{"id":1840204,"date":"2026-03-21T04:37:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T01:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1840204"},"modified":"2026-03-21T04:37:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T01:37:49","slug":"indias-vegetarian-nationalism-targets-muslims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1840204","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s &#8216;vegetarian nationalism&#8217; targets Muslims"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApNi<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Air India is the Indian flag carrier [File: January 19, 2024]<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Noah Seelam\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>New Air India fitness policy has\u00a0strict measures for cabin crew found to be underweight, overweight or obese<\/li>\n<li>Indian PM Narendra Modi calls for &#8220;peace&#8221; on Eid-day call with\u00a0Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Below is a roundup of the\u00a0latest news and analysis\u00a0from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a> on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76471879\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76471879\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Death of cow vigilante sparks violent protests in Uttar Pradesh<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/22\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 22, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Death of cow vigilante sparks violent protests in Uttar Pradesh<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Protesters on Saturday blocked the Delhi-Agra Highway in western Uttar Pradesh&#8217;s Mathura district following the death of a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cow-vigilantism-spreads-fear-and-rage-through-india\/a-19460558\">cow vigilante<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, Chandrashekhar \u2014\u00a0 a self-styled spiritual guru known as &#8220;Farsa Wale Baba&#8221; and a cow vigilante \u2014 had stopped a vehicle in the early hours of Saturday on suspicion of cows being transported, when another truck hit him, killing him on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rumors soon spread that Chandrashekhar had been deliberately killed by &#8220;<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-vegetarian-nationalist-hindu-fundamentalists-wage-campaign-against-butchers\/a-65249032\">cattle smugglers<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Within hours,a large crowd of his supporters, mostly cow vigilantes, gathered and blocked the road, leading to a traffic snarl.<\/p>\n<p>The situation\u00a0turned violent with the mob\u00a0pelting stones, injuring policemen, and vandalizing police vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, reports said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said that several people have been detained and those involved in the violence are being identified.<\/p>\n<p>The Mathura police released a statement saying that Chandrashekhar&#8217;s death was a road accident and has no connection to cattle smuggling.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Due to dense fog, a truck approaching from behind collided with them, resulting in his unfortunate death,&#8221; the police said.<\/p>\n<p>The police statement added that the truck stopped by Chandrashekhar was found to contain grocery items, while the truck that came from behind was loaded with wires.<\/p>\n<p>Slaughtering of cows, which are considered sacred to Hindus, is illegal in a number of states in India.<\/p>\n<p>The so-called &#8220;Cow vigilantes&#8221; are Hindu men, who take it upon themselves to protect cows from slaughter and illegal transport.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has seen a spate of vigilante killings with hard-line Hindu groups often targeting Dalit and Muslim individuals accused of slaughtering cattle or consuming beef.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 India's 'vegetarian nationalism' targets Muslims \" class=\"headline\">India&#8217;s &#8216;vegetarian nationalism&#8217; targets Muslims <\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-65273522\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"65273522\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/65273350_605.webp\" data-duration=\"03:19\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20230410_MEATnn_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ArpP<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76471529\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76471529\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section The Cost of a Dream: Indian Students in Germany<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/22\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 22, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">The Cost of a Dream: Indian Students in Germany<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"no-link m1ho1h07 l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Franziska W\u00fcst<\/span><\/span><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Germany is a popular dream for young Indian students seeking a better life. But high tuition fees can push students into financial hardship.<\/p>\n<p>What begins\u00a0as hope, for some, becomes a vicious cycle of debt and exhaustion.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the story of Chirag Esrani, an Indian student who went to Berlin to pursue a master&#8217;s degree in International Management and now works as a delivery driver to pay off his loan.<\/p>\n<p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Indian students in Germany\" class=\"headline\">Indian students in Germany<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76466179\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76466179\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76458778_605.webp\" data-duration=\"12:36\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/repoe\/repoe20260321_GesamtHD_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5Arjl<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76471509\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76471509\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section  Air India to introduce strict fitness policy for cabin crew<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/22\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 22, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\"> Air India to introduce strict fitness policy for cabin crew<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Air India is expected to roll out a more stringent health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew members, starting from May 1, that would see those found underweight, overweight or obese facing derostering and loss of pay, Indian media reported on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The assessment will be based on the crew members&#8217; Body Mass Index (BMI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI range between 18 and 24.9 is categorized as &#8220;normal&#8221; and will be considered fully acceptable by the airline.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI below 18 is categorised as &#8220;underweight&#8221; and &#8220;overweight&#8221; in the between 25 and 29.9.<\/p>\n<p>Both categories are acceptable for the airline only after clearance from particular medical and functional assessments, news agency PTI reported citing access to the policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cabin crew members will be removed from active flying rosters if they are either &#8220;underweight&#8221; or &#8220;overweight&#8221; and will be required to pass the functional assessment, the report said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members who failed to clear the assessment, would be placed on loss of pay till a clearance takes place, reports added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The policy is stricter for those with a BMI of over 30, categorized as &#8220;Obese.&#8221;\u00a0The airline would consider it unacceptable under any circumstances and personnel falling in the category will be immediately grounded and face loss of pay..<\/p>\n<p>They will have to achieve the acceptable BMI within a stipulated number of days.<\/p>\n<p>Air India is the country&#8217;s flag carrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by Indian business magnate JRD Tata.<\/p>\n<p>The airline was taken over and nationalized by the Indian government\u00a0 in 1953.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2022, the airline returned to the Tata Group \u2014 India&#8217;s oldest conglomerate \u2014 after being bought for roughly $2.4 billion (\u20ac2.1 billion approx).<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Is BMI an accurate way of measuring body fat?\" class=\"headline\">Is BMI an accurate way of measuring body fat?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-64534287\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"64534287\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/64464433_605.webp\" data-duration=\"04:38\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/igs\/igs20230203_BMI_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ArjR<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76471407\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76471407\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome back to our coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/22\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 22, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome back to our coverage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>It&#8217;s a slow Sunday morning in India.<\/p>\n<p>This is Dharvi from DW&#8217;s Studio in New Delhi and I am back with your daily news capsule of all the topics making headlines in India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of capsules, health, particularly weight loss, seemed\u00a0to be a talking point in the country this week.<\/p>\n<p>The pharmaceutical sector here is witnessing a weight-loss drug scramble after semaglutide \u2014 the\u00a0active ingredient in Ozempic \u2014\u00a0 lost patent protection in India.<\/p>\n<p>Indian drugmakers have rolled out cheaper semaglutide within just a day of Friday&#8217;s patent expiry,<\/p>\n<p>At a family dinner last night, I found myself in the middle of a debate on the use of weight-loss drugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t it be great to be able to eat whatever you want and not worry about weight gain \u2014 because there would be a pill to pop?&#8221; an uncle quipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Weight\u00a0could also now be a cause of concern for airline personnel as Air India rolls out a strict health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members classified as obese will be immediately grounded and\u00a0face a pay cut according to the new standards..\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay with us as we bring you more developments, on-ground reports and analysis from India.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5Arhn<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76470722\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76470722\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section We have paused our coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">We have paused our coverage<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Dharvi in Delhi will be back on Sunday morning to bring you more of the latest from and about India.<\/p>\n<p>See you then!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ArWk<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76466295\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76466295\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Modi calls for &#8216;peace&#8217; on call with Iran&#8217;s Pezeshkian<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Modi calls for &#8216;peace&#8217; on call with Iran&#8217;s Pezeshkian<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76410467\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76410467_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Indian-flagged vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in Gujarat state, India, on March 17, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Iran allowed this Indian vessel, carrying LNG from the Gulf, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz<small class=\"copyright\">Image: AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a> called for &#8220;peace, stability and prosperity&#8221; in West Asia during a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a> entered\u00a0its 22nd day.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, Modi said he had\u00a0&#8220;condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a reference to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, which Tehran has effectively shut, leaving hundreds of oil and gas tankers stranded, Modi said he had &#8220;reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure,&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India relies on Hormuz for a third of its crude oil and nearly two-thirds of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and is scrambling to find alternative supplies.<\/p>\n<p>The Indian Navy is also\u00a0escorting\u00a0stranded Indian-flagged vessels through the disrupted strait, which Tehran approves on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<p>The two leaders also exchanged greetings for\u00a0Eid al-Fitr (the &#8220;Festival of Breaking the Fast), which for Muslims on Friday marked\u00a0the end of Ramadan, Modi wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5AqNL<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76465351\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76465351\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Trapped at sea: Indian seafarers are caught in Strait of Hormuz standoff<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Trapped at sea: Indian seafarers are caught in Strait of Hormuz standoff<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Thousands of Indian seafarers are trapped aboard vessels unable to move through the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 one of the world&#8217;s most volatile waterways \u2014 as the tensions in the Iran war escalate.<\/p>\n<p>Indian seafarers make up about 12% of the global maritime workforce. Recent estimates put the total number of Indian seafarers at over 300.000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At least 22 Indian-flagged vessels have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz for weeks caught between rising geopolitical tensions and growing maritime risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>DW spoke to Captain Virendra Vishwakarma sailing on an LPG tanker in the Mina Saqr area. He has been stuck at sea for over two weeks. The ongoing Iran war has changed a routine journey for him into a daily struggle to stay safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now the situation is bad,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said the sailors on board his ship are facing missiles and drones everyday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is very dangerous in the present scenario to sail on LPG ships within a war zone area, carrying 46 thousand metric tons of LPG. If something happened to the ship, you can understand the scenario. It will be chaotic,&#8221; he said, stressing that it would be a &#8220;big disaster&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Some crews have reported dwindling supplies of food, fresh water, and fuel, with no clear timeline for safe passage. While back at home, their families wait anxiously, relying on patchy communication as the crisis deepens at sea.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Every day my wife and my children come on the video call. I see their faces and they see my face. Every day they ask how are you father. How are you doing?&#8230;I don&#8217;t have an answer to these questions,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW in an interview that kept cutting off due to the wobbly internet connection at sea.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, DW asked the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi what India was doing to support the seafarers.<\/p>\n<p>This is what foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are also trying our best how best we can support them in terms of essentials, so on and so forth. Several seafarers have also come back. For example, the 15 seafarers, some of whom were injured, who were housed in Basra, they have come back to India or will be arriving in India shortly. Similarly, seafarers from other parts of that region have also been coming back. We have a dedicated control room in the Ministry of Shipping where all these questions of the families and all their concerns are being addressed.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Watch full report:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5Aq87<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76464859\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76464859\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Indian man dies on ship near Strait of Hormuz, family seeks repatriation of body<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Indian man dies on ship near Strait of Hormuz, family seeks repatriation of body<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>An Indian merchant navy captain died of a heart attack on a vessel carrying oil near the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and the family of the seafarer is now seeking government assistance\u00a0to bring his body home, Indian media has reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rakesh Ranjan Singh died on March 18 due to cardiac arrest, news agency PTI cited his family as saying on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The family claimed that Singh&#8217;s ship \u2014\u00a0 &#8216;ASP Avana- RPSL-MUM-172&#8217;, owned by a private company \u2014\u00a0 had been stranded about 14 nautical miles off the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, PTI reported, after movement was paralyzed in the region because of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/israel-iran-war\/t-72931841\">Iran war<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, the vessel has remained anchored about 25 to 30 kilometers off the Dubai coast for the last 18 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express <\/em>reported that crew members on board the fuel tanker sought an air ambulance after Singh suffered a sudden medical emergency.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The air assistance was reportedly not allowed to fly due to restrictions linked to the security situation in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He was later taken by boat to Port Rashid in Dubai, where he was declared dead,&#8221; Ranjan&#8217;s brother Umesh Singh told PTI.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 47-year-old sailor came from the eastern\u00a0state of Jharkhand.<\/p>\n<p>Umesh Singh told PTI that the family has written to the state&#8217;s Chief Minister Hemant Soren to help bring back his brother&#8217;s\u00a0body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express<\/em> reported that Singh&#8217;s son has also written a letter to the Minister of State for Defence. seeking the government to help in expediting the repatriation of his father&#8217;s body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My father passed away on board the ship\u2026 The procedures are taking considerable time, causing great distress to our family. I humbly request you to direct the concerned authorities to expedite the process,&#8221; the Indian Express cited the letter from Pravar Singh as saying.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Merchant sailors in Gulf caught in war's crossfire\" class=\"headline\">Merchant sailors in Gulf caught in war&#8217;s crossfire<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76355655\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76355655\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76330676_605.webp\" data-duration=\"03:38\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260313_QSailorsFix19E_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5Aq0B<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76464572\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76464572\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Delhi wakes up to rare fog in March<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Delhi wakes up to rare fog in March<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A rare March fog blanketed the Indian capital of New Delhi and the surrounding suburbs of Ghaziabad and Noida on Saturday morning after rainfall the previous evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The unusual <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/weather\/t-19410582\">weather conditions<\/a> were also marked by low temperatures and an improved air quality index (AQI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, New Delhi witnessed its coldest March day in six years with a maximum temperature of\u00a0 21.7 degrees Celsius, official weather data showed .\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in the city also breathed the cleanest air in five months with the AQI in the &#8216;moderate&#8217; category.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy rainfall has been soaking New Delhi over the last few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The rainfall accompanied with gusty winds and thunderstorms also disrupted flight operations in the capital earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>I, for one, certainly\u00a0held my breath as I made my way back to New Delhi last evening on a very turbulent flight from Chennai.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApvY<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76463769\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76463769\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section India celebrates Eid al-Fitr <\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">India celebrates Eid al-Fitr <\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun\u00a0in India as millions of Muslims in the country mark the end of the holy month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/ramadan\/t-38336044\">Ramadan<\/a>, in which fasting takes place from dawn to sunset.<\/p>\n<p>The Muslim holiday is observed based on the sighting of the crescent moon during Chaand Raat (Night of the Moon), that heralds the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/islam\/t-19037913\">Islamic<\/a>\u00a0month of Shawwal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Early on Saturday, worshippers gathered in several mosques across India to offer prayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76463733\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76463733_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"People gathered for prayers near railway lines\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a railway station in Mumbai<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Indranil Mukherjee\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the capital New Delhi, devotees bowed in prayer at one of India&#8217;s largest and iconic mosques \u2014 the Jama Masjid \u2014 and exchanged greetings amid a blanket of an unusual March fog.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76463457\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76463457_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"People hug each other infront of Jama Masjid amid a haze\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">People exchange Eid greetings at Jama Masjid in New Delhi<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Manish Swarup\/AP Photo\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The sweet aroma of festive dishes like seviyan (vermicelli pudding) and the lingering fragrance of henna has taken over households as preparations begin for scrumptious family feasts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76462685\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76462685_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A shop selling seviyan to customers\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">People shop for seviyan in a New Delhi market<small class=\"copyright\">Image: ANI News\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on different days across the world depending on local moon sightings.<\/p>\n<p>The southern Indian state of Kerala, for example, observed the festival on Friday \u2014 a day earlier than the rest of the country.<\/p>\n<p>It all comes down to the traditional practice of looking up at the sky to physically sight the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in Kerala saw the silver crescent moon on Thursday evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Eid greetings also poured in from Indian leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India&#8217;s President Droupadi Murmu extended his wishes:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This festival teaches us the lessons of self-restraint, service, charity, and compassion towards the deprived classes. Let us, on this occasion, resolve to strengthen our society and nation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day further brotherhood and kindness all around. May everyone be happy and healthy. Eid Mubarak!&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi posted a video on social media platform X, extending Eid wishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5Apib<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76463387\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76463387\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section India sends emergency medical aid to Afghanistan<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">India sends emergency medical aid to Afghanistan<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>India has sent a package containing 2.5 tons of emergency medicine, medical disposables and other medical equipment to Kabul to help in the treatment of the people who were injured in a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">deadly Pakistani airstrike<\/a> in the capital city earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;India stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and will continue to extend all possible humanitarian support in this difficult hour,&#8221; Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on social media platform X.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>On March 16, the Afghan <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban\/t-17428121\">Taliban<\/a> officials accused <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistan<\/a> of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital, killing at least 400 people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan denied targeting civilian infrastructure, saying\u00a0that its &#8220;precision airstrikes&#8221; were aimed at &#8220;military installations and terrorist support infrastructure&#8221; in Kabul and the eastern Nangarhar province.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India had earlier condemned the strike, deeming it &#8220;yet another act of aggression by a Pakistani establishment that remains hostile to the idea of a sovereign Afghanistan&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan declared an <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/is-afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-the-new-normal\/a-76155553\">&#8220;open war&#8221;<\/a> with Afghanistan in February. Clashes between the two sides intensified with cross-border fire and airstrikes striking deep in the\u00a0Afghan territory, including Kabul.<\/p>\n<p>A <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan-taliban-agree-on-strike-pause-for-end-of-ramadan\/a-76418410\">pause on strikes<\/a> is currently being observed by Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan on account of\u00a0 Eid al-Fitr. The halt in fighting is scheduled to last until midnight on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, India has <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban-visit-to-new-delhi-shows-indias-strategic-pivot\/a-74278021\">recalibrated its Afghanistan policy<\/a> marked by a thaw in its relations with the Taliban regime. The shift also comes amid the souring ties between the Afghan Taliban and India&#8217;s arch rival Pakistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India does not recognize the Taliban government, but restored the status of its technical mission in Kabul to that of an embassy last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has also been the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Kabul in the pre-Taliban years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed\" class=\"headline\">Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-75663256\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"75663256\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75661135_605.webp\" data-duration=\"16:26\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/jd\/jd20260126_MappedOut_AfghanistanPakistan_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApcR<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76462475\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474#post-liveblog-post-76462475\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome to our coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/21\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 21, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome to our coverage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning! This is Dharvi Vaid Dhulia from DW&#8217;s studio in New Delhi, bringing you your daily wrap of news from India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A winter chill seems to have made a comeback this Saturday morning, as the Indian capital recorded its coldest March day in six years after unseasonal rains.<\/p>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun in India, as millions of Muslims gathered to offer early morning prayers in mosques across the country. The state of Kerala observed the festival a day early on Friday, following a rare calendar split.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In diplomatic news, India has sent a consignment containing 2.5 tons of medical supplies to Afghanistan for the treatment of people injured in a deadly <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">Pakistan airstrike on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned to find out what India is talking about this Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApNj<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"h4zlaoh bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 disabled sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>New Air India fitness policy has\u00a0strict measures for cabin crew found to be underweight, overweight or obese<\/li>\n<li>Indian PM Narendra Modi calls for &#8220;peace&#8221; on Eid-day call with\u00a0Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Below is a roundup of the\u00a0latest news and analysis\u00a0from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a> on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Below is a roundup of the\u00a0latest news and analysis\u00a0from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a> on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22:<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Protesters on Saturday blocked the Delhi-Agra Highway in western Uttar Pradesh&#8217;s Mathura district following the death of a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cow-vigilantism-spreads-fear-and-rage-through-india\/a-19460558\">cow vigilante<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, Chandrashekhar \u2014\u00a0 a self-styled spiritual guru known as &#8220;Farsa Wale Baba&#8221; and a cow vigilante \u2014 had stopped a vehicle in the early hours of Saturday on suspicion of cows being transported, when another truck hit him, killing him on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rumors soon spread that Chandrashekhar had been deliberately killed by &#8220;<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-vegetarian-nationalist-hindu-fundamentalists-wage-campaign-against-butchers\/a-65249032\">cattle smugglers<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Within hours,a large crowd of his supporters, mostly cow vigilantes, gathered and blocked the road, leading to a traffic snarl.<\/p>\n<p>The situation\u00a0turned violent with the mob\u00a0pelting stones, injuring policemen, and vandalizing police vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, reports said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said that several people have been detained and those involved in the violence are being identified.<\/p>\n<p>The Mathura police released a statement saying that Chandrashekhar&#8217;s death was a road accident and has no connection to cattle smuggling.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Due to dense fog, a truck approaching from behind collided with them, resulting in his unfortunate death,&#8221; the police said.<\/p>\n<p>The police statement added that the truck stopped by Chandrashekhar was found to contain grocery items, while the truck that came from behind was loaded with wires.<\/p>\n<p>Slaughtering of cows, which are considered sacred to Hindus, is illegal in a number of states in India.<\/p>\n<p>The so-called &#8220;Cow vigilantes&#8221; are Hindu men, who take it upon themselves to protect cows from slaughter and illegal transport.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has seen a spate of vigilante killings with hard-line Hindu groups often targeting Dalit and Muslim individuals accused of slaughtering cattle or consuming beef.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 India's 'vegetarian nationalism' targets Muslims \" class=\"headline\">India&#8217;s &#8216;vegetarian nationalism&#8217; targets Muslims <\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-65273522\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"65273522\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/65273350_605.webp\" data-duration=\"03:19\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20230410_MEATnn_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Protesters on Saturday blocked the Delhi-Agra Highway in western Uttar Pradesh&#8217;s Mathura district following the death of a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cow-vigilantism-spreads-fear-and-rage-through-india\/a-19460558\">cow vigilante<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, Chandrashekhar \u2014\u00a0 a self-styled spiritual guru known as &#8220;Farsa Wale Baba&#8221; and a cow vigilante \u2014 had stopped a vehicle in the early hours of Saturday on suspicion of cows being transported, when another truck hit him, killing him on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rumors soon spread that Chandrashekhar had been deliberately killed by &#8220;<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-vegetarian-nationalist-hindu-fundamentalists-wage-campaign-against-butchers\/a-65249032\">cattle smugglers<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Within hours,a large crowd of his supporters, mostly cow vigilantes, gathered and blocked the road, leading to a traffic snarl.<\/p>\n<p>The situation\u00a0turned violent with the mob\u00a0pelting stones, injuring policemen, and vandalizing police vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, reports said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said that several people have been detained and those involved in the violence are being identified.<\/p>\n<p>The Mathura police released a statement saying that Chandrashekhar&#8217;s death was a road accident and has no connection to cattle smuggling.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Due to dense fog, a truck approaching from behind collided with them, resulting in his unfortunate death,&#8221; the police said.<\/p>\n<p>The police statement added that the truck stopped by Chandrashekhar was found to contain grocery items, while the truck that came from behind was loaded with wires.<\/p>\n<p>Slaughtering of cows, which are considered sacred to Hindus, is illegal in a number of states in India.<\/p>\n<p>The so-called &#8220;Cow vigilantes&#8221; are Hindu men, who take it upon themselves to protect cows from slaughter and illegal transport.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has seen a spate of vigilante killings with hard-line Hindu groups often targeting Dalit and Muslim individuals accused of slaughtering cattle or consuming beef.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Germany is a popular dream for young Indian students seeking a better life. But high tuition fees can push students into financial hardship.<\/p>\n<p>What begins\u00a0as hope, for some, becomes a vicious cycle of debt and exhaustion.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the story of Chirag Esrani, an Indian student who went to Berlin to pursue a master&#8217;s degree in International Management and now works as a delivery driver to pay off his loan.<\/p>\n<p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Indian students in Germany\" class=\"headline\">Indian students in Germany<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76466179\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76466179\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76458778_605.webp\" data-duration=\"12:36\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/repoe\/repoe20260321_GesamtHD_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Germany is a popular dream for young Indian students seeking a better life. But high tuition fees can push students into financial hardship.<\/p>\n<p>What begins\u00a0as hope, for some, becomes a vicious cycle of debt and exhaustion.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the story of Chirag Esrani, an Indian student who went to Berlin to pursue a master&#8217;s degree in International Management and now works as a delivery driver to pay off his loan.<\/p>\n<p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Air India is expected to roll out a more stringent health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew members, starting from May 1, that would see those found underweight, overweight or obese facing derostering and loss of pay, Indian media reported on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The assessment will be based on the crew members&#8217; Body Mass Index (BMI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI range between 18 and 24.9 is categorized as &#8220;normal&#8221; and will be considered fully acceptable by the airline.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI below 18 is categorised as &#8220;underweight&#8221; and &#8220;overweight&#8221; in the between 25 and 29.9.<\/p>\n<p>Both categories are acceptable for the airline only after clearance from particular medical and functional assessments, news agency PTI reported citing access to the policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cabin crew members will be removed from active flying rosters if they are either &#8220;underweight&#8221; or &#8220;overweight&#8221; and will be required to pass the functional assessment, the report said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members who failed to clear the assessment, would be placed on loss of pay till a clearance takes place, reports added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The policy is stricter for those with a BMI of over 30, categorized as &#8220;Obese.&#8221;\u00a0The airline would consider it unacceptable under any circumstances and personnel falling in the category will be immediately grounded and face loss of pay..<\/p>\n<p>They will have to achieve the acceptable BMI within a stipulated number of days.<\/p>\n<p>Air India is the country&#8217;s flag carrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by Indian business magnate JRD Tata.<\/p>\n<p>The airline was taken over and nationalized by the Indian government\u00a0 in 1953.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2022, the airline returned to the Tata Group \u2014 India&#8217;s oldest conglomerate \u2014 after being bought for roughly $2.4 billion (\u20ac2.1 billion approx).<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Is BMI an accurate way of measuring body fat?\" class=\"headline\">Is BMI an accurate way of measuring body fat?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-64534287\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"64534287\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/64464433_605.webp\" data-duration=\"04:38\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/igs\/igs20230203_BMI_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Air India is expected to roll out a more stringent health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew members, starting from May 1, that would see those found underweight, overweight or obese facing derostering and loss of pay, Indian media reported on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The assessment will be based on the crew members&#8217; Body Mass Index (BMI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI range between 18 and 24.9 is categorized as &#8220;normal&#8221; and will be considered fully acceptable by the airline.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A BMI below 18 is categorised as &#8220;underweight&#8221; and &#8220;overweight&#8221; in the between 25 and 29.9.<\/p>\n<p>Both categories are acceptable for the airline only after clearance from particular medical and functional assessments, news agency PTI reported citing access to the policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cabin crew members will be removed from active flying rosters if they are either &#8220;underweight&#8221; or &#8220;overweight&#8221; and will be required to pass the functional assessment, the report said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members who failed to clear the assessment, would be placed on loss of pay till a clearance takes place, reports added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The policy is stricter for those with a BMI of over 30, categorized as &#8220;Obese.&#8221;\u00a0The airline would consider it unacceptable under any circumstances and personnel falling in the category will be immediately grounded and face loss of pay..<\/p>\n<p>They will have to achieve the acceptable BMI within a stipulated number of days.<\/p>\n<p>Air India is the country&#8217;s flag carrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by Indian business magnate JRD Tata.<\/p>\n<p>The airline was taken over and nationalized by the Indian government\u00a0 in 1953.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2022, the airline returned to the Tata Group \u2014 India&#8217;s oldest conglomerate \u2014 after being bought for roughly $2.4 billion (\u20ac2.1 billion approx).<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>It&#8217;s a slow Sunday morning in India.<\/p>\n<p>This is Dharvi from DW&#8217;s Studio in New Delhi and I am back with your daily news capsule of all the topics making headlines in India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of capsules, health, particularly weight loss, seemed\u00a0to be a talking point in the country this week.<\/p>\n<p>The pharmaceutical sector here is witnessing a weight-loss drug scramble after semaglutide \u2014 the\u00a0active ingredient in Ozempic \u2014\u00a0 lost patent protection in India.<\/p>\n<p>Indian drugmakers have rolled out cheaper semaglutide within just a day of Friday&#8217;s patent expiry,<\/p>\n<p>At a family dinner last night, I found myself in the middle of a debate on the use of weight-loss drugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t it be great to be able to eat whatever you want and not worry about weight gain \u2014 because there would be a pill to pop?&#8221; an uncle quipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Weight\u00a0could also now be a cause of concern for airline personnel as Air India rolls out a strict health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members classified as obese will be immediately grounded and\u00a0face a pay cut according to the new standards..\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay with us as we bring you more developments, on-ground reports and analysis from India.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s a slow Sunday morning in India.<\/p>\n<p>This is Dharvi from DW&#8217;s Studio in New Delhi and I am back with your daily news capsule of all the topics making headlines in India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of capsules, health, particularly weight loss, seemed\u00a0to be a talking point in the country this week.<\/p>\n<p>The pharmaceutical sector here is witnessing a weight-loss drug scramble after semaglutide \u2014 the\u00a0active ingredient in Ozempic \u2014\u00a0 lost patent protection in India.<\/p>\n<p>Indian drugmakers have rolled out cheaper semaglutide within just a day of Friday&#8217;s patent expiry,<\/p>\n<p>At a family dinner last night, I found myself in the middle of a debate on the use of weight-loss drugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t it be great to be able to eat whatever you want and not worry about weight gain \u2014 because there would be a pill to pop?&#8221; an uncle quipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Weight\u00a0could also now be a cause of concern for airline personnel as Air India rolls out a strict health and fitness compliance policy for its cabin crew.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Crew members classified as obese will be immediately grounded and\u00a0face a pay cut according to the new standards..\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay with us as we bring you more developments, on-ground reports and analysis from India.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Dharvi in Delhi will be back on Sunday morning to bring you more of the latest from and about India.<\/p>\n<p>See you then!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dharvi in Delhi will be back on Sunday morning to bring you more of the latest from and about India.<\/p>\n<p>See you then!<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76410467\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76410467_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Indian-flagged vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in Gujarat state, India, on March 17, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Iran allowed this Indian vessel, carrying LNG from the Gulf, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz<small class=\"copyright\">Image: AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a> called for &#8220;peace, stability and prosperity&#8221; in West Asia during a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a> entered\u00a0its 22nd day.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, Modi said he had\u00a0&#8220;condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a reference to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, which Tehran has effectively shut, leaving hundreds of oil and gas tankers stranded, Modi said he had &#8220;reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure,&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India relies on Hormuz for a third of its crude oil and nearly two-thirds of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and is scrambling to find alternative supplies.<\/p>\n<p>The Indian Navy is also\u00a0escorting\u00a0stranded Indian-flagged vessels through the disrupted strait, which Tehran approves on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<p>The two leaders also exchanged greetings for\u00a0Eid al-Fitr (the &#8220;Festival of Breaking the Fast), which for Muslims on Friday marked\u00a0the end of Ramadan, Modi wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a> called for &#8220;peace, stability and prosperity&#8221; in West Asia during a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a> entered\u00a0its 22nd day.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, Modi said he had\u00a0&#8220;condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a reference to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, which Tehran has effectively shut, leaving hundreds of oil and gas tankers stranded, Modi said he had &#8220;reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure,&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India relies on Hormuz for a third of its crude oil and nearly two-thirds of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and is scrambling to find alternative supplies.<\/p>\n<p>The Indian Navy is also\u00a0escorting\u00a0stranded Indian-flagged vessels through the disrupted strait, which Tehran approves on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<p>The two leaders also exchanged greetings for\u00a0Eid al-Fitr (the &#8220;Festival of Breaking the Fast), which for Muslims on Friday marked\u00a0the end of Ramadan, Modi wrote.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Thousands of Indian seafarers are trapped aboard vessels unable to move through the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 one of the world&#8217;s most volatile waterways \u2014 as the tensions in the Iran war escalate.<\/p>\n<p>Indian seafarers make up about 12% of the global maritime workforce. Recent estimates put the total number of Indian seafarers at over 300.000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At least 22 Indian-flagged vessels have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz for weeks caught between rising geopolitical tensions and growing maritime risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>DW spoke to Captain Virendra Vishwakarma sailing on an LPG tanker in the Mina Saqr area. He has been stuck at sea for over two weeks. The ongoing Iran war has changed a routine journey for him into a daily struggle to stay safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now the situation is bad,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said the sailors on board his ship are facing missiles and drones everyday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is very dangerous in the present scenario to sail on LPG ships within a war zone area, carrying 46 thousand metric tons of LPG. If something happened to the ship, you can understand the scenario. It will be chaotic,&#8221; he said, stressing that it would be a &#8220;big disaster&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Some crews have reported dwindling supplies of food, fresh water, and fuel, with no clear timeline for safe passage. While back at home, their families wait anxiously, relying on patchy communication as the crisis deepens at sea.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Every day my wife and my children come on the video call. I see their faces and they see my face. Every day they ask how are you father. How are you doing?&#8230;I don&#8217;t have an answer to these questions,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW in an interview that kept cutting off due to the wobbly internet connection at sea.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, DW asked the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi what India was doing to support the seafarers.<\/p>\n<p>This is what foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are also trying our best how best we can support them in terms of essentials, so on and so forth. Several seafarers have also come back. For example, the 15 seafarers, some of whom were injured, who were housed in Basra, they have come back to India or will be arriving in India shortly. Similarly, seafarers from other parts of that region have also been coming back. We have a dedicated control room in the Ministry of Shipping where all these questions of the families and all their concerns are being addressed.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Watch full report:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thousands of Indian seafarers are trapped aboard vessels unable to move through the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 one of the world&#8217;s most volatile waterways \u2014 as the tensions in the Iran war escalate.<\/p>\n<p>Indian seafarers make up about 12% of the global maritime workforce. Recent estimates put the total number of Indian seafarers at over 300.000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At least 22 Indian-flagged vessels have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz for weeks caught between rising geopolitical tensions and growing maritime risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>DW spoke to Captain Virendra Vishwakarma sailing on an LPG tanker in the Mina Saqr area. He has been stuck at sea for over two weeks. The ongoing Iran war has changed a routine journey for him into a daily struggle to stay safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now the situation is bad,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said the sailors on board his ship are facing missiles and drones everyday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is very dangerous in the present scenario to sail on LPG ships within a war zone area, carrying 46 thousand metric tons of LPG. If something happened to the ship, you can understand the scenario. It will be chaotic,&#8221; he said, stressing that it would be a &#8220;big disaster&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Some crews have reported dwindling supplies of food, fresh water, and fuel, with no clear timeline for safe passage. While back at home, their families wait anxiously, relying on patchy communication as the crisis deepens at sea.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Every day my wife and my children come on the video call. I see their faces and they see my face. Every day they ask how are you father. How are you doing?&#8230;I don&#8217;t have an answer to these questions,&#8221; Vishwakarma told DW in an interview that kept cutting off due to the wobbly internet connection at sea.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, DW asked the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi what India was doing to support the seafarers.<\/p>\n<p>This is what foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are also trying our best how best we can support them in terms of essentials, so on and so forth. Several seafarers have also come back. For example, the 15 seafarers, some of whom were injured, who were housed in Basra, they have come back to India or will be arriving in India shortly. Similarly, seafarers from other parts of that region have also been coming back. We have a dedicated control room in the Ministry of Shipping where all these questions of the families and all their concerns are being addressed.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Watch full report:<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>An Indian merchant navy captain died of a heart attack on a vessel carrying oil near the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and the family of the seafarer is now seeking government assistance\u00a0to bring his body home, Indian media has reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rakesh Ranjan Singh died on March 18 due to cardiac arrest, news agency PTI cited his family as saying on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The family claimed that Singh&#8217;s ship \u2014\u00a0 &#8216;ASP Avana- RPSL-MUM-172&#8217;, owned by a private company \u2014\u00a0 had been stranded about 14 nautical miles off the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, PTI reported, after movement was paralyzed in the region because of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/israel-iran-war\/t-72931841\">Iran war<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, the vessel has remained anchored about 25 to 30 kilometers off the Dubai coast for the last 18 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express <\/em>reported that crew members on board the fuel tanker sought an air ambulance after Singh suffered a sudden medical emergency.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The air assistance was reportedly not allowed to fly due to restrictions linked to the security situation in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He was later taken by boat to Port Rashid in Dubai, where he was declared dead,&#8221; Ranjan&#8217;s brother Umesh Singh told PTI.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 47-year-old sailor came from the eastern\u00a0state of Jharkhand.<\/p>\n<p>Umesh Singh told PTI that the family has written to the state&#8217;s Chief Minister Hemant Soren to help bring back his brother&#8217;s\u00a0body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express<\/em> reported that Singh&#8217;s son has also written a letter to the Minister of State for Defence. seeking the government to help in expediting the repatriation of his father&#8217;s body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My father passed away on board the ship\u2026 The procedures are taking considerable time, causing great distress to our family. I humbly request you to direct the concerned authorities to expedite the process,&#8221; the Indian Express cited the letter from Pravar Singh as saying.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Merchant sailors in Gulf caught in war's crossfire\" class=\"headline\">Merchant sailors in Gulf caught in war&#8217;s crossfire<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76355655\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76355655\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76330676_605.webp\" data-duration=\"03:38\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260313_QSailorsFix19E_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>An Indian merchant navy captain died of a heart attack on a vessel carrying oil near the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and the family of the seafarer is now seeking government assistance\u00a0to bring his body home, Indian media has reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rakesh Ranjan Singh died on March 18 due to cardiac arrest, news agency PTI cited his family as saying on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The family claimed that Singh&#8217;s ship \u2014\u00a0 &#8216;ASP Avana- RPSL-MUM-172&#8217;, owned by a private company \u2014\u00a0 had been stranded about 14 nautical miles off the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, PTI reported, after movement was paralyzed in the region because of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/israel-iran-war\/t-72931841\">Iran war<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to Indian media reports, the vessel has remained anchored about 25 to 30 kilometers off the Dubai coast for the last 18 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express <\/em>reported that crew members on board the fuel tanker sought an air ambulance after Singh suffered a sudden medical emergency.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The air assistance was reportedly not allowed to fly due to restrictions linked to the security situation in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He was later taken by boat to Port Rashid in Dubai, where he was declared dead,&#8221; Ranjan&#8217;s brother Umesh Singh told PTI.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 47-year-old sailor came from the eastern\u00a0state of Jharkhand.<\/p>\n<p>Umesh Singh told PTI that the family has written to the state&#8217;s Chief Minister Hemant Soren to help bring back his brother&#8217;s\u00a0body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Indian Express<\/em> reported that Singh&#8217;s son has also written a letter to the Minister of State for Defence. seeking the government to help in expediting the repatriation of his father&#8217;s body.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My father passed away on board the ship\u2026 The procedures are taking considerable time, causing great distress to our family. I humbly request you to direct the concerned authorities to expedite the process,&#8221; the Indian Express cited the letter from Pravar Singh as saying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A rare March fog blanketed the Indian capital of New Delhi and the surrounding suburbs of Ghaziabad and Noida on Saturday morning after rainfall the previous evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The unusual <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/weather\/t-19410582\">weather conditions<\/a> were also marked by low temperatures and an improved air quality index (AQI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, New Delhi witnessed its coldest March day in six years with a maximum temperature of\u00a0 21.7 degrees Celsius, official weather data showed .\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in the city also breathed the cleanest air in five months with the AQI in the &#8216;moderate&#8217; category.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy rainfall has been soaking New Delhi over the last few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The rainfall accompanied with gusty winds and thunderstorms also disrupted flight operations in the capital earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>I, for one, certainly\u00a0held my breath as I made my way back to New Delhi last evening on a very turbulent flight from Chennai.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A rare March fog blanketed the Indian capital of New Delhi and the surrounding suburbs of Ghaziabad and Noida on Saturday morning after rainfall the previous evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The unusual <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/weather\/t-19410582\">weather conditions<\/a> were also marked by low temperatures and an improved air quality index (AQI).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, New Delhi witnessed its coldest March day in six years with a maximum temperature of\u00a0 21.7 degrees Celsius, official weather data showed .\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in the city also breathed the cleanest air in five months with the AQI in the &#8216;moderate&#8217; category.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy rainfall has been soaking New Delhi over the last few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The rainfall accompanied with gusty winds and thunderstorms also disrupted flight operations in the capital earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>I, for one, certainly\u00a0held my breath as I made my way back to New Delhi last evening on a very turbulent flight from Chennai.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun\u00a0in India as millions of Muslims in the country mark the end of the holy month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/ramadan\/t-38336044\">Ramadan<\/a>, in which fasting takes place from dawn to sunset.<\/p>\n<p>The Muslim holiday is observed based on the sighting of the crescent moon during Chaand Raat (Night of the Moon), that heralds the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/islam\/t-19037913\">Islamic<\/a>\u00a0month of Shawwal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Early on Saturday, worshippers gathered in several mosques across India to offer prayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76463733\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76463733_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"People gathered for prayers near railway lines\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a railway station in Mumbai<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Indranil Mukherjee\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the capital New Delhi, devotees bowed in prayer at one of India&#8217;s largest and iconic mosques \u2014 the Jama Masjid \u2014 and exchanged greetings amid a blanket of an unusual March fog.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76463457\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76463457_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"People hug each other infront of Jama Masjid amid a haze\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">People exchange Eid greetings at Jama Masjid in New Delhi<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Manish Swarup\/AP Photo\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The sweet aroma of festive dishes like seviyan (vermicelli pudding) and the lingering fragrance of henna has taken over households as preparations begin for scrumptious family feasts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76462685\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76462685_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A shop selling seviyan to customers\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">People shop for seviyan in a New Delhi market<small class=\"copyright\">Image: ANI News\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on different days across the world depending on local moon sightings.<\/p>\n<p>The southern Indian state of Kerala, for example, observed the festival on Friday \u2014 a day earlier than the rest of the country.<\/p>\n<p>It all comes down to the traditional practice of looking up at the sky to physically sight the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in Kerala saw the silver crescent moon on Thursday evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Eid greetings also poured in from Indian leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India&#8217;s President Droupadi Murmu extended his wishes:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This festival teaches us the lessons of self-restraint, service, charity, and compassion towards the deprived classes. Let us, on this occasion, resolve to strengthen our society and nation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day further brotherhood and kindness all around. May everyone be happy and healthy. Eid Mubarak!&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi posted a video on social media platform X, extending Eid wishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun\u00a0in India as millions of Muslims in the country mark the end of the holy month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/ramadan\/t-38336044\">Ramadan<\/a>, in which fasting takes place from dawn to sunset.<\/p>\n<p>The Muslim holiday is observed based on the sighting of the crescent moon during Chaand Raat (Night of the Moon), that heralds the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/islam\/t-19037913\">Islamic<\/a>\u00a0month of Shawwal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Early on Saturday, worshippers gathered in several mosques across India to offer prayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the capital New Delhi, devotees bowed in prayer at one of India&#8217;s largest and iconic mosques \u2014 the Jama Masjid \u2014 and exchanged greetings amid a blanket of an unusual March fog.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The sweet aroma of festive dishes like seviyan (vermicelli pudding) and the lingering fragrance of henna has taken over households as preparations begin for scrumptious family feasts.<\/p>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on different days across the world depending on local moon sightings.<\/p>\n<p>The southern Indian state of Kerala, for example, observed the festival on Friday \u2014 a day earlier than the rest of the country.<\/p>\n<p>It all comes down to the traditional practice of looking up at the sky to physically sight the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in Kerala saw the silver crescent moon on Thursday evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Eid greetings also poured in from Indian leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India&#8217;s President Droupadi Murmu extended his wishes:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This festival teaches us the lessons of self-restraint, service, charity, and compassion towards the deprived classes. Let us, on this occasion, resolve to strengthen our society and nation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day further brotherhood and kindness all around. May everyone be happy and healthy. Eid Mubarak!&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi posted a video on social media platform X, extending Eid wishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>India has sent a package containing 2.5 tons of emergency medicine, medical disposables and other medical equipment to Kabul to help in the treatment of the people who were injured in a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">deadly Pakistani airstrike<\/a> in the capital city earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;India stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and will continue to extend all possible humanitarian support in this difficult hour,&#8221; Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on social media platform X.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>On March 16, the Afghan <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban\/t-17428121\">Taliban<\/a> officials accused <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistan<\/a> of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital, killing at least 400 people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan denied targeting civilian infrastructure, saying\u00a0that its &#8220;precision airstrikes&#8221; were aimed at &#8220;military installations and terrorist support infrastructure&#8221; in Kabul and the eastern Nangarhar province.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India had earlier condemned the strike, deeming it &#8220;yet another act of aggression by a Pakistani establishment that remains hostile to the idea of a sovereign Afghanistan&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan declared an <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/is-afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-the-new-normal\/a-76155553\">&#8220;open war&#8221;<\/a> with Afghanistan in February. Clashes between the two sides intensified with cross-border fire and airstrikes striking deep in the\u00a0Afghan territory, including Kabul.<\/p>\n<p>A <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan-taliban-agree-on-strike-pause-for-end-of-ramadan\/a-76418410\">pause on strikes<\/a> is currently being observed by Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan on account of\u00a0 Eid al-Fitr. The halt in fighting is scheduled to last until midnight on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, India has <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban-visit-to-new-delhi-shows-indias-strategic-pivot\/a-74278021\">recalibrated its Afghanistan policy<\/a> marked by a thaw in its relations with the Taliban regime. The shift also comes amid the souring ties between the Afghan Taliban and India&#8217;s arch rival Pakistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India does not recognize the Taliban government, but restored the status of its technical mission in Kabul to that of an embassy last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has also been the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Kabul in the pre-Taliban years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed\" class=\"headline\">Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-75663256\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"75663256\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75661135_605.webp\" data-duration=\"16:26\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/jd\/jd20260126_MappedOut_AfghanistanPakistan_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>India has sent a package containing 2.5 tons of emergency medicine, medical disposables and other medical equipment to Kabul to help in the treatment of the people who were injured in a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">deadly Pakistani airstrike<\/a> in the capital city earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;India stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and will continue to extend all possible humanitarian support in this difficult hour,&#8221; Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on social media platform X.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>On March 16, the Afghan <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban\/t-17428121\">Taliban<\/a> officials accused <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistan<\/a> of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital, killing at least 400 people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan denied targeting civilian infrastructure, saying\u00a0that its &#8220;precision airstrikes&#8221; were aimed at &#8220;military installations and terrorist support infrastructure&#8221; in Kabul and the eastern Nangarhar province.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India had earlier condemned the strike, deeming it &#8220;yet another act of aggression by a Pakistani establishment that remains hostile to the idea of a sovereign Afghanistan&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan declared an <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/is-afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-the-new-normal\/a-76155553\">&#8220;open war&#8221;<\/a> with Afghanistan in February. Clashes between the two sides intensified with cross-border fire and airstrikes striking deep in the\u00a0Afghan territory, including Kabul.<\/p>\n<p>A <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan-taliban-agree-on-strike-pause-for-end-of-ramadan\/a-76418410\">pause on strikes<\/a> is currently being observed by Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan on account of\u00a0 Eid al-Fitr. The halt in fighting is scheduled to last until midnight on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, India has <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/taliban-visit-to-new-delhi-shows-indias-strategic-pivot\/a-74278021\">recalibrated its Afghanistan policy<\/a> marked by a thaw in its relations with the Taliban regime. The shift also comes amid the souring ties between the Afghan Taliban and India&#8217;s arch rival Pakistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India does not recognize the Taliban government, but restored the status of its technical mission in Kabul to that of an embassy last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>India has also been the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Kabul in the pre-Taliban years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning! This is Dharvi Vaid Dhulia from DW&#8217;s studio in New Delhi, bringing you your daily wrap of news from India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A winter chill seems to have made a comeback this Saturday morning, as the Indian capital recorded its coldest March day in six years after unseasonal rains.<\/p>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun in India, as millions of Muslims gathered to offer early morning prayers in mosques across the country. The state of Kerala observed the festival a day early on Friday, following a rare calendar split.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In diplomatic news, India has sent a consignment containing 2.5 tons of medical supplies to Afghanistan for the treatment of people injured in a deadly <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">Pakistan airstrike on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned to find out what India is talking about this Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Good morning! This is Dharvi Vaid Dhulia from DW&#8217;s studio in New Delhi, bringing you your daily wrap of news from India.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A winter chill seems to have made a comeback this Saturday morning, as the Indian capital recorded its coldest March day in six years after unseasonal rains.<\/p>\n<p>Eid al-Fitr celebrations have begun in India, as millions of Muslims gathered to offer early morning prayers in mosques across the country. The state of Kerala observed the festival a day early on Friday, following a rare calendar split.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In diplomatic news, India has sent a consignment containing 2.5 tons of medical supplies to Afghanistan for the treatment of people injured in a deadly <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/400-killed-in-pakistani-strike-on-kabul-hospital-taliban\/a-76388222\">Pakistan airstrike on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned to find out what India is talking about this Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-new-delhi-sends-medical-aid-to-afghanistan\/live-76462474&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/69096682_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApNi Air India is the Indian flag carrier [File: January 19, 2024]Image: Noah Seelam\/AFP\/Getty Images Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know New Air India fitness policy has\u00a0strict measures for cabin crew found to be underweight, overweight or obese Indian PM Narendra Modi calls for &#8220;peace&#8221; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1840204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1840204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1840204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1840204\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1840204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1840204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1840204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}