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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard's activities must alarm the Indian philanthropists
Dr Jagdish Batra is a senior academic, currently working as Professor of English at O.P. Jindal Global University, India. He has nearly four decades of teaching and research experience. His area of specialization is Indian English Fiction on which he has presented papers at many international conferences in Europe and South East Asia. A Rotary Study Exchange Scholar to USA, Dr Batra has published eight books besides some sixty research papers and a number of general articles/blogs etc. LESS ... MORE The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University is in the eye of the storm over the organization of the Pakistan Conference under its aegis, in which Pro-Pakistan speakers were invited, obviously to whitewash Pakistan's image in the wake of the Pahalgam carnage of 26 tourists. To counter the media backlash in India, the Institute page has removed the detail of proceedings from its website and supplanted it with a statement claiming that the student organizers along with their faculty advisor were solely responsible for organizing the event in which the Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh participated. 'Following our principles of operation, we did not consult any benefactor of the Institute about this conference,' says the notice, alongwith a formal expression of sorrow, though without naming Pakistan in it. This is indeed a poor strategy to avoid criticism directed at the university and the benefactor concerned who were equally responsible for organizing the conference at this critical juncture. What lends credence to this conclusion is also the removal of a page from the Institute site whose rump is still available on Google. It begins with 'Previewing the inaugural Pakistan conference 2025: 14 Apr 2025 — The Mittal Institute sat down with the two conference co-chairs—Muhammad Hadi from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Sannan Pervaiz …'. So, it is not just the students and the faculty advisor of the conference, but also the benefactor and two conference co-chairs. This conference by Pakistan sympathizers on the Harvard campus only shows disdain of the Centre for human rights of which the university professes to be the world champion. It is not the first time that Harvard has been involved in anti-India and anti-Hindu projects. One recalls the Dismantling Hindutva Conference held online in 2022 in which Harvard was the key player along with many other American and European universities. It was basically directed at the pro-Hindu policies of the Modi government. Surprisingly, anything going in favour of Hindus in the world rankles these 'elite' institutions which are devoted to the DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity) philosophy. One finds a number of India-centred study centres supported by Indian billionaires in many American universities. People like Murty, Ambani, Mahindra, Piramal, et al have been contributing mammothly to them without scrutinizing the operations of these institutions. Narayan Murthy's funding of the Murty Classical Library under late Sheldon Pollock is a case in point. Now, Pollock, much like Wendy Doniger, has been instrumental in presenting a distorted and degraded interpretation of our scriptural texts. Funding for the DEI projects supposedly to bring about social justice in India for the marginalized sections seems innocuous, but actually these projects are carried out with the aim to create divisions in the Indian society. How Harvard has been aiming to create problems for India can be gauged from the Indologist Rajiv Malhotra's assertion in his recent book Snakes in the Ganga that a clandestine project undertaken by Harvard University to study the tribal Munda languages spoken in Chhattisgarh and Odisha states was not exactly for love of an obscure language but meant to promote a new theory that the Munda speakers were the original inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent which would mean that both Aryans and Dravidians were outsiders! One needs to be reminded of the Maoist movement rife in that area which might serve as part of the toolkit to dismember India. When it comes to highlighting India and its positive influence on the world, Harvard is least interested. Malhotra's attempts to get its researchers take up projects on Vivekananda's influence on America got lip service only, so did his plea to promote India-loving Transcendentalist Ralph Emerson's writings. In case of Thoreau, Harvard simply denied India's influence – something clearly indicated in his book Walden Pond – besides ignoring such request in the case of Nobel-awardee T.S. Eliot, who had studied Sanskrit texts and used Sanskrit aphorisms in his poems. Harvard has also been criticized by Malcolm Gladwell, the acclaimed author of The Tipping Point for its bias in admissions where it discriminates against Indian students and prefers other races. This attitude had been criticized by the US Supreme Court also which in its 2023 judgment mentioned race-conscious admissions programmes at Harvard and the University of North Carolina and found them violative of the Equal Protection Clause. Now that the Trump administration has withdrawn grants to Harvard and some other universities, will the Indian billionaires have a second thought about funding these universities? Why don't they divert these funds to Indian universities and provide to Indian students good education at reasonable cost? The growing strictness about visa in America and Canada provides a huge opportunity to the Indian universities, government and the philanthropists to work together and come up with an elaborate world-class education system that will save for the country billions going out on account of foreign education. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
News18
14-05-2025
- Business
- News18
From Kashmir To East: China-Pakistan Alliance Uses Bangladesh To Open New Front Against India
Last Updated: Pakistan and China are using Bangladesh's internal volatility, rising radicalism, and Yunus's pro-China tilt to expand their front against India beyond Kashmir The China-Pakistan strategic nexus, long entrenched in Kashmir, is now expanding its focus to India's eastern frontier, CNN-News18 has learnt. While Bangladesh had previously remained a reluctant participant in this equation, economic pressures and the rise of Islamist radicalisation are now creating fertile ground for external interference. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus's recent remarks portraying Bangladesh as the 'only guardian of the ocean" for India's landlocked Seven Sisters region — and suggesting this could be an 'extension of the Chinese economy" — are being seen as a potential alignment with Chinese and Pakistani geopolitical interests. Yunus's emphasis on the strategic use of Bangladesh's seaports, including Chittagong and Mongla, aligns with China's objective of bypassing India's regional dominance. Recent geopolitical developments suggest that Pakistan is attempting to leverage Yunus's transitional leadership to further Chinese interests vis-à-vis India. This approach is consistent with Islamabad's broader strategy of diverting India's focus from Kashmir by creating a simultaneous pressure point in the East. According to sources, the ISI is exerting pressure to remove Bangladesh's Army Chief. However, the majority of Army Commanders continue to support the Chief. The ISI's objective appears to stem from the Army Chief's advocacy for a swift restoration of democracy in Bangladesh — a move that Yunus is resisting. Pro-Pakistan social media networks and platforms such as Dawn have sought to portray Yunus's institutional challenges as part of a broader democratic decline in South Asia, while attributing this to India's alleged regional hegemony. China is using Pakistan to persuade Bangladesh through offers of low-cost Chinese imports, including textiles and machinery. This strategy aims to undercut India's trade dominance, which stood at Rs 14.2 billion in bilateral trade in 2023. The effort is closely linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Pakistan is actively promoting to weaken India-Bangladesh economic ties. Pakistan's ISI is also suspected of funding Islamist groups in Bangladesh, such as Hefazat-e-Islam, to propagate anti-India rhetoric. Evidence of such activity has emerged in border regions like Sylhet and Chittagong. Radicalised factions have mobilised around issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Hindu majoritarianism in India. The ISI is aiming to provoke cross-border unrest on India's eastern flank. Earlier protests in Assam over migrant policies were amplified by Bangladeshi Islamist groups. These demonstrations were further fuelled by Pakistani social media accounts that sought to inflame tensions. Pakistan's deep state is also reactivating dormant insurgent networks in India's Northeast, including the ULFA and NSCN, through Bangladesh-based operatives. Recent seizures of Pakistani-origin weapons in Tripura and Assam point to the reactivation of smuggling routes. According to credible intelligence inputs, Pakistan is coordinating with Turkey and Malaysia to introduce resolutions at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). These efforts aim to criticise India's policies in both Kashmir and the Northeast, using the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh as a parallel narrative. Artificial intelligence-generated videos and fake news stories alleging Muslim persecution in Assam and West Bengal are being disseminated through Bangladeshi platforms such as Bhorer Kagoj. Investigations have traced the digital origins of these materials to Pakistan-based IP addresses. China is also reviving the BCIM corridor — a BRI sub-project — to deepen Bangladesh's economic dependency. Pakistan is acting as a facilitator in this effort, which aims to bypass Indian territory and reduce Dhaka's reliance on Kolkata's ports. In a parallel development, Bangladesh's recent procurement of Chinese VT-4 tanks and Type 056 corvettes signals a strategic shift away from India and Russia. These defence acquisitions have been facilitated through Pakistani diplomatic lobbying. 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 14, 2025, 14:54 IST
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First Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
From damage to aircraft to denying capturing Indian pilot: Is Pakistan accepting defeat to India?
Pakistan has admitted 'slight' damage to its aircraft from Indian strikes and said that no Indian pilot was in its custody. This comes after the Indian military spoke of downing a 'few planes'. India's attacks also caused damage to a runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab, rendering it non-operational for a week read more Air Marshal AK Bharti, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Vice Admiral AN Pramod and Major General SS Sharda attend a press briefing at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, India, May 11, 2025. Reuters The fragile truce between India and Pakistan is holding. No hostilities were reported last night (May 12) along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB), the Indian Army said today. After four days of military clashes, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on Saturday (May 10). However, within hours, Islamabad violated the understanding between the two nations. While the United States has tried to take credit for the ceasefire, India has maintained that there was no third-party involvement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As military tensions ebb, Pakistan has begun admitting the setbacks caused by Indian strikes. Here's how. No Indian pilot captured by Pakistan Pakistan has accepted that no Indian pilot was in its custody amid the military tensions last week. Addressing a press conference along with officials of the air force and navy on Sunday, Pakistan Army spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan did not have any Indian pilot in custody, saying such reports were based on 'fake social media reports'. His dismissal came after several pro-Pakistan social media handles claimed that an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, was captured by Pakistan. This claim was debunked by PIB Fact Check on Saturday, which termed it 'fake'. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 The IAF also confirmed yesterday that all its pilots involved in 'Operation Sindoor' were safe. During a press briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti said, 'We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat. However, we have achieved all our objectives, and all our pilots are back home.' Pakistan admits damage to its aircraft In its briefing on Sunday on 'Operation Bunyanum Marsoos', Pakistan's counter mission to India's military strikes, the country's military admitted that at least one of its aircraft suffered 'minor damage' during skirmishes with India. Lt Gen Chaudhry said that 'only one aircraft' of Pakistan suffered 'slight' damage during Indian missile strikes, without providing further details. On Sunday evening, India said it downed a few Pakistani fighter jets. 'Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border. We have downed a few planes. Definitely, there are losses on their side which we have inflicted," Air Marshal AK Bharti said in a press briefing on Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PAF pilot 'killed' A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot died during the recent military escalation with India. Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, along with four other PAF personnel, were killed at Bholari airbase in Sindh when India hit Pakistan's military targets early Saturday, as per a Times of India (TOI) report. The base houses Pakistan's F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets, crucial for its southern air operations. Pakistani media Dawn reported that 31 'people' died after India's May 7 strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. However, India has said over 100 terrorists were killed during its attack on nine terror camps, including the headquarters of Masood Azhar's terrorist outfit in Bahawalpur, in Pakistan and PoK. 'Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Bahawalpur (Pakistan) was hit the hardest, most potent weapon was used. Jaish-e-Mohammed was created by ISI [Pakistan's spy agency]. It was an important message by India,' sources told ANI. Rahim Yar Khan airbase became unoperational The Indian Armed Forces carried out 'precision attacks' on several of Pakistan's military targets early Saturday after Islamabad launched attacks at 26 locations along the IB and the LoC. India targeted six Pakistani airbases, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian. Hours after the strikes, US President Donald Trump took to social media to announce a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. This was later confirmed by both countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After India's action, the sole runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab was declared non-operational for a week, Indian Express reported, citing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) Saturday evening. As per the notice, the runway has been shut due to work in progress from 4 pm Pakistan time (4:30 pm IST) on May 10 till 4:59 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on May 18. The NOTAM said the runway will not be available for flight operations. In a briefing on Operation Sindoor on Sunday, the Indian Air Force shared satellite imagery to confirm the damage to the runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase by Indian strikes. As per TOI, the missile has left a huge crater on a portion of the runway. Pakistani officials have also reportedly confirmed damage to transport aircraft at Nur Khan and technical facilities at Chunian air bases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Economic Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Shivani Singh, IAF's Rafale pilot, captured by Pakistan? Here's the truth
The Indian government has refuted viral social media claims that an Indian Air Force female pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, was captured by Pakistan. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit confirmed the reports as fake, urging the public to avoid spreading misinformation. This denial follows increased tensions and a rise in misleading information shared online. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads No pilot has been captured Indian Pilot Ejected Over PoK? PIB fact checks Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads False news amid rising tensions Fact check teams stay alert Ministry issues advisory for online safety A viral claim on social media saying that an Indian Air Force female pilot has been captured by Pakistan is false, the Indian government has confirmed. The Press Information Bureau's (PIB) Fact Check unit on Saturday said the reports are fake and urged the public not to fall for social media posts claimed that Squadron Leader Shivani Singh , a female officer in the Indian Air Force, was taken into custody by Pakistani authorities. These posts were shared widely by several pro-Pakistan handles and the PIB Fact Check unit responded, saying, 'Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh , has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE!'PIB Fact check also said that the claim of Indian pilot ejecting over PoK is also Pilot Ejected Over PoK? Here's the Truth! Posts on social media claim that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The false claim comes days after tensions between India and Pakistan increased following Indian air strikes on terror camps across the border. Since then, several social media accounts have shared misleading or fake information attempting to create is the second major claim debunked by the PIB in recent days. Earlier, the unit denied another viral post that said Pakistan had destroyed India's S-400 air defence system. That claim was also labelled fake by the Read : india pak ceasefire News Live Updates The PIB's Fact Check unit has urged people to be cautious while reading or sharing information online. They asked users to rely on official sources and not spread unverified content that could cause Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) also issued a broader alert about the spread of misinformation. It asked citizens to stay vigilant and not forward posts without confirming their authenticity.'Always follow cybersecurity precautions. Don't fall for fake news or panic-inducing messages,' MeitY said in its is no truth to the claim that Squadron Leader Shivani Singh has been captured. The Indian government has confirmed that the information circulating online is false. Readers are advised to stay alert and not believe or spread such fake messages.
News18
11-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Backpedals On IAF Pilot Custody Claim After India's Hard-Hitting Briefing
Last Updated: During the climbdown, Islamabad exposed its own narrative that had been fueling the spread of such falsehoods on social media. A senior Pakistan Army official walked back the claim that Islamabad had captured an Indian Air Force pilot during the 100-hour military action between the two countries. This followed the Indian Air Force's confirmation on Sunday that all pilots involved in 'Operation Sindoor' had returned home safely, noting that the Air Force successfully achieved all its objectives during the precision strikes against Pakistan. 'I can confirm that we don't have any (Indian) pilots in custody. This is all part of social media chatter and part of fake news and propaganda generated from multiple sources," said Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). پاکستان کے پاس کوئی بھارتی پائلٹ نہیں، ڈی جی آئی ایس پی آر۔۔۔!!! — Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) May 11, 2025 During the climbdown, Chaudhry — who has been briefing the world on the India-Pakistan military crisis — exposed its own narrative that had been fueling the spread of such falsehoods on social media. PIB Fact-Checked 'IAF Pilot' Claim Earlier on Saturday, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked social media claims that an Indian Air Force pilot named Shivani Singh had been captured by Pakistan. The PIB's fact-checking unit clarified, saying: 'Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured." It added, 'Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE!" The agency also dismissed a separate claim suggesting that an Indian pilot had ejected from a fighter aircraft over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling it fake. Days after PIB's fact-check exposed the false pro-Pakistan narrative, Islamabad today itself acknowledged the misinformation campaign, stating that no Indian pilot was in their custody. 'All Our Pilots Are Back Home' Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, confirmed that all pilots involved in Operation Sindoor have returned home safely. 'We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat. However, we have achieved all our objectives, and all our pilots are back home," Bharti said. 'We have downed a few Pakistani planes," he added, while declining to reveal the number, citing ongoing technical assessments. 'Pakistani aircraft were prevented from entering Indian airspace, so we don't have wreckage, but we are certain of the hits," he added. 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 12, 2025, 01:17 IST
