At UNSC Meet, Pakistan Faces Flak for Escalation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India slams Pakistan for state-backed terrorism at UN debate chaired by Islamabad
Washington: India condemned Pakistan's sponsorship of cross-border terrorism at the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday during a high-level open debate chaired by Islamabad. Ambassador P. Harish, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, called for costs to be imposed on nations that sponsor cross-border terrorism, before defending India's actions in Operation Sindoor. 'I am also constrained to respond to the remarks made by the representative of Pakistan. The Indian subcontinent offers a stark contrast in terms of progress, prosperity and development models. On the one hand, there is India, which is a mature democracy, a surging economy and a pluralistic and inclusive society. At the other extreme is Pakistan, steeped in fanaticism and terrorism, and a serial borrower from the IMF,' ambassador P. Harish, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, said. The debate was one of two signature events planned by Pakistan as part of its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July. The presidency of the UNSC, the UN's top decision-making body, rotates every month between its 15 members. India was responding to a statement made earlier in the day by Pakistan's foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who condemned India's 'occupation' of Jammu and Kashmir. Dar also questioned India's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Through the high-level open debate, Pakistan has pushed for greater international involvement in the mediation of disputes, which would presumably also include Kashmir. Also Read: At UN, Pak flags Kashmir issue and Indus Waters Treaty In response, India said that consent of the parties to a dispute was crucial to ensure the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. New Delhi has consistently resisted international mediation on the Kashmir issue in favour of dealing with the dispute bilaterally. 'There cannot be one standard approach to dispute resolution. The changing circumstances and context also need to be taken into account while considering any such efforts,' ambassador Harish said. India also called for costs to be imposed on nations that sponsor cross-border terrorism, before defending India's actions in Operation Sindoor, which was launched in May. Also Read: Donald Trump claims 'five jets were shot down' during India-Pakistan military conflict in May 'Recently, consequent to the gruesome terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 that led to the killing of 26 innocent tourists, and based on the Council Statement of 25 April where 'members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice', India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which was focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature,' Harish said. 'As we debate promoting international peace and security, it is essential to recognise that there are some fundamental principles which need to be universally respected. One of them is zero tolerance for terrorism. It ill behoves a member of the Council to offer homilies while indulging in practices that are unacceptable to the international community,' the veteran Indian diplomat added.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
The curious case of 'Londonia envoy': Inside UP man's fake embassy racket
In a bizarre tale that seems pulled straight out of an international espionage thriller, Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force (STF) has busted a fake embassy operation running out of a lavish bungalow in Ghaziabad's posh Kavi Nagar area. The alleged mastermind, 47-year-old Harshvardhan Jain, presented himself as the ambassador of not one, but several self-proclaimed micronations - Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia, and Londonia. His ruse, which included diplomatic number-plated luxury cars, forged documents, and fake foreign connections, was used to defraud companies and individuals by offering jobs, overseas deals, and influence in return for hefty 'diplomat' without bordersAccording to investigators, Harshvardhan Jain created an entire ecosystem to support his claims. He adorned his rented white-painted bungalow with flags of various countries and parked luxury vehicles with fake diplomatic license plates outside. Inside, the 'embassy' resembled an international consulate, complete with forged Ministry of External Affairs seals, counterfeit diplomatic passports, and a series of elaborate stamps from imaginary countries. Jain adorned his rented white-painted bungalow with flags of various countries and parked luxury vehicles with fake diplomatic license plates outside. STF officials say Harshvardhan Jain adopted the guise of a diplomat to manipulate perceptions and exploit aspirants hoping to land foreign projects or overseas employment. He told his victims he could facilitate government work or contracts in 'friendly' nations thanks to his so-called diplomatic status. Those 'friendly nations' were, in fact, fictional micronations recognised by no real-world Making of a Conman Born into wealth, Harshvardhan Jain's early life showed promise. The son of JD Jain, once a top industrialist with marble mines in Rajasthan, he studied BBA in Ghaziabad and completed an MBA from the London College of Applied Science. But after his father's death and subsequent financial losses in the family business, Jain took a dark turning point allegedly came in 2000, when he came in contact with controversial godman Chandraswami, who reportedly introduced him to international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and London-based businessman Ehsan Ali Syed. Alongside Syed, Jain floated over a dozen companies in the UK, which authorities believe were used for laundering black money and conducting backdoor business deals. Harsh Vardhan Jain with Chandraswami Later, Jain moved to Dubai and partnered with shady businessmen to launch more shell firms, exploiting them to carry out 'liaison work' across Gulf and African nations. He reportedly made a small fortune by brokering fake business deals and facilitating illegal money transfers.A Fraudulent EmpireAfter returning to India in 2011, Jain's activities came under scrutiny. Ghaziabad Police once arrested him for possessing an illegal satellite phone, a case that resurfaced during the current it was in 2012 that Jain took his scam global. That year, he was appointed as an 'advisor' by the self-declared principality of Seborga. In 2016, the so-called Kingdom of Westarctica named him an 'honorary ambassador'. Soon, Poulvia and Londonia followed. Armed with fake credentials from non-existent nations, Jain began a new hustle: selling influence. He falsely claimed diplomatic immunity, forged credentials, and ran what he called the "West Arctica Embassy" from his bungalow. Authorities say he would morph photos of himself with global leaders - including India's Prime Minister and foreign presidents - and display them to impress or dupe potential clients. Harsh Vardhan Jain with A P J Abdul Kalam The BustOn July 22, 2025, acting on central intelligence inputs, Noida's STF team raided the premises and arrested Jain. They were stunned to find:advertisement4 luxury vehicles with diplomatic plates18 counterfeit diplomatic number plates12 fake diplomatic passports44.7 lakh rupees in cash and foreign currencyDozens of forged seals and official stamps from "micronations"Forged Ministry of External Affairs documentsA laptop, multiple mobile phones, and fake IDsJain was arrested at 11:30 pm from the residence, and a fresh FIR has been lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws. Not Just a One-Man Show?While STF believes Jain operated independently, the magnitude of his deception has raised questions about possible links with a broader network. Officials are probing whether others - especially his past associates in Dubai and London - may have aided the racket, or used his operation as a front for money laundering or illegal interrogation, Jain has reportedly admitted to operating a fake diplomatic network for several years and confirmed forging ties with dubious individuals in the arms and real estate Worrying TrendThe "Londonia envoy" story is not just a case of a smooth-talking fraudster - it highlights a worrying trend: how the idea of diplomatic privilege, foreign status, and fabricated global connections can still be used to exploit ambitions and one STF officer put it: "This wasn't just fraud-it was theatre. And Harshvardhan Jain played the lead role with remarkable precision-until the final curtain fell."Further investigation is underway to uncover the full scope of Jain's operations, his associates, and the victims defrauded in the name of phony diplomacy.- Ends
News18
an hour ago
- News18
UNs top court to deliver landmark decision on tackling climate change
The Hague, Jul 23 (AP) The top United Nations court has opened a hearing to deliver an advisory opinion in a landmark case about nations' obligations to tackle climate change and consequences they may face if they don't. The president of the International Court of Justice is expected to read the non-binding opinion that is seen as a potential turning point in international climate law. The decision could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits, and legal instruments like investment agreements. The case is led by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and backed by more than 130 countries. All UN member states including major greenhouse gas emitters like the United States and China are parties to the court. Outside the court, climate activists gathered. They held a banner that read: 'Courts have spoken. The law is clear. States must ACT NOW." The courtroom, known as the Great Hall of Justice, was packed. After years of lobbying by vulnerable island nations who fear they could disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ in 2023 for an advisory opinion, an important basis for international obligations. A panel of 15 judges was tasked with answering two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? Second, what are the legal consequences for governments when their acts, or lack of action, have significantly harmed the climate and environment? 'The stakes could not be higher. The survival of my people and so many others is on the line," Arnold Kiel Loughman, attorney general of the island nation of Vanuatu, told the court during a week of hearings in December. In the decade up to 2023, sea levels rose by a global average of around 4.3 cm (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since preindustrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels. Vanuatu is one of a group of small states pushing for international legal intervention in the climate crisis but it affects many more island nations in the South Pacific. 'The agreements being made at an international level between states are not moving fast enough," Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's minister for climate change, told The Associated Press. Any decision by The Hague-based court would be unable to directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol, since it could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits. 'What makes this case so important is that it addresses the past, present, and future of climate action. It's not just about future targets — it also tackles historical responsibility, because we cannot solve the climate crisis without confronting its roots," Joie Chowdhury, a senior attorney at the Centre for International Environmental Law, told AP. Activists could bring lawsuits against their own countries for failing to comply with the decision and states could return to the International Court of Justice to hold each other to account. And whatever the judges say will be used as the basis for other legal instruments, like investment agreements, Chowdhury said. The United States and Russia, both of whom are major petroleum-producing states, are staunchly opposed to the court mandating emissions reductions. Simply having the court issue an opinion is the latest in a series of legal victories for the small island nations. Earlier this month, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found that countries have a legal duty not only to avoid environmental harm but also to protect and restore ecosystems. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change. In 2019, the Netherlands' Supreme court handed down the first major legal win for climate activists when judges ruled that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change was a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens. (AP) SCY SCY First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:30 IST News agency-feeds UNs top court to deliver landmark decision on tackling climate change Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
