News Analysis India

Tag: Pakistan

  • 1971 war was triumph of humanity over inhumanity: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The 1971 war was the triumph of humanity over inhumanity and justice over injustice, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday on the occasion of Vijay Diwas that marks India’s decisive victory over Pakistan which led to the birth of Bangladesh.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also saluted the brave Indian Armed Forces whose valour led to the victory in the war.

    “Today, on Vijay Diwas, the Nation salutes the exemplary courage, bravery and sacrifice of India’s Armed Forces. The 1971 war was the triumph of humanity over inhumanity, virtue over misconduct and justice over injustice. India is proud of its Armed Forces,” Singh tweeted.

    Around 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971, which paved the way for the birth of Bangladesh.

    “On Vijay Divas, join the nation in saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces whose valour led to a decisive victory in the 1971 war. We will always be grateful for their service and sacrifices,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    On Vijay Divas, join the nation in saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces whose valor led to a decisive victory in the 1971 war.We will always be grateful for their service and sacrifices.
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 16, 2022
    Every year, India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to remember its historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.

    Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande hosted an ‘At Home’ event on Thursday on the eve of the Vijay Diwas which was attended by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.

    Nation will always be indebted to armed forces: PM Modi on Vijay Diwas 

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to armed forces on Vijay Diwas, saying the nation will always be indebted to them for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.

    Vijay Diwas is observed on December 16 to commemorate India’s win over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh as a sovereign country.

    The prime minister tweeted, “On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to all those brave armed forces personnel who ensured India attained an exceptional win in the 1971 war.

    On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to all those brave armed forces personnel who ensured India attained an exceptional win in the 1971 war. Our nation will always be indebted to the armed forces for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2022
    Our nation will always be indebted to the armed forces for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.

    Prez Murmu recalls unparalleled courage, sacrifice of armed forces on Vijay Diwas 

    President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the nation remembers with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by the country’s armed forces during the 1971 war, and stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice continue to inspire every Indian.

    Vijay Diwas commemorates India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. Bangladesh, then part of Pakistan, became an independent country after the war.

    On Vijay Diwas, we remember with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by our armed forces during the 1971 war. Stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice for the nation continue to inspire every Indian.
    — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 16, 2022
    “On Vijay Diwas, we remember with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by our armed forces during the 1971 war. Stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice for the nation continue to inspire every Indian,” Murmu tweeted.

    NEW DELHI: The 1971 war was the triumph of humanity over inhumanity and justice over injustice, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday on the occasion of Vijay Diwas that marks India’s decisive victory over Pakistan which led to the birth of Bangladesh.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also saluted the brave Indian Armed Forces whose valour led to the victory in the war.

    “Today, on Vijay Diwas, the Nation salutes the exemplary courage, bravery and sacrifice of India’s Armed Forces. The 1971 war was the triumph of humanity over inhumanity, virtue over misconduct and justice over injustice. India is proud of its Armed Forces,” Singh tweeted.

    Around 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971, which paved the way for the birth of Bangladesh.

    “On Vijay Divas, join the nation in saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces whose valour led to a decisive victory in the 1971 war. We will always be grateful for their service and sacrifices,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    On Vijay Divas, join the nation in saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces whose valor led to a decisive victory in the 1971 war.
    We will always be grateful for their service and sacrifices.
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 16, 2022
    Every year, India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to remember its historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.

    Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande hosted an ‘At Home’ event on Thursday on the eve of the Vijay Diwas which was attended by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.

    Nation will always be indebted to armed forces: PM Modi on Vijay Diwas 

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to armed forces on Vijay Diwas, saying the nation will always be indebted to them for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.

    Vijay Diwas is observed on December 16 to commemorate India’s win over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh as a sovereign country.

    The prime minister tweeted, “On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to all those brave armed forces personnel who ensured India attained an exceptional win in the 1971 war.

    On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to all those brave armed forces personnel who ensured India attained an exceptional win in the 1971 war. Our nation will always be indebted to the armed forces for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2022
    Our nation will always be indebted to the armed forces for their role in keeping the country safe and secure.

    Prez Murmu recalls unparalleled courage, sacrifice of armed forces on Vijay Diwas 

    President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the nation remembers with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by the country’s armed forces during the 1971 war, and stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice continue to inspire every Indian.

    Vijay Diwas commemorates India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. Bangladesh, then part of Pakistan, became an independent country after the war.

    On Vijay Diwas, we remember with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by our armed forces during the 1971 war. Stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice for the nation continue to inspire every Indian.
    — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 16, 2022
    “On Vijay Diwas, we remember with gratitude the exceptional valour displayed by our armed forces during the 1971 war. Stories of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice for the nation continue to inspire every Indian,” Murmu tweeted.

  • Credibility of UN depends on its effective response to key challenges of our times: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: India strongly hit back at Pakistan on Wednesday after it raised the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council, asserting that a country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have the credentials to ‘sermonize” in the power UN organ.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the credibility of the UN depends on its effective response to the key challenges of our times, be it pandemics, climate change, conflicts or terrorism.

    “We are obviously focused today on the urgency of reforming multilateralism. We will naturally have our particular views, but there is a growing convergence at least that this cannot be delayed any further,” said Jaishankar, who is chairing India’s signature event on reformed multilateralism.

    “While we search for the best solutions, what our discourse must never accept is the normalisation of such threats. The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise. That certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Nor can hosting Osama bin Laden and attacking a neighbouring Parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this Council,” he said.

    Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Pakistsan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire, killing nine people.

    Jaishankar’s strong remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto raised the Kashmir issue while speaking in the Council debate on reformed multilateralism.

    Jaishankar arrived here Tuesday to preside over two signature events on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism being held under India’s current Presidency of the UN Security Council, before the curtains come down this month on the country’s two-year tenure as an elected member of the powerful 15-nation.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj was chairing the debate when Bhutto spoke in the Council.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

    India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

    India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

    India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

    UNITED NATIONS: India strongly hit back at Pakistan on Wednesday after it raised the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council, asserting that a country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have the credentials to ‘sermonize” in the power UN organ.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the credibility of the UN depends on its effective response to the key challenges of our times, be it pandemics, climate change, conflicts or terrorism.

    “We are obviously focused today on the urgency of reforming multilateralism. We will naturally have our particular views, but there is a growing convergence at least that this cannot be delayed any further,” said Jaishankar, who is chairing India’s signature event on reformed multilateralism.

    “While we search for the best solutions, what our discourse must never accept is the normalisation of such threats. The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise. That certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Nor can hosting Osama bin Laden and attacking a neighbouring Parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this Council,” he said.

    Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Pakistsan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire, killing nine people.

    Jaishankar’s strong remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto raised the Kashmir issue while speaking in the Council debate on reformed multilateralism.

    Jaishankar arrived here Tuesday to preside over two signature events on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism being held under India’s current Presidency of the UN Security Council, before the curtains come down this month on the country’s two-year tenure as an elected member of the powerful 15-nation.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj was chairing the debate when Bhutto spoke in the Council.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

    India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

    India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

    India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

  • India and Germany ink mobility pact, discuss key global challenges

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India and Germany on Monday inked a mobility partnership pact and held comprehensive discussions on key global challenges including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

    At a media briefing after talks with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the mobility pact will make it easier for people to study, do research and work in each other’s country and is a strong signal for a more contemporary bilateral partnership.

    Jaishankar also strongly defended India’s import of crude oil from Russia and noted that it is largely driven by market forces.

    From February to November, European Union has imported more fossil fuel from Russia than the next 10 countries combined, he said in a sharp retort to a question on why India has been procuring crude oil from Russia.

    The German foreign minister arrived here this morning on a two-day visit to discuss ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including energy, trade, defence and security and climate change.

    At the joint media briefing, Jaishankar said that India’s position on the Ukraine issue is clear that this is not an era of war and that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue.

    The visiting German foreign minister described India as a role model for many countries and noted that Berlin wants to bolster its security cooperation with New Delhi.

    Asked about challenges facing the region from China, Baerbock said there is a need to assess the threats while describing Beijing as a competitor and rival in many ways.ALSO READ | Germany’s Scholz in China amid trade, Ukraine, rights issues

    “We now know what happens when a country becomes too dependent on another that doesn’t share the same values,” Baerbock said.

    Jaishankar said the situation in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan figured in the talks. He asserted that there can’t be talks with Pakistan if it continues cross-border terrorism.

    Earlier in a statement, the German foreign minister described India as Germany’s “natural partner” and said that the country will have a decisive influence in shaping the international order in the 21st century.

    “The Indian government has set itself ambitious goals not only in the G20 but also at home for its own people. When it comes to expanding renewable energies, India wants to push ahead with the energy transition more than before. Germany stands by India’s side,” she said.

    The dramatic effects of the climate crisis affect us all, destroying livelihoods in Europe as well as in India, the visiting German minister said.

    “That we want to strengthen our economic, climate and security policy cooperation with India beyond our strategic partnership, are not empty words,” she stressed.ALSO READ | Must become voice of Global South: Jaishankar on India’s  G20 Presidency

    NEW DELHI: India and Germany on Monday inked a mobility partnership pact and held comprehensive discussions on key global challenges including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

    At a media briefing after talks with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the mobility pact will make it easier for people to study, do research and work in each other’s country and is a strong signal for a more contemporary bilateral partnership.

    Jaishankar also strongly defended India’s import of crude oil from Russia and noted that it is largely driven by market forces.

    From February to November, European Union has imported more fossil fuel from Russia than the next 10 countries combined, he said in a sharp retort to a question on why India has been procuring crude oil from Russia.

    The German foreign minister arrived here this morning on a two-day visit to discuss ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including energy, trade, defence and security and climate change.

    At the joint media briefing, Jaishankar said that India’s position on the Ukraine issue is clear that this is not an era of war and that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue.

    The visiting German foreign minister described India as a role model for many countries and noted that Berlin wants to bolster its security cooperation with New Delhi.

    Asked about challenges facing the region from China, Baerbock said there is a need to assess the threats while describing Beijing as a competitor and rival in many ways.ALSO READ | Germany’s Scholz in China amid trade, Ukraine, rights issues

    “We now know what happens when a country becomes too dependent on another that doesn’t share the same values,” Baerbock said.

    Jaishankar said the situation in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan figured in the talks. He asserted that there can’t be talks with Pakistan if it continues cross-border terrorism.

    Earlier in a statement, the German foreign minister described India as Germany’s “natural partner” and said that the country will have a decisive influence in shaping the international order in the 21st century.

    “The Indian government has set itself ambitious goals not only in the G20 but also at home for its own people. When it comes to expanding renewable energies, India wants to push ahead with the energy transition more than before. Germany stands by India’s side,” she said.

    The dramatic effects of the climate crisis affect us all, destroying livelihoods in Europe as well as in India, the visiting German minister said.

    “That we want to strengthen our economic, climate and security policy cooperation with India beyond our strategic partnership, are not empty words,” she stressed.ALSO READ | Must become voice of Global South: Jaishankar on India’s  G20 Presidency

  • Drone with 3 kg heroin seized near India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

  • EXCLUSIVE | Don’t expect Gen. Asim Munir will needle India anytime soon, says ex-High Commissioner

    Express News Service

    The newly-appointed Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Asim Munir “may not ramp up issues against India in the immediate future as his hands will be full.”

    In an exclusive chat with The New Indian Express, retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, said that Munir will have so many issues to deal with that he will desist raking up issues with India, at least in the near future.

    “Pakistan is mired in a serious political and economic crisis. The image of the Army has taken a beating after the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan — an ouster Imran has attributed to the intervention of the Pakistan military. Terrorism is a big issue and of concern in the tribal belts and Balochistan where the Tehrik-i-Taliban commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban is active. The new COAS will have to help the Army recover their lost image first,” said the former diplomat.  

    He added that Munir, a four-star general, may help sustain the India-Pakistan ceasefire. The old ceasefire had collapsed and was restored by the outgoing COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa in February 2021.

    Asked about Munir’s equations with Imran, who is now leading the long march and who is the army’s biggest challenger, Sabharwal said that one will have to wait and see.

    “He may not have a happy equation with Imran, who had removed him as Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) seven months into his tenure in 2019 and brought in Faiz Hamid, who had helped Imran in winning elections. (But) For now, Munir will lay off meddling in political affairs of Pakistan and allow politicians to slug it out and discredit themselves. His immediate attention will be to build the image of the military,” said Sabharwal.

    Munir has the distinction of being Director General, Military Intelligence, a post he held from early 2017 for a period of 21 months. In October 2018, he became Director General, ISI but was removed from the post by Bajwa at the asking of Imran, the then Prime Minister.

    Sabharwal said despite this, General Bajwa is assured of an honourable exit given the fact that the Pakistan army works like a “trade union” and protects their own. “(Remember) They had doubled down to save the former president and COAS Pervez Musharraf,” he reminded.

    Musharraf had been sentenced to death in absentia on treason charges stemming from his imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan in 2007.

    On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Munir to succeed outgoing army chief Gen Bajwa, who according to informed sources, had wanted Lt. General Azhar Abbas, a three-star general, to succeed him.

    “Bajwa’s equation with Munir is (still) far from cordial. The latter is (the ruling) PMLN’s candidate,” sources stated.

    ALSO READ | Decision on next Pakistan Army chief being made in London, says Imran Khan

    Munir had been promoted to the rank of a three-star general in September 2018. His tenure was due to end on November 27, around the same time when incumbent Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and General Bajwa will be hanging up their uniforms.

    The newly-appointed Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Asim Munir “may not ramp up issues against India in the immediate future as his hands will be full.”

    In an exclusive chat with The New Indian Express, retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, said that Munir will have so many issues to deal with that he will desist raking up issues with India, at least in the near future.

    “Pakistan is mired in a serious political and economic crisis. The image of the Army has taken a beating after the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan — an ouster Imran has attributed to the intervention of the Pakistan military. Terrorism is a big issue and of concern in the tribal belts and Balochistan where the Tehrik-i-Taliban commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban is active. The new COAS will have to help the Army recover their lost image first,” said the former diplomat.  

    He added that Munir, a four-star general, may help sustain the India-Pakistan ceasefire. The old ceasefire had collapsed and was restored by the outgoing COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa in February 2021.

    Asked about Munir’s equations with Imran, who is now leading the long march and who is the army’s biggest challenger, Sabharwal said that one will have to wait and see.

    “He may not have a happy equation with Imran, who had removed him as Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) seven months into his tenure in 2019 and brought in Faiz Hamid, who had helped Imran in winning elections. (But) For now, Munir will lay off meddling in political affairs of Pakistan and allow politicians to slug it out and discredit themselves. His immediate attention will be to build the image of the military,” said Sabharwal.

    Munir has the distinction of being Director General, Military Intelligence, a post he held from early 2017 for a period of 21 months. In October 2018, he became Director General, ISI but was removed from the post by Bajwa at the asking of Imran, the then Prime Minister.

    Sabharwal said despite this, General Bajwa is assured of an honourable exit given the fact that the Pakistan army works like a “trade union” and protects their own. “(Remember) They had doubled down to save the former president and COAS Pervez Musharraf,” he reminded.

    Musharraf had been sentenced to death in absentia on treason charges stemming from his imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan in 2007.

    On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Munir to succeed outgoing army chief Gen Bajwa, who according to informed sources, had wanted Lt. General Azhar Abbas, a three-star general, to succeed him.

    “Bajwa’s equation with Munir is (still) far from cordial. The latter is (the ruling) PMLN’s candidate,” sources stated.

    ALSO READ | Decision on next Pakistan Army chief being made in London, says Imran Khan

    Munir had been promoted to the rank of a three-star general in September 2018. His tenure was due to end on November 27, around the same time when incumbent Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and General Bajwa will be hanging up their uniforms.

  • Nations that aid terror must pay the price: Modi

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that there can be no ‘ifs and buts’ in dealing with terrorism, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Friday tore into countries that are known to support terrorists by offering them political, ideological and financial backing.

    In a not-so-hidden reference to Pakistan and China, Modi said the rest of the world must come together to impose cost on countries that help terrorists flourish. Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated, he added. 

    “Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy,” Modi said while addressing the No Money for Terror ministerial conference here on Friday. Delegates from 73 countries and representatives of 15 multilateral organisations are attending the two-day conference being held in Delhi on Friday and Saturday. 

    According to officials, Pakistan and Afghanistan were not invited. China was invited but no representative from that country turned up.  Dwelling at length on the different shades of terrorism, Modi said: “International organisations must not think the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent.” He added that the world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror. 

    Taking a swipe at China, Modi said some countries make indirect arguments to block action against terrorists, adding that there should be equal outrage and action against all kinds of terror attacks.Speaking at the conference, Union home minister Amit Shah opined that financing of terror is more dangerous than terrorism itself. He said terrorists seem to be using cryptocurrency and the darknet to raise money and radicalise youth. 

    Money trailUnderlining the need to strike at the root of terror funding, Modi said organised crime needs to be crushed because money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that there can be no ‘ifs and buts’ in dealing with terrorism, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Friday tore into countries that are known to support terrorists by offering them political, ideological and financial backing.

    In a not-so-hidden reference to Pakistan and China, Modi said the rest of the world must come together to impose cost on countries that help terrorists flourish. Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated, he added. 

    “Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy,” Modi said while addressing the No Money for Terror ministerial conference here on Friday. Delegates from 73 countries and representatives of 15 multilateral organisations are attending the two-day conference being held in Delhi on Friday and Saturday. 

    According to officials, Pakistan and Afghanistan were not invited. China was invited but no representative from that country turned up.  Dwelling at length on the different shades of terrorism, Modi said: “International organisations must not think the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent.” He added that the world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror. 

    Taking a swipe at China, Modi said some countries make indirect arguments to block action against terrorists, adding that there should be equal outrage and action against all kinds of terror attacks.
    Speaking at the conference, Union home minister Amit Shah opined that financing of terror is more dangerous than terrorism itself. He said terrorists seem to be using cryptocurrency and the darknet to raise money and radicalise youth. 

    Money trail
    Underlining the need to strike at the root of terror funding, Modi said organised crime needs to be crushed because money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism

  • India rebukes Pak for raising Kashmir issue in UN assenbly

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  India has rebuked Pakistan for raking up the issue of Kashmir in the United Nations General Assembly. “Pakistan’s desperate attempts to peddle falsehoods and bad habit of abusing the sanctity of multilateral forums deserves collective contempt and perhaps some sympathy as well,” said Pratik Mathur, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Headquarters.

    Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, he said. Meanwhile, after the UNGA opened its annual debate on Security Council reforms, speakers once again renewed their appeals for enlarging the 15-member organisation and updating its working methods to make it more transparent, inclusive, representative, accountable and effective.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj spoke on behalf of the Group of Four, which also comprises Brazil, Germany and Japan. “Representation is an inescapable precondition for legitimacy and effectiveness and the longer Security Council reform is stalled, the greater would be its deficiency in representation,” said Kamboj.

    She voiced her regret over the lack of substantive work after four decades on equitable representation. The United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward at UNGA backed permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil at the UNSC. “We support the creation of new permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, as well as permanent African representation on the UNSC,” said Ambassador Woodward.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan has made a strong case against creating new permanent seats on the UN Security Council, saying instead an increase in the number of non-permanent members would make the 15-member body more representative, democratic and effective.

    NEW DELHI:  India has rebuked Pakistan for raking up the issue of Kashmir in the United Nations General Assembly. “Pakistan’s desperate attempts to peddle falsehoods and bad habit of abusing the sanctity of multilateral forums deserves collective contempt and perhaps some sympathy as well,” said Pratik Mathur, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Headquarters.

    Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, he said. Meanwhile, after the UNGA opened its annual debate on Security Council reforms, speakers once again renewed their appeals for enlarging the 15-member organisation and updating its working methods to make it more transparent, inclusive, representative, accountable and effective.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj spoke on behalf of the Group of Four, which also comprises Brazil, Germany and Japan. “Representation is an inescapable precondition for legitimacy and effectiveness and the longer Security Council reform is stalled, the greater would be its deficiency in representation,” said Kamboj.

    She voiced her regret over the lack of substantive work after four decades on equitable representation. The United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward at UNGA backed permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil at the UNSC. “We support the creation of new permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, as well as permanent African representation on the UNSC,” said Ambassador Woodward.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan has made a strong case against creating new permanent seats on the UN Security Council, saying instead an increase in the number of non-permanent members would make the 15-member body more representative, democratic and effective.

  • Pak drone spotted close to international border in Punjab, returns after BSF troops open fire 

    By PTI

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

  • Pakistan needs to continue taking credible, verifiable action against terrorism: India 

    The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) took off Pakistan from a list of countries under increased monitoring, also known as the 'grey list'.

  • Pakistan drone spotted in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: BSF troops opened fire at a drone from Pakistan along the International Border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector on Tuesday, officials said.

    Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard a buzzing sound of the flying object in the early hours and opened fire, officials said.

    Search operations have been launched in the area to check if any packages were dropped by the drone in Indian territory, they said.

    CHANDIGARH: BSF troops opened fire at a drone from Pakistan along the International Border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector on Tuesday, officials said.

    Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard a buzzing sound of the flying object in the early hours and opened fire, officials said.

    Search operations have been launched in the area to check if any packages were dropped by the drone in Indian territory, they said.