisterIt’s still a deadlock as both countries don’t have high commissioners in place, no trade ties, and virtually a freeze on movement. If a beginning is to be made, don’t you think the two sides should focus on the resumption of trade and upgrading of diplomatic ties?Yes, I agree. In fact, a very strange thing happened in Pakistan during PM Imran Khan’s tenure. One day the government agreed to open trade, and the next day, they reversed the decision just as you’re referring to PM Sharif’s statement. Let me say one thing clearly, Prime Minister Modi bears greater responsibility in promoting regional peace since he is currently the master of everything in India, which includes politics, the media, the judiciary, and the economy. That’s not the case in Pakistan where Pakistan PMs have to keep on juggling the ball to satisfy conflicting constituencies. The greater responsibility thus falls on PM Modi to make efforts for peace in South Asia.

    Recently, Pak journalist Hamid Mir claimed that PM Modi was scheduled to visit Pakistan in April 2021 and resume trade ties on condition that they will freeze the Kashmir issue for 20 years or so. He said that back channel talks were conducted by former army chief Bajwa. But then PM Khan backed out fearing political backlash.It’s quite clear that the articles were based on information directly supplied by General Bajwa.

    Mir also said that General Bajwa conducted the back channel talks with India without the knowledge of Imran Khan.I have no means to confirm this. On a lighter note though, let me say that the two foreign offices are normally not the greatest peacemakers – so it’s not a bad thing if they weren’t aware.

    Modi visited Lahore in 2015 during Nawaz Sharif’s time. Now that his party is in power, do you think it’s another opportunity for both countries?Based on Hamid Mir’s conversations with General Bajwa, it appears that PM Modi was supposed to visit Pakistan in 2021. If true, it only proves my point that things can change quite dramatically and in a jiffy. We don’t have to lose hope. However, the voices in India, which used to speak of peace with Pakistan are not being heard much. The media, particularly electronic media, is jingoistic.

    Pak PM also suggested involving UAE in the talks.UAE is a good interlocutor and it is considered as a very close friend of Pakistan. And it’s a close economic partner of India too. So I think they are in a position to play a role.

    Don’t you think back channel talks need to be accompanied by a broader political process?Of course. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two countries are very troubled. Back channel talks cannot help in creating an enabling environment for peace because by its very nature, it has to be secretive.Unless public opinion on both sides is in favour of improved relations and dialogue, nothing will fly. … India is a democratic country and I believe that it cannot live with a situation in which it is perceived to be constantly keeping Kashmiris down by force. This just cannot last and it is in India’s own interest to resolve these issues.

    Do you suggest India pick up from where you left? Your book said that India agreed to a four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue.That is the wisest thing to do. It doesn’t have to be an exact copy. Current rulers must take ownership. After all, the so-called four-point formula rests on something eminently sensible, a solution that is acceptable to Kashmiris and of course, the governments and people of Pakistan and India.

    How will the sharpening India-China competition play out in the ties between India and Pakistan?I hope that this does not impact the relations negatively but my fear is that it may well, unless handled prudently.

    Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his 2015 book, Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove, had claimed that India and Pakistan nearly reached a path-breaking formula on Kashmir through back channel negotiations from 2004-07. Kasuri spoke to Preetha Nair about current Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent call for peace talks with India and more.

    Edited excerpts:

    Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview calling for peace talks with India has created a flutter. Doable or wishful thinking?
    I welcome any statements from India or Pakistan, which speak of improved relations. I am aware of the various factors and impediments on both sides. From my experience, given the political will on both sides, these can be overcome. I believe all problems and disputes between the two countries can be resolved, including Kashmir. Given the nature of the problems of both countries, there are too many actors looking for an opportunity at any time to rock the boat.So, my suggestion is that first talks should be conducted on the back channel so that neither party tries to make political capital through self-serving leaks. During our time, we almost agreed on the settlement framework of J&K. At that time also, the basic framework was discussed on the back channel so that spoilers got very little opportunity to poison the atmosphere.

    After the interview, there was a clarification by Pakistan PMO that dialogues can take place only after the reversal of the decision taken on J&K.
    The prevailing political polarisation in Pakistan may have necessitated this. The Pakistani PM was criticised roundly by the Opposition for that statement. I faced a similar situation when I was foreign minister but I refused to budge. Everybody is trying to make political capital out of anything the other party says. It doesn’t mean one should give up in despair. We can’t change the situation in India or in Pakistan. We have to learn to live with those realities and still be clear about the ultimate objective – peace.

    Pak PM also said that the country has learned lessons from three wars.
    First a correction. There were four wars, the last being at Kargil in 1999. Second, the sentence could have been better phrased. PM talks of both Pakistan and India and not just Pakistan when he talks of ‘learned lessons’. But your own question implies that only Pakistan is learning from its mistakes and that India need not.

    India, in response to Pak PM said that it wants a normalised atmosphere free from terror and violence. Your comments.
    It’s a chicken and egg situation. My advice would be to start something on the back channel. Recent ceasefire was also a result of back channel talks – though at military to military level in 2018 when the two DGMOs held talks. It could not have come out of the blue or without the blessings of the political masters in Delhi and Islamabad.

    Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri
    Former Pakistan Foreign MinisterIt’s still a deadlock as both countries don’t have high commissioners in place, no trade ties, and virtually a freeze on movement. If a beginning is to be made, don’t you think the two sides should focus on the resumption of trade and upgrading of diplomatic ties?
    Yes, I agree. In fact, a very strange thing happened in Pakistan during PM Imran Khan’s tenure. One day the government agreed to open trade, and the next day, they reversed the decision just as you’re referring to PM Sharif’s statement. Let me say one thing clearly, Prime Minister Modi bears greater responsibility in promoting regional peace since he is currently the master of everything in India, which includes politics, the media, the judiciary, and the economy. That’s not the case in Pakistan where Pakistan PMs have to keep on juggling the ball to satisfy conflicting constituencies. The greater responsibility thus falls on PM Modi to make efforts for peace in South Asia.

    Recently, Pak journalist Hamid Mir claimed that PM Modi was scheduled to visit Pakistan in April 2021 and resume trade ties on condition that they will freeze the Kashmir issue for 20 years or so. He said that back channel talks were conducted by former army chief Bajwa. But then PM Khan backed out fearing political backlash.
    It’s quite clear that the articles were based on information directly supplied by General Bajwa.

    Mir also said that General Bajwa conducted the back channel talks with India without the knowledge of Imran Khan.
    I have no means to confirm this. On a lighter note though, let me say that the two foreign offices are normally not the greatest peacemakers – so it’s not a bad thing if they weren’t aware.

    Modi visited Lahore in 2015 during Nawaz Sharif’s time. Now that his party is in power, do you think it’s another opportunity for both countries?
    Based on Hamid Mir’s conversations with General Bajwa, it appears that PM Modi was supposed to visit Pakistan in 2021. If true, it only proves my point that things can change quite dramatically and in a jiffy. We don’t have to lose hope. However, the voices in India, which used to speak of peace with Pakistan are not being heard much. The media, particularly electronic media, is jingoistic.

    Pak PM also suggested involving UAE in the talks.
    UAE is a good interlocutor and it is considered as a very close friend of Pakistan. And it’s a close economic partner of India too. So I think they are in a position to play a role.

    Don’t you think back channel talks need to be accompanied by a broader political process?
    Of course. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two countries are very troubled. Back channel talks cannot help in creating an enabling environment for peace because by its very nature, it has to be secretive.
    Unless public opinion on both sides is in favour of improved relations and dialogue, nothing will fly. … India is a democratic country and I believe that it cannot live with a situation in which it is perceived to be constantly keeping Kashmiris down by force. This just cannot last and it is in India’s own interest to resolve these issues.

    Do you suggest India pick up from where you left? Your book said that India agreed to a four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue.
    That is the wisest thing to do. It doesn’t have to be an exact copy. Current rulers must take ownership. After all, the so-called four-point formula rests on something eminently sensible, a solution that is acceptable to Kashmiris and of course, the governments and people of Pakistan and India.

    How will the sharpening India-China competition play out in the ties between India and Pakistan?
    I hope that this does not impact the relations negatively but my fear is that it may well, unless handled prudently.

  • Pakistan boat with Rs 300 crore worth narcotics seized near Gujarat coast: Indian Coast Guard

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: A Pakistani boat with 10 crew members carrying arms, ammunition and 40 kg of narcotics worth Rs 300 crore was intercepted off the Gujarat coast in the early hours of Monday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said.

    Based on specific inputs shared by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, the Coast Guard deployed its fast patrol ship ‘ICGS Arinjay’ for patrolling in the area close to the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) on the intervening night of December 25 and 26, the ICG said in a release.

    In the early hours of the day, the Pakistani fishing boat ‘Al Soheli’ was observed moving suspiciously in Indian waters.

    On being challenged by the ICG ship, the boat started evasive manoeuvring and did not stop even after firing warning shots, it said.

    @IndiaCoastGuard in joint ops with ATS #Gujarat, apprehended #Pakistani Fishing Boat Al Soheli with 10 crew in Indian waters. During rummaging Arms, ammunition & approx 40 Kgs #narcotics worth Rs 300 cr found concealed. Boat being brought to #Okha for further investigation. pic.twitter.com/3YwzKne6bQ
    — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 26, 2022
    The Coast Guard eventually managed to intercept and stop the boat.

    As per the release, arms, ammunition and nearly 40 kg of narcotics worth Rs 300 crore were found on the boat. The 10 crew members and boat are being brought to Okha port for further investigation.

    This is the seventh joint operation by the ICG and Gujarat ATS in the last 18 months, and the first apprehension wherein arms and ammunition along with drugs were recovered.

    A total of 346 kg of heroin worth Rs 1,930 crore has been seized and 44 Pakistani and seven Iranian crew have been apprehended in the last 18 months, the release said.

    AHMEDABAD: A Pakistani boat with 10 crew members carrying arms, ammunition and 40 kg of narcotics worth Rs 300 crore was intercepted off the Gujarat coast in the early hours of Monday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said.

    Based on specific inputs shared by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, the Coast Guard deployed its fast patrol ship ‘ICGS Arinjay’ for patrolling in the area close to the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) on the intervening night of December 25 and 26, the ICG said in a release.

    In the early hours of the day, the Pakistani fishing boat ‘Al Soheli’ was observed moving suspiciously in Indian waters.

    On being challenged by the ICG ship, the boat started evasive manoeuvring and did not stop even after firing warning shots, it said.

    @IndiaCoastGuard in joint ops with ATS #Gujarat, apprehended #Pakistani Fishing Boat Al Soheli with 10 crew in Indian waters. During rummaging Arms, ammunition & approx 40 Kgs #narcotics worth Rs 300 cr found concealed. Boat being brought to #Okha for further investigation. pic.twitter.com/3YwzKne6bQ
    — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 26, 2022
    The Coast Guard eventually managed to intercept and stop the boat.

    As per the release, arms, ammunition and nearly 40 kg of narcotics worth Rs 300 crore were found on the boat. The 10 crew members and boat are being brought to Okha port for further investigation.

    This is the seventh joint operation by the ICG and Gujarat ATS in the last 18 months, and the first apprehension wherein arms and ammunition along with drugs were recovered.

    A total of 346 kg of heroin worth Rs 1,930 crore has been seized and 44 Pakistani and seven Iranian crew have been apprehended in the last 18 months, the release said.

  • ‘New low even for you’: India blasts Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto for Modi attack

    By Agencies

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday came down heavily on Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for launching a personal attack on PM Narendra Modi, terming it a ‘new low’ even for that country.

    The latest exchange between the neighbouring rivals happened on the sidelines of an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York across Wednesday and Thursday.

    Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar had told Pakistan to “clean up your act and try to be (a) good neighbour”, while terming the country the “epicentre of terrorism”.

    “Hillary Clinton, during her visit to Pakistan, said that if you keep snakes in your backyard you can’t expect them to bite only your neighbours, eventually they will bite the people who keep them in the backyard,” he had observed.

    In response, Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said India was seeking to conflate Muslims and terrorists in both countries.

    He told Jaishankar that “Osama bin Laden is dead, (but) the Butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the prime minister of India”.

    Bhutto Zardari went on to say that his country had lost far more lives to terrorism and that he himself was a victim, referring to his mother Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 2007.

    “Why would we want our own people to suffer? We absolutely do not,” he stated.

    WATCH |

    Responding to the exchange, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was a “new low even for Pakistan”, while quipping that “‘Made in Pakistan’ terrorism had to stop”.

    Bagchi said the Pakistan foreign minister’s “frustration” would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their “state policy”.

    “Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr, and shelters terrorists like Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim. No other country can boast of having 126 UN-designated terrorists and 27 UN-designated terrorist entities,” Bagchi asserted.

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday came down heavily on Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for launching a personal attack on PM Narendra Modi, terming it a ‘new low’ even for that country.

    The latest exchange between the neighbouring rivals happened on the sidelines of an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York across Wednesday and Thursday.

    Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar had told Pakistan to “clean up your act and try to be (a) good neighbour”, while terming the country the “epicentre of terrorism”.

    “Hillary Clinton, during her visit to Pakistan, said that if you keep snakes in your backyard you can’t expect them to bite only your neighbours, eventually they will bite the people who keep them in the backyard,” he had observed.

    In response, Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said India was seeking to conflate Muslims and terrorists in both countries.

    He told Jaishankar that “Osama bin Laden is dead, (but) the Butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the prime minister of India”.

    Bhutto Zardari went on to say that his country had lost far more lives to terrorism and that he himself was a victim, referring to his mother Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 2007.

    “Why would we want our own people to suffer? We absolutely do not,” he stated.

    WATCH |

    Responding to the exchange, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was a “new low even for Pakistan”, while quipping that “‘Made in Pakistan’ terrorism had to stop”.

    Bagchi said the Pakistan foreign minister’s “frustration” would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their “state policy”.

    “Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr, and shelters terrorists like Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim. No other country can boast of having 126 UN-designated terrorists and 27 UN-designated terrorist entities,” Bagchi asserted.