WORLD

Quetta, Aug 21 (IANS) Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch on Thursday asserted that Pakistan poses a threat not only to its own people, but has also turned into a disease like “cancer”, fueling instability, extremism, and violence across its borders and beyond. He called on the United States, Europe, and the wider international community to take immediate action to contain the menace.

The remarks came after prominent American activist Amy Mek said that she was flooded with messages from Texans furious over cars and motorbikes speeding through the streets of the city, waving Pakistani flags and blasting nationalist songs to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day.

“This was a full-blown foreign nationalist rally in Houston, organised by the Friends of Karachi Youth Wing. They started in Islamized Sugar Land and ended in Houston, draping cars and bikes in green and white, raising a flag that represents blasphemy laws, forced conversions, and persecution of non-Muslims If they want to celebrate Pakistan’s independence like this, they should do it in Pakistan – not on American streets,” Mek posted on X.

Slamming the Pakistani rally, she said streets and flags belong only to America not to foreign regimes that hate American values and fuel Islamic networks and politicians operating in Texas.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident, the human rights activist Mir took to his social media, stating, “Pakistan is not just a threat to its own people, it has become a cancer spreading instability, extremism, and violence far beyond its borders. The United States, Europe, and the wider international community must take urgent action to curb this menace.”

He emphasised that Pakistanis tied to the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence-backed radical networks must be stopped, and the vast web of military-owned businesses should be dismantled. He stressed that the corrupt politicians in Western countries exploiting Pakistani diaspora communities as vote banks should no longer be given legitimacy or space.

“Instead of empowering a rogue state that thrives on terror and blackmail, the world must stand with the secular, democratic, and freedom-loving people of Balochistan. Rich in natural resources and self-sufficient in spirit, the Baloch nation offers not extremism, but the promise of peace, progress, and stability for the entire region,” Mir stated.

–IANS

scor/as

Moscow, Aug 21 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar called on Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday.

According to a statement released by the Russian President’s office, the meeting was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov; First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Chairman of the Russian part of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Denis Manturov; and, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Russia Vinay Kumar.

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met his Russian counterpart Lavrov held detailed discussions on enhancing bilateral ties besides also touching on issues about Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent.

“Pleased to meet FM Sergei Lavrov today in Moscow. Had a detailed discussion on our bilateral ties, including trade, investment, energy, fertilizers, health, skilling and mobility, defence, and people to people exchanges. We exchanged views on Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Also spoke about our cooperation in UN, G20, SCO and BRICS. Our meeting helped prepare the outcomes and decisions for the Annual Summit later this year,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

The two leaders noted the need to intensify efforts to strengthen the multipolar architecture of bilateral relations and to assist the countries of the Global South in defending their political sovereignty, according to the statement released by Russian Foreign Ministry.

The statement mentioned, “An exchange of views took place regarding the further intensification of political contacts at various levels, deepening trade and economic cooperation. Special attention was paid to building sustainable transport and logistics chains and currency and financial channels of interaction. The prospects for expanding partnership in the field of peaceful nuclear energy and hydrocarbon production were highly valued.”

In his opening remarks during the meeting, Lavrov welcomed EAM Jaishankar for the next round of negotiations, noting that India and Russia consider each other as privileged strategic partners.

“Today we will focus on political and international issues. As our leaders agreed, we regard each other as especially privileged strategic partners. In practical matters, we fully justify this definition of our relations. In modern conditions, interaction in the international arena is acquiring special significance when, in essence, a new architecture of international relations is being created, objectively becoming multipolar and in which such associations as the SCO, BRICS, and the Group of 20 are playing an increasingly important role. Within the UN, there remains the opportunity for all current and future centres of power within the multipolar world order to interact with each other and develop compromises and agreements that will be sustainable and based on a balance of interests. Russia is always ready for this,” he said.

EAM Jaishankar expressed confidence that his discussions with Lavrov will be “fruitful, productive” and contribute to making the annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year as “outcome-oriented as possible.”

“Today’s meeting gives us an occasion to discuss our political relationship as well but also to review our bilateral ties. So, I look forward to an exchange of views on politics, trade, on economic investment, defence, science and technology and of course people-to-people exchanges. Our leaders met in July for the 22nd Annual Summit last year and thereafter in Kazan. We now prepare for the annual summit at the end of the year and they have always given us guidance to take forward our Special and Privileged Strategic relationship,” he said.

“We have had as you noted a very productive meeting yesterday with Denis Manturov on the Inter-Governmental Commission. We discussed a lot of issues in our bilateral cooperation, found a lot of solutions as well. I would be very happy to share that. But most important, what I want to do today is to take those bilateral discussions forward so that we have the maximum outcomes for the annual summit when that happens,” Jaishankar added.

–IANS

akl/as

Washington, Aug 21 (IANS) Several subjects like the status of Taiwan, high-ranking officials and their families or the legitimacy of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule remain off-limits in Chinese media, Foreign Policy, a leading magazine for global politics, economics, and ideas, reported recently.

“Sometimes, the red lines shift — and usually for the worse. In Xinjiang, for instance, between deadly riots in 2009 and a terrorist attack in 2014, it was still possible to publish pieces even in state media that mentioned prejudice against Uyghurs by China’s majority Han population. But by 2017, once the Chinese crackdown on Uyghur life was fully underway, mentions of Xinjiang became much more scrutinized. However, most sensitive topics — such as the Cultural Revolution, corruption, or social inequality — occupy a gray area in which coverage is risky but still possible, so long as it steps carefully around CCP sensibilities,” wrote James Palmer in Foreign Policy’s China Brief titled ‘A Guide to Censorship in China’.

Most authors or journalists living in mainland China engage in self-censorship and avoid those topics outright, he asserted.

“Even exercising caution, it’s possible to brush up against red lines. While I lived in China, multiple sources told me about a 2009 incident in which staff at the Global Times were punished for a piece that described a paper factory as the largest in China and the second-largest in the world. This was controversial, because at the time, the largest paper factory in the world at was in Taiwan; the line had inadvertently suggested that Taiwan wasn’t part of China,” wrote Palmer, who spent many years working inside Chinese media, both state-owned and private.

Despite being a routine process, the senior journalist mentions, censorship is random, full of holes and has become “a continual march toward greater censorship” since Chinese President Xi Jinping assumed office.

“This is also when extratextual elements come into play, such as a sudden decision by an official that a particular foreign author is unacceptable because they have commented on Chinese politics, or a last-minute refusal to approve a film because it was shown overseas first or because of an upcoming party conference that makes everyone more paranoid. (Both were reported as reasons for the delayed release of Feng Xiaogang’s film Youth in 2017)”

“Then there is post-publication censorship. This can happen when a book or a film explodes in popularity, unexpectedly reaching an audience that makes the authorities uncomfortable. The 2004 book ‘An Investigation of Chinese Peasants’ (published as Will the Boat Sink the Water? in English), an expose of rural corruption, was banned after it became a hit,” it added.

–IANS

akl/as

Athens, Aug 21 (IANS) China’s campaign does not depend on tanks or missiles, but it uses narratives, censorship and manipulation to infiltrate societies in other nations, shape perceptions and consolidate power at home, a report highlighted on Thursday citing China’s global propaganda efforts as “warfare without bullets”.

“It is a slow-moving, relentless assault on truth, designed not merely to persuade but to control. For decades, authoritarian regimes have used propaganda to shield themselves from internal dissent and international scrutiny. But under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has transformed propaganda into a transnational weapon, targetting foreign media, academia, technology, and even culture. It is warfare without bloodshed, yet the consequences are as destabilizing as any armed conflict,” stated Li Yuanhua, a former Chinese history professor, now living in Australia, in a report in Athens-based Geopolitico.

The report mentioned that through such efforts, China wants to redefine global norms, reduce criticism of its human rights record and enhance its geopolitical reach while eroding the free flow of information in democratic societies. As per the report, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) propaganda machine is not restricted to China’s borders. Li Yuanhua termed the CCP’s transnational repression conducted through media attacks as an “ideological infiltration campaign.”

According to Li, the CCP has been entering media circles in the West, gradually leveraging journalists of other countries for its own benefits. Apart from using paid advertisements and planted opinion pieces, he said the CCP also gathers personal information regarding reporters, investigating “pressure points” like family ties or vulnerabilities that could be exploited, Geopolitico reported. Li mentioned that media professionals in the West are being asked to package narratives on subjects that remain censored in China. By doing so, these journalists allow China to extend its grip over international discourse.

China also makes use of social media platforms for its disinformation tactics. State-linked accounts share content on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, where they praise China’s governance model while targeting its critics. During the protests held in Hong Kong in 2019, Twitter (now X) found hundreds of accounts related to Chinese state actors who portrayed demonstrators as violent rioters manipulated by “foreign forces”, the report detailed.

Furthermore, reports of algorithmic bias towards pro-CCP content continue to surface regarding social media platform TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance. The Geopolitico report mentioned, “Videos critical of Beijing’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang or Tibet often vanish without explanation, while content amplifying China’s achievements is promoted. The subtlety of such manipulation — what is shown and what is hidden — makes it all the more effective, particularly for younger audiences who consume most of their news through short-form content.”

“Beyond platforms, Beijing invests heavily in surveillance and artificial intelligence, exporting these tools to allied authoritarian states. While presented as technology for ‘public safety,’ these exports normalise mass censorship and surveillance, creating a digital environment conducive to authoritarian narratives. It is the exportation of repression under the guise of modernization,” it added.

China also makes propaganda efforts at universities and cultural institutions. The report said, “Through Confucius Institutes, ostensibly centres for promoting Chinese language and culture, the CCP has embedded itself in universities across the world. While marketed as benign, these institutes frequently exert pressure on host institutions to avoid topics Beijing deems ‘sensitive’ — Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Tiananmen Square massacre. The result is a chilling effect on academic freedom. Professors and students who challenge Beijing’s line face harassment, while universities risk losing funding if they allow open discussion of China’s abuses.”

According to the Geopolitico report, Chinese box office revenues are so lucrative that major studios in Hollywood often self-censor, make changes in scripts in compliance with the demands of Chinese authorities. Scenes criticising China are removed, villains having Chinese backgrounds are rewritten and any references to Taiwan or Tibet are removed.

While showcasing its strength abroad, China reassures people of the country regarding its legitimacy. The CCP shows Chinese talking points in companies or foreign government as proof to its people that their governance model is admired across the world. In addition, criticism within China is silenced with independent journalists vanishing, websites removed, and ordinary people facing prison for sharing critical views online. The so-called Great Firewall blocks foreign media and promotes state-controlled platforms.

–IANS

akl/as

Washington, Aug 21 (IANS) As officials from the United States and NATO met virtually on Wednesday to discuss the security guarantees for Ukraine following US President Donald Trump’s meeting with the leaders of European countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, a leading international affairs expert cited that it would remain a contentious issue, not for Russia but for Ukraine’s European friends.

Speaking exclusively with IANS, Mikhail Troitskiy, a visiting Professor at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, asserted that only a few countries would sign up to “recurring donation”.

“There’s a huge problem here which is the willingness of those western partners to support Ukraine. Some European countries would want to provide some funding, a couple of $100 million or maybe a billion dollars to Ukraine to support its military and security infrastructure. Also, not many would want to put troops on the ground and get involved in actual fighting if Ukraine is attacked by Russia again,” Troitskiy mentioned.

He also argued that Russia does not have the “ability to veto” security guarantees or any other assistance to Ukraine.

“To me, Russia’s position on security guarantees seems to be irrelevant. It’s a bit of a red herring. Russia doesn’t have a strong hand here. This is something that is decided between Ukraine and its Western partners,” says Troitskiy who has over two decades of expertise in Russia-focused strategic developments.

He termed the US-Europe meetings on Monday a “show of unity” with Trump “acting more as a mediator and a non-partisan player than a Ukraine supporter” and highlighted that significant details are yet to be ironed out.

“It was a show of unity, although almost no details were disclosed. On the surface, it looked as if those meeting participants pledged to act together to protect Ukraine’s interests in any peace settlement. European leaders tried to stand by Ukraine but did not provide any details as to how far their support for Ukraine would extend, and what kind of risks and financial commitments they are prepared to take upon themselves to support Ukraine,” said Troitskiy.

Earlier this week, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni led Europe’s call for NATO-style security commitments for Ukraine, invoking Article 5 – the alliance’s pledge that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.

While promising “a lot of help” during meetings with European leaders, Trump on Tuesday ruled out deploying the US military to Ukraine but indicated some form of air support as part of the guarantees.

On the question of land swap as part of Ukraine’s negotiations with Russia, Troitskiy noted that “the Ukrainian position has now shifted” from no territorial concessions to proportionate territorial concessions.

“I don’t think Zelensky and Putin would go into a meeting without understanding how the territorial issue would be sorted out. My guess is that Putin will propose swapping the unoccupied part of Donbas or something in the south of Ukraine for territories that are occupied by Russia, for example, in the Kherson region. But certainly, Zelensky will not agree to just unilaterally give up land in Donetsk,” he explained.

Russia controls almost 20 per cent of the Ukrainian territory, with almost all of the Luhansk region and around three-fourth of the Donetsk. In southern Ukraine, it occupies more than 70 per cent of the Kherson province.

Troitskiy predicted that US secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil are expected to “go into force” on August 27 while ruling out any similar action against China.

“Little progress will be achieved before August 27. India will try to manoeuvre out of the situation. I don’t think Trump is going to put additional tariffs on China for the time being.”

However, he believed that the US also has other tools to target Russia if negotiations don’t work.

“Trump has plenty of options to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions and putting Russian banks on the US Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list and going after cryptocurrency traders. I think Russia understands that perfectly well,” Troitskiy concluded.

–IANS

scor/as

Windhoek (Namibia), Aug 21 (IANS) A groundbreaking assessment has officially recognised four distinct giraffe species, overturning previous classifications of the world’s tallest land mammal as a single species.

The taxonomic review, undertaken by the International Union for Conservation of Natur (IUCN) Species Survival Commission’s Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) Taxonomic Task Force and made public on Thursday, marks a major milestone in the giraffe taxonomy and reshapes how giraffe diversity is understood and conserved.

Historically, giraffe (Giraffa spp.) have been classified as a single species with nine subspecies, but they have long been the subject of taxonomic uncertainty.

In response to growing scientific evidence and the urgent need for clearer conservation planning, the GOSG launched a Taxonomic Task Force in 2024 to comprehensively review the latest genetic, morphological and biogeographical data.

“This landmark taxonomic revision by the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group reflects the best available science and provides a globally standardised framework to inform conservation,” said Michael Brown, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group and Conservation Science Coordinator for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and one of the co-authors of the assessment.

“Recognising these four species is vital not only for accurate IUCN Red List assessments, targeted conservation action and coordinated management across national borders. The more precisely we understand giraffe taxonomy, the better equipped we are to assess their status and implement effective conservation strategies,” Brown added.

The Task Force evaluated extensive genetic data from multiple peer-reviewed studies, many of which investigated giraffe genetics, making giraffe among the most genetically well-studied large mammal taxa in Africa.

Analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA consistently revealed large differences between several giraffe lineages, supporting the recognition of multiple species.

Complementing the genetic work, the review also incorporated studies of morphological differentiation, including notable differences in skull structure and bone shape across regions.

Biogeographic assessments also considered the role of natural barriers, such as major rivers, rift valleys and arid zones, that could have contributed to evolutionary isolation.

Together, these multiple lines of evidence provide scientific support for elevating certain giraffe populations to full species status, reflecting their distinct evolutionary histories.

–IANS

vg/khz

Moscow, Aug 21 (IANS) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that he and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held detailed discussions regarding upcoming events, including the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India later this year, as both sides plan to prepare a “solid package” of documents for the Putin-PM Modi summit.

While addressing a joint press conference with EAM Jaishankar in Moscow following their talks, Lavrov stated, “We discussed the upcoming events which are part of this dialogue including preparation for the visit of the President of the Russian Federation to India which will take place by the end of this year. We have plans to prepare to come up with a solid package of documents for this summit and undoubtedly we have a good tradition.”

Highlighting the longstanding defence cooperation between both countries, Lavrov noted that the two nations hold joint exercises regularly and have solid military ties. “We have good traditions in the field of military cooperation. We hold joint exercises, and in the field of military and technical cooperation, which is also underpinned by our shared history,” he stated.

The Russian Foreign Minister asserted that he and EAM Jaishankar also discussed the situation in Ukraine. He also informed the Indian counterpart regarding the ongoing talks with the participation of the US.

“As for the international topics, we discussed the situation in the context of what is happening in Ukraine, following the phone conversation between President of the Russian Federation with Prime Minister of India, we informed in detail our Indian guests about the current state of discussions which are ongoing with participation of our US partners in particular in the context of the talks held in Alaska when President Putin followed the invitation of President Trump and paid a visit to the United States of America. And, we also spoke about the fact that there is an interest in a rapid settlement and we discussed how this willingness to reach an agreement could serve the legitimate interests of all participants,” Lavrov said.

During the joint press conference, Jaishankar stated that he and Lavrov reviewed the entire gamut of India-Russia ties and termed the bilateral ties among the “steadiest of the major relationships” in the world after the Second World War.

“Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers. On trade and economic cooperation, I followed up with Minister Lavrov the proceedings of yesterday’s meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission that I chaired with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. We reaffirmed our shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, including by increasing India’s exports to Russia.

“This requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments. Enhancing Indian exports to Russia in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles will certainly help to correct the current imbalance. Steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilizers was also taken up. Indian skilled workers, especially in IT, construction, and engineering, can address the labor needs in Russia and deepen collaboration. Sustaining energy cooperation through trade and investments is also important,” the EAM said in his remarks during the joint press interaction with Lavrov.

Both ministers also spoke about the connectivity initiatives, including the International North‑South Transport Corridor, the Chennai–Vladivostok eastern maritime corridor, and cooperation in the Northern Sea Route.

“These corridors promise to deepen economic linkages, reduce transit times, and expand trade access across Eurasia and beyond,” said EAM Jaishankar.

He highlighted that the defence and military-technical cooperation between the two countries also remains robust.

“Russia supports India’s Make in India goals, including through joint production and technology transfer,” he said.

Both sides also discussed their joint fight against terrorism with EAM Jaishankar conveying India’s strong resolve to adopt a zero‑tolerance policy against terrorism and New Delhi’s sovereign right to defend its citizens against cross-border terrorism.

“The opening of two new Indian Consulates – in Kazan and Yekaterinburg – need to be fast-tracked, that was also a subject of our conversation today. These consulates will further deepen our regional outreach and enhance trade and people-to-people ties,” he added.

–IANS

akl/as

Moscow, Aug 21 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that he took up the issue of Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces during his discussion with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, on Thursday.

“I took up the issue of Indians serving in the Russian Army. While many have been released, there are still some pending cases and some missing persons. We hope that the Russian side would expeditiously resolve these matters,” said EAM Jaishankar during a media interaction along with Lavrov following the discussions.

New Delhi remains engaged with the relevant authorities at various levels in Moscow, including at the level of the President of the Russian Federation, to ensure the safety, well-being, and early discharge of all such individuals, and their return to India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated earlier this year that, as a result of these concerted efforts by the government, most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have already been discharged.

The concerned Russian authorities have been requested to provide an update on the remaining Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, and also ensure their safety, wellbeing and early discharge.

The Indian Mission/Posts in Russia have assisted Indian nationals in their return to India following the discontinuation of their service in the Russian armed forces, including through the facilitation of travel documents and air tickets wherever required.

“The Government has also facilitated the return of mortal remains of seven Indian nationals who lost their lives in the conflict; in two other such cases, the mortal remains were cremated in Russia. The Government accords the highest priority to the safety, security and well-being of all Indian nationals abroad and takes appropriate action, as and when any request for assistance is received,” the Minister of State for External Affairs had stated in Parliament in reply to a question, earlier this year.

–IANS

/as

Moscow, Aug 21 (IANS) Highlighting that the shared goal of India and Russia is to maximise complementarity, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday expressed confidence that his discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov will be “fruitful, productive” and contribute to making the annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year as “outcome-oriented as possible.”

“Today’s meeting gives us an occasion to discuss our political relationship as well but also to review our bilateral ties. So, I look forward to an exchange of views on politics, trade, on economic investment, defence, science and technology and of course people-to-people exchanges. Our leaders met in July for the 22nd Annual Summit last year and thereafter in Kazan. We now prepare for the annual summit at the end of the year and they have always given us guidance to take forward our Special and Privileged Strategic relationship,” the EAM stated in his opening remarks during his meeting with Lavrov in Moscow.

“We have had as you noted a very productive meeting yesterday with Denis Manturov on the Inter-Governmental Commission. We discussed a lot of issues in our bilateral cooperation, found a lot of solutions as well. I would be very happy to share that. But most important, what I want to do today is to take those bilateral discussions forward so that we have the maximum outcomes for the annual summit when that happens,” Jaishankar added.

The EAM recalled other recent high-level engagements between India and Russia, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Union Minister of Railways and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw’s visits to Moscow.

“From our side, we’ve had quite a busy calendar. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was here. Before that, our Minister of Railways and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and the head of our NITI Aayog, Suman Berry, were here for SPIEF and all these show how close and deep our relationship is. The global context for our meeting today is provided by the evolving geopolitical situation, the shifting economic and trade landscape, and our shared goal is to maximise our complementarity. So, today I am very confident that our exchange of views will be fruitful, productive, and will certainly contribute to making the annual summit as outcome-oriented as possible,” he asserted.

EAM Jaishankar thanked Lavrov for the warm welcome and hospitality in Moscow and recalled their earlier meetings on the sidelines of multilateral events, including the recent BRICS Summit and at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Minister’s Summit. He said, “I think these regular meetings have helped us to be in continuous touch, which is important at a time when international relations is changing so much.”

On Wednesday, the EAM co-chaired the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) in Moscow along with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

Following this, the EAM took to X and posted, “Pleased to join First DPM Denis Manturov and attend the India-Russia Business Forum. Appreciate the assessments and reports of various sectoral leaders regarding the deeper potential of our economic ties.”

“Reiterated that an enduring strategic partnership must have a strong and sustainable economic component. And in this context called on our businesses to do more trade, contemplate more investments and joint ventures, and open new frontiers of economic cooperation,” he added.

–IANS

akl/as

Islamabad, Aug 21 (IANS) The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in its latest report has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against religious minorities over the past year, local media reported on Thursday.

In its latest report, ‘Streets of Fear: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2024/25’, the HRCP highlighted incidents of targetted killings, the demolition of places of worship, the forced conversion and marriage of underage Hindu and Christian girls and a rise in hate speech. The report warned that the trends pose serious threats to religious freedom in Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.

The report sounded alarm over two cases of extrajudicial killings by police, terming them “deeply chilling”. In two cases, law enforcement officers shot the two individuals who were accused of blasphemy and had requested protection from violent mobs. The rights body stated that such incidents demonstrate the need for police reforms and stronger accountability mechanisms.

Earlier in July, the HRCP raised serious concerns over the continued persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. The rights body highlighted that a Christian man in Sargodha district of Pakistan’s Punjab province was lynched by a violent mob, following accusations of blasphemy, while the Ahmadiyya community withdrew from the electoral process entirely in the region, citing systemic discrimination and lack of safety.

Additionally, the HRCP mentioned that Punjab continued to account for the highest number of child abuse cases in the country.

“Between January and June 2024 alone, the province reported 78 per cent of the 1,630 cases nationwide, alongside 2,506 incidents of sexual abuse, 2,189 kidnappings, 457 cases of child trafficking, and 455 instances of physical abuse. The death of 11-year-old Ayesha, a domestic worker in Faisalabad, and similar incidents in Sargodha and Lahore exposed the violence faced by underage working children in private homes,” it stated.

The human rights organisation in its State of Human Rights in 2024 report detailed a surge in sexual violence against women, including those with mental disabilities, domestic abuse resulting in fatalities, involving pregnant women, and honour killings, which continued throughout the year in Punjab.

In a case involving an alleged rape at a private college in Lahore, the HRCP noted a failure by the authorities to gather conclusive evidence that the incident had occurred.

Highlighting the challenges faced by women in politics, the HRCP stated that “women Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) staged a walkout over inappropriate gestures” in the Punjab Assembly, while the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities faced legal setbacks.

–IANS

akl/as

Seoul, Aug 21 (IANS) South Korea President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that he will spare no effort to achieve mutually-beneficial diplomacy by putting national interests as the top priority, ahead of high-stakes summit talks with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Lee made the remarks at a meeting with senior aides as he is set to depart for Tokyo for summit talks with Ishiba. Following the Tokyo summit, Lee will travel to Washington for summit talks with Trump on August 25.

“In diplomacy, I think we must prioritise the lasting interests of the nation and all Korean people, rather than my personal position or the temporary standing of the current administration,” Lee told the meeting, according to the presidential office.

Amid a shifting international order and trade environment, Lee promised to work toward implementing a “mutually beneficial” diplomatic and security policy, with national interests as the top priority.

“We will continue to seek practical solutions for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,” he added, asking for the public’s support.

During the meeting, Lee called for measures to reduce the nation’s suicide rates, which remain the highest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“The issue of suicide has become so serious that it can no longer be ignored,” he said.

“We must fundamentally shift the policy paradigm, treating suicide as a social disaster.”

Lee also directed the establishment of an intergovernmental body tasked with significantly reducing suicide rates, and developing comprehensive suicide prevention and mental health support programmes, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok had said relations with Japan are “very important” with many opportunities for mutual cooperation.

Kim made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese delegates visiting Seoul to attend the Korea-Japan Forum, as President Lee Jae Myung was set to visit Tokyo later this week for summit talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

“With the launch of the new administration, South Korea and Japan are moving forward on a future-oriented path,” Kim had said.

“The two countries have a very important relationship with many areas of mutual cooperation, and the president’s decision to visit Japan was made in that context.”

–IANS

jk/as

Kathmandu, Aug 21 (IANS) India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava and Nepal’s Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal jointly inaugurated a 70-metre span modular bridge built with Indian assistance over Hewa Khola in Panchthar district of Nepal.

This bridge connecting the northern and southern parts of Koshi province is the longest such bridge ever installed in Nepal, according to a statement released by the Indian Embassy in Nepal. India provided 10 prefabricated steel bridges to Nepal, in the aftermath of September 2024 floods, at a cost of more than Nepali Rupees (NPR) 40 crore under grant for restoring vital road infrastructure damaged by flooding and enhancing connectivity.

In a statement shared on X, the Indian Embassy in Nepal stated, “Ambassador Indian Embassy in Nepal and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal jointly inaugurated 70 metre span modular bridge built over Hewa Khola in Panchthar district. This bridge is the longest such bridge ever installed in Nepal, linking the northern and southern parts of Koshi province. The installation of Hewa Khola bridge was done by a team of technicians of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. In the process, 35 professionals of Nepal gained hands-on experience in erection of modular bridges at the site, resulting in capacity building in this niche domain.”

“India provided 10 prefabricated steel bridges to Nepal, in the aftermath of September 2024 floods, at a cost of over NPR 40 crore under grant for restoring vital road infrastructure damaged by flooding and enhancing connectivity,” it added.

Earlier on August 18, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri handed over light strike vehicles, critical care medical equipment and military animals to Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel at a special ceremony held at Nepali Army headquarters in Kathmandu.

In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Nepal stated, “Strengthening Defence Cooperation Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri handed over Light Strike Vehicles, Critical Care Medical Equipment and Military Animals to Suprabal Janasewashree Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS, Nepali Army, at a special ceremony at the Nepali Army HQ, Kathmandu. This handing over of items reflects the close relationship between the two armies and our robust defence cooperation. It embodies the spirit of trust and partnership that has long characterised our enduring ties.”

The military equipment handed over by Foreign Secretary Misri included six light strike vehicles, two military dogs for breeding, six army horses, and a consignment of medical supplies. Prior to the ceremony, Misri held talks with General Ashok Raj Sigdel, with discussions focusing on bilateral interests and strengthening defence ties.

Misri was on a two-day visit to Kathmandu at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai from August 17-18. During his visit, he met Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and other senior political leaders of Nepal.

–IANS

akl/as