VB Fact Check: Omar Abdullah refutes claims of NC seeking US diplomat meeting in J&K
calls allegations misinformation
New Delhi: A video has been circulating across social media platforms which claims that "US diplomats met with Omar Abdullah just after elections were announced in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). They are meeting all the anti-India/Modi elements one by one."
The video along with the claim is reportedly gaining significant traction across various social media platforms.
Meanwhile, CNN News18 anchor and consulting editor Rahul Shivshankar in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter) alleged that the National Conference had invited the US diplomats to persuade them to withdraw travel advisories issued to US citizens against visiting J&K.
Shivshankar also questioned whether the central government was aware of this meeting and whether such a meeting was necessary, suggesting that it might amount to involving third parties in India's internal affairs.
He also questioned the diplomats' separate meeting with AMIM Chief Owaisi, “Earlier U.S diplomats had thanked Owaisi for his "hospitality" and expressed appreciation for the "informed and important views on a range of shared issues and concerns" that were discussed during the visit. What were these "shared issues and concerns."? Doesn't this amount to involving 3rd parties to interlocute in Bharat's internal affairs? Would U.S like Indian envoys to hold meetings to "share concerns" with their politicians on their soil? And that too, especially in the midst of an election. And if the U.S can have meetings why aren't our diplomats doing the same? Hopefully they are. There have been no briefings by MEA to explain the context. Why?”
In a subsequent post, Shivshankar referenced a 14-year-old news article titled "WikiLeaks cable: Rahul Gandhi warned US of Hindu extremist threat." He suggested that, in light of this, there is a need to understand what exactly transpired during the recent closed-door meetings. He further questioned whether Owaisi, Rahul Gandhi, and the US diplomat shared the same concerns.
Responding to Shivshankar’s allegation, Omar Abdullah in another post called the claims out as misinformation and disinformation. He clarified that the NC did not seek out the US diplomats; rather, the diplomats had requested the meeting. Abdullah stated, “Dear Mr Shivshankar, Normally I’d ignore misinformation/disinformation that is sought to be passed off as fact but since are an editor in chief & have a leadership role in your organisation I’ll make an exception. Firstly NC did not seek a meeting with US diplomats, they reached out and asked us to meet them. Secondly you seem to be poorly informed about the procedure foreign diplomats have to follow when visiting Kashmir so I’m attaching a screenshot of a recent Indian Express article & would request you to read the part about the permissions diplomats have to take so you don’t jump to conclusions again. Lastly, I’m so glad you’ve only objected to the diplomats meeting me & not the other politicians in Srinagar. It reassures me about where I stand in the BJP/Sangh ecosystem. (SIC)”
The meeting in question reportedly took place on August 26, 2024, when US diplomats, including Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Graham Mayer and First Secretary Gary Applegarth, visited National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah at his residence in Srinagar's Gupkar area, as reported by the Indian Express.
According to the report, Foreign diplomats visiting J&K are required to obtain special permissions from the government, specifically through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). These permissions are not granted lightly; they involve careful deliberations between the MEA, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and various intelligence agencies.
Dear Mr Shivshankar,
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 28, 2024
Normally I’d ignore misinformation/disinformation that is sought to be passed off as fact but since are an editor in chief & have a leadership role in your organisation I’ll make an exception. Firstly NC did not seek a meeting with US diplomats, they reached… https://t.co/JbYGoE1Aa0 pic.twitter.com/LhLyPvIUVs
What's going on?
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) August 27, 2024
After meeting AIMIM chief Owaisi,
U.S diplomats visit NC leader Omar Abdullah. We are told they were invited by NC to convince U.S to withdraw travel advisories issued to US citizens against visiting J&K.
Was Centre kept in loop? Couldn't Centre have… pic.twitter.com/lQBwTxd29w
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UAE denies Netanyahu secretly visited the country during Iran war
Jerusalem (AP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-US war with Iran, further strengthening ties with a Gulf nation that normalised relations with Israel in 2020, his office said Wednesday. The UAE denied any secret visit had occurred.
Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a gathering that “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates", according to the Israeli statement.
THE UAE's official WAM news agency posted an article denying the report about a Netanyahu visit.
According to WAM, the country's relations with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements”.
The report also denied any Israeli military delegation was received in the UAE.
Israel's announcement came a day after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defence weapons and personnel to operate them to the UAE.
The UAE has faced Iranian missile and drone fire even after the ceasefire was reached last month. It has been trying to signal to nervous investors that it remains open for business and safe.
Last week, WAM reported that Netanyahu was among the leaders who called the Emirati president to condemn Iranian attacks and express their solidarity with the Gulf federation.
It was rare public acknowledgment of direct talks between the countries that normalized relations in the 2020 Abraham Accords and have strengthened their ties during the Iran war.
Iran has criticised that agreement and has repeatedly suggested over the years that Israel maintained a military and intelligence presence in the Emirates.
Israeli leaders have made occasional visits to the UAE in recent years after normalising relations.
Iran demands Kuwait release detainees
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Iran's foreign minister accused Kuwait of attempting to “sow discord” by detaining four Iranians that the Gulf Arab country accuses of being Revolutionary Guard operatives.
In a post Wednesday on X, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi demanded the Iranians' immediate release and said Iran reserved the right to respond.
“This illegal act took place near an island used by the US to attack Iran,” Araghchi wrote.
A day earlier, Kuwait said four men were detained and two escaped while trying to infiltrate Bubiyan Island in the northwest corner of the Persian Gulf on May 1.
Bubiyan Island is home to Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which is under construction as part of a Chinese plan to build infrastructure across the world. It also came under Iranian attack during the war.
Iranian human rights lawyer released
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Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released from prison more than a month after being detained, a rights group and her daughter said Wednesday.
Sotoudeh, who is known for defending activists, opposition politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves, was detained by Iranian intelligence agents at her house in Tehran in April.
Her release comes as US President Donald Trump arrived in China for a long-anticipated visit that is expected to touch on the war in Iran.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which closely tracks developments in Iran, said that Sotoudeh was released on bail from Tehran's Evin Prison.
Her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, posted on social media that Sotoudeh was released on temporary custody. Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency also reported Sotoudeh release.
Sotoudeh has been imprisoned multiple times. Her activist husband, Reza Khandan, has been imprisoned in the same prison as his wife.
Nobel Peace laureate needs long-term care
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Doctors who examined Nobel Peace laureate and activist Narges Mohammadi more than a week after she collapsed at a prison in Iran said she needs months of treatment, according to her foundation.
Mohammadi, 53, was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital in northwestern Iran on May 1 after she fell unconscious. She was released on bail nearly 10 days later and transferred to a hospital in Tehran where her specialists examined her.
The doctors said her vascular disease has worsened since she was last checked in 2024 and recommended eight months of treatment.
She was awarded the Nobel in 2023 while in prison and has been jailed repeatedly throughout her career. Her latest imprisonment began in December when she was arrested in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.
