Chagos Islands | Pakistan

• Move comes after President Trump slams deal as ‘big mistake’ • Legislation underpinning the deal shelved; standoff leaves indigenous Chagossians in limbo LONDON: Britain’s government said Saturday it has put on hold its deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following criticism from US President Donald Trump over the future of a crucial joint military base on the archipelago. The planned legislation to underpin the deal, which requires Washington’s backing, will not be included in the government’s upcoming parliamentary agenda, The Times newspaper reported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said London would continue to seek Washington’s formal approval for the agreement. The deal has become a point of contention in what analysts describe as a period of strained relations between the two historical allies. Under the agreement, Britain would hand the islands back to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically vital US-British military base on the atoll of Diego Garcia thro...