Submit your Article

President Donald Trump termed escalating tensions between India and Pakistan "a shame" and urged a swift resolution following India's strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The move followed a militant strike on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, according to Reuters.

Pakistan promised to respond, raising regional anxieties.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US is closely following the situation and has urged both sides to avoid escalation. He met with national security advisers from both countries, including India's Ajit Doval, who informed him on the strikes, Reuters reported.

While expressing support for India, the United States avoided condemning Pakistan and instead encouraged peaceful engagement. Analysts believe Washington may play a limited role in the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza.

"They'll figure it out one way or another," Trump declared.

India said that it had conducted strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, two weeks after 26 people including a Nepali, most of them tourists, were killed in a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry of India said that nine sites linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack were targeted.

India described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military facilities were hit.

The Indian Army declared on X, “Justice is served.”

Pakistan’s military claimed that India fired missiles from its own territory, killing three civilians and injuring 12, according to Dawn. Indian air defence units along the border have been put on high alert, The Hindu reported.

The UK and India have signed a trade agreement to reduce tariffs and boost exports. UK goods like whisky, gin, cars, food products, and medical devices will face lower duties in India, while Indian exports of clothing, footwear, jewellery, and seafood will become cheaper in the UK, according to BBC.

The deal, expected to take effect within a year, aims to increase bilateral trade by £25.5bn annually by 2040. Tariffs on UK whisky will drop from 150 percent to 75 percent, with further cuts to follow.

It also contains bilateral exemptions from double social security contributions for personnel temporarily transferred between the two nations.

Officials hailed the pact as a significant boost to commerce and jobs, while some UK politicians expressed worries about its tax implications, BBC reported.

The Indian government has unexpectedly dismissed Krishnamurthy Subramanian from his position on the IMF board, six months before his term was supposed to finish. This decision comes only days before a critical IMF board meeting to approve a $1.3bn climate resilience loan for Pakistan, Firstpost reported.

According to government sources, Subramanian's departure was due to his questioning of IMF figures, which occurred amid continuing conflicts between him and the institution. In addition, the former chief economic adviser is facing allegations of misconduct related to his book promotion.

The government has not yet named a replacement, though Finance Secretary Ajay Seth, who is set to retire in June, is being considered. Subramanian, who began his IMF post in November 2022, was appointed for a three-year tenure, as stated by the Firstpost.

The position, which represents India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka at the IMF, is now vacant, with Harischandra Pahath Kumbure Gedara listed as the alternate director.

At least six people were killed and around 80 others injured in a crowd crush at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, Goa, during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival on Friday night, Al Jazeera reported.

The tragedy occurred as tens of thousands of devotees gathered for the widely recognized event, which is famed for its firewalking ceremonies. Chaos broke out in a tiny, steep path near the temple, leading some to tumble and triggering a stampede, according to Director General of Police Alok Kumar.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed great grief and pledged his full support to the victims and their families. According to State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, five of the injured are still critically ill and on ventilator support, while others are receiving treatment in an emergency unit, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and said the local administration is assisting those affected.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Tuesday that his government objected to the inclusion of The Resistance Front (TRF) in a UN Security Council (UNSC) statement denouncing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Firstpost.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Dar stated that Pakistan had two major objections: the statement marked out Pahalgam without mentioning Jammu and Kashmir, and it mentioned TRF without providing sufficient evidence. As a result, neither the location nor any group were mentioned in the final UN Security Council statement.

The April 22 attack killed 26 individuals. TRF, apparently a subsidiary of Lashkar-e-Taiba, first claimed responsibility before later denying it. Dar denied media reports linking TRF to the incident, describing it as a local forum rather than a terrorist organization, Firstpost reported.

He also mentioned that the UNSC statement took more than two days to prepare due to Pakistan's demand on modifications.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Nepali citizen.

The CCS, comprising key ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, and Nirmala Sitharaman, strongly condemned the Pakistan-backed assault and was briefed on its cross-border links, Firstpost reported.

Officials emphasized that the attack occurred during peaceful elections and continuous development in Jammu and Kashmir. In a strong response, the government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, indicating a hardline stance against Pakistan's support for terrorism.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs to conduct a high-level security review.

The Prime Minister expressed entire trust in the military forces and gave them complete operational authority over the time, targets, and mode of response. He emphasized that India will continue to battle terrorism, according to the Firstpost.

Over half of the tourist destinations in India's insurgency-torn Kashmir region were closed to the public from Tuesday, according to a government order reviewed by Reuters, in a move to tighten security after last week's attack on holiday-makers, Reuters reported.

The assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.

India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.

Hindu-majority India accuses Islamic Pakistan of funding and encouraging militancy in Kashmir, the Himalayan region both nations claim in full but rule in part. Islamabad says it only provides moral and diplomatic support to a Kashmiri demand for self-determination, according to Reuters.

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have demolished the houses of at least 10 alleged militants and detained more people for questioning as investigations continue into last week's killings of 26 people, BBC reported.

Indian security forces have used explosives to destroy the properties since last Tuesday's attack on tourists. At least one was reportedly linked to a suspect named in the shootings.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants behind the killings, but has named no group it blames. Islamabad rejects the allegations.

It was the deadliest attack on civilians in two decades in the disputed territory. Both India and Pakistan claim the region and have fought two wars over it, according to BBC.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned Monday of a possible Indian military incursion following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, Firstpost reported.

Asif said Pakistan had reinforced its forces and taken strategic decisions in response to the perceived threat. He emphasized that Pakistan would use nuclear weapons only if its existence were directly threatened.

India has blamed Pakistan for the attack at Pahalgam, but Islamabad denies involvement and has called for an independent investigation. Asif emphasized that India's language was becoming more aggressive, and that the Pakistani military had briefed the government on the possibility of escalation, according to the Firstpost.

The attack has heightened tensions between the two countries, who have fought multiple conflicts over the disputed Kashmir region.

The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets like Dawn News and ARY News, accusing them of spreading provocative content. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s channel, with over 3.5 million subscribers was also restricted, according to the Firstpost.

The action follows a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed. Officials said the banned channels were found disseminating misinformation aimed at inciting communal tensions, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Individual channels owned by Pakistani journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq were also attacked, as were channels such as The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.

As stated by the Firstpost, the Indian government sent a strongly worded letter to the BBC, protesting to the portrayal of the Pahalgam attackers as "militants" in its reporting. Authorities stated that they will closely examine the BBC's future coverage on the matter.

India and France will sign a Rs 63,000 crore agreement on Monday for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, officials said. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the French Ambassador will sign the deal in Delhi; defence ministers of both nations will join virtually, according to the Firstpost.

Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 9, the contract covers 22 single-seat and four twin-seat Rafale M aircraft, along with maintenance, training, logistics, and indigenous production support.

The Rafale M jets will be deployed on INS Vikrant to bolster carrier-based operations amid performance issues with the MiG-29K fleet. The acquisition is a stopgap measure until India’s indigenous carrier-borne fighter is ready, Firstpost reported.

Sources said the signing event is likeli to be held outside the Defence Ministry headquarters at South Block.The addition will expand India’s Rafale fleet to 62, enhancing its 4.5-generation fighter strength.

The U.S. State Department said on Sunday Washington was in touch with both India and Pakistan while urging them to work towards what it called a "responsible solution" as tensions have risen between the two Asian nationsfollowing a recent Islamist militant attack in Kashmir, Reuters reported.

In public, the U.S. government has expressed support for India after the attack but has not criticized Pakistan. India blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed over two dozen people. Pakistan denies responsibility and called for a neutral probe.

"This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels," a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement.

"The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution," the spokesperson added, according to Reuters.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which murdered 26 civilians, but sources suggest Pakistan and China colluded to weaken the official statement.

Unlike the UNSC's 2019 Pulwama statement, which called for cooperation with the "Government of India," the most recent version just mentions "all relevant authorities." According to The Times of India, Pakistan, with China's support, pushed for the softer expression to avoid India taking the lead in the inquiry.

Pakistan, a non-permanent UNSC member, also issued a separate statement expressing “concern” but stopped short of condemning the attack. Islamabad is now demanding for a "independent" investigation, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed support for a neutral investigation.

The US initially proposed a stronger draft, but tough negotiations led to a diluted final version. The move has raised fresh concerns in New Delhi as it tries to manage its uneasy ties with Beijing, The Times of India reported.

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday while reiterating Pakistan’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, said that Pakistan as a responsible country was open to participate ‘in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation’ into Pahalgam incident.

He said contrary to it on the Eastern border, their neighbour continued a pattern of exploitation and levelling of baseless allegations and false accusations without credible investigation or verifiable evidences in the recent tragedy of Pahalgam which was ‘yet another example of this perpetual blame game which must come to a grinding halt.’

Addressing a passing out parade of Pakistan Military Academy cadets, the prime minister said that water had been a vital national interest of Pakistan and lifeline for its 240 million people and “Let there be no doubt at all that its availability would be safeguarded at all costs and circumstances.”

In an apparent reference to India’s announcement of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, the prime minister said “Any attempt to stop, reduce and divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty will be responded to with full force and might and no one should remain under any kind of false impression and confusion.

- APP

Pakistan has called for an international investigation into the deaths of 26 men in Indian-administered Kashmir, expressing a willingness to cooperate with global inspectors.

While India has accused Pakistani groups of being behind the attack, Islamabad strongly denied any participation and criticized New Delhi for using the tragedy to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and pursue domestic interests, Reuters reported.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warned that rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors could result in regional instability and calamity.

Although the group Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack, Indian authorities allege it is linked to Pakistan-based terrorist networks, as stated by Reuters.

Minister Asif rejected these accusations, asserting that such groups are no longer active in Pakistan and that their remaining members are either under house arrest or in custody.