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Saturday, February 7, 2026

4 Indian students among several injured in stabbing attack in Russia

<p> Moscow, Feb 7 (PTI): Four Indian students were among at least six people injured in a stabbing attack on Saturday at a university in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, the Indian mission here said.</p><p> According to preliminary reports, a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic. He attacked the students living there and stabbed several of them, the Interior Ministry said.</p><p> “The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI.com webportal.</p><p> Calling it an "unfortunate incident", the Indian Embassy here said, "Several persons including four Indian students have been injured." The Embassy said it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan are en route to Ufa to provide assistance to the injured students.</p><p> In a release, the Russian Federal Health Ministry said that four people injured in the attack are receiving medical care. One is in serious condition, while three others are in moderate condition, it added.</p><p> The attacker, identified as a 15-year-old youth, has also been admitted to a local children's hospital in serious condition, the Baza telegram channel said.</p><p> Authorities in Ufa, the capital of the Bashkortostan Republic about 1,200 km east of Moscow, have launched a high-level probe into the incident.</p><p> The Baza channel claimed that the attacker belonged to a banned neo-Nazi outfit.</p><p> "He belonged to the banned NS/WP neoNazi organisation. During the frenzy of attack, he was shouting nationalist slogans about (the) Holocaust,” it said and shared the photo of a Swastika drawn on a wall with the blood of the victims.</p><p> According to eyewitnesses, “there was blood all around,” Ren TV said, showing footage of wounded being taken to hospital by ambulance vans. PTI VS NPK GRS GRS GRS GRS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/4-indian-students-among-several-injured-in-stabbing-attack-in-russia-1825977

Islamabad Shia Mosque Attack: ISKP, The Zainebiyoun Brigade, Syria’s Spillover, And Pakistan’s Proxy Warfare

<p>The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the fidayeen suicide bombing that struck the Qaiser Khadeejatul Kubra Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Friday afternoon, once again highlighting the entrenched sectarian terror networks operating within the country.</p> <p>In a statement issued through its official propaganda outlet, the Amaq Agency, ISKP said the attack was carried out as “revenge” against Pakistan’s Shia community for their alleged participation in fighting Islamic State fighters in Syria under the banner of the Iran-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade.</p> <p><br /><img src="https://ift.tt/QCXK8LT" width="720" /></p> <p>Alongside the claim, ISKP released a photograph of the suicide bomber with his face blurred, in keeping with its standard propaganda practice.</p> <h2><strong>Attacker Identified As Pakistani National</strong></h2> <p>Pakistan’s security agencies have identified the attacker as 26-year-old Yasir Khan, a resident of Peshawar, confirming that the suicide bombing at the Islamabad Shia mosque was carried out by a Pakistani national.</p> <p><br /><img src="https://ift.tt/oTq8SWc" width="720" /></p> <p>The attack has left at least 31 people dead and more than 170 injured, according to official figures.</p> <h2><strong>‘Zainabiyoun Retaliation’ Narrative Revisited</strong></h2> <p>This is not the first time Pakistan’s Shia population has been targeted under the pretext of “Zainabiyoun retaliation”.</p> <p><br /><img src="https://ift.tt/JCbk2nA" width="720" /></p> <p>In December 2015, Sipah-e-Sahaba’s proxy outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi carried out a fidayeen attack on the Shia community in Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 25 people and injuring over 30. At the time, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi warned that unless Pakistani Shias stopped fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, further attacks would follow.</p> <h2><strong>Roots of Pakistan’s Sectarian Terror Ecosystem</strong></h2> <p>Pakistan’s sectarian violence traces back to the early 1990s, following the rise of the anti-Shia extremist group Sipah-e-Sahaba, founded in 1990, and its armed proxy Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, established in 1996.</p> <p><br /><img src="https://ift.tt/62VC7HJ" width="720" /></p> <p>In response, Shia militants formed Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan (SMP) in 1994 as a retaliatory force, targeting senior Sipah-e-Sahaba leaders and Sunni collaborators accused of facilitating violence against Shias.</p> <p>Although Pakistan banned both Sipah-e-Sahaba and Sipah-e-Mohammad in 2002, SMP continued operating across Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until at least 2010, with training, funding and logistical support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).</p> <h2><strong>From SMP To Lashkar-e-Zainabiyoun</strong></h2> <p>In 2012, following Iranian directives, over 2,000 fighters from Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan were redeployed to Syria and Iraq to fight Islamic State and US-led forces. The unit was rebranded as Liwa Zainabiyoun, also known as Lashkar-e-Zainabiyoun.</p> <p>Despite large-scale overseas deployment, SMP operatives continued functioning inside Pakistan against Sipah-e-Sahaba networks. Iran also recruited nearly 1,000 undocumented Pakistani Shias living in Iran, inducting them into Lashkar-e-Zainabiyoun after training.</p> <p>Today, Lashkar-e-Zainabiyoun reportedly has more than 5,000 fighters engaged in combat against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. The group is led by Abid Hussain Turi alias Tehran Turi, who is based in Upper Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where armed clashes with Sipah-e-Sahaba cadres continue.</p> <h2><strong>ISKP’s Operational Bases Inside Pakistan</strong></h2> <p>ISKP currently operates from Mastung in Balochistan and Khyber district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it has established permanent bases.</p> <p>In Balochistan, ISKP operations are led by chief Shahab al-Muhajir in collaboration with Mir Shafiq Mengal, a former Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and head of Musallah Difa Tanzim. Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi form key components of this network.</p> <p>The Mastung-based ISKP faction carries out attacks across Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Central Asia and South Asia, while also targeting Baloch resistance fighters and Pakistan’s Shia population.</p> <h2><strong>New ISKP Unit In Khyber District</strong></h2> <p>Since December 2025, a new ISKP unit has been operational in Pakistan’s Khyber district under the leadership of Hafiz Zubair Mujahid, a former Lashkar-e-Taiba commander who now serves as ISKP’s Nizam-e-Ala, as reported by ABP News on January 21.</p> <p>The unit operates under the operational control of senior LeT commander Huzaifa Bakarwal alias Shafiq Bhai. Multiple intelligence sources allege that Pakistan’s military establishment and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have tasked this ISKP–LeT hybrid module with carrying out attacks in India while maintaining plausible deniability.</p> <h2><strong>Allegations Of State Collusion</strong></h2> <p>Retired Pakistan Army Major Adil Raja described the Islamabad mosque bombing as a joint operation of Sipah-e-Sahaba and ISKP.</p> <p>On his YouTube channel @SoldierSpeaks, Raja released photographs showing ISKP coordinator Shafiq Mengal posing with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and former Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq. He described the images as “direct evidence” of state collusion, claiming that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies are not combating terrorism but “running it as a strategic business”.</p> <h2><strong>A Policy Turning Inward</strong></h2> <p>The Islamabad Shia mosque bombing underscores how Pakistan’s long-standing policy of nurturing terror proxies has increasingly turned inward, with its own citizens bearing the cost. The February 6 attack, which killed at least 31 people and injured more than 170, marks another chapter in a cycle of violence rooted in decades of proxy militancy.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/islamabad-shia-mosque-attack-iskp-the-zainebiyoun-brigade-syria-s-spillover-and-pakistan-s-proxy-warfare-1825973

Friday, February 6, 2026

India Slams Pakistan’s ‘Home-Grown Ills’ After Blame Game Over Islamabad Mosque Blast

<p>Islamabad reeled on Friday after a devastating suicide bombing tore through a crowded mosque in the heart of the capital, killing at least 69 people and injuring more than 170. The deadly strike, one of the worst in recent years, not only plunged Pakistan into mourning but also ignited sharp diplomatic exchanges with India and Afghanistan, both of which rejected Islamabad’s allegations and pointed to Pakistan’s internal security failures.</p> <h3>Suicide Bombing Rocks Islamabad</h3> <p>The explosion occurred during prayers, when the mosque was filled with worshippers. According to Pakistani officials, the attacker was stopped by security guards at the entrance, opened fire, and then detonated explosives inside the premises. The blast caused widespread destruction and panic, with emergency services rushing survivors to nearby hospitals.</p> <p>Medical facilities in Islamabad worked through the night to treat the injured, many of whom were in critical condition. Authorities said the high casualty count reflected both the confined space of the mosque and the large number of people present at the time of the attack. </p> <h3>India Rejects Allegations, Urges Pakistan To Look Inward</h3> <p>As Pakistan’s leadership hinted at external involvement, India swiftly condemned the attack while dismissing accusations of any role. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi expressed condolences to the victims’ families but described the allegations as “groundless and meaningless.”</p> <p>The ministry further criticised Islamabad for avoiding responsibility, saying Pakistan was “deluding itself by pointing fingers at others, Pakistan chooses to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills." MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the attack was tragic and deplorable, but emphasised that claims linking India were “baseless” and “pointless,” urging Pakistan to focus on addressing its own security gaps, as per NDTV.</p> <h3>Afghanistan Pushes Back, Questions Pakistan’s Claims</h3> <p>Afghanistan’s defence ministry also rejected Pakistan’s assertions, pushing back against suggestions that the attacker had crossed through Afghan territory. Kabul questioned how Pakistani authorities could move so quickly to assign blame after the bombing while failing to prevent the attack in the first place, reported Times of India.</p> <p>The Taliban-led government maintained that it does not support or harbor those responsible for attacks on civilians and reiterated its opposition to violence against innocents. Afghan officials called on Pakistan to strengthen internal security mechanisms and pursue cooperation with neighboring countries rather than escalating tensions through accusations.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/islamabad-bomb-blast-mosque-pakistan-faces-backlash-from-india-afghanistan-home-grown-ills-randhir-jaiswal-1825853

Trump Lifts 25% Tariff On India Linked To Russian Oil Purchases After Trade Deal

<p>US President Donald Trump on Friday lifted the additional 25% tariff he imposed on goods from India over its purchase of Russian oil. He signed an executive order which said that "India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil".</p> <p>The extra tariff, introduced over India’s purchases of Russian oil, will be withdrawn at 12:01 am Eastern Time on Saturday, according to the executive order signed by Trump.</p> <p>It also noted that New Delhi has agreed to increase purchases of American energy products and strengthen long-term security ties with Washington. India, the order said, "has recently committed to a framework with the United States to expand defense cooperation over the next 10 years."</p> <h3>Trade Deal Follows Trump–Modi Talks</h3> <p>The executive action comes days after Trump announced a broader trade deal aimed at easing tariffs on Indian exports. At the time, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to halt Russian oil imports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.</p> <p>Under the agreement, the US plans to lower so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent from the earlier level of 25 percent. However, officials said the timeline for rolling out the reduced rate is still pending.</p> <h3>Aircraft, Energy Purchases Part Of Agreement</h3> <p>A separate joint statement issued by the White House on Friday said the deal also includes the removal of tariffs on select aircraft and aircraft parts.</p> <p>The statement added that India intends to purchase $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and parts, precious metals, technology products, and coking coal over the next five years.</p> <p>The agreement represents a sharp reduction in US duties on Indian goods, which had stood at 50 percent late last year.</p> <p>The easing of tariffs follows months of strain between the two countries over India’s Russian oil imports, which Washington has argued indirectly support a conflict it is seeking to bring to an end.</p> <p>The deal also signals a revival of close ties between Trump and Modi, a relationship the US president has described as "one of my greatest friends."</p> <p>According to Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, the revised 18 percent tariff rate gives Indian exporters a modest competitive advantage in the US market over regional rivals facing duties of around 19 to 20 percent, AFP reported.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-lifts-additional-25-tariff-india-over-russian-oil-purchases-after-trade-deal-1825852

US to remove additional 25% duty on Indian goods from Feb 7

<p>Washington, Feb 7 (PTI): The US on Saturday said India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian oil, following which the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed by America on Indian goods will be removed from February 7.</p><p>According to an executive order issued by the White House, India has also committed to a framework with the US to expand defence cooperation over the next 10 years.</p><p>"Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from the warehouse for consumption, on or after 12.01 am eastern standard time on February 7, 2026, products of India imported into the United States shall no longer be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent imposed pursuant to Executive Order 14329," it said.</p><p>The US had, in August last year, imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs and additional 25 per cent levy on goods from India over its purchase of Russian crude oil.</p><p>If the US Secretary of Commerce finds that India has resumed directly or indirectly importing Russian oil, Trump's team shall recommend "whether and to what extent I should take additional action as to India, including whether I should reimpose the additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent on imports of articles of India," the executive order stated. PTI RR ANZ RUK RUK</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-to-remove-additional-25-duty-on-indian-goods-from-feb-7-1825851

US Imposes Fresh Sanctions On Iran Oil Hours After Talks In Oman

<p>The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil trade, targeting 15 entities and 14 vessels linked to what Washington described as illicit exports of petroleum and petrochemical products. The move came just hours after indirect nuclear talks between the US and Iran concluded in Oman. American officials said the measures are part of a renewed “maximum pressure” campaign, even as both sides signalled cautious engagement following the latest round of diplomacy.</p> <h2>14 Vessels & 15 Firms Targeted</h2> <p>Announcing the action on Friday, the US State Department said it would block transactions involving 14 vessels allegedly used to transport Iranian oil, including ships flagged in Turkiye and India. Sanctions were also imposed on 15 entities and two individuals accused of facilitating Iran’s petroleum, petroleum products and petrochemical exports.</p> <p>State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Iran uses oil revenues to “fund destabilising activities around the world and step up repression at home”. He added that President Donald Trump remains committed to driving down Iran’s exports under Washington’s maximum pressure strategy.</p> <h2>Sanctions Follow Talks In Oman</h2> <p>The announcement came shortly after indirect discussions in Muscat between Iranian officials and senior US envoys on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran’s foreign minister said the talks were held in a “positive atmosphere”, though no breakthrough was announced.</p> <p>The diplomatic engagement follows months of heightened tension, including US threats of force and a build-up of American military assets near Iran’s coastline. Washington said the new sanctions are intended to disrupt what it calls Iran’s “shadow fleet”, a network of vessels and front companies used to evade restrictions on oil shipments.</p> <p>Despite the parallel tracks of diplomacy and pressure, US officials made clear that economic coercion would continue alongside talks. Analysts say the timing of the measures underscores the Biden-era playbook’s successor: engaging Tehran at the negotiating table while tightening enforcement on energy exports.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-imposes-fresh-sanctions-on-iran-oil-hours-after-talks-in-oman-1825845

Thursday, February 5, 2026

'Pride Of Muslim Women': Zohran Mamdani Faces Backlash Over World Hijab Day Post

<p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office has ignited controversy after marking World Hijab Day with a celebratory message, drawing sharp criticism from activists and commentators who say the gesture ignores the harsh reality faced by women in Iran, where wearing the hijab is enforced by law.</p> <p>The message, shared by the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, framed the hijab as a symbol of empowerment and faith. However, its timing has prompted intense debate, as Iranian women continue to protest compulsory hijab laws, often at great personal risk.</p> <h3>New York City Mayor Mamdani’s Office Message & Its Intent</h3> <p>In a post published on February 1, the Office of Immigrant Affairs stated: “February 1st is #WorldHijabDay! Today, we honor the faith, identity, and pride of Muslim women and girls worldwide who choose to wear the hijab — a powerful symbol of devotion and heritage.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://ift.tt/rFSG86s" width="500" height="756" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Supporters of the message argued that it was meant to affirm the rights of Muslim women in the United States to practice their faith freely, particularly amid ongoing concerns about Islamophobia. Mamdani himself has previously highlighted discrimination faced by Muslim New Yorkers, especially in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.</p> <p>He has recounted how his aunt stopped taking the subway because she felt unsafe wearing a hijab, and how he was advised to downplay his faith while entering public life. “These are lessons so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught,” he said on an earlier occasion.</p> <h3>Critics Point To Iran’s Brutal Reality</h3> <p>Opponents of the post, however, said the celebratory tone overlooked the suffering of women in Iran, where the hijab is not a choice but a legal obligation. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad denounced the message, saying it was deeply hurtful to see New York’s leadership praise the hijab while women in Iran are “jailed, shot, and killed” for refusing to wear it, as per NDTV.</p> <p>French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy also criticized the timing, observing that while Mayor Mamdani praised the hijab as a symbol of pride, Iranian women were being “tortured and murdered” for rejecting it. Lévy reflected on his personal history, recalling how his own mother once felt “alive, free, and happy” when she stepped outside without wearing one.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mr. <a href="https://twitter.com/ZohranKMamdani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZohranKMamdani</a>, really? Right now?<br />To be honest, I feel tortured in my own beautiful city of New York, watching you celebrate “World Hijab Day” while women in my wounded country, Iran, are being jailed, shot, and killed for refusing the hijab and the Islamic ideology behind… <a href="https://t.co/EW0GLq9I5n">https://t.co/EW0GLq9I5n</a></p> — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/2019044271043588296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <p> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <h3>A Symbol At Center Of Protest</h3> <p>The hijab has become a focal point of resistance in Iran, particularly since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the country’s morality police. Although enforcement of hijab laws has since been uneven, many women continue to face arrest, violence, and severe punishment for appearing in public without the head covering.</p> <p>As protests persist, critics say global leaders and institutions must distinguish between defending religious freedom and overlooking state-imposed coercion. The debate surrounding New York City’s World Hijab Day message highlights how a single symbol can carry vastly different meanings across borders—empowerment for some, oppression for others.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/zohran-mamdani-world-hijab-day-post-backlash-identity-pride-of-muslim-women-new-york-city-iran-1825684