
Pak writing its own epitaph: Naqvi
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) BJP leader and former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Saturday that Pakistan is writing its own epitaph by offering a sanctuary to terrorists and asserted that it amounted to bleeding Islam.
Talking to reporters while celebrating Eid ul-Azha, Naqvi said Pakistan has given a licence to 'barbarian beasts' to wound humanity and Islam and made terrorism and terrorists its 'national industry and national assets', according to a statement.

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Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Israel-Iran conflict effect? India ramps up crude oil imports from Russia, US in June 2025
India has increased its crude oil purchases from Russia and the United States in June 2025, as the import volumes from the two nations exceed the combined volumes from Middle Eastern suppliers amid the market volatility due to the Israel-Iran conflict, reported the news agency PTI. India's primary suppliers for crude oil in the Middle East are nations like Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This comes amid US President Donald Trump's announcement that America had carried out coordinated airstrikes targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran. Indian refiners are expected to import 2 million to 2.2 million barrels of crude oil per day in June 2025, marking the highest level of russian oil imports in the last two years, according to the agency report citing Kpler data. The crude oil imports from Russia were at 1.96 million barrels per day in May 2025. This expected hike in volumes is also set to beat the total volumes bought from Gulf nations like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, as per the report. On the crude imports on the US front, Indian refiners' crude oil imports from the United States' also jumped to 4,39,000 barrels per day in June 2025, compared to their 2,80,000 barrels per day levels in the previous month. The data report also showed how the full-month projects from crude oil imports from the Middle East into India stood at 2 million barrels per day, lower than the May 2025 levels, according to the agency report. India started importing cheaper oil from Russia soon after the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022 due to the higher discounted rates post the economic sanctions from the United States. India buys nearly 5.1 million barrels of crude oil, which is then refined to be converted into fossil fuels like petrol and diesel However, so far in the Israel-Iran conflict, there have been no crude oil supply cuts or disruptions in the oil trade, which can potentially drive up oil prices around the world. 'While supplies remain unaffected so far, vessel activity suggests a decline in crude loadings from the Middle East in the coming days,' Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler, told the news agency. 'Shipowners are hesitant to send empty tankers (ballasters) into the Gulf, with the number of such vessels dropping from 69 to just 40, and (Middle East and Gulf) MEG-bound signals from the Gulf of Oman halving,' he said. The global situation of uncertainty caused by the raging Israel-Iran war now risks Tehran retaliating by closing the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important trade passage for global crude oil as the strait links the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. According to multiple media reports, the Strait of Hormuz handles nearly a quarter of the world's oil trade. Hence, any potential move to close the passage will result in the escalation of the already raging war. Experts cited in media reports indicate that if there is an oil supply disruption, crude prices can jump to $400 per barrel. 'Yet, Kpler analysis assigns a very low probability to a full blockade, citing strong disincentives for Iran,' Ritolia told the news agency. The route serves as a major route for world oil and LNG export transit, and agency reports show that India imports nearly 40 per cent of all its crude oil and nearly 50 per cent of its gas imports from the Strait of Hormuz, which links to many Gulf nations. The Kpler data cited in the agency report also estimates that in case any disruption happens, it will result in 24 to 48 hours of isolation before major nations like the US step in to counter the retaliation. Meanwhile, the agency also highlighted that Russian oil imports are detached from Hormuz and are imported via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or the Pacific Ocean. 'If conflict deepens or there is any short-term disruption in Hormuz, Russian barrels will rise in share, offering both physical availability and pricing relief. India may pivot harder toward the US, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil, albeit at higher freight costs,' said the expert cited in the agency report. As of 19 June 2025, Russian crude oil accounted for 35 per cent of India's total crude imports. The Indian refiners are watching the geopolitical landscape and are likely to adjust procurement strategies to prioritise energy security, supply stability, and commercial viability if risks in the Middle East escalate, according to the agency report.


Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Two villagers killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur: Police
Raipur: The Maoists have allegedly killed two villagers in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police officials said on Sunday. The killings took place in Sendrabor and Aempur villages in south Bijapur. (Representational image) According to a police statement, the killings took place in Sendrabor and Aempur villages, both located under the jurisdiction of Pamed police station in south Bijapur, a region known for significant Maoist activity. While the motive and exact timing of the murders have not yet been officially confirmed, police said they are in the process of verifying the details surrounding the incident. This development comes just hours before Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Raipur for a two-day visit to the state. Shah is expected to review the security situation in the Naxal-affected areas, making the timing of the incident particularly significant. This is the second such killing reported from Bijapur in the span of a few days. On June 17, three villagers—including a 13-year-old boy—were strangled to death using ropes in Peddakorma village, also in Bijapur district. In that case, police said that two of the three victims were relatives of senior Maoist commander Dinesh Modiyam, who had surrendered to authorities in March this year. While official confirmation on whether the latest killings are linked to Modiyam's surrender is awaited, security agencies believe it could be part of a broader pattern of retaliatory violence by Maoists against those they suspect of supporting or cooperating with law enforcement. The police have increased vigilance and are expected to deploy additional forces in sensitive areas ahead of Shah's visit. A high-level review of internal security, particularly in Maoist-dominated belts of Bastar, is likely during his tour.


Time of India
24 minutes ago
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Middle-East conflict: Chinese state media slams US strikes on Iran; says American bombs may not have been enough to destroy Iran's nukes
China's state media has condemned the United States' airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites, calling them a reckless escalation that pushes the region 'further toward the abyss'. The experts also said that America's bunker-buster bombs used in the strikes may not be sufficient to destroy Iran's deep hidden nuclear secrets. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The US military launched attacks on Iran's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities, early Sunday morning. US President Donald Trump said the military had carried out a 'very successful' attack on three nuclear sites. Media reports stated that B-2 stealth bombers were involved in the operation. While Beijing has not officially responded to the airstrikes, a flash editorial published in the state-run China Daily described the US action as a flagrant violation of international law. It warned that such unilateralism undermines the rules-based international order and sets a dangerous 'might-makes-right' precedent, PTI quoted. The editorial added that 'the strikes have only served to push the situation further toward the abyss'. Chinese experts also expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the operation, especially in fully destroying Iran's underground facilities. Fordo's nuclear facility is buried nearly 100 metres underground, making it hard to destroy with just one or two strikes, even with bunker-buster bombs, said Li Zixin, assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, in an interview with the state-run Global Times. Military affairs expert Zhang Junshe shared a similar opinion. He said the first wave of US strikes may not have been sufficient to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities. For instance, the Fordo site sits 90 metres beneath solid rock, making it extremely hard to penetrate. Although Israel views it as a key target, it lacks the capability to carry out an effective strike. Zhang explained that the US uses B-2 bombers armed with 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker busters, which are believed to be able to penetrate only about 65 metres. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He said that, in theory, two bombs used one after the other might be required—but this approach has never been publicly tested, so it's unclear how effective the first strike would actually be. Referring to the Iranian official's assertion to the BBC that Iran 'didn't suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out,' Zhang said, 'This further demonstrates the difficulty for the US military to completely destroy Iran's nuclear materials.' 'B-2 strategic bombers, armed with bunker-busting weapons, are far more powerful than the bombs and missiles carried by Israel's F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets,' he added. 'Therefore, the damage inflicted by the US is undoubtedly far greater than what Israel could achieve. Against this backdrop, whether Iran's nuclear facilities can be preserved remains uncertain.' Li Zixin noted that this may not be the end of US action. 'In the coming days, the US may further escalate its attacks on key Iranian facilities,' he said. At the same time, he added, neither side wants the situation to spiral out of control. Therefore, US strikes are likely to remain limited in scope, focusing primarily on specific nuclear sites rather than launching large-scale attacks on Iran's other infrastructure.