"Indias terrorist exports have gone from regional to global. From a serving Indian naval commander, Kulbhushan Jadhav, convicted in Pakistan on terrorism and espionage charges, to Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty in the United States for plotting the murder of a Sikh leader at the direction of the Indian Government, and others implicated in assassinations carried out in Canada, Indias record speaks for itself.Right of Reply by Counsellor, Ms. Saima Saleem During the General Debate of High-Level Week of 81st Session in Response to Remarks of Indian Representative"
In recent years, allegations surrounding India's involvement in terrorism and espionage have gained momentum, drawing significant international scrutiny. Central to these accusations are cases such as that of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer sentenced in Pakistan for terrorism and espionage. His case has become emblematic of what many view as a broader pattern of India exporting its proxy conflicts beyond South Asia.
In addition to Jadhav, other incidents signal a troubling trend. Nikhil Gupta, who recently pleaded guilty in the United States for conspiring to assassinate a Sikh leader, reportedly acted under the direction of Indian officials, highlighting that tensions are escalating even in foreign territories. Furthermore, allegations involving the targeting of activists and dissidents in countries such as Canada have raised alarms about India's expanding covert operations abroad.
Supporters of these claims argue that India's actions are driven by a strategic imperative to counter its regional adversaries, especially Pakistan. However, critics contend that this approach jeopardizes international peace and security, contributing to a growing isolation for India. The link between national politics and international incidents reflects a dangerous merging of state power with shadowy movements aimed at influencing or eliminating opposition abroad.
The international community has reacted cautiously to these developments. While some countries have expressed solidarity with India, citing its contributions to regional stability and counterterrorism, others are increasingly concerned about the ethical implications of its actions. Reports of extrajudicial killings and espionage have led to calls from various human rights organizations for accountability and transparency.
The United Nations and several Western nations have issued statements urging all countries to adhere to international laws governing state-sponsored actions abroad. This growing discourse is indicative of an interplay between geopolitical alliances and a global accountability framework that countries like India may have to navigate more carefully moving forward.
As the record surrounding Indias alleged support for terrorism continues to unfold, it will be imperative for Indian policymakers to engage constructively with the international community. By fostering open dialogues and addressing these allegations head-on, India can not only improve its global standing but also enhance its diplomatic relationships.
The path forward should prioritize peace and mutual respect among nations, encouraging India to adopt more transparent and responsible approaches to addressing security concerns. The focus must shift from a regional to a global perspective, cultivating relationships that transcend narrow strategic calculations.
Pakistan recovered from losing the third set to win 25-16, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20 in their Pool ‘A’ opener at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium. They will next face Uzbekistan on Monday before taking on hosts Japan in their final group match.
Murad Khan was Pakistan’s leading scorer with 21 points, including 17 successful spikes and four blocks. Usman Faryad Ali contributed 14 points, Jehan Murad 11 and Musawer Khan nine as Pakistan dominated the attacking exchanges and finished with 92 total points against Kazakhstan’s 83.
Pakistan’s blocking, however, remained an area of concern, with Kazakhstan registering 10 blocks to Pakistan’s seven. The Pakistanis were nevertheless more effective in attack, converting 55 of 114 spikes compared to Kazakhstan’s 48 of 113.
The victory provides Pakistan with an early advantage in a pool that also includes Japan and Uzbekistan. Iran are the defending men’s champions, having won the previous three editions, while Pakistan’s group also contains the hosts, who will be among the contenders for the medals.
At the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, Noor completed a 3-0 victory over Ashab in the men’s singles third-place playoff, winning 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 in 26 minutes.
The result did not alter the medal positions, with both players already assured of bronze after losing their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Their progress into the last four had ensured Pakistan’s return to the individual squash medal table after 17 years.
Noor had gone down 3-0 to Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng in the semi-final, while Ashab was beaten in straight games by India’s Abhay Singh. The two Pakistanis had nevertheless produced one of the country’s strongest campaigns at the Games, reaching the semi-finals of the individual event in the same edition for the first time since 2002.
The two squash bronzes take Pakistan’s medal haul to four, alongside the bronze won by the women’s cricket team and Asim Khan’s bronze in the men’s 60kg MMA event. Pakistan had entered Sunday with two medals from the two events and added the squash medals after both players’ semi-final defeats.
There was little joy for Pakistan in fencing, however, as the men’s épée team lost 7-5 to Qatar in the table-of-16 round at the Aichi Sky Expo. Mohammad Abdulali and Baryal Waqas Khan won individual relays, but Pakistan could not overturn Qatar’s advantage.
In shooting, Rabia Kabir finished 41st in the women’s 25m pistol qualification after scoring 278-4x. Kishmala Talat, meanwhile, was listed as a non-starter. South Korea’s Yang Jiin topped the qualification with 292-11x, while Iran’s Haniyeh Rostamiyan and Vietnam’s Trinh Thu Vinh occupied the next two positions.
Athletics offered a brighter note through Ansar Abbas, who qualified for the men’s long jump final with a personal-best 7.28 metres. He finished seventh in the qualification, with Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov topping the standings at 8.00m and India’s Murali Sreeshankar qualifying second with 7.84m.
Pakistan’s tennis campaign, which began on Sunday, produced mixed results. Aqeel Khan and Mohammad Shoaib progressed from the men’s doubles first round with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Mongolia’s Mandakh Davaadash and Sonompuntsag Enkhjargal. The Pakistani pair dominated the match, winning 54 points to their opponents’ 23.
Mahin Aftab Qureshi, however, was eliminated from the women’s singles after losing 6-1, 6-1 to Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej. The Thai player won 54 points to Qureshi’s 24 and converted six of seven break-point opportunities.
The day’s volleyball success came as Pakistan’s hockey and cricket campaigns moved closer to important fixtures. The hockey side, which had opened the competition with a series of victories, suffered its first defeat of the Games against Malaysia on Saturday, going down 5-4. The team will next face Oman on Monday with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
Pakistan’s men’s cricket team will also begin its campaign on Monday when it takes on Hong Kong in the quarter-final. The side, led by Sahibzada Farhan, trained in Nisshin on Sunday but its session was affected by overnight rain and a wet outfield.
For Pakistan, the coming days will therefore carry greater medal significance. Arshad Nadeem and Mohammad Yasir are also scheduled to compete in the men’s javelin final on Monday, giving the contingent another major medal opportunity.
]]>In India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, 56 people have died over the past three days with more than 1,000 houses damaged, the relief commissioner’s office said in a statement.
Neighbouring Nepal, already reeling under the catastrophic August 26 flood, was struck by a fresh wave of flooding and landslides that has killed 12 people since Thursday.
“Since Thursday, 12 people have died in rain-related disasters like floods and landslides,” Shanti Mahat, spokesperson at Nepal’s disaster authority, told AFP, adding that seven more were missing.
Scientists have warned in recent years of an increase in extreme weather events across South Asia, linking them to rising temperatures and changing climate patterns.
The flooding in Nepal last month, triggered by a glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border, has killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing.
Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 240 million people, is frequently battered by rain and thunderstorms during the annual monsoon season from June to September.
The latest deaths were reported during a spell of “exceptionally heavy rain” after a “depression over the Bay of Bengal moved inland and intensified rainfall across the region”, it said.
The state recorded 66.5 millimetres of rain between Friday and Sunday, compared to the season average of 7.6mm, it added.
The heavy rain caused extensive damage to crops, with farmers raising concerns over sowing delays in the upcoming season.
In India’s eastern state of Odisha, over 70,000 people living in low-lying areas were evacuated after rivers swelled due to heavy downpours, NDTV news network reported.
The rains have damaged bridges and culverts, forcing officials to shut down Devkund, a popular tourist spot in the state.
Monsoon-related disasters are an annual occurrence across India after long summers when many parts of the country face water scarcity and drought.
]]>In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) recalled that based on credible intelligence, security forces had launched a “swift operation against the terrorists in Ziarat and surrounding areas” on Sept 21.
“As the Pakistan Army’s operation progresses, more than 71 terrorists have been killed so far in Operation Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in [the] last 96 hours, delivering a serious blow to Indian-backed Afghan proxies,” the statement said.
ISPR noted that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies had identified “multiple hideouts of Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan in the general area of Shaban, District Quetta, posing a threat to the local population”.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and refers to designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
During the operation in Shaban, security forces engaged the terrorists and cleared multiple hideouts, ISPR said. Following intense exchanges of fire, 33 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed, with weapons, ammunition and explosives also recovered.
Over the last 72 hours, the operation was intensified, resulting in the killing of 23 terrorists, the statement added.
“Security forces have cleared a vast area and relieved local communities of the threat posed by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan. The clearance operation is continuing until complete neutralisation of the threat,” ISPR stated.
ISPR then recalled that 11 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed in a separate intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Noshki on Sept 25 (Friday).
Another six “Fitna al Hindustan terrorists” were neutralised in Mand, with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition recovered, according to ISPR.
The statement highlighted that the “Afghan Taliban regime’s involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan, backed and sponsored by India, continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability”.
The counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-i-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve, ISPR declared.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it reaffirmed.
According to earlier ISPR statements, six terrorists had been killed during “pre-emptive” IBOs in Kech and Quetta West on Sept 22 and 23. The number of terrorists killed in the Shaban operation reached 13 on Sept 23, and then increased to 22 the next day.
Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks in recent weeks, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
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