Tag: South Asia

Dhaka (TIP)- A prosecutor in a special domestic tribunal in Bangladesh sought the death penalty Thursday, Oct 16, for ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case involving charges of crimes against humanity in a mass uprising last year that forced her to leave the country.
During the protests in July and August 2024, hundreds of people, including students, security officials and political activists, were killed in the week-long violence.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, in his closing arguments to the International Crimes Tribunal in the capital, Dhaka, also called for former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to be sentenced to death because of the gravity of his crimes.
In his closing, the prosecutor left a decision on the sentence for former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun up to the tribunal. Al-Mamun, who is in custody, became a state witness against Hasina and had earlier pleaded guilty.
Hasina has been in exile in India after fleeing the country on Aug. 5 last year. Khan is also believed to be in India.
More proceedings are needed to complete the trial before a verdict is rendered.
Hasina did not appoint any lawyers to represent her, and she had earlier rejected the trial process as a “kangaroo court.”
The next proceedings will be held on Monday. A state-appointed counsel for Hasina has sought a week to present his arguments.
Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the head of an interim government three days after Hasina’s fall. Yunus vowed to punish Hasina and banned the activities of her Awami League party.
Islam, in his argument, calls Hasina the “mastermind and principal architect” behind the crimes against humanity committed during the uprising.
The United Nations, in a February report, said up to 1,400 people may have been killed in the violence, while the country’s health adviser under the interim government said more than 800 people were killed and about 14,000 were injured.
Hasina and her party have raised questions about the figures and demanded independent investigations.
Referring to the UN figures, Islam said Thursday that if each of the 1,400 deaths were to be punished separately, Hasina should get 1,400 death sentences.
He told the tribunal that Hasina “personally ordered the killings.”
No immediate reaction from Hasina’s party was available.
Thursday’s development came as tensions mounted in Bangladeshi politics over the indictments of 25 former and serving military officials, including some former heads of a powerful military intelligence unit.

Islamabad (TIP)- A ceasefire along the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan was holding on Thursday, Oct 16, officials on both sides said, after dozens of troops and civilians were killed in cross-border clashes.
In Spin Boldak, a focal point of recent clashes on the Afghan side, an AFP journalist saw shops reopening and residents returning to homes they had fled during the fighting.
The 48-hour ceasefire was aimed at allowing time to “find a positive solution… through constructive dialogue”, according to Islamabad.
Pakistan is facing a resurgence of attacks against its security forces on its western border with Afghanistan, led by the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates.
Around 20 civilians were killed and nearly 170 wounded on Wednesday, according to Spin Boldak’s information department spokesman Mohammad Haqmal.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported at least 18 civilians killed and more than 350 wounded in the violence.
“Our houses were bombed, a child was wounded. I heard the plane myself,” Abdul Zahir, a 46-year-old resident, told AFP. “It’s terrifying.”
Hundreds of residents and Taliban officials attended the funeral of seven members of the same family in Spin Boldak, an AFP journalist saw.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of offering safe haven to militants who plan their frequent assaults from Afghan soil — a charge the Taliban government denies.
Pakistani officials on the northern and southern border with Afghanistan told AFP on Thursday that “no violence was reported overnight, and the ceasefire remains in effect.”
A senior security official in Peshawar told AFP: “Additional paramilitary troops have been deployed to counter potential… militant activity that could jeopardise the ceasefire.”
Shortly before the truce was announced, blasts were reported in the capital Kabul and the southern province of Kandahar province, where the Afghan Taliban’s shadowy supreme leader lives.
UN rights chief Volker Turk welcomed the ceasefire and appealed to “both parties to prevent any further harm to civilians & commit to a lasting ceasefire.”
Precision strikes
The first explosions that struck Afghanistan last week, which the Taliban blamed on Islamabad, hit while Afghanistan’s top diplomat was on an unprecedented visit to India — Pakistan’s eastern neighbor and rival.
Taliban authorities then launched an offensive at the border, prompting Islamabad to vow a strong response of its own.
Exchanges of fire from Saturday killed dozens of people, with renewed violence from Wednesday also causing civilian casualties, according to Kabul.
The Taliban government officially blamed Wednesday’s blasts in the Afghan capital on an explosion of an oil tanker and a generator.
However, Pakistani security sources said the military targeted an armed group with “precision strikes” in Kabul, as well as hitting Afghan Taliban bases in Kandahar.
There were blackouts overnight and into Thursday, Oct 6, morning in some areas of Kabul, caused by electricity cables damaged in the explosions, AFP journalists in the city said.
AFP journalists saw municipal workers carrying out repairs in a Kabul neighbourhood on Thursday morning, where the road was charred and apartment windows had been blown out.
At least five people were killed and 35 wounded in Wednesday’s explosions in Kabul, an Italian NGO that runs a hospital in the city said.
“We started receiving ambulances filled with wounded people, and we learned that there had been explosions a few kilometres away from our hospital,” Dejan Panic, Emergency’s country director in Afghanistan, said in a statement. The casualties suffered shrapnel wounds, blunt force trauma and burns, with 10 in critical condition, the NGO said.

Islamabad (TIP)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, October 3, told the National Assembly that the 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump was “not ours,” while stressing there was no room for politicking on the issue, Dawn reported.
Dar, referring to his earlier press briefing in Islamabad, said: “I made it clear that the 20 points that President Trump made public are not ours. Changes were made to our draft. I have the record.” He added, “This is the end result, and there is no room for politicking.”
According to Dawn, Dar explained that eight Muslim and Arab countries Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt had engaged in a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session, where the US president presented his plan to halt Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Dar recounted that before the main session, foreign ministers of the eight countries convened a preparatory meeting in New York. “During the meeting, there was no other agenda. Today I am telling you the details,” he said, noting that the discussions were deliberately kept discreet.
He said that Trump responded positively and assured that his team would work with the ministers on a “workable solution.” Dar added that Trump mentioned he was scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon and wanted to attempt halting the bombardment of Gaza.
“President Trump’s committee also came and open talks were held on what they wanted. They gave us a 20-point proposal,” Dar said. The foreign ministers, he explained, chose to work within that framework, amending or deleting points as needed. “We held different meetings in the next 24 hours. We were exchanging hard copies in hotel rooms,” he added.
Dawn reported that Dar described how the eight countries produced a counter-draft and sent it onward. Shortly after leaving New York, he received word that while some states wanted all eight ministers to sign, others said it was not essential. “This was a small thing in my eyes,” Dar noted. “By the time we landed at our next destination, I was told the American side had received the draft.”
When Trump later met Netanyahu on September 29, the US president announced the 20-point plan. Dar said he spoke with the Saudi foreign minister afterward, who told him some of the urgent points proposed by the eight countries were accepted, while others needed further discussion.
Quoting the Saudi minister, Dar said there were two choices: “to continue and perhaps Israel will continue its bloodshed, or we let Trump’s plan be implemented and issue a joint statement.” Dar agreed, saying, “I said you are right, we should do this,” adding that the statement was finalised on September 29.
“This was the only way to end Israel’s bombardment of Gaza when all other forums had failed. Statements will not suffice. We need practical work,” Dar said, extending his gratitude to the other states involved.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s long-held stance, Dar told the Assembly, “Pakistan’s policy on Palestine remained the same as that of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. There has not been any change nor will there ever be,” reiterating Islamabad’s call for an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Dawn also reported that Dar condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which included former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. “According to our information, it is not confirmed yet, but according to our information, Khan is included in this,” Dar said, noting that Israel had detained activists after seizing 22 vessels from the fleet.

Kathmandu (TIP)- Nepal’s interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, announced on Thursday, Sept 25, that the minimum voting age has been lowered from 18 to 16 to boost youth’s participation in politics following recent Gen-Z protests. In her first televised address to the nation since assuming office, Karki said the decision was taken to respond to youth demands for greater representation and to encourage involvement in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 5 March.
“To find a way out of this complex situation, the government has already started preliminary work for the general election by holding the election in a free, fair and fear-free environment by March 5, after discussing with the Election Commission officials the necessary manpower, budget, election materials, security and legal arrangements. The existing election law has been amended through an ordinance to provide voting rights to the younger generation who have reached the age of 18 and to extend the voter list,” she said.
Karki said the government had recommended dissolving parliament and setting the election date immediately after she took office. She was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Paudel on 12 September, and recommended that the president call polls for 5 March 2026.
The prime minister called on citizens across the country — including voters who had been displaced or scattered — to use their franchise and to choose representatives who reflect the aspirations of younger voters.
“I would like to call on all Nepali sisters and brothers to participate enthusiastically in the upcoming elections of the House of Representatives and to select qualified people’s representatives who can represent the aspirations of the youth for change. I also call on all political parties, civil society, the media and all relevant stakeholders to actively participate in the successful conduct of free, fearless and fair elections. A peaceful environment is essential for the conduct of the elections. Therefore, I request all sisters and brothers residing in all geographical areas of the country to maintain a peaceful environment with patience,” Karki said.
NO IMPUNITY FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE, PM SAYS
Sushila Karki said that the government is committed to taking stern action against those responsible for the death of 74 people, including students, during the Gen Z protests.
She became prime minister on September 12, ending days of political uncertainty after the ouster of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli following violent protests by youth-led Gen Z group against his government over corruption and a ban on social media.
The unrest in the Himalayan nation was fuelled by Gen Z after the government’s decision to ban social media platforms across the country. The unrest later turned into an anti-corruption movement.
Despite the reversal of the social media ban and the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, protests continue to rage across Nepal. Demonstrators remained on the streets, with widespread reports of vandalism and arson. Houses and offices of several leaders and government officials were set on fire.
The situation was pathetic to an extent that the Army took over the charge of maintaining law and order.
After multiple rounds of discussions involving Gen Z leaders, President Ram Chandra Poudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, Sushila Karki was appointed as the interim PM of Nepal.

New York (TIP)- On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations and exploring avenues for increased cooperation between the nations. Specific details of the meetings have not been disclosed.
These engagements reflect Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with neighboring countries in the South Asian.
Sharif had earlier thanked US President Donald Trump for his “leadership role” in finalising a “historic” trade agreement between the two countries.
“I wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump for his leadership role in finalisation of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement, successfully concluded by our two sides in Washington last night,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X. Sharif called it a “landmark deal” that would boost bilateral cooperation and “expand the frontiers of our enduring partnership in days to come.”

Dubai/Islamabad (TIP)- Pakistan’s defense minister says his nation’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries’ new defense pact, marking the first specific acknowledgment that Islamabad had put the kingdom under its nuclear umbrella.
Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif’s comments underline the importance of the pact struck this week between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which have had military ties for decades.
The move is seen by analysts as a signal to Israel, long believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed nation. It comes after Israel’s attack targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar last week killed six people and sparked new concerns among Gulf Arab nations about their safety as the Israel-Hamas war devastated the Gaza Strip and set the region on edge.
Minister’s remarks touch on nuclear program
Speaking to Geo TV in an interview late Thursday night, Asif made the comments while answering a question on whether “the deterrence that Pakistan gets from nuclear weapons” will be made available to Saudi Arabia.
“Let me make one point clear about Pakistan’s nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield,” Asif said. “What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available to (Saudi Arabia) according to this agreement,” he added. The two countries signed a defense deal on Wednesday, Sept 17, declaring that an attack on one nation would be an attack on both. The International Atomic Energy Agency, with which both nations have monitoring agreements, did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the Pakistani defense minister’s remarks. Asif criticized Israel in the interview for not fully disclosing its suspected nuclear weapons program to the IAEA.

KATHMANDU (TIP) -Nepal’s interim prime minister pledged on Friday, Sept 19, to fight corruption, create jobs and raise living standards in her first public comments since coming to office after youth-led protests toppled the government.
Sushila Karki said the protests – that left at least 72 people dead and forced her predecessor K.P. Sharma Oli to quit – had been triggered by frustration over growing corruption and other failings.
Authorities have said more than 2,100 people were injured in the unrest that raged for two days last week. Arson and vandalism caused extensive damage to private and public property, including the complex housing the prime minister’s office, the Supreme Court and the parliament.
“We must accept the fact that the protests took place because of the failure to fulfil the spirit and objectives of providing good governance and prosperity enshrined in the constitution,” Karki said.
She spoke on Nepal’s national day, marking the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the constitution.
The former Supreme Court chief justice was appointed to the post last week following talks between representatives of the protesters, the president and the army chief
Karki – the first woman to lead Nepal – was tasked with holding parliamentary elections on March 5.
She said the government was committed to creating employment, raising the quality of life and increasing transparency in its work.
Losses from the damage could reach $1 billion to $1.5 billion, Kulman Ghising, minister for energy, physical infrastructure, transport and urban development, said.
Ghising visited some public buildings set ablaze in the capital Kathmandu and appealed to Nepalis at home and abroad to contribute to the reconstruction.
A Supreme Court official said some hearings were taking place in tents as most court structures, documents and IT systems were destroyed during the unrest.
Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said officers had received more than 30,000 emails after asking the public to send in videos, photographs and other documents to help them investigate the violence.

Islamabad (TIP)- Pakistan with the help of Chinese technology — is spying on millions of its citizens to curb dissent and free speech, an Amnesty International report said.
According to the report, Pakistan is using a Chinese-built internet firewall that censors social media, enabling spy agencies to monitor at least 4 million mobile phones at a time through its Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS). The firewall, known as WMS 2.0, inspects internet traffic and can block 2 million active sessions at once.
The human rights watchdog said it reviewed licensing agreements, trade data, leaked technical files, and Chinese records linking the firewall supplier to state-owned firms in Beijing.
Amnesty said the firewall uses equipment from US-based Niagara Networks, software from Thales DIS — a unit of France’s Thales — and servers from a Chinese state IT firm. An earlier version relied on Canada’s Sandvine.
“The two monitoring systems function in tandem: one lets intelligence agencies tap calls and texts, while the other slows or blocks websites and social media across the country,” the report said.
The report further said that Pakistan is currently blocking about 650,000 web links and restricting access to platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and X.
It also accused agencies of spying on at least 4 million mobile phones at a time through LIMS, while WMS 2.0 can block 2 million active sessions at once, Amnesty said.
Amnesty noted that its findings draw on a 2024 Islamabad High Court case filed by Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, after her private calls were leaked online.
In court, Pakistan’s defense ministries and intelligence agencies denied running or even having the capacity for phone tapping. However, under questioning, the telecom regulator admitted it had already ordered phone companies to install LIMS for use by “designated agencies.”
Crackdowns have tightened in recent years, particularly after the military broke with then Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022. Khan was later jailed, and thousands of his party activists were detained.

BEIJING (TIP)- Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif failed to secure funding and investments for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Phase-2 during his recent visit to Beijing, and he had to return to Islamabad with no new investments or mega projects and only with MoUs. A high-powered delegation led by Sharif to China did not secure any new Chinese investments as Beijing told them to seek new investments through the Business-to-Business Investment Conference, a top diplomatic source told CNN-News18.
Sharif was on a six-day visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin. He also attended the WWII Victory Day parade in Beijing.
The top source said that during the B2B Investment Conference, the Chinese investors raised security concerns with the Pakistani Prime Minister, to which Sharif admitted to the security risks in Pakistan and attempted to assure safety for Chinese investors in his country.
He also went on to announce the formal launch of CPEC 2.0 unilaterally without Chinese officials. China has not issued any statement in this regard yet.
During Sharif’s visit to China with top cabinet members, the Chinese and Pakistani companies signed $7 billion Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and $1.54 billion joint ventures (totaling $8.5 billion) in sectors including agriculture, electric vehicles, solar energy, health, chemical and petrochemicals, irons and steel besides others, at the Second Pakistan-China Business-to-Business B2B Investment Conference.
According to the source, Chinese investors informed Sharif about Pakistani bureaucratic hiccups and delays in the smoother operations of the investments in the country.
Addressing the security concerns of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Sharif said that the safety of Chinese citizens is paramount for Pakistan.
Addressing concerns about Pakistan’s bureaucratic delays, the Pakistani PM assured the Chinese investors that his administration will remove all red tape hiccups in investments, the source said.

Jailed former PM Imran Khan’s party has decided to boycott the upcoming by-elections for national and provincial assemblies, in line with the opinion of its founder.
Several seats of the national and provincial assemblies became vacant last month after the conviction of leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for their involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots.
A day earlier, the party’s political committee had voted 12-9 to take part in these polls. Senior party leader Asad Qaiser confirmed that in Khan’s opinion, the party should not go into by-elections. “…the government will not let our candidates win… (and) if (we) take part in the elections, it will legitimise the government’s illegal action of de-seating our legislators,” he added.
Khan also accused Army Chief Asim Munir of being power-hungry and running the worst kind of dictatorship and that he should apologise for orchestrating the said riots.

A private investigation led by a British lawmaker has identified “gang-based child sexual exploitation” in at least 85 areas across the UK, amid an ongoing national inquiry into grooming gangs. The investigation, set up by Independent MP Rupert Lowe, found that “rape gangs”, predominantly comprising men of Pakistani heritage, have been active for decades and “far more widespread than thought”. It also accused authorities of failing to act on the targeted abuse.
“Patterns of predominantly Pakistani males, combined with gross negligence from public bodies, are identifiable,” the inquiry said on Tuesday in a statement posted on X.
“This is one of the most comprehensive exposes of the rape gang scandal to date,” Lowe stated.
Lowe’s Rape Gang Inquiry, constituted before UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a government-backed probe in June, uncovered that the rot runs deep. Both ongoing and historical cases, some dating back to the 1960s, were identified.
The probe team said the findings were based on testimony from hundreds of survivors, relatives, and whistleblowers, as well as thousands of Freedom of Information requests.
Survivors told the inquiry of being groomed as children, drugged, raped, trafficked, and threatened into silence. Many victims, often vulnerable white girls, were dismissed by officials who failed to recognise them as victims.
The statement alleged that councils and police forces repeatedly ignored red flags, allowing “rape gangs” to operate for decades with impunity.
“Our inquiry has shown that this rotting scandal is more widespread than thought — hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined at the hands of predominantly Pakistani rape gangs,” Lowe said.
Lowe, who chairs the independent inquiry, accused the Labour government of dragging its feet on the issue despite promising urgent action.
“It is over two months since Labour promised nationwide action, yet the government has been seemingly idle,” Lowe said. “The message from survivors is clear: get on with it. There have been too many broken promises. Now is the time for action and for hard justice to be delivered by those in power.”

Colombo (TIP)- Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has issued notices to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Cabinet over the India-funded Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) programme following a petition alleging violation of fundamental rights.
The petition was filed by former minister Wimal Weerawansa, who contended that the government’s decision to proceed with the project violates fundamental rights and lacked transparency as neither Parliament nor the public had been adequately informed. During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo in April, the two sides signed an MoU on sharing India’s large-scale digital solutions to support Sri Lanka’s digital transformation drive.
The Unique Digital Identity project, backed by an Indian grant, aims to provide Sri Lankan citizens with a secure digital ID similar to India’s Aadhaar system. The petitioner claimed the project posed a threat to Sri Lanka’s national security as citizens’ biometric data could be exposed to foreign entities without adequate safeguards.
Sri Lanka seeks Chinese loans in Yuan instead of USD for infra project
In a significant shift in its external borrowing strategy, Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a proposal to secure the equivalent of USD 500 million in Chinese yuan from the Export-Import Bank of China to fund the long-delayed Central Expressway infrastructure project. The decision, announced on Aug 28 after a cabinet meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to ease pressure on the country’s limited U.S. dollar reserves while advancing a critical development corridor that has been stalled due to funding constraints.
According to government officials, opting for yuan-denominated financing will help Sri Lanka manage its foreign exchange requirements more effectively. Repayments can be made in local or yuan reserves rather than scarce U.S. dollars, providing some insulation against currency volatility.
This marks another step indeepening financial ties between Colombo and Beijing, aligning with China’s broader efforts to internationalize the renminbi. Analysts say the move reflects Sri Lanka’s growing reliance on Chinese financing to rebuild infrastructure and stabilize its economy following its 2022 sovereign debt default.
Earlier, Sri Lanka extended a 10 billion yuan (USD 1.4 billion) currency swap arrangement with China’s central bank to maintain liquidity and support trade settlement in yuan. China also played a key role in Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts last year, absorbing significant financial adjustments as part of an IMF-supported bailout package.

NAROWAL (TIP) – Rescuers in boats raced to reach stranded families in Pakistan’s populous eastern Punjab province on Thursday, after three major rivers burst their banks because of heavy rain and the release of water from overflowing dams in neighbouring India.
The floods displaced nearly 250,000 people and officials said more than 1 million people were affected, with crops and businesses destroyed and many unable to leave their homes.
At least 15 people were killed a day earlier in Gujranwala district and nearby villages, according to police. Forecasters said more rain was expected on Friday.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, senior minister of Punjab province, said floods hit 1,432 villages located along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers, affecting about 1.2 million people and displacing 248,000 others.
Nearly 700 relief and 265 medical camps have been set up in the flood-hit areas, she said, adding that food and other essential supplies are being delivered to flood-hit areas.