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Pakistan: Caught in the Iran vs Saudi Arabia great game

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Pakistan: Caught in the Iran vs Saudi Arabia great game

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sunni groups in Pakistan have been harassing and abducting Shias, heading to and from Iran, for quite some time.

By Abu Turab

In a rare show of muscle, Iran has warned Pakistan that it will not hesitate in attacking areas “sheltering” terrorists on its soil if it does not tighten control over its borders and stop cross-border attacks in the Siestan-Balochistan province.

The head of Iran’s armed forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri made the comments on Monday in Tehran after two weeks since 10 Iranian border guards were killed near Pakistan territory. Jaish-ul-Adl, a Pakistan-based hardliner Sunni group, which claims to be fighting for gaining independence in the Iranian province, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jaish-ul-Adl or Army of Justice was also responsible for abducting five Iranian border guards in 2014. Iran, at that time, had also threatened to send its troops into Pakistan to retrieve the abducted guards. However, four guards returned alive after a religious leader helped to resolve the situation. One of the Iranian guards was killed by the Jaish-ul-Adl.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan retorted on Sunday to a recent threat from Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman that a Saudi-Iran war will be fought on Iranian soil. Dehghan said that if the Saudis did anything stupid, the Iranian army will hit back and destroy everything in the kingdom except Mecca and Medina, housing the two grand mosques.

He referred to the ongoing Saudi bombing campaign of Yemen and said the Saudis think they can do anything because they have an air force.

In continuation to his earlier remarks, Iran’s Defense Minister said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has become so “miserable” as to ally with Israel against Islamic Republic of Iran. He was speaking to Lebanon-based Arab language Al-Manar TV network owned by Hezbollah.

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had accused Iran of seeking to take over Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia saying, “We won’t wait for the battle to be in Saudi Arabia. Instead, we will work so that the battle is for them in Iran.”

In his reaction to the Saudi royal’s remark, the Iranian Defence Minister said Tehran is neither interested in nor will it occupy any Arab or Muslim country.

According to Press TV, a Tehran-based official English language TV network, Saudi Arabia has been a known sponsor of extremist Wahhabi groups wreaking havoc in the region and beyond. It has also been leading a group of its vassal states in a war on Yemen since March 2015.

Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki, was quoted saying to Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper, in December last year, that more than 2000 Saudi citizens have joined radical Islamic terror groups in foreign countries.

On February 22, 2010, Iranian agencies successfully arrested Abdolmalek Rigi, leader of Pakistan-based Jundullah, a Sunni extremist group, while he was flying from Dubai to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He had reportedly met CIA officials in Kabul a day prior to his arrest and was about to meet ‘senior officials’ in the Central Asian country. Iranians forced the plane to land at Bandar Abbas where he was arrested, all this without a single bullet being fired.

Jundullah, or Soldiers of God has been operating since 2002 in the borderlands between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It claims of fighting to defend human rights, culture and faith of ethnic Baluchis, the Sunnis. Tehran alleges that the group receives tactical support form forces with Pakistan’s notorious military intelligence that helped Afghan Taliban. It also alleges Saudi Arabia and CIA for encouraging the armed groups in that country.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister, while addressing a Press Conference in Tehran next day, hailed Rigi’s arrest and displayed pictures of his meeting with CIA officials in Kabul. On February 25, 2010, Iranian state television broadcast footage of a supposed confession made by Rigi, saying he was flying to Central Asia to meet with American handlers at the US-run Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan.

Rigi was hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison in June the same year for his involvement in terrorist attacks in Iran. He was accused of being behind a series of deadly bombings and raids in Siestan-Baluchistan.

Iran has been playing an important advisory role in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria and protecting its western borders from the menace. It has also been engaged on protecting its soil from Sunni armed groups from three sides. Geographically, Iran is surrounded by Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, where Wahhabi-influenced Jaish-ul-Adl, Jundullah, Taliban and Daesh (ISIS) were actively involved in gruesome terror acts.

Experts believe that Pakistan has become the ground for Saudi Arabia’s proxy war against Iran. Pakistan was host to a number of Afghan leaders and millions of refugees while the US was indirectly fighting Russian forces in Afghanistan through Wahhabi-inclined mujahids during the 1980s.[/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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Donald Trump

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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