NEW DELHI: India must continue to expose Pakistan’s nexus with terrorist groups and its tendency to pursue a proxy war against neighbouring countries as Islamabad has long evaded accountability due to the apathy of the international community, a latest report in a US-based independent journal has said.“Simultaneously, India needs to enhance its anti-terrorism apparatus to effectively tackle the scourge of Pakistan sponsored terrorism single-handedly and in addition to military retribution, also consider non-kinetic measures that impose a prohibitive cost on Islamabad,” said the report in Eurasia Review.Writing for Eurasia Review, former army officer Nilesh Kunwar said, “While its designation may sound impressive, the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee is unfortunately just a ‘paper tiger’ that bases its reports on feedback from member states without investigating the same or giving any directions. Its recently released 37th report has linked Pakistan based proscribed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, the Nov 9, 2025, Red Fort suicide car bombing, as well as its formal announcement of a women-only wing named Jamaat-ul-Muminat created for waging global jihad. However, by qualifying that these incidents or developments were what a member state (implying India) had noted, the UN report has characteristically not endorsed its own observations on the same.”It further said, “While there’s no doubt that the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team lacks ‘teeth’ and doesn’t act as an effective deterrent, yet, this report does provide diplomatic leverage. In the instant case, India definitely has an advantage since unlike Islamabad’s palpably false claim of JeM being “defunct,” which is a feeble defence — New Delhi’s assertions on JeM’s activities are corroborated by irrefutable hard evidence,” it said.The attempt of DG ISPR (media wing of Pakistan armed forces) to deny JeM chief’s presence in the country was laughable because just a few days earlier, Pakistan’s then foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had not only confirmed Masood Azhar’s presence in Pakistan but even given his health update by saying, “He is very unwell… to the extent that he cannot leave his house,” the report said.There is definitely a need for India to be more proactive and expose Pakistan’s ongoing use of terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy more forcefully by following the ‘name and shame’ policy, it said.

NEW DELHI: The govt informed Parliament in the last sessionthat nearly 81% of railway tracks are ready to allow trains to run at speeds of over 110 kmph, a two-fold increase compared to 2014. One-fifth of the existing tracks allow trains to run at speeds of more than 130 kmph.This is significant since the increase in sectional speeds has happened across the railway network rather than being a limited, corridor-based upgrade. As per govt data, 84,888 km out of the little less than 1.1-lakh-km of railway network has been upgraded to support speeds of 110 kmph and above and 23,477 km of this is capable of train operations at 130 kmph and above.This systemic upgrade is allowing railways to introduce new-age Vande Bharat — both chair car and sleeper trains — and Amrit Bharat trains that can run at faster speeds.

Experts said the upgrade of sectional speeds is also important considering that unlike countries such as China, Japan and France, which achieved higher speeds primarily through the laying of new, passenger-only high-speed rail lines, India has pursued a fundamentally different and more complex path.The Indian approach has focussed on upgrading existing tracks that carry mixed traffic — passenger and freight — which is far more challenging than building segregated high-speed corridors, as it requires strengthening track geometry, signalling, electrification and safety systems without disrupting daily operations.Railway ministry officials said India’s strategy has seen large contiguous stretches of tracks being upgraded progressively from 110 kmph to 130 kmph and further to 160 kmph.“This creates a laddered speed ecosystem rather than a sharp division between ‘slow’ conventional lines and isolated high-speed routes. Such gradation allows trains, crew training and signalling systems to evolve organically, reducing transition risks,” said an official.The speed capability is also spread across all railway zones, including freight-intensive zones such as East Central Railway, South East Central Railway and South Central Railway. “This ensures national uniformity and avoids the creation of elite, passenger-centric corridors disconnected from the rest of the network,” the official said.Railways run some of the world’s longest freight trains, carry over 2.5 crore passengers daily, operate with heavy axle loads of 22.9–25 tonnes, and maintain long welded rails, full electrification and increasingly automated signalling—all on the same tracks. No other railway system has attempted speed upgrades under such constraints at a comparable scale, they added.

BENGALURU: Days after the alleged murder of Capt Naveen Chandra Bhat and Dr Shyamala Bhat, their son and prime accused Rohan Chandra Bhat, was escorted by police to the Wilson Garden crematorium Saturday evening to attend their final rites.Acting on permission granted by a special court, police brought Rohan from Nimhans, where he has been undergoing treatment, to the crematorium to perform the rituals in accordance with family traditions. The bodies of the couple were brought to the crematorium around 5pm. Their daughter, Rashmi Bhat, 31, who had flown in from the United States, joined close relatives for the last rites.

As friends and family gathered to bid farewell to the couple, grief at the venue was mingled with disbelief, the tragedy still too overwhelming to fully comprehend. Inside the crematorium hall, silence prevailed as the bodies were placed side by side. Rashmi stepped forward to perform the rituals, holding herself together despite visible anguish. Under tight security, a handcuffed Rohan was brought in briefly to see his parents one last time. He displayed no visible emotion — no tears, no sign of distress — and appeared detached from the proceedings.

Following the priest’s instructions, he performed the arathi with a police officer standing beside him and offered prayers. As observed, Rohan spent less than five minutes inside before being led away without looking back.Rashmi stood at a distance, watching her brother perform the rituals. A family member said Rohan and Rashmi were rarely seen at extended family gatherings. Those present at the crematorium remembered the couple as quiet, dignified individuals who largely kept to themselves and lived without drawing attention. Amid hushed conversations, one question echoed repeatedly among relatives and friends: why did this happen?In her statement to investigators, Rashmi said her brother had been undergoing treatment for schizophrenia. “My parents, particularly my mother, tried their best to get him treated. Because of his mood swings and unusual behaviour, I stopped speaking to him two years ago. But I never imagined he would go to this extent,” she is said to have told police.After arriving from the US, Rashmi approached a Bengaluru court seeking permission for her brother to perform the last rites. Following approval granted Saturday morning, police coordinated his escorted visit to the crematorium.She also outlined his academic background: “After completing his pre-university course (Science) at Jain College, he joined New Horizon College of Engineering in Marathahalli. In 2019, he moved to the United States, where he completed a master’s degree in Advanced Applied Artificial Intelligence Technology. He returned to India in 2022,” she said.

Suryakumar Yadav-led India thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs in the 27th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 to continue their unbeaten run. It was India’s third win in as many games in the competition and has also booked their place in the next round.

The Men in Blue completely dominated Pakistan in the match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Even though Pakistan had the advantage of playing their first two games at the same venue, it counted for little as they proved no match for the reigning champions.

Also Read: The execution was missing with the ball: Salman Ali Agha blames spinners after loss against India

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India thrash Pakistan:

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first on a sluggish surface. The Men in Green were off to a good start as Abhishek Sharma was out for a duck in the very first over. However, Ishan Kishan changed the complexion of the match with his whirlwind knock.

He smashed a 27-ball fifty and went on to score 77 runs off just 40 balls. His stunning knock was studded with 10 fours and three sixes. He was the only batter from either side to score a fifty. India eventually finished their innings on 175/7 in 20 overs.

In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 runs. They lost three wickets inside the first two overs and just could not recover after that. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were all out for a paltry total in the end. Usman Khan top-scored for his side, scoring 44 runs while Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy picked up two wickets apiece.

Hardik Pandya loses his cool:

It was a perfect outing for Team India but the end of the match saw some tense moments after two catches were dropped off Hardik Pandya’s bowling. The incident took place in the 18th over when Hardik Pandya was bowling to Shaheen Afridi. On the very first ball of the over, Afridi edged the ball behind the stumps but Kishan dropped it.

Hardik Pandya was not at all happy and was seen giving Kishan a earful. On the very next ball, Afridi was dropped again and Kuldeep Yadav was at fault this time. Kuldeep dropped a fairly easy chance at long-on. Not only that, the ball also sailed over the boundary for a six, making Hardik Pandya absolutely furious.

Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep involved in heated exchange:

As soon as Kuldeep dropped the catch, an animated Pandya pointed at both Ishan and Kuldeep and seemingly cursed them. Pandya went on to dismiss Afridi in the same over to take India over the line.

Even after the win, Pandya was not at all happy with the fielding effort and was seen having a heated exchange with Kuldeep. Later, captain Suryakumar Yadav was also seen saying something to Kuldeep in an animated fashion while the players were shaking hands with each other.

Watch:

Here is the video 😭😭

Kuldeep vs Hardik Pandya and Surya #IndvsPak pic.twitter.com/au48bFIXFp

— Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) February 15, 2026

Ishan Kishan celebrates his half-century during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Pakistan, at R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: The India-Pakistan fixture arrived wrapped in hype and high drama, enough to fuel a Netflix series. But when the cricket finally took centre stage, it was brutally short on contest. The game turned so one-sided that Indian bowlers eventually stopped celebrating, having already pinned Pakistan firmly to the mat.Chasing a stiff 176, Pakistan were bowled out for 114 runs. The 61-run win helped India cement their place in the Super Eight.

Belligerent Ishan

After electing to field first, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha sprang an early surprise by tossing the ball to himself. The decision paid immediate dividends as he dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the opening over, but what followed was a ferocious counterattack led by Ishan Kishan, who turned the powerplay into a statement of intent. It looked like Pakistan came prepared for Abhishek Sharma but it was Ishan Kishan, who came out of syllabus.

Kishan set the tone right away against Shaheen Shah Afridi, pulling the left-arm pacer over square leg for six off his first ball. A streaky boundary followed as Kishan flirted with danger, while Tilak Varma finished the over with another four, taking 15 runs off Shaheen’s opening spell. India, despite the early loss, had seized momentum.Kishan looked unstoppable from the outset. He opened Agha’s second over with a boundary and continued to disrupt Pakistan’s plans as both Agha and Saim Ayub bowled wide of the crease in an attempt to cramp India’s batters for room. The tactic yielded limited success. Kishan punished a slightly short delivery from Ayub, pulling it powerfully towards backward square leg, although he nearly paid the price while attempting a risky single. Only five runs came from Ayub’s first over, but Pakistan’s grip was fleeting.Spin arrived in earnest when Abrar Ahmed was introduced, and Kishan greeted him with disdain. A poor first ball down the leg side was swept for six, followed by a crisp boundary through the covers when Abrar offered width. Eleven runs came from the over, further tilting the balance in India’s favour.Kishan continued to find boundaries off Ayub, surviving another mistimed pull that just cleared mid-on. Tilak Varma then joined the act to close out a strong powerplay. Despite losing Abhishek early, India raced to 52 for 1 after six overs, with Kishan alone contributing 42 off 25 balls.There was no respite after the powerplay. Abrar switched to bowling over the wicket, but Kishan used soft hands to guide him past short third man before launching one straight down the ground to bring up a 27-ball fifty. The onslaught continued with another boundary through the covers, underlining his complete command over the bowling.With two left-handers at the crease, Agha turned to leg-spinner Shadab Khan, only for Kishan to unleash a slog-sweep for six. A boundary followed, and three well-run twos ensured 17 runs came off Shadab’s first over.Kishan’s innings finally ended when he reverse-swept Ayub for four before being bowled next ball, Ayub breaking the 87-run stand. On a challenging surface offering increasing grip, Kishan’s 77 off just 40 balls stood out as a remarkable effort.

Saim shines with ball

Pakistan continued to rely heavily on spin, using six spinners in the innings, the most ever by a team in a T20 World Cup and joint-most by a Full Member in a T20I. It was Saim Ayub who choked India’s run flow with his street-smart bowling. After going wicketless in his first two overs, Ayub returned to remove Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in quick succession and nearly claimed a hat-trick, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-25-3.India briefly lost momentum in the middle overs, but a patient 32 off 29 balls from Suryakumar Yadav, a brisk 27 off 17 from Shivam Dube, and a cameo of 11 off four balls from Rinku Singh ensured a strong finish.India eventually posted a competitive 175 for 7. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub picked up three wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Tariq picked up a wicket apiece.

Hapless Pakistan

Pakistan batters looked all at sea in the chase. Hardik Pandya dismissed Shahibzada Farhan in the first over for a duck. Saim Ayub teed off with a no look six off Jasprit Bumrah’s first ball. The Indian speedster then pinned the southpaw, before sending Pakistan Captain Salman Ali Agha back to the hut for 4. It was a poor shot for Agha, who started the match on a high but ended he would kicking himself after that shot. It almost felt like there was an unwanted contest in the Pakistan dressing room over who produced the night’s worst dismissal. If Salman Ali Agha’s soft exit raised eyebrows, Babar Azam went a step further, attempting an uncharacteristic slog and completely losing his stumps. Axar Patel threw his arms up in delight as the middle stump was uprooted. It summed up Pakistan’s state of mind. Nowhere in the contest. Axar’s flat trajectory, bowled with relentless accuracy, left the right-hander no room, and Babar’s cross-batted swing looked utterly clueless.Usman Khan’s counterattacking 44 off 34 balls was the lone flicker of resistance in an otherwise shambolic chase. The rest of Pakistan’s batting folded without conviction, their top four failing to reach double figures as pressure mounted and belief evaporated. By the time the innings limped to its end, the contest had long been settled, leaving Pakistan exposed and India cruising through on the back of a ruthless, all-round performance.Brief Scores India: 175 for 7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32, Shivam Dube 27; Saim Ayub 3/25) Pakistan: 114 runs all out in 17.5 overs (Usman Khan 44; Jasprit Bumrah 2/17, Axar Patel 2/29, Varun Chakravarthy 2/16)

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BHOPAL: A 21-year-old, who has been booked for the rape of a minor in the past, was stalking and harassing a 22-year-old girl for nearly 8 months. He was arrested on Saturday. The accused allegedly barged into the woman’s home and shared her photographs on a social media platform in a desperate attempt to stop the woman’s wedding. He also issued death threats to the girl’s brothers.

Police said the girl met the accused around 7-8 months ago. During their initial acquaintance, he reportedly captured several photographs of the woman. However, as his criminal nature became apparent, the woman attempted to distance herself. The boy responded with intimidation, even visiting her house to threaten her brothers’ lives, which led the woman to completely sever all communication with him.The harassment escalated to a dangerous level once the accused learned that the woman’s family finalised her marriage to another man. On the night of Feb 13, just days before the wedding, he forcibly entered the survivor’s home. He confronted her brother, aggressively asserting that he would not permit the marriage to proceed. When the family resisted, the accused brutally assaulted the brother, hurled abuses, and issued death threats before fleeing the scene. Later on Saturday, Meena used his Instagram account to upload and circulate the woman’s photographs, aiming to tarnish her reputation and break the engagement. Eintkhedi SHO Ashish Sapre revealed that the accused is a seasoned criminal with four prior cases on his record, including the rape of a minor.Following a strategic raid, the police nabbed the accused in the Eintkhedi township. He was charged under the Information Technology (IT) Act, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and multiple sections of the BNS for assault and criminal intimidation. After being produced before the court on Saturday, the accused was remanded to judicial custody and sent to jail.