Kuwait, Bahrain say new Iran attack ‘dangerous escalation’

KUWAIT, June 6: Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday condemned fresh attacks from Iran which it said were a “direct threat” to the “lives of citizens and residents”.

Kuwait “affirms that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the state”, its Foreign Ministry said, adding “they represent a dangerous escalation”.

Earlier in the day, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry decried attacks by Iran against its territory and neighbouring Kuwait, saying the two Gulf countries intercepted seven missiles fired by the Islamic republic.

“The ministry of foreign affairs strongly condemns the renewed attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Kingdom of Bahrain and the sisterly State of Kuwait,” Bahrain, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet, said in a statement.

“This blatant aggression constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries,” it added.

‘Trust-based, brotherly relations’: Putin on nearly 80 years of India-Russia ties

ST PETERSBURG, June 5: India and Russia share a “brotherly” and “trust-based” relationship dating back almost 80 years, Vladimir Putin has said. The Russian President on Friday reaffirmed Moscow’s willingness to deepen cooperation with New Delhi across defence and technology sectors.

Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin spoke of both nations navigating recent energy supply vulnerabilities caused by the US-Israeli war near the Strait of Hormuz.

“From 1947, when diplomatic relations were established, we have had very good, trust-based, brotherly relations in all senses of the word,” Putin said. “We know how talented the Indian people are, how well educated. Indians have great competencies, which have achieved world renown, especially in coding and in other fields.”

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s austerity measures in the face of the war in West Asia, Putin said India-Russia cooperation helped address energy supply challenges.

“Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi had to introduce certain restrictions here, asking people not to use personal cars, not to travel long distances, due to what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

"I think our companies did the right thing and the Indian counterparts did the right thing when they decided to embark on this path of close cooperation, because right now we are trying to lend a helping hand and give our shoulder, increasing supplies to the Indian market and to Asia in general, and we certainly keep sharing our technological solutions,” the Russian President said.

Putin also said Moscow remains open to expanding defence cooperation with India, including joint work and supply of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft. He said the platform was earlier proposed as a joint development project.

"As far as the Su-57 goes, at one point we proposed to our Indian friends to work together on this technology," he said.

Describing it as a leading-edge platform, he said, "It's fifth-generation technology- I think it's the best in the world as of now." He added that India had earlier opted to wait on participation, while Russia proceeded independently.

Earlier, Putin also underlined the long-standing nature of bilateral ties, calling them a “special privileged strategic partnership” built over decades of cooperation.

He said India’s foreign policy decisions are driven by national interest and should not be influenced by external pressure.

“The US is trying to pressure India, including over cooperation with Russia, but it will resist such efforts,” he said.

He added that attempts to influence India’s leadership were counterproductive.

“Everyone has understood that pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India is detrimental for international relations.”

Putin further said Russia sees India as a reliable partner and does not view its growing ties with other countries as a concern. The Russian President further said Moscow views India as a reliable partner and does not see New Delhi’s ties with other countries as affecting bilateral relations.

“We see India as a very reliable partner; Russia sees no negative consequences from India's bilateral relations with any other country. India is a great nation and democracy and Russia will continue to expand its relations with it,” he said.

Lebanon president tells Iran 'not your job to interfere' in country

BEIRUT, June 5: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged Iran not to interfere in his country in an interview broadcast on Friday, also telling the Tehran-backed Hezbollah that diplomacy was the only solution to the conflict with Israel.

"It's not your country, it's our country... It's not your job to interfere into our country," Aoun said in the interview with CNN, addressing Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

"They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States. It's unacceptable," he said.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire at Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing days earlier of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with massive strikes and a ground invasion.

On Wednesday, Lebanese and Israeli envoys in Washington agreed to a truce which according to a statement is conditional on a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah fire, without mentioning a halt to Israeli attacks.

Tehran insists the fighting in Lebanon and the war in the Gulf are linked, and on Thursday the head of the Guards' foreign arm said Israel must pull back from its front lines in Lebanon.

"Hezbollah must understand that no other way but to sit and talk, no other way to solve this problem and to save what's left except through negotiation and diplomacy," Aoun added.

"It's the Lebanese people, they are not Naim Qassem people," he said, referring to the Hezbollah chief, who on Thursday rejected the truce deal.

"The majority of the Lebanese people are fed up with war," the president added.

India rejects ‘unwarranted’ references to Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan-EU statement

NEW DELHI, June 2: India strongly rejected references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint press communique issued after the 8th round of the European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, saying those who have no "locus standi" (or legal standing) in the matter should avoid commenting on the country's internal affairs.

The response came a day after a joint communique released following the dialogue between Pakistan and the European Union said that briefings were held related to Jammu and Kashmir.

Ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India completely rejects such references. He made the remarks during the ministry's weekly media briefing on Tuesday.

Reiterating New Delhi's long-held position, Jaiswal said the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. He added that individuals or organisations with no role in the matter should refrain from commenting on issues that fall entirely within India's domestic affairs.

"We would like to say that we categorically reject such unwarranted references in the joint press communique on matters internal to India. The union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. Those who have no locus standi on such matters should desist from making any comment on them," he said .

The communique released after Monday's dialogue said Pakistan had briefed the EU delegation on Jammu and Kashmir, while the European side shared updates regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

"The Pakistani side briefed on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The EU side briefed on Russia's war against Ukraine," the press communique read.

Last month, India similarly dismissed references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China.

Replying to media questions about references to Jammu and Kashmir in the China-Pakistan joint statement, Jaiswal said India's position has remained unchanged and is well known to both countries.

"India categorically rejects unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Joint Statement between China and Pakistan. India's position is consistent and well-known to the concerned parties. The Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same," he said.

He also said India opposes attempts by any country to support or legitimise Pakistan's control over territories linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which India considers a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"As regards the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, some of which are in India's sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan's illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Jaiswal said.

"This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times," he added.

His remarks came after Pakistan's foreign office issued a statement following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the Pakistani side had briefed China on the "latest developments" related to Jammu and Kashmir.

'No role for third party in India-Nepal border issue': MEA

NEW DELHI, June 2: India on Tuesday rejected any involvement of third parties in resolving its boundary dispute with Nepal, days after reports said that Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah had sought the participation of China and the United Kingdom to address the long-standing issue.

Responding to a media query regarding Balendra Shah's ‘encroaching India’ remark, external affairs minister spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “All concerned parties should be clear that any bilateral matters between India and Nepal are to be resolved solely between the two countries, and there is no role for any third party in such matters,” it was reported.

He added that approximately 98 per cent of the India–Nepal border has already been demarcated, adding that a few issues remain unresolved in certain sections.

“Approximately 98 per cent of the India–Nepal border has already been demarcated. However, a few issues remain unresolved in certain sections. This situation has arisen due to changes in the course of the Gandak River.”

“In addition, there are cases of cross-border encroachment and encroachments on no-man's land in some demarcated areas, which are currently being jointly mapped,” Jaiswal added.

Jaiswal’s comments come after the rapper-turned-politician, Shah on Sunday said that apart from discussions with India on the Lipulekh Pass border dispute, Nepal was in touch with China and Britain as well.

"Since this problem dates from the time when British India left the region, it is our view that England should be involved in this matter," he said.

"You will be surprised to know a fact that I learnt only after becoming Prime Minister. It is not only India that has encroached on Nepalese territory, but Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory in many places," Shah said during his maiden appearance in the ongoing parliamentary session.

Nepal and India have had an old boundary dispute over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. India has consistently maintained that the territories are part of Uttarakhand.

The dispute gained renewed attention in 2020 when Nepal, under then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, strongly pushed its claims over the region amid rising domestic political pressure.

The issue escalated after Kathmandu released a revised political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura within Nepal’s borders. Nepal maintains that these areas belong to it under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty signed with British India.

Lebanon announces ceasefire between Hezbollah, Israel

LEBANON, June 2: Lebanon announced a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on Monday in what would amount to a limited de-escalation of a conflict that has killed thousands of people and inflamed the broader US-Israeli war with Iran.

According to Lebanon's embassy in Washington, the agreement would not end the conflict in the country, but it calls for Israel to refrain from strikes on Beirut and its suburbs controlled by Hezbollah, while the Iran-aligned group would halt its attacks on Israel.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators over Israel's expanding offensive in Lebanon, where the US ally again threatened strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Israel makes deep incursion inside Lebanon

TEL AVIV, June 1: The Israeli forces have begun a historic incursion deep inside Lebanon drawing global condemnation and putting the US-Iran ceasefire at risk.

Amid the escalation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the diplomatic negotiations. The US proposed that as a first step Hezbollah will stop all attacks on Israel and in return Israel would refrain from escalation in Beirut.

On Sunday, Israeli forces seized a symbolic fort in southern Lebanon that offers commanding views across Lebanon and into northern Israel.

Israeli forces are making their deepest incursion inside Lebanon since they withdrew from the country over a quarter-century ago, weakening the US-Iran ceasefire as Tehran wanted any agreement to end fighting in Lebanon, too.

Qatar called it a "dangerous escalation." Germany's foreign minister said it was cause for serious concern, according to German press agency dpa.

US is yet to respond to the issue. Israel says it is targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, which has a strong political presence in southern Lebanon.