Elon Musk's recent attacks on key American allies, including British opposition leader Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, threaten to strain diplomatic relationships between the US, UK, and Germany. As head of government efficiency in Trump's administration, Musk has publicly criticized Starmer and expressed support for the far-right "Alternative for Germany" party ahead of a snap election, sparking concerns about his role in shaping US foreign policy.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/939008-on-both-sides-of-the-atlantic-elon-musk-threatens-special-relationship-between-washington-and-londonPakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch clarified several national security and foreign policy issues in her last media briefing before being appointed as the new ambassador to Paris, France. She denied rumors of Pakistan's military entering Afghanistan's Wakhan region, emphasizing respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baloch stated that the Gwadar Port is intended for the benefit of Pakistani people, not foreign governments or military forces, highlighting Pakistan's commitment to utilizing its resources for national interests.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268138-fo-expresses-concern-over-extraterritorial-killings-by-india-in-pakistanPakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that it takes two to tango regarding relations with India, but Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal countered that the relevant "T" word is terrorism, not tango. This highlights India's position on addressing terrorism as a critical issue in any dialogue between the two countries. Pakistan has been facing economic challenges due to devastating floods, high inflation, and political instability, leading it to seek loans from international organizations like the IMF or friendly countries such as Saudi Arabia and China. The pause in trade with India has further depleted its low foreign exchange reserves, making it difficult for the country to meet its food and energy needs.
https://www.firstpost.com/india/relevant-t-word-there-is-terrorism-india-on-pakistan-deputy-pms-it-takes-two-to-tango-remark-on-bilateral-ties-13849678.htmlUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made comments in 2011 warning Pakistan that it could not harbor militants who target its neighbors. The US intended to pressure Pakistan to remove safe havens for groups like the Haqqani network, which is responsible for cross-border attacks. According to a report by the Washington Post, India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been conducting covert operations in Pakistan since 2021, targeting at least six individuals.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-trashes-us-report-linking-india-to-plot-to-impeach-maldives-president-7393212Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated that the country has a robust dialogue mechanism with Afghanistan and intends to continue discussing bilateral relations, including security and border management issues. She emphasized that Pakistan can defend its national security and sovereignty against any internal or external threats. Additionally, she clarified that the Gwadar port, developed with Chinese support, is solely for Pakistan's development purposes. Baloch also categorically denied reports of plans to offer military bases to foreign governments or entities, specifically mentioning India as a neighboring country with which Pakistan has relations.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40340754/fo-expresses-concern-over-indian-extraterritorial-killings-in-pakistanThe US Treasury Department has accused China of hacking into computer systems of BeyondTrust, a third-party cybersecurity service provider. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied the claim, calling it "irrational" and "without factual basis". The report by the Washington Post suggests that the Chinese government is targeting entities that may be subject to financial sanctions from the US, including Chinese firms and individuals. This comes as part of a broader effort by the US to reduce Russia's access to foreign supplies to fuel its war in Ukraine, with Treasury Secretary Yellen stating last month that Washington would not rule out sanctions on Chinese banks.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-treasurys-sanctions-office-hacked-by-chinese-government-report-7381208The US has called on China to respect the rights of its citizens, specifically mentioning Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other minority groups. It also criticized China's counterterrorism laws for not aligning with international human rights standards, citing concerns in Hong Kong as well.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/china-slams-canada-human-rights-criticism-as-hypocritical-farce-of-double-standards-1.7163091The Indian government's spy agency, RAW, is accused of being involved in assassinations abroad, including in Pakistan. The allegations were made by Pakistani authorities and a report by The Guardian, which claimed that India had ordered killings on Pakistani soil. The report stated that New Delhi targeted individuals it considers hostile to India on foreign soil. This alleged policy began after the 2019 Pulwama attack, and has been linked to strained relations between Pakistan and India, particularly over the disputed region of IIOJK. The Indian government's foreign ministry declined to comment on the allegations, while Pakistani authorities have cited "credible evidence" of Indian agents' involvement in killings on its soil.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/582783-india-executed-plot-to-kill-6-people-on-pakistans-soil-since-2021-reportThe US Treasury has accused Russia's Centre for Geopolitical Expertise, led by Valery Korovin, of planning influence operations to incite sociopolitical tensions in the US ahead of the 2024 elections. The US claims that Russia used generative artificial intelligence tools to create disinformation designed to imitate legitimate news outlets and obscure its origin. This is not an isolated incident, as a Senate panel previously found that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election on behalf of Donald Trump's campaign, citing regular contact between his chairman and a Russian intelligence officer. The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Iran in response to its attempts to undermine US democratic institutions, and also targeted Russia for its global malign influence campaigns and illicit cyber activities.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2024/12/31/us-issues-sanctions-against-iranian-and-russian-entities-accused-of-interfering-in-national-elections/