New Delhi, Dec 26: A 20-year-old Indian student was fatally shot near the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, following which the Canadian Police launched a manhunt and an appeal to the public for information related to the incident.

The victim has been identified as Shivank Avasthi, an Indian national pursuing doctoral studies in Canada. According to Toronto Police, he was discovered with a gunshot injury on Tuesday afternoon, marking the city’s 41st homicide case of the year.

“On Tuesday, at approximately 3.34 p.m., police responded to a call for an unknown trouble in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area. Officers responded to reports of a person with serious injuries. Officers located a male victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene,” the Toronto Police said in an official statement on Wednesday.

“The suspect(s) fled the area before police arrival,” the statement said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

The killing has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in Canada and drawn a strong reaction from Indian authorities. The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over Avasthi’s death and confirmed that it is extending full support to his family.

“We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Mr. Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time, and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities,” the Consulate General of India in Toronto said on X.

The incident comes just days after another Indian national was killed in Toronto, raising renewed concerns about the safety of international students and residents. Last week, 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana was found dead inside a residence, a day after she was reported missing in the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West area.

Following an investigation, Toronto Police issued an arrest warrant for 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, a Toronto resident, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with Khurana’s death. Police said the accused and the victim were reportedly in an intimate partner relationship.

Reacting to Khurana’s murder, the Indian Consulate in Toronto had also conveyed its shock and grief, extending condolences to her family and assuring them of all possible support. The Consulate said it has been closely monitoring the case and remains engaged with local authorities to assist the victim’s relatives.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of Himanshi Khurana, a young Indian national, in Toronto. We extend our deepest condolences to her bereaved family during this moment of profound grief. The Consulate has been in close touch with the matter over the past few days, and all possible assistance is being extended to the family in close coordination with local authorities,” it posted on X.

Washington, Dec 26: China’s close military partnership with Pakistan is shaping India’s security environment, even as Beijing seeks to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with New Delhi, according to a new US Department of War report to Congress.

The report said China and Pakistan continue to expand defence cooperation, arms sales and military engagement. It described Pakistan as China’s most consistent and operationally significant military partner.

China’s ties with Pakistan include the transfer and co-production of weapons systems. These span air, land and naval platforms. Chinese equipment forms a major part of Pakistan’s military modernization, the report noted.

According to the assessment, Beijing uses military partnerships to advance its foreign policy goals. Arms sales, training programs and joint activities are key tools. Pakistan stands out as a long-term beneficiary of this approach.

The report said the China-Pakistan relationship has implications for India. It raises the prospect of pressure on India from both its northern and western fronts during a crisis. The document does not predict joint military action, but it points to growing alignment in strategic interests.

At the same time, the report said China has taken limited steps to stabilize its border with India. In October 2024, Indian and Chinese leaders announced disengagement from remaining standoff points along the LAC. This was followed by regular high-level talks on border management.

Despite this, the report stressed that mistrust remains deep. It said “continued mutual distrust and other irritants almost certainly limit the bilateral relationship.” Beijing, it added, may seek calmer borders to prevent closer US-India strategic ties.

The Pentagon report also noted that China’s territorial “claims” include Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing has linked such claims to its “core interests.” This places India’s border dispute with China in a sensitive category.

China’s wider military buildup adds to India’s concerns. The report said Beijing is rapidly expanding missile, cyber, space and nuclear capabilities. These developments affect the broader balance of power in Asia, including South Asia.

For Pakistan, Chinese support offers strategic depth. It also provides diplomatic backing at a difficult economic moment. For India, the partnership reinforces fears of strategic encirclement.

The report also referred to China’s interest in access and logistics facilities in the Indian Ocean region. Some of these areas are close to Pakistan’s maritime approaches. While no permanent Chinese bases are confirmed, the report said such access could support PLA operations.

This, the assessment noted, could complicate India’s maritime security planning. It would add pressure beyond the land borders.

Overall, the report described South Asia as an interconnected strategic space. China’s ties with Pakistan, its cautious engagement with India, and its expanding military power intersect in this region.

For New Delhi, the assessment underlines the need for vigilance. It said India must manage border tensions while preparing for wider regional challenges. Diplomatic engagement, the report suggested, will continue alongside security planning.

The document is part of a congressionally mandated annual review of China’s military and security developments and reflects US concerns about Beijing’s growing influence in South Asia.