Islamabad to send dossier to world powers urging action against Indian ‘aggression’

Islamabad to send dossier to world powers urging action against Indian ‘aggression’
Indian army soldiers stand next to an anti-aircraft gun at Akhnoor sector near the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, in Jammu region on May 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 20 May 2025
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Islamabad to send dossier to world powers urging action against Indian ‘aggression’

Islamabad to send dossier to world powers urging action against Indian ‘aggression’
  • India struck what it said were ‘terrorist camps’ in multiple Pakistani cities this month, leading to a four-day military conflict between the arch-foes
  • The dossier will be presented to foreign capitals by a high-level delegation tasked with effectively presenting Pakistan’s case before the world

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be sending a dossier, which outlines the chain of events in its military standoff with India this month, to world powers to urge them to hold New Delhi accountable for its “aggression and attacks on civilian population” in Pakistan.

The dossier will be presented to foreign capitals by a high-level delegation formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week. The delegation, led by former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, is tasked with effectively presenting Pakistan’s case before the world.

The document, seen by Arab News, contains details of an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, India’s subsequent strikes against Pakistan and Islamabad’s response to them, the ensuing four-day military standoff, international media coverage, images of the attacked sites, and specifics of Pakistan’s countermeasures.

“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to regional peace and stability and international community must hold India accountable for its aggression and attack on innocent women and children,” the dossier reads.

India blamed the April 22 attack that killed 26 people on Pakistan and on May 7, New Delhi attacked what it called “terrorist camps” in multiple Pakistani cities. Islamabad has denied complicity and called for an international probe into the assault.

The four-day military conflict came to a halt after United States (US) President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10, offering to help settle longstanding dispute between the two nations.

The Pakistani dossier says that India had repeatedly used “false-flag operations” and its immediate blaming of Pakistan for the attack raised “serious concerns about the integrity of its claims” as standard investigative procedures required time and forensic examination.

“The Pahalgam incident followed the same pattern of manipulation and manufactured provocation,” the dossier says, noting that Pakistan sought evidence from India and proposed a joint investigation.

“However, these proposals were not only rejected by India but India also continued to attack civilians inside Pakistan.”

Members of Pakistan’s high-level delegation, tasked with visiting London, Washington, Paris and Brussels, described this outreach to the international community as “absolutely imperative.”

“The region stands at a key inflection point in the wake of India’s unprovoked aggression and its egregious reshaping and deliberate distortion of facts as active state-sponsored disinformation,” Senator Sherry Rehman, a member of the Pakistani delegation, told Arab News.

“We have obviously prepared a detailed dossier that documents not just recent violations but also India’s longstanding record of state-sponsored terrorism inside Pakistan,” she said, adding that Pakistan has chosen diplomacy over escalation.

“This dossier is not a political tool, it is a factual record of aggression and hybrid warfare, including India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which constitutes a grave violation of international law and a weaponization of water against civilian populations.”

Rehman said the aim of the delegation will be to reinforce Pakistan’s position as a responsible state, seeking peaceful resolution “through diplomacy and facts, not aggression or media manipulation.”

“It is also to seek global support for de-escalation frameworks, including calls for renewed dialogue on Kashmir as a flashpoint, and to safeguard regional water security through multilateral oversight,” she added.

India suspended on April 23 the World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 that ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, saying it would last until “Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”

Separatist groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of backing the militants, Islamabad denies it and says it only supports Kashmiris diplomatically and politically.

Jalil Abbas Jillani, another Pakistani delegate and a former foreign secretary, said it is extremely important for Pakistan to share its concerns over the aggressive Indian behavior, genesis of the Kashmir dispute, and violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and its implications on peace and stability in the region.

“The delegation will also apprise the international community of the support being extended by India to terrorist outfits like BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] and TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], etc,” he told Arab News.

New Delhi denies supporting the BLA, TTP or any such groups in Pakistan. India has also sent multiple all-party delegations abroad to extend its diplomatic outreach over the recent conflict.

Former Pakistani diplomats and experts called the submission of the dossier a “right approach” by Pakistan to brief the world about Indian actions.

“Pakistan’s recent step of submitting yet another dossier is again a step in the right direction as India has been selling its narrative on false grounds,” former Pakistani ambassador to the United Kingdom Nafees Zakaria told Arab News.

He said there was no reason for the international community not to pay due attention to Pakistan’s “evidence-based dossier” against India.

“Western world led by the US, which sees India as its lynchpin in the region as a counterweight to the rising powers China and Russia, has been looking the other way, which allowed India to indulge in criminal activities and subversion with impunity,” he said, adding that Pakistan must present its narrative and rigorously pursue it to ensure that India is “called to account and pays for its crimes.”

Former foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary said Pakistan needed to convey its perspective as India had hardly presented any evidence to the world to support its accusations, which resulted in the military standoff.

“It should be a proactive agenda on our part, meaning we should compile dossiers on India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan, evidence for which is now plentiful,” he told Arab News.

He said India had better accepted the offer made by President Donald Trump to sit and talk with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

“The sooner India does that the better it would be for it and for the peace in the region,” he added.

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part.


Locals in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley call for action against hotels ‘polluting’ Attabad Lake

Locals in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley call for action against hotels ‘polluting’ Attabad Lake
Updated 5 sec ago
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Locals in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley call for action against hotels ‘polluting’ Attabad Lake

Locals in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley call for action against hotels ‘polluting’ Attabad Lake
  • After a foreign vlogger’s video went viral, officials sealed part of Luxus Hunza Attabad Lake Resort, imposed $5,300 fine
  • Resort denies allegations of dumping sewage into the lake, says such actions “would be like desecrating our own house”

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: Local social activists in Pakistan’s northern Hunza Valley are demanding strict action against hotels operating around Attabad Lake for failing to meet environmental standards, after a video by a foreign vlogger alleging untreated sewage discharge into the lake went viral on social media this week.

Attabad Lake was formed in 2010 when a massive landslide blocked the Hunza River, killing 20 people and submerging villages and a stretch of the strategic Karakoram Highway that links Pakistan to China. Over the years, the lake has become a major tourist attraction, driving a boom in hotel construction along its banks.

Following the viral video by travel vlogger George Buckley, officials from the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA) and local administration inspected the hotel’s premises and sewage facilities on Tuesday.

“We have fined Rs 1.5 million ($5,300) on [Luxus Hunza Attabad Lake Resort] hotel after the inspection,” Khadim Hussain, a director at the EPA, confirmed to Arab News.

“A portion of the resort has been sealed for the period of three months. And if they don’t develop a waste treatment plan within the stipulated period of time, the [whole] facility will be sealed and imposed more fines.”

He added: “The action against the hotels that are not complying [with] environmental standards continues in the region before the video of a foreign vlogger.”

Residents say pollution caused by unchecked hotel expansion is now threatening Attabad Lake’s clear blue water, which draws thousands of tourists every year.

“Solid waste is becoming a big issue in the surrounding areas of Attabad Lake and especially on river banks due to the construction of hotels,” Shahid Hussain, a local social activist and politician, told Arab News by phone.

“When the level of the water [in the lake] increases during summer, the level of sewage waste in soakage pits also rises and merges into the lake. This is deteriorating the natural beauty of Attabad Lake.”

He stressed:

“The environmental protection authority has fined one hotel. And this is not a permanent solution. The administration and EPA should give a proper mechanism to protect nature and clean water.”

Another activist, Zahoor Ilahi, echoed the call for tougher enforcement.

“Initially, when locals started to build miniature resorts and hotels, the municipal and district administration teased the locals in the name of NOC [No Objection Certificate],” he said.

“Later big investors came to the region and built big hotels, and there is no treatment plant for sewage waste. If the [Luxus] hotel has no treatment plan, then the whole resort should be sealed instead of imposing a fine on them.”

Ilahi warned that untreated wastewater could also threaten local drinking water projects:

“A project is underway to supply drinking water from Attabad Lake for central Hunza under a federal PSDP project. So, the protection of clean water is very much needed. If the government fails to protect the clean water, it will multiply the miseries of locals.”

In a Facebook post, the Luxus Resort rejected the allegations.

“Attabad Lake formed in 2010. Before Luxus Hunza opened its doors to tourists in 2019, no one had experienced this majestic lake up close. This lake has been home for us for the last six years. It is the reason and purpose of our existence. To dump sewage water into the lake would be like desecrating our own house. We have never nor will we ever dump a single liter of waste water into Attabad Lake,” the hotel management said.

It added that the cloudy appearance of the lake near the hotel was due to natural sediment from mountain streams mixing with the clear lake water, not sewage discharge.

Arab News attempted to contact a representative of Luxus Hotel Hunza for further comment but did not receive a response by the time of filing this report.
 


Pakistan’s second Congo virus death for 2025 confirmed in Karachi

Pakistan’s second Congo virus death for 2025 confirmed in Karachi
Updated 24 min 49 sec ago
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Pakistan’s second Congo virus death for 2025 confirmed in Karachi

Pakistan’s second Congo virus death for 2025 confirmed in Karachi
  • 25-year-old fisherman butchered animals for two days during Eid Al-Adha, developed fever, muscle pain and bleeding complications
  • 42-year-old man from Karachi’s Malir district died on June 17, marking Pakistan’s first confirmed fatality from tick-borne virus in 2025

KARACHI: A 25-year-old fisherman has died from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Karachi, health authorities confirmed on Thursday, marking Pakistan’s second fatality from the tick-borne virus this year.

The patient, Mohammad Zubair, a resident of Qur’angi Creek in Bin Qasim Town, butchered animals for two days during Eid Al-Adha earlier this month and developed high-grade fever, muscle pain and bleeding complications days later, according to a report by the District Health Officer (DHO) Malir.

“Active search of case was done surrounding that area, no any other case was found,” the official notification said, adding that Zubair’s family members were stable and showing no symptoms of the disease.

This comes just days after a 42-year-old man, also from Karachi’s Malir district, died of CCHF on June 17. According to the Sindh Health Department, his test report came back positive a day earlier, making him the province’s first confirmed fatality from the virus this year.

The Congo virus, which has a fatality rate ranging between 10 to 40 percent depending on timely treatment and the patient’s condition, is endemic in parts of Africa, Europe and Asia. In Pakistan, infections often spike around Eid Al-Adha, when millions of animals are bought, transported and slaughtered, increasing human exposure to infected ticks and animal blood.

Local health teams have carried out community awareness sessions in Karachi’s affected areas and advised residents to use protective clothing and follow hygiene measures when handling livestock.

There is currently no approved vaccine for the Congo virus, though experimental trials are underway in Europe.

Pakistan reported its first case of CCHF in 1976 and continues to see sporadic outbreaks, particularly in rural areas and provinces like Balochistan, which recorded 23 cases and five deaths last year.


Three Pakistani schools among Top 10 finalists for World’s Best School Prizes 2025

Three Pakistani schools among Top 10 finalists for World’s Best School Prizes 2025
Updated 32 min 57 sec ago
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Three Pakistani schools among Top 10 finalists for World’s Best School Prizes 2025

Three Pakistani schools among Top 10 finalists for World’s Best School Prizes 2025
  • Finalists are Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust School, Nordic International School, Beaconhouse College Program Juniper Campus
  • The winners and finalists of the global schools prizes will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on November 15–16

ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani schools have this week been named among the Top 10 finalists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025, prestigious global awards founded by T4 Education to spotlight exceptional schools transforming education and communities.

T4 Education is a global digital platform and community founded to empower teachers and schools to share best practices and drive positive change in education worldwide. It launched the World’s Best School Prizes to spotlight schools making an exceptional impact beyond the classroom.

Winners of the five World’s Best School Prizes — for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives — will be announced in October following evaluation by an expert Judging Academy and a global public vote. Finalists and winners will share their insights at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi in November.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif commended the management, teachers and students of the three Pakistani schools: the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary School and Nordic International School, both in Lahore, and the Beaconhouse College Program Juniper Campus in Quetta.

“These schools have made a name for themselves in terms of modern curriculum, research, technology, environment, development of backward and rural areas,” Sharif said in a statement released by his office.

“These educational institutions have made the country’s name known all over the world.”

Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary School in Lahore has been shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity. The charity school, which began in an abandoned factory, now educates nearly 800 students from marginalized backgrounds through the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program. It is the first in Pakistan to offer this curriculum to underserved communities, empowering students with critical 21st-century skills and bridging socio-economic divides.

Beaconhouse College Program, Juniper Campus, Quetta, is a finalist for the Community Collaboration prize for its “Science Gaari” initiative — a student-led mobile science lab bringing hands-on STEM education to remote schools in Balochistan, one of Pakistan’s most underserved provinces. The project has reached over 150 schools, boosting science engagement and inspiring rural students to pursue careers in technology and research.

Nordic International School Lahore has also been named a finalist for Community Collaboration. The independent school emphasizes strong parental involvement and a culture of kindness to foster a supportive learning environment. Parents are engaged throughout students’ academic journeys via an interactive app, regular workshops, and celebrations of learning milestones.

“It is in schools like Sanjan Nagar, BCP Juniper Campus Quetta, and Nordic International School Lahore where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future,” T4 Education Founder Vikas Pota said.


Pakistan prepares for early rollout of Hajj 2026 registration

Pakistan prepares for early rollout of Hajj 2026 registration
Updated 19 June 2025
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Pakistan prepares for early rollout of Hajj 2026 registration

Pakistan prepares for early rollout of Hajj 2026 registration
  • Move follows directive from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
  • Pakistan sent more than 115,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs is finalizing preparations to launch early registration for both private and government Hajj 2026 schemes to streamline the pilgrimage process, state media reported on Wednesday.

The move follows a directive from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to begin preparations for Hajj 2026 well in advance.

This year’s Hajj pilgrimage took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of worshippers to Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent more than 115,000 pilgrims under both government and private schemes.

“The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is finalizing preparations to begin early registration for Hajj 2026 within the next few days,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.

It added that advance registration would be mandatory for all intending pilgrims under both the government and private schemes and applicants would have to submit a specified token amount with their registration forms, which would later be adjusted against the total Hajj package cost.

Only designated banks will be authorized to handle registrations, which will be a prerequisite for eligibility under the Hajj 2026 program, APP said.

Pilgrims will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes after completing the initial registration process.

Individuals who missed this year’s Hajj under the private scheme must complete a fresh registration to be eligible for Hajj 2026, according to the APP report.

“The registration data will be shared with the Saudi authorities, who will use it to allocate Pakistan’s official Hajj quota,” APP said.

A formal advertisement detailing the registration procedure and eligibility requirements will be issued in the coming days.

Pakistan’s Director General Hajj, Abdul Wahab Soomro, said this week the government would strive to make next year’s pilgrimage “even better” for pilgrims, with improved facilities, especially for the elderly.

Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operations on June 11 with the arrival of a Pakistan International Airlines flight, PK-732, in Islamabad carrying 307 pilgrims. The flights are expected to conclude by July 10.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, more than 11,400 pilgrims, including around 3,000 from Madinah, have returned to Pakistan so far.


At least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis and Egyptians, feared dead after Libya shipwrecks

At least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis and Egyptians, feared dead after Libya shipwrecks
Updated 19 June 2025
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At least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis and Egyptians, feared dead after Libya shipwrecks

At least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis and Egyptians, feared dead after Libya shipwrecks
  • First ship went down on June 12 near port in Tripoli, with 21 people reported missing and only five survivors found
  • Second wreck took place about 35km off the port city of Tobruk, with sole survivor reporting 39 people lost at sea

TRIPOLI, Libya: At least 60 migrants including Pakistanis and Egyptians are feared dead after a pair of shipwrecks off the coast of Libya over the past week, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The first ship went down on June 12 near a Libyan port in Tripoli, with 21 people, including women and children, reported missing and only five survivors found, the IOM said in a statement Tuesday.

Those lost at sea included Eritrean, Pakistani, Egyptian and Sudanese nationals.

The second wreck took place about 35 kilometers (20 miles) off the port city of Tobruk, with the sole survivor reporting 39 people lost at sea, according to the UN body.

“With dozens feared dead and entire families left in anguish, IOM is once again urging the international community to scale up search and rescue operations and guarantee safe, predictable disembarkation for survivors,” said Othman Belbeisi, the IOM’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

According to the statement, at least 743 people have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

The deadly route, it said, is “marked by increasingly dangerous smuggling practices, limited rescue capacity and growing restrictions on humanitarian operations.”

As of June 15, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, migrant landings on the Italian coast were up 15 percent year on year, with most originating in Libya.