Latest news with #MaleehaLodhi
Gulf Insider
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Pakistan & India Exchange 2nd Straight Day Of Border Fire: 'On The Brink'
Indian and Pakistani troops have exchanged border fire for a second straight day, in an increasingly volatile and highly dangerous crisis which could develop into full-scale war between longtime nuclear-armed rivals. BREAKING: Heavy exchange of fire reported as Pakistan Army responds forcefully to Indian forces' firing in Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. — Clash Report (@clashreport) April 26, 2025 Islamic militants killed 26 Indian tourists who had been in a picturesque, mountainous and popular spot in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday. India quickly blasted Pakistan for harboring terrorists in the disputed border area, a charge which Pakistani leaders vehemently rejected, instead suggesting it was a 'false flag' orchestrated by New Delhi. Pakistan's PM Sharif meanwhile said his country is ready to defend its sovereignty but offered willingness to establish a 'neutral' international investigation into the attack. Days into the crisis and land borders have been shut, visas and military exchange programs mutually canceled, and a landmark water treaty has been suspended. Al Jazeera writes that Indian 'Armed police and soldiers are searching homes and forests for fighters in Kashmir, and India's army chief reviewed security in the region,' amid the hunt for the killers. As for the two consecutive days of border fire, it's unclear precisely where this took place or whether either side took on casualties. Several military outposts reported exchanges of fire. On former diplomat has warned the region could descend into full-blown war: Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani diplomat, has told Al Jazeera that there is 'a somber mood' in Pakistan with a great deal of apprehension about what might happen next. 'The tensions between the two countries have already pushed the region into an uncharted territory,' she said. Lodhi added: 'The nuclear neighbors are on the brink of a more dangerous confrontation, so there are fears, especially because of speeches by Prime Minister Modi as well as the Indian media.' Below is President Trump's reaction aboard Air Force One… #WATCH | On #PahalgamTerroristAttack, US President Donald Trump says, "I am very close to India and I'm very close to Pakistan, and they've had that fight for a thousand years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for a thousand years, probably longer than that. That was a bad… — ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2025 According to Reuters, citing military sources: The Indian Army said it had responded to 'unprovoked' small arms fire from multiple Pakistan Army posts that started around midnight on Friday along the 740-km (460-mile) de facto border separating the Indian and Pakistani areas of Kashmir. It reported no casualties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue the attackers to 'the ends of the earth' and a significant military build-up has been observed in the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Likely Pakistan is also sending additional troops. On top of everything, Indian airlines are having to reroute all of their flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, amid tit-for-tat airspace closures. The tensions have had a negative effect on Indian markets, also as business brace for higher costs.
Al Jazeera
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
How dangerous is the latest India-Pakistan dispute?
The United Nations has called for calm between India and Pakistan amid soaring tensions after gunmen killed dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Relations between the neighbours have plunged to their lowest level for years as both sides announced a series of diplomatic measures targeting the other. How serious is this crisis? Presenter: Cyril Vanier Guests: Maleeha Lodhi – Columnist for DAWN newspaper Sumantra Bose – Author of, Kashmir at the Crossroads: Inside a 21st-Century Conflict Elizabeth Threlkeld – Senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Soft power key to Pakistan's diplomacy'
Dr Maleeha Lodhi and Dr Duksha H Saiyid engage in a dialogue about Pakistan's missed opportunity for cultural diplomacy at the "Culture and Art – The Soft Power of Diplomacy" event in the federal capital. PHOTO: ZUNAIRAH QURESHI/EXPRESS A discussion on soft power diplomacy through cultural exchange was recently held by the Asian Study Group (ASG) in the federal capital right next to a hall hosting a dinner for the Bangladesh cricket team, which was in town for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With the Pakistan cricket team placing last and out of the high-stakes tournament hosted at home after 28 years, talk of cultural diplomacy and its importance in restoring the national image stood in contrast with the country's apparent priorities. The programme titled "Culture and Art – The Soft Power of Diplomacy" took the form of a dialogue between former Pakistan ambassador to the US and permanent representative to the UN, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, and Youlin Magazine Editor and historian, Dr Dushka H Sayid. At the same time, the audience comprising members of the diplomatic corps and professionals from various backgrounds supplied the conversation with their own insights. Soft power diplomacy refers to the use of cultural and social exchanges of tangible as well as intangible tools such as films, local cuisines, art, sports, student-exchange programmes and developmental investments to build relationships with other nations and craft a positive national image. It focuses on influencing nations through positive engagement as an alternative to hard-power-driven coercion. As an example, Dr Lodhi shared her own efforts towards projecting Pakistan's soft power when, as Pakistan's high commissioner to the UK, she organised a large-scale concert in Trafalgar Square, London, which included performances from local artists and celebrities, a fashion show and a community band. "Money is not the issue; I was able to raise half of the funding for this event through the Pakistani business community in the UK alone. What we need is the chief executive of the country to take interest in this, and then we need to have a foreign minister," said Dr Lodhi while explaining what it would take for Pakistan to get serious about soft power diplomacy. "We need to have a foreign minister," she reiterated with a smile to resounding laughter from the audience. In response to a question that asked why soft power diplomacy does not work in Pakistan, Dr Lodhi said that it was essential for leaders to first have faith in the future of the country and belief in what they represent. "It is crucial for the leadership of the country to believe that soft diplomacy is useful, that it will help Pakistan promote its objectives abroad and solve its image crisis." Dr Lodhi further elaborated upon her point by drawing from her experience as an ambassador to the US during the 9/11 catastrophe, when she had to leverage Pakistan's soft image to counter misconceptions of its involvement with the Taliban and the ensuing Islamophobia that Muslims faced. Dr Sayid, on the other hand, pointed out the role of Pakistani films like "Shah" and "Waar", which were released to international acclaim. She further highlighted the role of CPEC in changing the narrative of China and delivering its message of maintaining peace as a testament to the successful use of soft power diplomacy. Audience members engaged with the talk by sharing stories of their own attempts at highlighting indigenous traditional arts like Punjabi Sufi music over mainstream popular media and wondering how the influence of Pakistani dramas in India, where the content is found relatable, may have impacted the country's perception across borders. In response to which younger participants expressed concern over the negative image that may result from the kind of regressive notions that are perpetuated in local TV dramas. Many appreciated the talk for discussing a vital topic. "Just this morning, in a meeting, we proposed a series of cultural actions which would help change the image of Pakistan," shared the UNESCO Pakistan culture and heritage expert, Dr Christina Menegazzi as she thanked the speakers for highlighting the subject. Others expressed their disappointment at the speakers having barely spoken, with the event scheduled for 2 hours wrapping up in less than 1.5 hours.
