Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: India on Friday said it is &ldquo;closely following the developments&rdquo; on a proposed US legislation that seeks to impose 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, Indian media reported. Reacting to the proposed legislation, India&rsquo;s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: &ldquo;We are aware of the proposed bill. We are closely following the developments. Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known. In this endeavor, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people,&rdquo; the MEA said.<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; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 417px; 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=2009574142857908257&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=0dfc7bbdac468c5b6e22137503d5558da1ddc4b8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2009574142857908257"></iframe></div></div>India is once again facing the heat of a proposed US law that would seek to levy as much as 500% tariffs on countries for buying Russian oil, after US Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump has &ldquo;greenlit&rdquo; the Russia sanctions bill. &lsquo;Tremendous leverage&rsquo; against IndiaGraham, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said: &ldquo;This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India, and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for [Vladimir] Putin&rsquo;s bloodbath against Ukraine.&rdquo; The bill, titled the &ldquo;Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025&rdquo;, enables the US administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, gas, and uranium, among other goods. &ldquo;The President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services,&rdquo; according to the bill. Trade deal stalemate&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, a planned India&ndash;US trade deal stalled because Prime Minister Narendra Modi <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-commerce-secretary-blames-modi-call-for-india-trade-deal-stalemate" style="color:#0073e6;">did not call </a>President Donald Trump, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed on Friday. Lutnick made the remarks in an interview on the All-In podcast, a US business and technology show hosted by four venture capitalists.&nbsp; He said, &ldquo;It&#39;s all set up, and you have got to have Modi call the president,&rdquo; and they were uncomfortable doing it. So Modi didn&#39;t call.&rdquo;

India

India again faces pressure from a proposed US law seeking tariffs up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, after Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump has greenlit the Russia sanctions bill.

‘Closely following developments’: India on US bill seeking to impose 500% tariff 

ISLAMABAD: A planned India&ndash;US trade deal stalled because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Donald Trump, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed on Friday.&nbsp;Lutnick made the remarks in an interview on the All-In podcast, a US business and technology show hosted by four venture capitalists. He said, &ldquo;It&#39;s all set up, and you have got to have Modi call the president,&rdquo; and they were uncomfortable doing it. So Modi didn&#39;t call.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding to Lutnick&rsquo;s comments, the Indian foreign office said the &ldquo;characterization of these discussions in the reported remarks is not accurate.&rdquo;&nbsp;Bilateral trade talks between Washington and New Delhi had previously collapsed, a situation that worsened when Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods in August last year to 50%, the highest rate in the world. This included a 25% levy in retaliation for Indian purchases of Russian oil.&nbsp;The deadlock contrasted sharply with early optimism, when leaders from both countries had pledged to &ldquo;double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030,&rdquo; according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;Additional friction arose over India&rsquo;s continued imports of Russian oil, prompting the US to impose what it described as &ldquo;punitive&rdquo; tariffs.

New Delhi–Washington trade talks falter as tariffs rise to 50%, risking bilateral trade growth and straining agreements aimed at doubling commerce to $500 billion by 2030

US commerce secretary blames Modi call for India trade deal stalemate

ISLAMABAD: Fears of large-scale voter disenfranchisement have intensified after the Election Commission of India (EC) released draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, showing massive deletions across nine states and three Union Territories, Indian media reported on Wednesday. Preliminary figures indicate that nearly 13% of electors have been removed so far, a number that could translate into close to 110 million voters losing their voting rights if not adequately corrected. The most striking case is Uttar Pradesh, where the draft rolls show 28.9 million fewer voters than the previous list, nearly 18.7% of the state&rsquo;s electorate. Similar patterns have emerged elsewhere: around 5.8 million voters were deleted in West Bengal (7.6%), 2.408 million in Kerala (8%), and 9.73 million in Tamil Nadu. BJP-ruled states have also seen sharp reductions, with about 4.2 million deletions in Madhya Pradesh, 41.85% of voters removed in Rajasthan, and at least 7.3 million deletions in Gujarat as per the draft electoral rolls. The EC maintains that most deletions involve duplicate entries, deceased voters, or those who have permanently shifted or were absent during verification. While a month-long window has been provided for objections and corrections, the final number of deletions is likely to be around two or three per cent less than the currently known figure. &lsquo;Opacity and arbitrariness&rsquo;Opposition parties, however, have raised serious concerns over the transparency and design of the SIR process. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the EC of &ldquo;opacity, arbitrariness and informality,&rdquo; alleging procedural violations and misuse of IT systems. The Congress, DMK and Left parties have echoed similar objections, warning that the exercise is being conducted in a hurried and ad hoc manner. &lsquo;Fundamentally flawed&rsquo;&nbsp;Political scientist Yogendra Yadav has described the 2025 SIR as fundamentally flawed, arguing that it places the entire burden of proving eligibility and even citizenship on voters, unlike the 2002 revision, which relied on trained enumerators and existing records. He has also highlighted disproportionate deletions among women, migrants and residents of net in-migration states. With the EC yet to release detailed data on wrongful exclusions, critics warn that unless corrective measures are taken urgently, the SIR could result in unprecedented mass disenfranchisement, undermining the credibility of India&rsquo;s electoral process. Exclusion of over 6 million namesIndia launched a revision of its voter rolls on Nov. 4, 2025, expanding a contentious exercise that activists warn could fuel disenfranchisement in the world&#39;s largest democracy, according to an AFP report. The three-month voter registration overhaul, the SIR &mdash; kicked off in 12 states and territories, many of which are slated to hold local elections next year. Earlier last year, the ECI conducted a similar revision in the eastern state of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-opposition-criticizes-ruling-bjp-of-voter-purge-driving-bihar-election-victory" style="color:#0073e6;">Bihar</a>, home to more than 130 million people, ahead of its state elections. The process led to the exclusion of around 6.5 million names, which the ECI said was necessary to prevent the inclusion of &quot;foreign illegal immigrants.&quot;

Preliminary figures indicate that nearly 13% of electors have been removed so far, a number that could translate into close to 110 million voters losing their voting rights if not adequately corrected, Indian media reported.

Deletions in draft electoral rolls trigger fears of disenfranchisement in India 

ISLAMABAD: India reached out to three senior Trump administration officials on May 10, 2025, the day a ceasefire was announced following the Pakistan-India conflict, to discuss &quot;media coverage&quot; of the clash, according to a report published by India&rsquo;s The Hindu.&nbsp; The newspaper cites filings made under law by SHW LLC, a US-based lobbying firm,&nbsp;under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) with the US Department of Justice. The disclosures contradict the Indian government&rsquo;s repeated denials of any US involvement in bringing about a ceasefire to the May 2025 conflict. FARA filings, including 60 entries made in December 2025, reveal a significant disconnect between India&#39;s public denials of US involvement in mediating the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict and the extensive behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts New Delhi undertook during the operation.&nbsp; While the documents do not specify whether the May 10 calls were made before or after the ceasefire announcement, The Hindu reports that &quot;they indicate close interaction on [the] day.&quot; This is when both US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly claimed credit for brokering the end to hostilities. $1.8 million contractAccording to the newspaper, India relied on&nbsp;SHW LLC to facilitate high-level outreach to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and National Security Council official Ricky Gill. They were hired two days after the Pahalgam attack, the filings show. The firm is led by Jason Miller, Trump&#39;s former spokesperson and senior adviser during his 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential campaigns. The annual contract is worth $1.8 million, paid in quarterly installments of $450,000. SHW had no other clients during the period covered by the filings. Pakistan&#39;s consistent positionThroughout the conflict, Pakistan maintained it had not sought third-party mediation and that Kashmir remained a bilateral issue. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Al Jazeera that when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered to facilitate dialogue on May 10, Rubio informed him that &quot;India says that it is a bilateral issue&quot; and does not support outside involvement.&nbsp; Dar stated, &quot;Unless India wishes to have dialogue, we can&#39;t force dialogue.&quot; A timeline of contact refutes constant denial&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s&nbsp;government has repeatedly denied that the US played any role in mediating the four-day Pakistan-India conflict. India&#39;s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said India did not accept mediation &ldquo;at any level.&rdquo; Modi said that operations were paused only after Pakistan sought a ceasefire. On May 10, approximately 30 minutes after Trump&#39;s announcement, India&#39;s Foreign Secretary held a special briefing stating that Pakistan&#39;s Director General of Military Operations had initiated contact with his Indian counterpart. On May 12, Modi stated in a national address that the conflict, which India codenamed &quot;Operation Sindoor,&quot; was paused after Pakistan &quot;pleaded&quot; for a ceasefire.&nbsp; On June 17, during a phone call with Trump at the G7 Summit, Modi explicitly told the US president that India had never discussed a trade deal or accepted US mediation at any level during Operation Sindoor, according to Indian government statements. However, FARA filings provide a detailed account of intensive engagement with American officials during the same period. Of the 60 entries, 30 telephone calls show the lobbying firm contacted officials at the White House, the US Trade Representative&rsquo;s office, and the Department of Commerce, with the stated purpose in multiple calls being discussions on the &quot;status of US-India trade conversations.&quot; India launched Operation Sindoor on May 6-7, carrying out strikes on what it described as militant targets in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has consistently denied the presence of any such entities. Hostilities escalated over the following days, including aerial engagements, drone attacks, and cross-border fire, before a ceasefire was announced on May 10. On May 7, during active combat operations, lobbying firm SHW contacted Fox News anchor Bret Baier to &quot;pitch a media interview with Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra to discuss Operation Sindoor,&quot; the filings show. On the day of the ceasefire, the filings show four separate contacts by SHW with senior US officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, National Security Council officials, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. All four were logged as discussions on &ldquo;media coverage&rdquo; of Operation Sindoor. Greer was contacted twice on the same day. &lsquo;Standard practice&rsquo;The Indian Embassy did not deny the filings when contacted by The Hindu but said hiring lobbyists is &quot;standard practice&quot; to &quot;augment outreach.&quot; The embassy stated it &quot;has hired such firms, consistent with local practice and requirements, under successive governments since the 1950s,&quot; but did not respond to specific questions about the May 10 contacts or why lobbying firms were asked to arrange meetings with senior US officials. &quot;Such meetings are routinely sought by the mission directly,&quot; officials stated, noting that lobbyists are typically hired &quot;for advice and to understand the landscape&quot; but that &quot;meetings and calls are made between diplomats directly.&quot; The filings also document that SHW made calls to White House officials to &quot;flag&quot; social media posts by Modi praising Trump, including after the president made positive comments about bilateral ties on Sept. 6, and after Modi congratulated Trump on a Gaza peace proposal on Oct. 9.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (right) at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. (AFP/File)

The Hindu reports that India's embassy in the US contacted three senior Trump officials on May 10, the ceasefire day, to discuss 'media coverage,' according to filings made by the lobbying firm hired by India, contradicting the government's repeated denials of US involvement in the May 2025 ceasefire.

India reached out to US on day of ceasefire with Pakistan: Indian media

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The International Cricket Council (ICC), chaired by Jay Shah, has reportedly rejected a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift Bangladesh&rsquo;s matches out of India for the upcoming ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup. Shah, who assumed charge as ICC chair in August 2024, previously served as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the decision was conveyed to the BCB during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, where the ICC informed the Bangladesh board that it would not consider relocating the fixtures.&nbsp; The governing body is also understood to have warned that Bangladesh would have to travel to India to play the tournament or risk forfeiting points. However, the BCB has denied receiving any such ultimatum, stating that the ICC has relayed no formal communication to that effect. Neither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official statement on the outcome of Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting, which was convened after the BCB wrote to the ICC on Sunday requesting it to &ldquo;consider&rdquo; moving Bangladesh&rsquo;s matches outside India. Last week, the BCB said&nbsp;it had &quot;formally requested&quot; the ICC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-say-will-not-play-t20-world-cup-matches-if-in-india" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">shift their games to Sri Lanka</a>.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;The Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,&quot; a BCB statement read. The development comes less than a month before the 20-team T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held across India and Sri Lanka from Feb. 7 to March 8.&nbsp; Bangladesh, placed in Group C, are set to play their first three matches in Kolkata, against the West Indies on Feb. 7, Italy on Feb. 9, and England on Feb. 14, before facing Nepal in Mumbai on Feb. 17. The BCB&rsquo;s concerns reportedly stem from a recent decision by the BCCI to instruct IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-drops-bangladeshi-star-from-ipl-amid-political-pressure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman,</a>&nbsp;who was bought at the December auction for INR 9.2 crore (about $1.02 million).&nbsp;The decision was confirmed to the media by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, though no reason was provided for the release. It remains unclear who was involved in the decision, as the IPL Governing Council is understood not to have convened to discuss the matter. Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh player selected at the 2026 IPL auction.

Cricket

Warns that Bangladesh would have to travel to India to play the tournament or risk forfeiting points.

Jay Shah-led ICC refuses to shift Bangladesh matches out of India: Report

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Indian-occupied Kashmir have summoned a local cricketer for police questioning after a video showing him wearing a helmet bearing a Palestinian flag triggered an online backlash, drawing criticism over India&rsquo;s intolerance of political expression.&nbsp;According to Indian local media, police in Jammu have launched a 14-day preliminary inquiry into the incident, which occurred during a local league match, citing the &ldquo;sensitivity of the matter&rdquo; and its potential implications for public order.&nbsp;The reports said the inquiry would examine the facts of the case, the player&rsquo;s intent, and whether any further action is warranted, as stated by a police official.<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: 672px; 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=2006794264928465220&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=60131b389dd71f617da7bccbeeb97ec027094349&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The cricketer, identified by police as Furqan-ul-Haq, is a resident of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. The video, widely shared on social media, shows him wearing the helmet while participating in a match of the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League at Muthi, around 10 kilometres from Jammu city. <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: 735px; 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=2006953088595460246&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=60131b389dd71f617da7bccbeeb97ec027094349&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>According to police officials, objections were raised by players from the opposing team after Furqan walked in to bat for his side, JK Eleven Kings, against Jammu Trail Blazers. He was subsequently asked to leave the field and did not take further part in the match.&nbsp;An official of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Brigadier Anil Gupta, said the tournament was privately organized and did not fall under the association&rsquo;s jurisdiction. &ldquo;The matter was brought to our notice, but it is being dealt with by the local police,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Police confirmed that both Furqan and the organizers of the tournament were later called to a police station for questioning as part of the inquiry.&nbsp;Last month, United Nations human rights experts sharply criticised New Delhi&rsquo;s security crackdown in Indian-occupied Kashmir, warning that counter-terrorism operations launched after the April 22 Pahalgam attack had led to mass detentions, alleged torture, collective punishment, and sweeping restrictions on civil liberties.&nbsp;In a statement, the UN said Indian authorities detained around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders, under laws allowing prolonged detention without trial, reported punitive house demolitions without due process, imposed communication blackouts, and blocked thousands of social media accounts.&nbsp;While condemning the attack, the experts stressed that India&rsquo;s response violated international human rights law and called for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.&nbsp;The incident with Kashmiri cricketer has reignited concerns among rights advocates over shrinking space for political expression in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where athletes and civilians alike increasingly face scrutiny and punitive action for symbolic acts deemed politically sensitive by authorities.

India summons Kashmiri cricketer over Palestinian flag, prompting criticism amid broader UN warnings of repression, mass detentions, and shrinking free expression in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

India probes Kashmiri cricketer over Palestinian flag, raising free speech concerns

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday rejected the &ldquo;irresponsible assertions&rdquo; made by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, saying that New Delhi was again seeking to &ldquo;deflect attention from its own troubling record as a neighbor that promotes terrorism and contributes to regional instability.&rdquo; Although Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs&rsquo; press release did not make a specific mention of the remarks by the Indian minister, its censure came after Indian media reported Jaishankar as saying on Friday that New Delhi had a right to defend itself against terrorism while talking about &ldquo;bad neighbors.&rdquo; &ldquo;You can also have bad neighbors &hellip; unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbors &hellip; if you look to the one to the West &mdash; if a country decides that they will deliberately, persistently, unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism,&rdquo; Jaishankar was quoted as saying by Indian media. Speaking in reference to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the Indian external affairs minister said: &ldquo;Many years ago we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement &mdash; the belief was it was gesture of goodwill &mdash; because of good neighborliness we were doing it &hellip; but if you have decades of terrorism there is no good neighborliness and you don&rsquo;t get the benefit of good neighborliness.&rdquo; In response to media queries regarding remarks made by the Indian Minister of External Affairs about Pakistan, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tahir Andrabi, stated: &ldquo;Pakistan firmly rejects the irresponsible assertions made by the Indian External Affairs Minister. Once again, India seeks to deflect attention from its own troubling record as a neighbor that promotes terrorism and contributes to regional instability.&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-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 875px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2007347186431078670&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b7c3715df63b46b2e18cb457e1c44c887d4d1889&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Andrabi said, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s documented involvement in promoting terrorist activities in the region, particularly in Pakistan, is well known.&rdquo; &ldquo;The case of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav remains a stark example of organized, state-sponsored terrorism directed against Pakistan.&rdquo; Andrabi said, &ldquo;equally concerning are recurring instances of extraterritorial killings, sabotage through proxies, and covert support to terrorist networks.&rdquo; &ldquo;This pattern is consistent with the extremist ideology of Hindutva and its violent proponents,&rdquo; the spokesperson said. Andrabi further underlined that &ldquo;India continues its illegal and violent military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to extend full political, moral, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle to realize their right to self-determination, as enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.&rdquo; The IWT is &ldquo;an international agreement concluded in good faith and at considerable cost.&rdquo; &ldquo;Any unilateral violation of the Treaty by India would undermine regional stability and call into question its credibility as a state that claims to respect international legal obligations. Pakistan will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights under the Treaty,&rdquo; Andrabi said.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan rejects remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister, calling them ‘irresponsible’; says India seeks to deflect attention from its own troubling record as a neighbor that promotes terrorism.

Pakistan rejects Jaishankar’s ‘irresponsible assertions’, warns against Indus treaty violations

ISLAMABAD: A recent verification drive in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn public attention in India after an SHO (Station House Officer) reportedly told residents he could determine their nationality using a mobile phone, said an Indian media report Friday. The incident occurred on December 23, 2025, at Bhowapur slum, a settlement of roughly 50 shanties, in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, where SHO Ajay Sharma and his team conducted document checks. According to the Indian media report, Sharma asked a slum dweller to show his identity card. When the man identified himself as a resident of Araria district in Bihar, the SHO reportedly asked if he was from Bihar or Bangladesh. Sharma then told the man that he had a machine, a mobile phone, that could &ldquo;immediately&rdquo; detect if someone was an &ldquo;illegal.&rdquo; The phone was placed on the man&rsquo;s back, and Sharma remarked that it showed &ldquo;Bangladesh.&rdquo; The resident insisted he was from Bihar and that no Bangladeshi was present in the slum. A video clip of the incident that surfaced on social media has prompted widespread discussion. Sharma defended his actions, telling an Indian media outlet that he &ldquo;tried to put pressure on them so that they reveal their true identity&rdquo; and that no one was harassed. A senior police officer clarified that the verification was part of a routine foot march during the Christmas and New Year period, but added that no orders for such methods had come from senior officials. Journalist Mohammed Zubair highlighted the incident on X (formerly Twitter) on Jan. 1, questioning whether the police had a new device to detect citizenship.<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: 601px; 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=2006682102436413601&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f953ae37638cf094fd17f8066aa73d6c72aa1f0a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In response, the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner stated that these verification exercises are part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order, and document checks are conducted to ensure accuracy.<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: 730px; 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=2006742625597247777&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f953ae37638cf094fd17f8066aa73d6c72aa1f0a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the media report, Commissioner J. Ravindra Goud said the video was under review and added, &ldquo;If any person is harassed by police, we will take action.&rdquo; The episode has sparked debate over police methods, citizen dignity, and the appropriateness of using technology in identity verification, particularly in vulnerable slum communities.

Police officer tells man that he has a mobile phone that can ‘immediately’ detect if someone is an illegal resident.

‘Are you Bangladeshi?’: Indian cop faces backlash over phone ‘citizenship scan’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Thursday exchanged lists of their respective nuclear installations pursuant to the 1988 Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, continuing the longstanding practice between the two countries, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said. Addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson said the agreement, signed on December 31, 1988, stipulates that both countries inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities covered under the agreement on January 1 of every calendar year. &nbsp;The agreement came into force on January 27, 1991, and the annual exchange of lists has been taking place on January 1 each year since 1992. &ldquo;These lists were officially handed over to the respective High Commissions,&rdquo; he said. The spokesperson also stated that Islamabad and New Delhi exchanged lists of prisoners in accordance with the 2008 Consular Access Agreement, which requires both countries to share such lists twice a year on January 1 and July 1. &ldquo;The government of Pakistan handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners, including 199 fishermen and 58 other civilians, currently in Pakistan&rsquo;s custody, to the High Commission of India in Islamabad,&rdquo; he said. He added that India is also sharing a list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commission in New Delhi.&nbsp;Chinese mediation in the Pakistan-India conflictResponding to a question on the mediation and diplomacy undertaken by China during the India-Pakistan conflict, the spokesman highlighted Beijing role in &ldquo;bringing down temperatures&rdquo; and security in the region. &ldquo;The leadership of China&hellip; was in constant touch with the leadership of Pakistan and had made certain contacts with the Indian leadership as well,&rdquo; said the statement. He added that these contacts contributed to de-escalation and the promotion of peace and security in the region, describing it as &ldquo;diplomacy for peace.&rdquo; Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s policy, the spokesperson stated that Pakistan supports China on &ldquo;all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan.&rdquo; The remarks were made in response to a question on the US announcement to sell weaponry to Taiwan. &ldquo;We will continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Regime changeResponding to a question on the regime change in Afghanistan, the spokesman stated that Pakistan respects their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Islamabad is &ldquo;ready to work with the present dispensation,&rdquo; said the statement. &ldquo;It is for the Afghan people to pick and choose whichever government they want, and we are ready to work with the present dispensation,&rdquo; he added. He said that it was inappropriate to use the word &ldquo;regime change&rdquo; for a neighbouring country. Responding to a question on the recent resolution adopted by the religious clerics and remarks by the Afghanistan interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi, Andrabi welcomed it and called it a &ldquo;positive development.&rdquo;&nbsp;Last year in December, Muttaqi, endorsing the religious decree issued by the country&rsquo;s religious scholars, assured that the leadership of the Taliban does not permit anyone to conduct military activities in other countries and that violators will face legal measures. &ldquo;We look forward to these positive overtures being backed by a firm commitment that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,&rdquo; the spokesperson added. On the issue of border closures, the spokesperson said the decision was linked to written agreements sought from the Afghan Taliban during the Doha and Istanbul talks held last year. Unity and territorial integrity of YemenSpokesperson Andrabi stated that Pakistan reiterates its support for the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and the efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability in the country. &ldquo;Pakistan strongly opposes unilateral steps by a Yemeni party that may further escalate the situation, undermine peace efforts, and threaten the peace and stability of Yemen as well as that of the region,&rdquo; he added. He also welcomed the regional efforts for de-escalating the situation and maintaining peace and stability in Yemen, as per the statement.

Pakistan and India exchange annual lists of nuclear installations and prisoners. Islamabad highlights China’s mediation role in regional tensions, reaffirms support for the One-China policy, pledges cooperation with Afghanistan’s current authorities, and reiterates backing for Yemen’s unity and stability

Pakistan, India share lists of nuclear installations, prisoners: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over what it described as the persecution of religious minorities in India, citing recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas and continued violence against Muslims. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said incidents targeting minorities had intensified &quot;fear and alienation&quot; among affected communities, according to a press release issued on Monday.&nbsp; &quot;Recent condemnable incidents of vandalism during Christmas, as well as state-sponsored campaigns targeting Muslims &mdash; including the demolition of their homes and repeated lynchings &mdash; have alarmed the international community,&quot; Andrabi stated, specifically referencing the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, a Muslim man killed in a lynching.<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: 1068px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2005539819641004519&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3d24efb1b6300fa7849c6a215596c2a99bee9f50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Andrabi&#39;s statement comes after a volatile week in India that saw coordinated attacks on Christian celebrations. On Wednesday, a coalition of right-wing Hindu groups enforced a statewide shutdown in Chhattisgarh, disrupting Christmas festivities amid protests over alleged religious conversions. A mob of 40 to 50 men armed with sticks stormed Raipur&#39;s Magneto Mall, tearing down Christmas decorations and questioning shoppers about their religious identity before damaging property. Earlier, the Catholic Bishops&#39; Conference of India condemned an &quot;alarming&quot; rise in attacks on Christians, pointing to a viral video allegedly showing a local BJP official physically harassing a visually impaired woman attending a Christmas program in Madhya Pradesh. Civil society groups have documented the scale of the issue. The United Christian Forum, in a letter to India&rsquo;s home minister dated Dec 23, said it had documented 834 incidents of violence against Christians in India through November 2024, averaging 69.5 incidents monthly over the past decade. &quot;The list of such victims is sadly long,&quot; the spokesperson added, suggesting the recent incidents are part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance. Andrabi called on the international community to &quot;take appropriate steps to help protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.&quot;&nbsp;

A priest blesses children dressed as Santa Claus on the occasion of Christmas at a church in Amritsar on December 25, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)

 Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over what it described as the persecution of religious minorities in India, citing recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas and continued violence against Muslims.

Pakistan warns of growing violence against minorities in India

NEW DELHI: Russia and India call each other &ldquo;time-tested&rdquo; friends with ties dating back to the Soviet era, but their relationship has come under significant pressure since Moscow&#39;s invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has pressured India to curb purchases of Russian oil -- arguing it is fuelling Moscow&rsquo;s war -- and has imposed steep 50% tariffs on New Delhi. The relationship comes under further scrutiny as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/putin-to-visit-india-december-45-kremlin" style="color:#0073e6;">Russian President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi</a>on Thursday, his first trip to India since December 2021.&nbsp; He last met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September in China. Here are five key areas of cooperation and tension: <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Oil and energy&nbsp;</h2>India emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil after the start of the Ukraine war, providing Moscow with a crucial export market as Europe sharply reduced purchases. In 2024, Russia supplied nearly 36% of India&rsquo;s total crude imports, around 1.8 million barrels of discounted oil per day. That saved India billions of dollars while also bolstering Moscow&rsquo;s war coffers, straining New Delhi&rsquo;s ties with Western partners, and prompting Trump to hike tariffs. Trump has claimed that Modi has agreed to cut its Russian oil imports as part of a prospective US trade deal, something New Delhi has not confirmed. But trade data suggests purchases have started to decline. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Defense&nbsp;</h2>Russia remains one of India&rsquo;s largest arms suppliers, though New Delhi has moved to reduce its dependence by increasing purchases from the United States, France and Israel. At the same time, India has boosted domestic production. As a result, Russia&rsquo;s share of India&rsquo;s arms imports fell from 76% in 2009&ndash;13 to 36% in 2019&ndash;23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). A possible deal for Russia&#39;s advanced S-400 air defense systems is expected to be discussed, as well as proposals for co-production with India of Russia&rsquo;s Su-57 fighter jets. India currently has three S-400 units, with delivery of two more stalled by Western sanctions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Trade&nbsp;</h2>Russia is India&rsquo;s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting a record $68.7 billion in 2024&ndash;25, according to official data. But it is far from an equal relationship: over 90% of that came from Indian imports from Russia, amounting to $63.8 billion, mainly fuels and oil.India mainly exports nuclear reactors and machinery and some pharmaceuticals. Analysts suggest a substantial volume of unofficial trade -- possibly 15&ndash;25% above reported figures -- &nbsp;moves through shadow shipping networks.Some allege that involves strategic electronics and dual-use items to circumvent Western sanctions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Ukraine war&nbsp;</h2>India has walked a tightrope to avoid condemning Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine, while maintaining ties with Western nations. When Modi and Putin met in 2022 in Uzbekistan, Modi said he wanted the war to end &ldquo;as soon as possible&rdquo;. Allegations that Indian citizens were duped into fighting for Russia have added to frictions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Non-alignment&rsquo;</h2>India&rsquo;s long-standing policy of &ldquo;non-alignment&rdquo; continues to guide its approach, preserving a historical partnership with Russia while expanding ties with the United States and Europe. Washington has regarded India as a critical partner, especially in balancing China&rsquo;s power. But Modi has repeatedly emphasized a &ldquo;multipolar&rdquo; world order and resisted calls to distance India from Moscow. &ldquo;India seeks to maintain its longstanding relationship with Russia, which is vital not only for managing its challenging relations with China but also for its strategic autonomy -- the core principle of its foreign policy,&rdquo; said Praveen Donthi from the International Crisis Group.

US President Donald Trump has pressured India to curb purchases of Russian oil -- arguing it is fuelling Moscow’s war -- and has imposed steep 50% tariffs on New Delhi.

Articles tagged with "India"

‘Closely following developments’: India on US bill seeking to impose 500% tariff

US commerce secretary blames Modi call for India trade deal stalemate

Deletions in draft electoral rolls trigger fears of disenfranchisement in India

India reached out to US on day of ceasefire with Pakistan: Indian media

Jay Shah-led ICC refuses to shift Bangladesh matches out of India: Report

India probes Kashmiri cricketer over Palestinian flag, raising free speech concerns

Pakistan rejects Jaishankar’s ‘irresponsible assertions’, warns against Indus treaty violations

‘Are you Bangladeshi?’: Indian cop faces backlash over phone ‘citizenship scan’

Pakistan, India share lists of nuclear installations, prisoners: Foreign Office

Pakistan warns of growing violence against minorities in India

‘Closely following developments’: India on US bill seeking to impose 500% tariff