Latest news with #SikhTemple
The National
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Pakistan shoots down Indian drone as nations trade more fire along border
Pakistan shot down an Indian drone early on Thursday near a naval airbase in Lahore, Pakistani police and security officials said, as the two nations exchanged more fire along the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region. Local police official Mohammad Rizwan told the AP news agency that a drone was downed near Waltan airport, a small airfield in a residential area of Lahore that contains military installations, about 25 kilometres east of the border with India. Indian officials did not immediately comment. The exchange of fire comes a day after India carried out air strikes on Pakistan as tensions flare over an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. On Thursday, the Indian army said Pakistan 'resorted to unprovoked firing' by targeting the areas of Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor along the Line of Control – the 740km de facto border between the two nuclear-armed nations. Locals said the Pakistani army shelled and opened fire on the Indian side throughout the night. At least 13 Indians including a soldier and four children were killed and nearly 60 injured in the artillery and mortar shelling, Indian authorities said. "This is a scary situation for us in the border area. We have not seen anything like this. We were scared so we evacuated with our family,' said Humail Nadeem, a resident of the border town of Poonch, which has also been targeted. The president of the local Sikh temple in Poonch told local media that a teacher had been killed when a shell hit a mosque. A wall of his Sikh temple was also damaged, he added. "We have never witnessed such heavy shelling in Poonch before. We saw the Kargil war in 1999 but civilian establishments largely remained untouched then,' said Narinder Singh. Explosions were also heard in Amritsar, the second-largest city in the Indian state of Punjab and a major cultural hub that lies about 30km from the international border. Parts of a suspected Pakistani missile were found scattered at several locations in the Kathunanagal area of Amritsar, local news channels reported. TV footage showed panicked villagers gathered in fields around remnants of the missiles, but no injuries were reported. "There were four or five blasts between 1am and 1.30am. These were so loud and intense that the entire house was shaking,' one resident said. "There is a situation of panic.' New Delhi stunned the world on Wednesday when it launched "Operation Sindoor' with missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation came in the wake of the killing of 25 tourists, all men and mostly Hindus, and a Muslim pony operator by armed militants in Kashmir's Pahalgam two weeks ago, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the restless region. New Delhi has blamed the attack on Islamabad and accuses Pakistan of backing militant groups in Kashmir, a charge denied by Islamabad. The Resistance Front, an extremist group, claimed responsibility. India has claimed its air strikes on Wednesday killed 70 'terrorists' but maintained that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. Islamabad said at least 31 people were killed in the Indian strikes and retaliated with the most intense round of shelling in four years. At least three Indian fighter planes were also shot down by the Pakistan military, including a Rafale plane, according to media reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had been in Pakistan as part of mediation efforts, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday. Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir also landed in the Indian capital on an unannounced visit, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on X. The focus of Mr Al Jubeir's visit is also believed to be de-escalating tensions. Jammu, a Hindu-dominated mountainous region, and Kashmir, a Muslim-dominated valley, is divided between India and Pakistan but is claimed by both nations in its entirety. The region has struggled with over three decades of insurgency against India. People were forced to take refuge in underground bunkers or flee their villages and towns as mortar shelling struck border towns on Wednesday, with many reported injured. Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have set up centralised control rooms in ten districts to monitor the security situation.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Erie's Sikh Temple hosts annual Vaisakhi celebration
Sweet smells and cultural music filled the rooms at the Sikh Temple on West 8th Street in celebration of the religion's 326th Vaisakhi. The Sikh holiday dates back to the religion's foundation in 1699, and the holiday's traditions are still celebrated to this day. 'It has both spiritual and cultural significance. The reason why we are celebrating is that it is a birth anniversary for Khalsa, started by Guru Gobind Signh in 1699, and it gave us the principles of Sikhism as well as the Sikh identity,' said Jay Kang, volunteer at Erie's Sikh Temple. Kang said some of those Sikh principles are a commitment to courage, equality and justice. Local fire department recalls responding to emergency during fish fry But Vaisakhi isn't just exclusively for the Sikh community to celebrate, and he said the Sikh community believes in equality without barriers to gender or race. 'I think the sikh community just wants to make sure that we are warmly inviting the entire erie community to come and celebrate with us, share our values, and be a help in terms of building bridges of understanding,' said Kang. Upon entering the Sikh Temple, you have to take your shoes off and put headwear on, which is meant to show a sign of respect. Due to the special day, the temple served desserts and samosas, as well as played music. The event was so lively, some local politicians came out to make an appearance. Spring Craft & Gift Festival takes place at Bayfront Convention Center 'This is just an incredible experience. I come here every year; it's a very moving experience, and I'm always lifted up to a higher level every time i participate in one of these services,' said Erie Mayor Joe Schember. 'I think diversity is one of Erie's greatest strengths. I really absolutely believe that.' Mayor Schember was joined by some other local politicians for the service on Sunday, including a representative from PA Governor Shapiro's office. The representative went on to declare April 2025 as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month on behalf of the governor to recognize the hundreds of thousands of Sikh-Americans living in the US. Erie's Sikh community will celebrate its next big event in November in honor of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
