Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand on Monday, discussing the ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.&nbsp;According to the statement from the foreign office, both sides discussed the latest developments in the region, with Dar reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy.&nbsp;The two leaders vowed to further strengthen Pakistan-Canada ties while reviewing bilateral relations, including cooperation in trade, agriculture, and other sectors.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2048757494743507226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6a23f6f845ed2bd6a930d955a4d0b3fa186b4c89&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2048757494743507226">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> In a separate call, Dar also spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss the latest developments in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The UK Foreign Secretary appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s facilitation and continued efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said.&nbsp;Both sides underscored the importance of sustained engagement for peace and stability in the region and beyond.&nbsp;Both dignitaries further agreed to remain in contact.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2048775824136982974&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6a23f6f845ed2bd6a930d955a4d0b3fa186b4c89&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 794px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2048775824136982974"></iframe></div></div>

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks with his counterparts from around the world, discussing the latest developments in the region as leaders appreciate Pakistan's efforts towards dialogue and diplomacy.

Pakistan discusses regional developments, promotes dialogue and diplomacy

SARAJEVO: A Bosnian court on Monday jailed a Bosnian Serb for 15 years for the killing of five Muslims during the Balkan nation&#39;s 1990s war. Dusko Zoric, a 55-year-old extradited by Germany last year, was found guilty by Bosnia&#39;s state court of crimes against humanity during the 1992-95 conflict, which left about 100,000 people dead. At least 69 Bosnian Muslims, half of them women and children, were killed by Bosnian Serb forces in the village of Zecovi, near Prijedor, a Bosnian Serb-majority city, in July 1992. Prijedor is notorious for the creation of the Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje detention camps -- collectively known as the &quot;Triangle of Horror&quot; -- where around 6,000 people, mainly Bosnian Muslims and Croatians -- were killed by Bosnian forces between April and August 1992. Judge Saban Maksumic said the five men killed by Zoric had just been arrested in their homes in the village. The defendant, who was 21 at the time, killed them with an automatic rifle on a roadside. Maksumic said Zoric&#39;s involvement had been proved &quot;beyond all reasonable doubt&quot;. Zoric was acquitted however of charges of taking part in the killing two days later of about 30 women and children who were hiding in two houses in Zecovi. A survivor of the massacre, aged 15 at the time, identified Zoric, but the judge said there was no definitive proof. Five other Bosnian Serbs were jailed for between five and 20 years in 2023 for the massacre.

Europe

Bosnia’s state court sentenced Bosnian Serb Dusko Zoric to 15 years for killing five Muslim men during the 1992 Zecovi massacre near Prijedor.

Bosnian Serb jailed for wartime killing of Muslims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned the Afghan Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires and delivered a strong demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime over the deadly terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel Police Post in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province&rsquo;s Bannu district. According to the Foreign Office, the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack, carried out on May 9 by terrorists belonging to as Fitna al-Khwarij, martyred 15 police constables and injured four others, including a civilian. The ministry said a detailed investigation, supported by evidence and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack was masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan. Pakistan conveyed its grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan and warned that it reserved the right to respond decisively against those responsible for the &ldquo;barbaric act.&rdquo; The Foreign Office said the Afghan Taliban had been reminded of their commitment not to allow Afghan territory to be used for terrorism against other countries. It added that the continued presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and the permissive environment enabling their operations had been documented in reports by the United Nations Monitoring Team and other international organizations. Pakistan also urged the Afghan Taliban regime to take &ldquo;concrete and verifiable action&rdquo; against Fitna-al-Khwarij, Fitna al-Hindustan, and ISKP/Daesh elements allegedly operating from Afghan soil. According to the statement, Pakistan had engaged constructively with the Afghan Taliban through several rounds of talks mediated by friendly countries, but the Afghan side had failed to deliver meaningful and verifiable action against terrorist outfits. The Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan would not compromise on its national security or the safety of its citizens if terrorist groups continued to find sanctuary across the border.

Police officials and relatives offer funeral prayers for security personnel following a car bombing attack by Fitna al-Khwarij in the Fateh Khel area of Pakistan's Bannu on May 10, 2026. (File photo: AFP)

The Foreign Office says the Afghan Taliban have been reminded of their commitment not to allow Afghan territory to be used for terrorism against other countries.

Pakistan issues demarche to Afghan Taliban over Bannu attack

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday that he would introduce legislation to nationalize Chinese-owned British Steel, after the government took control of the company last year.&nbsp;&quot;Legislation will be brought forward this week to give the government powers... to take full national ownership of British Steel,&quot; Starmer said in a speech aimed at resetting his leadership after disastrous local elections.&nbsp;The country&#39;s last factory that can make steel from scratch faced imminent closure last year after its Chinese owner Jingye said the plant was no longer financially viable.&nbsp;After unsuccessful negotiations with the company, the UK government passed emergency legislation to prevent the struggling plant&#39;s blast furnaces from going out.&nbsp;Since then, &quot;it has not been possible to agree a commercial sale with the current owner,&quot; the government said in a statement on Monday.&nbsp;&quot;The government believes introducing legislation to provide a route to public ownership is the appropriate next step,&quot; it said, adding that the move remained subject to a public interest test.&nbsp;Nationalization would bring British Steel back into government ownership for the first time since 1988.&nbsp;The government has seen the possible closure of the plant in northern England as a threat to Britain&#39;s long-term economic security, given the decline of the UK&#39;s once-robust steel industry.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks during a visit to the Kenton district of London on April 23, 2026. (File photo: AFP)

Starmer says Labour government would rebuild ties with Europe in a key speech aimed at resetting his leadership after disastrous local elections.

UK PM vows to put 'Britain at the heart of Europe'

ISLAMABAD: Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found an ancient galaxy that is not spinning, surprising scientists who study how galaxies form, Space Daily reported on Sunday. The galaxy, called XMM-VID1-2075, existed when the universe was less than 2 billion years old. That makes it extremely old and distant from Earth.&nbsp; According to University of California-Davis (UC Davis) researchers, early galaxies are expected to rotate because gas flowing into them, combined with gravity, usually sets them spinning.&nbsp; But this galaxy showed no clear sign of rotation. Instead, its stars and material appear to move in a more random way. That pattern is normally seen in very large, older galaxies closer to Earth, which have had billions of years to change through repeated collisions and mergers.&nbsp; Ben Forrest, a UC Davis research scientist and lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy, said the finding was surprising because the galaxy had reached this slow-moving state so early in cosmic history, according to his paper published in Nature Astronomy journal. The galaxy is also unusually massive for its age, with several times more stars than the Milky Way, and it had already stopped forming new stars.&nbsp; The team studied XMM-VID1-2075 and two other ancient galaxies using Webb&rsquo;s powerful instruments. One galaxy was clearly rotating, another looked disorganized, and XMM-VID1-2075 showed no rotation at all.&nbsp; The James Webb telescope made this possible because such faraway galaxies appear tiny and are very difficult to study from the ground.&nbsp; Scientists think one possible explanation is a major collision between two galaxies spinning in opposite directions. Such a crash could have canceled out much of the rotation.&nbsp; The researchers also noticed extra light to one side of the galaxy, which may point to another object interacting with it.&nbsp; The discovery matters because it gives astronomers a new way to test ideas about how galaxies grew in the young universe.&nbsp; Researchers now plan to search for more examples.&nbsp; Finding out whether XMM-VID1-2075 is unusual or part of a wider pattern could help scientists better understand how today&rsquo;s galaxies came to be.

Gadgets

Astronomers using the James Webb Telescope discovered an ancient, massive galaxy without rotation, challenging current theories of galaxy formation and suggesting early cosmic collisions may have shaped its unusual structure.

James Webb telescope spots mysterious non-rotating early galaxy

ISLAMABAD: Taliban intelligence forces raided the offices of Afghanistan&rsquo;s largest private media group on Sunday after its news outlet reported that two of its journalists had been detained, Afghanistan International reported, citing sources.&nbsp; Around 50 armed intelligence personnel surrounded the headquarters of Moby Group and its news channel TOLOnews in Kabul&rsquo;s Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood for more than six hours, the news website reported. The operation reportedly began roughly 40 minutes after TOLOnews posted on social media at about 1pm local time that two of its journalists had been detained by Taliban intelligence agents. The journalists were identified as Mansoor Niazi, a presenter and host of political programs, and Imran Danish, head of the network&rsquo;s political section. Niazi was reportedly detained on Thursday in Kabul&rsquo;s Karte Seh area, while Danish was taken into custody Saturday evening near the TOLOnews office. The report said Taliban intelligence agents confiscated the mobile phones of employees working for TOLOnews and other Moby Group outlets, including TOLO TV, Lemar TV, Arman FM and Arakozia FM. Employees were placed under surveillance throughout the operation. Several staff members were reportedly assaulted, and female employees were subjected to harsh treatment, the report said, citing sources. Women were allowed to leave around 7pm, while male staff remained under supervision for about another an hour. Danish was brought to the office during the raid and later taken away again after searches and inspections were completed. Neither Moby Group nor Taliban officials have publicly commented on the reasons for the raid. TOLOnews resumed posting on social media at around 8pm after an unusual nine-hour period of inactivity. In one apparent sign of coercion, the media report, citing sources maintained that Taliban intelligence agents took control of Niazi&rsquo;s account on X. A message posted Sunday morning said reports about his detention were false and that he was at home. The incident came days after Taliban intelligence detained Ahmad Jawed Niazi, head of Paigard News Agency. His whereabouts and condition remain unknown. The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization confirmed the detention of the TOLOnews journalists and said no private media outlet in Afghanistan is safe from arbitrary harassment and detention. Recently, Faridullah Mohammadi, director of TOLOnews, said at a meeting in the Taliban presidential palace that the &ldquo;relative freedom&rdquo; of the media in Afghanistan was unprecedented in the region. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have detained, threatened and imprisoned dozens of journalists, prompting repeated warnings from media rights groups over the deteriorating state of press freedom in Afghanistan. At least five journalists have remained in Taliban custody over the past year, according to media reports. They include Hamid Farhadi, Aziz Watanwal, Shakib Ahmad Nazari, Mohammad Bashir Hatef and Abuzar Sarem Sarpoli.&nbsp; Afghanistan International reported that at least two detained journalists have been transferred to Bagram Prison.

Kabul skyline - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan

Taliban intelligence raids Moby Group’s Kabul headquarters after TOLOnews reported the detention of two journalists, underscoring escalating pressure on independent media in Afghanistan.

Taliban besiege TOLOnews offices following detention of journalists

TOKYO: Oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran&#39;s terms for ending the war in the Middle East, while stocks were mixed. Trump&#39;s repudiation of Iran&#39;s response to his latest peace proposal raised the likelihood of further violence and disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;I have just read the response from Iran&#39;s so-called &#39;Representatives.&#39; I don&#39;t like it &mdash; TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!&quot; said Trump, who is due in China this week where the war will likely loom large in discussions. &quot;We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran&#39;s legitimate rights,&quot; Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday. Iran wants &quot;an end to the war&quot; and to the US naval blockade, and the &quot;release of assets belonging to the Iranian people, which have for years been unjustly trapped in foreign banks&quot;, he said. &quot;President Trump&#39;s swift rejection of these counter-demands underscores the wide gulf between both sides, pointing to a risk of prolonged uncertainty rather than rapid de-escalation,&quot; said Lloyd Chan at Japanese bank MUFG. &quot;For oil markets, this suggests a persistent geopolitical risk premium as Hormuz disruptions drag on,&quot; Chan said. Oil came off earlier highs and Asian stocks were mixed, with Tokyo closing half a percent lower and Hong Kong little changed but Seoul was up 4.3%, boosted by tech stocks. In Tokyo, Nintendo shares plunged almost 10% after the Japanese gaming giant warned Friday of lower profits this year and said it would hike the price of its Switch 2 console. In Europe Frankfurt and Paris started lower but London eked out early gains. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was due in Japan and South Korea before heading to China for Trump&#39;s high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping. &quot;China is willing to work with the United States in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, to expand cooperation, manage differences, and inject more stability and certainty into a volatile and intertwined world,&quot; China&#39;s foreign ministry said Monday.

A man walks past an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei 225 stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on May 11, 2026. (AFP)

Banking

Oil prices rise after President Donald Trump rejects Iran’s conditions to end the Middle East conflict, increasing fears of prolonged instability and possible disruptions to crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices rise as Trump rejects Iran’s Middle East peace proposal

BRUSSELS: The European Union was expected Monday to agree new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, the bloc&#39;s top diplomat said, as a change of government in Hungary ends months of blockage.. &quot;I expect political agreement on the sanctions on violent settlers, hopefully we will get there,&quot; EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of the bloc&#39;s foreign ministers. The move in response to rising violence and settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank had been stalled by former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. But nationalist leader and Israel ally&#39;s ouster by rival Peter Magyar now appears to have paved the way for the veto to be lifted. EU officials said seven settlers or settler organisations were set to be blacklisted. The bloc was also set to sanction representatives from Palestinian militant group Hamas. The occupied West Bank has been gripped by almost daily violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, involving both Israeli troops and settlers. There has been a surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Iran war on February 28, Palestinian officials and the United Nations have said. While the EU is moving ahead with the sanctions on Israeli settlers, there remains no consensus among the bloc&#39;s member states to take further steps against Israel such as curbing trade ties.

Middle East

EU foreign ministers are expected to approve sanctions on violent Israeli settlers and Hamas figures, after Hungary’s new government lifted its veto amid escalating West Bank violence and settlement expansion

EU expected to agree long-stalled sanctions on Israeli settlers: Kallas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s domestic internet connections have increased sharply from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.10 million in 2026, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Monday. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office in Islamabad, the briefing was given during a review meeting on the affairs of the Federal Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom. The meeting was informed that Pakistan&rsquo;s IT exports are expected to reach 4.5 to 4.6 billion dollars during the current fiscal year. Officials told the Prime Minister that Pakistan recently conducted a 5G spectrum auction, which was described in the briefing as the world&rsquo;s largest auction of its kind since 2016.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 697px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2053724980081562034&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f27a06db15f0d707d5c37bd01049a4d6788cc47b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The auction generated revenue of 509 million US dollars for Pakistan,&rdquo; the briefing stated. The meeting was further informed that Indus AI Week was organized in February 2025 across 30 cities of the country, where 88 pavilions were established and more than 100 international delegates participated. Officials said fibre connectivity has also been provided to government schools and health units in Islamabad as part of the government&rsquo;s digital development initiatives. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said promotion of the IT sector and enhancement of IT-related exports remain among the government&rsquo;s top priorities. The Prime Minister directed authorities to expedite work on establishing Easy Service Centers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He also instructed officials to accelerate the launch of Easy Service facilities in provinces in collaboration with provincial governments. &ldquo;To reduce the gap between urban and rural areas in the IT sector, cooperation from governments at the provincial and district levels should be obtained,&rdquo; the Prime Minister said. The meeting was informed that the provision of free internet hotspots in Islamabad is in its final stages, while E-learning pods are being installed in Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park.

Education

Pakistan’s internet connections rose from 1.9 million to 5.1 million in 2026, PM Shehbaz Sharif was informed, as IT exports, 5G expansion, and nationwide digital connectivity initiatives accelerated.

Pakistan’s domestic internet connections rise to 5.1 million: PM told

ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistanis sent home $3.54 billion in remittances during April 2026, up 11.4% from the same month last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-remittances-rise-to-129-billion-in-early-fy26-central-bank" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">remittance inflows</a>&nbsp;declined by 7.6% on a month-on-month basis from March 2026 levels.&nbsp;Cumulatively, workers&rsquo; remittances rose by 8.5% in the first 10 months of FY2025-26, reaching $33.86 billion in July-April, compared with $31.21 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances for Pakistan in April, with overseas Pakistanis sending $842 million, up 16% year-on-year from $725 million recorded in April 2025.&nbsp;Remittances from the United Arab Emirates also posted strong annual growth, increasing 13% to $735 million from $653 million in the same month last year.&nbsp;Meanwhile, inflows from the United Kingdom stood at $564 million in April, while Pakistani workers in the United States remitted $318 million during the month.&nbsp;Remittances from European Union countries reached $432 million, reflecting steady inflows from the region.

A dealer counts US dollars at a money exchange market in Karachi on March 2, 2023. (AFP/File)

Economy

Saudi Arabia remains the largest source of remittances for Pakistan in April, with overseas Pakistanis sending $842 million, up 16% year-on-year from $725 million recorded in April 2025.

Pakistan remittances rise 11.4% to $3.54B in April

ISLAMABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing fresh allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders accused BJP-backed groups of burning homes and shops following the party&rsquo;s historic victory in the state. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee shared footage on X alleging that &ldquo;BJP-backed miscreants&rdquo; had set fire to the homes of party workers in the chief minister&rsquo;s district, leaving families devastated. The post added to a growing stream of claims that opposition supporters were being targeted after the BJP&rsquo;s takeover of the state. The allegations escalated after TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused BJP-linked attackers of torching more than 60 shops at Hijli Sharif in Khejuri&rsquo;s Nichkasba gram panchayat area in East Midnapore.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2053341938557079827&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a029064d74d2d3de9d512fab3e7fd84dd04700de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 723px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>UNI reported that the shops belonged to both Hindu and Muslim owners, with Banerjee calling the incident an attempt to spread fear among ordinary people. The Statesman also reported Banerjee&rsquo;s accusation that the Khejuri attack was aimed at disrupting Bengal&rsquo;s social harmony. The BJP has denied involvement and sought an investigation, while the fire has become a flashpoint in the wider post-poll crisis. The violence has undercut BJP claims that its victory would bring stability to West Bengal. Reuters reported that hundreds of people were arrested after post-election violence killed at least three people, including an aide to a senior BJP leader. The Guardian reported that tensions remained high after more than 200 criminal cases and 433 arrests were recorded amid the unrest. The violence followed the BJP&rsquo;s defeat of Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s long-ruling TMC, a result that expanded the party&rsquo;s dominance across much of India. The spread of arson, political killings and communal fears has cast a harsh light on India&rsquo;s ruling party and the political climate it has helped create.

India

BJP faces allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after TMC leaders accused BJP-backed groups of arson, as wider unrest killed several people and triggered hundreds of arrests.