Latest news with #SouthAsian
News18
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- News18
Donald Trump's Tantrums & Lies
First big claim that President Trump made was to have successfully mediated between Bharat and Pakistan during the week-long conflict to avert a nuclear war. The two countries fought a limited war following daylight murder of 26 tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir by ISI-sponsored terrorists in April 25, 2025. Yesterday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically debunked President Trump's falsified claims from White House and outside. Neither was there any mediation, dialogue, nor intervention by President Trump to pause the armed conflict. Instead, 'Operation Sindhoor' was paused only at specific and desperate request of Pakistan military establishment through regular channels of communication after Bharat pounded its airbases deep. In fact, Trump had gone ahead and tweeted to claim his leadership role in dissuading the South Asian neighbours from going to a major nuclear war. Yesterday, President Trump went a step further and pointed out that international media did not write about his 'stellar role' as peacenik between the arch-rivals. On the contrary, in his 35-minute telephonic conversation with Trump, Modi unambiguously stated that the latter had no role whatsoever. Indian foreign office 'readout' by Secretary Vikram Misri clearly dismissed in the most certain terms any mediation by President Trump. What's laughable is that Donald Trump repeated his bombastic claim from the Oval Office that he stopped the war even after getting an 'earful' from Modi. Second big claim of President Trump that trade deal between India and US was used as leverage to bring around Prime Minister Modi. Again, this has been outright dismissed by India. President Trump's suggestion that trade deal in the works between India and US leveraged to prevent a larger war was again billed as 'preposterous' and 'untrue'.To drive home India's unambiguous position on war with terror-infested Pakistan, Modi firmly and politely declined Trump's invite to stop over in Washington DC for a chat citing 'prior commitments'. One cannot recall if American President's invite was ever declined by Indian leadership in the past. Few things have been stated crystal clear to President Trump in the telephonic conversation whether he liked it or not. India will not and never accept mediation with Pakistan. This is key articulation of the country's policy as part of its 'strategic autonomy' framework. Yet another point made was that funding, sponsoring and abetting terrorism will now on be considered war against India and not proxy war. And hence, Bharat reserves the right to hit back in a manner it deems fit. Thirdly, Jammu & Kashmir is non-negotiable, integral to India, and only discussion could be on areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan. In last few weeks, India exercised maximum restraint in not taking on President Trump's claim either directly or indirectly. Yesterday's phone call between the two leaders reflected clarity in articulation of India's position. In parallel, General Asim Munir of Pakistan getting close to White House, having a closed-door lunch with President Trump is something that clearly indicates complete disruption in US foreign policy under Republican Presidency. Reports that President Trump promised hitherto denied defence technologies to Pakistan for using its territory to strike against Iran have their own implications. Old foreign policy hands have an independent analysis on the chain of events including President Trump's claims that have been eventually denied by Indian Foreign Secretary Misri. Entire rule book in diplomatic niceties has been consigned to dustbin by President Trump and his bunch of policy advisors from corporate world while dealing with presidents and prime ministers. Hosting General Asim Munir has its own nuances and messaging for sure. President Trump seems to have realized that General Munir could be deployed to push the American agenda in Asia. Using Pakistani airbases and army entry – exit points across 1000-kilometre-long border with Iran will only expand the war theatre between Israel and Iran. Courting Pakistan at most critical junctures has happened even in the past. Hence, Trump – Munir lunch may not have come as a big surprise for some Indian security hawks. Also, Donald Trump may be looking at a defunct and rudderless Pakistan as 'potential market' for clinching transactional business deals as well as go down in human history with a 'Nobel Peace Prize' courtesy Islamabad's leadership. One big suspicion is that American deep state may be playing dirty against Prime Minister Modi's decisive leadership as it had attempted to deny his re-election for a third consecutive term. Cosying up of Pakistan military establishment with Republican White House may have come after a successful trade deal hammered out by Trump and Chinese Communist Party's iron-fisted President Xi Jinping. In ultimate analysis, President Trump comes out as an 'undependable ally' for anyone including Bharat. Disruptions in equations with friends and foes may be treated with equanimity by the slippery Trump administration. Rising American societal unrest that has begun to show up in demonstrations and protests may only deepen threatening the very idea of 'United States of America'. American deep state and Left aligned lobbies entrenched over decades are bound to exploit the churn to their advantage. In the process, there's huge possibility of President Trump getting cornered. In the process, Trump may lose out on India.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Pakistani TV channels withdraw reports on Trump visit
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo ISLAMABAD - Two leading Pakistani television news channels withdrew reports on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to visit the South Asian nation, with one of them issuing an apology. Geo and ARY news channels had said earlier on Thursday that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September. But both later withdrew their reports. "Geo News apologises to its viewers for airing the news without a verification," it said. A senior management official at ARY told Reuters it backtracked after the foreign office said it had no knowledge of a visit. George W. Bush was the last U.S. president to visit Pakistan in 2006. "We have nothing to announce," a U.S. embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters, referring further questions on Trump's schedule to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Asia Air India probe of Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail U.S.-Pakistan relations saw a major boost when Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House last month in an unprecedented meeting. REUTERS
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump's 'Pakistan Visit' turns out to be a false alarm. Country's TV channels backtrack
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Two leading Pakistani television news channels withdrew reports on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to visit the South Asian nation, with one of them issuing an and ARY news channels had said earlier on Thursday that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September. But both later withdrew their reports."Geo News apologises to its viewers for airing the news without a verification," it said.A senior management official at ARY told Reuters it backtracked after the foreign office said it had no knowledge of a W. Bush was the last U.S. president to visit Pakistan in 2006."We have nothing to announce," a U.S. embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters, referring further questions on Trump's schedule to the White White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S.-Pakistan relations saw a major boost when Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House last month in an unprecedented meeting.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistani officials deny reports of Trump's visit
US President Donald Trump arrives at a dinner for NATO heads of state and governments hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Dutch Queen Maxima, on the sidelines of a NATO Summit, at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands June 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS Listen to article Pakistani diplomatic sources on Thursday denied media reports that the US President Donald Trump was expected to visit the South Asian nation on Sept. 18. Sources in the Foreign Ministry said the news circulating about Trump's trip was "fake" as the US president is visiting the UK between Sept. 17 and 19. "We have no information about any such visit. If there is any such thing, the Foreign Ministry will officially announce that," a senior ministry official told Anadolu on the condition of anonymity. Earlier, Reuters reported, quoting local news channels, that US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Pakistan in September, two local television news channels reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The two TV news channels said that Trump would also visit India after arriving in Islamabad in September. Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson said he was not aware of Trump's expected visit. A US embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters, "We have nothing to announce," and said that the White House might be able to provide confirmation on the president's schedule. Pakistan's information ministry didn't respond to a Reuters request for a comment. If confirmed, the visit would be the first by a US president since nearly two decades ago, when President George W. Bush visited Pakistan in 2006. According to Anadolu, local News channel, citing unnamed ministry officials, reported that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan on Sept. 18. An international news agency and several media outlets reported the news, quoting the broadcaster. However, the news channel later withdrew the report and apologized for running an "unconfirmed" story. According to an earlier schedule, the US president is scheduled to pay a state visit to the UK between Sept. 17 and 19. Relations between the Pakistani government and the Trump administration have strengthened in recent months, following the latter's active intervention to broker a ceasefire between longtime rivals India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May. Last month, Trump also hosted Pakistan's army chief Gen. Asim Munir at the White House, in an unprecedented diplomatic development.
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Cinema Without Borders: Life in a metro—Sand City
The Bangladeshi film won the top award in the recently held Karlovy Vary International Film Festival's Proxima section that focuses on bold, radical and inventive works. True to that, the intrepidly crafted, off-the-beaten-path film is an exciting, artistically audacious addition to the new wave Bangladeshi cinema. The most obvious bit of its ingenuity lies in the visual flair with which it frames Dhaka. The city is a character itself, larger than life and looming large over its inhabitants, Emma and Hasan. The film unspools like a compelling collage or kaleidoscope of several snapshots of a tumultuous, anarchic Dhaka, its cheek by jowl way of life, all that drives and propels it and the tenuousness that underlines it. A city that is visibly crumbling but in a constant state of construction, albeit on a precarious foundation of sand. It's about the moral, spiritual degeneration seeping deep into the city, accompanying the thrust of economic pursuits. A concurrent flux of dissolution and continuation marks the lives of Emma and Hasan as well. The city and the humans that live in it are woven together in a compelling tapestry and are marked by a similar spirit of survival against all odds. Sand City opens with a steady flow of fractured images and situational sounds, accompanying human silence. In fact, the entire narrative is defined by such visual and aural fragmentation and wordlessness. Director Mahde Hasan, along with his cinematographer Mathieu Giombini, sound designer Oronnok Prithibi and art director Rainirr Borshon, play with the city's sights and sounds; the architecture, monuments, buildings, flyovers, statues, cement and concrete, and traffic get captured in a hyper-real manner. The spatial element—the structural grids, industrial geometry, factory settings and mall designs—and the chiaroscuro add to the hazy, doom-filled, gothic mood. However, the most mundane, often dehumanising routines also flow with a beat and rhythm of their own. Victoria delineates Emma with silence, stoicism and inscrutability. On the other hand, Monwar, one of the most spectacular contemporary South Asian acting talents, gives an unrestrained, expansive touch to his role of the eccentric misfit Hasan. Both their faces tell their own stories. Both are trapped in their own ways in Dhaka. Both are in search of better days, within it or outside. And both are as vulnerable as they are resilient, as fragile as they are unbreakable.
