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Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard under fire for hosting Pakistan conference after Pahalgam terror attack
TOI correspondent from Washington : Harvard University's South Asia Institute, bankrolled by Indian billionaire Laxmi Mittal , distanced itself from a "Pakistan conference" it platformed on Sunday after a backlash from some Indian students, even as Pakistan, embarrassed over having to use an Indian-funded facility, vowed to regain its diminishing footprint in US academia . Controversy over the one-day conference erupted after two Indian students, Surabhi Tomar and Abhishek Chaudhuri, in a letter to the university management, urged Harvard to "ensure its campus does not become a platform for whitewashing state-enabled religious terrorism " in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people. 'Welcoming representatives of a government that enables or justifies terrorism risks Harvard being complicit. The United States must not host representatives of a state that protects and promotes organisations targeting civilians based on faith,' the students said in a separate letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Pakistan's finance minister Muhammed Aurangazeb and its ambassador to US Rizwan Shaeed Sheikh were among the delegates to the conference. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This All-Natural Oil Is Helping Men Combat ED Without Side Effects Boost Your Potency Naturally Undo Among other demands, the students urged the Harvard management to issue a public statement condemning the Pahalgam attack and provide emotional and institutional support to affected students, seeking, "clarity, courage, and compassion for Hindu and Indian students grieving the targeted killing of members of their faith." An administrator at the South Asia Institute told TOI that the conference was organized by Pakistani students and the institute did not host it beyond providing "some support." However, the Institute's executive director, Hitesh Hathi, took part in a discussion with Pakistani historian Ayesha Jalal on "The Enlightened Muslim: Examining the intersection of religion, modernity, and state formation in Pakistan." The Institute later scrubbed the conference and the panel discussion from its website, a link showing the message, " The page you requested could not be found." While some Indian students expressed anger at Harvard and SAI platforming the event, others mocked the Pakistani effort, ridiculing a country that is so broke that it required an Indian billionaire to platform its conference. Although organized by Pakistani students at Harvard, the conference, according to some attendees, was also ostensibly aimed at rejuvenating the country's diminishing footprint in US academia. Among others, Hamid Mir, a prominent Pakistani journalist who was a delegate at the conference and also reported on it, repeatedly invoked the Indian clout in US academia, leading Pakistan's ambassador to the US to pledge that Islamabad would work to restore several Pakistan chairs that were defunct, including the Quaid e Azam chair at Columbia University. According to Open Doors, which tracks foreign student inflow into the US. Pakistan currently has 10,988 students enrolled in American higher education institutions, compared to 331,602 students from India, the highest among all countries, followed by China at 277,398. Even Bangladesh (17,099) and Nepal (16,742) have more students in the US than Pakistan, whose international reputation has suffered on account of hosting terrorist groups and purported use terrorism as a policy instrument.
Times of Oman
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
India's Modi visits Sri Lanka to boost defense cooperation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Sri Lanka on Saturday and witnessed the signing of energy and defense deals between the two countries. The deals are seen as an effort to consolidate New Delhi's influence in the neighboring island nation, which is heavily indebted to China. A five-year defense cooperation agreement provides for the training of Sri Lankan military personnel in India and the exchange of information and technology. Security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Modi welcomed agreements on defense cooperation and said both would collaborate on security cooperation in the Indian Ocean through the Colombo Security Conclave, which also includes Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Mauritius. "I am grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India's interests. We believe that we have shared security interests. The security of both countries is interconnected and co-dependent," Modi said. The Sri Lankan leader stressed that he understood the concerns of his neighbor. "I have reiterated our position to Prime Minister Modi that Sri Lankan territory will not be allowed to be used by anyone to undermine India's security," Dissanayake said. The two leaders also virtually inaugurated the construction of a 120-megawatt Indian-funded solar power plant, which is being built as a joint venture between the two countries. Located in the island's northeastern district of Trincomalee, the solar plant had been stalled for years. With support from New Delhi, it was revived.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian Prime Minister Modi expands ties on a visit to Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated construction work on a solar plant in neighbouring Sri Lanka and witnessed the signing of energy and defense agreements seen as efforts to consolidate New Delhi's influence in the debt-stricken island nation. India has been concerned about China's increasing presence in Sri Lanka, which is located on one of the world's busiest shipping routes in what India considers part of its strategic backyard. Beijing has provided Sri Lanka with billions of dollars in loans for development projects. But Sri Lanka's economic collapse in 2022 changed the country's priorities and provided an opportunity for India, as New Delhi stepped in with massive financial and material assistance. At the same time, China's support for restructuring its infrastructure loans is vital for Sri Lanka. Modi on Saturday held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the two virtually inaugurated construction work on an Indian-funded 120 megawatt solar power plant, which is being built as a joint venture between the two countries. Sri Lanka faced a severe power shortage in 2022, after being unable to pay for oil and coal to power its electricity plants. It has also set ambitious goals of reducing its dependence on fossil fuel. China also plans to build a $3.7 billion oil refinery near Hambantota port, which was taken over by Beijing after Sri Lanka failed to pay back the loan to develop the port. It gives China a key foothold in the country directly opposite India's coastline. Both India and China have separately agreed on terms with Sri Lanka for restructuring its debt, which would enable the country to come out from bankruptcy and rebuild the tattered economy.
Associated Press
05-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Indian Prime Minister Modi expands ties on a visit to Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated construction work on a solar plant in neighbouring Sri Lanka and witnessed the signing of energy and defense agreements seen as efforts to consolidate New Delhi's influence in the debt-stricken island nation. India has been concerned about China's increasing presence in Sri Lanka, which is located on one of the world's busiest shipping routes in what India considers part of its strategic backyard. Beijing has provided Sri Lanka with billions of dollars in loans for development projects. But Sri Lanka's economic collapse in 2022 changed the country's priorities and provided an opportunity for India, as New Delhi stepped in with massive financial and material assistance. At the same time, China's support for restructuring its infrastructure loans is vital for Sri Lanka. Modi on Saturday held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the two virtually inaugurated construction work on an Indian-funded 120 megawatt solar power plant, which is being built as a joint venture between the two countries. Sri Lanka faced a severe power shortage in 2022, after being unable to pay for oil and coal to power its electricity plants. It has also set ambitious goals of reducing its dependence on fossil fuel. China also plans to build a $3.7 billion oil refinery near Hambantota port, which was taken over by Beijing after Sri Lanka failed to pay back the loan to develop the port. It gives China a key foothold in the country directly opposite India's coastline. Both India and China have separately agreed on terms with Sri Lanka for restructuring its debt, which would enable the country to come out from bankruptcy and rebuild the tattered economy.
