China on Tuesday dismissed as 'groundless' India's charge that Chinese hackers had attempted to break into sensitive Indian government computers, a week after American internet giant Google leveled a similar allegation against it. "I can say that these accusations are groundless," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters when asked to comment on former National Security Adviser M K Narayanan's reported comments that Chinese hackers may be involved.
'If the US withdraws, where do we stand with all the starved costly reactors? We will be left with only the hazardous waste to deal with. The way the terms of the deal are structured, it is clear that we have only the legal right to test which cannot be implemented due to tremendous consequences,' says nuclear scientist A N Prasad, a known critic of the nuclear deal.
As the most powerful man on earth comes calling on India in November, Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC, that the US president is keen his visit transforms relations between the two democracies
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will undertake his first-ever visit to India next week on his way to Sri Lanka. Ahmadinejad's visit comes at a time when Iran is facing United Nations sanctions and isolation from several countries. NSA M K Narayanan pitched for better treatment of Iran internationally, saying it was an ancient civilisation, and a major country with tremendous influence.
Various ministries, including home and defence, have been asked to take necessary steps to prevent leakage of classified information to the media and fix responsibility in case the leakage takes place.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency has categorically denied any links with the Taliban.The Daily Times quoted ISI Director General Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha as saying that the ISI is a professional agency and does not have links with any militant outfit, including the Taliban. Pasha's remarks came during a meeting with Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Panetta, National Security Adviser Lieutenant General James Jones and other officials.
'There is an understanding between the people of two countries that violence is not going to solve the Kashmir issue. A final understanding will take time,' says former national security adviser Brajesh Mishra.
India and China on Sunday discussed the possibility of working in collaborative projects in third countries, including joint initiatives in Afghanistan to tap large mineral resources, as part of efforts to broad base their relationship.
In the first significant comment by anyone from the government about the imminent impeachment process in Pakistan, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan said it is the political vacuum that exists there that 'greatly worries us'.Maintaining that the situation was evolving in such a manner that nobody could quite reach a conclusion, Narayanan said they thought President Musharraf's impeachment might not take place.
Former National Security Adviser of Pakistan Mahmud Ali Durrani, who was sacked after disclosing to media the Pakistani nationality of Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab, has said he had written authorisation from the prime minister to speak on the evolving situation in the wake of the 26/11 strikes.
Three leading domestic voting advisory firms are not on the same page over the proposed demerger and separate listing of ITC's hotel business, ITC Hotels. Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) has recommended a vote "against" the resolution, while InGovern and Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) have advised their clients to vote in favour. Voting on the resolution is currently underway.
Pakistan has agreed in principle to launch a full-fledged military operation against Taliban militants in North Waziristan. But it will be a tough task for the country's army, as the terrain is believed to be the stronghold of numerous Arab, central Asian, Pashtun and Punjabi militants.The military operation may increase the flow of US aid to Pakistan, but the consequences might be unaffordable for the beleaguered country.
Fourteen people were detained for questioning, officials said, adding that some of them have been let off.
India is also keen to interrogate Headley in a way that is legally acceptable in a court in the country. Headley has confessed to playing a crucial role in the Mumbai attacks.
A multi-tier security cover has been put in place in the national capital with thousands of security personnel guarding vital installations and specialised units like NSG deployed ahead of Independence Day to pre-empt any terror strike.
The paper suggests the strategy needs to be area-specific eg, border tourism can be promoted aggressively in the Turtuk or Siachen sector, and Daulat Beg Oldi or Depsang plains.
As part of government's efforts to reach out to the Bharatiya Janata Party over the nuclear liability bill, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon met senior leaders of the main opposition party on Wednesday, to allay their apprehensions but failed to convince them.
Undeterred by last week's attack, India on Saturday declared that it will continue its developmental activities in Afghanistan without scaling down presence even as it suspended operations of its medical mission in Kabul hit by injuries to most of its members.
United States special envoy Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday met National Security Adviser M K Narayanan in New Delhi. According to reports, the two discussed how India could help Washington's strategy aimed at ending terror threats emanating from Afghanistan and Pakistan.Holbrooke, the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was accompanied by Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.Holbrooke is also meeting Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.
Legendary pistol marksman and Manu Bhaker's personal coach Jaspal Rana on Thursday claimed he was asked to leave the Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi by India's high performance director Pierre Beauchamp, kicking off a controversy in which the national federation appeared to be siding with the Canadian.
"The nakli Shiv Sena wants to bury me alive. They abuse me in such a way that it will be liked by their favourite vote bank," Modi said.
Ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's New Delhi visit, India and China on Monday explored ways to resolve the vexed boundary issue as the special representatives of the two countries held the 14th round of border talks in Beijng.
Launching a sharp attack on Army Chief Gen V K Singh, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra on Sunday said that he should be sent on "forced leave" and not sacked.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee refused to speak further on National Security Adviser M K Narayanan's claim that Pakistan had reverted on India's dossier on Mumbai attacks, saying he had already "clarified" his position on the issue.
The Election Commission of India has set up more than 200 polling stations within housing societies in the urban areas of Uttar Pradesh to increase the voter turnout in the politically crucial state.
Sri Lanka has made it clear that India does not supply arms to the strife-torn island nation, saying that it understood New Delhi "political compulsions" in this regard.
An Indian intelligence officer told rediff.com, "It's very well possible that when Zardari was out of the country Gilani took a hawkish stand to please the army chief General Ashfaq Kiyani. Right now, a hard stand against anyone perceived to be softer on India or America makes good politics in Islamabad."
General James Jones (retired), President Barack Obama's national security adviser, announced his decision to step down from his position, which would be taken over by his deputy Tom Donilon.
US special forces will soon launch new operations to hunt world's most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden who the Americans believe is holed up in rugged terrain along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
The United States, which foiled a major terror plot by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to target India, has cited legal limitations in allowing Indian investigators to quiz arrested operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana. US National Security Adviser James Jones said President Barack Obama has shown personal interest in the Headley-Rana case and the matter was discussed during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
As the stand-off between Iran and the West continues over its nuclear programme, the United States has said India should use its 'influence' to convince the Iranian leadership to accept the 'one of the most reasonable' and 'perfectly plausible' proposal of low enrichment uranium.
The Delhi Police said it has conducted a thorough check of all schools that received the bomb threat but found nothing.
A retirement fund can be helpful for all age groups, but ideally one should start investing early to beat market swings and gain from compounding.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said India should not accuse his country for terror attacks till their investigations were complete, and favoured further strengthening of the joint anti-terror mechanism. "I proposed to let the intelligence chiefs meet... There should be a hotline between the intelligence chiefs and national security advisers of India and Pakistan so that we can share information timely and collectively in dealing with the menace," Qureshi said.
The status of the peace process and the Sri Lankan government's efforts are believed to have been discussed during the 30-minute meeting.
Criticising the NSA's recent statement that the peace talks had slowed down and it could move forward if only the NSCN (I-M) agreed to broad parameters under the Indian Union, the outfit termed the remarks, at a time when the peace talks have entered a crucial phase, as 'irresponsible'.
Noting that Pakistan had done nothing on the 26/11 case, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra on Tuesday said the government had made a "serious mistake" by holding talks and these were "bound to fail".
In the first preparatory meeting for the November visit of President Barack Obama, India and the US discussed ways to push their ties to match the potential and expectations of the two countries.
India and China plan to resume the next round of talks to resolve differences over demarcation of borders and conduct joint military exercises so as to boost bilateral ties, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon said on Tuesday.
In a significant policy shift, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to send a group of military officers to Pakistan for training, a decision which could raise eyebrows in India.