Latest news with #PakistanGovernment
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
India and Pakistan's Air Battle Is Over. Their Water War Has Begun.
The drones and missiles have been stilled after India and Pakistan's brief but intense military battle this month. But the two neighbors have turned up the heat on another longstanding conflict, over the sharing of water. A day after terrorists killed 26 people on the Indian side of Kashmir in April, igniting tensions that would lead to four days of escalating conflict, the Indian government said it would suspend a vital pact governing rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. That agreement, the Indus Waters Treaty, covers a river system that tens of millions of people rely on for their livelihoods and survival. India, which linked the April attack to Pakistan, said it would step away from its obligations under the pact until its nemesis 'credibly and irrevocably' renounced support for cross-border terrorism. Pakistan, which denied any role in the terrorist attack, called India's move an 'act of war.' India's targeting of water, however, is not just about combating terrorism, analysts say. The Indian government has been frustrated by the 65-year-old treaty, believing it has favored Pakistan from the start, and analysts say that India is hoping to force Pakistan to renegotiate it. That could allow India to better use its allotted waters to meet the needs of its immense population and adapt to climate change. India's decision to put the agreement 'in abeyance' — and the vague conditions it has imposed on Pakistan to reverse that — has injected a note of uncertainty into the future of a treaty that has survived multiple wars and conflicts. A full breakdown would have serious consequences for both countries, especially Pakistan, an arid land with few other sources of water. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Al Arabiya
7 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Pakistan extends deadline to bid for national airline to June 19
Pakistan has extended the deadline for expressions of interest in purchasing Pakistan International Airlines to June 19, the country's privatization ministry said on Tuesday. The earlier deadline was June 3. The ministry did not provide any reason for the extension and it did not disclose whether any expressions of interest had been submitted so far. Pakistan has been seeking to sell a 51 percent to 100 percent stake in the debt-ridden carrier to raise funds and reform cash-draining state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program. Its failed attempt to privatize Pakistan International Airlines last year received a single offer well below the asking price of more than $300 million. Pakistan has shifted almost all of the national carrier's legacy debt and liabilities to government books after issues raised by bidders led to the failure of the last privatization attempt. In April, the airline said it reported its first annual profit in more than two decades.
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Why This River in India and Pakistan Is Causing So Much Angst
A major river system that flows through both India and Pakistan has been a source of ongoing tensions between the two countries for decades. But India's unilateral suspension of a water-sharing agreement in April, that's been in place with Pakistan for 65 years, signals a new low point in relations. India paused the Indus Waters Treaty within 24 hours of an attack in the disputed region of Kashmir on April 22 that killed mostly Indian tourists, for which India blames Pakistan. Pakistan has denied the allegations. The move by India to pause the treaty came as a surprise, especially as the pact — signed in 1960 — had previously managed to withstand multiple conflicts. However, India's dissatisfaction over some of its clauses, which it says are outdated, as well as Pakistan's frustration over India's hydropower buildout on the rivers, have been brewing for the past decade.
Russia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Tensions rise as Pakistan launches military campaign against India: What we know so far
Pakistan has announced the launch of a large-scale military operation against India – Bunyan Al Marsoos – in a new wave of escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Islamabad has said the move is in retaliation for Indian strikes on its territory and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. India earlier launched Operation Sindoor, targeting what it described as 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan. The strikes followed a deadly terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley that killed 26 civilians last month – which India holds Pakistan responsible for. Islamabad – calling New Delhi's operation an act of 'unprovoked aggression' – has responded with shelling across the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir. Pakistan launched its operation overnight Friday into Saturday after reporting that Indian forces had struck three of its air bases, including Nur Khan near Rawalpindi, just 10km from Islamabad. Pakistan condemned the strikes as 'blatant aggression' but said its air defenses intercepted the attacks. Pakistan's Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos (unbreakable wall) was announced on X. Islamabad said the operation aims to 'protect Pakistan's sovereignty, security, and oppressed citizens' and called it a 'befitting' response to Indian 'aggression.' The government claimed to have 'successfully targeted key Indian military installations,' destroyed a brigade headquarters at G Top, and hit a missile storage site in northern India. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had no choice but to retaliate to the Indian attacks, but later signaled willingness to deescalate if India halts further strikes. India's Foreign Ministry accused Pakistan on Saturday of attacking military sites along its western border using drones, fighter jets, and loitering munitions. It said Pakistan attempted to infiltrate Indian airspace at more than 26 locations and carried out indiscriminate strikes on civilian targets, including health centers and schools. Indian officials denied Islamabad's claims of critical infrastructure damage, calling them 'lies, misinformation, and propaganda.' The military released time-stamped images of intact air bases and confirmed only limited damage to personnel and infrastructure at Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot, and Bathinda. India also denied claims that its S-400 systems and BrahMos base were hit. New Delhi confirmed that it conducted 'retaliatory' precision airstrikes early Saturday on Pakistani air bases at Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sialkot, and two radar sites, saying they were verified military targets. Later, the Indian Army said it destroyed several terrorist launchpads near the Line of Control in response to Pakistani strikes, calling them 'hubs for planning and executing terror attacks against Indian civilians and security forces.' It later said that India does not seek escalation and will show restraint if Pakistan reciprocates. India launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, claiming it targeted 'terrorist camps' rather than Pakistan's Armed Forces or civilians. 'Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature,' the Indian government said, adding that it has shown 'considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution.' New Delhi said it struck nine suspected terrorist-linked sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad, however, claimed that 31 civilians were killed in the initial strike and called the operation an act of 'unprovoked aggression,' vowing to respond accordingly. India said the operation was launched in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in India's Jammu and Kashmir federal territory in late April that killed 26 tourists. The Resistance Front, believed to be linked to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. Indian investigators said they identified the attackers' planners and communication hubs connected to Pakistan. Islamabad denied having any involvement and called for an impartial probe. The Group of Seven nations urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and 'engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, and offered Washington's help in defusing the crisis. However, US Vice President J.D. Vance said Washington would not intervene. He told Fox News the situation is 'none of our business,' though he acknowledged concern over the risk of conflict between nuclear powers. Iran and Bangladesh also urged restraint. The UK called for a 'swift, diplomatic path forward,' while Russia urged both nations to resolve the conflict 'through peaceful political and diplomatic means' and condemned terrorism in all forms.
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The Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
India-Pakistan latest: India says it ‘repulsed' multiple drone attacks near border amid heavy Kashmir shelling
The Indian army says it has 'repulsed' multiple Pakistani drone attacks last night along its entire western border, after air raid sirens were heard in several Indian cities. Blasts were reported in India 's Jammu city during the third night of one of the worst military escalations between two nuclear-powered neighbours in decades. Pakistan has denied carrying out the attacks. A minister told the BBC that the country was yet to hit back at India and would not deny its actions when it does so. Heavy shelling across the de facto border in Kashmir continued for another night, with India accusing Pakistan of repeatedly violating a 2021 ceasefire. Yesterday, Pakistan said its shelling targeted Indian military facilities and that it had killed "40-50 soldiers" in retaliation for pre-dawn strikes by India on Wednesday morning. Other countries have urged the two nuclear-armed neighbours to step back from a pattern of escalatory attacks, which began with a terror attack against mostly Hindu tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement. Vance says war between India and Pakistan 'none of our business' Vice president JD Vance said the US cannot control the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours and a war between them would be "none of our business". "We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," Mr Vance told Fox News. "What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it," he added. Mr Vance's statement contradicted president Donald Trump's earlier offer of "help" to solve the crisis in Asia. India is an important partner for Washington, which aims to counter China's rising influence, while Pakistan remains a US ally despite its diminished importance after Washington's withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar9 May 2025 04:39 Indian army says Pakistan attacked entire western border The Indian army this morning said Pakistan's military launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along its entire western border last night. It also accused Pakistan of another night of heavy shelling along the de facto border in the Himalayan region, where a fragile ceasefire was agreed in 2021. "The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations," the army said in a statement. Pakistan has strongly denied India's claims that it launched attacks targeting cities such as Jammu, Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar. A minister told the BBC that the country was yet to hit back at India and would not deny its actions when it does so. Islamabad said New Delhi's accusations were part of a "reckless propaganda campaign" designed to damage Pakistan's image and stir up tensions in the region, Geo TV reported. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar9 May 2025 04:18 Pictured: The mostly deserted town of Uri 9 May 2025 04:00 Frightened Kashmir residents living on cusp of India-Pakistan war Kashmir Residents told The Independent they are terrified, as 'it is the common people who will suffer' in the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan. 'There are queues for petrol and groceries. There's no business and people have no money,' Srinagar shopkeeper Nazir Ahmad said. Scared Kashmir residents live on cusp of India-Pakistan war: The Independent reports Kashmir Residents told The Independent they are terrified, as 'it is the common people who will suffer' in the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan. 'There are queues for petrol and groceries. There's no business and people have no money,' Srinagar shopkeeper Nazir Ahmad said. On Wednesday (7 May), Indian missiles struck several locations in Pakistan, killing 31 civilians, according to Pakistani officials. New Delhi said it was retaliating after gunmen killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir last month. Rebecca Whittaker9 May 2025 03:00 Pictured: Displaced Kashmiri Muslims take shelter Displaced Kashmiri Muslims, take shelter in a government degree college during a fresh skirmish near the Line of Control. Rebecca Whittaker9 May 2025 02:15 ICYMI: India and Pakistan blame each other for escalations - Two huge blasts and sirens were heard in Jammu city in Indian Kashmir on Thursday and there was a blackout across the city. - India's army Pakistan of firing missiles and drones at two military bases in Indian-administered Kashmir, and another in India's Punjab district. - Pakistan's defence minister denied Pakistan is responsible for any attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. - Pakistan also said it shot down 25 Indian drones overnight, but Delhi did not comment. Rebecca Whittaker9 May 2025 01:30 Twins, 12, among those killed in Indian border town Clutching their father's hand, 12-year-old twins Zain and Zoya tried to escape night-time shelling, part of the deadly crossfire that has erupted between India and Pakistan. They were fleeing to safety after a loud blast shook their house in the Indian border town of Poonch. But they had barely stepped outside when another explosion tore through the street, killing them both. 'They came [into the world] together and they died together,' their uncle, Adil Pathan, told The Independent. 'One of them took their last breaths in my arms.' Twins, 12, among those dead in Pakistani shelling in Poonch: 'Paying with our blood' Deadly attacks by Pakistan on Indian border towns in Kashmir have left a trail of devastation, with homes shattered and families torn apart, as Shweta Sharma and Mohammad Dawood report Rebecca Whittaker9 May 2025 00:45 Indian activists protest against Pakistan Activists are pictured waving Indian national flags and display banners reading "Operation Sindoor" during a protest against Pakistan on Thursday. Wave of misinformation in online videos Unrelated videos purporting to be from the strikes are gaining millions of views. The wave of misinformation has been uncovered by the BBC Verify. Clips that claim to show attacks on an Indian army base and an Indian fighter jet shot down in Pakistan, have been debunked by the broadcaster. In one video shared to X claims to show an explosion caused by a Pakistani response, but it was actually from the 2020 Beirut Port explosion in Lebanon, it revealed. In another case a video which amassed more than 3 million views on X in a matter of hours, claimed to show blasts caused by the Indian strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. However, a search for screengrabs from the video on Google revealed the footage actually showed Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip on 13 October 2023. Rebecca Whittaker8 May 2025 23:30 Pakistan's information minister accuses India of 'spreading disinformation' Pakistan's information minister has rejected reports that Pakistan attacked Indian-administered Kashmir. In a post on X Attaullah Tarar said: 'Pakistan has not targeted any locations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, or across international border, so far. Neither has any loss been incurred by PAF.' He then went on to accuse India of spreading misinformation. 'Indian media is always spreading disinformation either to create to craft a (fake) notion of success before publicly accepting their embarrassing losses during their unprovoked aggression on night of 6/7 May 2025,' he said. 'We have only given defensive response so far! International community may take note.' It comes after Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan is not responsible for any attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in an interview with the BBC.
