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Pakistan Angry Over New US Afghan Policy

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Pakistan Angry Over New US Afghan Policy

Asks senior US official to postpone Islamabad visit

Donald Trump’s new Afghan policy has caused severe rift in US ties with Pakistan. In an unprecedented move Islamabad has, on Sunday, asked US Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells to postpone her visit. She was supposed to land in Pakistan on Monday for a meeting with the civil and military leadership.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif had postponed his scheduled visit to Washington on August 25. Instead he is preparing to leave for Russia, China and Turkey for consultation.

US President, while unveiling his Afghan policy on Tuesday last, said, “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond.  Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan.  It has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists.”

He was also quoted saying, “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting.  But that will have to change, and that will change immediately.”

During the landmark speech, Trump had appreciated India’s contribution in stability in Afghanistan and desired that New Delhi should extend more economic assistance for pursing “shared objectives” for peace and security in South Asia and broader “Indo-Pacific region.”

According to The Nation, US embassy spokesman Richard Snesire has confirmed the development saying, “At the request of the government of Pakistan, Acting Assistant Secretary Wells trip has been postponed until a mutually convenient time.”Pakistan Angry Over New US Afghan Policy

Pakistan’s Foreign Office statement has also said:  “At the request of the government of Pakistan, the visit of the US delegation has been postponed until a mutually convenient time.”

Alice Wells had earlier visited Islamabad during the first week of this month. She was expected to discuss President Donald Trump’s new Afghanistan policy with Pakistani leadership. Ms Wells is also Washington’s acting Special Representative for Afghanistan.

During her earlier introductory trip she held meetings with Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Finance Minister and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. She also visited New Delhi during that trip.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, during an interview with Bloomberg News in Karachi on Saturday, stressed the need for a political settlement in Afghanistan, saying that “like previous US plans President Donald Trump’s new strategy for the America’s longest-running war in that country will also fail.”

“From day one we have been saying very clearly the military strategy in Afghanistan has not worked and it will not work. We do not intend to allow anybody to fight Afghanistan’s battle on Pakistan’s soil” he said.

Foreign Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif, while talking to Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in Sialkot said that world should recognize the sacrifices of Pakistan to wipe out terrorism. “No country has done more than Pakistan to end terrorism and no country has suffered more than Pakistan,” he said.  He further said “We are minutely reviewing the new US strategy about Afghanistan and South Asia”.

In another development US Commander in Afghanistan Gen John W. Nicholson, told Afghani media outlet Tolo News on Saturday that US “knows the Afghan Taliban leadership is in Quetta and Peshawar.”  He also said that US military would continue to put pressure on Taliban sanctuaries inside and outside Afghanistan. He also claimed that the matter of alleged terrorist sanctuaries was being addressed “in private” by Pakistan and US governments.

Responding to Nicholson’s assertions,  Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed, while addressing a four nation meeting on Sunday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, said that Pakistan had  cleared its areas of terrorists. He also assured fullest cooperation to Afghanistan and said that Pakistan could not bring the Afghan war into Pakistan.

Representatives of China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan participated the meeting of Quadrilateral Counter Terrorism Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) in Tajikistan.Pakistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan participated the meeting of Quadrilateral Counter Terrorism Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) in Tajikistan.

Earlier US State Department was also quoted by the media as having said that terrorists’ heavens existed on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, demanding Pakistan eliminate them on its side of the border.

Meanwhile, Pakistani police used tear gas shells and batons on Sunday to disperse anti-US protesters in Karachi. A police officer while describing the incident said that police took action when a group of Shiite students tried to march toward the US consulate and an officer was injured in the process. A peaceful “Defense of Pakistan” rally also condemned US policy in Islamabad.

Asif Shahid, a Pakistani journalist writes from Washington, that rescheduling of  Ms Wells’ visit was the second such request from Islamabad in less than a week. Earlier Pakistan had requested rescheduling of Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif visit to Washington, who was expected there on August 25.

He further writes that apparently a third visit of a US delegation led by senior white House National Security Council official Lisa Curtis will also be rescheduled. Ms Curtis has reportedly played key role in formulating new US strategy for South Asia.

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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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