Tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan are rapidly escalating, as Pakistan’s defense chief warned of a “clear and present” threat of nuclear war.
India launched a powerful airstrike campaign dubbed Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued emergency directives on Monday ordering civil defense drills across key northern states, including the volatile Jammu and Kashmir region and territories bordering Pakistan. The move follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed dozens of tourists and has reignited hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The U.S. State Department urged India and Pakistan on Sunday to work toward a "responsible solution" following a deadly Islamist militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution last week designating March 23 as “Pakistan Day” to honor the contributions of Pakistani Texans and commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Lahore Resolution. The resolution, authored by Rep. Suleman Lalani, recognizes the estimated 80,000 Pakistanis living in Texas and celebrates their cultural and economic impact on the state.
The Pakistani military confirmed Wednesday that 21 hostages were killed after separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked a train in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The BLA, claiming responsibility for the attack, asserted that it had killed 50 people.
The British government is refusing to release data on the number of grooming gang rapists deported from the country, intensifying public criticism over its handling of the issue. The Home Office, responsible for immigration enforcement, has declined to disclose deportation statistics for foreign grooming gang members, according to The Telegraph.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an international arms embargo and a halt to all trade with Israel on Thursday, aiming to isolate the Jewish state over its actions in the Middle East.
