We'll show them what's next: After Indus dams, Pak Army Chief Asim Munir now fixes target on RIL Jamnagar refinery
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Threats to dams & broader strategic messaging
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Nationalistic rhetoric & diplomatic posture
In an alarming address at a private dinner in Tampa, Florida, Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir explicitly threatened to target India's economic infrastructure in any future conflicts. According to a TOI singled out Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd refinery at Jamnagar, Gujarat — the world's largest single-site refining complex.This marks the first time such a key economic asset has been named as a potential military target by Pakistan's top military leadership.Popularly considered the most powerful man in Pakistan, Munir referenced a social media post combining a Quranic verse and a photo of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani. The 11th Pak Army Chief declared that he had authorized the message during recent hostilities 'to show them what we will do the next time,' TOI reported citing media reports based on accounts from attendees of the closed-door event.The speech also included a chilling warning regarding the Indus Waters Treaty . Munir vowed that Pakistan would launch missile strikes on Indian dams if the treaty remains suspended.Speaking to members of the Pakistani diaspora, he said, 'We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles].'This statement was delivered at a black-tie event hosted by Pakistan's honorary consul in Tampa, with about 120 diaspora members present. Phones and digital devices were banned, and no official transcript was issued, but multiple eyewitnesses have shared details with media outlets.Munir's visit to Florida was primarily to attend the retirement ceremony of General Michael Kurilla, outgoing commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), who lauded Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counterterrorism efforts and received Pakistan's highest civilian honour at the event.Addressing the audience, Munir also exhorted overseas Pakistanis to increase their support for the nation.Using evocative Hindi film-style language, he remarked, 'Kisi ki maa kaali ho sakti hai, aur kisi ki dharti-maa kaali ho sakti hai, par maa maa hoti hai [someone's mother might be dark-skinned, and the earth of someone's motherland might be dark, but a mother is a mother].' He also asserted that Pakistan's foundation on the Kalimah would ensure divine blessings of rich natural resources like rare earth metals and hydrocarbons.On the diplomatic front, Munir commented on recent strains between India and the US, suggesting Pakistan's unique ability to 'balance rival powers' and take 'masterclasses' in diplomacy.He claimed Pakistan's success comes from openly appreciating those who do good, citing the nomination of former US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Prize as an example.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
Madness of religious extremism: Baloch leader condemns Munir's nuke threat to India
Washington: Tara Chand, President of Baloch American Congress, on Wednesday slammed Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for making nuclear threats, calling him a "fake Field Marshal" and an "enemy" of humanity. This comes as Munir, during his US visit over the weekend, warned that Pakistan will never allow India to choke the Indus River and will defend its water rights at all costs, even if the forces will have to destroy any dam that India seeks to build on it. Chand, also a former Cabinet Minister in the Government of Balochistan, took to X and posted, "Pakistan's fake Field Marshal, General Asim Munir, who has threatened in America to destroy India and the world with his nuclear bombs, should be ashamed of himself. He is the number one enemy of humanity, driven by the madness of religious extremism under the banner of Islam. He seeks to destroy the world along with India." Flagging it as a wake-up call, the US-based Baloch leader called on the world leaders to take back all of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and impose economic, political, and international sanctions on the country. Raising concern, Chand stated that before "religiously-motivated" Pakistan and its leadership can act on their destructive ambitions, their nuclear weapons have to be removed in order to prevent the rogue state from bringing harm to the world. Munir, the Pakistani media reported on Monday, visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Belgium on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. Earlier in May, Chand wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lauded India's decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. He also urged New Delhi to provide support to the "free Balochistan" movement. On behalf of the Baloch community in America, he extended his gratitude to PM Modi for the stance India has taken regarding the plight of the Baloch in Pakistan since 2016. "Your mention of Balochistan in your speech at the Red Fort was welcomed by the Baloch worldwide as a sign of moral support for a nation occupied, subjugated, and terrorised by Pakistan. It gave great hope to my Baloch people," the letter mentioned. "I laud your wise decision of holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and making it clear to the jihadist generals of Pakistan that blood and water cannot flow together," it added. He mentioned that since Pakistan's occupation of Balochistan in 1948, the Baloch people have been severely oppressed by the machinery of the rogue state. Chand slammed the jihadist Pakistani Army for the countless forcible disappearances and killings of the people of Balochistan. He described the abuses as a part of the strategy adopted by Islamabad to suppress the freedom struggle movement of Balochistan, which the people have been waging since Pakistan forcibly annexed Balochistan. The Baloch leader had requested the Indian government to adopt a policy of political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Baloch national resistance against the occupation of Pakistan.
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Stories of India's freedom struggle through Tagore, Premchand and Manto
— Mohammad Asim Siddiqui The glorious chapter of India's freedom struggle has inspired many novelists and short story writers to produce works of great merit in both English and other Indian languages. Important episodes of the freedom movement appear in these novels and stories. Novelists like R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas have also conceived characters in terms of Gandhian beliefs and ideals. Rabindranath Tagore's novel Ghare Baire (1916), translated into English as Home and the World, engages creatively with Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Anandmath (1882). Tagore's novel is critical of the western idea of nationalism, advanced by a character called Sandip. Set against the backdrop of the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, the novel presents a nuanced view of the movement through Nikhilesh's and Sandip's different perspectives. Sandip, shown to be a hypocrite, preaches the idea of Swadeshi to his followers but possesses a shelf of Western medicines. Nikhilesh, on the other hand, has a more balanced view of the Swadeshi movement. Following the spirit of the movement, he writes with a quill and uses home-made furniture, but he also understands the need of poor hawkers and shopkeepers to sell foreign clothes and goods for their living. Premchand's many writings demonstrate his patriotism, his anti-colonial stance, his commitment to communal harmony, and his love of Gandhian philosophy. His first collection of stories in Urdu, Soz-e Watan (1908), published under the pen name 'Nawab Rai', was considered seditious by the British government and banned. His novel Karmabhumi (1932), set in the 1930s, explores the role of the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence in achieving social justice for the poor and the marginalised sections of society. Amarkant, the main character of the novel who represents Gandhi's idea of non-violence and his commitment to social justice, helps the Dalit villagers to fight for their rights and enter temples. Initially unable to understand Amarkant's ideology, his wife, Sukhada, later joins the movement. The novel also shows villagers' protests against unjust land taxes. Premchand's story 'Samar Yatra', written in the context of Gandhiji's Satyagraha and Dandi March, shows the impact of the movement on a village and the enthusiasm of ordinary villagers to welcome the Satyagrahis and their cause. The story also presents an old and ailing woman, Nohari, who welcomes the freedom fighters, overcoming her physical limitations. Premchand also wrote the play Karbala (1924) to bridge the growing differences between Hindus and Muslims. An important feature of this play is the inclusion of many Hindu characters fighting for the Prophet's grandson Hussain in the Battle of Karbala and sacrificing their lives for a righteous cause. In the play, Premchand presents a Hindu village in Saudi Arabia with a temple where Sahas Rai and his brothers perform a havan. Hussain, another character, and his companions praise the Hindu brothers, their religion, their country of origin and their ideals. Raja Rao's famous novel Kanthapura (1938) is as much known for his use of de-anglicised English as for his treatment of many Gandhian ideas in the novel. Set in a remote village in South India, the novel depicts the impact of Gandhi's non-violent struggle against British rule and his fight for social reform, including the eradication of untouchability. The figure of Gandhi in the novel possesses divine powers and is believed to alleviate the suffering of the people. Moorthy, the main character of the novel, is the Gandhi of the village and feels greatly inspired by his ideas and personality after having a vision of him: 'There is but one force in life and that is Truth, and there is but one love in life and that is the love of mankind, and there is but one God in life and that is the God of all.' Jayaramachar, a Harikatha performer in the novel, also talks about Gandhi's spiritual values, his social reforms, and his commitment to communal harmony: 'Fight, says he, but harm no soul. Love all, says he, Hindu, Mohammedan, Christian or Pariah, for all are equal before God. Don't be attached to riches, says he, for riches create passions, and passions create attachment and attachment hides the face of Truth.' Though Kanthapura is imbued with Gandhian ideology, an alternative view of Nehru's socialism can also be felt towards the end of the novel. Among the stories exploring events of the freedom movement, Saadat Hasan Manto's 'Naya Qanoon', '1919 ki ek Baat' and 'Tamasha' stand out as iconic stories. 'Naya Qanoon' indirectly refers to the Government of India Act 1935. It presents an interesting character called Mangu, a coachman who hates Englishmen and is considered very wise and knowledgeable in his circle. The story shows his high expectations of the new law and his hope for a change. However, his expectations are belied as his social and political position remains the same after the new law. 'Tamasha' and '1919 ki ek Baat' were written against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. 'Tamasha' is narrated from the point of view of a child and shows the brutal nature of a king, who symbolises British rule in the story. '1919 ke ek Baat', which was written in 1951, shows how Thaila, a person of seemingly questionable character and conduct, sacrifices his life for the country and achieves heroism in his death. Exposing the bloodthirsty nature of the British power, the story presents Gen. Dyer as the villain and Gandhi as a virtuous figure. Critic Alok Bhalla observes that for Manto, '1919 signifies the loss of the legitimacy of British rule'. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas's Inquilab (1955), promoted as the first great novel of the Indian revolution in its 1958 edition, portrays an important phase of India's fight against British colonialism. Also published in Urdu (1975), it depicts the landmark events such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat, Dandi March and Civil- Disobedience movement, Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Round Table Conference. The novel also presents major leaders and freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Ali Brothers, Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru and Bhagat Singh. Spanning the life of its main the protagonist Anwar from the age of eight to adulthood, the novel shows how his personality is shaped by the political events and the spirit of the freedom struggle. A major part of Attia Hosain's Sunlight on a Broken Column (1961), set in Lucknow of the 1930s, shows the interpersonal relationships of characters unfolding in an India witnessing major political transformation. Narrated by Laila, an educated girl from a taluqdar family, most of the characters in the novel also belong to an aristocratic set-up who gradually discover their political leanings. With the change in the political climate, the warm conversation of characters has been replaced by acrimonious discussions. Among Laila's group of friends, Nita is a loyalist, Nadira is closer to the Muslim League's ideology, Joan, an Anglo-Indian, has divided loyalties, and Romana, given to fashion and idle talk, is not interested in any political ideology. The novel depicts a demonstration of students chanting the slogans 'Inquilab Zindabad', 'British Raj Murdabad' and 'Azadi ki Jai'. Laila's cousin Asad, a nationalist and a believer in Gandhi's non-violence, participates in this demonstration and is injured by police's lathis. A contrast in attitudes towards the freedom struggle emerges when Laila calls the students' march a movement, while her uncle Hamid, a taluqdar of Awadh and a British loyalist, dismisses it as 'a demonstration of irresponsible hooliganism'. The last part of the novel also presents the division within families after Partition. Laila's cousin Kemal, who is committed to nationalist ideology, chooses to remain in India after Partition. His younger brother Saleem, given to propounding all kinds of grand theories, moves to Pakistan. Asad's younger brother Zahid, a Muslim League sympathiser, is killed during the Partition violence. An ironic view of the leaders of the freedom movement is presented by Shashi Tharoor in The Great Indian Novel (1989). In the novel, he transposes the story of the Mahabharata into the twentieth century and visualizes many well-known political figures as characters of the epic. In his creative retelling, Bhishma is recast as Mahatma Gandhi, Dhritarashtra as Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandu as Subhas Chandra Bose, Gandhari as Kamala Nehru, Vidura as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dronacharya as Jayaprakash Narayan. In what ways Munshi Premchand's writings demonstrate his patriotism, his anti-colonial stance, his commitment to communal harmony, and his love of Gandhian philosophy? Illustrate your answer with examples. How Raja Rao in his famous novel Kanthapura depicts the impact of Gandhi's non-violent struggle against British rule and his fight for social reform, including the eradication of untouchability. How does Saadat Hasan Manto's Naya Qanoon critique the promises and failures of colonial legal reforms? Do you think literature offers not just a kaleidoscopic portrait of India's freedom struggle, but also a critical insight into it? Support your answer with examples. (Mohammad Asim Siddiqui is a Professor in the Department of English at Aligarh Muslim University.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
The Hindu
13 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Centre working on multi-Ministry export promotion scheme to counter Trump tariff impact
The Indian government is tweaking its earlier plans for an Export Promotion Mission to make it more targeted towards specific sectors in the wake of the increased tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from India, The Hindu has learnt. This would entail reducing the cost of credit for medium, small and micro enterprise (MSME) borrowers in the worst-hit sectors, expediting clearances, and providing them with some sort of export incentives. It is a joint effort across several Ministries and involves detailed consultations with industry stakeholders. The sectors which will face the brunt of the U.S. tariffs are apparel and textiles, shrimp exporters, organic chemicals, and machinery and mechanical appliances, according to an analysis by the Global Trade Research Initiative. Credit access, faster clearances 'The Export Promotion Mission announced in the latest Budget is being tweaked now to provide more help to particular sectors that are likely to be hit by the [U.S.] tariffs,' a senior government official told The Hindu, speaking on the condition of anonymity since the details of the scheme have not yet been finalised. 'The broad contours are to provide credit guarantees to MSME exporters, speed up their clearances, and there is some discussion on how to provide export incentives,' the official added. In the Union Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced an Export Promotion Mission with a ₹2,250 crore allocation for the current financial year, which would 'facilitate easy access to export credit, cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs to tackle non-tariff measures in overseas markets'. Wide consultations The government official confirmed that the tweaked Mission would include these targets as well, adding that the Mission was initially meant to be a coordinated effort between the Ministries of Commerce, Finance, and MSME, but would now also include coordination with the Ministry of Textiles and Department of Fisheries. Industry players have also confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been in regular touch with them to receive their feedback and inputs. Trade analysts, too, confirmed this. 'Internally, authorities are consulting extensively with exporters and sector representatives to fine-tune immediate relief measures and shape a long-term, resilient trade strategy capable of withstanding global shocks,' said Krishan Arora, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat. Focus on MSME exports Separately, a Finance Ministry official also confirmed that the Ministry was coordinating with others to come up with a scheme that could address some of the issues being faced by these exporters. The government had, as far back as January, announced a credit guarantee scheme for the MSME sector, which would cover loans up to ₹100 crore. The Finance Ministry official said that this scheme was being revamped to 'focus on the export aspects of these MSMEs' activities'.
