ISLAMABAD, 22 November 2021, (TON): Islamabad has rebuked the Indian defence minister for making “highly irresponsible, provocative and gratuitous remarks”, saying that Pakistan was fully capable of defending itself against any aggression.

According to the Indian media “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said that India will not deter from crossing over into Pakistan’s territory and conduct airstrikes.”

Responding to Indian warmongering, the Foreign Office in a statement issued on Sunday said that the minister’s remarks were “delusional” and reflective of New Delhi’s hostility towards its neighbours.

The statement added “India’s smear campaign against Pakistan has been totally exposed and discredited. It has no takers in the international community.”

“It is no secret that Indian leaders engage in falsehoods and fantasies while pointing fingers at neighbours including Pakistan.”

In doing so, the FO added, India wanted to divert the attention of the international community from the widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the Indian occupation forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

ISLAMABAD, 22 November 2021, (TON): National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf said “consensus on the Kashmir issue and national security was imperative to safeguard Pakistan's supreme national interest.”

In an interview, the NSA said “the government believed in consensus and dialogue to address all the internal and external threats being faced by the country.”

Commenting on Pakistan-India relations, he regretted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appeared as the most fascist leader in the world after Hitler.

Dr Yusuf also expressed serious concerns over massive human rights violations, brutalities and atrocities being committed by Indian troops against innocent Kashmiris in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking about the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, he warned that Pakistan will not allow the new Afghan government to carry out activities from Afghan soil against any country.

NEW DELHI, 22 November 2021, (TON): Apparently unimpressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of the decision to withdraw three contentious farm laws, India's agitating farmers vowed to continue their protests till formal scrapping of the legislations.

Sources said the Indian Cabinet at its meeting is likely to approve fresh bills for scrapping the three farm laws, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Modi, in a televised address to the nation, had said his government would initiate the constitutional proceedings so that the three laws are rescinded in the coming winter session of parliament, starting on November 29.

The three laws were passed by the Indian parliament in September 2020.

The farmers also demanded a law for guaranteeing minimum support prices and withdrawal of the police cases filed against many of them since last year.

Balbir Singh Rajewal told the media at Delhi's border "we have discussed the repeal of farm laws. After this, some decisions were taken. The pre-decided programmes of Sanyukta Kisam Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers, will continue as it is.”

NAYPYITAW, 22 November 2021, (TON): The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), a body formed to bring together forces opposed to the coup regime that seized power in February, said “it would continue its efforts to broaden its alliance against Myanmar’s junta.”

The group, a coalition of elected MPs, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), and other anti-regime groups, held its first online press conference on Tuesday to outline its goals.

Focussing on a message likely to appeal to groups still sitting on the sidelines of the movement that it seeks to spearhead, the NUCC said that beyond removing the junta from power, it also had a roadmap for establishing a federal democratic system.

It also stressed that it would not be dominated by any single organization or individual as it sought to reach both its long- and short-term objectives.

Min Ko Naing of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society activist group, said “our organization will not be led by a single person. It will be more like a collective leadership.”

Currently including eight EAOs and several political parties, as well as a number of armed resistance groups that have emerged in the wake of the coup, the NUCC said that it was in discussions with other groups that have yet to join the coalition.

NAYPYITAW, 22 November 2021, (TON): The Myanmar Navy has released the 22 Bangladeshi fishermen who were detained while fishing near Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal.

They were released along with their four trawlers in the early hours of Sunday, St Martin's Union Parishad Chairman Nur Ahmed told media.

Nur had said after the incident “the Bangladeshi men were detained from the east side of the island by the neighbouring country’s naval forces at around 9:30am on Saturday.”

Nur said “he had spoken to some of the fishermen over the phone. They said all of them were taken on board a Myanmar Navy ship and their trawlers were towed.”

Teknaf UNO Parvez Chowdhury had said the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Coast Guard had been informed about the situation and urged to take immediate action.

DHAKA, 22 November 2021, (TON): The premier hopes the Armed Forces will take the nation forward in the spirit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Liberation War.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the members of the Armed Forces to uphold the glory of the country by contributing to its development activities alongside protecting its sovereignty.

She said while addressing a civic and military gathering “I believe you can earn admiration everywhere by your discipline and professions and can uphold the glory of the country by contributing to the development activities alongside protecting its sovereignty.”

The prime minister attended the reception at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment, virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Hasina said “father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed the Bangladesh Army should be the people’s army.”

She hoped that the Armed Forces will take the nation forward imbued with the ideology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the spirit of the Liberation War.

DHAKA, 22 November 2021, (TON): Chiefs of the three services the army, navy and air force paid a courtesy call on President M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Sunday evening.

Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, met their supreme commander at 7:30pm, on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day.

After the meeting, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said that the three chiefs apprised the President of the various activities of the army, navy and air force on the occasion.

Expressing satisfaction over the overall activities of the Armed Forces Division, the head of the state hoped that through this celebration, the new generation would be able to know about the AFD's contribution to the country's Great War of Liberation.

RIYADH, 21 November 2021, (TON): The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is hosting its 18th ordinary session in Jeddah.

The five-day session will be attended by representatives of both member and observer states of the organization, including national human rights institutions, and specialists from international and regional organizations.

The agenda of the session includes issues of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in member states of the OIC, in addition to violations of human rights in Palestine and Kashmir.

It will also host meetings for four of its working groups, covering Palestine, the rights of women and children, Islamophobia and Muslim minorities, and the right to development.

Decisions will be taken regarding the establishment of a future work plan for the commission.

LONDON, 21 November 2021, (TON): The British ambassador to Yemen called on the Houthis to immediately release two Yemeni UN employees who are being detained by the militia.

Richard Oppenheim said “the UK is alarmed by reports of detention of UN staff in Yemen.”

The ambassador said “Aid workers must be allowed to do their work for the people of Yemen.”

One of the Yemeni men detained by the Houthis works for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the other works for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said “UN officials were given assurances by senior Houthi officials that the men would be released.” However, they are still being detained.

KABUL, 21 November 2021, (TON): A number of Kabul residents and businessmen said “the prices of some primary items, mainly food and fuel, have increased by almost 100 percent compared to last year.”

Rahimullah, a shopkeeper said “last year the price of oil was from 1,050 to 1,200 Afs, but now it has reached 2,500 Afs.”

Samiullah, a shopkeeper said “a person whose income is 5,000 Afs per month cannot buy more than two items; a bag of flour and a can of oil.”

The rise of food prices concerns many Kabul residents.

Omid, a Kabul resident said “prices have risen a lot, last year a bag of flour was 1,300 Afs, but now it has risen to 2,300 Afs. Oil’s price was 1,200 Afs, but now it has reached to 2,200Afs.”

In the meantime, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said they will try to reduce the prices of food items in cooperation with the neighboring countries.