A school roof collapse in Peshawar killed at least 34 children and a teacher. The tragedy led a day marked by security alerts, diplomacy and overseas assistance.
At least 34 children and a teacher were killed after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing hospital authorities and police.
Other international developments included the arrest of a teenager over an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in the United States, India’s advisories for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meetings and remarks during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.
In the US state of Illinois, a teenager was arrested for allegedly plotting a “mass shooting” at a Hindu place of worship. Investigators recovered a manifesto expressing white supremacist ideology and referring to violence against people of Indian descent, according to PTI.
India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, described the attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago as “deeply disturbing”. He said racist violence had no place in a civilised society.
In Abu Dhabi, Jaishankar said globalisation could not be reversed but must be navigated with greater resilience. He said India was building its own strengths and establishing trusted partnerships.
Jaishankar also called for “urgent” reform of multilateral institutions to reflect the changing global order. He said stronger cooperation among smaller groups of countries could support the process.
During his visit, Jaishankar met his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and exchanged views on bilateral and global issues.
India, meanwhile, issued an updated advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia amid the prevailing situation in the Gulf country. It reminded them to continue following instructions from local authorities and stay indoors in the event of an aerial attack.
India also established an additional control room in Makkah to assist its nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims, affected by flight disruptions between India and Saudi Arabia, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said.
In Pakistan, Parliament endorsed the federal government’s decision to impose an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The northwestern province was previously governed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
China and Bhutan agreed to build on the “positive momentum” towards resolving their border dispute. The agreement came as the two sides held the 16th round of their Expert Group Meeting on the boundary issue in Thimphu.
At the United Nations, India asked when the UN human rights body would issue a report seeking answers from Pakistan on measures taken to address concerns over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These concerns included investigations into killings and internet restrictions.
In Germany, the Indian Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General of India in Frankfurt were in contact with the families of three Indian nationals killed in a fire. The embassy said the missions were extending all necessary assistance.
The armies of China and Pakistan began joint military exercises in a high-altitude area of Xinjiang, using weapons and equipment provided by the Chinese military, official media reported on Thursday.
Pakistani pilots and cabin crew have been barred from serving on flights entering Israeli airspace under new restrictions, according to media reports. The restrictions followed a hijacking attempt last month on a flight from the UAE to Israel. Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while foiling the suspected plot.
In Sri Lanka, hundreds of Buddhist monks marched to the gate of the presidential secretariat on Thursday, demanding the release of religious leader Galagodaatte Gnanasara, who is serving a jail sentence for contempt of court.
The developments ranged from the deadly school roof collapse in Pakistan and an alleged attack plot in the US to diplomatic engagements, security measures and assistance for Indians affected by emergencies and travel disruptions abroad.
With PTI Inputs
