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Pakistan rejects India’s “policeman” role in the region

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ties with Washington were not cordial, says foreign minister Khwaja Asif

Pakistan’s foreign minister Khawaja Asif has, on Wednesday, announced that Islamabad has made clear to the US that it will not accept India as a “policeman” in the region. He has also conceded that relations between Islamabad and Washington were not cordial and in fact US  administration was hiding its failures by blaming Pakistan on fight against terror.

According to The News International, Khwaja Asif was closing debate among the senators about US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent visit to Pakistan.  He has expressed his displeasure on Trump administration’s policy tilt towards India. He said that Pakistan has made crystal clear to the US that its wish to appoint India as a ‘policeman’ in the region was in no way acceptable.

Asif was quite vocal in criticising US for hiding its failures. He said, “when the US holds Pakistan responsible, it, in fact, tries to brush its own defeat under the carpet”.

Pakistan’s top diplomat said, “We are engaged in talks with the US for bringing peace in Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries will be back on track if the US accepts our demands and any attempt to make us scapegoat to hide its own failure is not acceptable.”

He equivocally acknowledged US interference in Islamabad’s decision making during earlier governments. He said that protecting 100 percent interests of Pakistan would be the hallmark of the government policies and “there would be no element of tepidness, as was the case in the past.” 

Asif said that Pakistan was ready to play its due role in restoration of peace in Afghanistan through the platform of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During the debate senators criticised US President Donald Trump for his new South Asia policy.

Describing Islamabad’s response to US pressure for “doing more” against terrorists, Asif said, “We had told Tillerson that we will take action against militant outfits if we are given credible intelligence by the US as mere rhetoric of doing more is not going to work.” 

Asif suggested US administration for not devising Afghanistan policy based on recommendations from retired military officials. He said, “If America frames its policy free from the influence of these retired military generals who were defeated in Afghanistan, it will be much more successful and effective. When they make Pakistan the scapegoat, they are in fact covering their own failures in Afghanistan.”

Asif assured the senators that their concerns will be given due consideration while devising foreign policy. He said, “At present, the foreign policy is discussed in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting headed by the prime minister where both civil and military leaderships give their input and the days when foreign policy was used to be framed by a single individual are gone.”

Meanwhile, Dawn correspondent Anwar Iqbal reports from Washington that US has shared a list of 20 terrorist groups operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He claimed that unnamed diplomatic sources have rejected the suggestion as incorrect that Rex Tillerson handed over a list of 75 terrorists to Pakistani officials.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday that Pakistan was willing to target terrorists if provided specific information and Washington plans to give Islamabad an opportunity to do so.

The report further said that the list of 20 terrorist groups includes three types of groups: those indulged in attacks into Afghanistan, those who target attacks in Pakistan and the groups focussed on Kashmir.

The report further says, “Harakatul Mujahideen is a Pakistan-based militant group operating primarily in Kashmir. The US says that group had links to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda as well.”

The daily also says, “Jaish-e-Mohammed operates mainly in Kashmir and the liberation of the Indian occupied Kashmir is its declared objective.”

The US has identified Lashkar-e-Taiba, founded by Hafiz Saeed in 1987, as one of the largest and most active terrorist organisations in South Asia. This group is also focussed on Kashmir and it was involved in the 2001 parliament attack in New Delhi and 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Earlier in September, BRICS leaders, at the end of their summit held in China, had named Pakistan based terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed among groups responsible for committing, organising or supporting terrorist acts.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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