Latest news with #Indian-occupied
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Indus waters case: FO welcomes The Hague court decision
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Monday welcomed a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague to issue a supplemental award in the Indus Waters case. The ruling urges India to resume the operation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which New Delhi has held in abeyance since May. In April, India suspended the treaty following an attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir, which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, though Islamabad denied involvement. Pakistan condemned India's suspension of the treaty as an 'act of war,' highlighting that the IWT contains no provisions allowing unilateral suspension. Islamabad has also threatened legal action, citing violations of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The PCA's supplemental award, announced on 27 June 2025, reaffirmed the court's jurisdiction over the dispute involving Pakistan and India's hydroelectric projects at Kishenganga and Ratle. The court declared its ongoing responsibility to ensure a timely and fair resolution of the matter. The Foreign Office described the award as a vindication of Pakistan's position that the treaty remains valid and operational, and criticised India's unilateral decision to suspend it. A statement issued by the Government of Pakistan called on India to 'immediately resume the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty and fulfil its treaty obligations.' It also welcomed the PCA's ruling on competence, which rejected India's suspension of the treaty, expressing optimism for the forthcoming award on the merits following hearings held in July 2024. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's readiness to engage in meaningful dialogue with India on outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism. According to the PCA, the treaty does not allow either party to unilaterally suspend or hold it in abeyance. The court stated such actions would undermine the treaty's dispute resolution mechanisms. The court further noted that India's position was not justifiable under international law. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmir struggle legitimate: COAS
The passing-out parade of 127 midshipmen is being held in Karachi. PHOTO: NNI Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir has said that India's portrayal of the Kashmiri freedom movement as terrorism is misleading, describing it instead as a legitimate and lawful struggle recognised under international law. "What India labels as terrorism is, in fact, a legitimate and lawful struggle for freedom, recognised by international law," said Field Marshal Asim Munir. Speaking at a commissioning parade held at the Pakistan Naval Academy on Saturday, the army chief urged the nation to remember the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people resisting India's "illegal occupation" of Jammu and Kashmir. "At such a time, we must not forget the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers who are struggling against Indian occupation," he said. He accused India of deliberately escalating regional tensions just as Pakistan nears success in its fight against terrorism. Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to eliminate terrorism. "We will take our fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion and rid the country of this menace once and for all," he declared. Reiterating Pakistan's longstanding stance on Kashmir, the army chief said, "Pakistan strongly supports a fair and peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people." He paid tribute to all martyrs who have laid down their lives in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the cause of freedom, and saluted the courage of those who continue the struggle. The COAS asserted that India's oppressive tactics cannot break the will of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan will continue to offer unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. Quoting from Surah Al-Imran, verse 54 "They plotted, and Allah also planned, and Allah is the best of planners".
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Interfaith harmony stressed
An interfaith harmony conference was held in Dera Ghazi Khan, aiming to promote peace and unity ahead of Muharram. Addressing the participants, the speakers emphasised the shared responsibility for peace and stability during Muharram. They urged the Ummah to remain united and avoid divisions, stressing the importance of collective efforts to uphold national security and religious harmony. They condemned recent attacks on mosques and sacred places in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
The border bully
As tensions between India and Pakistan momentarily ease, a deeper unease continues to fester, especially among those who live closest to the LoC. In Azad Kashmir, entire communities have once again been upended by a conflict they did not cause. These people bear the brunt of every cross-border escalation. During the recent skirmishes, over 30 lives were lost, more than 1,100 families were displaced, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. Even now, with a fragile ceasefire in place, children carry invisible psychological scars, and the dread of renewed violence hangs thick in the air. Meanwhile, Indian television channels continue to fuel the fire. Instead of welcoming the ceasefire, several news anchors and talk show hosts appear to be more interested in inciting further aggression. Guests scream for retribution. Hashtags trend are calling for war. There's something deeply disturbing about watching a media ecosystem treat the prospect of large-scale violence as entertainment. This isn't journalism - it's provocation dressed as patriotism. The hysteria began almost immediately after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Without waiting for any investigation, many Indian news outlets - most of them backed by powerful business interests with ties to the ruling Hindu nationalist party - pointed fingers at Pakistan. Some even went so far as to suggest military strikes before the Indian government had made any official statement. Social media added fuel to the fire. From across the border came a flood of memes and hate-filled posts aimed at Pakistanis. For me, it was especially disheartening. As a law graduate from the United States, I shared classrooms and dormitories with Indian students. We were taught the values of peace, equality, and respect for all nationalities. To see some of those same people reposting venomous content online is deeply unsettling. It felt like the war wasn't just being fought in the skies or at the borders, but on timelines, newsfeeds and WhatsApp groups. Even prominent artists - usually voices of peace and cultural diplomacy - joined the chorus of hostility. Some, ironically designated as UN Ambassadors for Peace, fanned the flames instead of promoting calm. These dark days have shown how deeply hate can penetrate even the most idealistic circles. Unsurprisingly, India's leadership has struggled to sell the ceasefire as a win. The lack of a decisive military success, combined with domestic political pressures, has led to fears that further escalation may still be on the table, and the Indian aggressor may strike Pakistan with greater force. In Pakistan, the mood has been one of pride, especially after the air force successfully downed Indian aircraft in retaliation - an act New Delhi refused to acknowledge. But even amid that pride, we must remember: there is no glory in war. Victory, if one dares to call it that, comes with funerals and broken homes. The new normal that this conflict has introduced is alarming. Future tensions between India and Pakistan may no longer be limited to cross-border firing. Drone strikes, cyberattacks and covert operations are increasingly part of the strategic landscape. This escalation presents multiple new threats, and the primary victims will, as always, be ordinary civilians. Pakistan must prepare for this evolving threat landscape, given that it has exercised considerable restraint. Even after the recent hijacking of the Jaffer Express in Balochistan - an attack that many believe was aided by Indian intelligence - Pakistan has not opted for indiscriminate retaliation. The involvement of convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav in destabilising efforts across Balochistan only adds to the list of provocations. India may have acted as the aggressor, but Pakistan has responded with caution and responsibility. Our response has been defensive, not expansionist. Our air force's success in repelling Indian attacks further reinforced our commitment to deterrence, not destruction. War should not be glorified. It should be feared, avoided and condemned. Peace must not be framed as weakness, and diplomacy must never be drowned out by drumbeats of war.
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
A fragile silence
When President Donald Trump recently claimed victory in mediating ceasefires in Ukraine, Gaza, and now between India and Pakistan, he presented himself as a peacemaker able to halt global violence. Yet silencing guns is not a sign of true peace. Temporary truces leave deep structural issues unresolved, deeply intensifying political wounds—ignored and unaddressed by a leader whose interest in peace appears limited to transactional quick fixes rather than sustainable resolutions. In South Asia, where Trump's latest intervention resulted in a fragile halt to the worst India-Pakistan clashes in decades, the core issues remain untouched, risking further—and potentially catastrophic—escalations. American presidents have historically held a strong influence in times of crises between Islamabad and New Delhi. In previous conflicts, notably in 1965, 1971 and even Kargil, the US mediated discreetly, emphasizing diplomatic dialogue, compromise, and conflict resolution. Trump's recent ceasefire, though publicly celebrated, lacks exactly this depth. It hinges merely on the immediate silencing of weapons, overlooking underlying triggers that brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to near-war. The catalyst for the recent escalation was April's tragic attack in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. India quickly attributed blame to Pakistan, without sharing any concrete evidence or allowing a neutral investigation despite Pakistan's insistence. India's eventual reaction—Operation Sindoor—was framed as a non-escalatory, defensive measure. The reality, however, was starkly different from what was claimed. Indian strikes included residential areas, mosques, and essential civilian infrastructure such as the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. This was clearly a provocation, and that too, without any basis. What followed was a series of events with both sides escalating until Trump's intervention prevailed. But the ceasefire ignores a critically overlooked oversight: the absence of a neutral, international investigation into the Pahalgam incident. Turkish President Erdogan had wisely suggested such an international probe, recognizing its value in establishing accountability. Without investigation and transparency, India's aggressive military response remains dangerously legitimized, incentivizing future similar actions. Trump, despite portraying himself as a mediator, has so far failed to secure this foundational prerequisite for a lasting peace. The second oversight is even more perilous: the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India and the deliberate omission of its restoration in peace talks. Long regarded as one of the world's most resilient water-sharing agreements, this treaty—brokered by the World Bank in 1960—has been pivotal to regional stability. India's decision to choke off Chenab river flows, drastically reducing water discharge from 35,000 cusecs to merely 3,100, has not only jeopardized millions of Pakistani livelihoods but deliberately 'weaponized' water to exacerbate regional tensions. Indian construction of upstream dams, notably Pakal Dul and Baglihar, violates explicit treaty clauses requiring mutual consultation and cooperation. Such provocations are not minor disputes. They constitute acts of strategic hostility, carrying direct humanitarian consequences and significantly undermining trust between two nuclear-armed states. Yet Trump's mediation made no mention of restoring treaty compliance or initiating a World Bank-led dialogue to manage water grievances. In the past, multilateral institutions like the World Bank actively brokered disputes, as opposed to being just passive observers. They facilitated dialogues and effectively mediated crises related to treaty violations. Today, as Trump's administration proudly announces a ceasefire, this critical institutional role has been abandoned. In doing so, the United States allows a dangerous precedent to form: agreements signed under international auspices can be suspended with impunity if a state chooses unilateral action. This negligence mirrors Trump's approach elsewhere. In Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues his devastating war, repeatedly breaking Trump brokered cease-fire terms. Trump's support for Netanyahu has been unwavering, yet that relationship has failed to bring meaningful resolution to the plight of hostages, reduce civilian casualties, or secure lasting stability. Temporary ceasefires in Palestine, too, ignore the fundamental issue of its statehood and sovereignty, ensuring repeated cycles of endless violence. Similarly, in Ukraine, Trump announced a fragile truce with Russia, ignoring fundamental Ukrainian demands for territorial sovereignty and lasting security assurances. Despite entering into a minerals deal with Ukraine, no meaningful peace has yet been achieved; Russian missiles continue to strike civilian areas, confirming the limitations of ceasefires that address symptoms rather than core political conflicts. In all these scenarios—Ukraine, Gaza, and South Asia—Trump's diplomacy follows a similar disturbing pattern. Immediate violence is paused, but the underlying drivers of conflict remain untouched, virtually guaranteeing future instability. Trump's transactional diplomacy values headlines over lasting outcomes, spotlighting short-term fixes rather than long-term strategic engagements essential for true peace. For Pakistan, the implications of this fragile peace are especially severe. The country faces an existential climate threat, grave economic challenges due to IMF-imposed austerity, and soaring poverty levels that are already exacerbating domestic instability. With the Indus Waters Treaty sidelined, agricultural disruptions will only intensify food insecurity, heightening socio-economic stresses. Pakistan's strategic calculus must factor in these striking realities. A lasting peace requires resolving these core economic and environmental tensions, not just the cessation of fire. An independent international investigation into the Pahalgam incident, as President Erdogan rightly proposed, is crucial not only for justice but also to rebuild trust and de-escalate regional tensions. Equally urgent is restoring India's adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty, ensuring reliable water flow and cooperative river management. Without both steps, Trump's ceasefire is dangerously incomplete, risking imminent collapse. The question now for the international community—and especially institutions like the World Bank—is whether they will step back into their essential mediation roles. The treaty violations must trigger swift, impartial action, reaffirming the global order's foundational commitment to diplomatic resolution and multilateral accountability. Ultimately, Trump's brand of quick-fix diplomacy must give way to more robust, sustainable international engagement. True peace requires tackling underlying issues, establishing genuine accountability, and ensuring enforceable treaty compliance. Otherwise, we risk repeating cycles of violence, each more dangerous and costlier than the last. This latest ceasefire comes with a silver lining for world peace—an opportunity that Trump and the international community must urgently seize to address the deeper crises at hand. The clock is ticking, and temporary solutions will no longer suffice. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
