SYDNEY: Australia has reclassified India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan as “highest risk” countries for student visa applications, citing emerging integrity concerns, according to Australian and Indian media reports. Read More: Australia simplifies visa process for Pakistanis The move, described as out-of-cycle, comes amid reports of fraudulent academic and financial documentation from certain South Asian countries. India alone accounts […]
south asia
Resolution of Kashmir only way to achieve peace in SA: PM
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the world must recognize that a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was the only way to achieve durable peace in South Asia. In a message on the Right to Self-Determination Day observed on January 5, 2026, he said, “We urge the international community to urgently call […]
Kashmir remains tense despite 2019 changes, says Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
The long-running conflict in India-held Kashmir remains unresolved and volatile, despite major political changes introduced in 2019. This assessment was made by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the region’s chief cleric, in a statement marking the first Friday of the new year. Mirwaiz said that while authorities project calm, the underlying reality is one of uncertainty and […]
Bangladesh holds state funeral for former PM Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh on Wednesday held a state funeral for former prime minister Khaleda Zia, as vast crowds gathered in Dhaka to mourn a leader whose career shaped the country’s politics for decades. Flags flew at half-mast nationwide, while thousands of security personnel lined major roads as her coffin was carried through the capital draped in the […]
Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia dies at 80
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and longtime leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, her party confirmed. She was 80. Read More: Bangladesh’s Khaleda Zia battles severe illness According to the BNP, Khaleda died at around 6:00am local time, shortly after the Fajr prayer. Doctors said […]
Dar warns India over Indus Waters Treaty violations
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday accused India of systematically undermining the Indus Waters Treaty, citing unnotified releases of water from the Chenab River. Read More: Playing with fire: the Indus waters treaty and the looming catastrophe Addressing the diplomatic corps in Islamabad, he said such actions threaten peace and stability in South […]
Bhutan to fund Mindfulness City with crypto reserves
Bhutan said on Wednesday it will invest $1 billion from its national crypto currency reserves to develop a planned “Mindfulness City”. The project is intended to become a new economic hub for the small Himalayan kingdom. Read More: Minister urges youth to boost digital economy with crypto innovation The Buddhist-majority nation, located between India and China, is […]
New wave of Bangladeshi recruits fighting for TTP concerns authorities
A growing number of young Bangladeshis have been found fighting for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), raising concern among Bangladeshi authorities and security experts. At least four Bangladeshi nationals have reportedly been killed in Pakistan, while officials believe two dozen more are currently involved with militant groups. Read More: India’s Afghanistan Policy: A cause for apprehension […]
Pakistan shows readiness to work for regional trade, connectivity
President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan was ready to work with all willing states in South Asia to promote trade, transit, energy linkages and people-to-people ties that benefit the entire region. In a message on 40th anniversary of SAARC Charter Day December 8, 2025, he said, “As we mark the anniversary, I extend greetings to […]
Ishaq Dar warns against India’s suspension of Indus Waters Treaty
ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance poses “a real threat to regional stability,” urging its immediate reversal while emphasizing that water should remain “a source of cooperation, not weaponised for politics.” Speaking at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial […]