FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Market ends flat amid mixed global cues Page 12 US & Iran are holding a third round of nuclear talks NATION Shah flags infiltrations ahead of Bengal assembly elections Page 5 Page 11 India, Israel elevate ties to spl strategic partnership England v New Zealand BRIEFLY Taliban launch retaliatory strikes along Durand Line: New Delhi: Tensions flared along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday as heavy fighting broke out between Pakistani security forces and Afghan fighters along the disputed Durand Line in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district, days after Pakistan launched strikes on Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed on X that Kabul had launched a large-scale retaliatory offensive against Pakistan by targeting its military checkpoints. ASHOK TUTEJA New Delhi, 26 February P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that India and Israel have decided to elevate their time-tested ties to a special strategic partnership as the two nations signed as many as 27 accords in diverse areas and resolved to give final shape to a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) soon. Addressing a press conference with his Israel counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after official talks between the two sides, Modi said India and Israel will move forward in joint development, joint production and transfer of technology in the area of defence under an MoU signed last year. “Our relations have stood the test of time. Today, we have taken a historic decision Friday, 27 February 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | to establish a special strategic partnership. This is a reflection of the aspirations of the people of both countries,’’ he said. The partnership is for peace, innovation and prosperity. The Indian leader said the two countries are committed to enhancing regional connectivity. In this direction, the proposed India Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the India-Israel-UAE-USA (I2U2) connectivity projects will be given a fillip. He said he had also discussed regional and global issues with PM Netanyahu. India’s security, he said, is directly connected with peace and stability in West Asia. “Therefore, from the beginning we have supported dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues. This is also the appeal of the Global South and humanity,’’ he added. He said India’s position on the conflict in West Asia is very clear. ‘’Humanity must never become a victim of conflict,’’ he said, adding that the Gaza Peace Plan has opened a path to peace in the region. On terrorism, the PM said both India and Israel share the view that there is no place for the menace in the world in any form. “We will not tolerate terrorism…we will stand shoulder to shoulder against terrorism and those supporting it.’’ The PM noted that growth, innovation and shared prosperity have been the engine of the economic partnership between the two countries. Last year, the two countries signed a bilateral investment agreement and they will now give the final shape to FTA soon. Technology, he said, is the focus of the future partnership between the two countries. “Today we have decided to establish a critical and emerging technology partnership,’’ he said, adding this will help give speed to cooperation in areas like AI, Quantum and critical minerals. Markram leads from front as Proteas beat WI by nine wickets Page 16 SC bans NCERT class VIII social science book, issues contempt notice SUPREME COURT SAID, “IT IS A CALCULATED MOVE. THE ENTIRE TEACHING COMMUNITY WILL BE TOLD THAT THE INDIAN JUDICIARY IS CORRUPT AND CASES ARE PENDING. THEN STUDENTS AND THEN PARENTS. THIS IS A DEEP-ROOTED CONSPIRACY”. PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 26 February The Supreme Court on Thursday banned the new Class VIII Social Science textbook published by NCERT after taking serious objection to a chapter referring to “corruption in the judiciary”. The Court ordered that all copies of the book — both printed and digital — be immediately withdrawn from schools, stores and online platforms. A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi said the contents of the chapter appeared to be part of a deep-rooted and deliberate attempt to undermine the majesty and authority of the judiciary. The Court issued notice under the Contempt of Courts Act to the NCERT Director and the Department of School Education, asking them to explainwhycontemptproceedings should not be started against them and others involved. Seeking the names and details of the National Syllabi Board members who prepared the controversial portion, the Supreme Court said, “It is a calculated move. The entire teaching community will be told that the Indian judiciary is corrupt and cases are pending. Then students and then parents. This is a deep-rooted conspiracy”. The Court also noted that “It seems to us that the choice of words, expressions, in the book may not be simpliciter inadvertent or bona fide error,” indicating that the wording appeared deliberate rather than accidental. The court also sought minutes of meetings where the contents of the chapter were discussed and approved. The Chief Justice said, “We would like to have a deeper probe. We need to find who is responsible and we will see who is there. Heads must roll! We will not close the case.” The Court made it clear that the suo motu proceedings were not meant to silence fair criticism or prevent academic discussion about the judiciary. It said healthy debate strengthens institutions. However, it expressed concern that young students should not be exposed to what it described as a one-sided and misleading narrative that could damage public confidence in the justice system. The court noted that the book is silent on the role played by the Supreme Court, the high courts and the trial courts towards preserving and strengthening the democratic fabric.