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Saeed house arrest a diplomatic win for India

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9 years ago

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Saeed house arrest a diplomatic win for India

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]New Delhi’s success in isolating Pakistan globally forced Islamabad’s hand

By Abu Turab

India’s aggressive diplomacy against Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism has been productive and has led to a sense of isolation in Islamabad which is what reportedly forced Pakistan to place Jama’at-ud-Da’wah chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest on January 30. India has been, for quite some time, demanding that Saeed be put on the United Nations-sanctioned terrorists’ list.

New Delhi’s recent diplomatic moves began when it refused to approve the appointment of Amjad Hussain Sial as Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in January this year. Sial is Islamabad’s candidate as it was supposed to host the 19th SAARC summit in November last year, but the event fell through when India decided to boycott it and other countries also pulled out.

In the normal course,the appointment of the Secretary General is approved by the Council of Ministers of the member countries when they meet before the summit. New Delhi feels that Sial’s appointment should not be cleared without following the set procedure.

According to Hindustan Times, the ministry of external affairs asked the SAARC secretariat, currently in Kathmandu, to follow the process laid down in the charter for appointing the Secretary General. India emphasized that the appointment should not be done merely through a diplomatic note. It pointed to Article V of the MoU on the establishment of the SAARC secretariat. But the Council of Ministers’ meeting could not take place because the boycott prevented the summit being held.

Pakistan’s reputed Dawn newspaper reported on February 1 that officials in Islamabad accuse India of employing “delaying tactics” and insist that concurrence had been received from all members, including India. A copy of an Indian diplomatic note dated May 30, 2016, conveying concurrence for Sial’s appointment, was shared by Dawn.

Pakistan also claims that Sial’s nomination was made at the SAARC Council of Ministers in Pokhara, Nepal, in March 2016 and was endorsed by all member states.

Relations between the two nuclear-powered neighbours nosedived last year when violence erupted after the killing of  Burhan Wani, the poster boy of the Hizbul Mujahideen, in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir in July last year. India also accuses the Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based terror group, for attacking its military camp in Uri, killing 17 soldiers, in September last year. At one point of time Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had even called Pakistan a terrorist state.

Dawn observed that the Indian leadership does not say it, but a sub-regional transport agreement and statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicate that India is working towards a regional bloc minus Pakistan. Furthermore, by isolating Pakistan, it believes, India is trying to gain maximum leverage and influence in the region.

The Pakistani daily talked about Pakistan’s importance in the region and observed that Pakistan, besides its large territorial size, has been an active member of SAARC and is currently contributing 24 percent of the secretariat’s budget.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s adviser on foreign policy, Sartaj Aziz, on January 27 alleged that India, by boycotting the SAARC summit, “impeded” the grouping’s process and “violated the spirit of its charter”. Aziz was speaking while meeting outgoing SAARC Secretary General Arjun Bahadur Thapa in Islamabad. Thapa’s stint ends on February 28.

The Islamabad Foreign Office, while quoting Aziz, in a statement said that “Pakistan remains committed to hosting the 19th SAARC Summit at Islamabad at the earliest so that the objectives of the regional cooperation can be pursued more vigorously.”

In a damage control exercise, Pakistani establishment chose to place Saeed under house arrest. He is the Mumbai terror attacks mastermind, the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and the Jama’at-ud-Da’wah chief.Saeed said his house arrest was the result of pressure from India because of his advocacy of freedom of Kashmir and Balochistan. Among the reasons for his arrest, he cited the bonhomie between Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Saeed was earlier placed under house arrest in December 2008 after the Mumbai terror attack and again in September 2009. On both occasions, the house arrest was lifted after a short duration.

On January 9 Dawn reported that the civilian government had informed the military leadership of “growing international isolation of Pakistan” and sought consensus on several key actions by the state. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also directed fresh efforts to conclude the Pathankot investigation and resume Mumbai terror attack-related trials in the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.

According to the daily’s report, the message was clear that military-led intelligence agencies were not to interfere if law enforcement agencies acted against militant groups that are banned or considered off-limits for civilian action.

Dawn further revealed that Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, in a presentation in the PMO, summarized the results of the recent diplomatic outreach by Pakistan and described the isolation it has been facing in major world capitals. He said that relations have deteriorated and will likely further deteriorate because of the US demand for action against the Haqqani network. On India, Chaudhry stated that completion of the Pathankot investigation and some “visible action” against the Jaish-e-Mohammad were among the principal demands.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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4 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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9 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

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10 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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