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Trump administration asks Pakistan to re-arrest Hafiz Saeed

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]US embassy in New Delhi distributes Department of State statement

US administration has expressed “deep concern” on the release of designated terrorist: Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and founder of Jamaat-ud-Dawah  Hafiz Saeed by Pakistani authorities and asked Islamabad to ensure his re-arrest and  slap charge for his crimes.

In a swift reaction, a statement issued by US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert and distributed by the US embassy in Delhi on Friday said, “The United States is deeply concerned that Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan. LeT is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens. The Pakistani government should make sure that he is arrested and charged for his crimes.”

Earlier, India had slammed Pakistan for its decision to release Mumbai attack mastermind who was under house arrest for ten months. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that it is evident that Pakistan has not “changed” its policy of shielding and supporting the non-state actors.

The review board of Lahore High court had recently refused to accept Pakistan government’s plea to extend Hafiz Saeed’s house arrest saying his release will enhance tension with India. The court said that government has failed to provide enough evidences against Saeed.

Following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack  in which six American citizens were also killed the US Department of the Treasury designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The State Department statement said, “Saeed was also individually designated by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008 following the November 2008 Mumbai attack in which six American citizens were killed. LeT and several of its front organizations, leaders, and operatives remain under both State Department and Treasury Department sanctions. Since 2012, the United States has offered a U.S. $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.”

US President Donald Trump, while introducing his administration’s new Asia policy in August this year, said that Washington could “no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organisations.”

He further said, “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time, they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting … that must change immediately.”

The US reaction came hours after Saeed’s release from house arrest in Lahore.  In an expected move after his release, Hafiz Saeed addressed his followers during Friday prayers at the JuD headquarters warning Pakistan government against taking “dictation from foreign masters” to appease India.

The Dawn report says that Hafiz Saeed accused India of “funding and fueling terrorism and extremism in Pakistan” and claimed that evidences were available to substantiate this.

Saeed further emphasised, “Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been punished for forsaking Kashmiris. Sharif is ousted from the prime minister house because he committed treason with Kashmiris. He wanted friendship with India and completely ignored the Kashmir cause,” he asserted.

Saeed vowed to gather people’s support throughout the country for the “cause of Kashmir” and try to help Kashmiris get their “destination of freedom”.  He also warned ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) against bowing before the international community for loans and said, “The rulers must not take dictation from the US and other countries and take its own decisions.”

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday that Saeed’s release and his comments on Kashmir before November 26 anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks were nothing but re-articulation of the agenda of terrorists who have “thrived” across the border.

New Delhi has reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir “is and will remain an integral part” of India and said that such utterances by terrorists have been given an appropriate response on the ground every time by the law enforcement agencies and the people of the state.

According to a report published in Dawn on Monday, in response to a question about India’s reaction on the release of Hafiz Saeed, the spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in Islamabad that Pakistan remains committed to the implementation of UN Security Council 1267 sanctions regime and has taken several steps in this regard. He took exception to India’s self-serving insinuations. However he avoided to elaborate.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

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PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

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