Latest news with #CBMs
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
India-Pakistan conflict: FO rejects Indian NSA's remarks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly reacted to the recent remarks made by the Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval regarding Pakistan-India stalemate, terming it distorted and tainted. Speaking at a Weekly Media Briefing on Friday, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said, 'Doval's remarks not only reflect a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, but also violate the norms of a responsible statecraft.' 'Military aggression against a sovereign nation is a grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of the international law,' he added. It is a matter of public record that India has targeted civilian infrastructure rather than militant or terrorist hideouts. Rather than resorting to false narrative, the spokesperson remarked India should accept the downing of six fighter jets by Pakistan Air Force in self-defence and inflicting severe damages to other military targets. Furthermore, Ambassador Khan strongly condemned the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The occupying Indian forces continue to kill innocent civilians with impunity. This grave situation remains a matter of deep concern for Pakistan and the international community must take not of it. Referring to former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's comments in an interview to a foreign media outlet, the FO spokesperson clarified that no individual was personally named. Bilawal's remarks pertained to concerns regarding the conduct of certain state actors, not individuals. It is to mention here that Bilawal had suggested that certain individuals of 'particular concern' should be extradited for CBMs with India. To a query, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan remains in active communication with Afghan authorities at multiple levels. Discussions are ongoing to address cross-border terrorism emanating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, which continue to pose a serious threat to Pakistan's security and territorial integrity. These dialogues follow the Deputy Prime Minister's visit to Afghanistan on April 19 and are aimed at identifying common grounds for cooperation. 'TTP poses a serious threat to Pakistan's security. Pakistan hopes that Afghan authorities will acknowledge the gravity of this threat and take decisive action against terrorist groups and sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil.' Responding to another question he pointed out that Indian state-sponsored terrorism within Pakistan is a matter of global concern. India's destabilising role in the region, through support for terror elements, has been exposed repeatedly. Pakistan maintains strategic ties with China, its 'iron brother,' and continues to pursue cordial relations with both the United States and China, he said, adding Pakistan values its partnerships and seeks balanced engagement based on mutual respect. Pakistan will participate in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The FO spokesperson said the Deputy Prime Minister Dar is scheduled to attend, although there are currently no plans for a bilateral meeting or handshake with India's External Affairs Minister (EAM). In addition, he said the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) affects over 250 million people. The recent decision by the Court of Arbitration further weakens India's already de-legitimise position on the sensitive matter. The revival of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), the spokesperson was of the view that it is a symbol of Pakistan-Russia friendship. He added that Pakistan remains in contact with Washington to address trade tariffs and is hopeful for a positive outcome that benefits both sides. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistanis' extradition to India: PTI denounces Bilawal's stance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday denounced Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's shockingly appeasing, submissive and apologetic stance, particularly his offer to extradite Pakistani citizens to India under the guise of a so-called confidence-building measure (CBM) — a country that remained actively engaged in state-sponsored terrorism, espionage and subversive activities against Pakistan. Speaking at a presser, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that Bilawal was an 'immature political child', stating that such irresponsible, ill-advised and sweeping statements not only damage Pakistan's national security narrative but also humiliate the country on international platforms. He lamented that the surrogates imposed upon the nation through electoral fraud, had brought Pakistan to its knees, which completely politically destabilized and economically devastated – solely to cling to power. 'We fail to understand why Bilawal is so keen on appeasing India,' he asked. He stated that Bilawal was proving time and again that he lacked political wisdom, vision and understanding of regional geopolitics. Instead of holding India accountable for its continued aggression, water terrorism and cross-border interference, Bilawal was proposing CBMs that compromise Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity, he said. Bilawal urges UN to press India for comprehensive dialogue He emphasised that it was imperative to ask Bilawal on whose behalf he issued such a statement and what he intended to achieve by offering such concessions to a belligerent India by humiliating Pakistan on an international stage. He further criticised Bilawal's flip-flop from threatening India with war to begging for peace, saying PPP chairman became a symbol of inconsistency, confusion and contradiction in Pakistan's foreign policy discourse. PPP was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the legacy of Kashmir, but today, Bilawal is betraying that legacy by pursuing political gains at the expense of Kashmiri blood, he stated. He said that leaders were born, not made through makeup and forced media appearances. 'If PPP's intelligentsia truly cares about Bilawal, they should let him contest local body elections first and appear on regional TV channels instead of being pushed on international media, where he only embarrasses Pakistan,' PTI CIS stated. He asserted that Bilawal was an 'immature political child' who would lead PPP to complete elimination, advising that if the party wanted to survive, he must step aside and hand over chairmanship to Aseefa Bhutto, who, at the very least, showed more promise and sense than him. He said that those encouraging him to go global were not his friends – they were his political undertakers, because pushing him into the limelight without proper grooming, only to expose his incompetence. Shifting focus to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he cautioned against any covert or overt attempts to destabilise the democratically elected PTI government in the province. He vowed that PTI would resist any such move tooth and nail, as the people of KP have given their mandate to PTI, and they would not allow surrogate rulers to be imposed in KP like elsewhere in the country. He said the people of KP have already suffered enough due to military operations, exploitation of resources and broken promises and PTI would not allow any such misadventure again in the region. He reminded the centre of the disastrous consequences of past military operations in tribal areas, which brought nothing but destruction, displacement and resentment among tribal people. Therefore, he pressed that instead of repeating failed strategies, the government must prioritise development, infrastructure, education and economic uplift in neglected region. He emphasised that the solution to Pakistan's internal challenges lied in respecting democracy, empowering provinces and investing in neglected regions, not through coercion and brute force. Turning to the government's economic mismanagement and flawed foreign investment strategy, he pointed out that while the government loudly trumpeted its claims of attracting foreign investment through the much-hyped SIFC, the ground reality tells a different story. Waqas stated that multinational companies were shutting down their operations due to flawed, shortsighted and self-serving policies — the closure of Microsoft's office in Pakistan speaks volumes in this regard. Expressing surprise over government double-standard, he said that Pakistan's trade with India surged quietly, yet trade with brotherly neighbour Afghanistan remained suspended, which was not only unjust but also economically suicidal. Waqas demanded that trade with Afghanistan be immediately resumed to benefit the people of Pakistan and the bordering tribal areas, adding that the imposed regime's anti-people policies were destroying livelihoods of the people. Akram vowed that the party would fight till the last ball against the current authoritarian regime. He stated that PTI Patron-in-chief Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leadership were facing politically motivated and fabricated cases, but PTI would not back down. Waqas made it clear that they would not rest until release unlawfully incarcerated PTI founder and other leaders, establish the rule of law, constitutional supremacy, and true democracy in Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Dealing with China: Lessons from Galwan clash, five years on
Just over five years ago, the Galwan clash between India and China saw 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers killed. This year is also the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The bilateral relationship has been full of surprises and turmoil. It appears that India and China, two of the largest countries, economies and militaries, who share a disputed and unresolved border, do not understand each other. The violent clash of June 2020 was the first such incident since 1975. Peace was maintained on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for almost four decades with the help of confidence-building mechanisms (CBMs). These were achieved after long and painstaking discussions, primarily to avoid any violence on the LAC. However, in the words of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, 'So there was a clash, and a number of troops died on either side, and that has since, in a sense, overshadowed the relationship. So until we can restore peace and tranquillity on the border and ensure the agreements signed up to are adhered to, it's obviously difficult to carry on with the rest of the relationship'. But can India trust China to adhere to any agreements now? The long freeze between the neighbours after the 1962 war was revisited in 1988 with the 'normalisation' of ties and efforts were put in place to avoid a similar challenge. During Rajiv Gandhi's visit that year to Beijing, Deng Xiaoping said, 'We have both made mistakes and we can learn from each other. Why can't we share our experiences, our successes and failures? There is much we can achieve together. We can achieve nothing by being antagonists'. There was positive momentum after the visit and both sides engaged in an increased economic relationship (bilateral trade stands at around $118 billion). There was a lot of talk about cooperation. However, what has continued to be the driving factor is mistrust. Since 1988, there have been multiple stand-offs at the border, the most intense being in Doklam in 2017 — both armies stood eye to eye for 73 intense days. What complicates the situation further is that both countries are nuclear powerhouses and have advanced militaries. And both are vying to grow their global influence. The Galwan clash underscored the fragility of the relationship. It took almost four-and-a-half years and multiple rounds of bilateral talks at various levels to achieve a breakthrough. In October 2024, it was announced that India and China have agreed on patrolling rights in the Ladakh region. Foreign Vikram Misri said: 'Agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020 and we will be taking the next steps on this.' However, it appears that disengagement will be a long process. China appears keen to discuss restarting the people-to-people and economic engagement. After Galwan, India banned several Chinese apps and stopped major Chinese investments and direct flights. After the thaw, China has been keen to restart direct flights. It has issued around 85,000 visas and has resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indians. On the other hand, India has continued to reiterate that no significant developments can be achieved if the border issue is unresolved. Galwan is a major recent reminder of what the border is capable of doing. It can push the countries as well as the region into uncertainty. India has continued to focus on building capabilities in the border region and developing infrastructure that can help in the proper management and movement of troops and equipment. The most prominent of these is the all-weather Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. Even after years of positive statements and shows of bonhomie, the neighbours appear to be just talking at each other. The talks of people-to-people interaction by China and the fact that India continues to reiterate the centrality of the border for a genuine stable relationship to exist shows the gap in perception and understanding. This gap needs to be bridged sooner rather than later. For Beijing, when it comes to its relations with New Delhi, it is economic dynamics that matter. New Delhi, however, should not forget the lessons from Galwan and ignore the fragility of diplomatic measures, which can clearly be ignored and trampled by China. The writer is associate professor, OP Jindal Global University
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China developing deadly Marine Toxins, may be merging AI with bioweapons: U.S. Report
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the United States for allegedly attempting to smuggle a highly dangerous fungus into the country, which the FBI says could be used as an agroterrorism incident adds to growing concerns over China's alleged bioweapons to a 2025 U.S. State Department report, China may be incorporating artificial intelligence into its biological weapons (BW) program. The report, released in April, warns that China could be leveraging publicly available AI and machine learning tools to enhance bioweapon development."China probably is unable to make complex scientific equipment without Western innovation. It probably is capable of using publicly available artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) tools to advance efforts related to BW applications," the report a signatory to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), China is prohibited under international law from developing bioweapons. However, the report stops short of confirming current BW activity, while noting China's historical possession of such weapons and the lack of evidence showing their report also alleges that China has failed to disclose two historical BW facilities in Beijing and Lingbao. These sites were reportedly involved in the development of military-grade biological agents including anthrax, cholera, plague, tularemia, ricin, and botulinum toxins.'Historical information suggests that China's BW production occurred at two facilities, in Beijing and Lingbao, prior to China signing the BWC in 1972. Although China has submitted BWC CBMs each year since 1989, China's CBM reporting has never identified these facilities or otherwise disclosed it ever pursued an offensive BW program,' the report particular concern is China's ongoing research into potent marine toxins—naturally occurring compounds from marine organisms with possible bioweapons applications. The State Department believes China still depends on Western innovation to manufacture the specialized equipment required for large-scale bioweapon integration of AI into such programs, the report warns, could have devastating global consequences. It draws parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, which many believe may have originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology—a facility known for its gain-of-function research aimed at increasing virus transmissibility. The report suggests that similar research, when combined with advanced AI, could result in a future catastrophe of even greater magnitude.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
No expiry date on truce with Pakistan, says Indian Army
NEW DELHI: The understanding between India and Pakistan to cease military hostilities is open-ended and does not have 'an expiry date', the Indian Army said on Sunday, rejecting reports from Islamabad that the truce was recently extended to May 18. 'As far as continuation of break in hostilities is concerned, as decided in DGMOs (directors general of military operations) interaction of May 12, there is no expiry date to it,' the army said in a brief statement. To be sure, India has laid down a marker that the fate of the May 10 ceasefire hinges on Pakistan's behaviour. It ended the four-day military confrontation that stoked fears of a full-blown shooting war. The army clarified that no DGMO-level talks are planned on Sunday. On May 15, the Indian Army said it will push 'confidence building measures' (CBMs) along the border with Pakistan 'to reduce the alertness level' there, hours after Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that the May 10 ceasefire had been extended till May 18. Operation Sindoor, which began in the early hours of May 7, was New Delhi's response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The understanding between India and Pakistan to cease military hostilities was announced on May 10 evening, after Indian DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Kashif Abdullah talked over the hotline and agreed to stop all military actions against each other --- on land, in the air and sea. The two DGMOs spoke again on May 12 to uphold the uneasy truce. The CBMs discussions then included continuing the May 10 commitment that both sides 'must not fire a single shot' or initiate any aggressive action against each other and consider troop reduction in forward areas. On May 16, defence minister Rajnath Singh warned Islamabad that it was currently 'on probation' under the May 10 understanding. 'If the behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, harshest punishment will be given,' he said at the Bhuj airbase. 'Our actions were just a trailer, we will show the full picture, if need be. Attacking and eliminating terrorism is the new normal of new India,' he said. Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, bombing nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The pre-dawn strikes --- in which at least 100 terrorists were killed --- sparked a series of attacks and counterattacks across the western border, involving fighter jets, missiles, armed drones, and fierce artillery and rocket duels. In one such counterattack on the night of May 9-10, the Indian Air Force struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. On May 15, the Indian Army said it will push CBMs along the border with Pakistan 'to reduce the alertness level' there, hours after Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that the ceasefire between the Indian and Pakistani armies was extended till May 18. Neither side has fired a single shot since May 10, a key condition for the ceasefire, though Pakistan has attempted to violate the truce with some drones sighted over Indian cities on May 10 night and May 12 night.
