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Quetta, June 17 (IANS) Several lawyers in Balochistan staged protests outside the Session Court, the High Court, and the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta, demonstrating against “faceless and opaque” trials of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists.

According to the BYC, the protesting lawyers on Tuesday said that the proceedings against the leaders of the organisation are a “blatant violation of the fundamental principles of justice, the constitution, and fair trials.”

“During the protest, the lawyers expressed their strong reservations directly to the judges, completely rejecting faceless trials. Their stance was that depriving political activists and human rights defenders of their legal rights is tantamount to weakening the justice system and undermining the rule of law,” the BYC stated.

“The lawyers demanded that all notifications for the ongoing faceless trials against the leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee be immediately withdrawn and that judicial proceedings be conducted in a transparent, public, and constitutionally compliant manner,” it added.

The BYC emphasised that this is not merely a matter of cases involving a few political prisoners but a question of the entire judicial system, civil liberties, and the supremacy of law in Pakistan.

“If silence is adopted today on the trampling of the basic principles of justice, every citizen will be in the crosshairs of this lawlessness tomorrow,” it warned.

Meanwhile, Nadia Baloch, sister of BYC chief organiser Mahrang Baloch, criticised the proceedings, saying that faceless trials are unconstitutional, lack transparency, and erode public confidence in the judiciary.

“Today, I, with my fellow lawyers, organized a protest at Sessions Court Quetta, Quetta Kacheri, and Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Quetta against the faceless trials being held against the members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, including my sister Dr. Mahrang Baloch. I am a lawyer, and I can't be silent when the fundamental rule of justice is being violated,” Nadia posted on X.

She noted that lawyers in Quetta spoke not only for the detained BYC leaders but also for the integrity of Pakistan's justice system.

“We reject the faceless and non-transparent trials, and we demand that open, fair, and constitutional trials be restored immediately. I urge the legal profession, human rights activists, civil society, and every voice in Pakistan to unite in condemning this perilous trend. If the right to a fair trial can be threatened now, no citizen will be secure from injustice in the future,” Nadia added.

--IANS

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Bangkok, June 17 (IANS) India and Thailand held the 10th Defence Dialogue in Bangkok, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation and exchanging views on regional and global security issues of mutual interest.

The dialogue on Tuesday was co-chaired by Satyajit Mohanty, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and Nuttapol Diewvanich, Thailand’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides discussed the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific region and exchanged perspectives on regional developments.

They reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The delegations reviewed the progress made in bilateral defence cooperation since the previous dialogue.

The discussions covered the ongoing military-to-military engagements, capacity-building initiatives, training exchanges, maritime cooperation and other areas of mutual interest.

“The dialogue also reviewed the ongoing defence industry cooperation between the two countries. The two sides discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in defence manufacturing, research, innovation and capability development, with a view to promoting mutually beneficial partnerships between their respective defence ecosystems,” the Defence Ministry stated.

“The delegations exchanged views on cooperation under regional and multilateral defence frameworks, including Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led mechanisms. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening practical cooperation and addressing shared security challenges through dialogue and collaboration,” it added.

The meeting concluded with discussions on future engagements and the way ahead for bilateral defence cooperation.

India and Thailand elevated their bilateral ties to a formal strategic partnership in 2025.

Following the Defence Dialogue, in a statement shared on X, the Embassy of India in Bangkok posted: “Both sides reviewed all aspects of the ongoing activities in different domains and discussed ways to further intensify engagements, especially in new and emerging areas, under the bilateral strategic partnership and various regional frameworks. India and Thailand are maritime neighbours, and Thailand is an important partner for India in its Act East Policy and in the Indo-Pacific region.”

--IANS

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Islamabad, June 17 (IANS) A leading international human rights organisation strongly condemned the violent crackdown on peaceful protestors in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by Pakistani authorities, which reportedly killed over 32 civilians, including one woman, between June 8 and 16.

The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) said that the crackdown was followed by the complete suspension of internet and mobile networks across the region, the deployment of federal paramilitary troops and mass arbitrary arrests of over 100 activists and leaders.

The rights body also cited travel restrictions barring outsiders from entering the region and the arrest of journalist Sohrab Barkat under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

The unrest was reported days after the Pakistani authorities in occupied territory declared the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a proscribed group under anti-terrorism laws, ahead of its planned protest on June 9.

"Branding a civil society body as 'terrorist' on vague grounds, while simultaneously sealing the region from outside scrutiny, constitutes a disproportionate and unlawful violation of the right to freedom of association," IHRF stated.

The rights body said that the crackdown was not an isolated incident but part of a systemic pattern of human rights violations in PoK.

The IHRF also documented a recurring trend of deadly crackdowns on JAAC protests, including violence in May 2024 and October 2025 that claimed multiple lives.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately halt the use of deadly force against peaceful protesters, lift the internet shutdown, release all individuals arbitrarily detained, and revoke the "unlawful ban" on JAAC.

It also urged an independent and impartial investigation into all civilian deaths, with full access for international observers, and accountability for those responsible for the unlawful use of force, including the alleged extrajudicial killing of activist Shahzeb Habib.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International sharply criticised the internet shutdown in PoK, noting that the restrictions entered their twelfth consecutive day on Tuesday, with mobile network services being intermittently disrupted.

According to the rights body, the internet shutdown, imposed since June 5 in response to a call for protest by the JAAC, has resulted in an information blackout, disrupting people’s access to information and essential services and preventing documentation of human rights violations in the region.

“Further, there are reports of a physical blockade, also imposed in response to the call for protest, of key entry points into the region that have disrupted the delivery of essential goods, including food supplies and medicine. Such restrictions are disproportionate and severely impact people’s rights to life, access to healthcare, and freedom of movement,” Amnesty International stated.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately lift the restrictions on movement and communication and restore unhindered access to the region.

--IANS

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Washington, June 17 (IANS) Indian American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam questioned the Trump administration's Iran agreement, saying the deal leaves key security concerns unresolved while divisive rhetoric continues to fuel discrimination at home.

Speaking to IANS, the Democratic lawmaker in the House of Representatives said the agreement may help reduce immediate tensions in the Middle East but falls short of addressing the issues that Washington has long cited as central to its confrontation with Tehran.

"This Iran deal, yes, it means less bombs, which is one good thing," Subramanyam said.

However, he expressed doubts about the administration's negotiating approach. "I don't have a lot of faith in this administration to negotiate," he said.

"It seems like the Iran deal is a step back from what we had even in 2015 when we had a real nuclear deal in place with very measurable returns."

Subramanyam argued that the recent conflict had strengthened rather than weakened Iran's position in the region.

"All that's happened with this war is it has given Iran more of leverage over the region and over the world by allowing it to have some form of leverage," he said.

The Trump administration has presented the agreement as a breakthrough that could ease tensions in the Gulf and restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors.

But Subramanyam cautioned that shipping companies and traders were unlikely to return immediately to normal operations.

"A lot of ships have concerns about going through there," he said.

"So it's gonna take a long time to normalize trade through the Strait of Hormuz."

The Congressman also questioned whether the agreement had achieved its core objectives.

"And then this does nothing when it comes to Iran's support of terrorism," he said.

"It does nothing to curtail Iran's nuclear program, which is the whole point of the war."

Subramanyam said the outcome could have wider implications for American diplomacy and international influence. "I don't know if it's a decline of US power," he said.

"But it certainly this war has undermined this administration's diplomatic efforts and also their ability to follow through on kinetic threats." He added that the consequences could extend beyond the Middle East.

"What has happened is this administration is weakening the US standing in the world and its standing diplomatically, and that's gonna have long term repercussions," he said.

The Congressman then turned to what he described as a troubling rise in hostility directed at Indian Americans and other minority communities.

"We wanna make sure we call out hate in all forms, including against the Indian American community," he said.

Subramanyam said such incidents have become increasingly common and are often visible on social media platforms. "We have seen it in many ways," he said.

"I see it on my own social media. People will respond, saying to go back where I came from. They'll say that I'm not a real American."

The US lawmaker said public officials and community leaders have a responsibility to confront such behaviour.

"We can't stay silent when that thing happens," he said.

"We can't stay silent when there's things like a flag burning that happens. We have to call it out where we see it."

Asked whether political rhetoric was contributing to growing divisions, Subramanyam said inflammatory language from across the political spectrum was harmful.

"There's rhetoric coming from the far right and there's rhetoric coming from the far left, and none of it is helpful," he said.

"And so that's why we have to call it out when we see it."

--IANS

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Washington, June 17 (IANS) As US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared for talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Indian American lawmakers and experts called for a reset in relations, arguing that stronger economic and strategic cooperation would benefit both nations.

Leading that view was Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who said he hoped Trump would use the meeting to repair ties with one of America's most important partners.

"The expectation would be for President Trump to normalise relationships with India," Subramanyam told IANS on the eve of the meeting.

"He has strained the relationship with some of his actions, for instance, the tariffs and other you know, words that he said about Modi himself and India."

The Virginia Democrat said he hoped Trump would emerge from the meeting focused on rebuilding ties with New Delhi.

"And so hopefully he comes at a meeting normalising a relationship with an ally one of many allies whom he is alienated," he said.

Trade should be at the centre of efforts to improve relations, according to the Congressman.

"Let's start with trade for instance," he said. "They increased the tariffs significantly."

While some of those tariffs have since been rolled back, Subramanyam said businesses in Virginia have already felt the consequences.

"I think there's a, a lot of business people in Virginia who rely on the trade between India and the United States and have seen their businesses suffer and seen prices go up because of that," he said.

Subramanyam argued that deeper economic cooperation would strengthen both countries and help address wider strategic challenges in Asia.

"I think it's good for everyone if the US and India and all countries that are allies and our partners in democracy can figure out that economic bond and can continue to figure out ways to counter what's happening as China continues to ex exude its influence over Asia," he said.

Asked about his expectations from the Trump-Modi meeting, Subramanyam stressed the importance of expanding business and economic engagement.

"India is a huge economic engine. United States is a massive global economic power, and the two countries working together to improve relations and improve ties and improve business dealings is better for both countries," he said.

He added: "We should be working collaboratively with all partners to increase economic activity in the United States."

Delegate Jas Jeet Singh of the Virginia House of Representatives echoed those concerns, particularly on trade.

"We have to make sure that we do not harm our trading allies by imposing unilateral tariffs that don't necessarily make our country better off," Singh told IANS.

"In fact, they make things more expensive here and they upset our trading partners."

He argued that Washington should pursue "a rational economic policy that doesn't impose unilateral tariffs".

Like Subramanyam, Singh said the Trump- PM Modi meeting presents an opportunity to strengthen one of the world's most consequential bilateral relationships.

"I think we need to do everything we can to improve our relations," he said.

"India is a huge economic engine. United States is a massive global economic power, and the two countries working together to improve relations and improve ties and improve business dealings is better for both countries."

Singh said cooperation, rather than confrontation, should guide policy.

"I think having antipathy for other countries for no reason other than just general antipathy doesn't help anybody," he said.

"We should be working collaboratively with all partners to increase economic activity in the United States."

Asked what message he would send to Trump ahead of the meeting, Singh replied: "I hope that he fosters strong ties with our partners to build and create more good jobs in the United States."

Beyond trade, Singh said strong India-US relations matter to Indian Americans, many of whom closely follow developments between the two countries.

The Virginia lawmaker also highlighted the contribution of the Indian American community.

"Indian Americans are some of the backbone that makes Virginia great," he said, noting that South Asians account for about 40 per cent of his district in Loudoun County.

An academic perspective came from Dr Narendra K. Rustagi, Professor and Director of the Center for Global Business Studies at Howard University. He expressed confidence in the long-term trajectory of the relationship despite current disagreements.

"I think the India US relationship would improve because I believe the two are natural allies," Rustagi told IANS.

He said policy differences between Washington and New Delhi should not obscure their shared interests.

Rustagi argued that the strengths of the two countries complement each other. "I see the relationship would grow and evolve further because both countries, or it's in the interest of both countries to have each other because India has the large educated manpower as we know," he said.

--IANS

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Washington, June 17 (IANS) US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to take India-US relations to "new highs" the White House said as the two leaders prepared for bilateral talks in France, with trade, technology, investment and global security expected to top the agenda.

"President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have a close friendship, and under their leadership, the Trump administration and Indian government are set to take our two countries to new highs," White House spokesman Kush Desai told IANS.

The meeting in Evian, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since their summit meeting last February. It comes amid discussions on a possible trade agreement and as diplomatic efforts continue to address the crisis in West Asia.

The White House said Trump and PM Modi will meet on the sideline sof the G7 Summit. According to the White House, the two leaders will discuss economic growth, supply chains, artificial intelligence, investment partnerships and a range of global security challenges.

"President Trump has consistently underscored his support for America's strategic partnership with India," Desai told IANS adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent visit to India built on Trump's efforts to deepen cooperation between the two countries on trade and national security.

"Secretary Rubio's landmark visit to India built on the President's push to expand bilateral ties and cooperation on trade and national security, including with the signing of a historic MOU on critical minerals," he said.

Experts say both sides are looking for tangible outcomes as well as strong political messaging.

Aparna Pande, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said expectations are high for the meeting.

"PM Modi and President Trump’s in-person meeting will be their first since last February’s summit meeting," Pande told IANS.

"Both sides have high expectations from this meeting, which comes in the backdrop of a possible resolution of the West Asia crisis and amidst discussions over the trade deal."

Pande said symbolism and substance would both matter. "The optics of the meeting will be critical as well as the substantive part," she said.

"Both leaders would like to demonstrate that ties between the two democracies remain strong despite the headwinds and that they would be keen to announce some defense and technology related agreements."

Atman Trivedi, Partner at Albright Stonebridge Group, North America, described the meeting as an opportunity to improve momentum in bilateral ties.

"The leaders' meeting represents the latest best opportunity to reset ties," Trivedi told IANS.

"Their conversation comes after the deaths of Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman dealt a blow to hopes for reviving bilateral relations."

Trivedi cautioned against expecting major breakthroughs.

"Expectations should be modest and centered around Trump and Modi reaffirming the importance of each other to longstanding shared interests in energy, defense, and technology cooperation," he said.

"A positive statement recognizing the significance of an interim trade agreement and urging negotiators to reach a deal in the next month or two should also be achievable."

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump and Modi exchanged greetings on the sidelines of a G7 outreach session on "Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity".

The two leaders shook hands and held a brief conversation before joining discussions attended by G7 countries, partner nations, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Upon arriving in Evian, Modi said he looked forward to engaging with world leaders on major global issues.

--IANS

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Seoul, June 17 (IANS) The South Korean defence ministry on Wednesday rolled out a plan to ease the boundaries of the military-controlled buffer zone along the inter-Korean border to allow wider civilian access and spur regional growth.

The Civilian Control Line (CCL), a buffer zone that lies within 10 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that runs through the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas, will be reduced to an average of 6 km in distance, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said in a briefing.

"The CCL was established to restrict civilian access and guarantee military operations, but there have been growing calls for a need to complement its actual control measures," Ahn said.

"We have come up with an adjustment plan for the CCL to adapt to future security environments amid shrinking military manpower, while ensuring operational conditions," he said.

The CCL was established in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War to restrict public access and protect military installations along the heavily fortified inter-Korean border. It currently extends up to 7 km south of the MDL along the western front and up to 10 km south along the eastern front.

However, it has also acted as a barrier for local residents seeking to develop their land, causing inconveniences in their daily lives.

The Lee Jae Myung government has been working to readjust the CCL boundaries by moving the lines further north, to ease property development restrictions and improve the quality of life for local residents.

Under the plan, the CCL, currently categorized as a Controlled Protection Zone, will be redesignated as a Restricted Protection Zone, a move that will allow land development and construction upon approval by relevant authorities, the ministry said.

The measure will apply to roughly 270 square km, equivalent to 90 times the size of Yeouido in western Seoul, the ministry said.

Aside from the CCL, the ministry also plans to lift restrictions on approximately 450 square km of the Restricted Protection Zone to allow private property development.

The envisioned measures will be finalised and put into practice in phases, after a series of reviews by the defense ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and local governments, Yonhap news agency reported.

The ministry will also remove military structures that are considered to have lost tactical utility, such as anti-tank walls or structures, from 23 locations in the border regions, including Paju, north of Seoul, and Yanggu in Gangwon Province.

To provide a simplified approval procedure for civilian access to the CCL, the government plans to introduce mobile applications and authentication in 2027.

The government will also ease the approval process for agricultural drones used at farms in the border regions, the ministry said.

--IANS

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Canberra, June 17 (IANS) The Australian government on Wednesday lowered travel warnings for several Middle Eastern countries, including Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after the United States and Iran reached a peace deal.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said that the government has lowered travel advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE from the highest level four "do not travel" to a level three "reconsider your need to travel" warning, with some areas of Israel remaining at level four.

She said that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has assessed current conditions in those countries as appropriate for the lower-level warning, but said that Australians should continue to postpone non-essential travel, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities," Wong said in a joint statement with Matt Thistlethwaite, assistant minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen remain under level four "do not travel" warnings for Australians, while Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia are also subject to level three warnings.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran had been completed and warned that Tehran would face severe consequences if it sought to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon, while praising Qatar's role in helping secure the agreement and signalling confidence that the next phase of negotiations would be easier.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Trump said the agreement represented a major breakthrough after weeks of tensions in the Middle East.

"We have our deal done with Iran, and it should be successful. It goes to a second stage, which I think will be actually easier. I didn't want to attack them last week, but we had no choice, and we did it twice, actually, we were doing it a third time, and we were able to not have to do that," Trump said.

The US President dismissed reports that Washington would provide financial assistance to Iran as part of the arrangement.

"We are not investing any money in Iran, by the way. That rumour that got out there yesterday, it was ridiculous. We have the right to go in someday and do something… or if somebody wants to do something. But we have no obligation to invest money in Iran," he said.

Trump said the central objective of the agreement was ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.

--IANS

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United Nations, June 17 (IANS) The UN Charter signifies “hope” for Indians, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish said after symbolically signing the Preamble of the UN Charter to reaffirm the nation's commitment to it ahead of the commemoration of the 1945 inscription of the document that birthed the world organisation.

The UN Charter’s significance “for 1.4 billion citizens of India (is) in one word, 'ummeed’, meaning hope”, he said after the signing on Tuesday.

The signing in preparation for UN Charter Day on June 26 was to reaffirm the commitment to the principles of the Charter.

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, who proposed the symbolic signing, said it is a "renewed expression of our collective commitment to the purpose and principle of the Charter".

A Ramaswami Mudaliar, the leader of India’s delegation to the UN, signed the original Charter on behalf of India on June 25, 1945, in San Francisco.

India was one of the 50 founding members of the UN, even though at that time it was still a British colony but with Independence on the horizon.

India’s participation marked its role as a founding member of the United Nations, even before independence, reflecting its early engagement with the principles of multilateralism and international cooperation.

A note from Baerbock’s office about this year’s commemoration stressed the importance of reaffirming the commitment to the Charter because of the attacks on the UN.

“Eighty-one years after the signing of the Charter, we are standing at the crossroads. The United Nations is not only under political and financial pressure, but under attack”, it said.

“This year's commemoration of the UN Charter Day is, therefore, not only a memento of reflection, it is a call to action”, it said.

--IANS

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Evian, June 17 (IANS) Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Wednesday issued a joint statement on key geopolitical issues, reaffirming their support for Ukraine, welcoming a breakthrough agreement between the United States and Iran, and underscoring their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

On Ukraine, the G7 leaders said they remain united in their support for Kyiv amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. “We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the statement said.

The leaders pledged to step up military assistance, including the delivery of additional air defence systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities. They also signalled readiness to support increased military production in Ukraine through licensing arrangements.

Highlighting what they described as a “new momentum” in the conflict, the G7 committed to increasing pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions, particularly targeting the oil and gas sectors. The statement noted that leaders considered it “the right moment to proceed with additional measures” following a deal supported by US President Donald Trump that led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

On the Middle East, the G7 welcomed a newly announced agreement between the United States and Iran. The leaders described the deal as providing “an historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities.”

The statement reaffirmed the group’s position that “Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon” and expressed support for a broader diplomatic framework aimed at securing long-term peace and stability in the region.

The G7 also endorsed efforts led by France and the United Kingdom to restore confidence in maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and facilitate the resumption of commercial shipping. Leaders reiterated that unrestricted transit passage remains “the bedrock of international trade.”

Addressing regional conflicts, the group called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and backed efforts to disarm Hezbollah. In Gaza, the leaders pledged to accelerate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts while calling for an end to violence in the West Bank.

Turning to the Indo-Pacific, the G7 stressed the importance of maintaining a rules-based order and opposed unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion.

“We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” the statement said.

The leaders also expressed deep concern over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, reiterating their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also called for coordinated action against North Korean cryptocurrency theft and cybercrime.

The statement concluded by supporting international efforts to address global economic imbalances and welcomed China’s participation in the Global Convergence for Growth Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month.

--IANS

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