Tag: trending

  • U-turn: India admits Kashmir is disputed territory, not ‘internal matter’

    U-turn: India admits Kashmir is disputed territory, not ‘internal matter’

    Soon after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held its first-ever meeting over the Kashmir issue in almost 50 years, India has backtracked on its statement and admitted that Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) is disputed territory.

    According to The Express Tribune, facing a barrage of questions in a press briefing following the historic meeting at the UN headquarters on Friday, India’s envoy to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin said that India was committed to the Shimla Agreement inked with Pakistan in 1972, which explicitly declares Kashmir as disputed between the two countries.

    Earlier, New Delhi had regularly blocked discussion on held Kashmir at the UN, saying it considers the matter an “internal affair”.

    “So let me begin by coming across to you and shaking your hand… as we’ve already extended our hand of friendship by saying we are committed to Shimla Agreement. Let us wait on that from the Pakistani side,” said the Indian ambassador while awkwardly reaching out to Pakistani journalists and shaking their hands.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Responding to a question, he said: “In closed consultations at the UNSC, anyone, especially parties to the dispute, can try and throw in anything at the members of the Security Council. That’s the nature of the beast.”

    “We are ready to address these issues in a matter in which states who have normal approaches to international ties address them… and in our case, we are committed to Shimla Agreement,” he added.

  • Islamabad responds to Indian hint at ‘using nukes against Pakistan’

    Islamabad responds to Indian hint at ‘using nukes against Pakistan’

    Pakistan has taken exception to Indian defence minister’s statement on the use of nuclear weapons, saying the “substance and timing of the statement was highly unfortunate and reflective of India’s irresponsible and belligerent behaviour”.

    Rajnath Singh had on Friday said that New Delhi may see a major shift in its nuclear weapons doctrine by doing away with the ‘no first use’ policy in the future. ‘No first use’ is a pledge to not use nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by an opposition using its nuclear arms.

    “Till today, our nuclear policy is ‘no first use’. What happens in future depends on the circumstances,” the Indian defence minister had said while addressing a gathering in Pokhran, the site of India’s nuclear tests in 1998.

    In a subsequent tweet, Singh had added:

    “It further exposes the pretense of their no first use policy, to which we have never accorded any credence,” Pakistan Foreign Office said while reacting to the Indian defence minister’s statement.

    “No first use pledge is non-verifiable and cannot be taken at face value, especially when the development of offensive capabilities and force postures belie such claims,” the statement read and added that Pakistan always proposed measures relating to nuclear restraint in South Asia.

    “Pakistan will continue to maintain a credible minimum deterrence posture.”

  • India may change its ‘no first use’ nuclear policy: defence minister

    India may change its ‘no first use’ nuclear policy: defence minister

    Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the country may see a major shift in its nuclear weapons doctrine by doing away with the ‘no first use’ policy in the future, a private media outlet reported.

    ‘No first use’ is a pledge by a nuclear power to not use its nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by the opposition using its nuclear arms.

    “Till today, our nuclear policy is ‘no first use’. What happens in future depends on the circumstances,” the Indian defence minister said while addressing a gathering in Pokhran, the site of India’s nuclear tests in 1998.

    In a tweet, Singh added:

    The comments come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India ever since New Delhi revoked Article 370 of its constitution and robbed occupied Kashmir of its special status.

    Condemning the move, Pakistan has approached the United Nations (UN) against the development that can pave way for the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the disputed valley.

  • ‘I am an ISI agent,’ Hamza Ali Abbasi responds to Indian journalist’s claim

    ‘I am an ISI agent,’ Hamza Ali Abbasi responds to Indian journalist’s claim

    Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has fired back at Indian journalist Arnab Goswami, whose Republic TV had labeled the former “an undercover Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent” amid heightened cross-border tensions.

    “So that over actor and war mongerer for ratings guy Arnab/his channel declared me an undercover ISI agent! Let me clarify: I am not an “undercover” ISI agent; I am very openly/proudly an ISI agent, just like more than 200 million Pakistanis are proud ISI agents! #15thAugustBlackDay [sic],” Abbasi tweeted.

    The statement was followed by a series of tweets against Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s “fascist regime” in the name of Indian nationalism.

    “I always thought maybe I will not see a free Kashmir in my lifetime but seeing 1 blunder after another of Modi’s fascist regime and the delusional propaganda their fascist media outlets are spreading, I am now very confident that inshaAllah I will see a Free Kashmir very soon,” he furthered.

  • Modi’s Man vs. Wild a monstrous propaganda stunt: The Guardian

    Modi’s Man vs. Wild a monstrous propaganda stunt: The Guardian

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Man vs. Wild moment with Bear Grylls has been termed as a “monstrous propaganda stunt” by The Guardian.

    Modi was seen in a never-seen-before avatar on August 12 when he ventured into his country’s wilderness along with Grylls, the host of Discovery Channel’s popular TV show.

    The channel had issued a statement saying the special episode featuring survivalist and adventurer Grylls and shot in the Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett National Park with Modi, was a “frank and freewheeling journey”.

    In a clip of the show that was shared by Grylls on his Twitter account last month, PM Modi could be seen riding a small dinghy down a river along with the adventure travel show host.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    In another scene, the Indian premier was seen welcoming Grylls to India and holding up a weapon carved out of bamboo and other material collected from the forest.

    However, according to a review published by The Guardian on Friday, the episode was “the most tasteless TV ever”. The critic went on to say: “Strongmen Bear Grylls and Narendra Modi sniff elephant dung in the wilderness while a terror attack plays out in Kashmir. God help us all.”

    According to reports, the episode was shot on the day when 40 Indian paramilitary troops were killed in the Pulwama terror attack (February 14).

    The tragedy, which was termed as one of the worst to strike Indian occupying forces in the held Kashmir region, was followed by heightened cross-border tensions, including an aerial battle, as India blamed Pakistan.

  • Indian media falls for Pakistani meme, fact checks Arya Stark’s picture as ‘Kashmiri girl’

    Indian media falls for Pakistani meme, fact checks Arya Stark’s picture as ‘Kashmiri girl’

    Amid the ongoing unrest in held Kashmir, a viral picture of Game of Thrones (GoT) character Arya Stark being portrayed as a Kashmiri girl, has been fact-checked by Indian media.

    As per the details, the image was first shared by a Twitter handle, “Fan of Zaidu”, mentioning Arya — played by Maisie Williams — as a Kashmiri girl “who had gone blind after being hit by a pellet gun”.

    https://twitter.com/TheZaiduLeaks/status/1157727539873402882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1157727539873402882&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsmobile.in%2Farticles%2F2019%2F08%2F14%2Fpicture-of-gots-arya-stark-shared-as-kashmiri-girl-heres-the-fact-check%2F

    It wasn’t later that the image took the micro-blogging website by storm.

    Despite the handle clearly stating that its tweets are nothing but satire and “100% fake”, Indian media has started doing fact checks over the image, claiming that Pakistan’s premium intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was “leading the propaganda campaign against India”.

    Moreover, a noted Indian scholar and activist, Madhu Kishwar, has retweeted the image and asked Fact Check India to “confirm if it is real”.

    India TV Editor-In-Chief Rajat Sharma has also accused Pakistan of spreading false propaganda.

    https://twitter.com/TheZaiduLeaks/status/1161722132214308864

    The image comes as tensions soar on either side of the border ever since India robbed occupied Kashmir of its special status. Pakistan fears the move can lead to a Muslim genocide in the troubled valley.

  • VIDEO: Humiliation for India as soldier slips during Wagah ceremony on Independence Day

    VIDEO: Humiliation for India as soldier slips during Wagah ceremony on Independence Day

    India has yet again faced humiliation at the Wagah Border as one of its soldiers participating in the daily lowering of the flags ceremony slipped in front of the crowd on Pakistan’s Independence Day.

    The ceremony at the Wagah-Attari Border is a daily military practice that the security forces of Pakistan and India have jointly followed since 1959.

    Fervour was at its peak as military personnel of both countries, amid soaring tensions, started performing in front of a mammoth crowd on both sides of the border on Wednesday.

    Things, however, took a comical turn when the Indian soldier leading his side couldn’t maintain his balance and slipped.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    A video of the incident went viral over the internet, reacting to which Pakistanis asked if “these soldiers will steal Kashmir from us”.

    https://twitter.com/SyedAsad299/status/1161619036062519297

    Earlier, Pakistan celebrated its 73rd Independence Day as Kashmir Solidarity Day to express support to Kashmiris in their struggle against Indian occupying forces.

    New Delhi had earlier this month robbed Kashmir of its special status, paving way for a Muslim genocide in the disputed valley. Islamabad fears the development can lead to major demographic transformations in the region and affect Kashmiris’ struggle for their right to self-determination.

  • Indian film industry bans Mika Singh after Karachi performance

    Indian film industry bans Mika Singh after Karachi performance

    The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has banned singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at an event in Karachi, Pakistan.

    According to details, Mika performed at the mehndi ceremony of former President General Pervez Musharraf’s close relative’s daughter. After a video from the wedding went viral, social media went into uproar since this move came after India stripped Kashmir of its special status by removing Article 370.

    https://twitter.com/HamidMirPAK/status/1160062315544403968?s=20

    Mika was granted permission to perform in Karachi even though Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on the same day, August 8, had reiterated that no Indian movie will be screened in Pakistani cinemas. Talking to media, Awan said a policy was being formulated to ban all kinds of Indian cultural content in Pakistan.

    Following Mika’s performance, AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta in a letter stated: “AICWA bans and boycott singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at a high profile event at Karachi dated August 8, 2019.”

    The statement further read that “AICWA workers will make sure that no one in India works with Mika Singh and if anyone does, they will face legal consequences in the court of law”.

    “When the tension between the countries is at the peak, Mika Singh puts money above the nation’s pride,” the film association said.

    Mika and his crew were given visas for 30 days to perform in three cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

  • ‘Its all love everywhere’: Hamza Ali Abbasi shares Hajj experience

    ‘Its all love everywhere’: Hamza Ali Abbasi shares Hajj experience

    Among the many celebrities who went for Hajj this year is actor/host Hamza Ali Abbasi.

    In an interview with Arab News, Hamza recounted his wonderful experience and praised Saudi authorities for making the pilgrimage a smooth experience.

    “To Muslims everywhere, please come here once,” Hamza said. “You cannot even begin to imagine the experience. You have to be here in person to experience each and every bit of it.”

    “When I came here, my first impression was inclusiveness,” Hamza continued. “Seeing people from literally every country on the face of this planet, united under this one creed that there is only one God.”

    “My second impression was just the scale of it. More two million people at one place. You can’t help but imagine what kind of logistical nightmare it would be, but it goes very smoothly; having no issues, well-taken care of…It goes so seamlessly that you don’t realise what kind of a mammoth effort goes behind it,” he added.

    Sharing further, Hamza said, “The attitude of the people; they’ve been travelling for a long time. And if you travel for any other cause except Allah, you’d be tired, fatigued or irritable. But because they are travelling for a cause, for Allah, you see them smiling. You see them charitable…the pilgrims, they’re very helpful, [as are] the volunteers.”

    “The atmosphere is like a very big brotherhood. And it’s all love everywhere,” he concluded.

    Hamza is among the 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims who undertook their spiritual journey to Islam’s holiest cities of Makkah and Madinah this year. Spotting him in the crowd in his bright white ihram, many fellow pilgrims requested to take pictures with him.

    Other known faces who also performed Hajj this year include singer Atif Aslam and actor Feroze Khan. Feroze even shared a picture of all of them in Makkah.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CcWWXhV-z/
  • Shireen Mazari urges UNICEF to remove Priyanka Chopra as Goodwill Peace Ambassador

    Shireen Mazari urges UNICEF to remove Priyanka Chopra as Goodwill Peace Ambassador

    Priyanka Chopra’s response to a Pakistani woman who accused her of warmongering has caused an uproar worldwide, except in India of course.

    Minister for Human Rights Pakistan Shireen Mazari, in a tweet, asked UNICEF to take immediate action and remove Priyanka as their peace ambassador.

    Actor/humanitarian Armeena Khan also shared an open letter to UNICEF in which she outlined all the details and asked UNICEF if this is how a Goodwill Peace Ambassador is supposed to behave like.

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1160994762582908929?s=20

    Senator Sherry Rehman also expressed her contempt on Priyanka’s comments.

    Meanwhile, Pakistanis began to compare Priyanka’s comments with those of Mehwish Hayat and asked Priyanka to learn a thing or two from the Pakistani actor. Mehwish, who received the Pride of Performance from the Norwegian Government gave a strong speech in which she highlighted the plight of the Kashmiris and called out Bollywood and Hollywood for misrepresenting Muslims and Pakistanis.

    Mehwish in her speech also urged Bollywood to decide whether their nationalism is more important or a peaceful future is.