No Pak Hand in Pahalgam? Chidambaram Remarks Trigger Political Face-off Between Centre, Opposition
Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
8 minutes ago
- First Post
Pakistan forcibly expels 1.4 million Afghan refugees despite humanitarian concerns from UNHCR
Pakistan has resumed the forced deportation of 1.4 million Afghan refugees whose legal status expired in June, sparking criticism from the UN refugee agency. Authorities are detaining Afghans lacking valid documentation for repatriation, despite growing humanitarian concerns read more Afghan refugee children play next to trucks loaded with their family's belongings as they wait to return Afghanistan along a highway in Landi Kotal, Pakistan. File image/AP Pakistan resumes forced expulsions of 1.4 million Afghan refugees despite UN concerns Pakistani authorities stated Monday that they had resumed the forcible deportations of Afghan refugees following the federal government's refusal to extend a crucial deadline for their stay. About 1.4 million Afghans with Proof of Registration cards whose legal status expired at the end of June are impacted by the decision. Before going back to Afghanistan, many had hoped for a one-year extension to take care of personal matters like selling property or closing up businesses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Approximately 800,000 Afghans own Afghan Citizen Cards in addition to PoR cards. According to the police, they are also unlawfully residing in the nation and are being held in the southern Sindh province, southwestern Balochistan, and eastern Punjab before being deported. The UN refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, criticised Monday's decision. At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, according to a June UNHCR report. Repatriations on such a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government came into power in 2021. A July 31 government notification seen by The Associated Press confirms Pakistan's decision to repatriate all Afghan nationals holding expired PoR cards. It states Afghans without valid passports and Pakistani visas are in the country illegally and must return to their homeland under Pakistani immigration laws. Police across Pakistan are detaining Afghans to transport them to border crossings, according to two government and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. They said there are no mass arrests and police were told to go to house-to-house and make random checks to detain foreigners living in the country illegally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Yes, the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan illegally are being sent back in a dignified way,' said Shakeel Khan, commissioner for Afghan refugees in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The latest operation is the most significant step yet under orders from federal government in Islamabad, he said. Rehmat Ullah, 35, an Afghan, said his family migrated to Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city decades ago and now is preparing to return home. 'I have five children and my concern is that they will miss their education,' he said. 'I was born here, my children were born here and now we are going back,' he said. Millions have fled to Pakistan over the past four decades to escape war, political unrest and economic hardship. The renewed deportation drive follows a nationwide crackdown launched in 2023 targeting foreigners living illegally in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the campaign, did not immediately comment. Qaiser Khan Afridi, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, expressed deep concern over the government's recent actions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Sending people back in this manner is tantamount to refoulement and a breach of a state's international obligations,' Afridi said in a statement, urging Pakistan to adopt a 'humane approach to ensure voluntary, gradual, and dignified return of Afghans' and praised the country for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than 40 years. 'We call on the government to halt the forcible return and ensure a gradual, voluntary and dignified repatriation process,' Afridi said. 'Such massive and hasty return could jeopardize the lives and freedom of Afghan refugees, while also risking instability not only in Afghanistan but across the region.'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
8 minutes ago
- First Post
The life and political career of Shibu Soren, the father of modern Jharkhand
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM supremo Shibu Soren passed away today (August 4) in New Delhi. Fondly known as Guruji, he was the force behind the formation of Jharkhand in 2000. Let's take a look at his life and political career read more Former Jharkhand Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren passes away at 81. File Image Shibu Soren, a towering figure in Indian politics, passed away today (August 4). The ex-Jharkhand chief minister had been admitted to Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital for treatment regarding kidney-related ailments. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren shared the news of his father's death on X. 'Beloved Dishom Guruji has left us. I lost everything today,' he said. With a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. He founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the 1970s, aiming to create a separate state for tribal populations in southern Bihar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His leadership in grassroots mobilisation earned him the nickname 'Guruji' among his supporters. After decades of activism, his dream was realised when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000. Let's take a closer look at Soren's journey from grassroots activism to state leadership.
India.com
8 minutes ago
- India.com
Coward Pakistan resorts to new terror tactics after Operation Sindoor, it's now building highly..., threat level to India has...
New Delhi: India has waged a different kind of war against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan continues to step up its terrorist activities. According to recent intelligence reports, Pakistan is rebuilding 15 terrorist camps and launch pads which were destroyed during Operation Sindoor. This development could become a big challenge for India. What happened after Operation Sindoor? In response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May 2025. In this operation, the Indian Army targeted 9 terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, which were hideouts of terrorist organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen. More than 100 terrorists were killed in this attack, and the Jaish headquarters in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar camp in Muridke were destroyed. But now, Pakistan has started rebuilding these camps. What is going on inside Pakistani territory? According to the report of intelligence agencies, in the last three months, Pakistan has started building 15 new terrorist camps and launch pads in PoK at Kel, Shardi, Dudniyal, Athmuqam, Jura, Lipa Valley, Tandapani, Nayali, Jankot and Chakothi. A drone center is also being restarted in Masur, Chaprar and Shakargarh near the international border in the Jammu region. Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and other government agencies are giving full support to the terrorists. According to reports, ISI has funded these camps with more than Rs 100 crore. What is Pakistan's new strategy? Pakistan has now learned from its old mistakes and is adopting new tactics. It is building small terror camps. Earlier, there used to be 100-150 terrorists in a camp, but now only 20-25 terrorists are being kept in each camp, so that a major attack by the Indian Army can be avoided. Camps are being built in the forests and are kept hidden to evade Indian surveillance. They are also using advanced technologies like drones, radar camouflage and satellite masking. Women and children are also kept with the terrorists as shields while terrorists are being taught new methods like the use of drones and surveillance equipment. What are ISI and terrorist organisations planning? After Operation Sindoor, ISI has held several meetings with senior commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and The Resistance Front (TRF), where they were given new weapons. The operational leadership is being reorganised, and planning is going on to start recruiting new terrorists in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. However, due to the strictness of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir, new recruitment has been very low. Local people are also now shying away from joining the terrorists. What is the threat to India? India faces a threat of new attacks as these camps can again plan terrorist infiltration and attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. India has to counter the technical challenge, viz, drone and radar camouflage, which may cause problems for the Indian Army in surveillance. In case of another attack and India's retaliation, the situation will get worse, and tension between India and Pakistan will increase further.
