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‘Civilian death toll in Gaza too high’

Lloyd Austin tells Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that humanitarian aid reaching Palestinian enclave ‘far too low’…reports Asian Lite News

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that the civilian death toll is “far too high” in the Gaza Strip, a day after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

Speaking at the start of a meeting with Gallant on Tuesday in Washington, DC, Austin said the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza also remains “far too low”.

“Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, and the situation is getting even worse,” the Pentagon chief said.

“And we need immediate increases in assistance to avert famine, and our work to open a temporary humanitarian corridor by sea will help, but the key is still expanding aid deliveries by land.”

Israel has blocked the entry of critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza, prompting warnings that the Palestinian territory is facing “famine-like conditions”.

Gallant’s trip to the US capital also came as the UN Security Council voted on Monday in favour of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive in early October.

The US abstained from that ceasefire vote instead of using its veto, a move that experts said highlighted President Joe Biden’s frustrations with the Israeli leadership, including most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu slammed the Biden administration for failing to block the measure and rejected a planned visit to the US by an Israeli government delegation.

US and Israeli media outlets have reported that Gallant was travelling to Washington to request more expedited weapon shipments.

The Israeli defence minister said on Tuesday that he planned to discuss US-Israel cooperation to “ensure Israel’s military edge and capabilities” in his meeting with Austin.

Despite increased criticism of Israel’s policies in Gaza, US officials have stressed that they will continue to provide Israel with the weapons it needs for the war. On Monday, the US Department of State said it had received “credible” assurances from Israel that US arms are not being used in violation of international humanitarian law.

That assessment outraged Palestinian rights advocates who have accused Israel of rampant abuses and genocide in the conflict.

On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that the Biden administration had not yet reached a final conclusion on whether Israel has violated international humanitarian law in Gaza.

“But those are processes that are very much ongoing,” Miller said.

He added that the administration has to submit a report to Congress by May 8 in line with a US national security memorandum on how countries, including Israel, use American-supplied weapons.

‘Attack on Rafah not the way to defeat Hamas’

The US has again urged Israel to abandon plans for a major ground operation in Rafah, where more than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are hemmed in after months of fighting in Gaza.

“We share Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas,” US ambassador Robert Wood told the UN Security Council on Tuesday, “but a major military ground operation in Rafah is not the way to do it.

“It risks killing more civilians, it risks wreaking greater havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance. And so our advice to Israel is, there is a better way.”

Wood also said Washington is working to dramatically step up humanitarian aid into Gaza, “where not enough assistance is reaching civilians in need.”

He said: “The reality is that children are starving to death because humanitarian assistance can’t reach them. Children should not be dying of malnutrition in Gaza, or anywhere else for that matter. A 100 percent of the population of Gaza is experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity.”

After 170 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas, the UN Security Council on Monday adopted Resolution 2728, calling for a cessation of hostilities during the holy month, leading “to a lasting, sustainable ceasefire.”

In addition, the resolution calls for Hamas and other militant groups to release all hostages taken on Oct. 7.

It also demands that all involved in the conflict “comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain,” and emphasizes “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to, and reinforce the protection of civilians in, the entire Gaza Strip.”

The resolution reiterates a demand for the lifting of “all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale.” Wood expressed regret that the resolution failed to condemn the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7, and “its sexual violence.”

“There is no excuse, let me repeat, no excuse for the Security Council’s failure to condemn Hamas’ terrorism. This council needs to condemn Hamas,” he said.

Guyana’s Deputy Permanent Representative Stephanie Savory told the council that “from all indications, yesterday’s resolution is not being adhered to.”

ALSO READ: Gaza Bloodshed Continues Despite UNSC Resolution

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Philippines President Thanks Indian Navy for Rescue Efforts


The comments were conveyed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who visited the country this week to bolster bilateral ties and discuss shared regional concerns….reports Asian Lite News

Bongbong Marcos, President of the Philippines, lauded and thanked the Indian Navy and the government for their swift and decisive action in rescuing Filipino seafarers after they were attacked by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden this month.

The remarks were expressed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar who arrived in the country this week to strengthen bilateral relations and engage on regional issues of mutual concern.

“I express my profound gratitude to the Indian government for their swift and decisive action in rescuing Filipino seafarers involved in the MV True Confidence incident,” Marcos said in a Facebook Post.

“I look forward to further strengthening our bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of our nations,” Marcos added.

The Barbados-flagged bulk carrier MV True Confidence was attacked by Houthi rebels, approximately 55 nautical miles southwest of Aden on March 6, leading to a fire onboard in which the crew members sustained critical injuries.

Responding to the incident, INS Kolkata arrived at the scene and rescued 21 Filipino crew members from the life raft using its integral helicopter and boats, and provided critical medical aid to those injured.

The Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Enrique Manalo, also spoke about the rescue of MV True Confidence by INS Kolkata during an interaction with EAM Jaishankar.

Manalo was also briefed about the Indian Navy’s deployments in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats.

EAM Jaishankar has embarked on a three-nation tour to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, from March 23-27, to strengthen bilateral relations.

In June 2023, India and the Philippines co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in New Delhi during which both sides acknowledged that they have a shared interest in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

ALSO READ: Indian Crew on Singapore Ship Safe After Baltimore Crash

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Rise in blasphemy cases amidst Pakistan’s increasing radicalisation

Since 1990, at least 65 people have been lynched on false blasphemy charges across the country. Several dozens men and women remain on death row. Last year, 330 people were accused of blasphemy in 180 cases. In Punjab, there are 587 prisoners in various jails, of these 515 are under trial, including 508 male, six female, and one juvenile prisoner, all charged with blasphemy … A special report on Pakistan’s blasphemy cases by Dr Sakariya Kareem

A mentally disturbed woman was falsely charged and sentenced to life imprisonment under draconian blasphemy law in Pakistan in the latest in a series of punishments meted out by the state against women, minorities and other deprived sections of the society.

The woman, accused of burning pages of the Quran, strongly refused to dishonour the holy book but the judge was adamant to believe the prosecution story despite several flaws. The foremost being that the complainant was the local police which was not present at the time of alleged incident. A neighbour had complained to the police but was not listed as the complainant.

In March 2024, two students, aged 17 and 22, were given life imprisonment for sharing an alleged blasphemous media on WhatsApp. Both the youngsters denied the charges but the judge was not inclined to believe them, as always.

A month earlier, in February, a tiny ray of hope came in the form of the Supreme Court Chief Justice setting an Ahmadi man free in a blasphemy case. There was a sudden outburst of protest among the Sunni community. The fire was stoked by extremist group, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) which took to the streets in different parts of Pakistan against the Chief Justice. In several madrasas across Punjab, protest meetings were held where threats were issued to the Chief Justice.

The protests spread like wildfire across the country–Ahmadi places of worship were demolished in Karachi, in Bahawalpur, an Ahmadi leader was shot, in Kotli graves were destroyed and in Faisalabad, a protest was organised outside the biggest hospital. A year ago, a rampaging mob, led by TLP leaders, had torched several churches, Christian homes and shops in Punjab over false blasphemy charges. The two of the accused have since been released from charges.

One recent incident summed up the vicious atmosphere in Pakistan. In Lahore’s Ichhra market, one young woman came out to shop when she was surrounded by shouting, aggressive men. Her fault was that she wore a dress with Arabic notings printed on it. The mob accused her of blasphemy although the word had a connection with Islam. The horrified woman could have been lynched there and then but for a brave young woman police officer who confronted the mob and took the girl away to safety.

She could have become just another statistic–the number of persons killed in blasphemy cases. Since 1990, at least 65 people have been lynched on false blasphemy charges across the country. Several dozen men and women remain on death row. Last year, 330 people were accused of blasphemy in 180 cases. In Punjab, there are 587 prisoners in various jails, of these 515 are under trial, including 508 males, six females, and one juvenile prisoner, all charged with blasphemy.

Between 1987 and 2023, over 2,449 people had been accused of blasphemy–the highest number of accused were 1,279 Muslims, followed by 782 Ahmadis. The highest number of cases (1770) were reported in Punjab (72%).

The state is not merely a spectator in this morbid game. It is complicit, an active partner in enforcing a series of laws that favour false accusations and put innocents on the gallows. Or being lynched or shot as former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer had been. He was killed by his bodyguard who blamed him for supporting a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, accused of blasphemy. His death led to the birth of TLP, an extremist group which the state has been using to punish minorities for raising their voice against injustice in a country which is increasingly becoming a radical Islamist state.

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Indian Crew on Singapore Ship Safe After Baltimore Crash

The ship was bound from Baltimore to Colombo….reports Asian Lite News

The 22-member crew on the Singapore-flagged container ship, which collided with a bridge in the US Baltimore city early on Tuesday, causing it to collapse, were all Indians and all are safe, as per the shipping company.

“Owners and managers of the Singapore-flagged container ship ‘DALI’ (IMO 9697428) report that the vessel collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore whilst under pilotage with two pilots onboard, at approximately 01.30 local time on 26th March,” the Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.

“All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution,” it said, listing the crew as “All Indian, 22 in total”.

The ship was bound from Baltimore to Colombo.

Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘DALI’ has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service, it said, adding that the US Coast Guard and local officials have been notified, and the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan.

US officials said that the ship crew had reported power issues before the collision and Maryland Governor Wes Moore said they had saved lives by their timely warning, media reports said

Some vehicles and people fell into the water following the collision and a search is on for at least six missing people, as per media reports.

ALSO READ: PM Modi Congratulates Belgian PM on Nuclear Summit, Discusses Bilateral Ties

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Israel Pulls Negotiators as Hamas Snubs Truce Offer

Israel has said that it will not relent to many of the demands put forward by the meditators, including Qatar and Egypt on behalf of the Hamas side….reports Asian Lite News

Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar after Hamas rejected its latest offer on a hostage deal and truce, an Israeli official said.

The delegation led by the Mossad chief, David Barnea, had been in Doha for eight days.

Israel has said that it will not relent to many of the demands put forward by the meditators, including Qatar and Egypt on behalf of the Hamas side.

According to sources in the Israel defence ministry, Hamas had again put forward a demand of a total ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops and rehabilitation of Palestinians in northern Gaza from the south where they have been staying as refugees since the war broke out.

Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on Tuesday night said, “Hamas wanted a permanent ceasefire and its decision to reject a US brokered compromise was clear proof of it not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security council resolution.”

The statement also said, “Israel won’t cave into delusional demands made by Hamas.”

The hawks in the Israeli establishment, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were not willing for even a temporary truce. This is owing to the military intelligence reports that Hamas military infrastructure has crumbled and only four battalions were remaining in southern Gaza and that it was only a matter of time before Hamas caves in.

The IDF chief has also briefed the Israel war cabinet that it was only a matter of time for the army to defeat Hamas and to take out its elusive and dreaded leader, Yahya Sinwar — the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 massacre.

The Israel defence ministry sources told IANS that the Hamas was trying to buy time and was expecting an escalation of violence in the West Bank area by the Hezbollah side before the end of Holy Ramzan month, which would force Israel to enter into mediation at the behest of international pressure.

ALSO READ: US and Israel clash over UN ceasefire demand  

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Six Killed, Including Five Chinese, in Pakistan Suicide Blast

China’s Gezhouba Group Company is involved in the construction of a major hydroelectric dam in the Dasu area, which has been a target in the past as well….reports Asian Lite News

In a suicide attack, six people, including five Chinese nationals, were killed after the vehicle in which they were travelling was targeted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Besham city in Shangla district, media reports said.

Police said the attackers crashed their vehicle full of explosives into the car carrying Chinese engineers who were going to Dasu camp in Kohistan from Islamabad, the Geo News reported on Tuesday.

The car’s driver, who was a Pakistani national, succumbed to his injuries during treatment in a hospital.

A search operation was launched in the area for the suspects after a heavy contingent of security personnel arrived at the site and cordoned off the area.

China’s Gezhouba Group Company is involved in the construction of a major hydroelectric dam in the Dasu area, which has been a target in the past as well.

A bus explosion in 2021 in the region had killed 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased.

A statement issued by PPP’s media cell on X said that Bilawal extended condolences to the Chinese government and called for severe punishment for those involved in the attack.

The safety of Chinese workers has long been an area of concern in Pakistan with a convoy of Chinese engineers attacked in Balochistan province by armed rebels last year.

Dasu is the site of a major hydroelectric dam, under construction by the China Gezhouba Group Company, and the area has been attacked in the past.

ALSO READ: Infiltrate Pakistan, Afghan Taliban tell TTP

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India Backs Philippines, Strong Protest on South China Sea

S. Jaishankar extended his support to the nation, and called on all countries to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India firmly supports the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty after the latter lodged “strongest protest” against Chinese action in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines summoned a Chinese diplomat on Monday, following a “water cannon assault” by the country’s coast guard that injured Filipino navymen and heavily damaged their boat last week.

Addressing a press briefing in the capital alongside Enrique Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, S. Jaishankar extended his support to the nation, and called on all countries to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“As a nation deeply invested in this region (The Philippines), because of its Act East policy and Indo Pacific…, India follows all developments with great interest. We are also convinced that the progress and prosperity of this region is best served by staunch adherence to the rules-based order,” he said.

Stating that all parties must adhere to UNCLOS 1982 in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit, he said: “I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty.”

There have been repeated confrontations between Manila and Beijing in recent months owing to their long history of maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Following Manila’s protest, China described its actions as “lawful regulation, interception and expulsion” of a foreign vessel that “tried to forcefully intrude” into Chinese waters.

UNCLOS establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans.

India has been supporting freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, reflected notably in the UNCLOS 1982.

The two leaders discussed shared interest in ensuring maritime safety, given that the two nations contribute so much to the global shipping industry.

As two seafaring nations of the Indo-Pacific, the EAM said that bilateral maritime cooperation holds great potential as he highlighted that the two nations signed agreements on enhanced maritime cooperation last year.

He also briefed his Filipino counterpart about the Indian Navy’s deployments of the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats.

The EAM emphasised that India’s partnership with the Philippines also has a larger context in terms of engagement with the ASEAN as the Southeast Asian nation will take over as New Delhi’s country coordinator later this year.

“We look forward to its steering India-ASEAN cooperation, especially in regard to reviewing the trade agreement, to building connectivity and to deepening people-to-people contacts.”

Further, the Minister stressed that as the world changes, it is essential for countries like India and the Philippines to cooperate more closely to shape the emerging order.

Keeping this in mind, the two nations discussed a range of global and regional issues, ranging from the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indo-Pacific to Myanmar and Ukraine.

“These convergences based on expanding bilateral partnerships today drive the upward trajectory of our ties,” Dr Jaishankar said.

The Minister has embarked on a three-nation tour to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, from March 23 – 27, to strengthen bilateral relations.

In June 2023, EAM Jaishankar and Manalo co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

The two leaders held wide-ranging and substantive discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern, according to an MEA release.

Acknowledging that both countries have a shared interest in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, the two nations underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international laws.

ALSO READ: In Memoriam: India Marks 4 Years Since Lockdown

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Infiltrate Pakistan, Afghan Taliban tell TTP

Yahya asserts that “all Mujahideen are prepared to follow the orders of Amir al-Mu’minin” and are committed to combating Pakistan….reports Asian Lite News

 An Afghan Taliban commander, Yahya, has delivered an inciteful speech against Pakistan’s security forces in which he calls on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadre to “infiltrate Pakistan and take revenge”, media reports said.

In a leaked video, Yahya is seen addressing a gathering full of terrorists of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group — a faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Geo News reported.

Yahya asserts that “all Mujahideen are prepared to follow the orders of Amir al-Mu’minin” and are committed to combating Pakistan.

He provides instructions on how the militants “should infiltrate Pakistan and emphasises not leaving any wounded individuals behind,” Express Tribune reported.

In the leaked video, which is said to have emerged from the Dangar Algad area in Afghanistan, the terrorists are seen gathered around the commander who talks about planning an attack directed towards the security forces of Pakistan at the Pak-Afghan border, Geo News reported.

Yayha is seen giving instructions to the militants, emphasising being ready to take revenge on Pakistan.

In the video, the terrorists were also seen agreeing to fight against Pakistan, the report said.

In the video, Yahya can be heard addressing the armed men, including a suicide bomber, in Pashto. Discussing the details of an impending attack, he informs the militants that “there will be six rocket launchers and six assistants, along with two laser operators and their assistants, as well as a sniper,” Express Tribune reported.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Gears Up to Repatriate One Million Afghans

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Pakistan Gears Up to Repatriate One Million Afghans

No date has yet been announced but the campaign to repatriate hundreds of thousands of ACC holders could begin in early to mid-summer….reports Asian Lite News

 Pakistan has started preparations to launch the second phase of its repatriation drive to send nearly one million Afghans back to their homeland, the media reported.

Instructions had been issued to district administrations and police to expedite the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, Dawn reported.

No date has yet been announced but the campaign to repatriate hundreds of thousands of ACC holders could begin in early to mid-summer.

According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, there are 2.18 million documented Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This includes the 1.3 million refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards as per the census carried in 2006-07, as well as an additional 880,000 refugees granted ACCs following a registration drive in 2017.

The return of Taliban to power in August 2021 saw another influx of worried Afghans into Pakistan.

Officials put their numbers anywhere between 6,00,000 and 8,00,000, some with valid travel documents, but an uncertain future.

Pakistan launched the first round of repatriation of what it called “undocumented aliens” in November last year, Dawn reported.

No official data has been released as to how many of the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans have left for their country since November 2023, though the figure likely fell hugely short of what is now being considered a grossly exaggerated number, the report said.

According to sources, the total number of undocumented Afghans who have returned to Afghanistan via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in the first round stands at around the half million-mark, Dawn reported.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Mulls Trade Restart with India

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North Korea Says Japan’s PM Offered to Meet Kim Soon

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his intention to hold a summit with Kim Jong-un…reports Asian Lite News

A summit meeting between North Korea’s Kim Jong-un with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would only be possible if Tokyo make a political decision “in actuality,” Yonhap News agency reported on Monday citing the influential sister of the North Korea’s supreme leader.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his intention to hold a summit with Kim Jong-un, an English-language statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), quoted Kim Yo-jong, who serves as the vice department director of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, Yonhap said.

“Shortly ago, Kishida, through another channel, conveyed his intention to personally meet the President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as soon as possible,” Kim Yo-jong said, according to the Seoul-based news agency which cited KCNA.

Yonhap citing KCNA reported Kim as saying, “If Japan truly wants to improve the bilateral relations and contribute to ensuring regional peace and stability as a close neighbor of the DPRK, it is necessary for it to make a political decision for strategic option conformed to its overall interests.”

Meanwhile, Kishida said in parliament on Monday that his administration has lobbied for a possible meeting with the North Korean leader, though he is not aware of the report. The prime minister stressed the importance of summit talks to secure the return of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the past, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported.

In 2002, Kim’s father, then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, met with then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang, and admitted that North Korean agents kidnapped 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in Japanese culture and language.

North Korea then allowed five of those abducted to make a temporary visit to their homeland, saying eight others were dead.

Japan refused to return the five and called on the North to repatriate their family members in the North.

Japan has no formal diplomatic relations with North Korea.

Kim stressed that North Korea will not be a security threat to Japan in any case should Japan respect North Korea’s sovereignty and security in a fair and equal manner, according to the KCNA. (ANI)

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