Taliban takes 40 travellers as hostage

India on Thursday rejected Pakistan's allegations of aggravating skirmishes with Afghanistan, calling them "baseless" and accusing Pakistan of blaming others for its own misdeeds.

In a video statement, Mirza argued that the current situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be examined through the framework of international law, particularly the principles upheld by the United Nations.

Pakistan Railways cancelled 11 trains scheduled to depart from Karachi to several major cities across the country, citing technical faults, a move that left thousands of passengers stranded and drew fresh criticism over the worsening condition of Pakistan's rail system.

Amid the developing security situation in West Asia, the Indian Embassy in Qatar provided an update, where it mentioned that about 1000 Indian passengers have travelled back to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi. It further said that temporary transit visas of 96 hours' validity had been issued for Indian nationals through the Salwa border to Saudi Arabia and underlined that the Embassy's 24/7 control room remains functional.

According to Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, President of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) J-K, nearly all students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences are planning to return. A group of over 30 students has already booked tickets and is expected to reach New Delhi on March 15 via Dubai, while others are scheduled to arrive on March 16.

India's UN Ambassador, Harish Parvathaneni, has condemned Pakistan's "hypocritical" airstrikes in Afghanistan during Ramadan, which killed 185 civilians. Speaking at the UNSC, he denounced the strikes as flagrant violations of sovereignty and international law, while also slamming "trade and transit terrorism" targeting the landlocked nation.

India raised concerns over humanitarian challenges, cross-border violence, and trade restrictions affecting Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the situation in the country. Delivering India's statement at the meeting, Permanent Representative Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni highlighted New Delhi's continued humanitarian support while drawing attention to issues including civilian casualties, forced returns, and barriers to trade for the landlocked nation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan as a "state sponsor of wrongful detention" in a release on Monday. He urged the Taliban to release Americans "unjustly detained," accusing the group of using "terrorist tactics" and "hostage diplomacy" to seek policy concessions from the US.

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said that despite internal differences and challenges, the Iranian people stand united when it comes to foreign interference, stressing that any external involvement in Iran's internal affairs is strongly opposed by the nation.

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has emphasised the resilience of the country's governance system, stating that Iran continued to function smoothly even under war-like conditions. He said public services and wartime management proceeded without disruption, demonstrating that the Islamic Republic of Iran operates through established laws and institutions rather than relying on any single individual.