If confirmed by the Senate, the 67-year-old career military officer would be the first African-American to lead the Department of Defence.
Describing Iran as the 'most significant threat' to regional stability, a top American commander has accused Tehran of carrying out clandestine activities in more than a dozen countries including India.
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has dispelled reports of joint operations with the US against militants in North Waziristan, saying Pakistan alone would decide the timing of any offensive in the tribal region according to its military requirements.
A top United States general has recommended about 14,000 troops to be present in the war-torn Afghanistan even as Afghan forces take charge of the country's security.
"The Afghans do not have that capability yet. It's one of the enablers that we are trying to build into them before we leave," Gen James Mattis, Commander of US Central Command, told members of the powerful House Armed Services Committee.
PM Modi has extended an invite to the US president to be the Chief Guest at the next year's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were to travel to the US to take part in the meeting with US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis on July 6.
Twenty to thirty rockets landed at Hamid Karzai International Airport in the centre of Kabul, Tolo news reported. There are no reports of causalities yet.
Swaraj expressed satisfaction over the agenda of the inaugural dialogue while giving the details of the deliberations.
The North Korean issue is number one priority for the US now. Both India and the US are now working on next set of dates for the '2+2' dialogue.
Nine days after the death of George Floyd, protesters are still out on the streets of major cities across America, even with curfews now in place. The 46-year-old was killed when a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes while he lay handcuffed and pinned to the ground gasping for breath on May 25. As per latest reports, Floyd, the African-American had tested positive for the coronavirus in April, according to the medical examiner's report. Meanwhile, a Minnesota court has upgraded the charges against former Minneapolis police offcer Derek Chauvin who pressed his knee into George Floyd's neck to second-degree murder and three other officers present during the incident have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. Soon after, Floyd's family issued a statement, saying, "This is a bittersweet moment. We are deeply gratified that @AGEllison took decisive action, arresting & charging ALL the officers involved in George Floyd's death & upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder." Former United States President Barack Obama too held a livestream event in which he urged young people to "stay hopeful" and take action. "Just remember, this country was founded on protest," he said. Raising his voice against the US president, former secretary of defense James Mattis slammed Trump as "the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people," in a forceful rebuke of his former boss. "We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership," he said.
Mattis' remarks came after Trump warned that 'appeasement' won't work with Pyongyang.
United States President-elect Donald Trump has formally nominated James Mattis, a retired 4-star Marine Corps general who has long voiced concerns about the threat posed by Iran, as the Defence Secretary to replace Ashton Carter.
Mattis attracted controversy in 2005 when he said 'it's fun to shoot some people'.
US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis will travel to New Delhi next month for the 2+2 dialogue.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her American counterpart James Mattis reviewed ongoing initiatives to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
The capture of Baghouz comes almost three months (December 2018) after US President Trump declared that IS had been defeated in Syria.
Mattis said there can be 'no tolerance to terrorism safe havens'.
Presence of terror safe havens in Pakistan, aggressive Chinese behaviour and the Afghanistan situation dominated last month's meeting between James Mattis and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval
This was the first dinner hosted for a foreign dignitary at the White House under the Trump administration.
'His secretary of defence nominee, General James Mattis, says he expects Pakistan to take action against terrorists operating from its soil.' 'Any pressure the US can bring on the Pakistani regime terror-wise would pay dividends for India.'
The US president announced the move during his first State of the Union address, reversing his predecessor Barack Obama's decision to close the controversial site "as soon as practicable".
Announcing the visit from June 25, the external affairs ministry on Monday said the Modi-Trump discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement.
'As far as acquisition of Russian equipment is concerned, with about 70% of Indian military equipment being of Russian origin, a sudden decision to abandon imports from Russia is not feasible,' points out Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd).
Imran said the previous Pakistani governments "should not have pledged what they could not deliver."
Doval will meet US Defence Secretary James Mattis on March 24, Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis told reporters, adding that they are likely to discuss a wide range of bilateral security issues and those related to the defence relationship.
The elephant in the room will permeate the conversations, predicts Rup Narayan Das.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty was one of those agreements and is set to expire in the next two years. The 1987 pact helps protect the security of the US and its allies in Europe and the Far East.
The issues around trade gaps, especially around steel and aluminium tariffs imposed by the US, will be addressed separately.
Last month, Trump had ordered withdrawal of troops from Syria. The then Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest.
The IAF has paid French aerospace firms Dassault and Thales about Euro 350 million for 'performance-based logistics'. This requires the vendors to ensure that 75 per cent of the Rafale fleet is combat-ready at all times, notes Ajai Shukla.
WH said they are expected to set forth a vision that will expand the bilateral partnership
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said that she is taking a break after more than a decade in public life.
"We want to make certain that no terrorist organisation can find a haven anywhere, and, with a border adjoining Afghanistan, that makes Pakistan a priority," Mattis said.
Politicians, bureaucrats hold different opinions about the delaying of the 2+2 summit.
The US president's remarks came in response to the latest ballistic missile test conducted by North Korea on Friday.
Mattis said that there are operations by the Pakistan military that are helping the US' ongoing efforts against terrorism and have been for some time.
Modi and Trump will meet at 1.20 am (IST) following which they will have delegation talks and then a dinner.
Pervez Musharraf is contemplating a political front with jihadi groups to contest Pakistan's next election. Should the jihadi groups win a few seats, terrorist outfits will gain legitimacy in Pakistan, warns Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd).
Access to Sabang Port will allow the Indian Navy to dominate Malacca Strait more effectively, reports Ajai Shukla.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances