United News of Bangladesh

Hundreds of mourners in Pakistan on Thursday attended the funerals of three schoolgirls and two soldiers killed in a suicide bombing that targeted a school bus. The girls, aged 10 to 16, were students at the Army Public School in Khuzdar, a city in Balochistan, local authorities said. Another 53 people were wounded, including 39 children, on Wednesday when the bomber drove a car into the school bus in Khuzdar.  Kashmir tourism bears the brunt after tourist massacre and India-Pakistan military strikes No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the deadliest targeting schoolchildren in recent years. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, has claimed most of the previous attacks in the southwestern province. Both the BLA and the Pakistani Taliban typically refrain from taking responsibility for attacks that result in civilian or child casualties. The BLA has led a long-running separatist insurgency in Balochistan. The U.S. designated the group a terrorist organization in 2019.  Thailand to tighten cannabis rules amid rise in smuggling Pakistan’s military and government blamed rival India for the attack without offering any evidence. India has not commented. India and Pakistan this month fought a four-day conflict before agreeing to a ceasefire.

Military operations chiefs of India and Pakistan are scheduled to hold talks on Monday to determine the next steps in maintaining peace along their volatile border, as a recently brokered ceasefire holds firm following the fiercest cross-border exchanges in nearly three decades. The scheduled conversation between the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) from both countries is set for 1200 hours (0630 GMT), India’s foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday. The dialogue comes after a fragile calm returned to the border area, which had been rocked by intense shelling and firing for four consecutive days. Sunday night passed without reports of explosions or projectile fire, marking the first peaceful night in several days, according to the Indian Army. Nevertheless, security concerns persist, with some schools in the region remaining closed as a precautionary measure. The ceasefire, announced on Saturday, came after mounting diplomatic pressure led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington played a critical role in facilitating the pause in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Despite the relative calm, tensions linger. On Sunday, India’s military reportedly sent a message via the established hotline to Pakistan, raising concerns about ceasefire violations observed the previous day. A senior Indian Army officer warned that any further provocations would be met with a response. Trump poised to accept luxury jet from Qatar’s Royal family, may be used as Air Force One Pakistan’s military, however, denied any breach of the ceasefire agreement. The Himalayan region, where the border clashes occurred, has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, both of whom claim it in full but govern separate parts. While previous ceasefires have been declared, few have lasted long without violations. Monday’s DGMO-level dialogue is seen as a crucial test of both sides’ willingness to de-escalate tensions and return to sustained peace. Source: With inputs from agencies   

Pakistan has named its retaliatory military campaign against India as ‘Baniyan Marsus’, drawing direct inspiration from Islamic scripture. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) explained the significance of the name in a recent statement. The phrase 'Baniyan Marsus' is derived from the Arabic term "Baniyan-un-Marsus", which appears in the Quran. Found in Surah As-Saff (Chapter 61, Verse 4), the term metaphorically refers to believers who are firmly united and unwavering in their cause, likened to a "wall built with molten lead" — a symbol of impenetrable strength, unity, and discipline. India halts civilian flights at 32 airports until May 15 amid ongoing conflict Pakistan’s military authorities have said the choice of the name reflects their forces' resilience, coordination and unwavering resolve in the face of external aggression. The phrase evokes both spiritual conviction and military discipline — qualities the ISPR claims are embodied by the Pakistani armed forces. Analysts suggest the invocation of religious symbolism in the operation’s name may serve both to bolster domestic morale and send a clear message to regional adversaries. The operation comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with both sides exchanging accusations and cross-border strikes. While political observers continue to call for de-escalation, the symbolic naming of the campaign underscores how deeply intertwined military actions and ideological narratives have become in the region. Source: BBC Bangla      

The Indian government has suspended civilian flight operations at 32 airports in northern and western regions of the country until May 15, amid intensifying hostilities with Pakistan. The shutdown affects airports in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the India-administered portion of Kashmir. "The Airports Authority of India and relevant aviation authorities have issued a series of Notices to Airmen announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for all civil flight operations," said a statement from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation. The conflict has been escalating since Wednesday, following India’s deadly airstrikes on targets located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In addition to the airport closures, the Airports Authority of India has also suspended operations along 25 Air Traffic Service route segments in the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions, citing operational concerns. Airlines have been advised to adjust their routes according to the latest air traffic advisories."The temporary closure is being managed in coordination with relevant Air Traffic Control units to ensure safety and minimize disruption," the ministry said. According to Indian officials, the recent strikes were in retaliation for the killing of 26 people last month by gunmen in the India-controlled part of Kashmir. India alleges Pakistan targeted religious sites, homes in overnight strikes Since the strikes, both sides have been engaged in intense cross-border attacks, using missiles, drones, and artillery along the Line of Control and other border areas. The airport closures have caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of flights cancelled or rerouted over the past three days.      

India’s Defence Ministry has alleged that Pakistan attacked civilian infrastructure, including religious sites, during a series of overnight assaults under Operation Bunyan Marsoos. “[Pakistan targeted] places of worship like the famous Shambhu Temple and residential areas in Jammu. Multiple armed drones have been sent through the night, endangering civilians and religious sites,” the ministry said in a statement. Shelling kills senior official in Indian-administered Kashmir It added, “The Indian Armed Forces remain vigilant and are committed to defending the sovereignty of the nation.”  

Additional Deputy Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa has been killed in shelling originating from Pakistan in Rajouri town of Indian-administered Kashmir, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administration Services," Abdullah posted on X. "Today, the residence of the officer was hit by Pak [Pakistani] shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh [Shri] Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock and sadness at this terrible loss of life." Where have explosions been reported? Government officials informed the BBC that two more civilians were also killed in Jammu city. Source: BBC

Since early Saturday, multiple explosions have been reported along the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. BBC journalists have heard blasts in Srinagar and Jammu, both located in Indian-administered Kashmir. The origin of these explosions remains unclear. According to local media, similar sounds were also heard in Udhampur, within Indian-administered Kashmir, and in Punjab’s Pathankot — areas that house Indian military facilities which Pakistan claims to have targeted. India halts IPL for a week amid rising tensions with Pakistan Earlier, Pakistan accused India of launching missile strikes on airbases in Rawalpindi — located about 10km (6.2 miles) from Islamabad — as well as in Chakwal and Shorkot. India has not yet responded to these allegations. Source: BBC    

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has appealed to India and Pakistan to ease rising tensions between the two countries. In a post on X, Yousafzai said, “Hatred and violence are our common enemies, not each other.” “I strongly urge leaders in India and Pakistan to take steps to de-escalate tensions, protect civilians – especially children – and unite against the forces of division,” she said. Pakistan claims it destroyed 12 Indian drones She further called on the global community to step in and encourage diplomatic efforts. “The international community must act now to promote dialogue and diplomacy. Peace is the only way forward for our collective security and prosperity,” she added.

Pakistan’s air defense forces shot down an Indian drone early Thursday in Lahore, according to government sources, amid escalating tensions with India. This comes as India evacuates thousands from villages near the volatile border in the disputed Kashmir region. The drone incident occurred a day after Indian missile strikes on Pakistani territory reportedly killed 31 civilians, including women and children, according to Pakistani officials. Relations between the two nations have sharply deteriorated since April 22, when an attack by armed gunmen in India-administered Kashmir left 26 people dead, most of them Indian Hindu tourists. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the militants behind the attack, a claim Islamabad has denied. Police officer Mohammad Rizwan confirmed that a drone was shot down near Walton Airport, a civilian and military airfield located in a residential area of Lahore, approximately 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Indian border. Local media also reported that two more drones were brought down in other cities within Punjab province, where Lahore serves as the capital. Iran’s Foreign Minister in Delhi amid India-Pakistan tensions According to two unnamed security officials, the drone was a small Indian model intercepted by Pakistan’s air defense. They declined to be identified, citing restrictions on speaking to the press. It remains unclear whether the drone was carrying weapons. The incident has not yet been independently verified, and Indian authorities have not issued an official response. Meanwhile, in Punjab’s Chakwal district, another drone crashed into farmland. No injuries were reported. Police chief Ghulam Mohiuddin did not specify the drone’s origin, but said authorities have secured the wreckage and launched an investigation into its source and mission. India said its strikes Wednesday targeted at least nine sites in Pakistan linked to planning terrorist attacks against India. Some of these targets were in Punjab and most of Wednesday's casualties were in this province. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed overnight to avenge the killings but gave no details, raising fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Across the de-facto border in Indian-controlled Kashmir, tens of thousands of people slept in shelters overnight, officials and residents said Thursday. Indian authorities evacuated civilians from dozens of villages living close to the highly militarized Line of Control overnight while some living in border towns like Uri and Poonch left their homes voluntarily, three police and civil officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental regulations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has arrived in the Indian capital to hold diplomatic talks with senior officials, as tensions continue to simmer between India and Pakistan following recent cross-border hostilities. A spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the visit as “an opportunity to review and enhance bilateral cooperation on the 75th anniversary of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty”. The two countries have long maintained diplomatic and economic ties, particularly in energy and regional connectivity. Aragchi’s visit to Delhi follows his stopover in Islamabad just a day before India carried out a series of airstrikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. While in Pakistan, the Iranian envoy held talks with his counterpart, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, as part of Iran’s ongoing diplomatic outreach in the region. In recent weeks, Iran has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan in a bid to ease tensions and prevent further escalation. Tehran has expressed concern over rising instability in South Asia, a region in which it has both strategic and economic interests. Tensions soar as Pakistan vows retaliation over Indian strikes Neither New Delhi nor Islamabad has officially responded to the offer of mediation, though both sides continue to engage with Iran at various diplomatic levels. Aragchi’s back-to-back visits to the two nuclear-armed neighbours underscore Iran’s attempt to play a stabilising role amid a volatile geopolitical climate. Analysts say Iran’s engagement may also be aimed at bolstering its regional influence and maintaining strategic balance. Source: With inputs from BBC