New Delhi, June 06, 2025: Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has hailed India for its retaliatory strikes against Pakistan and opined that the ceasefire reached between the two countries after ‘Operation Sindoor’ must not have been an easy decision.

In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18’s Zakka Jacob, Marles also praised the stoppage of military action between India and Pakistan as an act of Indian leadership.

On being asked about the Pahalgam incident and India retaliating to such terror attacks, Marles said, “Firstly, we met with the news of what happened in Pahalgam with utter shock.”

“This was an appalling attack, and (Australian) Prime Minister Albanese personally spoke to Prime Minister Modi almost immediately after these events to extend condolences to India in respect of the loss of lives,” he said.

“Even today, we reiterated that solidarity. We stand with India and with all countries to combat terrorism, and we wanna continue to work with India in combating terrorism in all its forms around the world,” the Australian Deputy Prime Minister said.

Also commenting on the ceasefire between the two countries, Marles said he views that as an act of Indian leadership.

“We do acknowledge and welcome the stoppage in military activity. We actually see that as an act of Indian leadership,” he said.

“We see that there was an act of terror that we condemn, and in simple terms, we stand with India as we stand with all countries seeking to combat terrorism, and that’s where the strikes stand,” Marles said on being asked if people tend to forget the reason behind India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’.

“We look forward to working with India to combat terrorism in all its forms,” the Australian Deputy Prime Minister reiterated.

“Our Prime Minister very quickly extended his condolences and shock over the incident and the loss of lives,” Marles said, on being asked if his country stands with India in its right to defend against such terror attacks.

Further into the conversation, as Marles was asked to elaborate on his remark on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and that he views that as an “act of Indian leadership”, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister said, “We see that, fundamentally, as an act of Indian leadership and we want to acknowledge that in the language we express our appreciation for the stoppage of the military activity.”

“In the same breath, we see that as not an easy decision,” he added.

Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediation between India and Pakistan, Marles told CNN-News18, “Every country has an interest in living in a peaceful world, and we all appreciate the stoppage in the military activity, and we do acknowledge that this was an act of the Indian leadership.”

As many as 26 tourists were killed and several others were injured in a terrorist attack in Baisaran valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

Among the victims were 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.

In response to the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7 and targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the killing of more than 100 terrorists.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.

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A Pakistan MP said that Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released over fears of an attack by New Delhi.

On Wednesday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told Parliament that Army chief General Bajwa was perspiring and his “legs were shaking” when Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that India would have attacked “that night at 10 pm” if Pakistan did not release Abhinandan.

Reacting to Sadiq’s remarks, Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said “there was no pressure on Pakistan at all regarding the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan.”

“The Government of Pakistan took the decision as a gesture of peace, which was appreciated by the international community,” PTI quoted him as saying.

The Wing Commander had landed across the border after an aerial dogfight following the Balakot airstrikes by New Delhi  last year. Before his jet was hit, Varthaman had downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.

Sadiq, however, did not mention when the meeting between the top Pakistani officials were held.

The statement prompted BJP chief J P Nadda to target Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of not believing in anything “Indian” and “mocking” the armed forces.

Sharing a video clipping of the speech by the Pakistani leader, Nadda tweeted: “Congress’ princeling does not believe anything Indian, be it our Army, our Government, our Citizens. So, here is something from his ‘Most Trusted Nation’, Pakistan. Hopefully now he sees some light…”

“Congress Party premised it’s entire campaign around keeping our armed forces weak. They mocked our armed forces, questioned their valour and tried every trick to ensure India doesn’t get latest Rafale Planes. The people India rejected such politics and punished Congress,” he tweeted.

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Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan questioned France Emanual Macrons mental health, while Muslims in several countries are demanding a boycott of France.

Marking his second sharp criticism against Macron in two days, Erdogan said on Sunday that the French president had “lost his mind”, prompting France’s foreign minister to recall the country’s ambassador in Ankara.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is also speaking the same language of Turkey, accusing the French President of spreading Islamophobia. He further said that Emmanuel Macron has no understanding of Islam. It also summoned French Ambassador Marc Barety on Monday to lodge a “strong protest” against the publication of caricatures on the Prophet and comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Pakistan reiterated that freedom of expression should not be misused as means to attack or hurt public sentiments or religious beliefs and fan inter-religious hatred, hostility and confrontation. Amid the political barbs, neither Erdogan nor Imran Khan has publicly condemned the killing of the French teacher. The general secretariat of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was among several bodies and groups that have denounced the killing.

Although most countries in Europe are secular and leaders there are always proud of being secular. European leaders have been afraid of Islamophobia, as they feared if this word is added to their name then their political branding will get damaged.

The French debate on Islam was deepened after the beheading of a teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad – previously published by a satirical magazine – in a class on freedom of expression. Muslims believe that any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous.

On Friday, the cartoons were projected onto government buildings in France. Earlier this month, Macron described Islam as a religion “in crisis” worldwide and vowed to present a bill in December to strengthen a law that officially separated church and state in France.

Since Friday, social media has been awash with criticism of Macron in countries from west to east, including the UK, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

People are pouring out their feelings under the English hashtags #BoycottFrenchProducts and #Islam and #NeverTheProphet in Arabic.

The social media campaign has led to several Arab trade associations to announce their boycotts of French products.

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The gunmen attacked the building with grenades and guns, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told news agency . “Four attackers have been killed, they had come in a silver Corolla car,” Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told news agency .

No terror group has claimed the responsibility of the attack. The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) tweeted that “the situation is still unfolding”. “There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation,” one of the posts read.

PSX@pakstockexgltd

There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation.

See PSX’s other Tweets :

“We will issue a more detailed statement in due course once the situation is under control and more details are known. For now firing has stopped and reinforcement are in place,” another tweet read.

Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident. “Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs,” he said on Twitter.

Imran Ismail
@ImranIsmailPTI

Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs.

Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and political and ethnic violence, with heavily armed groups tied to politicians frequently gunning down opponents and launching attacks on residential areas, news agency AFP reported.

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“At this moment, we stand at historic cross-roads. Our Government’s decisions and actions will have serious bearings on how the future generations perceive us. Those who lead us bear the weight of a solemn duty. And in our democracy that responsibility rests with the office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must always be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on our Nation’s security as also strategic and territorial interests,” Singh said.

He added, “China is brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso Lake by committing multiple incursions between April 2020 till date. We cannot and will not be cowed down by threats and intimidation nor permit a compromise with our territorial integrity. The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further.”

The senior Congress leader also reminded the government “that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership. The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements”.

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“China is in the middle of a significant modernisation of its nuclear arsenal. It is developing a so-called nuclear triad for the first time, made up of new land- and sea-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft,” the report warned.

“India and Pakistan are slowly increasing the size and diversity of their nuclear forces, while North Korea continues to prioritise its military nuclear programme as a central element of its national security strategy,” it said.

In its 2019 report, SIPRI had said that China’s nuclear arsenal contained 290 warheads while India’s had 130-140. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was calculated at 150-160, a number which remains the same in this year’s assessment.

According to the report, Russia tops the table with 6,375 warheads, followed by the US with 5,800, and the UK with 215 warheads. The figures have been updated till January 2020.

The nuclear arsenals of the other nuclear-armed states are considerably smaller but all these states are either developing or deploying new weapon systems or have announced their intention to do so, the report said.

“The nine nuclear-armed states – the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea – together possessed an estimated 13,400 nuclear weapons at the start of 2020. This marked a decrease from the 13,865 nuclear weapons that SIPRI estimated these states possessed at the beginning of 2019,” the report said.

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Then-Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has summarily rejected the charge that he molested Cynthia D. Ritchie at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad.

She has also accused then Pakistan Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin of physically assaulting her on a different occasion. Cynthia D. Ritchie was said to be really close to Makhdoom Shabuddin at the time of the incident.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said it was a disgrace to respond to the allegation . US blogger Cynthia D Ritchie claimed that Rehman Malik, then Pak interior minister, raped her. She also accused former PM Yousaf Gilani and former minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin of manhandling her.

A person of my stature cannot think of it. I may have gone to Presidency to meet the president or with a delegation, and how could such nonsense thing happen there,” he said as his party battled with the questions raised by Cynthia D. Ritchie in a video on Facebook.

“Can a prime minister ever commit such an act at the Aiwan-e-Sadr,” he asked, “Who gave her the right to accuse politicians like this?”

“I am not worried about what was said about me. I am more concerned about the baseless accusations leveled at Shaheed Benazir,” Yousaf Raza Gilani said responding to the allegations against him. Cynthia D. Ritchie has made several remarks about the assassinated Prime Minister and PPP icon Benazir Bhutto’s sex life and her fascination for sex toys and young boys.

Cynthia D. Ritchie’s charges have drawn support from many on social media as #CynthiaPrideofPakistan trended on Twitter soon after she spoke about the sexual assault. Members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have come out in support of her.

The other Opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has not revealed its stance and is feared to be the next target of Cynthia’s plan to expose the Opposition. She has promised to expose PML(N) as well. She has made it clear that PPP leaders were not the only ones who indulged in sexual exploitation of women.

Cynthia D Ritchie said, “My story is deeply emotional. Even my family has not known until now. I’ve tried to be positive & promote the softer side of Pakistan but have also experienced the very bad. I wish to tell my truth one time so that women, transgenders, locals can understand they are not alone.”

“This is not an indictment of PPP, as I have been mistreated by men from various parties,” she posted this on Twitter, adding, “However the majority of my cases, including two more (I) have not mentioned were either Pakistani lobbyist or second-tier PPP.”

“Many loved BB, and the original message I was trying to convey was this was disgusting language used by men about BB who seem to be obsessed with raping women or enjoy telling fantasized stories of rape to women. The rape culture must stop. Women must work together to educate children re: what’s not ok & defend themselves against predators,” she wrote.

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At least five people have died, while six have recovered from COVID-19 so far, according to the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Of the total 799 virus cases, Sindh province accounted for with 352 cases, Punjab 225, Balochistan 104, Gilgit-Baltistan 71, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 31, Islamabad 15 and 1 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

However, private media houses said there were at least 803 COVID-19 cases in the country with six deaths.
In a special corps commanders’ conference, chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the military leadership resolved to put together all resources to defeat the novel coronavirus.

The COAS reviewed the countrywide spread of COVID-19 and the Army’s readiness to assist the civil administration.

The coronavirus outbreak resulted in the low-key celebrations of the annual Pakistan Day.
Pakistan Day recognises the resolution passed by the then All India Muslim League on March 23, 1940 which demanded a separate country.

The day is traditionally marked by a colourful military and cultural parade in capital Islamabad. However, all planned events were cancelled on Monday.

In separate messages, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the people to show utmost unity, discipline and passion to fight the coronavirus.

“The Pakistani nation has the capability to face any ordeal and God willing, we will stand victorious in this test,” Prime Minister Khan said.

Mr. Khan on Sunday ruled out a complete nationwide lockdown, saying it will create chaos. However, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan provincial governments declared lockdowns on Sunday midnight.

Reports showed the police patrolling major cities of Sindh, including Karachi, and arresting persons seen outside homes.

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The container was unloaded from a cargo ship in Kemari port area on Sunday night.

“The initial investigation showed that as soon as people from Jackson market opened the container fumes emanated from it and people had difficulty in breathing and lost consciousness,” DIG Sharjeel Kharal told reporters.

“They were taken to a nearby private hospital where four people died while 15 are under treatment,” Kharal said.

He said police have sought details of the cargo ship from the port authorities and the Pakistani navy.

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इस हिसाब से तो अल्लामा इकबाल का लिखा सारे जहां अच्छा हिंदोस्ता हमारा पर भी बैन हो जानी चाहिये . सारे जहां से अच्छा इस गीत को प्रसिद्ध शायर मुहम्मद इक़बाल ने १९०५ में लिखा था और सबसे पहले सरकारी कालेज, लाहौर में पढ़कर सुनाया था। यह इक़बाल की रचना बंग-ए-दारा में शामिल है। उस समय इक़बाल लाहौर के सरकारी कालेज में व्याख्याता थे। यहां तक कि इंकलाब जिंदाबाद का नारा भी उर्दू से आया है . अरे भाई कम से कम शायरी और साहित्य को तो मुल्कों में मत बांटों .

पंछी नदिया पवन के झोंके कोई सरहद ना इसे रोके .अगर हम सचमुच कला को भी बांटने लगे तो लगता है कि गुलाम अली और मेंहदी हसन को भी सुनना मुशिकल हो जायेगा . फिर बात निकलेगी तो दूर तलक जायेगी क्योकि तब तो दिलीप कुमार पाकिस्तान से आये थे और आडवाणी जी भी .नूरजहां भी पाकिस्तान चली गयीं और सहादत हसन मंटो भी तो क्या सबको बैन कर देंगे . वो भी आईआईटी जैसी जगह पर जब इस तरह की बात होती है तो लगता है कि हम सचमुच आदिम युग की तरफ पहुंचकर ही मानेंगे .

इसेआईआईटी के फैकेल्टी डॉक्टर वासी शर्मा ने इस वीडियो के साथ इसकी लिखित शिकायत डायरेक्टर से की है. आईआईटी प्रशासन शुरू से इस शिकायत को चुप्पी साध रहा था, आज कई दिनों के बाद आईआईटी डायरेक्टर इस मामले में सफाई देते हुए बोले की मामले की जांच हो रही है. आईआईटी प्रशासन ने इसकी जांच के लिए डिप्टी डायरेक्टर मणीन्द्र अग्रवाल के नेतृत्व में एक टीम नियुक्त की है. पूरे मामले की जांच कर रही है. जांच रिपोर्ट आने के बाद दोषियों पर कड़ी कार्रवाही की जाएगी.

पाकिस्तान के मशहूर शायर फैज़ अहमद फैज़ का जन्म 13 फरवरी, 1911 में पंजाब के नरोवल जिले में हुआ फैज़ शायर होने के साथ-साथ पत्रकार भी थे. भारत-पाकिस्तान बंटवारे के बाद फैज पाकिस्तान में रह गए. अपनी शायरी के जरिए फैज़ ने पाकिस्तान की हुकूमत के खिलाफ आवाज़ उठानी शुरू कर दी. फैज़ की कलम की धार उस समय और बगावती हो गई जब 1977 में जिया-उल-हक़ ने फैज़ के दोस्त जुल्फिकार अली भुट्टो का तख्ता पलट कर दिया और 3 साल बाद जुल्फिकार अली भुट्टो को फांसी दे दी तब फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़ की कलम से निकली नज़्म ‘हम देखेंगे लाज़िम है कि हम भी देखेंगे’.

ये है उनकी वह नज्म जिस पर विवाद हो गया है:

बस नाम रहेगा अल्लाह का
जो ग़ायब भी है हाज़िर भी
जो नाज़िर भी है मंज़र भी
उठेगा अन-अल-हक़ का नारा
जो मैं भी हूं और तुम भी हो
और राज करेगी खल्क-ए-ख़ुदा
जो मैं भी हूं और तुम भी हो
हम देखेंगे
लाज़िम है कि हम भी देखेंगे

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