Latest news with #PakistanHighCommission
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Free Kashmir' Proponent, India In His Past: Who's Imran Haider, Pakistan's New Envoy To Bangladesh?
In addition to his multiple international assignments, ambassador Haider previously served at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi Ambassador Imran Haider, a senior Pakistani diplomat who has recently been named as the new high commissioner to Bangladesh, carries a long-standing connection with India through his professional experiences and personal interests, and has been a proponent of 'Free Kashmir". In addition to his multiple international assignments, ambassador Haider previously served at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, holding a significant diplomatic position before being posted as a Pakistani ambassador to several countries in 2019. Over the past years, Haider served as part of Pakistan's mission in the United Nations, New York, and in the embassies of Iran, India, the UAE, and Spain, along with other assignments, said his profile document. In international diplomatic circles, Haider is known for his strong views on Kashmir, and he is seen as a vocal proponent of Pakistan's narrative on 'Free Kashmir". In fact, his display pictures on platforms like X and Instagram feature only a poster with the line 'Let Kashmir Speak", and his bio with his name says, 'career diplomat, posted in Tajikistan and Yangon (Myanmar)", signalling his continued alignment with that position. In fact, the same poster is also part of the interface of the official website of Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi. These social media accounts often highlight Haider's past speeches and engagements during his reported ambassadorial postings in Myanmar between 2024 and 2025 and in Tajikistan between 2023 and 2024, along with photographs featuring senior Pakistani ministers and diplomats. While the accounts do not have the officially 'verified" tag like many senior diplomats and bureaucrats, Haider's social media activity offers a clear glimpse into his ideological leanings and the persona he projects as a career diplomat. According to a formal notification carried by the Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM), known as the official mouthpiece of the junta government, he was appointed as Pakistan's ambassador to Myanmar in February 2024. Haider, who studied human rights at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, served briefly as assistant commissioner of income tax (1995-1996) in Pakistan before joining the ministry of foreign affairs in 1996, and since then he has held various diplomatic assignments in high-stakes postings across the globe, including in the UN and in countries like the UAE, Iran, India, and Spain. His official bio as submitted to the Myanmar government also stated that he served as ambassador of Pakistan to Tajikistan from 2019 to 2023, a period during which Islamabad is learnt to have actively expanded its strategic ties in central Asia. Post-April 2023, Haider served as director-general for the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) at Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs—an indication of his continued involvement in Pakistan's evolving regional strategy. His appointment to Myanmar was also seen as Islamabad's intent to maintain active diplomatic engagement with the junta regime amid a turbulent regional and global backdrop. A senior diplomat, who does not want to be named, said, 'Pakistan is sending a seasoned, calculated insider to Dhaka. Imran Haider carries more than just a diplomatic briefcase. He carries a deep understanding of the India-Bangladesh-Pakistan triangle that is forged by years in Islamabad's foreign service and a strategic stint in New Delhi." First Published: June 19, 2025, 07:30 IST
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan withdraws envoy from Dhaka amid speculations
Pakistan has withdrawn its high commissioner in Dhaka and named a new envoy to replace him, weeks after he went on sudden leave sparking widespread speculations, Prothom Alo newspaper reported on Tuesday. "Pakistan's high commissioner in Dhaka Syed Ahmed Maroof is not returning to Bangladesh," the newspaper reported, referring to several unnamed senior officials. Islamabad has named its current ambassador to Myanmar, Imran Haidar , as Maroof's replacement, it added. Maroof had grabbed media focus soon after Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government, three days after prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government was ousted on August 5, 2025 after a student-led violent agitation. Maroof had worked to ensure increased Dhaka-Islamabad diplomacy, including in arranging A visit by the Pakistan foreign secretary to Dhaka. Live Events But he left Dhaka on a sudden leave last month sparking speculations in social media about his alleged relations with two Bangladeshi women. He left Dhaka on May 11, nearly one and half years after his appointment. The Pakistan High Commission formally informed Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry of his departure saying their deputy high commissioner would serve as acting high commissioner. Maroof extensively traveled across Bangladesh over the past nine months, with his most recent trip to the southeastern beach resort town of Cox's Bazar, which allegedly coincided with the tour of the two Bangladeshi ladies to the same place. PTI
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar praises late singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's fearless pro-India stand in Pakistan: 'He was courageous'
Javed Akhtar praised Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's courage and talent, recalling their collaboration and Nusrat's bold remarks about India-Pakistan cultural ties. Despite controversy over his political views, Akhtar's admiration remains strong, honoring Nusrat's legacy and lamenting his untimely death before a major international breakthrough. Javed Akhtar has once more reflected on the enduring cultural ties between India and Pakistan . He warmly recalls his profound respect for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan , the iconic Pakistani qawwali legend, emphasizing the power of shared artistic heritage. Controversy and Unwavering Respect Earlier, Javed Akhtar received appreciation in India but faced backlash in Pakistan for openly criticizing Pakistan's history of providing refuge to those responsible for attacks like 26/11 during his visit to Lahore. Despite this, he firmly states that his admiration for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan remains "untarnished." While speaking on AajTak Radio, Akhtar shared a moving story from a music launch event in Delhi that revealed Nusrat's remarkable "candour and courage. " Javed's collaboration with Nusrat Javed openly admitted, 'I'm not a huge fan of qawwali as a genre, but I was a great admirer of Nusrat. He was a lovely man. We worked together on an album titled Sangam — I wrote it, he composed it." He fondly recalled an event at a luxury hotel in Delhi where Nusrat spoke to a full house, with officials from the Pakistan High Commission seated prominently in the front row. Nusrat's Bold Words to the Pakistan High Commission 'Nusrat was asked to say a few words. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Най-продаваните ежедневни обувки това лято – виж защо! ZAROTRAVEL® КУПИ СЕГА Undo He said, 'I travel all over the world, but the reception I get in India is unmatched. I hang my head in shame when people ask me why my country hasn't hosted Lata Mangeshkar. I'm saying this here because I want the people from the Pakistan High Commission to pay attention,'" Javed recalled. Javed Akhtar showers praise Akhtar considered that incident as an extraordinary demonstration of courage. He remarked, 'It takes conviction, daring, and honesty to make such a statement. For me, as an Indian, it's not a big deal to say this. But for a Pakistani to say this on Indian soil and then return home — that's incredibly courageous." He went on to express his heartfelt admiration for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, saying, 'I have nothing but love and admiration for Nusrat. He died so young. He was on his way to America to sign a record deal with none other than Madonna. Who knows what more greatness he would have achieved had he lived longer."
News18
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Javed Akhtar Recalls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Brave Pro-India Remark To Pakistan: 'He Was Courageous'
Last Updated: Javed Akhtar recalls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's bold statement to Pakistani officials, praising India's warmth and criticizing Pakistan for ignoring Lata Mangeshkar. Veteran writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar has once again revisited the long-standing conversation around the cultural exchange between India and Pakistan, while fondly remembering his deep admiration for legendary Pakistani qawwali maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Though Akhtar had earlier drawn applause in India — and criticism across the border — for calling out Pakistan's history of sheltering perpetrators of attacks like 26/11 during an appearance in Lahore, he maintains that his respect for Nusrat remains untarnished. Speaking on AajTak Radio, Akhtar shared a poignant anecdote from a music launch in Delhi that highlighted Nusrat's candour and courage. 'I'm not a huge fan of qawwali as a genre," Akhtar admitted, 'but I was a great admirer of Nusrat. He was a lovely man. We worked together on an album titled Sangam — I wrote it, he composed it." Recalling the event held at a five-star hotel in Delhi, Akhtar described how Nusrat addressed a packed audience, including dignitaries from the Pakistan High Commission seated in the front row. 'Nusrat was asked to say a few words. He said, 'I travel all over the world, but the reception I get in India is unmatched. I hang my head in shame when people ask me why my country hasn't hosted Lata Mangeshkar. I'm saying this here because I want the people from the Pakistan High Commission to pay attention,'" Javed recalled. Akhtar described the moment as a rare act of bravery. 'It takes conviction, daring, and honesty to make such a statement. For me, as an Indian, it's not a big deal to say this. But for a Pakistani to say this on Indian soil and then return home — that's incredibly courageous," he said, adding, 'I have nothing but love and admiration for Nusrat. He died so young. He was on his way to America to sign a record deal with none other than Madonna. Who knows what more greatness he would have achieved had he lived longer." Born in 1948, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away in 1997 at the age of just 48. Javed noted that Nusrat was one of the few South Asian artists whose appeal transcended borders, regularly selling out concerts not just among the diaspora, but among Western audiences as well. After the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, Akhtar reiterated his stance on the imbalance in cross-border artistic engagement. 'It has been one-way traffic. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Noor Jahan — all came to India and were welcomed with open arms. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, when he visited India during the Vajpayee era, was treated with the respect reserved for a head of state," he said in an interview with PTI. First Published:
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Espionage case: Hisar court rejects YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's bail plea
A Hisar court on Wednesday denied bail to YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month on espionage charges. A day earlier, Jyoti's lawyer Kumar Mukesh had filed the bail application and the matter was placed before judicial magistrate first class Sunil Kumar today, who rejected the bail plea. On June 9, the court extended her judicial custody by two weeks till June 23. On May 26, Jyoti was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the court. Talking to HT over the phone, her lawyer Kumar Mukesh said that he had objected to the sections imposed against Jyoti Malhotra in the first information report (FIR). 'As the investigation is currently underway in the case, the police were against her bail plea. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail plea. She went to Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023 and at that time, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was in force but the Hisar police booked her under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, which was Section 124-A (sedition ) under the IPC at that time. This section was kept in abeyance, which is why she can't be prosecuted this,' Kumar added. He said that the FIR was registered on the basis of her questioning on May 15, which is not legally permissible because a person can't become a witness against himself/herself. 'The police could not place any evidence which proves that she was involved in spying. The Hisar superintendent of police (SP) himself said that she had no access to any military or defence related information but she has connections with some Pakistani operatives. If they have not recovered any information from her possession related to sharing sensitive information, then Sections 3 (spying) and 5 (communicating secret information to unauthorised individuals) of the Official Secrets Act, should be dropped from the FIR. The police should provide call details with such operatives. The police will have to prove that any of her Pakistani contacts are intelligence operatives,' he added. Travel blogger Jyoti, 33, a resident of Hisar, was arrested on May 16 for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives.
