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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Arrest of young Delhi man over alleged al-Qaida links stuns neighbours, acquaintances
The arrest of Mohammed Faiq , a 25-year-old delivery boy from the bustling neighbourhood of Farash Khana in central Delhi, by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for suspected connections with al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has stunned neighbours and acquaintances into disbelief. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Healthcare MBA healthcare others CXO Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Degree Data Science Data Analytics Management PGDM Others Finance Leadership Project Management Technology Product Management Public Policy Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Faiq, who has lived in the area for 15 years alongside his family, is said to have maintained a low profile, focusing primarily on his job at a local fast-food outlet. His arrest has sent ripples through the close-knit community, where many are grappling with disbelief over the allegations, The Times of India reported on July 25. Residents of Farash Khana have expressed shock at the news of Faiq's arrest. Neighbour Mohammed Shamim, who runs a local book-binding shop, recalled Faiq as a humble and quiet individual, stating, 'His family has been living here for years. We can't believe he had links with terrorists.' Other neighbours echoed similar sentiments, noting that Faiq rarely interacted beyond casual greetings, ToI's report (by Khushi Bhuta) said. Imran, another local resident, told the reporter that Faiq was often seen commuting to work, rarely lingering in the area. Live Events Further testimony came from Mohammed Fukran, the owner of a nearby medical store, who recounted a recent friendly conversation with Faiq during a prayer meeting. 'He was someone who would mind his business and seemed to have a good nature,' Fukran shared, clearly disturbed by the developments surrounding his acquaintance. Allegations and Investigations: The Rise of Digital Radicalisation The Gujarat ATS has made serious allegations against Faiq, claiming he was in contact with multiple Pakistani Instagram accounts that purportedly provided him with jihadi materials. In the course of the investigation, authorities reportedly seized radical literature and a video showing Faiq brandishing a sword while chanting religious slogans.
The Diplomat
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Trump Touches a Raw Nerve in Delhi
The U.S. president has not only disregarded Indian sensitivities with his recent comments on mediation but is also cozying up to Pakistan. India's relationship with the United States is under strain. On June 18, Trump hosted Pakistani Army Chief Gen Asim Munir for a lunch meeting at the White House. While his courting of Munir was probably aimed at enlisting Pakistan's support for U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and sealing deals on cryptocurrency and trade in critical minerals, the meeting is likely to have involved discussions and decisions that will impact India. 'There would have been a quid pro quo,' an Indian government official told The Diplomat on condition of anonymity. 'Trump would have agreed to provide Pakistan with new military aid and to boost its military capabilities through the sale of advanced fighter aircraft, among other things. Given Trump's newfound interest in mediation and peace-making, he could have promised Munir that he would push India to accept a settlement of the Kashmir conflict.' Trump's meeting with Munir came days after General Michael Kurilla, commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' of the U.S. in countering terrorism and praised its role in the 'arrest and extradition' of Islamic State Khorasan terrorists. Kurilla's high praise of Pakistan's contribution as a counter-terrorism partner marks an important shift in the Trump administration's perception of Pakistan. In 2017, Trump had slammed Pakistan for providing 'safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond.' Although the U.S. had given Pakistan billions of dollars in aid, 'they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting,' he said. The Trump administration's newfound appreciation of Pakistan's value in countering terrorism comes at a time when India has stepped up highlighting Islamabad's role in supporting anti-India terrorism. The U.S. support to India on this matter has disappointed Delhi in recent months. Although the U.S. expressed solidarity with India after the terrorist attack at Pahalgam on April 22, it did not support India's right to self-defense once India's launched military strikes on Pakistan, adopting instead a cautious, even neutral position, calling for a quick end to the military exchanges. Despite India's opposition to third parties intervening in India-Pakistan conflicts, the U.S. reportedly brokered the May 10 ceasefire. Not only did the ceasefire come at a time when the war was going against Pakistan, but also, Trump repeatedly boasted about having mediated the agreement and arm-twisting the two sides with trade deals to end the war. This did not go down well in India. Trump hyphenated or equated India with Pakistan, which Delhi loathes. Besides, he put the Narendra Modi government in an embarrassing spot as India has traditionally opposed third-party mediation in its conflicts with Pakistan. In effect, the U.S. president 'undermined carefully developed political understandings on key issues, especially on Kashmir and Pakistan,' C. Raja Mohan, distinguished fellow at the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, wrote in the Indian Express. Among the 'understandings' that Trump disregarded with his 'loose cannon comments was India's long-standing opposition to third parties playing a role in settling India-Pakistan conflicts,' the government official said. Washington's praise of Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts was particularly offensive to New Delhi as it came less than two months after the Pahalgam attack. Trump's courting of the Pakistani military, which India sees as the patrons of the anti-India terrorist groups, was particularly distasteful. 'Public opinion in India now tends to see the U.S. as an unreliable partner,' Ajay Bisaria, a former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, told DW. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Trump's re-election as president was welcomed in India. Trump 2.0 was expected to work in India's favor. After all, despite bilateral differences on the Russia-Ukraine war and hiccups on immigration and trade issues, India-U.S. bilateral relations warmed during Trump's first term, benefiting from not only the personal rapport between Trump and Modi but also the strong bipartisan consensus that existed in the U.S. on the importance of India-U.S. cooperation. With Trump back in the White House, India-U.S. relations were expected to deepen, especially since the new Trump team had several officials of Indian origin or said to be closer to India on India-Pakistan issues. However, things have not gone according to that script. Since February, thousands of Indian nationals have been deported back to India for illegally entering the U.S. They were sent back in chains on a 40-hour flight home. Indian foreign ministry officials reportedly objected to their shackling and raised the issue with their American counterparts. But that did not alter the U.S. mistreatment and humiliation of Indian nationals. Then, with regard to the imposition of 'reciprocal tariffs' on U.S. trade partners, Trump showed India no leniency. While the 26 percent tariff imposed on India is lower than that on several Asian countries, the U.S. has sealed a deal with China. With little over a week to go for the July 9 deadline, a trade deal with India remains elusive. Should India be worried about the downturn in its relations with the U.S.? Not overly. The U.S. has warmed up to Pakistan and its generals in the past as well, and India has weathered previous crises that emerged from fraying ties with Washington. Besides, the India-U.S. partnership today enjoys bipartisan consensus in the U.S., and draws its resilience and strength from the firm institutional foundation, shared strategic vision, converging interests and structural logic that defines the partnership. U.S. national security documents not only see India as a 'major defense partner' but also as a 'like-minded partner and leader in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, active in and connected to Southeast Asia,' and a 'driving force of the Quad and a net security provider in the region.' The U.S. is no doubt important for India, but so is India to the U.S. In its response to the Trump-Munir meeting, India said last week that it is 'confident' that India's relations with the U.S. would continue to be the 'most consequential partnership of the 21st century.' 'Our partnership with the United States is wide ranging, grounded in shared democratic values and growing strategic convergence,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. This confidence stems from the broad and deep foundation on which the India-U.S. partnership is based. And yet India must not underestimate Trump's capacity to damage bilateral relations in pursuit of his interests. Without responding shrilly to every remark that he makes, India should be proactive in protecting the partnership. While the White House plays a central role in foreign policy making, there are other actors, including the U.S. Congress, business corporations, civil society and the Indian diaspora, whose support India must draw upon. The powerful Indian diaspora is known to have played a key role in swinging U.S. foreign policy decisions in India's favor in the past, as with the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal. Unfortunately, it has been reduced to playing cheerleaders at Modi-Trump public events in recent years. Instead, India should draw on the diaspora's connections to articulate not the narrow vision of any party or person, but the long-term interests of the country.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How the world can pressure Pakistan on terrorism
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 16, 2025 )Operation Sindoor has been a brilliant tactical success as a just payback for Pakistan's brazen terrorist acts against India. However, Pakistan's terror machine remains largely intact. Our larger Pakistan problem--the single minded hostility of its army-led establishment—also remains unresolved. The bilateral relationship, such as it was, has completely broken down. It is too early to attempt putting it together. But going forward, it may be opportune to reflect on our approach towards this difficult advertisement First, cessation of military action has held, but the current equilibrium is unstable. The position of the two countries on substantive issues remains widely divergent. In spite of India's stern message, there is a surreal atmosphere of triumphalism in Pakistan. The army has consolidated its position, at least for now. The Pakistanis seem encouraged by the relatively neutral stance of the US, for reasons not yet fully clear, during the recent crisis. Therefore, we need to keep a close eye on Pakistan over the coming weeks and months, while using the communication channel between the DGMOs to impart greater stability to the our political and media discourse has generated unrealistic expectations regarding our goals vis-a-vis Pakistan. This was evident in the widespread disappointment at our government's rational decision to cease military action on May 10 after Pakistan came around to doing so. Let us be clear that Pakistan is not about to collapse or disintegrate, is not a pushover militarily, and a fight to the finish with a nuclear armed country is an extremely dangerous proposition. The intended message having been delivered through Operation Sindoor, we need to eschew jingoism and bring realism in our public discourse on Pakistan. Third, Pakistani terror against us has gone down significantly from its heyday. Nevertheless, there is no sign of the Pakistani establishment giving up its hostility towards India or its corollary—the instrument of terror. Therefore, our terror grid must remain in top gear. However, a goal of zero terrorism is unrealistic because in spite of their best efforts, security forces cannot prevent the enemy from slipping through our defences our experience during the recent crisis has shown yet again that the policy of isolating Pakistan has its limitations. The international community is well aware of Pakistan's deep involvement in terrorism, but is wary of a military escalation under the nuclear overhang. While our concerns on terrorism are much better appreciated today than till the turn of the century, other major countries, including Pakistan's partners in the Islamic world, go by their own interests and are not about to abandon it. This should not prevent us from using our growing clout to bring as much international pressure as possible to bear on Pakistan. An obvious area is to work with our partners to bring Pakistan again under greater scrutiny from the Financial Action Task calibrated covert punitive activity and grey-zone tactics, with less chance of an escalation, should in general be our preferred response to Pakistani terror. However, for obvious reasons, chest-thumping about such activity is counterproductive. Further, coercion, though indispensable in managing Pakistan, should be a means to an end, with its impact being leveraged at an appropriate stage through dialogue and diplomacy to nudge the adversary to a more reasonable posture. Coercion as an end in itself is prone to heightened violence and though China was not directly a party to the military skirmish with Pakistan, the China-Pakistan nexus was palpable through the crisis. This growing nexus demands an increase in allocation of resources to our armed Sabharwal is a former High Commissioner to PakistanSubscribe to India Today MagazineTune InMust Watch
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Why is Punjab being remote-controlled from Delhi?' asks Bajwa; it seems the AAP leadership wants to expedite the loot of Punjab: SAD
The appointment of Aam Aadmi Party leader Shaleen Mitra, an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyender Jain, as an OSD to Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh has sparked a row in the state, with the Opposition Congress accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of 'surrendering Punjab to the Delhi leadership'., while the ruling AAP leaders hitting back at the Congress, reminding them of their CM Amarinder Singh's 'handing over the state' to strategist Prashant Kishor. Mitra's appointment as an OSD to the Punjab health minister came amid a row that many leaders from the AAP Delhi were saddled in important positions in Punjab, especially after the party's defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. A photograph of Mitra sitting with Dr Balbir Singh in a meeting went viral on Wednesday. Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa took to X, 'AAP govt appoints Delhi neta Satyendar Jain's PA Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh. Why is Punjab being remote-controlled from Delhi? Jobs for Punjabis or rewards for Delhi aides? @BhagwantMann surrendered Punjab to Delhi wallas.' AAP govt appoints Delhi neta Satyendar Jain's PA Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh. Why is Punjab being remote-controlled from Delhi? Jobs for Punjabis or rewards for Delhi aides?@BhagwantMann surrendered Punjab to Delhi wallas.@INCIndia… — Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) June 4, 2025 Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira posted the appointment letter of Mitra on X, saying, 'This is how @ArvindKejriwal is remote controlling Punjab government! Below is the appointment of Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Health Minister @AAPbalbir! -@ArvindKejriwal has slow by slow captured all vital positions in Punjab and @BhagwantMann is just a 'Dummy' Cm has been kept to tell jokes, dance around, cut ribbons, enjoy his security and cavalcade of cars !' This is how @ArvindKejriwal is remote controlling Punjab government ! Below is appointment of Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Health Minister @AAPbalbir ! –@ArvindKejriwal has slow by slow captured all vital positions in Punjab and @BhagwantMann is just a 'Dummy' Cm has been kept to… — Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) June 4, 2025 However, AAP leaders hit back at the Opposition, for the first time, on the issue of accommodating Delhi leaders in the Punjab government's posts. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema posted on X, 'Wasn't Prashant Kishor's appointment as Chief Advisor to CM a blow to 'Punjab's Pride'? An outsider was handed reins with no accountability, no questions then. @Partap_Sbajwa is now crying foul over an OSD which is pure hypocrisy. AAP is here to deliver, not outsource governance.' AAP spokesperson Neel Garg, too, joined the chorus, 'When @INCIndia made Prashant Kishor the de-facto CM of Punjab, not a single question was raised. No accountability. No protest. Silence from @Partap_Sbajwa. Arusa Alam a Pakistani agent had free access to the CM Office under Congress rule — no files moved without her 'approval'. Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader of Chhattisgarh is Punjab's Congress Prabhari — a clear message that Punjab Congress is on remote control. This is not about governance. This is about Congress' entitlement. #AAP is not Congress. We don't outsource Punjab, we empower Punjabis. We are building systems, not sycophancy.' Shiromani Akali Dal also jumped onto the bandwagon, hitting at AAP. The party wrote on its X handle, 'Another shocking development. Jailed Delhi Aam Aadmi Party minister Satyendra Jain's OSD Shaleen Mitra will now be OSD to the Punjab Health minister. This effectively means this ministry has also been taken over by the corrupt AAP leadership of Delhi. It seems the AAP leadership wants to expedite the loot of Punjab, knowing well that its countdown to being ousted from power has started. The Shiromani Akali Dal is committed to unmasking and punishing each & every corrupt deed once it assumes power in the State.'
Express Tribune
03-06-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Bilawal rejects India's false accusations, reaffirms Pakistan's commitment to peace
Listen to article The high-level parliamentary delegation led by Chairman Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed the member states of OIC at the United Nations on the grave developments in South Asia following India's military aggression and its baseless accusations against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan Parliamentary Delegation Briefs OIC Group of Ambassadors about Regional Situation in South Asia #PeaceWithResponsibility@BBhuttoZardari Read More: — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 3, 2025 Addressing the OIC Permanent Representatives, Bilawal Bhutto categorically rejected India's attempt to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident without any credible investigation or evidence. He highlighted that the hasty attribution of blame was used as a pretext for unlawful military actions, including cross-border strikes, which targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. He expressed grave concern at the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which Pakistan considers a blatant act of weaponizing water and a violation of international and treaty obligations. He made it clear that we cannot allow this to become a new normal. He stressed that due to India's belligerent aggression, the world had become a less safe place, with real and present implications for peace and security in South Asia. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace, restraint, and diplomacy, and called for the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty, full respect for the ceasefire, and the resumption of a comprehensive dialogue with India, with the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at its core. Bilawal Bhutto underlined that the OIC has emerged as the moral conscience of the world in these difficult times and thanked the OIC member states for their steadfast support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains pivotal to the establishment of lasting peace in South Asia. The Permanent Representatives of OIC countries expressed appreciation for Pakistan's transparent and timely briefing and reaffirmed their solidarity with Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They reiterated their concern over the worsening security situation in South Asia and stressed the importance of upholding the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and in this regard, the sanctity of treaties, including the Indus Water Treaty. The OIC countries welcomed Pakistan's commitment to dialogue and diplomacy for the resolution of all disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, by the UN Security Council resolutions. Furthermore, two multi-party delegations dispatched by Pakistan to key world capitals as part of its diplomatic offensive against India began their high-level interactions on June 02, with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led delegation holding talks with China and Russia's UN ambassadors in New York. As I arrive in New York to lead Pakistan's delegation at the UN, I carry a clear message: Pakistan seeks peace with dignity, dialogue with purpose, and partnerships built on justice. The unresolved issue of Kashmir continues to threaten regional peace. Any aggression over shared… — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 2, 2025 On the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, two separate delegations began their tour of New York, Washington, London, Brussels, and Moscow in order to brief these countries about Pakistan's stance because of the recent military escalation with India. Bilawal, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, is currently in New York, leading a nine-member delegation, comprising parliamentarians and former diplomats. Another delegation, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi, is visiting Moscow. According to the Foreign Office, the delegations were scheduled to engage in a series of meetings with the leadership of international bodies, public office holders, senior officials, parliamentarians, think tanks, media, and diaspora. Bilawal started his two-day visit to New York with an interview with a foreign news channel. Later, he met with China's Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, and Russia's Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia. The Permanent Representative of Russian Federation, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called on the high-level parliamentary delegation of Pakistan, led by Chairman Pakistan People's Party and former Foreign Minister @BBhuttoZardari. #PeaceWithResponsibility Read More:… — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 2, 2025 China support Bilawal thanked China for supporting Pakistan during the conflict with India. He apprised the Chinese ambassador of Pakistan's responsible behaviour after the April 22 attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) resort of Pahalgam. نیویارک: پاکستانی سفارتی مشن کے قائد بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی چین کے مستقل مندوب فو کانگ سے اقوام متحدہ کے دفتر میں اہم ملاقات نیویارک: چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور چین کے مستقل مندوب کے درمیان ملاقات میں بھارتی جارحیت اور خطے کی سیکیورٹی صورتحال پر گفتگو نیویارک: سابق وزیر خارجہ… — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 2, 2025 He said that India had rejected Pakistan's offer for a transparent and impartial investigation into the attack. He stressed that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was indispensable for a lasting peace in South Asia. The Pakistan delegation urged China to play its role in this regard. While expressing serious concerns over India's targeting of Pakistani citizens during the four-day conflict, the delegation urged the international community to move beyond conflict management and towards dispute resolution. During the meeting, there was unanimity between both sides in opposing unilateral actions and aggression. Both sides emphasised the need for respecting the UN Charter, international laws, and agreements. They also opposed India's decision to weaponise water. The delegation comprised Dr Musadik Malik; Sherry Rehman; Hina Rabbani Khar; Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan; Faisal Subzwari; Bushra Anjum Butt, Ambassador (retd) Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Ambassador (retd) Tehmina Janjua. Russia briefing The delegation briefed Russia's UN ambassador on the situation following the Pahalgam attack, rejecting India's baseless accusations against Pakistan without any evidence, and highlighting its premature and unilateral actions, including the holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty. Together with Pakistan delegation met with the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN to convey Pakistan's principled stance in the wake of India's unprovoked aggression. Highlighted Pakistan's responsible and measured approach, and underscored the… — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 2, 2025 He noted that Pakistan's measured and proportionate response - guided by restraint and international law - was aimed at preserving regional peace and avoiding a wider conflict. He underlined that Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism, in which more than 80,000 civilians have lost their lives. He also apprised the Russian diplomat of India's sponsorship of terrorism inside Pakistan. He underscored that durable peace in the region hinged on the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute by international law. Humanitarian impact Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik highlighted the humanitarian implications of holding the IWT in abeyance. Highlighting Pakistan's mature and restrained approach, the delegation reiterated the country's commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability. In an interview earlier, Bilawal reiterated Pakistan's desire for peace through "dignity, strength and diplomacy", and termed India's actions after the Pahalgam attack dangerous and a violation of international law. "No lasting solution is possible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he said, emphasising that the current ceasefire should lead to permanent peace, which would come through the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. India's unilateral decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance violated international law and the treaty obligations. "By unilaterally suspending the IWT, India has set a dangerous precedent with implications for regional peace and security," he warned. He added that Pakistan wanted the international community to play its role in facilitating dialogue between Pakistan and India. "We are ready to talk to India on Jammu and Kashmir, IWT, and terrorism," Bilawal pointed out. He also said Pakistan is a victim of terrorism; from the political leadership to the military to Pakistani citizens, we have all been affected by terrorism. "While India committed naked and blatant acts of aggression by violating the international border, Pakistan acted in self-defence," he said. The delegation's US engagements on Tuesday included meetings with US lawmakers, think tanks, and media representatives. A meeting of the Pakistani delegation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also on the cards. The visits of the delegations aim at projecting Pakistan's perspective on the recent Indian aggression. The Foreign Office said that they would engage in a series of meetings with the leadership of international bodies, public office holders, officials, parliamentarians, think tanks, media, and diaspora. "The delegations will highlight Pakistan's responsible and restrained conduct, seeking peace with responsibility, in the face of India's reckless and belligerent actions. They will also highlight that dialogue and diplomacy should take precedence over conflict and confrontation," the Foreign Office said. "The delegations will underscore the imperative for the international community to play its due role in promoting a lasting peace in South Asia. The need for immediate resumption of the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty will also be a key theme of the delegations' outreach." Meanwhile, responding to media queries concerning a flurry of antagonistic statements made by the Indian leaders as well as remarks made by the Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that facts could not be obscured by hollow narratives. The Indian leadership's recent remarks, including those made in Bihar, reflected a deeply troubling mindset that prioritised hostility over peace, the spokesperson stated. "Any attempt to portray Pakistan as the source of regional instability is divorced from reality," he added. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the international community was well aware of India's record of aggressive behaviour, including documented support for terrorist activities within Pakistan. "These facts cannot be obscured by hollow narratives or diversionary tactics." The spokesperson stated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained the core issue and Pakistan would continue to stand firm in advocating for a just and lasting resolution to the dispute in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. "To sidestep this fundamental issue is to condemn the region to continued mistrust and potential confrontation," he said. "The developments of recent weeks have once again underscored the utter futility of jingoism and coercion," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasised that "India cannot and will not achieve its objectives" through threats, misrepresentation, or force, saying that Pakistan was equally resolved to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression. "Durable peace in South Asia demands maturity, restraint, and a willingness to address the root causes of conflict, not the pursuit of narrow political gains at the expense of regional harmony," the Foreign Office spokesperson stated.
