Dhaka, July 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bangladesh has been gripped by a fresh wave of student protests, with Gen Z returning to the streets in Dhaka and other cities to press for education reforms less than five months after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government came to power, a report has stated.

The tensions emerged amid worsening weather conditions during the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The exams, which commenced on July 2 and involved nearly 1.3 million candidates, were disrupted by torrential rain during the second week of July. The heavy downpours caused widespread flooding in the Chittagong region and severe waterlogging in major cities, including Dhaka and Chittagong.

As floods wreaked havoc in several parts of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Education suspended examinations in five districts under the Chittagong Education Board. The move to keep exams on schedule in other education boards, however, sparked outrage among students, according to a report in an online magazine, The Diplomat.

"While the flooding was worst in Chittagong, the weather was also hostile in other places, including Comilla. Examinees had to reach their centres by wading through knee-deep water, getting drenched, and facing storms and rain. Many students were forced to take exams while sick or without proper preparation and peace of mind. In such a disastrous situation, it is natural for anger to brew among students and their parents," the report detailed,

Bangladesh Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon further intensified students' anger after an audio recording of his phone conversation with the parent of a female examinee went viral on social media.

In the clip, Milon was heard apparently saying, "In a meeting, someone was saying that if my daughter gets a little wet, she gets a fever. I said that these are farm chickens. If they get a little wet, they get a fever." The remark, particularly the reference to "farm chickens," triggered widespread anger among students, the report noted.

Citing local media reports, The Diplomat mentioned that students staged protests in at least 13 districts across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chittagong, and Comilla, blocking roads, surrounding education boards, and holding rallies.

In Dhaka, the protestors also took to the streets, raising sarcastic slogans such as “Who are you? Who are we? Farm chicken!” while blocking key intersections in the capital.

Amid mounting protests, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Education Minister Milon in an emergency meeting at the Parliament building on July 14. Following the meeting, Milon apologised in Parliament for his comments, acknowledging the difficulties caused by heavy rain and waterlogging. On July 15, he announced that fresh exam arrangements would be made for students who had been unable to appear, the report mentioned.

Highlighting the broader implications of the unrest, it said, "The government must also demonstrate greater sensitivity, foresight, and sincerity in the future to prevent issues from boiling over. In a sensitive and democratic system, a healthy education system must be sustained by respecting the emotions and feelings of the students."

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, July 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bangladesh cannot achieve its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income , investment-driven economy while keeping education sector out of the national development strategy, a report has detailed citing various analysts.

Recently, Bangladesh's Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said that around 70 lakh students are currently enrolled in nearly 25,000 Qawmi madrasas in the country. Furthermore, around 14 lakh students study in more than 9,000 Alia madrasas, while significant number of children study in Ebtedayi institutions, implying that a significant portion of Bangladesh's future workforce is being shaped through the madrasa education system, a report in Dhaka's 'Daily Sun' mentioned.

Analysts have raised questions on whether these students are being adequately prepared for a future in which Bangladesh wants to transform itself into an industrial, technology-driven, and service-oriented economy. Bangladesh government has aimed to make the country a regional hub for manufacturing, technology, and services by reducing its reliance on the readymade garment sector and attracting investments in electronics, pharmaceuticals, information technology, logistics, agro-processing, and other high-value industries.

According to the report in Daily Sun, analysts have said that these ambitious plans are not enough to attract foreign investments as investors want to see whether the country has enough skilled engineers, technicians, programmers, electricians, machine operators, quality control professionals, and digitally competent workers. They also analyse soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving ability, and adaptability to new technologies before investing in any country.

ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon told the leading Bangladeshi daily that there is still no comprehensive national policy for creating market-oriented skills in Qawmi madrasas. Max Tunon, Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Bangladesh said that the principal challenge in Bangladesh is not simply training more people but making the education system as per labour market demands.

"According to analysts, Bangladesh cannot achieve its ambition of becoming an upper-middle-income, investment-driven economy while leaving one of its largest education sectors outside the national development strategy. The country needs an education system in which a madrasa graduate can confidently pursue careers in factories, software companies, banks, hospitals, government institutions, or engineering firms," the Daily Sun report detailed.

Earlier in June, a report claimed that Bangladesh’s graduate unemployment rate is reported to be three times higher, at 13.5 per cent in 2024, than the overall rate of unemployment. Youth unemployment (age 15-29 years) is about 10 per cent, more than double the overall unemployment rate at under five per cent.

More alarming is that about 30 per cent of youth are categorised as not in education, employment, or training (NEET), according to an article in Dhaka-based 'The Daily Star'.

Jobless economic growth is much more an economic policy problem than an education and training problem. About a dozen major projects on skill development and employment creation have been undertaken in Bangladesh in the last two decades, some of which were funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.

These projects have expanded training opportunities and contributed to building the institutional support structure. Yet, complaints of mismatch and volume of graduate unemployment have not abated. Rough estimates based on Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data indicate that 22 lakh youth enter the job market every year, but any kind of new jobs available are only about 14 lakh, leaving more than a third of new job-seekers unemployed, the report states

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Frequent war cries, heated rhetoric and appeals to ancient history will do nothing to secure Pakistan's long-term water security, a report has detailed while highlighting the urgent need for the country to make improvements in governance and water management.

In the past year, Pakistan has tried to present itself as the rightful heir to the Indus Valley Civilisation in an apparent attempt to bolster its position in its diplomatic dispute with India over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

India has placed the IWT in abeyance following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. The attack in Pahalgam was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

For years, India tried to renegotiate the treaty, formally notifying Pakistan of its desire to make changes in the pact in January 2023. At the time of signing of treaty, India accepted constraints on the development of its upstream projects to take Pakistan’s interests into account, although doing so restricted India’s own capacity to make use of the full potential of the Indus basin, a report in Inkstick Media mentioned. However, following the Pahalgam attack, India placed the IWT in abeyance until Pakistan continues its support for cross-border terrorism.

"Pakistan has explored a variety of diplomatic and legal avenues to force India’s hand on this issue, from questioning the legality of the abeyance to issuing threats of military reprisals and even nuclear war. Amid the many attempts to force a resumption of the IWT, which has included appeals to the United Nations Security Council and a daylong conference on the issue at the end of June, Pakistan has sought to invoke a far older source of legitimacy, appealing to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization as a means of attaining international support for its cause. Employing history it has largely ignored to advance a contemporary geopolitical objective is hardly unique to Pakistan," Marcus Andreopoulos, a senior research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Foundation, wrote in Inkstick Media.

Signed 70 years back, the IWT reflects environmental conditions that do not exist in the present time and do not account for the extreme climate problems that are now a routine in South Asia. Poor water governance, including inefficient irrigation ways, pollution, and inadequate flood and drought prediction, contribute more to water problems in Pakistan than anything India could do by placing IWT in abeyance. Data has indicated that approximately one third of Pakistan’s water supply reaches the sea without being used.

"At the same time, the widespread use of private tubewells has contributed to excessive groundwater extraction, with water tables reportedly falling by around 1.5 meters each year. These figures suggest a serious weakness in Pakistan’s water allocation system and persistent failures to plan effectively for long term sustainability in its water policy. Pakistan’s water distribution has also historically reflected the relative political importance of its regions, rather than their differing water requirements," wrote Andreopoulos.

"Since signing the IWT, Pakistan has developed what has been described as an “obsession” with dam construction, reducing the natural flow of freshwater, and increasing the country’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Much of this dam-building program has been directed towards meeting the energy requirements of Punjab, the traditional center of military and political power in Pakistan. Given the military’s increasingly prominent role in Pakistan’s water governance, this is an unsurprising development. Pakistan is in bad need of major improvements in governance and water management. Meanwhile, war cries, heated rhetoric, and appeals to ancient history will do nothing to secure the country’s long-term water security," the author added.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Additional Secretary (North) at India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Munu Mahawar, on Thursday paid courtesy calls on Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

During the meetings, both sides held productive discussions on India-Nepal cooperation across various sectors and explored ways to further strengthen the unique partnership, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a social media post.

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions focused on further strengthening the close and enduring ties between Nepal and India in areas of mutual interest.

Mahawar is part of the Indian delegation that participated in the 13th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Power Sector Cooperation, co-chaired by Nepal's Energy Secretary Sarita Dawadi and India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal in Nepal’s western city — Pokhara on Wednesday.

During the JSC meeting, the two sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation in the power sector, covering hydropower development, cross-border electricity trade and transmission infrastructure, according to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy.

The meeting also discussed the coordinated operation of the Indian and Nepali power grids, the development of solar energy projects, cooperation in green hydrogen, and capacity building for Nepali energy professionals. The two sides also agreed to expedite work on several new high-capacity cross-border transmission line projects.

Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said the two countries had agreed to increase the volume of electricity traded through two cross-border transmission line projects.

The two sides agreed that Nepal could export up to 1,650 MW of electricity to India and import up to 1,400 MW through the two 400 kV cross-border transmission lines connecting the two countries. The transmission lines are the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur and Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi 400 kV cross-border links. Of the two, the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line has been operational since 2016, while the Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi transmission line is nearing completion, according to Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company, established by India's state-owned SJVN Limited to develop the 900 MW Arun III Hydropower Project in eastern Nepal, is also constructing the Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi transmission line.

On Thursday, Power Secretary Agarwal and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava visited the 900 MW Arun III Hydropower Project site.

According to the Embassy, they inspected the powerhouse and dam sites and reviewed the project's progress. It is the largest hydropower project being undertaken by an Indian company in Nepal and is nearing completion, according to Nepali officials.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi: History often remembers a single day that changes the course of generations. For Jammu and Kashmir, 13 July 1931 was one such day. The firing outside the Central Jail in Srinagar was not merely an unfortunate incident in which 22 protesters lost their lives. It marked the beginning of a psychological, political and social divide that gradually transformed the character of Kashmir. The consequences of that day reached far beyond the Valley, influencing the politics of the princely state, shaping the events leading to Partition, and ultimately becoming part of a larger geopolitical contest that continues to influence South Asia even today.

The tragedy of that day should therefore neither be viewed only as a democratic uprising against an autocratic ruler nor solely as a communal confrontation. It was the moment when existing grievances were converted into competing political identities, leaving scars that successive generations have struggled to heal.

Before 1931, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh under the Dogra monarchy. The state faced genuine economic and administrative challenges. The Muslim majority complained of inadequate representation in government services, heavy taxation and limited opportunities in administration. The Great Depression had also severely affected the Valley’s silk and shawl industries, increasing unemployment and economic hardship. These grievances were real and demanded reforms.

At the same time, Kashmiri Pandits, though numerically small, occupied significant positions in the civil administration because of higher literacy levels developed over generations. They were equally anxious about protecting their place in government employment and preserving the State Subject protections introduced in 1927.

Kashmiriyat still remained the dominant social identity. Kashmiri Pandits were influential in administration not because of political patronage but because they had invested in education for centuries. They had served in scholarship, philosophy, Sanskrit learning, Persian administration and later modern civil services across India and Central Asia. Their contribution to governance was part of Kashmir’s civilisational heritage rather than merely an outcome of Dogra rule.

Thus, by 1931, Kashmir had already developed social fault lines but they had not yet become an irreversible communal divide.

The immediate trigger came after the arrest of Abdul Qadeer, whose speech openly challenged the authority of the Maharaja. During his trial inside Srinagar Central Jail, thousands gathered outside demanding access to the proceedings. As tensions escalated, clashes broke out between the crowd and the state authorities. The Governor ordered the police to open fire, resulting in the deaths of 22 protesters.

The firing shocked the entire state. What followed proved equally significant. Communal violence spread in parts of Srinagar, with attacks on Hindu-owned shops and properties and loss of lives on both sides. The atmosphere of shared cultural coexistence that had long defined Kashmiriyat suffered its first major political rupture.

This transformed the public memory of the day. For many Muslims, it became the beginning of a struggle for political rights and representative government. For many Kashmiri Pandits, the subsequent violence created a lasting sense of insecurity and vulnerability. Two entirely different historical memories emerged from the same event, and both continued to shape Kashmir’s politics for decades.

The events of July 1931 also transformed Kashmir’s political landscape. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah emerged as the most influential political leader of the Valley. The formation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932 provided organised political expression to Muslim aspirations. Later, Sheikh Abdullah broadened its vision by converting it into the National Conference in 1939, seeking to build a secular political movement.

Despite this ideological shift, the emotional memories created in 1931 remained powerful. Political mobilisation increasingly drew upon religious identity, making it difficult to restore the earlier social harmony completely.

The internal divisions within Jammu and Kashmir did not develop in isolation. They unfolded at a time when the British Empire viewed the northern frontiers of the princely state as strategically vital in the context of the Great Game with the Soviet Union and control over Middle Eastern oils.

Gilgit occupied exceptional importance because it overlooked routes connecting Central Asia, Afghanistan, China and the Indian subcontinent. Maharaja Hari Singh had resisted direct British control over this frontier. However, after the political instability of 1931, the British found greater leverage over the state. In 1935, the Maharaja leased the Gilgit Agency to the British administration, enabling them to strengthen their strategic position along the northern frontier.

Many historians view this lease primarily as an outcome of imperial strategic interests. However, the fact is that the political instability after 1931 weakened the Maharaja’s negotiating position and indirectly facilitated British objectives. While interpretations differ, there is broad agreement that the unrest increased British influence over the state’s strategic affairs.

The legacy of 1931 extended into the dramatic events of 1947. By then, political identities within Jammu and Kashmir had become deeply polarised. The British withdrawal from India coincided with competing national aspirations, communal tensions and strategic calculations involving the northern frontiers.

The subsequent tribal invasion, the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, the coup in Gilgit led by Major William Brown, and Pakistan’s control over large parts of the former princely state permanently altered the map of the region.

A significant body of strategic scholarship argues that British policymakers regarded Pakistan as a more dependable strategic partner for protecting access to the Middle East and containing Soviet influence during the emerging Cold War. Every decision in the Kashmir Settlement was consciously directed towards this objective and British strategic thinking undoubtedly attached extraordinary importance to the Pakistan occupying northern frontier of Kashmir.

Perhaps the greatest consequence of 13 July 1931 lies not in territorial changes but in the psychology it created.

For large sections of Kashmiri Muslims, it symbolised political awakening and resistance against autocratic rule.

For many Kashmiri Pandits, it represented the beginning of political uncertainty and communal insecurity.

These contrasting memories gradually weakened the shared civilisational identity that had defined Kashmir for centuries. Over time, political narratives increasingly overshadowed the older traditions of coexistence, mutual respect and cultural continuity.

Even today, discussions about 13 July evoke sharply different emotions because each community remembers different aspects of the same history.

More than 90 years later, Kashmir continues to live with the consequences of those divisions. Political changes after 2019 have altered the constitutional framework, yet historical reconciliation remains incomplete.

From an Indian strategic perspective, many analysts argue that a durable settlement of the Kashmir question will ultimately require addressing the unresolved status of Pakistan-occupied territories, whose separation has shaped the region’s security environment since 1947.

Some of the obvious conclusions which are strategically established over decades of experience, including recent conflict in West Asia, are that Western powers continue to support and use Pakistan primarily to secure Middle Eastern oil, and to control the region through proxy war; that only the reunification of the entire erstwhile princely state can permanently resolve the Kashmir issue; and, that India's access to Central Asia and to its traditional trade routes depends upon the recovery of Pakistan-occupied territories.

These are not only strategic arguments, but stronger routes to establish peace in the region and it may not be convenient to those who have been reaping the benefits from the unsettlement of Kashmir. They believed that democratic India would lean toward a neutralist or pro-Soviet foreign policy, whereas Pakistan would remain a loyal, pro-Western ally.

What remains beyond dispute is that peace cannot be built by ignoring history.

Thus, the story of 13 July 1931 is not simply about a firing outside Srinagar Central Jail. It is the story of how legitimate grievances, communal anxieties, political mobilisation and imperial strategy intersected at a critical moment in history.

That single day widened the deepest crack in Kashmiri society.

The internal fractures that emerged in the aftermath of 1931 coincided with the strategic interests of external powers in Kashmir's northern frontiers, ultimately contributing to a geopolitical contest whose consequences continue to influence South Asia.

The continuing division of the erstwhile princely state has affected not only the relationship between Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits but also India's strategic access to Central Asia, Afghanistan and the wider Eurasian landmass.

From this perspective, any durable future for Kashmir must go beyond divisive narratives and focus on restoring civilisational trust, regional stability and northern frontiers strategic connectivity which is the right of India bestowed through the total unification of erstwhile Kashmir Riyasat with India.

(The author is a former diplomat and strategic affairs expert. Views expressed are personal)

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has identified the Nepal-India digital payment corridor as a major untapped opportunity that could significantly improve trade, tourism, and remittance flows between the two neighbouring countries.

In its report 'Advancing Digital Payments in Nepal: Infrastructure Upgrades and Policy Development for Enhanced Trade Facilitation' released earlier this week, the Manila-based lender said billions of dollars move annually between Nepal and India through trade and remittances, yet most transactions continue to rely on traditional banking channels despite rapid advances in digital payment systems.

"The economic relationship between India and Nepal creates a digital payment opportunity that remains largely untapped," the report quoted Nepali fintech expert Sanjib Subba as saying, noting that interoperable payment infrastructure could generate efficiency gains for businesses and consumers in both countries.

The report recommended strengthening cross-border payment infrastructure, regulatory alignment, payment system interoperability, and market integration to reinforce Nepal's digital payment ecosystem and enhance its role in trade facilitation.

It also called for broader development of the digital payment system through measures to strengthen domestic infrastructure and institutional capacity, along with an implementation framework that emphasises coordinated governance and stakeholder engagement.

In 2024, Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal’s central bank and the Reserve Bank of India signed regulatory terms of reference to facilitate the integration of Nepal's National Payments Interface with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Since March 2024, Indian travellers have been able to use their own payment systems to pay merchants in Nepal using QR codes from Fonepay or Khalti - two of Nepal's major digital payment service providers.

"This implementation has shown promising growth, with daily transactions increasing from approximately 500 at launch to 2,000 by early 2025, representing a total daily transaction value of NPR 6 million ($42,000) and cumulative transactions worth NPR 1.6 billion ($11 million) since launch," the report said.

Besides Indian tourists, NEPALPAY QR became accessible to tourists from China, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore in January 2025. NEPALPAY is a national digital payment system and brand implemented by the Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) under the guidance of the country’s central bank.

"While these represent important achievements, the reciprocal functionality enabling Nepalis to make QR payments in India and other countries remains pending, highlighting continued challenges in achieving fully bidirectional payment integration," the report said.

While Indian citizens can make QR payments in Nepal (with a standard charge of 1.95 per cent per transaction), the reciprocal service for Nepalis in India has been delayed primarily due to unresolved issues surrounding commission structures.

In India, QR code payments are free of charge, creating uncertainty over who would bear the service commission payable to Nepali banks when their customers make payments in India.

"This situation highlights how differences in fee structures and regulatory approaches between countries can impede the implementation of otherwise technically feasible cross-border payment solutions," the report said.

The ADB has therefore called for expediting the resolution of commission structure issues for Nepal-India QR payments to enable the already-developed reciprocal payment functionality for Nepalis in India.

As the unresolved commission structure issue has continued to delay QR payment services for Nepalis in India, the two countries launched a cross-border online fund transfer service in early June, enabling customers to directly transfer money to bank accounts in either country.

The service was launched during Nepali Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal's visit to India, where Khanal and his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, jointly inaugurated the initiative, enabling cross-border online remittance transfers for workers of both countries employed across the border.

The ADB report also called for adopting a UPI-like architecture to simplify cross-border transactions with India, Nepal's largest trading partner, to address significant inefficiencies in bilateral trade payments.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal and India have agreed to increase the volume of electricity traded between the two countries through two cross-border transmission line projects.

During the 13th meeting of the Nepal–India Joint Steering Committee (JSC), an energy Secretary-level bilateral mechanism held in the western Nepali city of Pokhara, the two sides agreed that Nepal could export up to 1,650 MW of electricity to India and import up to 1,400 MW through two 400 kV cross-border transmission lines connecting the two countries.

The two transmission lines to be used for power transfer are the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur and Dhalkebar–Sitamarhi 400 kV cross-border transmission lines.

Of the two, the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line has been in operation since 2016, while the Dhalkebar–Sitamarhi transmission line project is nearing completion, according to Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company, established by India's state-owned SJVN Limited to develop the 900 MW Arun III Hydropower Project in eastern Nepal, is also constructing the Dhalkebar–Sitamarhi transmission line.

Previously, the two countries had agreed to allow Nepal to export up to 1,100 MW of electricity to India and import up to 1,000 MW through the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line.

With the high-capacity Dhalkebar–Sitamarhi transmission line nearing completion, the two sides agreed to increase the amount of electricity that can be traded through the two transmission lines.

The meeting was co-chaired by Sarita Dawadi, Secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Pankaj Kumar, Secretary at India's Ministry of Power.

A meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) at the Joint Secretary level was held on Tuesday ahead of the JSC meeting.

The two sides also agreed to expedite work on several new high-capacity cross-border transmission line projects.

According to a press statement issued by Nepal's Energy Ministry, the meeting approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Chameliya (Nepal)–Jauljibi (India) 220 kV double-circuit transmission line, setting a target to complete construction by December 2028.

The meeting also agreed to expedite the establishment of a joint venture company between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) to develop the Inaruwa–New Purnea and Dododhara (New Lamki)–Bareilly 400 kV cross-border transmission line projects.

The Shareholders' Agreement (SHA) and Joint Venture (JV) Agreement for the projects have already been signed by the two entities.

The meeting approved the DPR for the Motihari–Nijgadh 400 kV double-circuit transmission line, which is expected to facilitate additional electricity exports from Nepal to India by 2034–35.

It also approved the DPR for upgrading the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar 400 kV transmission line by replacing the existing conductor with a High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductor to increase its transfer capacity.

The Ministry said that additional technical studies would be conducted before finalising the proposed Lucknow–Kohalpur (Lamahi) 400 kV transmission line project.

The meeting also reached an understanding on the New Butwal–Gorakhpur 400 kV cross-border transmission line.

As the Nepal section of the line is expected to be completed by August 2026, while the New Butwal 400 kV substation is scheduled for completion only by December 2027, the transmission line will temporarily operate at 220 kV until the substation is completed.

The Nepal section of the project is being developed with funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an aid agency of the US government.

"Under this interim arrangement, the transmission line will be capable of importing up to 130 MW of electricity from India and exporting up to 200 MW from Nepal," the Ministry said.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The construction of a monastery in Likhu Pike Rural Municipality in Nepal's Solukhumbu district began on Tuesday with financial assistance from the Indian government, the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

Likhu Pike Rural Municipality Chairperson Mina Karki Basnet and Ajay Kumar Singh, Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, jointly laid the foundation stone for the Ngagyur Nyingma Palyul Dhongag Chholing Monastery in the rural municipality.

According to the Embassy, the monastery building is being constructed with financial assistance of around NPR 33 million from the Indian government under its High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) programme.

The project will be implemented through Likhu Pike Rural Municipality and is the sixth HICDP supported by India in Solukhumbu district.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairperson Basnet and other local stakeholders appreciated India's continued development assistance and expressed confidence that the new monastery infrastructure would help preserve the area's rich cultural and religious heritage.

The Indian Embassy said the project reflects the close development partnership between Nepal and India and aims to strengthen local infrastructure while supporting the Nepal government's efforts to promote growth and development in priority sectors.

India has been implementing HICDPs across Nepal in areas such as education, health, culture, drinking water, roads and community infrastructure as part of its development cooperation with Nepal.

A key component of the India-Nepal development partnership, the HICDP programme was launched in 2003 to support grassroots development through local authorities.

The programme focuses on priority sectors identified by the Nepal government, including health, education, drinking water, sanitation and drainage, rural electrification, hydropower, embankment and river training.

The year 2023 marked two decades of the HICDP programme in Nepal.

According to the Indian Embassy's website, India has undertaken 598 HICDPs across the country with a total investment of about NPR 15.83 billion (Rs 1,583 crore). Of these, 308 projects are in the education sector, including the construction of 221 school buildings.

The scope of the programme was further expanded in January 2024 when India and Nepal signed a new agreement increasing the maximum financial assistance for each HICDP from NPR 50 million to NPR 200 million.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid escalating unrest in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), hundreds of school children in uniforms, accompanied by their teachers and parents, gathered at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, waving white flags and condemning the Pakistani military's brutal crackdown in the occupied territory.

The demonstration came after Pakistani authorities on Sunday warned that the recently proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) would be held accountable for any untoward incident involving students during its planned protests, local media reported.

Defying the warning, several students turned out in large numbers on Monday carrying banners that read "International Media Give Us Coverage", and raising slogans against the Pakistani Army, such as "Yeh jo deshatgardi hai, iske peeche wardi hai! (Behind the terrorism is the uniform)".

These ongoing protests across PoK have emerged as a direct challenge to Islamabad's long-standing control in the region, with Pakistani forces unleashing a brutal crackdown that reportedly left dozens of civilians dead and injured, while the region remains under a strict blockade, curfew, and a total communications blackout.

Meanwhile, the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) held a conference bringing together leaders, journalists, and civil society from across the PoK and the global diaspora to discuss the human rights abuses, ongoing siege, and brutal crackdown on the peaceful civilians by the Pakistani authorities in the occupied territory.

According to the UKPNP, the participants called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately end the use of brutal force, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances; release all detained individuals and produce them before courts; and ensure unconditional return of the bodies of those killed since June 5.

It also urged the authorities to withdraw the ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), restore internet, mobile services, and essential supplies, including food and medicines in the region.

The group further demanded withdrawal of Pakistani security forces from hospitals and ensure safe medical access to people in PoK.

Last week, the JAAC announced a long march towards Muzaffarabad in PoK on July 15, while urging the people across the region to join the protest in large numbers.

Citing reports, the JAAC also said that another two young men were killed in the firing by the Pakistani forces, as tensions in the occupied territory intensified.

"Every ruler sitting in the Muzaffarabad Assembly is responsible for this massacre -- people will remember that the killers of these young men of ours are the Pakistani forces and the rulers of Muzaffarabad," JAAC posted on social media platform X.

"On one side, we are lifting the bodies of our young brothers; the remains of those killed a month ago are still kept in custody, and on the other side, the rulers are turning this massacre into an election celebration by ignoring it. We will take revenge for the blood of the deceased from these killers," it added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi on Tuesday recalled his meetings with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying he had discussed with her the importance of maintaining the credibility and independence of the Election Commission.

Reflecting on their interactions, Quraishi said Hasina was initially "a bit defensive" but remained receptive to his views on the need for credible elections.

Recalling the circumstances that led to the meeting, Quraishi told IANS: "In 2014, I had retired already for 2 years, so I was going to Bangladesh for some lecture. But the then High Commissioner of Bangladesh in India said: 'Sir, if you are meeting Sheikh Hasina, please tell her the importance of the Election Commission and its credibility'. So, that was very important and significant."

He said he subsequently sought a courtesy meeting with Sheikh Hasina, which she readily agreed to. According to Quraishi, he attended the meeting along with the then Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pankaj Saran, while Hasina was accompanied by seven of her senior advisors.

"I sought an appointment, a courtesy call with Sheikh Hasina, and she readily agreed. I went with my High Commissioner, Pankaj Saran. She came with seven of her top advisors as if it was a formal meeting and a summit. I was just a retired CEC, but India had that image and that reputation that even a retired CEC enjoys a lot of respect and credibility," he said.

Quraishi said the meeting lasted for more than an hour, during which he explained why public confidence in the Election Commission and the conduct of credible elections were essential for a democracy.

"She (Hasina) was a bit defensive, but also receptive to the idea. And this was a very nice meeting; then we met ten years later just before this recent controversial election, and then she looked a little tired, and then she complained that she suspects that foreign powers are trying to unseat her; they want a change of regime. So, which is exactly what happened," Quraishi added.

Quraishi's remarks came against the backdrop of the release of his latest book, 'India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir', in which he has also written about his interactions with the former Bangladesh Prime Minister.

In the book, he recounts another meeting with Sheikh Hasina in late 2023, when he visited Bangladesh as the head of an election observers' delegation ahead of the country's general elections. He wrote that the then Prime Minister appeared "visibly strained" during their interaction.

Reflecting on that conversation in his book, Quraishi writes, "She spoke bluntly about what she saw as external attempts, particularly by the United States, to engineer regime change."

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal's Supreme Court order directing the government to work on increasing Nepal's share of free electricity from the 480 MW Phukot Karnali Hydropower Project being developed by India's state-owned NHPC Limited, is likely to be one of the key issues during high-level bilateral energy talks between both countries this week.

The 13th meeting of the Joint Secretary-level Joint Working Group (JWG) and the Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) — the highest bilateral mechanisms overseeing energy cooperation between the two countries — is scheduled to be held in the western city of Pokhara on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sandeep Kumar Deo, Joint Secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, told IANS that the progress of hydropower projects in Nepal being developed or planned with Indian investment would be one of the key agenda items.

Asked whether the Supreme Court order concerning the NHPC-promoted project would figure in the discussions, Deo said all major energy-sector projects and issues would be reviewed comprehensively, but declined to elaborate.

On September 1, 2025, Nepal's Supreme Court directed the government to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Phukot Karnali project so that Nepal's share of free electricity — currently fixed at 21.9 per cent — is increased in proportion to its investment in the project. The court instructed the government to revise the agreement accordingly and implement the changes.

Following the verdict, NHPC expressed concern over the ruling, warning that the project may no longer be financially viable if the directive is implemented. Its Nepali partner, Nepal Vidyut Utpadan Company Limited, also urged the Ministry of Energy to recommend that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) file a review petition before the Supreme Court.

The Nepal government now finds itself in a difficult position. While seeking a review of the verdict could provide legal clarity and help preserve the project's financial viability, doing so could expose the government to criticism from opposition parties, which may portray such a move as compromising Nepal's national interest.

The MoU, signed during the 2023 visit of then Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to India, provides that Nepal will receive 21.9 per cent of the project's monthly electricity generation free of cost from the date of commercial operation. It also contains a provision allowing both parties to renegotiate the arrangement if the project becomes commercially unviable.

Deo said the two sides would also discuss cross-border transmission lines, electricity trade, renewable energy and green hydrogen.

He said the meeting would review existing cross-border transmission infrastructure, projects under construction and proposed high-capacity interconnections that are crucial to Nepal's long-term ambition of becoming a major electricity exporter.

Although around a dozen cross-border transmission links exist between Nepal and India, only the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV transmission line currently has the capacity to facilitate large-scale electricity trade.

Construction is currently underway on the New Butwal-Gorakhpur 400 kV and Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi 400 kV cross-border transmission lines.

In October last year, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited signed the Joint Venture Agreement and the Shareholders' Agreement to establish joint venture companies for constructing two additional 400 kV cross-border transmission lines—Inaruwa-Purnea and Dododhara-Bareilly.

The agreements ensure that, in line with the earlier understanding between the two countries, both transmission lines will be completed by 2030. Their completion is expected to enable Nepal to export an additional 5,000 MW of electricity to India.

The transmission line projects are central to implementing the long-term power trade agreement signed by Nepal and India in January 2024, under which India agreed in principle to import up to 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal over the next decade. Nepal currently exports around 1,000 MW to India during the monsoon season, making the expansion of cross-border transmission infrastructure essential to achieving that target.

During the 12th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee, the two countries also agreed to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and construct a 400 kV transmission line between Nijgadh/Harnaiya (Nepal) and Motihari (India), as well as another 400 kV transmission line between Kohalpur (Nepal) and Lucknow (India). They also agreed to upgrade the existing Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV transmission line by replacing its conductors with High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors with a capacity equivalent to Quad Moose conductors.

The two sides are also expected to review the progress of bilateral electricity trade, which has expanded rapidly since India began allowing Nepal to sell surplus hydropower through its day-ahead electricity market in 2021.

He added that cooperation in renewable energy development and the promotion of green hydrogen would also feature prominently during the two-day meetings.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as 3.7 million children aged below five years are at increased risk of undernutrition in Afghanistan in 2026 due to child food and nutrition insecurity, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report.

In its report "Too Little, Too Late: The diet Crisis Facing Young Children in Afghanistan", UNICEF said acute malnutrition has deteriorated in 26 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces compared to 2025. The UN agency stated that conditions are worsening even before Afghanistan's annual peak malnutrition season, which mainly runs from July to September.

According to UNICEF, 83 per cent of severe malnutrition cases and 77 per cent of moderate acute malnutrition cases occur among children aged below two years, showcasing the increasing vulnerability of children during the most critical stage of physical and cognitive development. The UN agency stated that children residing in severely food-insecure households are up to six times more likely to experience severe wasting during the peak malnutrition period.

UNICEF’s Representative in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, said: "This new evidence gives us an opportunity to act before children reach the point of severe malnutrition. When families begin reducing meals or cutting back on nutritious foods it is not only a sign of hardship. It is a warning that a child may soon become dangerously wasted. Treatment saves lives, but we must also invest in prevention, starting with the diets of the youngest children and pregnant women."

Apart from poor young child diets and rising food insecurity, worsening malnutrition in Afghanistan is due to disease outbreaks, low immunisation coverage, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services, and growing funding and supply gaps.

In a statement, UNICEF stated: "Together, these pressures are increasing children’s vulnerability to wasting and underline the need for coordinated action across nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and social protection services."

Earlier in June, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that 16 million people in Afghanistan will need access to clean water and sanitation services in 2026, Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported.

The OCHA said water scarcity is exposing children to greater health risks and affecting daily life in Afghanistan, forcing people to take coping mechanisms amid deteriorating conditions. The agency stated that access to safe drinking water and sanitation in Afghanistan is a critical humanitarian challenge, Khaama Press reported.

Over the years, Afghanistan has faced recurring droughts, inadequate water-management infrastructure and poverty, resulting in millions of people facing difficulty in getting sufficient water for drinking, household use and agriculture. Humanitarian agencies have said that climate-related shocks are increasing pressure on already fragile communities in Afghanistan.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's judiciary has been deliberately bent into a weapon, as an extension of the security state it was meant to restrain, an article said citing the latest findings from an international human rights NGO.

With around 2.4 million cases pending nationwide, Pakistan ranks 101st of the 143 nations on criminal justice and 129th on civil justice in the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index.

"Backlog of this magnitude is not merely an inefficiency; it is a resource that can be allocated. A hearing date can be bought or buried. A First Information Report -- the document that formally opens a criminal case in Pakistan -- can be delayed or accelerated for a price, and evidence can be quietly reshaped along the way," an article from One World Outlook said.

It described the situation as not a failure of justice, but as it becoming a commodity which is available to the people who can pay and unavailable to those who cannot.

The article did not attribute the situation entirely to the dysfunction but also focused on something more deliberate, discussing a constitutional restructuring in Pakistan that has stripped the Judiciary of what independence it once had.

"The 26th and 27th amendments, passed in 2024 and 2025, inserted Members of Parliament into the body that selects judges, empowered a judicial council to remove judges for the conveniently vague offense of 'inefficiency', and created a new Federal Constitutional Court whose leadership is effectively chosen by the Prime Minister (Shehbaz Sharif)," the article said, citing the findings of report 'Under the bench: Mapping corruption risks in Pakistan's justice system', by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

The report also cited some very sobering findings showing how thoroughly the system swallows the powerless.

"In blasphemy cases -- nearly eight hundred people were detained on such charges in 2024 alone, overwhelmingly from poor and minority communities -- conviction rates run around ninety-five per cent, driven by judges reluctant to confront extremist pressure and evidentiary contradictions that no one has the money or connections to challenge," the article noted.

The organisations like National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency, and the Supreme Judicial Council, which are put in place as safeguards, also came into the discussion.

"Anti-corruption bodies that might address any of this -- the National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Supreme Judicial Council -- are described by those closest to the system not as safeguards but as instruments of selective punishment, wielded against critics of the military and shelved for everyone else. Meanwhile, the journalists and whistleblowers who might expose the pattern face their own legal exposure, under defamation statutes and the same cyber-crime law used against Mazari, for the crime of looking too closely," the article from One World Outlook said.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as five children died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours until 8 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, bringing the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related fatalities to 758, local media reported.

The number of suspected measles deaths has climbed to 664, while laboratory-confirmed deaths remained at 94, according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh's The Business Standard reported.

During this period, Bangladesh reported 879 new suspected measles cases, raising the total number of suspected infections to 111,480.

As many as 90 new laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Bangladesh, bringing the total number of confirmed measles infections in the country to 13,500.

A total of 94,340 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised in Bangladesh since March 15, according to the DGHS data, The Business Standard reported. Of those, 90,605 patients have recovered in Bangladesh, according to the health authorities.

As hospitals in Bangladesh continue to remain overwhelmed with more than 900 daily measles admissions, health experts have warned that a rise in dengue cases threatens to further strain the healthcare system and increase the risk of more fatalities, local media reported.

Reports suggest that major public hospitals in Dhaka, which have treated thousands of dengue patients during past outbreaks, remain heavily burdened by measles cases. Experts cautioned that any surge in dengue infections could place additional pressure on already limited healthcare resources and disrupt delivery of medical care.

The dengue situation deteriorated in June, with rising infections and fatalities -- accounting for 48 per cent of all cases and 72 per cent of deaths recorded so far this year, Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported.

Health experts warned that both figures could climb further during the peak monsoon months of July and August unless authorities strengthen measures to curb dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), said that although measles cases have started to decline, the pace has been slower than expected.

"At the same time, the monsoon is creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, and dengue cases have already started rising. This will definitely put additional pressure on hospitals," The Daily Star quoted Chowdhury as saying.

To prevent the situation from escalating into a larger public health crisis, he and other experts called on the Bangladeshi authorities to boost larval control measures, expand temporary treatment facilities, and set up dedicated dengue units to ease the dual disease burden.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan remains a deeply volatile nuclear power, with its "First Use" doctrine and military-dominated command structure contributing to an increasingly precarious security environment, according to a report.

Pakistan’s nuclear posture rejects the No First Use (NFU) doctrine, showing a possibility that Islamabad launches a nuclear strike first in a conflict scenario, a report by Fair Observer noted, citing a former senior military official.

"The country’s nuclear arsenal is intended to respond to all forms of perceived threats from an adversary. Its strategy is guided by full-spectrum deterrence, explicitly aimed at countering India across every level of conflict — strategic, operational and tactical. Former Pakistani military strategist Khalid Ahmed Kidwai said the doctrine was designed to ensure full coverage of the Indian landmass and (India would have) 'no place to hide'," the report said.

The Constitutional Amendment of 2025 places control of Pakistan’s nuclear operations with the Chief of Defence Forces, which dramatically expands military power.

"This reform makes Pakistan the only nuclear-armed state where authority over nuclear use is entrusted to one military officer," the report highlighted.

According to it, international concern was sparked over Pakistan engaging in the development of Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs), lowering the nuclear threshold.

"Analysts warn that their deployment in conventional military conflicts significantly increases the risk of a ‘use it or lose it’ dilemma and unauthorised launch by lower-level commanders, raising the likelihood of a full-scale nuclear war," the report emphasised.

The report says that Pakistan also has a dangerous legacy of nuclear proliferation. Islamabad started developing a nuclear bomb in the 1970s after Abdul Qadeer Khan "stole classified information, sensitive centrifuge technology and nuclear blueprints while working as a subcontractor for URENCO in the Netherlands".

According to the report, he established a network with private suppliers for nuclear and missile-related technologies.

"By the 1990s, Khan had operationalised the world’s most dangerous nuclear black market, fueling the secret ambitions of Iran, North Korea, and Libya while even making overtures to Iraq. His network provided Tehran with critical P-1 and P-2 centrifuges, along with the designs, and traded enrichment hardware and centrifuges with Pyongyang. In Libya, Khan’s network attempted to export a turnkey nuclear programme involving weapons designs and over a million components," the report detailed.

After confessing the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea in 2004, Khan was pardoned by then Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf.

"Multiple international analysts and non-proliferation experts have argued that Khan’s global nuclear trafficking network could not have operated for decades without at least tacit support or knowledge from elements within Pakistan’s military and intelligence establishment… One such report claimed that many Pakistanis believed Khan had taken the blame to shield the wider establishment, particularly the military," noted the report by Fair Observer.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) During the recently concluded 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Without Frontiers raised the need to recognise the mass atrocities committed in Bangladesh in 1971 as "genocide".

"It was a deliberate effort to connect past injustice with present-day human rights concerns -- particularly the protection of freedom of religion or belief," wrote Willy Fautre, Founder of Human Rights Without Frontiers (Belgium), in 'Modern Diplomacy'.

While the 1971 Bangladesh's war of independence is widely known for mass killings and displacement, according to the report, the "systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities", often escapes attention.

"Hindu communities, in particular, were singled out, identified, and persecuted on the basis of their religious identity. This was not incidental. It was part of a pattern of violence that used religion as a marker for exclusion and destruction," Willy Fautre noted.

For Human Rights Without Frontiers, if these atrocities are not recognised as genocide, "historical narratives remain incomplete, and the suffering of affected communities risk being marginalised or forgotten".

It asserts that it is important to ensure that the religious dimension of the violence is not overlooked since it has "direct implications for the present and the future".

As religious minorities in Bangladesh -- including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians -- continue to face discrimination, land dispossession, and periodic violence, "a lack of historical accountability can contribute to an environment in which violations are insufficiently recognised or inadequately prevented. It weakens the normative framework needed to protect vulnerable communities and risks perpetuating a culture of impunity," the report said.

The author affirms that by raising the issue of the 1971 genocide, Human Rights Without Frontiers sought to situate Bangladesh within a broader conversation about accountability, prevention, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

"By formally acknowledging that the violence of 1971 included systematic persecution on religious grounds, the international community reinforces a clear principle: that identity-based violence will not be ignored, whether it occurs in the past or the present. It strengthens global norms against mass atrocities and contributes to a more consistent and credible human rights framework."

Moreover, the report in 'Modern Diplomacy' emphasises that recognition of the past bruises can play a "constructive role" within Bangladesh itself like supporting efforts in education, documentation, memorialisation and helping to foster a more inclusive understanding of national history.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 51 people were killed and 39 others injured in floods and landslides in Bangladesh, local media reported on Sunday, citing the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

As many as 1,022,963 people have been affected by the floods in Bangladesh, while members of 267,918 families remain marooned. As many as 44,457 people have taken refuge in shelter centres as relief operations continue in the flood-affected areas, Bangladesh's The Business Standard reported.

The flood-hit districts are Rangamati, Bandarban, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Khagrachhari, Cox's Bazar, and Chattogram. Cox's Bazar has the highest number of fatalities with 28 deaths, followed by Chattogram with 13, Bandarban six, Rangamati three, and Moulvibazar one.

The ministry said that the flood-affected areas include 58 upazilas, 386 unions, and 12 municipalities. Bangladesh authorities have opened 1,131 shelters for the impacted people, The Business Standard reported.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday ordered all relevant agencies and field-level administration to remain on maximum alert and work in coordination to protect lives and property impacted by waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall, and ensure prompt relief distribution and healthcare services.

He issued the orders during a virtual meeting with Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of police, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), Civil Surgeons, and other field-level officials from all eight divisions, the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.

During the meeting, officials briefed Rahman about the waterlogging situation in their respective areas, including the extent of damage, the condition of shelter centres, rescue operations, relief distribution and healthcare services.

He said protecting the lives and property of people must remain the highest priority of the administration during the ongoing emergency. He ordered officials to ensure the quick distribution of relief materials, including dry food, safe drinking water, baby food, essential medicines and healthcare services to impacted people, according to the UNB report.

He ordered law enforcement agencies to remain on the highest alert to stop any criminal activities, including theft, hoarding, misappropriation of relief goods and other offences taking advantage of the ongoing emergency situation.

Source: IANS

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Colombo, July 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, on Saturday, along with Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Kaushalya Ariyarathne, inaugurated the second edition of Sri Lanka-India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) Fest 2026.

"SLIMFA Media Fest returns! High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathne inaugurated the 2nd edition of SLIMFA Media Fest 2026 in Colombo," the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka wrote on social media platform X.

"Following the successful inaugural edition in 2025, the festival returned under the theme 'Staying Relevant in a Changing World', bringing together leading journalists, editors, media professionals, academics and digital creators from Sri Lanka and India to discuss the evolving media landscape," it added.

On Thursday, the High Commissioner attended the India–Sri Lanka Trade Connect event.

"Delighted to attend the India–Sri Lanka Trade Connect event organised by the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, bringing together the FIEO business delegation and leading Sri Lankan business chambers. Pleased to witness the exchange of the FIEO–NCE MoU. Productive B2B networking and discussions reinforced the immense potential to expand bilateral trade, investment and business partnerships," the High Commissioner wrote on X.

Earlier this week, he also handed over the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to Pradeep Sundaralingam, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.

According to the High Commissioner, it is the first such card issued following the announcement by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.

"Pleased to hand over the OCI card to Pradeep Sundaralingam, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. First such card issued following the announcement by Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, in April 2026 regarding simplification of the OCI process and extension of OCI Card eligibility to include 5th and 6th generation Indian Origin Tamil (IOT) community and Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka," High Commissioner Jha wrote on X.

"Explained to him that the Government of India has introduced a new e-OCI facility which makes travel to India easier for OCIs who can now use the e-OCI card on their mobile phones to secure entry into India," he added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) China now appears to be trying to re-establish its influence in Nepal after a Bangladesh foray, with new promises of economic assistance and infrastructure development.

With China's Vice Minister for Commerce Yan Dong’s Kathmandu visit this week, the message was unmistakable.

Beijing wants deeper economic ties, faster project delivery, and formal safeguards for its investors.

This followed Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing last month. It marked the Himalayan nation’s first diplomatic visit to China since a new government assumed office in Kathmandu earlier this year.

Incidentally, Khanal’s Beijing trip followed his India visit, underscoring Kathmandu’s dual engagement strategy.

Yan has reportedly proposed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA), urged Nepal to set up a one‑stop service for Chinese businesses, and offered help to expedite stalled infrastructure at border crossings such as Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi.

Large, visible, foreign investment and projects and trade facilitation measures – if not transparently financed and locally beneficial – can create dependency and public resentment that Beijing may exploit to secure political concessions.

Yan’s push for one-stop services and investor safeguards is designed to lower barriers for Chinese firms and accelerate that dependency.

In the run-up to the March 5 Nepal election, a multi-billion-rupee industrial park – part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects – near the India border of Nepal’s Jhapa district hit the headlines when the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) – now in government – dropped it from their poll manifesto.

There has been concern among sections in Nepal, who expressed caution regarding the financial implications of BRI projects, particularly in light of Sri Lanka and Pakistan falling into financial difficulties with similar Chinese investments.

Nepal sits between two regional powers, and unlike the previous communist regime, the Balen Shah-led new government is deliberately balancing ties with both China and India.

Khanal’s visits to India, followed by China, reflect Kathmandu’s effort to extract economic benefits while preserving strategic autonomy. Despite Beijing’s outreach, however, Nepal remains tightly connected to India through geography, trade, employment, and culture.

The incumbent Prime Minister is largely seen as a nationalist, attempting to tread a path between the two South Asian giants.

Beijing is pursuing its long‑standing view of Nepal as another South Asian foothold, with promises of more investments under the ambitious BRI, even as several projects like the one in Jhapa have been delayed or embroiled in financing disputes.

Reports suggest that unlike the K. P. S. Oli government, Kathmandu is now looking at improving relations with India while keeping Chinese investment and infrastructure cooperation on track, perhaps aiming to convert competition into bargaining power.

Meanwhile, say reports, Yan has also asked Nepal for support in WTO arbitration and on issues related to critical minerals — a diplomatic ask that signals Beijing’s interest in securing political backing as well as commercial footholds.

Its interest in “critical and strategic minerals” and in shaping related policy discussions suggests a longer‑term economic stake that could give China leverage over resource‑sensitive projects and negotiations in the region.

Chinese‑funded roads and cross‑border trade zones at Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi improve commerce but also enhance connectivity along the northern frontier. Improved infrastructure will be geopolitically consequential and serve dual‑use in crises, shortening logistics timelines and complicating India’s strategic calculus in the Himalayas.

Further, an FTA or BIA privileges for Chinese investors could widen Nepal’s trade asymmetry, and could divert Kathmandu’s trade and supply‑chain linkages away from India. That would affect border trade, informal commerce, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on cross‑border markets, as pointed out by several analysts.

Incidentally, China first proposed a BIA in 2012 after Kathmandu and New Delhi signed a similar agreement in 2011, which is currently under challenge in Nepal’s Supreme Court, according to a report in The Kathmandu Post on Thursday.

After agreeing in principle to sign a BIA in 2014 and exchanging draft texts, Nepal reviewed the proposal and sent its comments and suggested revisions, seeking Beijing’s endorsement, it added.

Besides India, said the report, Nepal has already signed bilateral investment protection agreements with six other countries, including France, Germany, Britain, Mauritius, Qatar, and Finland.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal's Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dol Prasad Aryal, has extended an invitation to India's Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, to visit the Himalayan nation, Speaker Aryal's Secretariat said on Thursday.

Following a courtesy meeting between Speaker Aryal and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava in Kathmandu on Thursday, the Secretariat said in a press note that Aryal had invited Birla to visit Nepal.

Aryal informed the Ambassador that he had invited Birla, expressing confidence that the visit would further strengthen parliamentary engagement and bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries.

During the meeting, Ambassador Srivastava said that Speaker Birla is keen to visit Nepal. He also invited Speaker Aryal and Nepali lawmakers to visit India to study and observe the country's parliamentary practices.

Although parliamentarians from the two countries have regularly visited each other's countries, visits by the Speakers of the two parliaments have remained rare in recent years.

During the meeting, Aryal highlighted the close relations between Nepal and India, rooted in a shared civilisation, geographical proximity, and deep cultural and social linkages. He noted that bilateral relations have continued to expand through cooperation in trade, security, civil aviation, water resources, connectivity, and other sectors, while regular high-level exchanges have further strengthened the partnership.

Nepal's Speaker also highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening bilateral relations. He informed the Ambassador that a 10-member Nepal-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Nepali lawmaker Bipin Acharya from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, has been formed following the constitution of the new House of Representatives to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Speaker Aryal said the Indian Parliament remains an inspiration for Nepal's democracy.

"Nepal has always regarded the Parliament of India with the highest respect as a steadfast guardian of democracy. Throughout its distinguished history, it has played a significant role in upholding democratic values and principles," he said.

Aryal praised India for adopting digital parliamentary initiatives, including the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), and expressed Nepal's interest in learning from India's paperless parliamentary system and technology-enabled legislative practices.

The Nepali Speaker also thanked the Government of India for providing logistical support during Nepal's recently concluded general elections and reaffirmed that Nepal accords high priority to its relationship with India.

During the meeting, Ambassador Srivastava said parliamentary diplomacy and high-level political dialogue would help elevate Nepal-India relations, reaffirming India's commitment to continued cooperation with Nepal in trade, connectivity, energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A mentally challenged man, who inadvertently crossed the international border with Bangladesh, and was suspected to be a spy, is now awaiting expatriation to India and reunification with his family in the Malda district of West Bengal, government officials said on Wednesday.

Amateur radio operators from Bangladesh and India have approached authorities to help in the process.

The 66-year-old man was rescued from next to a highway in the Rangpur district of Bangladesh on March 10, 2025.

HAMs from Bangladesh took charge, cleaned him up, provided fresh clothes and contacted their contacts in the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC), an organisation that uses the amateur radio network to reunite lost people with their families.

Trouble started soon after that with reports getting circulated in Bangladeshi social media that the man is an Indian spy in the garb of a mentally challenged person.

Authorities took notice and the HAMs from Bangladesh provided all assistance to establish that he was not associated with espionage in any way.

The process took nearly four months and he was finally exonerated of the charges.

"It was clear that he is an Indian, but he could not provide any details about his family. We got his photographs and details circulated all across the country. Finally, a family in West Bengal's Malda identified him," Ambarish Nag Biswas, WBRC Secretary, said.

A youth from Chanchal in Malda, named Bikram Rishi got in touch with the organisation and said that the man was his uncle.

The elderly man has been identified as Tinkari Rishi.

According to Bikram, his uncle suffered from sort of mental disease and disappeared from their house in Ghoshpara nearly five years ago.

Despite all efforts, he could not be traced.

Bikram also provided photocopies of the man's Aadhaar Card and Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) that have been forwarded to authorities in Bangladesh for scrutiny.

"He is now being taken care of Jainul Abedin, an amateur radio operator from Bangladesh. Tinkari now stays at the Pirgacha railway station in Rangpur and receives food and other supplies. We have approached the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata to make arrangements for his expatriation. We hope he will be reunited with his family soon," Nag Biswas said.

A source in the Deputy High Commission confirmed that they have received the request and visited Dhaka for processing.

Source: IANS

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Washington, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) India on Wednesday strongly opposed the proposed 12.5 per cent additional US tariff on its exports during a US Trade Representative (USTR) Section 301 hearing, arguing that the investigation lacks a legal and factual basis and warning that the proposed action would disrupt supply chains without advancing efforts to eliminate forced labour.

Appearing before the USTR hearing panel, Dr Brij Mohan of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said India objected to the proposed country-wide tariff, contending that the investigation had failed to satisfy the legal standards required under Section 301 and had not demonstrated that India's policies burden US commerce.

He argued that "the USTR has not provided clear assessment and justification for recommending a country-wide tariff rate of 12.5 per cent against almost all imports from India", adding that the methodology relied on "broad trade patterns" rather than sector-specific or product-specific evidence linking Indian exports to forced labour.

Dr Mohan also rejected the premise that the absence of an explicit import ban on goods produced with forced labour amounted to permitting such practices.

"The absence of an explicit forced labour import prohibition does not constitute acquiescing to or permitting forced labour in any form," he told the hearing, adding that eliminating forced labour required multiple policy interventions tailored to country-specific circumstances rather than broad import restrictions.

He further maintained that the USTR had failed to establish any causal link between India's regulatory framework and harm to US commerce.

"In fact, USTR data in Appendix A, such as in relation to tobacco, rice, and cotton, contradicts the demand on which it has made an adverse determination against India," he said, arguing that the data instead showed rising US exports and negligible or declining third-country competition in India.

Following India's principal submission, Shreyans Gupta, First Secretary (Commerce) at the Embassy of India, appeared on behalf of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Gupta challenged the USTR's findings on rice imports, saying the conclusions were based on incorrect assumptions.

He said India was the world's largest producer and exporter of rice and that imported rice represented only a tiny fraction of domestic production, serving niche consumer demand rather than export processing. According to the submission, around 45 per cent of India's rice imports originate from Thailand, consisting mainly of speciality jasmine varieties that are neither re-exported nor comparable to US-grown rice.

Gupta said India's exports to the United States consist predominantly of geographically indicated basmati rice grown in designated regions of the Indo-Gangetic plains, while non-basmati exports also originate from domestic production.

He further argued that India's imports account for less than three per cent of the value of rice exported to the US and that regulatory safeguards prevent imported rice from being exported as Indian produce.

"Export of rice from India to the US is allowed only from the rice mills registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare," he said, adding that exporters must also comply with stringent labour standards imposed by major U.S. private sector buyers, including supermarket chains.

Gupta urged the USTR to rescind the investigation against India or, alternatively, exempt Indian rice from any proposed measures, arguing that the findings did not establish that India's policies met the statutory threshold of unreasonableness or restricted US commerce.

Earlier during the hearing, Indian industry bodies also urged the USTR to reconsider the proposed tariff.

Poornima Shenoy of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said Indian industry fully supported eliminating forced labour from global supply chains but argued that an economy-wide tariff would penalise compliant sectors and increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers without addressing the underlying issue.

Shuchita Sonalika of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said India had a comprehensive legal framework prohibiting forced labour and that Indian exporters already operated under rigorous compliance systems required by global customers. She urged the USTR to pursue "compliance-based cooperation, not punitive tariffs", warning that additional duties would disrupt well-established US-India supply chains.

The USTR launched the Section 301 investigation to examine whether several trading partners have failed to prohibit or effectively enforce restrictions on imports produced with forced labour. The public hearings in Washington bring together government officials, industry groups, labour organisations and businesses from multiple countries to present evidence before the USTR makes its final determination.

Source: IANS

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Patna, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Security agencies have arrested a Bangladeshi national near the India-Nepal border in Bihar's East Champaran district during a joint operation conducted by the district police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The arrest was made near the Maitri Bridge at Custom Chowk under the Haraiya police station area, where the suspect was allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal.

According to the police, security personnel were conducting routine surveillance and document verification along the India-Nepal border on Wednesday when they noticed a man behaving suspiciously near the border crossing.

During questioning, he allegedly failed to produce valid documents establishing his legal stay in India.

He was immediately detained and later arrested with the assistance of the SSB.

The arrested individual has been identified as Md. Shyam Hussain, son of Giasuddin, a resident of Baroegaon village under Srinagar police station in Munshiganj district of Bangladesh.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he had allegedly been living illegally in India for a considerable period and was attempting to leave the country through the Nepal border.

Police are interrogating the accused to determine when and through which route he entered India.

Officials are also examining whether he was assisted by an organised network or intended to travel onward to another country through Nepal. His contacts, activities and movements during his stay in India are also being verified.

Investigators are further verifying his identity documents and examining the duration and circumstances of his alleged illegal stay.

"Action is being taken against the arrested Bangladeshi national under the relevant legal provisions applicable to foreign nationals. A detailed investigation into his documents, identity, and the duration of his stay in India is underway. After completion of the investigation, he will be produced before the court, and further legal proceedings will be initiated in accordance with the law," an official spokesperson of the East Champaran Police said.

The Haraiya and Raxaul sectors of East Champaran remain under heightened surveillance because of their proximity to the India-Nepal border.

Police and the SSB regularly conduct joint operations to prevent illegal border crossings, human trafficking and the use of forged documents.

Officials said surveillance in the border region would continue and strict legal action would be taken against individuals found residing illegally in India or attempting unauthorised cross-border movement.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who had avoided one-on-one meetings with foreign officials since taking office, held his first such meeting on Tuesday with visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda.

Instead of meeting foreign diplomats individually, Shah has so far preferred collective interactions with Ambassadors, seeking to maintain a strict protocol governing such engagements.

Three and a half months after assuming office on March 27, Shah met Kanda, who heads one of Nepal's largest multilateral development partners, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat confirmed. Kanda is a former Japanese Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs and was recently reappointed as ADB President.

During the meeting, held in the context of further strengthening the six-decade-long development partnership between the Government of Nepal and the ADB, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation, Prime Minister Shah’s Secretariat said in a statement.

According to Deepa Dahal, Press and Research Advisor to Prime Minister Shah, the half-hour meeting saw the Prime Minister express confidence that Nepal would achieve a new phase of development in the coming years through good governance and transparency.

“The two sides also held positive discussions on promoting hydropower and tourism as the backbone of Nepal's economy, as well as expanding cooperation in digitalization and tourism road infrastructure,” the Secretariat stated.

During the meeting, ADB President Kanda reaffirmed the ADB's commitment to expanding its development assistance to Nepal, stating that the bank would continue to serve as a long-term development partner in supporting the country's economic growth and prosperity.

He also praised Nepal's significant economic potential, strong public mandate, and young leadership, reiterating that the ADB would continue to stand by Nepal in its development journey.

Kanda said Nepal's young leadership and commitment to reform are inspiring.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shah had declined requests to meet Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the US State Department, and Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs and the US Ambassador to India. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's planned visit to Nepal was also reportedly postponed a few weeks ago.

Breaking with the long-standing practice of holding informal meetings with foreign envoys, Shah has been enforcing a stricter protocol on whom he meets, prompting debate in some quarters over whether the approach will strengthen or undermine Nepal's national interests.

On April 8, Shah held a collective interaction with Kathmandu-based diplomats. Later, on May 26, he met jointly with 23 European Union Ambassadors and deputy heads of mission, as well as envoys based in Kathmandu and New Delhi representing Thailand, Russia, Australia, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Finland, Malaysia, and Brazil.

It remains unclear whether Shah's meeting with ADB President Kanda signals a broader shift toward holding individual meetings with foreign dignitaries.

Foreign policy experts say the Prime Minister's decision on whom to meet should be guided by Nepal's national interests rather than by a rigid protocol.

Arun Subedi, a former foreign policy adviser to then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, told IANS that Shah's decision to meet the ADB President was appropriate given that the ADB is one of Nepal's most important development partners and lenders.

"Our relations with institutions such as the ADB and the World Bank are also lender-borrower relationships, and meeting their top officials serves Nepal's national interest," he said.

Subedi added that the protocol should not become a barrier to meeting representatives of countries or institutions that are strategically important to Nepal.

"Even though Nepal officially follows a policy of non-alignment, that should not prevent it from giving special priority to certain countries or institutions because of their importance to Nepal," he said.

After arriving in Nepal on Monday, Kanda earlier met Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle the same day. According to the Finance Minister's Secretariat, Wagle thanked Kanda for the ADB's continued support and investment in Nepal's development and requested the Bank's continued cooperation in the years ahead.

The Government of Nepal and the ADB also signed financing agreements for two projects supported by concessional loans totaling US$165 million.

"A US$115 million project will improve water supply and sanitation services for more than 850,000 people across municipalities," Kanda said in a social media post. "Another US$50 million loan will modernize the systems that move goods across Nepal's borders, helping Nepali businesses compete more effectively."

On the same day, Kanda, together with Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and Norway's Ambassador to Nepal Dagny Mjøs, virtually inaugurated two electricity transmission substations.

The substations are expected to strengthen the electricity supply in Kathmandu and other major demand centres.

Kanda also visited the Distribution Command and Control Center and the ADB-financed Data Center, where real-time monitoring and improved data management are helping strengthen Nepal's power system.

"These investments are helping lay the foundations for cross-border power trade. ADB will continue supporting Nepal in harnessing clean energy as a driver of growth and deeper regional integration across South Asia," Kanda said.

The ADB currently has an active portfolio of US$3.94 billion in Nepal, the multilateral development bank said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Kathmandu, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) While Kathmandu acknowledges India's emergence as a rising global power, New Delhi has continued to respect Nepal's sovereignty and strategic autonomy. There are no objective reasons why the relationship between the two countries should not continue to progress smoothly, a report has stated.

Concerns driven by subjective anxieties and political posturing are often short-lived and unproductive. Moving beyond perceptions of power asymmetry and small-state vulnerability is essential to building a pragmatic partnership that advances the well-being of the people of both countries," Bishwadeep Pandey, a Central Committee member of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), wrote in an opinion piece for NDTV.

“It has not been long since contemporary global dynamics began to be described as a 'field of exploding realities' within an 'era of uncertain fluidity'. Amidst constant shifts in the balance of power, alliances, and international relations, nations must remain hyper-vigilant and entirely prepared to safeguard their national aspirations and core interests. The relationship between Nepal and India is no exception to this reality," Pandey stated.

“Geography, civilization, deep people-to-people ties, and a shared commitment to democratic ideals provide a stable foundation for the relationship between these two neighbours. However, geopolitical dynamics are constantly evolving. The drivers of this fluidity are multidimensional; no single nation or government is solely responsible for these shifts,” he added.

Pandey highlighted the recent five-day visit to India by Nepal's ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, saying the visit undertaken at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely seen as a strategic effort to elevate bilateral ties amid Nepal’s evolving political landscape.

"High-level engagements of this nature are rarely confined to mere state formalities; they are driven by a strong sense of purpose and underlying missions. It is precisely this shared sense of purpose that makes such high-level dialogues possible,” he added.

According to the report, the extensive bilateral engagements of Lamichhane with top-tier Indian leadership, including PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, suggest that India is closely watching and welcoming Nepal's evolving political landscape.

The interactions, it said, reaffirmed that “New Delhi continues to accord high priority to its relationship with Kathmandu”.

Following Lamichhane's visit, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal paid an official visit to New Delhi. His meetings with EAM Jaishankar resulted in several preliminary understandings, signaling a positive beginning to bilateral engagement under Nepal's new political dispensation, the report stated.

Underscoring the significance of the bilateral partnership, it further said that Nepal's PM Balendra Shah administration “must leave no stone unturned in imparting a new momentum and warmth to Nepal-India relations," while “a corresponding reciprocity is naturally expected from the Indian establishment.”

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Group Captain was shot dead on Sunday by unknown gunmen near Shaheen Chowk in Islamabad, local media reported.

"According to preliminary reports, an unidentified young man was allegedly attempting to force a woman into a vehicle. Group Captain Asim Tariq, who happened to be passing by, reportedly intervened in an effort to defuse the situation," the Pakistan Observer reported.

The youth then opened fire with a pistol, striking Group Captain Tariq, who died at the scene. His body has been shifted to the Pakistan Air Force Hospital Unit II.

“Police have taken the woman, identified as Nimra, into custody for questioning. Meanwhile, the suspected gunman and his accomplices managed to flee the scene in their vehicle,” it added.

On Friday, two Pakistani Police personnel, including an additional station house officer (SHO), were killed when armed assailants attacked a police patrol in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported.

According to the police, the attack took place near the Warsak Lift Canal in the Machni area, where a police mobile patrol was attacked by armed assailants. The police said an additional SHO and an elite force constable were killed in the attack, while the vehicle’s driver suffered injuries and was taken to Peshawar for treatment after receiving initial care, the Dawn reported.

According to the police, Fitna al Khawarij terrorists, a term used by Pakistan for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were behind the attack.

Police, district administration officials, and rescue teams reached the site of the incident after receiving reports regarding the incident and initiated a rescue operation.

The incident occurred amid a rise in attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in Pakistan, especially in the border provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The core of the dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is a problem of Islamabad, which was created by Pakistan’s own wars, policies, deals, betrayals and ideological infrastructure, according to a report.

According to Pakistan, the TTP operates from the territory of Afghanistan with the protection or at least toleration of the Afghan Taliban, while Kabul denies this and calls the TTP Pakistan’s internal problem.

"The TTP is indeed a Pakistani problem, created by Pakistan’s own wars, policies, deals, betrayals and ideological infrastructure. But it is also true that the Afghan Taliban’s victory gave the TTP oxygen, space, prestige, and morale. A movement that had survived in fragments suddenly saw its ideological cousins conquer Kabul. The message to every militant along the frontier was simple: patience works, jihad pays, the Americans leave, and states can be defeated," the Stringer Asia report said.

It said that the dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan is not over TTP and its sanctuaries across the Durand Line but the collapse of Pakistan’s strategic fantasy where Pakistan could outsource instability, manufacture Jihad and install ideological clients in Kabul.

"Pakistan is now asking the Afghan Taliban to do what Pakistan itself never did sincerely: dismantle a jihadist asset because it destabilises a neighbouring state. The irony is almost perfect. For decades, Islamabad asked the world to distinguish between useful and dangerous militants, between those who served Pakistani interests and those who attacked Pakistan. Now it faces a regime in Kabul that makes similar distinctions," the report noted.

According to the report, Pakistan's bombing of Afghanistan gives the Taliban a gift: nationalism, which can be a useful resource for the Taliban given their current situation in Kabul.

"The Pakistani state is now trapped in a triangle of its own making. Against Afghanistan, it wants coercive leverage. Against the TTP, it wants military victory. Against its own population, especially Pashtuns, it wants obedience and silence. But these three objectives collide. Bombing Afghanistan inflames Pashtun anger. Cracking down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa feeds alienation. Deporting Afghans strengthens anti-Pakistan sentiment in Kabul. Closing the border damages local economies and creates more resentment. Blaming everything on Afghanistan hides the domestic roots of the TTP but does nothing to remove them," the report said.

The report emphasised that Islamabad is fighting the consequences of its own imagination. Pakistani security is being torn open with blowback from the West, which is no longer its depth.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seven more children died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours until 8 a.m. on Sunday, raising the fatalities from confirmed and suspected measles in the country in 2026 to 738, local media reported.

The latest fatalities have been classified as suspected measles fatalities, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the latest fatalities, the total number of suspected measles cases in Bangladesh has increased to 645, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths stood at 93, United News of Bangladesh reported.

During the same period, 925 new suspected measles cases were reported in Bangladesh, raising the number of suspected cases nationwide to 105,618.

As many as 106 new confirmed measles cases were reported in Bangladesh, raising the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 12,632, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

Since March 15, a total of 88,844 patients with suspected measles have been admitted to hospital in Bangladesh. Among them, 85,122 people have recovered, according to the DGHS data.

Reports suggest that as the number of measles and suspected measles cases crossed the one lakh mark, infections continued to rise despite a vaccination drive covering 1.84 crore children in May.

In June, health experts cited the possible gaps in vaccination coverage in certain areas, along with weak infection control and prevention measures, as contributing factors. They warned that the onset of dengue season could further endanger children already infected with measles, increasing the risk of severe complications.

Public health expert Mushtuq Husain said that measles cases are failing to decline for two main reasons: vaccination coverage not reaching the 95 per cent threshold in all areas and inadequate adherence to infection prevention and control measures in hospitals and communities, Bangladesh’s leading newspaper The Daily Star reported.

He said that isolation and quarantine had largely been ignored despite being important components of outbreak management. He said that the vaccination campaign target was largely set online from offices due to time constraints, resulting in inaccurate planning, The Daily Star reported.

"As a result, many children may have remained unvaccinated," Husain said as he emphasised the importance of launching a vaccination campaign targeting all children aged below five years and a revised house-to-house microplanning approach to reduce measles cases.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a world driven by technology, energy plays a dominant role, and most countries have evolved special mechanisms to ensure affordable and sustainable resources, but Pakistan is facing an energy crisis due to policy failures, according to an article in the Pakistani media.

Pakistan was earlier an energy surplus nation due to the discovery of large Sui gas reserves in Balochistan province, but around 2002, shortages started to appear due to misuse and mismanagement and the gift of nature was consumed much ahead of its time, according to an article in the Karachi-based Business Recorder.

No serious work was carried out on other deposits and alternative fuel options. Coal that had fuelled the entire industrial revolution in the West was totally ignored, states the article by Dr Farid A Malik, an ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation

In the USA, after the oil embargo of the seventies, the then President Jimmy Carter promised his nation that the country would never face a fuel crisis again. A Department of Energy was created that started research on all possible energy options. Currently, shale gas is being used as an affordable source of energy. India has recently announced a massive programme based on gasification of their coal deposits, the article further states.

“Meanwhile, industries in Pakistan have become non-competitive due to high fuel costs. The hydel projects have not come online. Potential of Thar Coal is not being fully exploited. New gas discoveries have not been commissioned. The shale gas option has not been taken seriously. Sui gas was a gift of nature in the year 1952 and so is the Thar Coal in our times. In such circumstances, I am reminded of the words of the famous poet, Munir Niazi, who talked about the magical spell ('Asaib Ka Saya') on the nation that keeps holding us back. Some soul searching is required before it is too late," Dr Malik lamented in the article.

Despite resources and potential, the crisis persists mainly because of a lack of direction and gross mismanagement in Pakistan. The circular debts keep spiralling up, the article added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) A report published in Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Sun' blamed the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat, political actors associated with the nation's previous interim administration led by chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, for the economic difficulties that now confront it.

It mentioned that the challenges that are now being faced by the Bangladeshi economy are a result of "prevalent mob violence, unfettered extortion and arson attacks as well as forceful closures of businesses for not meeting illegitimate demands of influential Advisers for favours".

Therefore, the new BNP-led government has an unprecedented task of repairing the economy while creating opportunities for millions of youngsters entering the workforce.

Political observers in Bangladesh point to incidents such as the "display of religious symbols resembling flags of ISIS or Al-Qaeda during disputes involving football supporters and argue that such events may be intended to deepen social divisions and create law-and-order challenges", thereby serving a broader political objective of creating instability in the country.

There have been allegations against the Jamaat that it has "exploited individuals with radical ideological affiliations to instigate students of certain Madrasas to influence such incidents while avoiding direct political accountability. Such claims, however, require careful scrutiny and should be assessed on the basis of credible evidence".

Therefore, Daily Sun reports that the new Bangladeshi government's commitment to develop a more skilled workforce, promoting youth entrepreneurship, and modernising the economy offers an opportunity to take the country towards "higher-value employment and greater competitiveness".

"Success in these areas would allow many workers to transition from low-skilled labour to more productive and better-paying occupations, strengthening both household incomes and national economic resilience," it said.

The report highlighted that Bangladesh's budget for the financial year 2026-27 lays emphasis on supporting SMEs, freelancers, women entrepreneurs, startups, and the digital economy. Such focus areas reflect that the country's future prosperity depends "not only on industrial growth but also on innovation and entrepreneurship".

It was noted that apart from fiscal policy, economic recovery requires political stability, predictable governance, and a secure environment for businesses and investors. This is because proper maintenance of law and order in a country plays a huge rule in investment decisions.

According to the report, Bangladesh has an opportunity to move beyond cycles of confrontation and focus instead on growth, employment, and national development.

"Whether that opportunity is realised will depend not only on the government's economic policies but also on the willingness of all political actors, especially Jamaat and NCP, to place the country's long-term interests above their short-term political calculations and hunger for power grab."

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) China’s attempts to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan have yet to see any success, as the hostilities between the two neighbours seem to continue intensely, according to a report.

"Despite several mediation attempts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and China, the tensions have not faded away," said a report by The Diplomat.

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed not to escalate the situation after the Urumqi talks mediated by China during the first week of April, but the lull only lasted a few weeks till Taliban radio reported an artillery strike by Pakistan, which destroyed a health centre in Kunar province.

"While Pakistan and the Taliban are busy fighting, China is still trying to bring their conflict to an end. Beijing has started working toward a second round of talks to mediate the conflict. Chinese Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong met with Pakistani officials and the Taliban in May, separately, to review the progress after the Urumqi talks. China’s efforts appear to put its regional interests first, but the situation demands a more rigid, pragmatic solution addressing the concerns of both sides. Otherwise, the next round of talks are all but guaranteed to fail at delivering concrete results," the report said.

Pakistan has carried out more than 10 airstrikes across Afghanistan over the past five months, resulting in the deaths and injuries of more than 800 civilians, Afghan media outlet Tolo News reported. Citing its findings, the strikes targeted several Afghan provinces, including Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Kunar, Kabul, Nangarhar, and Kandahar, with civilians bearing the brunt of the casualties.

The attacks have also struck civilian infrastructure, including residential houses, hospitals, schools, and universities.

"Pakistan’s latest strike came a day after a bomb and gun attack on a Rangers facility in Sindh province’s capital city, Karachi. Pakistan’s military said in a statement that militants from the Jamaatul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the TTP, detonated an explosive at the entrance of the Rangers camp in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar neighbourhood of Karachi before opening fire on the paramilitary troops," the report said.

According to it, this attack is one of the most significant attacks in Karachi since the explosion in 2024, which targeted a Chinese convoy, resulting in the death of two Chinese nationals.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has slammed Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his recent statement on Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving Seychelles' highest environmental honour, with government sources describing him as "mentally unstable" and what his holding the post revealed about the current situation of Pakistan.

"That Khawaja Asif is mentally unstable is a known fact. That he could be entrusted with his current responsibility says much about today’s Pakistan. Clearly, he has no day job and passes time by making silly comments on matters of which he has little knowledge. Envy is always a bad motivation, particularly so from someone steeped in hate speech," a government source told IANS.

India's response came after Asif raised questions over PM Modi receiving Seychelles' highest environmental honour.

On June 28, PM Modi was conferred the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon', Seychelles' highest distinction for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.

PM Modi dedicated the honour to all the countries that are committed to environmental conservation and fighting climate change. He underlined that the recognition, at a time when India and Seychelles are celebrating 50 years of their diplomatic relations, would go a long way in further enhancing the special friendship.

The honour recognised PM Modi's longstanding commitment towards a greener planet, including the International Solar Alliance, Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant for Mother), International Big Cat Alliance, among others, according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

This was the latest in a series of global honours recognising PM Modi’s work on climate action, sustainable development, and green growth.

In May, PM Modi was conferred the 2026 Agricola Medal, the highest honour of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, during a ceremony held at the FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Earlier in 2018, he received the Seoul Peace Prize for advancing sustainable economic growth, global cooperation and inclusive development.

PM Modi was also conferred the Champions of the Earth Award 2018 for Policy Leadership by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at a ceremony held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) A powerful earthquake in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, could not only lead to widespread structural collapse but also trigger devastating fires through ruptured gas pipelines, electrical short circuits, and other secondary hazards, according to a media report.

According to specialists, fatalities often increase significantly when fires break out in the aftermath of earthquakes, particularly in densely populated urban areas where adequate preventive and emergency response measures are lacking, said the report published by leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star.

Essential utility services, including electricity, gas and water, can rapidly become major sources of danger during a strong earthquake. Damaged electrical lines can spark short circuits, ruptured gas pipelines can ignite large fires, while broken water supply systems can severely hamper firefighting efforts, it warned.

Experts cautioned that Dhaka remains especially vulnerable because of its dense urban landscape, where overhead electricity cables criss-cross much of the city while gas and water pipelines run beneath heavily congested roads and residential neighbourhoods.

In the event of a major earthquake, these interconnected systems could trigger a chain of disasters, particularly large-scale fires caused by gas leaks and electrical failures.

"During a strong earthquake, one of the most dangerous secondary effects in earthquake-prone cities is fire," The Daily Star quoted Mohammad Abu Sadeque, former Vice President of the Bangladesh Earthquake Society and Executive Director of the Centre for Housing and Building Research, as saying.

According to Sadeque, fires following earthquakes commonly originate from electrical short circuits. If a powerful tremor occurs during cooking hours, gas stoves can also become a major source of ignition.

During the night, however, electrical faults remain the primary cause of post-earthquake fires. He explained that such fires spread rapidly when underground gas pipelines rupture, allowing leaking gas to fuel the flames.

Sadeque further noted that earthquakes can also severely disrupt water supply systems. As pipelines break and water drains away, residents often face an acute shortage of water, making firefighting operations even more difficult while creating immediate hardship for households without stored water.

He warned that the threat is particularly high in cities such as Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram, where extensive underground gas pipeline networks significantly increase the risk of large-scale fires after a major earthquake.

Sadeque also stressed that fires caused by electrical short circuits can be minimised by installing automatic shut-off devices at the main electrical connection of buildings, allowing the power supply to be cut immediately during an emergency.

He added that hospitals depend heavily on early-warning alarm systems during earthquakes. Such alarms give doctors time to pause surgical procedures and safeguard patients.

He also emphasised that equipment such as oxygen cylinders must be securely anchored to prevent them from toppling over during strong tremors.

Following the recent Narsingdi earthquake, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal told The Daily Star that, besides firefighters deployed across the country, a 60-member Special Rescue Team has been kept on standby at Purbachal to respond to emergencies.

"If any fire station becomes unable to operate due to an earthquake, this reserve team will be deployed," he said.

"To strengthen earthquake preparedness, we are training 62,000 volunteers nationwide. So far, 55,000 have completed the training, while refresher courses are underway," he added.

Although Fire Service personnel receive specialised training in earthquake preparedness, public awareness and post-disaster rescue operations, the Director General cautioned that an earthquake of extremely high magnitude could still overwhelm the department's existing emergency response capacity.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) What began as a piece of intelligence received by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) about suspected extremist activity in North Gujarat has, investigators say, led to the unearthing of an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module that had been quietly taking shape over the past few months through a network of relatives, trusted associates and online contacts.

The ATS has arrested eight people from Banaskantha, Patan, Navsari, Mehsana and Madhya Pradesh, alleging that they were working on behalf of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed to establish an operational network in Gujarat.

All eight have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and have been remanded to 14 days' police custody as the investigation widens.

Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi said the case was the 11th terror-related case registered by the ATS over the past three-and-a-half years.

"Before this case, we had registered 10 separate cases under the UAPA and the BNS/IPC related to terrorist activities, in which 30 accused had been arrested. This is the 11th case in the last three-and-a-half years, in which eight accused have been arrested. Overall, we have arrested 38 accused during this period," he said.

According to the ATS, the investigation began after Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Harsh Upadhyay received intelligence that certain individuals from Banaskantha, Patan and nearby areas had become associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and were spreading its ideology in Gujarat.

A special team under ATS Superintendent of Police (SP) K.K. Siddharth was formed, combining technical surveillance with human intelligence.

"The surveillance continued for around one to two months before investigators confirmed the identities of the alleged members and simultaneously launched coordinated raids across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh," Joshi told IANS.

The arrests were carried out from multiple locations. Two of the accused, whom the ATS identifies as the principal members of the group, Ahmed Abdullah Gajivala (19) and Ibrahim Mohammad Husain Ghagha (30), were first detained while travelling separately in two vehicles near Nandasan.

Simultaneously, three others were arrested from a madrasa in Khadiyasan in Patan district, one from a madrasa in Chikhli in Navsari district, one from Banaskantha and another from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.

Investigators allege the group had recently created a local organisation under the name "Dar-ul-Islam Gujarat Jaish-e-Mohammed".

According to Joshi, the organisation consisted only of the eight accused and had existed for only a few months.

"This system that they created was formed only about five to six months ago. It is relatively new. They floated it among themselves about one-and-a-half to two months ago," he said.

The ATS alleges that although the formal organisation was recent, several members had been consuming and sharing extremist content online for much longer.

According to Joshi, some had been radicalised individually over the previous two to three years before eventually coming together as a single module.

"All of them have been active individually in their own ways. They became members of this particular group only recently. They already knew each other but carried out their activities separately. The module that we have uncovered came together only around two to four months ago," Joshi told IANS.

Investigators say the group's structure was deliberately kept small. Rather than recruiting widely, the accused allegedly sought only individuals they personally knew and trusted.

"They admitted that they would not induct anyone unless they believed the person genuinely supported jihad and would not act as a police informer. The aim was to maintain a tightly controlled core group capable of providing logistical support if instructed by handlers in future," officials confirmed.

The ATS alleges that the module maintained direct contact with Pakistani handlers, principally a person identified as "Abdullah" and another identified as "Mohammad Umar".

Joshi said Ahmed and Ibrahim appeared to have established the earliest contact with the handler, who allegedly issued instructions from Pakistan.

Investigators claim the group communicated using Indian mobile numbers through online platforms including Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp, while also using the encrypted storage platform NordLocker to exchange material.

One aspect of the investigation that investigators consider significant is an alleged meeting in Vadodara around two to three months ago.

According to Joshi, Ahmed and Ibrahim met an unidentified man whom investigators believe acted as an intermediary between the Pakistani handler and the Gujarat-based group.

The meeting allegedly took place in an open area near a highway after both sides were provided only GPS coordinates.

"The accused themselves were only given coordinates. They do not know how the other person travelled there. They simply identified each other after reaching the location and then held the meeting," Joshi told IANS.

According to the ATS, the man spoke with a Kashmiri accent, although investigators have not independently identified him.

Joshi said the accused told investigators that the individual provided books, literature and speeches related to Jaish-e-Mohammed, discussed jihad and the organisation for several hours, and advised them on maintaining secrecy, limiting their activities and operating cautiously.

"He can be described as a middleman between the handler and them," Joshi said, adding that investigators are continuing efforts to identify him.

Investigators further allege that the accused received Rs 3 lakh in cash from the Pakistani network using a "dead-drop" method.

According to Joshi, they were provided with a location somewhere between Rajasthan and Gujarat, where cash had already been concealed for collection.

"They were given the location, and they went there and collected it," he said, adding that the precise location would be disclosed only after investigators completed their examination of the site.

The ATS alleges that part of this money was used to purchase a second-hand vehicle costing around Rs 1.5 lakh, which has since been seized. Some of the remaining cash has also been recovered.

"The vehicle had not yet been transferred into the accused's name," officials added.

Investigators say the module's activities extended beyond online communication.

According to the ATS, members held regular physical meetings in Bhabhar and neighbouring villages, while the accused studying in Navsari periodically travelled to meet the others.

The ATS also alleges that they exchanged letters, translated literature and shared documents through encrypted digital platforms.

Among the material seized are mobile phones, handwritten letters, Urdu correspondence, books printed in Pakistan, audio and video files, photographs, translated literature and a hand-made Jaish-e-Mohammed flag.

Investigators recovered 254 digital files from NordLocker, including books, speeches, photographs, videos, audio recordings and images of the organisation's flag.

The ATS also alleges that two books written by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and printed in Pakistan were recovered, along with eight letters written in Urdu expressing a desire to join the organisation.

Investigators further claim they recovered Gujarati translations of "Dars-e-Jihad", a book attributed to Masood Azhar, which they allege were translated by two of the accused to help spread the organisation's ideology among Gujarati-speaking audiences.

Joshi said investigators also recovered handwritten translations, books and correspondence from the accused.

He alleged that members regularly watched videos and speeches by Masood Azhar, describing him as the ideological influence behind the group.

"His speeches mainly revolve around jihad. He covers many subjects, but the primary themes are anti-India propaganda and jihad. They were influenced by Azhar," Joshi said.

The ATS has also highlighted the close personal relationships among the accused. Most are from Bhabhar and neighbouring villages in Banaskantha district. Ahmed and Mudassir are brothers.

Zakariya Durrani and Bilal Durrani are also brothers, while Ibrahim is related to another accused through the maternal side of the family. Investigators believe these family and social ties played a significant role in maintaining secrecy and limiting recruitment.

Although four of the accused had links with two madrasas where they studied or taught, Joshi cautioned against drawing broader conclusions about the institutions themselves.

He said investigators had not found evidence that either madrasa was the origin of the alleged module or that the institutions had received terrorist funding.

"I have not found the madrasa to be the epicentre in my case. In this case, the epicentre is Ahmed and Ibrahim. The madrasa is not the origin point. If the organisation had originated from the madrasa, that would have been a different matter," Joshi told IANS.

He added that Ahmed and Ibrahim had introduced the Maulana to the group rather than the other way around, and that investigators currently had no evidence suggesting institutional involvement.

"As far as funding is concerned, we have not found that it came through the madrasa. That is a separate issue," officials said.

Investigators say none of the accused has any known criminal history and, so far, they have found no evidence that any had attended terrorist training camps.

They also say they have not established any direct connection between this case and previous ATS investigations involving alleged extremist networks or former members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

The ATS said it has not identified any specific target or planned attack linked to the group. Instead, investigators believe the alleged objective was to gradually establish a trusted support network that could provide logistical assistance to Jaish-e-Mohammed if called upon in future.

"So far, the investigation has not revealed any specific target. However, they were trying to establish a strong network here that could provide logistical support to a foreign proscribed terrorist organisation whenever required," Joshi said.

A case has been registered at the ATS Police Station against all eight accused under Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Sections 61 and 148 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

With the accused now in police custody, investigators are continuing to analyse seized mobile phones, encrypted communications, financial transactions and online accounts.

The ATS says it is also attempting to identify additional contacts within India and abroad, establish the identity of the alleged Kashmiri intermediary, verify the alleged dead-drop location used to transfer funds, and determine whether the network had progressed beyond the organisational stage before it was dismantled.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Cross-border shopping, particularly along the Nepal-India border, has emerged as the primary driver of Nepal's outbound tourism, according to the findings of a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The government's statistics body said in a domestic tourism survey, which also covered outbound tourism undertaken by Nepali residents, that Nepalis made more than 4.1 million trips abroad during the survey period from October 16, 2024, to October 15, 2025, to capture seasonality in travel patterns.

The survey recorded a total of 3.5 million same-day outbound trips and 622,000 overnight outbound trips during the reference period.

"During the survey period, shopping was the dominant purpose of same-day outbound travel, accounting for nearly two-thirds (63.9 per cent) of all same-day trips," the survey report titled Domestic Tourism Survey 2025 released on Thursday, revealed. "This highlights the importance of cross-border shopping, particularly along the Nepal-India border."

Nepal and India share a porous border, and relations between the two countries are often characterised as those of "roti-beti" (bread and daughter), reflecting close social and cultural ties. Besides cross-border movement for livelihood and marriage, cross-border commerce has also been an important feature of bilateral relations. Nepali residents in border regions frequently travel to Indian towns across the border to purchase essential goods, as they can buy them at relatively lower prices.

When the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah decided to enforce a rule requiring customs duty to be paid on goods brought from India worth more than NPR 100, it triggered strong protests from residents of border regions as well as Indian traders. Following the intervention of Nepal's Supreme Court, the government's move has since been halted.

According to the survey, India accounted for the largest number of same-day outbound trips by Nepali residents, underscoring the close economic and social ties, as well as the ease of cross-border movement, between the two countries.

Among the seven provinces of Nepal, Madhesh Province recorded the largest share of same-day outbound travel, while Lumbini accounted for the highest number of overnight outbound trips. Both provinces share borders with India.

The survey attributed the prominence of the two provinces to their extensive border connections with India, which facilitate travel for shopping, business, religious activities and social visits.

According to the survey, shopping activities accounted for 70.7 per cent of same-day outbound expenditure across Nepal's seven provinces.

Madhesh and Lumbini provinces, both of which share borders with India, recorded particularly high shares of shopping expenditure, reflecting strong cross-border purchasing activities with India. "Especially, the number of same-day trips to India is the highest among outbound tourism trips," the report stated.

In contrast, overnight outbound trips were largely driven by visits to friends and relatives (40.3 per cent), followed by health and medical treatment (19.6 per cent) and religious purposes (19.6 per cent).

Outbound travel by Nepali residents was highest during the November-January period, accounting for 50.2 per cent of same-day trips and 32.7 per cent of overnight trips.

"This pattern suggests a strong seasonal concentration of outbound travel, likely influenced by festivals and favourable travel periods," the report said.

Source: IANS

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