logo
Pakistan army chief rejects Indian allegation of Chinese help in May conflict

Pakistan army chief rejects Indian allegation of Chinese help in May conflict

Yahoo07-07-2025
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday rejected New Delhi's allegation that his military received active support from longtime ally China in its conflict with India in May.
Indian army's deputy chief Lieutenant General Rahul Singh said last week that China gave Islamabad "live inputs" on key Indian positions.
The "insinuations regarding external support" are "irresponsible and factually incorrect", Munir said in an address to graduating officers of the national security and war course in Islamabad, according to an army statement.
Pakistani officials have previously dismissed allegations of receiving active support from China in the conflict.
Beijing and Islamabad have longstanding close relations, with billions of dollars of Chinese investment in the South Asian nation's energy and infrastructure.
India's relationship with China meanwhile was strained after a 2020 border clash that sparked a four-year military standoff, but tensions began to ease after the countries reached a pact to step back in October.
India and Pakistan used missiles, drones and artillery fire during the four days of fighting in May - their worst in decades - triggered by an attack in April on tourists in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, before agreeing to a ceasefire.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack in April.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Carney's ministers say Hong Kong's new arrest warrants for exiles a threat to Canadians' security
Carney's ministers say Hong Kong's new arrest warrants for exiles a threat to Canadians' security

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Carney's ministers say Hong Kong's new arrest warrants for exiles a threat to Canadians' security

Two ministers in Prime Minister Mark Carney's government are condemning Hong Kong police's new arrest warrants for 19 overseas-based activists and their offer of rewards for information leading to their capture. Officers have accused the activists of violating a national security law imposed by Beijing. In a joint statement Saturday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said "the actions taken by Hong Kong threaten the sovereignty of Canada and security of the people in this country." "This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated." On Friday, a Hong King police statement said the group, called Hong Kong Parliament, aimed to promote self-determination and establish a "Hong Kong constitution," alleging it was using illegal means to overthrow and undermine China's fundamental system or overthrow the institutions in power in the city or China. At the request of police, the city's court issued arrest warrants for activists Elmer Yuen, Johnny Fok, Tony Choi, Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai and 14 others. They are alleged to have organized or participated in an election abroad for the Hong Kong Parliament, as well as setting up or becoming members of the group. While the group calls itself Hong Kong Parliament, its electoral organizing committee was founded in Toronto in 2022 and its influence is limited. Anand and Anandasangaree said the people targeted by Hong Kong authorities "include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada." The ministers also said Canada reiterates previous calls to repeal the national security law and withdraw all related warrants and bounties. Ministers say bounties amplified online Among the 19 activists, police have already offered 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($174,580 Cdn) for information leading to the arrest of Yuen, Ho, Fok and Choi when warrants for separate activities were issued. For the remaining 15 people, rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars ($34,915 Cdn) were offered, urging residents to provide information about the case or the people. WATCH l Victor Ho of B.C. was among 6 named in a previous announcement: Anand and Anandasangaree said this "marks the third time that international bounties were issued by Hong Kong and represents a deeply troubled escalation in the use of transnational repression by the People's Republic of China." In their statement, the ministers added that Rapid Response Mechanism Canada, which supports Canada's global push to counter foreign state-sponsored disinformation, detected the bounties were being amplified "in an inauthentic and co-ordinated way" through online accounts targeting Chinese-speaking communities. Hong Kong authorities have issued other arrest warrants over the past two years for various activists based overseas, including former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui.

Trump calls leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to push for a ceasefire
Trump calls leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to push for a ceasefire

Washington Post

time2 hours ago

  • Washington Post

Trump calls leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to push for a ceasefire

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had called the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand to urge them to reach a ceasefire, suggesting that if their deadly border conflict continues, he would hit both countries with heavy tariffs on Aug. 1. The three-day-long clash between the two countries has been escalating, with more than 30 dead, thousands displaced and troops massing on both sides of the border, prompting growing concern from global leaders. Each country blames the other for starting the conflict and says it is acting in self defense. Trump said on Truth Social that he had spoken with both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand's acting leader, to urge an end to the skirmish. The United States is engaged in trade talks with Thailand and Cambodia, he noted, but he could cease those negotiations. 'We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting — And I have told them so!' Trump posted. In a separate post, he said he had a 'good conversation' with the Thai leader. 'After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!' he wrote. He also suggested that his administration was adept at handling international conflicts. 'I am trying to simplify a complex situation! Many people are being killed in this War, but it very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt,' he added. Trump's mention of India and Pakistan referred to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between those two countries that was reached in early May after several days of heavy fighting broke out. That ceasefire was reached after Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in intensive shuttle diplomacy between Indian and Pakistani leaders. The president's latest pronouncements were another reflection of the way he is wielding the threat of tariffs to push other nations to bend to his preferences on issues beyond trade. Imports from Thailand and Cambodia are slated to face among the Trump administration's heaviest levies, 36 percent, if the countries do not reach a trade deal with the U.S. by Aug. 1. Trump made his announcement Saturday while visiting Scotland to play golf at his course in Turnberry, a trip that has attracted both supporters and protesters. His public intervention in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict raises pressure on the two countries, but the outcome is far from clear. Cambodia called for an 'immediate ceasefire' on Friday. But Thai officials have tempered their response. Thailand 'agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place,' Phumtham, the acting Thai prime minister, posted on Facebook on Saturday after Trump's announcement. 'However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.' Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa also said Saturday that Cambodia must be the first to suspend hostilities since Thailand accuses Cambodia of initiating the conflict. Sangiampongsa earlier turned down the prospect of third-party mediation, saying that negotiations must be bilateral. In three days of fighting, the clashes have killed at least 33 people. Thirteen Cambodians and 20 Thais have died, according to the Associated Press, and most of those killed have been civilians. The conflict has caused wide disruption in the area, and more than 168,000 people living near the border have been displaced. Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said Saturday that 37,635 Cambodians were forced to relocate. About 131,000 people on the Thai side have also fled their homes, and Thailand has declared martial law in eight border districts.

Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll
Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

CNN

time2 hours ago

  • CNN

Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

Asia China Election securityFacebookTweetLink Follow TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese voters rejected a bid to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in a recall election Saturday, dampening hopes for the ruling party to flip the balance of power in the self-ruled island's legislature. The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year's presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan People's Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc. Official preliminary results showed that the recall efforts failed to remove any of the two dozen KMT lawmakers. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing a similar vote on Aug. 23. The KMT currently holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results. For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of it, and the total number of supporters must exceed those voting against. The poll closed at 4 p.m. local time. Taiwan's Central Election Commission will announce the official results on Aug. 1. If next month's poll results are also unfavorable to the DPP, it would mean that the government of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te could continue to face strong resistance from within the legislature before elections expected to take place in 2028. KMT chairman Eric Chu told reporters that voters had used their ballots to prove Taiwan's democracy is mature and great, calling for an apology from Lai. 'All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting,' he said. Despite their huge effort, those backing the recall were facing an 'uphill battle' in trying to unseat lawmakers in well organized, strongly KMT districts, said Lev Nachman, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University. The result is going to make it even harder for Lai to push his agenda forward, especially ahead of local elections next year, said Nachman, who is an expert on Taiwan's elections. 'At the moment, there is very little Lai can do other than try to think of other creative ways to appeal to the public,' he told The Associated Press. Fu Kun-chi, one of the most powerful and controversial lawmakers targeted, said the result left Lai with no option other than to meet with the opposition and 'find a way for Taiwan to proceed in a more stable way in this chaotic world.' DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang said they humbly accepted the results, saying the recall should not be reduced to a victory or defeat for political parties and that it should be seen as a demonstration of civic power. He said his party has the responsibility to reflect on public sentiment more cautiously and adjust its approach to meet people's expectations. Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers have criticized the KMT and its allies for blocking key legislation, especially the defense budget, and passing controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which considers the island its own territory. The opposition parties' actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island's democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns. But the KMT has accused the ruling party of resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan's democratic system. The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring improved ties with Beijing. Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue given Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. When asked about the recall election, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in June that since the administration of Lai came into power, it has sought to achieve 'one-party dominance' and practiced dictatorship under the guise of democracy, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The office is a branch of China's ruling Communist Party government, which itself maintains strict one-party rule. Zhu said that Lai's government has spared no effort in suppressing opposition parties and those who supported the development of cross-strait relations. Taiwan's mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote.

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