The world's attention is on the new Taliban and the imminent announcement of an inclusive government in Kabul, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar
The United States has begun a new diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as the US withdrew its last troops from the country ending the 20-year war in the South Asian nation.
American combat troops could stay in war-torn Afghanistan beyond the 2014 deadline set by United States President Barack Obama for their pullout if Kabul sought delaying their withdrawal, the US ambassador has said.
She will also be the first serving diplomat to be posted in Washington in more than two decades after K Shankar Bajpai.
She will also be the first serving diplomat to be posted in Washington in more than two decades after K Shankar Bajpai.
In a sudden development, S Jaishankar, India's Ambassador to the United States, was on Wednesday night appointed Foreign Secretary, replacing Sujatha Singh whose tenure has been abruptly 'curtailed" by nearly 8 months.
A group of envoys including those from several Europe Union countries and a few Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) member states began a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to take a first-hand account of the situation in newly-carved union territory, especially after the recently-concluded local body elections.
Someone suggested Jaishankar was a potential Kissinger who could try and resolve the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio through his intellectual and diplomatic strengths. But calling the spade a spade on issues like imperialism, colonialism and exploitation, he would have raised many eyebrows in the West at a time when the fractures and wounds needed to be treated and healed, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Slamming Washington for awarding the Congressional medal to the Dalai Lama, an infuriated China on Thursday summoned the US ambassador in Beijing and demanded "concrete steps to protect bilateral ties which have been gravely undermined". "The move of the United States is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs. It has hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and has gravely undermined relations between China and the United States," said Foreign Ministry spokesman
Sheela Bhatt talks to former Indian Ambassador Naresh Chandra about the raminfications of New Delhi's decision to drop American fighter aircraft from the mother of all defence deals
Indian envoy to US Ronen Sen said one of the tangible manifestations of this dramatic improvement in relations between Washington and New Delhi was the consummation of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal "because this agreement shows a number of aspects to it."
Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York.
If confirmed, Nancy Powell will be the first woman ambassador to India, but some have questioned if she would have the ear of the President unlike a political appointee. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington DC.
"I'm sorry I can't be with you in person, but please know that I am most definitely with you in spirit and honoured to be receiving such a prestigious prize," Dylan said in his acceptance speech, which was read out by the United States Ambassador to Sweden, Azita Raji.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked by US Congressmen if the US had explore the possibility of northwest India for counter terrorism capabilities in Afghanistan. Blinken's remarks on India assume great importance, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington, DC, on Wednesday on an official visit to the United States during which he will hold the first face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, attend the maiden in-person Quad summit and address the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
US Ambassador David C Mulford pointed out that time is of essence, but underlined that Washington was not pushing India as it has highest respect for the political processes of this country. "It is practical to complete the processes, if we can, during the course of this administration," Mulford told journalists in New Delhi.
The US's first lady ambassador to India wants to set a new tone for the India-US relationship. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC.
'Clearly our relationship is founded on democratic values and a shared history that we have in promoting these values,' Nancy Powell said, but added, 'our economic and commercial relationship has been of great importance.'
India will sit in the 15-nation United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member - the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table.
'Geographically we are in a position where we do not have ready access to energy sources. One of the ways we are going to address this is by the proposed India-US civilian nuclear energy agreement, which is a very important part for promoting energy security and that is also a vital component of our national security,' Ronen Sen said.
'I have always been told I am pear-shaped,' reveals Malaika Arora.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had wanted to retain military ruler Pervez Musharraf's close aide Tariq Aziz as a key Pakistani interlocutor for India but the move was opposed by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a United States diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks has said.
President Donald Trump talked to the Saudi King, during which the latter flatly denied having any knowledge of the missing journalist.
The United States had asked India to threaten China with military action if it did not remove defence installations from Tibet, a new book has revealed.
India should watch the emergence of the situation and then see how others react, he said adding that Russia has stood by India in very difficult times.
A coalition of community organisations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area accorded a rousing farewell to the deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy, Ambassador Raminder Singh Jassal, who will now take charge as India's new ambassador to Turkey.
Iran's ambassador to the UN said the US allocation of $3 million for 'promoting democracy and human rights' in Iran was a clear violation of a 1981 US-Iranian agreement signed at Algiers.
'Is Trump going to play a mediating role? Can he play a mediating role? It's out of the question.' 'Kashmir is an Indian responsibility.'
American lawmakers, who were attending the Confederation of Indian Industry's launch of a new study on Indian investment in the United States at a Congressional reception on Capitol Hill, showered Ambassador Meera Shankar with a surfeit of kudos, much to her embarrassment.Congressman Joe Crowley, New York Democrat and co-chair of the India Caucus in the US House of Representatives, said, "Ambassador you are a rock star". He also spoke of her receiving "a rock star welcome".
More than 50 Africa-born or African-origin players are spread across 11 teams -- excluding sides from the continent -- that are part of the tournament in Qatar.
Concerned over the rise in tension between India and Pakistan over the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers, the United States said it has been counselling both governments to de-escalate the situation and has instructed its envoys there to work in this direction.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seems intent on mending fences with estranged former colleagues as part of the spadework for posing a credible challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party's national hegemony.
Providing military assistance in the hope that it will change Pakistan's worldview is wrong, says erstwhile ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani
The bilateral and Quad summits, in which Prime Minister Modi played a significant role, has sent the right message to China, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Gay people living under radar in Qatar prepare warily for World Cup
"We are doing it because we want Allah to be happy with us," he said.
When elected on July 18 -- which is almost a certainty, given the NDA's numbers in the electoral college -- Droupadi Murmu will be the first President born after Independence.
'Every index of the US-India relationship is pointing north. The time has come for us to set much more ambitious goals for ourselves,' says India's new Ambassador to the United States Dr S Jaishankar.
The United States is looking forward to welcoming the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, but refrained from making any announcement on the possible trip in September.
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