BEIJING: China called on the United States on Sunday to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out a strike on Caracas and captured the leader. &quot;China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela,&quot; the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement, calling the strike a &quot;clear violation of international law&quot;. Russia condemns Russia&#39;s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement concerning developments around Venezuela. &quot;In view of the confirmed reports about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse being in the United States, we strongly urge the US leadership to reconsider their position and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse,&quot; it said. &quot;We highlight the need to create conditions for resolving any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue.&quot;

Americas

'China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela,' the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement, calling the strike a 'clear violation of international law'; Russia condemned the US intervention,saying it 'strongly urge[s] the US leadership to reconsider their position and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse.'

China, Russia call on US to 'immediately release' Venezuela's Maduro

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office on Thursday strongly rejected statements by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, calling them &ldquo;irresponsible and misleading&rdquo; and slamming India for attempting to divert attention from its own regional actions.&nbsp;Speaking at a media briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said India&rsquo;s recent claims about Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;role in terrorism&rdquo; were part of a &ldquo;blatant attempt to deflect attention from its own deeply troubling record as a neighbour, marked by the promotion of terrorism and contributions to regional instability.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier this week in Luxembourg, Jaishankar described Pakistan as a state that has &ldquo;openly supported terrorism for decades&rdquo; and accused it of operating &ldquo;training camps in big cities&hellip;where the state and the military support terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding to these assertions, Andrabi highlighted recently surfaced documentary evidence indicating that &ldquo;New Delhi sought a third country&rsquo;s intervention&rdquo; to secure a ceasefire with Pakistan following the May 2025 Pahalgam incident.&nbsp;&ldquo;No amount of bluster can obscure India&rsquo;s fabricated narrative surrounding counterterrorism, particularly regarding the Pahalgam incident, or its reckless misadventure against Pakistan in the aftermath,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The spokesperson said India has consistently engaged in disruptive actions in the region, including extrajudicial killings abroad, interference in neighboring countries&rsquo; internal affairs, the export of terrorism into Pakistan, including through operatives such as Kulbhushan Jadhav, and providing safe havens to wanted criminals.&nbsp;He further criticized India&rsquo;s domestic record, saying minorities face escalating intimidation and repression, adding: &ldquo;Before presuming to lecture others, India would do well to confront its own conduct and the growing gap between its rhetoric and reality.&rdquo;&nbsp;Andrabi concluded that India&rsquo;s &ldquo;fixation on Pakistan&rdquo; cannot conceal its own role as a &ldquo;serial disrupter of peace&rdquo; in South Asia.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan rejected Indian FM Jaishankar’s remarks as irresponsible and misleading, accusing New Delhi of deflecting blame, promoting instability, seeking third-party mediation after Pahalgam, and acting as a disrupter of peace

Pakistan rejects Indian foreign minister’s remarks as ‘irresponsible and misleading’

ISLAMABAD: In 2025, Israeli forces and settlers killed a total of 240 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including 55 children, according to a humanitarian update released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).&nbsp;Of the total, 225 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, nine by settlers, and six in circumstances where responsibility remains unclear.&nbsp;In just two weeks between December 23, 2025, and January 5, 2026, Israeli forces and settlers killed two Palestinians and injured 94 others, including 35 children.&nbsp;One Palestinian also succumbed to injuries sustained earlier in December. During the same period, two Israelis were killed and two others injured by a Palestinian from the West Bank, according to the report.&nbsp;The UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee and the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General have urged Israeli authorities to reverse plans to suspend the operations of international non-governmental organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that these groups collectively deliver close to $1 billion in annual humanitarian assistance.&nbsp;Severe winter weather has further worsened the humanitarian situation, damaging or destroying dozens of tents and makeshift shelters used by Bedouin and herding communities across the West Bank.&nbsp;The report also highlights that more than 830 Palestinians were injured by settler attacks in 2025, averaging nearly two people injured each day. Over the past two weeks, Israeli authorities demolished 50 structures in Area C and East Jerusalem for allegedly lacking building permits.&nbsp;In East Jerusalem&rsquo;s Batn al Hawa area, two Palestinian families were forcibly evicted from their homes to make way for an Israeli settler organization. In Nablus governorate, the last six families of Khirbet Yanun, who had lived there for more than 60 years, were displaced following repeated settler attacks.&nbsp;The report details several recent incidents of deadly violence. On December 23, a Palestinian man from Saffit died from injuries sustained on December 14 when he was shot by Israeli forces while attempting to cross the Barrier toward East Jerusalem near Ar Ram and Dahiyat al Bareed.&nbsp;&nbsp;On December 30, Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle traveling between Urif and Einabus in Nablus governorate, injuring four Palestinian men in their twenties; one later died from his wounds. A Palestinian man was also shot and killed by Israeli soldiers after being accused of attempting a ramming attack, while no Israeli personnel were injured.&nbsp;On January 1, 2026, Israeli forces opened fire in Al Lubban ash Sharqiyya village, injuring two Palestinians, one of whom was arrested and later pronounced dead in an Israeli hospital. The other escaped.&nbsp;The OCHA report emphasizes that ongoing violence, demolitions, evictions, and settler attacks continue to drive displacement, insecurity, and suffering in the West Bank, disproportionately affecting children and vulnerable communities.

Middle East

The report notes Israel kills 240 Palestinians in 2025, including 55 children, amid demolitions, evictions, and settler attacks worsening insecurity and humanitarian suffering in the West Bank.

Israel kills 240 Palestinians, dozens of children among victims: UN

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Air Force chief on Thursday held talks with Pakistan&rsquo;s top military leadership, underscoring continued defense engagement and cooperation between the two South Asian countries, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.&nbsp;According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met separately with Pakistan&rsquo;s naval and army chiefs during his visit to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.&nbsp;The Bangladeshi air chief called on Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, where the two discussed regional security developments and bilateral defence cooperation, the ISPR statement said.&nbsp;Admiral Ashraf briefed his counterpart on Pakistan Navy initiatives aimed at promoting maritime peace and stability in the region. Air Chief Marshal Khan acknowledged the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s &ldquo;high professional standards,&rdquo; according to the statement.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to enhance high-level military exchanges and expand joint training programs.&nbsp;Khan also met Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The discussions focused on the regional security environment and ways to further strengthen defense and military-to-military cooperation.&nbsp;The two leaders reviewed avenues for expanding professional collaboration, training exchanges and institutional linkages between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the military said.&nbsp;The Bangladeshi air chief appreciated the role of Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces in promoting regional peace and stability. Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to maintaining and strengthening defense relations with Bangladesh.&nbsp;The visit follows a trip by Pakistan&rsquo;s naval chief to Dhaka in late 2025, reflecting growing defense-level engagement between the two countries, the ISPR added.

Security

Bangladesh’s air chief meets Pakistan’s top military leaders to discuss regional security, enhance defence cooperation, expand joint training, and strengthen professional ties between armed forces.

Bangladesh, Pakistan discuss regional security, boost defense cooperation talks

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise auction began Thursday at Jinnah Convention Centre with 10 qualified bidders competing for two new teams as the league expands to eight franchises for its 11th season. Indonesia-based FKS Group secured the seventh franchise for a record Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). Owner Fawad Sarwar confirmed the team will represent Hyderabad. The auction for the eighth franchise remains scheduled. Bidding battle unfolds The auction began at 5 pm with a base price of Rss1.1 billion ($3.89 million). Companies FKS and i2c engaged in a fierce contest that drove the final price 59% above the base. I2c opened with Rs1.42 billion ($5.02 million). FKS countered with Rs1.54 billion ($5.45 million). The bidding escalated rapidly as i2c pushed to Rs1.7 billion ($6.01 million) before FKS sealed the deal at Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). Walee Technologies, OZ Group of Companies, Prism Estate &amp; Builders and Inverex Solar Energy also placed early bids. Auction rules Each bidder received one five-minute strategic timeout. Minimum bid increments were set at Rs10 million ($35,366). No upper limit existed for bid increases. The Pakistan Cricket Board declared the round closed when no bidder surpassed FKS&#39;s final offer despite the auctioneer&#39;s final call. Expansion details The PSL expands from six to eight teams for season 11, scheduled between March 26 and May 3, 2026. Successful bidders can select home cities from a PCB-approved list including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit. Qualified bidders The PCB confirmed 10 qualified bidders Wednesday. The list included Aim Next Inc, Deharki Sugar Mills, Inverex, Jazz, OZ Developers, Prism Developers, VGO TEL and Walee Technologies. Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen withdrew before the auction. Twelve parties initially filed bids. Ten passed the technical evaluation process. Teams honored PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi awarded PKR 90 million to Pakistan Shaheens for winning the Rising Stars Asia Cup. The Hong Kong Sixes champions received PKR 18.5 million. Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed after the bidding concluded. Current champions Three-time champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United lead the league. Peshawar Zalmi won in 2017. Quetta Gladiators claimed the 2019 title. Karachi Kings triumphed in 2020. Multan Sultans won in 2021.

Cricket

Pakistan Super League holds franchise auction with 10 bidders competing for two new teams as league expands to eight franchises for season 11.

PSL auction: Hyderabad franchise sells for a record $6.2 million

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the government&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism, praising the role and sacrifices of the country&rsquo;s security forces during a one-day visit to Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan.&nbsp;Addressing political leaders in a live briefing aired on state television, Sharif said the fight against militancy was ongoing and required national unity. The visit included high-level meetings on governance and development in the province, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;Upon his arrival at the Governor House, the prime minister was presented a guard of honor by a contingent of the Balochistan Police, a Governor House press release said.&nbsp;The meeting was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, federal ministers, Dr Ahsan Iqbal, Aleem Khan and Rana Sanaullah, as well as senior political figures from the province.&nbsp;During his address, Sharif praised Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for leading counter-terrorism operations. He said it was &ldquo;unfortunate&rdquo; that Balochistan continued to suffer from militant violence, adding that the contribution of the armed forces could not be overstated.&nbsp;&ldquo;Like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan has faced immense difficulties due to terrorism,&rdquo; Sharif said, referring to another northwestern province that has experienced years of militant attacks.&nbsp;&ldquo;Be it the soldiers and officers of the army, Rangers personnel, officials of the Levies, or the common people, their sacrifices will be remembered in history,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Sharif said banned militant groups, which the state refers to as Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term Islamabad uses for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were receiving support from &ldquo;neighboring countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;But we are firm in our resolve to eradicate terrorism,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Referring to recent tensions with India in May last year, the prime minister said Field Marshal Munir had led Pakistan&rsquo;s response, adding that New Delhi had been &ldquo;taught a lesson it will never forget.&rdquo;&nbsp;The prime minister also said the provincial government, working closely with the federal authorities, was taking &ldquo;serious, coordinated, and result-oriented measures&rdquo; to address Balochistan&rsquo;s long-standing underdevelopment and integrate it into Pakistan&rsquo;s economic mainstream, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.

Economy

In Quetta, PM Shehbaz Sharif underscores Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, honours security forces’ sacrifices, and stresses unity and development for Balochistan.

PM Sharif visits Quetta, praises forces, reaffirms Pakistan’s anti-terror resolve

ISLAMABAD: Indian authorities have detained a prominent climate activist who attended a climate conference in Pakistan, accusing him of using foreign funding to undermine India&rsquo;s energy security, allegations his organization and international partners reject as politically motivated.&nbsp;Harjeet Singh was detained on January 5 after raids on his organization&rsquo;s offices and his home in the Delhi region, according to a press release from India&rsquo;s Enforcement Directorate (ED), the country&rsquo;s top financial crimes agency. The ED alleged Singh channeled overseas funds to promote opposition to fossil fuel projects in India.&nbsp;Singh was initially arrested by the Uttar Pradesh state excise department on charges of possessing liquor beyond legal limits, the ED said. He was later granted bail, according to AFP, citing a statement from his organization, Satat Sampada.&nbsp;Foreign funding claimsThe ED said it searched premises linked to Satat Sampada Private Limited, a company Singh co-founded with his wife, Jyoti Awasthi, alleging it received more than $666,000 in foreign funds between 2021 and 2025. The agency claimed the money was routed as &ldquo;consultancy charges&rdquo; from international climate groups and was &ldquo;actually intended to promote the agenda of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FF-NPT) within India.&rdquo;&nbsp;Adoption of the treaty, which calls for a phase-out of fossil fuel production, &ldquo;could expose India to legal challenges in international forums like the International Court of Justice and severely compromise the nation&rsquo;s energy security and economic development,&rdquo; the ED statement said.&nbsp;The agency further alleged Satat Sampada operated as &ldquo;a front for foreign-influenced activism&rdquo; and that Singh and Awasthi diverted funds for personal use, claims the organization strongly denies.&nbsp;&lsquo;Baseless&rsquo; allegations&ldquo;We categorically state that the allegations being reported are baseless, biased and misleading,&rdquo; Satat Sampada said in a statement issued late Wednesday, adding it had fully cooperated with investigators.&nbsp;The organization said Singh&rsquo;s international travel was routine professional engagement, noting he has attended climate conferences for more than two decades.&nbsp;The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative also pushed back, saying: &ldquo;Our work consists of building mechanisms for just, orderly and equitable energy transitions,&rdquo; and rejecting suggestions of improper political interference.&nbsp;Pakistan visit under scrutinyThe ED said it is investigating Singh&rsquo;s February 2025 visit to Pakistan for the &ldquo;Breathe Pakistan Summit&rdquo; and the people he met there. Singh spoke at Dawn Media&rsquo;s Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, which brought together nearly 100 regional and international experts to discuss climate finance and cooperation, according to the event&rsquo;s website.&nbsp;The scrutiny of Singh&rsquo;s Pakistan visit comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The two nuclear-armed neighbors came close to a full-scale military confrontation in May following the Pahalgam incident in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Hostilities subsided after a US-brokered ceasefire, but relations between the two countries have remained strained since then.&nbsp;Authorities are also examining Singh&rsquo;s December 2025 visit to Bangladesh &ldquo;during a period of anti-India protests,&rdquo; alleging he delivered a lecture without an official invitation.&nbsp;&ldquo;The funding for these trips is also under scrutiny,&rdquo; the ED said.&nbsp;Pattern of pressureAnother Indian speaker at the Pakistan conference, engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, remains detained under India&rsquo;s National Security Act in Jodhpur Central Jail. He has been in custody for more than 100 days as of January 2026, after authorities accused him of inciting violence during protests in Ladakh, charges he and his legal team deny.&nbsp;A habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk&rsquo;s wife calls the detention &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and based on &ldquo;stale FIRs, vague imputations, and speculative assertions,&rdquo; according to court filings. India&rsquo;s Supreme Court is hearing the case.&nbsp;Rights advocates argue the actions against Singh and Wangchuk signal a broader crackdown on dissent and climate activism, particularly when it intersects with international engagement. An accusation Indian authorities reject as investigations continue.

India

Indian authorities detain climate activist Harjeet Singh, allege foreign-funded activism undermining energy security, and investigate his Pakistan conference visit amid denials from his organization official.

India detains climate activist after Pakistan visit, probes foreign funding

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald J Trump said Wednesday that China and Russia fear and respect only a United States rebuilt under his leadership, arguing that American military strength depends primarily on US power rather than NATO alliances. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that &ldquo;the only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT rebuilt U.S.A.,&rdquo; asserting that NATO would lack credibility without American involvement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2008920160808091781&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6049400c4ece6876c01e87f3ab8cf27c57b7517e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 826px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2008920160808091781"></iframe></div></div>He claimed that Russia and China have &ldquo;zero fear of NATO without the United States&rdquo; and questioned whether the alliance would come to Washington&rsquo;s aid in a crisis. Trump credited himself with rebuilding the US military during his first term and said that this effort was central to global stability and deterrence. The president also repeated earlier claims that his leadership prevented Russia from fully overtaking Ukraine and that he played a decisive role in ending multiple international conflicts. Trump said: &quot;Remember, for all of those big NATO fans, they were at 2% GDP, and most weren&rsquo;t paying their bills, UNTIL I CAME ALONG. The USA was, foolishly, paying for them! I, respectfully, got them to 5% GDP, AND THEY PAY, immediately. Everyone said that couldn&rsquo;t be done, but it could, because, beyond all else, they are all my friends. Without my involvement, Russia would have ALL OF UKRAINE right now.&quot; The US president said: &quot;Remember, also, I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize. But that doesn&rsquo;t matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives. RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE ZERO FEAR OF NATO WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM. EVERYONE IS LUCKY THAT I REBUILT OUR MILITARY IN MY FIRST TERM, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.&quot; &quot;We will always be there for NATO, even if they won&rsquo;t be there for us. The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.&quot; &nbsp;

Says, ‘RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE ZERO FEAR OF NATO WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM.’

Russia, China have zero fear of Nato without US: Trump 

TEHRAN: Security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Iran as people angered by the economic situation in the country kept up their challenge to the authorities and the exiled opposition Thursday urged them to step up their actions. The 12 days of protests have shaken the authorities already battling economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering after the June war against Israel. The movement, which originated with a shutdown on the Tehran bazaar on December 28 after the rial plunged to record lows, has spread nationwide and is now being marked by larger scale demonstrations. Authorities have blamed unrest on &quot;rioters&quot; and the judiciary chief has vowed there would be &quot;no leniency&quot; in bringing them to justice. On Wednesday, an Iranian police officer was stabbed to death near Tehran &quot;during efforts to control unrest&quot;, the Iranian Fars news agency said. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the shah ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution and a key exiled opposition figure, said that the turnout during Wednesday&#39;s protests had been &quot;unprecedented&quot; and called for major new protests Thursday evening. He said in a message on social media he had received reports the &quot;regime is deeply frightened and is attempting, once again, to cut off the internet&quot; to thwart the protests. The HRANA monitor published a video of protesters in Kuhchenar in the southern Fars province cheering overnight as they pulled down a statue of the former foreign operations commander of the Revolutionary Guards Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a US strike in January 2020 and is hailed as a national hero by the government. HRANA said according to its count protests had taken place in 348 locations over the last 11 days in all of Iran&#39;s 31 provinces. It also published a video of people massing late at night in the Tehran satellite city of Karaj and lighting fires in the streets and also images of security forces using tear gas to disperse a protest in the Caspian Sea town of Tonekabon. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said security forces on Wednesday &quot;opened fire on protesters, used tear gas and violently assaulted civilians&quot; during a protest in the key southeastern hub of Kerman. The protests are being characterized by larger-scale demonstrations, with hundreds marching through a main avenue in the northeastern city of Bojnord on Wednesday in a video verified by AFP. Demonstrators are repeating slogans against the Iranian leadership including &quot;this is the final battle, Pahlavi will return&quot; and &quot;Seyyed Ali will be toppled&quot;, in reference to Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. IHR said on Tuesday at least 27 protesters including five teenagers under the age of 18, have been confirmed to have been killed in a crackdown on the protests, warning the death toll will climb as more killings are verified.

The 12 days of protests have shaken the authorities already battling economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering after the June war against Israel.

Iran protests intensify amid economic crisis and mounting deaths

ISLAMABAD: Disturbing scenes emerged from Matiala in India&rsquo;s capital, New Delhi, where a group of anti-social elements mobilized a crowd and raised hate-filled slogans targeting Muslims during a protest against a mosque being constructed on legally purchased private land.&nbsp;Videos circulating online show members of the mob chanting abusive and inflammatory slogans, including language directly aimed at Indian Muslims.&nbsp;During the protest, the mosque was publicly declared &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; without any legal basis, while communal hatred was openly fueled, with references to Bangladesh used as a pretext to stoke tensions.&nbsp;The incident has raised serious concerns about public order and the erosion of constitutional values in the nation&rsquo;s capital.&nbsp;An X user, Shekhar Gupta, highlighted the incident on social media, questioning the lack of police action. &quot;Disturbing scenes in Matiala, Delhi, mob disrupting mosque construction on legally purchased land, using hate-filled language against Muslims. Why the silence?&quot; Gupta wrote on X, tagging the Delhi Police.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 904px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2009180808347832565&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6f3ec02068d605ee276f43bcaa5c35e7bb672cc3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2009180808347832565"></iframe></div></div>Rights groups have echoed the concern, warning that abusive slogans and online hate speech linked to the incident amount to incitement and threaten communal harmony. In a post, advocacy group JEM India urged authorities to act swiftly. &ldquo;Vile anti-Muslim slogans &amp; slurs in replies to this post incite enmity in Matiala&mdash;enforce BNSS/IT Act now! Safeguard our mosque &amp; peace. Reporting,&rdquo; the group said, tagging multiple institutions including the Delhi Police, the National Human Rights Commission and the Indian home ministry.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 997px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2009120298059354348&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6f3ec02068d605ee276f43bcaa5c35e7bb672cc3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2009120298059354348"></iframe></div></div>The incident has reignited debate over law enforcement&rsquo;s role in preventing hate-driven mobilizations in the national capital. So far, the Delhi Police have not issued a public statement addressing the incident or the allegations of inaction.

Videos circulating online show members of the mob chanting abusive and inflammatory slogans, including language directly aimed at Indian Muslims.


Mob targets mosque in Indian capital, police silence draws criticism

ISLAMABAD: <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India&rsquo;s opposition Indian National Congress shared an AI-generated video on the social platform X on Tuesday, depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly asking for permission from US President Donald Trump.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 35-second video depicts Modi and Trump speaking over a phone call, with Modi shown repeatedly asking for permission to meet Trump, take photographs and make policy concessions to please him. Trump is portrayed speaking in Hindi and saying Modi would do anything to make him happy.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 754px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2008888198244757800&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=af5daea7946188a583bec27dbb01fa6e623666ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Congress later shared another video with the caption, &ldquo;Sir, May I See You Please? Modi&rsquo;s desperation to please Trump has brought shame to India.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2008924087431676154&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=af5daea7946188a583bec27dbb01fa6e623666ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The video was shared after Trump publicly claimed that India had reduced oil imports from Russia to appease him. Speaking to reporters late Sunday during a press interaction aboard Air Force One, Trump said India&rsquo;s decision was linked to his dissatisfaction with New Delhi&rsquo;s continued energy purchases from Moscow.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Modi is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,&rdquo; Trump said.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump said that Washington could increase trade penalties and tariffs on Indian goods&nbsp;if US concerns were not removed.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,&rdquo; he said when asked about India&rsquo;s purchases of Russian oil.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India had earlier justified oil purchase from Russia, stating its <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">domestic&nbsp;energy needs necessitate it. The Indian government had previously said it sources oil based on price and availability, not political pressure.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Russia-Ukraine conflict<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump has taken a strong interest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, presenting himself as a potential mediator while using trade tools to push partners and allies to align with US policy on Moscow.

Screengrab of Congress post on Modi (X/ @INCIndia)

Indian Congress shared an AI-generated video on X showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly asking for permission from US President Donald Trump.

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