It doesn&#39;t get more direct than what President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan had to say at Amritsar on Sunday.

&quot;Pakistan,&quot; he told representatives of nearly 50 countries or organisations, including Pakistan foreign affairs and security adviser Sartaj Aziz, who had gathered in the northern Indian town for the sixth edition of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan,&nbsp;&quot;has pledged 500 million dollars for Afghanistan&rsquo;s development. This amount, Mr Aziz, can be spent to fight terrorists and extremists in Pakistan.&quot;

TV cameras did not capture Aziz&#39;s expression but the sting in&nbsp;Ghani&#39;s words was not lost on anyone. The Afghan President did not stop at that. 
 
&ldquo;A key Taliban leader,&quot; the Afghan President said, &quot;has himself admitted to getting sanctuary in Pakistan. He said that without Pakistan support, we would have&nbsp;not lasted for more than a month.&rdquo; 
 
As if on cue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, who co-chaired the conference with Ghani, called for action &quot;against those who support, shelter, train and finance&quot; terrorists.&nbsp;

&quot;Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters,&quot; he continued in the same vein.

This double-barrelled attack on Pakistan, by the Afghan and Indian leaders, was in keeping with India&#39;s attempts of late to shame their common neighbour and further isolate it diplomatically.&nbsp;The bonhomie between Kabul and New Delhi extended to the bilateral talks between Ghani and Modi on the margins of the conference.

Economic partnership via trade and connectivity, development assistance and security cooperation were among the bilateral, regional and global issues that came up for discussion in their meeting.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Ghani and Modi agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation to combat especially the cross-border nature of the scourge which had caused immense suffering to the people of India and Afghanistan.

Both countries decided to operationalise the additional one billion meant as Indian development assistance for infrastructure and connectivity projects. They also plan to introduce an air transport corridor between India and Afghanistan&nbsp;to give India and Afghan consumers and producers unimpeded access to each other&#39;s products and services.

Modi was to amplify it later by saying that &quot;Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them. On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;We,&quot; he said, &quot;cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region.&quot;

For his part, Ghani said that all the countries in Afghanistan&#39;s neighbourhood and beyond &quot;need to identify cross-border terrorism and a fund to combat terrorism&quot;. He lauded India&#39;s development role in his war-torn country by saying that Indian assistance is transparent and came without without strings attached. &quot;There are no hidden agreements [or] secret conditions...it is convergence of interests and values of two states inspired by the belief in cooperative advantage.&quot;

Aziz defended by saying in his intervention afterwards at the conference that &quot;it is simplistic to blame only one country for the recent upsurge in violence&quot; in Afghanistan. In an oblique reference to the continued India - Pakistan tensions, he said that peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes will further improve regional cooperation and connectivity in the region. (Pakistan does not allow India access through its territory for exporting goods to Afghanistan.) 
 
However, at a joint news conference with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai of Afghanistan, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (standing in for Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is indisposed) said that terrorism was at the very core of the deliberations and that the tone had been set by Ghani and Modi earlier in the day. 
 
Karzai, in turn, spoke about how Pakistan, without naming it, is nurturing and flirting with terrorism, which has consequences not only for Pakistan itself but also for the region. 
 
The participating countries, Jaitley added, recognised that terrorism was the biggest threat to peace and stability and the Amritsar Declaration (see below) adopted towards the end of the summit expressed concern over violence perpetrated by terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

If there were fears that India - Pakistan tensions would hijack the conference agenda, it was not to be. In the end, Aziz&#39;s engagements did not go beyond the customary handshake and photo-op with Modi. Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup maintained that there was no pull-aside or bilateral meeting between Aziz and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval either.&nbsp;

An excerpt from the Amritsar Declaration:

&quot;We remain concerned by the gravity of the security situation in Afghanistan in particular and the region and the high level of violence caused by the Taliban, terrorist groups including ISIL / DAISHand its affiliates, the Haqqani Network, Al Qaida, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Jundullah and other foreign terrorist fighters. Acknowledging the support that terrorism derives in our region, we demand an immediate end to all forms of terrorism, as well as all support to it, including financing of terrorism. We recognize that terrorism is the biggest threat to peace, stability and cooperation in our region. We encourage the international community to continue to assist the Government of Afghanistan. We strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure elimination of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens in the Heart of Asia region, as well as disrupting all financial, tactical and logistical support for terrorism.&quot;

(WION)

Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters: Modi

It doesn't get more direct than what President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan had to say at Amritsar on Sunday. "Pakistan," he told representatives of nearly 50 countries or organisations, including Pakistan foreign affairs and security adviser Sartaj Aziz, who had gathered in the northern Indian town for the sixth edition of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, "has pledged 500 million dollars for Afghanistan’s development. This amount, Mr Aziz, can be spent to fight terrorists and extremists in Pakistan." TV cameras did not capture Aziz's expression but the sting in Ghani's words was not lost on anyone. The Afghan President did not stop at that. “A key Taliban leader," the Afghan President said, "has himself admitted to getting sanctuary in Pakistan. He said that without Pakistan support, we would have not lasted for more than a month.” As if on cue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, who co-chaired the conference with Ghani, called for action "against those who support, shelter, train and finance" terrorists. "Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters," he continued in the same vein. This double-barrelled attack on Pakistan, by the Afghan and Indian leaders, was in keeping with India's attempts of late to shame their common neighbour and further isolate it diplomatically. The bonhomie between Kabul and New Delhi extended to the bilateral talks between Ghani and Modi on the margins of the conference. Economic partnership via trade and connectivity, development assistance and security cooperation were among the bilateral, regional and global issues that came up for discussion in their meeting. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Ghani and Modi agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation to combat especially the cross-border nature of the scourge which had caused immense suffering to the people of India and Afghanistan. Both countries decided to operationalise the additional one billion meant as Indian development assistance for infrastructure and connectivity projects. They also plan to introduce an air transport corridor between India and Afghanistan to give India and Afghan consumers and producers unimpeded access to each other's products and services. Modi was to amplify it later by saying that "Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them. On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia". "We," he said, "cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region." For his part, Ghani said that all the countries in Afghanistan's neighbourhood and beyond "need to identify cross-border terrorism and a fund to combat terrorism". He lauded India's development role in his war-torn country by saying that Indian assistance is transparent and came without without strings attached. "There are no hidden agreements [or] secret conditions...it is convergence of interests and values of two states inspired by the belief in cooperative advantage." Aziz defended by saying in his intervention afterwards at the conference that "it is simplistic to blame only one country for the recent upsurge in violence" in Afghanistan. In an oblique reference to the continued India - Pakistan tensions, he said that peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes will further improve regional cooperation and connectivity in the region. (Pakistan does not allow India access through its territory for exporting goods to Afghanistan.) However, at a joint news conference with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai of Afghanistan, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (standing in for Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is indisposed) said that terrorism was at the very core of the deliberations and that the tone had been set by Ghani and Modi earlier in the day. Karzai, in turn, spoke about how Pakistan, without naming it, is nurturing and flirting with terrorism, which has consequences not only for Pakistan itself but also for the region. The participating countries, Jaitley added, recognised that terrorism was the biggest threat to peace and stability and the Amritsar Declaration (see below) adopted towards the end of the summit expressed concern over violence perpetrated by terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. If there were fears that India - Pakistan tensions would hijack the conference agenda, it was not to be. In the end, Aziz's engagements did not go beyond the customary handshake and photo-op with Modi. Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup maintained that there was no pull-aside or bilateral meeting between Aziz and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval either. An excerpt from the Amritsar Declaration: "We remain concerned by the gravity of the security situation in Afghanistan in particular and the region and the high level of violence caused by the Taliban, terrorist groups including ISIL / DAISHand its affiliates, the Haqqani Network, Al Qaida, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Jundullah and other foreign terrorist fighters. Acknowledging the support that terrorism derives in our region, we demand an immediate end to all forms of terrorism, as well as all support to it, including financing of terrorism. We recognize that terrorism is the biggest threat to peace, stability and cooperation in our region. We encourage the international community to continue to assist the Government of Afghanistan. We strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure elimination of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens in the Heart of Asia region, as well as disrupting all financial, tactical and logistical support for terrorism." (WION)

Heart of Asia: Modi, Ghani launch double-barrelled attack on Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for &quot;resolute action&quot; against terrorism in the region.

In his address at the 6th conference of Heart of Asia, he also urged on the importance of taking strict action against those who support, shelter, train and finance them.

&quot;Terrorism and externally-induced instability pose the gravest threat to Afghanistan&#39;s peace, stability and prosperity. And, the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire region. As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough.

&quot;It must be backed by resolute action. Not just against forces of terrorism, but also against those who support, shelter, train and finance them,&quot; the prime minister said.

He was speaking after jointly inaugurating the annual ministerial conference here along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani which is being attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz along with representatives of around 30 countries.

&quot;Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters. Third, our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan&#39;s development and humanitarian needs must continue and increase,&quot; Modi&nbsp;said.

Modi said there was a need to demonstrate strong and collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear.

Expressing India&#39;s strong commitment to Afghanistan&#39;s transition, Modi said, &quot;On India&#39;s part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering. The welfare of Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts and minds.&quot;

He also called for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process to bring stability to the country.&nbsp;

Calling for sustained and sincere global efforts to bring &quot;durable peace and lasting political stability&quot; to Afghanistan, Modi said securing its territory and citizens from external threats must be a focus area for the &quot;critical unfinished mission of our time&quot;.

&quot;We have no doubt about the scale of the challenge. But, we are equally determined to succeed,&quot; he said, adding the results of collective efforts thus far have been hard-won, but mixed.

Modi said there was a need to reflect with urgency on what more must be done and what must be avoided in Afghanistan so that its citizens can self-sustain peace and economic growth.

&quot;The question is of resolve and action. And, of putting Afghanistan and its people first. For this, First, an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process is key. It is the only guarantor of durability of solutions.

&quot;Second, we must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear,&quot; he said.

Noting that all those involved in Afghanistan&#39;s transition must build on the gains of the last 15 years, he said what was at stake is not just the future of Afghanistan that has invested in a vision of development, democracy, and pluralism but the the peace and stability of the entire region, and beyond.

Pitching for improving connectivity between Afghanistan and countries of the region, the prime minister said Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them.

&quot;On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia.

&quot;We cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region,&quot; he said.

Talking about significance of hosting the Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, Modi said the flow of trade, people and ideas through the region has often intersected in the holy city on one of Asia&#39;s oldest and longest surface arteries, the Grand Trunk Road.

&quot;Amritsar reinforces the value of restoring connectivity which is so crucial for the overall growth, stability and economic prosperity of Afghanistan,&quot; he said, while describing the city as an embodiment of peace and humanism as well as a symbol of great valour and sacrifice.

Talking about Amritsar&#39;s link with Afghanistan, he said among the the earliest disciples of the first Guru of Sikhs, Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji, were Afghans he had preached in Kabul in the 15th century.

(PTI)

The Indian Prime Minister also pushed for stronger ties with Afghanistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for "resolute action" against terrorism in the region. In his address at the 6th conference of Heart of Asia, he also urged on the importance of taking strict action against those who support, shelter, train and finance them. "Terrorism and externally-induced instability pose the gravest threat to Afghanistan's peace, stability and prosperity. And, the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire region. As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough. "It must be backed by resolute action. Not just against forces of terrorism, but also against those who support, shelter, train and finance them," the prime minister said. He was speaking after jointly inaugurating the annual ministerial conference here along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani which is being attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz along with representatives of around 30 countries. "Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters. Third, our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan's development and humanitarian needs must continue and increase," Modi said. Modi said there was a need to demonstrate strong and collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear. Expressing India's strong commitment to Afghanistan's transition, Modi said, "On India's part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering. The welfare of Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts and minds." He also called for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process to bring stability to the country. Calling for sustained and sincere global efforts to bring "durable peace and lasting political stability" to Afghanistan, Modi said securing its territory and citizens from external threats must be a focus area for the "critical unfinished mission of our time". "We have no doubt about the scale of the challenge. But, we are equally determined to succeed," he said, adding the results of collective efforts thus far have been hard-won, but mixed. Modi said there was a need to reflect with urgency on what more must be done and what must be avoided in Afghanistan so that its citizens can self-sustain peace and economic growth. "The question is of resolve and action. And, of putting Afghanistan and its people first. For this, First, an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process is key. It is the only guarantor of durability of solutions. "Second, we must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear," he said. Noting that all those involved in Afghanistan's transition must build on the gains of the last 15 years, he said what was at stake is not just the future of Afghanistan that has invested in a vision of development, democracy, and pluralism but the the peace and stability of the entire region, and beyond. Pitching for improving connectivity between Afghanistan and countries of the region, the prime minister said Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them. "On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. "We cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region," he said. Talking about significance of hosting the Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, Modi said the flow of trade, people and ideas through the region has often intersected in the holy city on one of Asia's oldest and longest surface arteries, the Grand Trunk Road. "Amritsar reinforces the value of restoring connectivity which is so crucial for the overall growth, stability and economic prosperity of Afghanistan," he said, while describing the city as an embodiment of peace and humanism as well as a symbol of great valour and sacrifice. Talking about Amritsar's link with Afghanistan, he said among the the earliest disciples of the first Guru of Sikhs, Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji, were Afghans he had preached in Kabul in the 15th century. (PTI)

India: Resolute action needed against those sheltering terror forces, says Modi

Will India-Pakistan tensions hijack the agenda of an international conference on Afghanistan? That is the question agitating the minds of delegates who began arriving at the Indian holy city of Amritsar for the two-day Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process which began on Saturday.&nbsp;

The Indian government was scrambling to insulate the talks about rebuilding Afghanistan - economically via trade and connectivity; development assistance; and security cooperation - after Pakistan foreign affairs and security adviser Sartaj Aziz landed in the evening, ahead of his scheduled arrival on Sunday morning.&nbsp;

Whether Aziz&#39;s engagements before he returns home on Sunday will go beyond the customary handshakes and photo-ops to informal, unstructured contacts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India or his aides, is the subject of animated discussions on the margins of the Afghan conference.&nbsp;

The symbolism of Aziz&#39;s visit is not lost on key world capitals coming as it does soon after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army installation at Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, which was only the latest in a series of attacks which have rocked Jammu and Kashmir starting with the attack on the Pathankot air base in January this year, followed by the 18 September attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri, which claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers, among others.

For the third time in as many years, India is hosting world leaders or multilateral summits outside national capital Delhi. The choice of Amritsar as the venue of the Afghan conference is in keeping with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s desire to take summitry outside the cloistered confines of New Delhi. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received President Xi Jinping of China in the western Indian state of Gujarat. In October this year India hosted the BRICS Summit in the western Indian beach resort and popular tourist destination of Goa.

India&#39;s decision to host the Afghanistan conference is being interpreted by some around the world as a deliberate move by India to underscore how Pakistan has consistently blocked connectivity in this region. It is also about terrorism, and New Delhi and Kabul seem to have a plan to further embarrass Islamabad. Of late, India has not lost any opportunity to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, be it at the G-20 Summit in China, the East Asia Summit in Vietnam, the United Nations General Assembly or the now-cancelled SAARC Summit. Amritsar also has a historical significance to it; it is a key location on the Grand Trunk Road, one of the longest and oldest roads in Asia connecting Central Asia with South Asia. The GT Road was rebuilt and upgraded by a ruler of Delhi named Sher Shah Suri nearly 500 years ago. Suri was of Afghan origin. The road links Kabul via Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi to Kolkata in eastern India and all the way upto Chittagong on Bangladesh.&nbsp;

India and Afghanistan have given enough notice that they will try and corner their common neighbour for giving sanctuary and support to terrorist groups. The Amritsar conference can be expected to delve into specifics and identify ways to deal with terrorism and terror threats and also detail what steps should be taken against those who support and glorify terrorists.

Afghanistan may demand binding clauses to contain terror infrastructure. It is pushing for the early adoption of a Regional Counter-Terrorism Framework. New Delhi and Kabul are also toying with plans to firm up an air cargo agreement to boost their bilateral trade even as Pakistan continues to stall all possibility of signing up for promoting regional trade and connectivity. &nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Many have discussed whether Pakistan's foreign affairs adviser will hold unstructured contact with the Indian PM on the sidelines

Will India-Pakistan tensions hijack the agenda of an international conference on Afghanistan? That is the question agitating the minds of delegates who began arriving at the Indian holy city of Amritsar for the two-day Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process which began on Saturday. The Indian government was scrambling to insulate the talks about rebuilding Afghanistan - economically via trade and connectivity; development assistance; and security cooperation - after Pakistan foreign affairs and security adviser Sartaj Aziz landed in the evening, ahead of his scheduled arrival on Sunday morning. Whether Aziz's engagements before he returns home on Sunday will go beyond the customary handshakes and photo-ops to informal, unstructured contacts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India or his aides, is the subject of animated discussions on the margins of the Afghan conference. The symbolism of Aziz's visit is not lost on key world capitals coming as it does soon after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army installation at Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, which was only the latest in a series of attacks which have rocked Jammu and Kashmir starting with the attack on the Pathankot air base in January this year, followed by the 18 September attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri, which claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers, among others. For the third time in as many years, India is hosting world leaders or multilateral summits outside national capital Delhi. The choice of Amritsar as the venue of the Afghan conference is in keeping with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desire to take summitry outside the cloistered confines of New Delhi. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received President Xi Jinping of China in the western Indian state of Gujarat. In October this year India hosted the BRICS Summit in the western Indian beach resort and popular tourist destination of Goa. India's decision to host the Afghanistan conference is being interpreted by some around the world as a deliberate move by India to underscore how Pakistan has consistently blocked connectivity in this region. It is also about terrorism, and New Delhi and Kabul seem to have a plan to further embarrass Islamabad. Of late, India has not lost any opportunity to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, be it at the G-20 Summit in China, the East Asia Summit in Vietnam, the United Nations General Assembly or the now-cancelled SAARC Summit. Amritsar also has a historical significance to it; it is a key location on the Grand Trunk Road, one of the longest and oldest roads in Asia connecting Central Asia with South Asia. The GT Road was rebuilt and upgraded by a ruler of Delhi named Sher Shah Suri nearly 500 years ago. Suri was of Afghan origin. The road links Kabul via Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi to Kolkata in eastern India and all the way upto Chittagong on Bangladesh. India and Afghanistan have given enough notice that they will try and corner their common neighbour for giving sanctuary and support to terrorist groups. The Amritsar conference can be expected to delve into specifics and identify ways to deal with terrorism and terror threats and also detail what steps should be taken against those who support and glorify terrorists. Afghanistan may demand binding clauses to contain terror infrastructure. It is pushing for the early adoption of a Regional Counter-Terrorism Framework. New Delhi and Kabul are also toying with plans to firm up an air cargo agreement to boost their bilateral trade even as Pakistan continues to stall all possibility of signing up for promoting regional trade and connectivity. (WION)

Heart of Asia conference: Will India-Pakistan tensions divert from Afghan issues?

Representatives from nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union are in the Indian holy city of Amritsar in Punjab to attend the Heart of Asia - Istanbul process, aimed at exploring ways to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism in the region.&nbsp;

The annual conference is deliberating on various challenges facing Afghanistan, including the&nbsp;revival of a peace process in the country, which is facing the resurgence of Taliban.&nbsp;

The conference will be jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday.&nbsp;

The ministerial conference begins amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz will travel to India tomorrow.&nbsp;

India had earlier ruled out any bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the conference, saying the &quot;atmosphere of continued terror&quot; proved to be a major hindrance.&nbsp;

Ahead of the conference, both India and Afghanistan had called terror emanating from Pakistan as the &quot;greatest threat&quot; to regional peace and stability. Both the countries are pressing hard for adopting the counter-terror framework at the conference.&nbsp;

Today, senior officials of all 14 countries, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan were deliberating on a vast range of issues facing the region, including its complex security scenario, and dealing with the&nbsp;threat of terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism.

Issues like enhancing Afghanistan&#39;s connectivity with South and Central Asian countries to boost trade were being discussed at the senior officials&#39; meeting which was co-chaired by India&#39;s foreign secretary S Jaishankar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hikmat Khaleel Karzai.

They will also finalise the text for tomorrow&#39;s ministerial conference and deliberate on its declaration which will have a&nbsp;substantial portion on terrorism.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

Pushing for a counter-terror framework, India & Afghanistan called terror emanating from Pakistan the 'greatest threat' to the region

Representatives from nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union are in the Indian holy city of Amritsar in Punjab to attend the Heart of Asia - Istanbul process, aimed at exploring ways to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism in the region. The annual conference is deliberating on various challenges facing Afghanistan, including the revival of a peace process in the country, which is facing the resurgence of Taliban. The conference will be jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday. The ministerial conference begins amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz will travel to India tomorrow. India had earlier ruled out any bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the conference, saying the "atmosphere of continued terror" proved to be a major hindrance. Ahead of the conference, both India and Afghanistan had called terror emanating from Pakistan as the "greatest threat" to regional peace and stability. Both the countries are pressing hard for adopting the counter-terror framework at the conference. Today, senior officials of all 14 countries, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan were deliberating on a vast range of issues facing the region, including its complex security scenario, and dealing with the threat of terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism. Issues like enhancing Afghanistan's connectivity with South and Central Asian countries to boost trade were being discussed at the senior officials' meeting which was co-chaired by India's foreign secretary S Jaishankar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hikmat Khaleel Karzai. They will also finalise the text for tomorrow's ministerial conference and deliberate on its declaration which will have a substantial portion on terrorism. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Heart of Asia conference begins with focus on tackling terror

India and Afghanistan are likely to announce an air cargo service on Saturday to help increase trade that both say is stymied because of their tense political relations with Pakistan that lies between them.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meeting in Amritsar, a short distance from the Pakistan border, for the Heart of Asia conference aimed at stabilising Afghanistan.

Officials say the focus of the air cargo service is to improve landlocked Afghanistan&#39;s connectivity to key markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its fruit and carpet industries while it battles a deadly Taliban insurgency.

Afghanistan depends on the Pakistani port of Karachi for its foreign trade. It is allowed to send a limited amount of goods overland through Pakistan into India, but imports from India are not allowed along this route.

Afghan director general for macro fiscal policies Khalid Payenda said the potential for trade with India, the largest market in the region, was far greater than allowed by land and so the two countries had decided to use the air route.

&quot;That would be air cargo between Afghanistan and India. We have a lot of potential for trade on both sides. On our side, it&#39;s mostly fruit and dried fruit and potentially through India to other places for products like carpets and others.&quot;

He said that a joint venture involving an Afghan and an Indian cargo firm would be set up and that the two governments were working to set up infrastructure at Kabul and Delhi airports.

An Indian government source attending the meeting in Amritsar said air cargo route details were still being worked out and could include Kandahar as a point of origin for shipping fruit directly to India.&nbsp;

Indian foreign ministry official Gopal Baglay, who oversees Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, said several proposals were being discussed to improve Afghanistan&#39;s trade and transport links.

&quot;There have been very many ideas on how to enhance connectivity, overcome current challenges and also expand the trade basket,&quot; he said.

Pakistan&#39;s top foreign policy adviser, Sartaj Aziz, will be attending the conference on Sunday.

Ties with India have deteriorated further in recent months after a series of attacks on Indian military bases in the disputed region of Kashmir, which New Delhi says have either been carried out by militants sneaking in from Pakistan or orchestrated by groups based there.

Pakistan denies stoking violence in Kashmir and says India must open talks on the future of the revolt-torn Muslim majority region.&nbsp;

Indian officials said no talks with Pakistan were scheduled on the sidelines of the Amritsar conference.&nbsp;

Afghanistan&#39;s ties with Pakistan have also become strained after a series of violent attacks, several of them in the capital Kabul, that it said showed Pakistan had failed to rein in the militant groups operating from its soil.

&quot;Unless we take a collective measure to fight terrorism, to fight the breeding ground for terrorism, the safe sanctuary, we will not be able to bring peace and stability either to Afghanistan or to anywhere else in the region, including India,&quot; said Afghan ambassador to India Shaida M Abdali.

Pakistan says it is itself a victim of terrorism and says India is using its close ties with Afghanistan to stir trouble in its restive Baluchistan province.

(Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The air cargo service will likely improve Afghanistan's connectivity to key markets abroad and boost growth prospects

India and Afghanistan are likely to announce an air cargo service on Saturday to help increase trade that both say is stymied because of their tense political relations with Pakistan that lies between them. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meeting in Amritsar, a short distance from the Pakistan border, for the Heart of Asia conference aimed at stabilising Afghanistan. Officials say the focus of the air cargo service is to improve landlocked Afghanistan's connectivity to key markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its fruit and carpet industries while it battles a deadly Taliban insurgency. Afghanistan depends on the Pakistani port of Karachi for its foreign trade. It is allowed to send a limited amount of goods overland through Pakistan into India, but imports from India are not allowed along this route. Afghan director general for macro fiscal policies Khalid Payenda said the potential for trade with India, the largest market in the region, was far greater than allowed by land and so the two countries had decided to use the air route. "That would be air cargo between Afghanistan and India. We have a lot of potential for trade on both sides. On our side, it's mostly fruit and dried fruit and potentially through India to other places for products like carpets and others." He said that a joint venture involving an Afghan and an Indian cargo firm would be set up and that the two governments were working to set up infrastructure at Kabul and Delhi airports. An Indian government source attending the meeting in Amritsar said air cargo route details were still being worked out and could include Kandahar as a point of origin for shipping fruit directly to India. Indian foreign ministry official Gopal Baglay, who oversees Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, said several proposals were being discussed to improve Afghanistan's trade and transport links. "There have been very many ideas on how to enhance connectivity, overcome current challenges and also expand the trade basket," he said. Pakistan's top foreign policy adviser, Sartaj Aziz, will be attending the conference on Sunday. Ties with India have deteriorated further in recent months after a series of attacks on Indian military bases in the disputed region of Kashmir, which New Delhi says have either been carried out by militants sneaking in from Pakistan or orchestrated by groups based there. Pakistan denies stoking violence in Kashmir and says India must open talks on the future of the revolt-torn Muslim majority region. Indian officials said no talks with Pakistan were scheduled on the sidelines of the Amritsar conference. Afghanistan's ties with Pakistan have also become strained after a series of violent attacks, several of them in the capital Kabul, that it said showed Pakistan had failed to rein in the militant groups operating from its soil. "Unless we take a collective measure to fight terrorism, to fight the breeding ground for terrorism, the safe sanctuary, we will not be able to bring peace and stability either to Afghanistan or to anywhere else in the region, including India," said Afghan ambassador to India Shaida M Abdali. Pakistan says it is itself a victim of terrorism and says India is using its close ties with Afghanistan to stir trouble in its restive Baluchistan province. (Reuters)

India, Afghanistan plan air cargo link over Pakistan

A Pakistani man suspected of starting a devastating factory fire in Karachi four years ago that killed 255 people has been arrested in Bangkok, Thai police said Saturday.

Abdul Rehman, 46, was detained at a hotel in the red light district Nana area of the capital on Friday evening, said Thailand&#39;s Interpol chief.&nbsp;

&quot;Thai Interpol tracked this suspect following an arrest warrant sought by the Pakistani authorities,&quot; Major General Apichart Suriboonya told AFP.

&quot;He will be repatriated as soon as Pakistan is ready,&quot; he added.

Apichart said Rehman was suspected of being part of a criminal gang that was extorting the owners of a Karachi garment factory.&nbsp;

The gang burned down the factory when the owners refused to pay seven million baht ($200,000), he said.&nbsp;

The fire at the Ali Enterprises factory in September 2012 was one of Pakistan&#39;s worst industrial disasters.

A judicial probe into the blaze was damning, pointing to a lack of emergency exits, poor safety training for workers, the packing in of machinery and the failure of government inspectors to spot any of these faults.

Initially the fire was believed to be an accident.&nbsp;

A murder case was registered against the factory owners, but it never came to trial.

Earlier this year police said they now believed an extortion gang was behind the blaze, naming Abdul Rehman as the suspect who allegedly lit the fire.&nbsp;

Much of the factory&#39;s garment output went to the German company KIK, who have paid out nearly two million dollars in compensation to the victims&#39; families.

(AFP)

Abdul Rehman is suspected of starting a devastating factory fire in Karachi four years ago that killed 255 people.

A Pakistani man suspected of starting a devastating factory fire in Karachi four years ago that killed 255 people has been arrested in Bangkok, Thai police said Saturday. Abdul Rehman, 46, was detained at a hotel in the red light district Nana area of the capital on Friday evening, said Thailand's Interpol chief. "Thai Interpol tracked this suspect following an arrest warrant sought by the Pakistani authorities," Major General Apichart Suriboonya told AFP. "He will be repatriated as soon as Pakistan is ready," he added. Apichart said Rehman was suspected of being part of a criminal gang that was extorting the owners of a Karachi garment factory. The gang burned down the factory when the owners refused to pay seven million baht ($200,000), he said. The fire at the Ali Enterprises factory in September 2012 was one of Pakistan's worst industrial disasters. A judicial probe into the blaze was damning, pointing to a lack of emergency exits, poor safety training for workers, the packing in of machinery and the failure of government inspectors to spot any of these faults. Initially the fire was believed to be an accident. A murder case was registered against the factory owners, but it never came to trial. Earlier this year police said they now believed an extortion gang was behind the blaze, naming Abdul Rehman as the suspect who allegedly lit the fire. Much of the factory's garment output went to the German company KIK, who have paid out nearly two million dollars in compensation to the victims' families. (AFP)

Thai police arrest suspect in Pakistan factory fire that killed 255 people

The Indian city of &nbsp;Amritsar&nbsp;has been put under a thick security blanket in view of the sixth ministerial Heart of Asia conference - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, beginning on Saturday.

Director general of police (DGP), Punjab, Suresh Arora took stock of the security arrangements of the city for the international conference, a senior officer said.

&quot;All security arrangements are in place to avoid any eventuality,&quot; he said.

Delegates from participating countries, supporting countries and organisations, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE, will visit Golden temple, an official said on Friday.

Besides two sessions, there will be bilateral meetings between the participating countries, officials said.

Amid heightened tension with Pakistan following yet another militant attack on an army base, India is likely to step up efforts to corner it diplomatically and mobilise support for concrete action against state-sponsored terrorism at the two-day Heart of Asia (HoA) conference.

Afghanistan, which has also been witnessing increased attacks from terror groups operating from Pakistani soil, is set to push hard for a regional counter-terror framework with binding commitment at the annual meeting of Heart of Asia Istanbul Process, a platform set up in 2011 to assist the war-battered country in its transition.

Top officials of the 14 member countries will meet on Saturday to discuss key challenges facing the region including from terror groups and explore ways to bring lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the main conference will be jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani where both India and Afghanistan are likely to corner Pakistan on terror.

Pakistan Prime Minister&#39;s foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz will represent Islamabad at the conference and all eyes will be on whether an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting takes place on the sidelines.

Ahead of Aziz&#39;s visit in Amritsar, India had on Thursday said it will never accept continuing cross border terrorism as the &quot;new normal&quot; in bilateral ties with Pakistan while making it clear that talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of &quot;continued terror&quot;.

India had called for isolating Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri attack on an army establishment and it is likely to continue efforts in that direction at the Heart of Asia conference.

At the BRICS summit in Goa in October, India had called Pakistan the &quot;mother ship&quot; of terrorism globally.

Aziz is scheduled to arrive in Amritsar on Sunday and is expected to return the same day.

The entire holy city, which is not far from Indo-Pak border, has been decked up, while multiple layers of security have been put in place.

Strong vigil is being kept along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab.

It was clear that dealing with terrorism will be a major focus at the conference as both India and Afghanistan earlier this week called terror emanating from Pakistan the &quot;greatest threat&quot; to regional peace and stability.

Afghanistan has been pushing for an effective counter- terror framework and the matter will be discussed at length at the conference being attended by representatives from over 30 countries including China, the US, Russia and Iran.

The Indian delegation will be led by finance minister Arun Jaitley in the absence of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who is ill.

&quot;Terrorism is the greatest threat to the region and we expect the HoA to approve the regional counter terrorism framework that has been drafted by Afghanistan and circulated to HoA countries. We hope the conference will adopt it,&quot; said Afghan ambassador Shaida M Abdali.

A declaration will be issued at the conclusion of the conference and is expected to focus on ways to deal with terror.

The conference, whose theme is security and prosperity, will also deliberate on major connectivity initiatives including Chabahar project, a five nation railway project.

There may be deliberations on TAPI (Turkmenistan Afghanistan-Pakistan India) gas pipeline project.

Ghani is scheduled to arrive on Saturday and he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a bilateral meeting where the Afghan President is likely to push for supply of military hardware by India to his country.

India has already provided nearly US $2 billion to Afghanistan for reconstruction activities but has been adopting a cautious approach in providing weapons.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was launched in 2011 and the participating countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates. Swaraj had attended last year&#39;s conference in Islamabad.

The platform was floated to encourage security, political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours.

The countries which support the initiative are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain and the US. Four countries Uzbekistan, Latvia, Bulgaria and Austria are attending the conference as guest nations.

(PTI)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Amid heightened cross-border tensions, India is likely to step up efforts to corner Pakistan diplomatically in the summit that begins today

The Indian city of Amritsar has been put under a thick security blanket in view of the sixth ministerial Heart of Asia conference - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, beginning on Saturday. Director general of police (DGP), Punjab, Suresh Arora took stock of the security arrangements of the city for the international conference, a senior officer said. "All security arrangements are in place to avoid any eventuality," he said. Delegates from participating countries, supporting countries and organisations, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE, will visit Golden temple, an official said on Friday. Besides two sessions, there will be bilateral meetings between the participating countries, officials said. Amid heightened tension with Pakistan following yet another militant attack on an army base, India is likely to step up efforts to corner it diplomatically and mobilise support for concrete action against state-sponsored terrorism at the two-day Heart of Asia (HoA) conference. Afghanistan, which has also been witnessing increased attacks from terror groups operating from Pakistani soil, is set to push hard for a regional counter-terror framework with binding commitment at the annual meeting of Heart of Asia Istanbul Process, a platform set up in 2011 to assist the war-battered country in its transition. Top officials of the 14 member countries will meet on Saturday to discuss key challenges facing the region including from terror groups and explore ways to bring lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan. On Sunday, the main conference will be jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani where both India and Afghanistan are likely to corner Pakistan on terror. Pakistan Prime Minister's foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz will represent Islamabad at the conference and all eyes will be on whether an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting takes place on the sidelines. Ahead of Aziz's visit in Amritsar, India had on Thursday said it will never accept continuing cross border terrorism as the "new normal" in bilateral ties with Pakistan while making it clear that talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of "continued terror". India had called for isolating Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri attack on an army establishment and it is likely to continue efforts in that direction at the Heart of Asia conference. At the BRICS summit in Goa in October, India had called Pakistan the "mother ship" of terrorism globally. Aziz is scheduled to arrive in Amritsar on Sunday and is expected to return the same day. The entire holy city, which is not far from Indo-Pak border, has been decked up, while multiple layers of security have been put in place. Strong vigil is being kept along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. It was clear that dealing with terrorism will be a major focus at the conference as both India and Afghanistan earlier this week called terror emanating from Pakistan the "greatest threat" to regional peace and stability. Afghanistan has been pushing for an effective counter- terror framework and the matter will be discussed at length at the conference being attended by representatives from over 30 countries including China, the US, Russia and Iran. The Indian delegation will be led by finance minister Arun Jaitley in the absence of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who is ill. "Terrorism is the greatest threat to the region and we expect the HoA to approve the regional counter terrorism framework that has been drafted by Afghanistan and circulated to HoA countries. We hope the conference will adopt it," said Afghan ambassador Shaida M Abdali. A declaration will be issued at the conclusion of the conference and is expected to focus on ways to deal with terror. The conference, whose theme is security and prosperity, will also deliberate on major connectivity initiatives including Chabahar project, a five nation railway project. There may be deliberations on TAPI (Turkmenistan Afghanistan-Pakistan India) gas pipeline project. Ghani is scheduled to arrive on Saturday and he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a bilateral meeting where the Afghan President is likely to push for supply of military hardware by India to his country. India has already provided nearly US $2 billion to Afghanistan for reconstruction activities but has been adopting a cautious approach in providing weapons. The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was launched in 2011 and the participating countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates. Swaraj had attended last year's conference in Islamabad. The platform was floated to encourage security, political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours. The countries which support the initiative are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain and the US. Four countries Uzbekistan, Latvia, Bulgaria and Austria are attending the conference as guest nations. (PTI)

Heart of Asia: Security tightened ahead of conference, all eyes on Indo-Pak tension

In the first address after his appointment, Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today raked up the Kashmir issue, saying &quot;the issue will have to be resolved in line with the United Nations resolutions keeping in view the aspirations of the Kashmiri people in order to achieve lasting regional peace.&quot;&nbsp;

The newly-appointed army chief was briefed on the security situation along the border &quot;in view of the recent violations and escalation by Indian troops and Pakistan&#39;s own response&quot;, the army&#39;s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.&nbsp;

Bajwa asked the soldiers to respond with &quot;full force&quot; to any ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.

During a visit to the 10 Corps Rawalpindi he said, &quot;Each violation of any kind must be responded to with full force in the most effective manner.&quot; He urged troops to keep the highest level of vigil at all times.&nbsp;

His statement comes at a time when the relations between Pakistan and India are highly strained, following India&#39;s surgical strikes on terror launchpads in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Indian external affairs ministry had ruled out the possibility of holding bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar.&nbsp;

India deplored &quot;the atmosphere of continued terror&quot; and said it will &quot;never accept cross-border terrorism as the new normal ties&quot; between the two South Asian neighbours.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue once again, saying it must be resolved in line with UN resolutions, after India ruled out bilateral talks

In the first address after his appointment, Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today raked up the Kashmir issue, saying "the issue will have to be resolved in line with the United Nations resolutions keeping in view the aspirations of the Kashmiri people in order to achieve lasting regional peace." The newly-appointed army chief was briefed on the security situation along the border "in view of the recent violations and escalation by Indian troops and Pakistan's own response", the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Bajwa asked the soldiers to respond with "full force" to any ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. During a visit to the 10 Corps Rawalpindi he said, "Each violation of any kind must be responded to with full force in the most effective manner." He urged troops to keep the highest level of vigil at all times. His statement comes at a time when the relations between Pakistan and India are highly strained, following India's surgical strikes on terror launchpads in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On Thursday, Indian external affairs ministry had ruled out the possibility of holding bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar. India deplored "the atmosphere of continued terror" and said it will "never accept cross-border terrorism as the new normal ties" between the two South Asian neighbours. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Newly-appointed Pakistan army chief rakes up Kashmir issue, asks troops to keep high vigil

Pakistan said Donald Trump praised its prime minister as a &quot;terrific guy&quot; and offered support for a &quot;fantastic&quot; country, in an effusive phone call that baffled many after sharp criticisms in the past.

The Pakistani government released the candid account, complete with Trump`s trademark language, after Nawaz Sharif phoned the billionaire real estate mogul to congratulate him on his election victory.

The widely-circulated statement released late Wednesday caused surprise given the anti-Muslim rhetoric of the Trump campaign and the president-elect`s past description of Pakistan as &quot;not our friend&quot;.

It said Trump told the embattled Pakistani leader, currently embroiled in a corruption court case, that he has a &quot;very good reputation&quot;.

&quot;You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you prime minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long,&quot; it quoted Trump as saying.

&quot;Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people,&quot; Trump said according to the statement, while also offering to help solve the nation`s many challenges which include a violent insurgency.

&quot;I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honour and I will personally do it.&quot;

Trump has long been disdainful of Pakistan on social media.

On January 17, 2012, he tweeted: &quot;Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend. We`ve given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect - and much worse. #TimeToGetTough&quot;

Pakistanis have also been suspicious of his relationship with arch-rival India.Pakistan heavily relies on US aid and is likely to get around $1 billion in economic and security assistance in the 2017 financial year.

Relations plummeted after it emerged in 2011 that the US had carried out a raid to kill Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, found hiding in Pakistan, without Islamabad`s consent.

Trump`s election has met with concern over what it could mean for aid commitments and bumpy diplomatic relations.

However, the government statement said Trump urged Sharif to call him &quot;any time even before 20th January&quot; when he takes power.

Trump also responded to an invitation to visit Pakistan by saying he would &quot;love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people&quot;, it said.

He would be the first US president to visit since George W. Bush during military leader Pervez Musharraf`s rule in 2006. &quot;His visit to Pakistan would be most welcome,&quot; a foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday. Pakistan &quot;would like to strengthen ... the existing relationship further and we would like to continue working with the new administration when it takes over,&quot; he continued.

Some social media users appeared to welcome the phone call revelations.

&quot;Fantastic diplomacy&quot; wrote Pakistani journalist Waseem Abbasi, based in Washington, on Facebook. Some were more sceptical.

&quot;But Mr Trump do you know most Pakistanis are Muslim - how can they be `brilliant and exceptional` as well? Won`t you stop them entering?&quot; wrote journalist Omar Quraishi on Twitter.

Trump railed against Muslims during the campaign and vowed to ban them from entering the US.

&quot;I`m still trying to process that zany Trump-Sharif phone call. Who would have known that Trump would become a spokesman for #PakPositive?&quot; tweeted Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

Kugelman later warned not to read too much into the call, given how &quot;unpredictable&quot; Trump can be.

Trump`s transition team confirmed the call but gave a more toned-down account, saying the pair had a &quot;productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future.&quot;

&quot;President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif,&quot; it said in a statement.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Nawaz Sharif's office released a statement quoting Trump fawning over the PM, and calling Pakistan a 'fantastic place of fantastic people'

Pakistan said Donald Trump praised its prime minister as a "terrific guy" and offered support for a "fantastic" country, in an effusive phone call that baffled many after sharp criticisms in the past. The Pakistani government released the candid account, complete with Trump`s trademark language, after Nawaz Sharif phoned the billionaire real estate mogul to congratulate him on his election victory. The widely-circulated statement released late Wednesday caused surprise given the anti-Muslim rhetoric of the Trump campaign and the president-elect`s past description of Pakistan as "not our friend". It said Trump told the embattled Pakistani leader, currently embroiled in a corruption court case, that he has a "very good reputation". "You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you prime minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long," it quoted Trump as saying. "Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people," Trump said according to the statement, while also offering to help solve the nation`s many challenges which include a violent insurgency. "I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honour and I will personally do it." Trump has long been disdainful of Pakistan on social media. On January 17, 2012, he tweeted: "Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend. We`ve given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect - and much worse. #TimeToGetTough" Pakistanis have also been suspicious of his relationship with arch-rival India.Pakistan heavily relies on US aid and is likely to get around $1 billion in economic and security assistance in the 2017 financial year. Relations plummeted after it emerged in 2011 that the US had carried out a raid to kill Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, found hiding in Pakistan, without Islamabad`s consent. Trump`s election has met with concern over what it could mean for aid commitments and bumpy diplomatic relations. However, the government statement said Trump urged Sharif to call him "any time even before 20th January" when he takes power. Trump also responded to an invitation to visit Pakistan by saying he would "love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people", it said. He would be the first US president to visit since George W. Bush during military leader Pervez Musharraf`s rule in 2006. "His visit to Pakistan would be most welcome," a foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday. Pakistan "would like to strengthen ... the existing relationship further and we would like to continue working with the new administration when it takes over," he continued. Some social media users appeared to welcome the phone call revelations. "Fantastic diplomacy" wrote Pakistani journalist Waseem Abbasi, based in Washington, on Facebook. Some were more sceptical. "But Mr Trump do you know most Pakistanis are Muslim - how can they be `brilliant and exceptional` as well? Won`t you stop them entering?" wrote journalist Omar Quraishi on Twitter. Trump railed against Muslims during the campaign and vowed to ban them from entering the US. "I`m still trying to process that zany Trump-Sharif phone call. Who would have known that Trump would become a spokesman for #PakPositive?" tweeted Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. Kugelman later warned not to read too much into the call, given how "unpredictable" Trump can be. Trump`s transition team confirmed the call but gave a more toned-down account, saying the pair had a "productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future." "President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif," it said in a statement. (AFP)

Trump willing to help Pakistan solve 'outstanding problems'

Two days ahead of the Heart of Asia conference in the Indian city of Amritsar, external affairs ministry clarified that there would be no bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the meeting.&nbsp;

India emphasised that it would not accept the atmosphere of &quot;continued terror&quot; as the &quot;new normal&quot; in the bilateral relationship.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, &quot;We have not received any request from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting.&quot;

He added that the government is awaiting detailed information on the specifics of the Nagrota terror attack, in which 7 Indian armymen were killed, before it decides on the next steps.&nbsp;

&quot;I do wish to emphasise that the government takes this incident very seriously and will do what it feels is required for our national security,&quot; he asserted.

Pakistan will be represented by Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs advisor to Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the conference on December 3 and 4.&nbsp;

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbours heightened after India&#39;s surgical strikes against militants on Pakistan-administered Kashmir.&nbsp;

Replying to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s telephonic call with US President-elect Trump, Swarup said the Indian government is looking forward to the US addressing Pakistan&#39;s &quot;most outstanding of outstanding problems - terrorism&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;We have seen the reports of the conversation (between Trump and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif) that were one-sided and claimed the President-elect promised to help Pakistan with all outstanding issues,&quot; Swarup said.&nbsp;

Pakistan today claimed that Trump&#39;s &quot;willingness to play any role&quot; in resolving its &quot;outstanding issues&quot; was a reference to the Kashmir issue.

(WION with inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

New Delhi emphasised that bilateral ties cannot improve amid continued attacks along the Line of Control

Two days ahead of the Heart of Asia conference in the Indian city of Amritsar, external affairs ministry clarified that there would be no bilateral talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the meeting. India emphasised that it would not accept the atmosphere of "continued terror" as the "new normal" in the bilateral relationship. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "We have not received any request from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting." He added that the government is awaiting detailed information on the specifics of the Nagrota terror attack, in which 7 Indian armymen were killed, before it decides on the next steps. "I do wish to emphasise that the government takes this incident very seriously and will do what it feels is required for our national security," he asserted. Pakistan will be represented by Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs advisor to Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the conference on December 3 and 4. Tensions between the two South Asian neighbours heightened after India's surgical strikes against militants on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Replying to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's telephonic call with US President-elect Trump, Swarup said the Indian government is looking forward to the US addressing Pakistan's "most outstanding of outstanding problems - terrorism". "We have seen the reports of the conversation (between Trump and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif) that were one-sided and claimed the President-elect promised to help Pakistan with all outstanding issues," Swarup said. Pakistan today claimed that Trump's "willingness to play any role" in resolving its "outstanding issues" was a reference to the Kashmir issue. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India: No talks with Pakistan in atmosphere of 'continued terror'

Residents in Pakistan-administered Kashmir are racing to build underground bunkers for the first time since the 1990s, frightened by what they say is the worst cross-border violence since a ceasefire was agreed in 2003.

Months of tension between India and Pakistan have erupted into shellings and gunfire across the disputed Kashmir frontier, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including civilians.&nbsp;

People in Pakistan-administered Kashmir&#39;s&nbsp;Neelum Valley say the attacks come once or twice a week, and they never know when they might have to dive for cover.

Chand Bibi has concrete and steel rods waiting to be transformed into an underground bunker where her terrified family can take shelter as the monstrous boom of shelling reawakens old nightmares.

&quot;You are talking about fear,&quot; the 62-year-old says. &quot;We are near to dying at the moment we hear the boom.

&quot;The voice of the guns is horrible.&quot;

When it comes, Bibi and her relatives pile blankets, quilts and clothes on top of their children to muffle the noise and their panic.&nbsp;

Soon the extended family of about 20 people will be able to flee underground to the bunker they have paid 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($3,000) to build -- just under the cost of constructing a mud house in the valley, where the average worker makes around 800 rupees per day.

Sultan Ahmed is spending even more: up to 500,000 rupees for a three metre by four metre (10 foot by 14 foot) space reinforced by more than 20 centimetres (eight inches) of concrete, fortified with steel rods, and buried under nearly a metre of soil.&nbsp;

Some 25 people will be able to take shelter inside the bunker once it is completed, the 47-year-old teacher says.Local mason Ghulam Hussain tells AFP his business has increased because of the renewed violence, as he packs his tools after finishing a bunker at one house to rush to another and start again.

Around half a million people live within range of Indian fire along the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, the de facto border that has divided the Himalayan region since 2003, according to Farooq Haider Khan, leader of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

He says the government plans to build &quot;community bunkers&quot;.&nbsp;

Kashmir is one of the world&#39;s most dangerous flashpoints, bitterly divided between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but claimed in full by both.

They have already fought two wars over the mountainous region, but years of relative peace after the 2003 ceasefire were shattered in September, after India blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on an army base that killed 19 soldiers.

India said it had responded by carrying out &quot;surgical strikes&quot; across the heavily militarised border, sparking a furious reaction from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place.

On Tuesday armed militants stormed a major Indian army base near the frontier with Pakistan, killing seven soldiers in the most audacious such attack since the September raid.&nbsp;

The fear spiralling on the Pakistani side is not only consuming residents -- tourism to the scenic Neelum Valley has plummeted this year, local official Sardar Abdul Waheed tells AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;I am nervous that if this situation continues my whole investment will be sunk,&quot; says Zulfiqar Ali, who built a guesthouse in the valley last year.

Cross-border firing hit a civilian bus there on November 23, killing at least nine people, one of the highest one-day tolls since the latest unrest began.&nbsp;

In response authorities shut down the main road connecting the region&#39;s&nbsp;capital of Muzaffarabad with the valley, effectively sealing it off from the rest of Pakistan with no word when it will be reopened.&nbsp;

Before the valley was closed, many residents told AFP they could not afford to leave and had nowhere to go.&nbsp;Others, however, said they refused to be driven away.&nbsp;

Those who cannot pay the high cost of transporting bunker materials from Kashmir&#39;s main cities to the remote valley are fortifying their homes in whatever way they can.&nbsp;

&quot;We are just placing sandbags to reinforce the front walls,&quot; says 65-year-old widow Zarina Bibi, head of a family of 15.&nbsp;

&quot;We are in a state of fear all the time. We don&#39;t know when the Indian troops will start shelling again.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(AFP)

&nbsp;

The region's chief says the government plans to build 'community bunkers' amid escalation of cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistan

Residents in Pakistan-administered Kashmir are racing to build underground bunkers for the first time since the 1990s, frightened by what they say is the worst cross-border violence since a ceasefire was agreed in 2003. Months of tension between India and Pakistan have erupted into shellings and gunfire across the disputed Kashmir frontier, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including civilians. People in Pakistan-administered Kashmir's Neelum Valley say the attacks come once or twice a week, and they never know when they might have to dive for cover. Chand Bibi has concrete and steel rods waiting to be transformed into an underground bunker where her terrified family can take shelter as the monstrous boom of shelling reawakens old nightmares. "You are talking about fear," the 62-year-old says. "We are near to dying at the moment we hear the boom. "The voice of the guns is horrible." When it comes, Bibi and her relatives pile blankets, quilts and clothes on top of their children to muffle the noise and their panic. Soon the extended family of about 20 people will be able to flee underground to the bunker they have paid 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($3,000) to build -- just under the cost of constructing a mud house in the valley, where the average worker makes around 800 rupees per day. Sultan Ahmed is spending even more: up to 500,000 rupees for a three metre by four metre (10 foot by 14 foot) space reinforced by more than 20 centimetres (eight inches) of concrete, fortified with steel rods, and buried under nearly a metre of soil. Some 25 people will be able to take shelter inside the bunker once it is completed, the 47-year-old teacher says.Local mason Ghulam Hussain tells AFP his business has increased because of the renewed violence, as he packs his tools after finishing a bunker at one house to rush to another and start again. Around half a million people live within range of Indian fire along the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, the de facto border that has divided the Himalayan region since 2003, according to Farooq Haider Khan, leader of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He says the government plans to build "community bunkers". Kashmir is one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, bitterly divided between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but claimed in full by both. They have already fought two wars over the mountainous region, but years of relative peace after the 2003 ceasefire were shattered in September, after India blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on an army base that killed 19 soldiers. India said it had responded by carrying out "surgical strikes" across the heavily militarised border, sparking a furious reaction from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place. On Tuesday armed militants stormed a major Indian army base near the frontier with Pakistan, killing seven soldiers in the most audacious such attack since the September raid. The fear spiralling on the Pakistani side is not only consuming residents -- tourism to the scenic Neelum Valley has plummeted this year, local official Sardar Abdul Waheed tells AFP. "I am nervous that if this situation continues my whole investment will be sunk," says Zulfiqar Ali, who built a guesthouse in the valley last year. Cross-border firing hit a civilian bus there on November 23, killing at least nine people, one of the highest one-day tolls since the latest unrest began. In response authorities shut down the main road connecting the region's capital of Muzaffarabad with the valley, effectively sealing it off from the rest of Pakistan with no word when it will be reopened. Before the valley was closed, many residents told AFP they could not afford to leave and had nowhere to go. Others, however, said they refused to be driven away. Those who cannot pay the high cost of transporting bunker materials from Kashmir's main cities to the remote valley are fortifying their homes in whatever way they can. "We are just placing sandbags to reinforce the front walls," says 65-year-old widow Zarina Bibi, head of a family of 15. "We are in a state of fear all the time. We don't know when the Indian troops will start shelling again." (AFP)

Rush to build bunkers in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as fear grows

Two soldiers died in a suicide bomb attack on a mosque at an army facility in northwestern Pakistan, PTI reported today.

The attack, carried out by four heavily-armed bombers at Mohmand Rifles headquarters in Ghalanai in Mohmand Agency, triggered clashes between militants and soldiers.

All four militants were killed. The attackers fired at the residents and recruits who had gathered for early morning prayer.

Officials said 15 troops were also injured in the attack. Condition of five of those injured was stated to be critical.&nbsp;

&quot;They were taken on and contained in the outer courtyard of mosque. Security forces surrounded the attackers and killed all of them,&quot; the army said in a statement, PTI reported.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan&#39;s breakaway faction Jamaat-ul Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.

&quot;Security forces valiantly defeated suicide attack on Ghalani Camp in Mohmand agency killing all four suicide bombers,&quot; army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted, PTI said.

Curfew was imposed in Mohmand Agency following the suicide attack. A search operation for any other militants was launched soon after.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

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Four heavily-armed suicide bombers attacked a prayer gathering at the mosque in Mohmand Agency

Two soldiers died in a suicide bomb attack on a mosque at an army facility in northwestern Pakistan, PTI reported today. The attack, carried out by four heavily-armed bombers at Mohmand Rifles headquarters in Ghalanai in Mohmand Agency, triggered clashes between militants and soldiers. All four militants were killed. The attackers fired at the residents and recruits who had gathered for early morning prayer. Officials said 15 troops were also injured in the attack. Condition of five of those injured was stated to be critical. "They were taken on and contained in the outer courtyard of mosque. Security forces surrounded the attackers and killed all of them," the army said in a statement, PTI reported. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's breakaway faction Jamaat-ul Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack. "Security forces valiantly defeated suicide attack on Ghalani Camp in Mohmand agency killing all four suicide bombers," army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted, PTI said. Curfew was imposed in Mohmand Agency following the suicide attack. A search operation for any other militants was launched soon after. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Pakistan: 4 suicide bombers, 2 soldiers killed in attack on army camp

Pakistan has put a halt to import of cotton and other agricultural produce from India through the Wagah border and Karachi port.

According to a report in Pakistani daily Dawn, the department of plant protection (DPP) order affects import of vegetables among other produce. Permits will be required for future imports.

The decision comes amid escalating tension between the two neighbours and Pakistani claims that Indian troops had targeted a passenger bus and an ambulance near the Line of Control (LoC) and killed three of its soldiers and 10 civilians on Wednesday, as per Dawn.

Cotton importers and customs clearing agents claimed that the department had stopped the import of agriculture commodities from India without a warning or written order because of increase in tensions across the LoC.

DPP director Sahabzada Imran Shami, however, said the step was taken as Pakistan already had a surplus of fresh vegetables.

&ldquo;We have stopped import of tomatoes and other fresh vegetables in order to protect our farmers. We have enough tomato and other vegetables stocks, which we import from India only in case of shortages in the domestic market,&rdquo; he told Dawn on Friday.

Shami said the cotton imports from India had not been stopped, but suspended over reports that &quot;Indian exporters are not meeting our bio-security conditions&rdquo;.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking into these reports and will lift restriction on cotton imports if our apprehensions are proved wrong.&rdquo;

(WION)

The move comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the two countries.Pakistan says?it was because of its surplus vegetable produce

Pakistan has put a halt to import of cotton and other agricultural produce from India through the Wagah border and Karachi port. According to a report in Pakistani daily Dawn, the department of plant protection (DPP) order affects import of vegetables among other produce. Permits will be required for future imports. The decision comes amid escalating tension between the two neighbours and Pakistani claims that Indian troops had targeted a passenger bus and an ambulance near the Line of Control (LoC) and killed three of its soldiers and 10 civilians on Wednesday, as per Dawn. Cotton importers and customs clearing agents claimed that the department had stopped the import of agriculture commodities from India without a warning or written order because of increase in tensions across the LoC. DPP director Sahabzada Imran Shami, however, said the step was taken as Pakistan already had a surplus of fresh vegetables. “We have stopped import of tomatoes and other fresh vegetables in order to protect our farmers. We have enough tomato and other vegetables stocks, which we import from India only in case of shortages in the domestic market,” he told Dawn on Friday. Shami said the cotton imports from India had not been stopped, but suspended over reports that "Indian exporters are not meeting our bio-security conditions”. “We’re looking into these reports and will lift restriction on cotton imports if our apprehensions are proved wrong.” (WION)

Pakistan 'halts' import of Indian veggies, cotton

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the waters of rivers &nbsp;Sutlej, Beas and Ravi belong to India and will be stopped from going waste in Pakistan,

He said he will ensure that farmers here utilise it.

&quot;Indus Water Treaty- Sutlej, Beas, Ravi - the waters in these rivers belong to India and our farmers. It is not being used in the fields of Pakistan but flowing into the sea through Pakistan.&rdquo;

&quot;Now every drop of this water will be stopped and I will give that to farmers of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and Indian farmers. I am committed to this,&quot; he said addressing a rally in the Indian state of Punjab.

He said a task force has been set up to ensure that &quot;each drop of water&quot; that flows out of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi reaches Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

&quot;There is no reason that we cannot use our rights (over our waters) and let our farmers suffer,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;I need your blessings in order to fulfill your requirements for watering your fields.&quot;

The solution for the problems of water could be found out through common dialogue, he said.

Criticising the previous governments, Modi said, &quot;Waters kept flowing to Pakistan, but successive governments kept sleeping on this issue and my farmer kept crying for the want of water.&quot;

&quot;If Punjab farmers get sufficient amount of water, they could produce &#39;gold&#39; from the soil and could fill the coffers of the country,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our government is committed to work in tandem with the Badal government in Punjab to get farmers their rights and address their concerns,&quot; he said.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Modi said a task force has been set up to ensure that 'each drop of water' that flows out of the rivers reaches Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the waters of rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi belong to India and will be stopped from going waste in Pakistan, He said he will ensure that farmers here utilise it. "Indus Water Treaty- Sutlej, Beas, Ravi - the waters in these rivers belong to India and our farmers. It is not being used in the fields of Pakistan but flowing into the sea through Pakistan.” "Now every drop of this water will be stopped and I will give that to farmers of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and Indian farmers. I am committed to this," he said addressing a rally in the Indian state of Punjab. He said a task force has been set up to ensure that "each drop of water" that flows out of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi reaches Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. "There is no reason that we cannot use our rights (over our waters) and let our farmers suffer," he said, adding, "I need your blessings in order to fulfill your requirements for watering your fields." The solution for the problems of water could be found out through common dialogue, he said. Criticising the previous governments, Modi said, "Waters kept flowing to Pakistan, but successive governments kept sleeping on this issue and my farmer kept crying for the want of water." "If Punjab farmers get sufficient amount of water, they could produce 'gold' from the soil and could fill the coffers of the country," he said. "Our government is committed to work in tandem with the Badal government in Punjab to get farmers their rights and address their concerns," he said. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Waters of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi belong to India, will be stopped from going waste in Pakistan: Indian PM

Indian &quot;belligerence&quot; is a threat to regional peace and can lead to &quot;strategic miscalculation&quot;, Pakistan told the envoys of the P5 countries in Islamabad on Friday while briefing them over alleged &quot;ceasefire violations&quot; by India.

Pakistan Prime Minister&#39;s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed the heads of missions of the P5 -- the US, China, Russia, the UK and France -- on the &quot;continued unprovoked ceasefire violations&quot; by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB), the Foreign Office here said.

Foreign office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that representatives of China, France, Russian Federation, the UK and the US were briefed at the foreign ministry.

Aziz stated that the Indian &quot;belligerence&quot; is a threat to the regional peace and security and can lead to a strategic miscalculation, which would be disastrous for the region, the Foreign Office said.

The adviser strongly condemned the &quot;reprehensible attack on the civilian bus in the Neelum Valley on November 23 in complete violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding and international law, especially the international humanitarian law,&quot; the statement said.

&quot;The Indian forces also fired upon the ambulances that had come to rescue the injured people from the site of the attack. The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is condemnable and deplorable and must be investigated,&quot; Aziz was quoted as saying.

Aziz referred to persistent &quot;ceasefire violations&quot; by India, especially during the last two months which he claimed had resulted in the loss of more than 45 civilian lives and caused injuries to more than 139 others along the border &nbsp;in an effort to divert international attention from the continuing &quot;human rights violations in the Kashmir&quot;.

Aziz has also addressed letters to the foreign ministers of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, on the escalation along the LoC and Indian ceasefire violations, the Foreign Office here said.

Copies of these letters were also handed over to the heads of missions, it said.

Aziz called on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to play a crucial role in maintaining global peace and security and urge India to immediately put an end to the &quot;escalation and bloodshed&quot; at the LoC, it added.

(PTI)

Pakistan PM's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz briefed envoys of US,China,Russia,UK and France on alleged ceasefire violations by India

Indian "belligerence" is a threat to regional peace and can lead to "strategic miscalculation", Pakistan told the envoys of the P5 countries in Islamabad on Friday while briefing them over alleged "ceasefire violations" by India. Pakistan Prime Minister's adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed the heads of missions of the P5 -- the US, China, Russia, the UK and France -- on the "continued unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB), the Foreign Office here said. Foreign office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that representatives of China, France, Russian Federation, the UK and the US were briefed at the foreign ministry. Aziz stated that the Indian "belligerence" is a threat to the regional peace and security and can lead to a strategic miscalculation, which would be disastrous for the region, the Foreign Office said. The adviser strongly condemned the "reprehensible attack on the civilian bus in the Neelum Valley on November 23 in complete violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding and international law, especially the international humanitarian law," the statement said. "The Indian forces also fired upon the ambulances that had come to rescue the injured people from the site of the attack. The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is condemnable and deplorable and must be investigated," Aziz was quoted as saying. Aziz referred to persistent "ceasefire violations" by India, especially during the last two months which he claimed had resulted in the loss of more than 45 civilian lives and caused injuries to more than 139 others along the border in an effort to divert international attention from the continuing "human rights violations in the Kashmir". Aziz has also addressed letters to the foreign ministers of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, on the escalation along the LoC and Indian ceasefire violations, the Foreign Office here said. Copies of these letters were also handed over to the heads of missions, it said. Aziz called on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to play a crucial role in maintaining global peace and security and urge India to immediately put an end to the "escalation and bloodshed" at the LoC, it added. (PTI)

Indian 'belligerence' threat to regional peace: Pakistan to P5 envoys

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, on a visit to Pakistan, today called for an end to violence in Kashmir while he was speaking in Islamabad.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are holding the region back from becoming an &quot;incredible boomzone&quot;, he said.

Johnson, on his first visit to Pakistan, said that former colonial power Britain could not act as a mediator in the nearly 70-year-old dispute over the Himalayan region.

India and Pakistan must find a &quot;lasting solution&quot; he said, a day&nbsp;after Pakistan said that at least nine people were killed in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir when a civilian bus was hit by cross-border fire.

The two nuclear-armed neighbours have seen months of tensions leading to the Pakistani and Indian military officials speaking via a special hotline on Wednesday.

Johnson also expressed grief over the &quot;mutual sequestration&quot; of the Indian and Pakistani economies.&nbsp;

&quot;Look at the incredible human potential of Pakistan and its neighbours... and then imagine what the future could be like if this was sorted out. What an incredible boomzone it could be,&quot; AFP reported him as saying.

India had blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on its army base in Uri that killed 19 Indian Army soldiers on September 9.

India had responded by carrying out &quot;surgical strikes&quot; across the border, while Islamabad had denied them.

Frequent cross-border firings have marred the area ever since, with both sides reporting deaths including of civilians and soldiers.

The Indian foreign ministry on Thursday also accused Pakistan of targeting civilians in villages along the LoC, and of supporting &quot;armed terrorists&quot;.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since British rule ended in 1947. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region.

Rebel groups have fought Indian soldiers in Kashmir for decades for independence from India. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Months of tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals saw Pakistani and Indian military officials speak via a special hotline on Wednesday

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, on a visit to Pakistan, today called for an end to violence in Kashmir while he was speaking in Islamabad. Tensions between India and Pakistan are holding the region back from becoming an "incredible boomzone", he said. Johnson, on his first visit to Pakistan, said that former colonial power Britain could not act as a mediator in the nearly 70-year-old dispute over the Himalayan region. India and Pakistan must find a "lasting solution" he said, a day after Pakistan said that at least nine people were killed in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir when a civilian bus was hit by cross-border fire. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have seen months of tensions leading to the Pakistani and Indian military officials speaking via a special hotline on Wednesday. Johnson also expressed grief over the "mutual sequestration" of the Indian and Pakistani economies. "Look at the incredible human potential of Pakistan and its neighbours... and then imagine what the future could be like if this was sorted out. What an incredible boomzone it could be," AFP reported him as saying. India had blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on its army base in Uri that killed 19 Indian Army soldiers on September 9. India had responded by carrying out "surgical strikes" across the border, while Islamabad had denied them. Frequent cross-border firings have marred the area ever since, with both sides reporting deaths including of civilians and soldiers. The Indian foreign ministry on Thursday also accused Pakistan of targeting civilians in villages along the LoC, and of supporting "armed terrorists". Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since British rule ended in 1947. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. Rebel groups have fought Indian soldiers in Kashmir for decades for independence from India. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people. (WION with inputs from AFP)

British foreign secretary on Pakistan visit calls for end to Kashmir violence

In the aftermath of Indian army&#39;s &quot;punitive fire assaults&quot;, DGMOs of India and Pakistan spoke today at the latter&#39;s request for an &quot;unscheduled hotline interaction&quot; during which the &quot;unethical&quot; act of mutilation of bodies of Indian soldiers by &quot;terrorists&quot; was raised, news agency PTI reported.

&quot;He (Pakistani Director General of Military Operations) was categorically informed that if any ceasefire violations were initiated by Pak troops or any infiltration attempt was made by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or territory under its control, it would invite an appropriate response by Indian army,&quot; a statement issued by the Indian DGMO&#39;s office said.

Indian DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh spoke of infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and &quot;unethical act of mutilation of the body of Indian soldiers close to the Line of Control by terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan&quot;, the PTI report stated.

Pakistan&#39;s DGMO was exhorted to exercise strict control on their troops to refrain from any &quot;nefarious activities&quot;, it said.

Headlined &quot;Aftermath of Indian Army&#39;s punitive fire assault: Pak DGMO requests for unscheduled talks on hotline&quot;, the report said that Pakistan&#39;s restraint would lead to normalcy along the Line of Control.

Pakistan&#39;s DGMO&nbsp;raised the issue of civilian casualties on his side caused by Indian firing at the Line of Control.

Lt Gen Singh expressed grief at civilian casualties but stated that &quot;retaliatory firing by Indian troops has only been carried out targeting locations from where Pakistan has initiated ceasefire violations on Indian posts&quot;.

Pakistan Army had earlier said that seven people, including three soldiers, were killed in an exchange of fire with Indian troops at the LoC.

Three Indian soldiers were killed in cross-border firing yesterday, with the&nbsp;body of one being mutilated, the Indian Army had said.

Today&#39;s offensive by the Indian army was what it called &quot;heavy retribution&quot; to the killing of its soldiers.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

&nbsp;

The talks were initiated by Pakistan today after Indian Army's 'heavy retribution' to the killing of three Indian soldiers on Tuesday

In the aftermath of Indian army's "punitive fire assaults", DGMOs of India and Pakistan spoke today at the latter's request for an "unscheduled hotline interaction" during which the "unethical" act of mutilation of bodies of Indian soldiers by "terrorists" was raised, news agency PTI reported. "He (Pakistani Director General of Military Operations) was categorically informed that if any ceasefire violations were initiated by Pak troops or any infiltration attempt was made by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or territory under its control, it would invite an appropriate response by Indian army," a statement issued by the Indian DGMO's office said. Indian DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh spoke of infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and "unethical act of mutilation of the body of Indian soldiers close to the Line of Control by terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan", the PTI report stated. Pakistan's DGMO was exhorted to exercise strict control on their troops to refrain from any "nefarious activities", it said. Headlined "Aftermath of Indian Army's punitive fire assault: Pak DGMO requests for unscheduled talks on hotline", the report said that Pakistan's restraint would lead to normalcy along the Line of Control. Pakistan's DGMO raised the issue of civilian casualties on his side caused by Indian firing at the Line of Control. Lt Gen Singh expressed grief at civilian casualties but stated that "retaliatory firing by Indian troops has only been carried out targeting locations from where Pakistan has initiated ceasefire violations on Indian posts". Pakistan Army had earlier said that seven people, including three soldiers, were killed in an exchange of fire with Indian troops at the LoC. Three Indian soldiers were killed in cross-border firing yesterday, with the body of one being mutilated, the Indian Army had said. Today's offensive by the Indian army was what it called "heavy retribution" to the killing of its soldiers. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India, Pakistan top military commanders talk after two days of cross-border firing

Pakistan is expanding its nuclear arsenal and has developed an estimated stockpile of 130 to 140 warheads for delivery as well as converting some of its fighter jets including F-16s to deliver nukes, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists said in its latest report.

Authored by Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris, the report says that analysis of a large number of commercial satellite images of Pakistan army&#39;s garrisons and air force bases shows what appear to be mobile launchers and underground facilities that might be related to nuclear forces.

&quot;Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry,&quot; said the report on Pakistani nuclear forces, 2016.

&quot;We estimate that Pakistan now has a nuclear weapons stockpile of 130-140 warheads. This stockpile exceeds the projection made by the US Defense Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan by 2020 would have 60-80 warheads,&quot; said the report released last month.

According to the scientists, with several delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors and its uranium enrichment facilities expanding, Pakistan&#39;s stockpile will possibly increase further over the next 10 years.

&quot;Speculation that Pakistan may become the world&#39;s third-largest nuclear weapon state with a stockpile of some 350 warheads a decade from now are, we believe, exaggerated, not least because that would require a build up two to three times faster than growth over the past two decades,&quot; it said.

&quot;We estimate that its stockpile could more realistically grow to 220-250 warheads by 2025&nbsp;if the current trend continues. If that happens, it would make Pakistan the world&#39;s fifth-largest nuclear weapon state.

&quot;But unless India significantly expands its arsenal or further builds up its conventional forces, it seems reasonable to expect that Pakistan&#39;s nuclear arsenal will not continue to &nbsp;grow indefinitely but might begin to level off as its current weapons programmes are completed,&quot; the report said.

According to the report, Pakistan probably assigns a nuclear strike mission to select F-16A/B and Mirage III/V fighter squadrons.

The F-16 was probably the first aircraft in the nuclear role, but the Mirage quickly joined the mission, it said, adding that the F-16A/Bs were supplied by the US between 1983 and 1987.

After 40 aircraft had been delivered, the US State Department told Congress in 1989, &quot;none of the F-16s Pakistan already owns or is about to purchase is configured for nuclear delivery&quot; and Pakistan &quot;will be obligated by contract not to modify&quot; additional F-16s &quot;without the approval of the United States,&quot; it said.

&quot;Yet, there were multiple credible reports at the time that Pakistan was already modifying US-supplied F-16s for nuclear weapons,&quot; it said, adding that there are rumours that Pakistan intends to make the Chinese-supplied JF-17 fighter nuclear-capable.

(PTI)

This exceeds the projection made by the US Defense Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan by 2020 would have 60-80 warheads

Pakistan is expanding its nuclear arsenal and has developed an estimated stockpile of 130 to 140 warheads for delivery as well as converting some of its fighter jets including F-16s to deliver nukes, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists said in its latest report. Authored by Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris, the report says that analysis of a large number of commercial satellite images of Pakistan army's garrisons and air force bases shows what appear to be mobile launchers and underground facilities that might be related to nuclear forces. "Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry," said the report on Pakistani nuclear forces, 2016. "We estimate that Pakistan now has a nuclear weapons stockpile of 130-140 warheads. This stockpile exceeds the projection made by the US Defense Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan by 2020 would have 60-80 warheads," said the report released last month. According to the scientists, with several delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors and its uranium enrichment facilities expanding, Pakistan's stockpile will possibly increase further over the next 10 years. "Speculation that Pakistan may become the world's third-largest nuclear weapon state with a stockpile of some 350 warheads a decade from now are, we believe, exaggerated, not least because that would require a build up two to three times faster than growth over the past two decades," it said. "We estimate that its stockpile could more realistically grow to 220-250 warheads by 2025 if the current trend continues. If that happens, it would make Pakistan the world's fifth-largest nuclear weapon state. "But unless India significantly expands its arsenal or further builds up its conventional forces, it seems reasonable to expect that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal will not continue to grow indefinitely but might begin to level off as its current weapons programmes are completed," the report said. According to the report, Pakistan probably assigns a nuclear strike mission to select F-16A/B and Mirage III/V fighter squadrons. The F-16 was probably the first aircraft in the nuclear role, but the Mirage quickly joined the mission, it said, adding that the F-16A/Bs were supplied by the US between 1983 and 1987. After 40 aircraft had been delivered, the US State Department told Congress in 1989, "none of the F-16s Pakistan already owns or is about to purchase is configured for nuclear delivery" and Pakistan "will be obligated by contract not to modify" additional F-16s "without the approval of the United States," it said. "Yet, there were multiple credible reports at the time that Pakistan was already modifying US-supplied F-16s for nuclear weapons," it said, adding that there are rumours that Pakistan intends to make the Chinese-supplied JF-17 fighter nuclear-capable. (PTI)

Pakistan has 130-140 nuclear weapons, converts F16 to deliver nukes: Report

Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;war on terror&quot; has cost the developing country a whopping $118 billion so far, a new central bank report has said, an amount equivalent to well over one third of its gross domestic product.

The central State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released its annual report on Thursday showing extremist violence cost the country $118.3 billion in direct and indirect losses from 2002 to 2016.

&quot;Both economic growth and social sector development have been severely hampered by terrorism related incidents,&quot; the bank said in the report.

Pakistan became a pivotal US ally in the battle against extremism after the September 11, 2001 attacks spurred the US invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan.

A Coalition Support Fund (CSF) was approved by the US to support Pakistan in the war, with an annual release of around $1 billion since 2002. By last year Pakistan had received a total of $14 billion under the CSF.

The country has also been waging a fight against home-grown Islamist insurgents since at least 2004.&nbsp;

The bank said that apart from causing immeasurable human suffering, including casualties and mass displacement, the war had helped drive away foreign investment, stall domestic investment, freeze exports, and slow down trade.

Pakistan has carried out major military offensives against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in its border tribal regions that have sapped their strength, with overall levels of militant violence dropping drastically in 2015 and 2016.

The economy, meanwhile, is improving, with the IMF saying in October that the country has emerged from crisis and stabilised its economy after completing a bailout programme.

(AFP)

Extremist violence cost the country $118.3 billion in direct and indirect losses from 2002 to 2016, the bank's annual report stated

Pakistan's "war on terror" has cost the developing country a whopping $118 billion so far, a new central bank report has said, an amount equivalent to well over one third of its gross domestic product. The central State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released its annual report on Thursday showing extremist violence cost the country $118.3 billion in direct and indirect losses from 2002 to 2016. "Both economic growth and social sector development have been severely hampered by terrorism related incidents," the bank said in the report. Pakistan became a pivotal US ally in the battle against extremism after the September 11, 2001 attacks spurred the US invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan. A Coalition Support Fund (CSF) was approved by the US to support Pakistan in the war, with an annual release of around $1 billion since 2002. By last year Pakistan had received a total of $14 billion under the CSF. The country has also been waging a fight against home-grown Islamist insurgents since at least 2004. The bank said that apart from causing immeasurable human suffering, including casualties and mass displacement, the war had helped drive away foreign investment, stall domestic investment, freeze exports, and slow down trade. Pakistan has carried out major military offensives against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in its border tribal regions that have sapped their strength, with overall levels of militant violence dropping drastically in 2015 and 2016. The economy, meanwhile, is improving, with the IMF saying in October that the country has emerged from crisis and stabilised its economy after completing a bailout programme. (AFP)

Islamabad's 'war on terror' has cost $118 bn: State Bank of Pakistan

The Indian Army has dismissed Pakistan&#39;s claim that 14 of its soldiers were killed by the Pakistan Army on November 14.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
No fatal casualties due to Pak firing on 14,15 or 16 Nov. Pak Army Chief claim of killing Indian soldiers on 14 Nov false.<a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi">@adgpi</a>
&mdash; NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthernComd_IA/status/798958429360439296">November 16, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan daily&nbsp;Dawn reported that Pakistan army chief, Raheel Sharif as saying&nbsp;that 14 Indian soldiers were&nbsp;killed after the Pakistan Army &quot;responded to unprovoked firing&quot;&nbsp;by the Indian forces. Pakistan had said seven of its soldiers were killed in the ceasefire violation by India in the Bhimber sector of the Line of Control on November 14.

&ldquo;The Indian army should man up and accept their losses,&rdquo; Raheel Sharif was quoted as saying by Dawn.&nbsp;

The Indian Army had, however, alleged that the ceasefire violation was initiated by Pakistan.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated in September ever since Pakistani terrorists attacked an army post in Kashmir&#39;s Uri that claimed the lives of 19 soldiers. India retaliated with &quot;surgical strikes&quot; against terrorist launchpads across the LoC the same month.

Both countries have accused each other of violating the ceasefire multiple times ever since. India alleges there have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir since the strikes.&nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif had claimed that 14 Indian soldiers were killed after Pakistan ?responded to unprovoked firing?

The Indian Army has dismissed Pakistan's claim that 14 of its soldiers were killed by the Pakistan Army on November 14. No fatal casualties due to Pak firing on 14,15 or 16 Nov. Pak Army Chief claim of killing Indian soldiers on 14 Nov false.@adgpi — NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) November 16, 2016 × Pakistan daily Dawn reported that Pakistan army chief, Raheel Sharif as saying that 14 Indian soldiers were killed after the Pakistan Army "responded to unprovoked firing" by the Indian forces. Pakistan had said seven of its soldiers were killed in the ceasefire violation by India in the Bhimber sector of the Line of Control on November 14. “The Indian army should man up and accept their losses,” Raheel Sharif was quoted as saying by Dawn. The Indian Army had, however, alleged that the ceasefire violation was initiated by Pakistan. Relations between the two countries deteriorated in September ever since Pakistani terrorists attacked an army post in Kashmir's Uri that claimed the lives of 19 soldiers. India retaliated with "surgical strikes" against terrorist launchpads across the LoC the same month. Both countries have accused each other of violating the ceasefire multiple times ever since. India alleges there have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir since the strikes. (WION)

Indian Army denies Pakistan killed 14 of its soldiers

Vowing to united all political forces to challenge Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Asif Ali Zardari- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People&#39;Party (PPP), former Pakistan military dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf said he would form a third political power in the country.

Musharraf told the Pakistani publication, the Dawn, that he would come back to Pakistan when the court cases against him will conclude. Musharraf said the &quot;political leadership in Pakistan is prolonging the cases against me and the judiciary is under the influence of the current government.&quot;

However, Pakistan senate chairman Raza Rabbani opposed Musharraf&#39;s entry in politics, saying &quot;it will be shameful for the country if the person who destroyed the nation enters into politics.&quot;

Mysterious banners popped up in Pakistan suggesting an alliance between Musharraf and the Farooq Sattar-led MQM-Pakistan. The former army chief told media that he does hold sympathy for the &#39;Mohajir&#39; community but had no interest in joining hands with the party.&nbsp;

The party has also rejected reports that Musharraf&#39;s counsel had suggested an alliance and the inclusion of the former military dictator as a party leader.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from ANI) 
&nbsp;

Stressing the need for a third political power in Pakistan, Musharraf said he will return to challenge the PM when his cases conclude

Vowing to united all political forces to challenge Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Asif Ali Zardari- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People'Party (PPP), former Pakistan military dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf said he would form a third political power in the country. Musharraf told the Pakistani publication, the Dawn, that he would come back to Pakistan when the court cases against him will conclude. Musharraf said the "political leadership in Pakistan is prolonging the cases against me and the judiciary is under the influence of the current government." However, Pakistan senate chairman Raza Rabbani opposed Musharraf's entry in politics, saying "it will be shameful for the country if the person who destroyed the nation enters into politics." Mysterious banners popped up in Pakistan suggesting an alliance between Musharraf and the Farooq Sattar-led MQM-Pakistan. The former army chief told media that he does hold sympathy for the 'Mohajir' community but had no interest in joining hands with the party. The party has also rejected reports that Musharraf's counsel had suggested an alliance and the inclusion of the former military dictator as a party leader. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Former Pakistani army chief Musharraf says 'ready to challenge PM Sharif, Zardari'

Pakistan is conducting a military exercise in a strategically located area bordering India, with Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and the country&#39;s army chief reviewing the readiness of Pakistan&#39;s army and air force to deal with any situation amid growing tension with India, news agency PTI reported.

The exercise is taking place near the border close to Bahawalpur town in Punjab province.

Helicopter gunships and ground troops will take part in the exercise, coming days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed along the LoC.

The exercise shows the state of readiness of Pakistani military to deal with any situation arising out of recent tension with India, according to security officials.

Pakistan cannot be bullied by Indian &quot;tactics&quot; and its restraint should not be &quot;misunderstood&quot; as weakness, said Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif warning that his country was fully capable of defending against &quot;any belligerence&quot;.

Deliberate escalation of tension along LoC by Indian forces is a threat to regional peace and security, he added.

&quot;It is also a futile attempt of the Indian authorities to divert the world&#39;s attention from the worst kind of atrocities they are committing&quot; in Kashmir, he had said.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The exercise comes days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed along the line of control

Pakistan is conducting a military exercise in a strategically located area bordering India, with Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and the country's army chief reviewing the readiness of Pakistan's army and air force to deal with any situation amid growing tension with India, news agency PTI reported. The exercise is taking place near the border close to Bahawalpur town in Punjab province. Helicopter gunships and ground troops will take part in the exercise, coming days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed along the LoC. The exercise shows the state of readiness of Pakistani military to deal with any situation arising out of recent tension with India, according to security officials. Pakistan cannot be bullied by Indian "tactics" and its restraint should not be "misunderstood" as weakness, said Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif warning that his country was fully capable of defending against "any belligerence". Deliberate escalation of tension along LoC by Indian forces is a threat to regional peace and security, he added. "It is also a futile attempt of the Indian authorities to divert the world's attention from the worst kind of atrocities they are committing" in Kashmir, he had said. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Pakistan holds military exercise close to Indian border

Pakistan has ordered more than 100 Turkish teachers to leave the country along with their family members by November 20, in an apparent attempt to &ldquo;woo&rdquo; the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who starts his two-day visit to Islamabad today.

About 108 Turkish teachers have been working in the Pak-Turk schools. They have been denied extension to their visas on the request of the Erdogan administration as Turkey alleges these schools to be &nbsp;run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Erdogan blamed for July&#39;s failed military coup.

 
The administrative body of the Pak-Turk Schools has expressed shock over the government&#39;s decision, which it says has been taken under pressure.&nbsp;

 
&quot;Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges are extremely concerned over the abrupt decision of the government,&quot; Pak-Turk Education Foundation Board of Directors Chairman, Alamgir Khan told news agency PTI.

 
An official also told PTI that since all Turkish principals have been replaced with the Pakistanis and the administration has publicly announced that it has no connection with Gulen movement there has been no justification of this decision.

 
The network of Pak-Turk schools and colleges was launched in 1995 under the international NGO registered with the Turkish government.

 
The official told PTI that these schools will now be operating under a local NGO registered with the Pakistani government. &quot;However, these schools will remain functional under the Pakistani administration,&quot; he said.

 
The chain of 28 schools and colleges runs in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Jamshoro and Quetta. Over 11,000 students from pre-school to &quot;A&quot; levels are studying in these institutions.

 
&quot;Initially funding was made from Turkey to establish state of art campuses in Pakistan. But for the last 15 years or so it is generating its own funds here, offering free education and boarding facilities to 35 per cent of the students besides awarding foreign scholarships to them,&quot; the official said.

 
In August, Pakistan had promised Turkey&#39;s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that it would investigate the network of schools Ankara wanted shut for its alleged links with Gulen.

 
&quot;It is not secret that Gulen&#39;s organisation has institutions or their presence in Pakistan and in many other countries. I am sure the necessary measures will be taken. We have to be very careful with such organisations and their causing risk and threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence,&quot; Cavusoglu had said.

 
(WION with inputs from PTI)

 
&nbsp;

Turkey says that they were teaching in schools run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan blames for July's failed military coup

Pakistan has ordered more than 100 Turkish teachers to leave the country along with their family members by November 20, in an apparent attempt to “woo” the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who starts his two-day visit to Islamabad today. About 108 Turkish teachers have been working in the Pak-Turk schools. They have been denied extension to their visas on the request of the Erdogan administration as Turkey alleges these schools to be run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Erdogan blamed for July's failed military coup. The administrative body of the Pak-Turk Schools has expressed shock over the government's decision, which it says has been taken under pressure. "Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges are extremely concerned over the abrupt decision of the government," Pak-Turk Education Foundation Board of Directors Chairman, Alamgir Khan told news agency PTI. An official also told PTI that since all Turkish principals have been replaced with the Pakistanis and the administration has publicly announced that it has no connection with Gulen movement there has been no justification of this decision. The network of Pak-Turk schools and colleges was launched in 1995 under the international NGO registered with the Turkish government. The official told PTI that these schools will now be operating under a local NGO registered with the Pakistani government. "However, these schools will remain functional under the Pakistani administration," he said. The chain of 28 schools and colleges runs in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Jamshoro and Quetta. Over 11,000 students from pre-school to "A" levels are studying in these institutions. "Initially funding was made from Turkey to establish state of art campuses in Pakistan. But for the last 15 years or so it is generating its own funds here, offering free education and boarding facilities to 35 per cent of the students besides awarding foreign scholarships to them," the official said. In August, Pakistan had promised Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that it would investigate the network of schools Ankara wanted shut for its alleged links with Gulen. "It is not secret that Gulen's organisation has institutions or their presence in Pakistan and in many other countries. I am sure the necessary measures will be taken. We have to be very careful with such organisations and their causing risk and threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence," Cavusoglu had said. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Pakistan: More than 100 Turkish teachers ordered to leave country in bid to 'please' visiting Turkish President

Mukhtaran Mai was gangraped&nbsp;and was paraded naked by a group of men in her village in Pakistan&#39;s Punjab&nbsp;in 2002.

This, on the orders of her tribe&rsquo;s elders, was a punishment for her brother&rsquo;s sins. Fourteen years later, in 2016, Mukhtaran walked the ramp as a showstopper for Pakistani designer Rozina Munib at Pakistan Fashion Week.

The country&rsquo;s annual fashion show saw Mukhtaran making her fashion debut in a show titled &lsquo;Zindagi Ke Rang&rsquo; meaning Colours of Life.

Her message after the show was: &ldquo;I want to be the voice of those women who face circumstances similar to what I did. My message for my sisters is that we aren&#39;t weak. We have a heart and a brain, we also think.&rdquo;

A symbol of courage and inspiring women around the world, the 44-year-old never lost hope throughout the ordeal. Speaking with The Associated Press on the occasion, Mukhtaran said, &ldquo;If one step I take, if that helps even one woman, I would be very happy to do that. I ask my sisters to not lose hope in the face of injustice, as we will get justice one day for sure.&rdquo;

Adopting the role of an advocate for women&rsquo;s rights, she founded a charity for helpless women in the country. The charity currently runs a women&rsquo;s shelter for those, who like her, are survivors of violence and abuse. The home helps them to sustain themselves and become self-dependent by learning new skills. Mukhtaran has also opened a school that offers free education for girls in her rural hometown of Meerwala.&nbsp;

Pakistan ranks as low as 121 out of 155 countries in the UNDP&rsquo;s 2014 Gender Inequality Index. The index is a measure of women&rsquo;s empowerment, reproductive health and economic activity.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMRrUwoDmIP/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#RozinaMunib with her showstopper Mukhtara Mai at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial</a>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMRqNFTjKCQ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Mukhtara Mai walks for #RozinaMunib at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Fashion Pakistan Official (@fashion_pakistan) on <time datetime="2016-11-01T17:28:51+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 1, 2016 at 10:28am PDT</time>
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(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Mukhtaran Mai has been working for women's rights in Pakistan for more than a decade

Mukhtaran Mai was gangraped and was paraded naked by a group of men in her village in Pakistan's Punjab in 2002. This, on the orders of her tribe’s elders, was a punishment for her brother’s sins. Fourteen years later, in 2016, Mukhtaran walked the ramp as a showstopper for Pakistani designer Rozina Munib at Pakistan Fashion Week. The country’s annual fashion show saw Mukhtaran making her fashion debut in a show titled ‘Zindagi Ke Rang’ meaning Colours of Life. Her message after the show was: “I want to be the voice of those women who face circumstances similar to what I did. My message for my sisters is that we aren't weak. We have a heart and a brain, we also think.” A symbol of courage and inspiring women around the world, the 44-year-old never lost hope throughout the ordeal. Speaking with The Associated Press on the occasion, Mukhtaran said, “If one step I take, if that helps even one woman, I would be very happy to do that. I ask my sisters to not lose hope in the face of injustice, as we will get justice one day for sure.” Adopting the role of an advocate for women’s rights, she founded a charity for helpless women in the country. The charity currently runs a women’s shelter for those, who like her, are survivors of violence and abuse. The home helps them to sustain themselves and become self-dependent by learning new skills. Mukhtaran has also opened a school that offers free education for girls in her rural hometown of Meerwala. Pakistan ranks as low as 121 out of 155 countries in the UNDP’s 2014 Gender Inequality Index. The index is a measure of women’s empowerment, reproductive health and economic activity. #RozinaMunib with her showstopper Mukhtara Mai at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial A photo posted by Fashion Pakistan Official (@fashion_pakistan) on Nov 1, 2016 at 10:38am PDT Mukhtara Mai walks for #RozinaMunib at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial A photo posted by Fashion Pakistan Official (@fashion_pakistan) on Nov 1, 2016 at 10:28am PDT (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

#BeTheChange: This gangrape-survivor walks the ramp shaming the 'culture of shame'

India on Tuesday recalled three of its diplomats from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad after Pakitan revealed their identities and accused them of spying.&nbsp;

According to reports, first secretary commercial Anurag Singh, Vijay Kumar Varma and Madhawan Nanda Kumar left for Dubai from Islamabad.

Five other Indian High Commission officials - Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri, Amerdeep Singh Bhatti, Dharmendra Sodhi, Balbir Singh and Jayabalan Senthil - will leave for India via road through the Wagah border, the report said.

Pakistan&#39;s foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria had last week said that a number of Indian diplomats and staffers were involved in &quot;coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments&quot;. He had accused the eight Indian officials of being members of intelligence agencies.&nbsp;

Last month, Pakistan had declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh persona non-grata after India&#39;s action against Pakistan High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar following Indian police&#39;s busting of an ISI-run spy ring.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

India recalled three of its diplomats after Pakistan last week accused them of 'coordinating subversive activities'

India on Tuesday recalled three of its diplomats from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad after Pakitan revealed their identities and accused them of spying. According to reports, first secretary commercial Anurag Singh, Vijay Kumar Varma and Madhawan Nanda Kumar left for Dubai from Islamabad. Five other Indian High Commission officials - Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri, Amerdeep Singh Bhatti, Dharmendra Sodhi, Balbir Singh and Jayabalan Senthil - will leave for India via road through the Wagah border, the report said. Pakistan's foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria had last week said that a number of Indian diplomats and staffers were involved in "coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments". He had accused the eight Indian officials of being members of intelligence agencies. Last month, Pakistan had declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh persona non-grata after India's action against Pakistan High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar following Indian police's busting of an ISI-run spy ring. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Three Indian High Commission officials to return from Pakistan after spying accusations

Pakistani security forces blew up a market in a restive tribal region near the Afghan border to avenge the killing of an army officer in a bomb attack, the authorities said Saturday.

The market housing more than 100 shops was destroyed on Thursday in Wana, the capital of the South Waziristan region, one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal areas where the army has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants for more than a decade.

&quot;The security forces ordered the shopkeepers to leave the market, which had over 100 shops and blew it up with explosives,&quot; senior local administration official, Zafar-ul-Islam told AFP on Saturday.

An improvised explosive device (IED) killed an army major on Tuesday outside a weapons shop as the military staged a raid of the market.

Afghan national Kharoti Khan, who owned the shop, was arrested and his house demolished a day after the explosion, Islam said.

He added the market was demolished as part of a &quot;collective responsibility&quot; to curb militancy from the area.

Since 2007 the government has encouraged vigilante forces comprising tribesmen, locally known as peace committees, to defend their villages against the Taliban.

The tribal areas are off-limits to journalists and it is impossible to independently verify incidents reported by the military or militant groups.

The army launched an operation in June 2014 in neighbouring North Waziristan to wipe out militant bases in the tribal areas and bring an end to a bloody insurgency that has cost thousands of civilian lives since 2004.

As a result security has improved. Scattered attacks still take place, but fewer than previously.

According to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 457 civilians and 182 security forces were killed in Pakistan from January 1 to September 11, putting 2016 on course for fewer casualties than 2015.

Last year, the country recorded its lowest number of militant-related killings since 2007, when the Pakistani Taliban was formed.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

More than 100 shops were destroyed during an army operation in the capital of South Waziristan to avenge the killing of an officer

Pakistani security forces blew up a market in a restive tribal region near the Afghan border to avenge the killing of an army officer in a bomb attack, the authorities said Saturday. The market housing more than 100 shops was destroyed on Thursday in Wana, the capital of the South Waziristan region, one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal areas where the army has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants for more than a decade. "The security forces ordered the shopkeepers to leave the market, which had over 100 shops and blew it up with explosives," senior local administration official, Zafar-ul-Islam told AFP on Saturday. An improvised explosive device (IED) killed an army major on Tuesday outside a weapons shop as the military staged a raid of the market. Afghan national Kharoti Khan, who owned the shop, was arrested and his house demolished a day after the explosion, Islam said. He added the market was demolished as part of a "collective responsibility" to curb militancy from the area. Since 2007 the government has encouraged vigilante forces comprising tribesmen, locally known as peace committees, to defend their villages against the Taliban. The tribal areas are off-limits to journalists and it is impossible to independently verify incidents reported by the military or militant groups. The army launched an operation in June 2014 in neighbouring North Waziristan to wipe out militant bases in the tribal areas and bring an end to a bloody insurgency that has cost thousands of civilian lives since 2004. As a result security has improved. Scattered attacks still take place, but fewer than previously. According to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 457 civilians and 182 security forces were killed in Pakistan from January 1 to September 11, putting 2016 on course for fewer casualties than 2015. Last year, the country recorded its lowest number of militant-related killings since 2007, when the Pakistani Taliban was formed. (AFP)

Pakistani forces demolish market in Waziristan after bomb attack kills army officer

Indian Army had used artillery guns to destroy four Pakistani posts in a massive assault across the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of north Kashmir&#39;s Kupwara district last month, government sources said on Friday.

This is the first time the government sources have confirmed that artillery fire was indeed used by the Army to launch a massive assault against Pakistan, something which was always suspected.

It is the first case of artillery fire at the LoC since the 2003 ceasefire agreement was signed between the two countries. They said artillery guns were stealthy moved up and used in straight fire position to raze four positions of Pakistan army to avenge the mutilation of an Indian Army jawan&#39;s body by some suspected militants few days ago.

Violating ceasefire, Pakistan had been firing 120 mm heavy mortars to target Indian civilian areas, to which India had responded strongly. Defence sources said while ceasefire violations by Pakistan was a regular feature &quot;the intensity had never been so hard in the recent past.&quot;

(PTI)

This is the first time the government sources have confirmed that artillery fire was used by Army to launch a massive assault against Pak

Indian Army had used artillery guns to destroy four Pakistani posts in a massive assault across the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district last month, government sources said on Friday. This is the first time the government sources have confirmed that artillery fire was indeed used by the Army to launch a massive assault against Pakistan, something which was always suspected. It is the first case of artillery fire at the LoC since the 2003 ceasefire agreement was signed between the two countries. They said artillery guns were stealthy moved up and used in straight fire position to raze four positions of Pakistan army to avenge the mutilation of an Indian Army jawan's body by some suspected militants few days ago. Violating ceasefire, Pakistan had been firing 120 mm heavy mortars to target Indian civilian areas, to which India had responded strongly. Defence sources said while ceasefire violations by Pakistan was a regular feature "the intensity had never been so hard in the recent past." (PTI)

Indian army used artillery guns to destroy four Pakistan posts across LoC

Mukhtaran Mai was gangraped &nbsp;and made to parade naked by a group of men in her village in the region of Punjab, Pakistan in 2002. This, on the orders of her tribe&rsquo;s elders, was a punishment for her brother&rsquo;s sins. 14 years later, in 2016, Mukhtaran walked the ramp as a showstopper for Pakistani designer, Rozina Munib, at Pakistan Fashion Week.

&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMRrUwoDmIP/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#RozinaMunib with her showstopper Mukhtara Mai at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial</a>

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The country&rsquo;s annual fashion show saw Mukhtaran making her fashion debut in a show titled &lsquo;Zindagi Ke Rang&rsquo; meaning Colours of Life. Her message after the show was: &ldquo;I want to be the voice of those women who face circumstances similar to what I did. My message for my sisters is that we aren&#39;t weak. We have a heart and a brain, we also think.&rdquo;

A symbol of courage and inspiring women around the world, the 44-year-old never lost hope throughout the ordeal. Speaking with The Associated Press on the occasion, Mukhtaran said, &ldquo;If one step I take, if that helps even one woman, I would be very happy to do that. I ask my sisters to not lose hope in the face of injustice, as we will get justice one day for sure.&rdquo;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMWFfDXA21k/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#Repost @dawn_images with @repostapp ??? Politician #SherryRehman dined with #MukhtaranMai to help support her cause to find shelter for women.</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Catwalk Event Management (@catwalk_events) on <time datetime="2016-11-03T10:44:12+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 3, 2016 at 3:44am PDT</time>
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Adopting the role of an advocate for women&rsquo;s rights, she found a charity for helpless women in the country. The charity currently runs a women&rsquo;s shelter for those, who like her, are survivors of violence and abuse. The home helps them to sustain themselves and become self dependent by learning new skills. Mukhtaran has also opened a school that offers free education for girls in her rural hometown of Meerwala.&nbsp;

The South Asian nation ranks as low as 121 out of 155 countries in the UNDP&rsquo;s 2014 Gender Inequality Index. The index is a measure of women&rsquo;s empowerment, reproductive health and economic activity.&nbsp;

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

She has been working for women's rights in Pakistan for more than a decade

Mukhtaran Mai was gangraped and made to parade naked by a group of men in her village in the region of Punjab, Pakistan in 2002. This, on the orders of her tribe’s elders, was a punishment for her brother’s sins. 14 years later, in 2016, Mukhtaran walked the ramp as a showstopper for Pakistani designer, Rozina Munib, at Pakistan Fashion Week. #RozinaMunib with her showstopper Mukhtara Mai at #FPW2016 @rozinamunibofficial A photo posted by Fashion Pakistan Official (@fashion_pakistan) on Nov 1, 2016 at 10:38am PDT The country’s annual fashion show saw Mukhtaran making her fashion debut in a show titled ‘Zindagi Ke Rang’ meaning Colours of Life. Her message after the show was: “I want to be the voice of those women who face circumstances similar to what I did. My message for my sisters is that we aren't weak. We have a heart and a brain, we also think.” A symbol of courage and inspiring women around the world, the 44-year-old never lost hope throughout the ordeal. Speaking with The Associated Press on the occasion, Mukhtaran said, “If one step I take, if that helps even one woman, I would be very happy to do that. I ask my sisters to not lose hope in the face of injustice, as we will get justice one day for sure.” #Repost @dawn_images with @repostapp ??? Politician #SherryRehman dined with #MukhtaranMai to help support her cause to find shelter for women. A photo posted by Catwalk Event Management (@catwalk_events) on Nov 3, 2016 at 3:44am PDT Adopting the role of an advocate for women’s rights, she found a charity for helpless women in the country. The charity currently runs a women’s shelter for those, who like her, are survivors of violence and abuse. The home helps them to sustain themselves and become self dependent by learning new skills. Mukhtaran has also opened a school that offers free education for girls in her rural hometown of Meerwala. The South Asian nation ranks as low as 121 out of 155 countries in the UNDP’s 2014 Gender Inequality Index. The index is a measure of women’s empowerment, reproductive health and economic activity. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

#BeTheChange: This gangrape-survivor shames 'culture of shame', walking the ramp at Fashion Week

The identities of eight officers and staffers posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad and who Pakistan says are spying for India have been leaked to the Pakistani media.

Reports in the Dawn and the Express Tribune said the men were allegedly working for India&#39;s Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau.&nbsp;

The report in the Dawn identified the men as: &quot;Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri (posted as commercial counsellor); Balbir Singh (posted as first secretary, press and culture); Anurag Singh (working as first secretary, commercial), Amardeep Singh Bhatti (visa attache); Dhar&shy;medra, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar (visa assistants); and Jayabalan Senthil (assistant, personnel welfare office).&quot;&nbsp;

The report added: &quot;No Foreign Office official was available to confirm the media leak &mdash; which began with the electronic media &mdash; or give its details.&quot;

The report went on to say: &quot;The revealed Indian agents, according to the information leaked to the media, were, however, found to be involved in subversive activities, including attempts to disrupt the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and create fear and chaos in the country. They are also alleged to be building a network of informants within Pakistan and fabricating evidence for tarnishing the country&rsquo;s image abroad.&quot;

The report says Pakistani authorities are expected to declare the eight men persona non grata or that &quot;India would withdraw them&quot; and that &quot;never before has the cover of such a large number of agents been blown in one instance&quot;.

The report added that ties between the two countries are expected to deteriorate further.&nbsp;

Pakistan had on Wednesday recalled six of its staffers, including at least four diplomats, from its high commission in Delhi. The diplomats had been named last week by Mehmood Akhtar, a Pakistani official posted at the high commission in Delhi, whom India had detained on charges of spying.&nbsp;

(WION)

 
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Pakistan had on Wednesday recalled six of its officials from India, India expected to do the same

The identities of eight officers and staffers posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad and who Pakistan says are spying for India have been leaked to the Pakistani media. Reports in the Dawn and the Express Tribune said the men were allegedly working for India's Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau. The report in the Dawn identified the men as: "Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri (posted as commercial counsellor); Balbir Singh (posted as first secretary, press and culture); Anurag Singh (working as first secretary, commercial), Amardeep Singh Bhatti (visa attache); Dharmedra, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar (visa assistants); and Jayabalan Senthil (assistant, personnel welfare office)." The report added: "No Foreign Office official was available to confirm the media leak — which began with the electronic media — or give its details." The report went on to say: "The revealed Indian agents, according to the information leaked to the media, were, however, found to be involved in subversive activities, including attempts to disrupt the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and create fear and chaos in the country. They are also alleged to be building a network of informants within Pakistan and fabricating evidence for tarnishing the country’s image abroad." The report says Pakistani authorities are expected to declare the eight men persona non grata or that "India would withdraw them" and that "never before has the cover of such a large number of agents been blown in one instance". The report added that ties between the two countries are expected to deteriorate further. Pakistan had on Wednesday recalled six of its staffers, including at least four diplomats, from its high commission in Delhi. The diplomats had been named last week by Mehmood Akhtar, a Pakistani official posted at the high commission in Delhi, whom India had detained on charges of spying. (WION)

Identities of 8 Indian Islamabad high commission staffers who Pakistan says are spies leaked to media

Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan said on Wednesday that he expected a Supreme Court corruption investigation to topple Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and repeated his calls for Sharif to resign immediately.

 
The court on Tuesday agreed to Khan&#39;s request to set up a judicial commission to probe Khan&#39;s corruption allegations against Sharif, stemming from revelations that his children owned offshore companies in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands.

 
Khan then backed down on his threat to paralyse Islamabad by bringing in a million protesters, defusing tensions after days of clashes between his supporters and the police.&nbsp;

 
Instead he decided to hold a &quot;celebratory&quot; rally on the edge of the capital, where he accused Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab province, of being responsible for the clashes between police and supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

 
&quot;Hopefully within this month ... we will see the end of the dark night of the Sharifs,&quot; the former cricketer told tens of thousands of supporters.

 
&quot;My anger is against these two cowards, these jackals of Pakistan, for making (Pakistanis) fight one another.&quot;

 
The Supreme Court is due to hold its first substantive hearing on the matter on Thursday.

 
Sharif&#39;s ruling party has said it will participate in an investigation into Panama Papers revelations but rejected an opposition demand that it should focus principally on Sharif&#39;s family. The Court has said it will set the terms of the commission itself if the parties cannot agree on them at once.

 
Khan&#39;s challenge stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm that appeared to show that Sharif&#39;s daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.

 
Sharif&#39;s family denies wrongdoing, and there was no mention of Sharif himself owning any offshore companies.

 
Holding offshore companies is not illegal in Pakistan, but Khan has implied that the money and London apartments held by the companies, amounting to millions of dollars, were gained by corrupt means.&nbsp;

 
Khan&#39;s threat of a &quot;shutdown&quot; protest had sparked fears of a repeat of demonstrations in 2014, where thousands of his supporters paralysed Islamabad&#39;s government quarter for several months over allegations of election rigging.&nbsp;

 
In a bid to foil the &quot;shutdown&quot;, authorities arrested scores of PTI supporters and shut a major motorway leading from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Khan&#39;s political heartland.

 
The capital was calm on Wednesday, though there was still a heavy police presence.

 
Khan admitted in May that he himself had used an offshore company to legally avoid paying British tax on a London property sale.

&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The court on Tuesday agreed to Khan's request to set up a judicial commission to probe Khan`s corruption allegations against Sharif

Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan said on Wednesday that he expected a Supreme Court corruption investigation to topple Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and repeated his calls for Sharif to resign immediately. The court on Tuesday agreed to Khan's request to set up a judicial commission to probe Khan's corruption allegations against Sharif, stemming from revelations that his children owned offshore companies in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands. Khan then backed down on his threat to paralyse Islamabad by bringing in a million protesters, defusing tensions after days of clashes between his supporters and the police. Instead he decided to hold a "celebratory" rally on the edge of the capital, where he accused Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab province, of being responsible for the clashes between police and supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. "Hopefully within this month ... we will see the end of the dark night of the Sharifs," the former cricketer told tens of thousands of supporters. "My anger is against these two cowards, these jackals of Pakistan, for making (Pakistanis) fight one another." The Supreme Court is due to hold its first substantive hearing on the matter on Thursday. Sharif's ruling party has said it will participate in an investigation into Panama Papers revelations but rejected an opposition demand that it should focus principally on Sharif's family. The Court has said it will set the terms of the commission itself if the parties cannot agree on them at once. Khan's challenge stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm that appeared to show that Sharif's daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. Sharif's family denies wrongdoing, and there was no mention of Sharif himself owning any offshore companies. Holding offshore companies is not illegal in Pakistan, but Khan has implied that the money and London apartments held by the companies, amounting to millions of dollars, were gained by corrupt means. Khan's threat of a "shutdown" protest had sparked fears of a repeat of demonstrations in 2014, where thousands of his supporters paralysed Islamabad's government quarter for several months over allegations of election rigging. In a bid to foil the "shutdown", authorities arrested scores of PTI supporters and shut a major motorway leading from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Khan's political heartland. The capital was calm on Wednesday, though there was still a heavy police presence. Khan admitted in May that he himself had used an offshore company to legally avoid paying British tax on a London property sale. (Reuters)

Imran Khan says he expects Pakistani Supreme Court probe to topple Sharif

Pakistan is considering pulling out four officers posted at its high commission in New Delhi days after India declared one of its officials&nbsp;persona non grata for espionage activities, a media report said on Tuesday.

&ldquo;This is under consideration. A final decision would be taken shortly,&rdquo; a source at the foreign office was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

The names of the officers &mdash; commercial counsellor Syed Furrukh Habib and first secretaries Khadim Hussain, Mudassir Cheema and Shahid Iqbal &mdash; were made public after a recorded statement of high commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was released to the media, the report said.

Akhtar was expelled from India after being declared persona non grata. Akhtar told Dawn News that he had given the statement under duress.

In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan had also declared an Indian high commission official as persona non grata after New Delhi&rsquo;s action against Akhtar following Indian police&rsquo;s busting of an ISI-run spy ring.

Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistan high commission and had diplomatic immunity, was allegedly&nbsp;procuring critical details&nbsp;including about deployment of BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border from two other accomplices who were arrested in Delhi.

Akhtar and two others &mdash; identified as Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan &mdash;&nbsp;were picked up from Delhi Zoo last week.

Akhtar was released after about three hours of interrogation since he enjoys diplomatic immunity.

A fourth person, Shoaib, a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, was detained by Rajasthan police later.

(PTI)&nbsp;

The four officials had been named by expelled staffer Mehmood Akhtar

Pakistan is considering pulling out four officers posted at its high commission in New Delhi days after India declared one of its officials persona non grata for espionage activities, a media report said on Tuesday. “This is under consideration. A final decision would be taken shortly,” a source at the foreign office was quoted as saying by Dawn News. The names of the officers — commercial counsellor Syed Furrukh Habib and first secretaries Khadim Hussain, Mudassir Cheema and Shahid Iqbal — were made public after a recorded statement of high commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was released to the media, the report said. Akhtar was expelled from India after being declared persona non grata. Akhtar told Dawn News that he had given the statement under duress. In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan had also declared an Indian high commission official as persona non grata after New Delhi’s action against Akhtar following Indian police’s busting of an ISI-run spy ring. Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistan high commission and had diplomatic immunity, was allegedly procuring critical details including about deployment of BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border from two other accomplices who were arrested in Delhi. Akhtar and two others — identified as Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan — were picked up from Delhi Zoo last week. Akhtar was released after about three hours of interrogation since he enjoys diplomatic immunity. A fourth person, Shoaib, a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, was detained by Rajasthan police later. (PTI)

Pak likely to pull out 4 high commission staffers from India: Report

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