Sajjad Hussain And Lalit K Jha

Stories by Sajjad Hussain And Lalit K Jha

India driving force of Quad, says White House

India driving force of Quad, says White House

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2022

India is a driving force of the Quad and an engine for regional growth, said the White House, days after foreign ministers of the countries, which are part of the grouping, met in Melbourne.

Mob stones man to death in Pak for desecrating religious book, 62 held

Mob stones man to death in Pak for desecrating religious book, 62 held

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2022

According to eyewitnesses, the police arrived in the village before the incident took place, but the mob seized the victim from the SHO's custody and tied him to a tree, after which he was lynched to death.

Tributes pour in for Lata Mangeshkar from Pakistan

Tributes pour in for Lata Mangeshkar from Pakistan

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2022

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, eminent personalities, politicians described Lata Mangeshkar as the "nightingale of the subcontinent"

When Lata Mangeshkar found an admirer in Pak's brutal dictator

When Lata Mangeshkar found an admirer in Pak's brutal dictator

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2022

Zia confessed his admiration for Mangeshkar while talking with late Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar in 1982.

'Shameful': US after China makes Galwan soldier as Olympics torchbearer

'Shameful': US after China makes Galwan soldier as Olympics torchbearer

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2022

The United States has asserted that it stands with India against Chinese aggression as several lawmakers slammed China for choosing a People's Liberation Army soldier.

US trade body hails Budget, says it's fiscally prudent

US trade body hails Budget, says it's fiscally prudent

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2022

In the midst of third wave of COVID-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has come up with an impactful Budget which is balanced, fiscally prudent and growth-oriented, the USA India Chamber of Commerce has said. President of the Boston-based USA India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) Karun Rishi, however, said it is a matter of concern that the budget lacks tangible measures to increase revenue generation. "Opting to keep the fiscal deficit at 6.9 per cent and increase capital expenditure by 35 per cent is a masterstroke. "The annual budget estimates the effective capital expenditure of Rs 10.68 lakh crore in 2022-23, making up about 4.1 per cent of the GDP," he said. "A phenomenal increase in the government's capital expenditure is likely to facilitate the expenditures on infrastructure and create jobs.

India's S-400 deal 'shines spotlight on Russia's destabilising role': US

India's S-400 deal 'shines spotlight on Russia's destabilising role': US

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2022

The US continues to have its concerns over India purchasing the multi-billion missile defense system from Russia.

IMF cuts India's FY22 growth forecast to 9%

IMF cuts India's FY22 growth forecast to 9%

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2022

The IMF on Tuesday cut India's economic growth forecast by 0.5 percentage points to 9 per cent for the current fiscal year, with its chief economist Gita Gopinath saying that the slight downgrade is mainly due to the impact of the spread of the Omicron variant. "If you look at the 2021-22 fiscal year, we have a slight downgrade of -0.5 percentage points and for the next fiscal year 2022-23 we have a slight upgrade of 0.5 percentage points. So, growth for the previous fiscal year is now nine per cent and for this year now is at nine per cent. We moved it up slightly," Gopinath told reporters during a news conference in Washington. In its latest update of World Economic Outlook on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund has cut India's economic growth forecast to 9 per cent for the current fiscal year ending March 31, joining a host of agencies which have downgraded their projections on concerns over the impact of the spread of Omicron on business activity and mobility.

Imran's new national security policy puts Kashmir at core of India ties

Imran's new national security policy puts Kashmir at core of India ties

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2022

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday launched the country's first-ever national security policy, which articulates a citizen-centric framework, placing economic security at its core unlike the previous one-dimensional security policy where the focus was on the military.

US will balance geostrategic concerns in India's S-400 deal: Biden nominee

US will balance geostrategic concerns in India's S-400 deal: Biden nominee

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2022

The United States has made it clear to India that it is "discouraging" it from proceeding with its acquisition of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia but Washington will have to weigh "important geostrategic considerations" while taking a decision on growing calls for a presidential CAATSA waiver to New Delhi, President Joe Biden's nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy has told lawmakers.

US worried over China bullying India, other neighbours: White House

US worried over China bullying India, other neighbours: White House

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

The remarks of White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki came ahead of the 14th round of military-level talks between India and China on the 20-month row in eastern Ladakh.

Over 200 Hindu pilgrims pray at renovated Pak temple amid tight security

Over 200 Hindu pilgrims pray at renovated Pak temple amid tight security

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2022

As many as 200 Hindu pilgrims, most of them from India, were overwhelmed with emotions as they prayed at the 100-year-old renovated Maharaja Paramhans Ji temple in Pakistan on Sunday amidst tight security, a year after the temple was demolished by a mob belonging to a radical Islamist party.

Pak responds to India's Rafale with China-made 25 J-10C fighter jets

Pak responds to India's Rafale with China-made 25 J-10C fighter jets

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2021

Pakistan has acquired a full squadron of 25 multirole J-10C fighter jets from its all weather ally China in response to India's purchase of Rafale aircraft, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said.

Pak's new ISI chief asks not to release his photos, videos to media

Pak's new ISI chief asks not to release his photos, videos to media

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2021

The newly-appointed Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum has instructed Pakistani authorities not to release his images or video footage to the media, according to a media report on Wednesday.

Pak summons Indian envoy over hate speeches against minorities

Pak summons Indian envoy over hate speeches against minorities

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2021

Pakistan on Monday summoned India's Charge d'Affaires to the ministry of foreign affairs and conveyed its concern over the alleged hate speeches made at a conclave held in Haridwar recently to incite violence against the minorities.

Post Uri freeze, Pak wants to host the much-delayed SAARC Summit

Post Uri freeze, Pak wants to host the much-delayed SAARC Summit

Rediff.com   25 Dec 2021

The 2016 SAARC Summit was originally planned to be held in Islamabad on November 15-19, 2016. But after a terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

Pak-India ties: One step forward, two steps backward

Pak-India ties: One step forward, two steps backward

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2021

So far, almost every positive development in terms of the bilateral ties has been overtaken by innate hostility that is often driven by popular sentiments.

Pak military's top brass condoles Gen Rawat's death

Pak military's top brass condoles Gen Rawat's death

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2021

Pakistan Army's spokesman in a short statement posted on Twitter said that Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed condolences.

Omicron threat: Pak bans travel from 15 countries

Omicron threat: Pak bans travel from 15 countries

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2021

Pakistan on Monday banned travel from 15 countries, except under certain conditions, and tightened up travel restrictions on 13 other countries in wake of the threat of the new COVID-19 variant Omicorn.

Pak allows India to transport wheat, medicines to Kabul on Afghan trucks

Pak allows India to transport wheat, medicines to Kabul on Afghan trucks

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2021

Pakistan on Friday agreed to let India transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and life-saving drugs as humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan on Afghan trucks through the Wagah border crossing, after a row erupted between the two countries over the modalities of transportation.