Tag: India

  • Pak-India relationship like KMKT’s Mustafa and Adeel: Emmad Irfani

    Pak-India relationship like KMKT’s Mustafa and Adeel: Emmad Irfani

     
    In a recent interview with India Today, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actor opened up about the love and appreciation his work has received from across the border.


     
     
    The host, Sana Farzeen, asked, “Tell me, when you get such love from India for your project, how do you feel? When your work is so appreciated from the neighboring country, how do you feel?”
     


    Emmad Irfani replied, “I mean, for an entertainer, applause is the best form of encouragement. What more could a performer ask for?”
     
    The Jaan-e Jahan actor reflected on the relationship between Pakistan and India and described it in a unique way.


     
    “I always believe that the relationship between Pakistan and India is like Mustafa and Adeel. They are probably brothers, raised in the same house, have blood ties, but they don’t see eye to eye. Their relationship is just like that of brothers, a story we tell, going back in time,” Emmad Irfani said.


     
    The Jalan actor discussed the long and thoughtful journey behind the project (Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum), emphasizing the dedication that went into it.
     


    Irfani said, “As for how it all started, the shooting began last year, and I was tapped by Badar Mahmood much before that. It took a sweet time, and everything didn’t happen quickly. In fact, if you ask me, Badar Mahmood, our director, I think his journey took about two and a half to three years, from the idea to the writing, from casting to shooting, and finally the release. So, I think it was made with a lot of patience, a labor of love.”


    Emmad Irfani portrayed the character of Adeel in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. 


    “I’ve been to India twice, once I visited Delhi, and another time I came to Bombay. It feels like the same surroundings, the same vibe, and everything appears the same. So, thank you so much. I mean, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has totally introduced me to an audience that was unaware of who I was. It’s really one of the proudest moments of my life. I came for Bridal Asia in Delhi in 2002, and I came for Bridal Waves in Bombay in 2004,” Emmad shared.


    Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum was written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood.

  • Will India support Pakistan’s bid to join BRICS?

    Will India support Pakistan’s bid to join BRICS?

    India is likely to support Pakistan’s bid to join the BRICS bloc, an alliance that challenges the economic monopoly of the West, Indian media has reported.

    Indian media has speculated that following Russia’s influence on India, News Delhi may vote in favour of Pakistan joining the BRICS.

    “One of the key takeaways of the summit is likely to be India’s green signal to Pakistan’s long-pending bid for membership in the bloc,” ABP Live reported.

    Pakistan applied for membership in BRICS in August 2023; following this, other countries, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, also formally applied to become members of the bloc.

    It should be mentioned here that a new member of BRICS was added only after the consensus of the bloc members, and India has remained defiant in giving assent to Pakistan joining the BRICS bloc over the past years.

    The chances only brightened after Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei gave public support to Pakistan’s membership in BRICS during his visit to Islamabad in September, Dawn News observed.

    What is BRICS?

    BRICS stands for countries’ names: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

    The group started in 2006, and Brazil, Russia, India and China convened for the first BRIC summit in 2009. However, South Africa joined on 24 December 2010.

    BRICS in 2023 extended the invitation to Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after these countries applied for membership.

    Two dozen world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, attended the opening of the BRICS summit on Tuesday.

    Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin hosted the BRICS summit, which is in progress in Russia’s third largest city, the southwestern city of Kazan and will end on October 24.

  • ‘India made horrific mistake by violating Canada’s sovereignty,’ warns furious Justin Trudeau

    ‘India made horrific mistake by violating Canada’s sovereignty,’ warns furious Justin Trudeau

    Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau has accused India of making a “horrific mistake” by violating his country’s sovereignty by killing Canadian citizens.

    Testifying at a public inquiry into foreign interference on Wednesday, Justin Trudeau angrily remarked, “The Indian government made a horrific mistake in thinking that they could interfere as aggressively as they did in the safety and sovereignty of Canada. We need to respond in order to ensure Canadians’ safety.”

    Lambasting New Delhi for disdaining Canada’s efforts to cooperate on the matter of India’s involvement in killing Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he said, “We had clear -and certainly now ever clearer indications- that India had violated Canada’s sovereignty.”

    Justin Trudeau maintained that his country is not looking to provoke or initiate a fight with India.

    He further said that Canadian officials privately shared evidence with their Indian counterparts.

    Meanwhile, rejecting the Canadian claim of India’s involvement, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs declared, “Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats.”

    Previously, the Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats, including a High Commissioner, from Canada, citing New Delhi’s refusal to cooperate in criminal investigations.

  • Trudeau attacks Modi govt as Canada expels six Indian diplomats

    Trudeau attacks Modi govt as Canada expels six Indian diplomats

    Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau has once again accused Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s government of involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

    Talking to the media on Tuesday, Justin Trudeau said that the Canadian government has “clear and compelling evidence that agents of the government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety.”

    He said that the Indian government was involved in activities such as covert information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour, targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder.

    “This is unacceptable,” a visibly somber Trudeau said.

    The Canadian government also expelled six Indian diplomats, including a High Commissioner, from Canada on Monday, citing New Delhi’s refusal to cooperate in criminal investigations.

    The development came after an Indian diplomat was linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader.

    Rejecting Canada’s claims, the government of India declared the expulsion of diplomats Prime Minister Trudeau’s “political agenda” centred around “vote bank politics.”

    Meanwhile, India retaliated today with the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi, including the acting High Commissioner, and it withdrew its envoy from Canada, Dawn News reported.

  • ‘Agar Ali Amin Gandapur Islamabad enter huwy unkay baal aur moonchay kaati ja sakti hain,’ Asif Bashir Chaudhry

    ‘Agar Ali Amin Gandapur Islamabad enter huwy unkay baal aur moonchay kaati ja sakti hain,’ Asif Bashir Chaudhry

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur has been warned by powerful officials that he will face severe consequences if he dares to enter Islamabad.

    Speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK, journalist Asif Bashir Chaudhry claimed that Islamabad’s high-ranking official has reportedly sent a warning message of severe consequences if Gandapur enters the federal capital, adding, “There is no guarantee that his hair and moustaches will not be shaved off.”

    Yesterday, the Islamabad expressway was sealed in various locations. The metro bus in Rawalpindi was also suspended till further notice. And Motorcycle pillion riding is also banned.

    Meanwhile, speaking from Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed that 80 Afghan citizens have been arrested from Islamabad so far.

    He also said that 80 police officials were injured following the stone pelting of protestors.

  • PTI invites India’s foreign minister to join protest in Islamabad

    PTI invites India’s foreign minister to join protest in Islamabad

    Information Adviser to Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has invited Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests during his visit to Islamabad.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Saif said that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is coming to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, and PTI wished him to address their so-called “peaceful arrest”, leaving host Muhammad Junaid momentarily speechless.

    Responding to Pakistan’s interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s request for PTI to postpone their protest as the SCO summit draws near, he said, “India buhat bari jamhooriyat ka dawaa krtay hain, kiya ap un kay Foreign Minister ko yeh dikha rahay hain kay government nay protest ko cancel kr diya.”

    Commenting on the deployment of Pakistan Army in the federal capital, he stated, “The army is deployed over security concerns for the SCO summit, and it has nothing to do with the PTI protest.”

    “Pakistan’s constitution grants us the right to protest anywhere in the country,” he concluded.

    Meanwhile, Advocate Salman Akram Raja, on his X (formerly Twitter) account, claimed that he is distancing himself and PTI from Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif’s statement about his invitation to the Indian Foreign Minister.

    He noted, “If Barrister Saif has said what’s been attributed to him, I dissociate myself and PTI from his statement. PTI’s struggle for democratic values and an independent judiciary is our domestic calling. We expect all those who uphold human rights to support us, not oppressive regimes.”

  • ‘Bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu meeting,’ reveals Boris Johnson

    ‘Bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu meeting,’ reveals Boris Johnson

    Former Prime Minister (PM) of Britain Boris Johnson has disclosed that after meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a bugging device was found in his bathroom of the foreign office.

    Boris Johnson wrote in his memoir, “Unleashed”, that in 2017, when he was Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Israel’s PM went to the bathroom after meeting with him; when he came out, the security discovered the listening device which Netanyahu had used during their meeting, The Telegraph reported.

    Johnson further wrote, “Thither Bibi repaired for a while, and it may or may not be a coincidence, but I am told that later when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox.”

    The former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as “a secret annex… a bit like the gents in a posh London club.”

    It should be mentioned here that in 2019 the United States (US) accused Israel of placing cellphone surveillance devices near the White House and other key locations in Washington, DC.

  • Four Adiala jail officials dismissed over prisoner murder inquiry

    Four Adiala jail officials dismissed over prisoner murder inquiry

    The Punjab government has terminated four officials from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, including Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Akram and Assistant Superintendent Riaz Khan.

    A notification issued by the Punjab government read that officials were dismissed after being found guilty in an inquiry into the murder of a prisoner in Adiala jail.

    It further read that the inquiry was initiated on February 29 following the death of a prisoner in the cells. The inquiry declared seven officials guilty, including Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Akram, and four of them were recommended by the Punjab government to be dismissed from employment.

    It should be mentioned here that Deputy Superintendent of Adiala jail Rawalpindi Muhammad Akram, along with other officials, were also apprehended over the allegation of the facilitation of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan in Rawalpindi Adiala jail.

  • US flags India ‘country of particular concern’ amid worsening religious freedoms

    US flags India ‘country of particular concern’ amid worsening religious freedoms

    The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on October 2 has called for Narendra Modi-led India to be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” for worsening religious freedoms in the country.

    “Individuals have been killed, beaten, and lynched by vigilante groups, religious leaders have been arbitrarily arrested, and homes and places of worship have been demolished,” read the damning report, which highlights human rights abuses in India.

    The report also criticised the Modi government’s 2019 decision to disenfranchise religious minorities through Citizenship Amendment Act.

    The report also revealed how Indian government officials use misinformation and disinformation to incite violence against religious minorities and their places of worship.

    “The government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reinforced discriminatory nationalist policies, perpetuated hateful rhetoric, and failed to address communal violence disproportionately affecting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews, and Adivasis (indigenous peoples),” noted the US federal government’s report.

  • Coldplay ticket scalping fiasco sparks backlash in India

    Coldplay ticket scalping fiasco sparks backlash in India

    British rock band Coldplay’s upcoming tour of India has triggered a police investigation and dismayed fans after scalpers bought up cheap tickets to resell online for more than $1,000 apiece.

    Thousands of music fans tried and failed to buy tickets for three concerts scheduled in financial hub Mumbai next January, sold by popular Indian online ticket portal BookMyShow.

    All three shows sold out in minutes, and those who missed out were infuriated when they saw $70 (6,000-rupee) tickets appear on resale websites at vastly inflated prices.

    “The tickets are being sold at 10 times, 20 times, 30 times the price that is being sold on the website itself,” student Anna Abraham, 19, told AFP.

    “I wouldn’t feel good about it myself if I knew that I paid for something 30 times more than what I could have paid for.”

    Local media reports said BookMyShow’s chief operating officer was questioned by police Monday after a complaint brought by Mumbai lawyer Amit Vyas, who claimed the vendor was working with “black marketeers” to make an extra windfall on ticket sales.

    “I checked with nearly 100 people who I know are regulars at concerts, none of them had gotten a ticket,” Vyas said, according to the Indian Express newspaper.

    “This made me suspicious. I then decided to approach the police as I knew that something was amiss.”

    BookMyShow issued a statement after the public backlash began last week, saying it had “no association” with unauthorised ticket selling.

    “Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice,” the company said.

    Controversies surrounding tickets for major international musical or sporting events are not new.

    US megastar Taylor Swift lashed out at Ticketmaster in 2022 following fan anger over sales to concerts staged for her globe-spanning ‘The Eras Tour’.

    The debacle sparked debate over the Ticketmaster’s privileged position in the industry amid fan complaints of hidden fees, rampant ticket scalping and limited tickets due to presales.