US designates group that claimed IIOJK attack as terrorists
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement announcing the designations, described The Resistance Group as a 'front and proxy' of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.
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Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Belated but bold
Listen to article France's decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine is a seismic diplomatic shift in Europe's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While long overdue, this step by President Emmanuel Macron — set to be formalised at the UN General Assembly in September — could prove pivotal for Palestine's position in the international arena. With this announcement, France becomes the most influential European power to break with the Western bloc's longstanding hesitation. While over 140 UN member states already recognise Palestine, key global actors including the US, the UK and Germany continue to withhold recognition, tying it to a final negotiated settlement with Israel — one that grows more elusive by the day. France's move breaks that inertia, foreshadowing that the international community can no longer turn a blind eye to the lopsided nature of the so-called peace process. This recognition also arrives at a time of unprecedented carnage in Gaza. Nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions displaced in Israel's relentless assault, while hunger and disease ravage a besieged population. The growing chorus of condemnation, including from Western allies, is a turning tide in international opinion. Critics will rightly say this step comes too late — after decades of occupation, failed negotiations, and now, one of the deadliest conflicts in modern times. But the belated nature of the decision does not diminish its significance. France's stance may spur others, especially within the EU and possibly beyond, to follow suit, bringing greater pressure on Israel to end its genocide. France's step, however delayed, must now become a catalyst for real, sustained international engagement. But recognition must be followed by concrete diplomatic action and, most importantly, an insistence on an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Monsoon red wedding
Listen to article The monsoon session of the Indian parliament has just begun. And so far, it is shaping up to be an event reminiscent of the Red Wedding from the Game of Thrones series. Ergo, monsoon red wedding. Neat, right? Let me also posit that the title's resemblance to the movie, Monsoon Wedding, by the inimitable Mira Nair (who also happens to be rising political star Zohran Mamdani's mother) is purely coincidental. So, what happened? In view of unanswered questions about the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, the upcoming Bihar elections, the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, and the Ahmedabad plane crash, it was a given that this would likely be a high-stakes session. But the fallout of Operation Sindoor and the diluted 2024 election mandate seem to have complicated the situation further. Operation Sindoor, because there is a verifiable gap between the government's triumphalist claims and public perception about what went down. And the fallout of the 2024 election, because for the first time in Modi's enviable career, it was proven that he was not invincible. That led to many dynamics. One of them was the confirmation of the growing distance between the RSS and the Modi government. So far, Indian pundits have tried to present it as a personality clash between Dr Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief, and PM Modi. However, new evidence has emerged to substantiate claims that the differences are institutional, and the widening gulf between the two sides is outlook-oriented. Operation Sindoor's end has simply strengthened the case of the Modi critics within this self-contained universe. When the BJP failed to win a clear majority in the 2024 general elections, an unconfirmed report reached me via the RSS's international affiliates that Modi had reached out to the organisation with an assurance and a request. The assurance was that he would step aside when he turned 75 (17 September 2025), but until then, he or his government should not be disturbed. Now, you understand I cannot prove or disprove that claim. Since his rise to power at the Centre, Modi has used the 75-year age limit to retire many senior party leaders like Advani. Now the shoe is on the other foot. And, as if that was not enough, recently Bhagwat, who himself turns seventy-five six days before Modi, on 11 September, gave a speech in which he extolled the virtues of retiring at that age. It was read as a direct reminder to Modi. You have to hand it to the Indian media for being so craven that even so-called independent voices in the digital, social, and alternative media suggested that Bhagwat retire on 11 September to put pressure on Modi to retire six days later. Then they would enlighten you that the RSS's secretary-general Dattatreya Hosabale, and possibly Bhagwat's successor, was close to Modi. So, basically, Modi just had to outlive Bhagwat's tenure. As we shall see, this has changed significantly. But let's return to the parliamentary session for a minute. Days before the start of the session, it was already made public that, in the opening days, Modi would travel to the UK and then Mauritius. So, he wouldn't participate in the session in the intervening period. But the session's first surprise came when, on day one, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his office, citing his health. Only days earlier, he had informed an audience that he intended to serve his full term until 2027, barring any divine intervention. Given that, like his American counterpart, the Indian Veep is supposed to preside over upper house proceedings, the obfuscation machine that is India's media began spinning a yarn, claiming — through sources - that Dhankhar was shown the door because of his differences with the Modi government. Both as Bengal governor and then vice president, he had behaved as Modi's most committed troll. So this did not compute. Not one story mentioned that he is 74 years old and will be 76 in 2027. Get it? There is speculation that more heads may soon roll. One name mentioned is that of UP's Yogi Adityanath. But this speculation is the outcome of the fallacy that the Modi government was responsible for Dhankhar's exit. Granted, the RSS seems to be looking for a different kind of PM candidate, but it does not seem to have any problem with Yogi as CM. If Dhankhar's exit was a case of age-limit implementation, it puts another speculation to rest. Earlier, it was thought that upon turning 75, Modi may step down, installing Amit Shah as premier, only to return as president once the incumbent retires. In short, the Putin model. This theory, of course, presumes that the RSS will not have any issue with him becoming president after seventy-five. But if the vice president has to be younger than that age, then that option is also out of the question. Perhaps that is why Amit Shah appeared to be managing expectations by bringing up his retirement plan a day before Bhagwat spoke. Now the RSS's inner dynamics. While Modi, Shah and their allies have made a career out of Muslim-baiting, Bhagwat has progressively tried to reach out to India's most significant minority. This Thursday, RSS leadership met with Muslim clerics in New Delhi and agreed on an interfaith dialogue. Among the RSS top brass that participated, Hosabale was also present. So it is a clear signal that Bhagwat's policies are not just those of one man, but of the institution. Incidentally, the organisation does not elect its leader. The outgoing leader nominates the next. So, why the difference in outlook? Modi and Shah's perspective is defined by their short-term survival and hence optics. The RSS, which turns one hundred this year, believes in the long game. And while the ruling duo served its purpose well in the first term, it has become a liability. Between 2015 and 2022, the organisation had achieved many of its strategic goals — narrative dominance, the Ram Mandir judgement, and the rapid rise of the Indian diaspora. Then it learned that it had to choose between being unique and being universal. Meanwhile, Modi's policies abroad caused a blowback which negatively impacted the diaspora and India's core interests. The Sangh Parivar now needs the real deal, not a make-believe global leader. And for that, it is ready to wait and groom new leaders. It just wants the blowback to stop, which is impossible without Modi's departure. So, is it the end of the road for Modi and Shah? Who knows? But this extrapolation exercise was undertaken because the Indian media is utterly unreliable. And, given that all of these are deductions, I can be woefully wrong. But, as I highlighted above, there is enough prima facie evidence to suggest that I am not.
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Dar seeks 'stable relationship' with US in meeting with Rubio
DPM Ishaq Dar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department in Washington, DC on July 25, 2025. Photo: Foreign Office Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Pakistan sought an 'expanded and stable' bilateral relationship with Washington, highlighting the 'strong convergences' between the two sides on several issues. Dar held talks with Rubio in Washington in their first face-to-face meeting at the State Department, following several telephonic conversations. A statement issued by the Foreign Office said that upon his arrival at the State Department, Dar was received by senior US officials. Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh accompanied him during the visit. Senior officials from both sides also joined the delegation-level talks. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and prospects for cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology, and minerals. Pleased to meet Secretary @MarcoRubio for a comprehensive discussion on the full spectrum of bilateral relations. We reaffirmed our commitment to the long term Pakistan-US partnership, with renewed focus on economic, trade, investment, IT/AI and CT cooperation. We also exchanged… — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 25, 2025 Both sides reviewed the progress in the ongoing Pakistan-US trade dialogue, expressing optimism over positive developments. Dar highlighted Pakistan as an attractive destination for US businesses and investors. On regional security, the leaders discussed counterterrorism cooperation and broader peace efforts. Dar lauded President Donald Trump and the US leadership for their efforts to promote global peace, particularly appreciating the President's role amid recent Pakistan-India tensions. Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and appreciated its positive role in promoting regional and global peace. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's desire for expanded and stable bilateral relations, underscoring that there is a strong convergence of views and shared interests between the two countries on regional peace and stability. He also appreciated the role of the Pakistani-American community as a 'bridge' between the two nations. نائب وزیر اعظم /وزیر خارجہ پاکستان محمد اسحاق ڈار کا دورہ امریکہ اور امریکی زیر خارجہ مارکو روبیو سےملاقات@MIshaqDar50 — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) July 25, 2025 Both leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties and enhance institutional cooperation in diverse sectors, expressing determination to work together for long-term stability and prosperity. This marked the first formal meeting at the foreign minister level between Pakistan and the United States in several years, as the previous administration under president Joe Biden had largely ignored Islamabad. The meeting between Dar and Rubio came against the backdrop of a renewed push by both sides to reset their ties, which have often been marred by mistrust. Contrary to expectations, under President Trump's second term, relations between the two countries took a positive turn. It was Pakistan's assistance in arresting and extraditing one of the masterminds of the Kabul Airport attack in August 2021 that led to the reset in ties with the US. President Trump publicly praised Pakistan's efforts in his first address to the US Congress. Also Read: US hosts Pakistan military chief at White House, India responds by warming to China The India-Pakistan conflict also brought the two countries closer, as Trump repeatedly took credit for brokering the ceasefire between the two South Asian rivals. Then, amid the Iran-Israel war, President Trump hosted Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House in an unprecedented move that raised eyebrows in New Delhi. Following the army chief's meeting at the White House, there have been increased contacts between the two countries. The meeting in Washington on Friday was seen as Pakistan's push to revive the structured mechanism between the two countries.
