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Pakistan says ceasefire with India extended until May 18

Sinthiya Rahman
                                       Published by: Friday, 16 May, 2025, 10:58 pm
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Pakistan says ceasefire with India extended until May 18

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that the ceasefire with India has been extended until May 18.

Addressing the Senate, Dar—who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio—said the development followed a hotline contact between the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of both countries on May 14.

After the United States brokered a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan’s DGMO, Major General Kashif Abdullah, and his Indian counterpart, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, held the first round of talks via hotline on May 10.

“During the DGMOs’ conversation, the ceasefire was extended until May 12. When the DGMOs spoke again on May 12, the ceasefire was extended until May 14. Further talks on May 14 led to the ceasefire being extended until May 18,” the DPM told the upper house.

In a bid to clear the confusion surrounding the recent US-brokered ceasefire between arch-rival nuclear powers Pakistan and India, DPM Dar said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the evening of May 10, told him that New Delhi was ready for a ceasefire.

Addressing the Senate, Dar, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, said: “On May 10 at around 10:15am, I received a phone call from the US secretary of state, who informed me that India is ready to agree to a ceasefire.”

“At that time our phase-I operation was nearing completion,” the DPM said, adding that he told the top US diplomat that if New Delhi was ready to ceasefire then Pakistan was also ready to do so.

During the telephonic conversation, the minister said he made it clear that the war was not initiated by Islamabad. Dar further told the House that the top US diplomat told him that he would inform the Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, about the development.

The latest escalation in the decades-old India-Pakistan rivalry began on May 7 when at least 31 civilians were martyred in unprovoked Indian strikes in different areas of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In retaliation, Pakistan downed its five fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. During the four-day standoff, at least 11 troops and 40 civilians were martyred at the hands of India.

The Saturday’s ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump came after Pakistan launched retaliatory action under ‘Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos’ in response to India’s unprovoked missile and drone attacks on Pakistani civilians and military sites.

Using precision-guided long-range Fatah series missiles of the Pakistan Army, and precision munitions of PAF, the ISPR said 26 Indian military targets, as well as facilities that were used to target Pakistani citizens, and those enterprises that were responsible for fomenting terrorism in Pakistan, were hit.

Leaders of India and Pakistan were “unwavering”, and the US “helped a lot”, Trump said on Monday, adding that trade was a “big reason” why the countries stopped fighting.

“We are going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan…and India. We are negotiating with India right now. We are soon going to negotiate with Pakistan,” he said.

Addressing the upper house of the parliament, DPM Dar stated he received telephone calls from world leaders, including the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir about the ceasefire.

He emphasised that Pakistan never requested a ceasefire from anyone.

The minister said that Pakistan wants peace in the region, but it will not accept any hegemonic designs or breach of its sovereignty.

Dar added that the armed forces have successfully countered India’s hegemonic designs in the region. He said it is a great success for Pakistan that the international community did not buy India’s narrative. The foreign minister further said that, with the blessings of Allah Almighty, Pakistan has dispelled the myth of any “new norm.”

The DPM stressed that the Indus Waters Treaty is a non-negotiable matter for Pakistan, adding that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty.

“This matter will now move to negotiations,” he said, adding that the dialogues with India would be “composite”.

All the matters would be discussed at the dialogue table, he added.

Bangladesh announce ODI squad for Sri Lanka series, Naim returns after 2 years

Munna Khan
Published by: Wednesday, 25 June, 2025, 2:42 pm
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Bangladesh announce ODI squad for Sri Lanka series, Naim returns after 2 years

Bangladesh have announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, with left-handed opener Mohammad Naim making a return to the national setup after more than two years.

Right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed also returns from injury.

Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain announced the squad on Monday at a press conference held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The three-match series will begin on 2 July in Colombo. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was recently appointed as the ODI captain, will lead the side for the first time in the format.

Naim, 25, was rewarded for his strong domestic form. He scored 618 runs in 11 matches in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier League, finishing as the tournament’s third-highest run-getter.

He replaces Soumya Sarkar, who is yet to fully recover from a recurring back injury.

Taskin Ahmed’s inclusion will boost Bangladesh’s pace options. The fast bowler missed recent assignments due to fitness issues but has returned to full training.

The ODI series will follow the conclusion of the ongoing Test series. The second Test is set to begin on 25 June in Colombo.

Bangladesh squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman.

Honda launches City e:HEV in Bangladesh

Munna Rahman
Published by: Tuesday, 24 June, 2025, 10:48 am
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Honda launches City e:HEV in Bangladesh

DHS Motors Limited, the official distributor of Honda in Bangladesh, has recently launched the Honda City e:HEV at the Honda Showroom in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

The Honda City e:HEV features a 1500cc hybrid engine. The vehicle comes equipped with a leather interior, rear AC controls, and other features. All of this is put together in a body bigger, wider, and higher than the national favorite Toyota Premio, according to a press release by DHS Motors.

All but 3 political parties agree on term limit of PM: Ali Riaz

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Published by: Monday, 23 June, 2025, 8:09 am
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All but 3 political parties agree on term limit of PM: Ali Riaz

Most political parties have agreed that no individual should serve as prime minister for more than 10 years in their career, except for three including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), professor Ali Riaz, vice-president of the National Consensus Commission said on Sunday.

“After lengthy discussions, we reached a clear position that a person cannot remain prime minister for more than 10 years. However, we have yet to reach full consensus as three parties opposed the proposal and asked for reconsideration,” he stated.

Professor Ali Riaz made these comments today after the second round of talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital.

Speaking about the discussions with political parties, he said, “We focused on two main topics throughout the day: the term limit of the prime minister and the fundamental principles of the constitution.”

On the term limit issue, Ali Riaz said most parties agreed on a 10-year cap, but BNP, NDM, and BLDP differed, requesting further discussion after internal consultations. These parties argued that this issue is linked with other matters, particularly the formation of the NCC and the structure of the upper house.

Regarding the second discussion point, Ali Riaz mentioned that the Constitutional Reform Commission had presented a proposal on the constitution and the state’s guiding principles.

Taking into account the sentiments and positions of various parties, the consensus commission will prepare a final proposal emphasising equality, human dignity, social justice, and democracy, he added.

Ali Riaz also said that the meetings were adjourned for the next two days at the request of political parties so they can discuss these matters at their policymaking levels.

“We hope this break will help resolve the remaining unresolved issues,” he added.

Today’s discussion with the National Consensus Commission aimed to conclude previously unfinished talks and included 30 political parties such as BNP, Jamaat, NCP, Islami Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Ganosamhati Andolan.

Moderated by the chief adviser’s special assistant Monir Haidar, commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Iftekharuzzaman, and Mohammad Ayub Mia, were also present at the meeting.