From the US perspective, the immediate political advantage of the Saudi involvement will be two-fold: its impact on Pakistani public opinion and, secondly, in countering the expanding Iranian influence within Afghanistan. The Saudi role would hopefully temper the stridency of 'anti-Americanism' in Pakistan, given their influence on the Islamic parties in Pakistan, especially the Jamaat-i-Islami
Scores of Indians and people from other nationalities are missing since the stampede at the annual Hajj near the holy city of Mecca on September 24.
The number of Indians killed in a stampede at the Hajj rose to 45 on Monday, as authorities identified 10 more bodies among the victims of the worst tragedy in 25 years to hit the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
'I'm sure the central government must have been thinking over the technicalities, that how to pave the way for construction of the temple.'
Will the NIA 'get conviction' in Mecca Masjid blast, Ajmer Dargha blast and Malegaon blasts cases, he asked.
Sources said that there could be similarities between the explosives used in Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad in May this year and Satudrday's explosion.
The mosque is coming up in the Uttar Pradesh district pursuant to the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case.
Over 2 million Muslims, including 136,000 Indians, will begin Haj when they assemble in the valley of Mina as Saudi authorities said preparations have been completed for the world's largest annual gathering after the city underwent a multi-billion overhaul.
Judge Dinesh Gupta let off the right-wing activist and six others, giving them "benefit of doubt".
According to the police, the results of the test will be helpful in cracking the twin blasts case as well as in gathering more information about the Mecca Masjid blast.
"I have never seen such heart-rending scenes and wailing and shrikes of the injured. It will haunt me all my life."
Here are the images that encapsulated the biggest moments in the month of August.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) left no stone unturned to make the occasion a memorable one.
India registered its first Test win at the Mecca of Cricket.
As the identification process continued, authorities did not rule out the possibility of this number increasing.
A pilgrim, identified as Muhammad, said, "We had to go to the Holy Haram early in the morning without a wash. We thought our complaints would be attended to by the time we returned. But we found that our complaints fell on deaf ears."
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain has proposed that a museum on the life and times of Prophet Muhammad be built in India, home to the second largest Muslim population in the world.
India captain Sunil Chhetri said the team couldn't make use of the opportunities, but no less mediocre was India's defending.
Those dead included three couples from Uttar Pradesh and one from Kerala.
Control Rooms have been set up in Indian Haj Mission, Makkah, Consulate General of India, Jeddah, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh
Images from Thursday's action in the Europa League Europa League - Round of 16 Second Leg - matches.
Arjun marked his run-up at the Lord's nets during England's practice session.
A guide to where you can't use the selfie stick.
The glaring failure of India's three middle-order batsmen, who never got even a reasonably decent start from the openers, was the main reason why India kept collapsing repeatedly, says Haresh Pandya, reviewing the team's 3-1 drubbing in the five-Test series in England.
In shocking revelations, Swami Aseemanand claims though RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not directly involved with the terror strikes, he was aware that such attacks were being planned. Vicky Nanjappa finds out more
Technology will get a new meaning at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the Brazuca balls to be used in the mega event will come with six in-built HD cameras capturing 360 degree view of the on-field action.
Director Sunil Shanbag shares the experience of staging the Gujarati adaptation of All's Well That Ends Well at the historic Globe theatre in London.
'The country's home ministry has misused investigating agencies in the most illegal, corrupt, inhuman and unjustified way to trap innocents like me in terror traps,' says RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who terror accused Swami Aseemanand alleged knew of plots to bomb the Samjhauta Express, the Mecca Masjid and the Ajmer Dargah.
Tens of thousands of white-clad pilgrims, including Indians, thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia just outside Mecca, for the climax of the Hajj.
They spend ten times more money in Macau than in Las Vegas
Over 1.4 million foreign pilgrims, about one-fourth of whom are from the Indian sub-continent, will perform Haj this year, Saudi Arabia's Haj Minister said on Tuesday ahead of the world's largest annual gathering.
Arwa Sultanali, who visited Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, sends her impressions of the war-torn country.
A new theory has emerged surrounding the death of former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man Sunil Joshi -- he was murdered over a business tussle. Vicky Nanjappa reports
Catch up on all the big news of the week gone by, in images.
Over 1.5 lakh Indians along with tens of thousands of Muslims from across the world began moving from the holy city of Mecca to nearby tent-city of Mina, marking the beginning of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
The recent arrests made by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Samjhauta Express blast case could see the probe meeting a logical end soon. Vicky Nanjappa reports
Crippling power cuts in Tamil Nadu are shutting factories and threatening an industrial debt crisis that is wrecking its second-largest city's plan to become India's next business Mecca.
Brazil's former World Cup winners mesmerised the mecca of Indian soccer with their unmatched skills, reminding everyone of their heydays as they beat IFA XI 3-1 in an exhibition match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, on Saturday.
With the Hyderabad police rounding up several Muslim youth for questioning in connection with last week's twin blasts in Hyderabad, some civil rights groups are up in arms and say witch-hunting will only prove fatal to the probe. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
There are three angles of investigations being taken by the Intelligence Bureau and the Hyderabad police in the twin blasts that have killed at least16 people in a busy market in Hyderabad.
