Shehbaz Sharif thanks 'dear brother' Erdogan for backing Pak against India
According to a statement from the Turkish president's office, the meeting aimed to strengthen ties between the two countries, particularly in the energy, trade, transportation, and defence sectors.Erdogan stressed the importance of deeper cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan in areas like intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism. He said both countries must continue working together to ensure regional stability."It is in the interest of Turkey and Pakistan to increase solidarity in education, intelligence sharing and technological support in the fight against terrorism," his office stated.The meeting took place amid strained ties between Turkey and India. Turkey has been supporting Islamabad. Ankara faced backlash from New Delhi, who discovered that Pakistan used Turkey-made drones during the clashes. However, Turkish officials have denied these claims, saying no weapons were sent to Pakistan during the conflict.'WE HAVE STRENGTHENED UNBREAKABLE TIES'advertisementIn response to Sharif's post, President Erdogan wrote: "We discussed many critical issues with them, especially the economy, trade and security. We confirmed and strengthened our will to strengthen the deep-rooted historical, human and political relations between Turkey and Pakistan in every field. As my dear brother Shehbaz stated, we have further strengthened the unbreakable ties, cooperation, solidarity and brotherhood between our countries and peoples. I convey my most heartfelt love to my Pakistani brothers through Mr. Sharif."
A statement released by Sharif's office after delegation-level talks with Erdogan stated that the PM expressed "heartfelt gratitude" to the government and people of Turkey for its support during the conflict with India, the worst between the two nations in decades.$5 BILLION TRADE GOALAfter the meeting, Turkey's Directorate of Communications issued a statement: "During the meeting, President Erdoan stated that Trkiye and Pakistan would continue to take steps to advance their relations and achieve the goal of a five billion dollar trade volume."
"Emphasizing that efforts would be made to enhance cooperation in all areas, particularly in energy, transportation, and defence between the two countries, President Erdoan noted that strengthening solidarity between Turkey and Pakistan in the fight against terrorism through training, intelligence sharing and technological support would serve the interests of both nations, and added that the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad railway line should be made more efficient and that concrete steps in the field of education would contribute to bilateral relations," it added.ERDOGAN BACKS PAKISTANErdogan has been vocal in his support for Pakistan after the conflict with India escalated. The clashes began after armed terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen. India accused Pakistan of indirectly sheltering the attack, which Pakistan has firmly denied.In response, India launched military operations at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). The situation quickly escalated into a four-day military conflict. Notably, both countries possess nuclear weapons. Turkey called for an international investigation into the attack, backing Pakistan's request.On May 10, both sides eventually agreed upon a ceasefire.President Erdoan was accompanied during the talks by several top officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defence Yaar Gler, National Intelligence Chief brahim Kaln, and other senior advisors and military leaders.
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Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Post Op Sindoor: As Pak works channels to create ‘spy network', Punjab Police leads dismantling efforts
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Honey-trapping remains a key tactic, with operatives leveraging personal or intimate relationships to coerce targets into sharing sensitive intelligence,' said a senior intelligence officer of Punjab Police. The officer added that 'recruits' are tasked with gathering critical information on troop movements, strategic sites, and border deployments, with payments routed through hawala channels and encrypted apps to maintain secrecy. 'Punjab Police, working in coordination with central agencies, have proactively dismantled these deeply entrenched networks over the years, exposing the ISI's systematic efforts to destabilize India's security and reaffirming an unwavering commitment to national integrity,' said DGP Gaurav Yadav. He added that in view of the recent developments, Punjab Police intensified its efforts to identify and bust Pakistani espionage networks spread across India. In this regard, he added, several suspects from different states came to notice for being connected with Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) through encrypted communication platforms. Some of the PIOs have been found to be working in close association with terrorist groups in Pakistan. Subsequently, details of these individuals were shared with police in respective states and central agencies, leading to dismantling of a wide espionage network. In May and June, Punjab Police identified such espionage networks operating in state that led to arrest of several individuals in seven different cases. Among the individuals who have been arrested across various states in connection with Pakistan's ISI-backed espionage and propaganda activities are Jyoti Malhotra, alias Jyoti Rani, a YouTuber from Hisar in Haryana, Nauman Ilahi, a resident of Kairana in Uttar Pradesh; Devinder Singh from Kaithal, Haryana, Maulvi Qasim and his brother Asim from Rajasthan, Abhishek Bhardwaj from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Suraj Masih and Phalaksher Masih from Ajnala; Rakib from Uttarakhand, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh from Gurdaspur, Harpreet Singh, alias Pittu, alias Happy from Amritsar Jail; Gazala and Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla; Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan from Tarn Taran and Jasbir Singh, a YouTuber from Ropar in Punjab. Apart from these, two Army jawans have also been arrested for passing on information to Pakistan. Devinder Singh was arrested on July 14 from a Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district for allegedly leaking classified defense information to the ISI. He was arrested following the interrogation of Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopy Foji, a jawan serving in the Sikh Regiment who was arrested on June 21 from Amritsar for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with ISI operatives. 'These individuals were found to be involved in various activities such as sharing sensitive information, establishing contacts with PIOs, receiving payments for intelligence sharing, and assisting in anti-national logistics and communication,' a Punjab Police officer said. Another officer said that investigations initiated over these months have uncovered attempts by ISI to target Indian nationals — particularly social media influencers and content creators — under the false pretense of cultural diplomacy and digital peace initiatives. Individuals were lured through well-orchestrated outreach, aiming to manipulate online narratives and mislead public opinion in favor of anti-national agendas. Punjab Police investigations have also revealed that this network sought to exploit the popularity and credibility of Indian digital voices to push pro-Pakistan narratives and subtly influence public sentiment within India. These efforts are part of a broader psychological campaign aimed at undermining national unity and eroding institutional trust. 'The Punjab Police, through its vigilant monitoring and robust intelligence-sharing mechanisms, has contributed significantly to the identification and disruption of these networks,' says the officer handling investigations into ISI activities. Arrests made across different parts of the country have directly stemmed from intelligence inputs and coordinated action, reflecting the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation, said an officer.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
PCB issues ban on ‘Pakistan' name in private cricket after WCL 2025 fiasco: Report
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Iran's President arrives in Pakistan for a 2-day visit amid tensions in West Asia
Iran's President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan to kick-start his two-day visit to the nation. Pezeshkian will be holding talks with Pakistani president, PM and the Army Chief read more Iran's President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day visit to the neighbouring nation. According to Pakistani news outlet The Express Tribune, the visit came at the invitation of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As per the report, Pezeshkian arrived in the country accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers, and other high-ranking officials. According to the statment released by Pakistan's Foreign Office, during his stay, Pezeshkian will meet with his Pakistani counterpart, President Asif Ali Zardari. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Iranian team would also hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This marks Dr Pezeshkian's first official visit to Pakistan as the President of Iran. What makes the visit crucial is the fact that it is taking place after the 12-day Iran-Israel war, along with the regional developments that followed. According to The Express Tribune, the Iranian president is scheduled to visit the Mausoleum of Poet Dr Muhammad Allama Iqbal in Lahore. After that, he would then travel to Islamabad, where he would have a series of meetings with Pakistan's civil and military leaders, including the President, Prime Minister and the Army Chief. The discussions between both sides are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations, which span political, economic, religious, and cultural dimensions. The Israel-Hamas war will also be one of the topics of discussion. During the Indian-Pakistan 4-day military escalation, Iran offered to be a mediator between the two nuclear-powered nations. In light of this, Iran's Foreign Minister travelled to both New Delhi and Islamabad to prevent the situation from further escalation. However, a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was reached bilaterally after four days of fighting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
