India continues to face the threat of an armed conflict with China and Pakistan, according to an annual threat assessment by the US Intelligence. The report, however, does not delve into the threat of a potential two-front conflict with China and Pakistan.

<h2>On a potential&nbsp;India-China conflict</h2>

The US intelligence assessment stated that the shared disputed border between India and China will remain a strain on their bilateral relationship.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China's Xi Jinping plots a war against India over the Himalayas

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"While the two sides have not engaged in significant cross-border clashes since 2020, they are maintaining large troop deployments, and sporadic encounters between opposing forces risk miscalculation and escalation into armed conflict," it noted.&nbsp;

<h2>On India-Pakistan ties</h2>

The assessment added that New Delhi and Islamabad are "inclined to sustain the current fragile calm in their relationship following their renewal of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in early 2021".&nbsp;

It further noted that neither side has used the period of calm to rebuild their bilateral ties.&nbsp;

Since the Pulwama attack of February 2019 and consequent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indias-balakot-redemption-when-pakistani-propaganda-failed-to-pierce-through-indias-anti-terror-feat-566111">Balakot airstrikes</a> in which Indian forces struck terrorist bases deep inside Pakistan, New Delhi has maintained a policy of bilateral indifference with minimal exchange, and that too due to compulsions of multilateral platforms.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sco-goa-meet-reveals-big-gulf-of-distrust-between-india-and-pakistan-589375">SCO Goa meet unveils 'big gulf of distrust' between India and Pakistan</a>

"Pakistan's long history of supporting anti-India militant groups and India's increased willingness, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations raise the risk of escalation during a crisis," the US Intelligence Assessment added.

"There remains the potential for an event to trigger a rapid escalation," it noted, indicating that despite a fragile calm at the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, any form of export of terrorism from across the border is capable of triggering an escalation of hostilities between the two sides.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

India continues to face the threat of an armed conflict with China and Pakistan, according to an annual threat assessment by the US Intelligence. The report, however, does not delve into the threat of a potential two-front conflict with China and Pakistan.

India continues to face the threat of an armed conflict with China and Pakistan, according to an annual threat assessment by the US Intelligence. The report, however, does not delve into the threat of a potential two-front conflict with China and Pakistan. On a potential India-China conflict The US intelligence assessment stated that the shared disputed border between India and China will remain a strain on their bilateral relationship. Also watch | Gravitas: China's Xi Jinping plots a war against India over the Himalayas × "While the two sides have not engaged in significant cross-border clashes since 2020, they are maintaining large troop deployments, and sporadic encounters between opposing forces risk miscalculation and escalation into armed conflict," it noted. On India-Pakistan ties The assessment added that New Delhi and Islamabad are "inclined to sustain the current fragile calm in their relationship following their renewal of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in early 2021". It further noted that neither side has used the period of calm to rebuild their bilateral ties. Since the Pulwama attack of February 2019 and consequent Balakot airstrikes in which Indian forces struck terrorist bases deep inside Pakistan, New Delhi has maintained a policy of bilateral indifference with minimal exchange, and that too due to compulsions of multilateral platforms. Also read | SCO Goa meet unveils 'big gulf of distrust' between India and Pakistan "Pakistan's long history of supporting anti-India militant groups and India's increased willingness, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations raise the risk of escalation during a crisis," the US Intelligence Assessment added. "There remains the potential for an event to trigger a rapid escalation," it noted, indicating that despite a fragile calm at the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, any form of export of terrorism from across the border is capable of triggering an escalation of hostilities between the two sides. (With inputs from agencies)

India, China may engage in 'armed conflict' amid strained ties, claims US intelligence assessment

Pakistan's deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar made a sardonic remark about India’s growing relations with the West while at the same time accusing New Delhi of being “close-minded” to its neighbouring countries.

While speaking at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2023 in Islamabad on Tuesday (August 1), the minister described India as the “darling of the West”, noting that New Delhi has been open to “certain countries”.

“India has decided to be the darling of the West, but at the same time, it is very belligerent to the countries within its region. It stands out as a country that is very open towards certain countries, but very close-minded to some of its own people and certain countries within the region,” she said.

Her remarks were highlighting India’s growing engagements with the West, especially the United States, while having acrimonious relations with the neighbouring countries Pakistan and China. &nbsp;

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<h2>Pakistan-India ties</h2>

India’s ties with Pakistan have spiralled downwards over the years due to constant terror attacks emanating from across the border.

India has resolutely maintained that talks with Pakistan will only be possible if it stops hosting terrorists in its territory.

“India’s position has remained clear and consistent. We desire normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in a conducive atmosphere that is free of terror, hostility, and violence,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said during a news briefing in January this year.

<h2>India-China ties</h2>

At the same time, India and China’s relations have been marred with border conflicts and growing rivalry in the strategic and economic spheres.

The Galwan Valley clash in May 2020 that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese ones was a major sour point of China-India ties.

Since then, officials from both countries have met for 18 rounds of talks to try to agree on the disengagement of troops from the area with no success.

India has accused China of unilaterally trying to change the status quo at the border in the Line of Actual Control.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-willing-for-talks-with-india-says-war-not-an-option-621383">Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif open to holding talks with India, says war not an option</a>

Beijing, on the other hand, has been pressing New Delhi to move on from the issue and strengthen their mutual trust.

But India has repeatedly made it clear that resolving the border issues is a must before talking about normalising relations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-taliban-carrying-out-musics-genocide-in-afghanistan-says-afghan-music-saviour-ahmad-sarmast-621378">Exclusive: Taliban carrying out music's 'genocide', says Afghan music saviour</a>

"It finally takes two hands to clap and China too must have the belief in a workable relationship," India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar said at an event in Kolkata in June this year.

"When any big power rises, it wants stability. Our downturn with China was due to them after they changed the status quo. They need to come up on understanding that relationships need to have mutual understanding," he added.

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Pakistan's deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar made a sardonic remark about India’s growing relations with the West while at the same time accusing New Delhi of being “close-minded” to its neighbouring countries.

Pakistan's deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar made a sardonic remark about India’s growing relations with the West while at the same time accusing New Delhi of being “close-minded” to its neighbouring countries. While speaking at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2023 in Islamabad on Tuesday (August 1), the minister described India as the “darling of the West”, noting that New Delhi has been open to “certain countries”. “India has decided to be the darling of the West, but at the same time, it is very belligerent to the countries within its region. It stands out as a country that is very open towards certain countries, but very close-minded to some of its own people and certain countries within the region,” she said. Her remarks were highlighting India’s growing engagements with the West, especially the United States, while having acrimonious relations with the neighbouring countries Pakistan and China. #WATCH: Pakistan Deputy FM Hina Rabbani Khar calls India "darling of the West" and accuses India of being "very very close-minded" to some of its own people and to some countries. #Pakistan #HinaRabbaniKhar pic.twitter.com/IgB9iAhGaf — Statecraft (@statecraftdaily) August 1, 2023 × Pakistan-India ties India’s ties with Pakistan have spiralled downwards over the years due to constant terror attacks emanating from across the border. India has resolutely maintained that talks with Pakistan will only be possible if it stops hosting terrorists in its territory. “India’s position has remained clear and consistent. We desire normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in a conducive atmosphere that is free of terror, hostility, and violence,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said during a news briefing in January this year. India-China ties At the same time, India and China’s relations have been marred with border conflicts and growing rivalry in the strategic and economic spheres. The Galwan Valley clash in May 2020 that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese ones was a major sour point of China-India ties. Since then, officials from both countries have met for 18 rounds of talks to try to agree on the disengagement of troops from the area with no success. India has accused China of unilaterally trying to change the status quo at the border in the Line of Actual Control. Also read | Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif open to holding talks with India, says war not an option Beijing, on the other hand, has been pressing New Delhi to move on from the issue and strengthen their mutual trust. But India has repeatedly made it clear that resolving the border issues is a must before talking about normalising relations. Also read | Exclusive: Taliban carrying out music's 'genocide', says Afghan music saviour "It finally takes two hands to clap and China too must have the belief in a workable relationship," India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar said at an event in Kolkata in June this year. "When any big power rises, it wants stability. Our downturn with China was due to them after they changed the status quo. They need to come up on understanding that relationships need to have mutual understanding," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘India a darling of West’, says Pak minister Hina Rabbani Khar, mocks ties with US

The last time a Pakistani foreign minister visited India, Dr Manmohan Singh was still India's Prime Minister. Rawalpindi's stamp of governance was with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in Islamabad's corridors of power. India's Jammu and Kashmir had its special status with Article 370 well placed into India's constitution, and New Delhi was yet to see its meteoric rise as the subcontinent's diplomatic capital.

What remained <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bilawal-the-first-pakistani-foreign-minister-to-visit-india-in-11-years-588837">constant since 2011</a>&nbsp;is Pakistan's use of so-called "non-state actors" and what New Delhi has often called out as cross-border sponsoring of terrorism akin to Islamabad's state policy.

On Friday, as Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appeared with an on-stage stumble against his Indian counterpart, the two leaders' sharp diplomatic optics concluded the core SCO goal: combating terrorism.

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"Combating terrorism is a core SCO goal. We must not allow anybody, individuals or states, to hide behind the non-state actors," India's foreign minister Dr S&nbsp;Jaishankar told reporters later.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sco-foreign-ministers-meet-jaishankar-shows-mirror-of-terror-to-pakistan-talks-tough-on-china-589322">SCO Foreign Ministers’ meet: Jaishankar shows mirror on terror to Pakistan, talks tough on China</a>

In a stringent reposte to his Pakistani counterpart's remarks earlier in the day, Jaishankar called Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a "promoter, justifier and spokesperson of a terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan."

Pakistani foreign minister had said that countries should not "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sco-foreign-ministers-meet-pakistans-bilawal-bhutto-indirectly-rakes-up-kashmir-589114">get caught up in weaponising terrorism</a>" or attempt to earn diplomatic points for it.

"The references to 'weaponising terrorism' for scoring diplomatic points was a point which will not wash well with the [Indian] interlocutors given Pakistan’s role as the epicentre of terrorism," Anil Wadhwa, a former Indian ambassador and Executive Council member of New Delhi-based Global Counter Terrorism Council, told WION.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;SCO meet | S Jaishankar on Pakistan: Victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism

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With an obvious India-Pakistan showdown in Goa, the bleak expectations of such multilateral stumbles turning into bilateral breakthroughs between New Delhi and Islamabad have died down yet again.&nbsp;

"Bilawal's speech had several veiled and unjustified digs at India on chest-thumping, terrorism, fascism, and acting contrary to UNSC, among other issues," Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow at Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House and a former Indian ambassador, told WION.

"It will be&nbsp;unrealistic to build any hopes about improvement in the short term in India-Pakistan relations. A big gulf of distrust divides the two largest nations in South Asia," Bhatia added.

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The last time a Pakistani foreign minister visited India, Dr Manmohan Singh was still India's Prime Minister. Rawalpindi's stamp of governance was with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in Islamabad's corridors of power.

The last time a Pakistani foreign minister visited India, Dr Manmohan Singh was still India's Prime Minister. Rawalpindi's stamp of governance was with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in Islamabad's corridors of power. India's Jammu and Kashmir had its special status with Article 370 well placed into India's constitution, and New Delhi was yet to see its meteoric rise as the subcontinent's diplomatic capital. What remained constant since 2011 is Pakistan's use of so-called "non-state actors" and what New Delhi has often called out as cross-border sponsoring of terrorism akin to Islamabad's state policy. On Friday, as Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appeared with an on-stage stumble against his Indian counterpart, the two leaders' sharp diplomatic optics concluded the core SCO goal: combating terrorism. Watch: EAM Jaishankar, Pakistan FM Bhutto ahead of start of SCO FMs meet in Goa @WIONews https://t.co/MCAX9HXxdA pic.twitter.com/1wNJwfRbKH — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 5, 2023 × "Combating terrorism is a core SCO goal. We must not allow anybody, individuals or states, to hide behind the non-state actors," India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar told reporters later. ALSO READ | SCO Foreign Ministers’ meet: Jaishankar shows mirror on terror to Pakistan, talks tough on China In a stringent reposte to his Pakistani counterpart's remarks earlier in the day, Jaishankar called Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a "promoter, justifier and spokesperson of a terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan." Pakistani foreign minister had said that countries should not "get caught up in weaponising terrorism" or attempt to earn diplomatic points for it. "The references to 'weaponising terrorism' for scoring diplomatic points was a point which will not wash well with the [Indian] interlocutors given Pakistan’s role as the epicentre of terrorism," Anil Wadhwa, a former Indian ambassador and Executive Council member of New Delhi-based Global Counter Terrorism Council, told WION. ALSO WATCH | SCO meet | S Jaishankar on Pakistan: Victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism × With an obvious India-Pakistan showdown in Goa, the bleak expectations of such multilateral stumbles turning into bilateral breakthroughs between New Delhi and Islamabad have died down yet again. "Bilawal's speech had several veiled and unjustified digs at India on chest-thumping, terrorism, fascism, and acting contrary to UNSC, among other issues," Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow at Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House and a former Indian ambassador, told WION. "It will be unrealistic to build any hopes about improvement in the short term in India-Pakistan relations. A big gulf of distrust divides the two largest nations in South Asia," Bhatia added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

SCO Goa meet unveils 'big gulf of distrust' between India and Pakistan

India on Friday evening concluded the two-day Foreign Ministers' meet of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the coastal state of Goa. India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar, while addressing reporters at the conclusion of the meet, said that the meet laid out the ground for the status of multilateral decisions that will be approved at the upcoming SCO summit in July in New Delhi.

"The meeting also gave an opportunity to dwell on the state of multilateral cooperation in SCO to address regional and global issues of interest," Dr S. Jaishankar said.

<h2>India-China relations are not normal: Jaishankar to WION</h2>

Responding to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal's question on the Chinese side's readout that hailed 'stability' along the western sector, Jaishankar said: "India-China relations are not normal, and cannot be normal if peace and tranquility is not preserved along the border."

<h2>Pakistan’s credibility depleting faster than its forex reserves: Dr S. Jaishankar</h2>

Responding to a question on Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's address at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting, Jaishankar said: "As a foreign minister of an SCO member state, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly. But as a justifier and spokesperson of a terrorist industry, his comments were called out."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sco-foreign-ministers-meet-pakistans-bilawal-bhutto-indirectly-rakes-up-kashmir-589114">Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto indirectly rakes up Kashmir at SCO foreign ministers’ meet</a>

Asked about Bhutto-Zardari's mention of the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir and China-occupied Aksai Chin, parts of India's Jammu and Kashmir, Jaishankar added: "We have made it very clear that connectivity is good for the progress but cannot violate the territorial integrity of a nation."

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;SCO summit 2023: India holds chair of G20 &amp; SCO this year | World News | WION

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Further responding to a barrage of questions on Pakistan's record as state-sponsor of terrorism, Jaishankar pointed out, "The victims of terrorism do not sit down with perpetrators of terrorism to talk about terrorism."

"On terrorism, Pakistan's credibility is depleting faster than their forex reserves," Jaishankar said. "There is only one issue to discuss on Kashmir which is when will Pakistan give back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," he added.&nbsp;

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Responding to a question on Bhutto-Zardari's mention of India's constitutional changes to reverse the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir with abrogation of Indian constitution's Article 370, Jaishankar said: "I would like to use a phrase “Wake up and smell the coffee”, similarly 370 is history sooner people realise it's better." 
&nbsp;

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India on Friday evening concluded the two-day Foreign Ministers' meet of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the coastal state of Goa. India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar, while addressing reporters at the conclusion of the meet, said that the meet laid out the ground for the status of multilateral decisions that will be approved at the upcoming SCO summit in July in New Delhi.

India on Friday evening concluded the two-day Foreign Ministers' meet of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the coastal state of Goa. India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar, while addressing reporters at the conclusion of the meet, said that the meet laid out the ground for the status of multilateral decisions that will be approved at the upcoming SCO summit in July in New Delhi. "The meeting also gave an opportunity to dwell on the state of multilateral cooperation in SCO to address regional and global issues of interest," Dr S. Jaishankar said. India-China relations are not normal: Jaishankar to WION Responding to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal's question on the Chinese side's readout that hailed 'stability' along the western sector, Jaishankar said: "India-China relations are not normal, and cannot be normal if peace and tranquility is not preserved along the border." Pakistan’s credibility depleting faster than its forex reserves: Dr S. Jaishankar Responding to a question on Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's address at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting, Jaishankar said: "As a foreign minister of an SCO member state, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly. But as a justifier and spokesperson of a terrorist industry, his comments were called out." ALSO READ | Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto indirectly rakes up Kashmir at SCO foreign ministers’ meet Asked about Bhutto-Zardari's mention of the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir and China-occupied Aksai Chin, parts of India's Jammu and Kashmir, Jaishankar added: "We have made it very clear that connectivity is good for the progress but cannot violate the territorial integrity of a nation." ALSO WATCH | SCO summit 2023: India holds chair of G20 & SCO this year | World News | WION × Further responding to a barrage of questions on Pakistan's record as state-sponsor of terrorism, Jaishankar pointed out, "The victims of terrorism do not sit down with perpetrators of terrorism to talk about terrorism." "On terrorism, Pakistan's credibility is depleting faster than their forex reserves," Jaishankar said. "There is only one issue to discuss on Kashmir which is when will Pakistan give back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," he added. #NewsAlert | As a Foreign Minister of an SCO member state, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly, says India's external affairs minister @DrSJaishankar #BilawalBhuttoZardari #SJaishankar pic.twitter.com/iN2wPRDiUv — WION (@WIONews) May 5, 2023 × Responding to a question on Bhutto-Zardari's mention of India's constitutional changes to reverse the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir with abrogation of Indian constitution's Article 370, Jaishankar said: "I would like to use a phrase “Wake up and smell the coffee”, similarly 370 is history sooner people realise it's better." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

SCO Foreign Ministers’ meet: Jaishankar shows mirror on terror to Pakistan, talks tough on China

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited a senior Indian diplomat to the Iftar dinner (the breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan)—a move that is being watched very keenly.

Notably, this is the first time that Pakistan’s Foreign Office has invited an Indian envoy to Iftar party since August 2019—when India revoked the special status of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.

According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Bilawal extended the invitation to the Indian chargé d’affaires along with the diplomats based in the capital Islamabad.

It is said that India accepted the invitation and its senior diplomat attended the dinner at the Foreign Office since the chargé d’affaires was not in Pakistan.

Indian sources confirmed to&nbsp;WION that the Indian diplomat paid a courtesy visit to the event.

Indian and Pakistan officials have usually avoided inviting each other to such functions due to their acrimonious relationship—a trend that has only spiralled downwards after Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the presence of an Indian diplomat suggested a break from that policy. It comes at a time when India invited Pakistan’s foreign minister for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet that will be held in southern Goa city in May. However, Pakistan has not sent its confirmation yet.

For three years, Indian envoy wasn’t invited to the Iftar parties by the Pakistan government.

In 2020, Pakistan didn’t send invitation&nbsp;due to the Covid pandemic. In the following year, Pakistan’s then-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi didn’t invite the Indian diplomat. And in 2022, the political chaos which led to the ouster of Imran Khan saw no Iftar parties being held.

2019 iftar party controversy

In 2019, a major controversy erupted after guests at the Iftar party at Indian High Commission in Islamabad were harassed by Pakistan security agencies.

According to reports, the Pakistani officials surrounded Hotel Serena, the venue of the Iftar party, and forced hundreds of guests to turn back.

India registered strong protests back then for the “gross intimidation”.

Following this, the guests of the Pakistani high commission at Iftar&nbsp;in New Delhi received somewhat similar treatment in a repeat of what happened during the Pakistan National Day celebrations in March.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited a senior Indian diplomat to the Iftar dinner (the breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan)—a move that is being watched very keenly.

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited a senior Indian diplomat to the Iftar dinner (the breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan)—a move that is being watched very keenly. Notably, this is the first time that Pakistan’s Foreign Office has invited an Indian envoy to Iftar party since August 2019—when India revoked the special status of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Bilawal extended the invitation to the Indian chargé d’affaires along with the diplomats based in the capital Islamabad. It is said that India accepted the invitation and its senior diplomat attended the dinner at the Foreign Office since the chargé d’affaires was not in Pakistan. Indian sources confirmed to WION that the Indian diplomat paid a courtesy visit to the event. Indian and Pakistan officials have usually avoided inviting each other to such functions due to their acrimonious relationship—a trend that has only spiralled downwards after Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the presence of an Indian diplomat suggested a break from that policy. It comes at a time when India invited Pakistan’s foreign minister for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet that will be held in southern Goa city in May. However, Pakistan has not sent its confirmation yet. For three years, Indian envoy wasn’t invited to the Iftar parties by the Pakistan government. In 2020, Pakistan didn’t send invitation due to the Covid pandemic. In the following year, Pakistan’s then-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi didn’t invite the Indian diplomat. And in 2022, the political chaos which led to the ouster of Imran Khan saw no Iftar parties being held. 2019 iftar party controversy In 2019, a major controversy erupted after guests at the Iftar party at Indian High Commission in Islamabad were harassed by Pakistan security agencies. According to reports, the Pakistani officials surrounded Hotel Serena, the venue of the Iftar party, and forced hundreds of guests to turn back. India registered strong protests back then for the “gross intimidation”. Following this, the guests of the Pakistani high commission at Iftar in New Delhi received somewhat similar treatment in a repeat of what happened during the Pakistan National Day celebrations in March. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For first time in three years, Pak’s foreign minister invites Indian diplomat for Iftar party

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in&nbsp;the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations.

Further, the 34-year-old momentarily described India as “our friend” before correcting himself by saying “neighbouring” country as he fumbled his way through the press conference on Friday.

“You're also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari said while responding to a question that sought to equate the situation in Palestine with Kashmir.

Pakistan rakes up the Kashmir issue at every UN forum and platform, regardless of the topic or agenda being discussed, and ends up inviting a scathing rebuttal from India.

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Irrespective of Pakistan’s efforts, there has been little to no support among the wider UN members as Kashmir is considered to be a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-former-intelligence-chief-faces-corruption-probe-amid-calls-for-court-martial-570690">Pakistan: Former intelligence chief faces corruption probe, threat of ‘court-martial’ looms</a>

“And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with... our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-votes-unanimously-for-declassification-of-covid-origins-intelligence-570734">US House votes unanimously for declassification of Covid origins intelligence</a>

Justifying his action of drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, the Pakistani foreign minister added, “I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it's fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we'd like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir.”

The minister further said that Pakistan will be persistent in its efforts to bring the Kashmir issue to the discussion table at every international forum. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
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Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations. Further, the 34-year-old momentarily described India as “our friend” before correcting himself by saying “neighbouring” country as he fumbled his way through the press conference on Friday. “You're also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari said while responding to a question that sought to equate the situation in Palestine with Kashmir. Pakistan rakes up the Kashmir issue at every UN forum and platform, regardless of the topic or agenda being discussed, and ends up inviting a scathing rebuttal from India. WATCH | Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto admits "uphill task" to get Kashmir at UN due to objections from "neighbouring country" after momentarily describing India as a "friend". pic.twitter.com/Q7SrNQZ05f — WION (@WIONews) March 11, 2023 × Irrespective of Pakistan’s efforts, there has been little to no support among the wider UN members as Kashmir is considered to be a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad. Also read | Pakistan: Former intelligence chief faces corruption probe, threat of ‘court-martial’ looms “And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with... our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said. Also read | US House votes unanimously for declassification of Covid origins intelligence Justifying his action of drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, the Pakistani foreign minister added, “I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it's fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we'd like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir.” The minister further said that Pakistan will be persistent in its efforts to bring the Kashmir issue to the discussion table at every international forum. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pak foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto concedes failure in getting UN’s attention on Kashmir issue

A US intelligence report has warned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocation. The Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community report states that military action is more likely to happen under Modi than ever in the past. The report adds that Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-India militant groups.&nbsp;

"Each side’s perception of heightened tensions raises the risk of conflict, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints," the report said.

India and Pakistan haven't had the best relations ever since independence. The Kashmir issue has always been a thorn in the flesh, with cross-border terrorism adding more fuel to the fire. The US intelligence report says that the issue assumes importance because of the risk of an "escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states".

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-intelligence-warns-of-risky-confrontation-between-india-and-china-at-lac-570015">US intelligence warns of risky confrontation between India and China at LAC</a>

"New Delhi and Islamabad probably are inclined to reinforce the current calm in their relationship following both sides’ renewal of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in early 2021," the report added.

The Uri attack on September 18, 2016, worsened relations between the two countries. Four heavily armed terrorists crossed the Line of Control and launched a grenade attack on a temporary fuel depot containing hundreds of litres of petrol, diesel and kerosene. The ensuing fire killed 14 soldiers, while four more were killed by the terrorists as they tried to escape.&nbsp;

India avenged the Uri attack by conducting surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Several terrorists were killed in the strikes besides "those protecting them".&nbsp;

In 2019, another attack on the Indian Army led to the death of 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway. Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A US intelligence report has warned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocation.

A US intelligence report has warned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocation. The Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community report states that military action is more likely to happen under Modi than ever in the past. The report adds that Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-India militant groups. "Each side’s perception of heightened tensions raises the risk of conflict, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints," the report said. India and Pakistan haven't had the best relations ever since independence. The Kashmir issue has always been a thorn in the flesh, with cross-border terrorism adding more fuel to the fire. The US intelligence report says that the issue assumes importance because of the risk of an "escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states". Also Read | US intelligence warns of risky confrontation between India and China at LAC "New Delhi and Islamabad probably are inclined to reinforce the current calm in their relationship following both sides’ renewal of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in early 2021," the report added. The Uri attack on September 18, 2016, worsened relations between the two countries. Four heavily armed terrorists crossed the Line of Control and launched a grenade attack on a temporary fuel depot containing hundreds of litres of petrol, diesel and kerosene. The ensuing fire killed 14 soldiers, while four more were killed by the terrorists as they tried to escape. India avenged the Uri attack by conducting surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Several terrorists were killed in the strikes besides "those protecting them". In 2019, another attack on the Indian Army led to the death of 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway. Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India more likely to respond to Pakistan provocation with military force under Modi, US intel report says

In a quick turn around of events, Washington and Islamabad are seeking to repair ties. Here's what you need to know...

A newer kind of relationship is emerging between U.S and Pakistan | India | World News

A section of the Indian media earlier reported that&nbsp;Pakistan denied airspace to Indian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid and rescue teams to earthquake-hit Turkey.&nbsp;There was no confirmation either from the Indian or the Pakistani side of this development.

CNN-News18 reported that the Indian Air Force's C-17&nbsp;Globemaster&nbsp;had to take a detour because Pakistan denied permission to use its airspace.

However, it emerged that Indian planes didn't fly over Pakistan to reach Ankara. It is believed that the Indian establishment never asked for permission from the Pakistan aviation authorities&nbsp;with regard to sending their military aircraft.

Even during the evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Indian military planes flew from Kabul to Dushanbe and used Iranian airspace to come back to India.

Reacting to the development,&nbsp;Turkish ambassador to India, Firat Sunel, told WION's Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal that he has "no information"&nbsp; on Indian military aircraft not being allowed to fly over Pakistani airspace.

Earlier in the day, India sent two Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft, one of which departed on Monday late at night, while the second batch flew off on early Tuesday.

The first batch of earthquake relief material carried search &amp;and rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment to help Turkey in the evacuation of civilians.

“First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 <a href="https://twitter.com/NDRFHQ">@NDRFHQ</a>. Search &amp; Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other necessary utilities &amp; equipment reaches Adana, Türkiye. Second plane getting ready for departure,” Jaishankar had on Tuesday morning.

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First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 <a href="https://twitter.com/NDRFHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDRFHQ</a> Search &amp; Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads,drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other necessary utilities &amp; equipment reaches Adana,Türkiye. 
 
Second plane getting ready for departure. <a href="https://twitter.com/MevlutCavusoglu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MevlutCavusoglu</a> <a href="https://t.co/sSjuRJJrIO">pic.twitter.com/sSjuRJJrIO</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1622829210908884992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, Turkey's Ambassador to India Firat Sunel thanked New Delhi for sending relief materials and termed India as “dost” (which in English means friend)

““Dost” is a common word in Turkish and Hindi... We have a Turkish proverb: "Dost kara günde belli olur" (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much India."

He also shared an exchange between Indian and Turkish authorities following the deadly earthquakes that rattled the country and its neighbour Syria.

On Monday, India’s junior foreign minister V Muraleedharan paid a visit to Turkey’s embassy in New Delhi to express condolences. He also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support.

Meanwhile, the total death toll rose to 4,983 as the search and rescue operation to find the survivors was underway.

According to local media reports, Turkey has recorded 3,381 fatalities, while Syria reported 1,602 casualties.

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A section of the Indian media earlier reported that Pakistan denied airspace to Indian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid and rescue teams to earthquake-hit Turkey.

A section of the Indian media earlier reported that Pakistan denied airspace to Indian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid and rescue teams to earthquake-hit Turkey. There was no confirmation either from the Indian or the Pakistani side of this development. CNN-News18 reported that the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster had to take a detour because Pakistan denied permission to use its airspace. However, it emerged that Indian planes didn't fly over Pakistan to reach Ankara. It is believed that the Indian establishment never asked for permission from the Pakistan aviation authorities with regard to sending their military aircraft. Even during the evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Indian military planes flew from Kabul to Dushanbe and used Iranian airspace to come back to India. Reacting to the development, Turkish ambassador to India, Firat Sunel, told WION's Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal that he has "no information" on Indian military aircraft not being allowed to fly over Pakistani airspace. Earlier in the day, India sent two Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft, one of which departed on Monday late at night, while the second batch flew off on early Tuesday. The first batch of earthquake relief material carried search &and rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment to help Turkey in the evacuation of civilians. “First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 @NDRFHQ. Search & Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other necessary utilities & equipment reaches Adana, Türkiye. Second plane getting ready for departure,” Jaishankar had on Tuesday morning. First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 @NDRFHQ Search & Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads,drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other necessary utilities & equipment reaches Adana,Türkiye. Second plane getting ready for departure. @MevlutCavusoglu pic.twitter.com/sSjuRJJrIO — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 7, 2023 × Earlier, Turkey's Ambassador to India Firat Sunel thanked New Delhi for sending relief materials and termed India as “dost” (which in English means friend) ““Dost” is a common word in Turkish and Hindi... We have a Turkish proverb: "Dost kara günde belli olur" (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much India." He also shared an exchange between Indian and Turkish authorities following the deadly earthquakes that rattled the country and its neighbour Syria. On Monday, India’s junior foreign minister V Muraleedharan paid a visit to Turkey’s embassy in New Delhi to express condolences. He also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support. Meanwhile, the total death toll rose to 4,983 as the search and rescue operation to find the survivors was underway. According to local media reports, Turkey has recorded 3,381 fatalities, while Syria reported 1,602 casualties. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Did Pakistan deny airspace to Indian military plane carrying humanitarian aid to Turkey? Here's what we know

The United States said that Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism as the country has suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks.

Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism, says U.S.

The Melbourne Cricket Club is very keen to host a Test series between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Should that happen, it would be historic, as the world’s best-known rivals have not played a test series in the last 15 years.&nbsp;

Reports here are that MCC is pressing Cricket Australia (CA) to keep lobbying the International Cricket Council for India and Pakistan to play a test series here. It is for CA to host the matches. The Australian government is also backing the effort.&nbsp;

If Melbourne has reasons to yearn for hosting an India-Pakistan Test series, the same reasons and more may be cited by the two South Asian cricket powers for matches to be played only in their countries.&nbsp;

Cricket does not get any bigger than an India-Pakistan match. The political tensions that have precluded a Test series on home turf after 2007 would only charge a Test match with more excitement. An India-Pakistan cricket match is a turbo-charged gladiatorial event that is unrivalled as spectacle, sport, business, money-spinner especially for all those involved including media and a crowd-puller of staggering proportions. All these make for a potent war-like mix that gives the countries, the players, the crowds, the fans, the tycoons, sports icons and even the political leaders a high that makes it an unmatched blockbuster.&nbsp;

And, Australia got a taste of this in October last when the two teams played the T20 World Cup match at the one-lakh-capacity MCG, watched by a record 90,000-plus fans. No one could get enough of the event, the atmosphere, the noise and the thrill that came with every ball.&nbsp;

All the above are exactly the reasons why India and Pakistan would like to see their Test matches played in their own countries. Pakistan has made it clear that while it would be happy to play India anywhere, its board is firm that the contests should be either in India or Pakistan. The argument is why should the fans, stakeholders and cricket fraternity be deprived of a great contest, and all that flows from it, at home.&nbsp;

Unlike Pakistan, India is keeping its cards close to its chest. In fact, there is no compulsion for India at this stage to take a position on if, when and where cricket’s two fiercest rivals should stage their Test series. There are scheduling problems because there is no room for the clear three weeks required for a three-Test series until 2027. A three-week window in June-July next year falls out of the cricket season in Australia. India and Pakistan have two weeks clear in Dec-Jan 2025-26, in early Dec 2026 and Jan 2027 in the 2023-27 calendar.&nbsp;

Of course, if India and Pakistan want it and their boards agree to hold the test series on neutral ground, then these tentative schedules can easily be recast to hold the matches in Melbourne. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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&nbsp;

The Melbourne Cricket Club is very keen to host a Test series between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Should that happen, it would be historic, as the world’s best-known rivals have not played a test series in the last 15 years.

The Melbourne Cricket Club is very keen to host a Test series between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Should that happen, it would be historic, as the world’s best-known rivals have not played a test series in the last 15 years. Reports here are that MCC is pressing Cricket Australia (CA) to keep lobbying the International Cricket Council for India and Pakistan to play a test series here. It is for CA to host the matches. The Australian government is also backing the effort. If Melbourne has reasons to yearn for hosting an India-Pakistan Test series, the same reasons and more may be cited by the two South Asian cricket powers for matches to be played only in their countries. Cricket does not get any bigger than an India-Pakistan match. The political tensions that have precluded a Test series on home turf after 2007 would only charge a Test match with more excitement. An India-Pakistan cricket match is a turbo-charged gladiatorial event that is unrivalled as spectacle, sport, business, money-spinner especially for all those involved including media and a crowd-puller of staggering proportions. All these make for a potent war-like mix that gives the countries, the players, the crowds, the fans, the tycoons, sports icons and even the political leaders a high that makes it an unmatched blockbuster. And, Australia got a taste of this in October last when the two teams played the T20 World Cup match at the one-lakh-capacity MCG, watched by a record 90,000-plus fans. No one could get enough of the event, the atmosphere, the noise and the thrill that came with every ball. All the above are exactly the reasons why India and Pakistan would like to see their Test matches played in their own countries. Pakistan has made it clear that while it would be happy to play India anywhere, its board is firm that the contests should be either in India or Pakistan. The argument is why should the fans, stakeholders and cricket fraternity be deprived of a great contest, and all that flows from it, at home. Unlike Pakistan, India is keeping its cards close to its chest. In fact, there is no compulsion for India at this stage to take a position on if, when and where cricket’s two fiercest rivals should stage their Test series. There are scheduling problems because there is no room for the clear three weeks required for a three-Test series until 2027. A three-week window in June-July next year falls out of the cricket season in Australia. India and Pakistan have two weeks clear in Dec-Jan 2025-26, in early Dec 2026 and Jan 2027 in the 2023-27 calendar. Of course, if India and Pakistan want it and their boards agree to hold the test series on neutral ground, then these tentative schedules can easily be recast to hold the matches in Melbourne. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

WION Spotlight | Melbourne raring to host India-Pakistan test series 

Historically, the relationship between India and Pakistan has been mired in conflicts, war, and lack of trust. Pakistan has continued to loom large on India’s horizon despite the growing gap between the two countries. Ambassador (retd) Sharat Sabharwal’s book "India’s Pakistan Conundrum: Managing a Complex Relationship" examines the nature of the Pakistani state, its internal dynamics, and its impact on India. The text looks at key issues of the India-Pakistan relationship, appraises a range of India’s policy options to address the Pakistan conundrum, and proposes a way forward for India’s Pakistan policy. Drawing on the author’s experience of two diplomatic stints in Pakistan, including as the High Commissioner of India, the book offers a unique insider’s perspective on this critical relationship.

Below are the selected excerpts from the book:

The Pakistan army sees nuclear arsenal as an umbrella under which they can use their terror card with impunity without inviting an Indian reprisal. One often heard it being said in Pakistan that there could be no war under a nuclear overhang. During my lectures to Pakistan army officers at their National Defence University, I told them that their statement would sound more meaningful if it were modified to state that there could be no war- overt or covert- under a nuclear overhang.

Pakistan is known to have acquired its nuclear weapon capability on the basis of the design of a bomb provided by China and a test reportedly conducted for Pakistan by China at its Lop Nur test site, much before it went overtly nuclear in 1998. Its nuclear blackmail also, therefore, started much before 1998. In an interview given to the veteran Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayar in January 1987, in the course of Operation Brasstacks, the Pakistani nuclear scientist, Dr. A.Q. Khan said, “They told us Pakistan could never produce the bomb, and they doubted my capabilities, but they know we have done it.” After Nayar went public with the story, Khan described the comments attributed to him as false and concocted, but the cat was already out of the bag. It is unlikely that someone in his sensitive position could have met an Indian journalist without authorisation from the higher quarters and made the above comment. It is, therefore, more than likely that he did it with due authorisation to hold out a nuclear threat to India. The subsequent denial seems to have been aimed at keeping Pakistan’s American patrons mollified.

In the middle of the night between May 27 and 28, 1998, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satish Chandra, was called in to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry by Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad and I accompanied him. The meeting took place past 1 am. Shamshad, who was accompanied by senior Foreign Ministry officials, said that they had credible information that India was going to attack their nuclear facilities. When asked how, Shamshad responded that the attack was perhaps to be mounted by F16 aircraft stationed at the Chennai airfield and added that he had been instructed by his government to inform the Government of India through the High Commissioner that in the event of such an attack, there would be "massive retaliation with devastating consequences." The High Commissioner expressed his surprise at what Shamshad had said. He

pointed out that India did not possess F 16 aircraft. Shamshad said that the aircraft he had referred to could be Israeli. The High Commissioner also enquired whether the Foreign Secretary had talked of a possible attack against the nuclear installations and facilities included in the list given by Pakistan to India at the beginning of every year under the bilateral agreement on the prohibition of attack against the nuclear installations of each other. Shamshad mumbled that he had referred to those and “other” facilities. The meeting wrapped up in a few minutes with the High Commissioner assuring Shamshad that his demarche would be conveyed to the Government of India. The High Commissioner and I went to the High Commission to report the rather alarmist and unusual demarche of our hosts to New Delhi. In view of its nature, we decided to convey it on phone before sending a cable. But we found that for the capital of the country, which according to the Pakistanis was about to mount an attack of major import against their country, New Delhi seemed extraordinarily relaxed and it took us some time to reach the Indian Foreign Secretary, who had been alerted to the Pakistani demarche a few minutes earlier by the Indian Mission to the UN in New York. Unknown to us, the Pakistanis had also taken up the matter with all the P5 countries in their capitals and through their Missions to the UN in New York.

High Commissioner Chandra and I discussed Shamshad Ahmad’s demarche before sending our assessment to Delhi. It was our considered view that the Pakistanis were on the verge of carrying out their nuclear tests ( which happened on May 28) and were nervous about India attacking their testing site in the Chagai hills of Balochistan, which did not figure in the lists given to India at the beginning of every year under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against the nuclear installations of each other. That explained Shamshad's use of the word "other" while answering High Commissioner’s query about the facilities that he had in mind.

The policy of massive retaliation was announced by the then US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, in 1954 when he said that the US would protect its allies through the deterrent of massive retaliatory power. His reference was to reliance on the American nuclear arsenal against a Soviet aggression. Since then, the term “massive retaliation” has come to denote disproportionate retaliation with nuclear weapons to an attack by an adversary. Therefore, in using the expression “massive retaliation with devastating consequences”, Shamshad had spoken of a nuclear response, thereby confirming the Indian position that Pakistan already possessed nuclear weapons capability acquired with the Chinese help. The impending tests were meant, inter alia, to bring this capability into the open. The Pakistanis surely did not believe that India would take any such action lying down and would not retaliate with whatever nuclear capability it had at that stage. All in all, it seems to have been a case of overreaction and nuclear bluster in response to a non-existent threat.

Years later, a retired Pakistan Foreign Office official, who was present at our meeting with Shamshad Ahmad, told me that they had reports of the presence of Israeli aircraft at the Chennai airfield with the aim to attack their nuclear testing site in Balochistan. At the same time, there was a US naval presence off the coast of Karachi. Their defence experts believed that if the reports of an attack being planned from India were correct, the US ships would move away before it was mounted and the ships did move away on May 27. These developments convinced them of the need of an urgent demarche. From what my interlocutor told me, they seemed to believe that the Americans were complicit in the plan to attack the Chagai hills testing site.

*****

Reproduced from India's Pakistan Conundrum: Managing a Complex Relationship by Sharat Sabharwal with permission of INFORMA UK Limited through PLSclear. No part of this extract may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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Historically, the relationship between India and Pakistan has been mired in conflicts, war, and lack of trust. Pakistan has continued to loom large on India’s horizon despite the growing gap between the two countries.

Historically, the relationship between India and Pakistan has been mired in conflicts, war, and lack of trust. Pakistan has continued to loom large on India’s horizon despite the growing gap between the two countries. Ambassador (retd) Sharat Sabharwal’s book "India’s Pakistan Conundrum: Managing a Complex Relationship" examines the nature of the Pakistani state, its internal dynamics, and its impact on India. The text looks at key issues of the India-Pakistan relationship, appraises a range of India’s policy options to address the Pakistan conundrum, and proposes a way forward for India’s Pakistan policy. Drawing on the author’s experience of two diplomatic stints in Pakistan, including as the High Commissioner of India, the book offers a unique insider’s perspective on this critical relationship. Below are the selected excerpts from the book: The Pakistan army sees nuclear arsenal as an umbrella under which they can use their terror card with impunity without inviting an Indian reprisal. One often heard it being said in Pakistan that there could be no war under a nuclear overhang. During my lectures to Pakistan army officers at their National Defence University, I told them that their statement would sound more meaningful if it were modified to state that there could be no war- overt or covert- under a nuclear overhang. Pakistan is known to have acquired its nuclear weapon capability on the basis of the design of a bomb provided by China and a test reportedly conducted for Pakistan by China at its Lop Nur test site, much before it went overtly nuclear in 1998. Its nuclear blackmail also, therefore, started much before 1998. In an interview given to the veteran Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayar in January 1987, in the course of Operation Brasstacks, the Pakistani nuclear scientist, Dr. A.Q. Khan said, “They told us Pakistan could never produce the bomb, and they doubted my capabilities, but they know we have done it.” After Nayar went public with the story, Khan described the comments attributed to him as false and concocted, but the cat was already out of the bag. It is unlikely that someone in his sensitive position could have met an Indian journalist without authorisation from the higher quarters and made the above comment. It is, therefore, more than likely that he did it with due authorisation to hold out a nuclear threat to India. The subsequent denial seems to have been aimed at keeping Pakistan’s American patrons mollified. In the middle of the night between May 27 and 28, 1998, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satish Chandra, was called in to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry by Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad and I accompanied him. The meeting took place past 1 am. Shamshad, who was accompanied by senior Foreign Ministry officials, said that they had credible information that India was going to attack their nuclear facilities. When asked how, Shamshad responded that the attack was perhaps to be mounted by F16 aircraft stationed at the Chennai airfield and added that he had been instructed by his government to inform the Government of India through the High Commissioner that in the event of such an attack, there would be "massive retaliation with devastating consequences." The High Commissioner expressed his surprise at what Shamshad had said. He pointed out that India did not possess F 16 aircraft. Shamshad said that the aircraft he had referred to could be Israeli. The High Commissioner also enquired whether the Foreign Secretary had talked of a possible attack against the nuclear installations and facilities included in the list given by Pakistan to India at the beginning of every year under the bilateral agreement on the prohibition of attack against the nuclear installations of each other. Shamshad mumbled that he had referred to those and “other” facilities. The meeting wrapped up in a few minutes with the High Commissioner assuring Shamshad that his demarche would be conveyed to the Government of India. The High Commissioner and I went to the High Commission to report the rather alarmist and unusual demarche of our hosts to New Delhi. In view of its nature, we decided to convey it on phone before sending a cable. But we found that for the capital of the country, which according to the Pakistanis was about to mount an attack of major import against their country, New Delhi seemed extraordinarily relaxed and it took us some time to reach the Indian Foreign Secretary, who had been alerted to the Pakistani demarche a few minutes earlier by the Indian Mission to the UN in New York. Unknown to us, the Pakistanis had also taken up the matter with all the P5 countries in their capitals and through their Missions to the UN in New York. High Commissioner Chandra and I discussed Shamshad Ahmad’s demarche before sending our assessment to Delhi. It was our considered view that the Pakistanis were on the verge of carrying out their nuclear tests ( which happened on May 28) and were nervous about India attacking their testing site in the Chagai hills of Balochistan, which did not figure in the lists given to India at the beginning of every year under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against the nuclear installations of each other. That explained Shamshad's use of the word "other" while answering High Commissioner’s query about the facilities that he had in mind. The policy of massive retaliation was announced by the then US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, in 1954 when he said that the US would protect its allies through the deterrent of massive retaliatory power. His reference was to reliance on the American nuclear arsenal against a Soviet aggression. Since then, the term “massive retaliation” has come to denote disproportionate retaliation with nuclear weapons to an attack by an adversary. Therefore, in using the expression “massive retaliation with devastating consequences”, Shamshad had spoken of a nuclear response, thereby confirming the Indian position that Pakistan already possessed nuclear weapons capability acquired with the Chinese help. The impending tests were meant, inter alia, to bring this capability into the open. The Pakistanis surely did not believe that India would take any such action lying down and would not retaliate with whatever nuclear capability it had at that stage. All in all, it seems to have been a case of overreaction and nuclear bluster in response to a non-existent threat. Years later, a retired Pakistan Foreign Office official, who was present at our meeting with Shamshad Ahmad, told me that they had reports of the presence of Israeli aircraft at the Chennai airfield with the aim to attack their nuclear testing site in Balochistan. At the same time, there was a US naval presence off the coast of Karachi. Their defence experts believed that if the reports of an attack being planned from India were correct, the US ships would move away before it was mounted and the ships did move away on May 27. These developments convinced them of the need of an urgent demarche. From what my interlocutor told me, they seemed to believe that the Americans were complicit in the plan to attack the Chagai hills testing site. ***** Reproduced from India's Pakistan Conundrum: Managing a Complex Relationship by Sharat Sabharwal with permission of INFORMA UK Limited through PLSclear. No part of this extract may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Pakistan’s nuclear brinkmanship

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that he is ready to engage with India provided the other side shows sincerity and purpose.

On the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sharif said that the engagement between the two countries is important for the peace and prosperity of the region but remained silent on the issue of terrorism in the recent past.

“We are willing to engage with India for the sake of peace, prosperity, and progress of the region. We cannot afford to have more poverty and unemployment on both sides of the border. Absolutely willing to have serious dialogue and discussions with our counterpart provided they show the sincerity of purpose,” Sharif said when asked about possible talks with India.

Sharif further said that the talks will be possible if both countries can keep aside issues that have caused rifts in the past and added that he is “committed to move forward”.

“If we don’t act speedily, then history will not forgive us. We can talk if they show that they are ready to discuss issues which have kept us at a distance over decades. This has to come to a stop and I am absolutely committed and ready to move forward.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/massive-overhaul-in-pakistans-top-military-brass-12-major-generals-promoted-524990" hreflang="en">Massive overhaul in Pakistan's top military brass</a>

Pakistan was recently devastated by floods which claimed the lives of over 1000 people and Sharif made it clear that the top priority of the nation is to rebuild and provide a better future for children.

“We need to really provide education, health, medicine, and jobs to our children. Cannot afford to deploy or commit meagre resources to create tensions. Enough is enough.”

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that he is ready to engage with India provided the other side shows sincerity and purpose. On the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sharif said that the engagement between the two countries is important for the peace and prosperity of the region but remained silent on the issue of terrorism in the recent past.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that he is ready to engage with India provided the other side shows sincerity and purpose. On the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sharif said that the engagement between the two countries is important for the peace and prosperity of the region but remained silent on the issue of terrorism in the recent past. “We are willing to engage with India for the sake of peace, prosperity, and progress of the region. We cannot afford to have more poverty and unemployment on both sides of the border. Absolutely willing to have serious dialogue and discussions with our counterpart provided they show the sincerity of purpose,” Sharif said when asked about possible talks with India. Sharif further said that the talks will be possible if both countries can keep aside issues that have caused rifts in the past and added that he is “committed to move forward”. “If we don’t act speedily, then history will not forgive us. We can talk if they show that they are ready to discuss issues which have kept us at a distance over decades. This has to come to a stop and I am absolutely committed and ready to move forward.” Also read | Massive overhaul in Pakistan's top military brass Pakistan was recently devastated by floods which claimed the lives of over 1000 people and Sharif made it clear that the top priority of the nation is to rebuild and provide a better future for children. “We need to really provide education, health, medicine, and jobs to our children. Cannot afford to deploy or commit meagre resources to create tensions. Enough is enough.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif says 'want talks with India', but remains silent on terrorism

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels.&nbsp;

The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together.

Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders.

Earlier&nbsp;this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity.

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Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1564254916134473728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity".

Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the&nbsp;SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner.&nbsp;

Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-asks-afghanistan-to-locate-and-arrest-of-jem-chief-maulana-masood-azhar-515965" hreflang="en">Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar</a>

But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels. The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together. Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders. Earlier this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity. Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2022 × But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity". Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner. Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015. Also read | Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

No structured Indo-Pak meet on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Samarkand

Virat Kohli has never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Be it about his form, the mental state is going through and much more. And most of the conversations have always revolved around cricket legend MS Dhoni.

The 33-year-old cricketer has not only often expressed his adulation of the World Cup-winning captain but has also spoken highly of the camaraderie shared between the two.

Speaking in a press conference shortly after Pakistan defeated India in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, Kohli revealed that it was only Dhoni who reached out to him when he relinquished his Test captaincy.

“When I left Test captaincy, I received a text from only one person that I have played with earlier, and that is MS Dhoni,” the 33-year-old swashbuckling batsman said on Sunday.

“Many people have my contact number, and there are many people who keep giving suggestions on TV, but I didn’t receive a message from any of them. So, when a connection with any person is genuine enough, it comes out in such a manner, because there is a sense of security on both sides.”

“Neither I want anything from him, nor does he want anything from me. And neither was I ever insecure of him, nor was he insecure of me about anything,” Kohli added.

Kohli also said that following his sump in form, lot of experts and former cricketers contacted him over the last few months.

Kohli said he listened only to a few as he took an indirect dig on others.

"Giving a lot of suggestion on various platforms isn't important for me as many did it. If I want to tell anyone something, I will reach out personally. If you give suggestions in front of the whole world, then for me that has no value," Kohli added.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Virat Kohli has never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Be it about his form, the mental state is going through and much more. And most of the conversations have always revolved around cricket legend MS Dhoni.

Virat Kohli has never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Be it about his form, the mental state is going through and much more. And most of the conversations have always revolved around cricket legend MS Dhoni. The 33-year-old cricketer has not only often expressed his adulation of the World Cup-winning captain but has also spoken highly of the camaraderie shared between the two. Speaking in a press conference shortly after Pakistan defeated India in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, Kohli revealed that it was only Dhoni who reached out to him when he relinquished his Test captaincy. “When I left Test captaincy, I received a text from only one person that I have played with earlier, and that is MS Dhoni,” the 33-year-old swashbuckling batsman said on Sunday. “Many people have my contact number, and there are many people who keep giving suggestions on TV, but I didn’t receive a message from any of them. So, when a connection with any person is genuine enough, it comes out in such a manner, because there is a sense of security on both sides.” “Neither I want anything from him, nor does he want anything from me. And neither was I ever insecure of him, nor was he insecure of me about anything,” Kohli added. Kohli also said that following his sump in form, lot of experts and former cricketers contacted him over the last few months. Kohli said he listened only to a few as he took an indirect dig on others. "Giving a lot of suggestion on various platforms isn't important for me as many did it. If I want to tell anyone something, I will reach out personally. If you give suggestions in front of the whole world, then for me that has no value," Kohli added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Only MS Dhoni texted me after leaving Test captaincy’, recalls Virat Kohli

A three-member Pakistani delegation will visit India over the weekend for talks under the Indus Water Commission. The talks will be on water sharing issues under Indus Water Pact.

The visit comes months after the Indian delegation visited Islamabad for annual the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The Indian delegation was in the capital city from March 1 to March 3 and was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.

This is the second Pakistani delegation to visit India in the last few weeks. Earlier this month, a Pakistani delegation visited Delhi for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) regional anti-terror structure (RATS) meet.

During the March Indus Water Commission meeting, the Indian side underscored that all its projects are fully compliant with the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty and provided technical details in support of this position. Both sides also discussed the issue of the Fazilka drain, and Pakistan assured that all necessary actions will continue to be taken to ensure the free flow of Fazilka drain into the river Sutlej.

Under the Indus water treaty of 1960, waters of three eastern rivers —Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—are allocated to India for unrestricted use while the three western rivers —Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab— go to Pakistan.

Additionally, New Delhi has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the three western rivers, subject to specific criteria for design. &nbsp;

Pakistan can, under the treaty, raise objections to the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers. In the past several, issues have been resolved. There is also a provision whereby both the countries can approach neutral experts or courts to resolve any issue.

A three-member Pakistani delegation will visit India over the weekend for talks under the Indus Water Commission. The talks will be on water sharing issues under Indus Water Pact.

A three-member Pakistani delegation will visit India over the weekend for talks under the Indus Water Commission. The talks will be on water sharing issues under Indus Water Pact. The visit comes months after the Indian delegation visited Islamabad for annual the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The Indian delegation was in the capital city from March 1 to March 3 and was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters. This is the second Pakistani delegation to visit India in the last few weeks. Earlier this month, a Pakistani delegation visited Delhi for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) regional anti-terror structure (RATS) meet. During the March Indus Water Commission meeting, the Indian side underscored that all its projects are fully compliant with the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty and provided technical details in support of this position. Both sides also discussed the issue of the Fazilka drain, and Pakistan assured that all necessary actions will continue to be taken to ensure the free flow of Fazilka drain into the river Sutlej. Under the Indus water treaty of 1960, waters of three eastern rivers —Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—are allocated to India for unrestricted use while the three western rivers —Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab— go to Pakistan. Additionally, New Delhi has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the three western rivers, subject to specific criteria for design. Pakistan can, under the treaty, raise objections to the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers. In the past several, issues have been resolved. There is also a provision whereby both the countries can approach neutral experts or courts to resolve any issue.

3-member Pak delegation to reach India over the weekend for Indus water talks

India on Sunday “registered strong protest” with Pakistan over the continued targeting of members of the minority community hours after two Sikh men were brutally gunned down in broad daylight by unidentified assailants in Pakistan's Peshawar city.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it has asked the authorities concerned to “sincerely investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this deplorable incident.”

"We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence,” it said.

“We expect that the Government of Pakistan, in discharge of its responsibilities, will look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities,” it added.

The deceased—identified as Ranjit Singh (42) and Kuljeet Singh (38)— were at their shops selling spices at Batta Tal Chowk in the Sarband area when two assailants arrived on a motorbike and opened fire.

Police have been dispatched to the site to take note of the matter. They are determining whether the deceased were victims of targeted killings.

Around 15,000 Sikhs live in Peshawar, mostly in the Jogan Shah neighbourhood of the provincial capital.

Most of the members of the Sikh community in Peshawar are involved in business, while some also run pharmacies.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has strongly condemned the attack and directed the police to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/2-sikh-men-shot-dead-in-pakistan-outrage-in-indias-punjab-state-hate-killing-suspected-479132">2 Sikh men shot dead in Pakistan, hate crime suspected</a>

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also denounced the killing, saying, "Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people.”

“Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested &amp; meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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India on Sunday “registered strong protest” with Pakistan over the continued targeting of members of the minority community hours after two Sikh men were brutally gunned down in broad daylight by unidentified assailants in Pakistan's Peshawar city.

India on Sunday “registered strong protest” with Pakistan over the continued targeting of members of the minority community hours after two Sikh men were brutally gunned down in broad daylight by unidentified assailants in Pakistan's Peshawar city. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it has asked the authorities concerned to “sincerely investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this deplorable incident.” "We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence,” it said. “We expect that the Government of Pakistan, in discharge of its responsibilities, will look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities,” it added. The deceased—identified as Ranjit Singh (42) and Kuljeet Singh (38)— were at their shops selling spices at Batta Tal Chowk in the Sarband area when two assailants arrived on a motorbike and opened fire. Police have been dispatched to the site to take note of the matter. They are determining whether the deceased were victims of targeted killings. Around 15,000 Sikhs live in Peshawar, mostly in the Jogan Shah neighbourhood of the provincial capital. Most of the members of the Sikh community in Peshawar are involved in business, while some also run pharmacies. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has strongly condemned the attack and directed the police to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits. Also read | 2 Sikh men shot dead in Pakistan, hate crime suspected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also denounced the killing, saying, "Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people.” “Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested & meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families." WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

2 Sikh men killed: India slams Pak over ‘continued targeting of minority community members’

Two terrorists arrested by the Delhi Police said they met a Pakistan Army Major while undergoing training in Pakistan, vindicating&nbsp;New Delhi’s long-held assertion that Islamabad is perpetrating terrorism in India.

They identified the army personnel after they were shown a photo of him with IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was in Pakistani custody three years ago, the Indian Express newspaper reported citing a chargesheet filed in a Delhi court.

The two terrorists— Zeeshan Qamar (28), a resident of Allahabad in UP, and Osama alias Sami (22), a resident of Jamia Nagar in Delhi—identified Pakistani Major Hamza, a resident of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir who lives in Islamabad.

“He was the head of the training which accused Zeeshan and Osama took from one Jabbar, Rawalpindi. Hamza also told them that he was also present at the time of arrest of Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was captured at Pakistan border during retaliation of Balakot air strike. He is a Major in Pak Army,” Investigation Officer ACP Lalit Mohan Negi states in the chargesheet.

The Delhi court took note of the chargesheet on Monday that was filed on February 9 this year.

Zeeshan and Osama were arrested last year from their alleged role in a terror plot.

According to the chargesheet, Osama and Zeeshan got training in 2021 in Pakistan and were getting instructions from the Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.

“They were asked to conduct recce of suitable locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for planting IEDs,” it said.

Apart from these two, the Delhi Police had also arrested Jaan Mohammed Sheikh (47) from Maharashtra, Moolchand alias Saaju (47) from UP’s Rae Bareli, Mohd Abu Bakar (23) from UP’s Bahraich and Mohd Amir Javed (31) from Lucknow, in September.

Indian Air Force (IAF) commander Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial dogfight.

The Pakistan Army was forced to release him due to the extensive pressure by the Indian side along with the international intervention into the matter.

Varthaman was part of the Srinagar-based 51 squadron and had flown to thwart an aerial attack launched by the Pakistanis on February 27, 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two terrorists arrested by the Delhi Police said they met a Pakistan Army Major while undergoing training in Pakistan, vindicating New Delhi’s long-held assertion that Islamabad is perpetrating terrorism in India.

Two terrorists arrested by the Delhi Police said they met a Pakistan Army Major while undergoing training in Pakistan, vindicating New Delhi’s long-held assertion that Islamabad is perpetrating terrorism in India. They identified the army personnel after they were shown a photo of him with IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was in Pakistani custody three years ago, the Indian Express newspaper reported citing a chargesheet filed in a Delhi court. The two terrorists— Zeeshan Qamar (28), a resident of Allahabad in UP, and Osama alias Sami (22), a resident of Jamia Nagar in Delhi—identified Pakistani Major Hamza, a resident of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir who lives in Islamabad. “He was the head of the training which accused Zeeshan and Osama took from one Jabbar, Rawalpindi. Hamza also told them that he was also present at the time of arrest of Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was captured at Pakistan border during retaliation of Balakot air strike. He is a Major in Pak Army,” Investigation Officer ACP Lalit Mohan Negi states in the chargesheet. The Delhi court took note of the chargesheet on Monday that was filed on February 9 this year. Zeeshan and Osama were arrested last year from their alleged role in a terror plot. According to the chargesheet, Osama and Zeeshan got training in 2021 in Pakistan and were getting instructions from the Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. “They were asked to conduct recce of suitable locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for planting IEDs,” it said. Apart from these two, the Delhi Police had also arrested Jaan Mohammed Sheikh (47) from Maharashtra, Moolchand alias Saaju (47) from UP’s Rae Bareli, Mohd Abu Bakar (23) from UP’s Bahraich and Mohd Amir Javed (31) from Lucknow, in September. Indian Air Force (IAF) commander Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial dogfight. The Pakistan Army was forced to release him due to the extensive pressure by the Indian side along with the international intervention into the matter. Varthaman was part of the Srinagar-based 51 squadron and had flown to thwart an aerial attack launched by the Pakistanis on February 27, 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

2 terrorists held in India met Pak Army Major who is seen in photo with IAF's Abhinandan

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asserted that repairing relations with its allies and neighbours, including India, would be the priority of his government.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Sharif blamed his predecessor Imran Khan for Pakistan’s “deteriorating” relations with neighbouring countries.

“My priority will be to mend ties with all allies and neighbours of Pakistan. The previous government made things worse,” Sharif said while responding to WION.

“I will work with all neighbours for the betterment of the environment, including India,” he added, before adding a rider that the peaceful relations between India and Pakistan is subjected to the Kashmir issue.

“I have already asked (Indian PM) Modi to resolve the Kashmir issue and move towards lasting peace,” he said.

Acknowledging that he has only one-half-years of his term, the prime minister assured that his administration will focus on bringing down inflation and put Pakistan on the path of development.

“The biggest challenge is to overcome the devastating economy and inflation. The term of the parliament is one and a half years, how long we have to stay, the allies will decide together,” Sharif said.

“As a Prime Minister, I am making short- and medium-term plans to reduce inflation. Nations can’t progress merely by words. The only way to move forward is to work more and more,” he added.

Immediately after assuming office, the prime minister abolished two weekly offs, and ordered to open all the government offices for six days a week.

Asked when will the cabinet be formed, Sharif said, “This is a coalition government, everyone has to be involved.”

He added that his brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will finalise the portfolios of PML-N party ministers.

Reacting to reports of President Arif Alvi taking sick leave hours before his swearing ceremony, Sharif said, “If the President is not well then, may Allah give him health.”

Meanwhile, Sharif is expected to make his first official visit to Saudi Arabia and China in a bid to boost Pakistan’s relations with both countries.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Pakistan has a new Prime Minister

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asserted that repairing relations with its allies and neighbours, including India, would be the priority of his government.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asserted that repairing relations with its allies and neighbours, including India, would be the priority of his government. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Sharif blamed his predecessor Imran Khan for Pakistan’s “deteriorating” relations with neighbouring countries. “My priority will be to mend ties with all allies and neighbours of Pakistan. The previous government made things worse,” Sharif said while responding to WION. “I will work with all neighbours for the betterment of the environment, including India,” he added, before adding a rider that the peaceful relations between India and Pakistan is subjected to the Kashmir issue. “I have already asked (Indian PM) Modi to resolve the Kashmir issue and move towards lasting peace,” he said. Acknowledging that he has only one-half-years of his term, the prime minister assured that his administration will focus on bringing down inflation and put Pakistan on the path of development. “The biggest challenge is to overcome the devastating economy and inflation. The term of the parliament is one and a half years, how long we have to stay, the allies will decide together,” Sharif said. “As a Prime Minister, I am making short- and medium-term plans to reduce inflation. Nations can’t progress merely by words. The only way to move forward is to work more and more,” he added. Immediately after assuming office, the prime minister abolished two weekly offs, and ordered to open all the government offices for six days a week. Asked when will the cabinet be formed, Sharif said, “This is a coalition government, everyone has to be involved.” He added that his brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will finalise the portfolios of PML-N party ministers. Reacting to reports of President Arif Alvi taking sick leave hours before his swearing ceremony, Sharif said, “If the President is not well then, may Allah give him health.” Meanwhile, Sharif is expected to make his first official visit to Saudi Arabia and China in a bid to boost Pakistan’s relations with both countries. Watch | Gravitas: Pakistan has a new Prime Minister

Mending ties with India, other neighbours will be priority of my government: Pak PM Sharif

India,&nbsp;under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is more like to respond to the Pakistan military’s real or perceived provocation than in the past, an annual threat assessment report by the US intelligence community told the US Congress.

The report released by the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said that the crisis between India and Pakistan was of particular concern "because of the risk – however low – of an escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states."

"Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-India militant groups; under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, and each side's perception of heightened tensions raises the risk of conflict, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints," the ODNI report said.

The report also acknowledged the growing strain in relations between India and China in the wake 2020 border clash, saying that there is a growing risk of armed confrontation between the two Asian giants.

"We assess that the expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between two nuclear powers that might involve direct threats to US persons and interests and calls for US intervention. Previous standoffs have demonstrated that persistent low-level friction on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate swiftly," the report noted.

The tensions between New Delhi and Beijing escalated following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020.

So far 14 rounds of talks have taken place to resolve the situation along&nbsp; the friction areas in eastern Ladakh, but with little success.

According to reports, India and China will be holding the 15th round of Corps Commander-level discussions on March 11 to try and resolve the issues.

As of now, China has a platoon-sized strength of troops on the Indian side of the&nbsp;Line of Actual Control&nbsp;(LAC)&nbsp;at Hot Springs.

Chinese troops are blocking Indian soldiers from accessing their traditional patrolling limits&nbsp;in Depsang Plains, which is close to India’s strategic Daulat Beg Oldie base in the north.

(With inputs from agencies)

India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is more like to respond to the Pakistan military’s real or perceived provocation than in the past, an annual threat assessment report by the US intelligence community told the US Congress.

India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is more like to respond to the Pakistan military’s real or perceived provocation than in the past, an annual threat assessment report by the US intelligence community told the US Congress. The report released by the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said that the crisis between India and Pakistan was of particular concern "because of the risk – however low – of an escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states." "Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-India militant groups; under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, and each side's perception of heightened tensions raises the risk of conflict, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints," the ODNI report said. The report also acknowledged the growing strain in relations between India and China in the wake 2020 border clash, saying that there is a growing risk of armed confrontation between the two Asian giants. "We assess that the expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between two nuclear powers that might involve direct threats to US persons and interests and calls for US intervention. Previous standoffs have demonstrated that persistent low-level friction on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate swiftly," the report noted. The tensions between New Delhi and Beijing escalated following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020. So far 14 rounds of talks have taken place to resolve the situation along the friction areas in eastern Ladakh, but with little success. According to reports, India and China will be holding the 15th round of Corps Commander-level discussions on March 11 to try and resolve the issues. As of now, China has a platoon-sized strength of troops on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Hot Springs. Chinese troops are blocking Indian soldiers from accessing their traditional patrolling limits in Depsang Plains, which is close to India’s strategic Daulat Beg Oldie base in the north. (With inputs from agencies)

India more likely to respond to Pakistan’s provocations under PM Modi: US Intel

Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Russia next week, Moscow has assured that the cooperation between the two countries is not aimed that any “third country”, which means India.

Khan's visit is the first such bilateral visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Russia in decades.

Though the dates of the visit haven't been officially announced yet, Pakistan media reports quoting diplomatic sources have confirmed that Khan is expected to visit Moscow from February 23 to 26.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In response to WION's question at the weekly Russian foreign ministry presser, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “I can assure you that the cooperation between Russia and Pakistan is not aimed at any third country. It is aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability in the region.”

She further said that both countries are “seeking to counter international terrorism and we seek to develop international trade”.&nbsp;

In 1999, the then Pakistani PM, Nawaz Sharif, visited Russia. It was followed by the visit of Pervez Musharraf in 2003, and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in 2011.

In 2017, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan went to Russia for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit (SCO) in Sochi, which wasn’t a bilateral visit.

The last formal bilateral meeting between both sides was when Sharif and President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan in June 2017.

Commenting on the India-Pakistan ties, the Russian spokesperson said that Mosco is “interested in seeing relations between India and Pakistan as good neighbourly relations and we would like to see the settlement of existing conflicts, for example, the Kashmir issue”.

Reiterating the long-standing position of Moscow, she said that all issues between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally under the Shimla and Lahore pacts.

Zakharova also welcomed the continuation of the 2003 ceasefire pact and the “statements by Pakistani leadership on normalising Indo-Pakistan ties."

Spokesperson Maria brushed aside the view that Moscow doesn't keep Indian sensitivities in mind in the backdrop of Imran Khan's visit.

She said, "It is nothing to do with reality. Delhi and Moscow enjoy tight cooperation and recently we had a series of contact despite the pandemic restrictions."

Russian President Putin visited Delhi in December 2021 for the annual India-Russia summit.

Later this year, PM Modi will be visiting the country as part of the annual summit. Other than that, both countries are engaging under the 2+2 foreign and defence ministers dialogue, the first of which took place last year.&nbsp;

While defence forms one of the main pillars of ties, both sides have been engaging in the economic area, Covid crisis and connectivity.

Internationally, both are members of the BRICS, SCO, RIC grouping.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said, “We understand that our countries bear a huge responsibility for peace and stability in the region and the level of contact we have between our leadership, it attests to the fact that we are indeed taken into account positions of each other.”

Responding to India-Russia engagement on the Afghanistan situation, she said, “We will coordinate our joint steps in national capacity on the international arena when it comes to dealing with the crisis in the country.”

India has been part of the Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan while the Russian NSA attended the Delhi security meet involving NSAs of several countries in the region.

The NSAs meeting in Delhi saw the participation of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Russia next week, Moscow has assured that the cooperation between the two countries is not aimed that any “third country”, which means India.

Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Russia next week, Moscow has assured that the cooperation between the two countries is not aimed that any “third country”, which means India. Khan's visit is the first such bilateral visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Russia in decades. Though the dates of the visit haven't been officially announced yet, Pakistan media reports quoting diplomatic sources have confirmed that Khan is expected to visit Moscow from February 23 to 26. In response to WION's question at the weekly Russian foreign ministry presser, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “I can assure you that the cooperation between Russia and Pakistan is not aimed at any third country. It is aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability in the region.” She further said that both countries are “seeking to counter international terrorism and we seek to develop international trade”. In 1999, the then Pakistani PM, Nawaz Sharif, visited Russia. It was followed by the visit of Pervez Musharraf in 2003, and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in 2011. In 2017, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan went to Russia for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit (SCO) in Sochi, which wasn’t a bilateral visit. The last formal bilateral meeting between both sides was when Sharif and President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan in June 2017. Commenting on the India-Pakistan ties, the Russian spokesperson said that Mosco is “interested in seeing relations between India and Pakistan as good neighbourly relations and we would like to see the settlement of existing conflicts, for example, the Kashmir issue”. Reiterating the long-standing position of Moscow, she said that all issues between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally under the Shimla and Lahore pacts. Zakharova also welcomed the continuation of the 2003 ceasefire pact and the “statements by Pakistani leadership on normalising Indo-Pakistan ties." Spokesperson Maria brushed aside the view that Moscow doesn't keep Indian sensitivities in mind in the backdrop of Imran Khan's visit. She said, "It is nothing to do with reality. Delhi and Moscow enjoy tight cooperation and recently we had a series of contact despite the pandemic restrictions." Russian President Putin visited Delhi in December 2021 for the annual India-Russia summit. Later this year, PM Modi will be visiting the country as part of the annual summit. Other than that, both countries are engaging under the 2+2 foreign and defence ministers dialogue, the first of which took place last year. While defence forms one of the main pillars of ties, both sides have been engaging in the economic area, Covid crisis and connectivity. Internationally, both are members of the BRICS, SCO, RIC grouping. The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said, “We understand that our countries bear a huge responsibility for peace and stability in the region and the level of contact we have between our leadership, it attests to the fact that we are indeed taken into account positions of each other.” Responding to India-Russia engagement on the Afghanistan situation, she said, “We will coordinate our joint steps in national capacity on the international arena when it comes to dealing with the crisis in the country.” India has been part of the Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan while the Russian NSA attended the Delhi security meet involving NSAs of several countries in the region. The NSAs meeting in Delhi saw the participation of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Ahead of PM Khan's visit, Russia assures Moscow-Islamabad cooperation not against India

India’s Charge d'Affaires who was summoned over the hijab controversy in Islamabad on Thursday hit back&nbsp;saying that Pakistan should “track their own record” before throwing “baseless” allegations against India, Indian media reported citing diplomatic officials.

According to reports, Indian envoy Suresh Kumar told his counterparts in Pakistan foreign office that “India is a secular country” and there are “processes in place”.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s foreign office said that the Indian diplomat was conveyed Pakistan's deep concern over alleged religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation and discrimination against Muslims in India.

A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said, "The Charge d' Affaires was urged to convey to the Government of India, Pakistan's extreme concern over the anti-hijab campaign, being spearheaded by RSS-BJP combine in Karnataka, which is part of its larger exclusionist and majoritarian agenda aimed at dehumanising and demonising Muslim women."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-hijab-row-from-dress-code-to-protests-what-really-is-the-issue-451444">Karnataka hijab row: From dress code to protests, what really is the issue?</a>

"The Indian government must hold the perpetrators of harassment against women in Karnataka to account and take adequate measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Muslim women," news agency PTI reported, citing the statement.

The hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in southern Karnataka state when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-hijab-niqab-burqa-the-different-islamic-clothing-for-women-451678">Explainer: Hijab, Niqab, Burqa, the different Islamic clothing for women</a>

The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Ukraine Direct: India debates Hijab ban in colleges

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Following these protests, a three-day holiday from February 9 to 11 has been declared in all the universities under the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE).

(With inputs from agencies)

India’s Charge d'Affaires who was summoned over the hijab controversy in Islamabad on Thursday hit back saying that Pakistan should “track their own record” before throwing “baseless” allegations against India, Indian media reported citing diplomatic officials.

India’s Charge d'Affaires who was summoned over the hijab controversy in Islamabad on Thursday hit back saying that Pakistan should “track their own record” before throwing “baseless” allegations against India, Indian media reported citing diplomatic officials. According to reports, Indian envoy Suresh Kumar told his counterparts in Pakistan foreign office that “India is a secular country” and there are “processes in place”. Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s foreign office said that the Indian diplomat was conveyed Pakistan's deep concern over alleged religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation and discrimination against Muslims in India. A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said, "The Charge d' Affaires was urged to convey to the Government of India, Pakistan's extreme concern over the anti-hijab campaign, being spearheaded by RSS-BJP combine in Karnataka, which is part of its larger exclusionist and majoritarian agenda aimed at dehumanising and demonising Muslim women." Also read | Karnataka hijab row: From dress code to protests, what really is the issue? "The Indian government must hold the perpetrators of harassment against women in Karnataka to account and take adequate measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Muslim women," news agency PTI reported, citing the statement. The hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in southern Karnataka state when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women). Also read | Explainer: Hijab, Niqab, Burqa, the different Islamic clothing for women The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. Watch | Gravitas Ukraine Direct: India debates Hijab ban in colleges Following these protests, a three-day holiday from February 9 to 11 has been declared in all the universities under the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE). (With inputs from agencies)

‘Look at your own record’: Indian envoy summoned over hijab controversy hits back at Pakistan

India on Tuesday summoned the South Korean envoy over a social media post of Hyundai’s Pakistan unit supporting Pakistan engineered ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’.

In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India’s “strong displeasure on the unacceptable social media post” by Hyundai Pakistan was expressed to the Indian Ambassador in Seoul.

“Ambassador of Republic of Korea was summoned by MEA yesterday. Strong displeasure of government on unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed to him,” the MEA said in a statement.

The MEA said that it welcomes investments by foreign companies in various sectors, but it also expected them to refrain from making misleading comments on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Earlier in the day, India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar received a call from South Korea's foreign minister Chung Eui-yong, where the controversial matter was discussed.

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Received a call from ROK FM Chung Eui-yong today. Discussed bilateral and multilateral issues as also the Hyundai matter.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1490975347906547713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, car manufacturer Hyundai said it regrets the offence caused to Indians due to an 'unauthorised'&nbsp;tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kfc-pakistan-post-on-kashmir-starts-hyundai-like-controversy-451266">Now, did KFC just join Pakistan's Kashmir bandwagon after Hyundai and Kia?</a>

“As a business policy, Hyundai Motor Company does not comment on political or religious issues in any specific region. We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity,” Hyundai said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

Watch |&nbsp;Is Pakistan pushing corporates to peddle its anti-India agenda?

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Hyundai has been facing calls for a boycott by hundreds of social media users in India over the Kashmir post.

The social media users said the company must apologise for being insensitive to India’s position on the decades-old dispute over Kashmir.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Hyundai Pakistan's social media handles shared posts in solidarity with the "Kashmiri brothers" in their "struggle for freedom". The social media posts were later removed.

Pakistan observes February 5 as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ to show its support for the separatist movement in Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)

India on Tuesday summoned the South Korean envoy over a social media post of Hyundai’s Pakistan unit supporting Pakistan engineered ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India’s “strong displeasure on the unacceptable social media post” by Hyundai Pakistan was expressed to the Indian Ambassador in Seoul.

India on Tuesday summoned the South Korean envoy over a social media post of Hyundai’s Pakistan unit supporting Pakistan engineered ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India’s “strong displeasure on the unacceptable social media post” by Hyundai Pakistan was expressed to the Indian Ambassador in Seoul. “Ambassador of Republic of Korea was summoned by MEA yesterday. Strong displeasure of government on unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan was conveyed to him,” the MEA said in a statement. The MEA said that it welcomes investments by foreign companies in various sectors, but it also expected them to refrain from making misleading comments on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Earlier in the day, India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar received a call from South Korea's foreign minister Chung Eui-yong, where the controversial matter was discussed. Received a call from ROK FM Chung Eui-yong today. Discussed bilateral and multilateral issues as also the Hyundai matter. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 8, 2022 × Meanwhile, car manufacturer Hyundai said it regrets the offence caused to Indians due to an 'unauthorised' tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner. Also read | Now, did KFC just join Pakistan's Kashmir bandwagon after Hyundai and Kia? “As a business policy, Hyundai Motor Company does not comment on political or religious issues in any specific region. We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity,” Hyundai said in a Twitter post on Tuesday. Watch | Is Pakistan pushing corporates to peddle its anti-India agenda? Hyundai has been facing calls for a boycott by hundreds of social media users in India over the Kashmir post. The social media users said the company must apologise for being insensitive to India’s position on the decades-old dispute over Kashmir. On Saturday, Hyundai Pakistan's social media handles shared posts in solidarity with the "Kashmiri brothers" in their "struggle for freedom". The social media posts were later removed. Pakistan observes February 5 as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ to show its support for the separatist movement in Kashmir. (With inputs from agencies)

India takes tough stand over Hyundai Pakistan's post on Kashmir, summons South Korean envoy

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), highlighting how "terrorists enjoy free pass" in the country while the lives of "ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down."

The remarks from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, R Madhu Sudan, came after Pakistan raked up the Kashmir issue at the council during a debate on “protection of civilians in urban settings”.

"Member states are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists", he said on Monday.

Adding, “This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy.”

There have been a number of terror attacks in India—from the 2008 Mumbai terror attack to Uri and Pulwana attacks of 2016 and 2019—where the links with the Pakistan based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Muhammad have been established.

Other than India, there have been other international terror attacks, including the recent Texas attack, that have had links with Pakistan.

The main perpetrator of the Texas hostage incident was identified as Malik Faisal, a UK resident of Pakistani origin.

Pointing out that Pakistan holds the "ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UNSC”, the Indian diplomat recalled when Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan&nbsp;called the 9/11 conspirator, Osama Bin Laden, a “martyr” during a debate at the national assembly in June last year.

“Pakistani Prime Minister (Imran Khan)and foreign minister (Shah Mahmood Qureshi) have been called out for being supporters of terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden, but they continue to carry on the same path undeterred,” he said.

He also raised the issue of the 26/11 terror incident, saying that the “perpetrators of the heinous terror attack in Mumbai in 2008 continue to enjoy the patronage of the state which they represent”.

On Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue, the Indian diplomat reminded said, “The union territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh were, are, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets.”

&nbsp;He called on Pakistan to “immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation”.

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), highlighting how "terrorists enjoy free pass" in the country while the lives of "ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down.

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), highlighting how "terrorists enjoy free pass" in the country while the lives of "ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down." The remarks from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, R Madhu Sudan, came after Pakistan raked up the Kashmir issue at the council during a debate on “protection of civilians in urban settings”. "Member states are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists", he said on Monday. Adding, “This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy.” There have been a number of terror attacks in India—from the 2008 Mumbai terror attack to Uri and Pulwana attacks of 2016 and 2019—where the links with the Pakistan based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Muhammad have been established. Other than India, there have been other international terror attacks, including the recent Texas attack, that have had links with Pakistan. The main perpetrator of the Texas hostage incident was identified as Malik Faisal, a UK resident of Pakistani origin. Pointing out that Pakistan holds the "ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UNSC”, the Indian diplomat recalled when Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called the 9/11 conspirator, Osama Bin Laden, a “martyr” during a debate at the national assembly in June last year. “Pakistani Prime Minister (Imran Khan)and foreign minister (Shah Mahmood Qureshi) have been called out for being supporters of terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden, but they continue to carry on the same path undeterred,” he said. He also raised the issue of the 26/11 terror incident, saying that the “perpetrators of the heinous terror attack in Mumbai in 2008 continue to enjoy the patronage of the state which they represent”. On Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue, the Indian diplomat reminded said, “The union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were, are, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets.” He called on Pakistan to “immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation”.

Terrorists enjoy free pass in Pakistan: Indian diplomat Madhu Sudan at UNSC

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