ANKARA – Turkish tanks moved into the Syrian town of Jarablus after series of Turkish airstrikes. Ankara says it won’t allow Syrian Kurds to fill the vacuum left by any departure of DAESH fighters.
NEW DELHIΒ – Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had written to the UN urging the probe after another upsurge in violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir. This time protests and a heavy handed crackdown have followed the killing of Burhan Wani, a popular Kashmiri freedom fighter, by Indian security forces. At least 63 people have been killed after Indian security forces fired live ammunition into protesters. A curfew has now been in place for over 34 days. India has also fired over 1.3 million pellets during this round of protests. India regards the long standing Kashmir dispute as an internal matter and accuses Pakistan of interference.
ANALYSIS – The recent series in England that ended in a 2 – 2 draw was probably the contest between the two best teams in the world. Pakistan with their stunning bowling line up brittle batting led by an iron willed captain faced an England side that boasted Alistair Cook and Joe Root in their setup as well as an outstanding home record – this was an England side that had bowled Australia out for 60 last summer. Pakistan won the first test comfortably because of Yasir Shah but were hammered in the next two tests by an England side that played well within it’s limits. The last test at the Oval resulted in a comfortable win for the visitors. And as a result of the clash between these two titans Pakistan is now number one. With India, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka all going through transition, expect England to be challenging for that spot in the not too near future though.