First brick of Babri mosque in Ayodhya will be laid by Pak soldiers: Senator
In another provocative statement by a Pakistani senator, Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan declared that the "first brick of the new Babri mosque" in Ayodhya would be laid by Pakistani soldiers. A video of Palwasha's inflammatory speech in Pakistan's Upper House has gone viral amid tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack."The first brick of the new Babri mosque in Ayodhya will be laid by Pakistan Army soldiers, and the first azaan will be given by Army Chief Asim Munir himself," Palwasha said on Tuesday. She further added, "We are not wearing bangles."advertisementPalwasha also emphasised that Sikh soldiers won't attack Pakistan in case of a conflict with India. "If they are threatening Pakistan, then let them know that the Sikh army will not attack Pakistan because it's the land of Guru Nanak for them," she said, referring to the religious significance of the country for Sikhs.
WATCH: This is not the first time that Pakistani leaders have made provocative remarks against India. Recently, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made a provocative statement after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty.Speaking at a public rally, the former Pakistani Foreign Minister warned India against diverting Indus waters, claiming that Pakistan was the true guardian of the Indus civilisation.He accused India of unilaterally scrapping the agreement and issued a stark threat, "The Indus is ours and will remain ours. Either our water will flow through it, or their (Indians) blood will."advertisementAlso, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday took to X and said that Pakistan prefers peace, but their pacifism should not be mistaken for weakness."Pakistan has every capability to give a befitting reply to any Indian aggression, as the PTI government, fully supported by a united nation, did in 2019," he added.
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First Post
34 minutes ago
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History Today: How US Army was founded 250 years ago
On this day in 1775, the Continental Congress, the governing body of the 13 American colonies and later the United States, set up the US Army. The newly formed force was given the job of protecting the colonies against British troops during the Revolutionary War. Now, 250 years on, a grand military parade is set to take place today to honour the Army's founding and celebrate US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Army officials expect around 200,000 people to attend the evening event read more This move marked the start of America's first national institution. AP/File Photo On June 14, 1775, the US Army came into being after the Continental Congress approved to recruitment of skilled riflemen to serve the United Colonies for a year. This move marked the start of America's first national institution, and it happened a year before the Declaration of Independence was issued on July 4, 1776. Also on this day in 1940, the first group of Polish political prisoners reached Auschwitz. The site later became the largest concentration and death camp run by Nazi Germany. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Further, on this day in 1949, Albert II became the first monkey to go to space. However, he died while returning to Earth due to a problem with the parachute. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, is your one-stop destination to explore key events. Now, let's take a look at the events: The establishment of US Army On this day in 1775, the Continental Congress, which acted as the governing body for the 13 American colonies and later the United States, established the US Army. The Congress took control of the New England Army of Observation, officially turning it into the Continental Army. These troops were tasked with defending the colonies from British forces during the Revolutionary War. 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First mass transport to Auschwitz concentration camp On this day in 1940, the first group of Polish political prisoners arrived at Auschwitz, which later became Nazi Germany's largest concentration and extermination camp. Auschwitz was made up of three parts: a prison camp, a death camp, and a forced labour camp. It is estimated that between 1.1 and 1.5 million people died there, with about 90 per cent being Jewish. The first camp, known as Auschwitz I, was set up on April 27, 1940, after an order from Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS. On June 14, the first transport of Polish political prisoners arrived. Auschwitz I remained mainly for political detainees throughout the war, most of them Poles and Germans. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Image: The National WWII Museum Another section, Auschwitz III, was turned into a forced labour camp in May 1942. It provided workers for the nearby chemical and synthetic rubber plants run by IG Farben. Notably, German companies put major investments into these industries using forced labour near Auschwitz. IG Farben alone put over 700 million Reichsmarks into its site at Auschwitz III in 1942. Albert II became the first monkey in space Before humans went into space, there were doubts about whether people could survive weightlessness for long periods. To study this, scientists in the US and the Soviet Union sent animals, mostly monkeys, chimpanzees, and dogs, into space to observe the effects. On this day in 1949, Albert II became the first monkey to reach space, hitting an altitude of 83 miles (134 km) aboard a V-2 rocket. He was part of the US 'Albert' Programme, which launched monkeys from New Mexico to gather information on how space travel might affect living beings. Scientists sent animals, mostly monkeys, chimpanzees, and dogs, into space to observe the effects. Image: X Albert II did not survive the return trip, as the parachute on the capsule failed. 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The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
H-word, M-word & fading K-word. India-Pakistan alphabet soup, with a side of Trump
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If ally Washington sees the region through an India-Pakistan prism, it's unacceptable. Rather than endorse India's sphere of influence, this undermines it. This is double trouble as China is already working hard at denying India that pre-eminence, which Pakistan calls hegemonism. And whereas India would expect US backing in this competition, it is galling when the US keeps saying sweet somethings to Pakistan. What's the point of the Quad then? We thought we were partners in a project to contain China. And the third, this means the return of the M-word that so triggers us. M for mediation. For Indian public opinion, Donald Trump has undone the work of the past decades by continuing to insist that he mediated the India-Pakistan ceasefire. Now, we know that his interest isn't in any mediation but in getting credit: 'nobody gives me credit for stopping a nuclear war', 'they never give me credit for anything', 'I stopped a nuclear war and I haven't seen any stories about it,' and so on. You can't blame the Pakistanis for latching on to it. They think Trump's renewed interest in the region emanates only from a fear of nuclear conflict. Therefore, they think they've been able to switch the global attention back to the nuclear threat, from the case India had built across decades for partnership in the global war on terror. Personifying this rediscovered mojo is Bilawal Bhutto, who said, in his usual breathless hyperbole, that the US will drag India to the negotiation table, if necessary, by the ear. Pakistani establishment has thrown everything in their desperation to revive their faded American connection, even a bunch of crypto. But anybody who's sidled up to Trump has ended up singing that sad old song: 'ik bewafa se pyar kiya… haye re hum ne yeh kya kiya' (best-effort translation: I fell in love with one who knows no love, how the hell did I get into this mess?). Also Read: Op Sindoor is the first battle in India's two-front war. A vicious pawn in a King's Gambit This is a very transactional Trump with no loyalties, and as focused on his domestic base as Narendra Modi in India. Any US partner who doesn't accept this, is setting themselves up for a feeling of grand betrayal and humiliation. The good thing is, our policy establishment is still wise not to respond emotionally and avoiding any public expression of anxiety. They are quietly progressing on the issue that matters right now, an India-US trade deal. If that works, much clutter would die down. In any case, nobody has brought back that other demon, the K-word as yet. Nobody is saying India and Pakistan should negotiate over Kashmir, and further that we are willing to mediate. I am not even sure Trump is aware of an issue like that. That said, Trump is now reshaping the world in his own vision uncluttered by history, facts and ideology. He's gutting NATO, ridicules the western alliance, serially insults Canada's prime ministers (Trudeau and Carney), and is impatient with Netanyahu. He detests Zelenskyy, adores Putin. Check out the latest gem from him: 'Putin says they lost 51 million people (in WWII) and we were your allies. Now everyone hates Russia and they love Germany and Japan. Let's explain that sometimes. It's a strange world.' It's unrealistic to expect that somebody making radical shifts not confused by history would even know or appreciate our concern over de-hyphenation. Modi government's current approach of social media noise-cancellation is wise. The nominated Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur's full testimony to the committee voting on his appointment is mature and fine for India. But just that one line saying he'd work with Pakistan where it suits America's interest has made so many in India sulk like a jilted lover. And the Centcom Commander, General Michael Kurilla calling Pakistan a phenomenal partner against terror comes from the essential geostrategic division the Pentagon has followed historically where Centcom covers Pakistan and India falls under Pacific Command. Ask any crime reporter worth her next scoop and she will explain to you how the first interest of any station house officer (SHO) at a police station is to curb crime in their own jurisdiction even if it means making deals with even the baddest guys. You might get a different answer from the Pacific Command chief. On top of this, our own news TV rumour machine, which has done more to undermine India's strategic credibility, invented its own fiction that Pakistan's newly self-minted field marshal was invited for the US Army Day parade. We were saved from mass neurosis by White House saying they weren't inviting any such guests. While such touchiness rules our larger public opinion which loves that self-defeating 'we have to do it all alone' obsession, it will be challenging for the Modi government to immunise serious policy from public responses. This government is obsessed with the buzz on social media. Also Read: Asim Munir just stole his 5th star & has nothing to show for it. It'll make him desperate, dangerous Finally, if you can use that noise-cancellation device again, and see what foreign involvement in our crises has meant. It will also help us distinguish mediation, intervention and involvement. After the Cold War, India endured about four years of intense American pressure over Kashmir over human rights. But, as India's economy grew post-reform, so did its stature. By 1998, the equation was changing. Not only was the second Clinton Administration quick to embrace the reality of a nuclear-armed India, the next year, 1999, it played a very constructive role during the Kargil crisis. Clinton hauled in Nawaz Sharif to Washington even on the US Independence Day (4 July) to give him a face-saver to retreat from Kargil. During Operation Parakram, repeated American interventions and frantic visits (most significant Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld on a day we seemed closest to war) helped both sides stay calm. The solidarity in war on terror over 26/11 and onwards served a dual purpose. One, to largely dehyphenate India from Pakistan. And second, to stick the 'terror state' label on Pakistan's chest. However, times do change. And with the return of Trump, how. Every crisis in the subcontinent has drawn American involvement to defuse it. That's the fire truck at our doors. Trump has only changed the language, junking old-fashioned diplomatic discretion. Trump seeks credit like a five-year-old. It's the new reality for the world, especially for America's friends and allies. PostScript: when Musharraf came for the Agra Summit (14-16 July, 2001), Vajpayee hosted a lunch for him at the biggest banquet hall in New Delhi's Taj Palace Hotel. He was also clever enough to invite Farooq Abdullah to it, and seat him just one table away. Dessert time, Farooq predeterminedly got up and walked to the head table with a big, mischievous smile. 'Arrey, yeh dekhiye, yeh toh third party intervention ho gayi,' a startled Musharraf found a good escape line, and everybody laughed. Next week: The perils of self-hyphenation Also Read: There's an all-new N-word now. And India's soft power has become its hard liability
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Collective responsibility to promote Sikh history, don't create divisions: Sandhwan to Dhami
Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Friday emphasised the importance of collective efforts in celebrating Sikh history and centenaries, urging SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to not approach these events through a political lens. Responding to Dhami's recent remarks on the state government's initiatives in this regard, Sandhwan reiterated that these celebrations are not about political parties but about honouring the unparalleled legacy of Sikhism. 'The Sikh community's history of sacrifice, selflessness, and universal goodwill belongs to all of humanity. It is our collective responsibility to share this legacy with the world. This is not about any political party; it is about Sikhism,' he said in a statement. The state government has announced its plans to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 450th foundation day of Amritsar with events designed to highlight Sikh teachings and values on a global stage. In response to Dhami's concerns over the government's involvement in celebrating centenaries, Sandhwan stated that this is not the first time such initiatives have been undertaken, citing instances of previous governments observing centenary events. Addressing Dhami, Sandhwan remarked, 'You are the President of the SGPC, a representative body of the Sikh Panth, not a political leader of a certain party. Your role is to uphold the sanctity and heritage of Sikhism, not to create divisions.'
