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Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bilawal briefs US lawmakers about India's belligerence
WASHINGTON: A high-level parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, headed by former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with members of US House Foreign Affairs Committee led by Chairman Brian Mast and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks to discuss regional peace, the recent crisis in South Asia, and avenues for strengthened US-Pakistan relations. Bilawal briefed the committee on India's recent provocations and military strikes targeting civilians, warning that the escalating conflict poses a grave threat to regional stability. He described India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a flagrant violation of international law, endangering the livelihoods of millions in Pakistan and setting a dangerous precedent for the weaponization of vital resources. He also highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reiterating Pakistan's long-standing position that the people of IIOJK must be granted their internationally recognized right to self-determination. Pakistan's delegation engages US congress on regional tensions Commending the United States for its past role in facilitating de-escalation between India and Pakistan, he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace through diplomacy. The delegation also emphasised the importance of enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. The members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee welcomed the delegation's insights and reaffirmed their strong support for the people and Government of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistani delegation held a productive meeting with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. The members of delegation appreciated the role played by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in facilitating the Pakistan-India ceasefire. They expressed hope that it would create space for sustainable peace and stability in South Asia through dialogue. The delegation shared its concern over India's unprovoked aggression, continued hostile rhetoric, and unlawful suspension of Indus Waters Treaty.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond," US Lawmakers back India's stance against terror
Washington D.C. [United States], June 5 (ANI): Group 5 of the all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, held a high-level interaction with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) in Washington, D.C., as part of its diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor. The delegation, which met with key U.S. lawmakers including HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, and Congressman Bill Huizenga, received strong bipartisan support and condemnation of the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam region. HFAC Chairman Brian Mast underlined the depth of bipartisan consensus on supporting India. 'This was a very important meeting. This is a bipartisan delegation from the House of Representatives receiving India. We are proud to receive our friend and our ally. Every one of us strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place. There's no room in this world for those kinds of attacks,' he said. 'The world was holding its breath, watching what had taken place, both in disgust and also in anticipation of the response. When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond. The world does not allow anything else, and those responses needed to take place. We have a great friendship and partnership between our nations, and we see nothing but growth and expansion in the future,' he added. 'Certainly, I think all of us were very concerned about the terrorist attack in northern India, and I certainly personally condemn it. I know all of my colleagues also condemn that. That is something that we need to work cooperatively on -- to root out those terrorists and make sure that they are not able to strike any country,' said Congress leader Bill Huizenga. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove echoed similar sentiments. 'I condemned the attacks in Pahalgam and am grateful for the ceasefire, hoping that there can be lasting peace. I also recognise how strong the U.S.-Indian partnership has been, and it's so important that we continue that. Representing Los Angeles, issues around visa access for the World Cup and the Olympics are a priority, as well as how we can build our relationships with the tech industry in India and with Bollywood. So those were some of the things I raised,' she said. Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee, stressed shared democratic values. 'The relationship between the United States and India -- we are bound together, the oldest and the largest democracies in the world. Our values are the same,' he said. 'We shared our condolences because we cannot tolerate terrorism anywhere. We support India's right to defend itself and ensure that terrorism does not take place there. Just as important is the dialogue we had about working collectively globally. India has been a great partner -- whether it's on QUAD, trade, or working together on issues like Ukraine and Russia in a responsible manner,' Meeks added. Leading the Indian delegation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor thanked the U.S. lawmakers for their 'strong and unconditional' support. 'There was, as the Chairman said, complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and in defending India's right to defend itself. We are very grateful for that support because it was strong and unconditional,' Tharoor said. 'Equally, of course, we talked about broader issues involving our countries ' trade, the economy, students, visas -- broader concerns about the relationship. But everybody in the meeting, on both sides -- the Indian side and the American side -- wants to see this relationship becoming stronger, more effective, and covering more aspects of life and geopolitics,' he added. The Indian all-party delegation's visit to Washington follows stops in Brazil and Europe, aimed at consolidating international support against terrorism and highlighting India's strategic interests post Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
"When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond," US Lawmakers back India's stance against terror
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Group 5 of the all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, held a high-level interaction with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee ( HFAC ) in Washington, D.C., as part of its diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor The delegation, which met with key U.S. lawmakers including HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, and Congressman Bill Huizenga, received strong bipartisan support and condemnation of the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam Chairman Brian Mast underlined the depth of bipartisan consensus on supporting India. "This was a very important meeting. This is a bipartisan delegation from the House of Representatives receiving India. We are proud to receive our friend and our ally. Every one of us strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place. There's no room in this world for those kinds of attacks," he said."The world was holding its breath, watching what had taken place, both in disgust and also in anticipation of the response. When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond. The world does not allow anything else, and those responses needed to take place. We have a great friendship and partnership between our nations, and we see nothing but growth and expansion in the future," he added."Certainly, I think all of us were very concerned about the terrorist attack in northern India, and I certainly personally condemn it. I know all of my colleagues also condemn that. That is something that we need to work cooperatively on -- to root out those terrorists and make sure that they are not able to strike any country," said Congress leader Bill Kamlager-Dove echoed similar sentiments. "I condemned the attacks in Pahalgam and am grateful for the ceasefire, hoping that there can be lasting peace. I also recognise how strong the U.S.-Indian partnership has been, and it's so important that we continue that. Representing Los Angeles, issues around visa access for the World Cup and the Olympics are a priority, as well as how we can build our relationships with the tech industry in India and with Bollywood. So those were some of the things I raised," she Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee, stressed shared democratic values. "The relationship between the United States and India, we are bound together, the oldest and the largest democracies in the world. Our values are the same," he said."We shared our condolences because we cannot tolerate terrorism anywhere. We support India's right to defend itself and ensure that terrorism does not take place there. Just as important is the dialogue we had about working collectively globally. India has been a great partner , whether it's on QUAD, trade, or working together on issues like Ukraine and Russia in a responsible manner," Meeks the Indian delegation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor thanked the U.S. lawmakers for their "strong and unconditional" support."There was, as the Chairman said, complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and in defending India's right to defend itself. We are very grateful for that support because it was strong and unconditional," Tharoor said."Equally, of course, we talked about broader issues involving our countries ' trade, the economy, students, visas -- broader concerns about the relationship. But everybody in the meeting, on both sides -- the Indian side and the American side -- wants to see this relationship becoming stronger, more effective, and covering more aspects of life and geopolitics," he Indian all-party delegation's visit to Washington follows stops in Brazil and Europe, aimed at consolidating international support against terrorism and highlighting India's strategic interests post Operation Sindoor.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
GOP Rep: Trump Tariffs Will Save Social Security
For too long, America has watched as factories shut their doors, jobs moved overseas, and foreign competitors flooded our markets with cheap goods while our workers paid the price. But now, we have a historic opportunity to reverse course and finally put American workers first—and it starts with President Donald Trump's bold tariff policy. The very critics who pushed to ship our jobs overseas will say tariffs raise prices or cause short-term pain. But here's the truth they won't tell you: the long-term cost of doing nothing is far greater. We've lost millions of jobs to China, we've hollowed out our industrial base, and we've become dangerously reliant on foreign supply chains—a fact that became shockingly obvious during the COVID pandemic. For decades, other countries have produced goods America should produce for itself, but the dependence stops now. President Trump understands that, when used wisely, tariffs can level the playing field, protect American industries from unfair competition, incentivize U.S. manufacturing, and ultimately strengthen our national security. His tariff plan made it clear to the rest of the world that America is open for business. In a few short months, he is already bringing billions of dollars in new investments back to America. Manufacturing plants are restarting. Auto manufacturers are reinvesting. But President Trump's plan isn't just protecting American manufacturing; it's also safeguarding critical programs for our most vulnerable. For more than 80 years, Social Security has provided America's seniors and retirees with an important financial safety net. However, as our aging population continues to grow, the federal government will experience additional strains to provide this essential benefit, risking its future. If we're serious about securing the future of programs like Social Security and Medicare for generations to come, we need to start where the money comes from—jobs. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) reacts to the families sharing stories about their loved ones during a roundtable discussion with the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the Rayburn House Office... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) reacts to the families sharing stories about their loved ones during a roundtable discussion with the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. MoreManufacturing offers some of the best-paying jobs in America. These jobs support families, build communities, and contribute heavily to payroll taxes—the very taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. Every time a factory reopens or expands, it creates a ripple effect: more people working means more people paying into Social Security, strengthening the program for our retirees, veterans, and those with disabilities. One of my top priorities in Congress has always been to protect Medicare and Social Security for today's seniors and for future generations. When the federal government created these programs, it made a commitment to America's seniors, and it's a commitment that must be upheld. The surest and most immediate way to strengthen these programs isn't by raising more taxes on the American people—it's by getting more Americans into the workforce, paying into the system. Rebuilding our industrial base isn't just an economic policy, therefore; it's a retirement security policy. Each job we bring back to the U.S. is a direct investment in the solvency of Social Security and the dignity of our aging population. Every Democrat crying with fake outrage about Social Security should be first in line to support President Trump's tariff plan. The math is simple—as more Americans get back to work, higher employment equals higher payroll tax receipts which Medicare and Social Security depend on. That means fewer threats of insolvency and more stability for those who've paid into the system their entire lives. Tariffs are not the problem. They are part of the solution. If we want a future where Social Security is solvent, American factories are humming, and good-paying jobs are within reach for every family, we need to double down on policies that put America first. Let's rebuild American manufacturing. Let's bring the jobs home. And let's protect Social Security for generations to come. Brian Mast, a Republican, is the U.S. representative for Florida's 21st Congressional District. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
CNA
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
US lawmakers criticise UK backdoor order to Apple, warn of cybercriminal risks
BRUSSELS :U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast warned Britain on Wednesday that its order to Apple to create a backdoor to its encrypted user data could be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes. Apple, which has said it would never build a so-called back door into its encrypted services or devices, has challenged the order at the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). The iPhone maker withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature for UK users in February following the UK order. Users of Apple's iPhones, Macs and other devices can enable the feature to ensure that only they — and not even Apple — can unlock data stored on its cloud. "Creating a backdoor into end-to-end encrypted systems, as the TCN does, introduces systemic vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors, including cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes," Jordan and Mast wrote in a joint letter to Britain's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. TCN (Technical Capability Notice) refers to the UK order. "These vulnerabilities would not only affect UK users but also American citizens and others worldwide, given the global nature of Apple's services," they said. They urged Cooper to allow Apple to disclose the existence of the order to the U.S. Department of Justice so it can evaluate whether it complies with the U.S.-UK agreement made under the CLOUD Act which prohibits orders requiring companies to decrypt data. Under UK laws, American companies would commit a criminal offence if they disclose or confirm such an order, even to their home government. "We urge the Home Office to reconsider the issuance of TCNs that require the weakening of encryption, as such measures conflict with international human rights standards, including the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that undermining encryption violates privacy rights," the lawmakers said.
