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The Print
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
EAM Jaishankar likely to travel to China this month for SCO meet, bilateral with Wang Yi
Jaishankar likely attending the SCO meeting would be the first time since the Pahalgam terrorist attack that Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers would be in the same room. Also, it will be the first visit to China by the Indian external affairs minister since the clashes at Galwan in the summer of 2020. A person familiar with the matter indicated the likely visit would include a day in Beijing, where Jaishankar will hold a bilateral meeting with Wang, before heading to Tianjin 15 July for SCO foreign ministers' meeting. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is likely to visit China from 13-16 July for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting and a bilateral with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, ThePrint has learnt. The visit by EAM Jaishankar follows National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's travels to China last month for meetings under the different mechanisms of the SCO. With the meetings coming in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Beijing has had a challenging time as the chair of the organisation, which includes both India and Pakistan as members. The defence ministers' meeting did not see consensus for a joint statement. India had objected to skipping the mention of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 26 people dead on 22 April. 'I understand that they (defence ministers) could not adopt a joint statement. I also understand that member countries could not reach a consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised. On our side, India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country, and therefore the statement was not adopted,' External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular press briefing last week. Islamabad had pushed for the inclusion of the Jafar Express attacks in the joint statement, which led to Defence Minister Singh calling for no double standards on terrorism during his address at the meeting. Doval had briefed his counterparts on Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack and urged the forum to shun double standards on terrorism. He urged the members to hold accountable the perpetrators of terrorism, as reported by ThePrint. India and China have taken steps to reduce tensions, starting with an agreement last October to disengage at friction points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The agreement set the stage for a bilateral between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan in October 2024. Subsequently, various bilateral mechanisms have been activated, with Jaishankar meeting Wang on the margins of different multilateral forums, Doval travelling to China twice, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holding consultations in Beijing earlier this year. As part of confidence building measures, China resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, with the first batch of pilgrims reaching the site at the end of June. India and China are in the process of ironing out the technical details to allow for the resumption of direct flights that have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic. The SCO is a regional grouping, with 10 members, including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus. There are two standing bodies – the Secretariat located in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) headquartered in Tashkent. Both India and Pakistan were made members of the inter-governmental organisation in 2017. India chaired the leaders' summit of the SCO virtually in July 2023. The Council of Heads of States (leaders' summit) will be held in the Chinese city of Tianjin this year. The meeting is expected to be held in September 2025. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Need permanent solution to border issue, Rajnath Singh tells China on sidelines of SCO meet
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NA expresses solidarity with armed forces
Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Friday expressed their unflinching solidarity with the Pakistan Armed Forces in the ongoing conflict with India, reaffirming their resolve to take revenge from India for every martyr, who died in Indian missile and drone attacks this week. The National Assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa, continued debate on the India aggression on the fifth consecutive day. During the session the opposition members also vowed to make every sacrifice for the security but insisted on the release of the party founder. Initiating the debate, Sanjay Parwani of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that the secular India had now turned into an extremist India, adding that even the Hindus had never expected what Prime Minister Nerendra Modi had done to his country. In Modi's India, he said, not only the Muslims and other minorities, but even lower-caste Hindus were not safe. "Hindus in Pakistan should be thankful that they are safer here than those in India," he told the house. Sadiq Ali Memon of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that India had mistaken Pakistan for Gaza by sending drones and missiles. "The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) gave a befitting reply to India. Pakistan's case has been strengthened before the comity of the nations." Shahid Khattak of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that Pakistan was at war with India, therefore, the country needed national unity. While referring to PTI founder Imran Khan, he however added, unity could not be achieved if the country's "popular leader is kept in jail". "If there is a war with India, we will stand with the military leadership," he said. He accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership for not being sincere with the country. "They will push the people into war and then flee to London. Pakistan is ours, we will stay here," he said. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said that Modi was the butcher of Gujarat, who thought that he could break Pakistan but he was sorely mistaken. "India martyred our innocent children. In response to its attacks, we shot down their warplanes, and crushed their military might." He asserted that Modi was committing terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). India is responsible for the Jafar Express hijacking in March this year. "We want to tell the world that whoever kills one of our soldiers, we will kill one hundred in return and we will not spare even their proxies." Continuing, he said that India did what it could do and "now it is our turn", adding: "The world will see what we will do to her" now. "We already have shot down its planes, blew up a brigade headquarters and an airbase," he said. PTI's Asad Qaiser said that the opposition supported the resolution the treasury side had brought against India but the government was not reciprocating its gesture. "We went to meet the party founder in Adiala Jail, but the police "misbehaved with us". Was this called the national unity, he questioned Referring to the apex court verdict on the military trials earlier this week, he said that at the time, when the national unity was needed, a "controversial" decision came from the Supreme Court. He added that the court orders for Imran's meetings were being violated. "India knows where Imran Khan is imprisoned, so his life is in danger," Qaiser said. Therefore, he urged the government fulfil its responsibility for the sake of national unity, and release Imran in the current circumstances. Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said that India tried to harm Pakistan in 2019 but the PAF took a bold step and we taught her a lesson. "Everyone remembers [captured Indian pilot] Abhinandan. Now India carried out drone attacks on Pakistan with the help of Israel," he added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that questions were being raised in India over the downing of Rafale jets. India lost its pride with the downing of Rafale jets, he added. "Now, when India was defeated in the air, it resorted to unmanned drone attacks." PTI's Zartaj Gul said that how could the government speak of the national unity, when an elected chief minister was stopped by police and denied meeting with his leader. She added that when Modi could meet his opponent Rahul Gandhi, the government should also release the PTI founder. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while responding to the opposition's speeched, welcomed the unanimous message against India. He repeated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's offer for sitting together and taking the country forward. He said that the military had been given the authority to respond to India, whenever it wanted. "Our soldiers have avenged the martyrdom of our innocent citizens by shooting India's soldiers. "Modi's arrogance has been shattered and India will be torn into pieces," he said. "Every single drop of the blood of our martyrs is being, and will be avenged. Pakistan has and does not intend to behave aggressively against any country, but if anyone tried to provoke us, we will kill them," the minister told the house. Later, the session was adjourned until Monday.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan minister embarrassed as anchor fact-checks his claim on live TV
Hours after India's targeted strike on terror camps in Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor,' Pakistan's information and broadcasting minister Attaullah Tarar faced an awkward and embarrassing moment on live television when Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim fact-checked his claim that Islamabad is a 'victim of terrorism.' Attaullah Tarar was embarrassed on live TV when Yalda Hakim fact-checked his claim.('X'/@SkyYaldaHakim) During an interview on Sky News, Tarar was briefing over the damages caused by Indian strike and Pakistan government's stance on terrorism, when he said, 'Let me make it very clear, there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We are fighting terrorism on our western borders." His response came after Hakim questioned him over India's claim of targeting nine strategic locations of different terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba's stronghold in Mudrike and Jaish-e-Mohammad's camp at Bahawalpur. Tarar went on to say that, 'We (Pakistan) are the frontline state against terrorism. We have laid down 90 thousand lives in this war against terrorism.' "India, on the other hand, when we had the Jafar Express hijacking, India did not even condemn it, let alone express any concern about the incident," the Pakistan minister continued. Hakim cut in, referencing Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's recent admission—made during her earlier program—that his country had carried out the 'dirty work' of sponsoring terrorism on behalf of the United States for nearly three decades. "On my programme, just a week ago, your defence minister Khawaja Asif admitted that Pakistan has for decades had a policy of funding, backing and using terrorist groups as proxies in the country (India),' the anchor said, pointing out the fact that in 2018, President Donald Trump cut military aid to Pakistan alleging Islamabad of playing a 'double game'. WATCH Full video here: Referring to high-profile statements from within Pakistan's own leadership, she remarked, 'When you say there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan, that directly contradicts what General Pervez Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto, and even your current defence minister said just last week. Bilawal Bhutto himself told me only days ago that supporting terrorist organisations has historically been a part of Pakistan's policies.' The minister appeared visibly unsettled, fumbling for a response before asserting, 'After 9/11, Pakistan became a frontline state in the war against terror. We continue to be a bulwark against terrorism and act as guarantors of global peace.' He then proceeded to invite Hakim to visit Pakistan to see the situation firsthand. Unfazed, Hakim delivered a pointed reminder. 'I have been to Pakistan—and let's not forget, Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind 9/11, was found hiding in Abbottabad, right there in Pakistan.' She further dismissed the attempt to shift the narrative to the past, stating firmly, 'Dragging the conversation back to the 1990s won't change much—Pakistan was on the UN's grey list for terror financing just a few years ago.' India launches strike against Pakistan-based terror camps Codenamed 'Operation Sindoor', the strikes were carried out using drones and missiles, targeting nine strategic locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. 'It was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 attack be brought to justice,' foreign secretary Vikram Misri said at a press briefing, referring to the deadly attack in Pahalgam last month. The operation comes amid heightened tensions after Indian intelligence agencies flagged imminent threats from Pakistan-based terror groups. 'Our intelligence monitoring of Pakistan-based terrorist modules indicated that further attacks against India were impending,' Misri noted. He also emphasized that India acted after seeing 'no demonstrable' steps from Pakistan to address the situation.
NDTV
07-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pakistan Minister Attaullah Tarar's "No Terror Camps" Claim Gets Fact Checked On Live TV
New Delhi: Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar was left red-faced on live television after Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim fact-checked his country's history of supporting terrorist organisations, just hours after India's military action on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). During an appearance on Sky News, Tarar alleged that the Indian ministry targeted civilian areas - a claim that was dismantled by Hakim. "The Indian armed forces have said that they only targeted terrorist camps and not Pakistani military facilities," the anchor said. India carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke. Afghan journalist Yalda Hakim exposed 🇵🇰's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar in a TV interview. — Every Voice Matters 🇮🇳 (@Speaks_For_All) May 7, 2025 Tarah tried to deny the fact, saying, "Let me make it very clear, there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We are fighting terrorism on our western borders. We are the frontline state against terrorism. We have laid down 90 thousand lives in this war against terrorism." "India, on the other hand, when we had the Jafar Express hijacking, India did not even condemn it, let alone express any concern about the incident," Tarar claimed on the show. Hakim interjected, pointing to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's recent admission on her earlier show about his country doing "dirty work" of sponsoring terrorism for the United States for three decades. "On my programme, just a week ago, your Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted that Pakistan has for decades had a policy of funding, backing and using terrorist groups as proxies in the country (India). In fact, in 2018, President Donald Trump cut military aid to Pakistan because he accused Pakistan of playing a double game,' she said. She continued, "So, when you say there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan, that is going against what General Parvez Musharraf has said, what Benazir Bhutto has said, what your Defence Minister has said just a week ago. In fact, Bilawal Bhutto told me a few days ago that funding and backing terrorist organisations have been and was part of Pakistan's history." Tarar struggled to respond before claiming, "Post 9/11, Pakistan was a frontline state, and we still are a frontline state in eliminating terrorism. We are the guarantor of world peace because we are the wall between terrorists and the rest of the world." He then proceeded to invite Hakim to visit Pakistan. At this point, she reminded the Pakistani Minister that Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who was the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attack, was found in Pakistan's Abbottabad, before being gunned down by the US military in 2011. "I have been to Pakistan, and we know that Osama Bin Laden was discovered in Abbottabad in Pakistan," she said. India on Wednesday said it exercised its right to respond, preempt, as well as deter more cross-border attacks such as the one in Pahalgam, and asserted that it focused on dismantling the terror infrastructure and disabling terrorists. In a statement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stressed the actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. Recalling the United Nations Security Council press statement on the Pahalgam attack, Misri said it underlined the "need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice". "India's latest action should be seen in this context," Misri added.
News18
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Minister Denies Terror Camps After India's Op Sindoor, Anchor Shuts Him Down On Live TV
Last Updated: India avenged Pahalgam terror attack with strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK early Wednesday. Pakistan minister was fact-checked by anchor as he denied having terror camps Pakistan I&B minister Attaullah Tarar was left speechless and stumped in a television interview shortly after India struck Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor early Wednesday. Tarar claimed that Pakistan did not have terrorist camps, a brazen statement which was immediately fact-checked by Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim, who pointed out Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's recent admission on her earlier show that his country has been doing this 'dirty work" for the United States for three decades. 'Let me make it very clear, there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We are the frontline state against terrorism. Indi,a on the other hand, when we had the Jafar Express hijacking, India did not even condemn it," Tarar claimed on the show. @SkyYaldaHakim 👏 — Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) May 6, 2025 As the anchor pointed out, Asif's recent admission, the Pakistani minister invited her to Pakistan. 'Post 9/11 was the frontline state in eliminating terrorism. I would like to invite you to Pakistan," he said. She reminded Tarar that Osama bin Laden, the 9/11 mastermind who was gunned down by the US military in Pakistan in 2011, was found in Abbottabad. 'I have been to Pakistan, and we know that Osama Bin Laden was discovered in Abbottabad in Pakistan," she responded. Terming India as the 'aggressor", the Pakistani minister said that Pakistan would respond to India's 'provocation". 'We are responding. We shot down their planes. India is the provocator and aggressor," he said. India, avenging the Pahalgam terror attack, struck 9 terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early Wednesday. The Indian armed forces executed the precision strike deep inside Pakistan without crossing the LoC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the situation at night, according to sources. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
