Clashes between India and Pakistan upend lives in a Kashmiri village

Clashes between India and Pakistan upend lives in a Kashmiri village
Nimarak holds her child as she inspects her house damaged by artillery shelling from Pakistan, in the border village of Gingal, north of Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir on May 14, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 17 May 2025
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Clashes between India and Pakistan upend lives in a Kashmiri village

Clashes between India and Pakistan upend lives in a Kashmiri village
  • Following May 10 truce, residents of Gingal returned to assess the damage
  • Those with intact or livable houses sheltered neighbors who had lost theirs

GINGAL: Mohammad Younis Khan was among 40 residents seeking shelter in a cowshed when shelling began in Gingal, a scenic mountain village in north Kashmir on the Indian-administered side of the de facto border with Pakistan. Men, women and children sought refuge in the 3-meter-by-4.2 meter (10-feet-by-14 feet) space, which they felt offered greater safety than their brick and cement homes.

Huddled together, they heard the swoosh and thunder of the projectiles being fired from both sides of the border. When they heard a very loud sound from just outside the shelter, they held their breath and expected the worst. But the projectile had landed on soft earth and detonated a couple of feet below the ground sparing them.

Younis, who could tell the outgoing projectiles from the incoming ones by the sound they made, described the impact outside “as if a lightning bolt had struck the ground.” They all feared that India and Pakistan were at war and they would not survive the night.

“We were so scared that we didn’t dare go out to a water tap just four feet away from the door even when the children were crying of thirst,” Younis told The Associated Press.

Mohammad Shafi and four family members were having dinner in their kitchen when they heard explosions and ran outside. They had just managed to reach the road when they saw a blast damage the kitchen they had been dining in. They ran down a slope and hid among trees.

It was the night of May 8, and the shelling had intensified from the previous evening. Nasreena Begum rushed out, leaving her special-needs son behind as he was too heavy to be carried. She was tormented but was relieved to find him safe at home the following morning.

Most residents left Gingal for the town of Baramulla about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south, where some saw their homes destroyed on TV or social media.

Naseer Ahmad, a Jammu & Kashmir police officer posted in south Kashmir, learned via Facebook that shelling damaged his Paranpillan home, instantly recognizable by the surprisingly intact large walnut tree beside it.

Following the May 10 ceasefire, residents of Gingal returned to assess the damage, finding their homes riddled with shrapnel. Those with intact or livable houses sheltered neighbors who had lost theirs.

About 160 kilometers (100 miles) south, the usually bustling tourist spot of Pahalgam is now quiet, its residents facing a different challenge. It was here when, on April 22, militants killed 26 tourists in the worst assault in years targeting civilians in the restive region.

Pahalgam, usually lively with May holidaymakers, is now deserted. Businesses are shuttered and tourist attractions within a 30-kilometer (18-mile) radius of the assault site are closed to locals and visitors alike.

Back in Gingal, Younis prays for peace.

“Where will we go if the clashes continue? Drones can reach anywhere,” he said. “Those who want war have never experienced it.”


Pakistan minister pushes for deeper UK trade links during Birmingham visit

Pakistan minister pushes for deeper UK trade links during Birmingham visit
Updated 37 sec ago
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Pakistan minister pushes for deeper UK trade links during Birmingham visit

Pakistan minister pushes for deeper UK trade links during Birmingham visit
  • Jam Kamal Khan pitches Pakistani exports in auto, processed food and EV sectors
  • Commerce ministry targets diaspora-led diplomacy to expand UK market footprint

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s commerce minister has met with key UK businesses and trade bodies in Birmingham, promoting deeper commercial ties and encouraging new investment in sectors beyond traditional textile exports, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Friday. 

Jam Kamal Khan, who is on an official visit to the United Kingdom, on Thursday held meetings with the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, major Pakistani food retailers and British firms in the Midlands, pitching Pakistan’s strengths in processed foods, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, and information technology.

Pakistan exported £2.5 billion worth of goods and services to the UK in 2024, while importing £2.2 billion, according to the UK government. Total trade between the two countries stands at £4.7 billion, up 7.3 percent from the previous year.

“Khan highlighted Pakistan’s readiness to diversify its export basket in alignment with the UK’s industrial needs,” APP reported. 

The minister emphasized Pakistan’s value proposition in supplying Birmingham’s advanced manufacturing and automotive sectors, citing “cost-effective production capabilities and expertise in light engineering and metal fabrication.”

During his engagements, the minister also “spotlighted Pakistan as a reliable partner” in Birmingham’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chains and renewable energy push. 

“He underscored opportunities under Pakistan’s National EV Policy... in areas such as battery technology and electric drivetrains,” APP added.

The visit also included a stop at Birmingham City Football Club, where the minister discussed community outreach and Pakistan’s role in manufacturing football equipment used in top global leagues.

Later, at food distributor Nouvo, which supplies major UK supermarkets, Khan met with retailers of Pakistani products and explored expanding halal-certified and ethnic food lines in the British market.

“These engagements underscore Pakistan’s renewed emphasis on industrial linkages, regional value chains, and diaspora-led commercial diplomacy,” the APP statement said.

The trip is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to deepen trade relations with key partners.

While the UK remains one of Pakistan’s top European export destinations, the country is also pursuing tariff concessions with the United States and courting Gulf investors under its Special Investment Facilitation Council.


Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to IBSF World Masters final in Bahrain

Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to IBSF World Masters final in Bahrain
Updated 14 min 17 sec ago
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Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to IBSF World Masters final in Bahrain

Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to IBSF World Masters final in Bahrain
  • Veteran Asif beats India’s Chandra 4-2 to secure title shot in Masters category
  • Teen cueist Hasnain Akhtar also reaches U-17 final after 4-0 win over Poland’s Nizialek

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif has qualified for the final of the Masters category at the IBSF World Snooker Championships in Bahrain, defeating India’s Manan Chandra 4-2 in the semifinal, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.

The 42‑year‑old from Faisalabad — a three‑time IBSF World Amateur Champion (2012, 2019, 2024) and recipient of Pakistan’s Pride of Performance Award in 2015 — took the first frame 118‑6 before conceding the next two, then reeled off three straight wins to secure his place in the final.

He will now face Brijesh Damani in the final, scheduled for Friday, 6pm Bahrain Time, 8pm PKT, the IBSF said in a post on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMOGw_2CAWt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“Another Pakistan cueist Hasnain Akhtar has also reached final in the U-17 category of IBSF World Masters Final after beating Oliwier Nizialek of Poland by 4-0,” Radio Pakistan reported. 

Asif qualified for the semifinals of the masters after defeating Habib Sabah (Bahrain) 4-0 (68(68)-8, 57-37, 68(68)-8, 40(40)-8) in the quarterfinal on Thursday.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Asif defeated Mohamed Shehab (UAE) 4-2 (56-68, 21-72, 57-21, 80(80)-0, 68-45(43), 68-58).

The IBSF World Snooker Championships are being held in Manama from July 13–24 and feature top amateur players in Masters and youth categories.

Pakistan has a long record of success in amateur snooker. 


Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’

Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’
Updated 34 min 24 sec ago
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Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’

Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’
  • Malik Shahzain Ahmed had ‘mistakenly’ boarded a Jeddah-bound flight instead of Lahore–Karachi flight on July 8
  • The passenger has requested court to suspend airline license until an investigation into the matter is completed

KARACHI: A Pakistani man, who was “mistakenly” flown to Saudi Arabia last week, has moved a high court against the private airline, Air Sial, according to the court petition, which accuses the airline of demonstrating “criminal negligence” in a matter of national security.

Malik Shahzain Ahmed, a resident of Karachi, was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi on July 8 on the private airline’s flight PF-146. However, he boarded an international flight to Jeddah without any visa or passport and was subsequently detained and deported by Saudi immigration authorities.

In a petition filed in the Sindh High Court on Friday, the passenger requested the court for an early hearing which the court accepted and fixed his plea for July 21. The complainant made the private airline and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) parties in his petition.

“This is a matter of national security. A JIT (joint investigation team) should be formed on this matter,” Ahmed said in his petition filed through his lawyer, Muhammad Nawaz Dahri.

“How did a person go abroad without a ticket, without a passport and other documents? This is criminal negligence of the private airline.”

Ahmed also accused the airline management of harassing him.

“The license of the private airline should be suspended until the investigation is completed,” he requested.

In a legal notice previously served to the airline, Ahmed said he was denied assistance by the airline and subjected to humiliation, distress. He said he faced “severe mental trauma” and had to purchase another ticket to return to Karachi.

The notice had accused the airline of violating the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014, citing “defective” service, lack of identity verification and “misleading representations regarding safety and professionalism.” It also alleged breaches of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Rules, 1994, the Pakistan Immigration Ordinance, 1979, and international air travel conventions, including the Montreal Convention of 1999.

In a statement after the incident was first reported by news channels, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said it had taken notice of the lapse and written letters to the civil aviation regulator and the station manager.

“In the letter, the civil aviation regulator has been requested to impose a heavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence,” PAA spokesman Saifullah, who goes by a single name, told Arab News.

Ahmed’s legal notice demanded a written response within two days alongside compensatory damages.

Air Sial has not publicly commented on the matter.


Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes

Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
Updated 18 July 2025
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Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes

Pakistan bans new hotel construction around tourist lakes
  • Unregulated construction of hotels, guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan has sparked major environmental concerns
  • The region is home to towering peaks looming over Old Silk Road, cherry orchards, glaciers and ice-blue lakes

GILGIT: Pakistan will ban for five years the construction of new hotels around picturesque lakes in the north that attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, a government agency said.

Unregulated construction of hotels and guest houses in Gilgit-Baltistan — which boasts around 13,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth outside the polar regions — has sparked major concerns about environmental degradation.

The natural beauty of the region has made it a top tourist destination, with towering peaks looming over the Old Silk Road, and a highway transporting tourists between cherry orchards, glaciers, and ice-blue lakes.

However, in recent years construction has exploded led by companies from outside the region, straining water and power resources, and increasing waste.

“If we let them construct hotels at such pace, there will be a forest of concrete,” Khadim Hussain, a senior official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority told AFP on Friday.

“People don’t visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty,” he added.

Last month, a foreign tourist posted a video on Instagram — which quickly went viral — alleging wastewater was being discharged by a hotel into Lake Attabad, which serves as a freshwater source for Hunza.

The next day, authorities fined the hotel more than $5,000.

Asif Sakhi, a political activist and resident of the Hunza Valley, welcomed the ban.

“We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development,” he said, adding hotel construction was “destroying our natural lakes and rivers.”

Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and local resident of the valley, also praised the ban, saying he believes “protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone’s responsibility.”


What is The Resistance Front, designated by US as ‘terrorist’ group?

What is The Resistance Front, designated by US as ‘terrorist’ group?
Updated 18 July 2025
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What is The Resistance Front, designated by US as ‘terrorist’ group?

What is The Resistance Front, designated by US as ‘terrorist’ group?
  • US designation follows April attack in Kashmir that killed 26, later claimed by group online
  • Indian officials link TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Islamabad denies official complicity in attack 

The US government has designated The Resistance Front, also known as the Kashmir Resistance, as a ” foreign terrorist organization” following an April 22 militant attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. The group initially took responsibility for the attack in Pahalgam before denying it days later. Following are some facts about the group.

WHAT IS TRF?

TRF emerged in 2019 and is considered an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a Delhi-based think tank.

Indian security officials said TRF uses the name Kashmir Resistance on social media and online forums, where it claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack in Indian Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.

Lashkar-e-Taiba, listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, is the Islamist group accused of plotting attacks in India and in the West, including the three-day assault on Mumbai in November 2008.

“This is basically a front of the LeT. These are groups which have been created over the last years, particularly when Pakistan was under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force and they were trying to create a pattern of denial that they were involved in terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Ajai Sahni, head of the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

HOW HAS THE PROBE ADVANCED?

On June 22, India’s anti-terror National Investigation Agency said it had arrested two men who harbored three militants involved in the Pahalgam attack.

The agency said in a statement that the arrested men had revealed the identities of the attackers, and confirmed they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the

Lashkar-e-Taiba. Islamabad denies any involvement. 

WHAT HAS THE GROUP DONE?

The group has not previously had any large incidents attributed to it, according to Sahni.

“All TRF operations are essentially LeT operations. There will be some measure of operational freedom as to where they hit on the ground, but the sanction would have come from the LeT,” Sahni said.

WHAT DOES INDIA SAY ABOUT TRF?

India’s interior ministry told parliament in 2023 that the group had been involved in the planning of killings of security force personnel and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.

The group also coordinated the recruitment of militants and the smuggling of weapons and narcotics across the border, the ministry said.

Intelligence officials told Reuters that TRF had also been issuing online threats against pro-India groups for the past two years.

WHAT DOES PAKISTAN SAY?

Pakistan has denied that it supports and funds militants in Kashmir, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support.