Kumar Rakesh And Lalit K Jha

Stories by Kumar Rakesh And Lalit K Jha

US apologises for Kabul drone strike that killed 7 kids

US apologises for Kabul drone strike that killed 7 kids

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2021

The strike by a Hellfire missile in Kabul on August 29, which was launched in an effort to kill ISIS-K planners, instead killed 10 civilians, he said.

Pak was considering Taliban govt as a partner to counter India: US Senator

Pak was considering Taliban govt as a partner to counter India: US Senator

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

Pak's role in Kabul is not sending a good message to India, a top American lawmaker has said

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2021

While both politicians tweeted about a slew of issues, they focused less on developmental issues related to the rural poor -- with Modi devoting a mere three per cent and Gandhi five per cent of his tweets to development, Abhijit Mazumdar, an assistant professor at Park University in Missouri said.

Taliban have been 'businesslike and professional': White House

Taliban have been 'businesslike and professional': White House

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2021

"The Taliban have been cooperative in facilitating the departure of American citizens and lawful permanent residents on charter flights from HKIA. They have shown flexibility, and they have been businesslike and professional in our dealings with them in this effort. This is a positive first step," Emily Horne, Spokesperson of the National Security Council, the White House said.

Govt of terrorists: US lawmakers on new Taliban govt

Govt of terrorists: US lawmakers on new Taliban govt

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2021

'Don't be fooled. There is nothing more moderate about the revived Taliban government'

Expect to have real, inclusive govt in Afghanistan: US

Expect to have real, inclusive govt in Afghanistan: US

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2021

The United States, Blinken said, is committed to looking at everything done from day one through the present and draw lessons from it.

Indo-US 2+2 dialogue to be held in November: FS

Indo-US 2+2 dialogue to be held in November: FS

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2021

The last meeting of the 2+2 was held in New Delhi and the next meeting is to be hosted by the US in Washington, DC.

In first outreach after Taliban takeover, Shringla meets Blinken

In first outreach after Taliban takeover, Shringla meets Blinken

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, and held substantive discussions with them on the strategic bilateral ties and regional and global issues like the current situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized Kabul.

No evidence of Pak bringing in fighters to support Taliban: Pentagon

No evidence of Pak bringing in fighters to support Taliban: Pentagon

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

"I have not seen anything to corroborate that report," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news conference on Thursday when asked about the reported allegations by former Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani that Pakistan had sent between 10,000 to 15,000 of its men along with the Taliban to capture Kabul and Afghanistan.

China trying to take over Bagram base in Afghanistan: Haley

China trying to take over Bagram base in Afghanistan: Haley

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2021

Haley said there is a need to closely watch China as it is making a move to take over the Bagram air force base that was controlled by the United States for nearly two decades.

No rush to recognise Taliban: White House

No rush to recognise Taliban: White House

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2021

There's no rush to recognition from the United States or any country we have spoken with around the world. It will be very dependent on their behaviour and whether they deliver on what the expectations are of the global community, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

Afghan withdrawal best decision for US: Biden

Afghan withdrawal best decision for US: Biden

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2021

"After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, I refused to send another generation of America's sons and daughters to fight a war that should have ended long ago," US President Joe Biden.

US' longest war in Afghanistan ends with Taliban's return to power

US' longest war in Afghanistan ends with Taliban's return to power

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2021

The United States has announced the end of its 20-year-old war in Afghanistan as the last American military flight flew out of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul shortly before the August 31 deadline.

US shuts embassy in Afghanistan, moves it to Qatar

US shuts embassy in Afghanistan, moves it to Qatar

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2021

The United States has begun a new diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as the US withdrew its last troops from the country ending the 20-year war in the South Asian nation.

Taliban will have to earn support by meeting their commitments: US

Taliban will have to earn support by meeting their commitments: US

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2021

Blinkin said the US will engage with the Taliban not on the basis of what a Taliban-led government says, but what it does to live up to its commitments.

No other military could do what US did in Afghanistan: Defence secy

No other military could do what US did in Afghanistan: Defence secy

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2021

'No other military in the world could accomplish what we and our allies and partners did in such a short span of time. That is a testament not only to our forces' capabilities and courage but also to our relationships and the capabilities of our allies and partners,' Austin said in a statement at the conclusion of the American mission in Afghanistan.

US military presence in Afghanistan ends: Biden

US military presence in Afghanistan ends: Biden

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2021

"Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended," he said, thanking armed forces for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled -- in the early hours of Tuesday (August 31) -- with no further loss of American lives.

Another terror attack on Kabul airport is 'highly likely', warns Biden

Another terror attack on Kabul airport is 'highly likely', warns Biden

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2021

"The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high. Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours," US President Joe Biden said.

US airstrike targets ISIS 'planner' in Afghanistan

US airstrike targets ISIS 'planner' in Afghanistan

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2021

An ISIS-Khorasan planner was killed in a "counterterrorism" operation conducted by US military forces in the Nangahar province, a day after a terror attack in Kabul killed scores of people including 13 US troops.

US intel says Covid not a bio-weapon, unsure about its origins

US intel says Covid not a bio-weapon, unsure about its origins

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2021

The United States intelligence community has failed to reach any firm conclusion on the exact origin of COVID-19 and is split on whether it leaked from a lab in China or emerged in nature, even though it does not believe the virus was developed as a biological weapon, according to results of a detailed review ordered by President Joe Biden.