The husband of a British woman who was killed in Pakistan has called for the UK and Pakistani governments to ensure his wife received justice, as he sought to keep the spotlight on so-called &quot;honour&quot; killings. 
 
Mukhtar Kazam presented at an emotional press conference a copy of the post-mortem report into his wife Samia Shahid`s death, seen by AFP, which said the 28-year-old had marks on her neck, and suggested she had been strangled. 
 
Kazam has branded her death an &quot;honour killing&quot;, a near daily occurrence in Pakistan in which a relative is murdered by another for bringing the family &quot;dishonour&quot;. 
 
The practice was dragged into the international spotlight earlier this month with the killing of Qandeel Baloch, a polarising Pakistani social media star.&nbsp; 
 
Brother confesses to murder, calls sister&#39;s behaviour &#39;intolerable&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Shahid&#39;s brother has confessed to the murder, saying his sister`s behaviour had been &quot;intolerable&quot;. Kazam sought to keep international attention on &quot;honour&quot; killings when he spoke to media assembled in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, close to the capital Islamabad, Thursday. 
 
&quot;I request the British and Pakistani governments to conduct a fair trial,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
Kazam and Samia, who was a dual British-Pakistani citizen, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai, police told AFP, adding that it was Shahid&#39;s second marriage. 
? 
Kazam is Pakistani, an officer told AFP. Police had initially said that he also was British-Pakistani. 
 
Kazam said his wife converted to Shia Islam, his sect, before their wedding, which had irked her parents.&nbsp; 
 
In a complaint to police, he has claimed she was murdered during a visit to her family in their village in Punjab province on July 20. 
&nbsp; 
Shahid`s father has denied the charges and said he did not want an investigation, claiming his daughter died of natural causes.&nbsp; 
 
Police told AFP that Shahid`s first husband, Mohammad Shakeel, is being investigated in the murder but received pre-arrest bail on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
Her parents and a cousin are also being investigated, said Jhelum district police chief Mujahid Akbar.&nbsp; 
 
Special committee formed to investigate into murder&nbsp; 
 
The chief minister of Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif, brother to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has formed a special committee that is also tasked with investigating the murder, a senior government official told AFP. 
 
The victims of &quot;honour&quot; killings are overwhelmingly women, with hundreds killed each year.&nbsp; 
 
They have long polarised Pakistan, with progressives calling for tough legislation against them and conservatives resisting.&nbsp; 
But the murder of Qandeel Baloch appears to have spurred politicians to take action.&nbsp; 
 
Last week, the law minister announced that bills aimed at tackling loopholes that facilitate &quot;honour&quot; killings would soon be voted on by parliament. 
 
Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Mukhtar Kazam, Samia's husband, said the 28-year-old had marks on her neck suggesting she had been strangled

The husband of a British woman who was killed in Pakistan has called for the UK and Pakistani governments to ensure his wife received justice, as he sought to keep the spotlight on so-called "honour" killings. Mukhtar Kazam presented at an emotional press conference a copy of the post-mortem report into his wife Samia Shahid`s death, seen by AFP, which said the 28-year-old had marks on her neck, and suggested she had been strangled. Kazam has branded her death an "honour killing", a near daily occurrence in Pakistan in which a relative is murdered by another for bringing the family "dishonour". The practice was dragged into the international spotlight earlier this month with the killing of Qandeel Baloch, a polarising Pakistani social media star. Brother confesses to murder, calls sister's behaviour 'intolerable' Shahid's brother has confessed to the murder, saying his sister`s behaviour had been "intolerable". Kazam sought to keep international attention on "honour" killings when he spoke to media assembled in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, close to the capital Islamabad, Thursday. "I request the British and Pakistani governments to conduct a fair trial," he said. Kazam and Samia, who was a dual British-Pakistani citizen, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai, police told AFP, adding that it was Shahid's second marriage. ? Kazam is Pakistani, an officer told AFP. Police had initially said that he also was British-Pakistani. Kazam said his wife converted to Shia Islam, his sect, before their wedding, which had irked her parents. In a complaint to police, he has claimed she was murdered during a visit to her family in their village in Punjab province on July 20. Shahid`s father has denied the charges and said he did not want an investigation, claiming his daughter died of natural causes. Police told AFP that Shahid`s first husband, Mohammad Shakeel, is being investigated in the murder but received pre-arrest bail on Thursday. Her parents and a cousin are also being investigated, said Jhelum district police chief Mujahid Akbar. Special committee formed to investigate into murder The chief minister of Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif, brother to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has formed a special committee that is also tasked with investigating the murder, a senior government official told AFP. The victims of "honour" killings are overwhelmingly women, with hundreds killed each year. They have long polarised Pakistan, with progressives calling for tough legislation against them and conservatives resisting. But the murder of Qandeel Baloch appears to have spurred politicians to take action. Last week, the law minister announced that bills aimed at tackling loopholes that facilitate "honour" killings would soon be voted on by parliament. Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan. (AFP)

Husband of UK woman killed for 'honour' in Pakistan calls for justice

German police have searched a mosque and eight apartments in Hildesheim that are believed to be a hotbed of a radical Salafist community, the interior minister of the northern state of Lower Saxony said today. 
 
Germany is on high alert after a spate of attacks since July 18 left 15 people dead - including four attackers - and dozens injured. Two assailants, a Syrian asylum seeker and a refugee from either Pakistan or Afghanistan, had links to Islamist militancy, officials say. 
 
&#39;Search was important step in banning the organisation&#39; 
 
Interior Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement that up to 400 police - including mobile squads and a special forces police commando - were involved in the raids on Wednesday in the Hildesheim area, which is a short drive south of Hanover. 
 
&quot;The German-speaking Islamic circle (DIK) in Hildesheim is a nationwide hotspot of the radical Salafist scene that Lower Saxony security authorities have been monitoring for a long time,&quot; the state official said. 
 
Pistorius said the search followed months of planning and was an important step towards banning the association, which security authorities say has radicalised Muslims and encouraged them to take part in jihad in combat zones. 
 
Hotbed of Salafists&nbsp; 
 
Numerous members of the mosque have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join Islamic State, while sermons, seminars and speeches call for &quot;hate against non-believers,&quot; the ministry said. 
 
Germany has seen sharp increases in the number of ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafists in recent years, with the total number of sympathisers now seen at 8,900, up from 7,000 at the end of 2014, German officials have said. 
 
Security authorities say the DIK in Hildesheim is believed to have become the focal point of Salafist activities in Lower Saxony, the second-largest of Germany&#39;s 16 states after Bavaria. 
 
&quot;We will not put up with Salafist associations and their backers flouting our rules and bringing our rule of law into question and convincing young people that they want to join the so-called IS,&quot; Pistorius said. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m convinced that our freedom is stronger than the inhuman ideology of the extremists,&quot; he added. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Germany is on high alert after a spate of attacks since July 18 left 15 people dead - including four attackers - and dozens injured

German police have searched a mosque and eight apartments in Hildesheim that are believed to be a hotbed of a radical Salafist community, the interior minister of the northern state of Lower Saxony said today. Germany is on high alert after a spate of attacks since July 18 left 15 people dead - including four attackers - and dozens injured. Two assailants, a Syrian asylum seeker and a refugee from either Pakistan or Afghanistan, had links to Islamist militancy, officials say. 'Search was important step in banning the organisation' Interior Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement that up to 400 police - including mobile squads and a special forces police commando - were involved in the raids on Wednesday in the Hildesheim area, which is a short drive south of Hanover. "The German-speaking Islamic circle (DIK) in Hildesheim is a nationwide hotspot of the radical Salafist scene that Lower Saxony security authorities have been monitoring for a long time," the state official said. Pistorius said the search followed months of planning and was an important step towards banning the association, which security authorities say has radicalised Muslims and encouraged them to take part in jihad in combat zones. Hotbed of Salafists Numerous members of the mosque have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join Islamic State, while sermons, seminars and speeches call for "hate against non-believers," the ministry said. Germany has seen sharp increases in the number of ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafists in recent years, with the total number of sympathisers now seen at 8,900, up from 7,000 at the end of 2014, German officials have said. Security authorities say the DIK in Hildesheim is believed to have become the focal point of Salafist activities in Lower Saxony, the second-largest of Germany's 16 states after Bavaria. "We will not put up with Salafist associations and their backers flouting our rules and bringing our rule of law into question and convincing young people that they want to join the so-called IS," Pistorius said. "I'm convinced that our freedom is stronger than the inhuman ideology of the extremists," he added. (Reuters)

German police clamps down on Salafists, raids mosque and apartments

A Hindu youth was today shot dead as communal tension gripped a district in Pakistan&#39;s Sindh province following alleged desecration of a holy book, the Quran, as reported by The Dawn, by a man from the minority community who was arrested for blasphemy. 
 
Tension ran high in Mehran Samejo village in Ghotki district after a Hindu man, Amar Lal, who was said to be mentally unstable, allegedly desecrated a holy book yesterday. 
 
According to reports, Amar, who has been arrested, was a drug addict and was living in a mosque after converting to Islam a few months ago. 
 
After the incident, local religious leaders along with several agitated people took to streets. 
 
During a protest, some men riding on motorbikes fired at two Hindu youths who were sitting outside a tea stall in Mirpur Mathelo area. 
 
In the attack, one of the youths, Dewan Sateesh Kumar, 17, was killed while another was critically injured, senior superintendent of police Masood Ahmed Bangash said. 
 
Sateesh was a businessman. 
 
Local leaders of the Hindu community have demanded protection of their lives and properties in the wake of the tensions. 
 
Bangash said that police with the help of Rangers are trying to diffuse the tense situation. 
 
According to reports, all towns of the Ghotki district remained closed today. 
 
Leaders of local religious parties have demanded severe punishment for Amar, who has been booked for blasphemy and shifted to an undisclosed location by police. 
 
Sindh has the biggest population of Hindus in Pakistan. 
 
(PTI)

The mentally unstable Hindu man allegedly desecrated the Quran which led to protests in which the 17-year-old was shot along with his friend

A Hindu youth was today shot dead as communal tension gripped a district in Pakistan's Sindh province following alleged desecration of a holy book, the Quran, as reported by The Dawn, by a man from the minority community who was arrested for blasphemy. Tension ran high in Mehran Samejo village in Ghotki district after a Hindu man, Amar Lal, who was said to be mentally unstable, allegedly desecrated a holy book yesterday. According to reports, Amar, who has been arrested, was a drug addict and was living in a mosque after converting to Islam a few months ago. After the incident, local religious leaders along with several agitated people took to streets. During a protest, some men riding on motorbikes fired at two Hindu youths who were sitting outside a tea stall in Mirpur Mathelo area. In the attack, one of the youths, Dewan Sateesh Kumar, 17, was killed while another was critically injured, senior superintendent of police Masood Ahmed Bangash said. Sateesh was a businessman. Local leaders of the Hindu community have demanded protection of their lives and properties in the wake of the tensions. Bangash said that police with the help of Rangers are trying to diffuse the tense situation. According to reports, all towns of the Ghotki district remained closed today. Leaders of local religious parties have demanded severe punishment for Amar, who has been booked for blasphemy and shifted to an undisclosed location by police. Sindh has the biggest population of Hindus in Pakistan. (PTI)

Charged with desecrating Quran, mob kills youth in Pakistan's Sindh

Pakistan&#39;s central bank, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), issued a statement today notifying suspension of operations in Euro-dominated Asian Clearing Union (ACU).&nbsp; 
 
&quot;As the payment channel for processing ACU transactions is under review, SBP is temporarily suspending operations in &#39;ACU Euro&#39; with immediate effect,&quot; the statement read.&nbsp; 
 
The central bank further said that all eligible transactions in Euro will have to be settled outside the system.&nbsp; 
 
(WION)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The central bank further said that all eligible transactions in Euro will have to be settled outside the system.?

Pakistan's central bank, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), issued a statement today notifying suspension of operations in Euro-dominated Asian Clearing Union (ACU). "As the payment channel for processing ACU transactions is under review, SBP is temporarily suspending operations in 'ACU Euro' with immediate effect," the statement read. The central bank further said that all eligible transactions in Euro will have to be settled outside the system. (WION)

Pakistan's central bank temporarily suspends ACU mechanism?

A Pakistani Taliban faction has claimed responsibility for Tuesday&#39;s killing of two military officers in the southern city of Karachi, a spokesman for the Islamist group said. 
 
The killings were the latest attacks in the busy port city of 20 million people, where paramilitary forces have been cracking down on Islamist militants and criminal gangs for almost three years. 
 
The officers were killed as they were on the Pakistani Taliban faction&#39;s &quot;target list&quot;, Ehsan Ullah Ehsan, the spokesman for the group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, said late on Tuesday. 
 
Gunmen attacked the vehicle carrying the soldiers, who belonged to an intelligence agency, while they were patrolling a crowded area of the city, police had said. 
 
The crackdown has boosted security in Karachi, although in recent months, a popular Sufi musician, Amjad Sabri, was shot dead and the son of the provincial chief justice was kidnapped, but later rescued. 
 
(Reuters)

Spokesman of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of Pakistani Taliban, said the officers killed were on the group's target list

A Pakistani Taliban faction has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's killing of two military officers in the southern city of Karachi, a spokesman for the Islamist group said. The killings were the latest attacks in the busy port city of 20 million people, where paramilitary forces have been cracking down on Islamist militants and criminal gangs for almost three years. The officers were killed as they were on the Pakistani Taliban faction's "target list", Ehsan Ullah Ehsan, the spokesman for the group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, said late on Tuesday. Gunmen attacked the vehicle carrying the soldiers, who belonged to an intelligence agency, while they were patrolling a crowded area of the city, police had said. The crackdown has boosted security in Karachi, although in recent months, a popular Sufi musician, Amjad Sabri, was shot dead and the son of the provincial chief justice was kidnapped, but later rescued. (Reuters)

Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for Karachi military killings

Indonesia will hold a round of executions on July 29 which will include a Pakistani prisoner, a Pakistani embassy official said on Tuesday. 
 
Indonesian authorities are preparing to execute by firing squad at least three foreign prisoners, including citizens of Nigeria and Zimbabwe. They are among 16 prisoners who Indonesian officials have said are to be executed this year. 
 
Authorities have not given a breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are known to be among them. 
 
It is unsure how many convicts will be executed this week, but local media reported at least 14 had been moved to an isolation cell on the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, a routine practise ahead of executions. 
 
This will be the third time execution carried out under Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who has declared a &quot;drug emergency&quot; in the country, and vowed to show no mercy for drug traffickers. 
 
Last year, Indonesia executed 14 people, mostly foreign drug traffickers, prompting Australia and Brazil to briefly recall their ambassadors. 
 
Indonesia imposed a moratorium on executions for five years before resuming them in 2013. 
 
 
(Reuters)

No breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row have been given but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are among them

Indonesia will hold a round of executions on July 29 which will include a Pakistani prisoner, a Pakistani embassy official said on Tuesday. Indonesian authorities are preparing to execute by firing squad at least three foreign prisoners, including citizens of Nigeria and Zimbabwe. They are among 16 prisoners who Indonesian officials have said are to be executed this year. Authorities have not given a breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are known to be among them. It is unsure how many convicts will be executed this week, but local media reported at least 14 had been moved to an isolation cell on the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, a routine practise ahead of executions. This will be the third time execution carried out under Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who has declared a "drug emergency" in the country, and vowed to show no mercy for drug traffickers. Last year, Indonesia executed 14 people, mostly foreign drug traffickers, prompting Australia and Brazil to briefly recall their ambassadors. Indonesia imposed a moratorium on executions for five years before resuming them in 2013. (Reuters)

Drug charge: Indonesia to execute Pakistani prisoner soon

Massive protests erupted across Pakistan-controlled Kashmir as people hit the streets against the recent elections, which they claimed were rigged by the winning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). 
 
The PML-N was declared winner in 32 out of the 41 seats for the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, held on July 21. 
 
Protesters blocked the traffic and burnt tyres as they staged protests in Muzaffarabad. All commercial establishments also remained shut in cities as protesters held demonstrations outside government buildings. 
 
Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each other. 
 
&quot;After rigging elections, they are now indulging in widespread propaganda and killing. They have killed our friend. If the authorities fail to take any action, they will be responsible for any future incident,&quot; said a party worker of Muslim Conference on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
The protesters alleged that genuine voters were not allowed to cast their votes during the elections and the country&#39;s intelligence services rigged the polls in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s party. 
 
&quot;The election commission should suspend everyone. They have stooped to such low levels. We suggest everyone not to indulge in any violence, but now when they have started (the violence), we will reply back for sure,&quot; said a local, Raza Mansoor. 
 
The PML-N had fielded 38 candidates in the elections, while the Pakistan People&#39;s Party (PPP) had contested elections on all 41 seats. Imran Khan&#39;s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had contested elections in 32 constituencies. 
 
The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1948, after they fought a brief war over it. It remains at the heart of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbours. 
 
The win by Sharif&#39;s party in the region is seen to not have any direct bearing on Pakistan&#39;s stand on the Kashmir dispute or on its dealings with India. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each-other

Massive protests erupted across Pakistan-controlled Kashmir as people hit the streets against the recent elections, which they claimed were rigged by the winning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The PML-N was declared winner in 32 out of the 41 seats for the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, held on July 21. Protesters blocked the traffic and burnt tyres as they staged protests in Muzaffarabad. All commercial establishments also remained shut in cities as protesters held demonstrations outside government buildings. Various incidents of violence were also reported from across the region as supporters of political parties clashed with each other. "After rigging elections, they are now indulging in widespread propaganda and killing. They have killed our friend. If the authorities fail to take any action, they will be responsible for any future incident," said a party worker of Muslim Conference on Tuesday. The protesters alleged that genuine voters were not allowed to cast their votes during the elections and the country's intelligence services rigged the polls in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party. "The election commission should suspend everyone. They have stooped to such low levels. We suggest everyone not to indulge in any violence, but now when they have started (the violence), we will reply back for sure," said a local, Raza Mansoor. The PML-N had fielded 38 candidates in the elections, while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had contested elections on all 41 seats. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had contested elections in 32 constituencies. The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1948, after they fought a brief war over it. It remains at the heart of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The win by Sharif's party in the region is seen to not have any direct bearing on Pakistan's stand on the Kashmir dispute or on its dealings with India. (Reuters)

Pakistan-controlled Kashmir erupts into protests over 'rigged elections'

Pakistan&#39;s &quot;obsession&quot; to match India in military strength and efforts to equalise the field with &quot;crazies&quot; like Hafiz Saeed, would only create hatred which will bite it back, former Pakistan ambassador to US Husain Haqqani has said. 
 
&quot;My argument as a Pakistani is why do we even want to be equal (with India in terms of military prowess). Why do not we want to be happier and prosperous and successful,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;What is this obsession about being equal and trying to equalise the field with crazies like Hafiz Saeed because he will only create hatred, which will only bite us back,&quot; Haqqani said in Bengaluru last night during an interaction on his book &#39;India vs Pakistan - Why Can&#39;t We Just Be Friends&#39;. 
 
&quot;Pakistan always had this presumption that India has a tremendous conventional military advantage and Indian army will be much more bigger than Pakistan&#39;s. So Pakistan needs irregular methods to be able to be equal,&quot; he alleged. 
 
Haqqani recalled a private conversation of former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf with Pakistani newspaper editors, wherein he said Lashkar-e-Taiba was his reserve core for fighting India and thus establishes the strong nexus between ISI, terrorists and Pakistani establishment. 
 
&quot;He (Musharraf), in a private meeting with Pakistani newspaper editors, had said &#39;Well all of you keep telling me or some of you keep telling me that I should shut down Lashkar e -Taiba, but it is actually my reserve core in fighting India,&#39; a fact that establishes a strong nexus between ISI, terrorists and Pakistani establishment,&quot; Haqqani said. 
 
The former Pakistani envoy said it was disturbing to know that a head of a country had thought so as these terrorists &quot;would not do good to Pakistan&quot; as the world had seen them attacking Shias, Ahmediyas and Christians in Pakistan, apart from India. 
 
Haqqani said unfortunately Pakistani strategic thinkers in uniform do not realise this &quot;disturbing line of thinking of patronising terrorists and outfits like Jaish-E-Mohammad and Lashkar-E-Taiba.&quot; 
 
Throwing light on the &#39;Jihadi movement&#39; in Pakistan, the former diplomat said Zia-Ul-Haq was not the first man to spread &#39;jihadi awareness&#39; as is presumed, but it was much before him. 
 
&quot;There is a presumption that Zia-Ul-Haq was the first man to start jihadi awareness, but I argue that no it was even further back and there was always a desire for irregular warfare,&quot; he said. 
 
Asked how to shut down the large armed militias, Haqqani said it was not easy because they are well trained in warfare. 
 
But the establishment can put them out of business if they are denied the resources for their mobility and movement, he said. 
 
&quot;If we make this decision now it will take some 15 years to put their business out,&quot; Haqqani added.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Haqqani recalled Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf's words that Lashkar-e-Taiba was his reserve core for fighting India

Pakistan's "obsession" to match India in military strength and efforts to equalise the field with "crazies" like Hafiz Saeed, would only create hatred which will bite it back, former Pakistan ambassador to US Husain Haqqani has said. "My argument as a Pakistani is why do we even want to be equal (with India in terms of military prowess). Why do not we want to be happier and prosperous and successful," he said. "What is this obsession about being equal and trying to equalise the field with crazies like Hafiz Saeed because he will only create hatred, which will only bite us back," Haqqani said in Bengaluru last night during an interaction on his book 'India vs Pakistan - Why Can't We Just Be Friends'. "Pakistan always had this presumption that India has a tremendous conventional military advantage and Indian army will be much more bigger than Pakistan's. So Pakistan needs irregular methods to be able to be equal," he alleged. Haqqani recalled a private conversation of former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf with Pakistani newspaper editors, wherein he said Lashkar-e-Taiba was his reserve core for fighting India and thus establishes the strong nexus between ISI, terrorists and Pakistani establishment. "He (Musharraf), in a private meeting with Pakistani newspaper editors, had said 'Well all of you keep telling me or some of you keep telling me that I should shut down Lashkar e -Taiba, but it is actually my reserve core in fighting India,' a fact that establishes a strong nexus between ISI, terrorists and Pakistani establishment," Haqqani said. The former Pakistani envoy said it was disturbing to know that a head of a country had thought so as these terrorists "would not do good to Pakistan" as the world had seen them attacking Shias, Ahmediyas and Christians in Pakistan, apart from India. Haqqani said unfortunately Pakistani strategic thinkers in uniform do not realise this "disturbing line of thinking of patronising terrorists and outfits like Jaish-E-Mohammad and Lashkar-E-Taiba." Throwing light on the 'Jihadi movement' in Pakistan, the former diplomat said Zia-Ul-Haq was not the first man to spread 'jihadi awareness' as is presumed, but it was much before him. "There is a presumption that Zia-Ul-Haq was the first man to start jihadi awareness, but I argue that no it was even further back and there was always a desire for irregular warfare," he said. Asked how to shut down the large armed militias, Haqqani said it was not easy because they are well trained in warfare. But the establishment can put them out of business if they are denied the resources for their mobility and movement, he said. "If we make this decision now it will take some 15 years to put their business out," Haqqani added. (PTI)

Former Pakistan diplomat points to nexus between ISI and terrorists, says hobnobbing with 'crazies' like Hafiz Saeed will backfire

Gunmen today killed two Pakistan army officials in Karachi, where paramilitary forces have been cracking down on Islamist militants and criminal gangs for almost three years, police and media said. 
 
The killings are the latest attacks in the busy port city of 20 million people riven by political, ethnic and sectarian violence, where one of the most popular singers of Sufi devotional music, Amjad Sabri, was shot dead last month. 
 
Police said the soldiers, who belonged to an intelligence agency, were patrolling a crowded area of the southern city when their vehicle was attacked. &quot;The attackers were on a motorcycle and managed to escape through the congested narrow lanes,&quot; senior police officer Raja Umar Khattab told Reuters. 
 
Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mehar said one of the victims died and the other was in critical condition, but the death of the second was confirmed by a doctor at the city&#39;s Jinnah Hospital, which received both bodies. 
 
Better security in Karachi has been one of the showcase successes of the crackdown, although two days before Sabri&#39;s killing, the son of the provincial chief justice was kidnapped from an upscale shopping area. He was rescued later. 
 
Karachi&#39;s murder rate fell by half after the paramilitary Rangers, who answer to the Ministry of Interior and the army, launched the crackdown in 2014, targeting suspected militants and criminals. 
 
Political activists have accused the Rangers of heavy-handed tactics, including summary executions and targeting political parties. The paramilitary force denies the charges. 
 
(Reuters)

The killings are the latest attacks in the busy port city of 20 million people riven by political, ethnic and sectarian violence

Gunmen today killed two Pakistan army officials in Karachi, where paramilitary forces have been cracking down on Islamist militants and criminal gangs for almost three years, police and media said. The killings are the latest attacks in the busy port city of 20 million people riven by political, ethnic and sectarian violence, where one of the most popular singers of Sufi devotional music, Amjad Sabri, was shot dead last month. Police said the soldiers, who belonged to an intelligence agency, were patrolling a crowded area of the southern city when their vehicle was attacked. "The attackers were on a motorcycle and managed to escape through the congested narrow lanes," senior police officer Raja Umar Khattab told Reuters. Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mehar said one of the victims died and the other was in critical condition, but the death of the second was confirmed by a doctor at the city's Jinnah Hospital, which received both bodies. Better security in Karachi has been one of the showcase successes of the crackdown, although two days before Sabri's killing, the son of the provincial chief justice was kidnapped from an upscale shopping area. He was rescued later. Karachi's murder rate fell by half after the paramilitary Rangers, who answer to the Ministry of Interior and the army, launched the crackdown in 2014, targeting suspected militants and criminals. Political activists have accused the Rangers of heavy-handed tactics, including summary executions and targeting political parties. The paramilitary force denies the charges. (Reuters)

Gunmen shoot two military officials to death in Pakistan's Karachi

Indian Army paid tribute to the fallen heroes of 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan on its 17th anniversary on Monday.

The Kargil War was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in the summer of 1999 in Kargil and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC) in&nbsp;Kashmir.

Kargil is located 205 kilometres from Kashmir&#39;s capital Srinagar, and faces Pakistan&#39;s so-called northern areas across the LoC.

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh laid a wreath at the war memorial in Kargil&#39;s Drass town and remembered the country&#39;s war heroes.

&quot;In 1999 it is this very area and these treacherous peaks which were intruded by the Pak intruders. Our gallant soldiers recaptured them in very short time and some of them made supreme sacrifice,&quot; said General Singh.

The conflict, which claimed the lives of nearly 500 soldiers, many of whom were posthumously given gallantry awards, is also referred to as Operation Vijay, which was the name of the Indian operation that cleared the Kargil sector.

India and Pakistan, who have each administered part of Kashmir since the partition of the subcontinent after the end of British rule in 1947, have fought two of their three wars over&nbsp;Kashmir. 
 
The troops of arch rivals India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the LoC, despite an agreement in 2003 that a ceasefire should be observed along the working boundary. Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other for resorting to unprovoked firings. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The Kargil War, which claimed the lives of nearly 500 soldiers, is also referred to as Operation Vijay

Indian Army paid tribute to the fallen heroes of 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan on its 17th anniversary on Monday. The Kargil War was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in the summer of 1999 in Kargil and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. Kargil is located 205 kilometres from Kashmir's capital Srinagar, and faces Pakistan's so-called northern areas across the LoC. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh laid a wreath at the war memorial in Kargil's Drass town and remembered the country's war heroes. "In 1999 it is this very area and these treacherous peaks which were intruded by the Pak intruders. Our gallant soldiers recaptured them in very short time and some of them made supreme sacrifice," said General Singh. The conflict, which claimed the lives of nearly 500 soldiers, many of whom were posthumously given gallantry awards, is also referred to as Operation Vijay, which was the name of the Indian operation that cleared the Kargil sector. India and Pakistan, who have each administered part of Kashmir since the partition of the subcontinent after the end of British rule in 1947, have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. The troops of arch rivals India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the LoC, despite an agreement in 2003 that a ceasefire should be observed along the working boundary. Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other for resorting to unprovoked firings. (Reuters)

Indian Army pays tribute to Kargil War heroes on 17th anniversary

India&#39;s ministry of external affairs (MEA) today condemned the remark made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, that &quot;Kashmir will one day become Pakistan&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s MEA issued a strong statement: &quot;The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The official statement also criticised Pakistan&#39;s reactions over the recent spike in violence in Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani&#39;s death:&nbsp; 
 
&quot;In the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its Prime Minister has praised as martyr, a wanted terrorist Commander of the banned terrorist organisation Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Burhan Wani. He was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The statement further added, &quot;Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan&rsquo;s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Hafiz Saeed 
 
Hafiz Saeed had expressed solidarity with a key separtist leader of Kashmir, Asiya Andrabi, on Friday.&nbsp;Saeed, a Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million bounty on his head, warned India of war if separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani&#39;s four-point solution to the Kashmir issue is not accepted. 
 
Widespread agitation in Kashmir since then has left over 40 dead and 3,100 injured, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years, triggering massive protests in Pakistan. 
 
(WION, with inputs from Reuters)

The Indian foreign ministry was reacting to the Pakistan PM's remark that 'Kashmir will one day become Pakistan'

India's ministry of external affairs (MEA) today condemned the remark made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan". India's MEA issued a strong statement: "The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists." The official statement also criticised Pakistan's reactions over the recent spike in violence in Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's death: "In the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its Prime Minister has praised as martyr, a wanted terrorist Commander of the banned terrorist organisation Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Burhan Wani. He was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces." The statement further added, "Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan’s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations." Hafiz Saeed Hafiz Saeed had expressed solidarity with a key separtist leader of Kashmir, Asiya Andrabi, on Friday. Saeed, a Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million bounty on his head, warned India of war if separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's four-point solution to the Kashmir issue is not accepted. Widespread agitation in Kashmir since then has left over 40 dead and 3,100 injured, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years, triggering massive protests in Pakistan. (WION, with inputs from Reuters)

Your dream of Kashmir as part of Pakistan will never come true, India tells PM Sharif

Appealing to people in Kashmir to help restore normalcy, Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh today said the Indian government wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based, even as he warned Pakistan not to interfere in India&#39;s internal affairs. 
 
Sending a strong message to Pakistan, Rajnath also said the neighbouring country should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir. 
 
Addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to the state after holding talks with Jammu and Kashmir state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and several delegations both in Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath said India will talk to whosoever needed, once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Want to make it clear that GoI does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir but a emotional relationship: HM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757178867236872192">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
&quot;As far as government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don&#39;t just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir,&quot; he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state (J&amp;K): HM Rajnath Singh <a href="https://t.co/NZYOOmQkOT">pic.twitter.com/NZYOOmQkOT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757181186682785792">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, &quot;its role has not been &#39;paak&#39; (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir.&quot; 
 
Singh hit out at Pakistan, which he said is itself affected by terrorism and to end it on one hand it is killing terrorists after entering the Lal Masjid, while on the other it is asking our youth in Kashmir to take to arms. 
 
&quot;This must stop,&quot; he said. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Pakistan&#39;s role isn&#39;t &#39;pak&#39; (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour: HM Rajnath Singh <a href="https://t.co/OjGsBNb83p">pic.twitter.com/OjGsBNb83p</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757182382759878656">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Pakistan is in itself a victim of terrorism, it should not encourage violence in Kashmir: HM Rajnath Singh <a href="https://t.co/hoQFMSJxlM">pic.twitter.com/hoQFMSJxlM</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757180891902930945">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting, Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives. 
 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We will constitute a expert committee to find out ways to use of non lethal weapon. The committee will submit report in 2 months: HM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757179601005281280">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 resulting in 45 deaths. 
 
&quot;If there are any differences or disapprovals, they can be resolved through talks mutually. Because there cannot be any other solution.&nbsp;I feel that if there is place of Kashmiriyat in democracy, it will only be of humanity,&quot; he said, adding that the people of the entire country want that Kashmir should once again become &quot;firdaus&quot; (paradise). 
 
Expressing sympathy with those injured during the ongoing unrest in the Valley, Singh appealed to the youth to desist from indulging in stonepleting. 
 
&quot;I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible,&quot; he said. 
 
Rajnath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about the situation in Kashmir and wanted the situation to improve as soon as possible. 
 
&quot;I am very concerned at the situation in Kashmir and our Prime Minister is also very concerned over it. Along with expressing regret over what happened here, I offer my condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives.&nbsp;The Prime Minister spoke to me last night and discussed the situation (in Kashmir). He also wants that the situation should improve,&quot; he said. 
 
On revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, Rajnath said whatever has to be done on the issue will be done in consultation with the state governments.&nbsp;On his two-day visit, Rajanth said he met 30 delegations during which he got information and suggestions on how to restore peace and normalcy in the Valley. 
 
&quot;I also visited Anantnag and heard the people there for one hour. I appealed to people of Anantnag also to maintain calm and help in restoring peace and normalcy,&quot; he said. 
 
Replying to a question if India will hold talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, the interior minister there was no need for involvement of a third power. 
 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We don&#39;t need third party&#39;s involvement to address the situation that prevails in J&amp;K: HM Rajnath Singh in Srinagar (J&amp;K)
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757179965091766272">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Rajnath, accompanied by Indian interior secretary and joint secretary in his ministry, took stock of the situation in the state which has been on the boil since past few days following violent protests that erupted in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. 
 
Asked about the suggestions of former Indian interior minister P Chidambaram on granting more autonomy to the state, he said, &quot;We will look into the suggestions made by Chidambaram once normalcy is restored in Kashmir&quot;. 
 
He said various delegations who met him informed about the injuries to several people due to use of pellet guns by security forces and he has assured them of treatment of the injured in AIIMS in Delhi. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I have conveyed to J&amp;K CM that if need be the injured can be sent to Delhi. Govt will make sure that they are treated at AIIMS: HM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757181526962479104">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Singh said he talked to Union Health Minister J P Nadda and asked him to appoint a nodal officer in AIIMS to ensure the treatment of all injured in Kashmir there. He said six people are already getting treatment there. 
 
The interior minister said the Indian government has also evolved a programme for providing employment opportunities to Kashmiri youth and engage them. 
 
(PTI)

Singh also 'warned' Pakistan to not interfere in India's internal matters, asked security forces to not use pellet guns

Appealing to people in Kashmir to help restore normalcy, Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh today said the Indian government wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based, even as he warned Pakistan not to interfere in India's internal affairs. Sending a strong message to Pakistan, Rajnath also said the neighbouring country should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to the state after holding talks with Jammu and Kashmir state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and several delegations both in Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath said India will talk to whosoever needed, once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. Want to make it clear that GoI does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir but a emotional relationship: HM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 "As far as government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. We will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state (J&K): HM Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/NZYOOmQkOT — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, "its role has not been 'paak' (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir." Singh hit out at Pakistan, which he said is itself affected by terrorism and to end it on one hand it is killing terrorists after entering the Lal Masjid, while on the other it is asking our youth in Kashmir to take to arms. "This must stop," he said. Pakistan's role isn't 'pak' (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour: HM Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/OjGsBNb83p — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Pakistan is in itself a victim of terrorism, it should not encourage violence in Kashmir: HM Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/hoQFMSJxlM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting, Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives. We will constitute a expert committee to find out ways to use of non lethal weapon. The committee will submit report in 2 months: HM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 resulting in 45 deaths. "If there are any differences or disapprovals, they can be resolved through talks mutually. Because there cannot be any other solution. I feel that if there is place of Kashmiriyat in democracy, it will only be of humanity," he said, adding that the people of the entire country want that Kashmir should once again become "firdaus" (paradise). Expressing sympathy with those injured during the ongoing unrest in the Valley, Singh appealed to the youth to desist from indulging in stonepleting. "I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible," he said. Rajnath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about the situation in Kashmir and wanted the situation to improve as soon as possible. "I am very concerned at the situation in Kashmir and our Prime Minister is also very concerned over it. Along with expressing regret over what happened here, I offer my condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives. The Prime Minister spoke to me last night and discussed the situation (in Kashmir). He also wants that the situation should improve," he said. On revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, Rajnath said whatever has to be done on the issue will be done in consultation with the state governments. On his two-day visit, Rajanth said he met 30 delegations during which he got information and suggestions on how to restore peace and normalcy in the Valley. "I also visited Anantnag and heard the people there for one hour. I appealed to people of Anantnag also to maintain calm and help in restoring peace and normalcy," he said. Replying to a question if India will hold talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, the interior minister there was no need for involvement of a third power. We don't need third party's involvement to address the situation that prevails in J&K: HM Rajnath Singh in Srinagar (J&K) — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Rajnath, accompanied by Indian interior secretary and joint secretary in his ministry, took stock of the situation in the state which has been on the boil since past few days following violent protests that erupted in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. Asked about the suggestions of former Indian interior minister P Chidambaram on granting more autonomy to the state, he said, "We will look into the suggestions made by Chidambaram once normalcy is restored in Kashmir". He said various delegations who met him informed about the injuries to several people due to use of pellet guns by security forces and he has assured them of treatment of the injured in AIIMS in Delhi. I have conveyed to J&K CM that if need be the injured can be sent to Delhi. Govt will make sure that they are treated at AIIMS: HM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Singh said he talked to Union Health Minister J P Nadda and asked him to appoint a nodal officer in AIIMS to ensure the treatment of all injured in Kashmir there. He said six people are already getting treatment there. The interior minister said the Indian government has also evolved a programme for providing employment opportunities to Kashmiri youth and engage them. (PTI)

India wants emotional relationship with Kashmir, says interior minister Rajnath Singh

Asserting that the relations between India and Pakistan were at its best during the regime of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said encouraging the youngsters to take up arms in Kashmir reflected &#39;hypocrisy&#39; on the part of Islamabad. 
 
Mehbooba, who met Indian interior minister Minister Rajnath Singh today, thanked the doctors and other personnel working round the clock to bring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir back to normal. 
 
&quot;Today India as well as Pakistan has an opportunity to talk and discuss. But they shouldn&#39;t tell their children that if you take up guns and die, we will salute you. I think this is hypocrisy. They torture those who take up guns and teach some other lesson to our children. I believe this is wrong and this shouldn&#39;t happen,&quot; Mufti told ANI. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Thankful to the doctors and others who r&nbsp;trying round-the-clock to bring back normalcy in the state: J&amp;K CM <a href="https://t.co/b1Z5ouhFqp">pic.twitter.com/b1Z5ouhFqp</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757157683699060736">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Hypocrisy. Country (Pak) that punishes children who take up gun in their country but glorifies youth taking up gun in Kashmir: J&amp;K CM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757156924945231872">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: J&amp;K CM Mehbooba Mufti expresses her displeasure over glorification of Kashmiri youth who take up guns by Pak<a href="https://t.co/G9R9ltVJhS">https://t.co/G9R9ltVJhS</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757169035016441856">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
She said everybody takes the problem of Jammu and Kashmir seriously only when the situation is bad. 
 
&quot;When the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is bad, we think about finding a solution. But when the situation becomes normal, we forget about it. This is the reason why Mufti ji (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) took two months to form the government with the BJP. He created an agenda of alliance that this is the way if you have to take out Jammu and Kashmir from the problem,&quot; she said. 
 
Expressing grief over loss of lives in Kashmir violence in the aftermath of terrorist Burhan Wani`s killing, Mehbooba said the confident building measures must continue. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
Pak needs to change this policy of theirs.Imp to start dialogue,confident building measures b/w the 2 nations-J&amp;K CM <a href="https://t.co/9UOW92dend">pic.twitter.com/9UOW92dend</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757151455967141888">July 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
&quot;It is unfortunately not for the first time that there is such an atmosphere here. Many civilians and police personnel have died. Confidence building measures started, but later it stopped. The best period was 2002 when Mufti Government was formed here and Vajpayee Government was formed in New Delhi,&quot; she said. 
 
Mufti further said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met&nbsp;Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by visiting Lahore &#39;but unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot&#39;. 
 
Authorities today lifted the ongoing curfew from four districts of Ganderbal, Badgam, Bandipora and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley as the law and order situation showed marginal improvement. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

Mufti said Pakistan punishes its children who take up guns in their country, but hypocritically glorifies Kashmiri youth taking up arms

Asserting that the relations between India and Pakistan were at its best during the regime of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said encouraging the youngsters to take up arms in Kashmir reflected 'hypocrisy' on the part of Islamabad. Mehbooba, who met Indian interior minister Minister Rajnath Singh today, thanked the doctors and other personnel working round the clock to bring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir back to normal. "Today India as well as Pakistan has an opportunity to talk and discuss. But they shouldn't tell their children that if you take up guns and die, we will salute you. I think this is hypocrisy. They torture those who take up guns and teach some other lesson to our children. I believe this is wrong and this shouldn't happen," Mufti told ANI. Thankful to the doctors and others who r trying round-the-clock to bring back normalcy in the state: J&K CM pic.twitter.com/b1Z5ouhFqp — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Hypocrisy. Country (Pak) that punishes children who take up gun in their country but glorifies youth taking up gun in Kashmir: J&K CM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 #WATCH: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti expresses her displeasure over glorification of Kashmiri youth who take up guns by Pakhttps://t.co/G9R9ltVJhS — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 She said everybody takes the problem of Jammu and Kashmir seriously only when the situation is bad. "When the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is bad, we think about finding a solution. But when the situation becomes normal, we forget about it. This is the reason why Mufti ji (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) took two months to form the government with the BJP. He created an agenda of alliance that this is the way if you have to take out Jammu and Kashmir from the problem," she said. Expressing grief over loss of lives in Kashmir violence in the aftermath of terrorist Burhan Wani`s killing, Mehbooba said the confident building measures must continue. Pak needs to change this policy of theirs.Imp to start dialogue,confident building measures b/w the 2 nations-J&K CM pic.twitter.com/9UOW92dend — ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 "It is unfortunately not for the first time that there is such an atmosphere here. Many civilians and police personnel have died. Confidence building measures started, but later it stopped. The best period was 2002 when Mufti Government was formed here and Vajpayee Government was formed in New Delhi," she said. Mufti further said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by visiting Lahore 'but unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot'. Authorities today lifted the ongoing curfew from four districts of Ganderbal, Badgam, Bandipora and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley as the law and order situation showed marginal improvement. (ANI)

Encouraging Kashmiri youth to take up arms reflects Pakistan's 'hypocrisy': Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti

Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed today said he had received a call from Asiya Andrabi, the founder of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, seeking his help to resolve what she called the crisis in India&#39;s northern state of Kashmir. Addressing a rally here, Saeed said, &quot;The way Indian security forces are engaged in bloodshed in Kashmir, my sister Asiya Andrabi cried for 15 minutes and told me over phone that my brothers where are you?&quot; 
 
&quot;I am telling my sister Asiya that my sister, we are coming. This act of violence will come to end and nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent,&quot; he added. Saeed further said that he had also received a call from Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant), wherein he had said, &quot;His (Wanis) last wish was to talk to me (Saeed)&quot;. 
 
&quot;Few days before his death, Burhan Wani told me over a phone that it was my desire to talk with you. Now my desire has been fulfilled, and now, I am waiting for martyrdom,&quot; said Saeed in an event organized to express solidarity with both Andrabi and Wani. 
 
&quot;I want to assure the people of Kashmir that if you are in the field, we are also with you,&quot; said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader. He also warned India that this was its last chance to accept separatist Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani&#39;s four-point formula on Kashmir and to withdraw security forces from the valley, else the decision will be taken in battlefield. 
 
&quot;We have to give a message to India to stop and withdraw forces and accept Geelani&#39;s four-point formula immediately, because, this is the last chance, and hereafter, the matter will be decided in the battlefield,&quot; said Saeed. 
 
The Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader organised a procession from Lahore to Islamabad. It comprised of trucks and buses, stretched for several kilometers, and passed through many cities, including Gujaranwala, Jhelum and Gujarat. 
 
His rallies were attended by federal ministers and religious leaders of various organisations. The Pakistan Government&#39;s direct links with Hafiz Saeed has been further exposed by Islamabad allowing him to lead an anti-India rally on the Kashmir issue.&nbsp; 
 
Saeed led a Pakistan Government call to Observe July 19 as a Black Day, apparently to draw attention to the &quot;burning issue of Kashmir.&quot; The Obama Administration has been taken aback by this event. 
 
The US has designated both the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as foreign terrorist organisations. Saeed has also been listed by the UN Security Council&#39;s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.&nbsp; 
 
South Asia watchers in Washington say that by allowing a terrorist to take up a government sponsored cause the Pakistan Government has bared its selective approach towards terrorism. When banned outfits are allowed to openly hold rallies in Pakistan at the behest of the Government the allegations about Pakistan using terror as state policy appears to gain ground. 
 
Experts say had Pakistan banned Saeed from holding this rally and had instead placed someone else in charge of the July 19 protests then that would have been understandable.&nbsp;The question arises why Saeed, is it because he is a terror asset which the state cannot do without, wonder South Asia analysts. They question is Saeed so important that Islamabad is risking an important relationship with the United States. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s irrevocable links with Saeed have disappointed the Obama Administration but have not shocked officials. It was always known in Washington&#39;s South Asia circles that Hafiz Saeed is an asset that the Pakistani State will always protect not standing the fact that he is a designated global terrorist.&nbsp; 
 
The LeT remains active and open in Pakistan and just recently had the audacity to attack Medina in Saudi Arabia in which 12 of its suspected members were arrested. This connection was also highlighted by a European Parliament Report by Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki where he pointed out how the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity front of the LeT was radicalising the Pakistani Diaspora and the state was a mute spectator. 
 
The July 19 Kashmir Rally is certain to be brought up on Capitol Hill where proposals are afoot to cut financial aid to Pakistan in the absence of complete and verifiable de-linkage with terror groups. 
 
While the Obama Administration has been supporting Pakistan as an important ally in the war against terror, this July 19 rally, where a wanted terrorist has been given state patronage, is certain to raise questions and embarrass Washington. 
 
(ANI)

Addressing a rally in Pakistan, Saeed said he has assured Andrabi that nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent

Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed today said he had received a call from Asiya Andrabi, the founder of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, seeking his help to resolve what she called the crisis in India's northern state of Kashmir. Addressing a rally here, Saeed said, "The way Indian security forces are engaged in bloodshed in Kashmir, my sister Asiya Andrabi cried for 15 minutes and told me over phone that my brothers where are you?" "I am telling my sister Asiya that my sister, we are coming. This act of violence will come to end and nobody can stop Kashmir from becoming independent," he added. Saeed further said that he had also received a call from Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant), wherein he had said, "His (Wanis) last wish was to talk to me (Saeed)". "Few days before his death, Burhan Wani told me over a phone that it was my desire to talk with you. Now my desire has been fulfilled, and now, I am waiting for martyrdom," said Saeed in an event organized to express solidarity with both Andrabi and Wani. "I want to assure the people of Kashmir that if you are in the field, we are also with you," said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader. He also warned India that this was its last chance to accept separatist Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's four-point formula on Kashmir and to withdraw security forces from the valley, else the decision will be taken in battlefield. "We have to give a message to India to stop and withdraw forces and accept Geelani's four-point formula immediately, because, this is the last chance, and hereafter, the matter will be decided in the battlefield," said Saeed. The Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader organised a procession from Lahore to Islamabad. It comprised of trucks and buses, stretched for several kilometers, and passed through many cities, including Gujaranwala, Jhelum and Gujarat. His rallies were attended by federal ministers and religious leaders of various organisations. The Pakistan Government's direct links with Hafiz Saeed has been further exposed by Islamabad allowing him to lead an anti-India rally on the Kashmir issue. Saeed led a Pakistan Government call to Observe July 19 as a Black Day, apparently to draw attention to the "burning issue of Kashmir." The Obama Administration has been taken aback by this event. The US has designated both the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as foreign terrorist organisations. Saeed has also been listed by the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. South Asia watchers in Washington say that by allowing a terrorist to take up a government sponsored cause the Pakistan Government has bared its selective approach towards terrorism. When banned outfits are allowed to openly hold rallies in Pakistan at the behest of the Government the allegations about Pakistan using terror as state policy appears to gain ground. Experts say had Pakistan banned Saeed from holding this rally and had instead placed someone else in charge of the July 19 protests then that would have been understandable. The question arises why Saeed, is it because he is a terror asset which the state cannot do without, wonder South Asia analysts. They question is Saeed so important that Islamabad is risking an important relationship with the United States. Pakistan's irrevocable links with Saeed have disappointed the Obama Administration but have not shocked officials. It was always known in Washington's South Asia circles that Hafiz Saeed is an asset that the Pakistani State will always protect not standing the fact that he is a designated global terrorist. The LeT remains active and open in Pakistan and just recently had the audacity to attack Medina in Saudi Arabia in which 12 of its suspected members were arrested. This connection was also highlighted by a European Parliament Report by Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki where he pointed out how the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity front of the LeT was radicalising the Pakistani Diaspora and the state was a mute spectator. The July 19 Kashmir Rally is certain to be brought up on Capitol Hill where proposals are afoot to cut financial aid to Pakistan in the absence of complete and verifiable de-linkage with terror groups. While the Obama Administration has been supporting Pakistan as an important ally in the war against terror, this July 19 rally, where a wanted terrorist has been given state patronage, is certain to raise questions and embarrass Washington. (ANI)

Hafiz Saeed assures help to 'sister' Asiya Andrabi

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s party has swept polls in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, local media reported on Friday. 
 
&quot;The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections and is all set to form a government in the Valley, unconfirmed reports received from the 41 constituencies of the self-governing administrative division indicate,&quot; reported Pakistan Today.&nbsp; 
 
The daily newspaper said that according to unofficial results, the PML-N had bagged 32 seats, while the Muslim Conference three.&nbsp;&quot;Both the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf)&nbsp;and PPP &nbsp;(Pakistan Peoples Party) managed to secure two seats each.&nbsp;One seat was won by an independent candidate.&quot;

Forty-one AJK or Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;constituencies went to polls with 423 candidates contesting for the seats.&nbsp;

&quot;Twenty-nine&nbsp;seats were meant for all 10 districts of the AJK and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from Azad Jammu and Kashmir&quot;. 
 
Pakistan Today said that according to the AJK Election Commission, there were 2,674,586 registered voters in all 10 districts&nbsp;and out of the 44 registered political parties in AJK, a strong standoff was&nbsp;between candidates of the PML-N, PTI and PPP. 
 
(WION)

The twenty-nine seats were meant for all 10 districts of the area and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from the region

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party has swept polls in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, local media reported on Friday. "The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has swept the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections and is all set to form a government in the Valley, unconfirmed reports received from the 41 constituencies of the self-governing administrative division indicate," reported Pakistan Today. The daily newspaper said that according to unofficial results, the PML-N had bagged 32 seats, while the Muslim Conference three. "Both the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) and PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) managed to secure two seats each. One seat was won by an independent candidate." Forty-one AJK or Pakistan-controlled Kashmir constituencies went to polls with 423 candidates contesting for the seats. "Twenty-nine seats were meant for all 10 districts of the AJK and 12 for Pakistan-based refugees from Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Pakistan Today said that according to the AJK Election Commission, there were 2,674,586 registered voters in all 10 districts and out of the 44 registered political parties in AJK, a strong standoff was between candidates of the PML-N, PTI and PPP. (WION)

PM Sharif's party sweeps poll in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, say local media reports

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. 
 
The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India&#39;s membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. &quot;We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly,&quot; she said. 
 
Diplomatic sources here say that the China&#39;s commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. 
 
Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. 
 
While India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing &#39;Kashmir&#39;s Accession to Pakistan Day&#39; and &#39;Black Day&#39;. 
 
The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past &quot;protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan&quot;. 
 
In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. 
 
Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. 
 
The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. 
 
Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi&#39;s patience to limits. 
 
In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop &quot;misleading&quot; the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. &quot;We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,&quot; the statement concluded. 
 
In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. 
 
He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. 
 
Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India&#39;s internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. 
 
Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. &quot;It does not need to worry about Muslims in India,&quot; he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee&#39;s poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. 
 
In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards &quot;Indian brutalities&quot; and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). 
 
(WION) 
&nbsp;

Islamabad wants UN to send fact-finding mission to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, China comments on the situation

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India's membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. "We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly," she said. Diplomatic sources here say that the China's commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. While India's home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing 'Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day' and 'Black Day'. The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past "protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan". In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi's patience to limits. In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop "misleading" the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. "We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner." "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan," the statement concluded. In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India's internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. "It does not need to worry about Muslims in India," he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards "Indian brutalities" and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). (WION)

India, Pakistan in diplomatic war on Kashmir issue, China muddies waters

Pakistan&#39;s parliament will on Thursday debate bills aimed at tackling the so-called honour killings and amending its rape law, officials said, following the murder of a social media star last week.

Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the debate follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country.

Lawmakers from both lower and upper houses of parliament will take up proposed bills on Thursday afternoon, parliament official Hasan Murtaza Bukhari said, and votes on the suggested changes are expected within weeks.

&quot;After discussion and approval of these bills by this committee, the drafts will be tabled in a joint sitting of the house which is likely to promptly take it up,&quot; he said.

&quot;But we are not sure that how much time this process will take. The salient features of these drafts will also be known only after being presented in the committee,&quot; added Bukhari.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N)&nbsp;has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too.

The proposed bills could seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour, &nbsp;usually a relative of the victim, &nbsp;to evade punishment by seeking clemency from other family members.

Pakistan amended its criminal code in 2005 to prevent men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an &quot;heir&quot; of the victim.

But punishment is left to a judge&#39;s discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer, a loophole which critics say is exploited.

Social media starlet Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother on Friday, once again casting a spotlight on the custom of &quot;honour killings&quot;, which claims around a thousand lives in Pakistan every year.

Held up by many of the country&#39;s youth for her liberal views and forthrightness, was also reviled by many and frequently subject to misogynist abuse online.

Rights group Amnesty International this week called on the country to &quot;undertake structural reforms that end impunity for so-called &#39;honour&#39; killings, including by passing legislation that removes the option of clemency for such killings&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

The bills might seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour to seek clemency from?other family members

Pakistan's parliament will on Thursday debate bills aimed at tackling the so-called honour killings and amending its rape law, officials said, following the murder of a social media star last week. Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the debate follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country. Lawmakers from both lower and upper houses of parliament will take up proposed bills on Thursday afternoon, parliament official Hasan Murtaza Bukhari said, and votes on the suggested changes are expected within weeks. "After discussion and approval of these bills by this committee, the drafts will be tabled in a joint sitting of the house which is likely to promptly take it up," he said. "But we are not sure that how much time this process will take. The salient features of these drafts will also be known only after being presented in the committee," added Bukhari. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too. The proposed bills could seek to close a loophole that allows those who kill in the name of honour, usually a relative of the victim, to evade punishment by seeking clemency from other family members. Pakistan amended its criminal code in 2005 to prevent men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an "heir" of the victim. But punishment is left to a judge's discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer, a loophole which critics say is exploited. Social media starlet Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother on Friday, once again casting a spotlight on the custom of "honour killings", which claims around a thousand lives in Pakistan every year. Held up by many of the country's youth for her liberal views and forthrightness, was also reviled by many and frequently subject to misogynist abuse online. Rights group Amnesty International this week called on the country to "undertake structural reforms that end impunity for so-called 'honour' killings, including by passing legislation that removes the option of clemency for such killings". (AFP)

Pakistan lawmakers to debate honour killing, rape laws

When it comes to murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, there is no doubt that she was a polarising figure in Pakistan. Her Internet posts, often considered controversial in an overwhelmingly orthodox society, created quite a storm. But she did not deserve to be murdered for this rebellion or insistence on being true to herself. In a June 14 Facebook post, Baloch spoke about &quot;girlpower&quot; and a month later, on July 15, she was strangled to death by her brother, in what is undoubtedly a case of honour killing. 
 
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="633" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialQandeelBaloch%2Fposts%2F882198388591581%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe> 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YxAQe4HFMuY" width="500"></iframe> 
 
In Pakistan, hundreds of women become victims of honour killing which is a pervasive part of a culture where family honour is irrevocably tied to the women. Any deviation, however minor, is considered to be damaging. Perpetrators are in most cases family members who are unhappy with the actions of the &lsquo;errant&rsquo; woman. Most honour killings occur when the family disagrees to a woman&#39;s choice of husband or partner. Sometimes, both the husband and wife are murdered in cold blood. Although many politicians and religious leaders have denounced the practice, a glaring legal loophole has turned honour killing into a righteous concept. When the law says that the accused - often relatives - can go scot-free if the family of the victim pardons the murder, one can hardly expect any justice. 
&nbsp; 
It was in 2013 when Qandeel Baloch&rsquo;s audition for Pakistan Idol brought her fame and recognition, and she quickly became an Internet sensation. 
 
Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant of social norms. She even had a tattoo on her chest. 
 
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="645" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialQandeelBaloch%2Fposts%2F854639071347513%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe> 
 
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In the last several weeks, she was widely talked about in the media for her controversial selfies with cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi. She claimed she had a desire to learn about Islam and wanted to become a better Muslim and sought Mufti Abdul Qavi&rsquo;s advice. Their meeting however was in a private hotel room during the holy month of Ramzan. Selfies and videos of the pair alone in the hotel room quickly went viral. The pictures (image below) were deemed inappropriate and the Mufti was quickly suspended from his position. 
 
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="502" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialQandeelBaloch%2Fphotos%2Fa.520941114717312.1073741852.339947236150035%2F867641736713913%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe> 
 
Earlier this year, Qandeel Baloch promised to perform a striptease for the Pakistani cricket team if they won their T20 cricket match against India. 
 
Pakistani men, like in other parts of the subcontinent, have a predominantly conservative mindset, a direct result of feudal patriarchy. As per such standards, Baloch did the exact opposite of how a woman should have acted in public. Her persona was something to be admired, for she was fearless and mostly acted and spoke as she wanted. But it was this free spirit that got her killed in the end. 
 
A part of the Pakistani society condemned the killing and called for her brother to be imprisoned, while the rest believed that Baloch got what she deserved. No woman should feel threatened by her family, especially in her parent&rsquo;s home. The Anti-Honour Killing Bill was passed earlier this year due to public pressure. The Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed documentary on honour killings, &#39;A Girl in the River&#39;, which won an Oscar, also added to the pressure. 
 
However, perpetrators are hardly ever brought to justice by the law enforcement agencies here and a lot more needs to be done before Pakistani women start feeling safe in their own homes. 
 
Women in Pakistan are scrutinised for everything they do. Their actions, the way they dress, the way they speak, the way they wear their makeup are all judged. In Pakistan, a woman is expected to behave in a certain way and cover up so as to not attract attention. Qandeel Baloch sought everyone&rsquo;s attention and she always got it. Her brother killed her because he believed her action tainted the family&rsquo;s name and shamed him in the process. 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQaQsyhx0LI" width="500"></iframe> 
 
What he didn&rsquo;t understand is that Baloch was, in a sense, helping the cause of women&rsquo;s liberation. She was a feminist. She believed that women had the right and the freedom to live their lives the way they wanted. In that light, Baloch may emerge as a symbol of the movement for gender equality in Pakistan. 
&nbsp; 
However, many young and old are calling this murder &ldquo;good riddance.&rdquo; Baloch wasn&rsquo;t publicly well received by many who believed she was &lsquo;vulgar&rsquo; and &lsquo;inappropriate&rsquo;. This mentality will lead to the killing of more women in the name of honour. Our society is so determined to keep women in line with Islamic beliefs and values, that they will even commit murder and then be able to justify it by bringing in &#39;honour&#39;. One can only hope that the senseless killing of Qandeel Baloch will open the eyes of Pakistan. Baloch represented more than just dramatics and Internet celebrityhood, she opened the door for women to express themselves. Hopefully, one day, women in Pakistan will be able to express themselves freely without having to lose their lives. 
 
(Images sourced from Baloch&#39;s Facebook page) 
&nbsp;

Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant

When it comes to murdered social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, there is no doubt that she was a polarising figure in Pakistan. Her Internet posts, often considered controversial in an overwhelmingly orthodox society, created quite a storm. But she did not deserve to be murdered for this rebellion or insistence on being true to herself. In a June 14 Facebook post, Baloch spoke about "girlpower" and a month later, on July 15, she was strangled to death by her brother, in what is undoubtedly a case of honour killing. In Pakistan, hundreds of women become victims of honour killing which is a pervasive part of a culture where family honour is irrevocably tied to the women. Any deviation, however minor, is considered to be damaging. Perpetrators are in most cases family members who are unhappy with the actions of the ‘errant’ woman. Most honour killings occur when the family disagrees to a woman's choice of husband or partner. Sometimes, both the husband and wife are murdered in cold blood. Although many politicians and religious leaders have denounced the practice, a glaring legal loophole has turned honour killing into a righteous concept. When the law says that the accused - often relatives - can go scot-free if the family of the victim pardons the murder, one can hardly expect any justice. It was in 2013 when Qandeel Baloch’s audition for Pakistan Idol brought her fame and recognition, and she quickly became an Internet sensation. Baloch was everything a Pakistani woman should not be: sexy, provocative and defiant of social norms. She even had a tattoo on her chest. In the last several weeks, she was widely talked about in the media for her controversial selfies with cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi. She claimed she had a desire to learn about Islam and wanted to become a better Muslim and sought Mufti Abdul Qavi’s advice. Their meeting however was in a private hotel room during the holy month of Ramzan. Selfies and videos of the pair alone in the hotel room quickly went viral. The pictures (image below) were deemed inappropriate and the Mufti was quickly suspended from his position. Earlier this year, Qandeel Baloch promised to perform a striptease for the Pakistani cricket team if they won their T20 cricket match against India. Pakistani men, like in other parts of the subcontinent, have a predominantly conservative mindset, a direct result of feudal patriarchy. As per such standards, Baloch did the exact opposite of how a woman should have acted in public. Her persona was something to be admired, for she was fearless and mostly acted and spoke as she wanted. But it was this free spirit that got her killed in the end. A part of the Pakistani society condemned the killing and called for her brother to be imprisoned, while the rest believed that Baloch got what she deserved. No woman should feel threatened by her family, especially in her parent’s home. The Anti-Honour Killing Bill was passed earlier this year due to public pressure. The Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed documentary on honour killings, 'A Girl in the River', which won an Oscar, also added to the pressure. However, perpetrators are hardly ever brought to justice by the law enforcement agencies here and a lot more needs to be done before Pakistani women start feeling safe in their own homes. Women in Pakistan are scrutinised for everything they do. Their actions, the way they dress, the way they speak, the way they wear their makeup are all judged. In Pakistan, a woman is expected to behave in a certain way and cover up so as to not attract attention. Qandeel Baloch sought everyone’s attention and she always got it. Her brother killed her because he believed her action tainted the family’s name and shamed him in the process. What he didn’t understand is that Baloch was, in a sense, helping the cause of women’s liberation. She was a feminist. She believed that women had the right and the freedom to live their lives the way they wanted. In that light, Baloch may emerge as a symbol of the movement for gender equality in Pakistan. However, many young and old are calling this murder “good riddance.” Baloch wasn’t publicly well received by many who believed she was ‘vulgar’ and ‘inappropriate’. This mentality will lead to the killing of more women in the name of honour. Our society is so determined to keep women in line with Islamic beliefs and values, that they will even commit murder and then be able to justify it by bringing in 'honour'. One can only hope that the senseless killing of Qandeel Baloch will open the eyes of Pakistan. Baloch represented more than just dramatics and Internet celebrityhood, she opened the door for women to express themselves. Hopefully, one day, women in Pakistan will be able to express themselves freely without having to lose their lives. (Images sourced from Baloch's Facebook page)

The Qandeel Baloch saga: A society dishonoured

Pakistan&#39;s ruling party plans to pass the long-delayed legislation against &quot;honour killings&quot; within weeks in the wake of the high-profile murder of an outspoken social media star, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday. 
 
The bill will go before a parliamentary committee as early as today, said Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is an increasingly influential member of the ruling party her father leads. 
 
The government has faced mounting pressure to pass the law against murders carried out by people professing to be acting in defence of the honour of their family. 
 
The law would remove a loophole that allows other family members to pardon a killer. 
 
The brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch, often described as Pakistan&#39;s Kim Kardashian, has been arrested in connection with her strangling death and told a news conference he was incensed by her often risqu? posts on social media. 
 
Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to &quot;honour&quot; that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women&#39;s modesty. 
 
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the government wanted to pass the law unanimously and had been negotiating with religious parties in the Parliament. 
 
&quot;We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations,&quot; she said. &quot;The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of Parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval.&quot; 
 
Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a &quot;couple of weeks&quot; before a joint session of Parliament. 
 
A spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the two major religious parties in Parliament, said his party would not oppose the bill. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s other main religious political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, could not be reached for comment, but it has only a small number of seats in Parliament. 
 
Both religious parties have traditionally opposed legislation empowering women. 
 
The Upper House of Parliament passed the bill in 2014, but it lapsed after the government failed to put it up for a vote in the Lower House because it was preoccupied with legislation aimed at tackling security problems and economic reforms. 
 
A senior government official said all major parties were now backing the bill and it was likely to be passed in a few weeks by a joint session of parliament. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister is taking personal interest,&quot; added a second official and close aide to Sharif. &quot;You will see in coming days more will be done, big changes will be announced.&quot; 
 
In a rare move, this week the government became a complainant in the police case against Baloch&#39;s brother accused of her murder, designating it a crime against the state and thereby blocking her family from forgiving their son. 
 
&#39;Right to forgive&#39; 
 
Baloch had long divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society with her social media photos and posts. 
 
She was unapologetic about pushing the boundaries of acceptability for women and changing &quot;the typical orthodox mindset&quot; of Pakistanis. 
 
Many viewed her as a disgrace to the cultural values of Islam and Pakistan. Others hailed her as a &quot;feminist icon&quot;. 
 
She ran into political controversy last month after her &quot;selfie&quot; photographs with a prominent Muslim cleric, went viral, leading to him being fired from a prominent Muslim council. 
 
After her death, the cleric, Abdul Qavi, told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy. He is being investigated for her murder along with Baloch&#39;s two brothers. 
 
Although government officials appeared confident of backing for the bill in Parliament, it could still face resistance. 
 
The influential Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, warned that it would not support any law that removed the forgiveness loophole, even if the council considers honour killings a crime. 
 
&quot;Islamic law and the Quran say that the right to forgive or punish lies first and foremost with the victim&#39;s family,&quot; said council spokesman Inam Ullah. 
 
&quot;So if this bill is trying to completely take away that right from the family, then of course that is against Islamic teachings. The state cannot completely take away that right from the family.&quot; 
 
The religious parties and the council hold significant influence over public opinion and the government fears a backlash if any law passes without their approval. 
 
&quot;This mentality - that you can get away with murder in the name of honour - it has to be done away with,&quot; said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary on honour killings &quot;A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness&quot; won an Oscar this year. 
 
&quot;I am hopeful that this law will pass, but the change in mindset will talk so much longer. I think Qandeel Baloch&#39;s murder is the tipping point.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The law will disallow family members to forgive the killer. The bill will go before the parliamentary committee as early as today, she said

Pakistan's ruling party plans to pass the long-delayed legislation against "honour killings" within weeks in the wake of the high-profile murder of an outspoken social media star, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday. The bill will go before a parliamentary committee as early as today, said Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is an increasingly influential member of the ruling party her father leads. The government has faced mounting pressure to pass the law against murders carried out by people professing to be acting in defence of the honour of their family. The law would remove a loophole that allows other family members to pardon a killer. The brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch, often described as Pakistan's Kim Kardashian, has been arrested in connection with her strangling death and told a news conference he was incensed by her often risqu? posts on social media. Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to "honour" that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women's modesty. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the government wanted to pass the law unanimously and had been negotiating with religious parties in the Parliament. "We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations," she said. "The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of Parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval." Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a "couple of weeks" before a joint session of Parliament. A spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the two major religious parties in Parliament, said his party would not oppose the bill. Pakistan's other main religious political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, could not be reached for comment, but it has only a small number of seats in Parliament. Both religious parties have traditionally opposed legislation empowering women. The Upper House of Parliament passed the bill in 2014, but it lapsed after the government failed to put it up for a vote in the Lower House because it was preoccupied with legislation aimed at tackling security problems and economic reforms. A senior government official said all major parties were now backing the bill and it was likely to be passed in a few weeks by a joint session of parliament. "The Prime Minister is taking personal interest," added a second official and close aide to Sharif. "You will see in coming days more will be done, big changes will be announced." In a rare move, this week the government became a complainant in the police case against Baloch's brother accused of her murder, designating it a crime against the state and thereby blocking her family from forgiving their son. 'Right to forgive' Baloch had long divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society with her social media photos and posts. She was unapologetic about pushing the boundaries of acceptability for women and changing "the typical orthodox mindset" of Pakistanis. Many viewed her as a disgrace to the cultural values of Islam and Pakistan. Others hailed her as a "feminist icon". She ran into political controversy last month after her "selfie" photographs with a prominent Muslim cleric, went viral, leading to him being fired from a prominent Muslim council. After her death, the cleric, Abdul Qavi, told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy. He is being investigated for her murder along with Baloch's two brothers. Although government officials appeared confident of backing for the bill in Parliament, it could still face resistance. The influential Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, warned that it would not support any law that removed the forgiveness loophole, even if the council considers honour killings a crime. "Islamic law and the Quran say that the right to forgive or punish lies first and foremost with the victim's family," said council spokesman Inam Ullah. "So if this bill is trying to completely take away that right from the family, then of course that is against Islamic teachings. The state cannot completely take away that right from the family." The religious parties and the council hold significant influence over public opinion and the government fears a backlash if any law passes without their approval. "This mentality - that you can get away with murder in the name of honour - it has to be done away with," said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary on honour killings "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness" won an Oscar this year. "I am hopeful that this law will pass, but the change in mindset will talk so much longer. I think Qandeel Baloch's murder is the tipping point." (Reuters)

Pakistan's ruling party wants law against honour killing, says PM Sharif's daughter

Six people were killed including two public officials today after a bomb hit a car in Pakistans restive north-west province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said, adding the intended target of the attack was not in the vehicle. An improvised explosive device planted along a roadside detonated after the vehicle carrying seven people passed by in the north-western town of Upper Dir. 
 
&quot;The bomb in fact targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head, who was not present in the car at the time of the explosion,&quot; Yar Muhammad, a local police official said. &quot;Six other people including two local councillors were killed in the explosion.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
One of the passengers in the vehicle sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. &quot;It was just by chance that Malik Mutabar Khan got out of the vehicle at a nearby place before the explosion,&quot; Muhammad added. District police officer Athar Waheed also confirmed the incident but put the death toll at seven. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the Taliban have often targeted pro-government tribal elders in the north-western province.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistan, which has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked fighters in the restive tribal belt for over a decade, launched an offensive to clear their strongholds in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, in 2014. 
 
The army announced in May this year it had cleared the last militant stronghold in North Waziristans Shawal valley, in the final phase of the mission. 
 
The operation was intensified after the Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the majority of them children, at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014. 
 
(AFP)

According to a local police officer, the bomb targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head

Six people were killed including two public officials today after a bomb hit a car in Pakistans restive north-west province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said, adding the intended target of the attack was not in the vehicle. An improvised explosive device planted along a roadside detonated after the vehicle carrying seven people passed by in the north-western town of Upper Dir. "The bomb in fact targeted Malik Mutabar Khan, the pro-government elder and peace committee head, who was not present in the car at the time of the explosion," Yar Muhammad, a local police official said. "Six other people including two local councillors were killed in the explosion." One of the passengers in the vehicle sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. "It was just by chance that Malik Mutabar Khan got out of the vehicle at a nearby place before the explosion," Muhammad added. District police officer Athar Waheed also confirmed the incident but put the death toll at seven. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the Taliban have often targeted pro-government tribal elders in the north-western province. Pakistan, which has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked fighters in the restive tribal belt for over a decade, launched an offensive to clear their strongholds in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, in 2014. The army announced in May this year it had cleared the last militant stronghold in North Waziristans Shawal valley, in the final phase of the mission. The operation was intensified after the Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the majority of them children, at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014. (AFP)

Bomb kills six in north-west Pakistan: police

Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by &#39;baseless concerns&#39; of &#39;a section of US lawmakers&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to &lsquo;terrorism abetting&rsquo; Pakistan. &nbsp; 
 
Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,&rdquo; he added. 
 
Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that &ldquo;these things undermine critical US national security interests.&rdquo; &nbsp; 
 
This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities.&nbsp; 
 
The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are &lsquo;state sponsors of terrorism&rsquo;.&nbsp; 
 
It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up &#39;fight against terrorism&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan.&nbsp; 
 
Titled &#39;Pakistan: Friend or Foe&#39;, the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military.&nbsp; 
 
What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.&nbsp;

The US Congressional panel also suggested last week that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ?state sponsors of terrorism?

Pakistan’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by 'baseless concerns' of 'a section of US lawmakers'. Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to ‘terrorism abetting’ Pakistan. Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US. “This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,” he added. Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that “these things undermine critical US national security interests.” This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities. The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ‘state sponsors of terrorism’. It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up 'fight against terrorism'. Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan. Titled 'Pakistan: Friend or Foe', the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military. What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.

US lawmakers' plan to cut aid for Pakistan inspired by baseless concerns: Aziz

Supporters of more than 40 political parties and hard-line religious groups, some of them proscribed for terror activities, will stage a march starting from Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad in Pakistan to show solidarity over the growing unrest in Kashmir in India. The rally will pledge support from the Pakistani establishment for the &#39;liberation of Kashmir&#39; in India. Pakistan has declared July 19 as Kashmir Solidarity Day. 
 
Tehreek e Azaadi Jammu Kashmir (TAJK), a front group of the banned militant organisation Lashkar e Taiba and its charitable affiliate Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), is organising the rally called &#39;Caravan for Kashmir&#39; starting on Tuesday, following a call by its chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. 
 
Several militant groups focusing on armed jihad in Indian Kashmir are participating in the rally. Cutting across political and ideological lines, groups like Difa e Pakistan Council &ndash; an alliance of more than 40 parties including JuD, Sipah e Sahiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, headed by Maulana Sami ul Haque, also known as founding father of Taliban, will take part. 
 
Mohammad Safi, representative of Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan; PoK-based United Jihad Council led by Syed Salahuddin, Hurriyat Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haque, Awami Muslim League, Muslim Conference, Muslim League (Zia faction) and intellectuals including Abdullah Gul (son of former ISI chief Hamid Gul), Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, former prime minister of PoK, Izazul Haq (son of late President Zia-ul-Haq), will take part in the rally. 
 
The road show starting from Shuhada mosque in Lahore will make its way through Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Jhelum and Rawalpindi before reaching Islamabad. &quot;The route can be covered in four hours, but since lakhs are joining, the rally will stop in main cities where leaders will make speeches. It will reach Islamabad the next day,&#39;&#39; media coordinator TAJK, Nadeem Awan, told dna. 
 
The road show is expected to receive wide support from the villages and districts on the route populated by Kashmiri immigrants who have settled in Punjab province after partition. The province is also a major recruitment ground for armed jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir. 
 
Awan said that Kashmiris living in Pakistan wanted to organise a rally to &quot;express their support to the brothers suffering under the atrocities of the Indian army.&#39;&#39; 
 
&quot;The road show will bring national and international attention to the dreadful situation in Kashmir. It will also let our brothers and sisters in Kashmir know they are not alone. Kashmiris are a part of Pakistani blood,&#39;&#39; he said. 
 
The TAJK had organised a similar road show in 2009 on Kashmir Solidarity Day, attended by the top leadership of jihadi groups including the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. 
 
The rally will collect &#39;funds&#39; or donations from supporters for the Kashmir cause. Awan said that on social media, Kashmiris were posting on shortage of medical supplies and food and money will be collected to send relief across the border. &quot;We will send relief packages of food and medicine. We will also try to send a team of doctors if permission is given for them to travel to Kashmir.&#39;&#39; 
 
The unrest in Kashmir followed by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani a week ago has caused political frenzy in Pakistan with cabinet ministers in the Nawaz Sharif-led government calling the deaths as &#39;genocide&#39;. 
 
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused the foreign policy based on &#39;Sharif-Modi&#39; friendship for failing to address the Kashmir issue. Sharif, the ministry of foreign affairs and LeT chief Saeed issued statements castigating India for &quot;using excessive force against street protestors and civilians&quot;. 
 
The confrontation has resulted in 41 civilian deaths, injuries to over 1,000 persons, censorship on local media and a curfew restricting daily movements to bring the situation under control. 
 
India has rebuffed calls from Pakistan, saying the latter has no right to talk on India&#39;s internal matters. 
 
(DNA)

The rally will seek support from the Pakistani establishment for the 'liberation of Kashmir' in India

Supporters of more than 40 political parties and hard-line religious groups, some of them proscribed for terror activities, will stage a march starting from Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad in Pakistan to show solidarity over the growing unrest in Kashmir in India. The rally will pledge support from the Pakistani establishment for the 'liberation of Kashmir' in India. Pakistan has declared July 19 as Kashmir Solidarity Day. Tehreek e Azaadi Jammu Kashmir (TAJK), a front group of the banned militant organisation Lashkar e Taiba and its charitable affiliate Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), is organising the rally called 'Caravan for Kashmir' starting on Tuesday, following a call by its chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Several militant groups focusing on armed jihad in Indian Kashmir are participating in the rally. Cutting across political and ideological lines, groups like Difa e Pakistan Council – an alliance of more than 40 parties including JuD, Sipah e Sahiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, headed by Maulana Sami ul Haque, also known as founding father of Taliban, will take part. Mohammad Safi, representative of Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan; PoK-based United Jihad Council led by Syed Salahuddin, Hurriyat Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haque, Awami Muslim League, Muslim Conference, Muslim League (Zia faction) and intellectuals including Abdullah Gul (son of former ISI chief Hamid Gul), Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, former prime minister of PoK, Izazul Haq (son of late President Zia-ul-Haq), will take part in the rally. The road show starting from Shuhada mosque in Lahore will make its way through Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Jhelum and Rawalpindi before reaching Islamabad. "The route can be covered in four hours, but since lakhs are joining, the rally will stop in main cities where leaders will make speeches. It will reach Islamabad the next day,'' media coordinator TAJK, Nadeem Awan, told dna. The road show is expected to receive wide support from the villages and districts on the route populated by Kashmiri immigrants who have settled in Punjab province after partition. The province is also a major recruitment ground for armed jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir. Awan said that Kashmiris living in Pakistan wanted to organise a rally to "express their support to the brothers suffering under the atrocities of the Indian army.'' "The road show will bring national and international attention to the dreadful situation in Kashmir. It will also let our brothers and sisters in Kashmir know they are not alone. Kashmiris are a part of Pakistani blood,'' he said. The TAJK had organised a similar road show in 2009 on Kashmir Solidarity Day, attended by the top leadership of jihadi groups including the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The rally will collect 'funds' or donations from supporters for the Kashmir cause. Awan said that on social media, Kashmiris were posting on shortage of medical supplies and food and money will be collected to send relief across the border. "We will send relief packages of food and medicine. We will also try to send a team of doctors if permission is given for them to travel to Kashmir.'' The unrest in Kashmir followed by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani a week ago has caused political frenzy in Pakistan with cabinet ministers in the Nawaz Sharif-led government calling the deaths as 'genocide'. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused the foreign policy based on 'Sharif-Modi' friendship for failing to address the Kashmir issue. Sharif, the ministry of foreign affairs and LeT chief Saeed issued statements castigating India for "using excessive force against street protestors and civilians". The confrontation has resulted in 41 civilian deaths, injuries to over 1,000 persons, censorship on local media and a curfew restricting daily movements to bring the situation under control. India has rebuffed calls from Pakistan, saying the latter has no right to talk on India's internal matters. (DNA)

Pakistan: After Hafiz Saeed's call, 40 hardline political parties to collect funds for jihad in Kashmir today

The first information report (FIR) registered against the &quot;killers&quot; of social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, was transformed into a non-compoundable FIR. This makes it impossible for Qandeels&#39;s family to pardon her killers, reported Pakistani daily, Dawn. 
 
Dawn quoted a senior police officer, involved with the investigation of the case, as saying that Sections 311 and 305 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been added to the FIR. 
 
&quot;Section 305 states that the &#39;wali&#39; will be the heirs of the victim, but will exclude the accused or convict in case of qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) if committed in the name or on the pretext of honour. According to Section 311, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 309 or Section 310... the court may, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, punish an offender against whom the right of qisas has been waived or compounded with death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term of which may extend to fourteen years as ta&#39;zir,&quot; the newspaper explained the two sections of Pakistani law framed specifically to deal with &quot;honour killing&quot; cases. 
 
&ldquo;There cannot be an agreement (after this). These sections were created to end karo-kari (honour killing). Now that they have added them to the FIR, the victim&#39;s family cannot forgive the killers as the state has become a complainant. It will be taken as a murder against the state,&rdquo; Dawn quoted advocate Balak Shair Khosa.&nbsp; 
 
In some communities, especially tribal ones, after a murder there is a practice of demanding blood money or forgiving the murderer. In cases of honour killings, the murderer is generally pardoned. Thus, in this case, introduction of these two sections are very important. 
 
In the early hours of Saturday, Qandeel Baloch, who was a model and an actress, was strangled to death in her house in Multan&#39;s Karimabad area. Her father claimed that it was an honour killing by her younger brother, Waseem.&nbsp; 
 
In a press conference, where Waseem was accompanied by police, he confessed that he had drugged and strangled Qandeel. He tried to reason the murder by saying that &ldquo;she brought dishonour to the Baloch name&rdquo; by posting indecent videos and statements on social media. 
 
Pakistan police said today that they were investigating Mufti Abdul Qavi, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf religious wing&#39;s head, who was censured for appearing in &ldquo;selfie&rdquo; photographs with Qandeel. Qavi was suspended from Ruet-i-Hilal committee after the photographs were published. 
 
Azhar Ikram, the police chief in the town of Multan, where Baloch was killed, told Reuters: &quot;We have decided to widen the scope of the investigation and include Mufti Abdul Qavi in the probe.&quot; Although Qavi has denied any involvement in the murder, today he told Reuters he would present himself to police for questioning if summoned.&nbsp; 
 
Baloch&#39;s other brother, Mohammad Aslam, a junior army officer, is also being investigated by the police. After his daughter&#39;s death Qandeel&#39;s father, Mohammad Azeem, had filed a police report against both his sons. He had alleged that Aslam had encouraged Waseem to carry out the murder. 
 
Police have not commented on Aslam&#39;s role, and according to Dawn today he was unavailable for comment. 
 
(WION)

Qandeel's brother Waseem had confessed in a press conference that he had killed his sister to save his family from disgrace

The first information report (FIR) registered against the "killers" of social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, was transformed into a non-compoundable FIR. This makes it impossible for Qandeels's family to pardon her killers, reported Pakistani daily, Dawn. Dawn quoted a senior police officer, involved with the investigation of the case, as saying that Sections 311 and 305 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been added to the FIR. "Section 305 states that the 'wali' will be the heirs of the victim, but will exclude the accused or convict in case of qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) if committed in the name or on the pretext of honour. According to Section 311, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 309 or Section 310... the court may, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, punish an offender against whom the right of qisas has been waived or compounded with death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term of which may extend to fourteen years as ta'zir," the newspaper explained the two sections of Pakistani law framed specifically to deal with "honour killing" cases. “There cannot be an agreement (after this). These sections were created to end karo-kari (honour killing). Now that they have added them to the FIR, the victim's family cannot forgive the killers as the state has become a complainant. It will be taken as a murder against the state,” Dawn quoted advocate Balak Shair Khosa. In some communities, especially tribal ones, after a murder there is a practice of demanding blood money or forgiving the murderer. In cases of honour killings, the murderer is generally pardoned. Thus, in this case, introduction of these two sections are very important. In the early hours of Saturday, Qandeel Baloch, who was a model and an actress, was strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area. Her father claimed that it was an honour killing by her younger brother, Waseem. In a press conference, where Waseem was accompanied by police, he confessed that he had drugged and strangled Qandeel. He tried to reason the murder by saying that “she brought dishonour to the Baloch name” by posting indecent videos and statements on social media. Pakistan police said today that they were investigating Mufti Abdul Qavi, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf religious wing's head, who was censured for appearing in “selfie” photographs with Qandeel. Qavi was suspended from Ruet-i-Hilal committee after the photographs were published. Azhar Ikram, the police chief in the town of Multan, where Baloch was killed, told Reuters: "We have decided to widen the scope of the investigation and include Mufti Abdul Qavi in the probe." Although Qavi has denied any involvement in the murder, today he told Reuters he would present himself to police for questioning if summoned. Baloch's other brother, Mohammad Aslam, a junior army officer, is also being investigated by the police. After his daughter's death Qandeel's father, Mohammad Azeem, had filed a police report against both his sons. He had alleged that Aslam had encouraged Waseem to carry out the murder. Police have not commented on Aslam's role, and according to Dawn today he was unavailable for comment. (WION)

State becomes complainant in Qandeel Baloch case, making it impossible for family to pardon murderer

The brother of Pakistan&#39;s social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for &quot;dishonouring&quot; the family&#39;s reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. 
 
Qandeel&#39;s younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. 
 
He said that he killed her as she brought &quot;dishonour to the Baloch name&quot; due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. 
 
&quot;There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue,&quot; he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel&#39;s selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. 
 
Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi&#39;s membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. 
 
&quot;She wasn&#39;t aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan&#39;s Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday.&nbsp;Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. 
 
In his police complaint, Qandeel&#39;s father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14.&nbsp;He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. 
 
The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen.&nbsp;Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. 
 
Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported.&nbsp;She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. 
 
Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling.&nbsp;Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive &quot;selfies&quot; posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers.&nbsp;She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. 
 
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel&#39;s body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. 
 
(PTI)

He killed his sister because he thought her risque videos and statements on social media brought 'dishonour to the Baloch name'

The brother of Pakistan's social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for "dishonouring" the family's reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. Qandeel's younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. He said that he killed her as she brought "dishonour to the Baloch name" due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. "There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue," he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel's selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi's membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. "She wasn't aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her," he said. The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday. Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. In his police complaint, Qandeel's father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14. He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen. Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported. She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers. She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel's body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. (PTI)

Brother arrested for Qandeel Baloch's murder

Pakistan&#39;s social media sensation Qandeel Baloch was allegedly killed by her brother in Multan in Punjab province, becoming the latest victim of &#39;honour killing&#39; that plagues the country. 
 
The 26-year-old actor and model was killed in the central district of Multan last night, police said today. 
 
Police said she was apparently&nbsp;killed by her brother Wasim, who fled after the incident. 
 
&quot;She was suffocated to death by strangulation. It seems to be a case of honour killing but we are investigating it,&quot; district police chief Azhar Akram said. 
 
Baloch shot to fame in 2014 
 
Baloch was a media sensation known for her boldness and was also considered highly controversial. She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014 after a video of her pouting for the camera came up on the internet. 
 
She became famous through her tireless self-promotion and &quot;selfies&quot; posted on social media and had amassed tens of thousands of followers on microblogging site Twitter.&nbsp; 
 
She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer and opposition politician Imran Khan. 
 
Her controversial pictures with Islamic cleric Mufti Qawi recently led to the suspension of his membership &nbsp;from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, a department that announces sighting of new moon.&nbsp; 
 
Baloch had sought security amid threats&nbsp; 
 
Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. 
 
She received threats from her family to quit modeling and also for her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, said the police. 
 
Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, Dawn reported. 
 
She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. 
 
 
(PTI)

The 26-year-old controversial model had been receiving threats from her brother over Facebook posts. She said her life was in danger

Pakistan's social media sensation Qandeel Baloch was allegedly killed by her brother in Multan in Punjab province, becoming the latest victim of 'honour killing' that plagues the country. The 26-year-old actor and model was killed in the central district of Multan last night, police said today. Police said she was apparently killed by her brother Wasim, who fled after the incident. "She was suffocated to death by strangulation. It seems to be a case of honour killing but we are investigating it," district police chief Azhar Akram said. Baloch shot to fame in 2014 Baloch was a media sensation known for her boldness and was also considered highly controversial. She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014 after a video of her pouting for the camera came up on the internet. She became famous through her tireless self-promotion and "selfies" posted on social media and had amassed tens of thousands of followers on microblogging site Twitter. She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer and opposition politician Imran Khan. Her controversial pictures with Islamic cleric Mufti Qawi recently led to the suspension of his membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, a department that announces sighting of new moon. Baloch had sought security amid threats Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. She received threats from her family to quit modeling and also for her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, said the police. Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, Dawn reported. She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. (PTI)

Brother allegedly kills Pakistan internet sensation Qandeel Baloch in apparent honour killing

Pakistan will move the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) to restrain India from building two major hydropower projects on Jhelum and Chenab, the two rivers assigned to Islamabad under the 1960s Indus Waters Treaty. 
 
&quot;Pakistan to move international court of arbitration,&quot; tweeted federal minister for water and power Khwaja Mohammad Asif, who also holds the portfolio of federal minister for defence. 
 
An eight-member delegation led by secretary water and power Mohammad Younas Dagha is presently in New Delhi for final talks on resolving the dispute bilaterally or to seek arbitration, Dawn reported. 
 
Asif said the talks for two and a half years with India on the resolution of Pakistan&#39;s objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric projects have failed. 
 
&quot;Pakistan with consent of stakeholders decided to take it to full court of arbitration,&quot; he said adding that India has invited Pakistan to discuss points of dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. 
 
Under the treaty, in case the parties fail to resolve water disputes through bilateral means, the aggrieved party has the option to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICA or the neutral expert under the auspices of the World Bank. 
 
An official said Pakistan feels its water rights are being violated by India on two rivers, the Chenab and Jhelum, through a faulty design of 850 megawatt Ratle Hydropower Project, and 330 megawatt Kishanganga Hydropower, respectively. 
 
Pakistan believes the Indian design of the Ratle project would reduce Chenab water flow by 40 per cent at Head Marala and cause irrigation loss to crops. 
 
(ANI)

Pakistan feels Indian water projects would reduce the flow of its river, causing damage to crops

Pakistan will move the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) to restrain India from building two major hydropower projects on Jhelum and Chenab, the two rivers assigned to Islamabad under the 1960s Indus Waters Treaty. "Pakistan to move international court of arbitration," tweeted federal minister for water and power Khwaja Mohammad Asif, who also holds the portfolio of federal minister for defence. An eight-member delegation led by secretary water and power Mohammad Younas Dagha is presently in New Delhi for final talks on resolving the dispute bilaterally or to seek arbitration, Dawn reported. Asif said the talks for two and a half years with India on the resolution of Pakistan's objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric projects have failed. "Pakistan with consent of stakeholders decided to take it to full court of arbitration," he said adding that India has invited Pakistan to discuss points of dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. Under the treaty, in case the parties fail to resolve water disputes through bilateral means, the aggrieved party has the option to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICA or the neutral expert under the auspices of the World Bank. An official said Pakistan feels its water rights are being violated by India on two rivers, the Chenab and Jhelum, through a faulty design of 850 megawatt Ratle Hydropower Project, and 330 megawatt Kishanganga Hydropower, respectively. Pakistan believes the Indian design of the Ratle project would reduce Chenab water flow by 40 per cent at Head Marala and cause irrigation loss to crops. (ANI)

Pakistan to seek arbitration with India over water dispute

The former head of Afghanistan&#39;s main intelligence agency released documents on Thursday which he said showed that Pakistani intelligence services helped leaders of the Taliban and the feared Haqqani network in 2014 and 2015. 
 
Rahmatullah Nabil stepped down from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in December last year after opposing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and include Islamabad in peace talks with the Taliban. 
 
Nabil told a group of journalists in Kabul that he had released the documents to provide concrete evidence of Pakistan&#39;s collusion with the Taliban and the associated Haqqani group, which has been blamed for a series of kidnappings and high profile suicide bombings in the capital. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s foreign office and the army&#39;s media wing did not respond to several written and telephoned requests for comment in which Reuters outlined the accusations levelled against Pakistan. 
 
Neither the NDS nor the Afghan government was available for immediate comment on the letters. 
 
The Afghan Taliban insurgency has in the past said it is fighting against the government and Western allies with the support of the Afghan people, and has no need of outside help. 
 
Nabil did not say how the letters had been obtained. Reuters could not independently verify their authenticity. 
 
Since retiring from the intelligence service, Nabil has been strongly critical of Pakistan, which is routinely accused by Afghanistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, a charge it has consistently denied. 
 
&quot;For the past 14 years, no one has disclosed documents of this kind. Here, I&#39;m proving it,&quot; he told reporters, to whom he released the letters. &quot;They kill us every day and commit all kinds of atrocities, we have to show them.&quot; 
 
One letter, addressed from a section of Pakistan&#39;s military intelligence service in the northwestern city of Peshawar, is headed &#39;Arrangements of Secure Houses and Protection to Afghan Taliban and Their Leadership&#39;. 
 
In the letter, dated August 2014, an official arranges for safe houses and vehicles to be provided for Afghan Taliban commanders forced out of a remote area of northern Pakistan while an army operation is conducted. 
 
Another letter, dated March 2015, requests an update on Haqqani network personnel in Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi, in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 
 
A third letter addressed from the Directorate General Military Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, dated July 2014, is headed &#39;Kabul Airport Attacks and Release of Payments&#39;. 
 
The letter says four members of the Haqqani network are to be paid 2.5 million Pakistani Rupees ($24,000) each for the &quot;successful and comprehensive execution of assault on KB AP&quot;. 
 
Victim of terrorism 
 
Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban and its leaders, saying it has for years itself been a victim of terrorism, much of it from groups based in Afghanistan. 
 
The release of the documents comes amid worsening tensions between the neighbouring countries in recent weeks, with days of clashes last month during which troops on the border exchanged artillery fire. 
 
It also came days after Pakistan faced heavy criticism in a Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington. 
 
Afghan President Ghani sharply criticised Pakistan during a visit to a NATO summit in Warsaw last week, and has accused it of conducting an &quot;undeclared war&quot; against Afghanistan. 
 
In response, Islamabad said that Afghanistan was playing a &quot;blame game&quot; instead of cooperating effectively to stop terrorism. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s critics say that it supports Islamist militants in Afghanistan to maintain influence and counter attempts by arch-rival India to gain a foothold, effectively surrounding it. 
 
($1 = 104.7900 Pakistani Rupees) 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Rahmatullah Nabil resigned from the security agency in December after opposing the Afghan President's efforts to improve ties with Pakistan

The former head of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency released documents on Thursday which he said showed that Pakistani intelligence services helped leaders of the Taliban and the feared Haqqani network in 2014 and 2015. Rahmatullah Nabil stepped down from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in December last year after opposing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and include Islamabad in peace talks with the Taliban. Nabil told a group of journalists in Kabul that he had released the documents to provide concrete evidence of Pakistan's collusion with the Taliban and the associated Haqqani group, which has been blamed for a series of kidnappings and high profile suicide bombings in the capital. Pakistan's foreign office and the army's media wing did not respond to several written and telephoned requests for comment in which Reuters outlined the accusations levelled against Pakistan. Neither the NDS nor the Afghan government was available for immediate comment on the letters. The Afghan Taliban insurgency has in the past said it is fighting against the government and Western allies with the support of the Afghan people, and has no need of outside help. Nabil did not say how the letters had been obtained. Reuters could not independently verify their authenticity. Since retiring from the intelligence service, Nabil has been strongly critical of Pakistan, which is routinely accused by Afghanistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, a charge it has consistently denied. "For the past 14 years, no one has disclosed documents of this kind. Here, I'm proving it," he told reporters, to whom he released the letters. "They kill us every day and commit all kinds of atrocities, we have to show them." One letter, addressed from a section of Pakistan's military intelligence service in the northwestern city of Peshawar, is headed 'Arrangements of Secure Houses and Protection to Afghan Taliban and Their Leadership'. In the letter, dated August 2014, an official arranges for safe houses and vehicles to be provided for Afghan Taliban commanders forced out of a remote area of northern Pakistan while an army operation is conducted. Another letter, dated March 2015, requests an update on Haqqani network personnel in Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi, in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A third letter addressed from the Directorate General Military Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, dated July 2014, is headed 'Kabul Airport Attacks and Release of Payments'. The letter says four members of the Haqqani network are to be paid 2.5 million Pakistani Rupees ($24,000) each for the "successful and comprehensive execution of assault on KB AP". Victim of terrorism Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban and its leaders, saying it has for years itself been a victim of terrorism, much of it from groups based in Afghanistan. The release of the documents comes amid worsening tensions between the neighbouring countries in recent weeks, with days of clashes last month during which troops on the border exchanged artillery fire. It also came days after Pakistan faced heavy criticism in a Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington. Afghan President Ghani sharply criticised Pakistan during a visit to a NATO summit in Warsaw last week, and has accused it of conducting an "undeclared war" against Afghanistan. In response, Islamabad said that Afghanistan was playing a "blame game" instead of cooperating effectively to stop terrorism. Pakistan's critics say that it supports Islamist militants in Afghanistan to maintain influence and counter attempts by arch-rival India to gain a foothold, effectively surrounding it. ($1 = 104.7900 Pakistani Rupees) (Reuters)

Former Afghan spy chief says letters show Pakistan supports militants

Pakistan&#39;s sporting decline has left the vast South Asian nation that once prided itself on producing the world&#39;s best hockey and squash players facing up to an Olympics for which none of its athlete has qualified. 
 
While cricket remains a wildly popular game in Pakistan, a nation of almost 200 million, most other sport have shrunk in popularity as the successes of the 1980s and early 1990s have become a distant memory. 
 
In dilapidated gyms and crumbling sportfields Pakistani athletes lament the dated equipment and obsolete training methods which leave them struggling against foreign foes who adhere to the latest science-based techniques. 
 
Female athletes have an even bigger mountain to climb, most young girls in the deeply conservative Muslim nation are pressured by their families to stop exercising in public, while those with family backing face the wrath of their communities. 
 
&quot;We are behind the rest of the world,&quot; said Inam Butt, a Pakistani wrestling champion who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. &quot;Our budget, training and facilities are just nothing. How can we compete?&quot; 
 
Butt, like other athletes, says the future will remain bleak until Pakistan&#39;s government starts pouring money into sport.&nbsp; 
 
The seven participants due to represent Pakistan at next month&#39;s Rio Olympics have all been given wildcard entries and stand &quot;no chance&quot; of winning medals, according to Arif Hasan, the Pakistan Olympic Association president. 
 
&quot;They are more or less going for the participation and gaining the experience. Let&#39;s hope next time will be better,&quot; he said. 
 
1980s training methods 
 
Those in charge of promoting sport in Pakistan despair.&nbsp;The grassroots system is almost non-existent, children in schools&nbsp;rarely play a sport which is not cricket, and top athletes seldom compete against the world&#39;s best as cash-strapped federations cannot afford to send them abroad. 
 
Waqar Ahmed, deputy director of the Pakistan Sports Board, said federations also cannot afford to hire top coaches familiar with scientific training techniques and end up relying on Pakistani trainers with &quot;obsolete&quot; methods from the 1980s. 
 
&quot;Athletes are really frustrated because... the coaches are not literate and they have been teaching what they were taught 30 years back,&quot; he said. &quot;Without infrastructure we can do a lot, but without the techniques you cannot win.&quot; 
 
The demise of hockey, Pakistan&#39;s national sport, has been painful to watch for an older generation who prospered during the halcyon days between 1960 and 1994, when Pakistan regularly won Olympic gold medals and world championships. 
 
Tahir Zaman, Pakistan hockey team coach, said the lack of government support means many young athletes no longer see a future in sports like hockey where top players get $10 per day. Pakistani cricketers, by contrast, are paid $5,000 monthly retainers and make a fortune from sponsorship deals.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The attraction is not there anymore. The (government) is not offering regular jobs for players,&quot; said Zaman, who won a bronze playing for Pakistan at the 1992 Olympics. 
 
At Lahore&#39;s empty 45,000-seat hockey stadium, Pakistani hockey player Hassan Anwar, 21, said that as a teenager his family begged him: &quot;please don&#39;t play hockey if you want a bright future&quot;. 
 
The demise of hockey has been mirrored by the decline in the Pakistani squash scene, where young players know all about 1980s legend Jahangir Khan - considered the greatest ever squash player - but none match his bravura on the court. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Women Harassed 
 
Pakistan&#39;s best known squash player is Maria Toorpakay Wazir, ranked 65 in the world, but to train she spent years dressing and pretending to be a boy in the ultra-conservative tribal areas near Afghanistan. Now she trains abroad. 
 
Pakistan Olympic chief Hasan says societal &quot;barriers are coming down&quot; for women but many female athletes rue the slow pace of change. 
 
At 16, Neelam Riaz&#39;s first love was cycling, but her father banned her from training on roads as men would stare at her. In response, she took up karate to learn how to fend off men and eventually stumbled on weightlifting. 
 
&quot;Usually in Pakistan girls are discouraged from sports, and often coaches push back,&quot; said Riaz, 25, who last year became a national champion and Pakistan&#39;s first female weightlifter to compete abroad. 
 
&quot;Now my family is happy with me doing weightlifting.&quot; 
 
In a dimly lit Lahore gym, where paint peels off walls, windows are shattered and cobwebs cling to a damp ceiling, Riaz is tutoring 16-year-old Iqra Chanzaib, who is new to weightlifting. 
 
Chanzaib wanted to play basketball, but the only hoop near her house was out in the open and full of boys, so one of her pious brothers protested. She then opted for weightlifting, indoors. 
 
&quot;There are plenty of girls like me but they cannot come because of family pressures. My own friends want to come but their families stop them,&quot; she said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

For the first time in Pakistan's history none of its athlete has qualified for the Olympics

Pakistan's sporting decline has left the vast South Asian nation that once prided itself on producing the world's best hockey and squash players facing up to an Olympics for which none of its athlete has qualified. While cricket remains a wildly popular game in Pakistan, a nation of almost 200 million, most other sport have shrunk in popularity as the successes of the 1980s and early 1990s have become a distant memory. In dilapidated gyms and crumbling sportfields Pakistani athletes lament the dated equipment and obsolete training methods which leave them struggling against foreign foes who adhere to the latest science-based techniques. Female athletes have an even bigger mountain to climb, most young girls in the deeply conservative Muslim nation are pressured by their families to stop exercising in public, while those with family backing face the wrath of their communities. "We are behind the rest of the world," said Inam Butt, a Pakistani wrestling champion who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. "Our budget, training and facilities are just nothing. How can we compete?" Butt, like other athletes, says the future will remain bleak until Pakistan's government starts pouring money into sport. The seven participants due to represent Pakistan at next month's Rio Olympics have all been given wildcard entries and stand "no chance" of winning medals, according to Arif Hasan, the Pakistan Olympic Association president. "They are more or less going for the participation and gaining the experience. Let's hope next time will be better," he said. 1980s training methods Those in charge of promoting sport in Pakistan despair. The grassroots system is almost non-existent, children in schools rarely play a sport which is not cricket, and top athletes seldom compete against the world's best as cash-strapped federations cannot afford to send them abroad. Waqar Ahmed, deputy director of the Pakistan Sports Board, said federations also cannot afford to hire top coaches familiar with scientific training techniques and end up relying on Pakistani trainers with "obsolete" methods from the 1980s. "Athletes are really frustrated because... the coaches are not literate and they have been teaching what they were taught 30 years back," he said. "Without infrastructure we can do a lot, but without the techniques you cannot win." The demise of hockey, Pakistan's national sport, has been painful to watch for an older generation who prospered during the halcyon days between 1960 and 1994, when Pakistan regularly won Olympic gold medals and world championships. Tahir Zaman, Pakistan hockey team coach, said the lack of government support means many young athletes no longer see a future in sports like hockey where top players get $10 per day. Pakistani cricketers, by contrast, are paid $5,000 monthly retainers and make a fortune from sponsorship deals. "The attraction is not there anymore. The (government) is not offering regular jobs for players," said Zaman, who won a bronze playing for Pakistan at the 1992 Olympics. At Lahore's empty 45,000-seat hockey stadium, Pakistani hockey player Hassan Anwar, 21, said that as a teenager his family begged him: "please don't play hockey if you want a bright future". The demise of hockey has been mirrored by the decline in the Pakistani squash scene, where young players know all about 1980s legend Jahangir Khan - considered the greatest ever squash player - but none match his bravura on the court. Women Harassed Pakistan's best known squash player is Maria Toorpakay Wazir, ranked 65 in the world, but to train she spent years dressing and pretending to be a boy in the ultra-conservative tribal areas near Afghanistan. Now she trains abroad. Pakistan Olympic chief Hasan says societal "barriers are coming down" for women but many female athletes rue the slow pace of change. At 16, Neelam Riaz's first love was cycling, but her father banned her from training on roads as men would stare at her. In response, she took up karate to learn how to fend off men and eventually stumbled on weightlifting. "Usually in Pakistan girls are discouraged from sports, and often coaches push back," said Riaz, 25, who last year became a national champion and Pakistan's first female weightlifter to compete abroad. "Now my family is happy with me doing weightlifting." In a dimly lit Lahore gym, where paint peels off walls, windows are shattered and cobwebs cling to a damp ceiling, Riaz is tutoring 16-year-old Iqra Chanzaib, who is new to weightlifting. Chanzaib wanted to play basketball, but the only hoop near her house was out in the open and full of boys, so one of her pious brothers protested. She then opted for weightlifting, indoors. "There are plenty of girls like me but they cannot come because of family pressures. My own friends want to come but their families stop them," she said. (Reuters)

Pakistan sport hits low point with qualifying debacle

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a &quot;martyr&quot; and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet&#39;s decisions on the matter &quot;unequivocally&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the &quot;movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom&quot;. 
 
&quot;Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,&quot; Sharif said. 
 
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had&nbsp;no locus standi&nbsp;to intervene in India&rsquo;s internal matters. 
 
&quot;India completely and unequivocally rejects&nbsp;the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; &nbsp;the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. 
 
He also&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. 
 
&quot;The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement,&quot; Radio Pakistan reported Sharif&#39;s speech to his cabinet. 
 
&quot;Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them,&quot; Sharif said today. 
 
He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. 
 
&quot;Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris,&quot; Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. 
 
On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that &quot;Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir.&quot; 
 
The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. 
 
(WION with agency inputs)

Pak PM Sharif said the country will observe July 19 as black day, even as India criticised them for 'glorifying' terrorists

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a "martyr" and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. The Indian government, however, rejected the Pakistan cabinet's decisions on the matter "unequivocally". Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir, Sharif termed the "movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom". "Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination," Sharif said. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiteratred, for the second time in 24 hours, that Pakistan or any other external party had no locus standi to intervene in India’s internal matters. "India completely and unequivocally rejects the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. He also criticised Pakistan for glorifying terrorists belonging to banned organisations. "The Prime Minister termed Burhan Wani as a martyr of independence movement," Radio Pakistan reported Sharif's speech to his cabinet. "Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them," Sharif said today. He directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora. "Seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers deployed in Occupied Kashmir could not suppress the struggle of Kashmiris," Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. On the proposal of Prime Minister Sharif, the cabinet decided that "Black Day will be observed on Tuesday (July 19) against Indian barbarism in Occupied Kashmir." The meeting also condemned the terrorist attacks in France, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan declares Burhan Wani 'martyr', India 'unequivocally' rejects decision

Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising the issue of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the United Nations (UN), India has said Pakistan &quot;extols&quot; the &quot;virtues&quot; of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the &quot;misguided end&quot; of coveting the territory of others. 
 
India&#39;s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin responded strongly to the remarks made by Pakistan&#39;s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani&#39;s killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly here yesterday. 
 
In her statement, Lodhi, apart from raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the &quot;extrajudicial&quot; killing of Wani, whom she described as a &quot;Kashmiri leader&quot;, by Indian forces. 
 
In his statement, which sources here termed as perhaps the hardest-hitting against Pakistan in recent times, Akbaruddin said Pakistan &quot;extols&quot; the virtues of terrorists and could not gain membership of the UN&#39;s human rights body because of its &quot;track record&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Lashing out at Lodhi&#39;s raising of the Kashmir issue at the multi-lateral world body, Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to &quot;misuse&quot; the UN platform. 
 
&quot;Regrettably, earlier today, we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self determination,&quot; he said. 
 
Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan&#39;s &quot;track record&quot; failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA. 
 
&quot;Pakistan, is the same country whose track record has failed to convince the international community to gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very Session of the UNGA. The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations,&quot; he said. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Pakistan envoy mentions the 'extrajudicial' killiing of 'Kashmiri leader' Burhan Wani, India retorts Pak 'extols the virtue of terrorists'

Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising the issue of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the United Nations (UN), India has said Pakistan "extols" the "virtues" of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the "misguided end" of coveting the territory of others. India's Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin responded strongly to the remarks made by Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani's killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly here yesterday. In her statement, Lodhi, apart from raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the "extrajudicial" killing of Wani, whom she described as a "Kashmiri leader", by Indian forces. In his statement, which sources here termed as perhaps the hardest-hitting against Pakistan in recent times, Akbaruddin said Pakistan "extols" the virtues of terrorists and could not gain membership of the UN's human rights body because of its "track record". Lashing out at Lodhi's raising of the Kashmir issue at the multi-lateral world body, Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to "misuse" the UN platform. "Regrettably, earlier today, we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self determination," he said. Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan's "track record" failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA. "Pakistan, is the same country whose track record has failed to convince the international community to gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very Session of the UNGA. The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations," he said. (PTI)

India & Pakistan go tit-for-tat at UN

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city&#39;s Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. 
 
Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. 
 
&quot;It is a love affair,&quot; says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. &quot;You don&#39;t see anything there, no difference between the birds,&quot; he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan&#39;s cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. 
 
In film and folklore, pigeons, or &#39;kabootar&#39; are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. 
 
&quot;Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals,&quot; says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. 
 
Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. 
 
Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court &quot;had 20,000 birds of different types&quot;, said Khan. 
 
Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others&#39; birds, etc. 
 
It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis.&nbsp; 
 
Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. 
 
Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. 
 
For so-called &#39;high-flying&#39; pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. 
 
The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. 
 
&quot;We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good,&quot; explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. 
 
&quot;I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame,&quot; explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. 
 
The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land.&nbsp; 
 
Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as &#39;ustads&#39;, give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance.&nbsp; 
 
In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a &#39;water of life&#39; laced with cumin, pepper and other spices.&nbsp; 
 
He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. 
 
There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used&quot;, says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. 
 
The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. 
 
In this way, the story of love became a story of money. &quot;It fell into disrepute because people started gambling,&quot; explains Khan. 
 
And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. 
 
Haider&#39;s wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband&#39;s guests during each competition.&nbsp; 
 
She concedes shyly: &quot;He spends more time with his birds than with me.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Pigeon racing brings together people from different social backgrounds since experts are often illiterate and the owners rich

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city's Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. "It is a love affair," says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. "You don't see anything there, no difference between the birds," he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head. "But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers." On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan's cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. In film and folklore, pigeons, or 'kabootar' are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. "Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals," says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court "had 20,000 birds of different types", said Khan. Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others' birds, etc. It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis. Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. For so-called 'high-flying' pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. "We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good," explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. "I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame," explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land. Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as 'ustads', give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance. In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a 'water of life' laced with cumin, pepper and other spices. He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet. "Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used", says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. In this way, the story of love became a story of money. "It fell into disrepute because people started gambling," explains Khan. And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. Haider's wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband's guests during each competition. She concedes shyly: "He spends more time with his birds than with me." (AFP)

Where dreams take flight: Pakistan's pigeon racers

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