logo
Gunmen involved in Indian Kashmir tourist attack killed: minister

Gunmen involved in Indian Kashmir tourist attack killed: minister

Arab News29-07-2025
NEW DELHI: Indian security forces have killed three gunmen who were involved in an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir, home minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.The heavily-armed men were killed in a military operation on Monday, more than three months after 26 people were gunned down in a popular resort town of Indian Kashmir on April 22.'I want to tell the parliament (that) those who attacked in Baisaran were three terrorists and all three have been killed,' he said.Shah identified two of the three killed as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.'Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of their involvement in the attack,' he said in a speech in the lower house of parliament.Monday's operation took place in the mountains of Dachigam, around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the disputed region's main city of Srinagar, the army said in a statement.The attack in April saw gunmen burst out of forests near Pahalgam and rake crowds of visitors with automatic weapons.All those killed were listed as residents of India except one man from Nepal.India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied, sparking an intense four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides.Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbors — who both claim the region in full — have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump says he could impose more tariffs on China, similar to India duties, over Russian oil
Trump says he could impose more tariffs on China, similar to India duties, over Russian oil

Arab News

time3 hours ago

  • Arab News

Trump says he could impose more tariffs on China, similar to India duties, over Russian oil

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he could announce further tariffs on China similar to the 25 percent duties announced earlier on India over its purchases of Russian oil, depending on what happens. 'Could happen,' Trump told reporters, after saying he expected to announce more secondary sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine. He gave no further details. 'It may happen ... I can't tell you yet,' Trump said. 'We did it with India. We're doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China.' Trump on Wednesday imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, on top of a 25 percent tariff announced previously, citing its continued purchases of Russian oil. The White House order did not mention China, which is another big purchaser of Russian oil. Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned China that it could also face new tariffs if it continued buying Russian oil.

Pakistan denies UN accusation of detaining Afghan refugees early, violating Sept. 1 deportation agreement
Pakistan denies UN accusation of detaining Afghan refugees early, violating Sept. 1 deportation agreement

Arab News

time8 hours ago

  • Arab News

Pakistan denies UN accusation of detaining Afghan refugees early, violating Sept. 1 deportation agreement

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani interior ministry official on Wednesday refuted claims by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which said authorities were arresting hundreds of Afghan Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders and forcing them to leave the country despite agreeing to extend their stay till Sept. 1. More than 1.3 million Afghans in Pakistan hold PoR documentation, while 750,000 more have another form of registration known as an Afghan Citizen Card. PoR cards were issued by Pakistan to Afghans who were registered in collaboration with the UNHCR, recognizing them as a legal refugees in Pakistan. Many Afghans have been settled in Pakistan since the 1980s to escape cycles of war in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan's government started a repatriation drive in 2023 to expel all those residing in the country illegally, mostly Afghans, after a spate of suicide attacks in the country that Islamabad blamed on Afghan nationals without proof. The government agreed to extend the deadline for PoR cardholders to stay till Sept. 1. However, UNHCR Pakistan spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi told Arab News hundreds of PoR cardholders in Punjab, Balochistan and Islamabad were arrested from Aug. 1-5. He said dozens were still being held while many have been asked to leave by Aug. 20. 'No arrest of PoR cardholders so far [has taken place] while action against Afghan Citizen Card [holders] and other illegal Afghans is underway,' Qadir Yar Tiwana, director of media at the interior ministry, told Arab News. He said authorities will start taking action against PoR cardholders in the country from Sept. 1, when the deadline for their legal stay passes. 'Their [PoR cardholders] extension expired on Jun. 30, while they have been given time till Aug. 31 for voluntary return,' the official said. 'Action will start from Sept. 1.' .Afridi said the UNHCR has conveyed its concerns over reports of PoR holders being arrested before the Sept. 1 deadline. 'We have expressed serious concern on the forceful deportation and arrest of PoR refugees and urged the Pakistani authorities to stop it,' Afridi told Arab News. He said the UN agency had urged Pakistan to extend the Sept. 1 deadline further to give Afghan refugees sufficient and reasonable time to return. 'In such a short period, over 1.4 million legal and documented refugees, including women and children, cannot go back,' he said. 'This action is against the commitment given to the UNHCR and constitutes a breach of Pakistan's international obligations,' Afridi noted. He urged the Pakistani government to stop the alleged deportations and adopt a 'humane approach' to ensure the voluntary, gradual and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their country. Pakistani authorities say all Afghan nationals must leave except those with valid visas, as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023. More than a million have returned under this plan so far. Pakistan has often blamed Afghan citizens— the country's largest migrant group— for militant attacks and crimes, accusations Kabul has rejected. Afghanistan is also facing a new wave of mass deportations from Iran, raising concerns among aid groups that the influx could further destabilize the country.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store