The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, describing it an old practice of Islamabad to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.

The Ministry said that they have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost. They also unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians.

In its statement, the External Affairs Ministry said that it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. It added that they have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard.

The Taliban in December claimed that 46 people including women and children were killed in the airstrikes carried out by Pakistan. The deputy spokesperson for the Afghan government, Hamdullah Fitrat said to the media that those killed in the strikes that targeted four locations in Barmal, a district in the province of Paktika, were refugees, adding that six others were also wounded.

Furthermore, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani claimed in a statement that 50 people, including 27 women and children, died in the strikes. He mentioned that they were unarmed refugees who fled to Afghanistan because of Pakistan’s offensive in the northwest.

The TTP, a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban also shared photos, alleging they were of children killed during the Pakistani operation. The strikes followed hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, traveled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul summoned the Pakistani envoy and lodged a strong protest over the strikes by Pakistan’s military. Issuing a statement, it said that while a representative of the civilian government of Pakistan was busy in talks with the Afghan officials, the strikes were carried out by Pakistani forces to create mistrust in the relations between the two countries.

The statement added that Kabul will not accept the violation of the country’s territory under any circumstances, and the country is ready to defend its independence and territory and such irresponsible actions will definitely have consequences.

The Union Health Ministry on Monday said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been detected in Karnataka. It added that the cases were identified through the ICMR’s routine surveillance for various respiratory viruses, aligning with their ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses nationwide.

The Ministry said that a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has already been discharged, it clarified.

Furthermore, an eight-month-old male infant with a history of bronchopneumonia also tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to Baptist Hospital. He is now recovering, it said. The Ministry underlined that neither of the patients have any history of international travel.

Notably, Human Metapnemovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that typically causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms. This virus is most prevalent during the winter and early spring months and is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.

Most infected persons have mild symptoms including cough, runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat and fever. More severe illness, with wheezing, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, cough, pneumonia, and in adults, aggravation of asthma, also has been reported. 

Reports said, in children younger than 1 year of age, the elderly and persons who have weak immune systems, HMPV can cause more serious respiratory illness.

The Union Health Ministry stressed that HMPV is circulating globally, including in India, with cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the virus reported in multiple countries.

As per data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no significant rise in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in India.

The health ministry also confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. Additionally, the ICMR will continue to track the trends of HMPV circulation throughout the year.

The health ministry also asserted that a recent preparedness drill conducted nationwide has demonstrated that India is well-prepared to manage any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, with public health interventions ready to be deployed if necessary.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing regular updates on the situation in China, supporting ongoing efforts to manage the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, labeling the AAP government as an ‘AAP-da’ (disaster) and claiming it has hindered development in Delhi over the past decade. He emphasised that only the BJP could elevate Delhi to a world-class capital and urged citizens to support the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking at a BJP Parivartan rally at Japanese Park in Rohini, PM Modi expressed confidence that the BJP’s electoral symbol, the lotus, would flourish in Delhi. He declared, “The BJP is the only party that can transform Delhi into the finest capital city globally. This is the opportune moment to earn the trust of Delhi’s citizens and eliminate this ‘AAP-da’ from our city.”

PM Modi asserted that the public’s trust in the BJP is growing, fueled by the party’s commitment to development initiatives. He stated that Delhi has suffered under ‘AAP-da’ for the last ten years, urging, “I appeal to the people of Delhi to grant the BJP a chance for a prosperous future. The last decade of governance has been equivalent to ‘AAP-da’. Now we can only hear, ‘AAP-da nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge’ (we won’t tolerate this disaster, we want change for good) in Delhi.”

He criticized the AAP for lacking a developmental vision and accused them of being anti-people. “It saddens me that the ‘AAP-da’ government has squandered ten years of the people’s potential. This government possesses no forward-looking plans for Delhi,” he remarked. He highlighted that all significant developments in Delhi, including the expansion of the Delhi Metro and the construction of highways and flyovers, have been initiated by the central government rather than AAP.

In reference to the controversial renovations of the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence during Kejriwal’s tenure, PM Modi pointed out that while residents struggled with the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘AAP-da’ government focused on creating a lavish ‘sheeshmahal’ (palace). Allegations suggest that Kejriwal used around ₹45 crore for these renovations, which included exorbitant costs for curtains and flooring.

PM Modi contrasted this with the central government’s allocation of funds to assist the poor in building homes under the Pradhanmantri Awas Yojana. He also criticized Kejriwal’s claim of being ‘kattar imaandaar’ (staunchly honest), alleging that AAP leaders have been involved in numerous misdeeds and lack genuine concern for the public.

He concluded by asserting that the AAP is becoming increasingly desperate as it faces potential defeat in the upcoming Delhi elections, claiming their attempts to mislead the public are a sign of their flawed intentions and disloyalty towards the electorate. The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are anticipated to occur next month, with the AAP aiming for a third consecutive term while the BJP seeks to reclaim power after a 27-year absence. The Congress party is also attempting to regain its influence following significant losses in previous elections.