India News

Saeed house arrest a diplomatic win for India

Published

10 years ago

February 4, 2017

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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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

Published

12 hours ago

August 15, 2026

APNLive Desk

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

India News

Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

13 hours ago

August 15, 2026

APNLive Desk

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

India News

PM Modi’s Saptadhara Vision: 7 streams driving India’s next growth phase

PM Modi outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, identifying seven streams including manufacturing, farming, technology, defence, green energy and soft power.

Published

13 hours ago

August 15, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday, outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, describing seven key streams that he said can drive India’s next phase of growth and strengthen its journey towards self-reliance and development.

The seven streams identified by the Prime Minister are manufacturing, farming, technology, Gatishakti, Raksha Shakti, green and blue economy, and soft power.

Calling on the country to focus on these areas, PM Modi said the seven streams represent India’s strength and can help the country become more self-reliant.

Manufacturing as the engine of growth

PM Modi called manufacturing the first stream of Saptadhara and stressed the need to significantly strengthen the sector.

He said India needs to produce both components and complete products and should emerge as a key destination in global supply chains.

The Prime Minister highlighted cost, quality and scale as important factors for Indian manufacturers to compete globally. He also stressed the importance of attractive packaging and precision in manufacturing.

Farming and food processing

Agriculture and food processing were identified as the second stream.

PM Modi said global markets are increasingly accessible to Indian farmers and called for greater efforts to take agricultural products from farms to international markets.

He highlighted traditional foods, millets, spices, fruits and vegetables, saying these products should be developed into global brands.

Technology and innovation

Technology and innovation form the third stream of Saptadhara, according to PM Modi.

He highlighted areas such as data centres, robotics and emerging technologies, saying India should aim to become a hub for these sectors.

Referring to the country’s experience with UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure, PM Modi said India has already demonstrated its technological capabilities and must now take the next leap in next-generation communication technology.

He also spoke about the goal of Made-in-India 6G reaching across the country.

Gatishakti and faster connectivity

The fourth stream is Gatishakti, with the Prime Minister stressing the importance of speed and connectivity for India’s growth.

PM Modi called for greater emphasis on roads and expressways to support businesses and said the country needs seamless, high-speed connectivity.

He also highlighted high-speed rail connectivity between cities and port-led development as areas requiring greater focus.

Raksha Shakti and self-reliant defence

Defence is the fifth stream of Saptadhara.

PM Modi called for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing and highlighted the need to develop advanced technologies in the sector.

He particularly stressed the importance of drone and counter-drone technology, saying India needs to invest in these areas.

The Prime Minister also said India should move beyond being a market for defence equipment and work towards becoming a global supplier by developing next-generation defence technologies.

Green and blue economy

Green energy forms the sixth stream of Saptadhara.

PM Modi called for greater innovation in green energy and said India should aim for global leadership in green hydrogen, renewable energy and energy storage while continuing to contribute solutions to global challenges.

He also highlighted opportunities in the Blue Economy, particularly in fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean technology, saying these areas can create new pathways for India’s growth.

Soft power

Soft power is the seventh stream identified by PM Modi.

He cited Yoga, handicrafts, films, animation, gaming, digital content and the creative sector as examples of India’s soft power.

The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s potential to attract global tourists and called for greater focus on the country’s tourism opportunities, including its national parks and other attractions.

With “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, PM Modi outlined a broad growth framework covering manufacturing and agriculture, emerging technology, connectivity, defence, sustainable energy, the blue economy and India’s cultural and creative influence.