News Updates
14 March - 31 March
- Imran fears conflict risk while India in election mode: FT
Prime Minister Imran Khan said he feared another security incident with India after the two nuclear-armed countries engaged in a dangerous escalation that fuelled “war hysteria” in New Delhi ahead of elections next month. (Reuters, March 27, 2019)
- Tense situation with India not fully abated yet: FO
"Complete de-escalation has not taken place so far," says Dr Mohammad Faisal
(Dawn, March 29, 2019)
- India’s dossier on Pulwama attack rejected
India had on Feb 27 given to Pakistan a dossier containing information in support of its allegation that JeM, that allegedly operates from Pakistani territory, was involved in the Pulwama attack.
The Foreign Office on formally conveyed to India the message that the initial information shared by that country regarding the alleged involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the Pulwama attack could not substantiate the imputation, and offered to examine any fresh proof — whenever it is available. (Dawn, March 28, 2019)
- Nuclear proliferation a top national security concern for US: State Department
The US State Department on said that nuclear proliferation is a top national security concern for Washington, days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo allegedly said that Pakistan's nuclear programme is among the five biggest threats to America's national security. (Dawn, March 27, 2019)
- Afghanistan recalls ambassador to Pakistan in row over PM Khan's remarks
Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador to Pakistan over reported remarks by Prime Minister Imran Khan that suggested Kabul should set up an interim government.
Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador to Pakistan over reported remarks by Prime Minister Imran Khan that suggested that Kabul should set up an interim government, calling the comments "irresponsible".
The premier had told journalists on Monday that forming an interim Afghan government would smooth peace talks between the United States and Taliban officials since the militant group refuses to speak to the current government, according to comments published in The Express Tribune. (Reuters, March 26, 2019)
01 March - 13 March
- Threat of nuclear war can't be ruled out until Kashmir issue is solved: NYT
The threat of a nuclear war between Pakistan and India is not yet over and will continue to loom unless both countries address the core issue of their conflict — Kashmir, cautioned an editorial in The New York Times. The editorial, noted that though the recent escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack — that took place last month in occupied Kashmir's Pulwama district and killed over 40 Indian soldiers — had simmered down, the threat of another serious confrontation could not be ruled out until both countries make serious efforts to solve the Kashmir dispute. (Dawn, March 8, 2019)
- How the US media covered Pakistan-India tensions
Hund¬reds of news stories and in-depth analyses have appeared in the American media since Feb 14, when a suicide bombing at Pulwama in India-held Kashmir triggered the latest India-Pakistan crisis. Nearly all highlighted the centrality of the Kashmir dispute in the India, Pakistan conflict. (Dawn, March 11, 2019)
- Deal allows Pakistan to use F-16s as ‘deterrence against India’
The United States, while providing F-16 fighter jets to Islamabad, not only acknowledged the aircraft’s “deterrence value” to Pakistan in a future conflict with India but also noted that it could prevent a nuclear clash between the two neighbours. Both points are specifically mentioned in a message the then US ambassador in Islamabad Anne Patterson sent to the State Department on April 24, 2008. (Dawn, March 8, 2019)
- EU seeks constructive Pak-India talks to resolve disputes
The European Union (EU) wants open and constructive dialogue between Pakistan and India for resolution of their bilateral disputes.“The European Union, as global network, would not only work to make dialogue between India and Pakistan possible, but also make it as open and constructive as possible,” said Romania’s Ambassador Nicolae Goia, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. He was speaking at a round-table discussion on “Romanian Presidency and Prospects for EU-Pakistan Cooperation” at the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI). (Dawn, march 9, 2019)
- Indian blockade of eastern rivers water won’t affect Pakistan
Water experts believe that India’s act of stopping flow of unused water of eastern rivers into Pakistan will not affect the country as the Indus Waters Treaty already gives it right to use water of the said rivers.“The diversion and optimum use of water of eastern rivers (the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej) by India is not problematic for us as we are using our own share of water from the western rivers (the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum) under the Indus Waters Treaty,” Pakistan’s former federal secretary (water resources) Khawaja Shamail told Dawn. (Dawn, March 12, 2019)
- US sees ‘urgency’ as UN Security Council takes up JeM resolution
The United States is urging Pakistan to see the “urgency” of taking action against “terrorists” as the UN Security Council takes up a resolution declaring Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist. (Dawn, March 13, 2019)
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