Islamabad: Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri has revealed in a video confession that Masood Azhar masterminded both the 2001 Parliament attack in Delhi and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. This comes despite Pakistan repeatedly denying any role in the incidents. The disclosure by a senior Jaish member corroborates India’s longstanding claim that Jaish camps operate under the supervision of Pakistan’s military leadership.

According to Kashmiri, Azhar planned the attacks from Pakistan after being released from Indian custody following five years of imprisonment. He also claimed that Azhar was based in Balakot, the site targeted by Indian airstrikes in 2019. In the video, Kashmiri said Azhar returned to Pakistan after escaping from Tihar Jail and carried forward his mission from Balakot, describing the Mumbai and Delhi attacks as operations meant to terrorize India. He even hailed Osama bin Laden as a martyr. Kashmiri further alleged that during Operation Sindoor in May this year, when Jaish militants were killed in Bahawalpur, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir instructed senior officers to attend their funerals as a mark of honor.

Yangon: At least 19 students were killed in an airstrike during clashes between the Myanmar military and the ethnic armed group Arakan Army in western Rakhine state’s Kyauktaw township on Friday night. Another 22 students were injured, according to the Arakan Army. The attack targeted two private schools, with victims aged between 15 and 21. The group accused the ruling junta military of carrying out the strike. Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has witnessed rising instability, with frequent air and artillery strikes against civilians in conflict zones. Poor communication facilities continue to hamper updates from the region.

Kathmandu: The five-day-long curfew and restrictions in Nepal have been lifted, restoring normal life. Political uncertainty ended after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister. Protests had erupted after the government imposed a social media ban, which soon turned into a mass movement against corruption and authoritarian rule. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, but unrest continued until the interim leadership took charge. Shops, markets, and malls reopened, while cleanup operations began at vandalized government offices. The unrest, led by the youth-led “Gen C” movement, claimed around 50 lives, including that of an Indian national.

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, which was shut down due to protests in Nepal, has reopened. Air India operated the first special service from Kathmandu to Delhi, enabling stranded passengers, including Malayalis, to return. Meanwhile, political uncertainty continues in Nepal amid Gen Z-led protests. The military has taken control of law and order. Reports suggest that former Chief Justice Sushila Karki may be handed interim administrative powers. During the unrest, 10 under-trial prisoners attempting to escape to India were arrested. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paudel remain under military security. Protesters also demanded that Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah take charge. Youths have been cleaning the streets after protests, following calls on social media.