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Pakistan Admits Mistakes in Handling Terror Groups

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Foreign Minister suggests action to escape embarrassment

Now it is official. Pakistan government has, for the first time, admitted the presence of terror groups in territory under its control and government’s inaction against them. Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif has asked his government to set its “house in order” for avoiding embarrassment in the international community.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, while talking to Geo News on Wednesday said, “We need to tell our friends that we have improved our house. We need to bring our house in order to prevent facing embarrassment on the international level.”

He clearly admitted that Pakistan had made some mistakes in the past and it should have not participated in the proxy war in Afghanistan during Zia-ul-Haq presidency. He was also quoted saying, “We need to break our false image. We have no stake but there is baggage. We need to accept the history and correct ourselves.”

Khwaja Asif also referred to China’s changing stance and remarked that “countries shouldn’t put pressure on countries they share a close relationship with.” 

Pakistan foreign minister’s statement reflects the severe pressure Islamabad is currently going through. The BRICS leaders, in their declaration issued last Monday, at the end of their 9th Summit held in Xiamen, China, named Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad as terror groups. Earlier US President Donald Trump had warned Pakistan that it must stop harbouring terrorist organisations.

Earlier on Tuesday, as part of Islamabad’s damage control exercise, Khwaja Asif inaugurated a three day envoys conference in Islamabad and set the tone of the brainstorming session aimed to find answers to the multiple challenges in fast-changing geo-political realities of the region and the world at large that Pakistan faces. The conference was attended by the ambassadors of US, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran and India.

Meanwhile Islamabad based Pakistan Observer reports that Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir has, on Tuesday, said that his country has no “safe haven” for terrorists on its soil and rejected the declaration naming terrorist groups in the region by the leaders of member countries at the BRICS Summit in China on Monday.

Dastgir Said, “40% of Afghanistan is a safe haven for terrorists,” and added that “Pakistan has taken action against all groups on its soil and only the remnants of some are left.”

Meanwhile, Dawn, a leading newspaper, began its editorial on Wednesday saying, “The message is uniform from friend and foe alike: Pakistan’s tolerance for externally oriented militant groups is no longer acceptable and a serious national effort needs to be made if the country is to remain on the right side of international opinion.”

The daily admitted India’s diplomatic success at the BRICS Summit held in China a close friend of Pakistan. The daily said, “The presence of India in the five-nation bloc clearly influenced the language of the declaration in implicitly pointing towards Pakistan, but China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa will only have added their voices to the growing chorus of concern because of genuine considerations of their own.”

On the other hand, another leading newspaper The Dawn says in its editorial published on Wednesday said, “The BRICS declaration suggests an international trend that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore. The domestic fight against militancy must be made smarter, harder and more purposeful.”

Meanwhile, The Nation commented more on India’s diplomatic success at BRICS Summit. It said, “This war, to portray Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism – and hence delegitimize the Kashmiri struggle for freedom – has been going on in full force since Narendra Modi took the office of Prime Minister of India. It has now received a significant boost.”

Pointing to the Beijing’s shifting stance towards Pakistan, the daily said, “Considering that the summit contains China, was held in China, and was stage-managed by the Chinese president, this is crucially the first time Pakistan’s “all weather friend” has explicitly called out militant groups in the country – and tacitly Pakistan as well.”

The Nation recalled that it was “China’s firm support that had emboldened Pakistan to take a firm stance after US President Donald Trump’s scathing Afghanistan speech.” However, the daily expressed its surprise by saying “Now – this statement.”

Discussing about historic ties with China, the daily said that this “Change of public stance must surely concern Pakistan. Perhaps it is time to realise the China’s friendship is not really “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the ocean”- it is only prudent.

Around the inauguration of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in November last year, Pakistani radio stations broadcast advertisements and jingles on the friendly ties between the two countries were described through “higher than Himalayas, deeper than the oceans” slogans.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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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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