<p>In an important step forward to initiate dialogue with the Kashmiris, the Modi government has appointed former Director of Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, to facilitate talks on behalf of the government with various representatives of Kashmir. Sharma comes armed with experience and insight having served previously as an interlocutor for peace talks with Assam&rsquo;s insurgent group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).</p>

<p>While the appointment is promising, it is unclear if it merely represents a symbolic gesture or if New Delhi is seriously intent on engaging with the Kashmiris. While it is premature to assess Sharma&rsquo;s ability to bring contesting parties to the negotiating table, there are several reasons why the job will be a highly challenging one and is unlikely to improve relations between the central government and Kashmiris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A question most Indian administrations are reticent to discuss (including this one) is whether New Delhi is ultimately interested in seeking a political settlement to the Kashmir conflict. This means for a negotiated settlement to work, the facilitator of peace talks will need to address the political aspirations of those who seek an independent Kashmir.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty which has not been up for debate until now and is unlikely to change even with the appointment of an interlocutor.&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty which has not been up for debate until now and is unlikely to change even with the appointment of an interlocutor.?" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>This includes a variety of pro-secessionist groups, including the Hurriyat and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). If Sharma comes to the negotiating table representing the primary political interests of the BJP and the Indian state, then a long-term settlement is unlikely to succeed. If, however, Sharma intends to exercise his agency independent of New Delhi and be willing to address the grievances of a variety of Kashmiri groups, he could be in a stronger position to influence change.</p>

<p>Note, this is not the first attempt to manage the conflict diplomatically. Even if efforts to influence Kashmiris yield a positive outcome internally, talks with Pakistan still remain on the agenda as the next necessary step. Several bilateral and diplomatic channels already exist between the two countries and yet the conflict remains unresolved with both states unwilling to compromise their respective territorial positions on Kashmir. For India, Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty which has not been up for debate until now and is unlikely to change even with the appointment of an interlocutor.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/reality-bites-centre-appoints-an-interlocutor-for-kashmir-talks-22768">Reality bites: Centre appoints an interlocutor for Kashmir talks</a></strong></p>

<p>Second, the highly communal and polarised nature of the conflict will make it harder for the interlocutor to maintain a fair balance between opposing religious groups. Kashmiri Muslims are increasingly aware of the Modi government&rsquo;s Hindu nationalist and majoritarian anti-Muslim, anti-minority rhetoric and will view any attempt at negotiations suspiciously. Kashmiri Hindus, on the other hand, will seek to aggressively push their interests having been purged from the Kashmir valley at the height of the Islamist insurgency in the 1990s. How successfully will Sharma be able to navigate these two opposing movements?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Third, the appointment raises the issue of whether it signals a gradual shift in India&rsquo;s Kashmir strategy from that which has predominantly relied on military solutions to one that actively pursues diplomacy over the use of force. The current government in New Delhi has mostly been interested in maintaining the status quo and no one has articulated a clear political strategy. Sharma&rsquo;s appointment also comes at a time when al-Qaeda and IS groups have made deep inroads into Kashmir, further damaging and undermining Indian security.</p>

<p>In July 2017, Zakir Musa, local commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group, was appointed the head of al-Qaeda&rsquo;s unit in Kashmir, leaving a major al-Qaeda footprint in Kashmir. As of today, in an alarming new development, IS has released a video announcing that Kashmiri fighters are ready to pledge their allegiance to the Islamic State.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The Indian government needs a strategy to prevent local Kashmiris from becoming further radicalised by militant groups.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Indian government needs a strategy to prevent local Kashmiris from becoming further radicalised by militant groups." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>At a time when the forces of Islamist extremism are deeply entrenched in Kashmir, the Indian government needs a strategy to prevent local Kashmiris from becoming further radicalised by militant groups. As a facilitator of dialogue, will Sharma seek to address de-radicalisation efforts and develop a series of counter-terrorism measures? Doing this, though, could introduce a contradiction in means and ends.</p>

<p>Faced with mounting threats and infiltration, it will be next to impossible for the Indian government to relinquish its military option. The next terrorist attack, the next border crisis with Pakistan, and the slightest provocation will stall or completely derail chances for dialogue. Again, external circumstances place severe limits on Sharma&rsquo;s ability to facilitate peace.</p>

<p>Much of the success of the interlocutor will depend then on how the Kashmir issue is framed. A clear strategy with well-articulated goals and objectives will be a start and we need more information on what these strategies will be. Until then, creating such appointments will serve little purpose.</p>


The success of the interlocutor depends on clear strategy with well-articulated goals and objectives on Kashmir issues

In an important step forward to initiate dialogue with the Kashmiris, the Modi government has appointed former Director of Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, to facilitate talks on behalf of the government with various representatives of Kashmir. Sharma comes armed with experience and insight having served previously as an interlocutor for peace talks with Assam’s insurgent group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). While the appointment is promising, it is unclear if it merely represents a symbolic gesture or if New Delhi is seriously intent on engaging with the Kashmiris. While it is premature to assess Sharma’s ability to bring contesting parties to the negotiating table, there are several reasons why the job will be a highly challenging one and is unlikely to improve relations between the central government and Kashmiris. A question most Indian administrations are reticent to discuss (including this one) is whether New Delhi is ultimately interested in seeking a political settlement to the Kashmir conflict. This means for a negotiated settlement to work, the facilitator of peace talks will need to address the political aspirations of those who seek an independent Kashmir. Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty which has not been up for debate until now and is unlikely to change even with the appointment of an interlocutor. × This includes a variety of pro-secessionist groups, including the Hurriyat and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). If Sharma comes to the negotiating table representing the primary political interests of the BJP and the Indian state, then a long-term settlement is unlikely to succeed. If, however, Sharma intends to exercise his agency independent of New Delhi and be willing to address the grievances of a variety of Kashmiri groups, he could be in a stronger position to influence change. Note, this is not the first attempt to manage the conflict diplomatically. Even if efforts to influence Kashmiris yield a positive outcome internally, talks with Pakistan still remain on the agenda as the next necessary step. Several bilateral and diplomatic channels already exist between the two countries and yet the conflict remains unresolved with both states unwilling to compromise their respective territorial positions on Kashmir. For India, Kashmir is deeply embedded in its idea of territorial integrity and sovereignty which has not been up for debate until now and is unlikely to change even with the appointment of an interlocutor. Also Read: Reality bites: Centre appoints an interlocutor for Kashmir talks Second, the highly communal and polarised nature of the conflict will make it harder for the interlocutor to maintain a fair balance between opposing religious groups. Kashmiri Muslims are increasingly aware of the Modi government’s Hindu nationalist and majoritarian anti-Muslim, anti-minority rhetoric and will view any attempt at negotiations suspiciously. Kashmiri Hindus, on the other hand, will seek to aggressively push their interests having been purged from the Kashmir valley at the height of the Islamist insurgency in the 1990s. How successfully will Sharma be able to navigate these two opposing movements? Third, the appointment raises the issue of whether it signals a gradual shift in India’s Kashmir strategy from that which has predominantly relied on military solutions to one that actively pursues diplomacy over the use of force. The current government in New Delhi has mostly been interested in maintaining the status quo and no one has articulated a clear political strategy. Sharma’s appointment also comes at a time when al-Qaeda and IS groups have made deep inroads into Kashmir, further damaging and undermining Indian security. In July 2017, Zakir Musa, local commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group, was appointed the head of al-Qaeda’s unit in Kashmir, leaving a major al-Qaeda footprint in Kashmir. As of today, in an alarming new development, IS has released a video announcing that Kashmiri fighters are ready to pledge their allegiance to the Islamic State. The Indian government needs a strategy to prevent local Kashmiris from becoming further radicalised by militant groups. × At a time when the forces of Islamist extremism are deeply entrenched in Kashmir, the Indian government needs a strategy to prevent local Kashmiris from becoming further radicalised by militant groups. As a facilitator of dialogue, will Sharma seek to address de-radicalisation efforts and develop a series of counter-terrorism measures? Doing this, though, could introduce a contradiction in means and ends. Faced with mounting threats and infiltration, it will be next to impossible for the Indian government to relinquish its military option. The next terrorist attack, the next border crisis with Pakistan, and the slightest provocation will stall or completely derail chances for dialogue. Again, external circumstances place severe limits on Sharma’s ability to facilitate peace. Much of the success of the interlocutor will depend then on how the Kashmir issue is framed. A clear strategy with well-articulated goals and objectives will be a start and we need more information on what these strategies will be. Until then, creating such appointments will serve little purpose.

Kashmir: Will the appointment of interlocutor change anything?

<p>US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a frosty welcome to Pakistan Tuesday after Washington turned up the heat on Islamabad for allegedly providing &quot;safe havens&quot; for Taliban militants.</p>

<p>America&#39;s top diplomat was quietly greeted by a mid-level Pakistani Foreign Office official at the military airport in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, an AFP photographer saw -- a welcome devoid of the pomp that usually marks high-level visits.</p>

<p>He was then driven in a convoy of Land Cruisers amid tight security to the US embassy in Islamabad&#39;s diplomatic enclave, before scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the powerful military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.</p>

<p>The secretary&#39;s visit, the first to nuclear-armed Pakistan by a senior Trump administration official, comes months after the US President angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring &quot;agents of chaos&quot; who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It follows on the heels of an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America&#39;s commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made &quot;very specific requests&quot; of Pakistan seeking to &quot;undermine the support that the Taliban receives&quot;.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ahead-of-islamabad-visit-today-tillerson-talks-tough-on-paks-safe-haven-to-terrorists-22786" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Tillerson talks tough on Pak&#39;s &#39;safe haven to terrorists&#39;</a></p>

<p>Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militant groups including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan&#39;s shadowy military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India.</p>

<p>Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks.</p>

<p>During his brief visit to Afghanistan&#39;s Bagram air base Monday, Tillerson told reporters Pakistan needs to &quot;take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside&quot; the country.</p>

<p>US and Pakistani sources say his visit to Islamabad will be followed later in the year by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to send a tough message to the wayward Cold War ally.</p>

<p><strong>No pleasing the US?</strong><br />
The US-Pakistan relationship has waxed and waned dramatically since Trump took office in January.</p>

<p>Pakistan said the President had praised its then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif as &quot;terrific&quot; in an effusive phone call when Trump took office in January.</p>

<p>But Trump&#39;s blistering speech in August accusing Pakistan of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting the US took no account of the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism.</p>

<p>Following the August speech, Tillerson cautioned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued providing support to Afghan militant groups.</p>

<p>As one of 16 &quot;Non-NATO Major Allies&quot;, Pakistan benefits from billions of dollars in aid and has access to advanced US military technology banned from other countries.</p>

<p>However political analyst Zahid Hussain said there may be little Islamabad can do at this point to convince the US that it had prevented militants from using its territory to target forces in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>&quot;I think they would like to assure to the Americans that they are sincere and they are taking action against some of the groups,&quot; Hussain told AFP.</p>

<p>&quot;The perception here is whatever they do, it is not going to please the Americans.&quot;</p>

<p>Earlier this month Pakistani forces acting on American intelligence rescued a US-Canadian family which had been in Taliban captivity for five years, sparking hopes that ties were on the mend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rescue was followed by a series of drone strikes on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border targeting long-time foes of both Washington and Islamabad.</p>

<p>The US has vowed to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already deployed there, to train and advise Afghan troops and police as part of a new strategy outlined by the administration.</p>


Tillerson had warned on Monday that Washington has made 'very specific requests' of Pakistan seeking to 'undermine the support that the Taliban receives'

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a frosty welcome to Pakistan Tuesday after Washington turned up the heat on Islamabad for allegedly providing "safe havens" for Taliban militants. America's top diplomat was quietly greeted by a mid-level Pakistani Foreign Office official at the military airport in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, an AFP photographer saw -- a welcome devoid of the pomp that usually marks high-level visits. He was then driven in a convoy of Land Cruisers amid tight security to the US embassy in Islamabad's diplomatic enclave, before scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the powerful military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The secretary's visit, the first to nuclear-armed Pakistan by a senior Trump administration official, comes months after the US President angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. It follows on the heels of an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America's commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan seeking to "undermine the support that the Taliban receives". Also read: Tillerson talks tough on Pak's 'safe haven to terrorists' Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militant groups including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks. During his brief visit to Afghanistan's Bagram air base Monday, Tillerson told reporters Pakistan needs to "take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside" the country. US and Pakistani sources say his visit to Islamabad will be followed later in the year by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to send a tough message to the wayward Cold War ally. No pleasing the US? The US-Pakistan relationship has waxed and waned dramatically since Trump took office in January. Pakistan said the President had praised its then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif as "terrific" in an effusive phone call when Trump took office in January. But Trump's blistering speech in August accusing Pakistan of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting the US took no account of the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism. Following the August speech, Tillerson cautioned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued providing support to Afghan militant groups. As one of 16 "Non-NATO Major Allies", Pakistan benefits from billions of dollars in aid and has access to advanced US military technology banned from other countries. However political analyst Zahid Hussain said there may be little Islamabad can do at this point to convince the US that it had prevented militants from using its territory to target forces in Afghanistan. "I think they would like to assure to the Americans that they are sincere and they are taking action against some of the groups," Hussain told AFP. "The perception here is whatever they do, it is not going to please the Americans." Earlier this month Pakistani forces acting on American intelligence rescued a US-Canadian family which had been in Taliban captivity for five years, sparking hopes that ties were on the mend. The rescue was followed by a series of drone strikes on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border targeting long-time foes of both Washington and Islamabad. The US has vowed to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already deployed there, to train and advise Afghan troops and police as part of a new strategy outlined by the administration.

Tillerson gets frosty welcome in Pak after warning over Taliban safe havens

<p>Anti-Pakistan protests were held on Sunday across the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan to mark the &quot;Black Day&quot;.</p>

<p>It was on this day, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/black-day-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-6172" target="_blank">October 22 in 1947 that the Pakistan Army, disguised as tribal raiders, invaded the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir</a>.</p>

<p>Protests were reported from Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Gilgit and Hajirah and other places.</p>

<p>People came out on the streets to register their protest on the 70th anniversary of the day.</p>

<p>A massive rally and public meeting were held at Banbehek, near Rawalakot. The protestors chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Pakistan Army from the occupied territory.</p>

<p>Watch:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/india-calls-pok-its-integral-part-assures-medical-visa-to-ailing-man-4238" target="_blank"> India calls PoK its &#39;integral part&#39;, assures medical visa to ailing man</a></p>

<p>A similar protest rally was held at the Kotli and Hajira towns of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The rallies have been continuing throughout the day. Some of the protestors gathered at the Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad and spoke about the atrocities being committed by the Pakistan Army on the people of the PoK and Gilgit.</p>

<p>Nabeel Mughal, an activist of Muzaffarabad-based Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) said, &quot;We are protesting at the historic Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad, where the tribals carried out an attack on October 22, 1947.&quot;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;Our protests raise many issues including the illegal construction of Neelum Jhelum hydro-electric project, which causes problems for the locals. We also demand the government to remove restrictions on students&#39; organizations and immediately release all political activists from Gilgit Baltistan who are lodged in jails.&quot;</p>

<p>Dr. Misfar Hassan, the president of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation League, said, &quot;It was tribals from Pakistan who created this conflict. They invaded an independent state on October 22, 1947, with an intent to occupy it. Jammu and Kashmir was attacked by Pakistan and one-third of our people are under foreign occupation. This is why we consider October 22 as a black day in our history.&quot;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;Our protest is held in that context as they continue to cause problems in Kashmir by sending out mercenaries who indulge in violence. We want peace and our rights.&quot;</p>

<p>Sardar Mahmood Kashmiri, Chairman, the Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance (JKNIA), said, &quot;We are protesting against the division of Jammu Kashmir. On this day, in 1947, our beloved country was invaded, divided and captured by the PakistanArmy and they still continue to loot and harass the good people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, who are living in fear as they are constantly staring down the barrel of a gun.&quot;</p>

<p>Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also known as &quot;Azad Kashmir&quot;, has a Prime Minister and a President, but is ruled from Islamabad. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the chairman and chief executive of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council that manages all affairs related to PoK.</p>

<p>Usman Kiani, the president of the United Kashmir People&#39;s National Party, said, &quot;We demand (Pakistan) to vacate our land as per the UN Security Council resolution.&quot;</p>

<p>Exiled Kashmiri leader and the chairman of the United Kashmir People&#39;s National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, said, &quot;Pakistan claims that she is champion of self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir but fact is this that she did not respect the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir and attacked sovereignty and integrity of our motherland.&quot;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;It was Pakistan who first attacked Jammu and Kashmir and compelled our ruler Maharaja Hari Singh to seek help from India. He signed a provisional treaty of accession with India to get military help. No one but Pakistan is responsible for this state of affairs.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The United Nations resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir clearly ask Pakistan to withdraw its troops and citizens from the state. But since 1948, Pakistan has not complied with the UN resolutions, Kashmiris are divided and suffering on both sides of so-called the Line of Control,&quot; added Kashmir.</p>

<p>Sajjad Raja, the international coordinator of the Dogra Sadar Sabha Jammu and Kashmir, said, &quot;The immoral, inhumane, illegal, unconstitutional, violent and brutal invasion of 22 October installed the so-called Azad Kashmir, which is in fact &quot;Azab Kashmir&quot;, government which surrendered all basic human, political, constitutional, civil and economic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and handed in the 27,000 sq miles areas of Gilgit and Baltistan to direct Pakistani agency rule.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The people of Jammu and Kashmir protest against Pakistan on this day to declare their will to obtain independence from Pakistan and demand withdrawal of Pakistani army and civil servants from the State of Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; added Raja.&nbsp;</p>


Protests were reported from Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Gilgit and Hajirah and other places

Anti-Pakistan protests were held on Sunday across the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan to mark the "Black Day". It was on this day, October 22 in 1947 that the Pakistan Army, disguised as tribal raiders, invaded the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir. Protests were reported from Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Gilgit and Hajirah and other places. People came out on the streets to register their protest on the 70th anniversary of the day. A massive rally and public meeting were held at Banbehek, near Rawalakot. The protestors chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Pakistan Army from the occupied territory. Watch: India calls PoK its 'integral part', assures medical visa to ailing man A similar protest rally was held at the Kotli and Hajira towns of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The rallies have been continuing throughout the day. Some of the protestors gathered at the Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad and spoke about the atrocities being committed by the Pakistan Army on the people of the PoK and Gilgit. Nabeel Mughal, an activist of Muzaffarabad-based Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) said, "We are protesting at the historic Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad, where the tribals carried out an attack on October 22, 1947." He added, "Our protests raise many issues including the illegal construction of Neelum Jhelum hydro-electric project, which causes problems for the locals. We also demand the government to remove restrictions on students' organizations and immediately release all political activists from Gilgit Baltistan who are lodged in jails." Dr. Misfar Hassan, the president of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation League, said, "It was tribals from Pakistan who created this conflict. They invaded an independent state on October 22, 1947, with an intent to occupy it. Jammu and Kashmir was attacked by Pakistan and one-third of our people are under foreign occupation. This is why we consider October 22 as a black day in our history." He added, "Our protest is held in that context as they continue to cause problems in Kashmir by sending out mercenaries who indulge in violence. We want peace and our rights." Sardar Mahmood Kashmiri, Chairman, the Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance (JKNIA), said, "We are protesting against the division of Jammu Kashmir. On this day, in 1947, our beloved country was invaded, divided and captured by the PakistanArmy and they still continue to loot and harass the good people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, who are living in fear as they are constantly staring down the barrel of a gun." Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also known as "Azad Kashmir", has a Prime Minister and a President, but is ruled from Islamabad. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the chairman and chief executive of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council that manages all affairs related to PoK. Usman Kiani, the president of the United Kashmir People's National Party, said, "We demand (Pakistan) to vacate our land as per the UN Security Council resolution." Exiled Kashmiri leader and the chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, said, "Pakistan claims that she is champion of self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir but fact is this that she did not respect the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir and attacked sovereignty and integrity of our motherland." He added, "It was Pakistan who first attacked Jammu and Kashmir and compelled our ruler Maharaja Hari Singh to seek help from India. He signed a provisional treaty of accession with India to get military help. No one but Pakistan is responsible for this state of affairs." "The United Nations resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir clearly ask Pakistan to withdraw its troops and citizens from the state. But since 1948, Pakistan has not complied with the UN resolutions, Kashmiris are divided and suffering on both sides of so-called the Line of Control," added Kashmir. Sajjad Raja, the international coordinator of the Dogra Sadar Sabha Jammu and Kashmir, said, "The immoral, inhumane, illegal, unconstitutional, violent and brutal invasion of 22 October installed the so-called Azad Kashmir, which is in fact "Azab Kashmir", government which surrendered all basic human, political, constitutional, civil and economic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and handed in the 27,000 sq miles areas of Gilgit and Baltistan to direct Pakistani agency rule." "The people of Jammu and Kashmir protest against Pakistan on this day to declare their will to obtain independence from Pakistan and demand withdrawal of Pakistani army and civil servants from the State of Jammu and Kashmir," added Raja.

Anti-Pakistan protests across PoK to mark 1947 invasion

<p>A<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/roadside-blast-kills-five-in-quetta-22584">&nbsp;Pakistani&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bomber&nbsp;rammed a car into a&nbsp;police truck</a>&nbsp;in the southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least seven people,&nbsp;police&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>The attack killed five&nbsp;police&nbsp;officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta&nbsp;police&nbsp;chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically.</p>

<p>Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province, told Reuters: &quot;It was a&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;blast.&quot; Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province and lies about 100 km (60 miles) east of the border with Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Bugti said the&nbsp;truck&nbsp;carrying the&nbsp;police&nbsp;officials was on its way to the city to drop them at their posts when the&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bomber&nbsp;rammed into the vehicle, ripping it apart. Television pictures showed the burnt wreckage of the vehicles.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Pakistani&nbsp;Taliban, an umbrella of various militant groups within Pakistan and loosely allied to the Afghan&nbsp;Taliban, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.</p>

<p>Baluchistan province has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich region&#39;s resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Taliban, Sunni Islam militants and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The violence has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan&rsquo;s southern deep-water port of Gwadar.</p>

<p>A&nbsp;suicide&nbsp;bombing claimed by Islamic State at a Sufi shrine earlier this month killed 22 people and wounded more than 30.</p>

<p>Ayub Qureshi, the provincial&nbsp;police&nbsp;chief, said a counter-terrorism&nbsp;police&nbsp;officer was also shot and killed in another part of Quetta on Wednesday at the time when authorities were dealing with the suicide&nbsp;bombing.</p>

<p>No one has claimed that shooting.</p>


The attack killed five?police?officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta?police?chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically

A Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber rammed a car into a police truck in the southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, police said. The attack killed five police officials and two passers-by on the outskirts of the volatile frontier city, Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said. He said another 22 people were wounded, eight of them critically. Sarfraz Bugti, the home minister of Baluchistan province, told Reuters: "It was a suicide blast." Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province and lies about 100 km (60 miles) east of the border with Afghanistan. Bugti said the truck carrying the police officials was on its way to the city to drop them at their posts when the suicide bomber rammed into the vehicle, ripping it apart. Television pictures showed the burnt wreckage of the vehicles. The Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella of various militant groups within Pakistan and loosely allied to the Afghan Taliban, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Baluchistan province has long been the scene of an insurgency by separatists fighting against the state to demand more of a share of the gas- and mineral-rich region's resources. They also accuse the central government of discrimination. The Taliban, Sunni Islam militants and sectarian groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group also operate in the strategically important region, which borders Iran as well as Afghanistan. The violence has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan’s southern deep-water port of Gwadar. A suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State at a Sufi shrine earlier this month killed 22 people and wounded more than 30. Ayub Qureshi, the provincial police chief, said a counter-terrorism police officer was also shot and killed in another part of Quetta on Wednesday at the time when authorities were dealing with the suicide bombing. No one has claimed that shooting.

Pakistan: Taliban suicide bomber rams car into police truck, 7 dead

<p>Pakistani troops on Wednesday violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control and shelled civilian hamlets and forward posts in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a strong retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesman said.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, and mortars from 0745 hours in Bhimbher Gali sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district,&quot; the spokesman said.</p>

<p>The firing was still on, the official said, adding that the Indian Army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the provocation.</p>

<p>The heavy firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistan Army was intermittently targeting civilian and forward areas in Balakote, Basooni, Sandote, Manjakote areas, a police officer said.</p>

<p>Last week, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing in the Bhimber Gali sector along the Line of Control (LoC), deliberately targeting villages of Basauni and Sandot in the Balakote area resulting in injuries to two children and two teenagers.</p>

<p>On October 13, the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire in the Krishnagati sector along LoC.</p>

<p>A day before that, an army jawan and a porter were killed and six others injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to shelling at the forward areas along the LoC in the Poonch district.</p>

<p>The year 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.</p>


An official said the Indian Army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the provocation

Pakistani troops on Wednesday violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control and shelled civilian hamlets and forward posts in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a strong retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesman said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, and mortars from 0745 hours in Bhimbher Gali sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district," the spokesman said. The firing was still on, the official said, adding that the Indian Army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the provocation. The heavy firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistan Army was intermittently targeting civilian and forward areas in Balakote, Basooni, Sandote, Manjakote areas, a police officer said. Last week, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing in the Bhimber Gali sector along the Line of Control (LoC), deliberately targeting villages of Basauni and Sandot in the Balakote area resulting in injuries to two children and two teenagers. On October 13, the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire in the Krishnagati sector along LoC. A day before that, an army jawan and a porter were killed and six others injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to shelling at the forward areas along the LoC in the Poonch district. The year 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

J&K: Pak troops open fire in Poonch, 4 injured

<p>Identifying real estate as the one sector where maximum amount of tax evasion takes place, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said there was a strong case to bring it under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).<br />
<br />
The matter will be discussed in the next meeting of the GST Council, which will be held on November 9, in Guwahati, Arun Jaitley said, while delivering a lecture at Harvard University.<br />
<br />
&quot;The one sector in India where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place and which is still outside the GST is real estate. Some of the states have been pressing for it. I personally believe that there is a strong case to bring real estate into the GST,&quot; Jaitley said, while delivering the &#39;Annual Mahindra Lecture&#39; on India&#39;s tax reforms.<br />
<br />
&quot;In the next meeting itself, we are addressing one of the problem areas or at least (having) discussion (on) it. Some states want, some do not. There are two views. Therefore, by discussion, we would try to reach one view,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
The finance minister said the move would benefit the consumers who will only have to pay one &quot;final tax&quot; on the whole product.<br />
<br />
&quot;As a result, the final tax paid on the whole product in the GST would almost be negligible,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
The finance minister said the reduction in eventual expenditure coupled with incentivising people to enter the tax net may also help reduce the size of &quot;shadow economy&quot;.<br />
<br />
A 12 per cent GST is levied on construction of a complex, building, civil structure or intended for sale to a buyer, wholly or partly. However, land and other immovable property have been exempted from GST.<br />
<br />
On demonetisation, Jaitley said it was a &quot;fundamental reform&quot; which was necessary to transform India into a more tax-compliant society.<br />
<br />
&quot;If you see the long-term impact of it, demonetisation brought in more digitised transactions; it brought the issue to the centerstage. It expanded the individual tax base. It compressed the cash currency by three per cent which was operating in the market,&quot; Jaitley said.<br />
<br />
&quot;Those objectives are for the long-term. No doubt there are short-term challenges, but (necessary) for transforming India from a non-compliant to a more compliant society,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
The finance minister said India had historically been one of the least efficient tax system in the world with an extremely small tax base.<br />
<br />
&quot;Frankly, over the last several decades, serious efforts, real efforts to expand this base had not been made. You had marginal efforts,&quot; he said, adding that systematic efforts to challenge the &quot;shadow economy&quot; were made only recently.<br />
<br />
&quot;In the last few years, the bulk of the increase in tax payers has not been in terms of number of companies but individuals who are coming into the tax net,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
Mr Jaitley said some people had &quot;misunderstood&quot; the objective of demonetisation &quot;which wasn&#39;t to confiscate somebody&#39;s currency&quot;.<br />
<br />
&quot;Obviously if somebody has currency and deposits in the bank, it does not become lawful holding. They still have to account for it. Therefore, the anonymity which was attached to a cash currency came to an end and that holding got identified,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
&quot;The government was able to trace out about 1.8 million people whose deposits are disproportionate to their normal incomes. And they are all to answerable to the law and pay their taxes,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
Jaitley is on a week-long stay in the US, during which he will participate in annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.</p>


Mesut Kacmaz, his wife and two daughters were flown out of?Pakistan?after having being detained since September 20 in the eastern city of Lahore, the?former?school?officials said

Identifying real estate as the one sector where maximum amount of tax evasion takes place, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said there was a strong case to bring it under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The matter will be discussed in the next meeting of the GST Council, which will be held on November 9, in Guwahati, Arun Jaitley said, while delivering a lecture at Harvard University. "The one sector in India where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place and which is still outside the GST is real estate. Some of the states have been pressing for it. I personally believe that there is a strong case to bring real estate into the GST," Jaitley said, while delivering the 'Annual Mahindra Lecture' on India's tax reforms. "In the next meeting itself, we are addressing one of the problem areas or at least (having) discussion (on) it. Some states want, some do not. There are two views. Therefore, by discussion, we would try to reach one view," he said. The finance minister said the move would benefit the consumers who will only have to pay one "final tax" on the whole product. "As a result, the final tax paid on the whole product in the GST would almost be negligible," he said. The finance minister said the reduction in eventual expenditure coupled with incentivising people to enter the tax net may also help reduce the size of "shadow economy". A 12 per cent GST is levied on construction of a complex, building, civil structure or intended for sale to a buyer, wholly or partly. However, land and other immovable property have been exempted from GST. On demonetisation, Jaitley said it was a "fundamental reform" which was necessary to transform India into a more tax-compliant society. "If you see the long-term impact of it, demonetisation brought in more digitised transactions; it brought the issue to the centerstage. It expanded the individual tax base. It compressed the cash currency by three per cent which was operating in the market," Jaitley said. "Those objectives are for the long-term. No doubt there are short-term challenges, but (necessary) for transforming India from a non-compliant to a more compliant society," he said. The finance minister said India had historically been one of the least efficient tax system in the world with an extremely small tax base. "Frankly, over the last several decades, serious efforts, real efforts to expand this base had not been made. You had marginal efforts," he said, adding that systematic efforts to challenge the "shadow economy" were made only recently. "In the last few years, the bulk of the increase in tax payers has not been in terms of number of companies but individuals who are coming into the tax net," he said. Mr Jaitley said some people had "misunderstood" the objective of demonetisation "which wasn't to confiscate somebody's currency". "Obviously if somebody has currency and deposits in the bank, it does not become lawful holding. They still have to account for it. Therefore, the anonymity which was attached to a cash currency came to an end and that holding got identified," he said. "The government was able to trace out about 1.8 million people whose deposits are disproportionate to their normal incomes. And they are all to answerable to the law and pay their taxes," he said. Jaitley is on a week-long stay in the US, during which he will participate in annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.

Pakistan deports Turkish school network's former director and family

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took another dig Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time it was over the growing US-Pakistan relationship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump had tweeted early Saturday morning that he was &quot;Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after Pakistani security forces rescued a Canadian-American couple on Wednesday from the Haqqani network.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/freed-canadian-hostage-says-haqqani-network-raped-american-wife-murdered-baby-22456" target="_blank">Also read: Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby</a></p>

<p>The couple had been kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, referencing Trump&#39;s tweet, Gandhi tweeted: &quot;Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug <a href="https://t.co/B4001yw5rg">pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/919479635909341184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Trump, who has been known to change track suddenly and without warning, had earlier accused Pakistan of &quot;housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump&#39;s latest tweet, ANI said, was likely to be discussed by Indian leaders and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he visits India in the last week of October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &quot;Trump-needs-another-hug&quot; comment from Rahul was of course a reference to the many hugs Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his counterparts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So much so that he has acquired the reputation of being a &quot;serial hugger&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-takes-battle-to-bjp-again-calls-it-anti-women-21214" target="_blank">Also read: Rahul Gandhi takes battle to BJP again; Amit Shah, Yogi, Smriti Irani hit back</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-happened-to-tolerance-harmony-in-india-rahul-gandhi-in-us-20457" target="_blank">Also read: What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-happened-to-tolerance-harmony-in-india-rahul-gandhi-in-us-20457" target="_blank">US</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


'Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders,' Trump had tweeted on Saturday

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took another dig Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This time it was over the growing US-Pakistan relationship. Trump had tweeted early Saturday morning that he was "Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders". This was after Pakistani security forces rescued a Canadian-American couple on Wednesday from the Haqqani network. Also read: Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby The couple had been kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012. On Sunday, referencing Trump's tweet, Gandhi tweeted: "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug." Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017 × Trump, who has been known to change track suddenly and without warning, had earlier accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately." Trump's latest tweet, ANI said, was likely to be discussed by Indian leaders and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he visits India in the last week of October. The "Trump-needs-another-hug" comment from Rahul was of course a reference to the many hugs Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his counterparts. So much so that he has acquired the reputation of being a "serial hugger". Also read: Rahul Gandhi takes battle to BJP again; Amit Shah, Yogi, Smriti Irani hit back Also read: What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in US

Rahul takes another dig at PM Modi, this time over growing US-Pak relationship

<p>Favourites India continued their winning momentum defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in a pool encounter of the 10th men&#39;s Asia Cup hockey tournament, here today.</p>

<p>After the two easy wins against Japan (5-1) and hosts Bangladesh (7-0), as expected India had a relatively tough outing against Pakistan but managed to maintain their all-win record.</p>

<p>India controlled the proceedings for the better part of the match, barring the final quarter when Pakistan, trailing 0-3, came hard at the Indian defence looking for goals.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>India controlled the proceedings for the better part of the match, barring the final quarter when Pakistan, trailing 0-3, came hard at the Indian defence looking for goals</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=India controlled the proceedings for the better part of the match, barring the final quarter when Pakistan, trailing 0-3, came hard at the Indian defence looking for goals" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>But at the end of the day, the Indians came out superior and continued their recent domination over Pakistan, that includes back-to-back victories in the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London earlier this year.</p>

<p>Chinglesnsana Singh (17th minute), Ramandeep Singh (44th) and Harmanpreet Singh (45th) scored the goals for India, while Pakistan lone strike came from the stick of Ali Shan in the 49th minute.</p>

<p>By virtue of this win, India finished on top of Pool A with nine points from three games while Pakistan secured the second spot with four points.</p>

<p>Both India and Pakistan have managed to secure their place in the round-robin Super 4 stage of the tournament.</p>

<p>Even though Japan defeated hosts Bangladesh 3-1 earlier in the day, the victory was not for them to enter the Super 4 stage as they lost out to Pakistan on goal difference.</p>

<p>Contrary to the win, Pakistan had the first real scoring chance when they earned their first penalty corner but they wasted it.</p>

<p>The Indians came out hard in the second quarter and took the lead in the 17th minute through Chinglesnsana, who slammed home after receiving a fine pass from Akashdeep Singh, who was operating in the wide right.</p>

<p>Three minutes later, Gurjant Singh&#39;s reverse hit from the right flank was just off target.</p>

<p>After wasting another penalty corner, Pakistan were denied by young India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, who saved Mohammed Attiq&#39;s shot from close range as India went into the breather leading by a goal.</p>

<p>India replaced Karkera with Akash Chikte in the goal at the halfway mark and the young custodian came up with a superb save in the 40th minute to deny Pakistan.</p>

<p>India secured their first penalty corner soon but Varun Kumar&#39;s grounded flick was wide off the target.</p>

<p>Soon Gurjant had a great chance to consolidate India&#39;s lead but his push, after a fine one-two with Akashdeep was saved by the Pakistani goalkeeper.</p>

<p>After Pakistan wasted their third penalty corner, Ramandeep doubled India&#39;s lead in the 44th minute with a neat deflection off Harmanpreet Singh&#39;s fantastic cross from the middle of the pitch.</p>

<p>India extended their lead in the very next minute from their second penalty corner through Harmanpreet.</p>

<p>Pakistan, who looked more purposeful in the fourth and final quarter, reduced the margin in the 49th minute through Shan&#39;s field strike.</p>

<p>Chikte once again came to India&#39;s rescue soon, when he denied Pakistan with a fine save from their fourth penalty corner.</p>

<p>Thereafter, India pressed hard and earned as many as three penalty corners in succession but wasted all. PTI</p>


Favourites India continued their winning momentum defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in a pool encounter of the 10th men's Asia Cup hockey tournament, here today. After the two easy wins against Japan (5-1) and hosts Bangladesh (7-0), as expected India had a relatively tough outing against Pakistan but managed to maintain their all-win record. India controlled the proceedings for the better part of the match, barring the final quarter when Pakistan, trailing 0-3, came hard at the Indian defence looking for goals. India controlled the proceedings for the better part of the match, barring the final quarter when Pakistan, trailing 0-3, came hard at the Indian defence looking for goals × But at the end of the day, the Indians came out superior and continued their recent domination over Pakistan, that includes back-to-back victories in the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London earlier this year. Chinglesnsana Singh (17th minute), Ramandeep Singh (44th) and Harmanpreet Singh (45th) scored the goals for India, while Pakistan lone strike came from the stick of Ali Shan in the 49th minute. By virtue of this win, India finished on top of Pool A with nine points from three games while Pakistan secured the second spot with four points. Both India and Pakistan have managed to secure their place in the round-robin Super 4 stage of the tournament. Even though Japan defeated hosts Bangladesh 3-1 earlier in the day, the victory was not for them to enter the Super 4 stage as they lost out to Pakistan on goal difference. Contrary to the win, Pakistan had the first real scoring chance when they earned their first penalty corner but they wasted it. The Indians came out hard in the second quarter and took the lead in the 17th minute through Chinglesnsana, who slammed home after receiving a fine pass from Akashdeep Singh, who was operating in the wide right. Three minutes later, Gurjant Singh's reverse hit from the right flank was just off target. After wasting another penalty corner, Pakistan were denied by young India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, who saved Mohammed Attiq's shot from close range as India went into the breather leading by a goal. India replaced Karkera with Akash Chikte in the goal at the halfway mark and the young custodian came up with a superb save in the 40th minute to deny Pakistan. India secured their first penalty corner soon but Varun Kumar's grounded flick was wide off the target. Soon Gurjant had a great chance to consolidate India's lead but his push, after a fine one-two with Akashdeep was saved by the Pakistani goalkeeper. After Pakistan wasted their third penalty corner, Ramandeep doubled India's lead in the 44th minute with a neat deflection off Harmanpreet Singh's fantastic cross from the middle of the pitch. India extended their lead in the very next minute from their second penalty corner through Harmanpreet. Pakistan, who looked more purposeful in the fourth and final quarter, reduced the margin in the 49th minute through Shan's field strike. Chikte once again came to India's rescue soon, when he denied Pakistan with a fine save from their fourth penalty corner. Thereafter, India pressed hard and earned as many as three penalty corners in succession but wasted all. PTI

Asia Cup hockey: India beat Pakistan 3-1, top their pool

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-killed-in-sectarian-attack-in-pakistan-official-21231" target="_blank">Pakistani</a> troops shot out the tyres of a vehicle carrying a kidnapped US-Canadian couple and their children in a raid that led to the family&#39;s release, a Pakistani security official said on Friday.</p>

<p>The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.</p>

<p>Taliban sources said the family spent most of their captivity at Haqqani strongholds inside Pakistan, and not in Afghanistan as early Pakistani reports had indicated.</p>

<p>A senior Pakistani security source on Friday detailed how the family, who were expected to leave Pakistan on Friday, were freed following a car chase in Pakistan&#39;s northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.</p>

<p>He said Pakistani troops and intelligence agents, acting on a US intelligence tip, zeroed in on a vehicle holding the family as they were being moved in Kurram agency.</p>

<p>Agents from Pakistan&#39;s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy-agency and army soldiers attempted to intercept the vehicle, but it sped away and was chased into a district in northwest Pakistan, according to the security source.</p>

<p>&quot;Our troops fired at the vehicle and burst its tyres,&quot; he said, declining to be identified because he is not authorised to speak openly to the media.</p>

<p>The kidnappers managed to escape, the security official added, saying the troops wouldn&#39;t fire at the fleeing captors for fear of harming the hostages. The army recovered the hostages safely from the car.</p>

<p>Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan&#39;s army, told NBC News that the vehicle&#39;s driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp.</p>

<p>A second Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US drones had been circling the town of Kohat, on the edge of the tribal areas on Wednesday, suggesting US co-operation included sophisticated surveillance inside Pakistan.</p>

<p>The US embassy in Pakistan declined to comment on the drone report.</p>

<p>The family&#39;s rescue has been hailed by US President Donald Trump as a &quot;positive moment&quot; for US-Pakistan relations, which have frayed in recent years amid Washington&#39;s assertions that Islamabad was not doing enough to tackle Haqqani militants who are believed to be on Pakistani soil.</p>

<p>Trump, in a statement, said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to &quot;America&#39;s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region&quot;.</p>

<p>Pakistani officials bristle at claims Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants. After the release of the family, they emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington, which has threatened to cut military aid and other punitive measures against Pakistan.</p>

<p><strong>Hostages Location</strong></p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s military said the family was rescued after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan, but two Taliban sources with knowledge of the family&#39;s captivity said they had been kept in Pakistan in recent years.</p>

<p>A US government source in Washington also said there was no indication the family had been in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The Haqqani network operates on both sides of the porous Afghan-Pakistani border but senior militants have acknowledged they moved a major base of operations to Kurram agency in the tribal areas.</p>

<p>Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Thursday told Reuters that the US military had been ready to fly the family out of the country after they were freed but said Boyle, who is Canadian, had refused to board the aircraft.</p>

<p>Canada&#39;s Toronto Star newspaper reported that Boyle told his parents that he asked to be taken to the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad after their rescue.</p>

<p>Boyle had been a staunch critic of the human rights abuses in the US&nbsp;war on terror after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and was previously married for a year to the sister of an inmate at the US military detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.</p>

<p>The Star reported that Boyle said he sustained minor shrapnel wounds during the shootout.</p>


The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network

Pakistani troops shot out the tyres of a vehicle carrying a kidnapped US-Canadian couple and their children in a raid that led to the family's release, a Pakistani security official said on Friday. The operation late on Wednesday freed American Caitlan Campbell, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their three children who were born in captivity following five years as hostages of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. Taliban sources said the family spent most of their captivity at Haqqani strongholds inside Pakistan, and not in Afghanistan as early Pakistani reports had indicated. A senior Pakistani security source on Friday detailed how the family, who were expected to leave Pakistan on Friday, were freed following a car chase in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan. He said Pakistani troops and intelligence agents, acting on a US intelligence tip, zeroed in on a vehicle holding the family as they were being moved in Kurram agency. Agents from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy-agency and army soldiers attempted to intercept the vehicle, but it sped away and was chased into a district in northwest Pakistan, according to the security source. "Our troops fired at the vehicle and burst its tyres," he said, declining to be identified because he is not authorised to speak openly to the media. The kidnappers managed to escape, the security official added, saying the troops wouldn't fire at the fleeing captors for fear of harming the hostages. The army recovered the hostages safely from the car. Major General Asif Ghafoor, military spokesman for Pakistan's army, told NBC News that the vehicle's driver and another militant had escaped to a nearby refugee camp. A second Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US drones had been circling the town of Kohat, on the edge of the tribal areas on Wednesday, suggesting US co-operation included sophisticated surveillance inside Pakistan. The US embassy in Pakistan declined to comment on the drone report. The family's rescue has been hailed by US President Donald Trump as a "positive moment" for US-Pakistan relations, which have frayed in recent years amid Washington's assertions that Islamabad was not doing enough to tackle Haqqani militants who are believed to be on Pakistani soil. Trump, in a statement, said the release of the hostages indicates Pakistan was acquiescing to "America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region". Pakistani officials bristle at claims Islamabad is not doing enough to tackle Islamist militants. After the release of the family, they emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington, which has threatened to cut military aid and other punitive measures against Pakistan. Hostages Location Pakistan's military said the family was rescued after entering Pakistan from Afghanistan, but two Taliban sources with knowledge of the family's captivity said they had been kept in Pakistan in recent years. A US government source in Washington also said there was no indication the family had been in Afghanistan. The Haqqani network operates on both sides of the porous Afghan-Pakistani border but senior militants have acknowledged they moved a major base of operations to Kurram agency in the tribal areas. Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Thursday told Reuters that the US military had been ready to fly the family out of the country after they were freed but said Boyle, who is Canadian, had refused to board the aircraft. Canada's Toronto Star newspaper reported that Boyle told his parents that he asked to be taken to the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad after their rescue. Boyle had been a staunch critic of the human rights abuses in the US war on terror after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and was previously married for a year to the sister of an inmate at the US military detention centre at Guantanamo Bay. The Star reported that Boyle said he sustained minor shrapnel wounds during the shootout.

Pakistan troops helped free US-Canadian family held captive: Pak official

<p>Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed&#39;s house arrest will be set aside if the Pakistan government does not submit evidence against him, a top court here has warned.</p>

<p>Saeed, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief, is under house arrest since January 31.</p>

<p>The Lahore High Court (LHC) yesterday heard a plea against his detention. The interior secretary was supposed to appear before the court along with complete record of the case related to his detention along with four others.</p>

<p>Irked by the absence of the interior secretary during the proceedings, the LHC observed that &quot;no citizen can be detained for an extended period on the basis of merely press clippings&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The conduct of the government shows it has no substantial evidence against the petitioners. The detention of the petitioners will be set aside if no concrete evidence is presented before the court,&quot; Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi said.</p>

<p>Another official of the interior ministry accompanied by a deputy attorney general told the court that the secretary could not attend the proceedings due to unavoidable official responsibilities in Islamabad. The law officer sought time to file a reply to the petition.</p>

<p>Justice Naqvi regretted that an army of officers was assigned to protect one government personality but not a single officer was available to assist the court.</p>

<p>Lamenting repeated requests for adjournment, the judge said the law officers wanted courts to stop working.The judge adjourned hearing till October 13.</p>

<p>Saeed&#39;s advocate A K Dogar argued that the government detained the JuD leaders on the basis of apprehensions and hearsay. He said under the law no presumption and assumption could give rise to any apprehension unless it was supported by evidence.</p>

<p>Punjab government had already told the court that activities of JuD leaders, if released, would pose a great threat to public safety and can cause a breach of public order.</p>

<p>Saeed and his four aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - have been placed under house arrest in Lahore under the anti-terrorism act.</p>

<p>On September 25, the house arrest of Saeed and others was extended for another 30 days by the Punjab government.</p>

<p>The JuD has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.</p>

<p>The US has announced a $10 million bounty on Saeed&#39;s head for his role in terror activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Irked by the absence of the interior secretary during the proceedings, the LHC observed that "no citizen can be detained for an extended period on the basis of merely press clippings"

Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's house arrest will be set aside if the Pakistan government does not submit evidence against him, a top court here has warned. Saeed, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief, is under house arrest since January 31. The Lahore High Court (LHC) yesterday heard a plea against his detention. The interior secretary was supposed to appear before the court along with complete record of the case related to his detention along with four others. Irked by the absence of the interior secretary during the proceedings, the LHC observed that "no citizen can be detained for an extended period on the basis of merely press clippings". "The conduct of the government shows it has no substantial evidence against the petitioners. The detention of the petitioners will be set aside if no concrete evidence is presented before the court," Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi said. Another official of the interior ministry accompanied by a deputy attorney general told the court that the secretary could not attend the proceedings due to unavoidable official responsibilities in Islamabad. The law officer sought time to file a reply to the petition. Justice Naqvi regretted that an army of officers was assigned to protect one government personality but not a single officer was available to assist the court. Lamenting repeated requests for adjournment, the judge said the law officers wanted courts to stop working.The judge adjourned hearing till October 13. Saeed's advocate A K Dogar argued that the government detained the JuD leaders on the basis of apprehensions and hearsay. He said under the law no presumption and assumption could give rise to any apprehension unless it was supported by evidence. Punjab government had already told the court that activities of JuD leaders, if released, would pose a great threat to public safety and can cause a breach of public order. Saeed and his four aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - have been placed under house arrest in Lahore under the anti-terrorism act. On September 25, the house arrest of Saeed and others was extended for another 30 days by the Punjab government. The JuD has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. The US has announced a $10 million bounty on Saeed's head for his role in terror activities.

Hafiz Saeed will be released from house arrest if govt does not submit evidence: Pakistan court

<p>According to the latest report released by Britain&#39;s &quot;Race Disparity Audit&quot;,&nbsp;Indian origin population in the UK&nbsp;is among the most highly skilled compared to the&nbsp;other ethnic minorities.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(27)-20171011124505.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Data showing the percentage of students going into education or employment by ethnicity. (Source: Ethnicity facts and figures, UK Government) (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The audit reveals Indian origin students showed high-performance rates compared to other communities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It stated, &quot;...over one in 10(Indian origin) were in manager, director and senior official roles and over three in 10 were in professional occupations,&rdquo;.</p>

<p>It also added that Indian students were much more likely to meet the requirements of entering to Universities, than Pakistani pupils.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The audit reveals the race disparity suffered by blacks and minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh in UK workplaces and educational institutes&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(28)-20171011125315.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Data showing the percentage of overall absence from school by ethnicity. (Source: Ethnicity facts and figures, UK Government) (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The survey highlighted unemployment and huge disparity existed&nbsp;in ownership of houses in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The figures from the audit were&nbsp;released on www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Commissioned by the British prime minister Theresa May, the audit is an attempt to deal with racial discrimination within the country&#39;s public services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


According to a latest released report 'Race Disparity Audit' Indian origin population in Britain is among the highly skilled compared to the country's other ethnic minority categories

According to the latest report released by Britain's "Race Disparity Audit", Indian origin population in the UK is among the most highly skilled compared to the other ethnic minorities. Data showing the percentage of students going into education or employment by ethnicity. (Source: Ethnicity facts and figures, UK Government) (Others) × The audit reveals Indian origin students showed high-performance rates compared to other communities. It stated, "...over one in 10(Indian origin) were in manager, director and senior official roles and over three in 10 were in professional occupations,”. It also added that Indian students were much more likely to meet the requirements of entering to Universities, than Pakistani pupils. The audit reveals the race disparity suffered by blacks and minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh in UK workplaces and educational institutes Data showing the percentage of overall absence from school by ethnicity. (Source: Ethnicity facts and figures, UK Government) (Others) × The survey highlighted unemployment and huge disparity existed in ownership of houses in the country. The figures from the audit were released on www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk. Commissioned by the British prime minister Theresa May, the audit is an attempt to deal with racial discrimination within the country's public services.

Watch: Indian origin managers are 'highly skilled', says UK survey

<p>Gunmen killed five men, including three Shia Muslims from the ethnic Hazara minority, in southwest Pakistan on Monday, a police official said, giving details of the second shooting targeting Hazaras in a month.</p>

<p>The attack took place in Quetta, where nearly half a million Hazaras have settled since fleeing Afghanistan to escape the violence in their homeland during the past four decades.</p>

<p>The attackers opened fire from a motorcycle killing the five men who were travelling in the back of a pick-up truck, on their way to sell vegetables at a market, the official said.</p>

<p>&quot;It was a sectarian target killing,&quot; senior police officer Malik Nisar told Reuters, adding that the attackers escaped after opening fire.</p>

<p>&quot;It was unclear initially, but now we know that it was three Hazaras among the five people killed,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.</p>

<p>Hazaras are frequently targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, and other Sunni Muslim militant groups in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>More than 20 Hazaras have been killed in similar<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/balochistan-suicide-attack-outside-sufi-shrine-kills-13-wounds-20-21057" target="_blank"> shootings in Baluchistan </a>in the past two years, police say.</p>

<p>In 2013, three separate bombings killed over 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods, raising international awareness of the plight of the community.</p>

<p>The ongoing violence in Pakistan&#39;s Baluchistan province has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan&rsquo;s southern deep-water port of Gwadar.</p>

<p>A suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in the Baluch town of Jhal Magsi on Thursday killed 22 people and wounded more than 30 others.</p>

<p>The bombing was claimed by Islamic State and is the latest sectarian attack in the restive province.</p>

<p>Taliban and other Sunni Islamist militants are active in the province, while ethnic Baluch separatists have run a low-level insurgency for decades, mounting attacks on security forces and other targets linked to the central government.</p>

<p>Elsewhere in Pakistan on Monday, an official said gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded eight in an attack on their vehicle in the semi-autonomous tribal region of North Waziristan.</p>

<p>North Waziristan was a Taliban stronghold until 2014 when Pakistan&#39;s military launched a major offensive against the group and pushed many of its fighters across the border into Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Following Monday&#39;s attack, security forces closed off roads in Razmak district, and surrounding villages.</p>


The attack took place in Quetta, where nearly half a million Hazaras have settled since fleeing Afghanistan to escape the violence in their homeland during the past four decades

Gunmen killed five men, including three Shia Muslims from the ethnic Hazara minority, in southwest Pakistan on Monday, a police official said, giving details of the second shooting targeting Hazaras in a month. The attack took place in Quetta, where nearly half a million Hazaras have settled since fleeing Afghanistan to escape the violence in their homeland during the past four decades. The attackers opened fire from a motorcycle killing the five men who were travelling in the back of a pick-up truck, on their way to sell vegetables at a market, the official said. "It was a sectarian target killing," senior police officer Malik Nisar told Reuters, adding that the attackers escaped after opening fire. "It was unclear initially, but now we know that it was three Hazaras among the five people killed," he said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Hazaras are frequently targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, and other Sunni Muslim militant groups in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. More than 20 Hazaras have been killed in similar shootings in Baluchistan in the past two years, police say. In 2013, three separate bombings killed over 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods, raising international awareness of the plight of the community. The ongoing violence in Pakistan's Baluchistan province has fuelled concern about security for projects in the $57-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned to run from western China to Pakistan’s southern deep-water port of Gwadar. A suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in the Baluch town of Jhal Magsi on Thursday killed 22 people and wounded more than 30 others. The bombing was claimed by Islamic State and is the latest sectarian attack in the restive province. Taliban and other Sunni Islamist militants are active in the province, while ethnic Baluch separatists have run a low-level insurgency for decades, mounting attacks on security forces and other targets linked to the central government. Elsewhere in Pakistan on Monday, an official said gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded eight in an attack on their vehicle in the semi-autonomous tribal region of North Waziristan. North Waziristan was a Taliban stronghold until 2014 when Pakistan's military launched a major offensive against the group and pushed many of its fighters across the border into Afghanistan. Following Monday's attack, security forces closed off roads in Razmak district, and surrounding villages.

Gunmen target Hazara minority in southwest Pakistan, 5 dead

<p lang="EN-US">Pakistan&#39;s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that is&nbsp;currently probing ousted prime minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-nab-directorates-initiate-fresh-probes-against-sharif-family-19044" target="_blank">Nawaz Sharif and his family members</a> for graft&nbsp;has granted bail to Maryam, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sharifs-son-in-law-arrested-on-return-to-pakistan-21153" target="_blank">Sharif&#39;s daughter, and her husband, Captain Muhammad Safdar</a>&nbsp;on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">Maryam Nawaz&nbsp;appeared in the Islamabad&nbsp;court&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;morning, while her husband who arrived in the country earlier in the day, reached the court later. Both had to file surety bonds&nbsp;of 5 million Pakistani Rupees&nbsp;each for their bails.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">The court also barred Captain Safdar from leaving Pakistan without the court&#39;s permission.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">Captain Safdar was taken into custody&nbsp;on his arrival at the Benazir Bhutto International airport with his wife, Maryam,&nbsp;on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">Heavy security was deployed at&nbsp;the court for the&nbsp;high-profile&nbsp;appearances.&nbsp;<wbr />Maryam&nbsp;and&nbsp;Capt&nbsp;Safdar left&nbsp;separately&nbsp;after their bail applications were granted.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">The court, however, refused to grant a permanent exemption from appearance in court to Nawaz Sharif and only granted him exemption for today.&nbsp;Sharif had sought permanent exemption for attending to his wife who&nbsp;his&nbsp;ailing in London, United Kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">The NAB prosecutors, however, demanded that the former PM be arrested as he left the country without informing the authorities probing the graft case, despite being a primary accused.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">The court also issued perpetual warrants against Nawaz Sharif&#39;s two sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, and declared them proclaimed offenders for failing to appear in court despite repeated summons in the case. Also, their case has been separated from that of the rest of the family members.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">Maryam Sharif, however, said that her brothers will decide whether or when to appear before the court.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">&quot;My brothers live abroad... the laws of here (Pakistan) don&rsquo;t apply to them,&quot; Dawn quoted Maryam Sharif.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">The hearing was adjourned until&nbsp;October 13, when members of the Sharif family will be indicted.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</p>


Maryam's husband Capt Safdar was taken into custody on arrival in Pakistan

Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that is currently probing ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members for graft has granted bail to Maryam, Sharif's daughter, and her husband, Captain Muhammad Safdar on Monday. Maryam Nawaz appeared in the Islamabad court on Monday morning, while her husband who arrived in the country earlier in the day, reached the court later. Both had to file surety bonds of 5 million Pakistani Rupees each for their bails. The court also barred Captain Safdar from leaving Pakistan without the court's permission. Captain Safdar was taken into custody on his arrival at the Benazir Bhutto International airport with his wife, Maryam, on Monday. Heavy security was deployed at the court for the high-profile appearances. Maryam and Capt Safdar left separately after their bail applications were granted. The court, however, refused to grant a permanent exemption from appearance in court to Nawaz Sharif and only granted him exemption for today. Sharif had sought permanent exemption for attending to his wife who his ailing in London, United Kingdom. The NAB prosecutors, however, demanded that the former PM be arrested as he left the country without informing the authorities probing the graft case, despite being a primary accused. The court also issued perpetual warrants against Nawaz Sharif's two sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, and declared them proclaimed offenders for failing to appear in court despite repeated summons in the case. Also, their case has been separated from that of the rest of the family members. Maryam Sharif, however, said that her brothers will decide whether or when to appear before the court. "My brothers live abroad... the laws of here (Pakistan) don’t apply to them," Dawn quoted Maryam Sharif. The hearing was adjourned until October 13, when members of the Sharif family will be indicted.

Pakistan: NAB grants bail to Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam, son-in-law

<p>The maiden visit by President Kovind to Djibouti comes in the wake of the opening of a Chinese military base in Djibouti. As India renew its strategic calibration for the region, the visit highlights the geopolitical significance of Horn of Africa. The Indian navy has been operating in the region, carrying on anti-piracy drives as well as in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Yemen.</p>

<p>Djibouti is located at the entrance to the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean: connecting Africa, the West Asia and rest of Asia. It is also the gateway to region&rsquo;s multiple conflicts &mdash; inter-state and intra-state. In recent years, Djibouti has assumed significance for hosting multiple foreign military bases on its territory, including an important American base, used for counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia. India has traditionally engaged with African nations through its soft power initiatives, such as contribution to school and college education, laying of optic fiber networks, training of hospital staff and other skill development projects.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region has raised alarm bells ringing in New Delhi.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region has raised alarm bells ringing in New Delhi." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>It has often been said that the Indian Navy&#39;s operational area stretches from Bab-el-Mandeb to Straits of Malacca. The Indian strategic community has been arguing for some time at countering the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region. The Chinese base in Djibouti is a realisation of those concerns. The protection of sea lines of communication and controlling the choke points, and maintaining access to major islands of the Indian Ocean are central to India&rsquo;s security and economic prosperity. It has often been mentioned of New Delhi being the &#39;net security provider&#39; in the Indian Ocean region; Djibouti, a strategic naval outpost, is a step in that direction to fulfil that objective.</p>

<p>The increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region has raised alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. The docking of Chinese submarines in Pakistan and denial of a similar request by Sri Lanka point to the assertive nature of Chinese naval activity which can only be countered by defensive capabilities being built up by the Indian Navy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian navy has been developing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a strategic outpost to monitor rival naval activity in the region. Over the past few years, India has also beefed up its military capacities on the strategic Bay of Bengal island territory which includes the refurbishment of naval air stations and operational turn around facilities. To counter increasing Chinese surveillance activities close to the Andaman Islands, New Delhi has been investing in the development of an integrated surveillance network in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea with radar stations in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and other littorals to keep track of Chinese naval activity.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The increased non-traditional security challenges in the region and the West Asia also demand enhanced cooperation between the US and India through LEMOA.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The increased non-traditional security challenges in the region and the West Asia also demand enhanced cooperation between the US and India through LEMOA." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>An Indian outpost in Djibouti will have a huge signalling effect on the Chinese strategic thinkers with respect to their ambition in the Indian Ocean region. The increased non-traditional security challenges in the region and the West Asia also demand enhanced cooperation between the US and India through LEMOA. The agreement helps Indian armed forces to develop their capabilities, play better humanitarian assistance and relief operations, and to operate beyond the South Asian region in safeguarding its vital national interests.</p>

<p>It needs to be further highlighted that the Chinese naval activities in the South China Seas might be a precursor to their strategic ambitions of having an influence over another important maritime choke point at Bab-el-Mandeb. China for long has been trying to gain influence at major global choke points through a string of new naval bases and a series of economic deals. Through these various choke points nearly 90 per cent of all global trade passes. If any of the main trade chokepoints were disrupted, it would have an adverse impact on global GDP, employment, and inflation of nearly every country.</p>

<p>India currently does not have an embassy in Djibouti. The president&rsquo;s visit suggests New Delhi is now revisiting its approach towards the region and re-engage strategically.</p>


President Kovind's visit to Djibouti suggests New Delhi's plan to secure India?s security and economic prosperity in the Indian Ocean region

The maiden visit by President Kovind to Djibouti comes in the wake of the opening of a Chinese military base in Djibouti. As India renew its strategic calibration for the region, the visit highlights the geopolitical significance of Horn of Africa. The Indian navy has been operating in the region, carrying on anti-piracy drives as well as in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Yemen. Djibouti is located at the entrance to the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean: connecting Africa, the West Asia and rest of Asia. It is also the gateway to region’s multiple conflicts — inter-state and intra-state. In recent years, Djibouti has assumed significance for hosting multiple foreign military bases on its territory, including an important American base, used for counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia. India has traditionally engaged with African nations through its soft power initiatives, such as contribution to school and college education, laying of optic fiber networks, training of hospital staff and other skill development projects. The increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region has raised alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. × It has often been said that the Indian Navy's operational area stretches from Bab-el-Mandeb to Straits of Malacca. The Indian strategic community has been arguing for some time at countering the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region. The Chinese base in Djibouti is a realisation of those concerns. The protection of sea lines of communication and controlling the choke points, and maintaining access to major islands of the Indian Ocean are central to India’s security and economic prosperity. It has often been mentioned of New Delhi being the 'net security provider' in the Indian Ocean region; Djibouti, a strategic naval outpost, is a step in that direction to fulfil that objective. The increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region has raised alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. The docking of Chinese submarines in Pakistan and denial of a similar request by Sri Lanka point to the assertive nature of Chinese naval activity which can only be countered by defensive capabilities being built up by the Indian Navy. The Indian navy has been developing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a strategic outpost to monitor rival naval activity in the region. Over the past few years, India has also beefed up its military capacities on the strategic Bay of Bengal island territory which includes the refurbishment of naval air stations and operational turn around facilities. To counter increasing Chinese surveillance activities close to the Andaman Islands, New Delhi has been investing in the development of an integrated surveillance network in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea with radar stations in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and other littorals to keep track of Chinese naval activity. The increased non-traditional security challenges in the region and the West Asia also demand enhanced cooperation between the US and India through LEMOA. × An Indian outpost in Djibouti will have a huge signalling effect on the Chinese strategic thinkers with respect to their ambition in the Indian Ocean region. The increased non-traditional security challenges in the region and the West Asia also demand enhanced cooperation between the US and India through LEMOA. The agreement helps Indian armed forces to develop their capabilities, play better humanitarian assistance and relief operations, and to operate beyond the South Asian region in safeguarding its vital national interests. It needs to be further highlighted that the Chinese naval activities in the South China Seas might be a precursor to their strategic ambitions of having an influence over another important maritime choke point at Bab-el-Mandeb. China for long has been trying to gain influence at major global choke points through a string of new naval bases and a series of economic deals. Through these various choke points nearly 90 per cent of all global trade passes. If any of the main trade chokepoints were disrupted, it would have an adverse impact on global GDP, employment, and inflation of nearly every country. India currently does not have an embassy in Djibouti. The president’s visit suggests New Delhi is now revisiting its approach towards the region and re-engage strategically.

To counter China, India needs a military base in Djibouti

<p>A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Sufi shrine in Pakistan&#39;s restive southwest Thursday, killing 18 people and wounding at least 27 others, officials said.</p>

<p>The incident took place in the Jhal Magsi district of the oil and gas-rich Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>&quot;A suicide bomber blew himself up after he was intercepted by police guards on duty outside the shrine, killing 13 people and wounding at least 20 others,&quot; senior local administration official Asad Kakar told AFP.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Members of Sunni and Shiite sects visit the shrine daily, with attendance climbing significantly during festivities</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Members of Sunni and Shiite sects visit the shrine daily, with attendance climbing significantly during festivities" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>A bomb attack on the same shrine killed 35 people in 2005.</p>

<p>&quot;The suicide bomber struck outside the shrine at a time when it was packed with people, attending anniversary celebrations of Syed Cheesal Shah,&quot; Kakar said.</p>

<p>Members of Sunni and Shiite sects visit the shrine daily, with attendance climbing significantly during festivities.</p>

<p>Senior local police official Muhammad Iqbal also confirmed the incident and death toll.</p>

<p>Balochistan government spokesman Anwaar-Ul l-Haq Kakar said: &quot;We have confirmed reports it was a suicide attack.&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A bomb attack on the same shrine killed 35 people in 2005

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's restive southwest Thursday, killing 18 people and wounding at least 27 others, officials said. The incident took place in the Jhal Magsi district of the oil and gas-rich Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan. "A suicide bomber blew himself up after he was intercepted by police guards on duty outside the shrine, killing 13 people and wounding at least 20 others," senior local administration official Asad Kakar told AFP. Members of Sunni and Shiite sects visit the shrine daily, with attendance climbing significantly during festivities × A bomb attack on the same shrine killed 35 people in 2005. "The suicide bomber struck outside the shrine at a time when it was packed with people, attending anniversary celebrations of Syed Cheesal Shah," Kakar said. Members of Sunni and Shiite sects visit the shrine daily, with attendance climbing significantly during festivities. Senior local police official Muhammad Iqbal also confirmed the incident and death toll. Balochistan government spokesman Anwaar-Ul l-Haq Kakar said: "We have confirmed reports it was a suicide attack."

Balochistan: Suicide attack outside Sufi shrine kills 18, wounds at least 27

<p>Pakistan has raked up the Kashmir issue again at the UN with its envoy Maleeha Lodhi accusing India of spreading terrorism in the Valley, drawing a sharp reaction from India which described her diatribe as a &quot;lonely voice from the wilderness&quot;.</p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Lodhi, during a debate of the General Assembly, also alleged that India made a &quot;false claim&quot; of conducting surgical strike across the LoC to provoke conflict with Pakistan.</p>

<p>She warned New Delhi that &quot;any aggression&quot; by it would receive a &quot;matching and effective response&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;This claim, and India&#39;s repeated threats to conduct such strikes across the LoC, constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter&#39;s injunction against the use or threat of use of force,&quot; Lodhi said during the debate on the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the world body.</p>

<p>She said that the UN should not &quot;ignore these open threats to use force&quot; by India.</p>

<p>The international community should take urgent action to ask India to halt its provocations against Pakistan, she said.</p>

<p>Continuing her tirade against India on the Kashmir issue, Lodhi alleged, &quot;To cover up its crimes against the Kashmiri people, and to divert world attention, India resorts to daily violation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir.&quot;</p>

<p>Lodhi said the international community represented in the United Nations cannot allow &quot;India impunity to conduct &quot;crimes against humanity&quot; in Kashmir under the &quot;flimsy cover&quot; of combating terrorism.</p>

<p>&quot;The only terrorism in Kashmir is India&#39;s state terrorism. State terrorism is, in fact, considered as the gravest form of terrorism by the Non-Aligned Movement, comprising almost two-thirds of the General Assembly?s membership,&quot; she alleged.</p>

<p>Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, exercising the country&#39;s right to reply said, &quot;We have heard a lonely voice from the wilderness articulate a narrative of the past.&quot;</p>

<p>Pakistan, Gambhir said, has &quot;focused on a topic that has not even been deliberated upon for decades&quot; at the UN.</p>

<p>&quot;An issue which that delegation tries to keep alive by procedural stratagems even while the world has moved on. Yesterday&#39;s people reflecting antiquated mindsets of the bygone times are symbolic of what holds us all back,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>The Indian delegation does not wish to &quot;waste the precious time of this August Assembly&quot; in engaging further with such distractions, Gambhir said.</p>

<p>Lodhi also said India&#39;s claim of carrying out the surgical strike provides Pakistan &quot;sufficient reason&quot; to respond and exercise its right to self-defence.</p>

<p>Lodhi went ahead to warn India, saying it should not &quot;underestimate Pakistan&#39;s resolve and capacity to defend itself&quot;.</p>

<p>During the General Assembly debate last month which was addressed by leaders from more than 100 countries, not a single country supported Pakistan&#39;s Kashmir policy.</p>

<p>Unmindful of that, Lodhi reiterated her allegation with regard to non-implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir.</p>

<p>In her address to the UN General Assembly last month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had responded to a similar allegation raised by the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on UN Security Council resolution.</p>

<p>&quot;Prime Minister Abbasi has recalled old resolutions that have been long overtaken by events. But his memory has conveniently failed him where it matters. He has forgotten that under the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration India and Pakistan resolved that they would settle all outstanding issues bilaterally,&quot; Swaraj had said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kashmir-is-integral-to-india-pakistan-in-denial-indias-foreign-minister-sushma-swaraj-at-unga-6824" target="_blank">Kashmir is integral to India, Pakistan in denial: India&#39;s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj at UNGA</a></p>


Pak envoy Maleeha Lodhi accused India of spreading terrorism in the Kashmir Valley

Pakistan has raked up the Kashmir issue again at the UN with its envoy Maleeha Lodhi accusing India of spreading terrorism in the Valley, drawing a sharp reaction from India which described her diatribe as a "lonely voice from the wilderness". Pakistan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Lodhi, during a debate of the General Assembly, also alleged that India made a "false claim" of conducting surgical strike across the LoC to provoke conflict with Pakistan. She warned New Delhi that "any aggression" by it would receive a "matching and effective response". "This claim, and India's repeated threats to conduct such strikes across the LoC, constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter's injunction against the use or threat of use of force," Lodhi said during the debate on the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the world body. She said that the UN should not "ignore these open threats to use force" by India. The international community should take urgent action to ask India to halt its provocations against Pakistan, she said. Continuing her tirade against India on the Kashmir issue, Lodhi alleged, "To cover up its crimes against the Kashmiri people, and to divert world attention, India resorts to daily violation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir." Lodhi said the international community represented in the United Nations cannot allow "India impunity to conduct "crimes against humanity" in Kashmir under the "flimsy cover" of combating terrorism. "The only terrorism in Kashmir is India's state terrorism. State terrorism is, in fact, considered as the gravest form of terrorism by the Non-Aligned Movement, comprising almost two-thirds of the General Assembly?s membership," she alleged. Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, exercising the country's right to reply said, "We have heard a lonely voice from the wilderness articulate a narrative of the past." Pakistan, Gambhir said, has "focused on a topic that has not even been deliberated upon for decades" at the UN. "An issue which that delegation tries to keep alive by procedural stratagems even while the world has moved on. Yesterday's people reflecting antiquated mindsets of the bygone times are symbolic of what holds us all back," she said. The Indian delegation does not wish to "waste the precious time of this August Assembly" in engaging further with such distractions, Gambhir said. Lodhi also said India's claim of carrying out the surgical strike provides Pakistan "sufficient reason" to respond and exercise its right to self-defence. Lodhi went ahead to warn India, saying it should not "underestimate Pakistan's resolve and capacity to defend itself". During the General Assembly debate last month which was addressed by leaders from more than 100 countries, not a single country supported Pakistan's Kashmir policy. Unmindful of that, Lodhi reiterated her allegation with regard to non-implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir. In her address to the UN General Assembly last month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had responded to a similar allegation raised by the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on UN Security Council resolution. "Prime Minister Abbasi has recalled old resolutions that have been long overtaken by events. But his memory has conveniently failed him where it matters. He has forgotten that under the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration India and Pakistan resolved that they would settle all outstanding issues bilaterally," Swaraj had said. Also read: Kashmir is integral to India, Pakistan in denial: India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj at UNGA

Pak rakes up Kashmir issue at UN, India calls it 'lonely voice from wilderness'

<p>&ldquo;Energy&rdquo; is the lifeblood of economic growth. With both China and India having chosen the path of rapid industrialisation to exponentially increase employment opportunities for their teeming millions, a conflict between these two nations is likely to arise in the foreseeable future over the world&#39;s energy resources, which include Coal, Lignite, Natural Gas, Crude Oil &amp; other Hydrocarbons, Nuclear, Solar, Wind, &amp; Hydro Power.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>International Energy Agencies predict that by 2030 China would be consuming 21 per cent of all the energy resources of the world.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=International Energy Agencies predict that by 2030 China would be consuming 21 per cent of all the energy resources of the world." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>Recently, China has achieved a meteoric rise as the world&#39;s factory. With the largest human population in the world, the country is among the major energy guzzlers of the world. International Energy Agencies predict that by 2030 China would be consuming 21 per cent of all the energy resources of the world.</p>

<p>On the other hand, India, the second most populous country in the world, is ranked fifth in the world in terms of primary energy consumption &ndash; behind the US, China, Russia &amp; Japan. With a high GDP growth that has been hovering between 7 to 6 per cent, India, by 2030,&nbsp; is expected to vault to third place in this regard &ndash; behind only the United States &amp; China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Energy&rdquo; is the basic bedrock of all industrial activities. While from 1979 to 2003 China&#39;s annualised energy consumption rate grew by 4.4 per cent and its annualised GDP growth rate reached 9.36 per cent, its annualised energy output growth lagged behind at 3.82 per cent.</p>

<p>On the other hand, India&#39;s industrial growth story, commencing only about 10 years back has so far been more or less self-dependent in energy matters. However, given India&#39;s present emphasis on establishing a strong industrial infrastructure, and with massive planned investments in this regard, sooner rather than later, India is likely to become a serious competitor to China in the battle for a progressively larger share of the world&#39;s energy resources.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>China starkly brings into focus the delicate balance of industrial and military power in South Asia.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=China starkly brings into focus the delicate balance of industrial and military power in South Asia.

" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>It is, therefore, critically important for both countries to urgently address their respective &ldquo;energy requirement issues&rdquo; which, if ignored, could lead them on a confrontational course with disastrous results.</p>

<p>In order to explore new avenues to secure their future energy needs, both countries are aggressively competing for new sources of energy in Kazakhstan, Iran, Afghanistan and Myanmar.</p>

<p>In fact, China, which started out on the industrial growth field nearly two decades before India did, planned and is setting up its port project at Gwadar (Pakistan), primarily, as a transit facility for crude oil supplies to Xinjiang through Kyaukpyu (in Myanmar, off Andaman Sea), which starkly brings into focus the delicate balance of industrial and military power in South Asia.</p>

<p>Post-Doklam, however, India and China have entered a new phase in their trade relations. The hardliners in the Chinese Communist Party who wanted to &ldquo;punch&rdquo; India along the LAC seem to have lost the battle.</p>

<p>The &ldquo;pro-India faction&rdquo; is increasingly dominating policy within the CPC which experts say wants more trade relations with India.</p>

<p>As a matter of fact, China&rsquo;s state-run daily The Global Times has been carrying Op-ed articles on how India and China can cooperate in various fields, especially in infrastructure and e-commerce among other things.</p>

<p>With China set to re-elect Xi as the president for the next five years during the CPC meeting this month, India and China should look to cooperate not only in resolving their disputes along the border but also in joining hands to evolve an &ldquo;energy policy&rdquo; to ensure both countries enjoy their growth story as equal partners.</p>


With rapid industrialisation and burgeoning population, a conflict between China and India is likely to arise over the world's energy resources.

“Energy” is the lifeblood of economic growth. With both China and India having chosen the path of rapid industrialisation to exponentially increase employment opportunities for their teeming millions, a conflict between these two nations is likely to arise in the foreseeable future over the world's energy resources, which include Coal, Lignite, Natural Gas, Crude Oil & other Hydrocarbons, Nuclear, Solar, Wind, & Hydro Power. International Energy Agencies predict that by 2030 China would be consuming 21 per cent of all the energy resources of the world. × Recently, China has achieved a meteoric rise as the world's factory. With the largest human population in the world, the country is among the major energy guzzlers of the world. International Energy Agencies predict that by 2030 China would be consuming 21 per cent of all the energy resources of the world. On the other hand, India, the second most populous country in the world, is ranked fifth in the world in terms of primary energy consumption – behind the US, China, Russia & Japan. With a high GDP growth that has been hovering between 7 to 6 per cent, India, by 2030, is expected to vault to third place in this regard – behind only the United States & China. “Energy” is the basic bedrock of all industrial activities. While from 1979 to 2003 China's annualised energy consumption rate grew by 4.4 per cent and its annualised GDP growth rate reached 9.36 per cent, its annualised energy output growth lagged behind at 3.82 per cent. On the other hand, India's industrial growth story, commencing only about 10 years back has so far been more or less self-dependent in energy matters. However, given India's present emphasis on establishing a strong industrial infrastructure, and with massive planned investments in this regard, sooner rather than later, India is likely to become a serious competitor to China in the battle for a progressively larger share of the world's energy resources. China starkly brings into focus the delicate balance of industrial and military power in South Asia. × It is, therefore, critically important for both countries to urgently address their respective “energy requirement issues” which, if ignored, could lead them on a confrontational course with disastrous results. In order to explore new avenues to secure their future energy needs, both countries are aggressively competing for new sources of energy in Kazakhstan, Iran, Afghanistan and Myanmar. In fact, China, which started out on the industrial growth field nearly two decades before India did, planned and is setting up its port project at Gwadar (Pakistan), primarily, as a transit facility for crude oil supplies to Xinjiang through Kyaukpyu (in Myanmar, off Andaman Sea), which starkly brings into focus the delicate balance of industrial and military power in South Asia. Post-Doklam, however, India and China have entered a new phase in their trade relations. The hardliners in the Chinese Communist Party who wanted to “punch” India along the LAC seem to have lost the battle. The “pro-India faction” is increasingly dominating policy within the CPC which experts say wants more trade relations with India. As a matter of fact, China’s state-run daily The Global Times has been carrying Op-ed articles on how India and China can cooperate in various fields, especially in infrastructure and e-commerce among other things. With China set to re-elect Xi as the president for the next five years during the CPC meeting this month, India and China should look to cooperate not only in resolving their disputes along the border but also in joining hands to evolve an “energy policy” to ensure both countries enjoy their growth story as equal partners.

How 'Energy War' will redefine India-China relations post-Doklam

<p>In a move which could further fray <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-gives-255-million-aid-to-pakistan-on-conditions-of-cracking-down-on-terror-outfits-19710">relations with Pakistan, US defense secretary James Mattis</a> said today his government would try to work with Pakistan to address the problem of terrorism but if it fails then the &quot;US president would be prepared to take whatever steps necessary&quot;.</p>

<p>The Trump administration had earlier <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tells-un-wont-be-scapegoat-in-afghan-war-20510">notified the US Congress that it was giving $255 million</a> to Pakistan in military assistance only if it cracked down on terror groups.</p>

<p>&quot;We need to try one more time to make this strategy work with them, by, with and through the Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, the president is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary,&quot; Mattis said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing.</p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s relations with the US, especially under Trump, have hit rock bottom after the US president put Pakistan on notice last month saying, &quot;We can no longer be silent about Pakistan&#39;s safe havens for terrorist organisations&quot;.</p>

<p>During his speech, Trump leaned on India to move forward on Afganistan where the&nbsp;US has been engaged in a fight to overcome the Taliban for over sixteen years. &nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked by a lawmaker whether revoking of Pakistan&#39;s major non-NATO ally was amongst the options being considered to deal with Islamabad, Mattis said: &quot;I am sure it will be.&quot;</p>

<p>Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford said that the current cost for the United States in Afghanistan was about $12.5 billion a year, and the new strategy would cost an additional $1.1 billion.</p>

<p><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vigdm3iRvOs" width="560"></iframe><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Trump administration's new strategy on Afghanistan could cost the United States an additional $1.1 billion in addition to $12.5 billion a year

In a move which could further fray relations with Pakistan, US defense secretary James Mattis said today his government would try to work with Pakistan to address the problem of terrorism but if it fails then the "US president would be prepared to take whatever steps necessary". The Trump administration had earlier notified the US Congress that it was giving $255 million to Pakistan in military assistance only if it cracked down on terror groups. "We need to try one more time to make this strategy work with them, by, with and through the Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, the president is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary," Mattis said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Pakistan's relations with the US, especially under Trump, have hit rock bottom after the US president put Pakistan on notice last month saying, "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations". During his speech, Trump leaned on India to move forward on Afganistan where the US has been engaged in a fight to overcome the Taliban for over sixteen years. When asked by a lawmaker whether revoking of Pakistan's major non-NATO ally was amongst the options being considered to deal with Islamabad, Mattis said: "I am sure it will be." Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford said that the current cost for the United States in Afghanistan was about $12.5 billion a year, and the new strategy would cost an additional $1.1 billion.

'Ready to try one more time with Pakistan,' warns US defense secretary James Mattis

<p>A total of 228 ceasefire violations occurred in 2016 along the Line of Control in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, an area which is under the operational control of the Indian Army.</p>

<p>This year, till October 3, the number of such violations had already more than doubled to 503.</p>

<p>That translates roughly to around 56 violations a month on average, or almost two a day.</p>

<p>In fact, last year&rsquo;s total figure of 228 ceasefire violations was crossed this year in July itself, underlining the frequency with which Pakistan has engaged in&nbsp;unprovoked firing in violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding between it and India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As compared to the eight casualties suffered by the Indian Army due to these ceasefire violations in 2016, the number of soldiers killed this year has already touched 14.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Till October 3, this year the Army has killed a total 150 terrorists: Sources</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915544816594780160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">About 275 terrorists are active in Kashmir out of which over 250 are active in the north of Pir Panjal Range: Sources</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915546333292806144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The number of infiltration attempts, too, has witnessed an upswing in Jammu and Kashmir.</p>

<p>While 88 infiltration attempts took place in 2016, the number of such bids had already touched 56 by the end of August this year.</p>

<p>As per official figures, 35 terrorists were killed in 2016 while trying to infiltrate into India. This year, till August, 42 terrorists had been killed while attempting to infiltrate into India.</p>

<p>It&rsquo;s not just soldiers who are bearing the brunt of the ceasefire violations.</p>

<p>Civilians residing in areas near the Line of Control have also suffered collateral damage.</p>

<p>On October 3, the Indian government summoned Pakistan&rsquo;s deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest with him over the deaths of three Indian children in an unprovoked ceasefire violation on October 2 by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector.</p>

<p>India conveyed to Pakistan that&nbsp;such &ldquo;deliberate targeting of civilians was not acceptable and was against humanitarian norms and practices&rdquo;.</p>


There have been almost two ceasefire violations a day this year

A total of 228 ceasefire violations occurred in 2016 along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, an area which is under the operational control of the Indian Army. This year, till October 3, the number of such violations had already more than doubled to 503. That translates roughly to around 56 violations a month on average, or almost two a day. In fact, last year’s total figure of 228 ceasefire violations was crossed this year in July itself, underlining the frequency with which Pakistan has engaged in unprovoked firing in violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding between it and India. As compared to the eight casualties suffered by the Indian Army due to these ceasefire violations in 2016, the number of soldiers killed this year has already touched 14. Till October 3, this year the Army has killed a total 150 terrorists: Sources — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2017 × About 275 terrorists are active in Kashmir out of which over 250 are active in the north of Pir Panjal Range: Sources — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2017 × The number of infiltration attempts, too, has witnessed an upswing in Jammu and Kashmir. While 88 infiltration attempts took place in 2016, the number of such bids had already touched 56 by the end of August this year. As per official figures, 35 terrorists were killed in 2016 while trying to infiltrate into India. This year, till August, 42 terrorists had been killed while attempting to infiltrate into India. It’s not just soldiers who are bearing the brunt of the ceasefire violations. Civilians residing in areas near the Line of Control have also suffered collateral damage. On October 3, the Indian government summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest with him over the deaths of three Indian children in an unprovoked ceasefire violation on October 2 by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector. India conveyed to Pakistan that such “deliberate targeting of civilians was not acceptable and was against humanitarian norms and practices”.

Ceasefire violations in J&K already more than double last year, infiltration on upswing too

<p>An army jawan has again died after ceasefire violation by Pakistan.</p>

<p>Naik Mahendra Chemjung&nbsp;died after Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Bhimber Gali.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLASH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLASH</a>: Naik Mahendra Chemjung lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Bhimber Gali <a href="https://t.co/OYwcfqqwkY">pic.twitter.com/OYwcfqqwkY</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915174455738957830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Naik Chemjung, 35, hailed from Chilingdin in Nepal.</p>

<p>The ceasefire was violated by the Pakistani army across the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Poonch district.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Naik Mahendra Chemjung?died?in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhimber Gali?after Pakistan violated the ceasefire in the valley

An army jawan has again died after ceasefire violation by Pakistan. Naik Mahendra Chemjung died after Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhimber Gali. #FLASH: Naik Mahendra Chemjung lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhimber Gali pic.twitter.com/OYwcfqqwkY — ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2017 × Naik Chemjung, 35, hailed from Chilingdin in Nepal. The ceasefire was violated by the Pakistani army across the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

Army jawan dies after ceasefire violation in J&K

<p>Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif may be well on his way to being re-elected as the president of his political party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan daily, Dawn, reported that on Monday the ruling PML-N has cleared the way for Sharif to be re-elected as the party president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Party leaders decided in a Central Working Committee meeting to amend the PML-N&#39;s constitution to allow any person to assume presidency even if he did not hold public office. This is effectively being seen as a move to ease Sharif into the position.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prominent party leaders were present and agreed to the proposal. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, interim president Senator Sardar Yaqub Nasir, and the influential chief minister of Pakistan&#39;s Punjab province, &nbsp;Shahbaz Sharif were present in the meeting along with PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq.</p>

<p>A general council meeting of the party is also being held on Monday and Tuesday to re-elect Sharif as the president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharif had appeared before and accountability court on Monday morning after which he reached Punjab House for an informal advisory session.</p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nawaz-sharifs-indictment-deferred-to-october-9-20901">National Accountability Bureau (NAB)</a> has charged Nawaz Sharif and his family members in three cases of graft. He was not formally charged today, however, as his lawyer submitted to the court that all the accused needed to be present before they could be indicted. Hussain, Hassan, and Maryam, Sharif&#39;s three children and his son-in-law, Mohammad Safdar are also named in the case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued against the men and a bailable warrant for Sharif&#39;s daughter, Maryam. Earlier, Sharif was expected to fly out to London to call on his wife, Begum Kulsoom, who is undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital.</p>


The PML-N leadership have agreed to amend its constitution to allow anyone not holding a public office to be its president

Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif may be well on his way to being re-elected as the president of his political party. Pakistan daily, Dawn, reported that on Monday the ruling PML-N has cleared the way for Sharif to be re-elected as the party president. Party leaders decided in a Central Working Committee meeting to amend the PML-N's constitution to allow any person to assume presidency even if he did not hold public office. This is effectively being seen as a move to ease Sharif into the position. Prominent party leaders were present and agreed to the proposal. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, interim president Senator Sardar Yaqub Nasir, and the influential chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif were present in the meeting along with PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq. A general council meeting of the party is also being held on Monday and Tuesday to re-elect Sharif as the president. Sharif had appeared before and accountability court on Monday morning after which he reached Punjab House for an informal advisory session. Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has charged Nawaz Sharif and his family members in three cases of graft. He was not formally charged today, however, as his lawyer submitted to the court that all the accused needed to be present before they could be indicted. Hussain, Hassan, and Maryam, Sharif's three children and his son-in-law, Mohammad Safdar are also named in the case. Non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued against the men and a bailable warrant for Sharif's daughter, Maryam. Earlier, Sharif was expected to fly out to London to call on his wife, Begum Kulsoom, who is undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital.

Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif's party set to elect him as chief

<p>Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan took a shot at Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on the social media platform Twitter for his recent comments regarding Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Haqqani network.</p>

<p>In a chain of tweets, Khan claimed that Dawn Leaks was a &ldquo;deliberate attempt by PMLN&rdquo; to target Pakistan&rsquo;s military. He further alleged that the &ldquo;Sharifs and their cronies&rdquo; were desperate to appease Indo-US lobby.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Now evident that DawnLeaks was a deliberate attempt by PMLN to target Pak mly at a time when it is fighting our enemies on multiple fronts <a href="https://t.co/pp9ecmNbEU">pic.twitter.com/pp9ecmNbEU</a></p>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913282295280406528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sharifs &amp; their cronies desperate to appease Indo-US lobby &amp; interests as their loot/properties all stashed away in West. <a href="https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx">https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx</a></p>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913282792158580738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Their continuous targeting of our armed forces continues today as part of this Indo-US appeasement. No concern for Pak lives sacrificed <a href="https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS">https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS</a></p>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913283372868304896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kh Asif&#39;s comments of ownership of militant gps coming from a Foreign Min undermining Pak security. With such a FM, who needs enemies? <a href="https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh">https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh</a></p>
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/913284081592537089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan&#39;s position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these &quot;terrorists&quot; were the &quot;darlings&quot; of the United States a few decades ago.</p>

<p>&quot;Don&#39;t blame us for the Haqqanis [the Haqqani Network] and don&#39;t blame us for the Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa. These were the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years back. They were being dined and wined in the White House, and now, you say &#39;go to hell Pakistanis because you are nurturing these people,&quot; The Dawn quoted Asif saying at the Asia Society in New York.</p>

<p>&quot;It is very easy to say Pakistan is floating the Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities, but give us time to get rid of them, because we don&#39;t have the assets to match these liabilities and you are increasing our liabilities further,&quot; the foreging minister said.</p>

<p>Asif is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.</p>

<p>He also expressed Islamabad&#39;s eagerness to work alongside the US. &quot;Pakistan stands ready for effective management of the Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration and to facilitate a peace settlement in Afghanistan,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The US has previously blamed Pakistan for not taking compelling action against the Haqqani Network.</p>

<p>Washington states that the militant group has been operating out of &quot;Pakistan-based safe havens&quot; causing threat to the US and native forces in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Asif said that Islamabad cannot be held responsible for the tensions in Afghanistan, claiming that peace cannot be established only through the strategy applied by the US and would require negotiated settlement.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistan cannot owe responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop the infiltration of terrorists,&quot; the News International quoted Asif, as saying while addressing the Asia Society in New York.</p>

<p>Asif said that the United States cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war, adding that for the last 16 years, it is clear that peace will not be restored by resorting to military force.</p>

<p>Asif reiterated that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan, but several Afghan leaders want the status quo to continue for their own vested interests</p>


Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan's position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these terrorists were the 'darlings' of the United States a few decades ago

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan took a shot at Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on the social media platform Twitter for his recent comments regarding Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Haqqani network. In a chain of tweets, Khan claimed that Dawn Leaks was a “deliberate attempt by PMLN” to target Pakistan’s military. He further alleged that the “Sharifs and their cronies” were desperate to appease Indo-US lobby. Now evident that DawnLeaks was a deliberate attempt by PMLN to target Pak mly at a time when it is fighting our enemies on multiple fronts pic.twitter.com/pp9ecmNbEU — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Sharifs & their cronies desperate to appease Indo-US lobby & interests as their loot/properties all stashed away in West. https://t.co/LJiX6eEoHx — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Their continuous targeting of our armed forces continues today as part of this Indo-US appeasement. No concern for Pak lives sacrificed https://t.co/RaqQAMx9PS — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Kh Asif's comments of ownership of militant gps coming from a Foreign Min undermining Pak security. With such a FM, who needs enemies? https://t.co/2fAqxMUHYh — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 28, 2017 × Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif, in an attempt to clarify Pakitan's position, asked the international community to stop accusing the country of the presence of Haqqani Network and Hafiz Saeed. He claimed that these "terrorists" were the "darlings" of the United States a few decades ago. "Don't blame us for the Haqqanis [the Haqqani Network] and don't blame us for the Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa. These were the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years back. They were being dined and wined in the White House, and now, you say 'go to hell Pakistanis because you are nurturing these people," The Dawn quoted Asif saying at the Asia Society in New York. "It is very easy to say Pakistan is floating the Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities, but give us time to get rid of them, because we don't have the assets to match these liabilities and you are increasing our liabilities further," the foreging minister said. Asif is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. He also expressed Islamabad's eagerness to work alongside the US. "Pakistan stands ready for effective management of the Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration and to facilitate a peace settlement in Afghanistan," he said. The US has previously blamed Pakistan for not taking compelling action against the Haqqani Network. Washington states that the militant group has been operating out of "Pakistan-based safe havens" causing threat to the US and native forces in Afghanistan. Asif said that Islamabad cannot be held responsible for the tensions in Afghanistan, claiming that peace cannot be established only through the strategy applied by the US and would require negotiated settlement. "Pakistan cannot owe responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop the infiltration of terrorists," the News International quoted Asif, as saying while addressing the Asia Society in New York. Asif said that the United States cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war, adding that for the last 16 years, it is clear that peace will not be restored by resorting to military force. Asif reiterated that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan, but several Afghan leaders want the status quo to continue for their own vested interests

Imran Khan believes that Asif's comments undermine Pakistan's security

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-supreme-court-rejects-nawaz-sharifs-plea-seeking-review-of-panamagate-verdict-20240">Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif</a> vowed to fight graft accusations after he appeared before an anti-corruption court on Tuesday, kicking off a trial threatening his party&#39;s chances at the next general election due in mid-2018.</p>

<p>Returning to Pakistan following a month abroad, Sharif lashed out against the judiciary after briefly appearing before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three charges. He did not enter a plea.</p>

<p>&quot;I am fighting baseless cases based on lies and also getting punished,&quot; he told reporters.</p>

<p>TV channels reported that Sharif was scheduled to be formally charged on Oct. 2, about two months after his disqualification by the Supreme Court for not declaring a small source of income that he denied receiving.</p>

<p>A Supreme Court-appointed panel has also alleged<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistans-nab-recommends-seizure-of-nawaz-sharifs-assets-4602"> Sharif family&#39;s wealth </a>far exceeds its legal income.</p>

<p>Sharif, who returned from London on Monday, has portrayed his disqualification as efforts to subvert the will of the electorate.</p>

<p>&quot;I hope that there might be some justice still alive,&quot; Sharif said.</p>

<p>Sharif says the corruption claims against the family are politically motivated, while his allies, including daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, have hinted Pakistan&#39;s powerful military had a hand in his toppling. The military denies any such action.</p>

<p>Two of Sharif&#39;s sons and Maryam are also due to appear before a NAB court, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, a long-time ally who is married into the Sharif family.</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s a good thing that finally NAB and such institutions are holding rich and powerful to account,&quot; said Shafqat Mahmood, a senior member of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.</p>

<p>PTI, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan who doggedly pushed the Supreme Court into launching the corruption probe into Sharif, has called for an early election but it is unlikely the government will agree to that.</p>

<p>Sharif&#39;s return to Pakistan quashed growing speculation that his absence was the start of another period in exile for the veteran leader whose three stints as prime minister were all cut short, including one by a military coup in 1999.</p>

<p>Analysts say Sharif&#39;s return to Pakistan was in large part due to fears of defections within the PML-N, a common occurrence in a nation where politicians switch allegiances ahead of polls depending on which way the political winds are blowing.</p>

<p>Sharif kept control of PML-N after his ouster and installed loyalist Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as prime minister.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has told the NAB courts that the trials into the Sharifs must be over within six months, with opponents betting that a flow of negative news from the trials will hurt PML-N&#39;s popularity at the next election.</p>


Returning to Pakistan following a month abroad, Sharif lashed out against the judiciary after briefly appearing before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three charges. He did not enter a plea.

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to fight graft accusations after he appeared before an anti-corruption court on Tuesday, kicking off a trial threatening his party's chances at the next general election due in mid-2018. Returning to Pakistan following a month abroad, Sharif lashed out against the judiciary after briefly appearing before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three charges. He did not enter a plea. "I am fighting baseless cases based on lies and also getting punished," he told reporters. TV channels reported that Sharif was scheduled to be formally charged on Oct. 2, about two months after his disqualification by the Supreme Court for not declaring a small source of income that he denied receiving. A Supreme Court-appointed panel has also alleged Sharif family's wealth far exceeds its legal income. Sharif, who returned from London on Monday, has portrayed his disqualification as efforts to subvert the will of the electorate. "I hope that there might be some justice still alive," Sharif said. Sharif says the corruption claims against the family are politically motivated, while his allies, including daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, have hinted Pakistan's powerful military had a hand in his toppling. The military denies any such action. Two of Sharif's sons and Maryam are also due to appear before a NAB court, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, a long-time ally who is married into the Sharif family. "It's a good thing that finally NAB and such institutions are holding rich and powerful to account," said Shafqat Mahmood, a senior member of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. PTI, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan who doggedly pushed the Supreme Court into launching the corruption probe into Sharif, has called for an early election but it is unlikely the government will agree to that. Sharif's return to Pakistan quashed growing speculation that his absence was the start of another period in exile for the veteran leader whose three stints as prime minister were all cut short, including one by a military coup in 1999. Analysts say Sharif's return to Pakistan was in large part due to fears of defections within the PML-N, a common occurrence in a nation where politicians switch allegiances ahead of polls depending on which way the political winds are blowing. Sharif kept control of PML-N after his ouster and installed loyalist Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as prime minister. The Supreme Court has told the NAB courts that the trials into the Sharifs must be over within six months, with opponents betting that a flow of negative news from the trials will hurt PML-N's popularity at the next election.

Pakistan's ex-PM Nawaz Sharif vows to fight corruption charges

<p>Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister&nbsp;Nawaz&nbsp;Sharif&nbsp;appeared before an anti-corruption court on Tuesday, kicking off trial proceedings that he says are biased and which threaten to dent his party&#39;s chances at the next general election due in mid-2018.</p>

<p>Sharif&nbsp;briefly appeared before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three corruption charges. He did not enter a plea.</p>

<p>Local TV channels reported that&nbsp;Sharif&nbsp;is scheduled to be formally indicted on Oct. 2, about two months after his disqualification by the Supreme Court for not declaring a small source of income that he denied receiving.</p>

<p>A Supreme Court panel has also alleged&nbsp;Sharif&nbsp;family&#39;s wealth far exceeds their legal income.</p>

<p>&quot;He has appeared before the court and by appearing he has proved to be a lion,&quot; said Marvi Memom, a lawmaker for&nbsp;Sharif&#39;s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz&nbsp;(PML-N)party.</p>

<p>Sharif, who returned from London on Monday after about a month in Britain, told the court his wife was being treated for cancer in London and needs his care.</p>

<p>He did not speak to the media after his court appearance but is due to hold a televised press conference at 3 pm (1000 GMT).</p>

<p>Sharif&nbsp;has portrayed the corruption claims against him as politically motivated, while his allies, including daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, have hinted Pakistan&#39;s powerful military had a hand in his toppling. The military denies any such action.</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s a good thing that finally NAB and such institutions are holding rich and powerful to the count,&quot; said Shafqat Mahmood,&nbsp;a senior member&nbsp;of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.</p>

<p>PTI, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan who doggedly pushed the Supreme Court into launching a corruption probe into&nbsp;Sharif, has called for an early election but it is unlikely the government will agree to that.</p>

<p>Sharif&#39;s returned to Pakistan quashed growing speculation that his long absence was the start of another period in exile for the veteran leader whose three stints as prime minister were all cut short, including one by a military coup in 1999.</p>

<p>&quot;What kind of justice is this, what kind of accountability is this?&quot;&nbsp;Sharif&nbsp;told reporters outside his upscale London apartment in London before departing for Islamabad on Sunday.</p>

<p>Two of&nbsp;Sharif&#39;s sons are also due to appear before a NAB court, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, a long-time ally who is married into the&nbsp;Sharif&nbsp;family.</p>

<p>Analysts say&nbsp;Sharif&#39;s return to Pakistan was in large part due to fears of defections within the PML-N, a common occurrence in a nation where politicians switch allegiances ahead of polls depending on which way the political winds are blowing.</p>

<p>Sharif&nbsp;kept control of PML-N after his ouster and installed loyalist Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as prime minister.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has told the NAB courts that the trials into the&nbsp;Sharifs must be over within six months, with opponents betting that a flow of negative news from the trials will hurt PML-N&#39;s popularity ahead at the next election.</p>


Sharif?briefly appeared before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three corruption charges. He did not enter a plea.

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before an anti-corruption court on Tuesday, kicking off trial proceedings that he says are biased and which threaten to dent his party's chances at the next general election due in mid-2018. Sharif briefly appeared before a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court in Islamabad on three corruption charges. He did not enter a plea. Local TV channels reported that Sharif is scheduled to be formally indicted on Oct. 2, about two months after his disqualification by the Supreme Court for not declaring a small source of income that he denied receiving. A Supreme Court panel has also alleged Sharif family's wealth far exceeds their legal income. "He has appeared before the court and by appearing he has proved to be a lion," said Marvi Memom, a lawmaker for Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)party. Sharif, who returned from London on Monday after about a month in Britain, told the court his wife was being treated for cancer in London and needs his care. He did not speak to the media after his court appearance but is due to hold a televised press conference at 3 pm (1000 GMT). Sharif has portrayed the corruption claims against him as politically motivated, while his allies, including daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, have hinted Pakistan's powerful military had a hand in his toppling. The military denies any such action. "It's a good thing that finally NAB and such institutions are holding rich and powerful to the count," said Shafqat Mahmood, a senior member of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. PTI, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan who doggedly pushed the Supreme Court into launching a corruption probe into Sharif, has called for an early election but it is unlikely the government will agree to that. Sharif's returned to Pakistan quashed growing speculation that his long absence was the start of another period in exile for the veteran leader whose three stints as prime minister were all cut short, including one by a military coup in 1999. "What kind of justice is this, what kind of accountability is this?" Sharif told reporters outside his upscale London apartment in London before departing for Islamabad on Sunday. Two of Sharif's sons are also due to appear before a NAB court, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, a long-time ally who is married into the Sharif family. Analysts say Sharif's return to Pakistan was in large part due to fears of defections within the PML-N, a common occurrence in a nation where politicians switch allegiances ahead of polls depending on which way the political winds are blowing. Sharif kept control of PML-N after his ouster and installed loyalist Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as prime minister. The Supreme Court has told the NAB courts that the trials into the Sharifs must be over within six months, with opponents betting that a flow of negative news from the trials will hurt PML-N's popularity ahead at the next election.

Pakistan's ex-PM Sharif appears before anti-corruption court, set to be indicted

pakistan-0

Pakistan, News on Pakistan, stories on Pakistan, articles on Pakistan, Pakistan stories at Wion, Pakistan news, Pakistan latest news

pakistan 0