Jammu and kashmir

SRINAGAR: The machine guns peeking over parapets of small, sandbagged concrete bunkers and the heavy artillery cannons dug deep into Himalayan Kashmir’s rugged terrain have fallen silent. At least for now. The Line of Control, a highly militarized de facto border that divides the disputed region between the two nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, and a site of hundreds of deaths, is unusually quiet after the two South Asian neighbors last month agreed to reaffirm their 2003 ceasefire accord. The somewhat surprising decision prompted a thaw in the otherwise turbulent relations between the countries but also raised questions about the longevity of the fragile peace, in part due to earlier failures. The crackdown by Indian forces and attacks by rebels have continued inside Indian-held Kashmir. The ceasefire, experts say, could stabilize the lingering conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Kashmiris say the rare move should lead to resolution of the dispute. ... » Learn More about India, Pakistan sign historic Kashmir peace deal

Indian police have arrested 514 people for deadly Hindu-Muslim violence that broke out in the capital, the government said, as it faced mounting international criticism for failing to protect minority Muslims. Police said the toll from days of blood-letting stood at 35, but local media, citing unnamed sources, said it was likely to be more than 40 as the full extent of the violence that began on Sunday in a densely-packed locality in northeastern Delhi becomes clear. Police are still searching drains and homes that were burnt down for bodies, officers said. More forces had been deployed at mosques in the area for the weekly Friday prayers, the government said. There had been no new violence since Wednesday morning, it said in a statement late on Thursday. The violence began over a citizenship law that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government introduced in December providing a path to Indian citizenship for six religious groups from neighbouring countries, but ... » Learn More about Indian police arrest over 500 for Delhi sectarian violence

Hi all, In today's bulletin: US, EU, UK, Canada impose more sanctions on China over Xinjiang ; Beijing retaliates; China to build closer relations with North Korea & Russia ; Myanmar’s military junta releases video accusing Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption; Singapore and Malaysia discuss progressively opening up cross-border travel, India and Pakistan to discuss contentious water issue , and more. Reading this on the web or know someone who might enjoy receiving Asian Insider? Our sign-up page is here . US, EU, UK, Canada impose sanctions on China over Xinjiang abuses; Beijing hits back In a concerted diplomatic effort to confront China for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials on Monday. This was the first coordinated action against China by the Biden administration. It comes soon after his top foreign policy officials - Secretary of State Antony Blinken ... » Learn More about Asian Insider, March 23: West sanctions China over Xinjiang abuses; China to boost ties with N. Korea, Russia

Pakistan’s unique geo-strategic location, vast human and natural resources and growth potential provide an attractive incentive. Pakistan as an investment destination, offers friendly policies and commitment to maximize and enhance investors comfort and confidence level. Almost all sectors of economy are open to investment with attractive incentives and liberal policies. The traditional as well as non-traditional sectors of our economy offer the business community great opportunities to invest in the country and earn the maximum returns. The Food Processing, Logistics, Automobiles, Information Technology and Information Technology enabled Services, Housing & Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Business, Oil & Gas Exploration, Trade, Tourism, and Textile sectors are some of the areas, which are ripe for the foreign and domestic investment, or the mutual benefits of all. With the mandate of Board of Investment (BOI), Investment is promoted, encouraged and facilitated both ... » Learn More about Invest in Pakistan

The Philippines established diplomatic relations with Pakistan on September 8, 1949 through the opening of a Philippine Consulate in Pakistan. This was followed by the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Karachi in 1956. In May 1957, Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Husseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy made an official visit to the Philippines. This was reciprocated by President Diosdado Macapagal in July 1962. During the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo made an official visit to the Philippines in May 1988. In 1989, President Aquino, on two occasions, held bilateral talks with the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was able to visit the Philippines in 1995 as a guest of former President Fidel Ramos. In 1997, the gesture was returned by President Fidel V. Ramos, only the second Philippine Head of State to visit Pakistan almost 40 years after the first state visit of President Macapagal. State Visit of Pakistani President Pervez ... » Learn More about An overview of Pakistan-Philippines relations

NEW DELHI (THE STATESMAN/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, terms the Quad as four great liberal democracies in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad of course comprises India, the US, Australia and Japan. The first question to be asked is how the US is a democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. The US is a Pacific power and an Atlantic power, but it is certainly not an Indo-Pacific power even though it projects and pretends itself to be one. The second of course is how liberal a democracy Japan is when it is still a vassal state of the US, with its defence and foreign policies being determined by the Americans. The Quad is going after China. China now is the number one power in the world. Twenty years of mindless and pitiless war has left America enfeebled. No American now claims victory in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Sure the US is still a military power to be reckoned with, but the world has lost fear of it. Witness Iran. Iran ... » Learn More about The Quad goes after China: Statesman contributor

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday replied to a letter written by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, and said Islamabad desires peaceful relations with New Delhi, an official source told Reuters. Modi had written to Khan on the occasion of Pakistan's Republic Day on March 23, also calling for peaceful relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Dated March 29, the letter wasn't officially released by either side but the official, speaking on anonymity, confirmed its contents which were shared widely on social media. "The people of Pakistan also desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India," Khan said in his reply, adding, "I thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day." Neither the Indian or Pakistani foreign ministries responded to requests for comment. Pakistan's Dawn newspaper quoted Modi's letter on March 23, Modi as saying that "India desires cordial relations with the people of ... » Learn More about Pakistan PM Khan desires peace with arch-rival India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said the Pakistani people desire peaceful and cooperative relations with all neighbors including India, an official from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan confirmed to Xinhua. Khan was responding to a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which the Indian leader had conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan on Pakistan Day celebrated on March 23. “Thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day. The people of Pakistan commemorate this day by paying tribute to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers in envisioning an independent, sovereign state where they could live in freedom and realize their full potential,” said Khan in the letter, dated March 29. In his letter, the Pakistani prime minister highlighted that durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the Kashmir dispute. “Creation of an enabling ... » Learn More about Pakistan PM seeks peace, cooperation with neighbors

JAMMU: India ramped up its fight against coronavirus to try to dampen record-breaking daily infection rates, as Saudi Arabia said it would allow only “immunized” pilgrims into its holiest sites. The pandemic has not abated despite more than 660 million jabs having been doled out across the world, with vaccine-manufacturing powerhouse India registering more than 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time and infections in Iran hitting a four-month high. Across the Gulf in Saudi Arabia, officials conceded that Muslim pilgrimages could not yet get back to normal, announcing that only vaccinated travelers or those recently recovered from the virus would be allowed to take part in the year-round umrah pilgrimage in Mecca. The measures will be enforced from the start of Ramadan in mid-April, but it was unclear if they would affect the hajj pilgrimage later in the year, which traditionally attracts millions from around the world. The latest outbreak in India is focused on ... » Learn More about India’s infections hit 100,000 in 24 hrs

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea to stop the government from deporting to Myanmar some 150 Rohingya Muslims police detained last month, paving the way for them to be sent to a country where hundreds have been killed following a military coup. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been trying to send back Rohingyas, a Muslim minority from Myanmar who have found refuge in India after fleeing persecution and waves of violence over the years. Two refugees petitioned the Supreme Court for the release of Rohingya men and women detained in the northern Jammu region last month, and block the government from deporting them. But Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde said the deportations could go ahead as long as officials followed due process. "It is not possible to grant the interim relief prayed for," the judge said in his order. "Regarding the contention raised on behalf of the petitioners about the present state of affairs in Myanmar, ... » Learn More about India’s top court paves way for Rohingya deportations to Myanmar