Pakistan announces retaliatory measures against India after Kashmir attack

Pakistan has called for proof that India’s claims that Islamabad was involved in the Kashmir attack are in fact true. It has also requested that Pakistan provide evidence that India has engaged in retaliatory diplomatic actions against India.

In the worst attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in a quarter-century, alleged rebels allegedly killed at least 26 people on Tuesday in the picturesque tourist resort of Pahalgam. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group thought to be an offshoot of the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba armed group, was credited with the attack in a statement released in the name of the organization.

In a speech on Thursday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his intention to “hunt the Pahalgam gunmen to the “ends of the earth.” In addition to other retaliatory measures, New Delhi has sealed its main land border with Pakistan and suspended India’s participation in a water-sharing agreement.

A day after India withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also halted a canal irrigation project, which has sparked concern about Pakistan’s water supply.

Sharif stated in a statement from his office that while Pakistan is concerned about the loss of tourists’ lives in Indian-administered Kashmir, “the Committee reviewed the Indian measures announced on April 23rd, 2025 and called them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible, and devoid of legal merit.”

attempts to link the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of logic, and lack credibility, the statement continued.

Later, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif stated to Al Jazeera, “I strongly refute the allegations made by the Indian government,” and that the nation has “no connection” to armed organizations operating in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The Wagah border will soon be closed, but Islamabad said it will remain open until April 30. All Indian citizens were given the ultimatum to leave in 48 hours, excluding Sikh pilgrims.

Pakistan also suspended all trade with India and suspended all visas issued to Indians under the SAARC program, reduced the number of Indian High Commission employees there, and made its airspace available to all Indian aircraft.

Kamal Hyder, a journalist from Pakistan’s Haripur, described it as a “tit-for-tat response.”

Because Modi has stated that there will be a swift response, all eyes will be on what India does next. He said that will be crucial because he is meeting with party leaders in India.

Islamabad, he continued, “has not minced its words, either,” by stating that any Pakistani side’s response would also be reciprocated.

“Please don’t believe Kashmiris are your enemies,” the message is clear.

Both Pakistan and India both formally occupy Kashmir, while administering its entirety.

Three suspects allegedly responsible for Tuesday’s deadly attack were revealed on Thursday in India-administered Kashmir and given a reward for information.

For any leads that lead to their capture, an offer of 2 million Indian rupees (roughly $23,000) has been made.

According to police, the suspects are Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai, Ali Sulaiman, and Hashim Musa (alias Sulaiman).

Police believe Musa and Bhai to be from Pakistan.

According to the testimony of the wife of one of the victims, Thoker, also known as Adil Guree, lives in Kashmir, and is a resident there.

More than 1,500 people have been detained for questioning in connection with the ongoing investigation, according to a senior police official.

Two days after the Pahalgam attack, the region is still tense with increased security and unease.

However, following a shutdown that was observed yesterday, businesses and shops started reopening.

As they took to the streets to denounce the deadly assault, local trade organizations and political leaders had demanded the shutdown.

“Everything appears gloomy,” he said. In the main city of Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmad Malik, who sells dried fruits, said, “We don’t know what the future holds for this place.”

“Everything was roiling two days ago, and now there is fear and silence.”

Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed his deep regret over the recent attack in Pahalgam, praising the “25 guests who came here to enjoy their vacation” and praising a resident who “sacrificed his life to save the people there.

He told India’s ANI news agency, “The people of Kashmir came out and said the same thing: that they were not at fault for the attack.”

Eubank Jr vs Benn: Fight time, undercard, how to watch or stream, history

Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. will face off in a decades-old grudge fight that has been ongoing for more than two years.

After their initial fight in 2022 was postponed due to contentious circumstances, the British fighters will finally meet in the ring.

Everything you need to know about the conflict is listed here:

When will the Benn vs. Eubank Jr. fight occur?

On April 26th, the fight will take place.

Where is the Benn vs. Eubank fight scheduled to take place?

The fight will take place at the United Kingdom’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What time does Eubank Jr. v. Benn. fight start?

At 18:00 GMT, the first fight is anticipated to take place.

How can I watch the live fight on a streaming device?

From 17:45 GMT, Al Jazeera Sport will provide live text updates and photo coverage of the main and undercard fight.

On DAZN, the fight will be live-streamed pay-per-view.

On the undercard, who is it?

  • Light heavyweight Anthony Yarde vs. Lyndon Arthur
  • Middleweight fight between Liam Smith and Aaron McKenna
  • Cruiserweight fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Brandon Glanton.
  • Cruiserweight fight between Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke

The fight purse is what?

The total purse, according to organizers, is believed to be $ 23 million, with a 60-40 split in the main fight geared toward Eubank Jr.

Chris Eubank Jr., who is he?

Eubank Jr., the son of former middleweight champion boxer Chris Eubank, is a professional boxer from Hove, a southern British seaside town.

The 35-year-old has previously held the World Boxing Organization’s interim middleweight title and the super middleweight title before making his professional debut in 2011.

Eubank Jr., a fighter who adopts an orthodox stance, is the third-ranked middleweight boxer in the world and the top-ranked boxer in the UK.

Chris Eubank Jr. [Getty Images]

Conor Benn, who is he?

Benn’s father, Nigel Benn, was a two-weight champion in the 1990s, and he also has boxing in his blood. The 28-year-old, who was raised in Ilford, East London, became a professional in 2016.

Benn hasn’t lost a professional fight, but the boxer has had his fair share of controversy since failing a doping test in 2022.

The anti-doping body in the country imposed a ban on the then-rising boxing champion due to using clomifene, a fertility drug that was deemed prohibited. His suspension date was 20 November, 2024.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Conor Benn poses for a photo ahead of the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn during a media workout as part of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves - Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn at The Pelligon on April 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Conor Benn is scheduled to resume his comeback since his doping suspension has been lifted [Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters] [

What is the background of the rivalry between Eubank and Benn?

The Benn v. Eubank feud, which the rivals’ fathers engaged in in two bloody fights in the early 1990s, is revived with Saturday’s bout of second-generation rivals.

In November 1990, the pair’s first gruesome fight, which Eubank triumphed over by knockout total, took place. Three years later, a highly anticipated rematch was held, and both men were able to keep their belts.

The rivals were supposed to fight until nearly 22 years later when Benn’s doping violation prevented the fight, which was titled “Born Rivals.”

Despite the past, the fighters assert that their fathers did not encourage them to rekindle the conflict. In recent years, both senior fighters have been seen making friendly public appearances.

What is Eubank Jr.’s record in fights?

  • Bouts: 37
  • Wins: 34 – by knockout: 25
  • Losses 3 by knockout: 1

What is Benn’s record in fights?

  • Bouts: 23
  • Wins: 23 – by knockout: 14
  • Losses: 0

What’s the egg-smashing controversy about?

During a press conference in February, Eubank Jr. slammed an egg into Benn’s face.

Eddie Hearn and Benn’s father, Nigel, tried to get at Eubank and his team as the fighters battled it out on stage, but an egg from his pocket came out and struck Benn’s face.

The British Boxing Board of Control had already made reference to two drug tests Benn failed in 2022, which sparked a two-year legal battle with anti-doping authorities. Eubank Jr. was already fined $ 129, 000.

“Egg contamination is believed to have caused his two drug tests to fail. Therefore, I gave him an egg,” Eubank Jr. posted on X.

At a second media event, he defended his actions and said, “Did I cross the line?” I believe there have been many boundaries throughout this process.

On X, Benn responded, “That’s the only shot you’ll land on me… after two rounds, you’re finished.”

Eubank Sr. called his son’s pre-fight antics a “disgrace” and called him a “disgrace.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Conor Benn (R) is held back after Chris Eubank Jr (L) throws an egg at him during a press conference ahead of their fight at Manchester Central on February 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Chris Eubank Jr., left, threw an egg at Conor Benn during a press conference on February 25, 2025. [Alex Livesey/Getty Images]

Why will the boxers switch up their weights during the match?

Benn must move up from his welterweight division, which is 147 pounds (66 kg), because the fight will be fought at middleweight (160 pounds (71 kg)).

Eubank Jr will have to drop from his 180lbs (81kg) weight because the boxers can’t weigh more than 170 pounds (77 kg) on fight night.

What has Eubank Jr. said about the conflict?

Eubank Jr., however, has stated that he will fight with the precision of a “matador” and that he will not back down.

It’s about skill and dedication, expertise, and all of those areas of excellence that this fight is about. Conor Benn will be the deciding factor, he said on Tuesday, adding that he has many years of experience.

I can defend my position. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve forgotten more details than he even realizes.

Conor Benn will serve as the bull, and the procedure will be parliamentary, everything will go as planned, and I’ll behave like a matador in the ring.

Boxing - Chris Eubank Jr & Conor Benn Grand Arrivals - The Pelligon, Canary Wharf, London, Britain - April 22, 2025 Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn pose with promoters Ben Shalom and Eddie Hearn during the grand arrivals Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
When Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn meet in the ring on April 26, rivalry between their fathers will resume. [Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters]

What has Benn about the conflict said?

Benn will use this fight as another chance to carry on his unbeaten run.

It’s always personal, they say. It’s a business, some claim. He claimed in the press conferences leading up to the fight that this is not business and never will be.

It’s not business, and this is personal, if you try to put your hands on me and make me unconscious.

Eubank Sr wants the fight to be canceled, but why?

The former champion has distanced himself from the fight in response to his rivalry with Benn Senior.

Eubank believes that the fight will put his son’s life in danger, especially since he will have to lower his weight class.

He claimed in an interview with British tabloid The Sun last week that “my son probably walks around at around 180lb [81.6kg] and he has to boil himself down to 160lb [71.5 kg]”.

People don’t understand what Junior’s age-related weight loss would mean. They are unable to comprehend the drying process.

“I am aware of how that feels.” I am aware of the fighters’ injuries and dehydration.

What is the US strategy in the Ukraine war?

The proposal for a ceasefire that includes giving Russia access to territory is rejected by Kyiv.

Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in a month follows the US president’s claim that Ukraine has continued to escalate the conflict.

Washington’s request to give Moscow access to Crimea and other occupied areas has been rejected by Kyiv.

What comes next, then?

Presenter: Nick Clark

Guests:

The Eurasia Democracy Initiative is led by Peter Zalmayev, its executive director.

Russian foreign policy analyst Pavel Felgenhauer

Trump says petrol and grocery prices are down. Facts say otherwise

According to US President Donald Trump, housing, gas, and grocery costs are all declining. All of these assertions are unsupported by current research, though.

When asked about home sales and whether it was a good economic indicator for him on Thursday in the Oval Office, the president responded that there were very good housing sales.

However, the reporter who asked the question made reference to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which stated that sales of existing homes were down 5.9 percent in March from the same month.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a public statement that “residential housing mobility, which is currently at its lowest levels, indicates the troublesome possibility of lessening economic mobility for society.”

Trump mentioned that some states’ energy costs have decreased to $ 1.98. Although he did not specify what kind of energy, his comments were similar to those made last week. He specifically cited gasoline prices at the time.

The lowest average price per gallon ($0.71 per litre) last week in Mississippi was according to AAA, which monitors national gasoline prices. Mississippi reported the lowest average gasoline price this week, this time for $ 2.68 ($0.70 per litre). The lowest individual station prices, according to data from GasBuddy, were $2.33 per gallon (0.62 per litre), which is still higher than the president’s mention.

The average price of gasoline in the United States is currently $ 3.17 per gallon ($0.84 per litre). That is a decrease from $ 3.60 ($0.95 per litre) at this time last year, even though it is a five-cent increase over the previous month. The president made the correct observation that, despite what he had suggested, gasoline prices are still trending downward.

Overall energy prices decreased by 2.4 percent over the past month, largely as a result of the Department of Labor’s most recent report, which was largely driven by lower gasoline prices. The decline in natural gas and electricity costs was aided by the decrease. Since Trump’s election, oil prices have generally decreased, largely as a result of the uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariff threats.

Trump also claimed that prices are dropping for groceries in his comments. This assertion is disproven by recent research. Food prices increased by 0.4 percent from last month to $2.44 percent from last year, according to the Department of Labor. Four out of the six main grocery categories reported price increases.

‘Deepest contradictions’: Yale bans pro-Palestine group amid Ben-Gvir visit

This time, Yale University was the latest top university in the country to outlaw a pro-Palestine organization in response to protests against the visit of far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Ben-Gvir’s visit to a “food and aid depot” in the Palestinian territory on Wednesday sparked outrage as protesters criticized the minister’s support for mounting attacks on Gaza and, most recently, his calls to bomb “food and aid depots” in the country.

Raed Jarrar, the advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), described Ben-Gvir’s silence and subsequent crackdown on protesters as “not just a moral contradiction – it’s a moral and legal failure” in an interview with Al Jazeera.

The demonstrations started on Tuesday night when protesters gathered on the university and set up tents in a fading camp. The event, which lasted just a few hours, was similar to the encampment protests that swept across US universities last year, frequently causing administrators to make policy changes and crackdowns.

The encampment had violated its policies, according to a statement from Yale the day before, and students who had been warned or punished in previous incidents would be subject to “immediate disciplinary action.”

Without providing any further information, the university stated that it was looking into “concerns about disturbing anti-Semitic conduct at the gathering.”

The administration also threatened to sue Yalies4Palestine, a student organization, for sending “out calls over social media for others to join the event” and later for claiming credit for the event.

A group of pro-Palestine protesters denied that the event was connected to any group in a statement to the Yale Daily News, a student newspaper.

The protests continued on Wednesday night when Ben-Gvir arrived for a speech at the Shabtai, a private Jewish organization that claims to be “based at Yale University” despite not being formally affiliated with or based there.

According to video of the event, Ben-Gvir briefly made fun of the protesters by using what his office claimed was a “victory sign” gesture as he was met by “shame on you” chants.

Later, according to his office, he was unharmed when a water bottle was thrown at him from the crowd, which included both students and nonstudents.

Attacking students won’t save Yale, according to the saying.

The administration of President Donald Trump has launched a wider pressure campaign on top universities with the latest punishment for pro-Palestine protesters at Yale.

The Trump administration has stepped up the response while former president Joe Biden was widely criticized for supporting crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests.

The Trump administration has attempted to deport noncitizen protesters protesting the constitution of Palestine, and it has threatened to freeze or freeze federal funding for several top universities, including Harvard University in Massachusetts and Columbia University in New York, if they do not consent to a number of policy changes.

Organisers of the protest movement have repeatedly refuted the notion that such demonstrations are anti-Semitic, noting the regular involvement of Jewish students and noting the odd number of anti-Jewish statements made at frequently publicly accessible demonstrations.

Pro-Palestine protesters at Yale accused administrators of retaliating against the Trump administration in a statement released by the student newspaper.

Harvard or Columbia were saved by a combination of attempt for students and hostile community members. They claimed that Yale won’t be saved.

Yale declined to comment on whether concerns about a Trump administration response informed its disciplinary actions or whether it had any plans to respond to Ben-Gvir’s visit.

The assistant attorney general of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, responded to a video on X in which students refused to break a human chain and let students march through their ranks on campus.

The article stated that “Jewish students aren’t allowed to walk through Yale’s campus anymore”!

According to Dhillon, her office is “responding to the concerned students at Yale” and is “tracking the concerning activities there.”

Some observers said the dissonance on display at Yale was especially striking despite criticisms that pro-Palestine protesters have become a common practice in the US.

An Israeli court found Ben-Gvir guilty in 2008 of supporting a “terrorist” organization, the founded Kach group, which supported the Palestinian territories’ annexation and ethnic cleansing.

UN experts have already stated that Israel is engaged in “genocidal acts,” so he has demanded a no-holds-barred military operation in Gaza.

He has urged Israel to carry out war crimes in Gaza in accordance with international law. He most recently stated on X that he had previously told “senior Republican officials” at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that Israel should bomb “food and aid depots.”

“Deepest contradiction,”

The University of Chicago’s Eman Abdelhadi, a sociologist, claimed that Yale’s silence regarding Ben-Gvir’s speech at a university “exposes the deepest contradictions in our society and in these institutions that are supposed to be dedicated to truth seeking and critical thought.”

Ben-Gvir, she said, “has no red lines.” However, “people who protest can suffer severe consequences.”

In this situation, universities are fighting for their lives and trying to convince the public that their reputation is worth protecting in the face of Trump’s assault, she said. They nevertheless exhibit no moral uptitude.