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Arab News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan delegation in Washington says India laying foundations of first ‘nuclear water war'
ISLAMABAD: The head of a delegation visiting Washington DC to present Islamabad's position following a recent military standoff with New Delhi said on Thursday India shutting down Pakistan's water supply would be tantamount to laying the 'foundations for the first nuclear water war.' Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India are high after they struck a ceasefire on May 10 following the most intense military confrontation in decades. Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other's soil — a charge both capitals deny. The latest escalation, in which the two countries' militaries traded missile, drones and artillery fire, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, killing 26. Islamabad denies involvement. Following the attack, Delhi unilaterally 'put in abeyance' the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which governs usage of the Indus river system. The accord has not been revived despite the rivals agreeing on a ceasefire on May 10. 'In the age of climate challenges that are to come, water scarcity and water wars, or anyway, used to be a theory,' Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a former foreign minister who is heading the Pakistani delegation, said at an event at the Middle East Institute in Washington. 'India's shutting off Pakistan's water supply is laying the foundations for the first nuclear water war.' Islamabad had said after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty that it considered any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan to be an 'act of war.' About 80% of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million. 'It is an existential crisis for us,' Bhutto Zardari said in DC. 'Any country on the planet, no matter their size, their strength, or their ability, would fight for their survival and fight for their water. India must abide by the Indus Waters Treaty.' He urged Washington and other countries not to allow India to violate the treaty or fulfil its threat of stopping Pakistan's rightful share of Indus waters. 'You cannot allow this precedent to be set in the Pakistan context, because we'll fight the first war, but it won't be the last,' Bhutto Zardari warned. 'If India is allowed to cut off our water, that means that every upper riparian with hostilities to a lower riparian now has a carte blanche.' Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the nine-member diplomatic group last month, headed by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who has been leading a team to visits in New York, Washington DC, London and Brussels since June 2. Another delegation, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, has visited Moscow. Earlier on Thursday, Bhutto Zardari's delegation met members of the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus in Washington, including Republican party leaders Jack Bergman and Ryan Zinke and Democratic leaders Tom Suozzi and Ilhan Omar, among others. 'Pakistan remains committed to peace, but sadly, India consistently resists dialogue,' Bhutto Zardari told the American lawmakers, according to a statement released by Bilawal House, his official residence. Pakistan and India, bitter rivals, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir that they both claim in full but govern only parts of.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Operation Sindoor explained: How India attacked Pakistan overnight, and why
[Editor's Note: Khaleej Times is bringing you the latest updates on rising tensions between India and Pakistan here.] Over the last week, as diplomatic relations rapidly unravelled following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistani intelligence sources forewarned an attack by India was imminent. On May 7, in the middle of the night, that warning was proved true. India attacked multiple sites in Pakistan early on Wednesday, targeting what it called 'terrorist infrastructure'. At least eight Pakistanis were killed and 35 injured, a Pakistan military spokesperson said in a statement. India's Ministry of Defence said the strike was part of 'Operation Sindoor' and described it as "a precise and restrained response" to the attack in Pahalgam last month, which claimed 26 lives. Here is everything you need to know about what the operation means and how it took place: What is 'Operation Sindoor'? The name of India's military operation, Sindoor, is an apparent reference to the women who lost their spouses in the attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam last month. Sindoor is a Hindi word used to refer to the traditional red vermilion worn by married Hindu women on their forehead symbolising protection and marital commitment. Women traditionally stop wearing it when they are widowed. The imagery has been brought to life with a graphic that has gone viral in the aftermath of the attack (see below): Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. How many sites were hit and where? India claims that it attacked nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir under the operation. According to ANI sources, Indian armed forces struck four targets in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Geo that all sites targeted by India were civilian and not militant camps. The Indian statement further said, "No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted." How were the sites chosen? Indian forces said they selected the location for strikes with the intent of targeting top Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar leadership for their role in sponsoring terrorist activities in India, stated ANI, citing close sources. What was the impact of the strikes? Initial reports recorded three civilian deaths in Pakistan, including that of a child. Within a couple of hours, however, the death toll was revised to eight, with 35 casualties reported. Meanwhile, a statement by the Indian army added that three civilians had been killed after Pakistan "resorted to indiscriminate firing and shelling". How has Pakistan responded? Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the Indian attack "unprovoked" and "cowardly", and said the "heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished." What does this operation mean for ongoing tensions? Wednesday's strikes are a dangerous heightening of friction between the South Asian neighbours, who have fought multiple wars since they gained independence from the British in 1947. For days, the international community has piled pressure on Pakistan and India to step back from the brink of war. However, in the wake of the attacks — which is the worst fighting in years between the nuclear-armed neighbours — Pakistan has said it would mount a befitting response in a "time of its choosing" to what it called "an act of war". Here, in the UAE, expats from both communities spent a restless night, staying up to watch the news and connect with anxious loved ones near the border amid fears of a full-blown war breaking out. (Read the full story here.) How have world leaders reacted? Asked about the strikes, US President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington he hopes the fighting "ends very quickly". US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely, adding that he will "continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution". "The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan," the spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement, adding that Guterres called for "maximum restraint." Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation that could threaten regional and international peace. The minister stressed that listening to voices calling for dialogue and understanding is crucial to avoiding military escalation, consolidating stability in South Asia, and sparing the region from tensions.
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Indian Defense Stocks Extend Rally on Earnings Boost, Spending
Defense stocks in India are stretching their rally after a record surge last week, powered by strong earnings and signs of increased spending in the sector. Nifty's cohort of 18 defense-related stocks soared to a new high Monday, taking gains this year to 28% — the highest among thematic gauges in India. The rally picked up pace amid India-Pakistan tensions as the neighbors conducted military strikes against each other.
Times of Oman
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
India and Pakistan expel diplomats in a tit-for-tat move
Islamabad: With tensions between India and Pakistan already at a boiling point, both countries on Tuesday expelled officials from each other's high commissions after accusing them of espionage — further straining diplomatic ties in the wake of recent border hostilities. The diplomatic tit-for-tat began with India declaring a Pakistani official posted at its High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, accusing him of engaging in activities 'not in keeping with his official status'. The official was ordered to leave the country within 24 hours, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a brief statement. India's move followed the arrest of two individuals in Indian Punjab on Sunday, who were allegedly involved in leaking sensitive military information to a purported Pakistani handler. According to Punjab Police, one of the suspects had been passing details about Indian Army movements, reportedly under the direction of an official linked to the Pakistani mission in Delhi. The chargé d'affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned and handed a formal demarche regarding the expulsion. Later the same evening, Pakistan responded in kind by expelling an Indian High Commission official, identified as Shankar Reddy Chintala. The Foreign Office stated that the official had been 'found involved in espionage in violation of his privileged status'. In its statement, the Foreign Office said the Indian diplomat had been declared persona non grata and was instructed — along with his family — to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. The Indian chargé d'affaires was summoned and handed a demarche expressing Pakistan's strong protest against what it called 'undesirable activities'. The FO also reminded the Indian mission to ensure that its staff adheres to diplomatic norms and does not engage in conduct incompatible with their diplomatic status. The expulsions mark a sharp deterioration in already fraught relations, coming on the heels of military clashes and accusations of ceasefire violations and cross-border strikes.
Times of Oman
11-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Delhi airport operations remain normal, issues travel advisory
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Sunday said that operations are proceeding smoothly at the Delhi Airport. "Delhi Airport operations continue to run smoothly. However, In light of evolving airspace dynamics and heightened security protocols mandated by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, there may be adjustments to flight schedules and longer wait times at security checkpoints," the airport said in its latest travel advisory. The airport operator issued the advisory to passengers, which includes, "Stay updated through their respective airline's communication channels. Adhere to prescribed guidelines for cabin and check-in baggage. Arrive well in advance to accommodate possible security delays. Extend full cooperation to airline and security personnel for efficient facilitation. Verify flight status via the airline or the official Delhi Airport website." "We strongly advise all passengers to depend exclusively on official updates for accurate information and to refrain from circulating unverified content," the advisory added. Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and relevant aviation authorities have issued a series of notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across Northern and Western India for all civil flight operations. The NOTAM is effective from May 9, 2025, to May 14, 2025 (which corresponds to 0529 IST on 15th May 2025), due to operational reasons. The list of 32 airports include Adhampur, Ambala, Amritsar, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Srinagar, Thoise and Uttarlai. In the early hours of Saturday, four airbases in Pakistan were hit by Indian strikes, sources told ANI, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate. India launched the retaliatory strikes immediately after Pakistan attacked 26 locations across India. Intermittent firing is still going on at several places along the Line of Control.
