New Zealand mosque attacks: Who is Brenton Tarrant?

'Narcissistic' right-wing Australian attacker allegedly behind Christchurch shooting was not known to authorities.

Tarrant has spent little time in Australia in the past four years and only had minor traffic infractions on his record

Melbourne, Australia - The Australian man allegedly responsible for livestreaming a massacre of Muslims as they prayed in New Zealand mosques was previously not known to security agencies in Australia or New Zealand, authorities have said.

Brenton Tarrant, 28, accused of carrying out attacks on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday that resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people, including children, was charged with murder as he appeared in a district court on Saturday.

Tarrant, described by Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison as an "extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist", expressed admiration for other violent white nationalists and his intention to "create an atmosphere of fear" and to "incite violence" against Muslims.

Bob Parker, a former Christchurch mayor, said it was unclear why security agencies weren't aware of the threat Tarrant posed.

"I think there are questions to be asked about why this wasn't picked up by authorities. There does seem to be a significant amount of information that was put online sometime before this attack took place, and it does not seem to have rung alarm bells in the right places," 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a media conference that Tarrant was not on a "terrorist" watch list.

"This individual was not on any watch list for either New Zealand or Australia," she said. "What I've sought from [security] agencies is further work to ascertain whether or not he should have been."

Personal trainer

An Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson confirmed to  "the man was not known to police in Australia for violent extremism or serious criminal behaviour". Three other suspects were detained along with Tarrant on Friday, but police now say he acted alone.

"The NSW joint counterterrorism team has begun an Australian based investigation to assist New Zealand police," the AFP spokesperson said. "With an investigation under way, it is not appropriate to provide further comment."

Tarrant has spent little time in Australia in the past four years and only had minor traffic infractions on his record, authorities said. He had worked as a personal trainer at the Big River Gym in Grafton, a small city 500 kilometres northwest of Sydney.

After his father died in 2011, Tarrant used his inheritance to travel internationally, including to France where he claimed to have seen an "invasion" of immigrants.

The gym's owner Tracey Gray told Australian media, "I think something must have changed in him during the years he spent travelling overseas… Somewhere along the lines, experiences or a group have got a hold of him."

The suspect's grandmother Marie Fitzgerald agreed.

"The media is saying he's planned it for a long time so he's obviously not of sound mind I don't think. It's only since he's travelled overseas that that boy has changed completely from the boy we knew," she told Channel Nine television.

Delusional, dangerous

"The origins of my language is European, my culture is European, my political beliefs are European, my philosophical beliefs are European, my identity is European and, most importantly, my blood is European,"  in a 74-page so-called manifesto posted online prior to the attacks.

It detailed an anti-immigration, neo-fascist ideology lamenting the supposed decline of European civilisation. While describing himself as a "regular white man", Tarrant speculated he might get 27 years in prison just like Nelson Mandela and be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

Responding to his own question "Is there a particular person that radicalised you the most?" "Yes, the person that has influenced me above all was [US conservative commentator] Candace Owens… Each time she spoke I was stunned by her insights and her own views helped push me further and further into the belief of violence over meekness."

Professor Greg Barton, chair of global Islamic politics at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Globalisation & Citizenship, characterised Tarrant as having an "unhealthy narcissism" common among "terrorists".

"I think he was drawn by this dark fantasy of going zero to hero, like an Anders Behring Breivik, like the Quebec City mosque shooting of January 2017," said Barton.

"It had to be imported from Australia," he added, referring to the Islamophobic ideology that motivated the attack, "coinciding with that access to assault weapons".

While known for having more moderate politics, New Zealand has relatively lax gun laws in comparison with its larger neighbour.

'Right-wing terror'

Asked why the perpetrator would not have been on a "terrorism watch list", Barton said, "There are so many people posting the sort of thing that Brenton Tarrant was posting, that they just don't raise any alarms. There is a large cloud of right-wing extremism online."

CIVIL RIGHTS IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Allegations of unwanted sexual advances from various individuals against the US President Donald Trump, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, television executive Roger Ailes, political commentator Bill O’Reilly, producer Brett Ratner, actor Kevin Spacey, publisher Knight Landesman, director James Toback and many others have sparked a nationwide “ #metoo ” movement and have reminded us the reality of the ongoing oppression of women. Although the media and entertainment have come under scrutiny recently, sexual abuse and harassment are not limited to them or other social platforms in its existence. Unwanted sexual advancement is widespread where no profession, country, or religion is exempt. Its victims include people from all walks of life: maids, servants, and laborers to engineers, lawyers, and doctors. It does not matter what clothes they wear.  In particular, women are not safe from unwanted advancement, public or private: workplace, home, malls, supermarkets, and theaters. The lack of attention, by the male and female population, to the treatment of women is alarming. It is time to globally define the unwanted sexual advancement and criminalize it.

For working women, under no circumstances, should they feel that such unwarranted approaches “are the way it is”, “get used to it”, or “a necessity to climb the corporate ladder”.

Harassing, assaulting, and raping women are globally so common that we have become both consciously and unconsciously insensitive to them, so they get little attention. Historically, women have been subordinated by society, manipulated in power struggles, and used for sexual satisfaction. In conflicts, they are soft targets, assaulted and raped to punish challengers or force them to submit. We must strive toward a world where even fully undressed women would not be subject to any unwanted sexual advancement.   

In advertising, it is common, as far back as the 1950’s and even earlier, that women were projected as only good for sex or homemaking. The ads were often racy, implying sexual innuendos or her dream to clean. Present day, women are still very much used in advertising the same way. This way of thinking is embedded in the media and portrayal of women and has only been projected and manipulated further from there. It goes deeper in movies and the film industry as well. It is widely known that watching movies affects our hobbies, career choices, relationships, and mental status. An example is BMW reportedly paid a few million dollars to the James Bond franchise in 1995 for James Bond to drive BMW, which made the company over $200 million in revenues.

In the movies and the films, most roles where women bare all, are not adding character value to the role or movie itself. Often, female roles are subjected to nudity and sexuality alone. In more recent films and media trending, we see films trying to re-popularize the idea of a submissive woman. This is a very dangerous idea to promote for women, because while Hollywood may romanticize it, the harsh reality is that many of the submissive portrayals of women in film are much closer to abuse than anything romantic or loving at all. By romanticizing ideas of this culture and others in film, i.e. making adultery/infidelity and violence common place, society slowly becomes numb to the reality and cruelty truly associated with some of these actions. It influences men to be more aggressive towards women and women to be more submissive. Men and women should redefine what is acceptable based on the standards they perceive as normal.

So why are we letting this become the norm?

Most importantly, education is the best answer. Children at an early age should be taught ethics that include respecting themselves and others. They should be informed and feel safe as to what constitutes unwanted advancement, verbal or physical. Nevertheless, unwanted sexual advancement must be criminalized.

NATIONALISM THREAT ON WORLD PEACE

NATIONALISM THREAT ON WORLD PEACE

“So it is the human condition that to wish for the greatness of one’s fatherland is to wish evil to one’s neighbors,” said Voltaire. The rise of nationalism across the world, especially in the US, the UK, Russia, China, Germany, France, Hungary, and Italy is alarming. Nationalism is a poisonous idea for it is a feeling of superiority over others and hostility towards other nations. It naturally leads to interventionism, conflicts, and wars. Nationalism breeds cockiness, which is a false confidence and abusive energy. It puts others down to feel good. Nationalism was the primary factor that kept Europe for centuries in conflicts, leading to WWI and WWII. We all recognize that it was the German nationalism that empowered Hitler and afterward brought shame to the Germans. Nationalism was also the factor in the 1990s that the Serbs massacred Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo, which was globally televised. Most of us remember the 1995 UN safe-haven Srebrenica massacre perpetrated by the Serbian Christians. Nationalism is destructive. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said George Santayana.

Nationalism as it is expressed in the EU and the US is harming our democratic virtues and weaning our rule of law. The rise of nationalism in EU and the US threatens the global security. If unabated, it will leave us all economically exploited and morally humiliated. Unintentionally, it could also lead to WWIII.

In contrast, patriotism is productive. It is not the same as nationalism. Patriotism is being prideful of one’s own people or nation for its accomplishments, ready to cooperate with others towards doing good deeds, and willing to defend it against any foreign aggression. It breeds confidence, which comes from the pure and genuine feelings. It breeds positive energy to nurture growth.

Iraq makes a perfect example of the difference of nationalism and patriotism within a country. ISIS terrorists behaved as Wahhabi nationalists and Iraqi defenders acted as patriots. Which do you think healthier for a nation?

Upon hearing of the Boston Marathon, San Bernardino, and Orlando’s domestic terror attacks, we were quick to assume Muslim involvement or dismiss the attacks short after when realizing it as only “domestic terror”. The Olympic Park, Charleston Church, Sutherland Springs Church, Las Vegas, Sandy Hook, Parkland massacres, and school shootings are taken in stride. Just in the first two months in 2018, there were 18 school shootings in the US.

We Americans are hurt by domestic terrorism, yet we program the masses on the idea of foreign terror attacks upon us and we wage pre-emptive wars on other nations, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Yemen. In the media and on television, we see the devastation inflicted on Yemen and how the innocent Yemenis are terrorized daily by the Saudi planes aided by the US. Before pointing our fingers at nations, how about looking at our other four fingers pointing at ourselves? We must recognize there are equally good and bad traits across all cultures, religions, races. It is up to us to influence the world for the better.

No religion, nation, or race is intrinsically bad or good. It is what we make it to be. To an assured and peaceful person, it is love and peace to share with others. To a fearful and vicious person, it is a tool to dominate others. Let us treat the Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and people of faith or no faith as we would like to be treated.

TIME TO STOP MILITARY SPENDING AND PURSUE PEACE

TIME TO STOP MILITARY SPENDING AND PURSUE PEACE

We are becoming more belligerent and less peaceful. The nationalist movements across the globe have resulted in the overall decline of human rights, peace, and civility. Much of the decline can be attributed to the US and its Western allies’ interference in the affairs of the less fortunate nations. Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are examples of disasters where the West has been among the major instigators.

This deterioration can also be credited to the internal conflicts. However, the Western arms supplies further inflame these conflicts. The US remains the major arms supplier into most international conflicts. The US arms exports contribute, directly or indirectly, to deaths, destruction, and displacement of people in many troubled countries, most notably Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

In Afghanistan, the US 2001 invasion of the country has been disaster over the years; there is still no peace insight. In Iraq, the US invasion caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, divided people into faiths and ethnicities, and displaced million of Iraqis. In Syria, the US encouraged the regional allies to infiltrate the country with foreign fighters, forcing the Syrian government to seek Russian and Iranian supports to resist the insurgents and foreign mercenaries. The US policy contributed to the emergence of the terrorist organizations like ISIS, Daesh, that marched into Iraq and attracted the world attention by its videos of beheadings the innocent Iraqis. The US has continued providing arms and intelligence supports to the Saudi-led coalition’s air-campaign against the poor country of Yemen, causing some of the world’s worst human rights disasters. Consequently, thousands of Yemenis have been killed and nearly 10 million of them are on verge of famine.

Many Americans perceive Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria as the sources of world tension; however, their military expenditures are by far more restrained than those of the US. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US 2017-military expenditures exceeded that of the next seven highest spending countries, including China and Russia. The US overspending would be better spent assisting with medical and other PTSD disorders for its veterans. It could provide opportunities to the poor and help mentally disturbed people who have caused many shootings and deaths at home. The US overspending also drives other countries to increase their military expenditures, depriving their own people from many social programs. The global portion of military overspending could be re-allocated to fund programs to eliminate poverty and promote peace everywhere. The path to permanent peace is through understanding and negotiation, and not conflicts and wars.

In 2017, according to humanitarian organizations, arms-exports contributed to worldwide drops in human rights, democracy, and peace. In the Civility Report, scores for the US, the EU, the UN and the UN Security Council all declined. The US and the EU could improve their scores by resorting to negotiations and refraining from arms exports, and militarily campaigns or threats against other countries. The UN and its Security Council could improve their scores by becoming more proactive in preventing conflicts. An example is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA), negotiated with Iran by the P5+1 group (China, France, Russia, the UK, the US, plus Germany) and endorsed by the UN Security Council; thus, it prevented a major international conflict. However, the Trump Administration has backed out of it.

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed,” said the former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Excessive military expenditures have remained a global problem, causing more violence and killings while robbing the poor.

Through collaboration among nations, we could have fewer armed forces. Costa Rica is a good example of a nation without armed forces since 1948 that is peaceful, its citizens are among the happiest people in the world, and is a top tourist spot for many Americans. Despite conflicts in the neighboring countries, the nation has refrained from resorting to armed forces. In response to such pressure, former President Laura Chinchilla said: “… the absence of an army has been a guarantee of security in the country."

We urge the US and its Western allies to restrain from proliferation of arms, encourage negotiations, and work toward a peaceful world  

ISLAMABAD:   

Frantic diplomatic efforts involving a number of countries are underway to prevent any further escalation in the crisis between the nuclear-armed Pakistan and India, officials said on Thursday, as tensions continued to grip the South Asian region.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK and European Union (EU) are involved in both overt and covert diplomacy to find a way out of the current impasse between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia, according to sources, emerged as a key player, which is believed to be mediating between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Riyadh is coordinating all diplomatic efforts with Washington, which has also opened its own channel of communications both with Islamabad and New Delhi.

Trump hints at de-escalation between India, Pakistan as US mediates

US President Donald Trump, who was in Vietnam for a summit with the North Korean leader, on Thursday acknowledged his country’s role in cooling down the tense situation between Pakistan and India.

President Donald Trump said the US was “involved in trying” to deescalate the tensions between Pakistan and India and stressed that he had had “reasonably attractive news from” both the countries.

At a press conference in Hanoi after a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump told reporters that he was hopeful of a resolution to the ongoing crisis. “We have some reasonably decent news… Hopefully that’s going to be coming to an end,” he said.

As part of the hectic diplomatic efforts, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al Jubeir will arrive in Pakistan today (Friday). This will be his second visit in less than two weeks as he earlier toured Pakistan along with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also confirmed that the top Saudi diplomat was coming to Pakistan. “Last night I spoke to the Saudi Foreign Minister and he expressed his desire to visit Pakistan,” Qureshi said after the cabinet meeting.

The Saudi deputy foreign minister is thought to be coming to Pakistan with a ‘special message’ from the Saudi Crown Prince on the current tensions between Pakistan and India.

He is expected to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Also on Thursday, UAE reached out to Pakistan and India for the de-escalation in tensions. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan telephoned both Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi as part of efforts to defuse the crisis.

Pakistan to hand over captured IAF pilot to Indian authorities at Wagah Border

Sheikh Zayed stressed the need to deal wisely with the escalation between the two nuclear-armed countries, while giving priority to dialogue, according to a statement issued on the UAE ruler’s Twitter account.

According to a separate statement issued by Pakistan, Sheikh Zayed lauded PM Khan on his statesman-like speech in the joint session of parliament on Thursday. He also appreciated Khan’s willingness to resolve all issues in a peaceful manner.

Prime Minister Imran on Thursday reiterated his offer of talks to India while speaking at the joint session of Parliament. There were reports that because of efforts by influential players, Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Indian counterpart might speak on phone.

Imran tried to reach out to Modi on Wednesday evening as part of his efforts to reduce hostilities.

Social media floods with rumours amid Pakistan, India escalation

There were signs that the two countries might be pulling back from the brink, as India opened some channel of communication with Pakistan by sharing ‘dossier’ on the Pulwama attack.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal confirmed to the media that Pakistan received the India dossier. He said Pakistan would examine the Indian document and act on it if there were ‘actionable intelligence’ establishing any link of the Pulwama attack with Pakistan.

Qureshi said India could have shared the ‘dossier’ earlier instead of resorting to the “uncalled for aggression”.

The current standoff was triggered by February 14 suicide attack carried out by young local Kashmiri in Pulwama district of the Indian occupied Kashmir.

The attack was the worst in three decades in the disputed territory and India was quick to point a finger at Pakistan.

Tensions turned into a full-blown crisis when India on Tuesday sent fighter jets into Pakistan territory. It claimed to have carried out the air strikes targeting the alleged militant camps in Balakot.

Pakistan Army, however, took local and international media to the site to debunk the Indian claims. At the same time, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership vowed to respond to the Indian aggression at the time and place of its choosing.

And on Wednesday, Pakistan lived up to its words when it launched cross-LoC attacks. In the process, the Indian fighter jets once again violated Pakistan’s airspace. Pakistan engaged the Indian jets and shot down one of them. The Indian pilot was also captured, dealing a serious blow to the moral of Indian forces.

Pakistan would release the Indian pilot as ‘gesture of peace’ on Friday, a move that may help pave the way for de-escalation in tensions.

(With additional input from Agencies)

Pakistan eager for US diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi

There is perhaps no other country better placed than the United States to be able to play some role, says Asad Majeed. 

Pakistan on Wednesday voiced regret that the United States did not condemn India’s air incursion and urged the superpower to play its due role in maintaining peace in South Asia and beyond.

The statement was made during a briefing organised by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Dr Asad Majeed Khan at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington to update the international media regarding the ongoing situation. Dr Khan also covered a range of issues including deteriorating peace and security situation in South Asia.

Dr Khan said the stance taken by the US ’emboldened’ New Delhi. He called on the United States to play a greater role in easing tensions between the India and Pakistan. “We would certainly like to have more, and would certainly like to see more active involvement of the United States.”

“It is construed and understood as an endorsement of the Indian position and that is what emboldened them even more,” Dr Khan told reporters when asked about the US statement.

But Dr Khan said Pakistan – which has an increasingly close relationship with China and rising friction with Washington – was eager for greater US diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi.

“There is perhaps no other country better placed than the United States to be able to play some role,” he said, pointing to the US relationship with both countries.

PM to Modi: ‘Let better sense prevail’

The armed forces on Wednesday announced it had shot down two Indian fighter jets that had attempted to violate Pakistan’s airspace once again and has captured a pilot.

The military’s media wing later released a video of the pilot, who introduced himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan bearing the service number 27981.

The development came a day after the country’s civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at the “time and place of its choosing”.

Kashmiris flee, prepare bunkers as India-Pakistan conflict fears grow

On Wednesday, US White House National Security Council official said that the risk of further military action by India and Pakistan was unacceptably high.

“The potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both countries, there neighbours, and the international community,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“The United States is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and calls on both sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.

Pentagon focused on de-escalating Indo-Pak tensions

Pentagon said Shanahan had spoken with senior US military officials about the situation. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON DC: Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is focused on de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and urged them both to avoid further military action, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, without saying if he had spoken with his counterparts from either nation.

In a statement, the Pentagon said Shanahan had spoken with
senior US military officials about the situation. “Acting Secretary Shanahan’s focus is on de-escalating tensions and urging both of the nations to avoid further military action,” the statement added.

Pakistan eager for US diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi

Tensions escalated dramatically between Pakistan and India on February 14 when a young man – a native of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) – rammed an explosives-laden car into an Indian military convoy, killing 44 soldiers.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad reportedly claimed the attack, but India was quick to hurl unsubstantiated allegations at Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan offered every possible help in investigation, but India turned down the offer and instead whipped up war hysteria.

PM to Modi: ‘Let better sense prevail’

Pakistan on Wednesday announced it had shot down two Indian fighter jets that attempted to violate its airspace and captured an Indian pilot.

The military’s media wing later released a video of the pilot, who introduced himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan bearing service number 27981.

The development came a day after the country’s civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at a “time and place of its choosing”.

Risk of more India, Pakistan military action unacceptably high: US official

WASHINGTON DC: 

The risks of further military action by India and Pakistan are unacceptably high, a US White House National Security Council official said on Wednesday following rising tensions between the two countries.

“The potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both countries, there neighbours, and the international community,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“The United States is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and calls on both sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.”

Zarif speaks to Qureshi, urges restraint

The Pakistani military on Wednesday announced it has shot down two Indian fighter jets that had attempted to violate Pakistan’s airspace once again and has captured a pilot.

The military’s media wing later released a video of the pilot, who introduced himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan bearing the service number 27981.

The development came a day after the country’s civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at the “time and place of its choosing”.

Zarif speaks to Qureshi, urges restraint

LONDON: 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke on Wednesday on phone with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and offered mediation between India and Pakistan, after rising tensions between the two countries.

Zarif, whose Monday’s resignation was rejected by Rouhani on Wednesday, urge both countries to practice restraint, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported.

ISNA said Zarif is going to speak to his Indian counterpart as well, but did not specify any date.

The Pakistani military on Wednesday announced it has shot down two Indian fighter jets that had attempted to violate Pakistan’s airspace once again and has captured a pilot.

Treatment of captured Indian pilot gets cross-border praise

The military’s media wing later released a video of the pilot, who introduced himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan bearing the service number 27981.

The development came a day after the country’s civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at the “time and place of its choosing”.

UK ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’ OVER RISING INDO-PAK TENSION, SAYS PM MAY

UK PM May urges constraint, says working with UNSC to deescalate situation/ file photo 

In an official statement, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday that the United Kingdom is ‘deeply concerned’ over the rising tensions in India and Pakistan.

The UK PM’s official statements comes after the Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft inside its air space and captured one of the Indian airforce pilots.

“The UK is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urgently calls for restraint on both sides to avoid further escalation,” said May.

“We are in regular contact with both countries, urging dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability. We are working closely with international partners including through the United Nations Security Council to de-escalate tensions,” stated the official statement quoting UK PM Theresa May.

Earlier today, In an official address Prime Minister Imran Khan once again invited India for talks and urged better sense should prevail.

After chairing a meeting of the National Command Authority, the premier said, "I wanted to take you into confidence regarding the situation arising since yesterday. We offered India that we are ready to cooperate with them in any kind of investigation after the Pulwama attack."

"I want to now address India and say let sanity prevail. Let’s think sensibly. All wars in the world have been started on miscalculations on the time and the human cost of war. This was the same with the First World War, with the Second World War, the war on terror, the Vietnam War. The history of the world shows us wars have always been miscalculation," PM Imran said.

UK FO official to speak to Pakistan, India envoys

Britain’s junior Foreign Office minister Mark Field said he will speak with Indian and Pakistani envoys on Wednesday to urge their countries to exercise restraint after both sides said they shot down each other’s fighter jets.

Both countries have ordered air strikes over the last two days, the first time in history that two nuclear-armed powers have done so, while ground forces have exchanged fire in more than a dozen locations.

“I shall be speaking to both the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners this afternoon and will continue to press for the importance of restraint,” Field said in parliament.