Latest news with #Jihad
Saba Yemen
5 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Islamic Jihad: Israeli new settlement plans war crime
Occupied Quds - Saba: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement on Thursday said the Israeli enemy's approval of a large-scale settlement plan in the West Bank constitutes a new war crime added to its record of crimes, coinciding with the ongoing massacres against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The movement added in a statement, "The plan includes the establishment of 13 settlement cities and the construction of 180,000 housing units by 2050. This is in addition to the announcement by Israeli government ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Yisrael Katz of the establishment of 22 new settlements, some of them near the border with Jordan, in a move aimed at imposing a new settlement reality on the ground." The statement pointed out that these policies are part of a colonial project aimed at annexing the West Bank, displacing its population, realizing Talmudic fantasies, and enforcing a system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people. Jihad emphasized that these measures represent a slap in the face to anyone who relies on a settlement or international pressure, which has failed even to stop the massacres in Gaza or deliver humanitarian aid. It stated, "Resistance, especially armed resistance, is the only option to confront these plans, as it is a legitimate right to defend land, rights, and holy sites." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Defence budget may increase manifold
Listen to article Pakistan may further increase the proposed defence budget for the next fiscal year to deal with the Indian aggression and spend more on indigenous research and development, in a move that may also require the provincial governments to share the additional cost. Official sources told The Express Tribune that due to rapid security-related developments, the authorities concerned have started considering whether the earlier agreed 18% increase in the defence budget for fiscal year 2025-26 will be sufficient. The issue has been discussed at the level of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defence and also with the International Monetary Fund, said the sources. While responding to a question whether Pakistan requested the IMF to allow further increase in defence budget and to compensate it downward adjust the agreed primary budget surplus target, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb replied that "we remain committed to stay the course both in terms of structural reform agenda and meeting all quantitative and structural benchmarks". Pre-May 10, the federal government had decided to give an 18% increase in the defence budget over last year's allocation of Rs2.1 trillion. This has also been agreed between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, the IMF had indicated Rs2.42 trillion for defence spending for the next fiscal year, which was higher by only 12%. The sources said that the IMF did not have an issue with the increase in the defence budget, provided the government has a fiscal room to fund it without compromising the primary budget surplus target of around Rs2.2 trillion or 1.7% of GDP. The discussions are taking place at a time when the IMF's top man for the region, Jihaz Azour, was in Islamabad. Jihad held important meetings on Wednesday, including with the Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and some with other high profile state dignitaries, said the sources. Jihad is also scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister today (Thursday). The sources said in order to meet the heightened security situation, there was a need to increase the defence budget by at least one-fourth. This would require around Rs500 billion jump over this fiscal year, which was necessary to replenish the arsenals. The sources said that the additional money was also needed for the armed forces development programme and clearing some past defence-related liabilities. For this fiscal year, Rs270 billion had been allocated for the armed forces development programme, which may have to be significantly increased in the light of regional developments, said the sources. The additional financial needs to cement the country's defence have to be shouldered by the provinces. In a meeting with the Prime Minister a few days ago, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik had proposed that the provincial governments should bear at least half of the additional defence cost. The provinces are rich and have huge cash surpluses while the federal government is running in deficit. India attacked Punjab and Sindh provinces and there is a need that also the provinces now should come forward to bear the cost, remarked the government officials. The Finance Ministry was also considering diverting some of the unproductive subsidies towards meeting the nation's additional defence budget needs. During one of recent meetings, the IMF's Mission Chief pointed towards allocating over Rs1 trillion for power sector subsidies despite the fact that electricity prices have come down. But the Power Division was asking for more money, said the sources. The Finance Ministry can also divert some of the unproductive subsidies given for various banking sector schemes towards meeting the defence needs. The coalition partners were battling for more development budget while terming the proposed Rs921 billion worth Public Sector Development Programme insufficient for the next fiscal year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already constituted a committee to review the possibility of further increasing the development budget. The government was contemplating increasing the development budget to over Rs1 trillion but the Finance Ministry wanted to restrict it and instead put money for the defence purposes. The FBR remains the weakest link and a reason for the lower than the required allocations for the defence and the development. The FBR has been missing its tax targets by wide margins and it's almost all initiatives have backfired. Some of the IMF-FBR meetings this week did not go well due to the FBR's inability to fulfill its commitments. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday constituted a committee to address the issue of stuck-up refunds of the refineries due to bad taxation policies and to inflate collection. It was decided that the Petroleum Division will consult with the Finance Division and Revenue Division to finalize the proposal regarding adjustment mechanism of sales tax on refinery products, according to the decision. There is also a need to end the unjustified 1% advance income tax on exports in the budget after the normal tax regime has taken effect from this fiscal year. Pakistan on Wednesday blamed India for a deadly attack on a school bus. The Prime Minister's Office stated on Wednesday that in a reprehensible and cowardly act of terrorism, a school bus carrying innocent children was targeted today in Khuzdar, Balochistan by state sponsored proxies (Fitna Al Hindustan) of India which the world has largely come to know as epicenter of instability in the region. Sequel to gross failure to intimidate Pakistan through overt military means, dastardly terrorist incidents are being orchestrated through their proxies at an intensified scale in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deliberately targeting civilians in a futile attempt to destabilize the Pakistan, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The dastardly incident led to martyrdom of three innocent children and two soldiers along with 53 injured including 39 innocent children of which 8 are critical, according to the government. Given the heightened tensions, the authorities said that the next year's defence budget has to be exceptionally increase one-time to strengthen the capabilities of the army, navy and the air force.
News18
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Exploiting Faith For War': Asim Munir Leading Dangerous Evolution Of Jihad In Pakistan, Say Sources
Last Updated: Unlike Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, who are non-state actors, Munir's actions reflect state policy, combining state power, religious authority, and militant ideology. Top intelligence sources are warning of a dangerous evolution of Jihad in Pakistan, following a speech by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Pahalgam, which was shortly followed by the killing of 26 Hindus within 96 hours. This speech was not merely rhetorical but was interpreted as a command to kill, presenting a significant challenge for India in countering an army chief who masquerades as a holy warrior exploiting faith to wage war, top intelligence sources said. Sources indicate Asim Munir leads the third generation of Jihad in Pakistan, weaponising the Quran and leveraging state power. His actions align with the goals of Hafiz Saeed and Maulana Masood Azhar to liberate Kashmir but with the support of state machinery, sources say. Unlike Saeed and Azhar, who are non-state actors, Munir's actions reflect state policy, combining state power, religious authority, and militant ideology. This duality amplifies his capacity to institutionalise jihadism as a state policy, sources add. Munir has integrated radical clerics into the training programs of the Pakistani army, indoctrinating soldiers with the belief that Jihad for Kashmir is a divine duty, sources say. This approach transforms state-backed terrorism into a religious obligation for soldiers and militants. Sources say Munir frequently reads Quranic verses and offers his interpretations during meetings, emphasising the importance of countering 'oppressors", implicitly referring to Indian forces and government. According to sources, Munir's spiritual justification for proxy warfare invokes Quranic verses, framing the fight for Allah as a divine duty, similar to the rhetoric of Saeed and Azhar. This strategy threatens to normalise jihadism as a tool of statecraft. Munir's era has seen the revival of support for groups like The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). They have been provided with drones, encrypted communication, and safe havens. Sources indicate that Munir, using Pakistan's military-intelligence machinery, including the ISI, has executed attacks such as the 2025 Pahalgam massacre targeting Hindus. Following these attacks, diplomatic cover and disinformation campaigns are employed to shield the perpetrators. In conclusion, countering Munir's duality requires exposing his exploitation of faith for militant purposes. His ability to cloak terrorism in Quranic legitimacy and military strategy poses a significant threat, as it institutionalises jihadism under the guise of state policy. This evolution of Jihad in Pakistan, under the leadership of Asim Munir, presents a serious challenge for India and the region. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 20, 2025, 10:04 IST
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
How Pak Minister Khawaja Asif Brought Comic Relief Amid Tension On Border
New Delhi: The past week saw India and Pakistan exchange heavy fire after New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. Artillery guns screamed on the borders and the people of the two countries argued on social media. But at a polarised time such as this, many on both sides of the border were united on one subject -- the criticism of Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, whose bizarre remarks provided the much-needed comic relief amid a tense, war-like situation. Honest Admission: During an interview with Sky News on April 25, Mr Asif effectively admitted that Pakistan has been backing terrorism and accused Western powers of conveniently blaming Pakistan. "When we were fighting on their side, way back in the 80s against the Soviet Union, all these terrorists of today were wining and dining in Washington, DC," he said. To a question on whether he admits that Pakistan had a long history of backing terror, he replied, "Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for three decades and the West, including Britain. That was a mistake and we suffered for that." "Madrasas Second Line Of Defence": Speaking in Pakistan's National Assembly, Mr Asif said madrasas and their students are the country's "second line of defence". "As far as madrassas or madrassa students are concerned, there's no doubt they are our second line of defence, the youngsters studying there. When the time comes, they will be used as needed 100 per cent," he said. The remark drew strong criticism within Pakistan. Tahira Abdullah, a human rights activist, told news agency PTI, "It damages the already perceived image of Pakistan to the world which sees the unlimited spread of religious seminaries in the country as a place where young brains are brainwashed in the name of Jihad and so-called freedom struggle." Drone Strategy: Defence Minister Asif told the Pakistan National Assembly that its forces decided not to intercept Indian drones so that they don't give away locations of Pakistan's military installations. "Yesterday's drone attack was aimed at detecting our locations. It's a technical matter. They were not intercepted, so our locations are not leaked. When it was safe, we shot them down," he said. The remark was seen as an attempt to cover up the inadequacy of Pakistan's air defence system, one front that India aced with its near-perfect interception of the barrage of missiles and drones fired by Pakistan all along the western sector. "Proof On Social Media": This is arguably Mr Asif's best moment during Operation Sindoor. In an interview with CNN, he was asked to substantiate Pakistan's claim that its air force shot down five Indian fighter planes. The anchor asked the Pakistan Defence Minister, "Where is the evidence?" The reply was confident: "It's all over social media." The anchor, visibly surprised, responded, "You are the Defence Minister. The reason to talk to you today, Sir, is not to talk about content all over social media. I am asking you very specifically for the evidence." The minister failed to substantiate his claims. Later in the interview, Mr Asif also claimed, wrongly, that India had admitted that three planes were down. The Indian Air Force has made no such admission. Nuclear Threat? Shortly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, Mr Asif warned of a "historic" response if Pakistan's "existence is threatened". During an interview with Pakistan's Samaa TV, the Defence Minister criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said aggression from India will draw a response that "history will remember". "If our existence is threatened, if we don't exist, nobody will," he said. The doomsday warning was widely seen as a nuclear threat and many commented that it was irresponsible for a senior minister to make such provocative remarks. In his address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail. "India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail," he said. Blast From the Past: While Mr Asif may have garnered international attention now, this is not the first time he has been under the spotlight for his off-the-cuff -- and often offensive -- remarks. In 2023, he referred to women parliamentarians of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf as "garbage". Following a massive uproar, Mr Asif came up with a bizarre defence. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said women must tolerate such offensive remarks if they talk about gender equality. Criticism At Home: The Pakistan Defence Minister has been ridiculed at home and abroad for his irresponsible remarks. Zartaj Gul, a National Assembly member from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, said Mr Asif's attitude was "very irresponsible". "If you don't know English, don't go before international media. If you cannot defend your country, don't go, don't mock your government and your State," she said. "You say Pakistan shelters terrorists. The government has more educated people, send them," she added. On social media too, Pakistanis have slammed Mr Asif's remarks and termed them "embarrassing".
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Fury as more than 400 Islamic State jihadis returned to UK without facing justice
MORE than 400 IS jihadis have returned to the UK but not faced justice, a damning report finds. Fighters carried out killings, terror attacks and genocide after joining the banned terror group in Iraq and Syria. Advertisement 1 More than 400 IS jihadis have returned to the UK but not faced justice Credit: Alamy Lord Alton, head of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said ministers cannot 'wash their hands' of crimes because they happened overseas. The committee said the Government has to make sure the jihadis are put on trial in the UK. Lord Alton said: 'We know that British nationals committed the most horrendous crimes in Iraq and Syria under the Daesh [IS] regime and we have a duty to see them brought to justice. 'We want to see more action from the Government in identifying the perpetrators, some of whom may have returned to Britain, others likely detained in camps in Syria.' Advertisement READ MORE ON TERROR THREATS Shadow Justice Secretary 'Those that have made it back from ISIS need to be locked up and kept away from the public.' A government spokesperson said: 'The Government's priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and we are committed to achieving accountability for all victims of Daesh's crimes. 'We will consider the findings of this report.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun Latest The Government said its priority remains 'achieving accountability for victims'. Rishi blasts 'when I see a group chanting -Jihad- on the street I ban them - Keir invoices them' in brutal takedown
