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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
With Shimla Agreement in suspension, SGPC cancels Sikh pilgrimage to Pakistan for Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Sunday announced that it will not send a Sikh pilgrimage group (jattha) to Pakistan this year to mark the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, on June 27. The decision follows the diplomatic stand-off between India and Pakistan and the suspension of the 1972 Shimla Agreement in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The pilgrimage is undertaken as part of a longstanding arrangement under the Shimla Agreement, which permits Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan four times a year. Harbhajan Singh Vakta, a representative of the SGPC, confirmed the cancellation on Monday and said, 'Every year, a few 'jatthas' are sent by SGPC to Pakistan for darshan. One of these is the 'jattha' for Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary… Now, the SGPC has decided not to send the 'jattha' this time. We had made an official announcement yesterday. Looking at the situation between the two countries, this time no 'jattha' will be sent,' Vakta said. There has been no immediate response from Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board, which typically hosts the Sikh pilgrims. According to the agreement, up to 3,000 pilgrims are allowed to travel for Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary, 1,000 for the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, and 500 for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The sites of religious and historical importance to Sikhs in Pakistan include Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, and Lahore, where Guru Arjan Dev was martyred. The SGPC's decision follows India's recent diplomatic actions against Pakistan, which included scaling down diplomatic missions, sealing the border, and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. These steps were taken after the April 22 Pahalagam terror attack in Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. In the last week of April, Pakistan suspended the Shimla Agreement in response to India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, its military action targeting terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to a military conflict between the two nations before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
India.com
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Scared Pakistan closes terror launchpads in...., it was targeted in Operation Sindoor, it is run by...
Scared Pakistan closes terror launchpads in...., it was targeted in Operation Sindoor, it is run by... After India's air strike, the leadership of Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed is has closed its Bahawalpur headquarters 'Jamia Subhan Allah'. India attacked Jaish-e-Mohammed's Bahawalpur headquarters in Punjab province under Operation Sindoor in early May, in which it was destroyed. Since the Indian attack, it is showing permanently closed on Google Maps. Was targeted in Operation Sindoor The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 , in which 26 people were killed. India's retaliatory strikes targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur. The Jaish infrastructure was destroyed in the precision strike at this location, about 100 km from the Indian border. 10 people from Masood Azhar's family killed In India's action, 10 members of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar 's family and 4 close associates were killed. Photos and satellite imagery of the site after the attack show that the place was badly damaged. A large part of the building was reduced to rubble and large holes were visible in its Pakistan Tension: Khawaja Asif's statement on Shimla Agreement causes uproar in Pakistan. Training center for Jaish terrorists The complex was displayed as a mosque for public display, but it reportedly served as a training centre for Jaish-e-Mohammed. It played a key role in the recruitment and operational planning of terrorists. Google Maps has now marked the site as permanently closed. This marking is usually done when verified sources report a long period of inactivity and damage to the place.
India.com
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Modi govt move to punish Pakistan by suspending Indus water treaty leaves Pakistan…, Bilawal Bhutto makes shocking remarks
Pakistan has once again warned of nuclear war against India. This time, the threat comes in response to India's decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made the comments during his visit to the United States. On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Bilawal was speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. While addressing the gathering, he strongly criticized India and accused it of violating the water-sharing treaty, which he claimed is putting Pakistan's water resources at serious risk. According to a report by Pakistan's newspaper Dawn, Bilawal said, 'We have made it clear that cutting off our water supply is an act of war.' He added in a serious tone, 'This isn't just about nationalism or political statements. We're not saying this for effect—this is about our survival. No country in the world, no matter how big or powerful it is, will sit quietly if its water and future are threatened. Every country will fight for its water.' 'Water wars were once just a theory,' Bilawal said. 'But by shutting off Pakistan's water supply, India is laying the foundations for an existential conflict — one that could escalate to nuclear proportions.' He also requested the United States to step in and bring India to the discussion table regarding the Indus Water Treaty, saying dialogue is the only way forward to avoid conflict. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that India must follow the Indus Water Treaty, and countries like the United States and others should take a strong stand to prevent India from breaking this agreement. He added that if talks and diplomacy are to succeed and if Pakistan wants to have positive relations with India, including new deals and agreements, then India must first honor the old treaties and take back its decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. Bilawal also mentioned that tensions between the two countries increased after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Following this, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty. In response, Pakistan decided to use its right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement. Pakistan also announced the closure of the Attari-Wagah border and suspended all trade with India. The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. Under this treaty, India was given control of the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), and Pakistan got the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). But after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India took strict steps against Pakistan, which included suspending this treaty.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey slams Congress for
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nishikant Dubey on Thursday slammed Congress and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for 'surrendering country's pride and prestige to America,' by agreeing the Non-Attack Agreement with Pakistan in 1985, in which both countries agreed to not attack each other's nuclear facilities. Dubey posted pictures of declassified US documents from 1986, which talked about the US' role in ensuring peace between India and Pakistan. 'The nuclear deal was also done by Rajiv Gandhi on 17 December 1985 with Pakistan's President General Zia by surrendering his country's pride and prestige to America, document,' the BJP MP posted on X. Dubey's jibe comes two days after Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Narendra Modi for 'surrendering' to Pakistan after US President Donald Trump called him. Rahul Gandhi had said, 'When Trump called Modiji-Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump.' The document posted by Dubey is a memorandum for former US National Security Advisor John Poindexter, from September 30, 1986. It reads: 'Our key optimal goal in South Asia is peace between India and Pakistan. In practical terms, this means the conclusion of a peace treaty between New Delhi and Islamabad. However, peace cannot be meaningful unless it includes some limits on the nuclear weapons programs of both countries. Thus, we hope to facilitate progress on bilateral arrangements which institutionalise the Gandhi-Zia December 17, 1985 agreement not to attack each other's nuclear facilities...' The declassified document, as shared by Dubey, also cites as an incentive that the US can help former PM Rajiv Gandhi with his 'ambitious program of technological progress.' Continuing his attack towards the Gandhi family in multiple other posts on X calling them as, Dubey questioned other instances which he considered as former PM surrendering to Pakistan to ensure that India gets Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and a super computer from the US. 'Surrender despite the insignificant Shimla Agreement. Did Gandhi surrender to Pakistan under the deception of supercomputers and LCA aircraft or not? Should the meeting of Pakistan-India-US representatives on drug trafficking be considered American interference in the country's internal affairs or not? In this paper, America has also talked about money for the leadership of Pakistan. Did India also surrender for money like beggars?' Dubey questioned. The India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement was officially signed in 1988 and implemented in 1991. With the bilateral agreement, both countries decided not to target each other's nuclear facilities. Every year, both countries also share the locations of a set of their nuclear facilities with each other. (ANI)
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Surrender is in dictionary of Congress; in your DNA": JP Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi's "Surrender" remark
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): BJP National President and Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday slammed Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of insulting the Indian Army by terming the success of Operation Sindoor a 'surrender', noting that 'surrender' was in the dictionary of Congress and in Rahul Gandhi's DNA. In a series of posts on X, Nadda responded to Congress MP's 'Narender-Surrender' jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a convention of Congress workers in Madhya Pradesh and alleged that PM Modi had surrendered to US pressure for a ceasefire with Pakistan. He listed historical instances like the Shimla Agreement, the Indus Waters Treaty, and the 1962 war, alleging that Congress consistently capitulated, including to the Muslim League during India's independence. 'Rahul Gandhi, you may have surrendered; your party may have surrendered; your leaders may have surrendered because your history has been like this but India never surrenders. Surrender is in the dictionary of your party Congress; it is in your DNA. Rahul Gandhi, you should remember the tenure of your party's governments and how you 'surrendered' in history. You surrendered to terrorism, surrendered in Sharm-al-Shekh, surrendered at the table in Shimla after winning the 1971 war, surrendered in the Indus Water Treaty, surrendered Haji Pir Pass, surrendered 160 km area of Chhamb sector, surrendered in the 1962 war, surrendered in 1948 and even surrendered to the Muslim League at the time of independence of the country,' Nadda stated. Nadda further condemned the Congress leader's remark as treasonous and highlighted that even Pakistan did not dare to make such a claim. 'Rahul Gandhi's calling the unmatched valour and courage of the Indian Army a 'surrender' is not only unfortunate but also a grave insult to the Indian Army, the nation and 140 crore Indians. If any Pakistani had said this, we would have laughed at them, but after the way Operation Sindoor wreaked havoc in Pakistan, no one from the people of Pakistan, its army and even its Prime Minister dared to say this, but Rahul Gandhi is saying this! This is nothing less than treason,' the BJP National President added. Nadda also detailed the success of Operation Sindoor, noting the Indian Army's deep penetration into Pakistan, destruction of airbases and terrorist camps, and the killing of over 150 terrorists, as validated by senior army officers. 'The Indian Army penetrated 300 km into Pakistan and destroyed 11 of its airbases, demolished 9 terrorist bases, killed more than 150 terrorists. Pakistan is crying and telling the world that the Indian Army attacked 18 places in Pakistan and destroyed everything and Rahul Gandhi is talking about the surrender of the country! Rahul Gandhi should know that the success of 'Operation Sindoor' was not announced by the government or any BJP spokesperson, but by senior officers of the Indian Army. 'Operation Sindoor' is a proclamation of the bravery, courage and valour of the Indian Army. In reality, those whose policies have been of surrender cannot think of anything beyond this - why, isn't it so with Rahul Gandhi?' he added. This comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government on Tuesday over allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'followed' Donald Trump following a call by the US leader and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not budge to the US in the 1971 war. Addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, 'Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender.' (ANI)
