Latest news with #PahalgamAttack
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Concern grows as India ramps up deportation of alleged migrants to Bangladesh
India has forcibly deported over 2,500 alleged Bangladeshi nationals since early May in an intensified nationwide campaign, raising concerns about violations of human rights, legal procedures and international norms. The campaign, launched on 7 May, involves mass detention of suspected illegal immigrants across several states, including Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam and Rajasthan, followed by their transfer to border states such as Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya, The Indian Express reported. There, they are handed over to the Border Security Force and 'pushed back' into Bangladesh. In a striking shift from earlier, the detainees are reportedly transported to the border in air force aircraft. Authorities claim the crackdown is driven by national security concerns sparked in particular by a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April left 26 civilians dead and led to a military conflict with Pakistan. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed the northeastern state had detained almost 1,000 alleged Bangladeshis in recent months and expelled 303, IANS news agency reported. A digital identification system has become key to the deportation campaign. The Foreigners Identification Portal – originally designed in 2018 to track Rohingya refugees from Myanmar – has been expanded to store biometric and demographic data of suspected migrants from Bangladesh, according to The Indian Express. State governments, union territories, and the foreign ministry now have access to the portal, enabling deportation when identity can't be verified. Additionally, applicants for national identity documents such as biometric-based Aadhaar card, voter IDs and ration cards are being screened against this database. The home ministry has given states a 30-day deadline to verify the status of suspected undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. This drive is supported by a centralised server integrating data from border and immigration agencies. The campaign is also targeting Rohingya refugees and convicted foreign nationals in detention facilities. Mr Sarma said even individuals who had received temporary protection from deportation by India 's Supreme Court and various high courts had been expelled – though later re-admitted to India through diplomatic intervention. The chief minister cited the Supreme Court ruling upholding Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act to justify bypassing Foreigners Tribunals, a quasi-judicial process for determining citizenship. Section 6A allows those who entered Assam between 1966 and 1971 to apply for Indian citizenship, but it has long been opposed by Assamese groups who argue it legitimises migration from Bangladesh. State authorities refer a person suspected to be a foreigner to a tribunal, which looks at documentary evidence to decide whether the person is Indian or not. The efficacy of the system has been criticised, however. In an egregious case, a tribunal declared Assam resident Rahim Ali a foreigner, forcing him to wage a 12-year legal fight to prove his citizenship. By the time he was recognised as an Indian citizen by the Supreme Court, Ali had died. Delivering its ruling in July last year, the court called the tribunal's order a 'grave miscarriage of justice'. Bangladesh has formally protested the deportations. On 8 May, Dhaka lodged a diplomatic complaint with India and foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain confirmed that another protest note was forthcoming. 'We see it's happening. It's not feasible to resist physically,' Mr Hossain said. He urged both countries to resolve the issue through legal and diplomatic channels. Despite India's assertion that migration from Bangladesh was rising, Bangladesh's Border Guard previously said that such flows had declined due to economic gains in their country. In 2020-21, Bangladesh's per capita income briefly surpassed India's, complicating the narrative of economic desperation as a primary driver of migration. Still, Indian officials continue to press for faster nationality verification from Bangladesh. Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said over 2,360 people were awaiting deportation pending confirmation of their Bangladeshi citizenship, with some cases stalled since 2020. In the capital Delhi, police have arrested 66 alleged Bangladeshi immigrants, PTI news agency reported, quoting officials. The expulsion campaign has sparked condemnation from rights groups as many of the deported people claim to be Indian nationals wrongfully identified as Bangladeshis. Khairul Islam, 51, a former government schoolteacher in Assam's Morigaon, is one of them. He was picked up from his home by Assam police on 23 May and thrown across the border four days later. In a video posted by a Bangladeshi journalist, Mr Islam was seen standing in a field between Assam and Bangladesh's Kurigram district. 'My hands were tied like I was a thief and I was made to sit in the bus,' he said, recounting his ordeal. Mr Islam had been declared a foreigner by a tribunal in 2016, a decision upheld by the Gauhati High Court in 2018. He spent two years in a detention centre before being released on bail. His appeal to the Supreme Court is still pending. After being stranded in no man's land between the two countries for two days, he was taken to a camp run by Bangladesh's Border Guard. A few days later, the group was escorted to the Indian border, where he was taken into police custody again and finally released on Thursday. 'I am an Indian, so why would I go to Bangladesh?' Mr Islam said, adding that he was beaten at the Matia Detention Centre when he resisted deportation. His family had submitted documents proving his Indian citizenship to local authorities but to no avail. 'This is injustice and there will be judgement for this one day,' Mr Islam was quoted as saying by the Indian news outlet Scroll. 'We are not Bangladeshi. We are swadesi [native-born]. They should check and verify this before doing such acts.' Human rights campaigners, academics and lawyers have condemned the deportation of people to Bangladesh, calling it a violation of protections granted by the Indian constitution and the right to due process. Demanding an end to all 'pushbacks', 125 academics and activists called on the Indian government to 'allow the return of those citizens who have already been forcibly deported to Bangladesh'. 'This is not just a legal failure,' they said in a statement, 'it is a humanitarian crisis that strikes at the core of India's constitutional democracy.' The concern followed Indian media reports that at least 40 Rohingya refugees had been flown from Delhi to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then allegedly abandoned in the sea off southeastern Myanmar, handcuffed and blindfolded. Bangladeshi media reported that some 300 individuals, including Rohingyas, were forced back into the country from India between 7 and 9 May, often through isolated and remote border points.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pak Says Simla Pact Is 'DEAD'; Says Kashmir No More Bilateral With India, LOC Now 'Ceasefire Line'
/ Jun 06, 2025, 08:33AM IST In a major policy shift, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared the 1972 Simla Agreement 'dead,' asserting that the Line of Control is now a ceasefire line per the 1948 UN stance. He added that Kashmir should now be addressed as an international issue, abandoning the long-held bilateral framework. Watch#SimlaAgreement #KashmirIssue #IndiaPakistan #LoC #KhawajaAsif #PahalgamAttack
Times of Oman
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"Very strong support, understanding for our position": Congress MP Shashi Tharoor after meeting US lawmakers
Washington, DC: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party parliamentary delegation to the US, met with Bipartisan co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, as well as vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey, on Wednesday. Tharoor said that US Congressmen had very strong support and understanding for India's position on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the events that followed. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said that McCormick was very upbeat about the future of India-US ties, the economy and global strategic issues. After meeting Khanna, McCormick, Barr and Veasey, Tharoor said, "Mr McCormick is not only understanding of what we had to tell him, but he was very upbeat about the future of India-US relations across the board, the economy, global strategic issues, and so this particular problem we started off discussing was part of a much larger picture, which we are very excited to hear the kind of vision that the India Caucus chairs have for the future of our relationship." Tharoor also talked about the support received by the delegation from other Congressmen. He said, "A strong message from the other Congressmen who are also here, who just left the room. So, we've had very strong support and understanding for our position on this terrible, terrible tragedy (Pahalgam attack) and the events that followed. So, we're leaving this room very happy with the conversation." During the meeting with Ro Khanna, Rich McCormick, Andy Barr, and Marc Veasey, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance against terrorism. The delegation led by Tharoor comprises Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting India's vibrant and inclusive democratic character. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and former Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The Indian Embassy in the US said that Congressmen expressed strong support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and the US. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today." "The parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and India's strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They expressed support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA," it added. The all-party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor reached Washington DC earlier today to begin a two-day engagement with key US stakeholders. The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X from its official handle that the delegation will meet members of the US Congress, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation will also hold discussions with academicians from leading think tanks and various media outlets. The delegation is scheduled to speak at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, D.C., with the event being streamed live on the CFR website. Additionally, the delegation will interact with members of the Indian diaspora during their visit, further strengthening community ties. The delegation aims to brief key stakeholders in the US on Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative launched to counter terrorism and disinformation following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Tharoor described his journey to Washington as a "horrendous, three-stage overnight journey" from Brasilia via Sao Paulo and Panama, during which he managed only one and a half hours of sleep. Upon arrival, he was pleased to be greeted by two Indian-American police officers, Harmanpreet Singh and Hundal. Tharoor recorded an interview with CBS News at the Indian Embassy, followed by a briefing with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and his team. The delegation reached the US after concluding their visit to Belgium.
Times of Oman
30-05-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Delhi: EAM Jaishankar meets New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters, thanks for support on Pahalgam attack
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, in Delhi and thanked New Zealand for its support and solidarity on the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The two leaders reviewed the progress made in India-New Zealand partnership following the recent visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Delighted to meet DPM & FM @winstonpeters of New Zealand this evening in Delhi. Thank New Zealand for its support & solidarity on the Pahalgam terrorist attack." "Following up from the recent visit of PM @chrisluxonmp, took stock of the progress made by our partnership. Agreed that in a more volatile & uncertain world, it's important that India & New Zealand collaborate closely for a rules-based, peaceful, stable & prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he added. Peters just concluded a two-day visit to Kathmandu, where he was received by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai at the airport, along with other Foreign Ministry officials. Earlier, in a post on X Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said, "A warm welcome to DPM & FM @winstonpeters of New Zealand on his arrival in New Delhi for an official visit. This visit reflects the momentum of high level exchanges & will further strengthen the warm and friendly ties between our two countries." On Friday, May 30, Peters is scheduled to meet JP Nadda, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at the Hotel Taj Mahal at 3:30 pm. His departure is scheduled for 9:55 pm on the same day. India and New Zealand have historically shared close and cordial ties. Similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth, common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities in both countries (NZ prides itself as one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with 213 ethnicities officially recorded) provide an excellent backdrop for deepening the friendly ties, according to MEA
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We condemn use of terror", says South Africa Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen
Cape Town [South Africa], May 29 (ANI): John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa, on Wednesday (local time) extended support to India in its fight against terrorism and said that it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror. 'India bought a very important message to South Africa today. We condemn the use of terror anywhere in the world, and it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror... Any measures to counter terrorism need to be welcomed. As democracies, we need to find ways to combat terror globally... India is a very important strategic partner for South Africa as both are members of the BRICS,' John Steenhuisen told reporters. Steenhuisen's comment came after a meeting with the NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule-led delegation in Cape Town. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, 'We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa.' Earlier in the day, Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism. The delegation members explained the background of terrorist attacks in India, including the April 22 Phalgam terror attack. In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, 'Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism.' The members of the delegation are Members of Parliament Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent. Representative of India to the UN. (ANI)
