DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:36:52 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/strategic-deals-brutal-consequences-pakistans-genocide-under-the-garb-of-counterterrorism-640012.html New Delhi Sep 22 The Indian agencies are reporting that Pakistans aggression under pressure from both the US and China is only going to increase in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP Pakistan may have tomtommed to all that it has made some strategic moves where the US and China are concerned However in reality it is set to indulge in genocide in Balochistan Intelligence Bureau officials say that under the garb of fighting the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP the real intention is to target the people of the region and indulge in genocide The Pakistan Army is facing stiff resistance in these regions and hence wants to target even the innocents under the garb of fighting terror outfitsTodays incident during which thirty people were killed in air strikes in KP is an example of this Pakistan used China made J17 fighter jets to drop eight Chinese L6 bombs laserguided precision munitions on a village in the Tirah Valley The local community is already on the edge owing to the aggression by the Pakistan Army Whether it is in Balochistan or KP the people have complained that under the garb of fighting terror the Pakistan Army is trying to wipe out the local populationIntelligence reports say while Pakistan has always been an aggressor in these regions against the local people such action is likely to get worse in the days to comeThe deals that Pakistan signed with the US and China may look good on paper But both countries have shifted the onus largely on Pakistan to deliver and ensure security of their projects While China has said that it wants the TTP out of the picture as the terror group is hitting their projects the US has made it clear that it wants terror groups in Balochistan out of the way so that the minerals deal can be executed peacefullyPakistan is currently in a dilemma due to these demands First and foremost it is not able to fight terror groups in both regions The Pakistan Army has faced embarrassing losses in recent times Further Pakistan has no support of Afghanistan on these issues However the thing that is hurting Pakistan the most is that it does not have the support of the localsThe locals have for decades complained that the resources available in their regions are being looted by the Pakistan Army None of the benefits get passed on to them The locals have accrued the Pakistan government of robbing their resources and investing them in mainland Pakistan while they continue to face hardshipsIn such a situation the Pakistan Army has decided to go on the offensive and is targeting the innocent localsPakistans actions have been called by the international community in the past as well Amnesty Internationals South Asia office had slammed the utter disregard that the army has shown for civilian life This statement had come in the aftermath of a drone strike in which a child had been killedThere was a huge criticism following a March 10 strike in which 10 civilians were killed in the Katlang area of the KP province However after every such hit Pakistan has said that the intention was to flush out terrorists but in reality the intention was of killing the localsFollowing Mondays military strike even the opposition in Pakistan criticised the action Pakistan TehreekeInsaf said that no words can encompass this sorrow and grief Drone attacks and bombings have sown so may seeds of hatred Nothing will be left the party said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/strategic-deals-brutal-consequences-pakistans-genocide-under-the-garb-of-counterterrorism-640012.html Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Kabul Sep 21 Several people in Kabul have complained about reduced internet speed and the challenges caused by this after fibre optic services stopped working in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Kabul residents said that the reduction in internet speed affected their work Wajid an employee at a pharmaceutical company in the capital city said 90 per cent of his work relies on the internet However the drop in internet service speed has caused difficulties for him Afghanistanbased Tolo News reportedWe need fast internet because sometimes when we send a location it doesnt go through or get delivered This creates a lot of problems for us in the office he saidSeveral other residents in Kabul said that disruptions in internet service have negatively affected their online education program personal and worklinked communicationShams questioned how they can progress in marketing if internet access is better He said If we have highspeed internet we can progress in marketing and in areas where internet access is better and we can help our country move forwardAnother resident Saleem Rahini said Since our lessons were progressing through the internet slides WhatsApp and YouTube now with the internet weakening our access to these resources has decreased significantlyResidents of Kabul raised complaints after fibre optic services were suspended in 10 provinces of Afghanistan Balkh Kandahar Herat Helmand Nangarhar Laghman Badakhshan Takhar Kunduz and Baghlan over the past week Tolo News reportedFibre optic internet was suspended in over 10 provinces of Afghanistan after the Talibans order Abdul Hadi Qane a social activist in Herat stated We expect that no restrictions will be imposed on internet access If any programs are to be implemented in this regard they should be designed in a way that minimises harm to the publicResidents of Balkh province said that internet disruption has negatively affected their business educational and social activities One resident of Balkh said Cutting off home internet can have serious negative impacts on all aspects of life A major portion of public services such as the issuance of ID cards passports and the banking system depends on the internet IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/kabul-residents-complain-of-challenges-faced-due-to-reduced-internet-speed-639773.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-12-people-die-of-dengue-raises-death-toll-in-2025-to-179-639818.html Dhaka Sep 21 As many as 12 people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh on Sunday taking the total number of fatalities in the country since January 2025 to 179 media reported citing Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Health officials said that 740 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the same period raising the number of confirmed cases in 2025 to 48831 As many as 2021 patients are being treated in hospitals across Bangladesh United News of Bangladesh reportedThe fatalities due to dengue were reported in various regions of Bangladesh five in Barishal division three in Dhaka North City two in Dhaka South City Corporation and one each in Chattogram and Mymensingh divisionsFresh cases of dengue were reported in Barishal 165 Dhaka outside city 147 Dhaka North 122 Dhaka South 115 Chattogram 77 Khulna 52 Rajshahi 28 Mymensingh 22 Sylhet 9 and Rangpur 3Public health experts warned that crisis is deteriorating faster than 2024 As many as 575 people were killed in Bangladesh in 2024 They demanded quick action on mosquito control and better preparedness in hospitals as cases continue to increaseEarlier on September 16 the DGHS announced new instructions for public hospitals to ensure treatment of dengue patients According to the guidelines all hospitals in Bangladesh must establish dedicated wards for dengue treatment and set up a specialised medical team The DGHS believes that this decision will help improve patient care lower risks and better the quality of hospital services local media reportedDGHS Director Hospitals and Clinics Abu Hossain Md Mainul Ahsan issued the directive on Tuesday The DGHS said hospitals must ensure special arrangements for dengue patients undergoing treatmentThe hospitals have been asked to ensure facilities for NS1 tests emergency care and sufficient medicines for patients the Dhaka Tribune reportedPatients undergoing treatment for dengue in hospitals should be kept in a designated ward or room and ICU support must be prioritised when required Furthermore doctors and nurses have been given special responsibilitiesThe directive called for a creation of a board comprising medicine pediatrics and other specialist physicians for the treatment of dengue and chikungunya patients Under the supervision of this board trained doctors medical officers and residents will provide care to dengue and chikungunya patientsAccording to the directive the same board and doctors must provide treatment to suspected patients who come to outpatient departments in hospitals It also ordered hospital directors to send letters to city corporations or municipalities to conduct mosquito eradication and cleanliness drives around hospital premises In addition a dengue coordination meeting must be held at hospitals chaired by the director superintendent and civil surgeon on every Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-12-people-die-of-dengue-raises-death-toll-in-2025-to-179-639818.html Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepals-gen-z-has-paved-the-way-but-will-elections-bring-the-new-leaders-they-seek-639495.html New Delhi Sep 19 The Gen Z protests in Nepal led to the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government following which an interim government took over Gen Z may have achieved its objecting of toppling a corrupt regime but for the interim government under Sushila Karki the task ahead is uphill and extremely challenging The citizens now want corruption eradicated and the interim government has a lot of work on that front However the most daunting task for the interim government is to ensure that elections are conducted at the earliest In case of the citizens they would hope that new faces and clean politicians are in fray so that they could get a good government which delivers clean and effective governanceIf one looks at the choice of members who are part of the interim cabinet then it is clear that these people will first focus on taking on corruption head on Some of the members who are part of the cabinet are reformers and hence there is a lot of pressure on them to deliverRameshwor Khanal is a respected economist and former bureaucrat and was sworn in a finance minister Kulman Ghising is a big name in Nepal as he reformed the countrys power sector He holds the rank of energy minister The minister for home affairs is Om Prakash Aryal a human rights lawyerWith such big names the expectations too are high They have not only been tasked with cleaning up the rot and conducting elections but the people want their trust in the system restoredWhile the interim government recognised those protestors who lost their lives as martyrs it has also ensured that there would be an inquiry commission to probe the violence and arson during the protests This is tricky for the interim government since there is a chance that the blame for the violence would be entirely put on the protestors Not only will this cause unhappiness among the Gen Z but there is also a chance that the former government officials who took decisions that triggered the protests may get awayFurther the interim government also has the daunting task of rebuilding judicial institutions and police stations which lie in ruins due to the protests During the protests Singha Durbar the historic palace which served as the administrative centre since 1908 was also destroyed This would too need rebuildingThe toughest jobs in Nepal today are that of the Home and Finance Minister Security has become a major concern and this has led to a major fall in tourism This sector is one of the biggest money generators for Nepal and that has been severely affected During the protests one got to see hotels that housed tourists being attacked Some Indians too had complained that they were not allowed to return in peace due to the protests All this has put a lot of stress on the tourism industry and restoring this would be a tough taskAs a result of the uprising investor confidence in Nepal has plummeted He would have to address this issue on a war footing while also planning a budget to reconstruct and restore all that was damage during the protestsSushila Karki as interim prime minister is being watched both internally and internationally She is a high reputed person and has served as the chief justice of Nepal As she was the choice made by GenZ the citizens of Nepal have pinned all their hopes on herWhile all these issues would gradually be worked upon the big challenge is the election itself It would not just be a run of the mill process where elections are conducted in a free and fair manner The results are the real test and it is to be seen if fresh leaders who are not tainted by privilege and corruption can make the cutAfter the fall of the monarchy in 2008 Nepal has faced upheavals on many occasions The nation has managed to get through all of that However this time it is different There is plenty of rebuilding to do a lot of reconstruction and more importantly the people do not want to see the usual faces as parties during the elections whenever they are conducted IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepals-gen-z-has-paved-the-way-but-will-elections-bring-the-new-leaders-they-seek-639495.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/after-operation-sindoor-jem-and-hizbul-begins-relocation-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-jem-to-hold-a-big-event-on-sep-25-in-peshawar-639503.html New Delhi Sep 19 Four months after the Operation Sindoor which brought down Pakistans terror infrastructure to its knees sources and visuals confirm that Pakistansponsored terrorist groups particularly JaisheMohammed JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen HM have begun a deliberate strategic relocation into Pakistans restive region Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPK province The decision reflects a significant tactical adaptation by these groups which now view Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoK as vulnerable to Indian precision strikes while KPK offers greater depth due to its geography proximity to the Afghan frontier and existing terror safe havens dating back to the Afghan warTop sources told IANS that this movement is being conducted with full awareness and direct facilitation of Pakistans state structures as evidenced by overt JeM gatherings held under police protection and the tacit involvement of political religious outfits like Jamiat UlemaeIslam JUIThe most significant development uncovered occurred in Garhi Habibullah town of Mansehra district KPK where JeM staged a public recruitment driveVisuals and graphics shared on social media and a few other footage accessed by IANS confirm that the event ostensibly organised as part of a Deobandi religious gathering was in fact a coordinated mobilisation effort led jointly by JeM and JUI in the presence of Mulana Mufti Masood Ilyas Kashmiri alias Abu Mohammad JeMs Amir for KPK and Kashmir who personally addressed the gatheringIlyas Kashmiri is a highvalue target wanted in India closely connected to JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar and one of the principal figures in JeMs operational restructuring after Operation SindoorHis presence at a public rally guarded by both JeM cadres armed with M4 rifles and local police officers including Inspector Liaqat Shah of Garhi Habibullah Police Station reflects both state complicity and the boldness of JeMs revivalist strategy a source saidIn his speech which lasted for over 30 minutes he glorified Osama bin Laden calling him the ShohadaeIslam and Prince of Arab directly linking JeMs ideological line with AlQaedas legacyHe reminded the audience that following the Kandahar hijack of IC814 in 1999 when Masood Azhar was freed from Indias Tihar Jail and returned to Pakistan it was Balakot in KPK that became his headquarters portraying KPK as an eternal sanctuary for the mujahideenHe then recounted in detail the events following the 7 May Indian strike on JeMs Marakaz Subhanallah which killed members of Masood Azhars familyIlyas Kashmiri claimed that the bodies were turned to mince by Indian bombs and that this incident provoked the Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir to personally order GHQ to direct military commanders to attend the funerals of JeM terrorists the Pakistan Air Force to provide overhead security and soldiers to salute dead JeM operativesHe narrated these details to frame the Pakistan Army and government as not only protectors but also participants in jihad which accesses the dangerous narrative with strong resonance among Deobandi radical youthAssessment indicates that the rallys true purpose was recruitment for JeMs training facility at Mansehra known as Marakaz ShohadaeIslam which has been undergoing expansion since Operation Sindoor sources saidSources inside Mansehra confirm construction activity and an increase in logistical inflows at the site They link this facility directly to Kashmiris speech and recruitment appeals as attendees were urged to join JeM and physically enrol in jihad The timing and location of the rally coupled with JUIs cover role reveal a calculated attempt to normalise recruitment under the guise of religiouspolitical gatheringsImportantly sources also confirm JeMs plans to hold another major event on September 25 in Peshawars Marakaz Shaheed Maksudabad to commemorate Yusuf Azhar Masood Azhars brother killed in Operation SindoorPamphlets distributed in KPK confirm that the event will be staged under JeMs alias AlMurabitun Senior JeM leaders are expected to attend and sources expect this gathering to double as both a memorial rally and a mass recruitment campaignSimilarly Hizbul Mujahideen HM under exPakistani commando Khalid Khan is constructing a new training facility named HM 313 in the Bandaai area of Lower Dir KPK Notably this land was discreetly purchased in August 2024 and construction resumed Post Operation SindoorThis facility is intended as a replacement for destroyed PoK camps and a platform for indoctrination and crossborder planning into KashmirThe strategic implication as per analysis is that JeM and HM are deliberately moving their infrastructure to KPK because the Indian military struck targets inside PoK and Punjab during Operation Sindoor leaving JeMs Mansehra and LeTs Ghari Habibullah camp untouchedTerror groups calculate that positioning themselves deeper inside KPK reduces their exposure to future Indian strikes while simultaneously bringing them closer to Afghan networksSources indicate that KPK is now being repositioned as a rear command zone for JeM while PoK continues to serve as a forward operating platform for infiltrationHowever such a shifting might be to deceive intelligence agencies as wellThe fact that Pakistan currently chairs the UN Security Council as well as at SCO while JeM rallies occur under official protection exposes a glaring contradiction in its international posture IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/after-operation-sindoor-jem-and-hizbul-begins-relocation-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-jem-to-hold-a-big-event-on-sep-25-in-peshawar-639503.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-pact-with-iskp-will-come-at-a-cost-expansion-into-india-639505.html New Delhi Sep 19 The recent strikes in Balochistan have raised questions about the ISIs support to the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP The Afghan Taliban has been accusing Pakistan of supporting the ISKP for some years now a charge that Islamabad strongly denies However the role of the ISKP in the recent strikes in Balochistan make amply clear that it had the complete backing of the Pakistan Army and ISI Indian agencies have stated for long that there is a nexus between the two However recent Intelligence inputs suggest that the ISI will use the ISKP more in BalochistanInitially the ISKP was used to fight against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP which Islamabad claims is backed by the Afghan Taliban Now there is a change in strategy and the ISI has asked the ISKP to go all out against the Baloch peopleProof of this development came in the form of a video released by ISKPs AlAzaim Media In this a man speaking in Pashto language says that the ISKP has declared a war on the armed Balochistan nationalist groups as well as political organisations and rights groupsWhile the ISKP claims that this war is declared because the Balochistan insurgents attacked its training camps killing 30 people in reality it is Pakistan which is pushing this terror groupIn the last couple of months Pakistan has signed mineral deals with the United States It has also inked an agreement with Afghanistan and China relating to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project 20 CPEC During the meeting in China Pakistan was told clearly that it would have to raise funds for the project It once again reminded Pakistan about the pathetic security situation in Balochistan and Islamabad must urgently fix itFurther the US is also pressuring Pakistan to restore order in Balochistan as it would be essential for the minerals deal to go through The US even did the Pakistanis a favour by declaring the Balochistan Nationalist Army BLA a terror organisation While this would give the Pakistan Army more power and accountability to fight against the BLA in reality it is having a hard timeThe Pakistan Army is facing intense heat from both the TTP and BLA and hence needs the support of the ISKP to battle these groups While the ISKPISI partnership has been in the works for sometime now this renewed push to go all out in Balochistan is a worrying development for the regionThis renewed push gives the ISKP a free hand to go about its business While this would create chaos in Balochistan one must be mindful that the biggest target for the ISKP is IndiaWhen the ISKP was first formed it made Afghanistan its base Gradually it expanded deeper into Pakistan and over a period of time won over the establishment However one must bear in mind the primary target for the ISKP is IndiaThis was the same outfit which was recruiting Indians and training them in Pakistan The ISKPs plans was to train Indians and send them back to India It had managed to recruit 21 persons from Kerala and was planning on moreThis bonhomie is worrying from another stand point also Now the ISI would give the ISKP a free hand to undertake attacks anywhere in IndiaEarlier it had ensured that the ISKP would not meddle in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab since this is the turf of the JaisheMohammad LashkareTaiba and Khalistani terrorist groupsSecurity officials say that now that the ISI is seeking so many favours from the ISKP in return the terror outfit would seek more turf in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-pact-with-iskp-will-come-at-a-cost-expansion-into-india-639505.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/we-are-not-vishwaguru-its-a-myth-that-india-is-on-everybodys-mind-sam-pitroda--639461.html New Delhi Sep 19 Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda has voiced strong concerns about Indias electoral process foreign policy and global perception Backing Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhis recent remarks on vote theft and the role of youth in safeguarding democracy Pitroda in an exclusive interview with IANS urged civil society political parties and the younger generation to unite in protecting Indias democratic valuesHe also dismissed the ruling BJPs narrative of India as Vishwaguru calling it mere propaganda and warned about rising global challenges to democracyThe following are excerpts from the interviewIANS Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the Election Commission for vote theft How do you view his statementsSam Pitroda You must have seen Rahul Gandhis press conference on Thursday People like us have been saying for years that something is wrong Who is doing it we dont know but many people have stopped trusting the election process I raised the issue 34 years back saying something was wrong with EVMs but no one paid attention Now Rahul Gandhi is raising the right issues we must back him and amplify his voiceIANS Rahul Gandhi has appealed to Gen Z to save democracy Do you think he is inspired by youth protests in Nepal and BangladeshSam Pitroda No its not about copying protests Elections affect future generations more than people like us who have little time left The youths future is at stake Democracy is designed to empower all and Rahul Gandhi is right he cannot do it alone Political parties civil society youth leaders lawyers and others must lend their voicesIANS Why are the INDIA bloc leaders hesitant to rally behind Rahul GandhiSam Pitroda I would urge all INDIA bloc leaders to walk shouldertoshoulder with him The people of India deserve free and fair electionsIANS How do you see tariffs imposed on India by US President TrumpSam Pitroda The US has imposed 50 per cent tariffs and this is a matter of huge concern This will lead to a lot of problems from effects on the Indian business jobs export and it will take time to find new customers This is not a good thing for IndiaIANS How do you see the vote chori issueSam Pitroda The key question is whether we can ensure free and fair elections The way things are happening it is clear that vote theft exists This should not be seen through a HinduMuslim or partisan lensit is about fundamental rights The Election Commission must be held accountable and the Supreme Court must intervene if necessaryIANS We have seen that whenever Congress has announced its CM candidate it has benefited them We have seen it in Karnataka or in Himachal Pradesh Why is it taking so long to announce a CM face in Bihar Or do you think that in a state election Congress remains at the backend of the state party Do you think Congress needs to come to the frontSam Pitroda Look this is their internal matter Congress selects leaders based on who brings more to the table Congresss tradition is that they dont declare the candidates Because that is what true democracy and a parliamentary system are all about We dont have a Presidential system We have now distorted the system with the control of media a huge amount of spending on PR lies misinformation and we have changed the public opinionWe have created a public opinion that unless or until a strong leader is projected then you will not win This is not good for democracyIt doesnt matter who wins or who loses What matters is that our election system should be properly guardedIANS BJP projects PM Modi as the face of every election Has it become difficult to challenge himSam Pitroda Individuals come and go but India must continue Thats why Rahul Gandhi talks about the youth who have the next 7075 years ahead of them The real issue is not personalities but protecting the future of the next generationIANS BJP often invokes George Soros to attack Congress Your responseSam Pitroda This is a lie Congress has nothing to do with George Soros I have never met him never spoken to him These are baseless allegationsIANS Do you think Rahul Gandhi can lead Gen Z in IndiaSam Pitroda Theres no need for systematic planning Rahul has rightly identified vote chori as a key issue but there are otherseconomy unemployment poverty minorities Dalits OBCs and violence Youth must understand these Their energy can change governments and systems but protests must remain constructive not destructiveIANS Critics say the BJP is polarising Hindu votes by targeting minorities Do you agreeSam Pitroda There are 200 million Muslims in Indiathey are Indians and we must live together Look at our neighbourhoodNepal Bangladesh Pakistan Sri Lankaall are in turmoil India must take leadership for peace and prosperity in South AsiaIANS You talked about saving the minorities CM Mamta Banerjee has been saying that in the name of targeting illegal Bangladeshis Muslims are being targeted The same thing is happening in Assam where Himanta Sarma is the CM Do you think that the BJP wants to target minorities and polarise Hindu votesSam Pitroda Thats what the BJP has to decide That is their issue I am not interested in dividing people There are 200 million Muslims in the country They are Indians and we must learn to live together Look at what is going on in our neighbourhood Nepal Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Pakistan are burning and we are a country of 15 billion How could we have a foreign policy when all our neighbours are in turmoil What kind of vision do we have We must be responsible for peace and prosperity in South Asia We must take leadership We must really sacrifice to some extent because it is good for all of usIANS How do you view Indias foreign policy under PM ModiSam Pitroda Our foreign policy should first focus on our neighbourhood We cannot prosper if our region is unstable We must sacrifice and work for peace rather than chase global opticsIANS Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has praised Rahul Gandhi How do you see Rahuls global imageSam Pitroda Rahul Gandhi is bright energetic wellread and speaks from a moral high ground Propaganda against him is fading and people worldwide are beginning to recognise him Today the world lacks a young leader who stands for democracy human rights and equality Rahul fills that vacuumIANS How do you view the recent deal with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Under the deal if Pakistan is attacked it would consider an attack on both In our neighbourhood we have seen the situation in Nepal or in Sri Lanka Is PM Modis foreign diplomacy unable to coordinate with friendly countriesSam Pitroda We need to have a foreign policy that really gives comfort to our neighbours Because we are the largest country in the region We have a moral responsibility to bring peace and prosperity to the region We cant be fighting with our neighboursIt does not make sense for India not to have a peaceful stable South Asia You can always blame somebody but lets fix it togetherIANS What about the abrogation of Jammu amp Kashmirs special status and ties with PakistanSam Pitroda Our foreign policy must improve relations with neighbours Violence and terrorism exist but culturally and socially we share the same roots Ive visited Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal I always felt at home We must learn to live in peaceIANS Do you believe that Gen Z in India can topple the government as happened in NepalSam Pitroda The power of the young has been tested everywhere in the world I was here during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and I know the kind of demonstrations we all had I was also party to that I know that youth energy can do anything They can change the system change the government bring about a generational change but it cant be destructive it should be constructiveWhen I see young people throwing things and burning things thats not the way to show your solidarity It must be constructive meaningful Young people can bring about generational changeI would request the youth of India to add their voice to the line voice of Rahul GandhiIANS Global leaders wished PM Modi on his birthday Has Indias global image changedSam Pitroda This is propaganda We are not Vishwaguru If I ask my neighbours here they dont know about Modi or India It is a myth that India is on everyones mind International coverage of India is limited to the economy population and opportunities This Vishwaguru narrative is overblown IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/we-are-not-vishwaguru-its-a-myth-that-india-is-on-everybodys-mind-sam-pitroda--639461.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-desperation-for-chinese-funds-risks-clash-with-afghan-taliban-638875.html New Delhi Sep 16 Pakistan may have gloated about the fact that China insisted on Afghanistan being part of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project CPEC 20 but during his recent visit to China Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was left emptyhanded after Beijing said that investments would be subject to the security of the project The Chinese have had a hard time dealing with the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and the TehreekTaliban Pakistan TTP while executing the CPEC project that passes through Balochistan They have repeatedly complained that Pakistan has failed to provide security to its people working on the project Further the two groups have caused substantial damage to the project during its executionChina is no doubt interested in the CPEC 20 involving Afghanistan However it has decided that it would tread cautiously this time around and would not put in its money unless Pakistan can guarantee the projects securityFor Pakistan taming the TTP is extremely crucial as it enjoys the support of the Afghan Taliban Pakistan had repeatedly blamed the Taliban of backing the TTP and allowing the outfit to use its soil to strike at PakistanNow Intelligence assessments say that Pakistan is getting desperate and has decided to take matters into its own hands while also conveying a message to the TalibanPakistan has now decided to carry out strikes on TTP bases within Afghanistan This risks a fullblown confrontation with the Taliban as well Pakistan has mapped TTP infrastructure across the Durand Line following a highlevel security meeting The meeting was chaired by Pakistans army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and other officials It was decided that Pakistan would carry out strikes thus indicating that there would be a major escalationAn official from Pakistan is likely to travel to Afghanistan and convey to the Taliban about their plans on dealing with the TTPRecently the Foreign Ministers of China Pakistan and Afghanistan held a meeting to discuss the CPEC 20 project China made it clear that it wanted Afghanistan to be part of the project While the meeting decided on a variety of factors the point on which there was no agreement was about the Talibans support for the TTP While Afghanistan assured China that it would not allow the BLA to use its soil to stage attacks it failed to give any such assurance about the TTPA lot would depend on the Pakistan officials visit to Afghanistan If the Taliban do not agree to what Pakistan is saying then one could expect chaos in the region Pakistan needs the investment from China desperately as its economy continues to fall each day However for that to take place it needs to convince Beijing that it is capable of securing the projectDespite making all efforts the Pakistan Army has failed to rein in the TTP Following the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries the TTP has only scaled up attacks against the Pakistan Army The army has in the last week lost 50 personnel in attacks that were carried out by the TTP in areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lower Dir Unable to fight the outfit the Pakistan Army has even reached out to the US seeking support in terms of Intelligence and other logisticsSharif recently blamed terrorists based in Afghanistan for striking in Pakistan He had also warned that they would no longer keep quiet The Pakistan Army may go on the offensive but the battle would not be an easy one especially against the TTPIndian officials feel that Pakistan without the support of the US or China is not likely to have any major success against the TTP or BLA However it is desperate for money and hence is ready to take the risk of going into an allout war against the TTP This however risks regional stability and the possibility of a massive escalation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-desperation-for-chinese-funds-risks-clash-with-afghan-taliban-638875.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/us-shadow-looms-over-pakistans-ties-with-china-638471.html New Delhi Sept 14 Pakistan a country which once dreamed of leading the Muslim world and linking South and Central Asia has been reduced to becoming excessively dependent on China Even this relationship could turn precarious as Islamabad tries to maintain a fine balance between cosying up to the US and keeping up its ties with Beijing Even the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC is not Islamabads brainchild but a spoke in Beijings Belt and Road Initiative which is aimed more at serving Chinas own ambitions according to an article in Pakistan TodayIn the Middle East the regional diplomatic order is shifting Arab states are moving towards normalisation with Israel under the Abraham Accords reshaping traditional alliances and potentially altering the balance of influence in the Muslim world the article said Even historically close partners such as Kazakhstan which imports their locally assembled JF17 fighter jets and Turkey are gradually adopting more flexible positions towards Tel Aviv Afghanistan remains unstable and unreliable as a trade and security partner Iran meanwhile faces deepening international isolation and has had occasional military tensions with Pakistan such as last years crossborder skirmishes the article further statesThe article also highlights that Islamabad has not succeeded in implementing any economic project planned with Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and UzbekistanAll of this leaves Pakistan with one major and consistent ally China While the partnership with Beijing remains central to our economic and security strategies it is not immune to the turbulence of global politics The delicate balancing act Islamabad must perform between deepening US engagement and maintaining Chinese trust is becoming increasingly precarious Even the muchcelebrated CPEC now entering its second phase is exposed to vulnerabilities from regional instability shifting geopolitical alignments and global power competition the article lamentsIt also highlights that Islamabads recent flirtation with the idea of cryptomining partnerships with the USA seems less like a serious economic pivot and more like a political talking point Our history of announcing ambitious projects without the institutional capacity or longterm followthrough suggests that such ventures are far more likely to evaporate than materialiseThe article also underlines that on the strategic front Pakistans room to manoeuvre is narrowing at an alarming rate The country is not part of BRICS the rapidly expanding economic bloc that now accounts for a significant share of global GDP and is increasingly shaping the future of trade and development financing outside Western frameworks Indias Act East Policy initiated in 2012 has deepened its integration with ASEAN economies and strengthened security partnerships across East Asia while leaving Pakistan excluded from emerging regional supply chainsIf New Delhi were to further revise its policy towards the Indian Ocean Rim Association Pakistans maritime trade routes could face additional strategic restrictions effectively tightening a noose around our seabased economic lifelines the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/us-shadow-looms-over-pakistans-ties-with-china-638471.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-interim-govt-struggles-as-mob-violence-minority-attacks-undermine-credible-elections-638541.html New Delhi Sep 14 The promise of restoring democracy in Bangladesh after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 has given way to rising lawlessness mob justice and emboldened radical groups raising doubts about the credibility of elections under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunuss interim administration Hasinas dramatic downfall was hailed as an opportunity to reset Bangladeshs politics but the absence of strong institutions and factional divides quickly created a power vacuumYunuss caretaker government envisioned as a technocratic bridge has instead presided over cascading disorderIn the year following Hasinas exit rights groups documented 637 lynchings nationwide with mob justice replacing formal dispute resolution according to a report by European TimesIn January 2025 the police themselves acknowledged the scale of violence releasing a controversial report that sought to downplay the communal dimension Out of 1769 attacks against minorities authorities claimed that more than 1200 were politically motivated rather than religiously inspired with only 20 classified as purely communal the report saidPolice often accused of complicity or paralysis have failed to restore public trust Minority communities remain the most vulnerableBetween August 2024 and mid2025 watchdogs recorded 2442 incidents of communal violence targeting Hindus Buddhists Christians and Ahmadis including arson killings and sexual assaultsA February 2025 UN report warned of deliberate attacks on minorities and indigenous groups accusing the interim government of failing to act Local leaders say only token investigations have been opened with just 62 cases registered and 35 arrests madeNotably radical voices have also gained ground In March thousands of HizbutTahrir supporters marched openly in Dhaka demanding an Islamic CaliphateUniversities and media outlets now face intimidation while women report escalating harassment in public spacesThe deteriorating security environment has raised alarms over the feasibility of upcoming elections in the South Asian countryAnalysts argue that without law and order minority candidates and secular voices cannot campaign freely polling officials cannot operate safely and voters cannot participate without fear IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-interim-govt-struggles-as-mob-violence-minority-attacks-undermine-credible-elections-638541.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 21:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/democratic-crisis-deepens-in-bangaldesh-as-arrests-fear-silencing-of-dissent-frequent-638545.html Dhaka Sep 14 Since the fall of Sheikh Hasinas government in August Bangladesh has entered a period of escalating political unrest The interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus initially pledged a swift return to democratic governance However as Eurasia Review notes in its September 11 oped titled A Nation On Trial Bangladesh Arrest Surge Threatens Democracy the promise of democratic restoration has been replaced by a campaign of surveillance suppression and silenceMonths have passed without any roadmap for elections Instead the country is witnessing a surge in arbitrary arrests and the criminalisation of peaceful civic actionsIn Tejgaon nine individuals were detained for chanting slogans in support of Hasina during a spontaneous processionWhat should have been protected as free speech was rebranded as sabotage giving authorities legal cover to detain participants The crackdown has extended far beyond street activismAs Eurasia Review reports even symbolic acts of dissent are now treated as threats to national securityMahila Awami League leader Nahida Noor Sweety was tracked and arrested after discreetly joining a postprayer rally Accused of financing protests her case exemplifies the regimes intent to intimidate symbolic leadership and discourage even quiet forms of mobilisationIntellectuals and former bureaucrats have also been targetedAbu Alam Shahid Khana Liberation War veteran and former press secretary to Hasinawas arrested for attending a roundtable on constitutional reformHis detention along with those of Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah law professor Hafizur Rahman Curzon and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna underscores what the article calls a deliberate effort to erase the space for civil discourseStudent leaders like Sheikh Ibne Sadiq and Amir Hamza have been jailed for their affiliations with banned political groups These arrests according to the oped are not about public safetythey are calculated moves to dismantle the organizational backbone of opposition politicsEven violent incidents are being exploited to justify sweeping crackdowns Following clashes in Chittagongs Saltgola Crossing where a police officer was injured authorities detained 19 people and charged dozens moremany unnamedRather than isolating the guilty the state used the event to indiscriminately arrest political activists turning isolated violence into a tool for repressionThe cumulative effect is a pervasive climate of fear As Eurasia Review warns Bangladesh is not just silencing dissentit is redrawing the boundaries of legitimacy itselfCitizens now hesitate to speak organise or engage in political discourseSelfcensorship has become widespread and silence is mistaken for stability The article concludes with a stark warning Only a free fair and inclusive election can begin to reverse the damage Without it the nation risks sliding further into authoritarianism leaving democracy as nothing more than a memory IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/democratic-crisis-deepens-in-bangaldesh-as-arrests-fear-silencing-of-dissent-frequent-638545.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sushila-karkis-appointment-as-nepals-interim-pm-shining-example-of-women-empowerment-pm-modi--638343.html Imphal Sep 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that India remains firmly committed to the peace stability progress and prosperity of the people of the neighbouring nation of Nepal Addressing a mammoth gathering at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal the Prime Minister said that Nepal is Indias one of its close friends and India always wishes Nepals peace and prosperity Referring to his wish on behalf of 140 crore Indians to former Chief Justice Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal PM Modi said that a woman becoming the firstever Prime Minister of the country is a shining example of womens empowermentComparing the Manipuri womens positive and active role in the society the Prime Minister said that his governments one of the priorities is women empowermentAfter the recent youths movement in Nepal India is hopeful of the neighbouring countrys peace stability and progress Democracy would be further strengthened in Nepal the Prime Minister saidHe said that Nepal has been a close friend of India and has shared history faith and cultural ties and India always stood firmly with the people of the neighbouring country during its transitional phase The Prime Minister also lauded the resilience of the Nepali people and highly appreciated young men and women for their generous work in cleaning and painting buildings in the past few days amid political turbulenceI also want to thank the people of Nepal who despite such turbulent days have kept their democratic values as the ultimate goal PM Modi said drawing applause from the crowdReiterating Indias commitment to support Nepals democratic journey and its aspiration for stability the PM emphasized Indias solidarity and support as we want both nations to move forward togetherFormer Chief Justice Sushila Karki73 on Friday night became Nepals first woman Prime Minister to lead an interim government She was sworn in as Nepals interim Prime Minister by President Ramchandra PaudelHer appointment followed days of intense political turmoil and mass protests after the K P Sharma Oli government was forced to quit in the face of a nationwide agitation triggered by a social media banKarki was chosen to lead the interim government after a meeting between President Paudel Nepals top military generals and the youth protesters who spearheaded the agitation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sushila-karkis-appointment-as-nepals-interim-pm-shining-example-of-women-empowerment-pm-modi--638343.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 20:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/made-in-india-weapons-helped-protect-country-during-operation-sindoor-pm-modi-638353.html AizawlImphal Sep 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that during Operation Sindoor MadeinIndia weapons helped to protect the country During his address to the gathering in Mizoram capital Aizawl as well as Manipur capital Imphal the Prime Minister highlighted the success of the Indian armed forces commitments and skillIn Aizawl he pointed out that during Operation Sindoor Indias armed forces taught lessons to terrorists and the entire world witnessed the power of the countrys armed forces and Made in India weapons to help protect the countryIndia is the fastest growing economy in the world PM Modi reiterated We are also seeing the growth of Make In India and exports During Operation Sindoor you all saw how our soldiers taught a lesson to those who sponsor terror The whole nation was filled with a sense of pride about our armed forcesIn this operation MadeInIndia weapons played a significant role in protecting our country The growth of our economy and manufacturing sector is very important for our national security the Prime Minister saidWhile addressing a mammoth gathering at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal PM Modi acknowledged that even today many sons and daughters of Manipur are serving across different parts of the country in the defence of Mother IndiaThe Prime Minister said that during Operation Sindoor the world witnessed the strength of the Indian Armed ForcesHe stated that the Indian soldiers inflicted such decisive blows that the Pakistani army was left overwhelmedPM Modi highlighted that Manipurs brave sons and daughters played a vital role in Indias success during the operationHe paid tribute to one such valiant soldier Shaheed Deepak Chingkham and saluted his courageHe affirmed that Deepak Chingkhams sacrifice during Operation Sindoor would always be remembered by the nationA government statement earlier had said that serving with the 7th Battalion BSF Deepak Chingkham 25 made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Sindoor sustaining fatal injuries in unprovoked crossborder firing along the International Boundary in the RS Pura sector of Jammu on May 10 and on May 11 he succumbed to his injuriesDeepak Chingkham and Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik also from Manipur were awarded the Vir Chakra on the eve of the Independence Day for their significant role during Operation SindoorThe Manipur government earlier announced an award of Rs 10 lakh to both Squadron Leader Malik and martyred Deepak Chingkham both hailing from Imphal East district in Manipur IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/made-in-india-weapons-helped-protect-country-during-operation-sindoor-pm-modi-638353.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepalese-citizens-depart-from-gujarats-jamnagar-amid-growing-concerns-over-unrest-back-home-638156.html Jamnagar Sep 12 Nepali community members living in Jamnagar Gujarat have expressed growing concern over the current situation in Nepal While they welcome the corrupt leaders being exposed they are deeply worried about the ongoing violence and reports of innocent lives being lost A bus carrying Nepalese citizens on Friday departed from Jamnagar and is expected to reach the Nepal border in three days These individuals who had been living in Jamnagar for the past year and a half are returning home to reunite with their familiesDue to curfews imposed in several areas of Nepal many people are facing difficulties even leaving their homes The Nepali community in Jamnagar which numbers around 21000 is anxious about the safety and wellbeing of their loved ones still in NepalSantosh Soni a Nepalese citizen said that people in Nepal currently feel unsafe while people from Nepal living in India including Jamnagar feel secure and supported He acknowledged the Indian governments continued cooperation and protectionMeanwhile in Jharsuguda Odisha members of the Nepali diaspora have united to call for peace and national unity The local Gorkha community held a gathering where they expressed sympathy for affected families and appealed to all sides to abandon violence and pursue dialogueNeetu Thapa a member of the Nepali community in Jharsuguda told IANS Im closely associated with the Nepali society The political foundation of our country has been shaken and the growing frustration among the youth has turned the movement violent The recent protests led by GenZ in Nepal were initially sparked by restrictions on social media but the underlying cause was rampant corruptionShe added PM KP Sharma Oli has resigned GenZ has made its point through the movement However many lives have been lost and the nations assets have suffered severe damage Its time to halt the violence and seek resolutionChaman Gurung President of the Gorkha Society in Jharsuguda also expressed grief over the turmoil in NepalWe are deeply saddened Such violent protests should not have occurred If the protest was against corrupt leaders actions should have been directed at themnot at the nations property he saidGurung further stressed the need for peace and stability in NepalWhats done is done Now we want peace to be restored While we live here in India our families are still in Nepal and they are suffering due to the unrest Regardless of who becomes Prime Minister our demand is that Nepal should return to monarchy and become a Hindu nation once again he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepalese-citizens-depart-from-gujarats-jamnagar-amid-growing-concerns-over-unrest-back-home-638156.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mobocracy-in-new-bangladesh-637962.html New Delhi Sep 11 When Sheikh Hasina fled the nation on 5th August last year antiHasina forces who led the July uprising hailed that Bangladesh has regained its Independence Since a year these forces have been rolling their sleeves to establish that only in 2024 Bangladesh has seemed to gain real liberation often indulging in a narrative making of pushing 2024 uprising over 1971 Liberation War Soon after Hasinas deposition Bangladesh was faced with acute law and order crisis expected in situation of sudden political transformation Taking advantage of this political vacuum something Bangladeshis did not face earlier mob largely Islamist extremists gained prominenceInstead of real democracy Bangladesh is now plunged deep into mobocracy as law enforcement forces are on a state of perpetually struggle to maintain law and order in the country The interim government on the other hand has been paying mere lip service of promising to serve justice without any fruitionIf one has to look at the pattern of Bangladeshs rising mob culture one would notice its common targetssecularists women and minoritiesThe resurgence of Islamists is one of the many doings of the interim government and Bangladeshis on many occasions have been at the receiving end of its wrathOn one hand Bangladesh witnessed banned groups like Hizb utTahrir openly demonstrating in Dhaka demanding for establishing Caliphate system in BangladeshOn the other Towhidi Janata an informed group of radical Muslims has been disrupting public spaces to protest against what it claims to be unIslamic activities These groups have been particularly notorious for suppressing social and cultural events celebrating Bangladeshs secular ethos like Book Fair Basant Utsav Lalon Mela and Pohela BaishakhWomens public participation something frowned upon by these Islamists too came under their attack From openly preaching for bringing the purdah system back launching physical assaults on women for not observing Islamic dress code protesting for the release of a Dhaka Universitys male employee who physically harassed a woman student for her inappropriate clothing objecting womens presence in public events to threatening and vandalizing womens sports events Bangladeshs new mob culture has been predominantly antiwomen besides antisecularThe state of religious minorities however is the most deplorable in this case With law enforcement compromised Bangladeshs violent mob has been justifying its actions by labelling it as restoring justice Religious minorities have been systemically targeted since August 5 last year threatening their already vulnerable dispositionAccording to Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Councils July report there has been a staggering 2442 incidents of communal violence since last August Moreover Ahmadiyas Sufis deemed as heresy by Islamists are also targeted with more than a hundred incidents of attacks reported in the past yearHowever while the interim government has not only failed to take effective measures to curb these mob attacks but also downplayed this systemic violence as political attacks Indeed mob justice has been fairly tolerable in New Bangladesh especially if the enemy is Awami League and its alliesFrom vandalism of murals paintings of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demolition of his private residence 32 Dhanmondi to attempt of desecrating the graveyard of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Gopalganj there has rarely been a word of condemnation from the chief advisor Instead a clear narrative making has been at playblaming external forces behind these mob attacksThe latest horrifying incidents of vandalism of shrines by what believed to be members of Towhidi Janata in Rajbari and Rajshahi is an extension of new Bangladesh establishments silence and tolerance of mob culture giving way for the countrys mobocracyThe deplorable act of exhuming and burning of the body of selfproclaimed spiritual leader Nurul Haque popularly known as Nurul Pagla was so bone chilling that even the Islamic parties who usually provide silent support to this group have condemned this incident The attack and vandalism of Aziz Bhandari Khanka Sharifs shrine in Rajshahi occurred on the same day of Rajbari violence despite the presence of policeThe spiritual leader of the shrine has also alleged that the police took no action to prevent mob violence despite prior warnings from the intelligence agenciesThe home advisor in charge of restoring the countrys law and order had always denied Bangladeshs law and order situation to be worse rather claimed the situation to improve despite reports telling otherwise However recently he agreed that the situation to be somewhat worse in light of recent incidentsThe interim government established primarily to restore the countrys lawlessness has utterly failed in this Now that the country is gearing up for national election early next time whether its plausible remains to be seen it can be said with certainty that the inefficiency and deliberate nonchalance of the interim government have led new Bangladesh towards mobocracy perhaps to a point of no return IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mobocracy-in-new-bangladesh-637962.html Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-punjab-police-seize-27-pistols-close-to-india-pakistan-border-637920.html Chandigarh Sep 11 In one of the largest seizures of pistols in recent times close to the IndiaPakistan international fencing in Punjab the Border Security Force BSF in a coordinated operation with state police apprehended two arms smugglers and seized a huge cache of arms comprising 27 pistols and ammunition in the Fazilka sector Based on a meticulously developed information into a precise intelligence a joint strategic ambush of the BSF and police was laid near Mahar Khiwa Mansa village in Fazilka of district during the night time the BSF said After a patient wait of many hours the ambush team noticed suspicious movement in the wee hours and successfully apprehended one criminal and recovered 27 pistols 54 magazines and 470 rounds from a big sack in his possession It said after sustained questioning of the accused the team managed to apprehend his another associate from the same village The accused are residents of Teja Rohella and Mahar Jamsher village respectively Both are in the custody of the police for further investigation to unearth their wider nexus and crossborder linkages Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that this huge weapon consignment was sourced from Pakistan through a foreignbased entity intended for use by criminal gangs in the state The arrested accused individuals were attempting to deliver these arms to ground operatives of criminal groups on the directions of their foreign handlers The DGP said further investigations are being conducted to establish forward and backward linkages to identify other members involved in this module and track the origins of the smuggled weapons Assistant Inspector General Ferozepur Gursewak Singh Brar said the identity and role of the foreign entity along with its broader network are under investigation The BSF said the recovery marked a historic success The operation also highlighted synergy between the BSF and the police in combating crossborder arms smuggling Also the swift action by security forces has averted a major threat of arms proliferation among antinational elements attempting to destabilise peace in Punjab IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-punjab-police-seize-27-pistols-close-to-india-pakistan-border-637920.html Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepals-turmoil-rekindles-monarchy-talk-but-a-return-looks-unlikely-637712.html New Delhi Sep 10 The Prime Minister President and scores of ministers have reigned in Nepal following the massive Gen Z uprising Violence broke out leaving over 20 dead the Parliament and the Supreme Court were set on fire The question now is what is next in Nepal The fall of the KP Oli government is clearly a sign that democracy has once again failed in Nepal Since becoming a democracy in 2008 every government in power has been an unstable one The country has seen 14 unstable coalition governments in the past 17 years thus signalling that there is something wrong with the systemIn the last 48 hours questions have also been asked if the monarchy that once ruled Nepal will make its returnThe reason why this question is being asked is because just before the latest protests a few months back the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party along with proroyalists Hindu nationalists and antifederalists held a massive demonstration demanding the return of the monarchyThe protesters demanded the restoration of the monarchy They also sought that the former king be reinstated as the head of the stateThe other demands included the revival of Hinduism as Nepals state religion This was one of the major signals that the Oli government did not readHe dismissed the protests and said that there was no chance of the monarchy returning What he failed to read into was that the restoration of the monarchy was being sought because there was immense resentment with the government and people desperately wanted a changeThey felt that the country was stable and better off when the monarchy was at the helmIn 2008 the 240 year old rule of the Shah dynasty came to an end The flag was lowered from the main palace in Kathmandu and the worlds last Hindu monarchy was abolishedHowever the end too came following widespread protests King Gyanendra had ascended the throne in 2002 after his brother King Birendra and his family were tragically massacred He initially served as a Constitutional monarch but in 2005 he seized absolute powerHe went on to dissolve the government and parliament and jailed politicians and journalists while also imposing an emergency rule These moves were disliked by the people and they hit the streets which eventually led to him stepping down and this led to the downfall of the monarchy and the establishment of a republicTo question whether the latest developments in Nepal will lead to the restoration of a monarchy Nepal watchers say that this is highly unlikely The changed circumstances and a bit of prophecy is attached to this and hence the monarchy may not return The silence of Gynanedra is also a clear sign that no attempt is being made from his end to return to the helm Even during the protests seeing the restoration of the monarchy he was silent and he remains so even nowThe restoration is also an unlikely possibility because Nepal which is a republic is constitutionally enshrined A change of the same is not exactly a simple process Moreover the mainstream political parties strongly oppose the return of the monarchy and hence this too rules out the possibilityIn this context it would be interesting to look into a prophecy which is attributed to Guru GorakhnathGorakhnath blessed Prithvi Narayan Shah the unifier of Nepal in the 18th century with a monarchy that would last 11 generations The monarchy strongly embraces this view and says that the monarchys 11th generation rule ended with King Dipendra ShahHe had briefly ascended the throne while in coma following the royal massacre of 2001 This reign which was very short was seen as the fulfillment of Gorakhnaths blessings This led to the abolition of the monarchy in 2008Going by these events it is very unlikely that the monarchy would return The Gen Z protesters have two names as their leaders They have chosen Chief Justice Sushila Karki as their interim leader following a four meeting She is Nepals first woman chief justice However her stint was cut short following an impeachment after she was accused of passing biased judgmentsThe protesters said that no youth connected to politics should assume the role They selected Karki to represent them in the upcoming negotiationsEarlier there were reports that the protesters wanted Balvendra Shah popularly known as Balen as their leader He had backed the protest from the start and said that his sympathy is with the youthHe is a civil engineer by training and a rapper by profession He entered politics and in 2022 won the mayoral polls in Kathmandu He has built a reputation for zero tolerance on corruptionBalen was listed by Time Magazine as the Top 100 Emerging Leaders The New York Times praised his grassroots style of functioning and transparencyLooking at the developments the experts feel that like in the case of Bangladesh there is likely to be an interim government in place until fresh polls are held IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepals-turmoil-rekindles-monarchy-talk-but-a-return-looks-unlikely-637712.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/why-is-pakistan-army-conducting-airstrikes-in-balochistan-637757.html New Delhi Sep 10 Balochistan has been the theater of insurgency since 1948 the year after Pakistans creation when the princely state of Kalat was forcibly annexed against the wishes of its people From that moment onward the relationship between Balochistan and the Pakistani state has been defined not by partnership but by coercion Successive uprisingsin 1958 in the 1970s in the early 2000s and in the presenthave all been fueled by systemic repression plunder of natural resources and the denial of political agency to the Baloch The latest wave led by the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and other groups has proved especially enduring because it is no longer confined to tribal leaders aloneEducated Baloch youth alienated by decades of exploitation and state brutality have taken up arms transforming the resistance into a modern decentralized insurgency This has thrown the Pakistan Army into crisis despite being one of the worlds largest militaries with vast resources it cannot crush a people determined to resist occupationFighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force reportedly carried out strikes in parts of Mach located in Balochistans Bolan region last week This is not the behavior of a legitimate government but the desperate act of a regime that has failed to win the loyalty of its citizensBy unleashing airpower against its own population Islamabad exposes its moral bankruptcy and its inability to govern through consent The use of military aircraft is not a show of strengthit is an admission of weakness Pakistans rulers dominated by the Army have proven incapable of addressing grievances through dialogue inclusion or justice and instead resort to bombs and bulletsThese strikes are less about defeating insurgents than about terrorizing entire communities into submission In doing so the state abandons even the pretense of democracy and reveals itself as a predator turning against those it claims to governThe Pakistan Armys reliance on airstrikes stems from its repeated failures on the ground Despite deploying tens of thousands of troops and operating an extensive intelligence network the Army has suffered humiliating lossesAccording to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies Balochistan witnessed over 120 insurgent attacks in 2023 alone killing and wounding hundreds of security personnel The Bolan region where Mach is located has become a graveyard for convoys and patrols ambushed by the BLA Urban centers too have not been sparedhighprofile attacks in Karachi and Gwadar demonstrate that the insurgency has outgrown the Armys controlEach such incident chips away at the Armys aura of invincibility proving that its soldiers are not liberators but unwelcome occupiers in BalochistanIt is not just the Armys incompetence that is on display but its utter disregard for human life Airstrikes within populated areas are almost guaranteed to kill civilians and yet Pakistan continues to use themIndependent reporting is often suppressed through media blackouts but rights groups have consistently pointed to widespread civilian casualties in previous operationsThese deaths are dismissed by the state as collateral damage a term that reveals its dehumanizing attitude toward the Baloch people When a government bombs its own citizens it forfeits its claim to legitimacy Every strike fuels anger grief and resentment ensuring that new generations join the insurgency The Pakistan Army may kill with impunity but it cannot kill the idea of freedom that drives the resistanceThe economic exploitation of Balochistan further exposes the predatory nature of the Pakistani state The province produces a significant share of Pakistans natural gas and possesses rich deposits of copper gold and other minerals Yet the Baloch people live in povertyLiteracy rates hover around 40 per cent far below the national average while poverty levels exceed 40 per cent in many districts Basic services like healthcare clean water and electricity remain scarceThe wealth of Balochistan is siphoned off to benefit elites in Punjab and Sindh while the local population is left destituteThis economic plunder protected by the Armys guns is not developmentit is colonial extraction in all but name Airstrikes in regions like Mach should be seen for what they are acts of state terrorism designed to secure control over resources not to protect ordinary citizensThe resort to airpower also highlights the deep rot at the heart of Pakistans civilmilitary imbalance Civilian governments have no real say in Balochistan the Army calls the shots Decisions about security development and negotiations are monopolized by the generals while parliament and provincial assemblies are reduced to spectatorsAirstrikes cannot be authorized without highlevel military approval making them a stark reminder of who truly rules Pakistan Far from being a democratic state Pakistan functions as a military dictatorship in everything but name The Army presents itself as the guardian of national unity yet in Balochistan it behaves like a foreign occupier destroying villages and terrorizing people into silenceFrom the perspective of state theory Pakistan is crossing into dangerous territory A state that governs through bombs instead of ballots ceases to be a protector and becomes a predator Political scientists like Charles Tilly have long argued that legitimacy rests on the states ability to provide security and justice to its citizens Pakistan provides neither in Balochistan Instead it demands obedience through fearThe imagery of fighter jets bombing Baloch villages will not inspire loyalty to the stateit will deepen alienation and reinforce the nationalist narrative that Pakistan is an occupying powerFar from quelling rebellion such brutality guarantees its continuation Supporters of the airstrikes argue that they are necessary to protect national security and safeguard infrastructure projects particularly those linked to the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC But this claim collapses under scrutinySecurity cannot be built on repression every airstrike makes Balochistan more unstable not less Investors see not safety but volatilityEven China has repeatedly urged Pakistan to seek political solutions knowing that economic projects cannot thrive in a war zone History has shown that the Baloch insurgency cannot be crushed militarily Previous uprisings were quelled only through political compromise By refusing dialogue and doubling down on force Pakistan ensures that this insurgency will persist for decadesThe alternatives are obvious but remain deliberately ignored by Pakistans rulersDialogue resourcesharing and genuine provincial autonomy could address Baloch grievances But the military establishment equates compromise with defeat preferring to rule through intimidation This mindset condemns the people of Balochistan to endless cycles of violence while ordinary soldiers and civilians alike pay the priceThe Armys generals however remain insulated enriching themselves through land grabs business empires and control over the states resources For them Balochistan is not a home to citizens with rights but a territory to be subdued and exploited The latest airstrikes in Mach must therefore be seen not as isolated events but as part of a longstanding pattern of state violenceThey reflect the Pakistan Armys inability to defeat the Baloch resistance on the ground its contempt for civilian life and its desperation to cling to a crumbling narrative of control By turning fighter jets against its own population Pakistan reveals the truth of its governance it rules not by consent but by coercion A state that bombs its own citizens has already lost the moral right to govern themIn Balochistan the air force may control the skies but on the ground the desire for freedom runs too deep to be extinguished by bombs Every strike only strengthens the conviction that Pakistan is not a homeland but a colonizer and that liberation not submission is the only path forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/why-is-pakistan-army-conducting-airstrikes-in-balochistan-637757.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/olis-ego-has-turned-to-ashes-nepal-residents-react-after-pms-resignation-amid-protests-637390.html Kathmandu Sep 9 As Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned amid mass protests sweeping across the country the announcement on Tuesday was met with mixed emotions from anger to relief as citizens accused him of leading a corrupt and oppressive government and some declared that Olis ego has turned into ashes IANS spoke to several residents of Nepal who expressed their reactions to the resignation calling it inevitable after days of civil unrest and growing youthled demonstrationsThis was expected Prime Minister Oli had no option left but to resign His government was corrupt and completely detached from the publics needs a resident saidMore than 42 cabinet ministers have stepped down There is no law and order left I fear the military may soon take overAnother protestor said Olis resignation was bound to happen Ministers are resigning one after the other Lets see what comes nextCondemning the use of force during the protests one resident said Its unacceptable that guns were used against protestors What happened was wrong But now Oli has finally stepped downPointing to systemic issues another citizen said Under Olis government corruption thrived The people of Nepal received nothing in return The youth especially students and teenagers took actionand its commendableAnother added The situation left Oli with no other choice His ego has now turned to ashesYet another protestor said Weve burned the Parliament and homes of corrupt parliamentarians I want to burn down every house of those who betrayed the countryHighlighting the power shift another resident asserted that Gen Z is awake 247 The next government will be under the control of Gen Z This is just the beginningEarlier in the day Oli resigned from his post He submitted his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Poudel citing the abnormal situation in the country as protests intensified against his rule throughout the countryIn the resignation letter Oli said he resigned from the post as per Article 77 1 of the constitution to pave the way for a constitutional resolution of the current situationOli was elected Prime Minister on July 14 2024 as per a consensus reached with Nepali Congress the largest party in the parliamentSome reports indicated that Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah could be appointed as an interim Prime Minister of the countryAs protests intensified on the second day following the killing of 19 protesters on Monday the ruling coalition appeared to have fractured one after another with ministers particularly belonging to Nepali Congress resigning and putting further pressure on the government to quitGeneral Secretaries of the ruling Nepali Congress Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma had earlier urged Prime Minister Oli to resign and pave the way forwardThapa and Sharma said in a statement that the sevenpoint agreement reached between the Communist Party of NepalUnified MarxistLeninist and Congress during the formation of the government was no longer validIt is not immediately clear what course Nepals politics would take now as all the lawmakers from the fourth largest party Rastriya Swatantra Party also resigned en masse demanding an interim governmentEnraged by the killing of so many people during the first day of the protests organised by GenZ demanding accountability for corruption and social media ban protesters throughout the country started to attack the houses of leaders and government buildingsOn Tuesday the protesters stormed into the parliament building at Baneshwor in Kathmandu and set the building on fire The protesters had made unsuccessful attempts to damage the building even on Monday which led to a strong police response resulting in the death of several peopleThey also entered the Singh Durbar the main administrative centre of the Nepalese government and torched the main gateThe party headquarters of the ruling CPNUML and the Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley were also defaced and set on fireTorching and vandalism in the government offices in many parts of the country have also been reported by the local mediaThe authorities said that the situation in Kathmandu has remained tense as protests intensified in several parts of the valley despite the curfew imposed by the local administrationsAfter Home Minister and Agriculture Minister Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel and Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary also announced their resignation from their respective positions expressing regret over the use of force against the GenZ protestersVideos of the torching of Prime Minister Olis house at Balakot in Kathmandus Bhaktapur also went viral on social media The protesters also forcefully entered the Singh Durbar the main administrative centre of the government IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/olis-ego-has-turned-to-ashes-nepal-residents-react-after-pms-resignation-amid-protests-637390.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-arrests-smuggler-seizes-gold-valued-at-rs-5cr-along-india-bdesh-border-637192.html Kolkata Sep 8 The Border Security Force BSF has arrested a smuggler and seized gold worth Rs 5 crore from him along the IndiaBangladesh border in Nadia district of West Bengal an official said Troops of the 194 Bn BSF of the South Bengal Frontier acted on intelligence inputs and apprehended the Indian smuggler under the jurisdiction of the Sunder Border Outpost On searching him 35 gold biscuits were found strapped around his waist The value of the gold is Rs 5 crore a senior BSF official saidThe smuggler was taken to the Sunder BOP for questioning He claimed to be a resident of the Haritalapara village in the Dhantala police station area of Nadia He confessed that he has been involved in the crossborder gold smuggling racket for longThe smuggler along with the gold have been handed over to the concerned department for further legal proceedingsMeanwhile the BSF is going through information the smuggler provided during interrogation to track the movements of other gang members The intention is to get to the kingpin behind the racket the official saidSmuggled gold causes immense harm to the economy of the nation Moreover there are indications that the proceeds are used for various illegal activities such as trafficking of narcotics and even terror funding That is why it is important to get to the kingpins behind such rackets another official saidOfficials have however commended the role of the troops in thwarting such attempts Such seizures and arrests are affecting the morale of the smugglers they saidThis is the third major gold seizure in recent days underscoring BSFs effective intelligence network and vigilance along the borderReiterating the strict surveillance mounted by troops to curb illegal activities along the IndiaBangladesh border the officials appealed to local residents to share information on smuggling activities to ensure a peaceful atmospherePeople can send information through the Seema Saathi helpline 14419 or by text or voice messages to the WhatsApp number 9903472227 Those providing credible information will be adequately rewarded and their identities kept secret the officials said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-arrests-smuggler-seizes-gold-valued-at-rs-5cr-along-india-bdesh-border-637192.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nia-probes-money-trail-behind-plot-to-destabilise-india-elections-immigration-and-maoist-protests-637208.html New Delhi Sep 8 The National Investigation Agency NIA is set to intensify its actions against terror funding The various investigations that are being carried out by the NIA clearly point to extensive funding that is taking place to boost terrorrelated operations The Intelligence agencies say that terror funding is the biggest menace that the nation is facing and hence the NIA has intensified its actionsWhile the agencies are already dealing with this issue where funding for Jihadi elements and Khalistanis is concerned the other big worry is that the agencies have found that a major operation is underway to destabilise the nationThere is money coming in from various quarters to fund some elements so that they can create chaos in the country Funds are being pumped into raising issues that could destabilise the nation and disrupt harmonyThese would include issues such as staging protests against the policies of the government or trying and disrupt developmental works the Intelligence agencies have learnt There is also money being pumped to gather people from across the country to protest against the action that is being taken against the Maoists Several elements are unhappy with the ongoing action Knowing fully well that the security forces are on track to wipe out the problem by 2026 some elements are planning violent protests in a bid to create a false narrativeWith the crisis in Bangladesh worsening the security agencies have warned of largescale illegal immigration taking place The Indian forces have been pushing back many who have entered illegally The issue is not a humanitarian crisis but a wellplanned one The idea of the ISI and the DGFI is to indulge in mass infiltrations so that these people can settle in villages in India The idea is to change the demographics so that communal tensions eruptFurther with the elections in Bihar coming up illegal immigration from Bangladesh is a major issue Ahead of the elections there would be attempts made to disrupt the process and also indulge in largescale illegal immigration into BiharWith the Indian government not taking chances on this issue and telling the security forces not to go soft on this issue there are plans to stage protests Some fake human rights groups that are funded by external sources are likely to raise these issues and project it as a humanitarian crisis forced by the Indian government There is considerable funding that comes in to support such causes which are aimed at disrupting peace and harmony in the countryThe NIA is also intensifying its actions against terror funding because Pakistan after losing face during Operation Sindoor is indulging in a false narrative campaign There is plenty of funding that is taking place to spread this false narrative and hence in this context the NIA investigations become extremely crucialOn Sunday the NIA conducted searches at 22 locations across five states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir The raids were in connection with a terror conspiracy caseSearches were carried out at eight locations in Bihar one each in Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and Karnataka two in Uttar Pradesh and nine in Jammu and Kashmir The agencies suspect that the network is involved in attempts to create unrest and destabilise the nation by creating law and order issues This is part of the NIAs ongoing investigations aimed at breaking such networks and also putting the brakes on terror funding The NIA is also probing several cases relating to radicalisation terror recruitment and spotting sleeper cells Similar actions have led to many arrests in recent months The NIA is also keeping a close watch on online activity where terror recruiters and those specialising in radicalisation are active These actions come in the wake of the government of India emphasising a zerotolerance policy towards terrorism IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nia-probes-money-trail-behind-plot-to-destabilise-india-elections-immigration-and-maoist-protests-637208.html Mon, 08 Sep 2025 21:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-home-affairs-advisor-acknowledges-deterioration-in-law-and-order-636976.html Dhaka Sep 7 Bangladeshs Home Affairs Advisor Lt Gen Jahangir Alam Chowdhury retd on Sunday admitted that there was deterioration in the law and order situation of the country local media reported The situation was good but based on the incidents of the last few days I would say it has deteriorated slightly We will try our best to restore it to the previous state Lt Gen Chowdhury told media persons here after inaugurating a training programme for increasing the capability and skills of police for performing election duties at Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka the United News of Bangladesh reported He said that an investigation is being conducted into the recent violence that took place in Rajbari and revealed that five people involved in the incident have been brought under the lawAsked about the recent violence in Rajbari he said We will be able to give details once the investigation report is available However we have already brought five people involved in the incident under the law After their interrogation we may be able to get a clearer pictureOn whether a fair probe is possible when the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district remain in their posts he responded Negligence will be determined through investigation If I remove everyone beforehand it means Ive not given importance to the investigation If anyone is proven guilty action will be taken If someone is innocent no action will be taken against them Without investigation how can I say who is responsibleAt least one person was killed and over 100 others were injured on September 5 after violent clashes erupted in Rajbaris Goalanda upazila over the grave of Nurul Haque Molla also known as Nural Pagla a selfproclaimed Imam Mahdi claimant The deceased has been identified as Md Rasel Molla 28 Bangladeshs The Business Standard reportedThe violence erupted around noon on Friday after angry people attacked Nural Paglas resting place in the Ansar Club area His followers resisted and both sides threw bricks and stones at each other resulting in scores of people getting injuredAfter Nural Paglas death on August 23 his family buried him outside his residence in around 12foot structure The grave was made in the style of the Kaaba Sharif and a signboard declaring Darbar Sharif of Hazrat Imam Mahdi AS was displayed sparking anger among local Muslims and causing tensions in the areaThe Imam Parishad of Goalanda Upazila called for a protest on August 26 The district administration held several meetings to calm the situation During the meetings people demanded a change in the graves structure from the Kaaba style removal of the signboard and lowering the graves height to a normal level The family and followers accepted the first two demands however they demanded time until September 4 to decide on reducing the graves height However the family failed to do it within the stipulated timeline The Business Standard reportedLater on September 5 locals after Friday prayers gathered at the Goalanda Ansar Club square and violence erupted as they clashed with Nural Paglas followers The mob vandalised and looted nearby homes and set fire to the shrine The mob dug the grave took the body in a procession to the DhakaKhulna highway at Padma intersection and set it on fire The army police magistrates and RAB intervened and brought the situation under control while fire service teams were deployed at the site to control the fire IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-home-affairs-advisor-acknowledges-deterioration-in-law-and-order-636976.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/explosive-devices-discovered-in-afghanistans-kapisa-province-636979.html Kabul Sep 7 A number of explosive devices including an antitank mine have been discovered in Afghanistans eastern Kapisa province the provincial police said on Sunday The munitions which included an antitank mine and six hand grenades were discovered in an abandoned house in a village outside the provincial capital MahmudeRaqi provincial police spokesman Abdul Fatah Faez said Xinhua News Agency reportedEfforts are underway to identify and arrest those responsible for keeping the weaponry illegally the official further saidOn August 26 a provincial police office in a news release said that the counterterrorism police had discovered arms and ammunition during a series of operations in the Kapisa provinceThe weaponry according to the news release includes seven AK47 assault rifles pistols projectiles and hundreds of bullets which have been discovered from individuals who kept them illegallyWithout providing further details the news release warned that no one has the right to possess or carry arms unlawfullyA few days back police discovered and seized arms and ammunition including three antiaircraft guns in the southern Uruzgan provinceOn August 22 provincial police spokesman Mullah Ezatullah Haqqani said police in Afghanistans southern Helmand province had seized a cache of arms and ammunition during a recent operationThe discovery which included 14 pistols and a dozen gun magazines was made in Musa Qala district where security forces also arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in the case according to the officialHelmand one of Afghanistans largest provinces has long been a hotspot of insecurity and armed activities Local authorities have intensified operations in recent months to crack down on the illegal possession of weapons and to bolster public safetyThe Afghan interim government has repeatedly pledged to collect unauthorised arms across the country as part of efforts to stabilise security and prevent criminal activities IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/explosive-devices-discovered-in-afghanistans-kapisa-province-636979.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-has-more-mosques-than-schools-and-hospitals-637001.html New Delhi Sep 7 Pakistans firstever Economic Census since its independence in 1947 exposes the startling ground reality that the number of mosques is over two times the number of schools in the country which has very few factories or hospitals for a population of 250 million people most of whom live below the poverty line The census shows that there are over 600000 mosques and 36000 religious seminaries compared to just 269000 schools and 119000 hospitals This imbalance reflects deeper systemic issues that hinder educational access strain healthcare services and limit the countrys economic potentialThe lack of higher educational institutions is equally stark at the higher level with only 11568 colleges and 214 universities across the country which in turn reflects the poor quality of human capitalThe healthcare sector too is woefully inadequate with just one hospital available for every 2083 people in a country struggling with malnutrition and diseaseThe census shows 109 million individuals engaged in sectors like livestock rearing tailoring food packaging and online services reflecting the lack of formal employment opportunities Among these 56 million people rear livestock 419000 are involved in clothing stitching and 93000 offer online services indicating a population that is industrious but underservedThe census reveals 7143 million businesses employing 25344 million people Yet only 250000 of these are formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan which bares the informal nature of the underdeveloped economy Micro and small enterprises dominate the business ecosystem with 95 per cent of establishments employing fewer than ten people The services sector alone accounts for nearly 58 per cent of the workforce while production and manufacturing lag far behindThe census also exposes regional disparities in Pakistan with Punjab and Sindh ahead of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in the number of economic establishments and social infrastructureThe findings were released by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal who while remarking that this was the first census pointed out that neighbouring countries have conducted multiple economic censuses over the decadesPakistans lack of action is also seen as a reflection of the strong sway that the military has over the governance of the country with its focus on prioritising defence expenditure to ensure its own survival IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-has-more-mosques-than-schools-and-hospitals-637001.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fire-destroys-over-40-shops-in-afghanistans-takhar-637007.html Kabul Sep 7 More than 40 shops were destroyed after fire erupted at the main marketplace of Afghanistans Takhar early on Sunday local media reported Fire erupted in the Khwaja Bahauddin marketplace at around 230 am local time and spread rapidly across interconnected stalls Local residents struggled for three hours to control the fire leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported Eyewitnesses said that over 40 shops were completely destroyed Each business reportedly possessed investments worth several lakh Afghanis with properties and items completely reduced to ashesThe fire engulfed not only shops but also machinery for timberselling and wheatmilling stalls depriving the community of goods and vital livelihood resources The fire was eventually controlled with the help of local residents However the lack of professional firefighting services demonstrated the severe vulnerability of provincial marketplacesAuthorities have not yet determined the cause of the incident Speculation continues whether the fire broke out due to electrical faults negligence or possible arson The fire has caused social and economic repercussions leaving families without their main sources of income and further increasing existing hardships in Takhar provinceEarlier on June 8 residents reported a market fire in western Kabul People said that a fire erupted in a market in the western part of Kabul on June 8 Khaama Press reported Several images circulated on social media showed flames and smoke rising from the affected areaThe incident caused alarm among residents who quickly informed emergency services and attempted to contain the blaze At the time no information regarding the cause of the incident was reportedFire incidents in the markets are not uncommon in Kabul due to crowded conditions and limited safety infrastructure highlighting the need for improved fire prevention and emergency response mechanisms The fire incident in western Kabul underscores persistent issues in urban safety management and timely information from authorities is important to reassure people and mitigate future risks IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fire-destroys-over-40-shops-in-afghanistans-takhar-637007.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-three-more-people-die-due-to-dengue-2025-death-toll-rises-to-135-637019.html Dhaka Sep 7 Three more people have died due to dengue in the past 24 hours till Sunday morning increasing the number of deaths from the mosquitoborne disease in Bangladesh to 135 in 2025 The recent deaths have been reported in Dhaka South City Corporation DSCC Chattogram Division outside city corporation areas and Mymensingh Division according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS the United News of Bangladesh reportedDuring the period 580 new patients were admitted to hospitals with viral fever raising the total number of cases to 34411 in 2025 According to the DGHS data new cases were reported in 128 in Barishal Division Out of CC 94 in Chattogram Division Out of CC 85 in Dhaka North City Corporation 85 in Dhaka Division Out of CC 80 in Dhaka South City Corporation 55 in Rajshahi Out of CC 32 in Khulna Division Out of CC 17 in Mymensingh Out of CC three in Rangpur division and one in Sylhet division Out of CCAs of now 1571 people were undergoing treatment in hospitals in Bangladesh As many as 575 people died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 2024 A total of 101214 dengue cases and 100040 recoveries were reported in Bangladesh in the same year according to the DGHS dataAs many as 39 people died due to dengue while 10496 new cases were reported in the month of August according to DGHS Bangladeshbased daily New Age reported Bangladesh reported 41 deaths due to dengue in July while the total number of patients was 10684Dengue is a viral infection that is spread from mosquitoes to people It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates than in temperate ones according to the World Health Organisation WHOThe majority of people who get dengue do not have symptoms For those who do the most common symptoms are high fever headache body aches nausea and rash The majority of the patients get better in one or two weeks however some develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital Dengue can be fatal in severe cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-three-more-people-die-due-to-dengue-2025-death-toll-rises-to-135-637019.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/baloch-family-holds-protest-for-34th-day-over-sons-enforced-disappearance-by-pakistani-forces-637026.html Quetta Sep 7 A Baloch family protesting the enforced disappearance of their son by Pakistani forces continued their sitin at Karachi Press Club for the 34th consecutive day Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC said on Sunday BYC stated that Zahid Alis family demanding his safe release continues to hold the protest despite his father Abdul Hameeds worsening health condition According to BYC Ali 25 a student of Karachi University was forcibly disappeared on July 17 Day 34 Zahid Alis Protest Camp Continues at Karachi Press Club Today marks the 34th consecutive day of the sitin camp by the family of Zahid Ali a 25yearold IR student of Karachi University who was forcibly disappeared along with his rickshaw on 17 July 2025 Despite his father Abdul Hameeds worsening health condition the family continues their protest with steadfast determination demanding Zahids immediate and safe release Their struggle is a painful reminder of the ongoing wave of enforced disappearances that continues to tear apart families in Karachi and Balochistan BYC posted on XOn Saturday BYC condemned the extrajudicial killing of Mullah Bahram a resident of Kech districts Koh Dagar who was shot dead by statebacked death squads on Saturday The rights body stated that the incident showcased a pattern of consecutive targeted killings in the areaIn a statement shared on Saturday on X BYC stated Mullah Bahram son of Abdul Ghafoor and a resident of Koh Dagar subtehsil Mand district Kech was shot dead by statebacked death squads on the afternoon of September 6 2025 This incident occurred within hours of the killing of Izhar another youth resident of Mand underscoring a pattern of consecutive targeted killings in the area According to eyewitnesses the perpetrators were members of statebacked death squads operating under the command of the Pakistani forces and law enforcement agenciesThe rights group also condemned the extrajudicial killing of a Baloch teenager by Pakistan Armybacked death squads in Balochistan which continue to target students activists and political opponents across the province It mentioned that Izhar Mujeeb a resident of Kech district was shot dead by the Pakistan armys death squads in Mand on SaturdayCiting reports the rights body stated that death squads opened fire on Izhar while he was at his shop in the morning He was rushed to the hospital after sustaining critical injuries but succumbed due to excessive bleedingIzhar son of Mullah Mujeeb and a resident of Lebanon subtehsil Mand district Kech was shot dead by statebacked death squads in the Soro area of Mand on September 6 2025 According to reports statebacked death squads opened fire on Izhar while he was at his shop earlier in the morning He was rushed to the hospital after sustaining critical injuries but succumbed due to excessive bleeding Local sources confirm that the perpetrators were statebacked death squads operating under the command of Pakistani forces BYC posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/baloch-family-holds-protest-for-34th-day-over-sons-enforced-disappearance-by-pakistani-forces-637026.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 22:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-issues-with-china-to-proxy-war-by-pakistan-cds-chauhan-lists-six-major-challenges-for-india-636680.html New Delhi Sep 5 Chief of Defence Staff CDS General Anil Chauhan on Friday outlined six key national security challenges confronting India as he stressed that the country must be prepared for future wars that will not be limited to land air and sea Speaking in Gorakhpur General Chauhan noted Indias challenges are not momentary but persistent demanding constant preparedness and strategic cohesion He identified the unresolved border dispute with China as Indias biggest challengeThe second challenge he said stems from Pakistans proxy war strategy of bleeding India by a thousand cutsThe third challenge lies in regional instability with almost all neighbouring countries grappling with social political and economic turbulence creating openings for external interferenceThe fourth challenge is the changing nature of warfare which now extends to space and cyberspace and other domains Future wars will be multidomain and we must achieve cohesion across all forces he stressedGeneral Chauhan called Pakistan and Chinas nuclear capabilities the fifth challenge complicating the calculus of conventional warfareThe sixth challenge he added is technological as wars are becoming more intelligent with rapid advancements in military techReferring to Operation Sindoor General Chauhan revealed that the armed forces were granted full operational freedom during the missionThe aim was not revenge but to draw a red line of our patience he said highlighting the crucial role played by the National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval in target selection deescalation and diplomacyHis comments assume significance days after PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit in China In the last few months India and China have witnessed a smoothening of ties including the last October agreement reached between the two giant neighbours to reduce border tensions following a meeting between PM Modi and President Xi at the BRICS Summit in Russias KazanDespite the relative smoothing of IndoChina ties the CDS said that the border issue with China remains a huge challenge reflecting the tensions between the two at the LAC IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-issues-with-china-to-proxy-war-by-pakistan-cds-chauhan-lists-six-major-challenges-for-india-636680.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eastern-afghanistan-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-1-124-635951.html Kabul Sep 2 The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has climbed to 1124 with 3251 others injured according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society on Tuesday Over 8000 residential houses primarily in Kunar province have been completely or partially destroyed due to the earthquake Juma Khan Nayeel head of information and publication at the Afghan Red Crescent Society told XinhuaRelief and rescue teams are working to pull out people trapped under the rubble and the figures for fatalities and injuries have not yet been finalised Xinhua news agency reportedThe earthquake struck the eastern part of Afghanistan at 1147 pm local time on August 31 with the epicentre located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad the capital of Nangarhar province at a depth of eight kmOn Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed deep sorrow over the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan and conveyed Indias readiness to provide humanitarian aidDeeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Afghanistan Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult hour and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured India stands ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected PM Modi had posted on XExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed deep concern over the devastating earthquake in Afghanistans Kunar Province He conveyed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and assured them of Indias help in that hour of needThe devastating earthquake in Kunar Province of Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern Express our support and solidarity to the Afghan people as they respond to it India will extend assistance in this hour of need Our condolences to the families of the victims And our prayers for early recovery of the injured he had posted on XJaishankar spoke with Afghanistans Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressing condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck the warravaged country on Sunday night Wishing early recovery to those injured he reiterated Indias full support for Afghanistan in the hour of grief and conveyed that New Delhi would be sending food and relief material to KabulJaishankar stated that India had delivered 1000 family tents in KabulSpoke with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi today Expressed our condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake Conveyed that India has delivered 1000 family tents today in Kabul 15 tonnes of food material is also being immediately moved by Indian Mission from Kabul to Kunar Further relief material will be sent from India starting tomorrow Wish early recovery of those injured India stands by Afghanistan at this difficult time Jaishankar posted on XAfghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA also confirmed the telephonic conversation between Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and EAM Jaishankar According to the statement Muttaqi thanked EAM Jaishankar for providing assistance to the Afghan people and assured him of the timely delivery of the aid to those affectedIn a statement shared on X Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hon Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi had a telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart Jaishankar The Indian Foreign Minister expressed his condolences over the loss of lives due to the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan and also expressed his condolencesMeanwhile rescue teams navigated remote areas with limited communication to assess the full extent of the damage and provide aid with officials noting that the toll was preliminary as efforts continued official media addedAfghanistan remained especially vulnerable to earthquakes as it sat on top of several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian plates met The mountainous terrain of eastern Afghanistan was also prone to landslides making it harder for emergency services to carry out rescues IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eastern-afghanistan-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-1-124-635951.html Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-armys-human-rights-record-remains-matter-of-grave-concern-for-rights-groups-report-635495.html Athens Aug 31 The Pakistani Armys human rights record remains a matter of grave concern for international bodies and rights groups with the force being accused of carrying out arbitrary and unlawful killings extrajudicial executions enforced disappearances and widespread torture in all provinces a report has said Pakistanbased rights organisation Defence of Human Rights tracked 2332 cases of enforced disappearances in 2024 demonstrating a troubling persistence and escalation of abductions linked to state actors Greecebased Geopolitico said in a report The United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances 2024 report stated that the number of such cases rose by 27 per cent over the preceding period with 934 outstanding cases as of May 2024 waiting for resolutionThe Geopolitico report said The human rights record of the Pakistan Army remains a matter of grave concern for international bodies and rights organisations today Arbitrary and unlawful killings enforced disappearances extrajudicial executions and widespread torture are among the alleged abuses routinely ascribed to the military in multiple provinces especially Balochistan Sindh Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human rights organisations echoing findings from the US Department of State continue to record numerous instances of kill and dump policies implicating the Army and security agencies in the abduction torture and killing of dissidents with neartotal impunityPaank the Baloch National Movements human rights wing documented 28 torture victims five extrajudicial killings and 33 enforced disappearances in February 2024The report further stated The Awaran district recorded the highest number indicating systematic targeting The proven brutality extended to peaceful protestors and political activists Amnesty Internationals 2024 report highlights the killing and injury of demonstrators at the hands of law enforcement including Army involvement In July three people were killed during the Baloch national gathering while police opened fire at rallies in Islamabad and Bannu leaving many dead or injured The May 2023 events saw the prolonged detention by military courts of 85 protest participants these individuals remain imprisoned after secret trials suggesting deeply embedded practices that violate fair trial standards and civil libertiesPakistans military and intelligence apparatus have a reputation for using excessive violence Reports by Amnesty International and the UN Human Rights Committee have linked ill treatment extrajudicial killings and widespread torture with army operations particularly in Balochistan Victims include not only suspected militants but also civilian populations which include students journalists comedians human rights defenders and politicians the Geopolitico report saidFemale activists have reported sexual violence and assault in detention with no accountability for perpetrators According to Paanks 2024 report civilians are forcibly taken from their homes educational institutions and streets then kept in torture cellsThe report said Concerns over the use of military courts have intensified especially post2015 when the scope of these courts was significantly broadened The 2024 Amnesty International review asserts that the use of military courts for civilians particularly in political cases denies fundamental rights to liberty and fair trial Of the 105 participants in the 9 May 2023 protests tried in military courts twenty were released in March 2024 but 85 were given sentences ranging from two to ten years The trials were conducted in secrecy exacerbating distrust among civil societyThe Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 and similar legislation imposed in several provinces provide sweeping powers to the authorities including the Army to detain and restrict activists without judicial oversight Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is often imposed to ban gatheringsThe report said The Armys actions have disproportionately affected Baloch Pashtun and other ethnic minorities UN experts in April 2025 highlighted that Pakistans counterterrorism measures conflate legitimate minority rights advocacy and peaceful demonstration with terrorism thus threatening fundamental freedoms Baloch activists already subject to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions have faced arbitrary arrests and collective punishment during peaceful protests Numerous bodies identified in Balochistan bore evidence of torture and long periods of detention prior to death as documented by international mediaPlaces of worship belonging to minority faiths particularly the Ahmadiyya and Christian communities have been desecrated while violence and unlawful killings linked to blasphemy laws by security personnel continue without meaningful accountability according to the Geopolitico reportEvidence aggregated from reputable international sources shows a record of brutality systematic rights violations and pervasive military impunity within Pakistans security forces especially the Army The prevalence of enforced disappearances extrajudicial killings torture and arbitrary detentions in 2025 paints a sobering portrait of a force whose operations frequently contravene international human rights norms Without meaningful reform independent investigation and judicial accountability these abuses will likely continue exacerbating both domestic and international concerns about Pakistans commitment to the rule of law and fundamental rights IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-armys-human-rights-record-remains-matter-of-grave-concern-for-rights-groups-report-635495.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-colony-of-silence-and-resistance-635536.html New Delhi Aug 31 GilgitBaltistan is a land of majestic mountains and proud people Unfortunately it has been suffering the brutality of Pakistani establishment for decades The latest incident involves a recent clash in Sost Valley where Pakistani police attacked peaceful protesters Traders of GilgitBaltistan had blocked the routes in desperation demanding their voices be heard But they faced the wrath of the state machinery This incident highlighted the fact that Pakistans rule in GilgitBaltistan rests not on legitimacy but on force The tragedy is not confined to one valley or one protest It is written into the very fabric of Islamabads approach to GilgitBaltistan From the moment Pakistan illegally occupied the region in 1947 it has ensured that the local residents remain voiceless and excluded from the constitutional framework of the country Meanwhile they remain yet burdened with its taxes coercive laws and authoritarian institutions The original residents of GilgitBaltistan do not have any say in terms of how they should be governed Their resources are being siphoned off their lands exploited and their young men subjected to military harassmentThe Sost Valley clash is only the latest in a string of episodes where Pakistan has revealed its ugly hand When people ask why they should be paying heavy taxes when they are denied representation they are beaten into submission When villagers raise their voices against the theft of their water and forests they are branded as troublemakers and seditionists When students demand opportunities and institutions they are met with empty promises and police crackdowns The script is always the same deny dismiss and destroy Islamabads rulers see GilgitBaltistan not as a partner but as a colony a captive territory to be drained of wealth and kept under control The violence is not only physical it is structural GilgitBaltistan is home to vast hydropower potential enough to electrify much of Pakistan Yet while electricity flows to cities like Lahore and Karachi countless villages in GilgitBaltistan remain in darkness living under daily power cuts and shortages The minerals extracted from its soil the water harnessed from its rivers the strategic advantage of its locationall of these enrich Pakistan while leaving the local population impoverished This economic exploitation is coupled with cultural erasure Textbooks glorify Pakistans narrative while silencing GilgitBaltistans history and identity Media is tightly controlled journalists who dare to report honestly risk harassment arrest or worse Activists are routinely picked up disappeared or slapped with draconian antiterror laws simply for speaking out What Pakistan presents to the outside world as governance is in truth a machinery of subjugationThe clash in Sost Valley should therefore not surprise anyone who has followed Pakistans track record in GilgitBaltistan The protesters were not demanding luxuries they were asking for justice for fair treatment for their voices to be acknowledged Yet instead of opening dialogue the government chose the baton This reflexive use of violence underscores the reality that Pakistan cannot afford to listen because listening would expose the injustice at the heart of its rule To acknowledge the grievances of GilgitBaltistan would be to admit that its decadeslong occupation is illegitimate It is easier therefore for Pakistan to continue crushing dissent and hoping the world remains silent But the world cannot remain silent forever The people of GilgitBaltistan have lived too long under suffocation their patience worn thin by years of neglect and brutality Pakistan claims the mantle of Muslim solidarity on the world stage yet it denies Muslims in GilgitBaltistan their most basic rights It speaks of Kashmirs freedom yet denies freedom to those within its own occupied territory The duplicity is staggering And the irony is that by repressing GilgitBaltistan Pakistan is not only alienating the peopleit is sowing the seeds of its own eventual loss of controlThe scars left by the Sost Valley crackdown are not just physical wounds on those who were injured they are wounds on the trust between people and state wounds that deepen every time Pakistan responds with brutality Each clash each protest crushed each voice silenced drives home the point that the Pakistani establishment sees GilgitBaltistanis not as citizens but as subjects to be subdued This breeds resentment that no amount of propaganda can erase The people may be forced into silence temporarily but beneath the surface their anger simmers waiting for the moment when it can no longer be contained Contrast this with what is happening across the Line of Control In Jammu and Kashmir India has pursued a developmental vision that while not without challenges has sought to integrate the region with dignity and progress Roads and highways are being built educational institutions are expanding healthcare infrastructure is improving and opportunities for the youth are multiplying Where Pakistan relies on fear and batons India invests in schools universities hospitals and industries Where Pakistan drains GilgitBaltistan of resources India is pouring resources into Jammu and Kashmir to empower its people The difference is stark repression on one side development on the other Pakistans rulers may scoff at this comparison but it is precisely this contrast that exposes their moral bankruptcy The people of GilgitBaltistan are not blind They see how Jammu and Kashmir is being transformed while they remain trapped in neglect They see that where India is building a future Pakistan is denying them even a present And they are asking the obvious question why must we continue to suffer under Pakistans boot when our brothers across the border are being given opportunities to thrivePakistans greatest fear is the political awakening of GilgitBaltistan It dreads the day when people there fully realize how much has been taken from them and refuse to accept Islamabads falsehoods any longer That is why repression has become the default policy Crackdowns like the recent one in Sost Valley dont reflect authority but rather weakness insecurity and a government aware that its control is eroding A community demanding justice cannot be silenced forever A population seeking only dignity cannot be permanently crushedThe story of GilgitBaltistan is one of endurance against betrayal For decades despite neglect its people have continued to rise protest and demand what rightfully belongs to them Every clash with security forces every blockade every defiant slogan testifies that Pakistan has failed to break their spirit The international community must recognize this struggle and stand with the people not with their oppressors To ignore it is to legitimize Pakistans colonial project one that survives on the exploitation of those it pretends to represent IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-colony-of-silence-and-resistance-635536.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fragile-thaw-pakistans-august-strikes-on-ttp-hint-at-shifting-taliban-calculus--634903.html New Delhi Aug 28 Ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan since the Taliban took over have soured considerably in recent years There have been multiple reasons for the same which also include the Durand Line While the border is an ongoing issue the flare up has largely been over the support given to the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army BLA as alleged by IslamabadDuring a trilateral both China and Pakistan had urged the Taliban to stop supporting the TTP and BLA However the Taliban was reluctant and only assured that it would allow the BLA to carry out activities on its soil No such assurance was given where the TTP was concernedThe Pakistan Army which has suffered several set backs due to attacks by the TTP has accused the Taliban of allowing the outfit to use Afghanistan as a launchpad While diplomatic efforts and complaints at the United Nations by Pakistan have failed to solve the problem there has been a change in the number of casualties that the TTP has suffered in August 2025On Tuesday the Pakistan Army launched drone attacks that targeted hideouts of the TTP in Afghanistan The strikes were launched in coordination with the Taliban authorities Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the TTP and several hideouts were destroyed in the attack The attacks were planned in advance and the Taliban authorities were aware of itFor the TTP August 2025 has been a bad month On August 8 thirtythree TTP fighters were killed by the Pakistan Army A mosque in Bajaur which was being used as a TTP hideout was hit by the Pakistan security forces Thirty TTP men were killed in this strike If one takes into account the strike on Tuesday this would be the fourth strike on the TTP by the Pakistan Army in August aloneWhat is interesting is that all these were precision hits which suggests that the Pakistan Army had specific Intelligence This could have been provided by the Afghan Taliban to the ISI If this assessment is indeed correct then what could have changed between the Taliban and PakistanSASSI an Islamabad based thinktank had announced a conference titled The Future of Afghanistan Peace Stability and Development Habiburrahman Hekmatyar Nasir Anisha Mustafa Mastoor and Fawzia Koofi were among those invited for the event All these persons have been critical of the Taliban The Taliban was irked by this event that was to be held on August 2526 In fact there was a suspicion that it was the ISI which had coordinated this event Even during the trilateral that was held last week the Talibans acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had urged Pakistans foreign minister Ishaq Dar to prevent these antiTaliban figures from holding such an event in Islamabad Immediately after this meeting some Pakistan media outlets said that the event had been postponed due to pressure from the Taliban The Afghanistan media outlets however attributed the postponement due to visa delays They however did say that there was pressure from the Taliban on Pakistan not to allow the event to take placeThis brings up the question whether the Taliban and Pakistan had a secret understanding as a result of which strikes on the TTP have riseWhile such an understanding suits Pakistan the risks of a rift between the TTP and Taliban are immense The two sides could clash and many within the Taliban may move towards the TTP making matters extremely complicated Such issues could be dangerous for the region and risks of instability would be high While these new developments may suggest a thaw in tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan the situation is still fragile It could also be a temporary agreement which would allow the Pakistan Army save its face by targeting the TTP The armys image in Pakistan has taken a beating after it has been humiliated repeatedly by the TTP and BLA IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fragile-thaw-pakistans-august-strikes-on-ttp-hint-at-shifting-taliban-calculus--634903.html Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/poverty-level-rises-in-pakistan-as-military-corners-funds-634545.html New Delhi Aug 27 The increasing stranglehold of the military Generals on Pakistans economy is diverting the countrys resources for defence expenditure amid rising poverty and unemployment levels in the country The budget for the current financial year saw a massive 20 per cent hike in defence expenditure despite a 7 per cent cut in the overall outlay under other heads such as education healthcare and economic development projects to create more jobsDespite the crisisridden economy merely managing to survive on IMF loans the military seems to be facing no constraints on its spending spree on weapons such as tanks and planesWith Pakistan failing to meet three out of the five targets fixed by the IMF for the second review of the 7 billion bailout package Indias stand has been vindicated that Islamabad has been a prolonged borrower with a very poor track record of implementation and adherence to the IMFs programme conditionsThe Pakistan militarys deeply entrenched interference in economic affairs poses significant risks of policy slippages and reversal of reforms Even when a civilian government is in power now the Army continues to play an outsized role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economyIn fact a 2021 UN report described militarylinked businesses as the largest conglomerate in PakistanThe situation has not changed for the better rather the Pakistan Army now plays a leading role in the Special Investment Facilitation Council of PakistanPakistan stands at a critical juncture The convergence of poverty unemployment demographic pressure and inequality reflects a deeply rooted crisis with farreaching consequences for a country in which 447 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line according to an article in Pakistans newspaper ObserverPakistans per capita income has stagnated and even declined in recent years reflecting deepening economic challengesAccording to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics during the fiscal year 20222023 the country recorded an 1138 per cent drop in per capita income falling from 1766 in 2022 to 1568 in 2023 This decline coincided with a sharp contraction in the overall economy which shrank by 334 billion from 375 billion to 3416 billion The stagnation is largely attributed to persistent structural issues including political instability inflation currency depreciation and weak industrial output the article in the widely read English daily further statesCompared to regional peers Pakistans GDP per capita remains significantly lower estimated at 6950 in 2025 The economic disparity between urban and rural regions further entrenches inequality the article pointed outAccording to the World Banks 2025 findings nearly 447 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line based on the revised threshold of 420 per person per day for lowermiddleincome countries a staggering figure that underscores the scale of deprivationEven more alarming is that 165 per cent of the population around 398 million people live in extreme poverty earning less than 3 per day a sharp rise from previous estimates of 49 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/poverty-level-rises-in-pakistan-as-military-corners-funds-634545.html Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/xis-tibet-visit-showcases-intention-to-have-upper-hand-in-balance-of-power-with-india-report-634371.html Beijing Aug 26 Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Tibet confirms that Beijing is striving to cultivate advantages there that give it the upper hand in the balance of power and border negotiations with India a report said Chinas Premier Li Qiangs announcement on July 21 that the Medong county dam will begin construction and now Xis veiled instructure to accelerate its development makes it almost clear that the dam will be a flashpoint in IndiaChina security dynamics Rahul Karan Reddy a senior research associate at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia ORCA wrote in an opinion pieceThe report stated Perhaps China is cultivating a bargaining chip for negotiations with India but with the sanction of the top leadership riparian relations between India and China are now certain to become further securitised Moreover Chinas position that the Medong county dam and development policies of Tibet are an internal matter is likely to harden as India raises objections to such projects Tibets development trajectory and infrastructure projects are becoming increasingly relevant to Indias border security and entangled with security competition with ChinaAnother aspect regarding the visit is the issue of the Dalai Lamas succession Xis visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region TAR and reiteration of security and stability clearly indicate that China is not ready to allow the Dalai Lamas succession issue to affect its control in TibetThe ORCA report stated A highprofile visit to TAR just a month after the Dalai Lamas announcement of a successor outside China and outside Chinas influence signals a hardening stance by Beijing that China will persist with its integration strategy in Tibet and legitimise Partyappointed Tibetan institutions Perhaps Xis visit is preparing the ground for Chinas countermeasures in TAR for when the Dalai Lamas succession process is initiated For India this means China is also preparing for a decision by New Delhi to support or legitimise the Dalai Lamas successionThe ties between India and China have moved closer towards normalisation since October last year and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to New Delhi showcased that the two nations have been engaging in dialogue and negotiations to address the boundary question However developments in Tibet are likely to have a significant influence on the security outlook of India and ChinaThe report said Xis visit to TAR was a sharp reminder that developments in Tibet are closely tied to border security concerns for India the Medong county dam is raising significant concerns about a water bomb in some Indian states and its construction could greatly accentuate security dilemmas in sensitive border regions For China the Dalai Lamas recent remarks on the succession issue have possibly resulted in Beijings hardening stance and reiteration of control in Tibet It also explains any Party moves towards preparing the ground for succession outcomes Both the domestic governance priorities of the Party and Chinas external signalling are indicating an increase in the complexity of security dynamics between India and China IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/xis-tibet-visit-showcases-intention-to-have-upper-hand-in-balance-of-power-with-india-report-634371.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/xi-jinpings-tibet-visit-showcases-beijings-intention-to-have-advantages-in-tibet-for-upper-hand-in-balance-of-power-with-india-report-634364.html Beijing Aug 26 Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Tibet confirms that Beijing is striving to cultivate advantages there that give it the upper hand in the balance of power and border negotiations with India a report said Chinas Premier Li Qiangs announcement on July 21 that the Medong county dam will begin construction and now Xis veiled instructure to accelerate its development makes it almost clear that the dam will be a flashpoint in IndiaChina security dynamics Rahul Karan Reddy a senior research associate at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia ORCA wrote in an opinion pieceThe report stated Perhaps China is cultivating a bargaining chip for negotiations with India but with the sanction of the top leadership riparian relations between India and China are now certain to become further securitised Moreover Chinas position that the Medong county dam and development policies of Tibet are an internal matter is likely to harden as India raises objections to such projects Tibets development trajectory and infrastructure projects are becoming increasingly relevant to Indias border security and entangled with security competition with ChinaAnother aspect regarding the visit is the issue of the Dalai Lamas succession Xis visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region TAR and reiteration of security and stability clearly indicate that China is not ready to allow the Dalai Lamas succession issue to affect its control in TibetThe ORCA report stated A highprofile visit to TAR just a month after the Dalai Lamas announcement of a successor outside China and outside Chinas influence signals a hardening stance by Beijing that China will persist with its integration strategy in Tibet and legitimise Partyappointed Tibetan institutions Perhaps Xis visit is preparing the ground for Chinas countermeasures in TAR for when the Dalai Lamas succession process is initiated For India this means China is also preparing for a decision by New Delhi to support or legitimise the Dalai Lamas successionThe ties between India and China have moved closer towards normalisation since October last year and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to New Delhi showcased that the two nations have been engaging in dialogue and negotiations to address the boundary question However developments in Tibet are likely to have a significant influence on the security outlook of India and ChinaThe report said Xis visit to TAR was a sharp reminder that developments in Tibet are closely tied to border security concerns for India the Medong county dam is raising significant concerns about a water bomb in some Indian states and its construction could greatly accentuate security dilemmas in sensitive border regions For China the Dalai Lamas recent remarks on the succession issue have possibly resulted in Beijings hardening stance and reiteration of control in Tibet It also explains any Party moves towards preparing the ground for succession outcomes Both the domestic governance priorities of the Party and Chinas external signalling are indicating an increase in the complexity of security dynamics between India and China IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/xi-jinpings-tibet-visit-showcases-beijings-intention-to-have-advantages-in-tibet-for-upper-hand-in-balance-of-power-with-india-report-634364.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/elections-in-bangladesh-democracy-at-a-crossroads-633896.html New Delhi Aug 24 Bangladesh is heading for a pivotal general election in February 2026 the first since the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasinas 15year rule in August 2024 Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus who leads the interim government announced that the Election Commission EC would finalise dates two months ahead of the pollsHasinas ouster came after a studentled uprising dubbed the second liberationWhile her tenure delivered economic growth poverty reduction and landmark infrastructure projects like the Padma Bridge it was marred by accusations of authoritarianism corruption and suppression of dissentYunus transitional government promised democratic renewal but has drawn criticism for banning Hasinas Awami League from contesting echoing the same exclusionary tactics it condemnedMore than 420000 people have been arrested in security crackdowns and over 640 journalists have faced attacks or imprisonmentThe political landscape is further complicated by the reentry of JamaateIslamiOnce outlawed the Islamist party has been legally restored and is preparing for the polls Its resurgence has coincided with rising attacks on religious minorities particularly Hindus during festivals such as Durga PujaAnother emerging force is the National Citizen Party NCP born from the Students Against Discrimination movementAdvocating for a Second Republic the NCP calls for a new constitution decentralisation judicial independence and minority rights However its refusal to participate under the current Election Commission raises doubts about its parliamentary impactAs elections approach Bangladesh faces a defining test whether Yunus government will ensure inclusivity and transparency or slide into another cycle of divisive politicsObservers stress that allowing all parties including the Awami League to participate is criticalNotably analysts warn of parallels with Pakistans tumultuous militarybacked transitions of the pastThe outcome of the 2026 vote will determine whether Bangladesh can consolidate its democratic aspirations or risk deepening political instability under the guise of reform IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/elections-in-bangladesh-democracy-at-a-crossroads-633896.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/former-bangladeshi-police-officer-apprehended-by-bsf-sent-to-jail-633907.html Kolkata Aug 24 Former Bangladeshi police officer in the Sheikh Hasina government Md Arifuzzaman who was apprehended by the Border Security Force BSF for entering the country illegally was sent to jail custody on Sunday He was produced at the Basirhat Sub district Court on Sunday which remanded him in jail custody for 14 daysOn Saturday the BSF caught the senior police officer in the previous Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh while illegally crossing the border in Swarupnagar area of West Bengals North 24 Parganas districtThe person was identified as former Assistant Commissioner of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police Md Arifuzzaman who was trying to enter the country by taking advantage of the inclement weather on Saturday nightThe incident took place at the Hakimpur check post on the IndiaBangladesh border of Swarupnagar police station in Basirhat subdivisionMd Arifuzzaman was the former Assistant Commissioner of Police incharge of the Rangpur Metropolitan PoliceThis highranking official had gone into hiding in Satkhira district in Bangladesh after the Muhammad Yunus government came to power in the South Asian nationAs south Bengal districts have been witnessing heavy rain due to active monsoon wind the former Bangladeshi police officer took advantage of the weather condition to enter into the country illegally through IndiaBangladeshs Hakimpur borderHowever as soon as he set foot on the countrys soil he was detained by the soldiers of the 143rd Battalion of the BSF following which he was handed over to the police of Swarupnagar police stationSources said that several documents were recovered from the Bangladeshi police officerAll those documents have been handed over to the highranking officials of Indian governmentAccording to sources information has been exchanged between the High Commissioners of the two countriesInitially it is learnt that Arifuzzaman hid in the border area in Bangladesh for several months to save his life from the hands of the current Yunus governmentRecently the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh suspended Md Arifuzzaman for remaining absent at work place since October 14 last year without the approval of authorities concernedIt said Arifuzzaman who is also Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Armed Police Battalion2 Muktagacha Mymensingh remained absent from duty since October 14 2024It is believed that following his suspension the police officer tried to flee the neighbouring country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/former-bangladeshi-police-officer-apprehended-by-bsf-sent-to-jail-633907.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/2-killed-12-injured-in-road-accidents-in-afghanistans-ghazni-633920.html Kabul Aug 24 At least two people were killed and 12 others injured in two separate road accidents in east Afghanistans Ghazni province local media reports said on Sunday The accidents occurred in Ghazni city the provincial capital and the Ab Band district on a road linking Ghazni to neighbouring Kandahar province leaving two victims dead on the spot and 12 others wounded the report saidAll the injured have been taken to nearby health facilities for treatment with most reported to be in critical condition Xinhua News Agency reported citing the staterun Bakhtar news agencyEarlier on Friday 12 people lost their lives and four others sustained injuries as a tractor slid into a river in the southern Afghanistan Helmand province provincial Director for Information and Culture Hafiz Abdul Bari Rashid saidThe deadly accident took place in Garmsir district claiming the lives of three women and nine children on the spot and injuring four others all children the official added Xinhua News Agency reportedSecurity personnel reached the site of the accident on time and rescued 14 others the official saidIn Afghanistans countryside the villagers often use tractors and animals as instruments to transport people and agricultural productsIn a similar incident at least 24 commuters were injured as a passenger bus collided with a truck in Afghanistans northern Baghlan province on Thursday night provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Burhani said FridayThe accident took place on a road linking the capital city of Kabul to the northern MazariSharif city leaving 24 travellers injured some in critical condition the official added saying all the injured had been shifted to a hospital in the provincial capital PuleKhumri cityEarlier this week at least 64 commuters were killed and three others sustained injuries in a deadly road mishap in western Afghanistans Herat province head of the rescue department in the province Abdul Zahir Noorzai said Wednesday The accident took place on Tuesday night after a passenger bus collided with a motorbike and a minitruck on a road linking the neighbouring Iran to Herat city in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/2-killed-12-injured-in-road-accidents-in-afghanistans-ghazni-633920.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-apprehend-42-suspects-in-nationwide-crime-crackdown-633923.html Kabul Aug 24 Afghan police have apprehended 42 individuals suspected of various crimes including theft and kidnapping in a series of operations over the past 24 hours the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday The ministry said the alleged criminals were arrested following police operations in the provinces of Samangan Faryab Helmand Paktia Nimroz Herat Ghazni Paktika Ghor Kunar and Badghis Xinhua News Agency reportedThe ministry noted that most detainees were linked to theft and smuggling casesAll suspects have been transferred to the judicial organs for further investigation and potential legal actionEarlier on Wednesday the Ministry of Interior Affairs said that Afghan counternarcotics police have thwarted two major drug trafficking attempts and arrested three suspected smugglers in northern Takhar and southern Zabul provincesAccording to the ministry acting on intelligence tips security forces launched two separate operations on the outskirts of Taluqan city the capital of Takhar and Shajoy district of Zabul seizing 249 kg of opium and apprehending three traffickers The detainees are under preliminary investigation and will be handed over to judicial organs for further legal action the statement addedIn a related development Afghan counternarcotics police on Monday arrested 16 suspected drug traffickers and confiscated 872 kg of narcotics in western Herat province the ministry reportedIn a similar action Afghan police uncovered a quantity of weapons and ammunition during two separate operations in eastern Ghazni and southern Uruzgan provinces the Ministry of Interior Affairs announced on WednesdayThe contraband included 16 pieces of heavy and light arms such as PK machine guns M16 rifles Kalashnikovs assault rifles and rocket launchers discovered in Tirin Kot city the capital of Uruzgan and Jaghouri and Qara Bagh districts of Ghazni the ministry saidAdditionally authorities confiscated a substantial amount of ammunition and military equipment including communication devices explosives and a large quantity of cartridges and bullets during the operations it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-apprehend-42-suspects-in-nationwide-crime-crackdown-633923.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/torrential-rains-once-again-expose-chaotic-and-fragmented-goverance-of-karachi-report-633924.html Karachi Aug 24 The recent torrential rains have once again exposed the chaotic and fragmented governance of Karachi with the widespread flooding reviving the confusion on which agency or municipal body is responsible for basic services further causing anger among people and leading to debates regarding how the city is governed as per a report Karachis ranking as the fourth least liveable city in the world 170th out of 173 cities in the 2025 Economist Intelligence Units Global Liveability Index showcases its ongoing liveability crisis Political fragmentation and neglect have systematically weakened Karachi and it is visible everywhere in collapsing infrastructure inadequate services and declining quality of life Pakistanbased The News International said in a reportThe 202526 budget of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is Pakistani Rs 55 billion 196 million Further adding multiple agencies DHA cantonments and provincial departments the citywide spending is estimated at 300 million to 500 million though a lack of transparency makes it difficult to get a clear fiscal picture of the city As Karachi has a population of 20 million this amount translates to just 147 to 25 per person annually This underfunding causes failing services crumbling roads and water shortageKarachis economic and service challenges are exacerbated by unorganised urban planning Yousuf Nazar former head of Citigroups emerging markets investments wrote in an opinion piece in The News International It has transformed into a concrete jungle due to widespread corruption unchecked realestate development and the lack of a strong local governance system In addition to the citys planning failure the Karachi Building Control Authority KBCA tasked with regulating construction and implementing safety codes has been hindered for years due to incompetence corruption and poor enforcement As many as 27 people were killed after a fivestorey building in Lyari collapsed in July this yearThe DHA and cantonment boards control the affluent areas DHA sees about 36 square kilometres one per cent of Karachi Malir Cantonment about 12 square kilometres with the six cantonments and DHA together managing 2030 per cent of the city while the Pakistan Peoples Party PPPled Sindh government which has been in power since 2006 oversees the remaining 7080 per cent It is responsible for the chronic failures and development decay of the cityFragmentation further affects governance with each municipal or cantonment body functioning independently with little coordination to allow economies of scale shared investments or strategic planning It causes duplicated duties conflicting priorities and weak accountability Many term the fragmented governance of Karachi as little more than the division of territory among powerful stakeholders The News International report saidThe underrepresentation of Karachi in politics further causes the citys neglect Karachi elects 22 of Pakistans total National Assembly members 266 on general seats and 47 of Sindhs 130 provincial assembly members on general seats yet it has only two federal cabinet seats out of 43 and two provincial ministries out of 18 This imbalance lowers the influence of the city in decisions regarding budgets and reforms despite its economic and demographic importanceKarachis failures can also be seen in the water supply The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation KWSC supplies around 423 million gallons per day barely one third of the required 10801200 MGD resulting in residents relying on over 10000 water tankers many controlled by a tanker mafia accused of taking off an estimated 272 MGD or 41 per cent of the citys supply Nazar wrote in The News International report Furthermore Karachi loses 3040 per cent of piped water due to leaks from an ageing network Every day Karachi experiences gridlocked traffic collapsed waste management and inadequate storm drainage that causes floods with each monsoon Climate risks further exacerbate these crises heatwaves and intense storms threaten millions of residentsAffluent neighbourhoods in Karachi enjoy superior services and infrastructure while middle and lowerincome areas face relentless decay and neglect The Clifton Bridge separates these privileged areas from the rest of the city Years of neglect dysfunction and underfunding have brought Karachi to the brink Without bold reforms increasing funding and unified governance Karachi is facing collapsing infrastructure increasing inequality and growing unrest the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/torrential-rains-once-again-expose-chaotic-and-fragmented-goverance-of-karachi-report-633924.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 20:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-auditor-generals-latest-report-highlights-mismanagement-and-expenditure-lapses-633928.html Islamabad Aug 24 The Auditor General of Pakistans AGP latest report is a charge sheet against the weak economic and fiscal governance of the state with the scale of mismanagement and expenditure lapses of Pakistani Rs 375 trillion mentioned in the report is mindboggling local media reports said Irregularities linked to procurement account for Rs 284 trillion topped by huge losses to the exchequer due to delayed civil works defective contracts and nonrecovery of dues at the expense of the public good The audit demonstrates that the irregularities flagged in the report showcase a recurring pattern and reflect the systemic rot in governance caused due to weak oversight poor controls and a tendency to bypass parliamentary approval of expenditures through large supplementary grants Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedPublic funds are demanded without considering actual needs and allocations are blocked leaving billions in unspent funds a practice that highlights bureaucracys habit of ticking boxes instead of implementing financial discipline or achieving the intended results outcome This explains Pakistans fiscal and development crisis as per the reportThe report highlights not only the mismanagement of public expenditure but also the regulatory lapses and financial misconduct in the affairs of market regulators The report has showcased a troubling picture of weak regulatory governance in the telecom industry of Pakistan This is evident in the partially privatised Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd PTCL denial of an audit of its accounts the identification of financial irregularities of Rs 354 billion in buying equipment at inflated rates excessive operational spending in the accounts of the stateowned SCO and Jazzs PKR 658bn consumer overcharging in FY24In addition it demonstrates the telecom regulators failure to address the Rs 5354 billion Zong spectrum case The financial irregularities identified in the SCO accounts stem are due to weak corporate governance that has nearly pushed most SOEs to the brink while the excessive charges to consumers by the leading mobile operator highlight inadequate regulatory oversight and the penchant of regulatory agencies to prioritise corporate interests over those of consumers the Dawn report saidThe audit report highlights the need to implement strict financial discipline for better fiscal management to divert scarce funds for the welfare of people and improve regulatory governance to protect consumers from the unjust practices of corporations These goals can be fulfilled only if parliament and the judiciary choose to implement accountability Without accountability these AGPs audit reports are just an annual practice IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-auditor-generals-latest-report-highlights-mismanagement-and-expenditure-lapses-633928.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/plight-of-pakistans-buddhists-and-crumbling-state-of-their-heritage-tell-story-of-abandonment-marginalisation-report-633942.html Naypyidaw Aug 24 Pakistan that once nurtured Buddhisms thriving civilisation has today turned into a stark reminder of neglect deterioration and cultural obliteration The plight of Buddhists and the crumbling state of their sacred heritage in Pakistan reflects the story of abandonment and marginalisation a report has said Pakistan home to the ancient Gandhara region where Buddhism thrived for centuries now stands as a paradox it carries the remnants of a worldrenowned Buddhist past while offering little space or dignity to its surviving Buddhist community As 2025 unfolds the plight of Pakistans Buddhists and the crumbling state of their sacred heritage tell a story not of reverence but of abandonment and marginalisation a report in Myanmarbased Mizzima saidThe Gandhara civilisation in what is now northern Pakistan was once a luminous chapter in Buddhist history Monasteries flourished in Taxila Swat and Peshawar and stupas towered above centres of commerce and education Pilgrims and academics from China also travelled to Gandhara for learning and to carry the knowledge back home The report said That world however lies buried under the sands of time dismantled by waves of conquest religious transformation and later systemic neglect While the ruins remain they are treated more as archaeological curiosities than living symbols of faithThe Buddhist community in Pakistan is almost invisible Estimates place their numbers in the low thousands scattered and often afraid to declare their faith openly Many practice in secrecy fearing social ostracism or outright persecution in a society where religious minorities struggle to secure even basic rights For decades Pakistans religious climate has been defined by intolerance and pressure on minorities from Hindus and Christians to Ahmadis and Sikhs Buddhists by virtue of their small numbers and lack of institutional backing have been left especially vulnerable What was once a vibrant community deeply interwoven with the subcontinents cultural fabric has withered into nearextinction surviving only as a silent remnant Sun Lee a pseudonym of a writer who covers Asia and geopolitical affairs wrote in the Mizzima reportAccounts from Buddhist families in Sindh and other areas of Pakistan demonstrate the deep insecurity faced by the community Many even hide their religious identity often posing as followers of other faiths to avoid harassment Social discrimination is exacerbated by economic exclusion as they get few opportunities and those who embrace their identity risk losing even the limited privileges they are offered Pakistan has consistently highlighted its historical richness by presenting Indus Valley relics and Mughal structures as symbols of its heritage However the Buddhist legacy has been marginalised in PakistanThe condition of Buddhists and their sacred spaces in Pakistan is not merely a matter of heritage preservation it is symptomatic of the broader intolerance that defines the states treatment of minorities When a community is reduced to invisibility and when the symbols of its history are left to decay the message is clear certain faiths are not welcome and certain pasts are not worth preserving In this light the plight of Buddhists in Pakistan is inseparable from the plight of other marginalised groups The erosion of Buddhist identity is one thread in a larger tapestry of exclusion that undermines pluralism and entrenches a monolithic narrative of nationhood the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/plight-of-pakistans-buddhists-and-crumbling-state-of-their-heritage-tell-story-of-abandonment-marginalisation-report-633942.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 22:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-troopers-thwart-animal-smuggling-attempt-along-india-bdesh-border-633776.html Kolkata Aug 23 The Border Security Force BSF has foiled an animal smuggling attempt along the IndiaBangladesh border in Nadia district of West Bengal an official said An African Serval Cat was rescued and handed over to the forest department The Serval is a rare wild small cat native to Africa It is widespread in subSaharan countries where it inhabits grasslands wetlands moorlands and bamboo thickets Across its range it occurs in protected areas and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countriesThe Serval is a slender mediumsized cat that stands 5462 cm 2124 in tall at the shoulder and has a weight range of approximately 918 kg 2040 lb It is characterised by a small head large ears a goldenyellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black and a short blacktipped tail The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body sizeIn the early hours of Friday troops of the 56 Bn BSF deployed at Border Outpost Natna Forward noticed a suspicious movement of 56 smugglers near the IBB They were attempting to cross over from Bangladesh into Indian territory Acting swiftly the BSF jawans challenged them and rushed forward On seeing the approaching BSF troops the smugglers panicked and fled back towards Bangladesh taking advantage of the dense vegetation a senior BSF official saidThe troops immediately launched a thorough search of the area During the search a rare wild cat suspected to be an African Serval Cat was found alive inside the wooden crate The rescued animal was taken into custody and handed over to the concerned forest department office for further action he addedCrossborder animal trafficking has turned into a major cause for concern for Indian border guarding troops Attempts are regularly made to smuggle exotic species across the international border These include all kinds of animals and birds Demand from private collectors promotes this illegal trade The price of a Serval in the Indian market can go up to Rs 600000The official commended the swift action by the troops that thwarted the smuggling attempt IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-troopers-thwart-animal-smuggling-attempt-along-india-bdesh-border-633776.html Sat, 23 Aug 2025 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-maldives-bilateral-trade-jumps-3-fold-in-last-7-years-632345.html New Delhi Aug 17 Bilateral trade between India and the Maldives has registered a more than 3fold jump over the past seven years from 223 million in 201718 to 680 million in 202425 according to official figures Indias exports to the Maldives rose from 217 million in FY 201718 to 561 million in FY 202425 while imports from the Maldives expanded from 6 million to 119 million during the same periodThe trade between the two countries is expected to increase further with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a Rs 4850 crore line of credit to the Maldives during his recent visit to the island nation last month Additionally PM Modi announced that discussions for a free trade agreement have also started between the two countriesIndia has decided to promote renewable energy in the Maldives and will share its experience in this sector with the Indian Ocean neighbourPM Modi visited the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu and attended the countrys 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour This also represented a turnaround in relations with the Muizzu government which came to power in 2023The turnaround in the bilateral ties assumes significance as President Muizzu known to be close to China was known for his antiIndia rhetoric while in the opposition as part of his political strategy to oust the earlier governmentThe Maldives is one of Indias key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous governments in MaleThis sentiment is embedded in Indias Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision which recognises that the security and prosperity of the region are inseparableIndias approach is grounded in the belief that small island nations are not peripheral actors in global affairs but are frontline states in the fight against climate change guardians of critical sea lanes and partners in maritime security The Maldives straddling vital shipping routes occupies a central place in Indias Indian Ocean strategy IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-maldives-bilateral-trade-jumps-3-fold-in-last-7-years-632345.html Sun, 17 Aug 2025 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-farmers-in-balochistan-criticise-govt-for-not-providing-funds-for-solarisation-632373.html Quetta Aug 17 Kissan Ittehad Pakistan KIP Chairman Khalid Hussain Bathh has slammed the Balochistan government for not providing funds to the farmers of Nasirabad Divisionthe only green belt of the province for converting agricultural tube wells to solar energy despite making promises local media reported on Sunday Addressing a press conference on Saturday he stated that tube wells have become nonoperational crops are drying up and farmers are facing huge financial losses due to the disruption of electricity supply Pakistans leading daily Dawn reported He stated that authorities had promised funds for solarisation to farmers However the approved funds have not been released so farElectricity connections were disconnected and the supply was shifted from threephase to twophase before the payments were made He stated that tube wells had become nonoperational and no water was flowing in the Rabi Canal while agriculture livestock and local communities were suffering badly due to the disruption of the electricity supplyThe KIP Chairman said that crops were destroyed due to the unavailability of irrigation water and there was even a shortage of drinking water After the Balochistan Irrigation Ministers assurances the farmers had sown crops however the seeds were destroyed due to water shortageBathh said No developmental initiatives such as skill development centres agricultural workshops or projects for women farmerswho work alongside men in the fieldshave been launched for their capacity buildingHe requested the government to announce a solar energy programme for farmers in the Rabi Canal Nari and Bolan areas who currently depend on diesel generators for irrigationIn February the Green Kissan Ittehad GKI rejected the 35 per cent tax on agricultural production in Balochistan and across the country implemented under International Monetary Fund IMF directive terming it a cruel and antifarmer measureWhile addressing a press conference GKI President Agha Lal Jan Ahmadzai called for providing compensation to farmers impacted by the construction of the QuettaKarachi Highway in Khuzdar Kalat Mangochar Mastung Surrab and other regions Dawn reportedHe mentioned that 75 per cent of people in Pakistan work in the agriculture sector which provides fruits vegetables and other agricultural products to Pakistan and contributes millions of rupees in taxes He noted that despite this the agriculture sector of Balochistan was on the verge of collapse IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-farmers-in-balochistan-criticise-govt-for-not-providing-funds-for-solarisation-632373.html Sun, 17 Aug 2025 20:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-to-expand-free-trade-agreements-to-boost-exports-foreign-exchange-632384.html Colombo Aug 17 The Sri Lankan government plans to sign more free trade agreements FTAs with foreign partners to diversify its export markets and boost foreign exchange earnings media reports said on Sunday citing a senior official Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe said market diversification is critical to building a competitive and resilient export sector Xinhua News Agency reportedHe noted that expanding trade partnerships will not only help diversify products but also strengthen integration into global supply chains The government is also focused on increasing value addition and building stronger brand recognition he saidAbeysinghe highlighted that Sri Lankas apparel exports generated more than 5 billion in 2024 The government aims to raise that figure to 8 billion by 2030In July the Sri Lankan government gazetted the Presidents Entitlements Repeal Bill aiming to abolish special privileges granted to former Presidents and their widowsThe bill follows cabinet approval to amend the Presidents Entitlements Act No 4 of 1986 The proposed changes are designed to end longstanding benefits for former presidents and their widowsSri Lanka currently provides a range of privileges for these groupsEarlier this year a government minister disclosed that the state spent more than Rs 11 billion about 37 million in 2024 on benefits for former PresidentsThe move to repeal these entitlements fulfils a key pledge of the current administrationOn July 22 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the publication of a draft bill to repeal the Presidents Entitlements Act effectively revoking special privileges granted to former Presidents and their familiesThe move is in line with the governments policy declaration Pohosath Ratak Lassana Jeewithayak which pledges to reduce state expenditure and promote accountability IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-to-expand-free-trade-agreements-to-boost-exports-foreign-exchange-632384.html Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-rights-group-accuses-authorities-of-conducting-surveillance-harassing-baloch-protesters-in-islamabad-631320.html Islamabad Aug 10 The Baloch families sitin in Islamabad demanding the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC leaders and an end to enforced disappearances in Pakistans Balochistan continued for the 26th consecutive day on Sunday even as the BYC accused the Pakistani authorities of maintaining road blocks conducting surveillance and harassing protesters instead of addressing their legitimate demands According to the BYC Baloch protesters including elderly women and young children continued to stay on the roadside without shelter amid scorching heat as authorities did not allow them to set up a camp The protesters held the banner with the message Stop Collective Punishment and Release BYC leaders The banners also featured pictures of BYC leaders including Mahrang BalochIn a statement shared on X BYC stated Today marks the 26th consecutive day of the Baloch families sitin in Islamabad held to demand the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC leaders and an end to enforced disappearances in Balochistan Amidst scorching heat these families including elderly women and young children remain on the roadside without shelter as authorities continue to deny them the right to set up a campThe road to the Islamabad Press Club remains sealed cutting them off from the space traditionally meant for victims to raise their voices Instead of addressing their legitimate demands Pakistani authorities maintain road blockades conduct surveillance and harass participants it addedOn August 8 the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP expressed grave concern over the escalating human rights crisis and deteriorating state of fundamental rights and civic freedoms in Balochistan A report of the factfinding mission of HRCP titled Balochistans Crisis of Trust revealed a disturbing pattern of continued enforced disappearances shrinking civic space erosion of provincial autonomy and unchecked impunity conditions that continue to fuel public alienation and political instability in the provinceEnforced disappearances emerged as the most urgent and widespread human rights concern during the mission Testimonies from political leaders civil society actors and law enforcement officials collectively point to the scale impunity and evolving character of this practice Accounts suggest that the phenomenon far from being isolated or exceptional has become systematic thereby undermining the rule of law and severely eroding public trust in state institutions the HRCP report readThe rights body also called for independent investigations into alleged reprisals against those who speak up against enforced disappearances The mission noted that while militant attacks targeting ordinary citizens including nonBaloch settlers are indefensible and must be prosecuted the passage of the AntiTerrorism Balochistan Amendment Act 2025 is deeply problematic It mentioned that the law permits 90day detentions without meaningful judicial oversight raising concerns about the potential for torture and abuseThe mission urged the Pakistani government to withdraw the Act and instead ensure that all counterterrorism efforts comply with the countrys human rights obligations According to the report electoral manipulation and the political sidelining of nationalist parties have severely undermined public trust in democratic processes in Balochistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-rights-group-accuses-authorities-of-conducting-surveillance-harassing-baloch-protesters-in-islamabad-631320.html Sun, 10 Aug 2025 22:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-security-forces-discover-weapons-ammunition-in-paktia-province-631276.html Kabul Aug 10 Afghan security forces have discovered a large amount of weapons and military equipment in the eastern Paktia province the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday The items were seized during a series of operations on the outskirts of Samkani and Ahmad Khil districts the ministry saidEarlier on August 4 Afghanistan police authorities discovered arms and ammunition including a RocketPropelled Grenade RPG in western Afghanistans Farah province the provincial police office said in a news releaseThe weaponry including an AK47 an RPG four hand grenades projectiles and other military equipment was found in a house in KhakeSafid district the news release addedIn a similar incident on July 27 the Afghan security forces discovered a mass weapon and ammunition cache in southern Afghanistans Uruzgan province seizing various types of arms along with a large quantity of ammunitionActing on a tipoff the security personnel launched an operation based on intelligence reports in Tirin Kot the capital of Uruzgan province and discovered weapons including six AK47 rifles a heavy machine gun PK machine guns rocket launchers and hundreds of hand grenadesAdditionally a substantial amount of ammunition and military equipment has been seized during the operationsTwo individuals were arrested in connection with the case Xinhua news agency reportedThe Afghan interim government has rounded up thousands of arms and a huge quantity of ammunition as part of efforts to stabilise the security situation across the warravaged country over the past threeandahalf yearsOn July 24 police discovered some 200 pieces of light and heavy firearms in the eastern Afghanistan Paktia province reported the staterun Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTAThe weaponry according to the stateowned media outlet includes 97 Kalashnikovs seven M16type assault rifles 86 stock pistols seven rocket launchers and many more types of arms and ammunitionThe official media outlet cited the police as adding that no one has the right to keep or carry arms illegallyIn similar operations police reported the discovery of arms and ammunition including an antiaircraft gun in Afghanistans northern Samangan province IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-security-forces-discover-weapons-ammunition-in-paktia-province-631276.html Sun, 10 Aug 2025 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-three-more-fatalities-due-to-dengue-raise-death-toll-to-92-630462.html Dhaka Aug 6 Three more people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours till Wednesday morning raising the death toll from the mosquitoborne disease in 2025 to 92 The fatalities have been recorded in the Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions and the Dhaka North City Corporation according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS During this period 428 more people were admitted to hospitals due to viral fever bringing the number of confirmed cases to 22812 in 2025 the United News of Bangladesh reportedAccording to the DGHS the new cases of dengue were reported in Barishal division 104 Dhaka division 74 Dhaka South City Corporation 62 Dhaka North City Corporation 51 Rajshahi division 50 Chattogram division 39 Khulna division 30 Mymensingh 14 and Rangpur 4Currently 1259 patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Bangladesh As many as 575 people lost their lives due to dengue in Bangladesh in 2024Last month the health authorities in Bangladesh issued fresh directives to all hospitals including the creation of feverflu corners in outdoor departments and keeping dedicated beds for dengue patients The DGHS also issued separate directives to hospitals for the treatment of people infected with Covid19 virus as the cases of Covid19 witnessed a rise in June but were now on a downward trend Bangladeshs The Daily Star reported last monthThe health authorities issued fresh directives as Bangladesh witnessed an outbreak of three diseases Covid19 dengue and chikungunya in June Health experts had warned that three diseases may overwhelm the healthcare system of Bangladesh until the authorities take swift and coordinated action Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan Director Hospital of DGHS who signed the directives on July 16 said Covid19 cases are showing a downward trend while dengue cases continue to increaseThe DGHS issued 16 directives to all private and government hospitals According to the directives all hospitals must establish a flufever corner at their outpatient departments Confirmed dengue cases must be categorised into A B and C groups on the basis of disease severity and people must be treated as per the national guidelines it saidGovernment hospitals have been directed to keep laboratory facilities for dengue testing in addition to keeping an adequate stock of dengue diagnostic kits Keeping in view the severity of the disease dengue patients should be admitted to the hospital or referred to higherlevel facilities if required According to the directive all the hospitals must have a trained and designated medical team for the treatment of dengue patientsHospitals have been instructed to ensure the availability of necessary intravenous IV fluids for dengue treatment and if required arrange procurement according to regulation The directive said that the fluid intake and output chart of the patients must be regularly recorded and monitored Hospitals have been asked to ensure adequate mosquito nets for admitted dengue patients IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-three-more-fatalities-due-to-dengue-raise-death-toll-to-92-630462.html Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-dark-side-of-the-new-political-order-meteoric-rise-of-fascist-forces-629838.html New Delhi Aug 3 Bangladeshs political theatre has always been animated its vibrancy often marred by episodes of violence that seem almost intrinsic to its narrative In the wake of Sheikh Hasinas ouster from power in August last year the country has been caught in a downward spiral of unrest with the streets increasingly overtaken by chaos and common citizens bearing the brunt of growing insecurity The interim government despite its stated commitment to restoring order appears unable or perhaps unwilling to rein in this spiralling disorderWith the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray a vacuum has emerged one that has not necessarily been filled with stability Instead political rivalries have intensified Formerly united in opposition to the League parties have begun turning on each other vying for dominance in an increasingly fragmented landscape Among them the National Citizens Party NCP born from the fervour of last Julys student uprising has emerged as a powerful and provocative force Its meteoric rise has further stoked tensions in a country still grappling with the remnants of its former ruling partys influenceThe Gopalganj incident on 16 July starkly illustrated the dark side of this new political order The NCPs ambitious crosscountry campaign titled March to Build the Country aimed to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising What began as a rally to showcase unity and purpose soon devolved into violence when NCP members clashed with elements of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra Leagueonce the student wing of the Awami League Reports confirmed that crude explosives were hurled resulting in five fatalities and over 50 injuries While the Awami League may be officially dissolved its grassroots presence and legacy evidently persistMore worryingly the clash also laid bare the NCPs own descent into authoritarian conduct The party which has for months championed the banning of the Awami League and vilified its supporters as fascists now finds itself mirroring the very traits it once condemned The violence in Gopalganja town symbolically tethered to Sheikh Mujibur Rahmanwas no accidentNCPs provocative choice of location viewed by many as an intentional attempt to desecrate Mujibs legacy has sparked fears of a coordinated campaign to erase the historical and ideological foundations of Bangladesh itselfIn recent months the NCP has positioned itself at the forefront of the national discourse pushing for three primary goals the permanent banning of the Awami League completion of the July Uprising trial and formal adoption of the July Charter as a foundational document The interim government initially resisted such moves The chief adviser had even remarked that it was up to the Awami League to decide whether or not to participate in elections But following the NCPs May demonstration in Dhaka the government changed course The Leagues registration was revoked by the Election Commission on 12 May and all its political activities were halted pending the outcome of the July trialsThe global community however did not take kindly to the move Several international observers condemned the decision as a deviation from democratic norms Banning the countrys oldest and arguably most historically significant political party has triggered concerns about the interim governments impartiality and the future of pluralistic politics in BangladeshWhile the NCP paints the Awami League as fascist it is becoming evident that the new party harbours its own ideological extremism The assault on Mujibism is no longer rhetorical There is a calculated effort underway to purge the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur RahmanBangabandhu the Father of the Nationfrom every public space Following Hasinas removal stateled actions have facilitated the removal of his portraits cancellation of holidays commemorating his achievements renaming of institutions rewriting of textbooks and even demolition of historical landmarks associated with himThe transformation is not limited to the political It extends to a cultural revolution aimed at redrawing the ideological map of the nation The existing Constitution promulgated in 1972 with secular and nationalist ideals derived from the Liberation War has come under attack The NCP backed by Islamist groups has denounced it as a Mujibbadi document and has called for the elimination of its core principles This demand challenges the very ethos of Bangladeshs struggle for freedom and its subsequent nationbuilding projectThe interim governments complicity is hard to ignore Rather than acting as a neutral custodian of national stability it has quietly enabled these measures The symbolic erasure of Mujibs legacy is most evident in the demolition of sites like Mirza Alam Chattar in Jamalpur and the Bangabandhu memorial in Jessoreboth being replaced with monuments commemorating the July Uprising These acts have drawn sharp criticism with citizens historians and civil society figures warning against rewriting history to suit the narrative of a single political factionNowhere is this more apparent than in Gopalganj the birthplace and burial site of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman The NCPs decision to hold a rally there was widely viewed as provocative Eyewitnesses and media reports suggest that NCP cadres some armed unleashed violence on civiliansallegedly with backing from military personnel deployed for crowd control The Bangladesh Armys involvement in the crackdown has raised serious questions about its neutrality The UKbased International Crime Research Foundation has called for a UNled investigation into what it describes as a premeditated assault on the mausoleum of Bangladeshs founding fatherThe silence of the interim government on the Gopalganj incident speaks volumes Many believe it to be tacit approval of the NCPs radical agenda Nahid Islam NCPs convenor has made increasingly inflammatory statements since the eventreferring to Gopalganj as a fascist stronghold and even going so far as to declare that Ziaur Rahman not Mujib was the true proclaimer of Bangladeshs independence Such remarks not only distort historical facts but seek to alter the collective memory of the nationIn effect the political violence in todays Bangladesh is not merely the result of power struggles It is deeply intertwined with a concerted campaign to dismantle Sheikh Mujibs ideological influence The NCPs insistence on an Awami Leaguefree Bangladesh betrays the principles of inclusive democracy No matter how tainted a party may appear in the court of public opinion true democratic practice demands space for all voicesincluding dissenting and unpopular onesThe Gopalganj tragedy has exposed a hard truth in trying to rid the nation of one form of political dominance Bangladesh may be sliding into anotherthis time cloaked in the rhetoric of revolutionary justice and popular sentiment But such a trajectory threatens not only the stability of the state but also the moral compass of its polity Erasing history however flawed is no path to genuine reformIn todays Bangladesh the lines between victim and aggressor fascist and liberator are increasingly blurred If the nation is to emerge from this era of polarisation and purges it must reclaim its commitment to truth reconciliation and political pluralismbefore another chapter of its history is written in blood IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-dark-side-of-the-new-political-order-meteoric-rise-of-fascist-forces-629838.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-probes-john-keells-over-alleged-rs-3-billion-tax-fraud-in-byd-ev-imports-628814.html New Delhi July 29 A major scandal has hit Sri Lankas electric vehicle sector with John Keells Holdings PLC JKH one of the countrys most prominent bluechip companies allegedly under investigation for a possible Rs 3 billion tax fraud The case reportedly involves the import of more than 1000 BYD Atto 3 electric SUVs under its subsidiary brand JKCG Auto according to reportsSri Lanka Customs has confirmed that a shipment of these vehicles was detained at the Port of Colombo amid a dispute over their declared motor capacity which determines the amount of import duty charged Lanka News reportedImport documents are said to have declared the vehicles as having 100kW motors which would place them in a lower tax bracket of around Rs 24 million per unitHowever inspections and independent technical assessments have reportedly raised concerns that the vehicles may actually be fitted with 150kW motors a specification that would require an import duty of about Rs 54 million eachThe difference in classification could amount to billions of rupees in unpaid taxesReports suggest that nearly all the vehicles in question have already been sold and registered to private buyersSome customers have allegedly been warned that they could face retroactive tax bills or even recalls if the investigation confirms the higher motor capacityJohn Keells Holdings has denied any wrongdoing stating that the vehicles were imported in full compliance with manufacturer documentation and that the Sri Lankan variant is tuned to 100kW similar to versions sold in Nepal and Singapore according to the reportThe Customs Directorate of Revenue Protection has reportedly begun a forensic investigation into every BYD Atto 3 imported since 2023 including vehicles already sold to customersIndustry observers warn that if over 1000 vehicles are reclassified as 150kW models buyers could face additional tax bills of up to Rs 4 million each potentially triggering a wave of legal disputes IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-probes-john-keells-over-alleged-rs-3-billion-tax-fraud-in-byd-ev-imports-628814.html Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-seize-illicit-drugs-in-badakhshan-province-628294.html Kabul July 27 Afghan counternarcotics police have discovered 57 kg of opium and arrested a suspected drug smuggler in Badakhshan province the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Sunday The contraband was discovered during a series of operations conducted on the outskirts of the Argo district of the province said the statement adding that one individual was arrested in connection with the caseOn July 24 Afghan security forces seized 1000 kg of illicit drugs and arrested two alleged drug smugglers in southern Afghanistans Zabul province the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statementThe opium was concealed inside a truck and discovered during a counternarcotic operation in Shahjoy district the ministry said Xinhua news agency reportedTwo individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking and their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation the statement saidThe Afghan national army thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs and detained three alleged drug smugglers in the southern Afghanistans Helmand province said an army spokesman in the region Jawed Agha on TuesdayThe contraband which included 730 kg of opium poppy and was placed in the cavities of a vehicle was identified and confiscated by the army personnel the official addedThey also discovered two assault rifles and two satellite phones in the possession of the arrested and handed them to the bodies concerned for further investigation the official saidPolice set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on July 20The contraband which included 130 kg of opium poppy 480 kg of methamphetamine and 660 pieces of stimulant tablets had been collected over the past two months and was burned publicly the official addedPolice wont allow anyone to produce process or traffic illegal drugs the official further said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-seize-illicit-drugs-in-badakhshan-province-628294.html Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/punjab-police-bust-cross-border-illegal-arms-smuggling-module-with-links-to-pak-626861.html Chandigarh July 17 Punjab Polices Counter Intelligence CI Amritsar has busted a crossborder illegal arms smuggling module with links to Pakistan and arrested one of its operative after recovering ten 30 bore sophisticated pistols along with magazines from his possession said Director General of Police DGP Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday The arrested man has been identified as Harjinder Singh a resident of Dall village in Tarn Taran The police said that he is a notorious narcotics smuggler with two cases pertaining to the NDPS Act has been registered against him and recently bailedout from jailThe development came a fortnight after CI Amritsar had busted a similar crossborder narcotics and illegal arms smuggling module with the arrest of its three operatives Sarabjit Singh and Kulwinder Singh both residents of Ferozepur and Ashmandeep Singh of Tarn Taran and recovered eight sophisticated weapons 1 kg heroin and Rs 29 lakh drug money from their possession DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused has been working in collusion with Pakistanbased smuggler who has been using drones to drop weapon consignments from across the border The accused was further distributing the arms to criminals and gangsters across Punjab with intention to fuel criminal activities in the state he said Sharing operation details the DGP said teams of CI Amritsar received specific intelligence about retrieval of weapons consignments from the IndoPak border area falling near Dall village Acting swiftly police teams have intercepted the suspect Harjinder Singh from near Bohru Pul on the AmritsarJhabal road when he was going to deliver the consignment to some party and recovered illegal weapons from his possession Further investigations are underway to establish linkages in this case and identify the person who was supposed to receive the consignment A case has been registered under Sections 25 251 A and 251 B of the Arms Act and Section 612 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS at the Police Station State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/punjab-police-bust-cross-border-illegal-arms-smuggling-module-with-links-to-pak-626861.html Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-chases-away-7-bangladeshi-infiltrators-along-indo-bangla-border-rescues-cattle-626654.html Kolkata July 16 The Border Security Force BSF foiled several smuggling attempts along the IndiaBangladesh Border IBB on Wednesday While seven Bangladeshi nationals attempting to enter India illegally were chased away 30 heads of cattle were rescued from cross border smugglers Drugs and other contraband were also seized These successes were reported from the North 24Parganas Nadia and Malda districts of West BengalBased on intelligence inputs regarding the smuggling of cattle within the jurisdiction of the Itaghati Border Outpost troops of the 88 Bn BSF went on high alert A special ambush team was also kept ready Around 430 am jawans in the ambush team noticed 2022 smugglers rapidly approaching the border fence with cattle The BSF jawans approached the smugglers and ordered them to stop The miscreants took to their heels taking advantage of the dark slushy ground and marshy terrain A search of the area led to the seizure of 17 large and eight mediumsized buffaloes a senior BSF official saidJawans of the 71 Battalion rescued 4 heads of cattle near the Boyraghat Border Outpost while one buffalo was rescued by troops at the Sovapur Border OutpostSeveral other successes happened during the day Jawans of the 146 Bn deployed at Narsaripara Border Outpost in the Nadia district seized 82 kg of Ganja whole troops of the 143 Bn recovered a consignment of banned and illegal medicines Additionally BSF troops monitoring the border in North 24 Parganas successfully prevented infiltration by driving back seven Bangladeshi nationals attempting to cross into Indian territory the official addedThe rescued cattle will be handed over to the Dhyan Foundation following the completion of the etagging process while the recovered medicines and other illegal items will be handed over to the concerned authorities for further legal actionThe Border Security Force is consistently undertaking stringent measures to curb smuggling and illegal infiltration The force is fully committed to eliminating all forms of illegal activity along the border Our jawans remain vigilant at all times and are fully prepared to thwart any attempt at smuggling or infiltration said N K Pandey DIG and spokesperson South Bengal Frontier BSF IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-chases-away-7-bangladeshi-infiltrators-along-indo-bangla-border-rescues-cattle-626654.html Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-apprehends-smuggler-along-indo-bangla-border-seizes-silver-ornaments-worth-rs-1649-lakh-626176.html Kolkata July 14 The Border Security Force BSF has apprehended a smuggler and seized 1671 kg silver ornaments along the IndiaBangladesh Border IBB in the North 24Parganas district of West Bengal The ornaments were being smuggled from India to Bangladesh Troops of the 143 Bn BSF posted at the Bithari Border Outpost had received credible intelligence input of an attempt to smuggle silver through their area of responsibility Based on this input all patrol units and checkpoints deployed at the concerned BOP were put on high alert Around 1055 am on Sunday the onduty jawans spotted a suspicious motorcyclist approaching from the direction of the Daharkanda village He was headed towards the Hakimpur village said NK Pandey DIG and spokesperson South Bengal Frontier BSFThe man was stopped and the suspicious jawans called a motor mechanic to the spot During a thorough inspection of the motorcycle 14 packets of silver ornaments were recovered hidden inside the tubes of the front and rear tyres The jawans acted swiftly and detained the smuggler on the spot and then took him to the Hakimpur BOP for further interrogation he addedThe silver was weighed and valued at the BOP The ornaments weighed 1671 kg and their value was estimated to be Rs 1649 lakhDuring questioning the apprehended smuggler revealed that he had received 14 packets of silver ornaments on the morning of July 13 Sunday from a person an Indian on the outskirts of the Bithari market He was supposed to deliver them to another person residing in Ghoshpara Hakimpur He was promised Rs 5000 for this job the DIG saidThe smuggler motorcycle and silver ornaments have been handed over to the concerned department for further legal actionAccording to an official smuggling of silver ornaments is a major racket along the IndoBangladesh border There is high demand for silver ornaments in Bangladesh but there arent sufficient craftsmen in that country to make highquality jewellery Hence silver is sent across the border to India where it is converted to ornaments and sent back DIG Pandey said that the BSF is taking strong measures to prevent smuggling along the IndoBangladesh Border and the force is fully alert to thwart any attempt of smuggling human trafficking and illegal infiltration IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-apprehends-smuggler-along-indo-bangla-border-seizes-silver-ornaments-worth-rs-1649-lakh-626176.html Mon, 14 Jul 2025 22:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/elon-musks-starlink-launches-satellite-internet-services-in-sri-lanka-nearing-india-entry-624006.html New Delhi July 2 Starlink the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk officially launched its services in Sri Lanka on Wednesday With this launch Sri Lanka has become the third country in South Asia and another of Indias neighbours after Bhutan and Bangladesh to get access to Starlinks internet servicesThe announcement was made by Starlink on social media platform X where the company said Starlinks highspeed lowlatency internet is now available in Sri LankaStarlink is getting closer to launching its services in India Last month the company received a key licence from the Department of Telecommunications DoT nearly three years after it had first appliedAccording to reports Starlink may start providing services in India within the next two monthsThe final step for Starlink to begin operations in India is a formal approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre INSPACeThe agency has already issued a draft letter of intent LOI to the company Once both sides sign this document Starlink will be officially cleared to roll out its services in the Indian marketStarlink provides internet through a network of satellites orbiting Earth The company currently operates the worlds largest constellation of satellites with more than 6750 in orbitAccording to the company Starlink offers fast internet with low delay making it suitable even for remote areas with limited connectivityIn Asia Starlink services are already available in several countries including Mongolia Japan the Philippines Malaysia Indonesia Jordan Yemen and AzerbaijanGlobally it serves users in over 100 countries offering both residential and roaming internet plansThe residential plans are usually offered in two categories Residential Lite for smaller households with lower data needs and Residential for larger families or heavier usage IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/elon-musks-starlink-launches-satellite-internet-services-in-sri-lanka-nearing-india-entry-624006.html Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-clears-all-pending-dues-to-adani-power-resolves-power-purchase-pact-623882.html New Delhi July 1 Reaffirming the Adani Power Ltd assets as a reliable and costcompetitive power source for meeting the countrys growing energy needs Bangladesh has made its single largest payment of 437 million last month clearing all pending dues to the company The neighbouring country has now requested Adani Power part of the diversified Adani Group to supply power from both units as per BPDB Bangladesh Power Development Board schedule since the dues are now settled according to sources on TuesdayThe payment includes carrying costs and issues related to the power purchase agreement PPAMoreover a Letter of Credit LC worth about two months of billing and sovereign guarantee for all dues as additional security has been established informed sources added The LCs are worth about two months of billing and a sovereign guarantee for all duesAdani Power supplies electricity to Bangladesh from a dedicated 1600 MW plant located in Godda district of Jharkhand meeting 10 per cent of the countrys power demandUnder the 2017 deal Adani Powers Godda power plant was to supply 100 per cent of the electricity generated from burning coal to Bangladesh for a period of 25 yearsBangladesh had in the past struggled to meet its payment obligations under the 2017 deal owing to rising import costs and domestic political issues As a result Adani halved its supply last year but full supplies were resumed in March 2025 after the countrys monthly payments started covering some of the duesOver the last couple of months Bangladesh has been paying 90100 million per month Last month the country paid 437 million This happened after the country suffered from increased power shortages in rural areasWith these developments lenders are now confident of improving Adani Power Ltds credit rating to AA from the current AA which will further bring down its cost of fundsAccording to sources the latest developments vindicate the contract established between the Bangladesh government and Adani Power IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-clears-all-pending-dues-to-adani-power-resolves-power-purchase-pact-623882.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/operation-sindoor-authorised-under-unsc-statement-demanding-action-against-pahalgam-terrorists-jaishankar-623733.html United Nations June 30 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the case on Monday that Operation Sindoor was authorised under the Security Council statement demanding action against those who carried out the Pahalgam massacre The Council statement on April 25 demanded that its perpetrators be held accountable and brought to justice Jaishankar said We have since seen that happenOperation Sindoor took out the terrorist site and leaders hosted by Pakistan who were behind terrorist attacks before Islamabad decided to escalate itWhat that response underlines is of larger significance the message of zero tolerance for terrorism he saidJaishankar was speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition The Human Cost of Terrorism at the UNThe interactive digital exhibition comes a day ahead of Pakistan becoming the president of the Council for the month of July and will be the first thing top diplomats coming into the UN building will seeIt portrays 40 years of terrorism from the 1985 downing of Air India flight by Canadabased terrorists to the Pahalgam killings by The Resistance Front an affiliate of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe 29 incidents on display take a panoramic view of the horrors across continents from the 911 attack on the US and the London bombings in 2005 to the 2003 Baghdad attacks the 2002 Bali attack and the Crocus City Hall killings last year in MoscowJaishankar did not directly mention Operation Sindoor or Pakistan but the reference to the Council statement made clear what he was referring toThe statement said The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators organisers financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justiceIt added that the Council members stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable and urged all states in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regardPakistan an elected member of the Council signed on to the statement that was issued unanimously because of the pressure from the other membersExplaining the rationale for the exhibition Jaishankar said that terrorism is the antithesis of what the UN stands for and when terrorism is supported by a state against its neighbour and when the bigotry of extremism drives a whole host of illegal activities it is imperative to call it outOne way of doing so is to display the havoc it has wreaked on the global society he saidTodays exhibition is not merely a presentation of images videos and histories it is a statement of our shared responsibilities to fight terrorism he addedIndias Permanent Representative P Harish said the exhibition is a statement of our shared humanity to the gallery of human courage each moment each memory each artefact and every word tells the story of ordinary men and women IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/operation-sindoor-authorised-under-unsc-statement-demanding-action-against-pahalgam-terrorists-jaishankar-623733.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/the-living-buddhas-epic-journey-to-save-tibets-identity-623631.html Dharamsala June 30 Sixtysix years ago the 14th Dalai Lama disguised as a soldier left Norbulingka Palace in Tibet a Third Pole and escaped into exile in India after his challenging 14day journey Since then the longest most respectable staying guest of the Indian government who often says he is enjoying every possible liberty has been toeing a path of promoting human values religious harmony besides preserving Tibetan language and culture the heritage received from the masters of Indias Nalanda UniversityTenzin Gyatso 14th Dalai Lama with a retinue of soldiers and Cabinet Ministers escaped into exile on March 17 1959 after China crushed an uprising in TibetHe is turning 90 on July 6Globetrotting the Dalai Lama who is considered a living Buddha of compassion in his latest book In Voice for the Voiceless offers insights into his decadeslong dealings with ChinaIn the book the Dalai Lama a reincarnation of past Dalai Lamas reminds the world of Tibets unresolved struggle for freedom and the hardship his people continue to face in their homelandThe book captures his extraordinary life uncovering what it means to lose your home to a repressive invader and build a life in exile dealing with the existential crisis of a nation its people and its culture and religion and envisioning the path forwardHe was 16yearsold when Communist China invaded Tibet in 1950 only 19 when he had his first meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing and 25 when he was forced to escape to India and became a leader in exileOn reaching India after treacherous journey the Dalai Lama first took up residence for about a year in Mussoorie in UttarakhandOn March 10 1960 just before moving to Dharamsala a town perched on the upper reaches of north Indias Kangra Valley the Dalai Lama had said For those of us in exile I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions We Tibetans would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for TibetAt present India is home to around 100000 Tibetans and the governmentinexileThe Commandant of the Assam Rifles presented a guard of honour to the 14th Dalai Lama in Tawang on setting his foot on the Indian soil in 1959In an emotional reunion the Dalai Lama in April 2017 met and embraced Havildar retired Naren Chandra Das of the Assam Rifles the lone survivor of Indian personnel who were the first to receive him 58 years agoHowever the Havildar passed away at the age of 83 in December 2021After arriving in India the 14th Dalai Lama held his first press conference on June 20 1959 in MussoorieThe Dalai Lama whom Beijing regards as a dangerous splittist considers the Nobel peace laureate a dangerous separatistIn a first the Dalai Lama in May 2011 formally stepped down as head of the Tibetan governmentinexile ending the 369year old tradition of the Dalai Lamas holding dual responsibility of spiritual and temporal powersSubsequently most of the administrative and political powers rest with the democraticallyelected Prime Minister first by Lobsang Sangay for two consecutive terms and now by Penpa TseringI have now voluntarily brought this to an end proud and satisfied that we can pursue the kind of democratic system of government flourishing elsewhere in the world the Dalai Lama had saidBut the moot question now is Is Tibetan spiritual leader going to create another history of sorts by reversing the more than 600yearold tradition of following the lineage of the Dalai LamaHis followers believe the Dalai Lama is considering alternative scenariosOne could be simply ending the system another would see him leaving written instructions about the reincarnation process if an opinion did not favour its abolitionAlso the Dalai Lamas followers firmly believe that before he dies his incarnation could be found most probably in India the birthplace of BuddhismAll these probabilities will discussed threadbare at the threeday 15th Tibetan Religious Conference from July 2 in Dharamsala where Buddhist leaders including heads and representatives of all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Kagyu Nyingma and Sakya will meetThe Dalai Lama will address the conference virtually on July 2My reincarnation is to be decided by myself nobody has the right to decide about that the Dalai Lama respected by millions as a living god often said in his remarksLiving in exile in India for more than six decades the longing to see his homeland is still fresh in the mind of the Dalai LamaYes I remain optimistic that I will be able to return to Tibet China is in the process of changing the Dalai Lama wrote on his website dalailamacomHe considers himself a son of IndiaAll particles in my mind contain thoughts from Nalanda And its Indian dal and chapati that has built this body I am mentally and physically a son of India the Dalai Lama in his addresses is often quoted as sayingIndia and Tibet share a relationship of guru teacher and chela disciple When I see some part of my guru being corrupt as a chela I feel ashamedTime and again a demand from Indian Parliamentarians and his believers is being raised that India should confer its highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on him in recognition of his services to humanityThe 14th Dalai Lama was born on July 6 1935 in a small village in the remote Amdo region of TibetVishal Gulati can be contacted at vishalgiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/the-living-buddhas-epic-journey-to-save-tibets-identity-623631.html Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/tripura-bjp-stages-protest-over-vandalism-at-tagores-ancestral-home-in-bdesh-621253.html Agartala June 14 Ruling BJP in Tripura on Saturday staged statewide protests along the Bangladesh border protesting the recent attack and vandalism of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the neighbouring country BJP sources said that the protests were held in more than six places in six districts along Tripuras border with Bangladesh Senior leaders including ministers led the protest rallies in Agartala Udaipur Belonia Kailashahar Dharmanagar and Khowai State BJP General Secretary and MLA Bhagaban Das who led a protest rally in Agartala Akhaura Integrated Check Post said A barbarie incident of attack and vandalisation at the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh has shocked people in India Das a former minister said that such an attack on the shared cultural heritage is totally unacceptable There must be a limit to such atrocious actions The properties and heritage relating to towering cultural icon like Tagore has not been spared in Bangladesh Such acts are unforgivable crime he told the media Das also lambasted that the interim government in Bangladesh headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus entirely failed to maintain law and order of the country creating unprecedented unrest The BJP leader informed that protests would also be held on June 16 in all assembly constituencies in Tripura On June 8 a mob attacked and vandalised the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh also known as Rabindra Kachharibari or Rabindra Memorial Museum in Sirajganj district Media reports said that the attackers also assaulted a director of the institution Situated in Shahzadpur in Rajshahi division Rabindra Kachharibari is the ancestral home and revenue office of the Tagore family Many of Tagores literary works came up while living in this mansion Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also condemned the attack and vandalisation of Tagores ancestral home in Bangladesh and termed it as an attack on our culture and heritage He said that the act was a strongly condemnable and shameful incident to the entire nation Tagore is the architect of the national anthem of both India and Bangladesh Saha said in his Facebook post and demanded exemplary punishment for those who are involved in the shocking incident The interim government of Bangladesh needs to act strongly the Chief Minister said BJP Tripura state president and Rajya Sabha member Rajib Bhattacharjee also condemned the vandalisation of Tagores home in Bangladesh and termed the act as a blow to literature culture and humanism India on June 12 strongly condemned the vandalism of Tagores ancestral home in Bangladesh describing it as part of a systematic pattern by extremists to undermine the countrys syncretic cultural heritage Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had termed the June 8 attack on the Rabindra Kachharibari as a despicable act and a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy of the Nobel Laureate IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/tripura-bjp-stages-protest-over-vandalism-at-tagores-ancestral-home-in-bdesh-621253.html Sat, 14 Jun 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/kharge-slams-us-pakistan-moves-seeks-all-party-meet-on-foreign-policy-620898.html New Delhi June 12 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday expressed grave concern over two recent international developments calling them deeply troubling for Indias diplomatic standing and national interest He has also demanded an allparty meeting and a special session of Parliament since day one Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government should take suggestions from the opposition hold discussions and decide the national strategy in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister he saidThis has happened many times before This will be essential in the national interest he emphasised In a strongly worded post on his X handle Kharge has pointed to the United States Central Command CENTCOM chief General Michael Kurillas recent praise of Pakistan as a phenomenal counterterrorism partner and the subsequent invitation extended to Pakistans Army Chief General Asim Munir to attend the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army in Washington on June 14General Kurillas remarks made during a testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee have sparked political debate in India He credited Pakistans military with capturing highvalue ISISKhorasan operatives and emphasised the need for the US to maintain strategic ties with both India and PakistanThe invitation to General Munir who is also expected to meet senior US officials during his visit comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Indias retaliatory Operation SindoorKharge also condemned the recent vandalism at the ancestral residence of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Sirajganj Bangladesh The Rabindra Kachharibari now a museum was attacked by a mob following a dispute between a visitor and staff over a parking feeThe incident escalated into violence with parts of the premises damaged and staff reportedly assaulted Authorities in Bangladesh have launched an investigation and temporarily closed the site to the publicCalling these developments extremely worrying Kharge reiterated the Congress longstanding demand for an allparty meeting and a special session of Parliament to discuss Indias foreign policy challengesHe urged Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government to engage the opposition in meaningful dialogue and formulate a cohesive national strategy in the presence of the Prime Minister and the External Affairs MinisterThis has happened many times before Kharge said referring to past instances of bipartisan consultations on foreign policy It is essential in the national interest that we speak with one voice on matters of international importanceThe Congress leaders remarks come amid growing calls from opposition parties for greater transparency and inclusivity in Indias foreign policy decisionmaking especially in light of shifting geopolitical alignments and regional security concernsThe Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue an official response to either the CENTCOM chiefs comments or the invitation to General MunirMeanwhile the vandalism in Bangladesh has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum in India with both the BJP and Trinamool Congress calling for accountability and protection of shared cultural heritage IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/kharge-slams-us-pakistan-moves-seeks-all-party-meet-on-foreign-policy-620898.html Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-reports-over-25-000-dengue-cases-so-far-this-year-620373.html Colombo June 9 Over 25000 dengue cases have been reported in Sri Lanka so far this year said the National Dengue Control Unit on Monday A total of 25055 cases and 13 denguerelated deaths have been reported during this period Priscilla Samaraweera a community specialist at the National Dengue Control Unit said at a press conferenceMore than 50 per cent of the cases have been reported from the Western Province the countrys most populous region she saidSamaraweera urged the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and take precautions during the morning and evening hours when dengue mosquitoes are most active Xinhua news agency reportedThe Ministry of Education has issued instructions to prevent the spread of dengue and chikungunya in schools across Sri Lanka as cases of both are on the rise in the countryAccording to the World Health Organisation dengue symptoms can range from asymptomatic infection or mild illness to severe disease An estimated 1 in 4 dengue virus infections are symptomatic Symptomatic dengue virus infection most commonly presents as a mild to moderate acute febrile illnessInfection with one of the four dengue viruses will induce longlived immunity for that specific virus Because there are four dengue viruses people can be infected multiple times in their lives Early clinical findings are nonspecific but require a high index of suspicion because recognising early signs of shock and promptly initiating intensive supportive therapy can reduce the risk of death among patientsSymptoms include high fever headache rash and muscle and joint pain It may also cause nausea and vomiting In severe cases there is serious bleeding and shock which can be lifethreateningTreatment includes symptom management which might include fluids and pain relievers Severe cases require hospital care IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-reports-over-25-000-dengue-cases-so-far-this-year-620373.html Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-army-acts-as-custodian-of-ideologies-religion-former-diplomat-dp-srivastava-620214.html New Delhi June 8 Former Indian diplomat DP Srivastava stated that Pakistans Army challenges the concept of sovereignty by acting as a custodian of ideologies and religion rather than focusing on national frontiers like the military forces of other nations Srivastava also slammed the radical Islamist ideology in Pakistan which pits the nation against its neighbouring countries including IndiaIn an interview with IANS the former diplomat also talked about Pakistani Armys Field Marshal General Asim Munirs April 16 speech just days before the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent people lost their lives at the hands of terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front TRF an offshoot of Pakistanbased terror outfit LashkareTaibaHe hailed Operation Sindoor and said that it reflected a major shift in Indias security doctrine He also commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modis G7 inviteThe following are the excerpts from the interviewIANS Could you tell us something about your book Pakistan Ideologies Strategies and InterestsDP Srivastava My postings took me to Karachi Pakistan and the early 1990s I dealt with Pakistan among other issues in the UN division of the Ministry of External Affairs for eight years in the 90s and during this I dealt with Kashmir talks to the Pokhran nuclear test and Kargil The inspiration for the book came from my posting to Karachi where I heard the phrase NazariaePakistan which means the ideology of Pakistan This is the very phrase used by Gen Munir who mentioned this in his speech on April 16 days before the Pahalgam terror attack My book traces the interpretation of ideology and elite interest in the making of Pakistans domestic and foreign policyIANS What is the ideology of Pakistan Gen Asim Munir mentioned superior ideology and the twonation theory in his speech on April 16 What is this ideologyDP Srivastava The ideology of Pakistan remains vague due to various influential factors within the country In 1972 two provincial governments were dismissed and the principal opposition party the National Awami Party was banned after the Supreme Court of Pakistan stated that the party was contrary to the ideology of Pakistan Notably this occurred before the formation of the countrys new constitution indicating that the ideology preceded the Constitution in PakistanThere are different views of what this ideology is Iqbal who is known as the best explainer of Pakistani ideology said that in Islam religion and state are integral to each other so he ruled out the idea of secularism and he also opposed the idea of nationalismIqbal also stressed the concept of Umma which is panIslamism and these are the concepts at the root of Pakistans current trouble where the jihadi groups do not accept the supremacy of the Parliament the sovereignty of which is also challenged by the Army The jihadi philosophy has always pitted Pakistan against its neighbours including what they call the Hindu India Shia Iran and Sunni AfghanistanIANS What is the mindset of the Pakistan ArmyDP Srivastava To understand the mindset Pakistan Army one should go back to Gen Asim Munirs April 16 speech where he reminded his Pakistani audience that they belong to a superior ideology What is this ideology one may ask Former Pakistani President Ayub Khan described it as IslamIt is very strange that the Pakistani army chiefs talk about ideology and Islam In other nations the armies protect the national frontiers while in Pakistan the army has become a custodian of ideologies and religion Seems like Gen Munir has assumed the priest and a generalThe Pakistani army has institutionalised its role in the running of the government where the civilian parties have taken the backseat This mindset is also reflected in the neglect of socioeconomic indicators Pakistans army regards itself as the state and it has this mindset has led to excessive defensive expenditure to the neglect of economic indicatorsIANS How do you see Operation Sindoor Is it part of a larger strategic shift in Indias security policy against Pakistansponsored crossborder terrorismDP Srivastava Operation Sindoor represents a strategic shift in Indias security doctrine as the Prime Minister has underlined Pakistan has used the threat of escalation to the nuclear level in the case of Indias conventional response to subconventional threats like terror attacksThis time however there was no statement from the Pakistani side about nuclear escalation during Operation Sindhoor So Pakistans bluff has been called that it cannot escalate a local conflict or deter India from a military response to a terror attack and this is a major shift in the paradigm It also sends a message to the global community that India will exercise its right of selfdefence and we have the strength to do so We did that in a very responsible manner We avoided escalationThe escalation came mostly from the Pakistani side Indias initial strike was only against the terror camps We avoided hitting any Pakistani civil or military installation It was Pakistan which attacked Indian Air Force bases and that forced India to attack Pakistani military installations and that brought Pakistan quickly to its knees The Pakistani DGMO called his Indian counterpart begging for a ceasefire This message has also gone home and has been understood well by the international communityIANS Prime Minister Modi has accepted an invitation by Canadian PM Mark Carney to the G7 Summit Do you think this will help mend the strained IndiaCanada tiesDP Srivastava The Prime Minister has accepted the invitation to go to the G7 summit So the focus will be on global issues not on bilateral relations But of course when the leaders meet they discuss the entire range of issues and this will be a good opportunity to bring the bilateral relations back on an even keelWe had good relations with Canada and I believe theres a better understanding of the Indian position in the new government there about the impact of terrorism And I think the new government is unlikely to use these incidents as an electoral card So we hope that this visit will bring about a clearer understanding between the two countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-army-acts-as-custodian-of-ideologies-religion-former-diplomat-dp-srivastava-620214.html Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-red-flags-800-million-adb-aid-package-to-pakistan-619547.html New Delhi June 4 IANS India has expressed deep concerns over the potential misuse of the 800 million ADB aid package to Pakistan as the country is increasing its defence expenditure despite the poor fiscal position with the army exercising de facto control over the government in IslamabadnbspThe army top brass now leads the Special Investment Facilitation Council which gives it more control over the economic policy India has warned that this entrenched military role poses serious risks of policy reversal and poor reform implementation according to reliable sourcesPakistans taxGDP ratio has been declining with the country going through an economic crisis The foreign exchange reserves have hit rock bottom and inflation has soared to doubledigit figures However despite the dire economic situation the militarydriven government has gone for increasing expenditure on defencenbspIndia has also pointed out that Pakistan has a very poor track record in implementing the economic reforms that are mandatory with these aid packages from multilateral institutionsIndias concern is that these funds can be diverted for defence expenditure The fighter jets purchased from China and the large number of drones used by Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor reflect the increased spending on military hardware an official saidnbspIt pointed out that Pakistan recently approached the International Monetary Fund IMF for the 24th bailout indicating policy ineffectiveness This further shows that the previous ADB and IMFsupported programmes have failed to create sustainable macroeconomic stabilityIndia has also highlighted that Pakistans policy of promoting crossborder terrorism has led to a worsening of the security situation in the regionnbspIt has further pointed out that Islamabads track record on implementation of the FATF action points related to terrorist financing investigations and prosecution of leaders of UNdesignated terrorist groups and freezing and confiscation of criminal assets is also highly unsatisfactory https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-red-flags-800-million-adb-aid-package-to-pakistan-619547.html Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-anti-yunus-wave-a-tale-of-democratic-disillusionment--619073.html New Delhi June 1 Nine months ago Bangladesh seemed to be basking in the sunlit uplands of promise and reform Today that same horizon is cloaked in a gathering storm of disenchantment The protagonist of this tragicomic reversal is none other than Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus whose ascent to interim leadership had been hailed as a beacon of hope in the aftermath of the July uprising Alas the euphoric optimism that once accompanied his stewardship has now metamorphosed into a widespread disillusionment manifesting in an unmistakable antiYunus sentiment that now pervades the streets the institutions and the collective psyche of the nationThe chief advisor of the interim government a mantle donned by Dr Yunus in the wake of broadbased endorsement from civil society political parties and the military now finds himself grappling with an existential crisis Recently he even alluded to the possibility of resigningan act born out of sheer frustration with the worsening political quagmire that envelops the countryOne could argue that the malaise he now finds so unpalatable is in fact the bitter fruit of the very seeds he sowedThis interim regime was conceived with two noble mandates to administer the countrys affairs with competence and impartiality and to organise credible elections that would restore democratic order The expectations lofty as they were were matched by the confidence reposed in YunusYet from the moment he began articulating his grand vision for reform a chasm began to open up between the ruling elite and the very constituencies that had welcomed his leadership That chasm now a yawning abyss has been further deepened by policies deemed unilateral decisions perceived as authoritarian and legislative overreach that has alarmed not only domestic stakeholders but also international watchdogsThe interim government though not bound by a term limit was implicitly expected to be transienta temporary custodian of the nations polity akin to previous caretaker administrations that functioned within a threemonth window An October 2024 survey by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance SIPG revealed that 53 per cent of Bangladeshs electorate favoured a shorter tenure for the interim regimeAnd yet Yunus and his coterie of advisors appeared to prioritise an ambitious reform agenda over the foundational necessity of conducting timely elections This insistence on structural overhauls however wellintentioned was interpreted by political factions as a veiled attempt to prolong their unelected stewardship Unsurprisingly the corridors of power began to echo with murmurs of discontent which soon spilled out onto the streets as vociferous protestsYunuss recurrent orations on the indispensability of reform far from rallying support only exacerbated intraparty divisions and engendered legislative initiatives that many deemed deeply problematic It was only under the relentless pressure of sustained public mobilisation and political lobbying that he eventually offered a tentative election timelineinitially between December 2025 and June 2026 later postponed to FebruaryJune 2026Even this delay might have been tolerable had the government presented a cogent roadmap Instead its dithering only fuelled suspicions regarding the true motives of the interim regimeFurther aggravating matters were remarks from the home advisor suggesting that the people wished the interim government to remain in power for five more years coupled with Yunuss own ambiguous assertion that the government would stay as long as people want them toThese statements only lent credence to the theory that the interim regime had grown too fond of the reins of power to relinquish them voluntarily The military once a tacit partner in this experiment began to show signs of unease the Army Chiefs pronouncement that elections ought to be held by December served as a subtle yet unequivocal rebukeBut the discontent was not limited to electoral matters Yunus foray into foreign policy through his proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor into Myanmars Rakhine State unleashed a torrent of indignation Critics including representatives from across the political spectrum and within the armed forces interpreted the move as a dangerous compromise on national sovereigntyThe lack of consultation preceding the decision only intensified the backlash with the Army Chief warning that such a corridor could turn into a bloody passage risking both geopolitical entanglements and national prideIn a similar vein Yunuss decision to grant operational rights of the Chattogram port to a foreign conglomeratean action undertaken after a visit to the port citywas perceived as a reckless concession jeopardising the countrys economic independence Once again the absence of multiparty dialogue before arriving at such a consequential decision rendered the act deeply unpopularPerhaps the most egregious misstep of the interim government has been its legislative adventurism shrouded under the aegis of reform but widely regarded as a political vendetta Ordinances such as the Cyber Protection Act amendments to the International Crimes Tribunals Act and the Enforced Law Ordinance have drawn widespread ireHuman Rights Watch along with a litany of local and international organisations has condemned these measures as a direct assault on fundamental freedoms and civil liberties Ironically Yunus long a critic of authoritarianism now finds himself accused of replicating the very autocracy he once decriedCivil society once his staunchest ally has now turned against him Student bodies public sector workers and professionals have joined hands in a synchronised chorus of resistance Since November 2024 the readymade garments sectorlong the engine of Bangladeshs export economyhas been rocked by incessant strikes over unpaid wages and demands for a higher minimum wageThe governments belated wage hike did little to mollify the workers especially against the backdrop of a punishing inflation rate that reached 917 per cent in April 2025The decision to bifurcate the National Board of Revenue NBR into separate entities for policy and administration proved to be yet another selfinflicted wound Intended to boost efficiency the reform instead provoked a fullscale strike bringing the nations importexport operations to a grinding haltEmployees demanded not just the repeal of the ordinance but also the removal of the NBR Chairman and full transparency regarding the recommendations provided by international financial institutions which many suspect imposed such changes as a precondition for aid Though the government eventually withdrew the ordinance the wounds of mistrust remain unhealedIf all this were not sufficient the passage of the Public Service Amendment Ordinance marked a new nadir in the regimes credibility The law empowering the government to summarily dismiss civil servants without due process was widely dubbed a black lawa sinister tool for silencing dissent and cementing executive overreachThe Secretariat protests that followed brought administrative services to a halt The governments response Deployment of paramilitary forcesBGB RAB and SWATin a move chillingly reminiscent of the very regime that the July uprising had deposed for its fascist tendenciesThus from its idealistic inception to its current state of nearpariahdom the Yunusled interim administration stands accused of squandering a rare moment of national unity and aspiration The disillusionment is not confined to the elite or the intelligentsiait has seeped into the veins of the working class the bureaucracy and the youthThe antiYunus wave is no longer a metaphor it is a sociopolitical reality as palpable as it is vociferousIn a tragic irony the man once revered as a symbol of ethical governance and visionary leadership now finds himself at the receiving end of mass resentment His regime intended to be a transitional bridge to democracy now risks becoming an impediment to the very process it was meant to safeguardAs Bangladesh hurtles through this phase of democratic disenchantment one is reminded of the immortal words of Charles Dickens It was the best of times it was the worst of times For Dr Yunus the pendulum has decidedly swung to the latterAs the sun begins to set on this interim regimes moral authority let us hope the next dawn brings with it a renewed commitment to democratic integrity For the soul of Bangladesh can only be nourished not by decrees and dogmas but by the oxygen of participatory governance civil liberties and above all the sovereign will of its people IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshs-anti-yunus-wave-a-tale-of-democratic-disillusionment--619073.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 23:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/icg-holds-weapons-training-camp-hoshiyar-25-to-keep-itself-prepared-618784.html Kolkata May 30 The Indian Coast Guard ICG district headquarters at Haldia in West Bengal organised its annual weapons training camp Hoshiyar25 from May 2630 ICG units from Kolkata Haldia and Frazerganj participated in the camp Such camps are very important Though ICG personnel are armed during operations and all vessels carry weapons a firing solution is seldom reached The ICG is engaged in both saving lives at sea and preventing smuggling poaching piracy or any infiltration attempt Normally the presence of an ICG vessel is enough to deter miscreants They either make a run for it or give up Under these circumstances it is important to keep all personnel prepared in the handling of all kinds of weapons at our disposal an official saidThe camp involved practice in the use of a variety of weapons as well as a refresher course on how to react to a certain situationThe camp was of particular importance due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22India launched Operation Sindoor as a response on May 7 causing severe damage to terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir For the next four days the Indian and Pakistani armed forces were engaged in a military confrontation that ended with an understanding on May 10Terror outfits based in Pakistan such as the LashkareTaiba and the JaisheMohammed have threatened to carry out attacks on India This is where the exercise gains further importance The 2611 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 were launched by the LashkareTaiba by seaAll participants were trained with due impetus on hostile boarding norms buddy operations and weapons handling For the first time ever the Central Industrial Security Force CISF participated in the training focusing on tactical integration and safe practice sharing Live firing at the Barrackpore range a musketeer competition and seamanship activities were integral part of the camp The camp was aimed to boost crew competency and steer ICG in safeguarding maritime environment and national interests of our nation within the EEZ the official addedThe CISF is in charge of security at vital installations in West Bengal including the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port facilities at Haldia and Kolkata and the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd The joint training was therefore crucial an official saidThe camp focused on team building selfmanagement command and control orders for ICG to maintain its ready relevant and responsive posture IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/icg-holds-weapons-training-camp-hoshiyar-25-to-keep-itself-prepared-618784.html Fri, 30 May 2025 22:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/op-sindoor-timeline-clear-pakistan-was-told-after-strikes-says-eam-jaishankar-618152.html New Delhi May 26 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Monday issued a sharp rebuttal to the Congress accusation that Pakistan was tipped off before India launched Operation Sindoor the precision military strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoK on May 7 Setting the record straight at a Consultative Committee Meeting CCM of the Ministry of External Affairs Jaishankar said Pakistan was informed 30 minutes after terror hubs were struckHe added that the Foreign Secretary was briefed poststrike followed by an official Press Information Bureau PIB statement after which the Director General of Military Operations DGMO conveyed details of the operation to his Pakistani counterpartThis is a dishonest misrepresentation of facts Jaishankar said referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhis claims that Indias foreign policy had collapsed and that the country was being hyphenated with PakistanOperation Sindoor was Indias measured and nonescalatory response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack where 26 civilians were brutally killed Nine terror launchpads across PoK and Pakistani territory were neutralised in a 25minute operation using precisionguided munitions and drone coordinationThe strikes triggered a military response from Pakistan which attempted to target Indian cities using drones and artillery all of which were successfully repelled by Indian forcesWhile the two nations agreed to an understanding for cessation of military action on May 10 Pakistan violated the pact within hours India responded with a firm warning any future violation would be met with fierce retaliationPrime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address showcased satellite images of the destroyed terror camps calling the strikes a picture of Indias resolve courage and changing mindsetTo counter international narratives India has also deployed seven allparty delegations to key global capitals clarifying its stance on crossborder terrorism and Operation SindoorThe clear message from India is that terrorism will no longer go unanswered and the narrative will not be dictated by misinformation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/op-sindoor-timeline-clear-pakistan-was-told-after-strikes-says-eam-jaishankar-618152.html Mon, 26 May 2025 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/the-cost-of-power-how-pakistans-military-economy-is-undermining-its-future--617957.html New Delhi May 25 Pakistans enduring economic difficulties are well recognised globally In recent years the nation has experienced alarming inflation an ongoing crisis in foreign exchange reserves and an overwhelming debt burden These issues have led to widespread unemployment increased poverty and daily hardships for a population already caught in the crossfire of recurring terrorist violence and military operations ostensibly aimed at countering it Nevertheless despite this worsening scenario and the harsh effects of austerity measures imposed by the IMF on the populace Pakistans disproportionately large military appears unaffected and is in fact gradually expanding its share of the national economyThe expansive role of the military in Pakistans domestic affairs extends beyond politics and foreign policy significantly permeating the economic sphere To begin with the military absorbs a substantial portion of the GDP Pakistans defence expenditure for FY 2025 stood at 23 per cent of GDP exceeding equivalent figures for India China and the European UnionAccording to study by a leading business portal Pakistans defence budget experienced an annual growth rate of 126 per cent between FY17 and FY25 compared to Indias 8 per cent In contrast education and healthcare were allocated merely 2 per cent and 13 per cent of the GDP respectivelyIn addition the military has developed an extensive private conglomerate commonly referred to as the milbus military business a term introduced by prominent scholar Ayesha Siddiqa in her seminal work Military Inc Inside Pakistans Military EconomyThrough a network of commercial enterprises including the Fauji Foundation Army Welfare Trust Shaheen Foundation Bahria Foundation and the highly contentious Defence Housing Authority DHA the military has embedded itself across numerous sectors such as real estate banking manufacturing agriculture shipping education and media Some estimates suggest that the military controls approximately 12 per cent of the nations landAlthough the military and its proponents contend that the professionalism stability and efficiency it represents are reflected in its economic endeavours many critics challenge the monopolistic expansive and opaque nature of this military dominanceDefenceoperated industries suppress local competition and private enterprise while benefiting from tax concessions and minimal regulatory oversightBy blurring the boundary between protector and profiteer the military prioritises strategic positioning and its own commercial gain over public welfare and principles of market equity These concerns are amplified when certain ventures become entangled in corruption scandals such as the DHA Valley Islamabad fraud or disregard public interests as seen in the Indus canals initiativeThe DHAinitially established to offer affordable housing for retired military personnel but now catering to elite residential projectshas faced widespread criticism over questionable land acquisitions and community displacements to benefit the privileged Moreover the inclusion of senior military officials in the 2021 Pandora Papers exposed the extent to which they funnel vital national assets through offshore financial channelsThe milbus in Pakistan has not only exacerbated the persistent and severe underinvestment in human development but the militarys substantial economic influence also reinforces its political dominance within the country It is well established that the military remains the most powerful institution in Pakistan having governed directly for nearly three decades and exerting significant influence behind the scenes during periods of civilian administrationGiven the militarys pervasive control over the economy civilian governments are largely stripped of the ability to make independent decisions based on the needs and interests of the populaceThus the expansive economic domain of the military in Pakistan has a direct impact on the nations socioeconomic stability On one hand defenceoperated enterprisesshielded from public audits and regulatory scrutinycreate monopolies that undermine local businesses deplete public resources and significantly intensify inequalityOn the other hand the milbus entrenches authoritarianism rendering civilian governments largely symbolic At a time when the countrys economic crisis continues to spiral inflicting severe hardship on ordinary citizens it is essential to critically reassess the allocation of national resources particularly those directed towards the militaryThe militarys vast commercial ventures must be brought under the same regulatory framework as civilian enterprises and its market dominance restrictedAchieving this requires a fundamental recalibration of civilmilitary relations along with a reflective discourse on the appropriate role of the military within a democratic framework IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/the-cost-of-power-how-pakistans-military-economy-is-undermining-its-future--617957.html Sun, 25 May 2025 23:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/lahore-atc-refused-to-help-indigo-flight-stuck-in-hailstorm-danger-617605.html New Delhi May 23 IANS The pilots of the IndiGo plane which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm in complete violation of humanitarian normsnbspIndias civil aviation regulator the DGCA said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36000 feet near Punjabs Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstormnbspExperiencing severe turbulence the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate towards the International Border However the request was denied because it was felt that the plane would face danger from the Pakistan side due to the recently witnessed intense hostilities between India and the neighbouring country during Operation SindoornbspThe pilot then sought permission from the Lahore air traffic control ATC to briefly venture into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm But it was refused toonbspWith limited options left the pilot initially considered returning to Delhi However since the aircraft was close to the thunderstorm cloud returning was considered an unsafe option The pilot then decided to continue forward through the storm towards Srinagar on the shortest possible route the DGCA statement saidWhile navigating the thunderstorm the aircraft encountered extreme updrafts and downdrafts leading to the autopilot disengaging and its speed fluctuatingnbspWhile in the thunderstorm cloud warnings of an angle of attack fault alternate saw protection lost and unreliable airspeed indications were triggered the statement further saidnbspThe DGCA said that at one point the aircrafts rate of descent reached 8500 feet per minute It further said that the crew took manual control of the aircraft during this critical phase till exiting the hailstormThe pilot then declared an emergency to the Srinagar ATC which then activated radar vectors The flight eventually landed safely in Srinagar with no reported injuries to any of the passengers or crewnbspThe DGCA said that the plane made a safe landing with the auto thrust system operated manuallynbspThere was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight A postflight check revealed damage to the nose of the aircraft A fullfledged investigation has been launched into the incident the statement added https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/lahore-atc-refused-to-help-indigo-flight-stuck-in-hailstorm-danger-617605.html Fri, 23 May 2025 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/contraband-worth-rs-830-crore-smuggled-from-myanmar-seized-in-mizoram-616997.html Aizawl May 19 The Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI have seized contraband worth Rs 830 crore in Mizoram officials said here on Monday A defence spokesman said that acting on specific intelligence inputs Assam Rifles and the officials of the DRI recovered poppy seeds worth Rs 740 crore and betel nuts worth Rs 90 lakh from two warehouse in Mizorams Vairengte on SundayVairengte is located along the AssamMizoram borderThe recovered items have been handed over to the DRI Aizawl the spokesman saidA senior official said that poppy seeds and betel nuts areca nuts also known as Burmese Betel nuts were smuggled from neighbouring MyanmarOfficials suspect that the poppy seeds smuggled from Myanmar were intended to be supplied to neighbouring Manipur where illegal poppy cultivation is taking place to supply the products to drug manufacturing companies and organisationsManipur Police and other security forces have been regularly destroying illicit poppy cultivation in mountainous forest areasMizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had recently said that due to the illegal import of areca nut from Myanmar local cultivators in the state have faced serious challenges in selling their produce at competitive prices Addressing the trainingcumseminar on Scientific Methods of Cultivation of Areca nut and Pest Management he emphasised that the government is working diligently to address these difficulties and take corrective measures He announced that Rs 743 crore has been sanctioned by the North Eastern Council NEC for establishing areca nut processing units at Chemphai and Zamuang He had said that these units would ensure proper processing of areca nuts create valueadded products and facilitate marketingLalduhoma also stressed the importance of proper utilisation of available resources to ensure increased productivity and economic benefits for farmers IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/contraband-worth-rs-830-crore-smuggled-from-myanmar-seized-in-mizoram-616997.html Mon, 19 May 2025 22:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-faces-770-million-hit-due-to-indias-curbs-on-trade-616789.html New Delhi May 18 Indias decision to restrict imports from Bangladesh is expected to hit goods worth 770 million Rs 6600 crore that flow in through the crossborder trade points with the neighbouring country Readymade garments valued at 618 million Rs 5290 crore now face strict routing through only two Indian seaports This severely limits Bangladeshs most valuable export channel to India said Ajay Srivastava founder of thinktank Global Trade Research Initiative GTRIThe other goods that have been barred from entry into India through the land customs stations on the border include fruitflavoured carbonated drinks processed foods cotton and cotton yarn waste plastic and PVC finished goods and wooden furniture The total value of these items is pegged at around 153 million Rs 1310 croreIndias Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT issued a notification imposing land port restrictions on the import of goods such as readymade garments processed food items etc from Bangladesh to India with immediate effect on SaturdayHowever such said port restriction will not apply to Bangladesh goods transiting through India but destined for Nepal and Bhutan the DGFT said in its notificationAccording to the directive Import of all kinds of ReadyMade Garments from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port however it is allowed only through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaportsThese items shall not be allowed through any Land Customs Stations LCSs Integrated Check Posts ICPs in Assam Meghalaya Tripura and Mizoram and LCS Changrabandha and Fulbari in West BengalThe port restrictions do not apply to the import of Fish LPG edible oil and crushed stone from Bangladesh the notification further readThe Indian move came after the Bangladesh government in April banned the import of yarns from India to the country via land ports through a notification from the National Board of Revenue NBREarlier India terminated the transshipment facility for Bangladesh which allowed the latter to export its products to other countries through Indian seaports and airportsIndia is Bangladeshs secondlargest trading partner after China In the fiscal 202223 BangladeshIndia trade amounted to around 16 billionBangladesh imported goods worth about 14 billion while its exports to India stood at 2 billion as per industry data IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-faces-770-million-hit-due-to-indias-curbs-on-trade-616789.html Sun, 18 May 2025 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mea-refutes-rahul-gandhis-claim-on-op-sindoor-eam-was-misquoted-no-prior-warning-to-pak-616700.html New Delhi May 17 The Ministry of External Affairs MEA issued a statement on Saturday refuting claims that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had asserted India informed Pakistan in advance about Operation Sindoor The ministry denounced such assertions as a blatant distortion of facts The MEA external publicity division said that S Jaishankar had stated that we had warned Pakistan at the start which is clearly the early phase after Op Sindoors commencementThis is being falsely represented as being before the commencement This utter misrepresentation of facts is being called out the ministry saidMeanwhile Rahul Gandhi the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha levelled accusations against the Narendra Modiled government alleging that it had notified Pakistan about impending strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation SindoorThe senior Congress leader characterised this act as a serious transgression and demanded clarity on who sanctioned the moveOn his X handle he wrote Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime EAM has publicly admitted that GOI government of India did it 1 Who authorised it 2 How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a resultResponding to these allegations the MEA firmly dismissed Gandhis assertions emphasising that the EAMs remarks had been misconstruedThe ministry stressed that India had issued a warning to Pakistan during the initial phase of Operation Sindoorpostcommencementnot beforehandThe MEAs external publicity division reiterated this point clarifying that Jaishankar had stated We warned Pakistan at the start which is evidently within the early phase after Operation Sindoor commencedThe ministry condemned attempts to falsely represent this statement as evidence of prior notificationCongress leader Rahul Gandhi vocally criticised EAM Jaishankars statement calling the alleged notification to Pakistan a grave misstepHe questioned the authorisation behind such an action and demanded accountability regarding potential losses incurred by the Indian Air Force as a consequenceAdding to the controversy the Kerala unit of the Congress party also circulated a video of S Jaishankars statement pressing the Central government for answersHowever the Press Information Bureaus factchecking unit countered these claims asserting that Jaishankars words had been misquotedThe unit clarified A social media post falsely implies from External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankars statement that India informed Pakistan before Operation Sindoor commenced EAM has been misquoted he did not make this statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mea-refutes-rahul-gandhis-claim-on-op-sindoor-eam-was-misquoted-no-prior-warning-to-pak-616700.html Sun, 18 May 2025 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/was-woken-up-by-army-chief-at-230-am-shehbaz-sharif-on-indias-strikes-at-pak-airbases-616557.html Islamabad May 17 Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a first formal acceptance of Indian airstrikes has confirmed that the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi was hit during the night between May 9 and May 10 when India launched its missile strikes on multiple Pakistani airbases Sharif made this statement during his speech at the grand ceremony titled YoumeTashakur Thanksgiving on what Islamabad claims is a sham celebration on the success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and MarkaeHaq against IndiaDuring the ceremony in Islamabad held at the iconic venue The Monument the Pakistan PM detailed the chain of events and that triggered Islamabads response to IndiaAnd while he summarised the events he conceded and established the Indian claim that Nur Khan airbase was hit with Indian missile strikesOn the night of May 9 and May 10 at around 230 am Army Chief called me from a secure line call that India through its ballistic missiles had attacked us One missile hit the Nur Khan airbase and some others have hit other areas Sharif saidHe added that the Army Chief General Asim Munir asked for permission to respond to India will full force which later on translated into a major attack by Pakistan through drones airstrikes and missile strikes which were successfully thwarted by Indian armed forces with full precision and efficiencyThe Pakistani Prime Ministers speech also shed light on Islamabads call for peace talksI am extremely grateful to all those friendly countries who have been very helpful in promoting peace ceasefire in this part of the world And promoting all arguments and valid points for deescalation he addedSharif thanked countries including Saudi Arabia the UAE Qatar Kuwait Iran Turkey China Britain and others for helping in deescalation of the situation between India and PakistanHe gave special praise and appreciation to US President Donald Trump for his intervention into the crisis at the eleventh hourBut above all I would like to mention and thank President Trump for his very brave leadership and his vision that peace must be restored in South Asia sooner rather than later And as a result his pathbreaking and strategic leadership did the trick and averted a very lethal looming war in this part of the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/was-woken-up-by-army-chief-at-230-am-shehbaz-sharif-on-indias-strikes-at-pak-airbases-616557.html Sat, 17 May 2025 01:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/karnataka-bjp-organises-tiranga-yatra-to-pay-tribute-to-brave-soldiers-616347.html Bengaluru May 15 The Karnataka unit of the BJP on Thursday organised the Tiranga Yatra here to pay tributes to the brave soldiers of the Indian armed forces for successfully carrying out Operation Sindoor Thousands of people including party leaders residents school and college students and women participated The rally began at Sirur Sports Ground on Sampige Road in Malleswaram locality and ended at 18th Cross MalleswaramHolding a massive Tricolour people gathered to express their support for Operation Sindoor The yatra was held under the banner Citizens for National Defence to express support and gratitude to the Indian armed forces personnelThe rally began with slogans like Bharat Mata Ki Jai victory to the patriotic soldiers who taught Pakistan a lesson and glory to the brave soldiers who brought India honour on the world stageSpeaking on the occasion retired Air Marshal AV Murali said Operation Sindoor is not over If it happens again Pakistan will be wiped out PoK will become part of IndiaHe added that the nations stand was that Pakistan must be taught a lesson and appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for demonstrating political willThe entire nation stood behind the soldiers he said also highlighting the significant role played by women in giving a strong response to PakistanAddressing the gathering advocate Kshama Naragund stated Operation Sindoor was a fitting reply to the terrorists who defiled the sindoor vermilion of our women Our armed forces responded with precision This yatra has been organised to thank our soldiers for their brave actionsKarnataka BJP incharge and Rajya Sabha member Radha Mohan Das Agarwal state coincharge Sudhakar Reddy Leader of Opposition R Ashoka Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA CN Ashwath Narayan Chief Whip of the Council Opposition N Ravikumar MP PC Mohan MLC CT Ravi MLAs N Munirathna and S Muniraju former MP S Muniswamy were present in the rally IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/karnataka-bjp-organises-tiranga-yatra-to-pay-tribute-to-brave-soldiers-616347.html Thu, 15 May 2025 18:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-has-seen-indias-capability-terrorists-will-no-longer-be-spared-pm-modis-top-quotes-615783.html New Delhi May 12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday outlined Indias unwavering commitment to combat terrorism following the success of Operation Sindoor He dedicated the mission to the nations collective spirit especially to the women of India whose honour and safety are at the heart of this decisive action Operation Sindoor has sent an unambiguous message to terrorist groups and their supporters any attack on India and its citizens will be met with full force Underlining precision of Indias military strikes against Pakistans terrorist camps PM Modi reaffirmed that the operation marked a new chapter in Indias approach to counterterrorism one that will be relentless and uncompromising He said that the world has seen Indias capability and it is clear terrorists will no longer be sparedHere are the key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modis addressOperation Sindoor A pledge for delivering justicePrime Minister Modi asserted that Operation Sindoor represents Indias unwavering commitment to fighting terrorism symbolising the nations collective determination to protect its citizens and uphold its valuesPrecision strikes on terrorist bases in PakistanPM Modi confirmed that Indias military executed highly targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan sending a strong message to those who sponsor and support terrorismFull authorisation for military responseHe stated that the Indian armed forces were given complete freedom to take action against terrorists with the government ensuring that every necessary measure is taken to eliminate the threat of terrorism He said that those responsible for wiping the Sindoor from Indian womens foreheads faced the full brunt of Indias retaliatory actionsThis is a clear message to terrorists that their actions will have consequences He described Operation Sindoor as a reflection of the nations collective sentiments showcasing Indias unity in the face of terror and its commitment to eradicating terrorismEvery terror group now knows Indias capabilityPM Modi said that all terrorist outfits are now aware of Indias ability to respond decisively and without hesitation to any attack on its citizensIndias strength lies in its unity and courageThe Prime Minister acknowledged the strength and unity of the Indian people stating that it is this collective courage that enables India to stand firm against terrorismPakistans military and terror network crumbledPM Modi said that Indias military strikes had shattered Pakistans terror infrastructure rendering its military and terrorist networks ineffective and vulnerableIndian forces displayed unmatched valourHe praised the bravery and valour of Indian soldiers whose actions have made a significant impact in dismantling terror networks and sending a message of strength to the worldA dedication to every Indian mother sister and daughterPM Modi dedicated the success of Operation Sindoor to the mothers sisters and daughters of India This way he spotlighted the emotional significance of the missionTerror and trade terror and talk cannot happen together while water and blood cant also flow at the same timeThe Prime Minister made it clear that all further talks with Pakistan will be held on the subject of terrorism and Pakistanoccupied KashmirTerrorism A brutal face of violenceThe PM condemned the brutality of terrorists specifically citing the Pahalgam attack where innocent civilians were brutally killed in front of their families as an example of terrorisms cruel natureTerror headquarters in Pakistan destroyedPM Modi asserted that India had targeted and destroyed major terror hubs in Pakistan effectively crippling the operations of key terrorist organisationsPakistan Left in desperation and frustrationThe Prime Minister claimed that Pakistan was left stunned by Indias decisive actions and forced to seek peace after bearing the brunt of Indias military responseIndias missiles and drones dismantled terrorist installationsHe said that Indias missiles and drones successfully targeted and neutralised terrorist installations significantly damaging Pakistans ability to harbour and sponsor terrorismOperation Sindoor marks a new approach against TerrorismPM Modi stated that Operation Sindoor has set a new standard in Indias strategy against terrorism with the country now adopting a more aggressive and proactive stance in protecting its sovereignty IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-has-seen-indias-capability-terrorists-will-no-longer-be-spared-pm-modis-top-quotes-615783.html Tue, 13 May 2025 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-bangladeshi-infiltrators-arrested-near-indo-bangla-border-615790.html Kolkata May 12 Four Bangladeshi infiltrators were arrested by the personnel of West Bengal on Monday from a place near the international border of India with Bangladesh in Nadia district of West Bengal an official said Later following their questioning the investigating officials of Nadia district police came to know that the four arrested including two women and one man entered the Indian side illegally almost a year back with the help of local Indian agents based out of Nadia districtThereafter an insider from Nadia district police said they shifted to different parts of the country and started earning a livelihood there through some odd jobs However recently following the initiatives by the administration of different state governments to hunt illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators settled there the four decided to come to Hanskhali in Nadia district to go back to Bangladesh after getting the first opportunityOn Monday the local villagers tracked them loitering around mysteriously near the international borders at Hanskhali The villagers informed the local police who immediately rushed to the spot and took them into custodyThereafter in the face of interrogation they admitted that they entered the Indian side through the same international borders at Hanskhali a year back and this time they came here with the intention of going back to BangladeshLater they were presented at a district court in Nadia district and the court remanded them to police custody They will be interrogated further to track whether they had any links with the banned fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh who had been active in different bordering districts to create sleeper cells an official saidNadia had been frequently in the news for almost the last year over the arrests of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from there considering that the international borders with Bangladesh in that district are extremely porous at certain pointsNadia had also been in the news recently over busting rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian identity documents including Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-bangladeshi-infiltrators-arrested-near-indo-bangla-border-615790.html Tue, 13 May 2025 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-pakistan-dgmos-talk-on-hotline-for-border-calmness-restoration-615758.html New Delhi May 12 For the first time since the understanding on ceasefire Indian and Pakistani military operations chiefs on Monday spoke to each other on a hotline around 5 pm to discuss ways to restore calm on the border an official said According to official information Pakistan has said that it will not take this conflict forward and also indicated its willingness not to violate the ceasefireThe talks between Director Generals of Military Operations DGMOs revolved around stopping military actions and firing on the lines of understanding reached after Indias antiterror Operation Sindoor was halted at Pakistans request on May 10The Indian Army has confirmed the conversation between the two DGMOs Indias DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai participated in this militarylevel discussion with Pakistan DGMO Major General Kashif AbdullahThe DGMOs hotline discussion also featured measures for observing restraint and respecting the consensus to stop firing and review the current situationThe ceasefire agreement in the year 2021 to maintain peace and stability on the Line of Control was also signed by the DGMOs of India and PakistanDuring the day there was speculation over an alleged delay in the hotline discussion between the two DGMOs as on May 10 when the understanding on ceasefire was arrived at the tentative time for their talks was announced to be Monday noonEarlier senior military officials on Monday provided a detailed operational account of Indias robust defence measures and offensive preparedness during and after Operation SindoorAt a highlevel briefing Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai Director General of Military Operations DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti and Vice Admiral AN Pramod Director General of Naval Operations explained the multilayered coordination among the Indian Army Air Force and Navy describing a defence posture that was both measured and impenetrableLt Gen Ghai clarified that India did not cross the Line of Control LoC or the International Border IB during its operationsAll defensive measures were executed from within Indian territory he said countering speculative reports of escalation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-pakistan-dgmos-talk-on-hotline-for-border-calmness-restoration-615758.html Mon, 12 May 2025 21:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/operation-sindoor-pak-begged-for-peace-after-indias-devastating-strikes-says-pm-modi-615767.html New Delhi May 12 In the aftermath of Indias unrelenting Operation Sindoor Pakistan was left reeling from the decisive action taken by the Indian Armed Forces Pakistan was forced to seek escape route and it found itself begging for peace after suffering heavy losses in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack With its military stunned by the precision strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PakistanOccupied Kashmir PoK the neighbouring nation had no choice but to reach out to India seeking to deescalate the situation This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in a powerful televised addressHe said that Indias message to Pakistan was clear terrorism will not be tolerated and those who sponsor it will face consequencesPM Modi said that it was Pakistan that sought peace after facing Indias overwhelming force It was Pakistan which was bearing the brunt of the Indian onslaught forcing their DGMO to reach out to their counterpart in India he revealed exposing the hollowness of Pakistans position and confirming that it was Pakistan not India seeking deescalationIn his address on television PM Modi dedicated the success of Operation Sindoor to Indias Nari Shakti He acknowledged the huge pain endured by women and children who have lost family members to coldblooded acts of terrorThis victory is for the mothers sisters and daughters of this nation PM Modi declared honouring the resilience of the women who have witnessed such horrorsPM Modi did not hold back in calling out Pakistans involvement in terrorism He directly targeted key terror hubs within Pakistan referring to Bahawalpur and Muridke as universities of terror from where antiIndia activities have been orchestratedPakistan tried to remove the Sindoor of our women and we uprooted their universities of terror he said underscoring the sheer scale of Indias responseThe Prime Minister confirmed that Indias Armed Forces had exceeded their intended targets neutralising over 100 terrorists The targets of the Indian Armed Forces have crossed a century he declaredPM Modi made it clear that Pakistan had been repaid in a language it understands with India sending a clear message that no terror attack would go unansweredIn a scathing attack on Pakistans military PM Modi emphasised that Indias armed forces are far superior The Pakistani Army is nothing compared to the Indian Armed Forces he stated underscoring Indias military might and determination in the fight against crossborder terrorismFurthermore PM Modi left no doubt about Indias future course of action confirming that Pakistansponsored terrorism will not be toleratedEven now every inch of land in which terror is encouraged by Pakistan is within the reach of our Armed Forces he stated reinforcing Indias commitment to addressing any threat emanating from across the borderPM Modi made it abundantly clear that Operation Sindoor is far from over India will give back to terror and their backers in a language they understand he said reaffirming that nuclear blackmail wont work against IndiaHis final remarks set the tone for Indias new strategic normal India will answer back and there will be no distinction between terrorists and those who sponsor them whoever they are and wherever they are IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/operation-sindoor-pak-begged-for-peace-after-indias-devastating-strikes-says-pm-modi-615767.html Mon, 12 May 2025 22:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-proposed-military-pause-reveals-india-615566.html New Delhi May 11 In a massive diplomatic and military rebuke India has exposed Pakistans duplicity after it violated a ceasefire agreement that was initiated by its own military leadership The understanding meant to end four days of intense crossborder hostilities was proposed by the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations DGMO during a direct hotline call with his Indian counterpart Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai Indias DGMO revealed that the proposal to halt hostilities came directly from Pakistan on May 10 My communication with the Pak DGMO was conducted at 1535 hours yesterday Saturday and resulted in cessation of crossborder firing and air intrusions by either side with effect from 1700 hrs 10th of May after he proposed that we cease hostilities Lt Gen Ghai stated during a press briefing on SundayThe ceasefire was aimed at deescalating tensions along the Line of Control and international border after the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam which killed 26 tourists The understanding was arrived at purely through bilateral means and without preconditions reflecting Indias commitment to restoring calm after India destroyed major terror camps in Pakistan and PoKLt Gen Ghai further added We also decided to further speak on the 12th of May at 1200 hrs to discuss the modalities that would enable the longevity of this understandingHowever in a development that India said was sadly expected Pakistan violated the ceasefire within a few hours of its commencementExpectedly it took only a couple of hours for Pakistan Army to violate these arrangements by cross border and across Line of Control firing followed by drone intrusions through last night and in the early hours of today said Lt Gen GhaiIndia responded strongly to the provocations and sent a formal protest to Pakistan through the hotline channelWe have earlier today sent another hotline message to my counterpart highlighting these violations of the understanding between the DGMOs on 10th of May and our firm and clear intent to respond to these fiercely if repeated tonight subsequently or later he saidHe also confirmed that The Chief of Army Staff has granted full authority to our army commander for counteraction in case of any violation by PakistanIndia has made it clear that while it values peace it will not allow its goodwill to be exploited IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-proposed-military-pause-reveals-india-615566.html Sun, 11 May 2025 22:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-is-not-the-aggressor-but-will-respond-when-attacked-cong-leader-ts-singh-deo-615168.html Ambikapur May 9 Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh TS Singh Deo on Friday commended the Indian armed forces for their measured and effective response to Pakistani aggression He said that the current conflict is being fought more on a technological front than traditional ground combat Wars today are highly technologydriven Singh Deo said So far no army has physically crossed the border the current strikes are being carried out using modern missile systems From what were seeing so far Indias S400 air defence system is receiving a lot of attention and proving to be highly effective Thats something we are proud of he told IANSHe further highlighted Indias longterm investment in science and defence innovation Over the decades our scientists have developed systems and technologies that have empowered our armed forces to fight strongly India has brilliant scientists whose contributions since independence have been invaluable We are not only able to successfully defend against attacks but also carry out precision strikes on terrorist hideoutsReferring to the governments official communication Singh Deo noted Statements from the Defence Minister Home Minister External Affairs Minister and senior officials all convey one message India is not initiating attacks The strike was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent unarmed tourists were killed India responded but there is no indication of further escalation unless provokedHe clarified that India remains committed to peace but will respond when attacked Whenever Pakistan violates the ceasefire our army responds appropriately The message from Indias top leadership has been consistent and clear we are not aggressors but we will defend ourselves when neededSingh Deo further said If Pakistan takes serious action against the terrorists operating from its soil there will be no need for war IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-is-not-the-aggressor-but-will-respond-when-attacked-cong-leader-ts-singh-deo-615168.html Sat, 10 May 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/gujarat-train-services-affected-amid-rising-india-pakistan-tensions-615170.html Ahmedabad May 9 Tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising in recent days leading to heightened security measures along the border areas particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan In response to the tense situation several trains operating in key regions have been cancelled to ensure public safety The Western Railway via a post on the social media platform X informed the public about the cancellation of five trains on the Bhuj Rajkot and Gandhidham routesThe trains affected include the Superfast Express and special trains scheduled for May 9 and 10 2025The cancelled trains are AhmedabadBhuj Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Train No 94801 on May 9 2025 and its return service BhujAhmedabad Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Train No 94802 on May 10 2025Additionally the JodhpurGandhidham Superfast Express Train No 22483 on May 9 2025 and its return service GandhidhamJodhpur Superfast Express Train No 22484 on May 10 2025 have also been cancelledThe BhujRajkotBhuj Special Train Train No 0944609445 scheduled for May 10 2025 has also been cancelled In addition to the train cancellations the Gujarat government has imposed a ban on flying drones and bursting firecrackers at any public or private events across the state until May 15 2025The government has appealed to the public to adhere to these guidelines and avoid paying attention to rumors that may spread in such volatile timesA key meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been held to assess the situation and reinforce the importance of public cooperation Further in Rajasthan similar security measures have been put in placeIn border areas such as Jaisalmer the flying of drones and bursting of firecrackers has been banned during events including weddings until May 15Additionally a twoday blackout has been declared in Mount Abu on May 9 and 10 2025 between 7 pm and 8 pmTourists from other states including Gujarat have been asked to return to their hotels before 7 pm and ensure all lights are off during the blackout period IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/gujarat-train-services-affected-amid-rising-india-pakistan-tensions-615170.html Sat, 10 May 2025 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/16-bangladeshi-infiltrators-arrested-in-bengals-nadia-district-615175.html Kolkata May 9 The West Bengal Police on Friday said that as many as 16 illegal Bangladeshi residents at Nadia district in West Bengal have been arrested Of the 16 arrested 10 were women and the rest six were men Later on the basis of their interrogation it was learned that a local resident acted as an agent ensuring the illegal infiltration of these 16 Bangladeshi citizens to the Indian territoryAll of them were presented at court in Nadia The court remanded them to police custodySources from the Nadia district police said that these 16 illegal Bangladeshi residents entered the Indian side a few months back and started residing at a village under Duttapulia village panchayat under Dhantala police station in Nadia district for quite some timeIn face of interrogation district police sources said these 16 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators admitted that the arrangement of their houses for staying after entering India was also arranged by the same local agents who ensured their illegal infiltrationAfter some time district police sources said some of them even got scattered to other parts of India to earn their livelihoods as labourersHowever with the administration in different states of India becoming active of late in hunting the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators they decided to get assembled again at the same village at Nadia they were initially hiding and then make an attempt to go back to BangladeshHowever the information of their reassembling was passed on to the local police through sources and after that a certain raid and search operation were carried out following which all were nabbed just as they were trying to go back to Bangladesh through the porous borderNadia had been frequently in the news for almost the last one year over the arrests of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from there considering that the international borders with Bangladesh in that district is extremely porous at certain pointsNadia had also been in the news recently over busting rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian identity documents including Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/16-bangladeshi-infiltrators-arrested-in-bengals-nadia-district-615175.html Sat, 10 May 2025 00:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/hours-after-announcement-of-truce-pakistan-violates-ceasefire-615389.html SrinagarJammu May 10 Despite the announcement of ceasefire by India and Pakistan there was a violation by the Pakistan army on Saturday evening in Akhnoor Mendhar RS Pura Chamb Bhimber and Gurez sectors while loud blasts were also heard in Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X What the hell just happened to the ceasefire Explosions heard across Srinagar Omar Abdullah also said This is no ceasefire The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened upReports mentioned that drones were sighted and brought down in Srinagars Badami Bagh Cantonment areaThe headquarters of Armys 15th Corps is in the Badami Bagh Cantonment area of the city Blackout was observed in Srinagar after loud explosions were heardBlackout was also observed in Kathua and Baramulla districts immediately after ceasefire violation and sightings of drones at some places across the LoC in the Indian territoryReports said a drone was brought down in Baramulla town as well There are reports of ceasefire violation in Arnia sector of the international border in Samba districtSirens echoed in Akhnoor and Baramulla townFive persons died in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning in Pakistan artillery fire in the Poonch and Akhnoor areaThe deceased included Raj Kumar Thapa additional district development commissioner Rajouri a woman named Rashida Bi two residents of Bihar in Poonch and one person in Akhnoor sectorTowns of Poonch and Uri have suffered intensive damage and the damage to civilian property and public infrastructure is hugeIn Akhnoor sector Pakistan army has used artillery fire to violate the ceasefire Reports said the ceasefire violations started at 630 pmReports of drone attack at Udhampur town have also come in The town is the headquarters of the Armys Northern CommandThere is however no official confirmation of the ceasefire violations by Pakistan after the two countries announced ceasefire from 5 pm onward on Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/hours-after-announcement-of-truce-pakistan-violates-ceasefire-615389.html Sat, 10 May 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-aerial-attack-foiled-by-indian-air-defence-amid-blackouts-and-sirens-retaliatory-measures-launched-614983.html New Delhi May 8 An aerial attack by Pakistan targeting Jammu was successfully foiled by Indias air defence systems on Thursday night The attempted strike involving drones and missiles triggered blackouts and sirens across several areas in Jammu amp Kashmir Punjab and Rajasthan Authorities urged residents to remain indoors and vigilant as emergency protocols were activated India has reportedly undertaken retaliatory action in the wake of the attacks According to sources the Indian air defences neutralised several drones launched near the Jammu airport with no casualties reported Moreover eight missiles were intercepted near Jammu all of them successfully destroyed according to media reports The attack also caused a temporary blackout at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district with similar power outages reported in Srinagar under heightened security measuresMeanwhile an F16 supersonic fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down in the evening by an Indian surfacetoair missile defence system NDTV reported quoting sourcesThe F16 took off from the Sargodha air base and was shot down near it it reported as per the sourcesThis offensive by Pakistan came just hours after its earlier attempt to target 15 Indian cities was thwartedArmy officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that cities and towns such as Awantipora Srinagar Jammu Pathankot Amritsar Kapurthala Jalandhar Ludhiana Adampur Bathinda Chandigarh Nal Phalodi Uttarlai and Bhuj were on the target list However Indias integrated counterUAS grid and robust air defence systems successfully neutralised all threats Debris recovered from various locations confirmed that the drones and missiles originated from Pakistani territoryIn a swift retaliatory strike Indian armed forces targeted and destroyed several Pakistani air defence systems including a key installation in Lahore Meanwhile Pakistans military also initiated unprovoked shelling in the Kupwara Baramulla Uri Poonch Mendhar and Rajouri sectors of Jammu amp Kashmir using heavy artillery and mortars This aggression led to the tragic deaths of 16 civilians including five children and three women The Indian Army responded firmly and proportionatelyEarlier India had carried out precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir reportedly eliminating around 100 militants IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-aerial-attack-foiled-by-indian-air-defence-amid-blackouts-and-sirens-retaliatory-measures-launched-614983.html Fri, 09 May 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pak-copying-indian-navy-anthem-excites-kerala-filmmaking-couple-know-why-614929.html Thiruvananthapuram May 8 A Kerala filmmaking couple is excited after hearing the news that the Indian Navy anthem has been copied by Pakistan Reacting to this director of the Indian Navy anthem Sanjeev Sivan told IANS When your enemies copy you it cant be better rewarding to say that We are the best indeed we are the best Personally Second to none has always been my motto added Sanjeev who along with his wife Deepti Sivan directed the Indian Navy anthemSanjeev said they directed the Indian Navy anthem Call of the Blue Waters in 2022 and it was sung by Shankar Mahadevan with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and composed by ShankarEhsaanLoySanjeev said it was Pakistans InterService Public Relations which released the fourminute video and the lyrics and everything is almost similar to the Indian Navy Anthem and is titled Taiyyar Hain HumIt was released after the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation SindoorOn Thursday morning former Union Minister and Kerala unit BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to his social media account and wrote Two very creative Malayalees Sanjeev Sivan and Deepti Sivan created this video while Keralas son Adm Harikumar was the chief of indiannavy So it had the Kerala touchSanjeev who hails from the state capital is the youngest son of national awardwinning film personality Sivan who passed away a few years agoSivans all three sons are active in the film industry with ace cinematographer and national award winning Santosh Sivan the most popularSangeeth Sivan the eldest son of Sivan directed Yodha which is billed as one of the most popular Malayalam films starring Mohanlal Sangeeth passed away last yearIncidentally Sanjeevs 14 year old son Sidhanshu Sanjeev Sivan has been selected to chair the childrens jury at the 55th edition of the Giffoni International Film Festival in ItalySidhanshu a Class XI student will travel to Italy to chair the jury at Giffoni festival which will be held from July 18 to 28 and is one of the worlds most prestigious childrens film festivalsSidhanshu made his acting debut in Ozhuki Ozhuki Ozhuki directed by his fatherHe recently played a dual role in Achappas Album English title Grampas Album a timetravel childrens film directed by his mother and produced by the National Film Development Corporation NFDCThe film had a special market screening at the European Film Market EFM during the Berlinale 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pak-copying-indian-navy-anthem-excites-kerala-filmmaking-couple-know-why-614929.html Thu, 08 May 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bhutan-signs-mou-with-adani-group-to-develop-5-000-mw-hydropower-projects-614948.html Thimphu May 8 The Adani Group and the Druk Green Power Corporation DGPC of Bhutan have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding MoU to jointly develop 5000 MW of hydropower projects in Bhutan The MoU was signed here by DGPCs MD Dasho Chhewang Rinzin and Adani Green Hydro Ltds COO PSP amp Hydro Naresh Telgu in the presence of Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Lyonpo Gem Tshering and other senior dignitariesThis MoU builds on the ongoing partnership for the 570900 MW Wangchhu Hydropower Project in which the DGPC will hold a majority 51 per cent stake and the Adani Group will hold 49 per cent The broader 5000 MW initiative will encompass additional hydropower and pumped storage projects to be identified Detailed Project Reports prepared and taken forward for implementation in phasesThis partnership reflects our deep commitment to developing clean energy infrastructure that enhances regional energy security Adani Green Hydro Ltds COO PSP amp Hydro Telgu said Together with the DGPC we are enabling Bhutan to harness its hydropower potential and export reliable green energy to India This is a powerful example of crossborder collaboration in pursuit of shared sustainable development goalsThis strategic partnership with Adani will further strengthen our very strong engagement with the Government of India in harnessing Bhutans abundant hydropower resources which is considered the cornerstone of the exemplary and friendly relations between our two countries DGPC MD Rinzin said We look forward to taking this partnership forward with Adani and learning from their huge successes across the globeThe DGPC Bhutans premier hydropower developer has decades of experience in managing the nations renewable energy resources It plays a pivotal role in Bhutans clean energy journey contributing to both domestic energy security and sustainable development Through such partnerships the DGPC is also helping to strengthen Bhutans position in regional energy cooperationThe Adani Group Indias leading infrastructure and renewable energy player brings extensive expertise in project development financing and market access It will support Bhutan in scaling up its hydropower capacity and facilitating access to Indian energy marketsAs part of this collaboration the Adani Group will ensure reliable power offtake and integration with Indias commercial power markets further reinforcing Bhutans role in the regional energy trade The partnership is strongly backed by both the Bhutan and Indian governments underscoring a shared vision for clean energy growth and economic integrationThis initiative also aligns with Bhutans Renewable Energy Roadmap which aims to achieve an additional 20000 MW of generation capacity by 2040 The roadmap prioritises diversification into solar and geothermal energy and also encourages strategic partnerships to attract investment and innovationIn a further milestone the DGPC and the Adani Group also initialled the Shareholders Agreement for the Wangchhu Project marking significant progress in their collaborative efforts to advance Bhutans hydropower sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bhutan-signs-mou-with-adani-group-to-develop-5-000-mw-hydropower-projects-614948.html Thu, 08 May 2025 21:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/precision-technology-and-depth-what-makes-operation-sindoor-different-614710.html New Delhi May 7 Operation Sindoor has redefined Indias military posture with a scale depth and technological sophistication unseen since the 1971 war Unlike previous strikes in Uri 2016 and Balakot 2019 which were swift targeted responses Sindoor reflects a multidomain highprecision offensive spread across Pakistans Punjab province and Pakistanoccupied Jammu and Kashmir PoJK signalling a strategic evolution in Indias approach to crossborder terrorism Security experts say that the Uri was a tactical groundlevel surgical strike According to them Balakot marked the first aerial engagement post1971 At the same time Operation Sindoor showcased the fusion of airpower artillery and unmanned systems in a coordinated longduration strikeThe use of loitering munitions suicide drones and multiple vector platforms also enabled India to target deep and simultaneously across multiple sectorsAnother key feature of the operation Sindoor was the Indian Air Forces strike on Bahawalpur a highvalue target that houses Pakistan Armys 31 Corps Headquarters So this was not just symbolic but demonstrated Indias readiness to target dualuse militaryterror infrastructure The IAF deployed Rafale jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles along with longrange airtosurface weaponry extending its strike reach well beyond previous missionsThe strike on Bahawalpur was one of the most strategically significant components of Operation Sindoor as it was carried out by the Indian Air Force using a variety of aircraft platforms Bahawalpur is not just any target it houses the Pakistan Armys 31 Corps Headquarters making it a highvalue military zone say sourcesBy choosing to strike here India sent a clear message about its willingness to hit dualuse infrastructure where terror and military assets overlap say officials The use of multiple aircraft types ensured both deep penetration and precision underlining the Air Forces growing operational versatility and longrange strike capabilityThe Armys role was equally advanced With precisionguided Excalibur 155mm artillery shells M777 lightweight howitzers and realtime GPS and dronebased targeting the strikes were surgical in nature yet powerful in impact The operation also marked one of the rare instances post1971 where India officially used missile systems across the borderAnother notable feature was the loiter time and timing The operation officially spanned from 105 am to 130 am giving Indian forces time to engage reassess and strike again if required Sources confirmed that Pakistans artillery response was delayed by 2025 minutes underlining the surprise and precision achievedFurthermore an area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was reportedly identified for future operations reflecting improved intelligence integration and target trackingIn essence Operation Sindoor was not just a retaliation it was a declaration of Indias evolving doctrine decisive technologically advanced and strategically unhesitant capable of striking both terror networks and the infrastructure that shelters them deep inside hostile territory IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/precision-technology-and-depth-what-makes-operation-sindoor-different-614710.html Wed, 07 May 2025 22:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ahead-of-unsc-meeting-on-india-pakistan-guterres-pained-by-ties-reaching-boiling-point-614272.html United Nations May 5 Ahead of the UN Security Council meeting on India and Pakistan SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said on Monday that it pains him that their ties have reached a boiling point Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years he said calling on the two countries to step back from the brinkIt is also essential especially at this critical hour to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of controlI understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April he said It pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point between the two countriesCondemning the terror attack he said Targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through transparent credible and lawful meansIt is also essential especially at this critical hour to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink he warnedThe Security Council is scheduled to hold a closeddoor consultation on the situation in South Asia at the request of PakistanAssistant SecretaryGeneral Mohamed Khaled Khiari who is in charge of the Middle East and Asia Pacific in the UNs Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations is to brief the consultationBecause Pakistan currently an elected member of the Council asked for closed consultations India will likely be shut out of it because under Council procedures countries that are not members are not allowed to participate in the closeddoor meetings which are also referred to as consultations of the wholePakistans foreign ministry said in a post on X that it will formally apprise the UNSC of the latest developments in South AsiaThe meetings are held informally in a side room not in the Council chamber and no records of the consultations are publishedThe meeting is scheduled for 3 pm in New York 1230 am Tuesday in IndiaThe Resistance Front an affiliate of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaiba owned responsibility for the terrorist massacre of 26 people in PahalgamFollowing the attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed We will identify trace and punish every terrorist and their supporters We will pursue them to the ends of the EarthGuterres spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last Tuesday to express deep concern over the rising tension between the two countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ahead-of-unsc-meeting-on-india-pakistan-guterres-pained-by-ties-reaching-boiling-point-614272.html Tue, 06 May 2025 00:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-seizes-narcotics-valued-at-rs-338-crore-along-india-bangladesh-border-614247.html Kolkata May 5 The Border Security Force BSF has made a major seizure of narcotics valued at nearly Rs 338 crore along the IndoBangladesh Border IBB in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal an official said on Monday Around 230 am on Sunday troops of the 71 Bn BSF posted at Border Outpost Khandua spotted the suspicious movement of two persons behind their Domination Line The troops immediately focussed their torched beams on the two and ordered them to stop Instead of doing so the miscreants fled towards the Atrosia village taking advantage of the dark and the cover provided by houses The troops did not use weapons to avoid any collateral damage said N K Pandey DIG and spokesperson South Bengal Frontier BSFSoon after the incident BSF troops mounted a major search operation in the area During the intensive sweep of the bushes and surrounding locations the troops recovered a plastic bag Upon opening the bag they found two packets wrapped in brown tape The first packet contained 10 small cellophane packets filled with a light yellow powder which prima facie appeared to be a narcotic substanceThe second packet contained two additional cellophane packets one filled with brown powder and the other with light yellow powder The recovered packets were immediately sent for testing Upon analysis the substances tested positive for heroin 100 grams and methaqualone 1060 kg The estimated value of the heroin is Rs 2000000 while the methaqualone is valued at nearly Rs 31800000 he addedThe narcotics were handed over to relevant authorities for necessary legal action The DIG said that this is a significant success in the ongoing war against narcotics and smuggling along the IndoBangladesh BorderAll credit goes to courageous BSF jawans who remain vigilant day and night fully dedicated to thwarting every smuggling attempt Due to the alertness and quick action of the BSF jawans the morale of smugglers is continuously being broken which is a big achievement for the BSF he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-seizes-narcotics-valued-at-rs-338-crore-along-india-bangladesh-border-614247.html Mon, 05 May 2025 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/myanmars-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-3-770-613569.html Yangon April 29 The death toll from a 77magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3770 as of April 28 the stateowned daily The Mirror reported on Tuesday In addition 5106 people were injured and 106 people were reported missing Xinhua news agency reportedMyanmar has experienced a total of 157 aftershocks following the devastating 77 magnitude earthquake on March 28The aftershocks ranged from magnitude 28 to 75 the department saidMore than 200000 people have been displaced after a powerful 77 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28 according to the countrys National Disaster Management Committee NDMCAt the committees third meeting of the year held on Friday in Nay Pyi Taw NDMC Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win said the earthquake caused widespread destruction across 10 regions and states including Nay Pyi Taw Sagaing Mandalay Bago Magway and ShanThe earthquake destroyed or damaged over 63000 homes 6700 schools 5400 monasteries 5300 pagodas and hundreds of other religious buildings hospitals bridges roads and dams he saidInternational medical teams including 337 foreign personnel have set up temporary hospitals in the worstaffected areas and are providing care alongside local health workersFollowing a request for international assistance by the Myanmar government 2095 rescue workers from 26 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar bringing over 3800 tonnes of relief supplies using 147 planes seven ships and 23 vehicles he addedAuthorities are inspecting damaged buildings using a colourcoded system blue orange and red to assess structural damage and guide repairsTemporary housing including bashas and modular shelters is being built for displaced staff and residents while plans are underway to reconstruct homes using earthquakeresistant designs based on soil testing and faultline assessmentsUnder Operation Brahma India was the first responder to the earthquakehit Myanmar and has provided relief supplies of over 750 MT including essential medicines food grain readytoeat meals tents blankets gensets rapidly deployable surgical and medical shelters water sanitation and hygiene services drinking water essential clothing prefabricated officeresidential structures etc IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/myanmars-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-3-770-613569.html Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/karachi-man-drags-tailor-to-court-over-unstitched-clothes-for-family-function-612265.html Islamabad April 20 Annoyed by a tailors continuous delay in preparing his order meant for a family function a Karachi resident has taken the case to court and sought a sizeable amount in compensation reports said The resident who had given the tailor cloth to stitch for a fancy outfit for his brothers engagement has moved a consumer protection court in the port city complaining that despite the tailors promises and his repeated visits to the shop his work was not done The News reportedThe Karachi resident whose name was not mentioned has sought Rs 100000 in damages comprising a fine of Rs 50000 for the unfulfilled promise and an additional Rs 50000 as compensation for the mental anguish caused by the noncompletion of his workHe also complained that the tailors sitting over his work had forced him to purchase alternative attire for his brothers engagement ceremonyAs per details of the case the complainant gave the tailor cloth for Balochi embroidery work on three separate occasions in December 2024 and January 2025 and also gave an advance payment The tailor promised the stitched clothes would be delivered well before February 20 when the engagement ceremony of the mans brother was scheduled to be heldHowever visiting the shop multiple times the man found that no work had been done on his orderWhen he went to collect the clothes on February 10 the tailor said that the work could not be done and cited the unavailability of workers as the reasonDespite daily visits to the tailor to ensure that his work was being done he realised that the clothes were still untouched and he had to spend more money on buying a new outfit for the family function IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/karachi-man-drags-tailor-to-court-over-unstitched-clothes-for-family-function-612265.html Sun, 20 Apr 2025 17:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/4-terrorists-killed-in-pakistan-612077.html Islamabad April 19 Four terrorists were killed during a joint operation of security forces and law enforcement agencies in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the military said The intelligencebased operation was conducted in Swat district of the province the InterServices Public Relations ISPR the media wing of the Pakistan Army said on Friday in a statementSecurity forces engaged the terrorists at their location killing all four terrorists said the ISPR adding that a huge cache of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists hideout Xinhua news agency reportedThe killed terrorists were involved in numerous terror activities in the area said the statementEarlier security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligencebased operation in the Maddi area of Dera Ismail Khan district on WednesdayEarlier this month ARY News reported that during the first quarter of 2025 terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP resulted in the deaths of 152 people including police officers security personnel and civiliansAccording to a report released by the KP Police 302 individuals were also injured in these incidentsThe report noted that civilians were the most affected with 45 deaths and 127 injuries reported between January and MarchThe police force lost 37 members with 46 others sustaining injuriesAdditionally the Frontier Corps FC suffered the loss of 34 personnel with 43 more wounded in the attacks Ary News reportedAccording to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies PICSS a thinktank the nation saw a significant rise in terrorist activity in January 2025 with a 42 per cent increase compared to the previous monthThe report revealed that there were at least 74 militant attacks across the country resulting in 91 deaths which included 35 security personnel 20 civilians and 36 militantsAdditionally 117 people were injured including 53 members of the security forces 54 civilians and 10 militantsKP remained the worstaffected province followed by BalochistanIn KPs settled districts militants carried out 27 attacks resulting in 19 fatalities including 11 security personnel six civilians and two militants IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/4-terrorists-killed-in-pakistan-612077.html Sat, 19 Apr 2025 08:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-asks-pakistan-to-apologise-for-atrocities-during-1971-liberation-war-611935.html Dhaka April 18 Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to issue a formal apology for the atrocities committed against Bengalis during the 1971 War of Liberation by the Pakistani forces It has also raised pending financial claims from IslamabadDuring Operation Searchlight Pakistani forces killed an estimated 30 lakh Bengalis and raped more than a million womenBangladesh gained independence in 1971 after a bloody war with PakistanDhaka also raised issues including the repatriation of more than three lakh stranded Pakistanis who have been living in relief camps and the transfer of foreign aid funds sent to the victims of the 1970 Bhola CycloneBangladesh flagged 432 billion as part of its financial claim demanded from PakistanIt comprises its share of undivided Pakistans pre1971 assets including aid money provident funds and savings instrumentsAccording to the report Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of 200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola CycloneAccording to a World Meteorological Organisation report the 1970 Cyclone Bhola was the worlds deadliest known tropical cyclone which killed up to five lakh people in what is now called BangladeshThese issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations a media report quoted Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin as sayingBangladesh and Pakistan held Foreign Office Consultations FOC at the State Guest House Padma on ThursdayBangladeshs Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Pakistan counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the FOCJashim Uddin said that Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will pay an official visit to Bangladesh on April 2728He hoped that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be launched soonAccording to media reports Amma Baloch also met separately with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain discussing issues of mutual interestBaloch said that Bangladesh and Pakistan must find ways to harness the potential between the two countriesWe have huge intraregional markets on our own right We should use it Baloch saidWe cant miss the bus every time IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-asks-pakistan-to-apologise-for-atrocities-during-1971-liberation-war-611935.html Fri, 18 Apr 2025 06:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/poliovirus-detected-in-sewage-samples-from-pakistans-20-districts-611167.html Islamabad April 13 Poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples from 20 districts across Pakistan according to test results from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health NIH In a statement issued on Sunday the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program said the environmental samples were collected between March 5 and March 19 confirming the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 WPV1 in multiple areas Xinhua news agency reportedA total of 60 environmental samples were collected from 51 districts during this period Of these 25 samples tested positive for poliovirus while 35 were declared negative the statement saidThe statement added that while the detection of poliovirus in sewage remains a concern the number of positive samples has declined indicating a reduction in virus circulation in several areasThe samples that confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 WPV1 came from districts including Dukki Kech Khuzdar Lasbela Loralai Nasirabad Pishin Quetta Usta Muhammad Bannu Kohat Lakki Marwat Peshawar South Waziristan Lower Bahawalpur Bahawalnagar Dera Ghazi Khan Lahore Multan and Rahim Yar KhanMeanwhile samples from cities such as Islamabad Gilgit Rawalpindi Swat Sahiwal Nowshera and others tested negative pointing to improved control measures in several areasThe trend shows a decline in positive samples and a reduction in virus circulation in many areas an NIH official saidA new nationwide polio campaign is set to begin on April 21 targeting 454 million children under the age of five Authorities have urged parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine each time it is offeredRepeated vaccination strengthens immunity and helps stop the spread the official added No child should be left behind protecting them from polio is a collective responsibilityPakistan has reported only six polio cases so far in 2025 down from 74 in 2024 Officials credit improved immunisation drives since September last yearAccording to the programme Pakistan has reported six new poliovirus cases since the start of 2025The next nationwide antipolio campaign is scheduled to run from April 21 to 27 aiming to vaccinate more than 45 million children under the age of five across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/poliovirus-detected-in-sewage-samples-from-pakistans-20-districts-611167.html Sun, 13 Apr 2025 20:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-scraps-transshipment-facility-for-bangladeshs-export-cargo-610581.html New Delhi April 9 India has withdrawn the transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh for sending its export cargoes to other countries through Indian territory A circular issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs CBIC dated April 8 states that it has been decided to rescind the circular dated June 29 2020 which allowed such transshipments with immediate effect However cargo that has already entered into India may be allowed to exit Indian territory as per the procedure given in the earlier circularThe 2020 circular had permitted the transshipment of export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries using Indian Land Customs Stations en route to Indian ports and airports to enable smooth trade flows for Bangladeshs exports to countries such as Bhutan Nepal and MyanmarIndian apparel exporters had earlier urged the government to withdraw this facility to the neighbouring country as it is a fierce competitor in the textile sector with its cheap labour There were also allegations that the neighbouring country was misusing the facility to hurt Indian exportsFederation of Indian Export Organisations FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said there were complaints from Indian exporters about space being reduced for their shipments at airports due to the transshipment facility allowing cargoes from BangladeshThe announcement has come at a time when the US has imposed hiked tariffs against most countries and is expected to hit the Bangladesh economyThe move also comes against the backdrop of controversial statements made by Professor Muhammad Yunus the Chief Adviser of Bangladeshs interim government about Indias Northeast states during his recent visit to China Yunus had stated that with Northeast India being landlocked Dhaka was the only guardian of the ocean for all this regionIndian had reacted strongly to the statement which was seen as an attempt by Bangladesh to assert its leverage over access to the Northeast Yunus has reversed Bangladeshs foreign policy and has been moving closer to China a country which he views as a new strategic partner This has further soured relations between New Delhi and DhakaThe issue of persecution of minorities in Bangladesh is another problem area in the bilateral relations between the two countries and Dhakas stand on the issue has been far from comforting for India IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-scraps-transshipment-facility-for-bangladeshs-export-cargo-610581.html Wed, 09 Apr 2025 21:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/opening-of-colombo-terminal-to-create-thousands-of-local-jobs-karan-adani-610184.html Ahmedabad April 7 The opening of the Colombo West International Terminal CWIT in Sri Lanka will create thousands of jobs locally Karan Adani Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd APSEZ said on Monday Adani Ports has commenced operations at the terminal located at the Port of Colombo The CWIT project represents a significant investment of 800 million and features a 1400metre quay length and 20metre depth enabling the terminal to handle approximately 32 million Twentyfoot Equivalent Units TEUs annuallyThe opening of Colombo West International Terminal CWIT is a proud moment for Sri Lanka elevating Colombo Ports status as a key transshipment hub in South Asia said Karan Adani in a post on social media platform XDeveloped by Adani Ports under a visionary publicprivate partnership this project will create thousands of jobs locally and stand tall as a testament to strong neighbourly ties and shared progress he addedThe CWIT is the first deepwater terminal in Colombo to be fully automated designed to enhance cargo handling capabilities improve vessel turnaround times and elevate the ports status as a key transshipment hub in South AsiaCWIT is operated by a consortium comprising Indias largest port operator Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd leading Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under a 35year Build Operate and Transfer BOT agreementMeanwhile Adani Ports handled 450 million metric tonnes MMT of cargo in FY 202425 marking a 7 per cent yearonyear growth Mundra APSEZs flagship port achieved a historic feat by surpassing the 200 MMT cargo mark in a single fiscal a first for any Indian portThe countrys largest port operator handled 420 MMT of cargo in the financial year 202324 surpassing the governments 410 MMT volumeAccording to Karan Adani APSEZ aims to become the worlds largest port operator by 2030 achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and attain netzero emissions by 2040 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/opening-of-colombo-terminal-to-create-thousands-of-local-jobs-karan-adani-610184.html Mon, 07 Apr 2025 18:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-records-13-more-dengue-cases-609720.html Dhaka April 4 Bangladesh has recorded 13 more dengue cases pushing the total number of vectorborne infections to 1890 this year local media reported The country registered the fresh infections in the past 24 hours leading up to Thursday morningAccording to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS two cases were reported in Dhaka Division and 11 in Barishal DivisionDengue has claimed 13 lives in the country this year while 55 people were under treatment for the vectorborne infection at the hospitals across the nationLast year dengue claimed the lives of 575 people a report in Dhaka Tribune saidAccording to the recent World Health Organisation SouthEast Asia Region Epidemiological bulletin the total number of dengue cases in Bangladesh is higher compared to 2024According to the bulletin in 2025 at least 1822 dengue cases and 16 denguerelated deaths were reported a 123 per cent increase in the number of infections and a 59 per cent increase in the number of deaths compared to the corresponding period in 2024During March 39 around 70 new dengue cases were reported in Bangladesh a 129 per cent increase compared to 62 cases reported during the previous weekNewspaper Prothom Alo reported there was a significant surge in dengue cases in November 2024Public health experts physicians and entomologists claimed that effective measures to prevent dengue were lacking and the medical system was not overhauled eitherDengue a mosquitoborne viral disease has emerged as a serious public health concern in Bangladesh It is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-records-13-more-dengue-cases-609720.html Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/trekking-expedition-in-arunachal-to-commemorate-dalai-lamas-tibet-escape-609292.html Itanagar April 1 A weeklong trekking expedition retracing the historic route taken by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama six decades ago commenced on March 31 from Kenzamani in Arunachal Pradeshs Tawang district officials said Organised by the Tawang district administration under the initiative of Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang the historic event is supported by Lungla MLA Tsering Lhamu and chairman of the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs DoKAA Jambey WangdiThe journey will conclude at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5 the day the Dalai Lama arrived in the region in 1959 an official release saidThe expedition is organised to commemorate the Dalai Lamas historic escape from Tibet in 1959As part of the inaugural ceremony prayers for the Dalai Lama were held at Kenzamani followed by cultural performances by monks and local peopleAs we embark on this sixdaylong journey along the Freedom Trail we draw strength from the wisdom of the Dalai Lama and hope for a peaceful future Our relationship with Tibet is centuries old rooted in shared history culture and mutual understanding The bond between our people goes beyond borders legislator Lhamu said adding we remain inspired by His Holinesss teachings and his unwavering commitment to compassion nonviolence and the promotion of human valuesChairman DoKAA Jambey Wangdi extended his gratitude to all the participants and prayed for the good health and long life of the Dalai LamaHe urged everyone to incorporate His Holiness teachings into daily life Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang applauded the efforts of the Lungla administration and Extra Assistant Commissioner Jemeithang in making the event a successHe highlighted Kenzamanis historical significance noting that it was here that His Holiness was received by the then administrators in 1959Additionally he paid tribute to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in 1962 while defending the bordersThe event was also addressed by the Tibetan Settlement Officer from Bomdila and Addl DC Lungla Tashi Dhondup both of whom emphasized the spiritual and cultural importance of the initiativeIndoTibetan Border Police ITBP jawans received the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a branch of the holy tree at Chudangmo offering a guard of honorOver 300 participants joined Mondays first day of the trekking programme which included Gaon Buras Gram Panchayat members personnel from border guarding forces monks and tourists IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/trekking-expedition-in-arunachal-to-commemorate-dalai-lamas-tibet-escape-609292.html Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/former-nepal-king-gyanendra-fined-by-kathmandu-civic-body-for-vandalism-608991.html Kathmandu March 30 Former King Gyanendra Shah was fined by Kathmandus civic body following the damage caused to public property and environment during the promonarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital a day before As the protest was organised on the call of Gyanendra Shah Kathmandu Metropolitan Citys KMC Mayor Balendra Shah sent a letter to his residence at Nirmala Niwas at Maharjgunj on the outskirt of Kathmandu asking him to pay Nepali Rupees 793000 as compensation against the damageThe fine was imposed for the alleged improper disposal of waste on roads and sidewalks as well as damage to physical structures The KMC issued the penalty notice on Saturday citing the breach of the Waste Management Act 2020 and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Finance Act 2021 Kathmandu Post reportedParts of Kathmandu on Friday witnessed a tense situation after promonarchy protesters pelted stones attacked the office of a political party set fire to vehicles and looted shops in the TinkuneBaneshwor area of KathmanduTwo persons including a TV cameraman were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between the security personnel and the promonarchy protestersIn the letter sent to Gyanendra Shah copies of which were released to the media the KMC said that the protest organised with the call of the former monarch had damaged various properties belonging to the metropolis and affected the environment of the capital cityDurga Prasai who was the convener of Fridays agitation had met Gyanendra Shah a day before and received instructions to stage the agitation demanding reinstatement of monarchy and a Hindu stateThe promonarchists have become active since democracy day in February when Gyanendra Shah said Time has come for us to assume responsibility to protect the country and bring about national unityThe promonarchists were organising rallies in Kathmandu and other parts of the country demanding the reinstatement of the 240yearold monarchy abolished in 2008Earlier on Monday March 24 a group of civil society leaders in Nepal slammed Gyanendra Shah for becoming politically active with the aim of reinstating monarchyGyanendra Shahs descent into political activism subverts the nationbuilding efforts of his ancestors and carries the danger of weakening the country before its neighbours and the world eight civil society leaders had said in a joint statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/former-nepal-king-gyanendra-fined-by-kathmandu-civic-body-for-vandalism-608991.html Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-seizes-heroin-valued-at-rs-677-crore-along-india-bangladesh-border-607854.html Kolkata March 22 The Border Security Force BSF has claimed to have arrested a Bangladeshi smuggler with 338 kg heroin along the IndiaBangladesh border in Murshidabad district of West Bengal The value of the seized narcotics is estimated to be nearly Rs 67740000 in the black marketTroops of the Pirojpur Border Outpost received specific intelligence regarding an attempt to smuggle narcotics across the IBB The input stated that the narcotics would be smuggled from the Sadamachar area Vigil along the border was stepped up Around 4 pm the jawans spotted two men approaching the border from the Indian side On being challenged the two attempted to flee The BSF troops managed to apprehend one of them said NK Pandey DIG and spokesperson South Bengal Frontier BSFThe troops had spotted the men dropping some packets into the dense bushes near the border before their escape attempt A thorough search led to the seizure of five packets They contained some brown powdery substance The contents were weighed and sent for tests The test result revealed that the brown substance is heroinDuring questioning the arrested man confessed that he was a Bangladeshi and had sneaked across the unfenced border with the aim to smuggle items One of his Indian associates had handed him the packets with instructions to deliver them to a person in Bangladesh He was to receive some money for this job He along with the narcotics has been handed over to the concerned agency for further legal action Pandey saidHe added that this successful operation marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to curb smuggling along the IndiaBangladesh border particularly in the fight against drugsHe emphasised that the credit for this accomplishment goes entirely to the courageous BSF personnel who tirelessly perform their duty on the border with unwavering vigilance day and night Such operations act as a morale dampener for smugglers and crossborder criminals he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-seizes-heroin-valued-at-rs-677-crore-along-india-bangladesh-border-607854.html Sat, 22 Mar 2025 18:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/killed-let-operative-in-jhelum-not-hafiz-saeeds-nephew-606658.html Islamabad March 16 The targeted killing of Faisal Nadeem aka Abu Qatal in Pakistans Jhelum area has raised many eyebrows over killing of Kashmiri militants in the country While it is being claimed that Abu Qatal was not only a senior member of the LashkareToiba LeT but was also the nephew of LeT and JuD JamatudDawa founder and chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed inside details reveal that Abu Qatal may not be the nephew of Hafiz Saeed but he surely is a senior member of the LeT As per insider details the killed man in Jhelum by unidentified people is not the nephew of Hafiz Saeed nor was Saeed present with him at the time of the incident But the detailed established that Abu Qatal was part of LeTThe person who was targeted and killed does not hail from Punjab or Kashmir he belongs to Sindh province and was in Azad Kashmir for his organisational responsibilities He had been living in Azad Kashmir for some time now insider details revealedThe killed person was part of LashkareTaiba LeT He had also served jail term in Indian administered Kashmir also His security guard was also killed in the attack while his driver was transferred to the hospital in critical condition the details addedThe killing of Abu Qatal is certainly a highprofile killing as he was one of the senior members of the LeT Qatal was also among Indias most wanted terrorists for his involvement in the 2023 Rajouri attack and the 2024 Raesi bus attackAbu Qatal was killed on Saturday night One can imagine and sensitivity around the killing that after his killing raids were done in at least two provinces throughout the nightThis is the third high profile killing in Sajid Jutt Network of LeT Before this Hanzallah Adnan killing in Karachi and Qasim Kashmiris killing in Rawalkot all of these killings have been of members from the Sajid Jutt Network SJNReliable sources say that after the killing of Abu Qatal who he said was on the list of most wanted terrorists of India other operatives from the SJN have gone into hiding amid threats of attacks on them as wellPakistan in the past has linked killings of Kashmiri militants in Pakistan to a targeted killing accusing India for using local and Afghan mercenaries to take out people on its hit list IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/killed-let-operative-in-jhelum-not-hafiz-saeeds-nephew-606658.html Sun, 16 Mar 2025 18:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/7-bangladeshis-4-rohingyas-held-along-india-bangladesh-border-606691.html AgartalaShillong March 16 Seven Bangladeshi nationals and four Rohingyas were arrested in Meghalaya and Tripura border villages along with four Indian touts who facilitated the foreign nationals illegal entry into India from across the border an official said on Sunday The BSF also seized 187 secondhand mobile phones from Tripuras Sepahijala districtA BSF spokesperson in Shillong said that acting on specific input alert BSF troopers in Meghalaya apprehended seven Bangladesh nationals including a woman and two Indian nationals from different villages along the IndiaBangladesh borderThe Bangladeshis with the help of two Indian touts were attempting to engage in smuggling and illegal entry into IndiaA BSF spokesman in Agartala said that four Rohingyas including two women were arrested in northern Tripuras Dharmanagar along with two Indian touts who facilitated their illegal entry into India from BangladeshA specific case has been registered against themThe arrested Rohingyas have been identified as Jahid Alam and Mantajul Haque male and Meen Tara and Putu Aktar female while the arrested touts are Munim and IqbalJahid Alam one of the arrested Rohingyas revealed that he paid Rs 25000 to the Indian touts to facilitate his crossing under the barbedwire fencing at Kailashahar in Unakoti districtOriginally from Myanmar Jahid Alam told the police that his intended destination was DelhiAuthorities are investigating the network involved in infiltration of Rohingyas into India as security agencies remain on high alert against illegal border crossingsThe spokesman said that a BSF special ambush party observed suspicious movement of six smugglers on both sides of IndiaBangladesh border in Matinagar area under Tripuras Sepahijala district trying to carry out smuggling activitiesOn being challenged by the BSF the smugglers fled away towards their respective sides Further when the area was thoroughly searched BSF recovered 187 used mobile phones of various makes worth Rs 4210 lakh Seized mobile phones have been handed over to the Customs for further necessary legal action IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/7-bangladeshis-4-rohingyas-held-along-india-bangladesh-border-606691.html Sun, 16 Mar 2025 23:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pia-flight-makes-landing-in-lahore-without-a-wheel-606280.html Lahore March 13 Pakistans flag carrier airline PIA Pakistan International Airline domestic flight landed in Lahore on Thursday without one of its wheels leaving authorities shocked on what seemed like a major blunder on part of the flight management PIA flight PK306 had left from Karachi enroute to LahoreUpon landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore it was discovered that the one of the tyres of the plane was missingThe issue was discovered during an inspection following the flights landing at the airport said a PIA spokespersonThe interesting part of the whole episode is that despite the fact that more than 14 hours have passed since the flight landed in Lahore there is no trace of the missing tyre as it has not been found yetAuthorities at the Karachi International Airport have confirmed that the tyre was present when the plane took off from KarachiIt was also maintained that the plane made a normal landing at the Lahore airportAn investigation has been launched into the incident as authorities probe into how the tyre went missingInitial findings have revealed that the tyre shaft was found at the Karachi airport after Lahores Air Traffic Control ATC sent out a notification on the matterThe Civil Aviation Authority CAA maintains that preliminary observations indicate towards a possible external object strike on the planes tyre at the runway of the Karachi airportWhile the final report will reveal the cause of the incident initial findings indicate that the wheel might have been impacted due to a fault on the runway of some other external factor said the PIA spokesperson adding that an immediate investigation has been launched by the PIA Safety Department and the CAA IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pia-flight-makes-landing-in-lahore-without-a-wheel-606280.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshi-convicted-by-tripura-court-29-nationals-of-neighbouring-country-held-by-bsf-605918.html Agartala March 12 A Tripura court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment of 100 days and a fine of Rs 5000 to a 29yearold Bangladeshi youth for entering into India illegally last year officials said A police official said that the Judicial Magistrate of first class court in southern Tripuras Gomati district convicted Bangladesh national Rajib Chandra Das under various provisions of law including Indian Passport Act The court imposed a fine of Rs 5000 and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment of 100 days the official said quoting the court order Investigating Officer Kartik Dey who investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet which ended in conviction said that Rajib Chandra Das was arrested by the police on December 26 last year Das is a resident of Pudua village of Feni district of Bangladesh Meanwhile a Border Security Force BSF spokesman on Tuesday said that the border guarding troops of Tripura Frontier in separate operations in between March 6 to 10 apprehended 29 Bangladesh nationals and seven Indian nationals including touts from different locations of Tripura The Bangladeshi and Indian nationals were arrested from West Tripura North Tripura Sepahijala and South Tripura districtsBSF battalions have also conducted nine village coordination meetings in border areas to address the concerns of the local populationThe BSF continues to enhance its surveillance and intelligence capabilities to ensure the safety and security of the nation the spokesman said He added that the paramilitary troops have enhanced vigil and intensified its domination along the International Border since the violence in Bangladesh began in JuneJuly last year specially after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaled Awami League government on August 5 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshi-convicted-by-tripura-court-29-nationals-of-neighbouring-country-held-by-bsf-605918.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 01:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/six-children-raped-in-bdesh-protests-continue-against-yunus-led-interim-govt-605817.html Dhaka March 11 Amid ongoing protest movements in Bangladesh against genderbased violence another six children were raped in six districts according to local media reports on Tuesday At least seven people were arrested on Monday on charges of rape in six districtsThese cases of sexual violence were reported from across several districts of Bangladesh The children who were sexually assaulted are all aged from six to fourteen Among one of the incidents a teenage girl who was a victim of sexual assault died by suicide after being falsely accused and vilified during a local arbitration meeting reports the leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily StarThese rising incidents of sexual assault despite the demonstrations by the people against the rising incidence of violence against women exposed the further deteriorating law and order situation in BangladeshBangladesh has recently been gripped with protest marches against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus Women in Bangladesh took to the streets demanding justice for rape stricter punishment for offenders and the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam ChowdhuryStudents and teachers from different universities across the country also demonstrated against the recent rape incidents including that of an eightyearold in Magura who is currently fighting for her life and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the crime local media in Bangladesh reportedDuring the demonstrations Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob called for the dismissal of the Home Affairs Advisor instead of his resignation emphasising that she had demanded this months agoResignation is an honourable exit He doesnt deserve that honour she was quoted as saying by the countrys leading daily The Dhaka TribuneThe various political outfits that earlier joined hands to overthrow the democratically elected government of Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina have criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for the failing law and order situation and the rising incidence of violence against women across BangladeshAddressing a rally on Monday Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the rise in incidents of rape and violence against women in the country is due to the present administrations inaction according to a report by United News of BangladeshWhy is this situation arising under the current interim government If the administration had functioned properly incidents of rape murder injuries and corruption would not have escalated he saidRizvi said that the reality now is that the number of rape incidents has increased and women are not safe anywhere in the countryAddressing the media on Sunday the radical outfit JamaateIslami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told The Dhaka Tribune Women and children are not safe anywhere today be it on buses trains launches offices homes schools or madrasas The situation in the country is much worse than what is reflected in newspapers and the mediaSeveral cases of violence against women have been reported from across Bangladesh since the Muhammad Yunusled interim regime came to power in August 2024 The incompetence of the interim government in curbing genderbased violence sparked public outrage with students demanding the resignation of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the interim government accountable for degrading the law and order situation across the nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/six-children-raped-in-bdesh-protests-continue-against-yunus-led-interim-govt-605817.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/10-bangladeshi-infiltrators-held-at-bhubaneswar-railway-station-605555.html Bhubaneswar March 9 The Special Task Force STF of Odisha Crime Branch has apprehended ten Bangladeshi illegal infiltrators including three females and a juvenile during a raid at Bhubaneswar Railway Station The STF through a press statement issued on Sunday revealed that the Bangladeshi nationals have no legal documents including Passport Visa valid travel document for stay or travel in IndiaA team of STF sleuths on Saturday carried out a raid at the Bhubaneswar Railway Station platform after the receipt of some inputs from confidential sources about the travel of the illegal immigrants without any valid document to OdishaOn interrogation they disclosed that they belong to Bangladesh and had crossed the border illegally through their agent near Dhubri border Assam and came to Bhubaneswar to reside here During their personal search seven mobile phones some Bangladeshi currency notes and Indian currency notes were recovered and seized from their possession the STF said on SundayThe STF apprehended 10 numbers of Bangladeshi Nationals including six male three female persons and a juvenile following the raid by registering a case in this regard on SundayAs Bangladeshi nationals have entered India without any passport visa or any travel document to reside here at Bhubaneswar suppressing their real identity and hence they are liable under section14 of the Foreigners Act 1946A case under section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946 has been registered against them and all the accused persons were arrested and were forwarded to judicial custody added STF sourcesIt is pertinent here to mention that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in 2024 had informed the state assembly that a total of 3740 Bangladeshi infiltrators were living in the state illegally till the year 2021He also revealed that out of the total infiltrators illegally residing in the state 1649 live in Kendrapara district followed by 1112 in Jagatsinghpur 655 in Malkangiri 199 in Bhadrak 106 in Nabarangpur 17 in Bhubaneswar in Khurda district and two persons in Bargarh districtCM Majhi had also said in the house that a direction has been issued to form committees comprising officers of tehslis blocks and police stations to identify the infiltrators residing at various places across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/10-bangladeshi-infiltrators-held-at-bhubaneswar-railway-station-605555.html Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-home-ministry-rejects-proposal-of-police-commission-refuses-to-let-go-its-control-604387.html Dhaka March 3 Bangladesh leadership has rejected the idea of a Police Commission refusing to let go of its control over the law enforcers local media reported on Monday Ignoring calls for holding police accountable through a separate commission the Home Ministry of the South Asian nation rejected the idea of a Police Commission reports the countrys leading newspaper The Daily StarRefusing to let go of its control over the police the home ministry stated that the formation of an independent body as the Police Reform Commission recommends is unnecessary because the ministry is already doing what an independent body would be doingIt claimed that the current laws which are from the colonial era are good enough and there is no need for amendmentsThe image of the police has been tainted because certain policemen did not adhere to laws amid extralegal political pressure the Home Ministrys response readEarlier the Muhammad Yunusled interim government claimed to reform the police force Following this a reform commission was formed to draft proposals for these reforms and given until January 15 to submit its reportIn the report the commission recommended extensive measures to reform the police and proposed that the use of force against civilians will have to be the last resortHowever the Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury earlier stated that they need time to implement the proposals and a change of mindset among the police would need more time tooAccording to local media reports in January a public survey named Kemon Police Chai what kind of police we want has found that the majority of respondents opinions favour the formation of a separate regulatory organisation or a commission for police to make the law enforcing agency accountable and free from influencesThe recent development of opposing the idea of a Police Commission comes at a time when the Home Ministry of Bangladesh came under severe public scrutiny last weekStudents took out a protest march and demanded the resignation of Jahangir Alam for failing to ensure safety and security and degrading the law and order situation across the South Asian nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-home-ministry-rejects-proposal-of-police-commission-refuses-to-let-go-its-control-604387.html Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-apprehends-15-bangladeshis-in-tripura-604032.html Agartala Feb 28 The Border Security Force BSF have arrested 15 Bangladesh nationals including three women and seven children in Tripura for illegally entering India officials said on Friday The BSF also arrested three Indian touts for facilitating the Bangladeshis entry into the country without any legal documents and passportsA BSF spokesman said that the 13 Bangladesh nationals and the three Indian touts were arrested on Thursday night from Kailashahar in the Unakoti district in northern TripuraHe said that all the 13 intruders were residents of Moulvibazar Sunamgunj Netragunj Netrokona and Barisal in BangladeshThe apprehended Indian touts were identified as Kajal Das Ajit Das and Prasanjit DebnathAdditionally a special operation was launched in association with Tripura Police in which two Bangladesh nationals were apprehended in West Tripura when they were trying to cross over to BangladeshThe spokesman said that in the concerted efforts to prevent illegal crossborder activities in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday a joint operation was conducted with the Government Railway Police GRP personnel at the Agartala railway station This operation led to the apprehension of two Indian nationals involved in facilitating the unauthorised entry of Bangladeshis into Indian territoryIn another crackdown on crossborder narcotics smuggling troops of the BSF detected suspicious movement of Indian smugglers attempting to transport illicit items across the IndiaBangladesh border in the Sepahijala districtUpon being challenged by BSF personnel the smugglers abandoned the consignment and fled toward the Indian side A thorough search of the area led to the recovery and seizure of 20 packets containing 20000 Yaba tablets valued at Rs 2 crore Additionally BSF troops seized other contraband items worth Rs 1680 lakh from different locations along the IndoBangladesh border in TripuraThe BSF has significantly intensified its vigilance and operational efforts to combat the rising trend of narcotics smuggling Recent months have seen multiple successful interceptions demonstrating the forces unwavering commitment to border security The seized contraband has been handed over to the Customs Department for further legal action The BSF remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the nations borders and contribute to a drugfree society the spokesman said He said that the BSF remains committed to maintaining zerotolerance against illegal border crossings human trafficking and smuggling activities along the IndoBangladesh border IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-apprehends-15-bangladeshis-in-tripura-604032.html Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bnp-leader-attacked-beaten-to-death-in-bangladesh-602733.html Dhaka Feb 22 In yet another incident of lawlessness in Bangladesh under the current dispensation of Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus a Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP leader Mohammad Babul Mia was brutally beaten to death This unfortunate incident unfolded in front of his wife by his rivals in Dhakas Dhamrai Upazila on Friday afternoon according to local media reportsWhile speaking to the local media Babuls wife Yasmin Begum said They beat him with sticks and SS pipes seriously injuring him They even gouged out both his eyes When I and some locals tried to intervene and take him to a hospital they stopped us Only after he became unconscious did they leave the placeIt is reported that Babul was attacked by a group of people when he and his wife were harvesting mustard near Akshirnagar Housing His wife stated that a longstanding dispute was going on among villagers over Akshirnagar Housing a real estate business in BangladeshSome others claim that the deceased Babul had a dispute with the attackers over the ownership of a pond which might have led to his killingHe was later taken to a hospital where he was declared dead The doctors said he was brought to the hospital with grievous injuries in his head eyes face and legsThe police in charge of the area stated that as per the investigations Babul was killed due to an ongoing dispute And the process to arrest the culprits involved in the murder has startedRecently top BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu accused the interim government and said Under the interim government workers have been killed and leaders of political parties have been killed The culprits must be brought under the law without delay Otherwise dissatisfaction will grow among the people and political activistsThe violent incident has sparked outrage in the South Asian country with many calling for Yunus to resign as the number of such incidents continues to rise IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bnp-leader-attacked-beaten-to-death-in-bangladesh-602733.html Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-ministers-remarks-on-peace-in-afghanistan-may-escalate-bilateral-tensions-602447.html Kabul Feb 20 The frosty relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan is set to worsen in the wake of recent remarks by Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar During a United Nations Security Council meeting chaired by China Dar emphasised the significance of peace and stability in Afghanistan In response Afghanistan has maintained complete silenceHowever experts from Afghanistan came out strongly against the remarksThe remarks of Pakistans Foreign Minister are contradictory Afghanistan seeks an economy based on cooperation noninterference in other nations affairs and security for all including Pakistan and the world If there are territorial and border disputes they should be resolved through dialogue I hope Pakistan abandons hypocrisy and upholds the principles of mutual respect in its relations with Afghanistan said Zalmai Afghan Yar an Afghan military analyst as reported by Afghanistans Tolo NewsEarlier on multiple occasions the Afghan government has claimed that Afghanistans territory is not being used against any country rather it is the territories of neighbouring countries that are being used against Afghanistan Another Afghan military affairs expert Sadiq Shinwari recently demanded Pakistan first dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and centres operating within its own territory and stop pursuing a double standards policy towards AfghanistanLast week the United Nations Security Council UNSC held a meeting regarding Daeshs activities in the region The terrorist group Daesh also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL remains a serious global security threat despite years of sustained efforts to dismantle its operations UN counterterrorism officials warned during the meetingPakistans Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram during the meeting claimed that Afghanistan has become a hub for recruiting Daesh Khorasan fighters The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the other hand called the statements baseless as reported by Tolo NewsZia Ahmad Takal the head of public relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that insecurity in Afghanistan is being organized from Pakistan and that the perpetrators of recent incidents have entered the country from across the Durand Line according to Afghan media reportsMeanwhile some Afghan political analysts claim that Daesh is currently operating from Pakistan against Afghanistan and other countriesIn Pakistans security policy the use of terrorist groups against its neighbours has always been one of its fundamental strategies Unfortunately the Pakistani military and civilian governments have been the creators and supporters of terrorist groups analyst Wais Naseri said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-ministers-remarks-on-peace-in-afghanistan-may-escalate-bilateral-tensions-602447.html Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/11-labourers-killed-in-bomb-blast-in-pakistan-601285.html Quetta Feb 14 At least 11 labourers were killed and seven others critically injured when a bomb planted on a road in the Shahrag area of Harnai in Pakistans Balochistan province exploded on Friday As per details the bomb exploded when a vehicle carrying coal miners was passing nearbyThe explosives are suspected to be an improvised explosive device IED which was planted on the road said Hazrat Wali Kakar Deputy Commissioner of HarnaiThe security forces cordoned off the area as the bodies of the killed and the injured were shifted to the hospitalHospital authorities confirmed the number of fatalities out of which at least nine were brought to the hospital dead while two succumbed to their injuriesThe hospital authorities also confirmed that the condition of the injured was criticalThe Shahrag area of Harnai Balochistan has witnessed multiple incidents of bomb blasts in the past It is believed that the bomb blasts were targeted at disrupting the mining work going on in the area as the majority of deceased in the blasts were coal minersThe other suspected reason for targeting coal miners is that the workers were not Balochistan nativesAs per the Mines Department the majority of the killed coal miners belong to Swat and Shangla of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPNo militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack However the separatist group from Balochistan BLA Baloch Liberation Army has been active in carrying out similar attacks in the pastThe Balochistan provincial government condemned the attack and announced that an immediate investigation had been launchedTerrorists who target innocent citizens do not deserve any forgiveness Strict action will continue against the elements damaging the peace of Balochistan said Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz BugtiThe intentions of the enemies of peace will not be allowed to succeed under any circumstances Balochistan government is taking all possible steps to protest the lives and property of the people he addedPakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and vowed to bring the culprits to justice and be held accountable for their misdeedsThe beasts who target innocent civilians should not be shown any mercy he saidIn the past it has been seen that labourers and workers from Punjab province working in different parts of Balochistan have been killed after identification of their origin by militantsBalochistan province has been a witness to many targeted attacks by militant groups keeping the government law enforcement agencies and the security forces on their heelsPakistan has maintained that the groups operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP are getting their support and facilitation from the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan who Islamabad insists is providing support to antiPakistan groups and their activities in Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/11-labourers-killed-in-bomb-blast-in-pakistan-601285.html Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-hopes-of-yunus-pm-modi-meet-during-bimstec-summit-600882.html Dhaka Feb 12 Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to attend the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok Thailand from April 24 This gives hope for the firstever inperson meeting between Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summitThere is still a possibility that the two leaders can meet taking advantage of the BIMSTEC platform however nothing is finalised yet a Bangladeshi official was quoted as saying by the countrys leading daily Prothom AloBangladesh will take as the next chair of BIMSTEC at the summitAs the chair Bangladesh will have the opportunity to lead BIMSTEC take initiatives for cooperation in different sectors by working together in tandem with all the member states and this will be an opportunity for Bangladesh to redemonstrate its commitment to the world BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey was quoted as saying by Bangladeshs leading newspaper The Dhaka TribuneThailand is set to host the summit in Bangkok BIMSTEC is a regional organisation that was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok DeclarationInitially known as BISTEC BangladeshIndiaSri LankaThailand Economic Cooperation the regional grouping expanded and came to be known as BIMSTEC and comprises seven member states with the admission of Myanmar in December 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004BIMSTEC is often considered an alternative regional bloc to the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation SAARC With SAARC in a dormant stage India initiated the idea of propelling BIMSTEC to enhance regional cooperationIndias interest in BIMSTEC aligns with PM Modis Act East Policy which is a diplomatic initiative to enhance economic strategic and cultural relations across Southeast AsiaThe anticipated meeting between Yunus and PM Modi assumes significance due to the rapid downslide in bilateral ties between the two South Asian neighbours after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through an orchestrated coup on August 5 last yearHasina has since been taking refuge in India and the Chief Advisor of Bangladeshs interim government Muhammad Yunus is in charge of the nation This has led to the IndoBangla relationship rapidly nosedivedThe continuous mob violence vandalism and persecution of Hindus under the interim regime in Bangladesh witnessed further stalemate in the relationsAmidst frosty ties the BIMSTEC summit is seen as a possibility to reset the relationship between India and Bangladesh and reduce diplomatic differencesHowever all will depend on how the interim government works towards the restoration of democracy and safeguarding the rights of minorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-hopes-of-yunus-pm-modi-meet-during-bimstec-summit-600882.html Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-has-no-role-to-play-mea-summons-bangladesh-envoy-after-dhaka-lodges-protest-over-sheikh-hasinas-speech-600422.html New Delhi Feb 8 The Ministry of External Affairs MEA on Friday summoned Bangladeshs Acting High Commissioner to India Md Nural Islam expressing concerns over continued negative remarks by Bangladeshi authorities regarding India MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in an official statement said The Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner to India Md Nural Islam was summoned by MEA to the South Block today February 7 2025 at 5 pm It was conveyed that India desires a positive constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh which has been reiterated several times in recent highlevel meetings It is however regrettable that regular statements made by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively holding us responsible for internal governance issues These statements by Bangladesh are in fact responsible for the persistent negativityJaiswal also said Comments attributed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been made in her individual capacity in which India has no role to play Conflating this with the Government of Indias position is not going to help add positivity to bilateral relations While the Government of India will make efforts for a mutually beneficial relationship we expect that Bangladesh will reciprocate similarly without vitiating the atmosphereOn Thursday Bangladesh formally lodged a strong protest with India over remarks made by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina particularly concerning the alleged recent vandalism of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans house Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised Hasinas statements as false and fabricated and described her activities while in exile in India as a hostile actThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh lodged a strong protest with the Government of India over the false and fabricated comments and statements continuously being made on different platforms including social media by the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instigating instability in Bangladesh Through the protest note handed over to the Acting High Commissioner of India in Dhaka the Ministry conveyed the deep concern disappointment and serious reservation of the Government of Bangladesh as such statements are hurting the sentiments of the people in Bangladesh said a Facebook post by the MinistryThe Ministry further said Such activities by her are considered a hostile act towards Bangladesh and are not conducive to the efforts at establishing a healthy relationship between the two countriesBangladesh has urged India to prevent Hasina from making further statements citing the importance of mutual respect and the historical ties between the two nationsMeanwhile Bangladesh continues to witness largescale violence and arson attacks targeting properties linked to Hasina and her Awami League party According to media reports protesters have attacked and torched the houses of Awami League leaders across the country Murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been demolished or defaced in nearly two dozen districtsOn Wednesday night following Hasinas live online address protesters targeted the house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman In Dhaka Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Selims house in Banani was set on fire around 130 am on Friday Security concerns delayed fire services from reaching the site until 245 am the United News of Bangladesh UNB quoted a Fire Service control room duty officer as sayingA day after the attack on Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans Dhanmondi32 residence protesters in Noakhalis Companiganj ransacked and torched the house of Obaidul Quader Awami Leagues general secretary According to The Daily Star the attack took place at 1 pm on Friday damaging a twostorey building and tinroofed rooms belonging to Quaders younger brother Abdul Quader Mirza and former mayor Shahadat Mirza A car parked outside was also set ablazeSheikh Hasina 77 has been living in India since August 5 2024 after fleeing Bangladesh following a massive studentled uprising that ended her Awami Leagues 16year rule Her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is widely regarded as Bangladeshs Independence hero but growing resentment towards Hasina has affected his legacyMeanwhile Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal ICT has issued arrest warrants against Hasina and several of her former Cabinet ministers advisers and officials for crimes against humanity and genocide IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-has-no-role-to-play-mea-summons-bangladesh-envoy-after-dhaka-lodges-protest-over-sheikh-hasinas-speech-600422.html Sat, 08 Feb 2025 06:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/should-be-strongly-condemned-india-slams-attack-on-bangladesh-founder-sheikh-mujibur-rahmans-residence-in-dhaka-600155.html New Delhi Feb 7 India on Thursday expressed anguish over the vandalism of the residence of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and said the act of vandalism should be strongly condemned In response to media queries regarding the vandalism of Rahmans residence the Ministry of External Affairs MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression was destroyed on February 5 2025All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned he addedThe MEA in India expressed deep concern over the attack highlighting the historical and cultural importance of the residenceIndia called for the perpetrators to be held accountable and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the regionOn Wednesday a mob vandalised the residence of Rahman in Dhaka Dhaka Tribune reportedVisuals showed flames on one of the floors of the houseThe protesters reportedly demanding a ban on the Awami League stormed the premises after breaking open the gate causing widespread destruction Dhaka Tribune reportedLocal media linked the protest to an online speech by former Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaSocial media posts had earlier called for a Bulldozer Procession towards Sheikh Mujibur Rehmans residence located at Dhanmondi32 if Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech as reported by Dhaka TribuneBy 1045 pm local time an excavator had been brought to demolish the houseProtestors who arrived in a rally around 8 pm forced their way in breaking into the main gate before proceeding to vandalise the propertyAccording to a Dhaka Tribune report many protestors reportedly climbed to the second floor using hammers crowbars and wooden planks to destroy portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and damaged sections of the historic houseOn Thursday Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lodged a strong protest with the Indian government over the false and fabricated comments and statements continuously being made on different platforms including social media by the countrys former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina aimed at instigating instabilityThrough a protest note handed over to the Acting High Commissioner of India in Dhaka the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that it conveyed the deep concern disappointment and serious reservation of the Bangladesh government as such statements are hurting the sentiments of the people in BangladeshThe Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also emphasised that such activities by her are considered as a hostile act towards Bangladesh and are not conducive to the efforts at establishing a healthy relationship between the two countries it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/should-be-strongly-condemned-india-slams-attack-on-bangladesh-founder-sheikh-mujibur-rahmans-residence-in-dhaka-600155.html Fri, 07 Feb 2025 04:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-summons-lankan-envoy-lodges-strong-protest-over-firing-on-indian-fishermen-598092.html New Delhi Jan 28 India on Tuesday summoned the Sri Lankan envoy in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest over an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the proximity of Delft Island earlier in the day Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Priyanga Wickramasinghe was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs MEA while the Indian High Commission in Colombo also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan governmentOut of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel two have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same Indian Consulate Officials in Jaffna have visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to seek their welfare and are extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families read an MEA statementThe detained fishermen hailing from Rameswaram and Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu were taken to Jaffna where they are expected to face judicial proceedings Their mechanised fishing boat was also seizedThe total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities in the last three days now stands at 47 with three highvalue mechanised boats also confiscatedThe recurring arrests underscore the challenges faced by Tamil Nadus fishing community particularly in the Palk Bay region where fishermen frequently face detentions while pursuing their livelihoodsGovernment of India has always emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner keeping in mind livelihood concerns The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed the MEA statement addedIndia had raised the issue during Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayakes visit to India last month However despite these discussions the arrests continue prompting frustration and fear among fishermenSince June 2024 the Sri Lankan Navy has detained 425 Tamil Nadu fishermen and also seized 58 fishing boatsThe frequent arrests have sparked protests and demands for a longterm resolution to protect the livelihood of fishing communities Former Union Minister and PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has called on the government to take strong measures to safeguard the interests of the fishermen and prevent further detentionsThe situation emphasises the need for a coordinated diplomatic effort between India and Sri Lanka to resolve maritime boundary disputes and ensure that fishermen can continue their traditional livelihood without fear or uncertainty IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-summons-lankan-envoy-lodges-strong-protest-over-firing-on-indian-fishermen-598092.html Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/manipur-on-alert-to-prevent-infiltrators-from-bdesh-cm-biren-singh-597005.html Imphal Jan 23 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that the state on its eastern side has been facing illegal infiltration problems from Myanmar adding an alert is also being maintained in the states western as well as southern regions to block the illegal entry of people from the neighbouring country The Chief Minister said that Manipur has an interstate border 204 km with Assam He said that Assam along with Tripura have also been facing infiltration problems from BangladeshIf Assam could not detect the illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh these migrants might enter into Manipur Biren Singh told the mediaAssam and Tripura share a 263 km and 856 km border with Bangladesh respectively However most parts of the international frontiers of the two states have been fenced off but some patches still remain unfencedThe Chief Minister said that besides the security forces indigenous people in general must be alerted about the illegal infiltration from across the borderGiving a stern warning against those people spreading wrong information and rumours he said that appropriate strict action would be taken as per law against those people spreading hate speeches false and fabricated information and narratives through the social mediaNo one has the right to disturb society individuals and any family by spreading hate speeches false and fictitious information through the social media Biren Singh said adding that the government would not tolerate any irresponsible statements and views on social mediaThe Chief Minister announced that with the improvement of the law and order situation in the state the state government has resumed the Go to Hills mission to take the administration to the door steps of the peopleHe said on Wednesday the state cabinet meeting was held in the tribal inhabited Tamenglong district and with the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi various projects worth around Rs 300 crore have been announcedThe states Tamenglong district was once the most backward district and now one of the most developed districts in the country the Chief Minister claimedBiren Singh who holds the Home portfolio said that as part of the governments war against drugs Manipur Police along with paramilitary and other security forces have regularly been destroying illegal poppy cultivation mostly in the hilly areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/manipur-on-alert-to-prevent-infiltrators-from-bdesh-cm-biren-singh-597005.html Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-stf-nabs-one-more-member-of-terrorist-group-ansarullah-bangla-team-596327.html Guwahati Jan 19 The Special Task Force STF of Assam Police has arrested another dreaded cadre of the Ansarullah Bangla Team ABT a Bangladeshbased terror group affiliated with AlQaeda in the Indian Subcontinent AQIS officials said on Sunday An Assam Police spokesperson said that the STF in another successful operation against fundamentalists and Global Terrorist Organisations GTO arrested the most wanted JihadiIslamic extremist Jaheer Ali from Dhubri an Assam district shares border with Bangladesh and West BengalWith the latest arrest of Ali the STF so far arrested 13 associates of the ABTThese 13 cadres including a Bangladeshi national were active in clandestine activities under the direction of Md Farhan Israk a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani the chief of ABTThey sent one Bangladeshi national Md Sad Radi alias Shab Sheikh a resident of Rajshahi Bangladesh to India to spread their nefarious ideology amongst like minded Indian National across India the spokesperson saidHe said that under the direction of STF Chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta Operation Praghat was conductedThe accused were arrested and recovery of arms ammunition explosives and other materials and various incriminating documents mobile phones was made from their possessionOn December 30 last year ABT cadre and the absconding prime accused Gazi Rahman 35 was arrested with the assistance of Kokrajhar PoliceOn December 27 last year ABT associate Shahinur Islam 36 was arrested from Bandhabpara in Dhubri District while on December 24 the STF arrested Abdul Zaher Sheikh and Sabbir Mirdha from Namapara in Kokrajhar district and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and other warlike items were recovered from the hideout of one of the arrested accused personsThe STF as part of Operation Praghat on the intervening night of December 1718 had apprehended eight ABT operatives across Assam West Bengal and KeralaAmong the eight five were arrested in Assams Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts two in West Bengal and one Bangladeshi national in Kerala Of the eight arrests Bangladeshi national Muhammad Sad Radi alias Md Shab Sheikh 32 a resident of Rajshahi in Bangladesh was apprehended from KeralaAfter the questioning of the eight detainees the remaining four accused persons were arrested from Dhubri and Kokrajhar bordering Bhutan and West BengalWith these 13 arrests the STF achieved a huge success in averting a possible major terror act by fundamentalistJihadi elements of a Global Terrorist Organisation GTO the spokesman saidAssam Police Special Director General Harmeet Singh earlier said the eight persons arrested on the intervening night of December 1718 were handlers in Pakistan and BangladeshThey were working to form sleeper cells in different parts of India and there were plans to assassinate leaders belonging to the Hindu community and RSS besides undertaking violent and subversive activities in India Singh had saidThe Special DGP had said that Operation Praghat was launched in November after a detailed and prolonged examination of intelligence input regarding the clandestine antinational activities being carried out by a group of individuals under the direction of Md Farhan Israk a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani the ABT ChiefThe operation was launched under the direct supervision of STF Chief MahantaIn December last year the Assam Police STF also arrested five Pakistanlinked terrorist group JaisheMohammad JeM members from Kokrajhar and DhubriFour JeM operatives have been arrested from Kokrajhar district while one JeM linkman was arrested from Dhubri district a police officer said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-stf-nabs-one-more-member-of-terrorist-group-ansarullah-bangla-team-596327.html Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/30-more-bangladesh-nationals-flee-to-mizoram-after-military-offensive-594797.html Aizawl Jan 10 Around 30 tribals including 16 children and four women fled to Mizoram from Bangladeshs Chittagong Hill Tracts CHT after an offensive by the military there officials said here on Friday A Mizoram Home Department official said that the tribal people belonging to the Bawm clan of ethnic Mizos from two CHT villages Kersetlang and Pankhiang walked into Hruitezawl village in Lawngtlai district during the past two days after crossing a forested hill near the Mizoram borderThe official said that after the Bangladeshi nationals entered Indian territory the Assam Rifles troops took them to a camp at Tuithumhnar village where they were provided food and shelter by the paramilitary forceTill December last year 2014 people from the CHT had taken shelter in Lawngtlai district which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar and Bangladesh The border district also currently hosts around 5930 Myanmar nationals and 84 displaced tribals from violencedevastated ManipurThe Bangladesh nationals from the CHT started taking shelter in Lawngtlai since November 2022 after the alleged attacks and atrocities by the Bangladesh army against the KukiChin National Army KNA an ethnic insurgent group fighting for a separate state for the tribalsMizoram Chief Minister Lalduhomas political advisor Lalmuanpuia Punte also the MLA of the ruling Zoram Peoples Movement ZPM earlier said that the state government is considering relocating and bringing the Bangladeshi refugees together in four villages within Lawngtlai district instead of them being scattered across different villagesAround 7800 refugees belonging to the KukiZo community from Manipur have also taken shelter in several districts of Mizoram after the ethnic violence broke out in the neighbouring state in May last year The refugees from Myanmar Bangladesh and Manipur belong to the KukiZoChinHmarBawm tribal community who also share ethnic traditional cultural and linguistic ties with the Mizos of MizoramAccording to a state Home Department official a total of 33004 Myanmar nationals including 12572 children are currently sheltered in different camps government buildings and rented houses in all 11 districts of Mizoram They took shelter in Mizoram in phases after the military takeover in the conflictridden country in February 2021 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/30-more-bangladesh-nationals-flee-to-mizoram-after-military-offensive-594797.html Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-and-bangladesh-need-revitalised-regional-co-operation-594917.html New Delhi Jan 11 The future of regional cooperation in South Asia is currently at a pivotal juncture shaped by its historical context While initiatives such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC have largely failed to achieve the anticipated panregional free trade another important forum the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC risks facing a similar fate unless significant intervention occurs from its largest member states namely India and Bangladesh These concerns have been exacerbated by the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2024 which followed a prolonged studentled mass movement that resulted in the removal of longserving Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaThis development has been widely interpreted as indicative of a major shift in Bangladeshs domestic and foreign policy particularly regarding its bilateral relations with IndiaAs Bangladesh navigates this new political landscape within the broader regional geopolitical context it becomes essential for the countrys new leadership regardless of its interim status to leverage Dhakas strategic importance and continue contributing to regional cooperation grounded in mutual respectDespite the destabilising effects of the political upheaval in August 2024 and the external pressures on Dhaka to adjust its regional strategic relationships potentially leading to a distancing from New Delhi the IndoBangla relationship seems to be weathering these challenges with a notable degree of resilienceAs highlighted by Bangladeshs Chief of Army Staff General WakerUzZaman this relationship is characterised by a giveandtake dynamic where Dhakas dependence on India aligns with New Delhis vested interests in maintaining stability in Bangladesh alongside a growing convergence of their regional and global strategic objectivesFurthermore the ongoing alignment of mutual interests particularly in promoting regional economic integration through frameworks such as BIMSTEC and SAARC continues to strengthen this bilateral engagementThese platforms not only have the potential to spark an economic revival across the region but also promise transformative socioeconomic benefits improving the livelihoods of millions in both nationsThus this bilateralism emerges as a fundamental pillar for regional stability and prosperity emphasising its vital role in shaping the geopolitical and economic landscape of South AsiaBIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an interregional cooperative framework involving seven countries from South Asia and Southeast AsiaOriginally conceived as BISTEC Bangladesh India Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation in 1997 the initiative aimed to enhance intraregional trade investment and economic integration within the Bay of Bengal areaFollowing the later inclusion of Myanmar Bhutan and Nepal the organisation was officially renamed BIMSTEC during its inaugural summit in 2004 The primary goal of this grouping is to foster economic collaboration among its member states while addressing various sectors of mutual interestAs of 2023 the BIMSTEC member nations collectively have a population exceeding 173 billion and a combined gross domestic product GDP of around 52 trillionWithin this framework India and Bangladesh ranked as the first and third largest economies based on nominal GDP play crucial rolesTheir economic dominance provides them with a level of strategic autonomy that facilitates the advancement of regional cooperation allowing these countries to engage in multilateral initiatives with relative independence from external influencesThis dynamic highlights BIMSTECs potential as a platform for establishing a restructured regionally focused economic framework in the Bay of BengalMajor ports of BIMSTEC countries in the Bay of BengalThe establishment of a permanent secretariat in Dhaka in 2014 marked a significant institutionalisation of BIMSTECs operational framework aimed at enhancing technical and economic collaboration among its member statesInitially the organisation delineated 14 priority sectors for cooperation each overseen by a designated lead country to ensure focused management and effective execution India assumed leadership in strategic domains such as Transport Tourism and CounterTerrorism while Bangladesh took the initiative in Trade and InvestmentHowever recognizing the necessity for a more streamlined and outcomeoriented approach the 2022 Colombo Summitconducted virtually in response to the COVID19 pandemicembarked on a comprehensive restructuring of these cooperation sectorsThe summit aimed to reduce reconstitute and construct the cooperation framework by consolidating the original 14 sectors into seven core areas with each member state entrusted with leadership over one sectorUnder this reconfiguration Bangladesh now leads initiatives in Trade Investment and Development whereas India has been assigned responsibility for Security and Energy Cooperation sectorsThe strategic positioning of the BIMSTEC member countries endows the bloc with considerable potential to facilitate economic integration through enhanced terrestrial and maritime connectivityFor both India and Bangladesh active engagement within this regional framework represents a significant opportunity to realise substantial economic gainsFor India which boasts an annual trade volume exceeding 1100 billion BIMSTEC serves as a conduit to access the emerging markets of Southeast Asia thereby aligning with its broader Act East Policy and its aspirations to expand its economy to a 5 trillion threshold in the forthcoming yearsFurthermore this platform provides a vital avenue for promoting the development of Indias eastern and northeastern regions which have historically been perceived as economically underutilisedBIMSTECs connectivity initiatives provide Bangladesh which has an annual trade volume exceeding 120 billion as of 2023 with a new costeffective mechanism to diversify its export portfolio by accessing the Southeast Asian and broader ASEAN marketsThis is particularly crucial for the countrys rapidly growing readymade garment sector which consistently seeks to expand its market reach beyond traditional western partnersConsequently BIMSTECs integrative potential can significantly enhance Bangladeshs economic presence within regional and global value chains thereby reinforcing its role as a key player in the economic landscape of South AsiaDespite the significant economic potential inherent in the BIMSTEC framework the failure to operationalise the 2004 Framework Agreement on Free Trade has considerably impeded intrabloc economic integration over the yearsThe Agreement which is ambitious in scope sought to establish effective trade and investment facilitating measures including the simplification of customs procedures and the development of mutual recognition arrangements among othersHowever notwithstanding this comprehensive mandate member states have been unable to achieve a consensus on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement FTA thereby constraining the blocs economic synergyThis stagnation is reflected in the asymmetry of trade flows within the blocFor example while annual trade between India and Bangladesh as well as between India and Thailand was recorded at over 1583 billion and 1729 billion respectively in 2023 trade among other member states has remained suboptimalThis underscores the imperative for BIMSTEC member countries to reengage in substantive negotiations resolve outstanding issues and operationalise the FTA to unlock its economic potential and promote deeper economic interdependence and shared prosperity throughout the Bay of Bengal regionIn the context of stagnation within regional cooperation frameworks the recent advocacy by Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus for the revitalisation of regional blocs such as SAARC presents a timely impetus for recalibrationHowever it would be judicious for Dhaka and New Delhi to prioritise the revitalisation of BIMSTEC given its relatively lower friction points among member states as a precursor to reengaging with more contentious organisations like SAARCDespite the prevailing strains in IndiaBangladesh relations enhanced bilateral engagement between these two nations could exemplify to other BIMSTEC member states the feasibility of regional cooperation aimed at collective benefit and socioeconomic developmentSuch a strategy could motivate other member states to strengthen bilateral trade relationships thereby fostering an enabling environment for the eventual operationalisation of the longstalled Free Trade Agreement within the BIMSTEC frameworkNevertheless the onus rests with India and Bangladesh to navigate the current tensions which are exacerbated by external factors and actors and to determine whether to permit these disruptions to impede progress or to reaffirm their commitment to advancing cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterallyBIMSTEC with its established institutional framework and shared regional aspirations offers a viable platform for initiating this renewed trajectory of collaboration IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-and-bangladesh-need-revitalised-regional-co-operation-594917.html Sat, 11 Jan 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-report-pegs-indias-gdp-growth-at-66-pc-for-2025-china-seen-slowing-to-48-pc-594623.html New Delhi Jan 9 Indias economy is projected to grow by 66 per cent in 2025 following an estimated expansion of 69 per cent in 2024 largely driven by private consumption and investment according to the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects WESP 2025 report released on Thursday Additionally Indias strong export growth in services and certain manufactured goods will bolster economic activity the UN flagship economic report further statesOn the other hand the Chinese economy is expected to continue the trend of a gradual moderation amid tepid household consumption lingering property sector weakness and rising trade tensions Growth is projected to be at 48 per cent in 2025 compared to an estimated 49 per cent in 2024 the report statesThe UN report projects that global growth will remain at 28 per cent in 2025 unchanged from 2024 While the world economy has demonstrated resilience withstanding a series of mutually reinforcing shocks growth remains below the prepandemic average of 32 per cent constrained by weak investment sluggish productivity growth and high debt levels it addedThe report notes that lower inflation and ongoing monetary easing in many economies could provide a modest boost to global economic activity in 2025 However uncertainty still looms large with risks stemming from geopolitical conflicts rising trade tensions and elevated borrowing costs in many parts of the world These challenges are particularly acute for lowincome and vulnerable countries where subpar and fragile growth threatens to further undermine progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals SDGsCountries cannot ignore these perils In our interconnected economy shocks on one side of the world push up prices on the other Every country is affected and must be part of the solution building on progress made United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said in the foreword to the report Weve set a path Now its time to deliver Together lets make 2025 the year we put the world on track for a prosperous sustainable future for allThe UN report also points out that East and South Asia face mounting downside risks that could dampen economic prospects Key risks and challenges include escalating geopolitical tensions trade disputes and the impact of climate change which could reignite inflationary pressures and pose severe risks to food security Additionally protracted weakness in Chinas property market and high levels of public and external debt across many South Asian countries could further strain economic stabilityIn response to these risks and challenges governments across East and South Asia have implemented tailored policies Easing inflation prompted many central banks in the region to lower interest rates in 2024 A few monetary authorities however remained cautious due to countryspecific concerns such as volatile food prices and elevated debt levelsOn the fiscal front countries in the region are focusing on regaining fiscal space and supporting economic activity through strategic public spending and reforms the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-report-pegs-indias-gdp-growth-at-66-pc-for-2025-china-seen-slowing-to-48-pc-594623.html Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/protests-over-power-outages-chokes-pakistans-trade-route-with-china-594283.html Islamabad Jan 8 Pakistans critical trade route with China remained blocked for the fifth day on Tuesday as thousands of people continued their protests over chronic and prolonged power outages in the mountainous region of PakistanOccupied GilgitBaltistan media reported The organisers of the sitin demonstration in Hunza a picturesque city with a population of more than 70000 in Gilgit Baltistan have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are metRally leaders emphasised the towns persistent inadequate power supply noting that residents endure up to 23hour electricity outages amid a harsh winter seasonBoth men and women participated in the protest braving average daytime temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius as reported by rally participants to a media outlet via phoneRahim Aman a Hunza resident reported a gradual and substantial increase in protesters saying female activists were seen using vehicles and loudspeakers to encourage participation in the rallyHe said representatives of local political parties traders and hotel associations were also presentLocal authorities negotiated with the protesters but failed to persuade them to disperse and restore traffic flow along the Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan to ChinaHunza is situated on the scenic roadway traversing the GilgitBaltistan region bordering Chinas western Xinjiang provinceTraders reported that numerous containers carrying commercial goods were stuck on both sides of the highway due to the sitin demonstrationThe crippling protest erupted more than a month after Pakistan and China announced that they would keep open their sole land port the Khunjerab Pass for yearround operations to foster trade connectivity between the two nationsThe worlds highest paved border crossing nearly 190 km from Hunza stands at an elevation exceeding 4600 metres and was previously closed for four months annually due to heavy snowfallThe impoverished GilgitBaltistan region heavily relies on hydropower but generation almost ceases during the winter months due to the freezing of rivers and lakes Consequently residents and business establishments including hotels must operate expensive thermal generators to maintain power supplyResidents and area experts have noted that the growing use of such generators by major hotels and other commercial entities is damaging the atmosphere in Hunza and surrounding areasThe United Nations reports that the Pakistani regions are home to some of the largest stretches of glaciers outside the northern pole and already face the growing threat of global warmingThe Khunjerab Pass is an integral component of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC The multibilliondollar corridor seeks to establish a comprehensive trade and transit infrastructure between the two nations the most populous and fifthmost populous in the worldBeijing has invested more than 25 billion in Pakistan since the two countries launched the CPEC a decade ago and is eager to use Gwadar a Chinesemanaged Pakistani port on the Arabian Sea as a strategic gateway to international markets IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/protests-over-power-outages-chokes-pakistans-trade-route-with-china-594283.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/protests-over-power-outages-choke-pakistans-trade-route-with-china-594284.html Islamabad Jan 8 Pakistans critical trade route with China remained blocked for the fifth day on Tuesday as thousands of people continued their protests over chronic and prolonged power outages in the mountainous region of PakistanOccupied GilgitBaltistan media reported The organisers of the sitin demonstration in Hunza a picturesque city with a population of more than 70000 in Gilgit Baltistan have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are metRally leaders emphasised the towns persistent inadequate power supply noting that residents endure up to 23hour electricity outages amid a harsh winter seasonBoth men and women participated in the protest braving average daytime temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius as reported by rally participants to a media outlet via phoneRahim Aman a Hunza resident reported a gradual and substantial increase in protesters saying female activists were seen using vehicles and loudspeakers to encourage participation in the rallyHe said representatives of local political parties traders and hotel associations were also presentLocal authorities negotiated with the protesters but failed to persuade them to disperse and restore traffic flow along the Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan to ChinaHunza is situated on the scenic roadway traversing the GilgitBaltistan region bordering Chinas western Xinjiang provinceTraders reported that numerous containers carrying commercial goods were stuck on both sides of the highway due to the sitin demonstrationThe crippling protest erupted more than a month after Pakistan and China announced that they would keep open their sole land port the Khunjerab Pass for yearround operations to foster trade connectivity between the two nationsThe worlds highest paved border crossing nearly 190 km from Hunza stands at an elevation exceeding 4600 metres and was previously closed for four months annually due to heavy snowfallThe impoverished GilgitBaltistan region heavily relies on hydropower but generation almost ceases during the winter months due to the freezing of rivers and lakes Consequently residents and business establishments including hotels must operate expensive thermal generators to maintain power supplyResidents and area experts have noted that the growing use of such generators by major hotels and other commercial entities is damaging the atmosphere in Hunza and surrounding areasThe United Nations reports that the Pakistani regions are home to some of the largest stretches of glaciers outside the northern pole and already face the growing threat of global warmingThe Khunjerab Pass is an integral component of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC The multibilliondollar corridor seeks to establish a comprehensive trade and transit infrastructure between the two nations the most populous and fifthmost populous in the worldBeijing has invested more than 25 billion in Pakistan since the two countries launched the CPEC a decade ago and is eager to use Gwadar a Chinesemanaged Pakistani port on the Arabian Sea as a strategic gateway to international markets IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/protests-over-power-outages-choke-pakistans-trade-route-with-china-594284.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 07:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/26-myanmarese-nationals-deported-from-manipur-593845.html Imphal Jan 5 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said that 26 Myanmarese nationals who had earlier entered India through the states border were deported to their country Biren Singh who also holds the Home portfolio in a post on X said A group of 26 Myanmarese nationals who entered India through Manipurs porous border were deported to their home country todayThe government of Manipur reaffirms its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to those fleeing war ensuring their care and dignified departure However the state maintains a firm stance against allowing illegal migrants to stay back in ManipurA senior Manipur Home Department official said that the Myanmarese were handed over to the authorities of the neighbouring country by Manipur police and the central forces deployed along the bordering Moreh townSince March 8 last year 141 Myanmarese nationals including women and children in four different phases have been deported to their countryIn coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs MEA and central security forces last year deported 115 Myanmarese nationals including women and children in three phasesAfter the military junta seized power in Myanmar on February 1 2021 around 35000 people including women elderly people and children from the neighbouring country took shelter in 11 districts of MizoramThe Myanmarese are staying in more than a hundred relief camps in six districts while several thousand others live in relatives or friends houses as well as in rented accommodation a Mizoram Home Department official saidOver 6000 Myanmarese nationals took shelter in Manipurs different bordering districts Mizoram and Manipur have 518 km and 400 km of unfenced borders respectively with MyanmarThe MHA earlier in 2022 asked both the Manipur and Mizoram governments to undertake the recording of biometric and biographic data of all the Myanmar refugees IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/26-myanmarese-nationals-deported-from-manipur-593845.html Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-bangladesh-to-release-detained-fishermen-on-sunday-593687.html Kolkata Jan 4 India and Bangladesh on Sunday will exchange fishermen of both countries who were arrested after their fishing boats crossed the international coastal borders and entered the coastal area of the other country The exchange process will take place on the international waters of Bay of Bengal and the entire process will be supervised by the coastal guard agencies of both the countriesIn this process 95 Indian fishermen will be returning to the countryOn the other hand 90 Bangladeshi fishermen will be returning to that countryA West Bengal government official said that most of the Indian fishermen who will be returning to the country are from South 24 Parganas district of West BengalChief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be at Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Monday to supervise the administrative arrangement for the forthcoming Gangasagar Mela there Therefore an arrangement has been made so that the fishermen from West Bengal who will be returning to India on Sunday have the chance to interact with the Chief Minister on Monday the state government official saidIn October last year six Indian fishing trawlers carrying these 95 fishermen crossed the international coastal borderline and went to the Bangladesh coastal watersThe fishermen were arrested as wellRecently the interim government in Bangladesh has announced the decision to release those 95 Indian fishermen and hand them over to the Indian authoritiesSimilarly the Indian government also took the decision to release 90 Bangladeshi fishermen detained within the Indian coastal waters at different times Therefore the official exchange of the fishermen from the two countries will take place on SundayLast month Mamata Banerjee accused the Union government of being reluctant about the future of fishermen from West Bengal who are currently languishing in prisons in neighbouring Bangladesh after they crossed the international coastal borders and went inside Bangladesh waters IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-bangladesh-to-release-detained-fishermen-on-sunday-593687.html Sat, 04 Jan 2025 22:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/no-booksellers-or-publishers-from-bangladesh-to-participate-in-agartala-book-fair-593162.html Agartala Jan 1 Amidst the unrest followed by the political changes in Bangladesh no booksellers or publishers from the neighbouring country will participate in the Agartala Book Fair beginning from Thursday officials said The 13daylong 43rd Agartala Book Fair will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manik Saha on January 2 and will continue till January 14After the Agartala Book Fair started in 1981 almost every year either publishers or booksellers from Bangladesh participate in the annual semitrade book festival In some Agartala Book Fairs earlier publishers or booksellers from Kolkata and other cities sold Bangladeshi books But this year no Bangladeshi book would be available in the Agartala Book Fair a senior official associated with the Book Fair told IANSLeading publisher Debananda Dam said that in view of the prevailing situation in Bangladesh after the fall of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaled Awami League government no booksellers or publishers from that country seem to be ready to attend the book fair in AgartalaConsidering the situation in Bangladesh even no Indian publishers or booksellers are willing to sell Bangladeshrelated books in the Agartala Book Fair Dam told IANSAccording to the official like in previous years publishers and publishers from Kolkata Guwahati and Delhi would participate in this years book fair apart from local publishing housesHe said that more than 150 stalls a little less than last year would be set up in this years fairThe official said that recently protests were organised in some Book Fairs held in the districts of West Bengal after the Bangladeshi books were displayed thereNo Bangladeshi booksellers or publishers would also participate in the upcoming 13day long 48th International Kolkata Book Fair which would commence from January 28In November a Bangladeshi trader had to close his stall at the trade fair in southern Assams Silchar after some Hindu activists demanded it in protest against the atrocities on Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/no-booksellers-or-publishers-from-bangladesh-to-participate-in-agartala-book-fair-593162.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 22:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/iron-brother-no-more-pakistan-china-relations-in-crisis-593169.html New Delhi Jan 1 In 2015 preceding Chinese President Xi Jinpings maiden visit to Pakistan the two nations indulged in grandiose rhetoric to celebrate their friendship The relationship was described as being higher than the Himalayas deeper than the ocean sweeter than honey and stronger than steel This flowery depiction underscored the strategic significance of their bilateral engagement as part of President Xis ambitious Belt and Road Initiative BRI The partnership was hailed as transformative for regional geopolitics with the potential to reshape South Asias strategic dynamicsHowever by 2024 nearly a decade later this partnership has encountered serious challenges overshadowed by Islamabads inability to provide security for Chinese investments and nationalsAs tensions mount and Beijing appears to recalibrate its approach towards Pakistan this decline reflects the systemic failures of Pakistans militarydominated establishment to ensure internal stability and meet its strategic commitmentsOften referred to as allweather friends and iron brothers Pakistan and China have historically enjoyed close relationsDespite Pakistans alignment with the USled Western bloc during much of the Cold War Islamabad and Beijing managed to cultivate a robust partnership Over the years economic cooperation emerged as a cornerstone of their relationship witnessing a qualitative leap following Xi Jinpings ascension to the Chinese presidency in 2012Under President Xis leadership Pakistan became a key node in Chinas Asian policy framework with the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC emerging as the flagship project of the Belt and Road InitiativeBy 2024 CPEC investments were estimated to exceed 62 billion underscoring their critical importance in the economic and geopolitical calculations of both nationsDespite this promising start the bilateral relationship has experienced significant turbulence in recent years Pakistans chronic economic mismanagement coupled with a spate of insurgent attacks targeting Chinese interests and nationals has strained ties between the two countriesA particularly notable incident occurred on October 6 2024 when operatives from the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA attacked a convoy of Chinese workers near Karachis Jinnah International AirportThe assault which resulted in the deaths of two Chinese engineers highlighted glaring security lapses Beijings frustration with Islamabads inability to protect its citizens and projects was evident with the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong issuing a rare public rebukeAmbassador Jiang demanded immediate action to hunt down the perpetrators and implement measures to safeguard CPEC projects and Chinese personnelThis attack was not an isolated incident Earlier in March 2024 Pakistan witnessed a series of violent attacks targeting Chinese nationals and CPEClinked projectsOn March 20 insurgents from the BLAs Majeed Brigade attacked the heavily fortified Gwadar Port Authority Complex in Balochistan As the flagship initiative of CPEC Gwadar Ports vulnerability raised serious concerns about Pakistans ability to protect critical infrastructureThis was followed by a second attack on March 25 targeting Pakistan Naval Station PNS Siddique a highsecurity naval airbase tasked with safeguarding CPEC assets The breach of this military installation not only underscored Pakistans security weaknesses but also eroded Chinese confidence in Islamabads capacity to fulfil its commitmentsThe most devastating attack during this period occurred on March 26 when a suicide bomber affiliated with TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP rammed an explosiveladen vehicle into a convoy of Chinese workers near Besham in Khyber PakhtunkhwaThe attack which killed five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver further exacerbated tensions between the two countries Beijings response was unequivocal framing the growing threats to its nationals and projects as a critical red lineChinese authorities demanded robust guarantees from Islamabad including a thorough investigation accountability for the perpetrators and immediate action to address security lapsesThese recurring attacks have severely tested SinoPakistani relations prompting Beijing to mount pressure on Islamabad to launch a comprehensive nationwide military campaign against insurgent groupsChinas growing impatience was evident in its decision to delay Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs planned visit to Beijing in May 2024 Beijing conditioned the visit on Islamabads explicit commitment to initiate a counterterrorism operation to which Pakistan ultimately acquiescedAlthough Prime Minister Sharif eventually visited Beijing in June the trip yielded little in terms of substantive economic commitments or new projects This lukewarm reception signalled a qualitative cooling in the bilateral relationshipIn response to Chinese demands Pakistan launched Operation AzmiIstehkam on June 22 a nationwide military campaign aimed at dismantling insurgent networksHowever the operations effectiveness has been called into question as attacks targeting Chinese interests have persisted The trust deficit between the two nations has deepened with Beijing reportedly pressing Islamabad to allow the deployment of Chinese security personnel within PakistanA November 12 2024 report by Reuters revealed that Beijing had proposed a clause permitting Chinese security agencies and military forces to conduct joint counterterrorism operations on Pakistani soilWhile Islamabad has resisted this demand it has counterproposed the establishment of a specialised security firm developed with Chinese assistance to safeguard Chinese nationals and projectsDespite these overtures Beijings dissatisfaction remains evidentThe deteriorating relations between China and Pakistan underscore the disconnect between Islamabads rhetoric and its ability to address Beijings concerns The Pakistani military which remains preoccupied with internal political manoeuvring and safeguarding the privileges of its elite has failed to prioritise the security of Chinese investments and personnelUnless Islamabad undertakes decisive action to dismantle militant networks and address its internal security challenges the prospects for improving SinoPakistani relations appear bleakThis decline in bilateral ties carries broader implications for Pakistans strategic standing in the region China which has historically been one of Pakistans most reliable allies appears increasingly disillusioned with Islamabads inability to deliver on its commitmentsThis disillusionment risks further isolating Pakistan which is already grappling with economic instability and strained relations with other regional players The persistent neglect of security imperatives not only jeopardises Pakistans relationship with China but also undermines its credibility as a partner in regional development initiativesMoreover the growing tension between China and Pakistan has ramifications for the broader Belt and Road Initiative CPEC once heralded as the gamechanger for Pakistans economy now faces significant challenges due to security concerns and waning Chinese enthusiasmFor Beijing Pakistans inability to secure CPEC projects raises questions about the viability of similar investments in other politically unstable regions For Islamabad the deterioration of its relationship with China could have farreaching consequences limiting its access to critical financial and infrastructural support at a time when its economy is teetering on the brink of collapseIn conclusion the oncecelebrated SinoPakistani partnership now finds itself at a crossroads The repeated attacks on Chinese nationals and interests have exposed Pakistans systemic weaknesses and undermined its strategic credibilityUnless Islamabad takes decisive action to address these challenges it risks not only losing a key ally but also further destabilising its already fragile internal security landscapeFor China the situation serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with investing in politically volatile regions Moving forward both nations must recalibrate their approaches to ensure the sustainability of their partnership and address the root causes of their current tensionsWithout meaningful reforms and sustained efforts to improve security the prospects for the SinoPakistani relationship will remain uncertain with significant implications for the broader geopolitical landscape of South Asia IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/iron-brother-no-more-pakistan-china-relations-in-crisis-593169.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 23:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/20-tn-fishermen-released-from-sri-lankan-prison-arrive-in-chennai-592999.html Chennai Jan 1 A total of 20 fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were imprisoned in Sri Lanka for more than a year have been finally released and arrived in Chennai via a flight The fishermen who hailed from the districts of Pudukkottai Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin were detained in Sri Lankan custodyAfter negotiations between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments the Sri Lankan government released the 20 fishermen They were handed over to Indian Embassy officials who provided them with temporary citizenship certificatesThe fishermen were then flown from Colombo to the Chennai airportUpon arrival at the Chennai airport the fishermen underwent citizenship verification customs checks and other formalities before being released They were then greeted by Fisheries Department officials who arranged for them to be taken to their hometowns in separate vehiclesEarlier on December 24 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging him to take immediate diplomatic efforts for the release of all 20 Indian fishermen from the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy along with their mechanised boatsStalin in a letter to the Union Minister on Tuesday December 24 sought his immediate intervention in the release of 17 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan NavyThe Chief Minister pointed out that the mechanised boats bearing numbers INDTN10MM206 and INDTN10MM543 of the fishermen were also in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy and requested the Union Minister to immediately help secure the releaseIn the letter he pointed out that frequent arrests and attacks make the lives of our fishermen who depend solely on fishing in their traditional waters highly uncertain and dangerousCM Stalin in the letter pointed out that 530 fishermen were arrested and 71 boats have been confiscated to date in 2024 alone and that the recent apprehensions and attacks have created a sense of fear among the fishing communityThe Chief Minister in the letter also said that he was requesting the External Affairs Minister to take concerted steps through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of all the arrested fishermen and their fishing boatsStalin said I also request that diplomatic steps may be taken to ensure that such attacks do not occur in future adding that two separate incidents of attack on fishermen from Kodiyakkarai village in Nagapattinam by six unidentified Sri Lankan nationals took place on December 20He said In this outrageous incident three out of six fishermen who sailed in two country crafts were injured and their belongings such as GPS equipment VHF equipment fishing net mobile phone and their fish catch were robbed from their fishing boats by the attackersFishermens associations across Tamil Nadu are organising protests in coastal districts and have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to intervene and end the midsea arrests and seizures of mechanised boats which form the backbone of their livelihoodS Jaishankar had recently discussed this issue with visiting Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighting the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan NavyPattali Makkal Katchi PMK President and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss also called for strong intervention by the Indian government to prevent further arrests of Indian fishermen IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/20-tn-fishermen-released-from-sri-lankan-prison-arrive-in-chennai-592999.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 04:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-hikes-petrol-diesel-prices-on-new-years-eve-593008.html Islamabad Jan 1 The Pakistan government has announced an increase in petrol and diesel prices media reports confirmed According to a notification issued late on December 31 the price of petrol has been raised by 56 paise per litre The new price of petrol has been set at Rs25266 per litre ARY News reportedSimilarly the price of highspeed diesel has been increased by Rs 296 per litre The new price for highspeed diesel is now Rs 25834 per litreThese changes come as part of regular adjustments in fuel prices which are influenced by international market trends and local economic conditionsThe Pakistan government on December 15 announced new petrol and diesel pricesAs per details petrol prices remain stable at Rs 25210 per litre Highspeed diesel prices have decreased by Rs 305 per litre with the new price set at Rs 25538 per litreIn addition the price of kerosene oil has decreased by Rs 332 per litre with the new price set at Rs 16166 per litre Light diesel oil prices have also decreased by Rs 278 per litre with the new price set at Rs 14895 per litreThe Finance Ministry has issued a notification regarding the new prices which will come into effect at 12 am on WednesdayThe governments inability to reduce the petroleum levy has resulted in a significant increase in petroleum prices with prices rising by Rs 1214 per litre over the past month and a halfAccording to sources the price of highspeed diesel has increased by Rs 1214 per litre since October 16 while the price of petrol has risen by Rs 507 per litre during the same periodThe government could have reduced the levy to prevent the price hike but the IMF program restrictions prevented it sources said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-hikes-petrol-diesel-prices-on-new-years-eve-593008.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 07:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-bangladeshi-women-infiltrators-arrested-in-bengals-habra-592975.html Kolkata Dec 31 Two illegal Bangladeshi women migrants were arrested from Habra in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday police said They illegally crossed the borders and entered Indian territory without proper immigration documents However two fake Indian Aadhaar cards have been recovered from their possession an official of the state police saidThe two illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have been identified as Sandhya Roy 43 and Suparna Roy 18The police are currently integrating them to find out the reason for their illegal infiltrationAt the same time local Amit Mondal 36 has also been arrested on charges of providing shelter to the two women infiltratorsMondal as per investigation was part of a racket involved in arranging fake Indian identity documents for illegal Bangladeshi infiltratorsAfter interrogating Mondal two other persons associated with the same racket have been arrested They have been identified as Matiur Rahaman Mintu Das and Sayan HossainAll the six arrested have been presented before a court in North 24 Parganas district and were sent to police custody for further interrogationSince December 15 a total of seven persons have been arrested for their association with rackets responsible for arranging fake Indian documents including fake passports for Bangladesh infiltratorsThe investigating officials have identified a pattern in the operations of such rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian passports for the infiltrators Any infiltrator contacting the local agents and showing a willingness to pay out hefty amounts for getting fake Indian identity documents is first provided with safe shelters at the different villages adjacent to the borders with Bangladesh in the state both land and coastalThereafter the agents arrange for fake ration cards for them which are the first step for making other identity documents By virtue of the fake ration cards other identification documents like EPIC PAN and Aadhaar cards are acquired The last step is getting the fake passports on the basis of these other fake identity documents IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-bangladeshi-women-infiltrators-arrested-in-bengals-habra-592975.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-arrest-12-drug-smugglers-592775.html Kabul Dec 30 Afghan counternarcotics police have arrested 12 people on the charge of drug smuggling in seven out of Afghanistans 34 provinces the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Monday According to the statement police have detained individuals allegedly involved in the sale purchase and smuggling of the contraband on the outskirts of Laghman Bamyan Kapisa Parwan Kunduz Herat and Farah provincesA quantity of illicit drugs including opium hashish and stimulant tablets has been seized from the detainees and their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation Xinhua news agency reportedEarlier on December 22 the Afghan counternarcotics police seized 38 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 11 suspects in connection with drug trafficking purchase and sales the Ministry of Interior reportedUnits of counternarcotics police had recently conducted an operation in the Durbaba district of eastern Nangarhar province discovering 38 kg of illicit drugs including methamphetamine and heroin the ministry said in a statementEleven individuals were arrested in connection with drug trafficking purchase and sales on the outskirts of the provinces of Laghman Kapisa Parwan Khost and Farah it added in another statementEarlier on December 18 counternarcotics police uncovered 56 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 151 individuals on charges of drug trafficking over the past three months in eastern Afghanistans Parwan province a local police official reportedUnits of counternarcotics police had launched separate operations on the outskirts of Charikar city the capital and in districts of the province discovering 56 kg of illegal drugs said Fazal Rahim Maskenyar spokesman for the provincial policeAt least 151 individuals were arrested in connection with drug trafficking Their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation he addedOn November 12 counternarcotics police in Afghanistan had seized illicit drugs and arrested 53 people on charges of involvement in criminal activities including drug smuggling and murdersUnits of counternarcotics police had launched separate operations on the outskirts of southern Kandahar province discovering 129 kg of illegal drugs including heroin opium and hashish the office of provincial police said in a statementNine individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking purchase and sales Their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation the statement addedAdditionally police had taken into custody 44 suspects on charges of involvement in criminal activities such as murder and theft in the provinces of Nangarhar Balkh Laghman Farah Baghlan Herat and Nangarhar the Ministry of Interior reportedThe Afghan caretaker government had vowed to fight illicit drugs drug production and trafficking and crackdown on other criminal elements to ensure law and order across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-arrest-12-drug-smugglers-592775.html Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/another-illegal-bangladeshi-infiltrator-arrested-from-kolkata-hotel-592219.html Kolkata Dec 27 Kolkata Police on Friday arrested an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant from a city hotel where he was staying for quite some time posing as an Indian citizen on the basis of fake identity documents Abiyur Rahaman 37 a resident of Narail district in neighbouring Bangladesh was arrested from a hotel at Marquis Street under Park Street Police Station in central Kolkata the same locality from where former Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP associate Selim Matabbar was arrested He was also staying at a hotel there posing as an Indian citizen with a fake passportIncidentally there are several hotels in the Marquis Street area providing accommodation to Bangladeshi citizens coming to India on either tourist or medical visasFollowing the recent crisis in Bangladesh these hotels are under constant check by the city police these daysCity police sources said that Rahaman first entered the Indian territory illegally through the porous borders in West Bengal and subsequently arranged fake Indian documents like ration EPIC and PAN cards and finally an Aadhaar card with the help of a local racket which enables fake Indian identity documents for Bangladesh infiltratorsIn all probability investigating officials suspect Rahaman shifted to Kolkata at a later stage to arrange for a fake Indian passport for himself He will be presented at a court where police custody will be sought for further interrogationThe investigating officials have identified a pattern in the operations of such rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian passports for the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators Any infiltrator illegally crossing over to the Indian territory contacting the local agents and showing willingness to pay out hefty amounts for getting fake Indian identity documents are first provided with safe shelters at the different villages adjacent to the borders with Bangladesh in the state both land and coastalThereafter the agents arrange for fake ration cards for them which is the first step for making other identity documents By virtue of the fake ration cards other identification documents like EPIC PAN and Aadhaar cards are acquired The last step is getting the fake passports on the basis of these other fake identity documents IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/another-illegal-bangladeshi-infiltrator-arrested-from-kolkata-hotel-592219.html Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/why-abdul-rehman-makkis-death-a-big-loss-for-jud-and-hafiz-saeed-592315.html Islamabad Dec 27 Abdul Rehman Makki brotherinlaw of 2611 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed died in Lahore after suffering a heart attack on Friday Makki was considered to be the righthand man of the chief of LashkareTaiba LeT and JamatudDawa JuD Hafiz Muhammad Saeed Makki was one of the closest allies of Hafiz Saeed and was the Deputy Chief of JuD He was considered to be the second most powerful person after Saeed as he was a decisionmaking authority for the JuD operations in PakistanAbdul Rehman Makki was suffering from multiple diseases and was under treatment in a hospital in Lahore He had severe issues of diabetes infection and high blood pressure confirmed a source in Lahore who was close to MakkiMakki had a cardiac arrest early morning today Friday which resulted in his death the source addedAbdul Rehman Makki has been maintaining a low profile since 2020 when an antiterrorism court in Lahore sentenced him to 6 months imprisonment on charges of terror financingSources reveal that Makki was living with Hafiz Saeed at his residence in Johar Town Lahore with his familyPertinent to note that Makki was highly influential within JuD as he managed major operations along with fundraising activities for JuDSources also reveal that Makki had strong connections and manpower especially in areas of Punjab including Multan his hometown Bahawalpur and bordering areas with India along the Working BoundaryIn 2023 Abdul Rehman Makki was also added to the United Nations Security Council UNSC list of prescribed and designated terroristSources say that Makki enjoyed close and strong contacts with Saudi Arabia and was influential in attracting support and massive funding from them during the time when SaudiYemen conflict aggravatedAt the time JuD carried out a nationwide protest campaign announcing its support for the protection of Islamic holy sites Medina and Mecca from any external attackWhile JuD operations in Pakistan were closed down after Islamabad was forced to take action against JuD if it wanted to get out of the grey list of FATF Financial Action Task Force sources reveal that Makki remained a driving force behind the political face of JuD the Milli Muslim League MML and was influential in their activities across the Punjab provinceMakkis death would be major damage to Hafiz Saeed as not only was Makki his right hand but also because he was Saeeds brotherinlaw IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/why-abdul-rehman-makkis-death-a-big-loss-for-jud-and-hafiz-saeed-592315.html Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-seize-38-kg-illicit-drugs-arrest-11-suspects-591446.html Kabul Dec 22 The Afghan counternarcotics police have seized 38 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 11 suspects in connection with drug trafficking purchase and sales the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday Units of counternarcotics police recently conducted an operation in the Durbaba district in eastern Nangarhar province discovering 38 kg of illicit drugs including methamphetamine and heroin the ministry said in a statementEleven individuals were arrested in connection with drug trafficking purchase and sales on the outskirts of the provinces of Laghman Kapisa Parwan Khost and Farah it said in another statementEarlier on December 18 Counternarcotics police uncovered 56 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 151 on charges of drug trafficking over the past three months in eastern Afghanistans Parwan province a local police official reportedUnits of counternarcotics police launched separate operations on the outskirts of Charikar city the capital and in districts of the province discovering 56 kg of illegal drugs said Fazal Rahim Maskenyar spokesman for the provincial policeAt least 151 individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking Their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation he addedOn November 12 Counternarcotics police in Afghanistan seized illicit drugs and arrested 53 people on the charge of involvement in criminal activities including drug smugglers and murdersUnits of Counternarcotics police launched separate operations on the outskirts of southern Kandahar province discovering 129 kg of illegal drugs including heroin opium and hashish the office of provincial police said in a statementNine individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking purchase and sales Their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation the statement addedAdditionally police have taken into custody 44 suspects on the charge of involvement in criminal activities such as murder and theft in the provinces of Nangarhar Balkh Laghman Farah Baghlan Herat and Nangarhar the Ministry of Interior said in a statementThe Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight illicit drugs drug production and trafficking as well as crackdown on other criminal elements to ensure law and order across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghan-police-seize-38-kg-illicit-drugs-arrest-11-suspects-591446.html Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/balochistan-understanding-the-crisis-of-forcible-disappearances-590927.html New Delhi Dec 19 Forcible disappearances in Balochistan have become one of the most urgent human rights issues in the region particularly over the last two decades These disappearances predominantly involve Baloch activists intellectuals and members of nationalist groups who are abducted by state security forces or unidentified armed groups Many of these individuals are held without charge leaving their families in a state of uncertainty regarding their fate While the issue has garnered international attention efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable have largely proven ineffectiveTo grasp the severity of this crisis it is crucial to explore its historical context the parties involved the social repercussions and the legal and political challenges at hand Balochistan a region divided among Pakistan Iran and Afghanistan has long been a hub of political unrest and ethnic tensionThe Baloch people have historically felt marginalised by the central governments of these countries particularly following Pakistans creation in 1947 Despite Balochistans wealth of natural resourcesincluding gas minerals and a strategic coastlineits people consistently assert that they are denied a fair share of the regions wealthOver the years Baloch nationalist movements have sought greater autonomy or independence leading to violent insurgencies against the Pakistani state which views these movements as threats to national unity and securityThe recent surge in forcible disappearances in Balochistan can be traced back to the escalation of military operations in the region during the early 2000s These operations aimed at suppressing insurgent groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army BLA the Baloch Republican Army BRA and the Baloch Liberation Front BLF frequently target suspected separatists political dissidents and civiliansPakistani authorities particularly the military and intelligence agencies routinely deny any responsibility for these disappearances often branding the victims as militants or terroristsHowever human rights organisations both local and international accuse the Pakistani government of orchestrating these abductions to silence political opposition and instil fear among the Baloch populationAccurate statistics on forcible disappearances are difficult to obtain due to underreporting and fear of retaliationNevertheless organisations like the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons VBMP and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP have documented an alarming number of disappearances over the yearsEstimates indicate that between 2001 and 2023 over 2000 individuals have gone missing These figures encompass activists students journalists and ordinary citizens taken by security forcesThe actual number is likely higher as many families are too frightened to report disappearances and some cases remain unrecordedThe abduction of Baloch activists has become a prevalent tactic employed by the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies including the InterServices Intelligence ISI and the Frontier Corps FCThese agencies often operate with impunity as many disappearances occur in areas with minimal media coverage and victims are rarely presented before a court Families of the disappeared are left without answers facing limited options for seeking justiceIn some instances individuals reappear months or even years later frequently tortured and suffering from severe psychological distress while many victims never return These acts of enforced disappearance are not only illegal but also constitute clear violations of international human rights lawConversely Baloch separatist groups are also implicated in forced disappearances albeit to a lesser extent These groups often target individuals they suspect of collaborating with the Pakistani state or militaryIn such cases the abducted individuals are accused of providing intelligence to authorities or supporting the militarys presence in BalochistanWhile these abductions may be viewed as acts of resistance against state repression they have been heavily criticised for their indiscriminate nature often ensnaring innocent civiliansThe actions of Baloch militant groups contribute to the overall atmosphere of fear and instability in the region The states justifications for these disappearances are grounded in the necessity to maintain national security and combat terrorismPakistani officials contend that Baloch insurgent groups are engaged in violent separatist movements asserting that extreme measures including enforced disappearances are essential for restoring orderThey perceive these disappearances as part of broader counterinsurgency operations aimed at dismantling separatist networks However this justification is fiercely contested by human rights organisations which argue that such actions are intended to silence dissent and suppress any form of political oppositionThe international community has increasingly voiced concerns regarding the ongoing human rights violations in BalochistanHuman rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have consistently condemned the actions of the Pakistani government calling for an end to enforced disappearances and accountability for those responsibleDespite this international pressure has had limited success in bringing about meaningful change on the ground The Pakistani government has persistently rejected external interference characterising it as an infringement on the nations sovereigntyFurthermore Pakistan has yet to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance which came into effect in 2011 Consequently there is no binding legal framework to hold the government accountable for these violationsThe social impact of these disappearances has been profound Families of the disappeared often endure prolonged uncertainty and trauma as the absence of a loved one becomes a form of psychological torture leaving them without answers regarding their fateIn some instances families face additional suffering due to stigma as the Pakistani state frequently labels them as traitors or terrorists solely because of their connection to the disappearedThis stigmatization complicates their pursuit of justice as they are often ostracised by their communities or subjected to harassment by state authorities Furthermore the pervasive fear of abduction has created a chilling effect on political activism and public dissent in BalochistanMany potential activists or critics of the government are silenced not just through force but also through fear This atmosphere stifles the development of a vibrant political discourse and prevents the Baloch people from peacefully voicing their grievancesThe suppression of political freedoms has also led to the displacement of many Baloch individuals with a significant number fleeing to neighbouring Afghanistan or seeking asylum in other countriesDespite these challenges efforts have been made at both local and international levels to tackle the issue of forced disappearances Local organisations such as the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons continue to raise awareness of the crisis through protests and campaigns both within Balochistan and internationallyInternational human rights organisations have also called for increased attention to the issue urging the Pakistani government to uphold the rights of its citizens and investigate all cases of enforced disappearancesHowever meaningful progress remains elusive While the Pakistani government has established commissions like the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances COIED these bodies are often criticised for their lack of independence and effectivenessCritics argue that these commissions serve merely as symbolic gestures intended to appease international concerns without addressing the underlying causes of the problemThe legal framework surrounding forcible disappearances in Pakistan is inadequate While the Constitution guarantees fundamental human rights these rights are frequently violated in BalochistanThe Pakistani state has yet to implement comprehensive reforms that would protect its citizens from enforced disappearances and without such reforms the cycle of abductions and violence is likely to persistFor the situation to improve there must be a stronger political will from the Pakistani government to engage in meaningful dialogue with Baloch nationalist groups and address their demands for greater autonomy and control over their natural resourcesAdditionally Pakistan needs to take concrete steps to hold accountable those responsible for enforced disappearances whether they are members of the military intelligence agencies or other state actors International pressure and support for human rights organisations will also be crucial in urging the Pakistani government toward reformUntil these measures are implemented Balochistan will remain a region characterised by widespread human rights violations with its people living in constant fear of abduction repression and violenceThe Pakistan Army often supported by intelligence agencies like the ISI has been widely implicated in orchestrating these forced disappearances as part of its counterinsurgency operations against Baloch nationalist movementsThese actions carried out under the pretext of national security have resulted in thousands of Baloch citizens being abducted tortured and in many cases permanently disappearedThe ultimate solution lies in recognising the rights of the Baloch people ending statesanctioned abductions and restoring political and social freedoms in the region Holding the Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies accountable for their role in these violations is crucial to breaking this cycle of impunityUntil then Balochistan will continue to be a place of suffering where the voices of the disappeared and their families go unheard and their pursuit of justice remains elusive IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/balochistan-understanding-the-crisis-of-forcible-disappearances-590927.html Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-police-stf-busts-jihadi-terror-module-bdeshi-national-among-8-arrested-590876.html Guwahati Dec 19 The Assam Police Special Task Force STF with the help of Kerala and West Bengal Police busted a jihadi terror module and arrested eight fundamentalists including a Bangladeshi national in this connection a senior police officer said on Thursday The Assam Police STF in a major Intelligencebased nationwide operation dubbed as Operation Praghat arrested the Bangladeshi national Muhammad Sad Radi aka Md Shab Seikh 32 a resident of Rajshahi in Bangladesh in KeralaTwo others Minarul Sheikh 40 and Md Abbas Ali 33 both residents of Murshidabad West Bengal were arrested from their native stateThe remaining five persons Nur Islam Mandal 40 Abdul Karim Mandal 30 Mojibar Rahman 46 Hamidul Islam 34 and Enamul Hoque 29 were arrested from AssamEnamul is a resident of Dhubri while the remaining four others are residents of Kokrajhar district of AssamGiving details of the dismantling of fundamentalistjihadi terror module Assam Police Special DGP Harmeet Singh said that the arrests were made on the intervening night of December 1718He said that the eight persons are handlers in Pakistan and Bangladesh and they were working to form sleeper cells in different parts of India and there were plans to assassinate leaders belonging to Hindu community and RSS besides undertaking violent and subversive activities in IndiaThe police officer said all the eight arrested persons were brought to Guwahati and a detailed probe was underway to gather more informationThe Special DGP said that the Operation Praghat was launched in November after a detailed and prolonged examination of intelligence input regarding the clandestine antinational activities being carried out by a group of individuals under the direction of Md Farhan Israk a close associate of Jasimuddin RahmaniRahmani according to the police officer is the Chief of Ansarullah Bangla Team ABT an affiliate of AlQaeda in the Indian Subcontinent a global terrorist organisationThe operation was launched under the direct supervision of STF Chief Partha Sarathi MahantaMd Sad Radi visited Assam and West Bengal to meet sleeper cell activists of the banned ABT before he moved to Kerala for the same purposeMobile phones with various suspicious apps used for communicating with their handlers in Bangladesh and Pakistan were recovered from the detaineesOther items recovered from them include religious books with distorted narratives printed and published in Bangladesh four pendrives with incriminating evidence one Bangladeshi card and various Bangladeshi certificatesEarlier this week the Assam Police STF also arrested five Pakistanlinked terrorist group JaisheMohammad JeM members from Kokrajhar and DhubriFour JeM operatives have been arrested from Kokrajhar district while one JeM linkman was arrested from Dhubri district a police officer said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-police-stf-busts-jihadi-terror-module-bdeshi-national-among-8-arrested-590876.html Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-parliament-elects-new-speaker-590439.html Colombo Dec 17 The Sri Lankan Parliament on Tuesday unanimously appointed ruling National Peoples Power NPP member Jagath Wickramaratne as its new Speaker Wickramaratne was nominated by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and the Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake supported her proposalNo other names were proposed and Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih announced to the House that Wickremeratne was unanimously appointed as the new Speaker Xinhua news agency reportedOn December 13 Sri Lankas Parliament Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala resigned in the wake of controversy over his educational qualificationEarlier the opposition parties accused the Speaker of lying about holding a PhD from a Japanese universityIn a statement Ranwala clarified that he had never lied about his educational qualification but admitted that he currently lacks documentary proof of his academic achievementsHe said that he had been awarded a doctorate by a research institute affiliated with Waseda University in Japan and hoped to present the degree certificate in the futureHowever given the confusion surrounding the issue and to prevent embarrassment for those who trusted and voted for this government I have decided to resign from the post of speaker for the time being Ranwala saidThe resignation was prompted by an attempt by the opposition to bring a noconfidence motion against the Speaker for misleading the public about his educational qualificationsRanwala was one of the 159 National Peoples Power NPP members elected after the partys historic landslide victory in the November 14 parliamentary electionHe had been on the job for less than a month after being elected as the Speaker on November 21Ranwala was a leading trade union activist for the NPPs mother party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna JVP in the petroleum sector as an employee of the state fuel entity Ceylon Petroleum Corporation IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-parliament-elects-new-speaker-590439.html Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-cm-begins-three-day-tour-to-bhutan-590249.html Guwahati Dec 16 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday embarked on a threeday tour to Bhutan As part of the tour the Chief Minister is set to attend Bhutans National Day celebrations Sarma landed at Thimphu on Monday along with his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma where the foreign minister of Bhutan welcomed them at the airportTaking to X after reaching Bhutan Sarma wrote Just landed in Thimphu Thankful to HE Lyonpo D N Dhungyel Foreign Minister of Bhutan for welcoming Riniki and me at the Airport I look forward to boosting Bharats ties with this beautiful nation during my threeday visitIn a previous post he wrote I am on my way to Thimphu to attend Bhutans National Day Celebrations at the invitation of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck This visit I sincerely hope will reinforce the enduring friendship between the great people of Bhutan and the State of AssamEarlier this year on his maiden visit to Assam Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk enjoyed an evening jeep safari along the central range of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger ReserveThe King and his entourage boarded the jeep at the Mihimukh Gate in the central Kohora rangeThe King was seen using his mobile phone to take pictures and using binoculars to try to find the animals while donning the customary Bhutanese gho and khakicoloured hatThe King also saw elephants being bathed at a riding spot in the Kohora River as melodies were being sung by the mahoutsFrom there he also saw the sunset with the KarbiAnglong hills in the distance and forest department elephants in the frontA coffee table book about Kaziranga an artwork of the park a handcrafted wooden onehorned rhino an organic Assam tea and Mugasilk gamocha a traditional towel that is a symbol of Assam were among the gifts given to the monarch and officials from Bhutan according to the officialAt the Kaziranga convention hall the chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma threw a dinner and cultural event that the king also attended IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/assam-cm-begins-three-day-tour-to-bhutan-590249.html Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-involved-in-making-fake-passports-for-illegal-bangladeshi-residents-arrested-590032.html Kolkata Dec 15 Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a racket for making fake Indian passports for Bangladeshi citizens illegally immigrating to West Bengal an official said on Sunday The arrested individuals have been identified as Samaresh Biswas and Deepak Mondal While Biswas is a resident of Barasat in North 24 Parganas Deepak is a resident of South 24 ParganasMondal is a contractual staff with the Indian postal department Sources from the state police said that recently his son Ripon Mondal was also arrested by the copsIn face of his interrogation he admitted that his father and Biswas were also involved in the racket Both were presented at a district court on Sunday and the court remanded them to police custody till December 20It has come to the notice of the cops that Biswas was also earlier arrested at New Delhi by Delhi Police because of his involvement with forgery activitiesThese fake passport rackets operating at different parts of West Bengal especially in the districts having borders with Bangladesh has become a major headache for the intelligence and security agencies with apprehensions of rise in illegal immigration amid the ongoing crisis in BangladeshRecently Selim Matabbabar an erstwhile associate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP was arrested from a hotel at Park Street area in KolkataHe got a job at that hotel by virtue of his fake Indian passport which he procured from a racket in the bordering Nadia districtThere are also intelligence inputs of members of Bangladeshbased fundamentalists group HizbutTahrir HUT are lately trying to be active in the bordering districts of West Bengal with Bangladesh and making attempts to set up sleepercells thereThere are also intelligence inputs about the sudden increase in the number of outsiders hiring rooms in different villages close to the international borders with Bangladesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-involved-in-making-fake-passports-for-illegal-bangladeshi-residents-arrested-590032.html Sun, 15 Dec 2024 21:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/maldives-seizes-drugs-worth-84-million-so-far-in-2024-588547.html Colombo Dec 9 The Maldivian government has stepped up efforts to combat drug trafficking and six times more drugs were seized so far in 2024 compared to 2023 President Mohamed Muizzu said Addressing a meeting the President said the drugs seized so far this year are estimated to have a street value of around 84 millionHe added that over 150 expatriates linked to drug trafficking have been deported so far this year which is twice that of 2023 Xinhua news agency reported quoting stateowned Public Service MediaThe President said police have raided over 13435 establishments this year amid the nationwide crackdown on trafficking adding that around 8500 raids were conducted last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/maldives-seizes-drugs-worth-84-million-so-far-in-2024-588547.html Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mukti-joddhas-likely-to-give-vijay-diwas-celebrations-in-kolkata-a-miss-this-year-588022.html Kolkata Dec 6 It is unlikely that Mukti Joddhas or serving officers from Bangladesh will attend the Indian Armys 53rd Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata The Eastern Command of the Army celebrates Vijay Diwas every year to celebrate Indias decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War that led to the liberation of Bangladesh Every year since the celebrations commenced a delegation from Bangladesh comprising Mukti Joddhas their spouses parliamentarians and serving military officers have participated in events organised over 34 daysThe tradition was followed even when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP under Begum Khaleda Zia was in power in BangladeshOn Friday a programme schedule distributed by the Eastern Command highlighted a visit by war veterans of the Indian Army along with a wreath laying ceremony and military tatooThere was no mention of a visit by a Bangladeshi delegation When asked by journalists if Mukti Joddhas would be a part of the celebrations Maj Gen Mohit Seth Major Gen General Staff MGGS Eastern Command said We will let you knowDuring the 1971 War the Indian Army integrated the Mukti Bahini of which the Mukti Joddhas were a part in all operations Preceding the 13day war terrible atrocities were launched by Pakistan on the Bengali nationalists under what was called Operation Searchlight Thousands of people were killed and injured during this crackdown Thousands started fleeing East Pakistan and many ended up in the state of West Bengal During the War that followed the Indian Army had the Mukti Joddhas as brave friends and the civil population also provided all the support the MGGS saidHe went on to say how India secured the release of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from a prison in West PakistanThe War ended with the unconditional surrender by Pakistan on December 16 1971 and by January 1972 Indian troops had started to withdraw from Bangladesh All Indian troops had left the country in the next three months Maj Gen Seth addedPolitical and military observers said that most Mukti Joddhas have either fled Bangladesh or are maintaining a low profile after the violence that erupted in the country as a lead up to August 5 this year when Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee after stepping down as Prime MinisterAny attempt by the Mukti Joddhas to attend the event in Kolkata would result in their exposure and possible reprisals by outfits who have all but discarded their as well as Indias role in the creation of Bangladesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mukti-joddhas-likely-to-give-vijay-diwas-celebrations-in-kolkata-a-miss-this-year-588022.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bhutan-king-wangchuck-to-arrive-in-india-today-587638.html New Delhi Dec 5 Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will arrive in India on Thursday for a twoday official visit and hold meetings with the Indian leadership to review bilateral relations The Bhutan King will be accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and senior officials of the Royal Government of BhutanThe highlevel visit which concludes on Friday signifies the deeprooted ties and mutual respect between the two neighbouring nations said an official press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs MEADuring the twoday visit the King will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking another chapter in the ongoing highlevel engagements between the two countriesExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials from the Indian government are set to call on His Majesty These meetings aim to strengthen existing collaborations and explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation the press statement saidIndia and Bhutan share an extraordinary and exemplary relationship underpinned by mutual trust goodwill and understandingThe foundation of these ties dates back to 1949 when the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation which was renewed in February 2007 to reflect evolving dynamics Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1968 further solidifying this enduring partnershipOne of the unique aspects of the bilateral relationship is the economic interdependence between the two nations Nearly 50000 Indian citizens work in Bhutan in sectors such as construction education and infrastructure projects with some daily workers crossing the border to work in Bhutans border townsThis integration demonstrates the depth of cooperation and shared prosperity between the two nationsThe scope of collaboration has expanded significantly in recent years moving beyond traditional areas like hydropower to include emerging sectors such as digital infrastructure education and space technologyBhutan became the second country to adopt the BHIM App facilitating financial linkages and India has supported Bhutans Digital Drukyul initiative which aims to build a robust optical fibre network across all 20 districtsSpace cooperation is another promising area of collaborationFollowing the 2019 visit of Indias Prime Minister to Bhutan the jointly developed IndiaBhutan SAT was launched in November 2022This initiative along with other technological partnerships underscores the progressive nature of the bilateral relationshipIn education India continues to support Bhutan in addressing shortages of STEM teachers enhancing the countrys human resource capabilitiesThe Kings visit provides an opportunity to review and advance these initiatives further cementing the longstanding friendship and exploring new frontiers of collaboration between India and Bhutan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bhutan-king-wangchuck-to-arrive-in-india-today-587638.html Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/southeast-asia-represents-10-pc-of-hiv-global-burden-who-586810.html New Delhi Nov 30 The Southeast Asia region including India has about 39 million people living with HIV PLHIV representing 10 per cent of the global burden WHOs Regional Director SouthEast Asia Saima Wazed said on Saturday ahead of World AIDS Day In the region 78 per cent of PLHIV knew their status in 2023While 66 per cent received lifesaving antiretroviral treatment 64 per cent had suppressed viral loadWazed informed that despite treatments the region also has a high burden 80000 children and adolescents aged 014 due to vertical transmission mothertochild and about 53000 infants are born with congenital syphilisThese children are one too many as there are effective interventions to eliminate mothertochild transmission during pregnancy labour and childbirth she saidWhile we have made significant strides in reducing HIVAIDS rates through strong national commitments we must acknowledge the ongoing challenges that persist Wazed notedIn addition marginalised populations such as men who have sex with men MSM sex workers people who inject drugs trans and genderdiverse individuals and prisoners continue to face disproportionate impacts due to stigma discrimination and in some cases criminalisationShe called for confronting the inequalities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030Further Wazed called the theme Take the Rights Path My Health My Right this year a rallying cry for accessible rightsbased healthcare that empowers those affected by HIVAIDS to live vibrant and fulfilling livesThe Regional Director also urged for boldly tackling the stigma and discrimination that stand as formidable barriers to accessing prevention treatment and careOn this World AIDS Day let us reaffirm our commitment to the health and rights of all individuals affected by HIVAIDS Wazed said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/southeast-asia-represents-10-pc-of-hiv-global-burden-who-586810.html Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/criminalised-for-standing-up-against-injustice-former-jampk-dgp-retired-officials-slam-bangladesh-iskcon-priest-arrest-586565.html New Delhi Nov 27 Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police DGP SP Vaid on Wednesday criticised the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh saying the latter has been criminalised for standing up against injustice while terming the arrest a direct attack on free speech and right to protest peacefully A letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Vaid which has been undersigned by several retired IAS IPS and Army officers and a former judge seeking protection of Hindus in Bangladesh while demanding the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das and other religious leaders read We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the increasing violence discrimination and persecution being faced by the Hindu minority in Bangladesh The systematic attacks against Hindus their religious sites their properties and their very dignity are reaching unprecedented levels These acts of violence and discrimination not only violate the fundamental rights of the Hindu community in Bangladesh but also undermine the principles of peace coexistence and religious freedom that India and Bangladesh have historically upheldThe letter stated that the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das on fabricated sedition charges is particularly troublingHe was detained simply for organising a peaceful protest against the ongoing atrocities and advocating for the rights of the Hindu community His peaceful activism should have been protected as a fundamental right yet he has been criminalized for standing up against injustice This arrest is a direct attack on free speech freedom of assembly and the right to peacefully protest it saidThe letter further read given the gravity of these human rights violations we respectfully urge the Government of India to take the following actions1 Immediate Protection for Hindus in Bangladesh The Government of Bangladesh must take urgent measures to protect Hindu religious sites businesses and homes from further attacks and desecration It is essential that the safety and security of the Hindu community be ensured and that the perpetrators of violence are held accountable2 Release of Chinmoy Krishna Das and Other Religious Leaders The immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das and other religious leaders who have been unjustly arrested is essential All charges against them should be dropped and their rights to peacefully protest and voice their concerns should be upheld3 Justice for Hindu Women We demand that the Government of Bangladesh investigate the increasing cases of violence abduction and forced conversion of Hindu women The perpetrators must be brought to justice and legal protections must be put in place to safeguard Hindu women and ensure their rights4 Protection of Employment and Property Rights The unlawful removal of Hindu government employees from their jobs and the seizure of their properties must cease immediately Hindus in Bangladesh must be allowed to live with dignity free from social and economic persecution5 International Sanctions on Bangladesh We call for the application of targeted international sanctions against Bangladesh particularly against those individuals and entities complicit in religious persecution and human rights violations These sanctions should be aimed at pressuring the Bangladeshi government to end its complicity in these atrocities and to protect the rights of religious minorities6 Diplomatic Action at the United Nations and Other International Forums We urge the Government of India to take this matter to international platforms such as the United Nations the Human Rights Council and other relevant international forums Diplomatic pressure must be applied on the Government of Bangladesh to hold accountable those responsible for the persecution of Hindus and to ensure that they cease their discriminatory practices The global community must take a united stand against religious intolerance and discriminationThe letter stated that the situation in Bangladesh is dire and the Hindu community is suffering under conditions that are reminiscent of severe human rights violationsThe Government of India has a moral and diplomatic responsibility to raise this issue at the highest levels and to take strong decisive action to protect the rights and safety of Hindus in BangladeshWe trust that under your leadership India will continue to stand as a beacon of hope and justice for religious minorities abroad We sincerely hope that this matter will be given the urgent attention it deserves and that steps will be taken to ensure the safety dignity and basic rights of the Hindu community in Bangladesh it read IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/criminalised-for-standing-up-against-injustice-former-jampk-dgp-retired-officials-slam-bangladesh-iskcon-priest-arrest-586565.html Wed, 27 Nov 2024 21:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/iskcon-wants-indian-govts-intervention-seeks-immediate-release-of-hindu-priest-chinmoy-krishna-das-in-bangladesh-586122.html Dhaka Nov 26 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCON on Monday urged the Indian government to take immediate steps seeking the release of prominent Hindu leader and priest Chinmoy Krishna Das who was earlier taken into custody by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Taking to social media platform X ISKCON said We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh has been detained by the Dhaka policeIt is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world ISKCON Inc urges the Government of India to take immediate steps speak to the government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peaceloving Bhakti movementWe want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees ISKCON wrote on XInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness known as ISKCON is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation with followers across countries and culturesChinmoy Krishna Das spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong was taken into custody by Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday as the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus continues to inflict horrors on the Hindu community of the countryAccording to local media Chinmoy Krishna Das also known as Krishna Prabhu Das was taken into custody by the Detective Branch DB of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday at 430 pmAdditional Commissioner of DB Rezaul Karim Mallik confirmed the detention saying that it was based on a requisition related to a complaint He mentioned that Chinmoy Krishna Das would be handed over to the related police station However the specific details of the complaint against him were not immediately disclosed by the DB official reported Bangladeshs leading daily Dhaka TribuneChinmoy Krishna Das was not only associated with the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot BJHM a grand national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country but also with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCONAs the news about Chinmoy Krishna Dass arrest spread on social media several protests broke out in Chittagong demanding his immediate releaseIt was reported that protesters marched and rallied at the Cheragi intersection in the city chanting slogans and demanding his releaseSeveral videos that went viral on social media late Monday evening showed Bangladeshi policemen targeting the protestors who were marching towards the Cheragi intersectionKanchan Gupta a Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting posted an image of a Hindu protester soaked in blood after the violent attacksChinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from Islamists Tallest leader of the Hindu community Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is believed to have been taken to Detective Branch of Yunus Regime Gupta said in another post on XThe incidents of vandalism looting arson land grabbing and threats to leave the country have been repeatedly inflicted on the Hindu community after the interim government was sworn in on August 8 under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad YunusThe Bangladesh HinduBuddhistChristian Oikya Parishad had earlier sent an open letter to Yunus expressing profound sorrow and concern over a particular groups unprecedented violence against the minoritiesEven though Yunus and his religious affairs advisor AFM Khalid Hossain assured that the current establishment believes in communal harmony the communal violence which began immediately after former PM Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka continues to cause widespread fear anxiety and uncertainty among the minorities in Bangladesh especially Hindus IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/iskcon-wants-indian-govts-intervention-seeks-immediate-release-of-hindu-priest-chinmoy-krishna-das-in-bangladesh-586122.html Tue, 26 Nov 2024 08:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-chief-condemns-deadly-attack-in-pakistan-585485.html United Nations Nov 23 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly attack in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province The attack launched by gunmen targeted three passenger vehicles on Thursday reportedly killing at least 42 people and injuring 20 others Xinhua news agency reportedThe SecretaryGeneral stressed that attacks against civilians are unacceptable said Stephane Dujarric his spokesman at a daily briefing on FridayGuterres extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the government of PakistanHe called on the Pakistani government to conduct an investigation and to ensure that those responsible are held accountableThe Shiadominated Parachinar area has had bloody confrontational clashes with the surrounding areas of the Sunni majority in the pastNo militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack while the security forces have initiated a search operation to track down the attackersPakistans Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack stating that the federal government is in constant contact with the KP provincial governmentThis past week has been difficult and upsetting We see a new incident every day and now are in constant contact with the KP authorities he saidPresident of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the tragic incident and said that attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane actKurram agency has witnessed violent and deadly clashes in the past over land disputes between Shia and Sunni tribes Over the years both tribes have engaged in conflicts which have claimed the lives of hundreds on both sidesSince the last conflict between the tribes the locals were allowed to travel in only convoys as per the decision taken by the local eldersIt can at least be established that the gunmen were aware of the movement of the convoy from Parachinar towards Peshawar and had placed themselves in hiding positions around the surrounding mountains to carry out the attack said a local resident of OchutThursdays attack is one of the deadliest ones in the ongoing longstanding sectarian conflict between the Shia and Sunni tribes in the Kurram districtEarlier this month thousands of residents gathered in Parachinar to participate in a peace march calling on the government to enhance the security of Kurram districts 800000 residents over 45 per cent of who belong to the Shia community IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-chief-condemns-deadly-attack-in-pakistan-585485.html Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-anf-arrests-10-suspects-in-drug-smuggling-operations-585486.html Islamabad Nov 23 The AntiNarcotics Force ANF of Pakistan arrested 10 individuals involved in drug smuggling in operations across the country said a statement The spokesman of the ANF said on Friday that the personnel of the antinarcotics force conducted nine operations recovering over 10 kg of narcotics worth more than 22 million Pak rupees around 7920 Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the official the ANF forces confiscated 915 kg of Hashish 994 grams of heroin and 570 grams of Ice or methamphetamine during the operationsThe ANF made raids and arrested smugglers during the operations in the cities of Gujarat Peshawar Islamabad Rawalpindi Sialkot Lahore and MultanAll suspects have been charged under the Narcotics Control Act of Pakistan and further investigations are underway to dismantle the drug smuggling networks said the spokesperson IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-anf-arrests-10-suspects-in-drug-smuggling-operations-585486.html Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/38-killed-in-attack-on-passenger-vehicles-in-pakistan-585137.html Islamabad Nov 21 At least 38 people were killed and 11 others injured in firing on three passenger coaches in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday The incident happened in the tribal district of Kurram where the vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims were targeted the official sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymityThe passengers were on the way to the Parachinar area of the district from the countrys east Punjab province when they were attacked Xinhua news agency reportedThe killed and injured included women and kids the sources said The injured people have been shifted to a nearby hospitalPresident Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the attack and directed the arrest of the perpetrators of the attack at the earliest IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/38-killed-in-attack-on-passenger-vehicles-in-pakistan-585137.html Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eight-killed-five-injured-in-nepal-traffic-accident-583477.html Kathmandu Nov 15 A sports utility vehicle fell off a highway in Nepal on Friday morning leaving eight dead and five others wounded The vehicle carrying a total of 13 people fell around 300 metres down a cliff at around 4 am local time in Darchula district Xinhua news agency reportedThe car was carrying pilgrims who were returning after visiting the Mallikarjun temple in the district said Chhatra Bahadur Rawat spokesperson for district policeHe told Xinhua that three of the injured were in serious conditionThe fatal accident is the fourth in eight days in mountainous Nepal IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eight-killed-five-injured-in-nepal-traffic-accident-583477.html Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nainital-hills-to-come-alive-with-sound-of-literature-and-music-583509.html Nainital Nov 15 Returning to a physical form after a threeyearlong hiatus the Himalayan Echoes Literature Festival in its twoday ninth edition beginning in Nainital on Saturday will go beyond words to encompass music environment conservation sustainability and arts from the greater Himalayan region extending all the way to Bhutan The special features of this years festival include nineyearold artiste Karma Demath who will accompany her father Pema Samdrup the senior musician of Bhutans Royal Academy of Performing Arts in taking the programme to a primary peak with a performance of mountain songs Himalayan chronicler Dr Shekhar Pathak launching his latest and timely book Himank aur Kwathnank ke Beech based on his decadal trek to map changes in the terrain in an era of climate change and former diplomatturned bestselling author Vikas Swarup on his new thrillerOther highlights will include sessions by Nepalese economist and Himalayan Future Forum convenor Sujeev Shakya his compatriot and cookbook writer Rohini Rana and botanist S Natesh who will expound on Indias ecological heritage through 75 iconic trees he has visitedThe festival founded by author and social entrepreneur Janhavi Prasad and mentored by renowned author and JLF codirector Namita Gokhale is meant for meaningful dialogues about the Himalayas and to promote books poetry and research associated with the majestic mountains However its aim is by no means not limited to the literary realm but also showcases the cultural diversity and unity of the Himalayan people and local and regional art craft and farm produceThe venue is the heritage homestay Abbotsford House the home to the Prasada familyTerming the festival a celebration of mountain voices from across the northern belt of India Prasada says it is the only mountain festival with environment as its basic motif She says the theme of this edition is CALM or Creativity Art Literature Mountains postpandemicHimalayan Echoes is a joyous and inspirational festival rooted in the culture and heritage of the mountains CALM celebrates the creativity art literature and music of the Himalayan region Gokhale addsThe festival will also have Anju Khanna the mentor of the Khushali Project for village social empowerment in Ramgarh elaborating on the success of their programme and how it can be replicated in other regions while Chetan Mahajan from the Himalayan Writers Retreat will be conducting a writing workshop focussed on the next generation along with Mayur Foodie Highway on My Plate Sharma and Jennifer Nandi engaging with local schools for student interactionsWhile local Kumaon delicacies will be on the table a Kumaon Bazaar will be put up to showcase some regional wellness products awardwinning knitwear brands that involve mountain village women handicrafts and trademark art by Kumaons Aipan girl Minakshi KhatiThe festival is slated to end on a high note with a performance of Cholia the warrior dancers of KumaonThe ethos of the festival is aptly described by Dr Pathak who quips Himalayan Echoes connects humans with literature and nature together Any distancing between them must be avoided IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nainital-hills-to-come-alive-with-sound-of-literature-and-music-583509.html Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/uncertainty-over-bangladeshs-participation-in-kolkata-book-fair-next-year-583572.html Kolkata Nov 15 Uncertainty looms over the participation of publishers from Bangladesh at the iconic annual Kolkata Book Fair scheduled from January 28 to February 9 next year against the backdrop of the ongoing political and social tension going on in the neighbouring country With Germany being the theme country for the event this time Publishers amp Booksellers Guild the organisers of the Kolkata Book Fair has got confirmation from other countries like the United Kingdom the United States France Italy Spain Spain Peru Argentina and Colombia among others but not from any publisher from BangladeshAccording to Guild President Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay because of some political developments the organisers are looking for permission from the government on this issueWe will act according to the instructions of the government he saidAs per protocol publishers from other nations are required to make applications to the guild and their permission for participation is subject to approval from the Union government In case there is no participation from the publishers from Bangladesh it will be a major loss of attraction for the annual event since the Bangladeshi book stalls at the event attracted the maximum crowd among the foreign publishers considering that the same language of Bengal is spoken both in West Bengal and Bangladesh and there is also a cultural synergyBangladeshi book stalls also often made arrangements for interactions between writers and poets from West Bengal and BangladeshThis time there will be 1050 book stalls Explaining why Germany has been chosen as the theme country a Guild official said that the Kolkata Book Fair started in 1976 was inspired by the worlds first book fair organised in Germanys Frankfurt in 1949 Like every year the event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/uncertainty-over-bangladeshs-participation-in-kolkata-book-fair-next-year-583572.html Fri, 15 Nov 2024 23:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/16-killed-after-coach-falls-into-river-in-pakistan-582707.html Islamabad Nov 13 At least 16 people were killed and two others injured after a passenger coach fell into a river in Pakistans northern GilgitBaltistan GB region an official said The spokesperson for the region Faiz Ullah Faraq said on Tuesday in a statement that a passenger coach carrying 26 persons fell into the river in the Thalichi area of the Diamer district of the regionAccording to the spokesperson locals and rescue teams rushed to the site to launch an operation and managed to save the lives of the two persons Xinhua news agency reportedRescuers have managed to take out 16 bodies and two injured said the spokesperson adding that eight persons are still missingThe official said that the coach carrying a wedding party was heading towards the countrys eastern Chakwal district from the Astore area of the GB region when the accident occurredPakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief and conveyed his condolences to the victims relatives while advising authorities to make maximum efforts to search for the missing persons IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/16-killed-after-coach-falls-into-river-in-pakistan-582707.html Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-makes-biometric-verification-mandatory-at-airports-579537.html Islamabad Nov 2 The Pakistan government has made biometric verification mandatory at airports across the country in a step to increase border security the Interior Ministry has said The ministry said in a statement that it directed the countrys Federal Investigation Agency on Friday to take immediate action regarding the installation of the biometric machinesThe machines will be installed at international immigration counters in airports to ensure effective passenger verification Xinhua news agency reportedAfter the installation of the machines biometric verification will be a mandatory requirement for international travelers the statement saidThe ministry added that this measure will make it nearly impossible for fugitives and wanted criminals to travel domestically or internationally IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-makes-biometric-verification-mandatory-at-airports-579537.html Sat, 02 Nov 2024 23:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-guards-of-india-bangladesh-exchange-sweets-on-diwali-579188.html AgartalaGuwahati Oct 31 On the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged on Thursday between the troops of Border Security Force BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh BGB all along the border with Bangladesh officials said A spokesman of the BSFs Mizoram and Cachar Frontier said that like in previous years on the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged between BSF and BGB all along the border with BangladeshSweets were exchanged between the two border guarding forces in many bordering locations along Assam and Mizoram he addedA spokesman of the Tripura Frontier of BSF said that on the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged between the two paramilitary forces in around 100 locations two days agoAfter the collapse of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 this is the first time the BSF and the BGB exchanged sweets on the occasion of DiwaliThe border guarding forces of the two neighbouring countries on the occasions of all important festivities have been exchanging sweets for the past several decadesMeanwhile the Director Generallevel border talks between BSF and BGB scheduled to be held in Delhi between November 18 and 22 have been postponed after a change in plan by the Home Ministry of the neighbouring countrySources said that the fivedaylong 55th edition biannual talks led by the Chiefs of BSF and BGB were to be held in Delhi and it would be the first such highlevel meeting after the collapse of the Hasina government on August 5The 54th edition of DirectorGeneral DG level talks between BSF and BGB were held in Dhaka in MarchSuch highlevel meetings discussed border management border crimes illegal crossborder movements and various activities and mutual coordination in sharing realtime intelligence between the two forces besides the construction of various border infrastructures the sources said The BSF guards the 4096km IndiaBangladesh border with five states West Bengal Assam Tripura Meghalaya and MizoramThe DGlevel annual border talks started in 1975 and continued till 1992 The meet has been biannual since 1993 with either side alternatively going to the respective national capitals of India New Delhi and Bangladesh Dhaka the sources added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-guards-of-india-bangladesh-exchange-sweets-on-diwali-579188.html Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-guards-of-india-bdesh-exchange-sweets-on-diwali-579189.html AgartalaGuwahati Oct 31 On the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged on Thursday between the troops of Border Security Force BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh BGB all along the border with Bangladesh officials said A spokesman of the BSFs Mizoram and Cachar Frontier said that like in previous years on the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged between BSF and BGB all along the border with BangladeshSweets were exchanged between the two border guarding forces in many bordering locations along Assam and Mizoram he addedA spokesman of the Tripura Frontier of BSF said that on the occasion of Diwali sweets were exchanged between the two paramilitary forces in around 100 locations two days agoAfter the collapse of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 this is the first time the BSF and the BGB exchanged sweets on the occasion of DiwaliThe border guarding forces of the two neighbouring countries on the occasions of all important festivities have been exchanging sweets for the past several decadesMeanwhile the Director Generallevel border talks between BSF and BGB scheduled to be held in Delhi between November 18 and 22 have been postponed after a change in plan by the Home Ministry of the neighbouring countrySources said that the fivedaylong 55th edition biannual talks led by the Chiefs of BSF and BGB were to be held in Delhi and it would be the first such highlevel meeting after the collapse of the Hasina government on August 5The 54th edition of DirectorGeneral DG level talks between BSF and BGB were held in Dhaka in MarchSuch highlevel meetings discussed border management border crimes illegal crossborder movements and various activities and mutual coordination in sharing realtime intelligence between the two forces besides the construction of various border infrastructures the sources saidThe BSF guards the 4096km IndiaBangladesh border with five states West Bengal Assam Tripura Meghalaya and MizoramThe DGlevel annual border talks started in 1975 and continued till 1992The meet has been biannual since 1993 with either side alternatively going to the respective national capitals of India New Delhi and Bangladesh Dhaka the sources added IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/border-guards-of-india-bdesh-exchange-sweets-on-diwali-579189.html Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/1-092-climbers-allowed-to-scale-41-peaks-in-nepal-578673.html Kathmandu Oct 24 Nepal has permitted 1092 climbers to summit 41 mountains in the country during the fall climbing season the Department of Tourism announced on Thursday A total of 316 were allowed to climb Mount Ama Dablam with 308 and 144 for Mount Manaslu and Mount Himlung Himal respectivelyThe mountaineers including 251 females are from 72 countries and regionsThe number is encouraging Were expecting the number of climbers to grow Rakesh Gurung director of the tourism department told XinhuaAbout 1300 permits were issued by the agency during the fall climbing season in 2023The fall climbing season in Nepal starts in September and runs until NovemberEarlier on October 17 Nepal issued 870 permits for climbers to scale 37 mountains in the country during the fall climbing season IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/1-092-climbers-allowed-to-scale-41-peaks-in-nepal-578673.html Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-arrested-33-kg-illicit-drugs-seized-in-afghanistan-577912.html Charikar Afghanistan Oct 20 Four people were arrested along with 33 kg of illicit drugs from Afghanistans Parwan province police said The contraband which included hashish was seized during routine operations conducted by police on the outskirts of the provinces Salang district Xinhua news agency reportedFour people were arrested on the charge of attempting to smuggle the contraband said Fazal Rahim Maskenyar spokesperson for the provincial policeThe case was referred to the judiciary for further investigations he addedThe Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight illicit drugs and drug production and trafficking across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-arrested-33-kg-illicit-drugs-seized-in-afghanistan-577912.html Sun, 20 Oct 2024 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-economic-paradox-taxing-the-poor-exempting-the-powerful-577672.html New Delhi Oct 10 Pakistans economy is seemingly trapped in a cycle of decline with little hope for immediate improvement for its citizens who are grappling with sluggish economic growth soaring inflation and increasing poverty levels Currently inflation stands at 248 per cent a figure that is over four times the global average of 59 per centDespite receiving external assistance including a bailout from the International Monetary Fund IMF and debt restructuring efforts from key bilateral partners like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates UAE genuine economic stabilization remains out of reachAlthough a new IMF bailout package has been sanctioned the likelihood of a real economic recovery appears slim primarily due to the governments ongoing hesitance to implement essential reforms across various sectors This persistent inertia in pursuing structural adjustments further exacerbates Pakistans susceptibility to fiscal crises deepening the existing economic distress and widening socioeconomic disparitiesOn September 25 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund IMF sanctioned a 7 billion bailout package for Pakistan contingent upon the Shehbaz Sharif administrations commitment to implement sound policies and reforms aimed at strengthening the nations macroeconomic stabilityThis represents the 25th occasion that Pakistan has sought assistance from the Washingtonbased financial institution with the current agreement set to last for 37 months Among the fiscal adjustments that Islamabad has pledged to undertake are significant policy reforms particularly the extension of the normal income tax regime to sectors that have previously been undertaxed including retail agriculture and exportsThis will involve imposing considerable tax hikes and eliminating various exemptions to expand the federal governments tax base and mitigate its fiscal deficitsThe theoretical justification for such reforms aligns with the IMFs goals of macroeconomic stabilisation however these changes are likely to worsen socioeconomic inequalities in a nation where wealth disparity is already among the highest worldwideA small elite in Pakistan comprising just one percent of the population controls over 30 per cent of national resources which rises to 60 per cent for the top 10 per centThe imposition of additional tax burdens on sectors like retail where a significant portion of the populace struggles to make a living will disproportionately impact lowerincome groups Consequently this seemingly progrowth fiscal reform poses a risk of further marginalising already vulnerable populations while consolidating economic power within an entrenched eliteThe issue is not merely the inclusion of the impoverished population within the tax framework which poses risks for reform success but rather the tax evasion perpetrated by the ruling elite both political and military and their appropriation of state resources that complicates the nations economic recoveryWhile smallscale retailers will face substantial tax obligations the vast economic empire of the Pakistan Armed Forces remains not only unaccounted for but also exempt from such taxation This is where the core issue hindering the countrys economic revival residesThe challenge extends beyond merely incorporating sectors like retail into the tax framework it fundamentally lies in the pervasive tax evasion by Pakistans ruling elite encompassing both political and military figures and their monopolisation of state resources which significantly hinders the nations economic recoveryWhile small retailers bear the weight of substantial tax responsibilities the extensive economic empire managed by the Pakistan Armed Forces remains largely unregulated and exempt from similar taxation This failure to confront entrenched elite capture and the tax immunity enjoyed by powerful sectors underscores a stark disparity in Pakistans fiscal landscapeThe true barriers to economic revival are rooted in this imbalance where the interests of military and political elites are shielded from scrutiny and accountabilityWithout addressing these entrenched inequalities any comprehensive tax reforms are likely to worsen disparities rather than promote true economic stabilisation particularly given that Pakistans armed forces manage a substantial business empire valued conservatively at over 20 billionThis empire encompasses various sectors with the Pakistan Army Air Force and Navy engaged in commercial activities ranging from the production of basic goods such as needles to more capitalintensive ventures like housing construction and fuel salesThere is scarcely an economic sector that does not involve some interest or intervention from the military A Senate report from 2016 disclosed that more than 50 commercial enterprises units and housing developments are operated by organisations such as the Fauji Foundation FF Shaheen Foundation SF Bahria Foundation BF Army Welfare Trust AWT and Defence Housing Authorities DHAsFor instance the AWT oversees 16 major commercial ventures while the FF manages 15 and the SF controls 11The issue does not simply revolve around incorporating sectors such as retail into the tax framework rather it is the systemic tax evasion by Pakistans ruling eliteboth political and militaryand their monopolisation of state resources that creates significant obstacles to the nations economic recovery While small retailers face substantial tax burdens the extensive economic empire managed by the Pakistan Armed Forces remains largely unregulated and exempt from similar taxationThis failure to address entrenched elite capture and tax immunity for powerful sectors highlights a stark disparity in Pakistans fiscal challenges The true barriers to economic revival are rooted in this imbalance where the interests of military and political elites are shielded from scrutiny and accountabilityUnless the profitgenerating enterprises operated by Pakistans military are placed under the federal governments administrative oversight which appears improbable given the militarys entrenched role in the nations political landscape effective sectoral reforms will struggle to reverse the countrys economic declineA state cannot sustain a situation where such lucrative entities remain outside the tax framework while imposing onerous taxes on small retailers who barely earn enough for survival This structural imbalance renders attempts at economic reform ineffectiveConsequently neither the recently approved 7 billion IMF bailout nor incremental debt restructuring efforts from creditor nations like China and Gulf states will yield substantial relief for Pakistans economy unless significant systemic changes are enacted particularly in ensuring equitable contributions from all major economic players to the national revenue IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistans-economic-paradox-taxing-the-poor-exempting-the-powerful-577672.html Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-withdraws-flood-warnings-related-to-two-main-rivers-577615.html Colombo Oct 18 Sri Lankas Irrigation Department on Friday withdrew flood warnings issued on October 11 for areas around the two main rivers of Kelani and Attanagalu Oya in the South Asian country The department said in a statement that it has been constantly monitoring the changes in the rainfall conditions across the country and the changes in the water levels of major rivers Xinhua news agency reportedAll the arrangements have been made to issue prior warnings and information about flood situations as necessary the department said It reported the water levels of the main rivers as normal at the momentSri Lanka was hit by heavy rain in recent days with over 100000 people being displacedEarlier on October 14 three persons died due to adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka according to the latest update by the countrys Disaster Management Center DMCThe DMC said Sri Lanka started experiencing heavy rain on October 7 and as of Monday morning 134484 people belonging to 34492 families have been displaced by raintriggered disasters in 12 districts across the country Xinhua news agency reportedSri Lankas irrigation department has warned of floods further near seven places of five main riversAccording to the countrys meteorology department heavy showers above 100 mm were supposed to occur in some places in Western Sabaragamuwa Northwestern and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-withdraws-flood-warnings-related-to-two-main-rivers-577615.html Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fuel-train-derails-in-sri-lanka-after-collision-with-wild-elephants-577624.html Colombo Oct 18 A train transporting fuel derailed in Sri Lankas North Central Province after colliding with a herd of wild elephants on the railway track the Department of Railways reported Friday The accident occurred around 330 am local time on Friday while the train was en route from the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Terminal in Colombo to Batticaloa in the Eastern Province Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the Department of Railways four fuel tankers derailed as a result of the collision causing significant damage to the railway tracksTwo elephants were killed and several others were critically injured in the accident local media reportedTrain services on the ColomboBatticaloa main line have been suspended temporarily due to the damage IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/fuel-train-derails-in-sri-lanka-after-collision-with-wild-elephants-577624.html Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-exports-saffron-ferula-asafoetida-worth-775-million-in-6-months-577642.html Kabul Oct 18 Afghanistan exported saffron and ferula asafoetida worth 775 million over the past six months Ministry of Commerce and Industry spokesman Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said on Friday The country has exported 18 tonnes of saffron worth 205 million and 617 tonnes of ferula asafoetida worth 57 million during the cited period till August the official said in talks to local mediaAccording to the official the valuable spices have been mostly exported to China Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates UAE India Spain Germany Uzbekistan Indonesia the United States and the United Kingdom Xinhua news agency reportedFerula asafoetida with yellow flowers and massive roots is native to Central Asia and eastern Iran and currently it is grown chiefly in Afghanistan from where it is exported to the rest of the worldAfghanistans Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock has provided training to local farmers in its efforts to promote saffron and ferula asafoetida production in the warravaged Central Asian countryAfghanistans main export items include coal saffron ferula asafoetida handwoven carpets and precious stones IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-exports-saffron-ferula-asafoetida-worth-775-million-in-6-months-577642.html Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-begins-accepting-nominations-for-parliamentary-election-577533.html Colombo Oct 4 Sri Lankan election officials have begun accepting nominations for the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for November 14 Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake announced on Friday Ratnayake said that nominations would be accepted at district secretaries offices in the countrys 22 electoral districts from Friday until noon on October 11 Xinhua news agency reportedSri Lankas parliament consists of 225 members with 196 elected through direct votes and the remaining 29 appointed via the national list based on the proportion of votes each political party or independent group secures in the parliamentary electionThe country last held its parliamentary election in 2020After emerging victorious in recent presidential elections NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the executive President dissolved the Parliament eleven months in advance paving the way for the parliamentary election in November IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-begins-accepting-nominations-for-parliamentary-election-577533.html Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-nepal-sign-b2b-framework-pact-to-bolster-petroleum-infrastructure-577364.html Kathmandu Oct 3 Marking a key milestone in the IndiaNepal energy partnership the Indian Oil Corporation IOC on Thursday signed a businesstobusiness B2B framework agreement with the Nepal Oil Corporation NOC The collaboration signed in the presence of Pankaj Jain Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will enhance energy security and optimise petroleum logistics particularly for the hilly terrainsIndianOils pivotal role in these projects is commendable and their timely execution will further strengthen ties between India and Nepal said JainUnion Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri posted on X that this collaboration will strengthen petroleum infrastructure reducing costs and bolstering supply security for Nepal citizens and the economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision of Vasudhaiva KutumbakamThe Framework Agreement will extend the existing petroleum pipeline to Chitwan construct a new pipeline from Siliguri to Jhapa and build two terminals to connect major demand centres at Jhapa and Chitwan in Nepal the minister informedIt is a testament to our commitment to a stronger more resilient partnership NeighborhoodFirst Minister Puri addedEarlier this month the minister acknowledged the extraordinary contributions of the IOC and wished the organisation continued success in its journey of excellenceEven as the entire world suffered 4070 per cent fuel inflation during the last 3 years this spirit of IndianOil kept Indian citizens insulated from soaring global fuel prices as PMnarendramodi Ji didnt want our citizens especially the vulnerable ones to suffer from crises of fuel availability affordability and sustainability Minister Puri had said in a post on XThis remarkable journey is a testament to the enduring legacy of Indias Oil and Gas industry and to the relentless dedication of nearly 30000 IOCians and the six lakhstrong extended workforce who through their indomitable spirit ensure that India continues to march ahead towards becoming the 3rd largest economy the minister had said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-nepal-sign-b2b-framework-pact-to-bolster-petroleum-infrastructure-577364.html Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-nepal-bangladesh-ink-pact-to-facilitate-cross-border-electricity-trade-577397.html Kathmandu Oct 3 In the first such crossborder energy trade pact a longawaited tripartite power sales agreement PSA among India Nepal and Bangladesh was signed on Thursday here As part of the tripartite agreement Nepal will export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh via the Indian grid in the first phase from June 15 to November 15India will make arrangements to supply electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh it was announced during the meetingThe tripartite PSA was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority NEA the Bangladesh Power Development Board BPDB and NTPC Limited Indias leading power generation companyThe route of electricity export from Nepal to Bangladesh has now been officially opened with this trade pact Nepal has been exporting electricity to India for three yearsThe agreement was signed in the presence of Nepals Minister for Energy Water Resources and Irrigation Dipak Khadka Bangladeshs Forest Environment Climate Change and Water Resources Minister Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen SrivastavaAs per the NEA officials the rate per unit of electricity has been fixed at 64 cents From the export of electricity Nepal will make an annual income of around 92 million as per reports The electricity will be exported to Bangladesh via the DhalkebarMuzaffarpur 400 kV transmission line with the metering point in Muzaffarpur In December last year Bangladeshs Cabinet Economic Affairs Committee had approved the import of 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal The pact was earlier scheduled to be signed in July but was postponed due to political turmoil and a change of government in Bangladesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-nepal-bangladesh-ink-pact-to-facilitate-cross-border-electricity-trade-577397.html Thu, 03 Oct 2024 23:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepal-to-aid-bereaved-families-as-flood-death-toll-rises-to-209-576821.html Kathmandu Oct 1 The Nepali government has decided to provide 200000 Nepali rupees 1497 in compensation to each of the bereaved families as the death toll from monsoon raininduced floods and landslides hit 209 A threeday national mourning starting from Tuesday was also announced following a cabinet meeting Xinhua news agency reported on MondayThe national flag will be lowered to halfmast during the mourning period said Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung who is also the government spokesperson on Monday eveningHe told the press that families who have members missing for more than 10 days in the disasters spelt by incessant rainfalls on Friday and Saturday will receive the same amount of compensationThe Cabinet decided to allocate 1 billion rupees 748 million to the Prime Ministers Disaster Relief Fund Gurung notedBy Monday evening 24 people remained missing and 130 others were injured Nepal Police said in a statement adding the rescue efforts are ongoingThe Nepal Police Armed Police Force and Nepali Army are working together in the ongoing rescue operations However efforts have been significantly hampered by damaged infrastructure with key roads blocked due to landslides and flooding complicating the transportation of essential supplies and aidIn an advisory issued on Monday Nepal Police urged the public to stay vigilant especially those residing in highrisk areas They recommended checking with local police stations for updates on road conditions before undertaking long journeys as many routes remain dangerous or impassable IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepal-to-aid-bereaved-families-as-flood-death-toll-rises-to-209-576821.html Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-president-allocates-166-million-for-parliamentary-election-576944.html Colombo Oct 1 Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has allocated 166 million to fund the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14 said a spokesperson on Tuesday Speaking at a press briefing following the first cabinet meeting chaired by Dissanayake cabinet spokesperson Vijitha Herath noted that a total of 366 million was required to conduct the parliamentary election Xinhua news agency reportedHerath said that the 2024 budget only allocated funds for the presidential election held on September 21 leaving no provisions for the upcoming parliamentary electionHowever under presidential authority Dissanayake has allocated 5 billion rupees to cover part of the election expenses with the remaining 6 billion rupees to be settled in 2025 through a vote on account which will be submitted to parliament as part of the 2025 budgetThe cabinet of ministers has approved this plan to secure funding for the election according to HerathAfter being elected as the countrys President Dissanayake dissolved the parliament through an extraordinary gazette notification last weekThe gazette has fixed the parliamentary election for November 14 and the new parliament will meet for the first time on November 21 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-president-allocates-166-million-for-parliamentary-election-576944.html Tue, 01 Oct 2024 18:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/death-toll-in-nepal-floods-landslides-rises-to-170-576580.html Kathmandu Sep 30 At least 170 people have died from floods and landslides in Nepal as of now the countrys Home Ministry said in a statement as quoted by media reports Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari on Sunday provided the latest update on casualties from floods landslides and inundation affecting various districts including the federal capital The Himalyan Times reportedThe Ministry also confirmed on Sunday that 111 individuals have been injured in these calamities while around 4000 people have been rescuedSearch rescue and relief efforts have been intensified with the deployment of security agencies The Himalyan Times reportedNepali Army helicopters airlifted 162 people who were injured or stranded in parts of Kavre Sindhuli and Lalitpur districtsRelief materials including food supplies have been distributed to disaster survivors and the injured are receiving treatment at government health facilitiesThe government is prioritising search rescue and relief efforts with full coordination among all concerned agencies Blocked roads are being cleared and reconstruction is underway Tiwari saidProvincial governments district disaster management committees and local disaster management units are also collaborating in response to the ongoing crises the Ministry addedNepals hydropower plants and irrigation facilities were badly damaged in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfalls in recent days with an estimated initial loss of 435 billion Nepali rupees 326 millionAddressing a press meeting on Sunday officials at Nepals Ministry for Energy Water Resources and Irrigation said that disasters spelt by continuous rains on Friday and Saturday had caused an estimated loss of 3 billion rupees 225 million to hydropower and transmission projects while river control and irrigation projects suffered an estimated loss of 135 billion rupees 101 millionAccording to the officials floods had damaged 11 operating hydropower plants with a combined generation capacity of 62596MW and forced other operating plants to shut down As a result 1100MW in generation capacity was halted nearly onethird of the total capacity of the countrys operating power plantsFifteen hydropower plants under construction were damaged as well it was notedAs power plants and transmission lines were damaged power supply in different parts of the country has been disruptedManaging enough power for the country in the upcoming winter could be challenging as it takes time to maintain and repair the damaged power plants said Kul Man Ghising managing director of Nepal Electricity AuthorityNepal produces surplus hydropower during the monsoon season but in the dry season it generates around onethird of the powerThe Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement that 47 of 80 national highways in Nepal had remained obstructed IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/death-toll-in-nepal-floods-landslides-rises-to-170-576580.html Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/66-killed-in-landslides-floods-in-nepal-576450.html Kathmandu Sep 29 Landslides and floods induced by incessant rainfalls in Nepal had left 66 people dead and 60 others injured the Home Ministry said Rishiram Tiwari the Ministrys Spokesperson said on Saturday in a statement that 69 people had gone missing Xinhua news agency reportedThe Kathmandu Valley suffered the highest loss with 34 deaths Tiwari said noting that more than 3000 people had been rescued by security forces and the government had decided to provide free treatment to the injured and start a rehabilitation programme as early as possible for those who lost their housesSeveral highways and bridges were destroyed in different parts of the country and clearing the highways is the governments top priority the Spokesperson saidAccording to a Nepal police statement almost all the highways including those connecting the rest of the country with the capital city of Kathmandu had been obstructed due to the disastersNepals Ministry of Education Science and Technology meanwhile urged all the local governments to close the schools for three days starting from Sunday and decided to postpone all the examinations at the university level which had been scheduled until TuesdayNepal has seen morethanaverage rainfalls during the monsoon season this year which started on June 10 and is coming to an endParts of Kathmandu were inundated by swollen rivers with many houses flooded and residents forced to move to top floors A huge area on the southern side of the city was mostly flooded and an army helicopter was used to pick up four people who were unable to leave their housesMost of Kathmandu was without power and internet for a period of timeThe monsoon season that brings heavy rainfall began in June and usually ends by midSeptember IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/66-killed-in-landslides-floods-in-nepal-576450.html Sun, 29 Sep 2024 08:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-leader-yunus-assures-country-will-uphold-bilateral-treaties-576244.html United Nations Sep 28 Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus said that his government will uphold its bilateral treaties and is open to friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect Speaking in Bengali at the highlevel session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday the defacto Prime Minister said I wish to assure that our government shall adhere to all international regional and bilateral instruments that Bangladesh is party toBangladesh is open to nurture friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect upholding our dignity and pride and shared interests he saidThe Nobel Prizewinner and microfinance pioneer holds the title of Chief Adviser of the interim government and functions as the defacto Prime MinisterYunus who was invited by President Mohammed Shahabuddin to head the interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as a wave of protests swept Bangladesh said the Armed Forces backed the Monsoon Revolution by standing firmly with the peopleDuring the recent revolution our valiant armed forces have once again shown their commitment to peace by standing firmly with the people in fulfilling their aspirations for freedom during a most difficult time in our history he addedYunus called the protests in July and August the Monsoon Revolution that primarily brought together people who were long left out in politics and developmentThe people aspired for a just inclusive and functioning democracy for which our new generations made supreme sacrifice he saidWe believe the Monsoon Revolution that the world witnessed in Bangladesh in the span of few weeks may inspire many across communities and countries to stand for freedom and justice he addedHe asserted that when he took over justice ethics and morality almost at every level reached a lowOligarchs took over businesses and corruption was endemic he saidWe are committed to promote and protect the fundamental rights for people to speak in freedom to assemble without fear or inhibition to vote whosoever they choose to uphold the independence of the judiciary and freedom of press including in the cyber domain Yunus addedBut he did not mention freedom of religion given that the country has seen a paroxysm of violence against Hindus and other minorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-leader-yunus-assures-country-will-uphold-bilateral-treaties-576244.html Sat, 28 Sep 2024 03:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/centre-provides-1-379-mt-rice-to-mizoram-for-manipur-myanmar-bdesh-refugees-575731.html Aizawl Sep 25 The Centre allowed the Mizoram government to procure 137934 metric tonnes MT of rice from the Food Corporation of India FCI godowns for over 44000 refugees from Manipur as well as neighbouring nations of Myanmar and Bangladesh living in the northeastern state since a long period of time an official said on Wednesday According to a senior Mizoram government official the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA would bear the cost of the rice Rs 5 crore while transportation of the rice would be arranged by the Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Ministry and the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department of the state governmentThe official said that after procurement of the rice from FCI godowns the Deputy Commissioners of Mizorams 11 districts would ensure that it reaches the refugeesAfter a hectic persuasion by the Mizoram government the Centre had earlier provided Rs 3 crore as humanitarian assistance for Myanmar refugees when the Mizo National Front was in powerThe Central government also assured to provide Rs 5 crore for the refugees after the Zoram Peoples Movementled government came to power in November last yearAccording to the officials around 34000 refugees from Myanmar took shelter in Mizoram in phases after the military takeover in the conflictridden country in February 2021 while more than 2000 Bangladeshi tribals have been staying in Mizoram since November 2022 after they fled Chittagong Hill Tracts CHT following ethnic troubles in the neighbouring countryCurrently there are around 8000 refugees from Manipur who have taken shelter in several districts of Mizoram after the ethnic violence broke out in the neighbouring state in May last yearThe refugees from Myanmar Bangladesh and Manipur belong to the KukiZoChinHmar tribal community who also share ethnic traditional cultural and linguistic ties with the Mizos of Mizoram IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/centre-provides-1-379-mt-rice-to-mizoram-for-manipur-myanmar-bdesh-refugees-575731.html Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-national-handed-back-after-inadvertently-crossing-loc-in-poonch-575360.html Jammu Sep 23 In a humanitarian gesture India on Monday handed back a Pakistani national who had inadvertently crossed the line of control LoC into the country in JampKs Poonch district officials said Officials said that Hassam Shahzad had been handed over to Pakistani officials by the armyThe gate at ChakanDaBagh was opened and the Indian Army handed over Shahzad 34 son of Shahzad Ahmed Khan a resident of Tetrinote in POKHe was apprehended by the Indian Army on the intervening night of September 2122 after he Inadvertently crossed into this side of the fence During the handing over and taking over process many officers from the army police and civil administration were present the official saidShahzad was apprehended in the Mendhar sector by alert Indian troopsThe intruder was intercepted and taken into custody by the troops when he tried to sneak into this side from across the border in the early hours of Sunday morning The arrested intruder about 35 years old is being questioned by the army at a forward location to ascertain the motive behind his attempt to enter India an official said on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-national-handed-back-after-inadvertently-crossing-loc-in-poonch-575360.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-extracts-1-300-tonnes-of-crude-oil-daily-574915.html Kabul Sep 21 Afghanistan extracts 1300 tonnes of crude oil in northern Sari Pul province daily the caretaker governments Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced on Saturday The process of extracting crude oil is ongoing from 21 wells at the outskirts of Qashqari Angut and Aaq Darya oil basins in the province and 25 more wells will soon be drilled and repaired at the mentioned areas said Hamayoun Afghan spokesman for the ministry Xinhua news agency reportedDuring the processing of extracting crude oil job opportunities were provided to 3000 people directly and indirectly Afghan addedAccording to the ministry which aims to develop gas resources the contract for extracting gas in northern Jawzjan province has been inked with a foreign companySince assuming power in August 2021 the Afghan caretaker government has inked a series of contracts with domestic and foreign companies to extract minerals oil and gas throughout the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-extracts-1-300-tonnes-of-crude-oil-daily-574915.html Sat, 21 Sep 2024 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/agricultural-fair-opens-in-afghanistans-mazar-i-sharif-574190.html Kabul Sep 18 A twoday fair held to display local agricultural products opened in MazariSharif the capital of northern Afghanistans Balkh province provincial agricultural directorate official Mohammad Farooq said on Wednesday In order to support local agricultural products and develop the agriculture sector in the country the official noted that more exhibitions would be held in the future Xinhua news agency reportedA variety of local agricultural products have been put on display in 60 kiosks including 30 booths run by women at the twoday exhibition that will conclude on Wednesday eveningWelcoming the step a stallrunner at the exhibition Safa Zaki urged the Afghan administration to organise such agricultural fairs abroad to pave the way for exporting local agricultural products to foreign countriesSimilar exhibitions were held in the Afghan capital Kabul and western Herat city a couple of months ago IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/agricultural-fair-opens-in-afghanistans-mazar-i-sharif-574190.html Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/us-diplomat-donald-lu-arrives-in-dhaka-to-hold-talks-with-muhammad-yunus-573455.html Dhaka Sep 15 The US State Departments key diplomat Donald Lu has arrived in Dhaka to hold discussions with the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus Lu the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs landed in Dhaka on Saturday noon after concluding his visit to Delhi bdnews24 reportedUpon his arrival at Dhakas Shahjalal International Airport he was greeted by Samia Israt Ronee director of the North America division of the Foreign MinistryIn a statement released on Saturday evening the Ministry said Brandon Lynch the assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia is accompanying LuTo lead the delegation Brent Neiman assistant Treasury secretary for international finance had already arrived in Dhaka on Saturday morningThe US Embassy in Dhaka reported that Neiman had a meeting with a delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce bdnews24 reportedThe delegation will meet Chief Advisor Yunus and discuss bilateral issues They will also meet Finance and Commerce Advisor Salehuddin AhmedForeign Advisor Touhid Hossain said US Treasury and National Security Council officials will stay in Bangladesh longer than LuHe added the discussions will primarily focus on financial and trade matters bdnews 24 reportedForeign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin told reporters on Thursday I can only say that the arrival of the US delegation after the formation of the interim government reflects the importance the US places on its relationship with BangladeshHe mentioned that the composition of the US delegation suggests a broad and multidimensional dialogueIt will not be limited to just a specific issue In line with this we are also preparing on our end Our team will be similarly aligned he addedThe fivemember US delegation was received on Saturday morning at Shahjalal International Airport by Khandaker Masudul Alam Director General North America of the Foreign MinistryThis highlevel delegation marks the first such visit to Bangladesh since the formation of the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on August 8The delegation includes officials from the US Department of State the Treasury the US Agency for International Development and the Department of CommerceThe Chief Advisors press wing confirmed that the delegation will meet Yunus at 1030 am on Sunday at the state guest house JamunaA US State Department statement said Lu will be part of a US delegation holding meetings with the Bangladeshi interim governmentLu will also visit India during the September 1016 tripUS and Bangladeshi officials will discuss how the US can support Bangladeshs economic growth financial stability and development needs the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/us-diplomat-donald-lu-arrives-in-dhaka-to-hold-talks-with-muhammad-yunus-573455.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 02:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/hasina-58-others-sued-over-attempt-to-murder-case-in-bdeshs-dinajpur-573456.html Dhaka Sep 15 A case has been filed against 59 people including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charge of attempting to murder a student during an antigovernment protest in Dinajpur on August 4 Fahim Faisal 22 a resident of Rajbati area in Dinajpur filed the case at Kotwali police station on Friday claiming he was shot and injured during the demonstration The Daily Star reportedOfficerinCharge of the police station Farid Hossain confirmed the development to The Daily Star on SaturdayAccording to the case statement Faisal who participated in the AntiDiscrimination Student Movement was shot during an attack on protesters near Dinajpur Sadar HospitalProtesters were assaulted with firearms and local weapons resulting in multiple injuries to Faisals face chest arms and other parts of his body He was treated at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and recovered partiallyFormer whip Iqbalur Rahim Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Chairman Imdad Sarkar and general secretary of the districts Jubo League Anwar Hossain are among the accusedWith this Hasina is now facing 155 cases including 136 for murder seven for crimes against humanity and genocide three for abduction eight for attempted murder and one for the attack on a BNP processionSheikh Hasina and former local lawmaker Iqbalur Rahim were listed as the first and second accused in the case respectively with 57 others named and several additional individuals left unidentified the OC addedSince the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government the former whip has so far been accused in the four cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/hasina-58-others-sued-over-attempt-to-murder-case-in-bdeshs-dinajpur-573456.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 03:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/death-toll-rises-to-six-from-bangladeshs-ship-breaking-yard-fire-573461.html Dhaka Sep 15 The death toll from last weeks explosion and fire at a shipbreaking yard in southeastern Bangladesh rose to six with two more injured succumbing to their wounds an official said The victims died on Saturday at a hospital in Dhaka said Tariqul Islam a resident physician of the instituteWith this the death toll in the explosion rose to six he told journalists adding that the death toll may rise further as several critically injured patients are undergoing treatmentJahangir Hawlader 45 and Barkatullah 23 were declared dead in between 6 am and 630 am he said at the hospitalJahangir and Barkatullah had suffered burn on 70 and 50 per cent of their bodies respectively he addedAt least 12 people were wounded on September 7 after a blast sparked a fire at a shipbreaking factory in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladeshs southeastern Chattogram seaport city Four of them had died earlier Xinhua news agency reportedAmong the injured Anwar Hossain and Abul Kashem who are still undergoing treatment at the burn institute have 25 per cent and 70 per cent burn injuries hospital sources saidTheir condition is critical too the sources saidBangladeshs Ministry of Industries has formed a committee to investigate the accident while operations at the shipbreaking yard have been suspended until further noticeBangladeshs Sitakunda sea beaches have emerged as one of the worlds largest shipbreaking yards with many European shipping companies sending their endoflife ships for scrap IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/death-toll-rises-to-six-from-bangladeshs-ship-breaking-yard-fire-573461.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-gets-second-woman-foreign-secretary-as-amna-baloch-takes-charge-572377.html Islamabad Sep 11 Pakistan on Wednesday got its second woman Foreign Secretary as Amna Baloch took over the top diplomatic post Becoming the 33rd Foreign Secretary she succeeds Syrus Sajjad Qazi who stepped down after attaining superannuation the Foreign Office said in a statementA Grade22 Foreign Service of Pakistan officer Baloch was appointed as Foreign Secretary last week the second woman to be appointed to the post after Tehmina Janjua who held the post from 2017 to 2019A Masters in History Baloch 58 joined the foreign service in 1991 and has held several important assignments both in Islamabad and abroad including as the countrys Consul General to Chengdu China from 2014 to 2017 as well as stints in Denmark and Sri LankaShe has also served as High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2019 to 2023 and prior to taking over as Foreign Secretary was the Ambassador to the European Union Belgium and Luxembourg from 2023Baloch has served as a Joint Secretary at the Prime Ministers Office and Additional Secretary in the Foreign Ministers officeShe is married to Zulfiqar Ali Khan and the couple has two daughtersSyrus Sajjad Qazi who stepped down on Tuesday after a 34year diplomatic career has also served at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi besides other key posts IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-gets-second-woman-foreign-secretary-as-amna-baloch-takes-charge-572377.html Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/brought-terror-back-to-pakistan-deputy-pm-hits-out-at-imran-khan-regime-former-isi-chiefs-misguided-security-decisions-571498.html Islamabad Sep 8 Linking the current violence in Balochistan province and other restive areas to security decisions taken by the previous Imran Khan government Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar accused it of bringing terror back to the country He also questioned then ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hamids trip to Kabul in September 2021 where the countrys top spymaster was caught on camera sipping tea and telling reporters that everything will be fineThe country is paying a heavy price for that cup of tea in Afghanistan Dar said at a press conference at the Pakistan High Commission in London without explicitly naming Hamid Pakistani media reports said He blamed the former ISI chief for releasing terrorists and allowing them back into the countryWhat happened after that Over 100 hardened criminals were released they have now become commanders They are the masterminds behind terror attacks today in Pakistan Nearly 40000 of those who had fled during Operation RaddulFasaad and ZerbeAzb were allowed back to Pakistan Todays terror is linked to that he said blaming the decision for the current violence in BalochistanTo a question whether the ISI chief went to Kabul at that time with the permission of thenPrime Minister Imran Khan Dar said I find it difficult to accept that he could have gone without the permission of the Prime Minister We are working with the security establishment on issues today these things are not possible without the Prime Ministers approvalHowever Dar who also has charge of Foreign Affairs was quick to praise the current military leadership especially army chief Gen Asim Munir and ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem AnjumThey deserve the highest accolades for being highclass professionals They are completely apolitical and they want to see Pakistan on the right track The army chiefs agenda is Pakistan This is a very good omen for Pakistan There is a clear agenda for Pakistan and it is reflected through his words and actions There is cohesion of this agenda as far as the government and the military leadership are concerned They are not interested in any politicsDars criticism of the previous PTI regime extended beyond security concerns to the economic challenges Pakistan facesHe accused the previous government of poor governance which he claimed had led to the decline of Pakistans global economic ranking By 2017 Pakistan had become the 24th largest economy in the world However due to the mismanagement of the post2018 government our rank fell to 47th by 2022 Dar lamentedHe stressed that the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz PMLN government under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif had worked hard to tackle the countrys biggest challenges including extremism electricity shortages and economic instabilityDar also denied that Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz PMLN President Nawaz Sharif had taken a back seat saying he was fully activeHe is fully active leading the party He has got Shehbaz Sharif as the PM to lead the team The federal and Punjab governments are acting upon his advice He says we will pay any price politically to fix the country We are working under his guidance he addedOn the diplomatic front Dar expressed optimism about the future of UKPakistan relations which he described as having moved past a cold shoulder phaseDuring his visit to London Dar engaged in discussions with British officials including Foreign Secretary David Lammy on a range of issues including trade Kashmir Gaza and the rising tide of Islamophobia in EuropeThe Deputy Prime Minister also addressed the challenges facing Pakistan International Airlines PIA and the efforts to resume flights to and from the UK which were suspended following an irresponsible statement by a minister from the previous governmentHe revealed that the government is working on privatising PIA and outsourcing Islamabad International Airport with the process expected to be completed by next monthIn response to questions about Imran Khans potential trial in a military court Dar insisted that the former Prime Ministers case would proceed according to the law particularly concerning the attacks on military installations during the May 9 riotsHe dismissed any notion of backdoor negotiations with Khans Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI party stating that the governments hands are tied following the violent incidents IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/brought-terror-back-to-pakistan-deputy-pm-hits-out-at-imran-khan-regime-former-isi-chiefs-misguided-security-decisions-571498.html Sun, 08 Sep 2024 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/harassment-disrespect-absent-amenities-women-medical-staff-in-pakistan-face-same-harrowing-issues-as-indian-counterparts-571558.html Islamabad Sep 8 The horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has ignited a furore over the working conditions and safety of women medical personnel in India but the same harrowing issues leering and groping colleagues staff and patients stalking inappropriate comments lack of respect for their capabilities and a marked lack of dedicated amenities afflict their Pakistani counterparts also An online survey conducted on Dawncom and its Dawn Images supplement on their Instagram pages found that 47 per cent of 988 female medical professionals reported feeling unsafe in both government and private hospitals Of 932 respondents 472 per cent said they had experienced harassment while on duty and 67 per cent of 637 respondents said their hospital lacked a safe space to restThe sample size of the survey isnt large enough to draw any major conclusions but it does support what many women medical professionals reported about what its like to work at hospitals in Pakistan Dawn Images said in a reportThat may go to explain why of 104974 women medical graduates residing in Pakistan 21146 or around 20 are no longer part of the labour force as per a report by Pakistans leading research institution it saidThreats to woman doctors and nurses do not come from patients and visitors but are sometimes internal from within the hospital itselfA recent study conducted at a Karachibased hospital found that nearly 70 per cent of female surgeons in Pakistan had experienced harassment in the workplace Women doctors and nurses from all four provinces both in rural areas and in urban centres shared their stories of harassment ranging from catcalls comments about their bodies inappropriate jokes and being touchedOne woman doctor revealed how in the middle of the night she received a message from an unknown number complimenting my looks More messages followed detailing her exact location and describing what she was wearing The messages became more frequent and she soon discovered they were sent by the head male nurse at the hospital She did not file a complaint against him as she was told that he was favoured by the managementAnother doctor at a semiprivate Lahore hospital reported that a resident doctor would make inappropriate comments to her She initially ignored him but soon it escalated into deliberate bumps and brushes and creating situations in which they were aloneIn addition to these challenges women in the medical field are subjected to invasions of privacy with some even being filmed while on duty A female nurse said Ive been inappropriately touched by patients and disrespected by doctors At first I assumed the touches by patients were accidental but a senior later told me otherwiseThe most shocking moment was when I found inappropriate videos of myself on a 14yearold boys phoneLack of separate secure amenities is another problem A female resident doctor at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases NICVD in Karachi revealed how the facility had a common restroom shared between male and female doctors There is no separate room for women doctors to rest only a single space shared by both genders Male doctors and nurses often enter the room unannounced Anyone resting in the room could be caught off guard she saidOne day when a male colleague was about to enter the room unannounced she asked him to knock before coming in Offended by the request he created a scene accusing her of doubting his intentions The situation escalated into an argument drawing a crowd before consultants and the administration intervenedApart from restrooms there is a more concerning issue of shared washrooms A general surgeon from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that while they had a designated bathroom for women male attendants often used itBeyond inadequate facilities female doctors in Pakistan also face rampant gender discrimination One Islamabadbased doctor revealed that even when she examined a patient and expressed a diagnosis families wouldnt accept her conclusions until a male doctor confirmed them My gender takes precedence over my capabilities as a doctor Its just a cultural thing she said with a sighIt doesnt matter if youre a doctor there to serve people if youre wearing a burqa a lab coat socks with shoes and a mask on your face if you have a womans body you will be leered at touched and made to feel uncomfortable a doctor who served in a Karachi hospital told Dawn Images IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/harassment-disrespect-absent-amenities-women-medical-staff-in-pakistan-face-same-harrowing-issues-as-indian-counterparts-571558.html Sun, 08 Sep 2024 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-allocates-4-million-usd-for-flood-hit-bangladesh-570689.html United Nations Sep 5 The United Nations has allocated 4 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund for Bangladesh which has been hit by devastating floods Joyce Msuya the acting UN emergency relief coordinator has allocated the money that will be used to support the response to the floods that have impacted nearly 6 million men women and children in Bangladesh since late last month UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterress spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefingSo far a reported 500000 people have been displaced in more than 3400 evacuation shelters in Bangladesh where over 7000 schools are closed due to flooding and about 17 million students are impacted The floods have caused an estimated 156 million dollars in losses in livestock and fisheries Xinhua news agency reportedWe along with our humanitarian partners are mobilised and supporting the governmentled flood response We are also helping with local efforts to help the most vulnerable people and communities impacted by these floods said the spokesmanBangladesh has been hit by four major climaterelated disasters so far this year including Cyclone Remal and the current devastating flash floods impacting nearly 13 million people across land that covers about 30 per cent of the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/un-allocates-4-million-usd-for-flood-hit-bangladesh-570689.html Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-and-chinese-debt-trap-a-looming-crisis-569252.html New Delhi Aug 28 In recent years Pakistan has found itself deeply intertwined with China through a series of economic agreements most notably the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC While these developments were initially seen as a significant opportunity for Pakistans economic upliftment there is growing concern that the country may be falling into a dangerous debt trap This article aims to explore this possibility by delving into the complex relationship between Pakistan and China analyzing the financial data and considering the broader implications of this economic dependencyThe Allure of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPECWhen the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor was launched in 2015 it was heralded as a gamechanger for Pakistan The ambitious plan part of Chinas larger Belt and Road Initiative BRI promised to transform Pakistans infrastructure energy sector and overall economyWith a projected cost of 62 billion CPEC was envisioned as a network of highways railways and pipelines stretching from Gwadar Port in Pakistans southwest to Kashgar in Chinas far west For a country like Pakistan struggling with chronic energy shortages dilapidated infrastructure and a stagnating economy CPEC seemed like a lifeline The prospect of new roads power plants and economic zones brought hope of economic revival job creation and enhanced regional connectivityBut as the old saying goes Theres no such thing as a free lunch The financing behind CPEC while initially seen as a generous offer from China has turned out to be more complex and potentially hazardous for Pakistans economic healthLooking at the numbers it becomes clear that the bulk of CPECs financing comes from commercial loans with interest rates that while seemingly manageable add up significantly over time For a country already grappling with high levels of external debt these new obligations present a serious challengeThe Debt Trap How Pakistan Became EntrappedChinas strategy with Pakistan as with other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative often involves a combination of grants lowinterest loans and commercial loansHowever the devil is in the details Much of the financing for CPEC projects has come in the form of commercial loans with relatively highinterest rates given Pakistans economic situation One of the most concerning aspects of these loans is that they are tied to Chinese contractorsThis means that a significant portion of the funds lent to Pakistan flows back to China in the form of payments for Chinese goods services and labor This structure minimizes the financial benefits for Pakistan while maximizing the returns for Chinese companiesAs Pakistans debt to China has grown so too has its annual debt servicing burden The numbers tell a worrying storyBy 2023 Pakistan was dedicating nearly 8 per cent of its GDP just to service its debt to China This figure is alarming because it represents money that could otherwise be spent on essential services like healthcare education and infrastructure developmentThe potential for Pakistan to lose control over strategic national assets such as Gwadar Port is one of the most troubling aspects of this debt situation While the details of these loans are often shrouded in secrecy there is a very real possibility that if Pakistan defaults on its loans China could seek to acquire stakes in key assets Gwadar Port given its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz is particularly vulnerableThe Economic Consequences of the Debt TrapOne of the most significant consequences of Pakistans growing debt to China is the erosion of its economic sovereignty With so much of its economy tied up in Chinese projects and debt Pakistans ability to make independent economic decisions has been severely compromisedThis dependency has also translated into political leverage for China influencing Pakistans foreign and domestic policies Another concerning consequence is the impact on local industriesWhile CPEC has brought significant investment into Pakistan much of this investment has flowed back to China as Chinese companies have been given priority in project contracts This has led to minimal job creation within Pakistan and has stunted the growth of local businesses that could have otherwise benefited from such largescale infrastructure projectsThe economic strain of servicing its growing debt has contributed to rising inflation and a significant devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee As the currency weakens it becomes more expensive for Pakistan to service its debt creating a vicious cycle of borrowing to repay previous loansThese trends have had a direct impact on the cost of living in Pakistan reducing the purchasing power of ordinary citizens and exacerbating economic inequalityThe Geopolitical ImplicationsAs Pakistans economic dependence on China deepens so too does its strategic dependency This has become increasingly apparent in Pakistans foreign policy decisions which have often aligned with Beijings interestsWhether its support for Chinas stance on Xinjiang or silence on issues like Hong Kong Pakistans foreign policy is increasingly seen as being shaped by its economic ties to ChinaPakistans growing closeness to China has also affected its relationships with other regional powers India for instance views CPEC as a direct threat to its sovereignty given that the corridor passes through the disputed territory of GilgitBaltistanMeanwhile Pakistans traditional allies such as Saudi Arabia and the US have become wary of Islamabads growing alignment with Beijing The potential loss of strategic assets such as Gwadar Port if Pakistan defaults on its debt is not just an economic issue but a geopolitical oneGwadars location near the Strait of Hormuz gives it immense strategic value and losing control over such an asset would have significant implications for Pakistans role in the regionSocioPolitical ConsequencesThe socioeconomic consequences of the Chinese debt have not gone unnoticed by the Pakistani public The rising cost of living coupled with high unemployment and deteriorating public services has led to growing discontent with the governmentThere is also a growing perception that the government has surrendered national assets to China fueling nationalist sentiments and adding to the political instability The centralization of decisionmaking around CPEC projects often without public consultation or transparency has weakened Pakistans democratic institutionsThis erosion of democratic norms has contributed to a governance crisis with power increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few and diminishing the role of checks and balancesWhat Lies Ahead for PakistanIf Pakistan continues on its current path the debt burden may become unsustainable leading to a potential default In such a scenario Pakistan may be forced to renegotiate its debt with China possibly ceding control over key national assets or making further political concessionsAlternatively Pakistan could seek debt relief or restructuring through negotiations with China or international financial institutions However this would require Pakistan to implement significant economic reforms which while politically challenging are necessary to stabilize the economyTo reduce its dependency on China Pakistan could seek to diversify its economic partnerships Strengthening ties with other countries such as the US the European Union and the Gulf States could provide Pakistan with alternative sources of investment and reduce its reliance on Chinese loansWhat started as a promising economic partnership between Pakistan and China has increasingly become a source of concernThe risks of falling into a debt trap are real with significant economic geopolitical and sociopolitical consequencesFor Pakistan the challenge lies in navigating this complex relationship with China while safeguarding its economic sovereignty and national interestsTo avoid the worstcase scenario Pakistan must reassess its economic strategy seeking greater transparency in its dealings with China and exploring alternative partnerships Without these measures Pakistan risks finding itself in a debt trap with farreaching consequences for its future IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-and-chinese-debt-trap-a-looming-crisis-569252.html Wed, 28 Aug 2024 22:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/4-soldiers-25-terrorists-killed-in-separate-operations-in-pakistan-569045.html Islamabad Aug 28 Four soldiers and 25 terrorists were killed in separate operations over the past seven days in Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP province the military said The security forces conducted intelligencebased operations in Khyber district of KP the InterServices Public Relations ISPR the media wing of the Pakistan Army said on Tuesday in a statementDuring the operations security forces have killed 25 terrorists including a key member the statement said adding that 11 terrorists were also injured during the operations Xinhua news agency reportedHowever during the conduct of operations four soldiers have also lost their lives the ISPR addedAccording to the armys media wing Pakistans security forces conducted extensive Intelligence Based Operations IBOs in Tirah Khyber district against FitnaAlKhwarij and so called LaskareIslam and Jamatul AhrarThese operations based on robust intelligence have resulted into major setbacks to Fitna Al Khwarij and its affiliatesDuring these daring and highly successful IBOs being conducted since August 20 2024 security forces have so far successfully neutralized 25 Khwarij including Kharji ring leader Abuzar alias Saddam who have been sent to hell while 11 Khawrij have been injuredThe army said that the heavy losses inflicted upon terrorists in the operations are a testament to the commitment of security forces to eliminating the menace of terrorism from the South Asian countryOn behest of inimical and hostile forces these cowardly acts of terrorism were aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment and development of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians especially in Musa Khel Kalat and Lasbela districts Resultantly numerous innocent civilians embraced shahadat the army said in a statementThe military vowed that the instigators perpetrators facilitators and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts targeting innocent civilians will be brought to justiceSecurity forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan in step with the nation remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace stability and progress of Balochistan and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve the statement concludedOn Monday at least 70 people including security personnel were killed and scores of others injured in a series of attacks in Pakistans southwestern Balochistan province according to officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/4-soldiers-25-terrorists-killed-in-separate-operations-in-pakistan-569045.html Wed, 28 Aug 2024 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pm-modi-speaks-to-biden-discusses-ukraine-bangladesh-568853.html New Delhi Aug 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday discussed the situation in wartorn Ukraine and volatile Bangladesh with US President Joe Biden Spoke to POTUSJoeBiden on phone today We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues including the situation in Ukraine I reiterated Indias full support for early return of peace and stability PM Modi said in a post on XThe PM also briefed President Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine and underscored Indias consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacyBoth the leaders also expressed concern at the situation in Bangladesh where protests led to the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and an interim arrangement headed by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus has taken chargeWe also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities especially Hindus in Bangladesh he addedPM Modi conveyed his appreciation for President Bidens deep commitment to the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership which is based on shared values of democracy rule of law and strong peopletopeople tiesThe leaders reviewed the significant progress in bilateral relations and highlighted that the IndiaUS partnership is aimed at benefiting the people of both countries as well as the entire humanityThe two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the cooperation in multilateral fora including the Quad and agreed to remain in touchPM Modi also talked to another Quad fellow member his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese earlier on Monday and both leaders took stock of progress in bilateral relations and cooperation in the multilateral fora including the QuadDelighted to speak to my friend Anthony Albanese We took stock of progress in our bilateral relations and cooperation in the multilateral fora including the Quad he posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pm-modi-speaks-to-biden-discusses-ukraine-bangladesh-568853.html Mon, 26 Aug 2024 23:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-reports-16th-polio-case-this-year-568338.html Islamabad Aug 23 Pakistan reported another case of poliovirus after a child was paralysed in the Sindh province increasing the countrys total tally to 16 in 2024 an official told the media on Friday An official from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health NIH in Islamabad said that the wild Poliovirus type1 WPV1 was confirmed in a 29monthold girl from Hyderabad district of the province Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the official poliovirus traces have been reported in 62 districts of the South Asian country so far this year a significant increase from 28 districts last yearThis is the first polio case from Hyderabad and the third from Sindh and the 16th case in Pakistan this year said the NIH official adding that 12 cases were reported from the southwestern Balochistan province three from Sindh and one from the eastern Punjab provincePrime Ministers Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said The latest case is a clear reminder that until we eradicate this virus from our country no child anywhere is safe from its devastating effectsShe added that WPV1 was consistently being reported in sewage samples of Hyderabad for the last four months reiterating the continued risk of polio circulating anywhere in the countryWe are operating on an emergency footing in all provinces given the intensity of the outbreak and extent of virus spread The polio program has been implementing a comprehensive roadmap to interrupt virus transmission beginning with an extensive largescale polio vaccination campaign from September 9 she saidMeanwhile Muhammad AnwarulHaq coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication said a thorough investigation was being conducted to identify the origins of the virus and immunisation of childrenPoliovirus has been circulating in adjacent districts of Karachi and Hyderabad for several months he saidEvery childs wellbeing is important to us and we will be launching a vaccination campaign in all affected districts from September 9 to boost childrens immunityPolio has been eliminated in developed nations but persists in parts of India Nigeria Afghanistan and PakistanMany Pakistanis particularly those residing in the conservative tribal areas consider polio vaccination a Western campaign aimed at sterilising the countrys population In 2012 the local Taliban ordered a ban on immunisation against polio in some tribal districtsNearly a dozen policemen have been killed this year while on security duty during vaccination campaigns which are frequently targeted by militants IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-reports-16th-polio-case-this-year-568338.html Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/14-killed-as-indian-bus-falls-into-river-in-nepal-568255.html Kathmandu Aug 23 At least 14 people were killed and 16 others injured after a passenger bus from India plunged into a river in Nepal on Friday local media reported The Indian Embassy in Nepal said that an Indian tourist bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu with around 43 Indians fell 150 metres into Marshyangdi RiverIn a post on social media platform X the Indian Embassy said that it is coordinating with local authorities undertaking relief and rescue operationsIt also issued an emergency relief number 9779851107021 for immediate assistanceThe Kathmandu Post reported that the accident took place in Anbu Khaireni of Central Nepals Tanahun district as the bus was moving towards Kathmandu from PokharaAfter a preliminary inquiry police estimated that the bus bearing a UP number was carrying 40 passengersAs many as 14 bodies have been recovered from the accident spot and 16 injured were rushed to the local hospital stated the Armed Police Force APF DSP Shailendra Thapa who is also the assistant spokesperson of the APFRelief and rescue operations are underway and further details are awaited even as initial images and videos of the accident posted on social media showed that the illfated bus has been severely damagedAn eyewitness said that occupants of the Keserwani Pariwahan bus were travelling to Kathmandu after staying in Pokhara for two daysThe bus from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh was carrying pilgrims from Maharashtra he saidAnother eyewitness said that helicopters were unable to spot the bus but Nepali authorities and the Army were carrying out the rescue operationsLast month five Indians were killed in a landslide in the Simatal area in Nepals Chitwan districtIn the tragedy that took place on July 12 two buses carrying 65 passengers were swept away after heavy rainfallNepal is in the midst of the monsoon season and has seen heavy rainfall in recent weeks triggering floods and landslides IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/14-killed-as-indian-bus-falls-into-river-in-nepal-568255.html Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/how-bangladesh-broke-free-while-pakistan-remains-shackled-by-military-power-568086.html New Delhi Aug 22 Sheikh Hasina ruled Bangladesh for over 15 years securing four consecutive electoral victories However it took just 35 days of studentled protests supported by a significant portion of the population disillusioned by the countrys struggling economy and rising unemployment to force her out of office The ability of the student movement to effect such a political change without plunging Bangladesh into military rule demonstrates that democracy however fragile has taken root in the countryIn stark contrast Pakistan from which Bangladesh emerged after a bloody war in 1971 faces an even worse economic and unemployment crisisDespite yearlong student protests and political campaigns advocating for constitutional supremacy the de facto ruling military dominated hybrid regime of Pakistan has successfully suppressed every cent of dissent from Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Sindh to PunjabThis fundamental difference highlights how deeply entrenched the Pakistan Army remains within civilian institutions reducing its democracy to nothing but a mere illusionYet the success of the Bangladeshi students movement appears to have inspired the Pakistan Students Federation PSF a nationwide student organisation to issue an ultimatum to the government fulfil their demands by August 30 or face a countrywide agitationAmong their prominent demands are the restoration of constitutional rule of law the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan who has emerged as a symbol of resistance against the status quo and the militarys decadeslong dominant control over the countrys civilian institutionsImran Khan has been imprisoned since August 6 2023 facing multiple charges including corruption His wife Bushra Bibi who is coaccused in several corruption cases is also in custodyWhile the student calls for democratic revival in Pakistan are encouraging the situations in Bangladesh and Pakistan are fundamentally differentIn Bangladesh an elected prime minister though having concentrated much of power over years exercised authority over the political system including the armed forces of the countryIn contrast in Pakistan the military retains unassailable power overseeing a system that functions as an authoritarian hybrid with only a facade of civilian governmentThat should perhaps explain why the protests in Pakistan have largely failed to make any mark with the military establishing using every state resource curb the opposition to its misdeedsWhile the divergent outcome of protest movements in Bangladesh and Pakistan may be intriguing it requires a deeper examination of their democratic trajectories since 1971 when Bangladesh then East Pakistan emerged as an independent state following a bloody military campaign by the Pakistan Army killing thousands of peopleInitially though both countries exhibited similar tendencies toward military ruleBangladesh for example has witnessed at least 21 military coup attempts since 1971There were three coups in a single year of 1975 beginning with the assassination of its founding President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 1975During the late 1970s and 1980s the line between military and civilian bureaucracy was blurred particularly under Ziaur Rehmans rule who appointed dozens of retired officers to prominent civilian posts besides offering lucrative jobs across other sectors to hundreds of other officersHowever since 2008 when Bangladesh Army handed over power to popularly elected Sheikh Hasinaled Awami League government following its twoyear rule the militarys role in political affairs has significantly diminishedThis shift was evident during the recent studentled movement when Army Chief General WakeruzZaman informed PM Sheikh Hasina that his forces would not use violence against civilians ultimately leading to her resignation on August 5 2024 thereby bringing end to her 15 years of ruleThough many expected that the military might usurp power in reality it has facilitated takeover by a civilian interim governmentAdditionally several senior government officials including Supreme Court judges perceived close to Hasinas administration have since resigned to allow the interim government to take shape restore the rule of law and oversee new elections as soon as possibleA decade ago such developments would have been unexpected as the military was often poised to seize any opportunity to reclaim political power This distancing of the military from politics marks a significant democratic gain for BangladeshUnlike Bangladesh where democracy appears to have taken root Pakistan has struggled to achieve similar progress The civilian executive in Pakistan has been largely rendered powerless with the Pakistan Army dominating the countrys political landscape either through direct military rule or by manipulating governance from behind the scenesThe Army has strategically infiltrated Pakistans institutions through key appointments while maintaining the appearance of civilian controlFor instance Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani retd heads the Water and Power Development Authority WAPDA Lt Gen Munir Afsar leads the National Database and Registration Authority NADRA and Maj Gen Amer Nadeem retd oversees the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission SUPARCO among many other significant state institutionsThese appointments allow the military establishment the bandwidth to control every aspect of the Pakistani livesAs such the Pakistan Armys political interference and dominance of national institutions have directly impacted the countrys democratic trajectory hindering the development of strong and stable civilian democratic institutions in PakistanThe Pakistan Military particularly Pak Armys institutional hold is such that any civilian leader who dares to challenge its status quo faces severe consequences as is seen with Imran Khan in the current contextAs James Schwemlein 2023 observes Pakistans political scene has generally been characterized by one rule where the Pakistan Armys will exists it carries and typically persists no matter the consequencesPakistans military has ensured its political relevance by establishing a vast economic empire weakening civilian institutions and fostering internal security challenges Consider for instance its extensive economic empire encompassing almost every economic sector from agriculture manufacturing education and construction to real estateThese commercial ventures are managed by entities like the Fauji Foundation FF Army Welfare Trust AWT Shaheen Foundation SF and Bahria Foundation BF interestingly all designated as services welfare organisations This economic network has vested the Pakistan Armys officer class with significant financial interests compelling the military establishment to maintain its dominance over the countrys establishmentPakistani analyst Ayesha Siddiqa 2017 highlights Pakistan Army uses the capital generated from these enterprises for the personal benefit of the military fraternity especially the officer cadre but is neither recorded nor part of the defence budgetAs such Pakistans socalled democracy dominated by the military is nothing but a mere facadeIt is akin to an arcade game of snakes and ladders where the Pakistan Army sits at the top ready to strike anyone who dares to challenge its supremacy or questions its political role The militarys control is reinforced by collaborators within the judiciary executive and civilian bureaucracy enabling it to maintain neartotal control of the countryTherefore in such a facade of democracy while it is commendable that the Pakistan Student Federation has issued an ultimatum to the government to fulfil its demands for upholding constitution and releasing political detainees led by Imran Khan however forcing the military to retreat from the political arena will require more than mere rhetoric Whether Pakistani students can rise to the occasion like their Bangladeshi counterparts or this is just a glib only the time will revealLt Col JS Sodhi Retd is Editor Global Strategic amp Defence News and the Author of Chinas War Clouds The Great Chinese Checkmate IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/how-bangladesh-broke-free-while-pakistan-remains-shackled-by-military-power-568086.html Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/meghalaya-govt-suspends-border-haats-along-indo-bangla-frontier-amid-bdesh-unrest-565441.html ShillongAgartala Aug 12 In view of the unrest in Bangladesh the Meghalaya government on Monday suspended the operations of Border Haats markets along the IndiaBangladesh border an official said An official of the Meghalaya government told IANS that in pursuance to an order issued by the Commissioner and Secretary to the states Commerce and Industries Department the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills district in an order has informed that all Border Haats in East Khasi Hills District are suspended for operations with immediate effect and until further ordersThe five Border Haats two in Tripura and three in Meghalaya have remained closed since March 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns causing immense loss to the people living in the bordering villagesHowever three Border Haats in East Khasi Hills district and South West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya reopened in 2022 and one of the two Border Haats in Tripura Purba Madhugram BangladeshSrinagar south Tripura reopened in May last year and are functional once a week nowA top official of the Tripura Industries and Commerce Department on Monday said that the south Tripura Border Haats which functions on each Tuesday was not set up on August 6 following Bangladesh authorities request but it may operate on Tuesday August 13Before the unrest in Bangladesh the officials of the two countries after visiting the bordering areas had decided to reopen Tripuras second Border Haat Kasba BangladeshKamlasagar Tripura in Sepahijala district from this month but because of crisis in the neighbouring country it became uncertain the official old IANSIn the weekly market on an average at least 25 vendors including women from both sides of the border sell their productsThe first Border Haat was inaugurated in 2011 between the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya at Kalaichar and Kurigram in BangladeshAccording to the officials 10 more Border Haats were approved along the IndiaBangladesh border at Tripura and MeghalayaOut of them six are in Meghalaya and four in TripuraBoth the Indian and Bangladeshi governments are keen to reopen more Border Haats in the four northeastern states Tripura Meghalaya Assam and Mizoram which share a 1880km border with BangladeshJaipurbased thinktank CUTS International which has done several studies on border trade had earlier recommended to the Indian government to open more Border Haats along the border of the two countries as these markets boost the local economy cement ties between the people of the two countries and also check illegal tradeBorder Haat may be small in terms of the volume of trade but they contribute immensely to bonding of people on both sides of the border knowledge sharing and deepening peopletopeople connectivity which is an essential building block in cementing ties between the two neighbouring countries CUTS studies saidSujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujitciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/meghalaya-govt-suspends-border-haats-along-indo-bangla-frontier-amid-bdesh-unrest-565441.html Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ex-isi-chief-taken-into-custody-in-pak-ahead-of-court-martial-proceedings-565415.html Rawalpindi Aug 12 In an unprecedented move by Pakistans powerful military establishment court martial proceedings have been initiated against the former Director General DG of InterServices Intelligence ISI Lt General retd Faiz Hameed for his alleged involvement in the Top City Housing Society case coupled with violations of the Pakistan Army Act post his retirement According to a press release issued by the InterServices Public Relations ISPR an inquiry has been initiated by the Pakistan Army which has taken Faiz Hameed into custody The ISPR maintains that the move is in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this caseComplying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan a detailed court of inquiry has been undertaken by the Pakistan Army to ascertain the correctness of the complaint in the Top City Case against Lt General retd Faiz Hameed read the ISPR releaseConsequently appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Faiz Hameed under the provisions of the Pakistan Army Act it addedThe ISPR also confirmed that while Faiz Hameed is going to be probed for misusing his powers as DG ISI to assert influence in the Top City Housing Society case multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act have also been found against the former ISI chiefIn addition multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post retirement have also been established The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Faiz Hameed has been taken into custody read the ISPR releaseFaiz Hameed who is known for being close to former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been under the spotlight since April 2024 when the Pakistan Army constituted a highlevel inquiry committee to look into the allegations against him which claimed that Hameed misused his authority as ISI DG in the Top City caseThis is the first formal inquiry ordered and announced against Hameed by the Pakistan ArmyThe Top City case became viral after its owner Moeez Ahmed Khan filed a petition in the Supreme Court accusing Hameed of misusing his authority The petition filed on November 8 2023 maintained that officials from the ISI raided the house of the Top City owner seizing gold diamond and cash The petitioner claimed that his house was raided on the behest of then ISI DG Faiz HameedLater the Supreme Court ordered the Attorney General to look into the matter and discuss it with the relevant authoritiesHameed is known for being among the most influential spy chiefs His name has surfaced in many controversies including the Faizabad dharna the backdoor efforts to push the government for former Army Chief General retd Qamar Javed Bajwas extension etcFormer Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also named Hameed and General Bajwa as the masterminds behind his removal through the Supreme CourtThe latest case of Top City against Hameed and initiation of court martial proceedings against him by the Pakistan Army holds massive importance as it not only pertains to the mentioned case but also includes other violations recorded against himIn the Top City case the petitioner claims that at least 400 tolas of gold Rs 4 crore cash along with other valuables were seized during the raid on his houseMany believe that Hameeds desire to become the Army chief coupled with his instatement as ISI DG by then Prime Minister Imran Khan who removed then ISI DG and present Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir has now become the reason for such strict and strong action against him IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ex-isi-chief-taken-into-custody-in-pak-ahead-of-court-martial-proceedings-565415.html Mon, 12 Aug 2024 20:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-pushes-back-bangladeshi-nationals-trying-to-enter-india-565126.html Guwahati Aug 10 A group of Bangladeshi people tried to enter through the international border along Assams Dhubri district an official said on Saturday adding the vigilant BSF troopers pushed them back to their own territory foiling an infiltration attempt According to an official a group of seven persons on Saturday morning crossed the international border and almost reached the IndiaBangladesh boundary fencing at Bhogdanga village in Dhubri districtA group of seven people almost reached the Indian side near Bhogdanga village The BSF troops present on duty pushed them back through mutual understanding The group then turned back and returned to Bangladesh territory the official addedBhogdanga and Faushkarkuti villages are located in strategic locations along the IndiaBangladesh border These villages are surrounded by Bangladesh on three sidesThe official mentioned that the group of Bangladeshi nationals came from Nageshwari Upazila in the Kurigram district in the neighbouring countryThe situation is under control and the security arrangements have been beefed up the official further saidEarlier on Friday in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal the Border Security Force BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh BGB stopped infiltration attempts along the IndiaBangladesh borderAccording to a spokesperson of the border guarding force BSF troopers successfully addressed a significant and different kind of challenge at the IndiaBangladesh border in West Bengals Cooch Behar with around 1000 Bangladeshi nationals approaching the international border seeking refuge in IndiaThe official said that the BSF quickly contacted the BGB to retrieve these citizens of Bangladesh making sure that the matter was handled without inciting more hostilitiesSecurity has been tightened along IndiaBangladesh border following the recent developments in the neighbouring nation including unrest and violent protests leading to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from her prime ministerial positionVarious central and state security agencies including the BSF Coast Guard and coastal police have increased the intensity of patrolling at the marine borders with Bangladesh in the Sunderbans area as well scattered over West Bengals North 24 Paragans and South 24 Parganas districts as these are the most vulnerable points for illegal immigration in wake of the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-pushes-back-bangladeshi-nationals-trying-to-enter-india-565126.html Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-unrest-bsf-asks-troopers-to-be-ready-to-address-any-adverse-situation-promptly-564318.html Guwahati Aug 6 In view of unrest and unabated violence in Bangladesh the BSF has directed its personnel along the borders to be prepared to address any adverse situation promptly officials said on Tuesday A BSF spokesman said that out of the 4096kmlong Indian border with Bangladesh 509 km is under the jurisdiction of the BSFs Guwahati Frontier command stretching from West Bengals Cooch Behar district to Assams South SalamaraMankachar district and 11 battalions and a water wing has been deployed to guard this stretchSurveillance at all Land Custom Stations LCS has been intensified manpower at border outposts BOPs has been increased and surveillance equipment is being utilised to its full capacity to ensure effective monitoring the spokesman saidSubunits have been instructed to maintain high vigilance and be prepared to address any adverse situation promptly Intelligence operations have been enhanced to provide realtime information ensuring any emerging threats are swiftly identified and neutralised he saidThe spokesman said that given the sensitivity of the border and potential challenges BSF troopers are strategically deployed to safeguard the nations borders The BSF continues to play a crucial role in maintaining national security and integrity through their persistent efforts he addedIn light of the developments in Bangladesh the Guwahati Frontier command has reviewed the security situation along the border anticipating various contingencies A state of high alert has been declared to address any potential security threat the spokesman said adding that the commanders at all levels have been directed to maintain utmost vigilance and readiness to handle any unforeseen circumstancesThey are to keep a strict watch on the border with augmented manpower and the formation of quick reaction teams QRTs he stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-unrest-bsf-asks-troopers-to-be-ready-to-address-any-adverse-situation-promptly-564318.html Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-unrest-20-awami-league-leaders-found-dead-564346.html Dhaka Aug 7 Amid the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh the bodies of 29 people including 20 Awami League leaders were found across the country local media reported on Wednesday These deaths follow the resignation of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her departure from the country on Monday the Dhaka Tribune reportedAt least 10 people were killed in violencehit Satkhira and 11 more lost their lives in mob attacks in ComillaThe turmoil has led to widespread vandalism and looting of the homes and business establishments of Awami League leaders and activists Police have also reported incidents of arson across multiple citiesEyewitnesses recounted an attack on the house of former councillor Md Shah Alam in Ashoktala which was set ablaze by an angry mob reported Dhaka TribuneSix people including five teenagers were killed in the fire with their bodies recovered on Monday night and Tuesday morningSimilarly four people died when a mob set the house of Member of Parliament Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore2 Sadar and Naldanga Constituency on fire Their bodies were later found in various rooms and balconies of the houseIn Dhaka parts of the central office of the Awami League in the Gulistan area were repeatedly set on fire even as hundreds of people looted furniture tiles rods and other items from the burning buildingThe office was first set on fire shortly after Hasinas resignation and was attacked again around 1230 pm on TuesdayIn Feni local police found the bodies of two Juba League leaders Mushfiqur Rahim and Badsha Mia on WednesdayAcross the country Awami League leaders and minorities have become the main targets of the ongoing violenceIn a particularly devastating incident 24 people were killed when a mob set fire to the Zabeer International Hotel in the Khulna Division The hotel is owned by Shahin Chakladar the General Secretary of the Jashore District Awami LeagueThe bodies were lying on different floors said Mamun Mahmud Deputy Director of Khulna Fire ServiceThe fire was finally extinguished around 545 am local time on Tuesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-unrest-20-awami-league-leaders-found-dead-564346.html Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/parliament-to-be-dissolved-to-form-interim-govt-in-bangladesh-president-564163.html New Delhi Aug 6 Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has said the current Parliament will be dissolved as soon as possible according to the Constitution media reported He said this on Monday in his address to the nation from Bangabhaban the official residence of the President Daily Sun reportedEarlier on Monday night a meeting of the Chiefs of three services political leaders representatives of civil society and quota movement leaders was held at Bangabhaban with the Army Chief General WaqaruzZaman to discuss the formation of the interim governmentPresident Shahabuddin chaired the meeting where a condolence resolution was taken in memory of those killed in the protests and prayers were sought for forgiveness and peace for their departed souls according to a press statementThe meeting also unanimously decided to release Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia immediatelyBesides it was decided to release all the prisoners detained in the recent movement in various cases Consensus was also established in the meeting that communal harmony should not be destroyed in any way Daily Sun reportedThe delegation included BNPs Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas Jatiya Partys GM Quader Mojibul Haque Chunnu and Anisul Islam Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagarik Oikya HefazateIslams Mamunul Haque Mufti Monir Kasemi and Mahabubur Rahman JamaateIslamis Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Sheikh Md Masood Shamim Haider of Zaker Party Zonayed Saki of Mass Solidarity Movement Dhaka University teacher Asif Nazrul Arif Talukder Omar Faruq and Mobashwera Karim Mimi coordinators of the AntiDiscrimination Student MovementLess than two months after he took over as Bangladesh Army Chief it was left to General WakeruzZaman to formally announce the dramatic resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and unveil a plan to restore normalcy in the country of 170 million people roiled by violent protests IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/parliament-to-be-dissolved-to-form-interim-govt-in-bangladesh-president-564163.html Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-unrest-air-india-cancels-flights-to-and-from-dhaka-564101.html New Delhi Aug 5 National carrier Air India on Monday announced it has cancelled flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect amid the growing unrest in the neighbouring country The development came as Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina landed at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad hours after resigning as the countrys Prime MinisterIn view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect Air India posted on XWe are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Dhaka with a onetime waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges the countrys flagship airlines said adding that safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priorityEarlier in the day Indian Railways also suspended all train operations to BangladeshAmid the escalating unrest the house of Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was reportedly set on fire in Dhanmondi an upscale area of the Bangladesh capitalIt was reported that over 100 people were killed and more than 1000 injured in the clashes that took place between police and the protesters on SundayThe studentled noncooperation movement put immense pressure on the government led by Prime Minister Hasina over the past many weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladesh-unrest-air-india-cancels-flights-to-and-from-dhaka-564101.html Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/opportunity-to-mend-relationship-with-bdesh-reckon-pak-experts-after-hasinas-ouster-564114.html Islamabad Aug 5 Keenly watching the ongoing chaos in Bangladesh many analysts in Pakistan see the current crisis in Dhaka as an opportunity to regain lost ground As Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on Monday following weeks of violent student protests an intense debate kicked off in Islamabad on the stand that Pakistan needs to take in the coming days Sheikh Hasina was proIndia and antiPakistan She was against Muslim organisations like JamaateIslami and others She was also very aggressive in responding to the latest protests by the students and youth said Aizaz Chaudhry who served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United StatesHasina had taken a hardline stance as recent reports suggested that she had asked security forces to crush the protesters This is not how a democracy works added the diplomatAccusing Hasina of putting Bangladesh in the laps of India Chaudhry admitted that the Bangladesh PM had become a cult figure over the yearsSome other experts saw the development as bad news for India and also an opportunity for Pakistan to mend its relationship with the new regime in DhakaPakistan should see this as an opportunity Sheikh Hasina was antiPakistan but the new government that will assume power will not follow in her footsteps There could be an opening for Pakistan here to capitalise in terms of forming a new relationship through confidencebuilding measures said senior political analyst Kamran YousafThe next few days will be critical in terms of the political situation in Bangladesh which many see as the second liberation of the country after its first successful and historical civil disobedience campaign during the 1971 Liberation War against PakistanHasina left Bangladesh on Monday after thousands of students called for a protest rally in Dhaka and vowed to take over the Prime Ministers houseSources said that Hasina wanted to record a message to the nation but was denied the opportunity with the Bangladesh army giving her only 45 minutes to leave the country after resigning from the top post IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/opportunity-to-mend-relationship-with-bdesh-reckon-pak-experts-after-hasinas-ouster-564114.html Mon, 05 Aug 2024 20:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-deploys-more-troops-along-indo-bangla-border-as-unrest-escalates-in-bdesh-564131.html Kolkata Aug 5 The Border Security Force BSF has increased the deployment of troops along the IndiaBangladesh border besides sounding an alert along the frontier amid escalating unrest in the neighbouring nation BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary was also on a tour of the IndiaBangladesh border along West Bengal on Monday Accompanied by Ravi Gandhi additional director general Eastern Command and Maninder Pratap Singh IG South Bengal Frontier Chaudhary inspected the defence and operational preparedness in the North 24Parganas district and the SundarbansThe DG who is in charge of the SSB took over additional charge of the BSF on Saturday and this is his first official visit to the IndiaBanglader border in West Bengal In view of the situation in Bangladesh the BSF has issued an alert with the IBB and the number of troops deployed along the border has been increased said AK Arya DIG and spokesperson BSF South Bengal FrontierChaudhary was briefed about the situation in North 24 Parganas before he moved to the floating Border Outpost at the TJunction in the SundarbansHe took stock of the situation there and instructed officers to maintain constant vigilThe IndiaBangladesh border in the Sundarbans with its numerous creeks and mudflats is extremely vulnerable to crossborder movement particularly in small fishing boatsThe BSF has several speedboats to patrol the area but infiltration attempts cannot be ruled out completely at the momentAccording to sources thousands of Bangladeshis could try to cross over to India to escape the violence taking place in their countryThe IndiaBangladesh border along North 24 Parganas is also porous with several riverine stretches where fencing has not been possibleAs of now no major activity has been spotted along the IndiaBangladesh border The incidents of violence seem to be taking place in and around Dhaka However vigil has been increased to prevent any untoward incident an official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bsf-deploys-more-troops-along-indo-bangla-border-as-unrest-escalates-in-bdesh-564131.html Mon, 05 Aug 2024 23:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-issues-advisory-for-citizens-to-avoid-travelling-to-bangladesh-amid-violent-protests-563957.html New Delhi Aug 5 The Ministry of External Affairs MEA has advised all its citizens to avoid travelling to Bangladesh amid the ongoing violent protest in the country till further notice India on Sunday night advised all its nationals currently residing in Bangladesh to exercise extreme caution and restrict their movements in the wake of fresh waves of violence in the neighbouring countryAt least 90 people including 14 policemen were killed on Sunday in fierce clashes between security forces personnel and antigovernment protesters in different parts of Bangladesh according to reports from DhakaThe protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaAll Indian nationals presently in Bangladesh are advised to exercise extreme caution restrict their movements and remain in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka it saidThe student protests in Bangladesh started last month against a controversial job quota scheme The protests now have turned into an antigovernment agitationOn July 25 the MEA said around 6700 Indian students returned from Bangladesh given the situation in that country IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-issues-advisory-for-citizens-to-avoid-travelling-to-bangladesh-amid-violent-protests-563957.html Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nine-killed-in-afghanistan-road-accident-563823.html Kabul Aug 4 At least nine people were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Afghanistans Faryab province a local official confirmed The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon when two vehicles collided in the KhaneCharbagh district according to Mawlawi Shamsuddin Mohammadi the provincial director of information and culture Xinhua news agency reportedThe cause of the accident is currently under investigationFurther details are awaitedReckless driving on congested roads and a lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways are among the major causes of road accidents in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nine-killed-in-afghanistan-road-accident-563823.html Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-more-bangladeshi-nationals-held-in-tripura-for-illegally-entering-india-563655.html Agartala Aug 2 Infiltration from Bangladesh into Tripura remained unabated with seven more Bangladesh nationals arrested in the state on Friday for their illegal entry into India an official said on Friday A police officer said that during a routine checkup the police arrested the seven Bangladesh citizens all thirdgenders at Panisagar in northern Tripura when they were travelling in a Guwahati bound busThe detainees confessed that they were trying to go to Mumbai via Guwahati They are keen to board a Mumbaibound train in Assam They are giving contradictory statements about their plan to go to Mumbai a police officer told the mediaHe said that some fake Aadhaar cards were found in their custodyA day earlier eight Bangladeshi nationals including two women and two Indian touts were arrested by Government Railway Police GRP personnel at the Agartala railway station before they could board the train to move to some other states in IndiaOver the last twoandahalf months more than 170 Bangladeshi nationals and 32 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP Border Security Force BSF and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered IndiaMeanwhile a BSF spokesperson said that the border guarding troops on Friday foiled an infiltration bid in northern Tripuras Kailashahar areaHe said that a BSF ambush party which was ahead of the border fence in the area of Tillabazar Border Out Post observed some suspicious movement of 1520 Bangladeshi nationals moving towards the border fence from the Bangladesh side with an intention to cross over and enter IndiaWhen the BSF ambush party challenged the group of infiltrators to stop they did not pay heed and further tried to forcibly cross the Border Fence One stun grenade was fired by the BSF party to deter the infiltration bid But some of the infiltrators who were equipped with sharpedged weapons tried to attack the BSF partyAs a part of the graded response and nonlethal strategy one round of pump action gun was then fired When the nonlethal approach failed to make any difference one round of 556 INSAS was fired towards the Bangladeshi nationals then they managed to flee towards their homes on the Bangladesh side the spokesman saidHe said that in view of ongoing unrest in Bangladesh the BSF has stepped up its vigilance along the 856km border with Tripura and maintained close coordination with Border Guard Bangladesh BGB at various levels IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-more-bangladeshi-nationals-held-in-tripura-for-illegally-entering-india-563655.html Sat, 03 Aug 2024 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankas-economic-recovery-continues-imf-563585.html Colombo Aug 2 Sri Lankas economic recovery continues with real gross domestic product GDP posting three consecutive quarters of expansion and growth accelerating to 53 per cent yearonyear in the first quarter of 2024 the International Monetary Fund IMF said on Friday According to the statement an IMF mission team led by senior mission chief Peter Breuer visited Sri Lanka from July 25 to August 2 to discuss recent macroeconomic development and progress in implementing economic and financial policies under an economic reform supported by the IMFs Extended Fund Facility EFF arrangement Xinhua news agency reportedBreuer in his statement said the economic reform program implemented by the Sri Lankan authorities is yielding commendable outcomesInflation remains below the Central Bank of Sri Lankas 5 per cent target and domestic borrowing rates have declinedGross international reserves increased by 12 billion during the first half of 2024 reaching 56 billion and fiscal revenue collections increased during the same period he saidIn March 2023 the IMF approved a 48month extended arrangement under the EFF of about 3 billion to support Sri Lankas economic policies and reforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankas-economic-recovery-continues-imf-563585.html Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepali-pm-inducts-three-state-ministers-563593.html Kathmandu Aug 2 Nepals Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli gave full shape to the Council of Ministers on Friday by inducting three state ministers President Ram Chandra Poudel on the recommendation of the prime minister appointed three state ministers and assigned them to their ministries Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai spokesperson for the Presidents Office said in a statement Xinhua news agency reportedTwo of the state ministers are from the ruling Nepali Congress party while the other is from the Nagarik Unmukti PartyOli chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified MarxistLeninist took office on July 15 as the head of a new fourparty government along with 21 ministersUnder Nepals constitution the Council of Ministers can have no more than 25 members IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nepali-pm-inducts-three-state-ministers-563593.html Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-policemen-killed-in-attack-on-judges-convoy-in-pakistan-563601.html Islamabad Aug 2 At least two policemen were killed and two others wounded in an attack on a judges convoy in Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday police said The attack happened near the Bhagwal area of Tank district of the province when unknown terrorists targeted the judges vehicle with gunfire critically injuring four cops said police officials in Tank district Xinhua news agency reportedTwo of the injured policemen succumbed to their injuries at a hospital in the district said police officials adding that the judges remained unhurt who were on their way home under tight security arrangementsA heavy contingent of police reached the area after the attack Police have started an investigation and launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to arrest the perpetrators involvedNo group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/two-policemen-killed-in-attack-on-judges-convoy-in-pakistan-563601.html Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eam-jaishankar-urged-to-look-into-sri-lankan-navys-alleged-attack-on-tn-fishermen-563442.html Chennai Aug 1 Tamil Nadu unit BJP president K Annamalai has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the alleged midsea attack by the Sri Lankan Navy on fishermen from Rameswaram on July 31 late night His letter follows a midsea incident near Neduntheevu in which four fishermen from Tamil Nadu were allegedly attacked by the Sri Lankan NavyIn his letter Annamalai said The recent surge in arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is a matter of grave concern The tragic incident on July 31 resulting in the death of one of our fishermen and arrest of two others underscores the urgent need for your interventionThe BJP leader in a statement in the letter also said that one among the four fishermen went missing and demanded the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry in the early release of apprehended fishermenHe also requested the Union Minister for deployment of the Indian Coast Guard to find the missing fishermanIt may be recalled that fishermen and their families in Rameswaram conducted a road blockade in protest to the alleged attack by the Sri Lankan Navy in midsea leading to the death of one fisherman MalaisamyOne fisherman Ramachandran is missing while two others Muthu Muniyandi and Mookaiya are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/eam-jaishankar-urged-to-look-into-sri-lankan-navys-alleged-attack-on-tn-fishermen-563442.html Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/jampks-shias-ask-govt-to-take-strong-stand-on-persecution-of-community-in-pakistan-562967.html Srinagar July 30 JampKs Shias on Tuesday asked the Indian government to take a strong stand against the persecution of the community in Pakistan Senior Shia leader and head of JampK Shia Association Imran Raza Ansari appealed to the Centre to take a strong stand against the persecution of the Shia community in PakistanI am writing to bring to your attention a catastrophic situation unfolding in Parachinar Pakistan where the Shia community is facing an existential threat from extremist groups The situation is dire and immediate action is necessary to prevent a massacre Years of sectarian violence apathy and inaction of Pakistani government have emboldened extremist groups leaving the Shia community vulnerable to further attacks he said in a letter to External Affairs Minister S JaishankarThe recent escalation of violence has created a humanitarian crisis and it is imperative that India takes a strong stance to prevent further bloodshed India has a moral obligation to act given its commitment to human rights and religious freedom Ansari said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/jampks-shias-ask-govt-to-take-strong-stand-on-persecution-of-community-in-pakistan-562967.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sls-largest-party-splits-as-92-mps-pledge-support-to-president-wickremesinghes-re-election-562978.html Colombo July 31 After deciding not to back President Ranil Wickremesinghe Sri Lankas largest political party in parliament split into two with 92 lawmakers pledging support for his reelection A large number of MPs of former President Mahinda Rajapaksas party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna SLPP promised their unconditional support for the victory of Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election set for September 21Among those who supported Wickremesinghe were Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and a number of Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers who joined him to recover the economy since former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country in 2022 amidst severe financial crisis and street protests Away from the country Gotabaya who promised the support of his party SLPP had invited Wickremesinghe to take over the countryUnder President Ranil Wickramasinghes leadership Sri Lanka has made significant strides in overcoming the most severe crises in the history To prevent a return to such challenging times it is essential to continue supporting President Wickramasinghes vision and initiatives We need to protect the country before our political views State Minister of Finance Sehan Semasinghe who joined Wickremesinghe posted on social media platform XThere are more to join President Wickremesinghe State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakone who joined Wickremesinghe told reportersDespite an invitation by President Wickremesinghe to join his Presidential race Rajapaksas party has decided to field a rival candidate Rajapaksas son Namal Rajapaksa has accused Wickremesinghe of splitting the party created by his uncles Basil and GotabayaLast week President Wickremesinghe announced his candidacy as an independent candidate while opposition leader Sajith Premadasa from Samagi Janabalawegaya United Peoples Power and Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the Marxist party National Peoples Power announced their plans to contest for the electionAt the decisive election since the worstever economic crisis the South Asian island nation faced around 17 million out of 22 million population is eligible to cast their votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sls-largest-party-splits-as-92-mps-pledge-support-to-president-wickremesinghes-re-election-562978.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sls-largest-party-splits-as-92-mps-pledge-support-to-president-wickremesinghes-candidacy-562979.html Colombo July 31 After deciding not to back President Ranil Wickremesinghe Sri Lankas largest political party in parliament split into two with 92 lawmakers pledging support for his reelection A large number of MPs of former President Mahinda Rajapaksas party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna SLPP promised their unconditional support for the victory of Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election set for September 21Among those who supported Wickremesinghe were Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and a number of Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers who joined him to recover the economy since former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country in 2022 amidst severe financial crisis and street protests Away from the country Gotabaya who promised the support of his party SLPP had invited Wickremesinghe to take over the countryUnder President Ranil Wickramasinghes leadership Sri Lanka has made significant strides in overcoming the most severe crises in the history To prevent a return to such challenging times it is essential to continue supporting President Wickramasinghes vision and initiatives We need to protect the country before our political views State Minister of Finance Sehan Semasinghe who joined Wickremesinghe posted on social media platform XThere are more to join President Wickremesinghe State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakone who joined Wickremesinghe told reportersDespite an invitation by President Wickremesinghe to join his Presidential race Rajapaksas party has decided to field a rival candidate Rajapaksas son Namal Rajapaksa has accused Wickremesinghe of splitting the party created by his uncles Basil and GotabayaLast week President Wickremesinghe announced his candidacy as an independent candidate while opposition leader Sajith Premadasa from Samagi Janabalawegaya United Peoples Power and Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the Marxist party National Peoples Power announced their plans to contest for the electionAt the decisive election since the worstever economic crisis the South Asian island nation faced around 17 million out of 22 million population is eligible to cast their votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sls-largest-party-splits-as-92-mps-pledge-support-to-president-wickremesinghes-candidacy-562979.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-pakistans-press-freedom-paradox-assessing-the-duality-of-journalism-watchdogs-562536.html New Delhi July 28 The state of press freedom serves as a key indicator of a societys democratic health Journalists capacity to report without restraint on pertinent issues viz governance national concerns plight of the marginalised integrity and transparency of the social structure promoting accountability and progress etc These ideals are particularly relevant in wellestablished democracies unlike in authoritarian states such as China militarydominated hybrid regimes like Pakistan or few monarchiesIn Pakistans militarydominated hybrid political system the environment for journalists remains hazardous and filled with countless challenges Pakistani journalists navigate a precarious landscape of daily uncertainty contending not only with threats from nonstate actors but also with persistent suppression by state forces particularly the Pakistan Army and its clandestine intelligence agencies like the ISIDespite these dire conditions international press watchdogs frequently understate the gravity of the situationDespite the ongoing killings of numerous journalists due to their workPakistans press index ratings from organisations such as Freedom House and Reporters Sans Frontieres RSF surprisingly rank the country ahead of some established democracies like India which boasts strong press freedom credentialsIn recent months Pakistan has seen the murder of over half a dozen journalists across its four provincesThese politically motivated killings highlight a precarious situation where the state is either complicit or failing to protect vulnerable reporters particularly in the countrys rural areasOn July 14 journalist Malik Hassan Zaib associated with the local Urdu newspaper Daily Aaj was killed in his car by unidentified armed assailants in Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinceThis incident prompted the New Yorkbased Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ to accuse the Pakistani government of maintaining continued impunity for those who attack journalistsThe journalism watchdog demanded that Pakistani authorities immediately end this horrifying wave of violence and hold the perpetrators to accountPertinently this was the third journalist killing within three months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincePreviously unidentified armed assailants had killed Khalil Jibran of Khyber News TV channel on 18 June in Landi Kotal and Kamran Dawar on 21 May at his home in Tappi village Miramshah districtDawar an independent journalist who also ran a popular social media news channel called Waziristan TV with hundreds of thousands of subscribers was a vocal critic of the Pakistan Armys oppression in the tribal regionsHe frequently exposed issues such as custodial killings and enforced disappearances disguised as antimilitancy campaignsHis murder raised direct suspicions of Army involvement particularly given the highly fortified nature of Tappi village as reported by News InterventionIt is worth noting that Pakistans intelligence agency ISI has a history of targeted killings of military critics lending credibility to accusations by the victims familiesAccording to the 2024 report by Reporters Sans Frontieres Pakistan ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in the global press indexRSF also known as Reporters Without Borders described Pakistan as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalistsThe report further indicates that any journalist who dares to breach the boundaries set by the Pakistan Army risks becoming the target of intense surveillance potentially leading to abduction and detention in either state prisons or unofficial jailsMoreover the countrys notorious ISI is always prepared to permanently silence any criticInterestingly while Pakistan adopted the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act in 2021 ostensibly to create a safe environment for journalists the legislation conditions journalists safety on adhering to a specific conduct Consequently both military and civilian authorities have exploited this ambiguity to enforce their own restrictions and penalize those who defy them For example Pakistani authorities arrested independent journalist Asad Ali Toor earlier this year for demanding accountability from state institutions particularly judicial authorities following the controversial 8 February elections Additionally 45 other journalists received notices from authorities for criticising the government and were warned to amend their conductThe sole offence of these journalists was reporting on court proceedings during the hearings of election irregularities casesSimilarly Freedom Houses 2024 report underscores that journalists perceived as antistate or antimilitary continue to face enforced disappearances and other abusesAhmad Farhad a Kashmiri poet from PakistanOccupied Jammu and Kashmir POJK was recently abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies for criticising the government and military establishment through his poetry following the Armys killing of POJK civilian protestorsFarhad poignantly captures this sentiment Ye puchta hai amneaamah ka masla kyun Ye amneaamah ka masla hai isse uthalo He is asking why there is public disorder He is a public disorder pick him upPakistans military establishment has essentially adopted this modus operandi to abduct and arrest anyone who questions their control over the countrys political and governance affairs with media professionals being the first casualtiesGiven the hazardous working conditions for journalists in Pakistan it is perplexing that the country often ranks higher than a democracy like India in press freedom indices published by Western organisationsAlthough Pakistans ranking is still not commendable it remains surprising One must question what prompts these organisations to obscure the reality Is there not a stark duality in their assessments of the two countriesFor example RSFs Global Press Index ranks India at 159th while Pakistan despite over a dozen journalist killings in 2023 is positioned at 152nd Additionally Pakistani authorities recorded 248 cases against journalists during 202223 to silence them as reported by the Freedom Network in 2023Similarly Freedom Houses annual Global Freedom Score awarded India and Pakistan scores of 66 and 35 out of 100 respectively yet surprisingly describes both countries as partly freeThis categorisation appears to undermine the democratic credentials of the worlds largest democracy IndiaIt is quite perplexing that India with its strong traditions of press freedom enshrined in its constitution Article 19 and supported by RTI is often criticised by these organisationsThis perceived duality does not truly reflect the countrys press freedoms but rather reveals the biases inherent in these institutions which are often leveraged by their sponsors and host countries for geopolitical purposesWhile Pakistani journalists continue to face severe threats and state oppression the nuanced challenges in Indias media landscape seem to be disproportionately amplified raising questions about the fairness and objectivity of these international evaluationsWhile journalists in India freely report on government activities and all state institutions without fear of persecution the situation in Pakistan is starkly differentThere even laws meant to protect journalists impose conditions that effectively require the press to stop criticising the state particularly the military This clear disparity further highlights the inconsistencies and potential biases in the global press freedom rankingsRegardless of the extent to which international journalism watchdogs spotlight the perilous conditions for journalists in Pakistan the stark reality persistsThe media remains under severe duress from both the government and the military frequently being compelled to comply while journalists suffer for challenging authorityRights organisations may ignore their struggles but the few voices of truth persist articulating the silence of the populace IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-pakistans-press-freedom-paradox-assessing-the-duality-of-journalism-watchdogs-562536.html Sun, 28 Jul 2024 21:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-trades-goods-worth-over-52-billion-in-2024-562401.html Kabul July 27 Afghanistan exported and imported commercial goods valued at 524 billion from January to June 2024 said the countrys Ministry of Commerce and Industry Afghanistan shipped exported products worth nearly 700 million to various countries with 58 million value of exports going to Central Asian countries within the first six months of 2024 the ministrys spokesman Akundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told local media outlet TOLOnews Xinhua news agency reportedThe Afghan products were mostly exported to Pakistan India and Iran and the major sources of imports included Iran Pakistan and China the countrys National Statistics and Information Authority reported in JulyFresh and dry fruits including pistachio pine nut fig pomegranate grape raisin melon and watermelon are the most popular products for export in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-trades-goods-worth-over-52-billion-in-2024-562401.html Sat, 27 Jul 2024 19:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/84-development-projects-implemented-in-afghanistan-561772.html Kabul July 24 The construction of 84 devolvement and maintenance projects has been implemented in east Afghanistans Khost province the countrys Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said in a statement Costing more than 111 million afghanis 16 million the projects have recently been completed with financial assistance from the United Nations Office for Project Services and coordination of the Rural Ministry in the outskirts of the provinces Separi district the statement said on TuesdayThe projects include the construction of rural roads water canals retaining walls and culverts which have improved the living conditions of thousands of people in the province Xinhua news agency reportedThe Afghan caretaker government has planned to launch more development projects across the warravaged country to tackle economic challenges and create jobs IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/84-development-projects-implemented-in-afghanistan-561772.html Wed, 24 Jul 2024 02:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/over-4-500-indian-students-returned-so-far-from-strife-struck-bdesh-official-561011.html New Delhi July 21 Over 4500 Indian students have so far returned from the unresthit neighbouring country of Bangladesh an official said on Sunday Over the course of the past two days the High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong Rajshahi Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting the return of Indian nationals home following the recent developments in Bangladesh the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in a statementThe MEA said that it has also been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens at landports and airportsThe High Commission in Dhaka is also coordinating with civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh and commercial airlines to ensure the availability of flight services between India and Bangladesh it saidThus far over 4500 Indian students have returned to India The High Commission has been making arrangements for security escort for safe travel of Indian nationals to the bordercrossing points 500 students of Nepal 38 of Bhutan and 1 of Maldives have also arrived in India the MEA statement readIt said that the High Commission and our Assistant High Commissions continue to be in regular touch with local authorities for the safety and security of Indian nationalsThey are also in regular contact with remaining students in various universities in Bangladesh and with Indian nationals for their welfare and assistanceThe MEA said the High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions of India in Bangladesh remain available for any assistance required by Indian nationals through the emergency contact numbersThe following are the contact numbers provided by the MEAHigh Commission of India Dhaka8801937400591Assistant High Commission of India Chittagong8801814654797 8801814654799Assistant High Commission of India Rajshahi8801788148696Assistant High Commission of India Sylhet88013130764118801313076417Assistant High Commission of India Khulna8801812817799 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/over-4-500-indian-students-returned-so-far-from-strife-struck-bdesh-official-561011.html Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/six-killed-in-road-accident-in-afghanistan-558888.html PuleKhumri July 14 Six commuters have been confirmed dead and five others injured in a road accident in north Afghanistans Baghlan province police said The deadly road crash on Saturday occurred in the provinces Dand Ghouri district when a military vehicle collided with a passenger car killing six travelers including a woman and injuring five others the statement added reported Xinhua news agencySimilarly a motorcyclist was killed when his motorbike hit a vehicle in Hussainkhail region PulEKhumri city the provincial capital of the province late on SaturdayRoad accidents are prevalent in Afghanistan due to poor road conditions reckless driving difficult terrains overloading overtaking and overspeeding IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/six-killed-in-road-accident-in-afghanistan-558888.html Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-acres-of-poppy-farms-in-afghanistan-destroyed-558704.html Tirin Kot July 13 The CounterNarcotics Police have destroyed seven acres of poppy farms in Afghanistans Uruzgan province police said on Saturday In the drive against illegal crops the counternarcotics police smashed seven acres of poppy farms in the Charchino district of the province on Friday Bilal Urozgani spokesman for the provincial police office said adding that the police will not allow anyone to cultivate illegal crops reported Xinhua news agencyThe Afghan caretaker government banned poppy cultivation and its processing to drug and drug trafficking in April 2022 and since then the administration has been fighting to keep the wartorn and once poppygrowing country free from the drug menaceInvestigation is underwayFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-acres-of-poppy-farms-in-afghanistan-destroyed-558704.html Sat, 13 Jul 2024 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshi-students-protest-quota-system-for-government-jobs-558441.html Dhaka July 12 Students in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country have been staging protests against a recruitment system for the government jobs Students marched and blocked busy intersections across the country causing traffic disruption for the fourth day demanding reforms to the government jobs policy that offers a 56 per cent quota Xinhua news agency reportedThe daylong movement began Thursday morning and continued until dusk The blockade particularly in the areas surrounding colleges and universities across the country has created severe traffic congestionAs part of the program all highways and railways across the country will be blocked Thursday Nahid Islam a Dhaka University student and an organiser of the movement told a press conference in Dhaka WednesdayHe said the Bangla Blockade will continue until their demands are metThe protesting students demanded that the discriminator quota system in all government jobs be abolished and as per the constitution quotas will exist for the backward section at a reasonable level through the passage of a law in the parliamentThe system was reinstated by a separate court last month after it was halted in 2018 following weeks of protestsStudentled demonstrations resurfaced following the Supreme Courts affirmation in early July of a High Court ruling that reinstated the quota system for government jobsUnder the existing government recruitment system 56 per cent of entrylevel government positions were reserved for specific entitled classes 30 per cent for children and grandchildren of 1971 freedom fighters 10 per cent for women 10 per cent for districts based on population 5 per cent for ethnic minorities and 1 per cent for people with disabilitiesBecause of this protesters said only 44 per cent of job candidates were able to secure positions based on meritIn 2018 the government issued a circular abolishing all the 56 per cent quotas in the public service in the wake of protests by university students and jobseekers demanding reforms to the quota system that had been introduced in 1972Instead of court the protesters said they are demanding the governments executive decision on the reformation of the quota systemBangladeshs apex court temporarily suspended the system on Wednesday but protesters say they would continue it until the impasse is resolved permanentlyStudents participating in the antiquota movement are crossing limits said the home minister on ThursdayHe urged them to stop the protests and take their grievances to court IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bangladeshi-students-protest-quota-system-for-government-jobs-558441.html Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/foreign-ministers-start-arriving-in-new-delhi-for-bimstec-meet-558237.html New Delhi July 10 Bhutan Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel and Myanmars Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Swe arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the twoday second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat as India continues to reiterate its commitment to promote connectivity and linkages in the shared Bay of Bengal region External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will on Thursday host his counterparts for the significant Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC meet which brings together seven countries of South and South East Asia for multifaceted cooperationThe Retreat will present an opportunity for the Foreign Ministers of the BIMSTEC countries to discuss in an informal setting avenues to broaden and deepen cooperation across various sectors including in the fields of security connectivity trade and investment peopletopeople contacts etc in the Bay of Bengal region and littoral the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in a statementThe first edition of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat was held in Bangkok in July 2023Last month as he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the BJPled NDAs third consecutive term Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that he is already looking forward to the Indian leaders visit to the country in September this year for the BIMSTEC Summit While Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Thailand in September this year to attend the BIMSTEC Summit on my part I look forward to paying an official visit to India at the earliest opportunity to realise the full potential of our relations he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/foreign-ministers-start-arriving-in-new-delhi-for-bimstec-meet-558237.html Wed, 10 Jul 2024 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/national-security-pakistans-isi-gets-nod-to-trace-and-intercept-calls-messages-557885.html Islamabad July 9 Pakistans spy agency ISI has been formally granted permission by the government to intercept and trace calls and messages in the interest of national security media reports said on Tuesday The Shehbaz Sharif cabinet has approved the relevant circular allowing a designated ISI officer to carry out the tracing of calls under the Telecommunication Reorganisation Acts Section 54 which allows the federal government to authorise any person or persons to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system in the interest of national security Geo News reportedHowever the officer nominated by the agency must be at least of grade 18 or deputy director level in the case of the ISIThe federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorise the officers to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system as per the notification issued by the Ministry of InformationThe move came months after the Islamabad High Court was informed in December during the hearing of a case related to audio leaks that the government had not permitted any intelligence agency to tap audio conversationsThe latest step is seen as part of the Shehbaz Sharif governments steps towards stricter social media regulations based on national security concerns and the continued ban on social media platform XIn May the government approved a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA 2016 seeking a Digital Rights Protection Authority and is also installing a national firewall on different internet service providers ISPs to rein in social media with filters capable of blocking unwanted content from reaching a wider audience as per media reportsThe latest firewalls prime focus is said to identify the locations from where the material deemed suspect is originating and the subsequent blockade or diminished coverage of those accountsThere will be a keyword filtering system to detect content on social media platforms like Facebook YouTube and X that the government considers undesirable or prejudicial to national security etcPreparations are also in progress to prevent the misuse of Virtual Private Networks VPNs IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/national-security-pakistans-isi-gets-nod-to-trace-and-intercept-calls-messages-557885.html Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mizoram-home-minister-apologises-to-myanmar-refugees-for-not-providing-adequate-support-557652.html Aizawl July 8 Mizoram Home Minister K Sapdanga has apologised to over 33000 Myanmar refugees sheltering in the state since February 2021 for not being able to meet their all needs adequately citing the states limited resources Addressing an event here on Sunday night he said that the people of Mizoram consider the refugees as brothers and sisters of the MizosSapdanga who also holds the Disaster Management portfolio recounted his first visit to the refugee camps along the MizoramMyanmar border and his interaction with the refugeesHe expressed his sadness at the troubles of those who had fled their homes along with the children and ailing personsYou have taken shelter in Mizoram what we call Jerusalem of all the Mizos as you have no other option But we are trying to help though our resources are limited he saidThe Minister appealed for cooperation from all sections of people including the refugees to deal with the drug menace in Mizoram particularly among youths He expressed hope that the ethnic Myanmar nationals would achieve the freedom they are fighting forAdviser to the Chief Minister Political Lalmuanpuia Punte urged unity among all Chin tribal ethnic groups in their fight to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy in Myanmar particularly in the Chin state of the neighbouring countryOver 33000 Myanmarese took shelter in Mizoram in different phases after the military takeover there in February 2021Besides the Myanmar nationals over 15000 Bangladeshi tribals belonging to the Bawm community took shelter in Mizoram since November 2022 The Bangladeshi refugees from Chittagong Hill Tracts CHT of southeast Bangladesh fled from their villages and sought refuge in Mizoram after an offensive by the Bangladeshi Army against the insurgent group KukiChin National Army KNAAround 10000 people including women and children belonging to KukiZomi tribes have also taken shelter in Mizoram after the ethnic violence broke out in neighbouring Manipur in May last yearThe KukiZomiChin tribes in Myanmar Bangladesh and Manipur share ethnic ties and cultural and linguistic similarities with the Mizo people Most refugees stay in rented accommodation and the homes of their relatives or friends while others live in relief camps across the border state which shares a 510kmlong unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km with BangladeshThe present Zoram Peoples Movement ZPM government and the previous Mizo National Front MNF government have sought financial assistance from the Centre for the relief and shelter of the Myanmar Bangladeshi and Manipur refugeesChief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday discussed the Bangladeshi refugee issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and reportedly told him that the state government is reluctant to push back the refugees An official of Mizoram Chief Ministers Office CMO said that the Chief Minister during the meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence in New Delhi apprised him that the Bangladeshi refugees taking shelter in the state belong to the Bawm community one of the ethnic Mizo tribes Many more tribals from CHT of the same community are also trying to enter Mizoram he told the Prime Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/mizoram-home-minister-apologises-to-myanmar-refugees-for-not-providing-adequate-support-557652.html Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/construction-of-17-school-buildings-launched-in-afghanistans-paktika-557071.html Kabul July 6 The Afghan caretaker governments Education Ministry has begun the construction work of 17 school buildings in the eastern Paktika province state media reported on Saturday The buildings will be built at a cost of 167 million afghanis about 236 million on the outskirts of the provinces 15 districts Bakhtar news agency reportedThe report also said that the Afghan government will construct a township for poor and homeless families in Daman district in the southern Kandahar province reported Xinhua news agencyThe Afghan caretaker government has launched a series of infrastructure projects including building water canals highways and solar power systems across the warravaged country to create job opportunities and alleviate poverty IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/construction-of-17-school-buildings-launched-in-afghanistans-paktika-557071.html Sat, 06 Jul 2024 20:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/main-opposition-asks-nepali-pm-to-resign-556180.html Kathmandu July 3 The main opposition Nepali Congress party on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down one day after the largest ruling partner initiated the move It would be natural for the prime minister to clear the way as the two largest parties decide to form a new government Our party urges him to resign said Prakash Saran Mahat spokesperson for the Nepali Congress the largest in the House of Representatives Xinhua news agency reportedA day earlier the ruling Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist CPNUML the second largest in the lower house asked Dahal to resign by Wednesday evening to clear the way for the formation of a national consensus government threatening to quit the coalition government and withdraw its support if the prime minister refuses to do soAt a meeting on Wednesday the Nepali Congress also endorsed the agreement reached on Monday night with the CPNUML about the formation of a new coalition governmentUnder the deal CPNUMLs Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli shall assume the premiership first and then hand it over to Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba until the general election in 2027The Oliled government will be formed first Our party president will lead the next government Mahat told XinhuaAs chairman of the CPN Maoist Center Dahal became the head of a coalition government in December 2022 as the general election in November produced no majority party in the lower house and he has formed alliances with both the Nepali Congress and the CPNUML ever sinceThe CPN Maoist Center announced on Tuesday that Dahal would not resign from his post but rather seek a vote of confidence in the lower house IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/main-opposition-asks-nepali-pm-to-resign-556180.html Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-understanding-the-balochistan-conundrum-a-tale-of-brutal-repression-by-pakistan-555926.html New Delhi July 3 Balochistan a region of significant geopolitical importance has been entangled in a complex and long conflict Under the stringent control of a military regime led by Pakistan and its intelligence services the inhabitants of Balochistan are suffering immenselyForced disappearances and extrajudicial killings carried out by an authoritarian regime have severely impacted the Baloch communityHistorical ContextThe current situation in Balochistan has a historical context Balochistan the largest province of Pakistan by land area is endowed with abundant natural resources but remains one of the most underdeveloped regions in the countryThe origins of the ongoing conflict date back to the partition of India in 1947 when Baloch leaders sought independenceHowever the region was forcefully annexed by Pakistan in 1948 leading to widespread resentment and the rise of nationalist movements Over the last sevenandahalf decades Balochistan has witnessed several insurgencies each driven by demands for greater autonomy control over local resources and recognition of Baloch identityPakistan as a state has predominantly responded militarily Its handling of Baloch affairs has been marked by brutal repression to suppress any kind of dissent This approach has created an atmosphere of perpetual tension and mistrust between the Baloch populace and the federal governmentRole of the military and intelligence agenciesThe Pakistani military and intelligence agencies play a central role in this conflict in Balochistan The area is heavily militarised with a strong presence of the army and paramilitary forcesThese forces are accused of severe human rights violations including forced disappearances extrajudicial killings and tortureForced disappearances have notably become a primary tactic in the states effort to suppress Baloch nationalismIndividuals such as activists students and ordinary citizens suspected of separatist leanings are often abducted in utter disregard to laws and human rights Human rights organisations estimate that thousands of Baloch have been subjected to these enforced disappearances fostering a climate of fear and uncertaintyThe Human Rights Commission of Pakistan documented more than 1000 cases of such disappearances in Balochistan from 2014 to 2018 Bodies of missing Baloch people are often found dumped in remote areas of Pakistan with visible signs of torture and traumaSuch instances of extrajudicial killings are severe human rights violations carried out to intimidate and silence dissent within the Baloch communityDespite repeated condemnations from global human rights organisations these practices continue unabated in BalochistanThe abundance of natural resources in Balochistan such as natural gas minerals and fisheries should have brought prosperity here However the reality is vastly differentThe province remains impoverished with limited access to essential services like healthcare education and clean waterThis economic marginalisation has fueled grievances among the Baloch who can see that their resources are being exploited for the benefit of other regions and the Central governmentThere is hardly any reinvestment for their developmentThe construction of the Gwadar Port a key project under the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC aptly explains the paradox of development in BalochistanAlthough promoted as a transformative initiative for the regional economy the project has largely excluded local participation and benefitsLand acquisition for the port and associated infrastructure has displaced thousands of Baloch families strengthening their sense of disenfranchisementReports indicate that local fishermen who relied on Gwadars coastal waters for generations have been severely impacted by restrictions on fishing activities and the environmental degradation due to the ports constructionHumanitarian crisisThe human cost of the conflict in Balochistan is immense The unending cycle of violence enforced disappearances and killings has devastated numerous families and communitiesWomen and children in particular suffer greatly bearing the loss of loved ones and living in constant fear of violenceHumanitarian organisations face significant challenges operating in Balochistan due to stateimposed censorship and safety concernsInternational attention to the crisis has been sporadic and efforts to address human rights abuses have largely been ineffectivePolitical landscapeBalochistans political landscape is marked by a fragmented and diverse array of actors including nationalist parties armed groups and tribal leadersSome factions advocate for complete independence from Pakistan while others seek greater autonomy within the federal frameworkEfforts to achieve a political solution have been hindered by deepseated mistrust and the states reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholdersSporadic attempts at reconciliation such as amnesty programmes for armed freedom fighters and promises of development projects have failed to address the core issues driving the conflictThe Baloch leadership remains sceptical of the Pakistan governments intentions viewing such initiatives as superficial and insincereData from the South Asia Terrorism Portal indicates that more than 2000 people died in insurgencyrelated violence in Balochistan between 2010 and 2020 underscoring the persistent nature of the conflictThe international dimensionBalochistans strategic importance and rich natural resources have garnered international attention adding layers of complexity to the conflictPakistans partnership with China especially through the CPEC highlights the global stakes in the regionThe international communitys response to the Balochistan issue has been inconsistentAlthough some human rights organisations and foreign governments have condemned the abuses there has been limited action to put pressure on the Pakistan government to address the situationGeopolitical interests often overshadow human rights concerns leaving the Baloch people with limited options on the global stageThe conflict in Balochistan has been aggravated by the oppressive actions of Pakistans military and intelligence agenciesTheir allpervasive influence along with deliberate economic marginalisation and political fragmentation of the Baloch has created a highly volatile situation inflicting grave suffering on the Baloch peopleAddressing this crisis requires a steadfast commitment to genuine dialogue protection of human rights and the implementation of development policies that prioritise the needs and aspirations of the Baloch populationBut the attitude of Pakistans establishment doesnt inspire any hope IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-understanding-the-balochistan-conundrum-a-tale-of-brutal-repression-by-pakistan-555926.html Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ruling-ally-urges-nepals-pm-prachanda-to-resign-555928.html Kathmandu July 3 The ruling Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist has called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down to clear the way for the formation of a national consensus government The ruling partner set Wednesday evening as the deadline for Dahal to step down and support the formation of the national consensus government to be headed by KP Sharma Oli CPNUMLs chairman and a former Prime MinisterThe move came after the Nepali Congress and the CPNUML the two largest parties in the House of Representatives agreed on Monday night to join hands for a new coalition Xinhua news agency reported on TuesdayWe have called on the Prime Minister to resign to support the formation of the national consensus government under the leadership of our party chairperson said Rajendra Gautam publicity department chief of the CPNUMLOur party wants all the parties including the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist Center led by Dahal to join the new government Gautam told XinhuaHe said his party would quit the government and withdraw its support only if Dahal refused to resignThe CPN Maoist Center has announced that Dahal would not resign from his post but rather seek a vote of confidence in the Lower HouseDahal became the head of a coalition government in December 2022 as the general election in November produced no majority party in the Lower House and the Prime Minister has formed alliances with both the Nepali Congress and the CPNUML ever since IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ruling-ally-urges-nepals-pm-prachanda-to-resign-555928.html Wed, 03 Jul 2024 03:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-killed-in-road-accident-in-nepal-555798.html Kathmandu July 2 Seven people were killed when a jeep fell off the road in Rolpa district of western Nepal local police said on Tuesday The accident happened on Monday after the driver tried to reverse the jeep as the road was blocked over a landslide said Rohit Kumar Shahi spokesman for the district policeThe jeep was carrying 15 people and five succumbed to their injuries en route to a hospital while two others died during treatment Shahi told Xinhua news agencyEight people were injured in the accident and one was in critical condition Shahi addedInvestigation is underwayFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/seven-killed-in-road-accident-in-nepal-555798.html Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/5-sri-lankan-fishermen-die-after-consuming-contents-found-in-bottle-floating-in-sea-555274.html Colombo July 1 Five Sri Lankan fishermen who had consumed the contents in a bottle floating in the sea had died a day before Navy Spokesman Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya said The Navy Spokesman said on Sunday that the victims were part of a sixman crew that sailed from the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour Xinhua news agency reportedThey found the bottle around 320 nautical miles off the coast and had consumed its contents believed to be alcohol he addedWickramasuriya said one survivor is in critical condition and currently receiving emergency treatment IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/5-sri-lankan-fishermen-die-after-consuming-contents-found-in-bottle-floating-in-sea-555274.html Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-bank-approves-650-mn-to-help-bangladesh-develop-bay-terminal-555129.html Dhaka June 30 The World Bank approved 650 million to help Bangladesh invest in infrastructure critical for developing the Bay Terminal deep seaport a mega project in the countrys southeastern Chattogram region The Bay Terminal would significantly improve Bangladeshs global trade competitiveness and reduce import and export costs by increasing port operational efficiency and mobilising private investment said the lender on FridayThe government has planned to develop two container terminals a multipurpose terminal and an oil and gas terminal under the Bay Terminal Xinhua news agency reportedThe World Bank earlier promised to finance the Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project under which a 6kmlong climateresilient breakwater would be constructed to protect the harbor from the force of waves current and extreme weather It will also carry out dredging of the port basin entrance and access channels said the press releaseThe Bay Terminal located in the Anandangar near Sandwip channel west of the Chattogram port and close to existing road and rail links to Dhaka is expected to handle 36 percent of Bangladeshs container volumes IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-bank-approves-650-mn-to-help-bangladesh-develop-bay-terminal-555129.html Sun, 30 Jun 2024 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-killed-five-injured-in-road-accident-in-pakistan-555199.html Islamabad June 30 Four policemen were killed and five others injured in a road accident in Pakistans southern Sindh province on Sunday morning police said The incident occurred in Kashmore district where a police van overturned after one of its wheels burst the districts police said Xinhua news agency reportedThe injured policemen have been shifted to a nearby hospital where two of them are in critical condition the police addedAn investigation is underway to determine any potential negligence or miscreancy in the incidentRoad accidents frequently happen in Pakistan due to poorly maintained roads violation of road safety rules and reckless driving IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/four-killed-five-injured-in-road-accident-in-pakistan-555199.html Sun, 30 Jun 2024 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-bangladesh-customs-resolve-to-boost-trade-facilitation-cooperation-554867.html Shillong June 29 Customs officials of India and Bangladesh in their meeting here have resolved to enhance trade facilitation and cooperation between both nations officials said Officials said that the twoday 7th Commissionerlevel IndiaBangladesh Joint Group of Customs meeting which began on Thursday marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations emphasising a shared commitment to enhance trade facilitation and cooperation between the two neighboursSuch constructive dialogue and partnership is essential to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of crossborder trade promote economic growth and prosperity an Indian Customs official said after the meeting He said that the meeting was held to foster cooperation enhance efficiency and advance shared goals in Customs administration so as to strengthen collective efforts in customs enforcement trade facilitation and border securityIn the meeting many pending issues at ground level were resolved and many other issues were highlighted to be escalated at higherlevel appropriate forums thereby leading to the resolution of many customs and traderelated issues the official saidThe fourmember Bangladesh delegation was led by Md Kamruzzaman Commissioner Customs Excise and VAT Commissionerate Jashore while the 10member Indian delegation was led by M Rahman the Shillongbased Commissioner of Customs Preventive Commissionerate North Eastern RegionThe decision to regularly hold Commissionerlevel meetings between India and Bangladesh was agreed to at the 5th Joint Group of Customs Meeting held in Dhaka on February 23 2009 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/india-bangladesh-customs-resolve-to-boost-trade-facilitation-cooperation-554867.html Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/anti-polio-campaign-launched-in-pakistan-554884.html Islamabad June 29 A polio vaccination campaign was launched in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP province with a target to vaccinate nearly 13 million children the Provincial Emergency Operation Center said Around 9921 teams have been formed to vaccinate children under the age of five and about 15000 security personnel will be deployed to protect the polio teams according to the centerSpeaking on the occasion Chief Minister of KP Ali Amin Gandapur said on Friday that the country has been focusing on making Pakistan and KP province poliofree highlighting that no case of polio has been reported so far this year in the province Xinhua news agency reportedHe added that eliminating the polio virus is also among the top priorities of the Pakistani government adding that all sections of the society needed to play their individual and collective role in ridding the province of the poliovirusThe Minister said that frontline polio workers are heroes and parents as well as guardians should fully support doortodoor polio workEarlier on Tuesday Pakistan reported the sixth polio case of this year after the virus was found in a child in southwest Balochistan province according to the Health Ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/anti-polio-campaign-launched-in-pakistan-554884.html Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-does-not-believe-in-perpetual-hostility-with-india-says-deputy-pm-ishaq-dar-554015.html Islamabad June 25 Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday called on the Modi 30 regime to work towards a sober reflection on the future of bilateral relations between the two nuclearpowered neighbours In his address at an event here he reiterated his previous statements about relations with India stating that Pakistan has always been desirous of having good relations with IndiaTo our east the relationship with India has historically remained troubled Pakistan does not believe in perpetual hostility We seek goodneighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect sovereign equality and a just and peaceful resolution of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute Dar saidHowever he also emphasised that while Pakistan would take every step to ensure better relations with India it would not refrain from responding effectively to any Indian military misadventureWe also take every step needed to maintain strategic stability in South Asia and would respond effectively and decisively to any illconsidered military misadventure in New Delhi he addedHis statements come at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken office for the third consecutive term heading a National Democratic Alliance NDA governmentDar hoped that the new term of PM Modi would use this opportunity to carve a more sober reflection on the future of IndiaPakistan relationsIn our view as the BJPled NDA government starts a new term it is time for a sober reflection on the future of IndiaPakistan relations and the crosscutting issues affecting the entire region he saidHe contended that Indias decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A to change the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir through what he termed as a unilateral and illegal action on August 5 2019 had adversely affected the overall environment of bilateral relations between the two countriesThe onus remains on India to take necessary steps to create an enabling environment for purposeful engagement and resultoriented dialogue on all issues he saidHowever he said that in this context it is equally important that India eschews its relentless smear campaign against Pakistan stops its alleged statesponsorship of terrorism and extrajudicial killings inside Pakistan and takes tangible steps to move the relationship in a positive direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-does-not-believe-in-perpetual-hostility-with-india-says-deputy-pm-ishaq-dar-554015.html Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-pakistans-military-budget-expansion-amid-economic-uncertainty-554319.html New Delhi June 26 Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the countrys 202425 annual federal budget amidst economic uncertainty on June 12 With a total of PKR 1899 trillion 6784 billion the government emphasized several reform measures aimed at meeting International Monetary Fund IMF conditions ahead of seeking a new bailout package While key spending areas saw minor adjustments reflecting IMF directives and economic realities there was a notable rise in defence spending potentially diluting efforts to revive the economy in a piecemeal fashion The federal government has proposed a substantial PKR 212 trillion allocation for the armed forces in the upcoming budget starting July 1 This represents a notable increase of 176 per cent from last years 15 per cent rise to PKR 180 trillion This also marks the secondlargest percentage hike in defence allocations slightly below the 18 per cent increase during the 201718 fiscal year under the previous PMLN government led by Nawaz SharifDespite accounting for 17 per cent of the GDP consistent with the previous year this figure has sparked debate with some highlighting it as a sign of military austerity amidst economic challenges while others argue it marks a significant overall increase of nearly 18 per cent in annual allocationsThe allocation of financial resources within the Pak armed forces reveals that the Pakistan Army receives 475 per cent followed by 213 per cent for the Pakistan Air Force and 108 per cent for the Pakistan Navy Additionally 203 per cent is allocated to Pakistans InterServices Intelligence ISI and associated organizations This distribution underscores the significant influence of the Pak Army and its affiliated interservices entities which collectively control nearly 68 per cent of the financial resources This allocation also reinforces the Armys predominant role within the military establishment and its broader impact on government affairsHowever the actual allocation to the armed forces exceeds what is officially reported as certain expenditures are categorized under different budget headings at the insistence of the military establishment underscoring its significant sway over government decisions This distinction is evident in how expenses for current servicemen including salaries and welfare allowances totalling PKR 827 billion 39 per cent of the defence allocation are included in the defence budget Meanwhile financial provisions for pension payments to retired servicemen are sourced from the general national budget rather than the defence allocation Overall defence spending surpasses 15 per cent of Pakistans total annual budgetConsequently Pakistans government allocated an additional PKR 662 billion from its current expenditure to cover pension and welfare needs for exservicemen This amount equivalent to nearly 31 per cent of the annual defence allocation is not formally included in the armed forces budget This approach may be intentional to obscure the true scope of defence spending and avoid public scrutiny Combined expenses for both current and former servicemen total PKR 1489 billion from the state treasuryThis situation prompts inquiries into the militarys significant influence over Pakistans financial resources and consequently its influence over daily governance The military leaderships demand for government funding is striking especially considering the extensive economic interests across various sectors maintained by all three branches of the armed forces led by the Army Pakistans armed forces manage a diverse portfolio of multibilliondollar economic enterprises spanning construction manufacturing real estate telecommunications shopping complexes and other sectorsVarious estimates indicate that Pakistans military conglomerate encompassing entities like the Fauji Foundation Shaheen Foundation Bahria Foundation Army Welfare Trust Askari group and Defence Housing Authority DHA generates an annual revenue of 265 billion as of 2023 According to the Pakistan governments Senate submission the Fauji Foundation owns diverse entities such as Askari Bank Foundation Gas Seed Multiplication Farm Fauji Fertilizer Fauji Cement Fauji Power Foundation Securities Fauji Meat Fauji Foods and Overseas Employment Services along with numerous shopping complexes nationwideDespite Pakistans economic challenges in recent years these military enterprises have experienced significant growth For instance the assets of the Fauji Foundation alone reportedly surged by 78 per cent between 2015 and 2017 as per BloombergLikewise the Shaheen Foundation oversees 21 projects encompassing FM 100 radio Shaheen Airport Services SAPS Aviation College Shaheen Aerotraders Shaheen Knitwear Shaheen Medical Services Shaheen Insurance Hawk Advertising and two shopping complexes in Karachi and LahoreMeanwhile the Bahria Foundation manages eighteen enterprises across Pakistan including the Bahria Transshipment Hub Bahria Enterprise Systems and Technologies Bahria Dredging Company Maritime Technical amp Support Services Bahria Maritime Services Bahria Travels Bahria Pharmacy AlFalah Trading Agency Bahria Filling Stations and SinoPak RefineryAdditionally the Army Welfare Trust AWT managed by the Pakistan Army as the Askari group oversees several business ventures such as Askari Insurance Askari Aviation Askari Airport Services Askari Travels Mobil Pakistan AWT Investments Askari Enterprises Army Welfare Sugar Mills Askari Guards Askari Woolen Mills Askari Shoes Askari Fuels and Askari Real Estate Moreover the Defence Housing Authority DHA has developed eleven residential estates in major Pakistani cities including Islamabad Lahore Karachi Peshawar and QuettaWhat sets apart these military enterprises from private and government entities is their exemption from state oversight mechanisms Parliament rarely scrutinizes the military budget or audits its expenditures Civilian administrations have consistently faltered in holding the military accountable for its business interests largely due to deficiencies in the administrative frameworkExploiting these loopholes the military has entrenched itself as a parallel authority in politics and economics operating free from civilian supervision The compromised political elite vying to serve as a facade for militarydominated governance further complicates this dynamicThus while ostensibly aimed at supporting the welfare of service personnel the profits earned by the militarys corporate entities benefit shareholders and managers many of whom are current or retired army officers Instead of directly enhancing the armed forces welfare or easing the states economic obligations these businesses primarily serve the personal financial interests of military leaders Meanwhile they continue to receive substantial government funds earmarked for the armed forces welfare expendituresThe Pakistan militarys significant utilization of vital financial resources both through budgetary allocations and other channels facilitated by its collaboration with civilian authorities like the Shehbaz Sharifled PMLN government severely hampers the countrys economic recovery effortsThe operational dynamics of the military underscore the urgent need for Islamabad to acknowledge that expanding military budgets pose challenges in defining and limiting the militarys appropriate role in national affairs IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/ians-analysis-pakistans-military-budget-expansion-amid-economic-uncertainty-554319.html Wed, 26 Jun 2024 23:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-pm-approves-re-invigorated-national-counter-terrorism-campaign-553401.html Islamabad June 23 Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a reinvigorated and reenergised national counterterrorism campaign Sharif made the decision here while chairing a meeting of the Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan which decided that operation AzmeIstehkam resolve to stability would integrate multiple lines of efforts to combat the menaces of extremism and terrorism comprehensively and decisively the Prime Ministers office said on Saturday in a statementIn the politicaldiplomatic domain efforts will be intensified to curtail the operational space for terrorists through regional cooperation the statement added as reported by Xinhua news agencyThe campaign will be complemented by socioeconomic measures aimed at addressing genuine concerns of the people and creating an environment that discourages extremist tendencies it said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistani-pm-approves-re-invigorated-national-counter-terrorism-campaign-553401.html Sun, 23 Jun 2024 04:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-president-inaugurates-india-funded-projects-during-eam-jaishankars-colombo-visit-552752.html Colombo June 20 Marking strong neighbourhood ties between South Asias historical allies India and Sri Lanka visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday jointly inaugurated the formal commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre MRCC under a 6 million grant from India Placed at vital points in the Indian Ocean Island the MRCC has centres at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo a subcentre in Hambantota and crucial unmanned installations at Galle Arugambay Batticaloa Trincomalee Kallarawa Point Pedro and MullikulamJaishankar and President Wickremesinghe jointly unveiled the virtual plaque to mark the formal commissioning of the MRCC established by Bharat Electronics Ltd BELThey also joined the virtual handing over of 154 new houses built under the Indian housing development partnership initiativeAppreciated the progress made on various bilateral projects and initiatives Under President Wickramasinghes guidance discussed the way forward for the IndiaLanka cooperation especially in power energy connectivity port infrastructure aviation digital health food security education and tourism sectors Committed to working for the steady development of our traditionally close and friendly ties said JaishankarAs many as 106 houses have been built in Kandy Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts while 24 houses each were built in Colombo and Trincomalee districtsThey add to the alreadybuilt 3700 houses which are part of 4000 houses to be built under Phase3 of the Indian Housing Project IHP an initiative taken by India after the destruction caused by the threedecadelong war which ended in 2009Following the end of the civil war the Indian government launched a project to build 50000 houses at a cost of Sri Lankan Rs 33 billion across Sri Lanka covering all 25 districts including wartorn north and eastern provinces and at the central hills where Indianorigin Tamils work in tea plantationsThis is Jaishankars first official visit after the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe also met PM Dinesh Gunawardena and his counterpart MUM AlisabryReiterated Indias strong support through development and connectivity initiatives Confident that our development assistance and capacity building programs will keep delivering for the aspirations of people of Sri Lanka the EAM posted on X after his meeting with Gunawardena on Thursday afternoonAmong other issues Jaishankar is also expected to discuss the possible visit of PM Modi to Sri Lanka later this yearThe Sri Lankan President was in New Delhi on June 9 to attend the swearingin ceremony of Prime Minister ModiDuring his visit Wickramasinghe invited the Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lankan-president-inaugurates-india-funded-projects-during-eam-jaishankars-colombo-visit-552752.html Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-terrorists-killed-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-province-551881.html Islamabad June 17 Five terrorists were killed in an operation by security forces in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province a military statement said On Sunday the security forces launched the operation in the Khyber tribal district following a tipoff on the presence of terrorists there Xinhua news agency reported citing the media wing of the Pakistan military InterServices Public Relations ISPRDuring the operation the troops effectively detected the terrorists location and killed five terrorists the statement saidWeapons ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists the ISPR said IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-terrorists-killed-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-province-551881.html Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/negotiations-underway-on-sale-of-surplus-renewable-energy-to-india-lankan-president-551692.html New Delhi June 16 Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday that negotiations are currently underway regarding the sale of surplus renewable energy to India A feasibility study is currently being conducted on establishing a power line connection between Sri Lanka and India with further discussions expected during the upcoming visit of the Indian Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka the Lankan Presidents Media Division PMD said in a statementPresident Wickremesinghe also mentioned that a prefeasibility study for a land connection between Sri Lanka and India has been completed and a full feasibility study will be conducted soonThe Lankan President was in New Delhi last week to attend the swearingin ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra ModiDuring the visit he also held discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is expected to visit Colombo soon to oversee the progress of development projects initiated in the country with Indian investments The discussions also covered Indias Neighborhood First policy Minister Jaishankar highlighted plans for an industrial zone in Trincomalee to be established by the Indian government which will attract numerous Indian investors and potentially investors from other countries the PMD had said in a statement on June 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/negotiations-underway-on-sale-of-surplus-renewable-energy-to-india-lankan-president-551692.html Sun, 16 Jun 2024 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/flood-warnings-withdrawn-in-sri-lanka-549664.html Colombo June 9 Sri Lankas Irrigation department has withdrawn all flood warnings issued from June 1 near five major rivers of the country according to a statement from it The rivers are Kelani River Kalu River Attanagalu Oya Gin River and Nilwala River according to the departmentThe department said on Saturday that it is constantly monitoring the changes in the rainfall conditions across the country and those of the water levels of major rivers Xinhua news agency reportedAll the arrangements have been made to issue prior warnings and information of flood situation as necessary the department addedThe Meteorological Department said in its latest forecast that the prevailing rainy condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to enhance to some extent in the next few days from SaturdayAccording to the disaster management centre 282797 people remain affected by adverse weather conditions due to rainrelated disasters IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/flood-warnings-withdrawn-in-sri-lanka-549664.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 01:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-reports-5th-polio-case-of-2024-549666.html Islamabad June 9 Pakistan reported the fifth polio case so far this year after a child was paralysed in Quetta city of southwest Balochistan province and eventually died the Pakistani Health Ministry said The affected twoyearold child developed an onset of paralysis on April 29 in his legs the Ministry said on Saturday in a statement adding that he became progressively ill with weakness spreading to his arms and unfortunately passed away in a hospital in the southern port city of Karachi a few weeks laterThe samples taken from him his brother and his cousin who live in the same house confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 said the statement as quoted by Xinhua news agency reportThe virus isolated from the samples belongs to the imported YB3A cluster of WPV1 it addedThe government is focusing its efforts on closing the outbreak and enhancing polio vaccine and routine vaccination coverage rates in the province to ensure strengthened immunity for children the Ministry saidMore than 50 environmental samples have tested positive for poliovirus this year in Balochistan including 21 from the provincial capital Quetta alone according to the statementIn 2024 four cases were detected from Balochistan while the other one came from the southern Sindh province IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-reports-5th-polio-case-of-2024-549666.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/5-injured-in-attack-on-polio-vaccination-team-in-pakistan-549669.html Islamabad June 9 At least five people including two policemen were injured in a terrorist attack on a polio vaccination team in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province police officials said According to the police officials the incident happened on Saturday in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district of the province when unknown attackers opened fire indiscriminately on the polio team injuring two policemen and other staff of the polio teamThe perpetrators fled the scene after carrying out the attack police said adding that law enforcers have launched an operation in the surrounding areas to arrest the culprits Xinhua news agency reportedNo group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yetThe incident comes as a fiveday antipolio campaign was launched earlier this week in the province during which more than 356 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/5-injured-in-attack-on-polio-vaccination-team-in-pakistan-549669.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/7-security-personnel-injured-in-blast-in-pakistan-549674.html Islamabad June 9 Seven security personnel were injured in a blast in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the police said The incident occurred when roadsideplanted explosives hit a vehicle of paramilitary troops Frontier Corps in Khyber district of the province police sources in the area told the media on SaturdayThe forces vehicle was on a routine patrol in the area when the explosion happened said the police sources adding that at least two security personnel sustained critical injuries in the explosion Xinhua news agency reportedFollowing the incident rescue teams police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospitalPolice and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culpritsNo group or individual has claimed the blast yet IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/7-security-personnel-injured-in-blast-in-pakistan-549674.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 06:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/counter-terrorism-officer-killed-in-firing-in-pakistan-549298.html Islamabad June 7 An officer of the Counter Terrorism Department CTD was killed in a firing incident in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province police said According to the district police the incident occurred when unknown terrorists sprayed bullets at the vehicle of the CTD officer when he was on his way to perform duty in the Nawab Kally area of the Lakki Marwat district of the province on Thursday reports Xinhua news agencyThe attackers fled the scene on a motorbike after the attack said the police adding that it was a targeted attack on the CTD personnel and an investigation has been launched into the matterFollowing the incident security forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the area kicking off the hunt for the culprits in the surrounding areasNo group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/counter-terrorism-officer-killed-in-firing-in-pakistan-549298.html Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-terrorists-killed-in-security-operation-in-pakistan-549310.html Islamabad June 7 Five terrorists were killed in a security operation in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province The security forces conducted an intelligencebased operation at a hideout of the terrorists in the Mir Ali area of the North Waziristan district of the province on Thursday killing five terrorists of the banned TehreekeTaliban on the spot official sources told XinhuaThe killed terrorists were involved in several terrorist activities against the security forces and innocent citizens the officials said adding that a huge cache of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possessionThe killed terrorists were planning to carry out terror attacks in the provinceLaw enforcement agencies also launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to arrest accomplices of the killed terrorists IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-terrorists-killed-in-security-operation-in-pakistan-549310.html Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sindh-govt-proposes-kartarpur-like-religious-corridor-for-hindu-jain-pilgrims-549080.html Islamabad June 6 Sindh Tourism Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah on Thursday proposed the development of a Kartarpurlike religious corridor from contiguous areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan to Umarkot and Nagarparkar in his province to enable Hindu and Jain devotees to worship at ancient temples there reports said He made this proposal at a tourism promotion event in Dubai Geo News reportedShah contended that there were legions of Hindus and Jains willing to visit the areas in Sindh where there are scores of templesThe Shri Shiv Mandir considered one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sindh is in Umarkot the only Hindumajority district in PakistanWhile the temple is believed to be constructed more than 2000 years ago a local Hindu community leader claimed that it was 5000 years oldIt is managed by the All Hindu Panchayat which apart from regular repairs and upkeep has built a guesthouse community hall and various other amenities to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims every yearUmarkot also has the Kali Mata Temple the Krishna Mandir and the Manhar Mandir Kathwari MandirIn Nagparkar there are 14 Jain temples mostly abandoned They include the Gori Temple noted for having some of the oldest existing Jain frescoes in the world and also venerated by local Hindus for its image of Parasnath the Nagarparkar Bazaar Temple the Bhodesar Temples at the base of the Karoonjhar Mountains and an abandoned but wellpreserved temple near Viravah town and the ruins of the ancient Parinagar seaport on the edge of the Rann of KutchShah also suggested that the Sindh government could commence a weekly flight from India to Sukkur or Larkana as well for religious touristsThe Kartarpur Corridor inaugurated on November 9 2019 stretches over 4 km from the PakistanIndia border and facilitates the visaless visit of Indian pilgrims to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur where Sikhism founder Guru Nanak lived his final years IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sindh-govt-proposes-kartarpur-like-religious-corridor-for-hindu-jain-pilgrims-549080.html Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-restores-11-historical-sites-548778.html Kabul June 5 Eleven historical sites are being repaired and reconstructed in Afghanistans southern and eastern regions an official with the countrys Ministry of Information and Culture said Two projects are in the southern Kandahar province and nine in the western Herat province where recent earthquakes have damaged or endangered them historical sites Restoration work on these sites is ongoing local media outlet TOLOnews quoted Khubaib Ghufran spokesman of the ministry as saying on WednesdayAccording to Ghufran work will begin on ten projects after financial resources and necessary facilities are determined reports Xinhua news agencyRecent flash floods and earthquakes have affected historical sites in most parts of Afghanistan especially in the west and north IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/afghanistan-restores-11-historical-sites-548778.html Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/9-dead-due-to-floods-and-landslide-in-sri-lanka-547699.html Colombo June 3 Nine people were confirmed dead nearly 52000 people were affected schools closed and a red alert weather warning has been issued with heavy rains and floods over the last 24 hours in several provinces in Sri Lanka Due to floods and earth slips nine people were reported dead over the last 24 hours and more than 13000 families have been displaced due to heavy rains and floods the countrys Disaster Management Center DMC said on SundayAmong the deceased were three from the same family a 78yearold man his 36yearold daughter and 7yearold granddaughter at Avissawella in Colombo districts who were carried away by flood water DMC addedIn the same area an 11yearold girl had been buried due to the collapse of an earth embankment Two others were killed in Galle in the Southern province after they were washed away by the floodState Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said that 20 deaths have been reported from May 15 since the onset of the SouthWest monsoon with heavy rains over the Indian Ocean island nationLandslide warnings have been issued with the continuous heavy rains over 20 out of 25 districts in several provinces including the Western Sabaragamuwa would North Western and SouthernWith the adverse weather conditions the Education Ministry on Monday directed a holiday for all the schools around the countryThe expressway to southern Sri Lanka was closed as several entrances and exit points had been inundated Train operations in many areas came to a standstill as railway lines went underwater and railway signal systems had been damagedThe Power and Energy Ministry announced that with heavy floods as a precaution power supplies had been disconnected in several areas while electricity lines were damaged due to the falling of trees and floodsThe National Building Research Organisation NBRO warned people living near landslideprone areas to be ready to leave in an emergency while the Irrigation Department has issued flood warning to those living beside rivers Fishermen have been asked not to set out to seaThe Meteorology Department which has issued a red alert for heavy showers in several provinces has predicted over 150mm rain falls in the next 24 hoursSri Lanka Navy and other military have been deployed with boats for rescue operations to floodaffected areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/9-dead-due-to-floods-and-landslide-in-sri-lanka-547699.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/10-killed-5-missing-as-heavy-rains-continue-in-sri-lanka-547711.html Colombo June 3 Ten people were killed and five others missing during the past 24 hours as heavy rains and strong winds lashed out across Sri Lanka the Disaster Management Center DMC said Most of the deaths were reported from the capital Colombo as more than 150 mm of rain was experienced since the early hours of Sunday Xinhua news agency reportedThe Health Ministry said that it had instructed all health directors in provinces to be on alert and ready for any emergency in hospitalsThe Ministry added it had made all arrangements to airlift patients in critical condition to larger hospitals from village areas as the flood worsenedThe Department of Meteorology on Sunday warned of heavy rains throughout the country within the next 48 hours while the DMC said that rescue operations were underwayThe public had been urged to stay at home and to avoid going into flooded areasThe Education Ministry said that all schools will remain closed on Monday due to further rains expected IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/10-killed-5-missing-as-heavy-rains-continue-in-sri-lanka-547711.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/20-killed-as-boat-capsizes-in-afghanistan-547380.html Jalalabad June 1 At least 20 people were killed after a boat capsized in a river in eastern Afghanistans Nangarhar province on Saturday local media reported A boat with women and children on board sank at 7 am in the river in the Basawul area of Momand Dara district said Quraishi Badloon the head of Nangarhar provinces information department in a post on X reports AljazeeraFive bodies have been recovered and the search for others is on reports The Khaama PressFive people have been rescuedThe cause of the tragedy is being investigatedFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/20-killed-as-boat-capsizes-in-afghanistan-547380.html Sat, 01 Jun 2024 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-police-arrests-wanted-handler-of-4-isis-suspects-547247.html Colombo June 1 A wanted handler of four Sri Lankan ISIS suspects who were taken into custody in Gujarats Ahmedabad was arrested by Lankan Police Intelligence on Friday The 46yearold suspect Osman Pushparaja Gerard was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department CID in Colombo Sri Lanka Police Media Spokesman saidAfter the arrests of four suspects by the Gujarat AntiTerrorist Squad ATS for having links with the banned outfit Islamic State Sri Lanka launched a highlevel investigation with the participation of two main intelligence branches of the police the CID and the Terrorist Investigation Division TID and other military intelligence servicesIn the hunt for Osman or the coordinator of four ISIS suspects earlier Sri Lanka Police offered a cash reward of Sri Lankan Rs two million to any informantSri Lanka Police had so far arrested six suspects including the handler who was linked with the four arrested in IndiaAmong those others arrested in Sri Lanka are a suspect who had prepared a flag with an ISIS logo before which the suspects had taken an oath two other oath takers who originally planned to go to India but later refused making two newcomers to join the four arrested at Ahmadabad and another suspect who handled the financial transactionsOn May 19 the ATS had arrested four suspects who had arrived on an Indigo flight from Colombo to ChennaiAmong the arrested individuals Mohammed Nusrat 35 who was involved in selling imported telecommunication devices and electrical equipment from Singapore Malaysia and Dubai had a criminal historyIn September 2020 he had been arrested in Colombo for keeping heroin in his possession while the other suspect 27yearold Mohammad Nafran had been running a business of importing clothing material and chocolates from India and DubaiIn 2017 Nafran was arrested by the Sri Lanka Police under the National Gem and Jewellery Authority ActHe was also the son of Mohamed Niyas Naufer alias Potta Naufer a notorious underworld druglord who was sentenced to death for the killing of a High Court judge in ColomboThe other two suspects are Mohammad Faris 35 and Mohammad Rashdeen 43 both from Colombo who had made their first visit to India IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/sri-lanka-police-arrests-wanted-handler-of-4-isis-suspects-547247.html Sat, 01 Jun 2024 02:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/scores-of-animals-found-dead-in-bangladesh-in-cyclone-remal-546984.html Dhaka May 31 Scores of wild animals have been found dead in Cyclone Remal an official said Mihir Kumar Doe senior forest conservator in Bangladeshs Khulna region told media Weve found the bodies of 56 wild animals including 54 deers and two boars since Cyclone Remal hit the forest on SundayHe said on Thursday that the bodies of the animals washed away due to the effect of Cyclone Remal were recovered from places in Sundarbans one of the worlds largest mangrove forests Xinhua news agency reportedOfficials said Remal that swept over Bangladesh on Sunday night has left coastal areas of Sundarbans devastated with sheer brutalityAt least 16 people were known to have been killed in Bangladesh by the cyclone the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief saidA total of 4599464 people were affected due to the cyclone in 19 out of the countrys total 64 districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/scores-of-animals-found-dead-in-bangladesh-in-cyclone-remal-546984.html Fri, 31 May 2024 02:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-human-traffickers-26-other-criminal-offenders-held-in-afghanistan-546908.html Kabul May 30 Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Thursday that police have arrested five suspects in connection with human trafficking in the countrys western Herat province The suspects were arrested during a military operation conducted by police in the provinces Kashak district on Wednesday Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani the spokesperson for the ministry said on social mediaThe detained suspects had planned to smuggle a money exchanger Qani said reports Xinhua news agencyMeanwhile the ministry said that police have apprehended 26 people on the charge of involvement in criminal activities including murder and theft cases in the provinces of Faryab Takhar Samangan Badghis Kunduz Herat and PaktiaDetails are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/five-human-traffickers-26-other-criminal-offenders-held-in-afghanistan-546908.html Thu, 30 May 2024 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-bank-approves-700-million-for-rohingya-refugees-host-communities-in-bangladesh-546571.html Dhaka May 29 The World Banks Board of Executive Directors has approved two projects totalling 700 million US dollars to provide basic services and build disaster and social resilience for both the host communities and the displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh The 350milliondollar Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Host Communities and Displaced Rohingya Population Project and the 350milliondollar Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project will together provide support to the Bangladeshi host communities and the Rohingya people as this crisis enters its seventh year the Washingtonbased lender said in a statement on TuesdayAround 1 million displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar are currently living in Bangladesh according to the statement reports Xinhua news agencyWe greatly appreciate the Government of Bangladeshs generosity in supporting nearly one million Rohingya people We also recognise the enormous pressure placed on the host communities said Abdoulaye Seck World Bank country director for Bangladesh and BhutanWith the crisis entering its seventh year longterm planning and sustainable solutions have become critical while also addressing shortterm urgent needs We are fully committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh to address this complex crisis and support the wellbeing of both the Rohingya and host communities said the World Bank country directorThe Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Host Communities and Displaced Rohingya Population ISO Project will build on active investments in livelihoods and essential health nutrition family planning genderbased violence response and prevention services for at least 980000 people in the Rohingya and host communitiesThe project will prioritise investment in human capital development with the aim of supporting the education of 300000 Rohingya children under the age of 12 IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/world-bank-approves-700-million-for-rohingya-refugees-host-communities-in-bangladesh-546571.html Wed, 29 May 2024 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-grants-india-consular-access-to-two-alleged-spies-546517.html Islamabad May 29 Pakistan has granted India consular access to two Indian nationals who were arrested from GilgitBaltistan GB and charged with espionage in 2020 The meeting between Indian diplomats and the Indian nationals took place on Monday sources saidThough no statement was issued by the Pakistan foreign office the sources confirmed the developmentTwo Indian nationals identified as Feroze Ahmad Lone and Noor Muhammad Wani belong to the Gurez area in Kashmir sources saidBoth Indian nationals were recently moved from the GilgitBaltistan prison to Rawalpindis Adiala JailSharing details of the meeting the sources confirmed that a threemember delegation of the Indian High Commission IHC in Islamabad met the two prisoners in Adiala jail adding that officials of the Interior Ministry were also present during the meetingOn the other hand Indian media reports maintain that both Indian nationals had mistakenly crossed the border in November 2018The issue of consular access has a brief history of its own in terms of the IndoPak relationsKulbushan Jadhav an Indian national arrested by Pakistan in 2016 and sentenced to death by a military court on charges of espionage and terrorist activities was denied consular access despite repeated requests by IndiaLater India took the matter to the International Court of Justice ICJ which directed Islamabad to grant consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav voided his death sentence and directed Pakistan to put Jadhav on trial in a civil courtAfter the ICJs order Indian officials were allowed to meet Jadhav under tight security on the premises of the Pakistan Foreign Office in Islamabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/pakistan-grants-india-consular-access-to-two-alleged-spies-546517.html Wed, 29 May 2024 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bodies-of-seven-elephants-found-in-sri-lankas-national-park-546150.html Colombo May 27 Bodies of seven wild elephants were found by wildlife officials at the Flood Plains National Park in Polonnaruwa in north central Sri Lanka last week wildlife officials told the media on Monday The bodies have been handed over to the wildlife veterinary unit for further investigation officials said The officials said they suspected a herd of wild elephants was swept away while attempting to cross the Ode Ela a waterway in the area Xinhua news agency reported The bodies of five young elephants aged between eight and 10 years and two adult elephants aged between 30 and 35 years were found according to the officials Sri Lanka has been experiencing heavy rains for the past few weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bodies-of-seven-elephants-found-in-sri-lankas-national-park-546150.html Mon, 27 May 2024 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nearly-1-million-evacuated-as-cyclone-remal-approaches-bangladesh-545828.html Dhaka May 26 Bangladesh has begun evacuating millions of people ahead of Cyclone Remal which is expected to bring winds as fast as 130 kmph when it makes landfall The cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal is poised to cross the countrys coastlines between Sunday evening and midnight Xinhua news agency reportedBangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday warned of the danger of flooding landslides and a storm surgeThe great danger signal No 10 has been sounded for the countrys coastal districts and seaports where fishing boats trawlers and maritime vessels have been advised to remain in shelter till further noticeAt 900 am local time Sunday the cyclone was centred 295 km south of Bangladeshs Mongla port in the southern Khulna region and 380 km southwest of Chattogram port in southeastern Bangladesh said the bulletin signed by Kh Hafizur Rahman a meteorologist at BMDBangladeshi State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman told Xinhua that at least 800000 people from the ten most vulnerable districts have already been evacuated to sheltersHe said Bangladeshs navy coast guard police voluntary organisations and political parties were supporting the ongoing massive evacuation effortsTelevision footage showed widespread flooding in the lowlying areas of coastal districtsDue to the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient the lowlying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna and Chattogram are likely to be inundated by a winddriven surge of 812 feet height above normal astronomical tide reads the bulletinBangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has suspended operations of all types of river vessels on all inner routes Authorities of Chattogram Seaport have ordered to stop unloading of cargo at the outer anchorage and asked all the vessels anchored there to go to the deep seaShah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram has suspended its flight operation for eight hours from Sunday afternoonIn 2007 Cyclone Sidr hit the countrys southwestern coastal belt leaving more than 4000 people dead or missing IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/nearly-1-million-evacuated-as-cyclone-remal-approaches-bangladesh-545828.html Sun, 26 May 2024 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/smuggled-from-myanmar-heroin-valued-at-rs-843-crore-seized-in-mizoram-545347.html Aizawl May 25 Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police in a joint operation have seized heroin valued at Rs 843 crore from Champhai district an official said on Friday Assam Rifles sources said that acting on a tipoff the joint team of paramilitary troopers and Mizoram police personnel seized the heroin on Thursday night from an abandoned car at Ngur village in Mizorams Champhai district which is one of the six districts shared borders with Myanmar and the main corridor drugs smugglingThe contraband was smuggled from Myanmar and was to be supplied to other states a source saidNo arrest however was made in connection with the seizure IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/smuggled-from-myanmar-heroin-valued-at-rs-843-crore-seized-in-mizoram-545347.html Sat, 25 May 2024 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-promises-apartments-for-labourers-slum-dwellers-545607.html Dhaka May 25 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pledged that even labourers will be able to live in apartments citing the governments effort to make Dhaka slumfree She made the promise at the launch of construction of the Bangabazar market here at the site of the old market that was gutted in a devastating fire and three other development projects on Saturday bdnews24 reportedThere will be no makeshift slums in unhygienic environments in Dhaka Everyone will live in a lovely environment We the government will arrange this and have taken steps in this regard We aim to work for peoples welfare and we are prioritising thisWe are arranging flats for cleaning workers Rentbased flats are being arranged for slum dwellers They will pay the same rent as in slums but will be able to live in flats Flats will not just be for the rich Lowincome people from rickshaw pullers to labourers will also be able to live in them The rent will be very low If anyone wants to pay daily or in sevenday installments or monthly they would be able to do so Already 300 families have received flats Sheikh Hasina saidTalking about the startup programmes pushed by the government the Prime Minister also encouraged youths to be entrepreneurs IANS https://dailyworld.in/south-asia/bdesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-promises-apartments-for-labourers-slum-dwellers-545607.html Sat, 25 May 2024 20:48:00 +0530