Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States is &ldquo;very grateful&rdquo; for Pakistan&rsquo;s offer to be part of a Gaza stabilization force, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Rubio made the remarks during an end-of-year news conference at the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, DC, while responding to questions from journalists.&nbsp;When asked whether Washington had received Pakistan&rsquo;s consent to deploy troops for peacebuilding efforts in Gaza, Rubio said the US appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s willingness to participate, or at least consider participation, in the proposed force. The proposed stabilization initiative is part of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 20-point Gaza plan, which calls for the deployment of troops from Muslim-majority countries during a transitional phase to support security and governance as the conflict-affected Palestinian territory moves toward reconstruction and a long-term political settlement. Rubio noted that further clarity was still needed before any country could be asked to make a formal commitment. A day earlier, Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that discussions were ongoing in &ldquo;certain capitals&rdquo; and that Islamabad had not yet made a sovereign decision. &ldquo;I am not aware of any specific request made to Pakistan. We will inform you about any development if it takes place,&rdquo; he said.

Americas

US Secretary of State says additional clarity is needed before any country, including Pakistan, can be formally asked to commit troops to the Gaza stabilization force

Grateful for Pakistan’s offer to be part of Gaza stabilization force: Rubio

WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department on Friday began releasing the long-awaited records from the investigation into the politically explosive case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files are expected to shed light on the disgraced financier&#39;s connections with high-profile business executives, celebrities, academics and politicians, including President Donald Trump. However it is unclear how much Trump&#39;s department -- which has total control over the release -- will allow to see the light of day or even how it is selecting documents. The huge trove of documents included seven pages listing the names of 254 masseuses are entirely blacked out, alongside the explanation &quot;redacted to protect potential victim information.&quot; The release also included numerous photographs not previously made public -- including one depicting a younger-looking former president Bill Clinton reclining in a hot tub, with part of the image obscured by a black rectangle. Another image depicts Clinton swimming with a dark-haired woman who appears to be Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump&#39;s name appears in a contact book found in the files, although it is not clear whom the book belonged to. Trump, once a close friend of Epstein, fought for months to prevent the release of the records related to the investigation of Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Republican president eventually caved to pressure from Congress, including from his own party, and signed a law last month compelling publication of the materials. Friday was the deadline set by Congress for release of the records. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in an interview with &quot;Fox and Friends,&quot; said several hundred thousand documents would be released on Friday and several hundred thousand more in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have the latitude to withhold material related to active investigations and Blanche said the files will also be painstakingly redacted to protect the identities of Epstein&#39;s hundreds of victims. He said &quot;no new charges&quot; were imminent in a scandal that continues to convulse America. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the partial release. &quot;This is nothing more than a cover up to protect Donald Trump from his ugly past,&quot; &nbsp;Schumer said in a statement. - &#39;Democrat hoax&#39; -For Trump, the moment carries enormous personal and political sensitivity. The president was once a close friend of Epstein moving in the same Palm Beach and New York social circles in the 1990s and appearing together at parties for years. Trump severed ties with Epstein years before the 2019 arrest and is not accused of wrongdoing in the case. But his right-wing base has long been obsessed by the Epstein saga and conspiracy theories that the financier oversaw a sex trafficking ring for the world&#39;s elite. Running for the White House, Trump promised to release all the files. However, after returning to office, Trump dismissed the push for transparency as a &quot;Democrat hoax.&quot; Trump&#39;s FBI and Justice Department triggered a political furor in July with a memo stating that there would be no further disclosures of evidence from the Epstein probe. The memo said there was &quot;no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions&quot; or had a &quot;client list.&quot; Trump then fought Congress over its drive to get the records out in public, only relenting in the face of a populist revolt. - Ghislaine Maxwell -Epstein&#39;s former girlfriend Maxwell is the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, even if Trump&#39;s MAGA supporters have for years believed that &quot;deep state&quot; elites are protecting a Who&#39;s Who of Democratic politicians and Hollywood figures. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, whose death was ruled a suicide. For the public and victims, the release of the files marks the clearest opportunity yet to shed light on the scandal. The newly released records could clarify how Epstein operated, who assisted him and why prosecutors stalled for years before bringing charges against him.&nbsp;

The US Justice Department began releasing Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, potentially revealing connections to high-profile figures, including Trump and Clinton. Many documents are heavily redacted, with no new charges expected

Trump administration begins release of Epstein files

Washington: Officials in the US state of Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.&nbsp;Law enforcement identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national who attended the Ivy League institution decades ago. They said he acted alone and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a New Hampshire storage unit.&nbsp;But throughout the week, anonymous and right-wing accounts on X flooded the platform with unfounded posts claiming the shooter was a Palestinian enrolled at the school, a narrative that exploded further as university webpages mentioning the student were seemingly removed.&nbsp;&quot;Criminal investigations are grounded in evidence, not speculation or online commentary,&quot; Colonel Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said at the briefing announcing Neves Valente&#39;s identification late Thursday.&nbsp;&quot;The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and clickbait were not helpful in this investigation. Distractions and unfounded criticisms do not support this work. They complicate it and threaten to undermine the justice we seek.&quot;&nbsp;The claims began when an anonymous X account posted photos and videos Monday of the student, Mustapha Kharbouch, beside footage police had released of the person of interest.&nbsp;Within hours, Kharbouch&#39;s image and email were plastered across social media, prompting death and deportation threats as internet sleuths homed in on the individual&#39;s pro-Palestinian activism and compared their body and gait to the suspect.&nbsp;Right-wing podcaster Tim Pool, billionaire Bill Ackman and US Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon were among those who amplified the narrative.&nbsp;&quot;Bring him to swift American justice,&quot; said one widespread post Ackman shared, which alleged a cover-up and declared a &quot;war with Islam.&quot;&nbsp;Prior to Neves Valente&#39;s identification, a member of a local law enforcement agency involved in the investigation told AFP that Kharbouch had never been a person of interest.

Rhode Island officials condemned online misinformation that hindered the Brown University shooting investigation, falsely blaming a Palestinian student. Police identified the real suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, who acted alone and was found dead.

Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said Friday that its board has approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka, to help in the country&#39;s recovery from the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.&nbsp;The natural disaster killed more than 640 people, and affected more than 10 percent of Sri Lanka&#39;s population. Floods and landslides caused by the cyclone left extensive damage throughout the South Asian island nation.&nbsp;&quot;The disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs,&quot; IMF deputy managing director Kenji Okamura said in a statement.&nbsp;The IMF&#39;s emergency aid -- which comes under the Washington-based lender&#39;s rapid financing instrument -- is meant to help address these pressures, he added.&nbsp;The announcement comes a day after Sri Lanka&#39;s government unveiled plans for $1.6 billion in additional spending next year to fund cyclone recovery.&nbsp;While it is still early for a firm assessment, the fund&#39;s mission chief for Sri Lanka, Evan Papageorgiou, flagged a likely hit to economic activity in the short-term.&nbsp;&quot;Agriculture and tourism are key sectors in Sri Lanka&#39;s growth and are being hit the hardest,&quot; he told reporters in a briefing.&nbsp;&quot;Inflation is likely to rise due to supply disruptions, and the current account deficit will likely widen over the next year,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The government had also secured a World Bank agreement to repurpose $120 million from an ongoing project for disaster recovery spending.&nbsp;Separately, it got a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance water management, the first such funding since the cyclone.&nbsp;The IMF said Friday that Sri Lankan authorities are still committed to their economic reform program aided by support of around $3 billion.&nbsp;A further tranche of this rescue package known as the Extended Fund Facility was coming up when the cyclone hit.&nbsp;The IMF said it has deferred the fifth review of the package, with a team set to visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions.&nbsp;It noted this deferment took place due to the time needed to assess the cyclone&#39;s economic impact and examine how an IMF-supported program can best support Sri Lanka&#39;s recovery and reconstruction efforts -- while preserving policy priorities

Asia

The IMF approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka to aid recovery from Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 640 people. The funds will address humanitarian needs, economic disruptions, and support ongoing reform programs.

IMF approves $206M aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Friday marked a new milestone in academic cooperation with the inauguration of the Pakistan Study Centre at Shandong University, aimed at strengthening research collaboration, policy dialogue and student exchanges, particularly in agriculture and fisheries.&nbsp;The center was inaugurated by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi alongside Shandong University Executive Vice President Wu Zhen, according to an official statement issued by Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic mission in Beijing.&nbsp;Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Hashmi thanked the university leadership for backing the initiative, saying it reflected the growing depth of Pakistan-China cooperation in higher education and research.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ambassador Hashmi thanked the university leadership for their strong support in realizing this initiative,&rdquo; the embassy said in its statement.&nbsp;Highlighting the broader bilateral context, Hashmi noted the increasing momentum in Pakistan-China relations, with education and research emerging as key pillars of engagement.&nbsp;He described Shandong University, internationally recognized for innovation in agriculture and fisheries, as an ideal host for the center.&nbsp;&ldquo;He emphasized the importance of academic platforms in building long-term people-to-people linkages,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;The Pakistan Study Centre is intended to function as a hub for Pakistan-focused studies, joint research projects, business-to-business engagement, and enhanced student interaction between the two countries.&nbsp;Ahead of the inauguration, Ambassador Hashmi and Vice President Wu Zhen held discussions on leveraging the center for mutually beneficial academic and research initiatives, with a particular focus on agriculture and fisheries.&nbsp;As part of his visit, Hashmi was also given a tour of the Shandong University Museum, the embassy said.&nbsp;The establishment of the center underscores Islamabad and Beijing&rsquo;s efforts to institutionalize academic collaboration as a foundation for sustained bilateral engagement.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan inaugurated a Study Centre at Shandong University to enhance academic cooperation, research, and student exchanges, particularly in agriculture and fisheries, strengthening Pakistan-China bilateral relations.

Pakistan Study Centre opens at China’s Shandong University, deepening bilateral academic ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Deputy Head of Mission to Foreign Office following a suicide terrorist attack in North Waziristan that martyred four security personnel, as Islamabad slammed Afghanistan-based militants and demanded decisive action.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Foreign Office condemned the attack in the &ldquo;strongest possible terms,&rdquo; saying it was carried out by &ldquo;Khwarij belonging to the Kharji Gul Bahadur Group&rdquo; against a military camp in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Khawarij&rdquo; for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking a historical label for an extremist sect in early Islam that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims apostates.&nbsp;&ldquo;To convey our strong demarche, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Pakistan demanded a thorough investigation and concrete measures against those responsible for planning, facilitating and executing terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.&nbsp;Earlier, four terrorists were killed and four Pakistani soldiers were martyred when security forces foiled the major attack on December 19 in the Boya area of North Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;&ldquo;In a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked a security forces camp,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that the attackers attempted to breach the camp&rsquo;s perimeter.&nbsp;The military said troops responded swiftly, preventing the militants from entering the facility.&nbsp;After failing to penetrate the defenses, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall, causing its collapse and damaging nearby civilian infrastructure, including a mosque.&nbsp;&ldquo;This blatant act of barbarism inflicted severe injuries on 15 local civilians, including women and children,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that several homes were also damaged.&nbsp;Security forces engaged the attackers and killed all four terrorists. &ldquo;Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the intruders with precision,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;During the intense exchange of fire, four soldiers embraced martyrdom. The ISPR identified them as Havildar Muhammad Waqas, 42, from Kotli; Naik Khanwaiz, 38, from Mansehra; Sepoy Sufyan Haider, 25, from Vehari; and Sepoy Riffat, 32, from Layyah.&nbsp;&ldquo;Having fought gallantly, these brave sons of the soil paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,&rdquo; the military said.&nbsp;The ISPR said the attack was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based Khwarij, contradicting claims by the Afghan interim authorities that no militant groups are operating from their territory.&nbsp;Pakistan urged the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan reserves the right to hunt these Khwarij down and eliminate their facilitators and affiliates to ensure the safety of its people,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office added that Afghan interim authorities have been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens amid rising cross-border militancy.&nbsp;Militant activity in KP has surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with armed groups frequently targeting security convoys, checkpoints, and government officials through attacks, kidnappings, and assassinations.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly warned that militant groups, including Fitna al Khwarij, are operating from safe havens across the Afghan border and receiving foreign support to conduct terrorist operations within Pakistan.&nbsp;Islamabad has consistently raised these concerns with Afghan interim authorities, calling for decisive action. Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s continued diplomatic engagement and restraint, repeated cross-border attacks have escalated tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;

Security

Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s interim envoy after a suicide attack in North Waziristan martyred four soldiers. Islamabad blamed Afghanistan-based militants, demanded action against perpetrators, and reaffirmed its right to defend sovereignty amid rising cross-border militancy

Pakistan issues demarche to Kabul following deadly North Waziristan attack

POISSY: Matvei Safonov probably saved two penalties with a broken hand to win Paris Saint-Germain the Intercontinental Cup win, his coach Luis Enrique said Friday.&nbsp;The Russian stopped four spot kicks in the shootout in Qatar on Wednesday as PSG edged Brazilians Flamengo to lift another trophy.&nbsp;&quot;The player himself doesn&#39;t know how it happened,&quot; said Luis Enrique.&nbsp;&quot;We think it was on the third penalty kick. He made a strange movement and fractured it. He saved the last two shots with the fracture. The adrenaline was so powerful that the player was able to do it without pain. It&#39;s incredible.&quot;&nbsp;The club released a statement saying that &nbsp;&quot;a further update will be provided in three to four weeks&quot;.&nbsp;Luis Enrique, who has had to deal with a string of injuries this season, said he had not spoken to Safonov.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s karma,&quot; Luis Enrique added. &quot;Life is telling him he needs to rest, recover, and accept it. With his mentality, he&#39;ll come back stronger.&quot;&nbsp;Luis Enrique was speaking on the eve of the trip to face fifth-tier Vendee Fontenay in the French Cup.&nbsp;The coach could continue his habit of using backups in the domestic cups and pick third-choice Renato Marin will be in goal, but he could also take the opportunity to hand Lucas Chevalier a first game since recovering from an ankle injury.&nbsp;Safonov&#39;s exploits appeared to fuel a bubbling debate over who should start in goal for the European champions.&nbsp;The 26-year-old Russian began the season as the number two, but his match-winning exploits in Qatar followed several impressive displays standing in for the injured Chevalier, who made a shaky start to the season.&nbsp;Chevalier, who turned 24 in November, was acquired in the summer because coach Luis Enrique liked his footwork with the ball but he has sometimes looked less reliable stopping shots.

Football

Matvei Safonov saved four penalties, including two with a broken hand, to give PSG the Intercontinental Cup over Flamengo. Coach Luis Enrique praised his heroics, noting Safonov’s resilience and potential return stronger after recovery.

PSG penalty hero Safonov ended Intercontinental win with broken hand

ROME: A famine declared in Gaza in August is now over thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Friday, but warned the food situation in the Palestinian territory remained &quot;critical&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;No areas are classified in Famine,&quot; said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises.&nbsp;But it warned &quot;the situation remains critical: the entire Gaza Strip is classified in Emergency&quot;.&nbsp;A US-sponsored ceasefire has halted the fighting in Gaza that began after Hamas&#39;s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.&nbsp;But the deal, in effect since October 10, remains fragile as Israel and Hamas accuse each other almost daily of violations.&nbsp;

Middle East

The UN says famine declared in Gaza in August has ended due to increased aid access, but food conditions remain critical, with all areas in emergency status, amid a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

UN declares famine over in Gaza, says 'situation remains critical'

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi activists and journalists have accused India of providing safe havens to terrorists involved in killings as Bangladesh once again erupts in protests after leader of 2024 student-led uprising Sharif Osman Bin Hadi succumbed to his injuries in Singapore. Hadi, who was expected to contest the February elections, was shot in the head on December 12 in Dhaka. He was evacuated to Singapore but could not survive. Pakistan TV talked to a number of journalists and civil society activists who agreed that anti-India sentiments had risen sharply in Bangladesh. Civil society activist and entrepreneur Fahim Mashroor told Pakistan TV that following Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s ouster and the installation of Dr Muhammad Yunus&rsquo;s interim administration, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have deteriorated sharply. &ldquo;For the last 15 months, right after Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the new administration under Dr Yunus took over, diplomatic relations have been extremely thorny. The key issue has been Sheikh Hasina being sheltered in India,&rdquo; Fahim Mashroor said. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sharif Osman bin Hadi was a very strong voice against Indian hegemony; the person who shot Hadi was a leader of the student union of Awami League and is now in India; anti-India sentiment is rising in Bangladesh. - Journalist from Dhaka Kamaruzzaman<a href="https://twitter.com/mkbablu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mkbablu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/GjZu7lAIoK">pic.twitter.com/GjZu7lAIoK</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001933630294364180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> He said public anger escalated after the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth and cultural activist, who was reportedly targeted for his vocal opposition to Indian influence and the Awami League. &ldquo;His cultural activism strongly opposed Indian cultural hegemony, leading many to believe he was targeted because of his views, and that Indian active support cannot be ruled out. This is why public sentiment has taken a strongly anti-Indian turn,&rdquo; he said. Fahim Mashroor further said the assassin&rsquo;s known links to Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s party and subsequent flight to India, confirmed through CCTV footage, have intensified anti-India sentiment. &ldquo;People in Bangladesh remain extremely angry and firmly believe there is support for such activities through the Awami League and its operatives. There is a widespread perception that not only was the planning done on Indian soil, but that India is also providing safe haven to terrorists after such heinous acts,&rdquo; the civil society activist said. He said this perception of the Bangladeshi society is drawn from India&rsquo;s history of patronage toward Sheikh Hasina during her 15-year rule, when New Delhi was seen as supporting her authoritarian governance for strategic gain. Talking to Pakistan TV, senior journalist from Dhaka MD Kamruzzaman said protests have intensified across Dhaka following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, particularly among students and young activists. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sheikh Hasina and her political associates, hiding in India, have threatened to kill people, especially youth, who are opposed to Awami League. - Civil society activist from Dhaka Fahim Mashroor<a href="https://twitter.com/fahimmashroor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fahimmashroor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIBBdoffical?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIBBdoffical</a><a href="https://twitter.com/PakinBangladesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PakinBangladesh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/bdhcpk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bdhcpk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/KW2ltsp65k">pic.twitter.com/KW2ltsp65k</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001943390834077924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> He said Hadi had been a prominent figure in the movement that challenged nearly 16 years of authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina, adding that protesters claim that Hadi had been receiving multiple death threats. &ldquo;His popularity was rising rapidly, and people from all walks of life viewed Hadi as an icon of protest. Unfortunately, he had earlier warned that he had received multiple threats from different unknown numbers,&rdquo; the senior journalist said. He said a key source of public anger stems from reports that the gunman had fled to India. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The assassins were traced through CCTV footage; police say they fled to India which has made people extremely angry as they believe India is harbouring those responsible. - Civil society activist from Dhaka Fahim Mashroor<a href="https://twitter.com/fahimmashroor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fahimmashroor</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIBBdoffical?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIBBdoffical</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/0X0VYv2Yme">pic.twitter.com/0X0VYv2Yme</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001944238800703585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> Kamruzzaman said this has fuelled growing anti-India sentiment, with demonstrators accusing New Delhi of sheltering individuals responsible for political violence in Bangladesh. &ldquo;According to protesters, he [Hadi] was targeted primarily because of his stance against the ousted regime and neighbouring India,&rdquo; the Bangladeshi journalist said. He further added that the unrest highlights deepening frustration over external interference and the country&rsquo;s ongoing struggle for democratic sovereignty. Another journalist from Bangladesh Muktadir Rashid told Pakistan TV that the demonstrators accuse India of involvement in Hadi&rsquo;s assassination and harbouring suspects linked to unrest in Bangladesh. He said anti-India sentiment is not new, fuelled over the years by public anger toward Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s government, which was backed by New Delhi. &ldquo;Anti-Indian sentiment is not new in Bangladesh at all, especially due to Sheikh Hasina&#39;s misrule, which was backed by the Indian government starting from 2014,&rdquo; he said. He said Hadi, a former teacher known for his calls for justice and youth empowerment, enjoyed strong grassroots popularity and was preparing to contest the upcoming elections. Muktadir Rashid said Hadi was shot last Friday, and reports suggest the prime suspect fled across the border into India, an area long associated with organised crime. His death has further ignited resentment against perceived Indian interference in Bangladesh&rsquo;s domestic politics, he added.

SAT News Desk

Bangladeshi activists state that India is sheltering terrorists after protest leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi died from gunshot wounds, with the suspect fleeing to India.

Bangladeshi activists, journalists accuse India of providing safe havens to terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held an urgent briefing for the diplomatic corps on Thursday evening, raising concerns about India&rsquo;s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty that Islamabad says threatens peace, stability, and the livelihoods of millions in South Asia. The foreign minister highlighted India&rsquo;s &ldquo;unilateral abeyance&rdquo; in April 2025&nbsp;of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between the two countries, calling it a gross contravention of international law, including Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, according to a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.<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" 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=2001919279214793215&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d7d005dc982602002ec7dd57b9c25405b8db01e2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He said that India&rsquo;s actions have escalated to material breaches of the treaty, citing abrupt variations in the flow of the River Chenab during April-May 2025 and December 7-15, 2025, which Pakistan attributes to unilateral water releases by India without prior notification or data sharing, as required under the treaty. The briefing noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s Indus Water Commissioner had written to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification on these recent variations.&nbsp; &lsquo;Weaponization of water&rsquo;The foreign minister emphasized that these actions exemplify what Pakistan considers the &ldquo;weaponization of water,&rdquo; threatening agriculture, food security, economic stability, and the livelihoods of Pakistani citizens.<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" 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=2001911420137673190&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d7d005dc982602002ec7dd57b9c25405b8db01e2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the minister, India has repeatedly sought to undermine the IWT, including by constructing hydropower projects such as Kishanganga and Ratle, which Pakistan says violate the treaty&rsquo;s technical specifications.&nbsp; India is also accused of halting the sharing of hydrological data and joint oversight, increasing risks of floods and droughts in Pakistan. The minister warned that India&rsquo;s conduct contravenes international human rights and humanitarian law and could trigger a humanitarian crisis, while undermining progress on the Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and hunger.&nbsp; He also criticized India for refusing to participate in the treaty&rsquo;s dispute resolution mechanisms, including proceedings before the Court of Arbitration and Neutral Expert. Pakistan reiterated that the IWT is a binding legal instrument vital to regional peace and stability.&nbsp; The minister cited recent rulings by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in June and August 2025, which reaffirmed the treaty&rsquo;s validity and binding dispute-resolution mechanisms.&nbsp; He also referenced communications from UN Special Procedures and Mandate Holders expressing concerns about India&rsquo;s actions, which were made public on Dec. 15. The briefing further noted India&rsquo;s June 21 declaration by its Home Minister, stating that India would &ldquo;never&rdquo; restore the treaty and intended to divert waters to Rajasthan via a new canal.&nbsp; &lsquo;Water is life&rsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s National Security Committee has reportedly declared that any attempt to block or divert water under the treaty would be considered an &ldquo;Act of War.&rdquo; The foreign minister underscored the potential human rights impact of India&rsquo;s actions, including threats to the rights to work, livelihood, water, food, adequate living standards, and a clean environment.&nbsp; He called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to address the situation and urged diplomats to advocate for the restoration of the treaty, an end to the &ldquo;weaponization of water,&rdquo; and adherence to international law. &ldquo;Water is life and cannot be weaponized,&rdquo; he concluded, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution while insisting that it will not compromise on the water rights of its people.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held an urgent briefing for the diplomatic corps, raising concerns over India’s actions that Islamabad says are threatening peace, stability, and the livelihoods of millions in South Asia.

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