"Pakistan epicentre of Takfirism": AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in Algeria
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen ( AIMIM ) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi , who is part of an all-party delegation to Algeria, lambasted Pakistan on Saturday (local time), calling them an "epicentre of Takfirism ."Addressing the Algerian media, members of think tanks and the Indian diaspora, Owaisi said that there is no ideological difference between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda "Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology."Owaisi further reiterated his demand to put Pakistan back on the Grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Terrorism survives on two things - ideology and money. Ideology, you know very well, you have seen the Black Decade, even in South Algeria, you still have some problems. On that point, we are together... Once you bring Pakistan back in the Grey list (of FATF), we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. We'll see killings coming down. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India," Owaisi said.Emphasising the effectiveness of the Grey list of FATF to counter terrorism, Owaisi said, "There was this one terrorist called Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi - no country in the world would allow a terrorist who's facing a terror charge. He became a father to a son while sitting in prison. The trial progressed immediately when Pakistan was put on the Grey list (of FATF).""It's not only a question of South Asia. We are the 4th largest economy. What will happen? Do you want all this carnage to spread to different parts of South Asia? No. It is in the interest of world peace to control Pakistan, which is the main sponsor of terrorism. It has to be brought back in the FATF Grey list ," he added.Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) MP Baijayant Panda slammed Pakistan, highlighting that the neighbouring country is using its nuclear power to shield its terrorist activities."Pakistan has used its nuclear power to shield its terrorist training, funding and arming program. When I say that they have been doing this with terrorists openly, it is not just me saying it. You can look it up on the internet. Everybody knows Pakistan has done this many times in the past."Baijayant Panda-led delegation includes senior parliamentarians and officials such as Nishikant Dubey, S. Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Asaduddin Owaisi, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump admin turns up the heat as Treasury secretary calls India's Russian oil purchase ‘unacceptable'
Ratcheting up pressure on India, another Trump administration official has criticised the country for its ties with Russia. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview that 'Indian arbitrage of Russian oil is unacceptable,' underlining Washington's stand that New Delhi was fuelling Moscow's 'war machine,' Reuters reported. 'This … Indian arbitrage – buying cheap Russian oil, reselling it as product has just sprung during the war – which is unacceptable,' he said. The US earlier this month slapped 50 per cent tariffs on India, half of them for buying Russian oil, catapulting the country to one facing the highest import duties among Washington's trade partners. New Delhi called the tariff action 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable', and said it would take 'all actions necessary' to 'protect its national interests'. India is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and meets 88 per cent of its oil demand from imports. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's share in New Delhi's oil imports was less than 2 per cent. That has now risen to nearly 40 per cent. Higher tariff revenue to be used to pay down federal debt Bessent said that he expected a substantial increase in tariff revenues from the $300 billion he forecast earlier this year, with the money to be used to start paying down the US federal debt, Reuters reported. He declined to give a specific new revenue forecast, but said he and President Donald Trump were 'laser-focused' on paying down the debt. 'I've been saying that tariff revenue could be $300 billion this year. I'm going to have to revise that up substantially,' he said. India should start 'acting' like strategic partner: Trump aide Bessent's comments came close on the heels of White House trade advisor Peter Navarro saying that India needed to start acting like a strategic partner of the US if it wanted to be treated like one. 'India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs,' he wrote. Navarro also claimed in an opinion piece in the Financial Times that India was 'now cozying up to both Russia and China'. Navarro wrote: 'Here's how the India-Russia oil mathematics works. American consumers buy Indian goods. India uses those dollars to buy discounted Russian crude. That Russian crude is refined and resold around the world by Indian profiteers in league with silent Russian partners — while Russia pockets hard currency to fund its war machine in Ukraine. As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India's financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine's defence.'
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
Harjinder Singh, the illegal migrant truck driver suspected in Florida crash once received work permit under Biden after Trump denial
A devastating crash on the Florida Turnpike last Thursday has sparked renewed debate over immigration policies after it was revealed that the truck driver involved, an Indian national living illegally in the United States, had been granted work authorisation under the Biden administration. Tragedy on the Florida Turnpike The driver, identified as Harjinder Singh, allegedly attempted a sudden U-turn through an 'Official Use Only' median, cutting across lanes of traffic. A minivan travelling at full speed collided with the trailer, leaving three people dead. Authorities confirmed that the victims included a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, a 30-year-old man from Florida City, and a 54-year-old man from Miami. Two passengers died instantly, while the driver was taken to a hospital but later pronounced dead. Singh and his passenger escaped unharmed. Immigration history of Harjinder Singh raises questions According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Singh first crossed the southern border into California in September 2018, during the Trump administration. He was placed in expedited deportation proceedings but was able to remain in the United States after claiming asylum, citing fear of returning to India. In January 2019, Singh was released on a $5,000 immigration bond while awaiting a decision on his asylum application. In September 2020, under the Trump administration, his work permit request was rejected. However, DHS confirmed that his application was later approved under the Biden administration in June 2021. This authorisation allowed Singh to apply for and obtain a Commercial Driver's Licence (CDL) in California. DHS and California officials clash online The case sparked political controversy when California Governor Gavin Newsom's office suggested that Singh's work authorisation had been granted during the Trump years. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded sharply, clarifying that the permit was rejected under Trump but approved under Biden. McLaughlin added that while the federal government handles work authorisation, states like California are responsible for issuing Commercial Driver's Licences, pointing out there is no national CDL system. Arrest and charges of Harjinder Singh Singh was arrested in California by US Marshals on Saturday on a warrant linked to the Florida crash. He faces three counts of vehicular homicide. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also lodged a detainer to ensure Singh remains in custody while deportation proceedings continue. Authorities said dashcam footage from inside Singh's cab showed him appearing calm and unfazed at the time of the crash, turning off the engine immediately after the impact. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner said Singh's reckless driving directly caused the deaths and left families shattered. He described the tragedy as both shocking and criminal, emphasising the devastating consequences of the driver's actions. Broader concerns over policy and public safety The case has intensified scrutiny over how immigration decisions intersect with public safety. Critics argue that granting work authorisation to individuals with unresolved asylum cases poses risks, while others stress the need for due process and humane treatment of migrants. For now, Singh remains behind bars, awaiting trial for vehicular homicide, while also facing the possibility of deportation. The families of the victims continue to mourn lives lost in what officials have described as a preventable tragedy.
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fact check: Viral post seeks Rs 8.3 cr donation to save Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, convicted of murder in Yemen; MEA calls it fake
In a major development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed a viral social media post seeking donations to save Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-based nurse on death row in Yemen, labelling it as 'fake'. On Tuesday, August 19, the fact-check unit of the ministry flagged the fake claims and said that there was no government-affiliated donation campaign for the Indian nurse. The post claimed to be collecting funds to secure her release through blood money, but the MEA clarified that no such fundraising effort has been officially endorsed. Officials have urged the public to rely on verified sources for updates and cautioned against spreading misinformation related to sensitive international legal cases. The ministry's post read, "We have seen claims being made on social media seeking monetary contributions into a GoI-designated bank account in the Nimisha Priya case." The MEA addressed the viral post and said, 'This is a fake claim." Evangelist's fundraising appeal raises eyebrows This comes after evangelist and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr K.A. Paul publicly appealed for donations to save Nimisha Priya, claiming Rs 8.3 crore was needed and directing contributions to a so-called 'Government of India account'. The Ministry of External Affairs, however, has refuted the legitimacy of this appeal, calling it fake and unauthorised. We have seen claims being made on social media seeking monetary contributions into a GoI designated bank account in the Nimisha Priya case. This is a fake Another fake update surfaces on social media Apart from the fake donations, some reports also claimed that her death sentence has been revoked and an agreement has been reached for her release. But MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims, stating they were misleading and not backed by the government. Releasing a statement, Jaiswal said, "Such reports are incorrect. This is a sensitive matter, and we urge all sides to stay away from misinformation." Who is Nimisha Priya, and what is her case? Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, was found guilty of murdering a Yemeni citizen in July 2017. Her execution, originally scheduled for July 16, was postponed after intervention by Indian officials, who are continuing diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution and save her life. Currently, she is lodged in a jail in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital city that is under the control of Iran-backed Houthis. On August 14, the Supreme Court was informed that there was no immediate threat to Nimisha. According to The Mint, in 2020, a court in Yemen sentenced Nimisha to death, and her appeal was later rejected by the Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. On July 17, the Indian government stated that it is actively engaging with Yemeni authorities and allied nations to find a "mutually agreeable solution" to the case. Yemeni court records allege that Priya drugged and killed Talal Abdo Mahdi in July 2017.
