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US, Saudi Arabia ask Palestinians to talk to Israel

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US, Saudi Arabia ask Palestinians to talk to Israel

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]MBS says confronting Iran’s influence in the region more important than Palestine issue

US and its allies in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia have resumed exerting pressure on Palestinian Authority led by Mehmoud Abbas to start negotiations with Israel government to settle the outstanding issues.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has even suggested Palestinian leadership to either accept what Trump is offering or shut their mouth.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while addressing a joint press conference with Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi, on Monday, called on Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with Israel. Amman was his last stop in his whirlwind Middle East tour, which took him to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan in three days.

According to Jerusalem Post, Pompeo said, “We believe that the Israelis and Palestinians need to have political engagement. We urge the Palestinians to return to the political dialogue.”

Read More: Saudi Crown Prince recognise Israelis right to their own land

Responding to a question about the two state solutions, Pompeo did not chose to clearly support Washington’s earlier position: proposing Israel and Palestinian side by side, instead, he said, “The parties will ultimately make the decision about what the right resolution is. We are open to a ‘two party solution’ as a likely outcome.”

Meanwhile, the legislative body of Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) is discussing the issue of suspending recognition of Israel and several other critical issues, for the first time in nine years on Monday in Ramallah.

Read More:- PLO Central Council: Palestine to revoke Israel’s recognition

In another major development, Israeli media has reported Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, recently saying US based Jewish groups that the Palestinian leadership must accept conditions for peace put forward by the administration of US President Donald Trump or keep their mouth shut.

US, Saudi Arabia ask Palestinians to talk to Israel

Al-Jazeera, quoting Channel 10 news citing Israeli diplomatic wire, reported that during a closed-door meeting on March 27th  in New York with the Jewish organisations’ leaders, bin Salman harshly criticised Palestinian President Mehmoud Abbas.

Read More: Arab people differ Riyadh perspective on Palestine

He was quoted saying, “In the last several decades the Palestinian leadership has missed one opportunity after the other and rejected all the peace proposals it was given. It is about time the Palestinians take the proposals and agree to come to the negotiations table or shut up and stop complaining.”

According to Axios website by Barak Ravid, Channel 10’s senior diplomatic correspondent, MBS made clear the Palestinian issue was not a top priority for the Saudi government or the Saudi public opinion. He said Saudi Arabia “has much more urgent and important issues to deal with” like confronting Iran’s influence in the region.”

Read More: Saudi Arabia grants airspace permission to Air India for Israel

Barak Ravid has further claimed that “regardless of all his criticism of the Palestinian leadership, MBS also made clear that in order for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to normalize relations with Israel there will have to be significant progress on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process”.

After Donald Trump’s announcement of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Palestinian Authority President Mehmoud Abbas  had said that US has lost credibility of being a mediator. Palestinians were earlier told by Americans that East Jerusalem should be the capital of proposed separate Palestine state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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General Asim Munir reaffirms Pakistan’s hardline stance on Kashmir and Balochistan

In a speech abroad, General Asim Munir reignites Indo-Pak tensions by reiterating Pakistan’s claims on Kashmir and dismissing concerns about terrorism and separatist movements.

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In a provocative address to overseas Pakistanis, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has reiterated Islamabad’s uncompromising position on Kashmir, asserting that it remains Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and would never be forgotten. His remarks, delivered while addressing a gathering of Pakistanis abroad, are likely to provoke a strong diplomatic reaction from India.

General Munir described those residing overseas as Pakistan’s “ambassadors” and urged them to uphold what he called a “superior ideology and culture.” He framed his statements within the context of the two-nation theory, which served as the ideological foundation for the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Emphasising civilizational differences, he said, “Our forefathers thought that we are different from the Hindus in every aspect of life… our religions, our customs, traditions, thoughts and ambitions are different.”

The two-nation theory, championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has long been a source of ideological division between India and Pakistan. It directly opposes the vision of a united India based on secular values and shared heritage.

Assertion on Kashmir and national identity

Referring to the ongoing dispute over Kashmir, General Munir said, “It was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it.” He further added, “We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle,” framing the Kashmir issue as central to Pakistan’s national narrative and identity.

In a broader nationalist tone, General Munir urged Pakistanis to keep narrating the country’s creation story to future generations to maintain a strong bond with the nation.

Stance on terrorism and Balochistan separatism

Touching upon concerns related to terrorism and investment, the Pakistan Army chief dismissed doubts about the country’s stability, stating, “The 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, with all its wherewithal, if they cannot intimidate us, do you think these terrorists can subdue the armed forces of Pakistan?”

On the issue of Balochistan, where separatist movements have long challenged the central authority, Munir declared the province to be “Pakistan’s pride” and warned against any illusions of secession. “You won’t be able to take it in 10 generations,” he said, pledging that the military will decisively counter separatist groups.

Implications for India-Pakistan relations

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is yet to issue an official response, but given the sharply worded statements, diplomatic engagement or condemnation is anticipated. General Munir’s comments underscore the enduring friction between the two nations and reinforce the Pakistan Army’s dominant role in shaping Islamabad’s foreign and domestic policies.

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China halts Boeing jet deliveries amid trade war with US

This halt in Boeing deliveries could have significant repercussions for both China’s aviation industry and the American aerospace sector.

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In a significant escalation of trade tensions between China and the United States, Beijing has directed its airlines to stop receiving aircraft from American aerospace manufacturer Boeing, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Additionally, Chinese authorities have ordered their carriers to cease purchasing aircraft-related equipment and components from U.S. companies.

This development, initially reported by Bloomberg News, comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing trade conflict between Washington and Beijing, which began following the introduction of “reciprocal tariffs” under former President Donald Trump.

Since Trump took office in January, the two largest economies in the world have engaged in a reciprocal trade war, with the U.S. imposing tariffs as high as 145 percent on certain Chinese imports.

In retaliation, Beijing has described Washington’s actions as illegal “bullying” and has implemented counter-tariffs of 125 percent on American goods, claiming that further tax increases would be futile.

The recent Chinese government order to suspend Boeing deliveries, affecting both state-owned and private airlines, is interpreted as part of China’s broader strategy to address the U.S. tariffs.

This halt in Boeing deliveries could have significant repercussions for both China’s aviation industry and the American aerospace sector.

On the same day, China emphasized its commitment to forging stronger trade relationships, with the foreign ministry stating its preference for cooperation over conflict. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, remarked during a briefing that China aims to “tear down walls” and foster connections instead of creating barriers.

Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization has cautioned that the intense trade dispute between the two nations could lead to an 80% reduction in goods shipments between them and could severely impact global economic growth.

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Barack Obama backs Harvard University after Trump freezes $2.3 billion funding, says attempt to stifle academic freedom

The demands also called for banning face coverings—viewed as targeting pro-Palestinian protesters—and dismantling the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the government criticized as fostering “simplistic racial stereotypes.”

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Former United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday lauded Harvard University for resisting the Trump administration’s decision to withhold $2.3 billion in federal funding after the institution rejected a series of White House demands. Calling Harvard’s stance a beacon for other colleges, Obama praised its commitment to academic freedom amid intensifying political pressure.

Harvard President Alan Garber firmly rebuffed the administration’s conditions, which included overhauling admissions to prioritize “merit-based” criteria, curbing student activism, auditing diversity initiatives, and derecognizing certain student groups. The demands also called for banning face coverings—viewed as targeting pro-Palestinian protesters—and dismantling the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the government criticized as fostering “simplistic racial stereotypes.”

“Harvard’s rejection of this heavy-handed attempt to undermine academic freedom sets a powerful example for higher education,” Obama wrote on X, commending the university for fostering “intellectual rigor, open debate, and mutual respect.”

The clash escalated after the Department of Education’s antisemitism task force accused Harvard of neglecting civil rights laws and fostering an “entitlement mindset” while failing to protect Jewish students amid campus disruptions.

The White House argued that elite universities, flush with federal funds, have tolerated unrest tied to pro-Palestinian protests since Israel’s war in Gaza began, with some demonstrations accused of endorsing Hamas—a group the US labels a terrorist organization following its October 7 attack on Israel.

Garber, in a defiant open letter, declared, “No government, regardless of party, has the right to dictate what private universities teach, who they admit or hire, or what research they pursue.” Hours later, the Trump administration froze $2.3 billion in funding, marking a dramatic escalation in its campaign to reshape higher education.

Harvard’s stand makes it the first major US university to openly challenge such federal directives, which also urged cooperation with immigration authorities and the withdrawal of support for student groups linked to violence or harassment. The university’s endowment, valued at over $50 billion, may cushion the financial blow, but the standoff signals deeper tensions over campus autonomy.

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