The blame game between the two neighbouring nations over Taliban violence is nothing new, says Tahir Ali
A young Indian national, Mahesh Guda who came to the United States to pursue undergraduate studies, but half-way into his programme joined the US Army and was deployed in Afghanistan, has been awarded the US Army's Commendation Medal for his efforts in that war-ravaged country.
India on Wednesday extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, saying it was time the two countries display "maturity and self-confidence" to do business with each other.
India on Thursday strongly condemned the Taliban attack on a guesthouse in the Afghan capital that killed 14 people, including four Indians.
Admiral Samuel J Locklear III, Commander of the US Pacific Command, has not ruled out militants fighting in Afghanistan today switching their attention back to Kashmir post-US and NATO withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, and expressed concern over the recent terrorist attacks across the Line of Control that has exacerbated tensions between India and Pakistan.
There is growing acceptance of the idea in the international community that engaging the Taliban government is a far better approach than ostracising it, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The government is also planning to put all the Indians working in projects like power and road together to ensure their safety, reliable government sources said on Wednesday. This follows an assessment made by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's visit to Kabul last week in the wake of terror attack on Feb 26 on guest houses frequented by Indians in which seven Indians were killed.
Specially designated global terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani, who carries a reward of $10 million US bounty on his head, is the acting interior minister while his uncle -- Khalil Haqqani -- has been named as acting minister for refugees.
Afghanistan bowed out of their first major cricket tournament on Wednesday, then urged the game's top nations to give them a chance to gain greater experience and exposure.
LeT operations commander and Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi on Thursday challenged his detention under a public security order.
'The threat of ceding space to China in Afghanistan appears to be one factor propelling our government to get a bit more active now.'
The memorable portrayal of a pathan 'Sher Khan' by actor Pran in Bollywood movie 'Zanjeer' on Friday found its way into diplomacy as Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned it to underscore how Indians view Afghans as true and magnanimous friends.
Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community who had planned to run in the parliamentary elections set for October, was killed in the attack.
The terrible beauty of Doval's initiative is that it is all about a new journey rather than about a set compass pointing toward a pre-determined destination, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Pakistan would want to take full advantage of the situation to direct Taliban trained terrorists into the Kashmir Valley, alert Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Trump disclosed that he was to meet the Afghan President and senior Taliban leaders on Sunday at his Camp David retreat.
If the ruling BJP stresses on Hindu nationalist themes ahead of the general election in May, there will be communal violence'
'Afghanistan cannot be at peace until the Pashtuns regain their pre-eminent role in the country's governance,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'We couldn't believe that in the 21st century world, a European country can be bombed, can be invaded.'
On her first trip to Asia as US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that the issue of nuclear proliferation and the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan are on her agenda in her talks with Japanese leaders.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in India Thursday evening in the highest-level visit between the two countries after the ties came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh standoff nearly two years ago.
In a blunt message to Pakistan, the United States has said that continued existence of terror safe havens in the country and its inability to take action against them affects their bilateral ties including security assistance.
At a time when no Test playing nation including minnows Bangladesh is willing to visit Pakistan because of security concerns, the Afghanistan cricket team has reached Lahore for a four week stay.
The US intelligence community assesses that the Taliban leader Mullah Omar is now dead, although the circumstances of his death is not yet clear, the White House has said.
Afghanistan will play T20 World Cup, says media manager.
A tribute to an incomparable photojournalist who was slain by the Taliban on Thursday night.
It will be a David versus Goliath battle at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday when defending champions England launch their World Twenty20 campaign against Afghanistan, who displayed enough fighting abilities in their opening fixture against India.
'Even during the worst days during the 1990s, India was dealing with the Taliban.'
During the meetings, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan S K Lambah and the top US officials discussed the progress made in Afghanistan so far and how the two countries can work together to achieve their common objective of defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban, and help in the emergence of a stable and democratic Afghanistan.
In what highlights the strained relationship between the two neighbouring countries, a top Afghanistan official has urged the United States to impose sanctions on Pakistan and refuse visas to military generals of that country.Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta hurled severe accusations on Pakistani generals, saying there are definite reports that they have terror links.
"They (the Taliban) do not represent the popular will in Afghanistan and every poll, every survey I would particularly bring your attention to the BBC/ABC/ARD poll of earlier this year shows that their support is in the single digits," Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told media persons at a news briefing.
It's a packed 5-nation, 9-day, visit for Prime Minister Modi as he heads to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, apart from Ufa in Russia.
At least 18 people including 14 foreigners were killed in a bloody Taliban-claimed attack.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Amid speculation that top US commander in Afghanistan may be sacked for his disparaging remarks against top officials, including US President, the beleaguered general met Barack Obama and apparently gave his explanation to the Commander-in-Chief.
After his wide-ranging talks with Modi on the second and final day of his India visit, Johnson said the new defence and security partnership will enable India to strengthen its domestic defence industry as well as help the two countries protect vital shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Sergeant Rupert Frere, who transferred from a role in bomb disposal to become a photographer in the Royal Logistic Corps, won no fewer than five of the professional categories.
Taliban leader Mullah Mansour was killed in a United States airstrike.
The statement comes Days after Trump sought Imran Khan's help in the Afghan peace process.
A wave of suicide attacks in Kabul, which left 18 people dead -- half of them Indians, once again highlighted the bloody wrestle between India and Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan.
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