As the dust settles over Pakistan hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) head of government meeting, it is clear in the Indian subcontinent that the group is all about India-Pakistan engagement. To understand SCO, a group that was formed in 2001, one needs to understand its protocols and the group.&nbsp; 
 
SCO has 10 members, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran, Belarus and the four central Asian countries viz., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017&nbsp;the group expanded to include India and Pakistan. Since then, two expansions have taken place to include Iran and Belarus.

Each member of the grouping gets to chair the summit, which involves the head of state (HoS), and the head of government (HoG) which is basically at the prime minister's level. Whoever hosts the HoS summit is the chair of the grouping for that year and hosts all major events associated with SCO that year, which includes foreign ministers, defence ministers, and security officials. India was the chair of SCO last year and hosted the summit and other related meetings, virtually.

The events included the foreign ministers' meeting as well, which saw then-Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto travelling to Goa. His visit naturally dominated the foreign minister meeting, since he decided to host an ill-conceived presser involving just the Pakistani media and mentioned Kashmir. India's response was strong, and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's presser was a visible manifestation of seething anger.

The ghost of Goa was buried with the "courteous" actions of Jaishankar, as described by himself ahead of the visit. A few days ahead of his visit, the EAM&nbsp;said that he was going to Islamabad in a multilateral context and not to discuss India and Pakistan.&nbsp;

"Since I'm a courteous, civil person, I will behave myself accordingly."

Two public handshakes, one national statement, one tree planting and one morning walk all that in the almost 24-hour-long visit.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-summit-in-pakistan-767979">Watch |&nbsp;SCO Summit in Pakistan</a>

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Pakistani media and officials have been in full flurry of sending feelers that Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Jati Umra are on the same page on talks with India. Cricket is seen as low-hanging fruit by them, though it has been dismissed by the Indian side that resumption of cricket ties is not on the cards. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday (Oct 17) said: "Nothing of that sort happened...also the reports were not accurate.”

As the hullabaloo over the visit dies down, the point is clear, New Delhi's policy of "talks and terror" can't go together, continues. The policy that came into being after Pathankot (2016) and the Pulwama terror attack (2019), has seen a decreased engagement with Pakistan in all spheres – political, entertainment and sports. After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan cut down further engagement, by expelling an Indian envoy, cutting rail, road, and bus linkages and stopping trade to almost nil barring pharma.

Pakistan will continue to harp on Kashmir, as seen ahead of Indian EAM’s visit by comments made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Islamabad cannot let go of Kashmir rhetoric, simply because the political rhetoric in the country is tied to it. The country won't be able to do anything much about&nbsp;it, other than making comments that serve the "establishment".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who once found it quite fashionable to mention Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has now moved on to matters he deems more pressing. When even your allies start to ignore the script, it's time to consider one might be performing in an empty house.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sco-roundup-india-opposes-chinas-obor-jaishankar-schools-pakistan-and-more-768020">Also read |&nbsp;SCO roundup: India opposes China's OBOR, Jaishankar schools Pakistan, and more</a>

Today, New Delhi has no interest, incentive or stakeholdership in talking to Pakistan. The country has been supportive of anti-India elements, and terror groups like JeM, LeT, and tiredness remains over the conversational quagmire with Islamabad. 70 years is a long time, and for India's next generation, they look upon Pakistan not with the burdened eyes of history but with the indifference of those who have moved on. No stakes, no baggage – just another dot on the map.

Coke Studio Pakistan may be popular for many while going to work in Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bengaluru but it is only there till the playlist changes to the next new song. For many Indians today, Pakistan is just another country, a country with which India has a negative past and an uncertain future.

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.

As the dust settles over Pakistan hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) head of government meeting, it is clear in the Indian subcontinent that the group is all about India-Pakistan engagement.

As the dust settles over Pakistan hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) head of government meeting, it is clear in the Indian subcontinent that the group is all about India-Pakistan engagement. To understand SCO, a group that was formed in 2001, one needs to understand its protocols and the group. SCO has 10 members, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran, Belarus and the four central Asian countries viz., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017 the group expanded to include India and Pakistan. Since then, two expansions have taken place to include Iran and Belarus. Each member of the grouping gets to chair the summit, which involves the head of state (HoS), and the head of government (HoG) which is basically at the prime minister's level. Whoever hosts the HoS summit is the chair of the grouping for that year and hosts all major events associated with SCO that year, which includes foreign ministers, defence ministers, and security officials. India was the chair of SCO last year and hosted the summit and other related meetings, virtually. The events included the foreign ministers' meeting as well, which saw then-Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto travelling to Goa. His visit naturally dominated the foreign minister meeting, since he decided to host an ill-conceived presser involving just the Pakistani media and mentioned Kashmir. India's response was strong, and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's presser was a visible manifestation of seething anger. The ghost of Goa was buried with the "courteous" actions of Jaishankar, as described by himself ahead of the visit. A few days ahead of his visit, the EAM said that he was going to Islamabad in a multilateral context and not to discuss India and Pakistan. "Since I'm a courteous, civil person, I will behave myself accordingly." Two public handshakes, one national statement, one tree planting and one morning walk all that in the almost 24-hour-long visit. Watch | SCO Summit in Pakistan × Pakistani media and officials have been in full flurry of sending feelers that Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Jati Umra are on the same page on talks with India. Cricket is seen as low-hanging fruit by them, though it has been dismissed by the Indian side that resumption of cricket ties is not on the cards. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday (Oct 17) said: "Nothing of that sort happened...also the reports were not accurate.” As the hullabaloo over the visit dies down, the point is clear, New Delhi's policy of "talks and terror" can't go together, continues. The policy that came into being after Pathankot (2016) and the Pulwama terror attack (2019), has seen a decreased engagement with Pakistan in all spheres – political, entertainment and sports. After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan cut down further engagement, by expelling an Indian envoy, cutting rail, road, and bus linkages and stopping trade to almost nil barring pharma. Pakistan will continue to harp on Kashmir, as seen ahead of Indian EAM’s visit by comments made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Islamabad cannot let go of Kashmir rhetoric, simply because the political rhetoric in the country is tied to it. The country won't be able to do anything much about it, other than making comments that serve the "establishment". Even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who once found it quite fashionable to mention Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has now moved on to matters he deems more pressing. When even your allies start to ignore the script, it's time to consider one might be performing in an empty house. Also read | SCO roundup: India opposes China's OBOR, Jaishankar schools Pakistan, and more Today, New Delhi has no interest, incentive or stakeholdership in talking to Pakistan. The country has been supportive of anti-India elements, and terror groups like JeM, LeT, and tiredness remains over the conversational quagmire with Islamabad. 70 years is a long time, and for India's next generation, they look upon Pakistan not with the burdened eyes of history but with the indifference of those who have moved on. No stakes, no baggage – just another dot on the map. Coke Studio Pakistan may be popular for many while going to work in Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bengaluru but it is only there till the playlist changes to the next new song. For many Indians today, Pakistan is just another country, a country with which India has a negative past and an uncertain future. 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.

View from Delhi: No talks with Pakistan yet, the old cycle won't continue

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is attending&nbsp;the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad, took swipe at neighbours Pakistan and China. The Indian foreign minister said, "If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel."

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:103,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2079}">Mutual respect</h2>

Speaking of cooperation among SCO member states, Jaishankar stressed the importance of mutual respect and territorial integrity as foundational principles.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:197,&quot;w&quot;:698,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2173}" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-sco-summit-jaishankars-visit-to-pakistan-includes-possible-dinner-with-pm-shehbaz-sharif-report-767376">Ahead of SCO Summit, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan includes possible dinner with PM Shehbaz Sharif: Report</a>

"Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. It should recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty. Cooperation must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices," he remarked in an apparent dig at Pakistan and China.

Jaishankar highlighted that development and growth hinge on peace and stability, emphasising the need for a firm commitment to the SCO Charter.&nbsp;

"Our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the SCO Charter remains firm. It is axiomatic that development and growth require peace and stability. And as the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the three evils'."

"Our collective endeavours can expand resources and encourage investment flows," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:463,&quot;w&quot;:685,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2439}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sco-summit-2024-check-key-attendees-dates-and-agenda-s-jaishankar-to-attend-767640">SCO Summit 2024: Check key attendees, dates and agenda; Jaishankar representing India</a>

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Delivered 🇮🇳’s national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting today morning in Islamabad. 
 
SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world. In this context, highlighted that: 
 
➡️ SCO’s primary goal of combatting… <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:297,&quot;y&quot;:673,&quot;w&quot;:178,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:330,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2649}" href="https://t.co/oC2wHsWWHD">pic.twitter.com/oC2wHsWWHD</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:457,&quot;y&quot;:701,&quot;w&quot;:100,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:490,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2677}" href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1846442733487202317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:772,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2748}">Momentous visit</h2>

This marks the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Pakistan in nine years. The previous visit was in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj travelled to Islamabad for the 'Heart of Asia' conference on Afghanistan, accompanied by Jaishankar, who was then serving as India's foreign secretary.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad, took swipe at neighbours Pakistan and China.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad, took swipe at neighbours Pakistan and China. The Indian foreign minister said, "If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel." Mutual respect Speaking of cooperation among SCO member states, Jaishankar stressed the importance of mutual respect and territorial integrity as foundational principles. Also read | Ahead of SCO Summit, Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan includes possible dinner with PM Shehbaz Sharif: Report "Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. It should recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty. Cooperation must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices," he remarked in an apparent dig at Pakistan and China. Jaishankar highlighted that development and growth hinge on peace and stability, emphasising the need for a firm commitment to the SCO Charter. "Our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the SCO Charter remains firm. It is axiomatic that development and growth require peace and stability. And as the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the three evils'." "Our collective endeavours can expand resources and encourage investment flows," he added. Also read | SCO Summit 2024: Check key attendees, dates and agenda; Jaishankar representing India Delivered 🇮🇳’s national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting today morning in Islamabad. SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world. In this context, highlighted that: ➡️ SCO’s primary goal of combatting… pic.twitter.com/oC2wHsWWHD — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 16, 2024 × Momentous visit This marks the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Pakistan in nine years. The previous visit was in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj travelled to Islamabad for the 'Heart of Asia' conference on Afghanistan, accompanied by Jaishankar, who was then serving as India's foreign secretary. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian FM Jaishankar takes a jab at Pak, China at SCO: 'Terrorism...hardly likely to encourage connectivity'

India has once again called on Pakistan to amend or "review and modify" the Indus Water Treaty, with a diplomatic note sent to Islamabad on August 30, 2024. New Delhi has made a firm case, citing Article XII(3) of the treaty, which allows for amendments to emphasise the need for changes.

Under the Article, the treaty can be modified from time to time for which both governments need to sit for negotiations.

"Provisions of this treaty may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments," it says.&nbsp; 
 
India had last year also reached out to Pakistan seeking to "review and modify" the treaty, but no concrete response came from Islamabad.&nbsp;

Nearly a month has passed and Pakistan&nbsp;is yet to respond to India's diplomatic note sent in August. In the note, India highlighted the significant global changes since 1960 and stressed the importance of initiating talks to amend the treaty.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indus-water-treaty-first-pakistan-delegation-since-article-370-abrogation-arrives-in-jammu-734714">Watch |&nbsp;Indus Water Treaty: First Pakistan delegation since Article 370 abrogation arrives in Jammu</a>

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The Indus Water Treaty was originally signed in 1960 in Karachi by then-Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then-Pakistani President Ayub Khan. One of the key reasons for seeking an amendment to the treaty is India's increasing reliance on hydropower and the need to accelerate clean energy development to meet its emission targets.

The push for amendments also arises amid controversy surrounding the Kishanganga and Ratle hydro projects. In response, the World Bank has simultaneously activated both the neutral expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration to address the same issues. Consequently, India has called for a reconsideration of the treaty's dispute resolution mechanism.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-ready-reckoner-on-india-pakistan-tensions-over-indus-waters-treaty-562799">Also read |&nbsp;Explained: India-Pakistan tensions over Indus Waters Treaty | A ready reckoner</a>

Under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, the water of three eastern rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi are allocated to India for unrestricted use while the waters of 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;

India has once again called on Pakistan to amend or "review and modify" the Indus Water Treaty, with a diplomatic note sent to Islamabad on August 30, 2024. New Delhi has made a firm case, citing Article XII(3) of the treaty, which allows for amendments to emphasise the need for changes.

India has once again called on Pakistan to amend or "review and modify" the Indus Water Treaty, with a diplomatic note sent to Islamabad on August 30, 2024. New Delhi has made a firm case, citing Article XII(3) of the treaty, which allows for amendments to emphasise the need for changes. Under the Article, the treaty can be modified from time to time for which both governments need to sit for negotiations. "Provisions of this treaty may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments," it says. India had last year also reached out to Pakistan seeking to "review and modify" the treaty, but no concrete response came from Islamabad. Nearly a month has passed and Pakistan is yet to respond to India's diplomatic note sent in August. In the note, India highlighted the significant global changes since 1960 and stressed the importance of initiating talks to amend the treaty. Watch | Indus Water Treaty: First Pakistan delegation since Article 370 abrogation arrives in Jammu × The Indus Water Treaty was originally signed in 1960 in Karachi by then-Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then-Pakistani President Ayub Khan. One of the key reasons for seeking an amendment to the treaty is India's increasing reliance on hydropower and the need to accelerate clean energy development to meet its emission targets. The push for amendments also arises amid controversy surrounding the Kishanganga and Ratle hydro projects. In response, the World Bank has simultaneously activated both the neutral expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration to address the same issues. Consequently, India has called for a reconsideration of the treaty's dispute resolution mechanism. Also read | Explained: India-Pakistan tensions over Indus Waters Treaty | A ready reckoner Under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, the water of three eastern rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi are allocated to India for unrestricted use while the waters of 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.

India pushes for revisions to Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan

Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, but Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone, a new survey by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has revealed. The survey was done with the CVoter Foundation to discover the changing viewpoints of the citizens of three South Asian nations - Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis - towards each other.&nbsp;

The report, titled South Asia in a Changing World, is the latest in a long list of conversations aimed at fostering more cooperation among the three nations.

The survey also shows that most people agreed that partition of the Indian subcontinent was the right call. It includes both the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan and the 1971 partition of Pakistan and Bangladesh (then called East Pakistan).&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/necessary-steps-will-be-taken-new-bangladesh-government-to-extradite-ex-pm-sheikh-hasina-from-india-756912">'Necessary steps will be taken': New Bangladesh government seeks extradition of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina from India</a>v

“Partition is not something of the past, it is very much present. Our international and regional relations are really a reflection of our inability to solve the creation of new sovereignties, not once but twice over,” said journalist and foreign policy analyst C Raja Mohan at a panel discussion following the launch of the report in Delhi on August 29.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;India-Bangladesh: What's next for India-Bangladesh relations?

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The report does not account for the significant changes that have unfolded in any of the countries since 2002 - the 2024 general election in India, the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the unofficial coup of Imran Khan by the Pakistani Army. The report instead, surveyed 12,258 people regarding their thoughts on Partition and vote-buying prevalence in their respective countries.

<h2>Key findings of the survey&nbsp;</h2>

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Around 78 per cent of Indian respondents surveyed said they don’t trust Pakistan, while 60 per cent of Pakistanis who participated in the study said they didn’t trust Indians. In contrast, 66 per cent of Bangladeshi respondents trust India and 63 per cent trust Pakistan.

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;All the people surveyed said Partition was the right call; however, the number was lowest in India. While a majority of the respondents agreed that Partition was necessary, more Indians said they wished it could be reversed. This was in response to a hypothetical question: If a reversal of the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition is proposed, would you support it?

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-authorities-crack-down-on-fake-tourists-heading-to-middle-east-to-beg-749515">Pakistan: Authorities crack down on 'fake' tourists heading to Middle East to beg</a>

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Citizens were moderately satisfied with the economic development of their respective countries but were greatly optimistic about the future. &nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;While India and Bangladesh have had significant economic growth in recent years, panellists admitted to not having a reason to explain this optimism, especially in Pakistan.

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Similarly, citizens showed increasing religiosity, but at the same time, were also concerned about the rising influence of religious leaders. There is nostalgia about pre-Partition times, yet no real belief in the possibility of India and Pakistan being friends.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, but Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone, a new survey by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has revealed. The survey was done with the CVoter Foundation to discover the changing viewpoints of the citizens of three South Asian nations - Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis - towards each other.

Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, but Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone, a new survey by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has revealed. The survey was done with the CVoter Foundation to discover the changing viewpoints of the citizens of three South Asian nations - Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis - towards each other. The report, titled South Asia in a Changing World, is the latest in a long list of conversations aimed at fostering more cooperation among the three nations. The survey also shows that most people agreed that partition of the Indian subcontinent was the right call. It includes both the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan and the 1971 partition of Pakistan and Bangladesh (then called East Pakistan). Also Read | 'Necessary steps will be taken': New Bangladesh government seeks extradition of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina from Indiav “Partition is not something of the past, it is very much present. Our international and regional relations are really a reflection of our inability to solve the creation of new sovereignties, not once but twice over,” said journalist and foreign policy analyst C Raja Mohan at a panel discussion following the launch of the report in Delhi on August 29. Watch | India-Bangladesh: What's next for India-Bangladesh relations? × The report does not account for the significant changes that have unfolded in any of the countries since 2002 - the 2024 general election in India, the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the unofficial coup of Imran Khan by the Pakistani Army. The report instead, surveyed 12,258 people regarding their thoughts on Partition and vote-buying prevalence in their respective countries. Key findings of the survey - Around 78 per cent of Indian respondents surveyed said they don’t trust Pakistan, while 60 per cent of Pakistanis who participated in the study said they didn’t trust Indians. In contrast, 66 per cent of Bangladeshi respondents trust India and 63 per cent trust Pakistan. - All the people surveyed said Partition was the right call; however, the number was lowest in India. While a majority of the respondents agreed that Partition was necessary, more Indians said they wished it could be reversed. This was in response to a hypothetical question: If a reversal of the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition is proposed, would you support it? Also Read | Pakistan: Authorities crack down on 'fake' tourists heading to Middle East to beg - Citizens were moderately satisfied with the economic development of their respective countries but were greatly optimistic about the future. - While India and Bangladesh have had significant economic growth in recent years, panellists admitted to not having a reason to explain this optimism, especially in Pakistan. - Similarly, citizens showed increasing religiosity, but at the same time, were also concerned about the rising influence of religious leaders. There is nostalgia about pre-Partition times, yet no real belief in the possibility of India and Pakistan being friends. (With inputs from agencies)

Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone: Survey

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has made it clear that India is not in favour of having extended dialogue with Pakistan, adding that the actions of the neighbouring nation had consequences.&nbsp;

Jaishankar was speaking at a book launch event in the capital city of New Delhi, where he touched upon several topics, including the approach of the Narendra Modi government in dealing with Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences," said Jaishankar.&nbsp;

"So far as J&amp;K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of relationship we can contemplate with Pakistan...What I do want to say is that we are not passive, and whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react," he added.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Speaking on Pakistan at a book launch event in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&amp;K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of… <a href="https://t.co/41ZSq9VQHs">pic.twitter.com/41ZSq9VQHs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1829401657135837605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Watch:&nbsp;Pakistan: Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility for militants attacks in Balochistan

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<h2>PM Modi receives SCO invite</h2>

Jaishankar's statement comes a day after Pakistan said it was formally extending an invitation to the Indian prime minister for the upcoming&nbsp;Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, slated to be held in Islamabad in October.

"An invitation has also been sent to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," said&nbsp;Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson.&nbsp;

However, it is highly unlikely that PM Modi will travel to Pakistan, given the tense relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. The statement by Jaishankar further proved that India was not willing to go back on its strategy of keeping communication minimal with its Pakistani counterparts.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-modi-to-travel-to-pakistan-islamabad-formally-invites-indian-leader-for-sco-summit-754370">Also read |&nbsp;PM Modi to travel to Pakistan? Islamabad formally invites Indian leader for SCO summit</a>

PM Modi in his first term attempted to forge a working relationship with Pakistan but the continuous terror attacks from the other side forced him to take a much conservative position which resulted in New Delhi completely shunning Islamabad on all platforms.

The strategy opted during his second tenure as the PM has carried onto the current regime and might remain the de facto&nbsp;modus operandi for years to come. India has laid the preconditions for resumption of talks and that includes Pakistan not using 'terrorism' as a legitimate tool for diplomacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has made it clear that India is not in favour of having extended dialogue with Pakistan, adding that the actions of the neighbouring nation had consequences.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has made it clear that India is not in favour of having extended dialogue with Pakistan, adding that the actions of the neighbouring nation had consequences. Jaishankar was speaking at a book launch event in the capital city of New Delhi, where he touched upon several topics, including the approach of the Narendra Modi government in dealing with Pakistan. "The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences," said Jaishankar. "So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of relationship we can contemplate with Pakistan...What I do want to say is that we are not passive, and whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react," he added. #WATCH | Speaking on Pakistan at a book launch event in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of… pic.twitter.com/41ZSq9VQHs — ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2024 × Watch: Pakistan: Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility for militants attacks in Balochistan PM Modi receives SCO invite Jaishankar's statement comes a day after Pakistan said it was formally extending an invitation to the Indian prime minister for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, slated to be held in Islamabad in October. "An invitation has also been sent to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson. However, it is highly unlikely that PM Modi will travel to Pakistan, given the tense relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. The statement by Jaishankar further proved that India was not willing to go back on its strategy of keeping communication minimal with its Pakistani counterparts. Also read | PM Modi to travel to Pakistan? Islamabad formally invites Indian leader for SCO summit PM Modi in his first term attempted to forge a working relationship with Pakistan but the continuous terror attacks from the other side forced him to take a much conservative position which resulted in New Delhi completely shunning Islamabad on all platforms. The strategy opted during his second tenure as the PM has carried onto the current regime and might remain the de facto modus operandi for years to come. India has laid the preconditions for resumption of talks and that includes Pakistan not using 'terrorism' as a legitimate tool for diplomacy. (With inputs from agencies)

India's EAM Jaishankar declares 'era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan' over

In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram. The case was filed this week against a 23-year-old woman from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh who lives in the western city of Thane.

The whole incident happened between May 2023 and 2024, according to police.&nbsp;

The woman, identified as Sanam Khan, has been taken into custody, the Indian news agency ANI reported, but other reports said that arrests are yet to be made.

The woman, who is married, had gone to Pakistan last year with her two children and reportedly married&nbsp;her Instagram lover.&nbsp;She had initially gone on a one-month visa, and wanted to stay on for another six months, for which she filed an application with the Indian authorities. The application was rejected and at the same time, she came under lens of Indian security agencies.

It emerged that she had made a fake Aadhaar card (the Indian identity document) and&nbsp;a PAN card (used for taxation and identity purposes). She also forged the birth certificate and got a passport under a fake name.

She managed to pass police verification for passport using the forged documents and travelled to Pakistan in October last year, according to police.

She stayed in Pakistan for nearly two months and returned.&nbsp;

The mother of two girls had gone to live in Thane with her mother, after suffering abuse from her husband. Khan told police she faked her identity as she was afraid of her husband's wrath.&nbsp;

The woman told police that she became friends with the Pakistani man over Instagram. The friendship progressed into love, and they decided to marry. For that, she&nbsp;visited the Pakistani man in Abbottabad city near Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: How did Pakistan's Seema Haider enter India?

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Police are probing the nature of their relationship further.&nbsp; 
 
Earlier, the Indian high commission had alerted central agencies about the woman when she applied for visa extension. The agencies started a probe and concluded that all documents she had used to get her passport were fake.

But the findings came only after she returned to India last November after her mother fell sick.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-leader-says-india-dreaming-of-becoming-superpower-we-are-begging-watch-716608">Pakistan leader says, ‘India dreaming of becoming superpower, while we are begging’: WATCH</a>

The police also booked a businessman from the city who helped the woman make forged documents.

 
(With inputs from agencies)

In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram.

In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram. The case was filed this week against a 23-year-old woman from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh who lives in the western city of Thane. The whole incident happened between May 2023 and 2024, according to police. The woman, identified as Sanam Khan, has been taken into custody, the Indian news agency ANI reported, but other reports said that arrests are yet to be made. The woman, who is married, had gone to Pakistan last year with her two children and reportedly married her Instagram lover. She had initially gone on a one-month visa, and wanted to stay on for another six months, for which she filed an application with the Indian authorities. The application was rejected and at the same time, she came under lens of Indian security agencies. It emerged that she had made a fake Aadhaar card (the Indian identity document) and a PAN card (used for taxation and identity purposes). She also forged the birth certificate and got a passport under a fake name. She managed to pass police verification for passport using the forged documents and travelled to Pakistan in October last year, according to police. She stayed in Pakistan for nearly two months and returned. The mother of two girls had gone to live in Thane with her mother, after suffering abuse from her husband. Khan told police she faked her identity as she was afraid of her husband's wrath. The woman told police that she became friends with the Pakistani man over Instagram. The friendship progressed into love, and they decided to marry. For that, she visited the Pakistani man in Abbottabad city near Pakistani capital Islamabad. Also watch | Gravitas Plus: How did Pakistan's Seema Haider enter India? Police are probing the nature of their relationship further. Earlier, the Indian high commission had alerted central agencies about the woman when she applied for visa extension. The agencies started a probe and concluded that all documents she had used to get her passport were fake. But the findings came only after she returned to India last November after her mother fell sick. Also read | Pakistan leader says, ‘India dreaming of becoming superpower, while we are begging’: WATCH The police also booked a businessman from the city who helped the woman make forged documents. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian woman used fake passport to visit Pakistani lover she befriended on Instagram, case registered

India has slammed Pakistan for its “baseless and deceitful narratives” as Islamabad’s envoy here made references to Kashmir in the UN General Assembly.

“Earlier in the day, one delegation misused this forum to spread baseless and deceitful narratives, which is not a surprise,” Minister in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur said on Tuesday.

“I will not dignify these remarks with any response, just to save the valuable time of this august body,” he said.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-issues-advisory-for-citizens-in-kenya-to-exercise-utmost-caution-amid-protests-735136">&nbsp;India issues advisory for citizens in Kenya to exercise 'utmost caution' amid protests</a>

Mathur was delivering India’s statement at the UN General Assembly debate on the Annual Report of the UN Security Council.

His retort came after Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram made references to Kashmir in his remarks from the General Assembly podium during the debate.

Pakistan regularly raises the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at various UN platforms, irrespective of the subject matter being discussed or the theme of the forum and fails to get any support or traction.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-formally-arrests-kejriwal-delhi-cm-to-file-bail-plea-in-supreme-court-735220">CBI 'formally' arrests Kejriwal, Delhi CM to file bail plea in Supreme Court</a>

India has previously rejected Pakistan’s attempts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums, asserting that the “Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India.”

India has slammed Pakistan for its “baseless and deceitful narratives” as Islamabad’s envoy here made references to Kashmir in the UN General Assembly. “Earlier in the day, one delegation misused this forum to spread baseless and deceitful narratives, which is not a surprise,” Minister in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur said on Tuesday.

India has slammed Pakistan for its “baseless and deceitful narratives” as Islamabad’s envoy here made references to Kashmir in the UN General Assembly. “Earlier in the day, one delegation misused this forum to spread baseless and deceitful narratives, which is not a surprise,” Minister in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur said on Tuesday. “I will not dignify these remarks with any response, just to save the valuable time of this august body,” he said. Also Read | India issues advisory for citizens in Kenya to exercise 'utmost caution' amid protests Mathur was delivering India’s statement at the UN General Assembly debate on the Annual Report of the UN Security Council. His retort came after Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram made references to Kashmir in his remarks from the General Assembly podium during the debate. Pakistan regularly raises the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at various UN platforms, irrespective of the subject matter being discussed or the theme of the forum and fails to get any support or traction. Also Read | CBI 'formally' arrests Kejriwal, Delhi CM to file bail plea in Supreme Court India has previously rejected Pakistan’s attempts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums, asserting that the “Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India.”

India slams Pakistan for ‘baseless and deceitful narratives’ on Kashmir at UN General Assembly

There has been an unprecedented drone menace across the Indo-Pak border. India has intercepted 90 drug-carrying drones from Pakistan.

Gravitas: Pakistan's 'drug drones' infiltrate india

The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab.&nbsp;

Border Security Force (BSF) tasked with guarding the fence&nbsp;had intercepted as many as 90 drones from Pakistan so far in 2023, according to a Guardian report. The drones, some known as hexacopters, can measure up to eight feet wide and have high-resolution cameras attached to them for manoeuvrability.&nbsp;

Most of the drones were captured carrying consignments of opium and heroin, likely to have been manufactured in Afghanistan. The drugs were often carried in small sacks or Coca-Cola bottles.&nbsp;Apart from drug drones, some carry weapons, including pistols and Chinese-made assault rifles.

Smuggling across Pakistan-India border has been going on for decades but since the first drone was spotted in Punjab in 2019, the menace of drone-drugs has increased exponentially. According to BSF, drones are responsible for 60 per cent of the drug-smuggling in the Indian state in 2023.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistani-drones-cross-india-pak-border-580221">Watch |&nbsp;Pakistani drones cross India-Pak border</a>

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<h2>A difficult task</h2>

The challenge is increasing for security agencies as the drone technology evolves. Previously, drones could be detected through noise or the visibility of their light. However, in recent month, drone models that fly as high as&nbsp;one km and produce little to no noise have made the task difficult for agencies.&nbsp;

“We just used to be focused on land, but this aerial thing is a new domain for us and it is indeed a challenge.&nbsp;But I believe we will be able to contain this drone menace by next year," said&nbsp;Atul Fulzele, the inspector general of BSF in Punjab.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsf-shoots-down-drone-along-india-pakistan-border-in-punjab-586513">Also read |&nbsp;BSF shoots down drone along India-Pakistan border in Punjab</a>

As early as this week on Monday (Dec 25), BSF thwarted a smuggling attempt in Amritsar's Ranian village. The BSF troops caught the drone and seized&nbsp;434 gm&nbsp;of heroin wrapped with adhesive tape.&nbsp;

"On 25 December 2023, during morning hours, on specific information of BSF regarding smuggling through a drone on the outskirts of Village - Ranian &amp; Rear Kakkar, District - Amritsar, an operation was planned," BSF stated in a post.

The BSF has implemented a three-pronged strategy in the face of the crisis which includes&nbsp;curtailing the drug supply, generating awareness against drug abuse whilst empowering the youth with skills to channelise their energies, instead of snorting drugs.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab. Border Security Force (BSF) tasked with guarding the fence had intercepted as many as 90 drones from Pakistan so far in 2023, according to a Guardian report. The drones, some known as hexacopters, can measure up to eight feet wide and have high-resolution cameras attached to them for manoeuvrability. Most of the drones were captured carrying consignments of opium and heroin, likely to have been manufactured in Afghanistan. The drugs were often carried in small sacks or Coca-Cola bottles. Apart from drug drones, some carry weapons, including pistols and Chinese-made assault rifles. Smuggling across Pakistan-India border has been going on for decades but since the first drone was spotted in Punjab in 2019, the menace of drone-drugs has increased exponentially. According to BSF, drones are responsible for 60 per cent of the drug-smuggling in the Indian state in 2023. Watch | Pakistani drones cross India-Pak border × A difficult task The challenge is increasing for security agencies as the drone technology evolves. Previously, drones could be detected through noise or the visibility of their light. However, in recent month, drone models that fly as high as one km and produce little to no noise have made the task difficult for agencies. “We just used to be focused on land, but this aerial thing is a new domain for us and it is indeed a challenge. But I believe we will be able to contain this drone menace by next year," said Atul Fulzele, the inspector general of BSF in Punjab. Also read | BSF shoots down drone along India-Pakistan border in Punjab As early as this week on Monday (Dec 25), BSF thwarted a smuggling attempt in Amritsar's Ranian village. The BSF troops caught the drone and seized 434 gm of heroin wrapped with adhesive tape. "On 25 December 2023, during morning hours, on specific information of BSF regarding smuggling through a drone on the outskirts of Village - Ranian & Rear Kakkar, District - Amritsar, an operation was planned," BSF stated in a post. The BSF has implemented a three-pronged strategy in the face of the crisis which includes curtailing the drug supply, generating awareness against drug abuse whilst empowering the youth with skills to channelise their energies, instead of snorting drugs. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Borders troops on toes against hordes of drug-carrying drones from Pakistan

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again lauded India over the economic progress made by the country's arch-rival and neighbour. During a public address, Sharif said India had reached the Moon while Pakistan was yet to rise from the ground.&nbsp;

"We have been responsible for our own downfall, otherwise this nation would have reached a different place," said Sharif.&nbsp;

"Our neighbours have reached the moon but we haven't even risen from the ground so far. It can't keep going on like this," he added.&nbsp;

Sharif's statement comes a day after he said neither India nor the US were responsible for Pakistan's economic downfall.

“Today where Pakistan has reached (in terms of the state of the economy) this is not done by India, the US or even Afghanistan. In fact, we shot ourselves in our own foot…they (a reference to the military) imposed a selected (government) on this nation by rigging the 2018 polls that led to the sufferings of the people and downfall of the economy,” Sharif, the three-time prime minister who is vying to gain power for the fourth time, said.

Sharif taking a soft and rather progressive line concerning India is not a new phenomenon. When India successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the south side of the Moon, Sharif made a similar comparison between the two countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Today Pakistan's prime minister goes country to country to beg for funds while India has reached the moon and is holding G20 meetings. Why Pakistan couldn't achieve the feats India did. Who is responsible for this here?" he said at the time.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nawaz-sharif-mending-relations-with-neighbours-crucial-for-pakistan-668249">Watch |&nbsp;Nawaz Sharif: 'Mending relations with neighbours crucial for Pakistan'</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Sharif eyeing return to power in Pakistan</h2>

Sharif, holed up&nbsp;in London since 2019, has been looking to make a comeback to Pakistan's political stage for a long time. The whispers surrounding his return to Pakistan soil had started doing the rounds since November last year when he was issued a five-year diplomatic passport by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He later received a booster shot of confidence when the Islamabad High Court&nbsp;acquitted him in the&nbsp;Al-Aziziya reference case.&nbsp;The two-judge bench of IHC, comprising Chief Justice&nbsp;Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict. The same bench had acquitted him in the Avenfield property case last month as well.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-not-responsible-for-paks-economy-says-ex-pm-nawaz-sharif-blames-army-671589">Also read |&nbsp;‘India not responsible for Pakistan’s economy woes’, says ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, blames army</a>

Although acquittal in both cases paved way for Sharif's return to Pakistan, he still has another hurdle to cross. He remains disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. The apex court, while interpreting Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution&nbsp;ruled that the disqualification is for life.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again lauded India over the economic progress made by the country's arch-rival and neighbour. During a public address, Sharif said India had reached the Moon while Pakistan was yet to rise from the ground.

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again lauded India over the economic progress made by the country's arch-rival and neighbour. During a public address, Sharif said India had reached the Moon while Pakistan was yet to rise from the ground. "We have been responsible for our own downfall, otherwise this nation would have reached a different place," said Sharif. "Our neighbours have reached the moon but we haven't even risen from the ground so far. It can't keep going on like this," he added. Sharif's statement comes a day after he said neither India nor the US were responsible for Pakistan's economic downfall. “Today where Pakistan has reached (in terms of the state of the economy) this is not done by India, the US or even Afghanistan. In fact, we shot ourselves in our own foot…they (a reference to the military) imposed a selected (government) on this nation by rigging the 2018 polls that led to the sufferings of the people and downfall of the economy,” Sharif, the three-time prime minister who is vying to gain power for the fourth time, said. Sharif taking a soft and rather progressive line concerning India is not a new phenomenon. When India successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the south side of the Moon, Sharif made a similar comparison between the two countries. "Today Pakistan's prime minister goes country to country to beg for funds while India has reached the moon and is holding G20 meetings. Why Pakistan couldn't achieve the feats India did. Who is responsible for this here?" he said at the time. Watch | Nawaz Sharif: 'Mending relations with neighbours crucial for Pakistan' × Sharif eyeing return to power in Pakistan Sharif, holed up in London since 2019, has been looking to make a comeback to Pakistan's political stage for a long time. The whispers surrounding his return to Pakistan soil had started doing the rounds since November last year when he was issued a five-year diplomatic passport by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He later received a booster shot of confidence when the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the Al-Aziziya reference case. The two-judge bench of IHC, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict. The same bench had acquitted him in the Avenfield property case last month as well. Also read | ‘India not responsible for Pakistan’s economy woes’, says ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, blames army Although acquittal in both cases paved way for Sharif's return to Pakistan, he still has another hurdle to cross. He remains disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. The apex court, while interpreting Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution ruled that the disqualification is for life. (With inputs from agencies)

Nawaz Sharif lauds India yet again, says ‘our neighbours reached Moon’

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (August 1) said Islamabad is willing to talk and discuss "serious matters" if the "neighbour" also does so. In an obvious reference to India, Sharif also noted that "war is no more an option".&nbsp;

Sharif talked about the ties with Indian while addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan Minerals Summit in Islamabad on August 1.&nbsp;

This is the first-ever mineral summit in the country and its aim is reportedly to explore the vast potential of the minerals industry.&nbsp;

Sharif said, "We have nothing against anybody, we have to look after our own self and build our nation. Even with our neighbour, we are prepared to talk provided that they are serious in discussing matters."&nbsp;

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">Taliban carrying out music's 'genocide' in Afghanistan, says Afghan music saviour Ahmad Sarmast</a>&nbsp;

"War is no more an option. Pakistan is a nuclear power — (these capabilities are) not as an aggressor but for defence purposes," he added.&nbsp;

Sharif further said that "we (India and Pakistan) have fought three wars in the last 75 years, which has generated more poverty, unemployment and lack of resources".&nbsp;

"God forbid if there is a nuclear flashpoint, who will live to tell what happened? This is not the option," he said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kandahar-sees-more-than-1000-tuberculosis-patients-in-6-months-report-621277">Afghanistan's Kandahar sees more than 1,000 tuberculosis patients in 6 months: Report</a>&nbsp;

Since partition in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars - 1947, 1965 and 1999 - which led to a complex and largely hostile relationship between the two nuclear powers.&nbsp;

There have been several instances when tensions escalated at the India–Pakistan border, which is one of the most militarised international boundaries in the world.&nbsp;

Shehbaz has said that it is "equally important that our neighbour understands that we cannot become normal unless abnormalities are removed and serious issues are addressed through peaceful and meaningful discussions".&nbsp;

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Prepared to talk to them (India), provided neighbour is serious to talk on serious matters on the table, says Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif <a href="https://t.co/iBrRTjFv3A">pic.twitter.com/iBrRTjFv3A</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1686335092053164032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Pakistan Minerals Summit&nbsp;</h2>

While talking about the minerals deposit in Pakistan, Sharif said that Pakistan has failed to avail benefits despite being home to mineral deposits of $6 trillion.&nbsp;

He said, "We cannot blame anyone but ourselves" and also added that the nation can "achieve our past glory" if it takes the required steps.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (August 1) said Islamabad is willing to talk and discuss "serious matters" if the "neighbour" also does so. In an obvious reference to India, Sharif also noted that "war is no more an option".

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (August 1) said Islamabad is willing to talk and discuss "serious matters" if the "neighbour" also does so. In an obvious reference to India, Sharif also noted that "war is no more an option". Sharif talked about the ties with Indian while addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan Minerals Summit in Islamabad on August 1. This is the first-ever mineral summit in the country and its aim is reportedly to explore the vast potential of the minerals industry. Sharif said, "We have nothing against anybody, we have to look after our own self and build our nation. Even with our neighbour, we are prepared to talk provided that they are serious in discussing matters." Also read: Taliban carrying out music's 'genocide' in Afghanistan, says Afghan music saviour Ahmad Sarmast "War is no more an option. Pakistan is a nuclear power — (these capabilities are) not as an aggressor but for defence purposes," he added. Sharif further said that "we (India and Pakistan) have fought three wars in the last 75 years, which has generated more poverty, unemployment and lack of resources". "God forbid if there is a nuclear flashpoint, who will live to tell what happened? This is not the option," he said. Also read: Afghanistan's Kandahar sees more than 1,000 tuberculosis patients in 6 months: Report Since partition in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars - 1947, 1965 and 1999 - which led to a complex and largely hostile relationship between the two nuclear powers. There have been several instances when tensions escalated at the India–Pakistan border, which is one of the most militarised international boundaries in the world. Shehbaz has said that it is "equally important that our neighbour understands that we cannot become normal unless abnormalities are removed and serious issues are addressed through peaceful and meaningful discussions". Prepared to talk to them (India), provided neighbour is serious to talk on serious matters on the table, says Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif pic.twitter.com/iBrRTjFv3A — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 1, 2023 × Pakistan Minerals Summit While talking about the minerals deposit in Pakistan, Sharif said that Pakistan has failed to avail benefits despite being home to mineral deposits of $6 trillion. He said, "We cannot blame anyone but ourselves" and also added that the nation can "achieve our past glory" if it takes the required steps. (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.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif open to holding talks with India, says war not an option

In a recent interview with an American think tank, Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan revealed that ex-Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa “frequently” said that the army was not “equipped or prepared” for a war with India, as per the council's website. This comes months after the United Kingdom-based Pakistani media “UK44” reported that Bajwa told two senior journalists that Pakistan lacked the ammunition and economic strength to fight against India.

<h2>Opening for peace with India?</h2>

During an interview with Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, Imran Khan said that there was an opening for peace with India even after the government had “unilaterally” scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019.&nbsp;

“I tried my best before then to improve our relationship with India. In fact, my first statement was, ‘You come one step towards us, we’ll come two towards you,’” Khan told the Atlantic Council, on June 18.&nbsp;

The former Pakistan PM also went on to claim that there was a plan favoured by Bajwa which reportedly included normalising trade between the two countries before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could visit Pakistan.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-imran-khan-gets-bail-in-murder-case-says-lawyer-602350">Pakistan: Imran Khan gets bail from Islamabad high court in lawyer’s murder case</a>

However, when asked about the reports, Khan told the American think tank, “I don’t remember the trade talks. All I know is that there was supposed to be a quid pro quo. India was supposed to give some concession, give some sort of a roadmap to Kashmir, and I was going to then host Prime Minister Modi in Pakistan. But it never materialised”.&nbsp;

“I tried everything, but I came across this brick wall,” said Khan.&nbsp;

<h2>What did Bajwa supposedly tell Pakistani journalists?</h2>

Earlier this year, ANI reported about the revelation, naming Pakistani journalists Hamid Mir and Naseem Zehra, who supposedly said that Pakistan lacked the firepower to face India. Mir told UK44 in an explosive interview that General Bajwa admitted that Pakistan “cannot go to war with India”. Mir said that General Bajwa told a conference of commanders that the “Pakistan Army is no match for the Indian Army.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-cannot-go-to-war-with-india-pak-journalists-reveal-remarks-made-by-bajwa-586089">'Pakistan cannot go to war with India': Pak journalists reveal remarks made by Bajwa</a>

Mir claimed that since the Pakistan Army lacked options, Bajwa proposed to mend ways with India to have a normal relationship. He said that the two countries started working on a solution for Kashmir as Pakistan realised it lacked ammunition and economic strength to fight India.

The journalists claimed that General Bajwa in 2021 revealed that he held secret talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and that a visit by the Indian PM was planned to Pakistan soon after a ceasefire along the Line of Control with India was announced.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Ridiculous’: Imran Khan reacts to reports of Bajwa’s claims</h2>

When asked about reports that emerged in April, the former Pakistan PM told the Washington-based think tank, “Even if that was the case, for an army chief to make these statement is so ridiculous.” He added, “I mean for an army chief, he is basically saying, ‘We are just too weak.’ You never make such a statement.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/time-to-tighten-noose-of-law-pakistan-army-chief-seemingly-slams-pti-chief-imran-khan-601910">Time to tighten ‘noose of law’: Pakistan army chief seemingly slams PTI chief Imran Khan</a>

He also went on to say as “two civilised countries, we should solve our issues through dialogue, and if we can’t solve them through dialogue, we just keep talking. But war is never an option.”&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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In a recent interview with an American think tank, Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan revealed that ex-Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa “frequently” said that the army was not “equipped or prepared” for a war with India, as per the council's website.

In a recent interview with an American think tank, Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan revealed that ex-Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa “frequently” said that the army was not “equipped or prepared” for a war with India, as per the council's website. This comes months after the United Kingdom-based Pakistani media “UK44” reported that Bajwa told two senior journalists that Pakistan lacked the ammunition and economic strength to fight against India. Opening for peace with India? During an interview with Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, Imran Khan said that there was an opening for peace with India even after the government had “unilaterally” scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019. “I tried my best before then to improve our relationship with India. In fact, my first statement was, ‘You come one step towards us, we’ll come two towards you,’” Khan told the Atlantic Council, on June 18. The former Pakistan PM also went on to claim that there was a plan favoured by Bajwa which reportedly included normalising trade between the two countries before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could visit Pakistan. ALSO READ | Pakistan: Imran Khan gets bail from Islamabad high court in lawyer’s murder case However, when asked about the reports, Khan told the American think tank, “I don’t remember the trade talks. All I know is that there was supposed to be a quid pro quo. India was supposed to give some concession, give some sort of a roadmap to Kashmir, and I was going to then host Prime Minister Modi in Pakistan. But it never materialised”. “I tried everything, but I came across this brick wall,” said Khan. What did Bajwa supposedly tell Pakistani journalists? Earlier this year, ANI reported about the revelation, naming Pakistani journalists Hamid Mir and Naseem Zehra, who supposedly said that Pakistan lacked the firepower to face India. Mir told UK44 in an explosive interview that General Bajwa admitted that Pakistan “cannot go to war with India”. Mir said that General Bajwa told a conference of commanders that the “Pakistan Army is no match for the Indian Army.” ALSO READ | 'Pakistan cannot go to war with India': Pak journalists reveal remarks made by Bajwa Mir claimed that since the Pakistan Army lacked options, Bajwa proposed to mend ways with India to have a normal relationship. He said that the two countries started working on a solution for Kashmir as Pakistan realised it lacked ammunition and economic strength to fight India. The journalists claimed that General Bajwa in 2021 revealed that he held secret talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and that a visit by the Indian PM was planned to Pakistan soon after a ceasefire along the Line of Control with India was announced. ‘Ridiculous’: Imran Khan reacts to reports of Bajwa’s claims When asked about reports that emerged in April, the former Pakistan PM told the Washington-based think tank, “Even if that was the case, for an army chief to make these statement is so ridiculous.” He added, “I mean for an army chief, he is basically saying, ‘We are just too weak.’ You never make such a statement.” ALSO READ | Time to tighten ‘noose of law’: Pakistan army chief seemingly slams PTI chief Imran Khan He also went on to say as “two civilised countries, we should solve our issues through dialogue, and if we can’t solve them through dialogue, we just keep talking. But war is never an option.” 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.

Imran Khan claims Bajwa ‘frequently’ said Pakistan is not ‘equipped or prepared’ for war with India

Pakistan is attempting to have its voice heard after India successfully pulled off the G20 Tourism Working Group&nbsp;meeting in Jammu &amp; Kashmir earlier this month. Pakistan's&nbsp;Charge de Affairs (CDA) to India has lodged a protest with the participating countries, according to a Hindustan Times report.&nbsp;

The event took place from May 22 to 24 and saw the participation of 59 international delegates. Despite Pakistan's request to the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)&nbsp;world to not attend the meet, three Islamic countries - Indonesia, UAE, and Bangladesh and their delegates arrived at the event held in the capital city of Srinagar.&nbsp;

Notably, only Pakistan's top strategic partners China, Egypt and Oman did not attend the meeting. Three travel industry representatives from Turkey and two from Saudi Arabia attended the event, despite registering no official participation.&nbsp;

The presence of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country was noteworthy and suggested that Islamabad's ploy had not worked. Bangladesh was represented by&nbsp;High Commissioner Mustafizur Rahman, while the UAE sent two officials from its capital.

Nigeria sent its deputy high commissioner and three delegates. Islamabad was given a swift reality check when the United Nations also registered its presence through delegates of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) attending the meet, the HT report said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-islamic-countries-attended-india-hosted-g20-meet-in-jammu-and-kashmir-596478">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Three Islamic countries attended India-hosted G20 meet in Jammu and Kashmir</a>

<h2>Pakistan given stern treatment by India</h2>

This gathering marked&nbsp;the first international meeting in the union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories in August 2019.

New Delhi has time and again reminded Islamabad that it has no locus standi either in G20 or Srinagar. Earlier this month, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ summit in Goa, External Affairs&nbsp; Minister (EAM) took no prisoners and called out Pakistan for its affinity towards terrorism.&nbsp;

“Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism,” Jaishankar said.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;SCO meet | S Jaishankar on Pakistan: Victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism

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“Let’s be very clear on this. On this matter (terrorism) I would say Pakistan’s credibility is depleting faster than its forex reserves. So let’s be clear what this is about,” he added.

Jaishankar remained cold towards Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who attempted to use the platform to parrot the stale narrative of ISI overlords.&nbsp;

After Zardari said, "Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring", Jaishankar countered him by saying no one was scoring diplomatic points.

"We are politically and diplomatically exposing Pakistan," said the EAM.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan is attempting to have its voice heard after India successfully pulled off the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Jammu & Kashmir earlier this month. Pakistan's Charge de Affairs (CDA) to India has lodged a protest with the participating countries, according to a Hindustan Times report.

Pakistan is attempting to have its voice heard after India successfully pulled off the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Jammu & Kashmir earlier this month. Pakistan's Charge de Affairs (CDA) to India has lodged a protest with the participating countries, according to a Hindustan Times report. The event took place from May 22 to 24 and saw the participation of 59 international delegates. Despite Pakistan's request to the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) world to not attend the meet, three Islamic countries - Indonesia, UAE, and Bangladesh and their delegates arrived at the event held in the capital city of Srinagar. Notably, only Pakistan's top strategic partners China, Egypt and Oman did not attend the meeting. Three travel industry representatives from Turkey and two from Saudi Arabia attended the event, despite registering no official participation. The presence of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country was noteworthy and suggested that Islamabad's ploy had not worked. Bangladesh was represented by High Commissioner Mustafizur Rahman, while the UAE sent two officials from its capital. Nigeria sent its deputy high commissioner and three delegates. Islamabad was given a swift reality check when the United Nations also registered its presence through delegates of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) attending the meet, the HT report said. ALSO READ | Three Islamic countries attended India-hosted G20 meet in Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan given stern treatment by India This gathering marked the first international meeting in the union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories in August 2019. New Delhi has time and again reminded Islamabad that it has no locus standi either in G20 or Srinagar. Earlier this month, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ summit in Goa, External Affairs Minister (EAM) took no prisoners and called out Pakistan for its affinity towards terrorism. “Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism,” Jaishankar said. ALSO WATCH | SCO meet | S Jaishankar on Pakistan: Victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism × “Let’s be very clear on this. On this matter (terrorism) I would say Pakistan’s credibility is depleting faster than its forex reserves. So let’s be clear what this is about,” he added. Jaishankar remained cold towards Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who attempted to use the platform to parrot the stale narrative of ISI overlords. After Zardari said, "Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring", Jaishankar countered him by saying no one was scoring diplomatic points. "We are politically and diplomatically exposing Pakistan," said the EAM. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan lodges protest with countries that attended G20 meeting In India

The Uttar Pradesh police have detained five people in connection with an attack on suspended&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-polls-in-major-setback-to-mayawati-bsp-mla-votes-for-bjp-36829" target="_blank">BSP MLA Anil Singh'</a>s brother Dilip Singh.

Dilip Singh and his family members were allegedly thrashed by unknown miscreants at gunpoint in Uttar Pradesh's&nbspUnnao on Sunday.The miscreants involved had fled the spot after the attack.

The police have detained five people for questioning.&nbsp

In the recent Rajya Sabha&nbsppolls in Uttar Pradesh, Anil Singh went against his party to vote for the BJP.

Following which&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mayawati-suspends-anil-singh-over-rajya-sabha-cross-voting-36939" target="_blank">Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati suspended him&nbsp</a>after allegations of cross-voting.

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BSP MLA Anil Singh's brother Dilip Singh & his family allegedly thrashed by car-borne miscreants at gunpoint in Unnao. Accused fled the spot
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The Uttar Pradesh police have detained five people in connection with an attack on suspended BSP MLA Anil Singh's brother Dilip Singh. Dilip Singh and his family members were allegedly thrashed by unknown miscreants at gunpoint in Uttar Pradesh's&nbspUnnao on Sunday.

The Uttar Pradesh police have detained five people in connection with an attack on suspended BSP MLA Anil Singh's brother Dilip Singh. Dilip Singh and his family members were allegedly thrashed by unknown miscreants at gunpoint in Uttar Pradesh's&nbspUnnao on Sunday.The miscreants involved had fled the spot after the attack. The police have detained five people for questioning. In the recent Rajya Sabha&nbsppolls in Uttar Pradesh, Anil Singh went against his party to vote for the BJP. Following which Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati suspended him after allegations of cross-voting. BSP MLA Anil Singh's brother Dilip Singh & his family allegedly thrashed by car-borne miscreants at gunpoint in Unnao. Accused fled the spot — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 25, 2018 ×

Shown mirror by Jaishankar, Bilawal says India ‘propagating false narrative’ on terrorism

An Indian man and a Pakistani woman recently got engaged and celebrated their big day with a delicious cake. Apart from their cross-border love what was more striking was the cake that reminded the movie buffs of Shah Rukh Khan’s Main Hoon Na. The message on their engagement cake reads, “#ProjectMilaapBegins”. For those who don't know, Project Milaap was a programme in the Bollywood film Main Hoon Na that promotes friendship between the neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan.

In the film, Suneil Shetty played the character of Raghavan Dutta who wasn’t happy with the programme and held the students of a university hostage. However, he lost to Shah Rukh Khan, who played the character of Major Ram Prasad Sharma.&nbsp;

It was shared by a woman called Mishal who is&nbsp;the sister of the Pakistani woman who got married to the&nbsp;Indian man. The identities of both lovers are not revealed yet.&nbsp;

"My sister just got engaged to her Indian boyfriend so you know we had to address the elephant in the room somehow," Mishal wrote in the caption.&nbsp;
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She then replied to her own tweet and wrote, "(if ydk what project milaap means, please grow up &amp; educate yourself)". Since this post, the tweet has gathered over 2.9 lakh views and more than 4100 likes. Many people expressed their thoughts in the comment section of the post.&nbsp;

Here are some of those reactions by netizens on the post by Mishal:

"You guys can also use 'Aman ki Asha'&nbsp;(which isn’t fiction) for the wedding events that’ll follow. You’re welcome and congratulations!"&nbsp;suggested a Twitter user.

"For someone who doesn’t get it. It’s a reference from the film Mein hoon an," posted another.

A third commented, "Something like dhoop ki deevar."

"How lovely! Congratulations to the new couple and I wish them all the best in life," expressed a fourth.

"Just watched this movie for the first time today lmao," wrote a fifth.

Speaking of geopolitical jokes, recently a Bangladesh-origin and Pakistani-origin couple named their kid India and their rationale behind the decision left the Internet in splits. Omar Esa, a popular nasheed singer, took to Facebook to share a hilarious photo of him and his wife with their kid lying between them. <o:p></o:p>

"Well now this little guy is used to this sleeping arrangement and always ends up in the middle of us when we are sleeping even though he has his own bedroom. So as I’m Pakistani origin and my wife is Bangladeshi origin, we have given Ibrahim a new name, we call him India now as he’s right in the middle of his Pakistani and Bangladeshi parents, India causing mad issues in my life," he wrote on his post.<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

An Indian man and a Pakistani woman recently got engaged and celebrated their big day with a delicious cake. Apart from their cross-border love what was more striking was the cake that reminded the movie buffs of Shah Rukh Khan’s Main Hoon Na.

An Indian man and a Pakistani woman recently got engaged and celebrated their big day with a delicious cake. Apart from their cross-border love what was more striking was the cake that reminded the movie buffs of Shah Rukh Khan’s Main Hoon Na. The message on their engagement cake reads, “#ProjectMilaapBegins”. For those who don't know, Project Milaap was a programme in the Bollywood film Main Hoon Na that promotes friendship between the neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan. In the film, Suneil Shetty played the character of Raghavan Dutta who wasn’t happy with the programme and held the students of a university hostage. However, he lost to Shah Rukh Khan, who played the character of Major Ram Prasad Sharma. It was shared by a woman called Mishal who is the sister of the Pakistani woman who got married to the Indian man. The identities of both lovers are not revealed yet. "My sister just got engaged to her Indian boyfriend so you know we had to address the elephant in the room somehow," Mishal wrote in the caption. She then replied to her own tweet and wrote, "(if ydk what project milaap means, please grow up & educate yourself)". Since this post, the tweet has gathered over 2.9 lakh views and more than 4100 likes. Many people expressed their thoughts in the comment section of the post. Here are some of those reactions by netizens on the post by Mishal: "You guys can also use 'Aman ki Asha' (which isn’t fiction) for the wedding events that’ll follow. You’re welcome and congratulations!" suggested a Twitter user. "For someone who doesn’t get it. It’s a reference from the film Mein hoon an," posted another. A third commented, "Something like dhoop ki deevar." "How lovely! Congratulations to the new couple and I wish them all the best in life," expressed a fourth. "Just watched this movie for the first time today lmao," wrote a fifth. Speaking of geopolitical jokes, recently a Bangladesh-origin and Pakistani-origin couple named their kid India and their rationale behind the decision left the Internet in splits. Omar Esa, a popular nasheed singer, took to Facebook to share a hilarious photo of him and his wife with their kid lying between them. "Well now this little guy is used to this sleeping arrangement and always ends up in the middle of us when we are sleeping even though he has his own bedroom. So as I’m Pakistani origin and my wife is Bangladeshi origin, we have given Ibrahim a new name, we call him India now as he’s right in the middle of his Pakistani and Bangladeshi parents, India causing mad issues in my life," he wrote on his post.

Pakistani-Indian couple celebrates their engagement with 'Main Hoon Na' cake, but why?

A Pakistani anti-terror court has continued its&nbsp;delaying tactics in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, and has asked&nbsp;Indian witnesses to be present in person in the court. The court recently issued&nbsp;summons to 27 Indian witnesses of the 2008 terror attack case to be present in the court.&nbsp;This is not the first time the court has suggested this, and even in the past, the Indian side has proposed that the witnesses can appear virtually, something that has been rejected by the court several times. One of the key reasons for the Indian stance stems from the concerns over the security of Indian nationals in Pakistan. It must be remembered that several Pakistani courts do allow the virtual presence of witnesses.

The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were one of the worst on Indian soil and were perpetrated by the Pakistani terror group&nbsp;Lashkar-e-Taiba. Over 160 people were killed in the attacks at various locations in India's financial capital. Islamabad continues to drag its feet over taking action against the mastermind of the attacks, even as the case continues. The proactive actions, including the summons by the Pakistani court, come as the country attempts to show it is taking action against terrorism.

Last year at the United Nations Counter Terror committee's meeting at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India detailed the Pakistani role in the attack, including playing the audio of Sajid Mir, the key mastermind of the attacks. Taj Hotel was one of the key locations attacked by Pakistani terrorists. November 2022, when India marked the anniversary of the deadly terror attacks, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, "Those who planned and oversaw this attack must be brought to justice. We owe this to every victim of terrorism around the world."

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A Pakistani anti-terror court has continued its delaying tactics in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, and has asked Indian witnesses to be present in person in the court.

A Pakistani anti-terror court has continued its delaying tactics in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, and has asked Indian witnesses to be present in person in the court. The court recently issued summons to 27 Indian witnesses of the 2008 terror attack case to be present in the court. This is not the first time the court has suggested this, and even in the past, the Indian side has proposed that the witnesses can appear virtually, something that has been rejected by the court several times. One of the key reasons for the Indian stance stems from the concerns over the security of Indian nationals in Pakistan. It must be remembered that several Pakistani courts do allow the virtual presence of witnesses. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were one of the worst on Indian soil and were perpetrated by the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Over 160 people were killed in the attacks at various locations in India's financial capital. Islamabad continues to drag its feet over taking action against the mastermind of the attacks, even as the case continues. The proactive actions, including the summons by the Pakistani court, come as the country attempts to show it is taking action against terrorism. Last year at the United Nations Counter Terror committee's meeting at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India detailed the Pakistani role in the attack, including playing the audio of Sajid Mir, the key mastermind of the attacks. Taj Hotel was one of the key locations attacked by Pakistani terrorists. November 2022, when India marked the anniversary of the deadly terror attacks, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, "Those who planned and oversaw this attack must be brought to justice. We owe this to every victim of terrorism around the world." 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.

Pak court continues delaying tactics on 26/11 terror attacks case, asks Indian witnesses to appear in person

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has stressed the issue of peace-making with their neighbouring country India. He called for serious and sincere talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on crucial issues like Kashmir.&nbsp;

In an interview with Al Arabiya TV, PM Sharif emphasised establishing peace with India and said Pakistan learned its lesson after three wars with India.&nbsp;

"My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is let's sit down at the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning points like Kashmir. It is up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources," Sharif stated.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/india-news/two-terrorists-belonging-to-let-killed-in-budgam-encounter-553422">Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter</a>

Furthermore, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "We have had three wars with India, and they have only brought more misery, poverty, and unemployment to the people."&nbsp;

"We have learnt our lesson, and we want to live in peace with India, provided we can resolve our genuine problems," Sharif added. He expressed his opinions on sharing resources and assets with India.&nbsp;

Currently, Pakistan is dealing with a severe economic downturn, flour crisis, rage amongst citizens, and fuel shortage. The country has also witnessed a rise in terror attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;UN designates Pakistan's Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist

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While highlighting the subject of Kashmir, PM Sharif insisted that Pakistan wants peace, but "what is happening in Kashmir should be stopped."

"India usurped whatever semblance of autonomy was given to Kashmiris in their Consitution's Article 370. They revoked that in August 2019, and minorities over there are pained and grossly mishandled. This must stop so that a message can go around the globe that India is ready to have talks, and we are more than ready," said Mr Sharif.

Later, the Pakistan PMO tweeted, "In ref. to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview with Al Arabiya, the spokesman of the PM Office has said the PM has consistently maintained that Pakistan &amp; India must resolve their bilateral issues, especially the core issue of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has stressed the issue of peace-making with their neighbouring country India. He called for serious and sincere talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on crucial issues like Kashmir.

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has stressed the issue of peace-making with their neighbouring country India. He called for serious and sincere talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on crucial issues like Kashmir. In an interview with Al Arabiya TV, PM Sharif emphasised establishing peace with India and said Pakistan learned its lesson after three wars with India. "My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is let's sit down at the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning points like Kashmir. It is up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources," Sharif stated. Also Read | Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter Furthermore, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "We have had three wars with India, and they have only brought more misery, poverty, and unemployment to the people." "We have learnt our lesson, and we want to live in peace with India, provided we can resolve our genuine problems," Sharif added. He expressed his opinions on sharing resources and assets with India. Currently, Pakistan is dealing with a severe economic downturn, flour crisis, rage amongst citizens, and fuel shortage. The country has also witnessed a rise in terror attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Watch | UN designates Pakistan's Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist While highlighting the subject of Kashmir, PM Sharif insisted that Pakistan wants peace, but "what is happening in Kashmir should be stopped." "India usurped whatever semblance of autonomy was given to Kashmiris in their Consitution's Article 370. They revoked that in August 2019, and minorities over there are pained and grossly mishandled. This must stop so that a message can go around the globe that India is ready to have talks, and we are more than ready," said Mr Sharif. Later, the Pakistan PMO tweeted, "In ref. to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview with Al Arabiya, the spokesman of the PM Office has said the PM has consistently maintained that Pakistan & India must resolve their bilateral issues, especially the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Pakistan has learned its lesson,' says PM Shehbaz Sharif, calls for 'serious' talks with Indian PM Modi

The mystery of a bunch of balloons carrying a Pakistani flag and banners into Indian territory may have been solved. On December 30, several green balloons were found in the forests of the Tulyara village, Chinyalisaur in the Uttarkashi district, in India's northern state of&nbsp;Uttarakhand and now as per reports based on a social media post, they may not have nefarious origins as previously thought.

Last month's discovery had sparked a wave of panic among the residents and security agencies with local officials indicating that unruly elements of the society may have purposefully left the balloons and the flag with the intention of causing panic among the locals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-years-week-saw-indian-capital-delhi-guzzle-liquor-worth-263-million-548991">New Year's week saw Indian capital Delhi guzzle liquor worth $26.3 million</a>

Gulab Singh Panwar, a revenue official, as per reports had at the time speculated that the flags probably represented a plot to “disturb the atmosphere” as the village celebrated an annual fair.

However, a post by a Pakistani advocate may have uncovered the mystery behind the said objects, which could’ve just floated across the border.&nbsp;

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Umar Afzal, an advocate at Lahore's high court in a January 1 post on Facebook posted an article link reporting the discovery of the balloons and banners wrote "Our banner of Lahore Bar Association found in India".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-and-pakistan-exchange-lists-of-nuclear-facilities-as-part-of-annual-practice-548537">India and Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear facilities as part of annual practice</a>

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One of the banners which were found had LBA written on it while another one had some text in Urdu.

Apparently, a celebration of the Lahore Bar Association (LAB) had used similar green coloured balloons and it is possible that they might've simply drifted across the border and landed in the forest where they were found.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The mystery of a bunch of balloons carrying a Pakistani flag and banners into Indian territory may have been solved. On December 30, several green balloons were found in the forests of the Tulyara village, Chinyalisaur in the Uttarkashi district, in India's northern state of Uttarakhand and now as per reports based on a social media post, they may not have nefarious origins as previously thought.

The mystery of a bunch of balloons carrying a Pakistani flag and banners into Indian territory may have been solved. On December 30, several green balloons were found in the forests of the Tulyara village, Chinyalisaur in the Uttarkashi district, in India's northern state of Uttarakhand and now as per reports based on a social media post, they may not have nefarious origins as previously thought. Last month's discovery had sparked a wave of panic among the residents and security agencies with local officials indicating that unruly elements of the society may have purposefully left the balloons and the flag with the intention of causing panic among the locals. Also read | New Year's week saw Indian capital Delhi guzzle liquor worth $26.3 million Gulab Singh Panwar, a revenue official, as per reports had at the time speculated that the flags probably represented a plot to “disturb the atmosphere” as the village celebrated an annual fair. However, a post by a Pakistani advocate may have uncovered the mystery behind the said objects, which could’ve just floated across the border. × Umar Afzal, an advocate at Lahore's high court in a January 1 post on Facebook posted an article link reporting the discovery of the balloons and banners wrote "Our banner of Lahore Bar Association found in India". Also read | India and Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear facilities as part of annual practice × One of the banners which were found had LBA written on it while another one had some text in Urdu. Apparently, a celebration of the Lahore Bar Association (LAB) had used similar green coloured balloons and it is possible that they might've simply drifted across the border and landed in the forest where they were found. (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.

Mystery behind Pakistani flag, banners, green balloons found in Uttarakhand forest solved

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly debate on Russia as its&nbsp; permanent representative member to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani diplomat Muni Akram, who brought up the 'Kashmir' issue and tried&nbsp;to draw parallels with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unga-passes-resolution-condemning-russian-illegal-annexation-of-ukrainian-land-india-abstains-from-voting-524945">Also read |&nbsp;UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting</a>

During the debate in the General Assembly, Kamboj said, "We have witnessed, unsurprisingly, yet again, an attempt by one delegation to misuse this forum and make frivolous and pointless remarks against my country."

She added, "The entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir is and will always be an integral part of India... We call on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism so our citizens can enjoy their right to life and liberty."

The UNGA debate was held to condemn Russia for its illegal annexation of four regions in Ukraine. Among the present members, 143 voted in favour of the resolution against Russia, with only five supporting the country&nbsp;in its decision. The remaining 35 countries, including India&nbsp;and China, abstained.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-supreme-court-to-examine-2016-demonetisation-decision-asks-for-affidavits-524831">Also read |&nbsp;India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits</a>

India, which has a history of remaining neutral, chose to stick with it. India has always shown its deep concerns over the escalating war in Ukraine, saying no solution can be reached at a human cost.&nbsp;

Kamboj, standing by India's vote, said, "We have urged that all efforts be made for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an urgent return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy."

(With inputs from agencies)

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India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly debate on Russia as its permanent representative member to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani diplomat Muni Akram, who brought up the 'Kashmir' issue and tried to draw parallels with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly debate on Russia as its permanent representative member to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani diplomat Muni Akram, who brought up the 'Kashmir' issue and tried to draw parallels with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Also read | UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting During the debate in the General Assembly, Kamboj said, "We have witnessed, unsurprisingly, yet again, an attempt by one delegation to misuse this forum and make frivolous and pointless remarks against my country." She added, "The entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir is and will always be an integral part of India... We call on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism so our citizens can enjoy their right to life and liberty." The UNGA debate was held to condemn Russia for its illegal annexation of four regions in Ukraine. Among the present members, 143 voted in favour of the resolution against Russia, with only five supporting the country in its decision. The remaining 35 countries, including India and China, abstained. Also read | India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits India, which has a history of remaining neutral, chose to stick with it. India has always shown its deep concerns over the escalating war in Ukraine, saying no solution can be reached at a human cost. Kamboj, standing by India's vote, said, "We have urged that all efforts be made for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an urgent return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India slams Pakistan at UNGA for 'frivolous, pointless' remarks on Kashmir during Russia vote

Pakistan now faces a new challenge in addition to the ongoing floods that have severely damaged its infrastructure and claimed well over a thousand&nbsp;lives.

Flood-ravaged regions of the nation are reeling under the threat of flood-borne diseases like malaria.&nbsp;As per a tweet by a senior Pakistani journalist, the nation is now considering the import of 71 lakh mosquito nets from its neighbouring nation, India.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan floods death toll nears 1,500

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Senior journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah claims that Pakistan's health ministry is seeking permission for the import.

"After the spread of malaria in #Pakistan, the ministry of health asked the government of Pakistan for permission to buy mosquito nets from #India. There is an urgent need for 71 lakh mosquito nets in 26 districts of Pakistan," tweeted Shah.

He further claimed that in the past two months, two lakh people have contracted malaria in the flood-affected Sindh and Balochistan, with 22 per cent of those cases being of the plasmodium falciparum kind.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-floods-un-expresses-concern-over-34-million-children-in-need-of-lifesaving-support-517484" hreflang="en">Pakistan floods: UN expresses concern over 3.4 million children in need of lifesaving support</a>

This comes amid reports that Pakistani officials had&nbsp;refused relief supplies from India, a neighbour with whom it has a tense relationship, despite the country's ongoing request for international assistance. As per the Indian Narrative, the nation also refused aid from Bangladesh, claiming that the move can negatively impact Pakistan's "global image".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-to-work-with-international-community-to-support-flood-ravaged-pakistan-517482" hreflang="en">IMF to work with international community to support flood-ravaged Pakistan</a>

As per a Reuters report, authorities said on Wednesday that 324 people had died from skin diseases, diarrhoea, and malaria in several of Pakistan's flood-ravaged districts. They also warned that if necessary relief doesn't arrive, the situation might spiral out of control.

The temporary medical facilities and mobile clinics in the flooded areas have treated more than 78,000 patients in the past 24 hours and more than 2 million since July 1, said the southern Sindh provincial government.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan now faces a new challenge in addition to the ongoing floods that have severely damaged its infrastructure and claimed well over a thousand lives. Flood-ravaged regions of the nation are reeling under the threat of flood-borne diseases like malaria.

Pakistan now faces a new challenge in addition to the ongoing floods that have severely damaged its infrastructure and claimed well over a thousand lives. Flood-ravaged regions of the nation are reeling under the threat of flood-borne diseases like malaria. As per a tweet by a senior Pakistani journalist, the nation is now considering the import of 71 lakh mosquito nets from its neighbouring nation, India. Watch | Pakistan floods death toll nears 1,500 Senior journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah claims that Pakistan's health ministry is seeking permission for the import. "After the spread of malaria in #Pakistan, the ministry of health asked the government of Pakistan for permission to buy mosquito nets from #India. There is an urgent need for 71 lakh mosquito nets in 26 districts of Pakistan," tweeted Shah. He further claimed that in the past two months, two lakh people have contracted malaria in the flood-affected Sindh and Balochistan, with 22 per cent of those cases being of the plasmodium falciparum kind. Also read | Pakistan floods: UN expresses concern over 3.4 million children in need of lifesaving support This comes amid reports that Pakistani officials had refused relief supplies from India, a neighbour with whom it has a tense relationship, despite the country's ongoing request for international assistance. As per the Indian Narrative, the nation also refused aid from Bangladesh, claiming that the move can negatively impact Pakistan's "global image". Also read | IMF to work with international community to support flood-ravaged Pakistan As per a Reuters report, authorities said on Wednesday that 324 people had died from skin diseases, diarrhoea, and malaria in several of Pakistan's flood-ravaged districts. They also warned that if necessary relief doesn't arrive, the situation might spiral out of control. The temporary medical facilities and mobile clinics in the flooded areas have treated more than 78,000 patients in the past 24 hours and more than 2 million since July 1, said the southern Sindh provincial government. (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.

After declining aid, Pakistan considers importing mosquito nets from India amid malaria outbreak

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to students from Harvard University said his country wanted "permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option".

"Pakistan resolves to maintain peace in the region, and sustainable peace in the region is linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolution," the Pakistan media quoted the prime minister as saying in a report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/big-power-plant-becomes-inoperative-power-woes-may-test-sharif-government-502604">Also Read:&nbsp;Chinese-built power plant shuts, electricity woes may test Sharif government</a>

During the interaction with&nbsp;Harvard students, PM Sharif said India and Pakistan should "compete" in trade and economy, however, he maintained that Pakistan was not an aggressor and that its "nuclear assets" and its army were a "deterrence".

India and Pakistan relations hit a new low after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 as the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on terror targets at Balakot just days after the Pulwama attack.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;China seeking military bases in Pakistan

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Soon after coming to power, Shaif had written a letter to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking "meaningful dialogue" while declaring that Pakistan wanted "regional peace and security".&nbsp;

Modi in a tweet said India desires peace and stability in the&nbsp;region free of terror. Sharif replied saying, "Pakistan desires peaceful &amp; cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu &amp; Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known."

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to students from Harvard University said his country wanted "permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option".

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to students from Harvard University said his country wanted "permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option". "Pakistan resolves to maintain peace in the region, and sustainable peace in the region is linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolution," the Pakistan media quoted the prime minister as saying in a report. Also Read: Chinese-built power plant shuts, electricity woes may test Sharif government During the interaction with Harvard students, PM Sharif said India and Pakistan should "compete" in trade and economy, however, he maintained that Pakistan was not an aggressor and that its "nuclear assets" and its army were a "deterrence". India and Pakistan relations hit a new low after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 as the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on terror targets at Balakot just days after the Pulwama attack. Watch: China seeking military bases in Pakistan Soon after coming to power, Shaif had written a letter to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking "meaningful dialogue" while declaring that Pakistan wanted "regional peace and security". Modi in a tweet said India desires peace and stability in the region free of terror. Sharif replied saying, "Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known." (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.

Want permanent peace with India through dialogue, says Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif

A nuclear war involving less than 3% of global stockpiles may kill one-third of the world's population in two years, according to a new international study led by scientists at Rutgers University.&nbsp;

According to the Rutgers University study, a greater nuclear battle between Russia and the United States might kill three-fourths of the world's population in the same time frame. More than 5 billion people would starve in the event of a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and Russia.

This significant global research indicates that even a little confrontation between two nations involving nuclear weapons would result in widespread starvation.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-pakistan-nuclear-war-report-253565">Pictures | India, Pakistan nuclear war could span for less than a week and 'kill 50-125 million people': Study</a>

Even a small-scale trade between countries like India and Pakistan might have disastrous effects on global food supplies and result in mass mortality throughout the planet.

Researchers calculated the amount of ash produced by nuclear conflicts of various sizes, as well as the impact on food production when large cities in India, Pakistan, the United States, or Russia burned.

Furthermore, three to four years after the nuclear exchange, global food, animal, and fishery yields would have dropped by 90 percent, spreading starvation, disruption, and collapse and triggering additional feedback loops.

Six alternative nuclear war scenarios were researched by academic scientists. According to the study published in the journal Nature Food, a full-scale confrontation between the US and Russia would wipe out more than half of humanity in the worst-case scenario.

The results come at a time when, 30 years after the Cold War's conclusion, the potential of nuclear war may be greater than ever.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also warned that "the prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility."

The researchers hypothesised that the detonation of even a tiny proportion of the world's nuclear weapons would cause large firestorms that would swiftly inject sun-blocking soot into the sky, causing an abrupt cooling of the climate.

Researchers used climate models to predict how much smoke would reach the stratosphere, where there is no precipitation to wash it away, and how this would affect temperature, precipitation, and sunshine.&nbsp;

They then assessed how these changes would effect agricultural productivity and how fish would react to changes in the ocean.

As a result, they predicted that tens of millions of deaths in the battle zone would be followed by hundreds of millions of deaths from starving across the world.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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A nuclear war involving less than 3% of global stockpiles may kill one-third of the world's population in two years, according to a new international study led by scientists at Rutgers University.

A nuclear war involving less than 3% of global stockpiles may kill one-third of the world's population in two years, according to a new international study led by scientists at Rutgers University. According to the Rutgers University study, a greater nuclear battle between Russia and the United States might kill three-fourths of the world's population in the same time frame. More than 5 billion people would starve in the event of a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and Russia. This significant global research indicates that even a little confrontation between two nations involving nuclear weapons would result in widespread starvation. Pictures | India, Pakistan nuclear war could span for less than a week and 'kill 50-125 million people': Study Even a small-scale trade between countries like India and Pakistan might have disastrous effects on global food supplies and result in mass mortality throughout the planet. Researchers calculated the amount of ash produced by nuclear conflicts of various sizes, as well as the impact on food production when large cities in India, Pakistan, the United States, or Russia burned. Furthermore, three to four years after the nuclear exchange, global food, animal, and fishery yields would have dropped by 90 percent, spreading starvation, disruption, and collapse and triggering additional feedback loops. Six alternative nuclear war scenarios were researched by academic scientists. According to the study published in the journal Nature Food, a full-scale confrontation between the US and Russia would wipe out more than half of humanity in the worst-case scenario. The results come at a time when, 30 years after the Cold War's conclusion, the potential of nuclear war may be greater than ever. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also warned that "the prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility." The researchers hypothesised that the detonation of even a tiny proportion of the world's nuclear weapons would cause large firestorms that would swiftly inject sun-blocking soot into the sky, causing an abrupt cooling of the climate. Researchers used climate models to predict how much smoke would reach the stratosphere, where there is no precipitation to wash it away, and how this would affect temperature, precipitation, and sunshine. They then assessed how these changes would effect agricultural productivity and how fish would react to changes in the ocean. As a result, they predicted that tens of millions of deaths in the battle zone would be followed by hundreds of millions of deaths from starving across the world. (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-Pakistan nuclear war could kill 2 billion people: Study

India on Tuesday hit out at China, and Pakistan at United Nations Security Council meeting on terrorism, calling out both on several counts from "double standards" to "hypocrisy" over the issue. Pointing out the "practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification", India's Ambassador to UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said, "It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals pertaining to some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold."&nbsp;

Earlier this year, China had put a hold on the UN listing of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba's 2nd command Abdul Rehman Makki. China has put a technical hold on Makki that will last for 6 months. In the past too, Beijing had put a hold on the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Maulana Masood Azhar and it took a decade for New Delhi to list him as an UN-listed terrorist.

Ambassador Ruchira explained that "double standards and continuing politicization have rendered the credibility of Sanctions Regime at an all-time low. We do hope that all members of the UNSC can pronounce together in one voice, sooner than later, when it comes to this collective fight against international terrorism."

Important to note, that the meeting on the issue of terrorism comes under the month-long presidency of China of the UNSC.

About Pakistan, the ambassador pointed to the "state hospitality" for terrorists in a "neighbouring country despite being listed under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee." UN's 1267 committee lists one of the largest numbers of Pakistanis as international terrorists. These include Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, many of whom were responsible for terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Islamabad has gone to UNSC for getting allowances for many of them. She asked the international community to call out "such hypocrisy.. when the threat of terrorism looms large in each of our countries."

During her address, the ambassador announced that India will be hosting a special session of the UN's counter-terror committee in Mumbai and Delhi on 28th and 29th October which will highlight the nature of the "threat, member states’ capacity gaps and best practices and exploring the further course of action to effectively deal with this threat." India is the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

During the address she also mentioned the recent attacks on Gurudwara in Kabul, calling them "highly alarming". The multiple attacks on Sikhs and Gurudwaras in Afghanistan have led to an exodus of the minority community as many arrive in India seeking refuge. The ambassador emphasised that "The linkages between groups listed by the UNSC such as the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed as well as provocative statements made by other terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan pose a direct threat to the peace and stability of the region".

The Secretary General's report on threats posed by Islamic State received criticism as well for "selective filtering" as India hoped that in "future iterations of SG’s reports, inputs from all member states would be treated on an equal footing". The report made no mention of several terror groups in the region "especially those that have been repeatedly targeting India."

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India on Tuesday hit out at China, and Pakistan at United Nations Security Council meeting on terrorism, calling out both on several counts from "double standards" to "hypocrisy" over the issue.

India on Tuesday hit out at China, and Pakistan at United Nations Security Council meeting on terrorism, calling out both on several counts from "double standards" to "hypocrisy" over the issue. Pointing out the "practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification", India's Ambassador to UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said, "It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals pertaining to some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold." Earlier this year, China had put a hold on the UN listing of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba's 2nd command Abdul Rehman Makki. China has put a technical hold on Makki that will last for 6 months. In the past too, Beijing had put a hold on the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Maulana Masood Azhar and it took a decade for New Delhi to list him as an UN-listed terrorist. Ambassador Ruchira explained that "double standards and continuing politicization have rendered the credibility of Sanctions Regime at an all-time low. We do hope that all members of the UNSC can pronounce together in one voice, sooner than later, when it comes to this collective fight against international terrorism." Important to note, that the meeting on the issue of terrorism comes under the month-long presidency of China of the UNSC. About Pakistan, the ambassador pointed to the "state hospitality" for terrorists in a "neighbouring country despite being listed under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee." UN's 1267 committee lists one of the largest numbers of Pakistanis as international terrorists. These include Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, many of whom were responsible for terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Islamabad has gone to UNSC for getting allowances for many of them. She asked the international community to call out "such hypocrisy.. when the threat of terrorism looms large in each of our countries." During her address, the ambassador announced that India will be hosting a special session of the UN's counter-terror committee in Mumbai and Delhi on 28th and 29th October which will highlight the nature of the "threat, member states’ capacity gaps and best practices and exploring the further course of action to effectively deal with this threat." India is the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. During the address she also mentioned the recent attacks on Gurudwara in Kabul, calling them "highly alarming". The multiple attacks on Sikhs and Gurudwaras in Afghanistan have led to an exodus of the minority community as many arrive in India seeking refuge. The ambassador emphasised that "The linkages between groups listed by the UNSC such as the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed as well as provocative statements made by other terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan pose a direct threat to the peace and stability of the region". The Secretary General's report on threats posed by Islamic State received criticism as well for "selective filtering" as India hoped that in "future iterations of SG’s reports, inputs from all member states would be treated on an equal footing". The report made no mention of several terror groups in the region "especially those that have been repeatedly targeting India." 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.

At UNSC, India slams China, Pakistan for double standards on terrorism

Pakistan announced it has withdrawn from the&nbsp;44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai over India's torch relay through Kashmir on July 21.

Pakistan’s foreign office said: “India chose to politicise this prestigious international sporting event.”

India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacted saying it&nbsp;was "highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing its participation after its team has already reached India."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-army-kick-starts-kashmir-premier-league-to-engage-youth-499189">Also Read:&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/indian-army-kick-starts-kashmir-premier-league-to-engage-youth-499189" hreflang="en">Indian Army kickstarts Kashmir Premier League to engage youth</a>

India's external affairs ministry spokesperson&nbsp;said the "Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will remain an integral part of India.”

Watch:&nbsp;Jammu &amp; Kashmir govt's new initiative

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The premier chess event was declared open by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as he declared that the tournament has come to the home of chess. India is hosting the world's biggest chess event for the first time.

"Sports is beautiful because it has inherent power to unite. Sports brings people and societies closer. Sports nurture a spirit of teamwork," PM Modi said has he inaugurated the event.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur were present at the &nbsp;Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium in Chennai. The &nbsp;FIDE chess tournament&nbsp;will be held near Chennai at Mamallapuram.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Pakistan announced it has withdrawn from the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai over India's torch relay through Kashmir on July 21. Pakistan’s foreign office said: “India chose to politicise this prestigious international sporting event.

Pakistan announced it has withdrawn from the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai over India's torch relay through Kashmir on July 21. Pakistan’s foreign office said: “India chose to politicise this prestigious international sporting event.” India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacted saying it was "highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing its participation after its team has already reached India." Also Read: Indian Army kickstarts Kashmir Premier League to engage youth India's external affairs ministry spokesperson said the "Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will remain an integral part of India.” Watch: Jammu & Kashmir govt's new initiative The premier chess event was declared open by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as he declared that the tournament has come to the home of chess. India is hosting the world's biggest chess event for the first time. "Sports is beautiful because it has inherent power to unite. Sports brings people and societies closer. Sports nurture a spirit of teamwork," PM Modi said has he inaugurated the event. Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur were present at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium in Chennai. The FIDE chess tournament will be held near Chennai at Mamallapuram. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pakistan pulls out of Chess Olympiad in Chennai over torch rally via Kashmir

The Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He visited the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the security situation along the Line of Control. The defence minister said that Pakistan continues to disturb peace in our country.

“Our neighbour has always resorted to anti-India activities. The state also witnessed terror activities in the past. Due to the relentless efforts of the personnel of Armed Forces, BSF, CRPF &amp; J&amp;K Police, there has been a significant decline in the number of terror activities in the state recently. Pakistan continuously tries to disturb peace in the country through its approach of bleeding India with a thousand cuts. But our security forces are such a protective shield for this country that whoever tries to break it, bleeds himself. The Nation has immense faith in our forces who are always ready to deal with any situation,” said Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister.

Watch |&nbsp;Indian govt unveils new recruiting scheme for its defence services, both men and women are eligible

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Rajnath Singh interacted with the personnel of the Armed Forces, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&amp;K Police. Addressing the personnel, he commended them for fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently even in challenging situations, describing their valour and zeal as remarkable.

He praised the excellent synergy exhibited by all sections of civil administration, J&amp;K Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other security agencies in projecting a ‘Whole of Government’ approach that has resulted in the improvement of the security situation conducive to fostering a new era of development in the UT.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-operations-underway-in-kashmir-valley-one-terrorist-killed-in-kulgam-488783" hreflang="en">Two operations underway in Kashmir Valley, one terrorist killed in Kulgam</a>

''We have never tried to hurt any country in any way, nor have we tried to capture even an inch of anyone’s land. He, however, assured the Nation that if an attempt is ever made to hurt the unity and integrity of the Nation, the Armed Forces will give a befitting reply,'' said Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister.

The Raksha Mantri highlighted that it was the dawn of a new era of development, peace and prosperity in Kashmir and applauded the 15 Corps for their high level of morale and contribution to peace building in J&amp;K.

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The Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He visited the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the security situation along the Line of Control.

The Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He visited the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the security situation along the Line of Control. The defence minister said that Pakistan continues to disturb peace in our country. “Our neighbour has always resorted to anti-India activities. The state also witnessed terror activities in the past. Due to the relentless efforts of the personnel of Armed Forces, BSF, CRPF & J&K Police, there has been a significant decline in the number of terror activities in the state recently. Pakistan continuously tries to disturb peace in the country through its approach of bleeding India with a thousand cuts. But our security forces are such a protective shield for this country that whoever tries to break it, bleeds himself. The Nation has immense faith in our forces who are always ready to deal with any situation,” said Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister. Watch | Indian govt unveils new recruiting scheme for its defence services, both men and women are eligible Rajnath Singh interacted with the personnel of the Armed Forces, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K Police. Addressing the personnel, he commended them for fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently even in challenging situations, describing their valour and zeal as remarkable. He praised the excellent synergy exhibited by all sections of civil administration, J&K Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other security agencies in projecting a ‘Whole of Government’ approach that has resulted in the improvement of the security situation conducive to fostering a new era of development in the UT. Also read | Two operations underway in Kashmir Valley, one terrorist killed in Kulgam ''We have never tried to hurt any country in any way, nor have we tried to capture even an inch of anyone’s land. He, however, assured the Nation that if an attempt is ever made to hurt the unity and integrity of the Nation, the Armed Forces will give a befitting reply,'' said Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister. The Raksha Mantri highlighted that it was the dawn of a new era of development, peace and prosperity in Kashmir and applauded the 15 Corps for their high level of morale and contribution to peace building in J&K. 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.

Pakistan continuously tries to disturb peace in our country, says Indian Defence Minister

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (April 16) reciprocated to a letter written to him by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

''I wish to thank you for your greetings and good wishes on my assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,''&nbsp;Shehbaz said in his letter.

''Reciprocating your sentiments, I wish to convey that Pakistan remains committed to the maintenance of regional peace and security,'' he added.

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In picture: Letter written by&nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif to&nbsp;Narendra Modi

Calling for peace and cooperation between the two countries, PM Modi had earlier expressed hope for the socio-economic development of the region.

''India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people,'' he had said.

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Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1513556114855501829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In response, Shebaz said ''This can be best achieved through meaningful engagement and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes.''

Previously, Modi had congratulated Sharif for winning the vote to become the next prime minister of Pakistan in the country's National Assembly.

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In response, Sharif tweeted “Pakistan desires peaceful &amp; cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu &amp; Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let’s secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people.”

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Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful &amp; cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu &amp; Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and.. <a href="https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV">https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV</a>
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1513802562520367105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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When Sharif took an oath, he mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir saying Pakistan will provide ''diplomatic and moral support'' to the people in the valley.

“We want good ties with India but durable peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved,” he added.

Sharif had also attacked former Prime Minister Imran Khan for not making ''serious and diplomatic efforts'' in the case of Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/from-threat-letter-to-china-to-kashmir-issue-key-points-from-pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharifs-address-470294">Also read |&nbsp;From 'threat letter' to China ties to Kashmir issue: Key points from Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's address</a>

He said India and Pakistan should focus on tackling unemployment, poverty, the shortage of medicines, and other issues on the two sides of the border.

Shehbaz, who is the brother of former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif, has served as the chief minister of Punjab thrice.

Nawaz Sharif had a good equation with PM Modi. In 2015, Modi attended a function at his house in Pakistan during his flight to Afghanistan. It was the first visit by an Indian leader to Pakistan in more than a decade.

The previous Indian leader to do so was former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who visited Lahore in 1999 and met Nawaz Sharif.

Both nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have fought several wars since their independence.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (April 16) reciprocated to a letter written to him by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. ''I wish to thank you for your greetings and good wishes on my assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,'' Shehbaz said in his letter.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (April 16) reciprocated to a letter written to him by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. ''I wish to thank you for your greetings and good wishes on my assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,'' Shehbaz said in his letter. ''Reciprocating your sentiments, I wish to convey that Pakistan remains committed to the maintenance of regional peace and security,'' he added. In picture: Letter written by Shehbaz Sharif to Narendra Modi Calling for peace and cooperation between the two countries, PM Modi had earlier expressed hope for the socio-economic development of the region. ''India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people,'' he had said. Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2022 × In response, Shebaz said ''This can be best achieved through meaningful engagement and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes.'' Previously, Modi had congratulated Sharif for winning the vote to become the next prime minister of Pakistan in the country's National Assembly. In response, Sharif tweeted “Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let’s secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people.” Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and.. https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 12, 2022 × When Sharif took an oath, he mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir saying Pakistan will provide ''diplomatic and moral support'' to the people in the valley. “We want good ties with India but durable peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved,” he added. Sharif had also attacked former Prime Minister Imran Khan for not making ''serious and diplomatic efforts'' in the case of Kashmir. Also read | From 'threat letter' to China ties to Kashmir issue: Key points from Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's address He said India and Pakistan should focus on tackling unemployment, poverty, the shortage of medicines, and other issues on the two sides of the border. Shehbaz, who is the brother of former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif, has served as the chief minister of Punjab thrice. Nawaz Sharif had a good equation with PM Modi. In 2015, Modi attended a function at his house in Pakistan during his flight to Afghanistan. It was the first visit by an Indian leader to Pakistan in more than a decade. The previous Indian leader to do so was former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who visited Lahore in 1999 and met Nawaz Sharif. Both nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have fought several wars since their independence.

Exclusive | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif reciprocates to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's letter

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif, who has taken oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday (April 11).&nbsp;

Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Modi wrote, "Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan."&nbsp;

"India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people," PM Modi added.&nbsp;

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Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1513556114855501829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Shehbaz Sharif takes oath as the newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan.&nbsp;

In his maiden address as PM, Shehbaz Sharif talked about a range of issues, including Kashmir, He said that he wants good relations with India, but it can't be achieved without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

He raised the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and claimed that people in Pakistan will provide them with "diplomatic and moral support" besides raising the matter at every international forum.&nbsp;

Shehbaz also asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward to address the Kashmir issue so that the two countries could concentrate on tackling poverty, unemployment, shortage of medicines and other issues on the two sides of the border.&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif, who has taken oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday (April 11). Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Modi wrote, "Congratulations to H.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif, who has taken oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday (April 11). Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Modi wrote, "Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan." "India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people," PM Modi added. Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2022 × Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Shehbaz Sharif takes oath as the newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. In his maiden address as PM, Shehbaz Sharif talked about a range of issues, including Kashmir, He said that he wants good relations with India, but it can't be achieved without the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He raised the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and claimed that people in Pakistan will provide them with "diplomatic and moral support" besides raising the matter at every international forum. Shehbaz also asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward to address the Kashmir issue so that the two countries could concentrate on tackling poverty, unemployment, shortage of medicines and other issues on the two sides of the border.

'India desires peace and stability': PM Modi congratulates newly elected Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif

Here are the nuclear capabilities possessed by India and Pakistan

India said on Friday it accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance.

"On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," the government said in a statement.

''The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/terrorist-who-hijacked-indian-plane-ic-814-shot-dead-in-pakistans-karachi-460241">Also read |&nbsp;Terrorist who hijacked Indian plane IC-814 shot dead in Pakistan’s Karachi</a>

"It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident."

The Pakistan military said that a high-speed projectile launched from India entered the Pakistani airspace and fell near Mian Channu in Khanewal district. The country has&nbsp;summoned India's Charge d'Affaires and&nbsp;sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.

Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri led to further deterioration of India-Pak relations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-lawmakers-seek-sanctions-against-pakistan-bill-sent-to-us-foreign-affairs-committee-461213">Also read |&nbsp;US lawmakers seek sanctions against Pakistan; bill sent to US Foreign Affairs Committee</a>

The relations between the two countries went down further after terror strike on Indian security forces in February 2019 in J&amp;K in which several soldiers were killed.

Indian forces conducted airstrikes on Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 in retaliation as Pakistan launched its fighter jets against India the next day which was intercepted by Indian Air Force fighters.&nbsp;

IAF officer Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 was shot down during an air duel with Pak jets as he shot down a Pakistan F-16.&nbsp;Varthaman was later handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border after pressure from India.

India has maintained it desires for a normal, neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India said on Friday it accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance. "On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," the government said in a statement.

India said on Friday it accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance. "On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," the government said in a statement. ''The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.'' Also read | Terrorist who hijacked Indian plane IC-814 shot dead in Pakistan’s Karachi "It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident." The Pakistan military said that a high-speed projectile launched from India entered the Pakistani airspace and fell near Mian Channu in Khanewal district. The country has summoned India's Charge d'Affaires and sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri led to further deterioration of India-Pak relations. Also read | US lawmakers seek sanctions against Pakistan; bill sent to US Foreign Affairs Committee The relations between the two countries went down further after terror strike on Indian security forces in February 2019 in J&K in which several soldiers were killed. Indian forces conducted airstrikes on Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 in retaliation as Pakistan launched its fighter jets against India the next day which was intercepted by Indian Air Force fighters. IAF officer Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 was shot down during an air duel with Pak jets as he shot down a Pakistan F-16. Varthaman was later handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border after pressure from India. India has maintained it desires for a normal, neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. (With inputs from agencies)

'Deeply regrettable': India says it accidentally fired missile into Pakistan

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he wants a TV debate with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

"I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion people in the subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate.

The nuclear-powered rivals have shared antagonistic relations since gaining independence 75 years ago and have fought three wars with each other.

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Meanwhile, Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce, has backed the resumption of trade with India, which was suspended by Islamabad in August 2019 after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Trade with India is the need of the hour and beneficial to both countries, Dawood said at a media interaction on Sunday, Dawn News reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-didnt-take-action-against-terrorists-as-groups-targeting-india-continue-to-operate-us-report-437657">Also read |&nbsp;Pakistan didn't take action against terrorists as groups targeting India continue to operate: US report</a>

"As far as the ministry of commerce is concerned, its position is to do trade with India. And my stance is that we should do trade with India and it should be opened now," said Dawood, who also serves as the Prime Minister's Adviser on Textile, Industry, Production, and Investment.

"Trade with India is very beneficial to all, especially Pakistan. And I support it," he added, according to the Dawn News report.

Reiterating his views Khan said Pakistan's regional trading options were already limited, with Iran, its southwestern neighbour, under US&nbsp;sanctions and Afghanistan, to the west, involved in decades of war.

Pakistan shares strong economic ties with its northern neighbour, China, which has committed billions of dollars for infrastructure and other projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/why-china-and-pakistan-are-not-true-allies-432477">Also read |&nbsp;Why China and Pakistan are not true allies?</a>

Khan's interview came on the eve of a visit to Moscow, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin,&nbsp;the first visit by a Pakistani leader to Russia in two decades.

The two-day visit for talks on economic cooperation was planned before the current crisis over Ukraine.

"This doesn’t concern us, we have a bilateral relation with Russia and we really want to strength it," Khan said of the Ukraine crisis.

In March, 2021, Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee had lifted a ban on the import of sugar and cotton from India. However, the decision was withdrawn quickly as it emerged that the major move was taken by Pakistan's Finance Ministry without taking all stakeholders on board, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arsonist-disguised-as-fire-fighter-india-slams-pakistan-at-unga-over-kashmir-terrorism-415755">Also read |&nbsp;'Arsonist disguised as fire-fighter': India slams Pakistan at UNGA over Kashmir, terrorism</a>

India's move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

Pakistan also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services.

India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

India has also told Pakistan that "talks and terror" cannot go together and has asked Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he wants a TV debate with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. "I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion people in the subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he wants a TV debate with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. "I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion people in the subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate. The nuclear-powered rivals have shared antagonistic relations since gaining independence 75 years ago and have fought three wars with each other. Meanwhile, Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce, has backed the resumption of trade with India, which was suspended by Islamabad in August 2019 after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Trade with India is the need of the hour and beneficial to both countries, Dawood said at a media interaction on Sunday, Dawn News reported. Also read | Pakistan didn't take action against terrorists as groups targeting India continue to operate: US report "As far as the ministry of commerce is concerned, its position is to do trade with India. And my stance is that we should do trade with India and it should be opened now," said Dawood, who also serves as the Prime Minister's Adviser on Textile, Industry, Production, and Investment. "Trade with India is very beneficial to all, especially Pakistan. And I support it," he added, according to the Dawn News report. Reiterating his views Khan said Pakistan's regional trading options were already limited, with Iran, its southwestern neighbour, under US sanctions and Afghanistan, to the west, involved in decades of war. Pakistan shares strong economic ties with its northern neighbour, China, which has committed billions of dollars for infrastructure and other projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. Also read | Why China and Pakistan are not true allies? Khan's interview came on the eve of a visit to Moscow, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin, the first visit by a Pakistani leader to Russia in two decades. The two-day visit for talks on economic cooperation was planned before the current crisis over Ukraine. "This doesn’t concern us, we have a bilateral relation with Russia and we really want to strength it," Khan said of the Ukraine crisis. In March, 2021, Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee had lifted a ban on the import of sugar and cotton from India. However, the decision was withdrawn quickly as it emerged that the major move was taken by Pakistan's Finance Ministry without taking all stakeholders on board, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also read | 'Arsonist disguised as fire-fighter': India slams Pakistan at UNGA over Kashmir, terrorism India's move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad. Pakistan also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services. India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility. India has also told Pakistan that "talks and terror" cannot go together and has asked Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India. (With inputs from agencies)

I would love to debate with Narendra Modi, says Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

India has retained its membership of the&nbsp;International Maritime Organisation (IMO)&nbsp;council after clinching 133 votes.&nbsp;

India retained its membership for "Category B" which included ten&nbsp;countries namely&nbsp;Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. "Category B" are states with the&nbsp;"largest interest in international seaborne trade", IMO said in a statement.

Interestingly for the first time in 30 years, Pakistan stood for the council seat but failed to garner any support. Pakistan's federal minister for maritime affairs tweeted about the development saying, "We didn’t make it this time"

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pakistan was contesting for <a href="https://twitter.com/IMOHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IMOHQ</a> council seat after 30 yrs. We didn’t make it this time, but it was a great opp to open Maritime Avenues with other nations. I want to complement my team for standing up<a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> has taught us a simple lesson: U only win &amp; lose if u compete!
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliHZaidiPTI/status/1469312795833479170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The council was elected by the assembly of IMO for the period 2022-2023.&nbsp;The 32nd Assembly of IMO is meeting&nbsp;in London at IMO Headquarters&nbsp;from 6 -15 December and on December 10&nbsp;the result&nbsp;for the election of the organisation's 40-member council were announced.&nbsp;All 175 member states and three associate members are entitled to attend the IMO assembly.

The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the organisation. When the assembly is not in session, the council performs the functions of the assembly.&nbsp;The assembly normally meets once every two years in regular sessions and is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the organisation.&nbsp;

There are three&nbsp;categories in all:&nbsp;"Category A" includes&nbsp;ten states&nbsp;with the largest interest in providing international shipping services and includes&nbsp;China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, South Korea, Russia, UK and US.

"Category C" includes&nbsp;states whose election will ensure "representation of all major geographic areas of the world". States in "Category C"&nbsp;are - Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.

India has retained its membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) council after clinching 133 votes. India retained its membership for "Category B" which included ten countries namely Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.

India has retained its membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) council after clinching 133 votes. India retained its membership for "Category B" which included ten countries namely Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. "Category B" are states with the "largest interest in international seaborne trade", IMO said in a statement. Interestingly for the first time in 30 years, Pakistan stood for the council seat but failed to garner any support. Pakistan's federal minister for maritime affairs tweeted about the development saying, "We didn’t make it this time" Pakistan was contesting for @IMOHQ council seat after 30 yrs. We didn’t make it this time, but it was a great opp to open Maritime Avenues with other nations. I want to complement my team for standing up@ImranKhanPTI has taught us a simple lesson: U only win & lose if u compete! — Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) December 10, 2021 × The council was elected by the assembly of IMO for the period 2022-2023. The 32nd Assembly of IMO is meeting in London at IMO Headquarters from 6 -15 December and on December 10 the result for the election of the organisation's 40-member council were announced. All 175 member states and three associate members are entitled to attend the IMO assembly. The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the organisation. When the assembly is not in session, the council performs the functions of the assembly. The assembly normally meets once every two years in regular sessions and is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the organisation. There are three categories in all: "Category A" includes ten states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services and includes China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, South Korea, Russia, UK and US. "Category C" includes states whose election will ensure "representation of all major geographic areas of the world". States in "Category C" are - Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.

India retains membership of top maritime body; Pakistan fails to get any support

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