NEW DELHI: At a time when Pakistan has inserted itself in the West Asia frame and proposed to position itself as a mediator, the latest US congressional research service (CRS) report offers a sharp reality check. It says Pakistan remains a sanctuary for a wide array of terrorist groups despite decades of state-led military offensives and strategic policy shifts.Despite the 2014 National Action Plan’s mandate to dismantle all armed militias, 15 major groups continue to operate across five broad categories — globally oriented, Afghanistan-oriented, India- and Kashmir-oriented, domestically oriented, and sectarian, the report noted.Twelve of these 15 groups are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) under US law, with most animated by extremist ideology. The report underscores a fundamental failure in dismantling these networks, noting that both US- and UN-designated terrorist organisations continue to operate openly on Pakistani soil. Particular emphasis is placed on India-centric groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammed, which maintain active cadres of 1,500 and 500 armed supporters, respectively.On the regional front, Pakistan remains a base for India-oriented groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks), Jaish and Hizbul, which seek the annexation of Kashmir.While Islamabad accuses India of backing militants in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — charges India denies — US officials have conversely linked the Haqqani Network, led by Afghanistan’s interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, to Pakistan’s own intelligence services. Despite being removed from the FATF “grey list” in 2022, Pakistan remains designated by the US as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom, as some madrassas continue teaching doctrines which could lead to greater acceptance of extremist ideology. From the dormant anti-Shia Sipah-e-Sahaba to the active Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, the sheer diversity of these outfits illustrates a multi-layered security challenge that neither airstrikes nor diplomatic maneuvers have been able to resolve, the report said.The reality is further punctuated by a spike in terrorism-linked deaths that reached 4,001 in 2025 — highest in 11 years. TTP remains the deadliest domestic threat, seeking Sharia law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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Kolkata Knight Riders’ high-profile signing of Cameron Green for a record ₹25.20 crore has quickly become a talking point in IPL 2026, but not for the reasons the franchise would have hoped. The Australian all-rounder, acquired for his dual skill set, did not bowl in KKR’s opening game against Mumbai Indians, raising eyebrows among fans and experts alike.

On the field, Green had a modest start to his KKR career, scoring a quick 18 off 10 balls on debut. However, his contribution wasn’t enough to prevent KKR from suffering a defeat after failing to defend a daunting total of 220 at the Wankhede Stadium.

While he did not bowl, Green looked sharp in the field, displaying good athleticism and a strong arm from the deep, indicating that his overall fitness may not be a major concern.

Former opener questions Cameron Green’s antics of not bowling in the IPL 2026 match against MI

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra did not hold back in expressing his concerns over Green’s limited role. Taking to social media, Chopra pointed out the imbalance between what KKR paid and what they received on the field.

He argued that if a franchise spends heavily on an all-rounder but ends up using him only as a batter, it raises valid concerns about value for money. Chopra even went on to suggest that teams should be entitled to some form of “refund” if a player is unable to deliver the complete package they were bought for.

“If you pay for an all-rounder and get a batsman in return… you should be, at the very least, eligible for a refund,” Chopra said in a video shared on X.

Also READ: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane questions Cricket Australia’s stance on Cameron Green post IPL 2026 match against MI

Captain Ajinkya Rahane deflects responsibility

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane faced the inevitable question after the team’s defeat but chose to distance himself from the situation. When asked why Green wasn’t handed the ball, Rahane stated that such queries should be directed towards Cricket Australia rather than the team management. His response hinted that the decision may not have been entirely in KKR’s control, fueling speculation about underlying fitness concerns.

Putting an end to the uncertainty, Cricket Australia confirmed that Green is currently managing a lower back injury. According to an official statement, the all-rounder has been advised to temporarily refrain from bowling as part of his recovery process. The board further revealed that Green is gradually rebuilding his bowling workload and is expected to return to full all-round duties within 10 to 12 days. Importantly, KKR management had been informed about this development beforehand, suggesting there was no miscommunication between the franchise and the player’s national board.

Interestingly, Green had initially registered for the IPL 2026 auction as a specialist batter. This created confusion around his availability as an all-rounder. The Australian later clarified that it was an error made by his management and reassured teams that he would be fit to bowl.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Cricket Australia breaks silence after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane questions Cameron Green’s non-bowling

Mumbai: To improve conviction rates in criminal cases from the current 50% to 95%, the state has planned a detailed study of past cases to identify investigative loopholes and introduced a performance-based grading system in criminal investigation for district and city police units, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said.On Monday, Fadnavis, along with minister of state for home Pankaj Bhoyal (rural) and Yogesh Kadam (urban), additional chief secretary (home) Manisha Mahaiskar and principal secretary (special) Anup Kumar Singh, held a review meeting at the DGP headquarters in Mumbai with the state police chief Sadanand Date, Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti, police commissioners of other cities in the state, and many other senior officers. Fadnavis said, “The last 4-5 years’ cases will be analysed by using AI. In the cases where there was no conviction, the CID will study the reasons and loopholes with the help of AI. A detailed policy will be made so there will be no such gap in cases in future.”He said the use of modern technology in policing, end-to-end digitisation of criminal investigation and the justice process was essential. He also mentioned that a blockchain-based evidence management system.A senior officer said that many things were in place, but there were separate sections in the police, and those were being integrated, so that there was no need for physical intervention. The officer said there would be no possibility of tampering with papers, and everyone concerned would have the digital case papers ready on their computer.Fadnavis said he asked the DGP to digitise the entire process of criminal cases, from registration of an FIR to filing a chargesheet and conducting a trial, in the next six months. The CM said they were working towards reducing road accidents in the state.He said the Maoist insurgency in Gadchiroli and other places in the state had now been reduced to a negligible level, and announced that personnel who served in the C-60 force for at least three years would be awarded a special ‘C-60 Medal’ by the state govt.