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Pakistan dismisses US allegations of diplomats’ mistreatment

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Pakistan dismisses US allegations of diplomats’ mistreatment

US-Pakistan diplomatic impasse worsens ties

The ties between US and Pakistan have been deteriorating with each passing day. Though Pakistan is trying to repair the damage but Washington seems to be hurt by recent developments and has made up its mind to take punitive actions against Islamabad.

Friday, the weekly holiday in Pakistan, witnessed the Foreign Office dismissing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s allegation about American diplomats being “treated badly” in Pakistan saying there has been no specific complaint from Washington.

Mohammad Faisal, spokesman of the Foreign Office, said, “The Foreign Office has not received any specific complaints from the US side after establishment of the mechanism to resolve the issue, on treatment of the US diplomats in Pakistan.”

On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had informed the Congress that American officials are treated badly in Pakistan saying that Washington released “far fewer funds” to Pakistan in 2018 and may give even less next year.

Pakistan dismisses US allegations of diplomats’ mistreatment

While testifying before House Foreign Affairs Committee Pompeo said, “My officers, our state department officers are being treated badly as well, folks working in the embassies and councils [and] in other places are not being treated well by the Pakistani government either.”

Read More:US, Pakistan not to cut ties, work together in Afghanistan

Pompeo informed the members of the committee that the administration had “released far fewer funds” in 2018 than in the previous year. “The remainder of the funds available are under review. My guess is that that number will be smaller still,” he said.

Recalling his experiences while heading the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Pompeo said that he “worked diligently [but] unsuccessfully” on the issue of Dr Afridi. “Please be aware that it’s at my heart and I know it’s important and we can do that. We can achieve that outcome,” he added.

Responding to Pompeo’s allegations, Pakistan foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that all Pakistan-based foreign diplomats were being extended diplomatic privileges without any discrimination and were being facilitated as per international laws and norms as well as reciprocity.

Read More: US adds seven Pakistani companies to sanctions list

Observers believe that Pak-US relations have been badly affected since US President Donald Trump announced the new South Asia and Afghanistan strategy in August last year.

The tense ties turned further sour after the death of young Pakistani motorcyclist in a road accident involving US military attaché Mr. Hall. US administration imposed restrictions on Pakistani diplomats’ movement in America. Islamabad also reciprocated with similar restrictions against US diplomats. Pakistan has also withdrawn several special facilities enjoyed by US diplomats under some secret understanding.

On May 12, Pakistan had barred a US military attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall involved in a road accident from leaving the country when US tried to rescue him by a special aircraft flown in from Afghanistan. Pakistani officials did not oblige to give clearance to the diplomat to leave the country.

However, he was later allowed to leave Pakistan after Washington extended guarantee of prosecuting in the US courts. Hall is accused of running a traffic red light and killing a young motorcyclist Ateeq Baig, on April 7.

Pakistan’s foreign office had summoned the US ambassador to lodge a “strong protest” after the deadly accident involving a US diplomat and embassy vehicle.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former military ruler Gen  Pervez Musharraf, in an interview with Voice of America, has said had he been the president now, he would have released Dr. Shakil Afridi in a give and take deal in return of Mulla Fazlullah. He described the present ties between the two countries at their “lowest ebb”.

Dr Afridi who helped the CIA to locate Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad has been in prison in Pakistan since 2011. On Wednesday, Mike Pompeo pledged before the congressional committee that he would continue to work “diligently” to get Afridi out of prison. Musharraf defended Pakistan’s position on Afridi and said that every nation had to make policies in accordance with its interests.

Pakistan alleges that Mulla Fazlullah, the chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is living in Afghanisan. Pervez Musharraf said “I suppose the United States also knows that he’s there.”

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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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