Minister of State for External Affairs B Muraleedharan said India is committed to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbours under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
The Sikhs bring in the festival with song, dance and fun activities.
The recent incident has eroded trust and Chinese social media reflects growing anxiety, with calls for stricter security measures to protect Chinese lives.
The customs officials, based on an intelligence input, halted a Malta-flagged merchant ship -- CMA CGM Attila -- at the port en route to Karachi on January 23 and inspected the consignment, which included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, originally manufactured by an Italian company.
There are 350,000 jewellers, of which 13,000 are BIS-certified.
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About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
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Amid tight security and special prayers, Bacha Khan University in northwestern Pakistan on Monday briefly reopened before closing down indefinitely, days after it was attacked by the Taliban, killing 21 people, mostly students.
Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid on Monday quit as the government "surrendered" to hardline religious groups, who called off their violent protests in Islamabad that had left six people dead and hundreds injured.
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World No 1 Serena Williams smashed a racquet and recovered from a set down as she overcame stubborn resistance from Caroline Wozniacki in a semi-final at the WTA Finals last week. It was not the first time the world No 1 abused her playing equipment. Take a look at previous moments when she soaked up her frustration on court by smashing her racket.
The diplomatic crisis between Pakistan and Afghanistan deepened on Sunday after Kabul announced that it will withdraw its ambassador and other senior staff from Islamabad after the abduction and torture of the daughter of its envoy to Pakistan.
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Thailand's powerful army has challenged fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return and fight the legal charges against him, even as the military refuted reports that last month's coup was planned in advance to rid the country of the Shinawatra clan's influence.
As Pakistan celebrated its Independence Day on Thursday, the fear of violence loomed large with the capital turned into a fortress ahead of two massive anti-government rallies, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and fresh elections.
Britain's Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday after a thrilling duel with Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg.
Allowing the plea of 2004 Olympics silver medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the Delhi High Court today ordered the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to hold elections within eight weeks for four members from the category of life members in Wide Life Association.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved a five-year-long reform-based result-linked power distribution scheme worth Rs 3.03 lakh crore, for strengthening system of utilities to improve efficiency. Briefing after the CCEA meet here, Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, "We have done a lot for power distribution reforms. It needs to be strengthened. Today, the Cabinet has approved the new scheme worth Rs 3.03 lakh crore, including Rs 97,000 crore central outlay." He said the funds would be given to power distribution companies (discoms) to strengthen their system.
'By causing military humiliation of India it intends to send a signal to other Asian countries to toe the Chinese line,' argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
'Imagine China pursuing its aims in Jammu and Kashmir by using Pakistani and now Afghan proxies.'
"Our government has invariably made efforts to initiate the process of meaningful dialogue and adoption of peaceful means to resolve the issues but unfortunately the expansionist designs of India have remained the main hurdle in this regard," Abbasi said.
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Migrants do many of the dirty and dangerous jobs in the region, from construction to the oil industry, transport and services
Alarming but true: Cosmetic surgery to get back at an ex is not uncommon. Ranjita Ganesan explores brutal beauty trends like "revenge surgery" and "vampire facial".
An audio conversation accessed by CNN-News 18 between the slain Hizbul chief and the man responsible for the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai reveals how the two forces wanted to combine and pose a united threat to India.
'Gwadar has the potential to facilitate PLAN's operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.' 'Reports of China setting up electronic eavesdropping posts at Gwadar to monitor US and Indian naval activity and shipping traffic through the Straits of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea lend credence to this,' says former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade.
'The separatist resurgence in Balochistan is thwarting Pakistan's plans to build CPEC projects to optimally utilise Balochistan's energy reserves,' points out Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
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The Pakistani Supreme Court ordered for a joint investigation team to probe the allegations of money laundering against his family.
'Unlike the Chinese army that has been largely a peace time force, the Indian Army is a battle hardened force,' explains Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Bharti Kher is a researcher, a mathematician, an anthropologist, and a rare contemporary artist pushing boundaries in her creative quest.
'The accusation that Pakistan risks losing sovereignty to China is emotive and has the potential to spread.' 'China will, however, remain intent on achieving its strategic ambitions of acquiring Gwadar port and securing a large chunk of Pakistan occupied Kashmir,' says former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade.
'If push comes to shove, Pakistan does have the capability to make it difficult for the US and NATO forces to make even a withdrawal of troops out of Afghanistan in orderly fashion,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'Islamabad is only as big as a Delhi suburb.' 'How can a city with just two five star hotels and only one departure gate at their international airport be compared to Delhi with its sprawling airport?' Ambassador T P Sreenivasan finds the pulse of Pakistan after visiting Islamabad for the first time.
'The world does not care about the tension on our border.' 'India has to emerge as a strong economic power.' 'Respect comes when the world sees a country with a direction and leadership that has a vision,' points out Ramesh Menon.
'The general perspective -- certainly on Capitol Hill and Congress -- the love for India, the positive feeling for India still focuses on India as a democracy.' 'The more that Indian democracy and its pluralistic features is called into question by Indians, the more that same debate will replay back here.'
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