Latest news with #India-Pakistan
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump-Munir White House meeting signals strategic calculations amid regional tensions
Danny generated AI Image ISLAMABAD: The meeting between US President Donald J Trump and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House on Thursday has set the geopolitical grapevine abuzz, with whispers of backroom deals that could reshape the balance of power in South Asia and far beyond. What began as a one-hour lunch in the Cabinet Room turned into a two-hour marathon meeting that continued in the Oval Office, attended by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, special representative Steve Witkoff, and Pakistan NSA and Inter-Services Intelligence chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) handout flags counter-terrorism, trade, and peace, but the real stakes — against the backdrop of Iran-Israel airstrikes and India-Pakistan tensions — reveal a high-wire act with far-reaching implications. Trump, channeling his trademark deal-maker bravado, now sees Pakistan as a strategic prize. As Israel intensifies strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and Washington edges closer to military escalation, Pakistan's shared border with Iran becomes critical. Sources say Trump privately pressured Munir for airspace access and intelligence on Tehran — leveraging Pakistan's backchannel role as the host of Iran's interests section for the US. In return, he offered advanced weaponry and economic incentives, aiming to lure Islamabad away from China's orbit and Russia's Brics alliance. Trump's push to expand trade in critical minerals, cryptocurrency, AI, and energy is part of a broader strategy to anchor Pakistan within US-led markets and curb China's regional influence. He has also claimed credit for defusing the May 2025 crisis between India and Pakistan. As Pakistan's power broker, Munir brings serious leverage. His military's fight against Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) syncs with US aims in Afghanistan. With ties to Iran and a shared border, Munir can offer covert intelligence or logistical support, though Pakistan's pro-Iran rhetoric caps public alignment. Economically, he can unlock Pakistan's mineral and tech potential for US investors, but treading too far risks Beijing's wrath. On India, Munir's role in brokering the May ceasefire – praised by President Trump – has been framed in Islamabad as a direct rebuttal of New Delhi's allegations of Pakistani involvement in cross-border terrorism. With the country facing severe economic challenges, Munir is believed to have sought US military and financial assistance to modernise Pakistan's armed forces and stabilise its economy. Trump's openness to providing drones or missile defence systems could significantly alter the military balance with India. Munir also reportedly urged Trump to de-escalate growing tensions between Iran and Israel, warning of broader regional instability and citing Pakistan's vocal alignment with Tehran. In a bold diplomatic gesture, Munir extended an invitation for Trump to visit Pakistan, an effort seen as central to reshaping bilateral ties and enhancing Islamabad's global relevance. Timed amid Middle East turmoil and South Asian friction, the Trump-Munir summit is a geopolitical pivot. It signals a fragile US-Pakistan thaw, driven by Washington's ally hunt and Pakistan's economic crunch. For India, it's a call to counter a US strategy cosying up to both rivals while eyeing Iran. Trump's deal-making and Munir's strategic charm aim to reposition Pakistan as a US cornerstone, potentially redrawing South Asia's power map at India's expense. Wednesday's White House talks weren't just diplomacy, they were a bold move in a high-stakes regional chess game.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
In A First, Trump Says Leaders Of India And Pakistan Ended Conflict
New York: Two "very smart" leaders of India and Pakistan decided to end last month's conflict that could have turned into a nuclear war, US President Donald Trump said after holding a rare luncheon meeting with Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House. Donald Trump's comments on Wednesday crediting the leaders of the two countries in ending the May 7-10 hostilities are seen at variance with his claims over a dozen times in the last few weeks that he brokered the India-Pakistan ceasefire deal. In his remarks to the media Trump said he was "honoured" to meet Munir and that he discussed with the military chief the situation arising out of the Iran-Israel conflict, amid speculations that Washington is looking at using Pakistani military bases in case it decides to launch attacks on Tehran. The US president was also effusive in lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and referred to his telephonic conversation with the Indian leader on Tuesday night. President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the Pakistan army said in a statement. The US president was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Munir was joined in by Pakistan's National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also head of the spy agency, ISI. Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Munir reportedly pitched for Nobel Peace Prize for President Trump for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. It was clear from Trump's media comments that the last month's conflict between India and Pakistan as well as the situation arising out of the Iran-Israel standoff figured prominently in his meeting with Munir. "The reason I had him here was that I want to thank him for not going into the war (with India); ending the war. And I want to thank Prime Minister Modi as well," the president said. "We're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan." The US president also recalled his meeting with PM Modi in the White House in February. Trump said he was "happy" that "two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war." "That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided that (to end the conflict)," he said. Hours before hosting Munir, Trump claimed credit for ending the conflict, but he did not repeat it in his media remarks after the meeting. In his phone conversation with Trump on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi told the president that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the US. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. Asked if Iran was discussed in his meeting with Munir, Trump said: "Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything." "It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me." In Islamabad, the Pakistan army said the US President showed "keen interest" in developing a mutually beneficial trade relationship with Pakistan on the basis of long-term strategic interests. It said the discussions encompassed avenues for expanding cooperation in multiple domains including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. The Chief of Army Staff "conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis", it said. The army chief acknowledged President Trump's "statesmanship" and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, it said adding Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states, it said. The Pakistan Army said the two sides also had a detailed exchange of views on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict. Munir also extended an invitation to President Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. It is rare for the US president to host a lunch for a army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well.
The South African
10 hours ago
- Business
- The South African
Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold
Acts of Violence – The World Is on Edge This Summer. Image: LinkedIn/warren-hammond Home » Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold Acts of Violence – The World Is on Edge This Summer. Image: LinkedIn/warren-hammond On 2nd June, I published a note entitled 'The Personal View: Acts of Violence – The World Is On Edge This Summer.' In it, I warned: 'June and July 2025 will shape up to be two of the most geopolitically intense, heated, combustible months in recent memory… not defined by a single headline, but by a drumbeat of destabilising, violent, and politically consequential events.' This warning is reiterated. All June and all July will see persistent and intense acts of violence, terror, war, and conflict. Since the warning was issued on 2nd June, we've witnessed: – Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site– Iranian missile retaliation centred on Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem– Waves of rocket fire in Gaza and southern Lebanon– A mass shooting in Graz, Austria– Riots in Ballymena, Northern Ireland– India–India-Pakistan tensions reignited with border clashes and terror threats– A firebomb attack in Colorado– Casualties in Kherson, Ukraine, from Russian drone strikes– Rising tensions on the Kyrgyz–Tajik border – The UN confirming 118+ attacks on schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure globally Back in mid-April, I published 'The Personal View: The Thucydides Trap, War Cometh.' I stated: 'A rising tide of systemic confrontation is unfolding… This is the Thucydidean Trap, when a rising power threatens an established one, and miscalculation often leads to escalation.' In both notes, I flagged the geopolitical risk escalation and identified the market implications: – Exposure to energy security risk and oil-sensitive names – Tactical positioning away from travel, tourism, shipping, and logistics These weren't just warnings. They were calls to act. Markets are still mispricing the persistent asymmetric volatility ahead. Entering March 2025, my note, 'The Personal View: How to Position Your Portfolio for the Market Turmoil Ahead (2025–2028),' explicitly forecasted a wave of market volatility tied to tariff wars, leadership failure, military escalation, oil shocks, and cyber threats, including the unfolding Iran conflict. This was not a reaction; it was anticipation. The note forecast persistent, structural volatility through 2028. This same framework guided my early February 2020 short call ahead of the COVID crash, and my April 6, 2020, pivot to go long the S&P 500 with a multi-year target of $8,500, a call made amid panic, volatility, and disbelief. The fuse has been lit. June and July 2025 will continue to see the world on fire.. Share your thoughts in the comments below. How are you preparing for this volatile period? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
It Is The Best Of Times, It Is The Worst Of Times, For Pakistan
Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir's June 18 White House lunch hosted by US President Donald Trump offered plenty of hors d'oeuvres that we Indians need to munch and digest at leisure. The visiting Pakistani dignitary is also scheduled to meet the Secretaries of State and Defence before concluding his five-day visit, which has been shrouded in secrecy and frequent redefinition of its agenda and objectives. He was first said to be invited to attend the US Army's 250th anniversary, which he did not eventually attend. Chances are that its real agenda is to set the terms of engagement to enable Pakistan to resume, all over again, America's usual 'Dirty Work', albeit this time for a new objective: affecting a regime change in neighbouring Iran. Last-minute offer of an unprecedented White House lunch and the host's expression of effusive love for Pakistan and its Field Marshal are tell-tale signs that the two sides have agreed to pursue a comprehensive joint strategy on Iran, deemed important enough in Washington to risk riling New Delhi, at least in the short run. A Strange Turn Over the past two months, there have been many other straws in the air indicating the tailwinds for America's ties with Pakistan. While Trump and his team condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22, they were deafeningly silent on Pakistan's culpability. While US Vice President JD Vance said on May 8 that the ongoing India-Pak hostilities were 'none of our business', two days later, Trump peremptorily took credit for effecting a ceasefire between the belligerents 'at the verge of a nuclear war' (he has repeated this claim despite India's stubborn denials). Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Gen Munir, the Chief of the Pakistani armed forces, ostensibly to discuss the ceasefire. A billion-dollar IMF (International Monetary Fund) bailout package for Pakistan was approved within hours of the May 10 ceasefire, ignoring New Delhi's strong reservations. In his June 10 House Committee testimony, the US Centcom Chief described Pakistan as 'a phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism. While many of these American pronouncements were accompanied by balancing remarks for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these only show a reversion to the India-Pakistan re-hyphenation. What's Behind These Words? It does not take a genius to guess the broad likely contours of the deal are being stealthily negotiated (while pretending that the Field Marshal was miffed at being forced to cool his heels in a hotel) before the White House lunch. Trump's White House is currently fixated on Iran. Pakistan, with a 909-km-long border with that country, is most probably being offered an opportunity to become a 'Frontline State' in return for the usual handsome rewards. For economically tattered and politically unstable Pakistan, this gratuitous offer is manna from heaven that it is in no condition to refuse. The ever-guileful Islamabad, however, is certain to drive a hard bargain: a long-term strategic partnership placing Islamabad near the fulcrum of the post-crisis Gulf security architecture with accompanying financial, military bailout and re-hyphenation with India. In return, Pakistan would be expected to render help in reshaping Iran in several ways: in the short term, to provide a staging post for the American forces to operate in Iran to defang the latter's nuclear programme, and, over the long run, depending on the outcome of the Tehran regime change project, collaborate by seeding and sustaining an insurrection and/or keeping the Mullah regime off balance. Pakistan's staging role would be preferable to both Washington and the Gulf Arabs, who although host many American military bases, are loath to be subject to Iran's threatened wrath. Not The First Time Indeed, Rawalpindi GHQ has been the Pentagon's useful and profitable minion many times before. During the Cold War, military-run Pakistan was among the early opt-ins as a lynchpin to South West Asia's Western security architecture through SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) and CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) against Communism. Islamabad was rewarded with Patton Tanks and Sabre jets, which were unabashedly used against India in the 1965 and 1971 conflicts. Entry of the Soviet Union's Red Army into Afghanistan in 1979 was the second such opportunity, which made Pakistan a 'Front Line State' for the West. Gen Zia ul Haq's dictatorship, then an international pariah for the execution of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was quickly rehabilitated and made a staging post for a not-so-secret campaign by the US and some Gulf states to train and equip the Mujahideen fighters to bleed the invaders till the Russians finally withdrew in 1989. Pakistan not only milked the aid pipeline but also got F-16s and other military hardware. Even more importantly, Americans turned a blind eye to its covert nuclear weapon programme under the infamous Dr AQ Khan, as Islamabad was deemed too important an ally to worry about such trifling matters as nuclear proliferation to Libya, Iran and North Korea. The Afghanistan Saga Once the Mujahideen took over Afghanistan in 1992, the US quickly lost interest in Pakistan, much to the latter's chagrin. But soon thereafter, September 11 happened, giving Islamabad a third such opportunity to help the Pentagon stage an invasion to dislodge the same Islamic militants it helped bring to power less than a decade ago. Americans rediscovered, at their peril, the Pakistani duplicity in helping them but also nurturing Afghanistan-based 'Taliban', al-Qaeda and other jihadists. This epoch lasted two decades, during which, once again, Pakistan was the base as well as a conduit for the massive US deployments in Afghanistan. By this time, Pakistanis had mastered the art of being perfidiously transactional towards Americans. Their gains during two decades of US involvement in Afghanistan are put at nearly $50 billion. Islamabad pretended to support the American campaign against the Afghan Taliban but also secretly sustained the latter, to eventually gleefully claim a victory when the Taliban Emirate was re-established in Afghanistan in August 2022 as the US troops left the country. The US spent over $2.3 trillion and suffered over 2,400 dead soldiers while chasing al-Qaeda all over the country, when all the while, its supremo, Osama bin Laden, was holed up in a safe house near a large Pakistani cantonment apparently under ISI protection, until the US special forces got him in 2011. 'Project Iran' Isn't Easy The proposed Iran project faces considerable odds. Firstly, the six-day-old Israeli Operation, 'Rising Lions', aimed at obliterating Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, is not yet in its decisive stage, and despite staggering losses, the Islamic Republic, a system with staying power, is still standing and retaliating against Israel, whose capacity to wage a protracted war of attrition against a country ten times more populous over a thousand kilometres away is not infinite. Secondly, Iran is ten times more populous to be a scaled-up model of the past US-Pakistani schemes for Afghanistan. Thirdly, the Shia-majority Iran is socially very different from the Sunni-majority Pakistan to allow a natural soft landing. Pakistan becoming an American cat's paw could even unravel the former's delicate Shia-Sunni divisions. Relevant to note that Shia constitute around 15% of Pakistan's population and are sympathetic to Iran's Islamic Revolution. Socially, too, the sparsely populated common border is restive with mutual insurgencies: from the Balochistan Liberation Army in Pakistan to Jaish al-Adl, Sunni militants trying to secede from Iran. Their activities could complicate any calculus. Further, unlike Afghanistan, Iran is not a landlocked country dependent on access to the sea via Pakistan. A Bit Awkward For Both Trump And Pakistan Last, but not least, there is hardly any ethnic or political love lost between Iranians and Pakistanis. Historically, Iranians have mostly looked westwards, and the contacts with the East have been few and far between. The total bilateral trade in 2024 was estimated to be only $2.4 billion. Moreover, on several occasions in the past, Pakistan sought to mediate in Iran's disputes with the West and the Gulf Arab states. But nothing came out of these gratuitous efforts, mainly because the Tehran power elite suspected glib-talking Pakistanis of being insincere and biased. A case in point was earlier this week, when an Iranian General cited Pakistani assurance to nuke Israel in case it used nuclear weapons against Iran, only to have the Pakistani defence minister flatly deny the same. Rawalpindi GHQ's alacrity for working for the American regional agenda in past has had blowbacks for Pakistan's internal fabric, such as instability and insecurity due to illegal immigration, terrorism, gunrunning, rentier economy, and the army's political dominance to the detriment of democracy. The proposed collaboration on the Iran project this time is likely to invoke even more daunting specifics. Firstly, while Pakistan has always lived by its wits, this time, it faces the unpredictable, transactionalist Donald Trump, a dealmaker with a penchant for sudden surprises (ask Zelensky). Secondly, while anti-Communism and the Afghanistan conundrum had a national consensus in Pakistan, alignment against Iran can be very different, as it has the potential to split the society. In the same vein, an open collaboration with Israel and the US running amok against Iran is unlikely to make Islamabad popular in the Islamic Ummah. Thirdly, Pakistan's lurch from China to the US may lack elegance and credibility. There would be blowbacks for the Trump presidency, too, from a direct invasion of Iran with Pakistani connivance, such as a loss of credibility about 'not starting endless wars abroad', alienation of the over 5 million-strong Indian diaspora in the country, and loss of political synergy built with India. What Does India Need? A Nimbler Diplomacy What are the important takeaways for India from this slippery saga? Firstly, it attests to the correctness of our quest for 'strategic autonomy' in the long run. Secondly, it exposes our naivety in putting inordinate faith in the Trump presidency, which has adopted a cynical 'run-with-the-hare-and-hunt-with-the-hounds' geopolitical approach anchored to short-term transactions and permanent narcissism. While we may not be a direct victim of Trumpian vicissitudes on China, Pakistan, Iran sanctions, or Ukraine, we suffer considerable collateral damage and have shown the right stiff upper lip needed to manage his whims. It also calls for a reassessment of our strategic options in a notoriously dynamic world where predictive diplomacy is needed abroad instead of harping on age-old shared values. While there is no need to be as unprincipled as Pakistan, our diplomacy needs to be nimbler and less abrasive or prescriptive. We also need to consider the wisdom of the old Americanism: 'You fool me once, shame on you; You fool me again, shame on me.'
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First Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
BCCI slammed for India being put in same group as Pakistan in 2026 Women's T20 World Cup: 'Nationalism has a cost'
The BCCI was expected to boycott Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam Terror Attack as well as the recent armed conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad. The board, however, has not raised objection to the Jay Shah-led ICC putting India and Pakistan in the same group in next year's Women's T20 World Cup in England. read more India and Pakistan are set to face each other in Edgbaston, Birmingham in next year's Women's T20 World Cup in England. AFP India has not played any form of bilateral cricket with Pakistan since January 2013, with the two arch-rivals facing each other only in ICC and Asian events due to political tensions as well as cross-border terrorism. And after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April that was followed by a military showdown between the two nuclear-armed nations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was advised to completely boycott Pakistan for some time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BCCI, therefore, is facing heavy criticism for India and Pakistan being placed in the same group in the Women's T20 World Cup that is set to take place in England next year. This despite the fact that it's the ICC and not the BCCI that is responsible for organising all global events including the Women's T20 World Cup, and has been ensuring at least one Indo-Pak face-off in every tournament to cash in on their fierce rivalry. However, what is interesting to note is the fact that the Dubai-based world governing body is currently led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who also happens to be the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Meaning the Group 1 fixture between India and Pakistan, which will take place at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday, 14 June could not have happened without his approval. Netizens slam BCCI for allowing India-Pakistan fixture to be confirmed Here are some of the reactions to the India-Pakistan fixture in next year's T20 World Cup: BCCI's nationalism has a cost. I thought the cost was India v Pakistan matches at Men's ICC events given the revenue it generates, but the cost of BCCI's nationalism is much lower. — Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) June 18, 2025 Heard That @BCCI Had Asked @ICC To Not Put #India & #Pakistan In The Same Group in #ICC Tournaments, then why are India & Pak Women's Team grouped together ? @BCCI @BCCIWomen was it all drama or you care to take any concrete actions or have you shamelessly forgotten April-May… — Utkarsh Vashistha 🇮🇳 (@UtkarshV_BJP) June 19, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Come on @BCCI for once come out of your gold coffers and think of the nation. Understand the sentiment. Instead of blocking Pakistan from world cricket, you decided to play them? All that power and can't arm twist when needed? — Shreya (@shreyamatsharma) June 16, 2025 So its not even been 2 months since Pehalgam attack which almost caused an all out war with Pakistan and here BCCI again didn't opposed ICC for putting India in same group with Pakistan???? I still remember there was news after Pehalgam attack that India will tell ICC to not put… — Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) June 18, 2025 Ok,I understand India and Pakistan are playing together in the ODI World Cup because of Round-Robin format,but why the hell have they been placed in the same group in T20 World Cup @BCCI ?It's proved that Star Sports and BCCI only care about money and not national interest! — Delhi Capitals Fan (@pantiyerfc) June 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India vs pakistan reallllllyy, people forgot things too quickly — shantanu Kumar (@shantanu_k98529) June 18, 2025 Before the T20 World Cup, India and Pakistan will also face each other in Colombo on 5 October during the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup. Pakistan's matches have been moved to Colombo as a result of the 'Hybrid Model' that saw India play its' matches in the UAE during the Champions Trophy earlier this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And unlike the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup will be played in a round-robin format in which each of the eight teams will be the remaining seven sides before the knock-outs, meaning it was impossible to separate India and Pakistan in such a tournament. The ICC, however, is yet to announce the schedule for the Men's T20 World Cup, which will be jointly-hosted by India and Sri Lanka and will be taking place in the months of February and March – before the women's tournament.
