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Business Recorder
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
China puts its weight behind Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: As tensions between Pakistan and India continue to rise, China on Thursday reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to support Pakistan's pursuit of peace and stability in South Asia. The pledge came during a high-level meeting between Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. The discussion focused on a series of escalating issues, including India's recent accusations against Pakistan in connection with the Pahalgam incident. Diplomatic setback for India at UNSC as Pakistan, China block pro-India statement on Pahalgam attack Sharif categorically denied Pakistan's involvement, calling the claims 'false' and urging India to reconsider its approach. In response, Ambassador Zaidong expressed gratitude to Sharif for presenting Pakistan's position and facts in detail, underscoring that China would continue to stand by Pakistan in its efforts to achieve long-term peace in the region. Zaidong's comments come at a time of heightened political and military tensions, with India accusing Pakistan of backing militant activities. However, Sharif was quick to emphasize the broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly the growing threat posed by terrorism in the region. 'Pakistan has long been a frontline state in the fight against terror,' Sharif remarked, pointing to the country's immense human and economic toll – over 90,000 lives lost and $152 billion in economic losses – faced in combating groups like Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), many of which operate from Afghanistan. The Prime Minister also voiced concern over India's recent actions concerning water disputes, calling it a 'weapon of aggression.' Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), he argued, both nations are bound by agreements that should not be violated unilaterally. Sharif's remarks were a direct rebuke to India's decision to utilize water resources as a tool of coercion, which Pakistan sees as a direct violation of international accords. Sharif also expressed gratitude toward China for its ongoing diplomatic support. He referenced a recent phone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, where China reiterated its backing for Pakistan's position on India's provocative actions since April 2025. In particular, the Prime Minister thanked China for its endorsement of Pakistan's call for a 'reliable and transparent' international investigation into the Pahalgam incident. The longstanding dispute over Jammu and Kashmir was also a focal point of the conversation. Sharif reiterated that the only path to lasting peace in South Asia lies in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. 'We remain committed to dialogue and diplomacy, but any resolution must honour the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people,' he added. In his closing remarks, Sharif conveyed his best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He expressed heartfelt appreciation for China's 'strong and unwavering support,' particularly at a time when South Asia is witnessing growing tensions. 'China's continued backing gives us hope for a peaceful resolution and for a stable, secure future in South Asia,' Sharif concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
US urges India, Pakistan to de-escalate tensions
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged India and Pakistan to work with each other to de-escalate tensions after last week's militant attack in IIOJK, the State Department said on Wednesday. Rubio spoke separately with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday while expressing support to India in combating extremism and urging Pakistan to cooperate in probing the attack that killed more than two dozen people, the State Department said in separate statements after the calls. —Reuters Zulfiqar Ahmad from Islamabad adds: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called on the United States to take a more assertive role in de-escalating the situation, urging Washington to press New Delhi to act with restraint. The push for US intervention came during a high-level phone call between Prime Minister Sharif and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio – the first official contact between Islamabad and the Trump administration since President Donald Trump took office in January. The call, seen as diplomatically significant, followed a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed rivals. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Sharif received a call from Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday evening, during which he outlined Pakistan's perspective on the escalating situation in South Asia and voiced concern over what he termed India's 'escalatory and provocative' actions. At the heart of Islamabad's concerns is what Sharif described as New Delhi's attempt to 'weaponize water' – an obvious reference to India's handling of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Sharif criticized India for what he called a unilateral approach to a bilateral accord that governs water distribution between the two countries. 'Water is a lifeline for 240 million people in Pakistan,' Sharif said, warning that any disruption to its flow would carry dire consequences. In a pointed rebuke of Indian allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, Sharif categorically denied any involvement, instead calling for a 'transparent, credible, and neutral investigation' to determine the facts. He warned that such accusations were aimed at derailing Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts, which remain focused on combating groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) – many of which, he insisted, operate from Afghan territory. Sharif also took the opportunity to underscore Pakistan's long-standing cooperation with the United States, describing the bilateral relationship as one rooted in over seven decades of partnership. He highlighted counterterrorism and economic development – especially in the minerals sector – as areas ripe for further collaboration. While condemning terrorism 'in all its forms and manifestations,' the prime minister reiterated the heavy toll Pakistan has paid in the global war on terror: over 90,000 lives lost and an estimated $152 billion in economic damages. On the regional front, Sharif stressed that a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains essential to ensuring long-term stability in South Asia. He warned that continued provocation from India risks undermining Pakistan's domestic progress, particularly its recent economic reforms, which he claimed have begun to steer the country toward recovery. Secretary Rubio, for his part, expressed appreciation for the candid exchange and reaffirmed the United States' interest in promoting peace and stability across the region. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman who planned to join terrorist group jailed
A woman has been sentenced to life in prison for terror-related offences after she planned to travel to Afghanistan to join Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Farishta Jami, 36, from Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, and told she must serve a minimum term of 17 years. She had been found guilty of two counts of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism under section five of the Terrorism Act 2006, following a trial at the same court in February. Jami had researched weaponry and how to assemble and disassemble an AK47 rifle, according to Warwickshire Police, which said she was an administrator on several social media groups overseeing the posting and messaging of users. Some of the groups had more than 700 members and disseminated large amounts of propaganda including instructional videos to make devices. Jami's trial heard she also shared graphic and violent extremist material on social media between September 2022 and January 2024. Her flight to Afghanistan for which she had saved was one-way, police said. Head of specialist operation for the force Supt Darren Webster said: "This was a complex case interlinking terrorism and serious criminal offences, and we welcome the result. "Jami's actions had the potential for real world implications and the harm they could have cause cannot be underestimated." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Woman guilty of plan to join ISKP in Afghanistan Woman charged with terrorism offences HM Courts & Tribunals Service Warwickshire Police
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Stratford woman who planned to join terrorist group jailed
A woman has been sentenced to life in prison for terror-related offences after she planned to travel to Afghanistan to join Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).Farishta Jami, 36, from Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, and told she must serve a minimum term of 17 had been found guilty of two counts of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism under section five of the Terrorism Act 2006, following a trial at the same court in had researched weaponry and how to assemble and disassemble an AK47 rifle, according to Warwickshire Police, which said she was an administrator on several social media groups overseeing the posting and messaging of users. Some of the groups had more than 700 members and disseminated large amounts of propaganda including instructional videos to make trial heard she also shared graphic and violent extremist material on social media between September 2022 and January flight to Afghanistan for which she had saved was one-way, police of specialist operation for the force Supt Darren Webster said: "This was a complex case interlinking terrorism and serious criminal offences, and we welcome the result."Jami's actions had the potential for real world implications and the harm they could have cause cannot be underestimated." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Telegraph
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
How the Kabul airport blast mastermind was captured and what it means for US-Pakistan relations
The suspected mastermind of the deadly bombing of Kabul airport during the chaotic US withdrawal was captured after painstaking planning and coordination between America and Pakistan, The Telegraph can reveal. Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as 'Jafar', has now been extradited to the US and faces charges in Virginia of providing material support to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), the designated terrorist group responsible for the attack which killed 13 US military personnel and at least 170 Afghan civilians. Sharifullah was arrested in a counter-terrorism operation in Pakistan's Balochistan province near the Afghanistan border, a Pakistan ministry of defence official told The Telegraph. 'The Pakistan army, acting independently, captured Sharifullah along with three other high-profile ISIS-K operatives in a carefully planned raid,' the official said. The US intelligence services had been tracking Sharifullah but required Pakistan's assistance to secure his arrest. 'When the Americans located him, they engaged with us. Once we confirmed his identity, we made it clear that this would be a Pakistan-led operation,' he said. 'We sent our elite unit of special forces to storm his hideout near the Afghanistan border and nabbed him in a swift raid,' he said. On March 2, Sharifullah was handed over to US officials and flown to Washington DC, via Morocco on a department of justice aircraft, he said. His arrest marks a significant moment in counter-terrorism cooperation between Washington and Islamabad, as the two nations work to repair strained relations following America's withdrawal from Afghanistan. The American intelligence agencies had been hunting the mastermind since the Kabul Airport attack. As soon as John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, took charge, he established contact with Pakistan's ISI chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik. Later they met again during the Munich Security Conference last month. During the close door meetings, the US urged Pakistan to play a key role in neutralising the growing ISIS-K threat in the region with global security consequences. Donald Trump, who blames Joe Biden for the chaotic pullout from Afghanistan, announced Sharifullah's arrest in his address to Congress on Tuesday. 'He is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,' Mr Trump said. We will NEVER forget the 13 heroes who lost their lives at Abbey Gate. God bless the leadership of @Kash_Patel, @PamBondi, @TulsiGabbard, & @JohnRatcliffe in bringing this scum home to face justice. 🇺🇸 — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) March 5, 2025 On Monday, Sharifullah appeared in court wearing a blue jail jumpsuit. He stood around 5ft tall, wore a surgical face mask, and spoke through an interpreter in the packed courtroom. A judge ordered him to remain in custody until a formal detention hearing scheduled for Monday. US authorities allege that Sharifullah helped ISIS-K operatives scout routes around Kabul's Abbey Gate, ensuring the suicide bomber could reach the target undetected. He also allegedly provided intelligence to the terrorist group to facilitate the attack. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sharifullah 'orchestrated' the bombing, vowing that under Mr Trump's leadership, the US would ensure that terrorists 'have no safe haven'. Kash Patel, the FBI Director, heralded his capture and extradition saying: 'The FBI will never forget the loss of these American heroes, we will continue to hunt down those who viciously murdered our warriors, we will find all responsible and bring them to justice.' According to the DOJ, during FBI interrogations, Sharifullah admitted to knowing Abdul Rahman al-Logari, the ISIS-K militant who carried out the suicide bombing. He also confessed to involvement in other attacks, including a 2016 bombing near the Canadian embassy in Kabul and last year's massacre at Crocus City Hall near Moscow, which killed 130 people. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sharifullah's militant career began with the dreaded Haqqani Network (HQN), a group closely linked to al-Qaeda. In 2015, he defected to ISIS-K and formed Kabul Katiba, an elite urban warfare unit, which has a direct link to the group's core leadership. Former Afghan intelligence officials told The Telegraph that he operated alongside senior jihadist figures of Islamic State (IS) including Sanaullah Ghafari, the current emir of ISIS-K. He introduced the small-cell structure to improve operational secrecy, enabling independent attacks with minimal risk of exposure when the ISIS-K lost territorial control in eastern Afghanistan. He was first arrested in 2019 by Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS), which identified him as one of ISIS-K's most dangerous operatives. He was held in Bagram prison until Aug 15, 2021, when the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan led to mass prison breaks, allowing him to escape and re-join ISIS-K. Sharifullah's capture comes at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Clashes along the Torkham-Jalalabad border crossing have escalated, displacing dozens of families and forcing a shutdown since Feb 21. Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban remain strained, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harbouring militants who launch cross-border attacks — an allegation the Taliban denies. Pakistan has been pushing for renewed US counter-terrorism support, including pressuring the Taliban to return abandoned American military equipment that Islamabad claims is being used by insurgents in cross-border attacks. In recent weeks, Mr Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to recover the weaponry left behind. 'We're talking here about a concrete case of cooperation on a sensitive issue, in this case intelligence-sharing on a shared threat. This is a rare success story for a relationship that's lacked an anchor since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan,' said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre in Washington DC. 'While this isn't necessarily the opening salvo of a new counter-terrorism alliance, it does signal that the new administration — despite featuring a large number of harsh Pakistan critics, including the president himself — thinks enough of Pakistan as a partner that it's willing to reach out on a matter as fraught and complex as counter-terrorism,' Mr Kugelman said. On March 4, Mike Waltz, the US national security advisor, called Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's foreign minister, thanking his country for its efforts in countering terrorism. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to 'continue its cooperation with the US in the field of counter-terrorism'. On Tuesday, 18 people, including children, were killed and dozens more wounded after a group of gunmen and suicide bombers launched a coordinated attack on a Pakistani army base at Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On Thursday, General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, said that terrorist groups continued to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan. The use of foreign weapons and equipment in recent terrorist attacks was clear evidence that Afghanistan remained a haven for such elements, General Munir said. The UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team warned in February that Afghanistan remains the primary hub for ISIS-K operations. The group's activities in Pakistan have also surged, with the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies reporting more than 1,600 fatalities from militants in 2024 — the deadliest year in a decade.
