News for 'Central and South Asian Affairs'

'Never heard...': Cong on US envoy's remarks on Manipur

'Never heard...': Cong on US envoy's remarks on Manipur

Rediff.com7 Jul 2023

Garcetti reportedly said the violence and killings in Manipur are a matter of "human concern" and the US is "ready to assist" India in dealing with the situation "if asked".

China renames 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh

China renames 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

India has been rejecting China renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of the country and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.

India issues warning after mob violence in Kyrgyzstan

India issues warning after mob violence in Kyrgyzstan

Rediff.com18 May 2024

The number of Indian students in Kyrgyzstan is estimated to be around 15,000.

'US Remains Invested In Quad'

'US Remains Invested In Quad'

Rediff.com14 Feb 2025

'Trump's aggressive stance towards China and preference for military posturing could shift the Quad's balance towards overt militarisation.'

Who was in the room when Modi-Biden met?

Who was in the room when Modi-Biden met?

Rediff.com25 Sep 2021

Defence is at the heart of the India-United relationship, so it is interesting that General Lloyd Austin, the US secretary for defense, was not among the officials present when Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for their first meeting since Biden became president in January.

Was Pakistan airspace used in drone strike that killed Zawahiri?

Was Pakistan airspace used in drone strike that killed Zawahiri?

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

The US drone strike that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri has raised questions over Pakistan's possible role in the raid amid reports suggesting that the country's airspace could have been used for carrying out the precision strike on the Al Qaeda chief's safe house in Kabul.

Heritage buildings won't be demolished under Central vista: Govt

Heritage buildings won't be demolished under Central vista: Govt

Rediff.com31 May 2021

While the main building of the National Archives will remain intact, its annexe will be demolished and a new building will be constructed, officials said.

US rules out putting India, Pakistan in same basket

US rules out putting India, Pakistan in same basket

Rediff.com2 Feb 2016

'The US-India relationship is in a different league altogether,' Obama administration officials tell Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com in Washington, DC.

Nisha Biswal to visit India to lay ground work for Obama trip

Nisha Biswal to visit India to lay ground work for Obama trip

Rediff.com22 Nov 2014

Just hours after the White House confirmed that United States President Barack Obama would be travelling to India in January, the State Department on Friday announced that it will send a top diplomat to India next week to lay the ground work for the historic presidential visit.

Modi Or Manmohan? Who Travelled More?

Modi Or Manmohan? Who Travelled More?

Rediff.com27 Feb 2024

While Narendra Modi spent fewer days abroad than his predecessor -- 275 days versus Dr Singh's 306 - he has travelled more widely than any other Indian PM.

US: Expert who infuriated India offered key post

US: Expert who infuriated India offered key post

Rediff.com20 Nov 2009

Christine Fair, who infuriated New Delhi when she alleged that India was meddling in Balochistan, has been offered the India portfolio in the Obama administration.

An affair fit for a PM: 4,017 guests and Rs 17.6 lakh spent

An affair fit for a PM: 4,017 guests and Rs 17.6 lakh spent

Rediff.com20 Jul 2014

An expenditure of at least Rs 17.6 lakh was incurred on the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, an RTI reply has found.

Access to Headley is a closed chapter: US

Access to Headley is a closed chapter: US

Rediff.com28 Sep 2010

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake, while briefing reporters on the meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on the sidelines of the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York, said the issue of direct and complete access to Pakistani American and Lashkar operative David Coleman had not come up at all at these talks.

US slams Chinese nuclear help for Pakistan

US slams Chinese nuclear help for Pakistan

Rediff.com19 Mar 2011

China's assistance to build new nuclear plants in Pakistan are "inconsistent" with its commitments to Nuclear Suppliers Group, a top United States official has said.

Indian-Americans to play major role in Indo-US ties

Indian-Americans to play major role in Indo-US ties

Rediff.com12 Oct 2011

The growing Indian-American community will play a major role in strengthening ties between India and the US, with the diaspora making significant contributions in fields such as technology, services and economy, a senior US State Department official has said.

Indian-Americans to play major role in Indo-US ties

Indian-Americans to play major role in Indo-US ties

Rediff.com12 Oct 2011

The growing Indian-American community will play a major role in strengthening ties between India and the United States, with the diaspora making significant contributions in fields such as technology, services and economy, a senior US State Department official has said.

Top US diplomat to visit India next week

Top US diplomat to visit India next week

Rediff.com1 Mar 2014

Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will travel to Bangalore and New Delhi from March 4 to 6

Desi diplomat to assist US secretary Nisha Desai Biswal

Desi diplomat to assist US secretary Nisha Desai Biswal

Rediff.com18 Nov 2013

Atul Keshap, a senior Indian American career diplomat and one of the rising stars in the United States foreign service, has been picked by Nisha Desai Biswal, the newly appointed assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, to be her deputy.

'US very much working with India on Lanka'

'US very much working with India on Lanka'

Rediff.com14 May 2009

The Indian elections in no way precluded the United States from working jointly with India to try to alleviate the lot of the affected Tamil civilians caught up in the crossfire between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan troops, the outgoing point man on South Asia for the Obama Administration has said.

'Can't understand why BJP opposed Indo-US N-deal'

'Can't understand why BJP opposed Indo-US N-deal'

Rediff.com28 Apr 2011

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake, the Obama administration's point man for the subcontinent, still can't get over the Bharatiya Janata Party's opposition to the US-India civilian nuclear deal, despite the fact that it initiated and championed this accord during the time it was in power.

Pak must stop misuse of territory: US

Pak must stop misuse of territory: US

Rediff.com8 Mar 2007

A top US official said Pakistan has to "exercise effective control over all its territory" so that it is not used by terrorists.

'Better to keep India away from Afghan war role'

'Better to keep India away from Afghan war role'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2009

The United States Administration believes that the involvement of India and neighbouring countries in the security component of the US-led war on terror in Afghanistan will complicate the situation, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert O Blake has said.

Obama not ignoring India, says top US official

Obama not ignoring India, says top US official

Rediff.com30 Jun 2009

India is one of the key countries that will shape the 21st century, believes Robert D Blake, assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs in the Barack Obama administration.Keynoting a conference titled 'Natural allies? US-Indian Relations in the Obama Era', organised by the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute on Monday, Blake stressed that India's importance to the United States has not diminished.

US supportive of Pak peace deal with militants

US supportive of Pak peace deal with militants

Rediff.com26 Apr 2008

The Bush administration apparently has no problem with the new Pakistani government's peace deal with militant groups in that country's North West Frontier Province, including Waziristan that have been sympathetic and allied with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It has even given the tentative agreement its cautious blessings.

Hyde Act not binding on India: US

Hyde Act not binding on India: US

Rediff.com24 Apr 2008

Boucher, who is the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, was asked by rediff.com not to dodge the question but to clearly articulate which one was binding on Indiathe Hyde Act or the 123 agreement. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had recently assured the Congress that for the nuclear deal to be consummated, it has to be consistent with the Hyde Act.

Pakistan's freedom struggle has begun again: Imran after ouster

Pakistan's freedom struggle has begun again: Imran after ouster

Rediff.com10 Apr 2022

Pakistan's 'freedom struggle' has begun again with the ouster of his government due to a 'foreign conspiracy', former prime minister Imran Khan said on Sunday in his first comments since his unceremonious removal hours earlier.

At ASEAN, Modi presents 12-point proposal to bolster cooperation

At ASEAN, Modi presents 12-point proposal to bolster cooperation

Rediff.com7 Sep 2023

Modi attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta. Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn also attended the summit.

'Pak worried at Delhi's ties with Kabul'

'Pak worried at Delhi's ties with Kabul'

Rediff.com7 Dec 2007

US Senator John F Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommitttee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs -- that has jurisdiction over policy pertaining to India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan -- has called for the resolution of the Kashmir imbroglio, saying that the simmering problem is the rootcause of mistrust between Islamabad and New Delhi, that apparently causes Pakistan's paranoia over even New Delhi's relations with Kabul.

Terrorist attacks harming cause of Kashmir: US

Terrorist attacks harming cause of Kashmir: US

Rediff.com7 Jan 2009

"The question of India-Pakistan relations is one that... they have actually made great strides forward in the last couple of years. And obviously, the tensions created by the Mumbai incident made that more difficult right now,"Richard Boucher, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said.

Mumbai attackers have links in Pak:Boucher

Mumbai attackers have links in Pak:Boucher

Rediff.com7 Jan 2009

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, has said those involved in the Mumbai terror attacks have links in Pakistan. "I would say it's clear that they had links in Pakistan, that the attackers had links that lead to Pakistani soil" Boucher said in Islamabad on Monday, according to transcripts released by State Department in Washington on Tuesday.

'US Congress fears of Indo-Iran ties exaggerated'

'US Congress fears of Indo-Iran ties exaggerated'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2007

"Some of the fears are exaggerated," and added, "some of the training turns out to be sort of cadet level. Some exchanges don't lead to a lot. I think we just need to have a realistic sense of what this is," Boucher added.

Bush Administration defends F-16s sale to Pak

Bush Administration defends F-16s sale to Pak

Rediff.com21 Jul 2006

Statements of Assistant Secretary of State For South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A Boucher, Congressmen Tom Lantos and Gary Ackerman on F-16 sale to Pak.

$750 million US aid for Pakistan

$750 million US aid for Pakistan

Rediff.com16 Mar 2007

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher announced the assistance after holding talks with Musharraf.

Gathering info from Pak-Afghan border tough: US

Gathering info from Pak-Afghan border tough: US

Rediff.com1 Feb 2008

There are a lot of things that go on up there that are difficult to find out. On the other hand, we do have a pretty good idea what's going on up there, whose up there and what they're doing, Boucher said.

Pak has still lot to do to combat terrorism

Pak has still lot to do to combat terrorism

Rediff.com26 Dec 2008

The US has emphasised that Pakistan has still "lot to do" in combating the menace of terrorism and the immediate focus should be on groups responsible for the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks.

Pak needs to follow up on promises: US

Pak needs to follow up on promises: US

Rediff.com19 Dec 2008

"I think the steps that we've seen Pakistan take are good steps. They're promising steps. We hope they get followed up," Assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said in Beijing last week, according to a transcript released today by the State Department.

'Pakistan Army Wants To Fix Imran Khan'

'Pakistan Army Wants To Fix Imran Khan'

Rediff.com22 Jul 2024

'Five months after the elections in February 2024, the Pakistan army has not been able to break Imran Khan's resolve and break his political party.'