Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev completed a two-day state visit to Pakistan on 4 February 2026, marking the first visit by a Kazakh leader in more than twenty years. The visit concluded with the signing of a Joint Declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Islamabad and Astana, alongside 37 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as trade, mining, agriculture, and transport. Significantly, the declaration referenced the Jammu and Kashmir issue, calling for its “peaceful resolution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions” as crucial for lasting peace in South Asia.
President Tokayev arrived in Islamabad on 3 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour and held discussions with both Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. Talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade, enhancing regional connectivity through initiatives like the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, and facilitating access to Pakistani ports, including Gwadar and Karachi.
The mention of Kashmir in paragraph 15 of the joint declaration has generated controversy. It states that “a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions is indispensable for lasting peace and stability in South Asia.” Pakistan frequently cites the 1948–49 UNSC resolutions, which had called for a plebiscite, though these were effectively superseded by later agreements such as the 1972 Simla Agreement, which India maintains makes the issue a bilateral matter.
India has historically opposed third-party references to Kashmir, viewing them as interference in its internal affairs. Kazakhstan’s inclusion of the issue—despite its strong ties with India through trade, defence, and multilateral platforms like the SCO—has been seen by some as the result of Pakistani diplomatic maneuvering. While New Delhi has yet to issue an official statement, analysts expect a firm response emphasizing the bilateral nature of the dispute. This is not Pakistan’s first success in securing such language; similar references have appeared in previous joint statements with other countries.
Kazakhstan’s mention is notable given its traditionally neutral position in regional disputes and its growing economic interests in India, including energy and defence cooperation. The declaration underscores Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its international partnerships following economic challenges and FATF scrutiny, while Kazakhstan seeks to balance its relations with major powers such as China, Russia, and India, while increasing engagement in South Asia. Nevertheless, the Kashmir clause could strain Astana’s ties with New Delhi without delivering tangible benefits for Islamabad.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
A suspected Pakistani militant was killed during a fresh encounter in the snow-laden heights of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday evening. The clash, the fifth in the Chatroo belt over the past 18 days, took place under challenging winter conditions. Security forces, including the Counter-Insurgency Force Delta, White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF, re-established contact with the militants around 5:45 pm in Dichhar. The joint operation, named Trashi-I, targets a group linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit. Officials confirmed that one terrorist was neutralised, while operations continue in the dense Sanjalar-Dichhar forests of the Chingam region.
The Chatroo belt has emerged as a hub of persistent anti-terror operations, with heavy snowfall of over two feet adding to the difficulty. Despite the harsh conditions, Army and police units have maintained pressure on infiltrators hiding in rugged terrain. The campaign began on 18 January in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora, where a gunfight killed one paratrooper and injured seven soldiers, though the militants initially escaped. Forces regrouped on 22 January, engaging the group again, but the terrorists evaded capture. Further encounters on 26 and 31 January forced the militants deeper into the wilderness, with no decisive success until now.
The latest operation highlights Indian security forces’ determination in high-altitude winter warfare and disrupts JeM’s attempts to establish a presence in Kishtwar, a strategically sensitive border district. JeM, a designated terrorist organisation, has a history of carrying out fidayeen-style attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, often infiltrating via the Pir Panjal range using seasonal snow cover.
Trashi-I demonstrates coordinated efforts between Army units, local police, and paramilitary forces, employing intelligence-driven patrols, drones, and thermal imaging to track militants in sub-zero temperatures and low visibility. While at least one terrorist has been killed, more may remain trapped. Local residents have aided operations by providing crucial intelligence, with no civilian casualties reported.
This encounter underscores India’s zero-tolerance approach toward Pakistan-backed terrorism and reflects heightened vigilance following recent infiltrations. Reinforcements are on standby to prevent escape, and success here could be pivotal in clearing remaining JeM militants from the region ahead of spring, when infiltration risks typically increase.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Sri Lanka share “deep civilisational and spiritual bonds” while expressing gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exhibition of the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo. The exposition, held at Gangaramaya Temple from February 4–11, marks the first international display of these relics, which originate from the Devnimori archaeological site in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. The ceremony was attended by Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Chief Incumbent Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thero.
President Dissanayake welcomed the relics, posting on X: “Respectfully welcoming the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Sri Lanka for public veneration until the 11th at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. I sincerely thank PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for fulfilling their promise to enable this sacred exposition,” along with photographs of the event.
Sharing the post, PM Modi added: “Gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics at Colombo’s sacred Gangaramaya Temple. During my April 2025 visit, we decided these relics would come to Sri Lanka, allowing people to pay their respects. Our nations are connected by deep civilisational and spiritual bonds. May Lord Buddha’s timeless message of compassion, peace, and harmony guide humanity.”
The exposition stems from an announcement made by Modi during his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and highlights the enduring spiritual and cultural ties between the two countries, according to the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The arrival of the relics on February 4, Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day, added special significance.
This is the first public veneration of the Devnimori relics outside India. India previously organised exhibitions of the Kapilavastu relics in 2012 and the Sarnath relics in 2018 in Sri Lanka. The relics were transported from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to Colombo aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft with full state honours.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday described the expiration of the New START Treaty as a serious threat to global peace and security, calling on Russia and the United States to quickly begin talks on a new nuclear arms control agreement. The treaty, which expired at midnight, had placed limits on the number of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems—such as land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers—that both countries could deploy.
Guterres warned that, for the first time in over 50 years, there are no legally binding restrictions on the nuclear arsenals of the two nations that hold most of the world’s nuclear weapons. He stressed that the collapse of decades of arms control efforts comes at an especially dangerous time, with the risk of nuclear weapon use at its highest in decades.
Despite the risks, he said the moment also offers a chance to rebuild and design a modern arms control system suited to today’s rapidly changing global environment. Guterres welcomed signals from both Moscow and Washington acknowledging the need to avoid unchecked nuclear proliferation. Emphasizing the need for action, he urged both countries to move beyond statements and immediately resume negotiations to establish a successor framework that reinstates verifiable limits, lowers risks, and enhances shared global security.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
On a fog-laden morning in New Delhi, a man stands quietly on the banks of the Yamuna River, scattering grains for the birds. The mist curls over the water, softening the cityscape, while pigeons and sparrows gather eagerly around him. The tranquil scene captures a simple, serene moment amid the bustling metropolis, as the river reflects the pale light of dawn. Silence, broken only by chirps and distant city sounds, envelops the riverside. This peaceful ritual, repeated daily, connects man, nature, and the river, offering a brief respite from urban chaos.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
The expiration of the New START treaty has lifted the final restrictions on the nuclear stockpiles of the United States and Russia. As global arms control frameworks weaken, Russia is simultaneously strengthening military partnerships abroad, notably through a new five-year defense agreement with Myanmar’s ruling junta. This raises questions about whether Moscow now has greater freedom to act militarily and what these moves mean for global nuclear security.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly making inroads into healthcare, offering tools that can answer medical queries, forecast risks, and support personalized health choices. But a new Singapore-based startup is challenging the notion that a single global AI model can safely cater to everyone. With structured screenings and national healthcare systems already in place, is there room for another AI health platform in Singapore? Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng explore this question with Hari V Krishnan, Co-founder and CEO of Genie Health.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
US President Donald Trump announced that he is nominating Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Warsh would succeed current chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May, pending Senate approval. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the nomination with Jason Ware, Chief Investment Officer, Head of Research, and Chief Economist at Albion Financial Group, to gain further insight.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA
After weeks of intense federal enforcement in Minnesota, local resistance pushed back strongly, and it appears that Donald Trump has grown skeptical about the leadership of his ICE operation in the state. This raises questions about the future of Trump’s “ICE patriots,” how the Republican Party can find unity on immigration policies that have resulted in the deaths of Americans, and what role far‑right figures in Trump’s circle might play going forward. Jonathan Freedland talks with George Conway — a founding member of the Lincoln Project who is now running for Congress — about what might happen next in this unfolding situation.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.
