News for 'central-asia'

'India needs to do much more in Afghanistan'

'India needs to do much more in Afghanistan'

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

'The threat of ceding space to China in Afghanistan appears to be one factor propelling our government to get a bit more active now.'

Facebook executive alleges threat to life amid row over report

Facebook executive alleges threat to life amid row over report

Rediff.com17 Aug 2020

Das filed the complaint on Sunday and alleged that several people were issuing "threats, making sexually coloured remarks and defaming her" through online posts.

Obama passes law to appoint special envoy in Asia

Obama passes law to appoint special envoy in Asia

Rediff.com9 Aug 2014

United States President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill which calls for appointing a special envoy near East and South Central Asia to promote freedom of religious minorities.

India Has Lost The Way Economically

India Has Lost The Way Economically

Rediff.com1 Dec 2021

India has the lowest labour force participation rate in South Asia and one of the lowest in the world, points out Aakar Patel.

Afghanistan is done with jihad

Afghanistan is done with jihad

Rediff.com7 Sep 2021

The Taliban have the ISIS in its crosshairs. The Taliban has shown the skill to assimilate extremist elements if they are reconcilable as well as the ruthlessness to eliminate troublemakers, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar

20,000 km, 70 days: All aboard the Delhi to London bus

20,000 km, 70 days: All aboard the Delhi to London bus

Rediff.com1 Sep 2020

The new service will travel through 18 countries and each bus will accommodate 20 passengers.

American Hegemony is On the Line

American Hegemony is On the Line

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

The ineptness of successive American presidents, from Bush the Younger to Joe Biden the Old, combined with the cluelessness that Americans demonstrate in foreign lands, contrasts with the Chinese leadership's seemingly singular focus on the accumulation of wealth and power, asserts T N Ninan.

Why Has RBI Scrapped Polymer Currency Notes Idea?

Why Has RBI Scrapped Polymer Currency Notes Idea?

Rediff.com9 Mar 2022

The RBI has shelved its plan for polymer notes more than a decade after it invited interest from global manufacturers for one billion pieces of Rs 10 denomination polymer banknotes, reveals Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Modi Breaks Fresh Ground In Foreign Policy

Modi Breaks Fresh Ground In Foreign Policy

Rediff.com23 Mar 2022

'The big power struggle in faraway Europe erupted at a most critical juncture when India has been increasingly sceptical about American policies and statesmanship,' argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Does US Want India-China Ties Boiling?

Does US Want India-China Ties Boiling?

Rediff.com27 Dec 2021

Washington is signalling to Delhi that it can rely on American support in any great game vis-a-vis China. Delhi shouldn't fall into the trap, argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Bajwa's rapprochement: Honest intent or smoke screen?

Bajwa's rapprochement: Honest intent or smoke screen?

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

Pakistan's offer to normalise relations with India is an attempt to buy temporary peace due to its economic and politico-strategic compulsions, notes Brigadier Narender Kumar (retd).

Modi Has Enormous Curiosity About The World

Modi Has Enormous Curiosity About The World

Rediff.com24 May 2022

'From the very start, PM Modi was insistent that visiting foreign leaders should be exposed to an India beyond its capital.' 'Through these experiences, he felt that the full Indian narrative would be much better understood across the world,' explains External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. A riveting excerpt from Bluekraft Digital Foundation's Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery.

Indian diplomat's mike goes silent while criticising China's BRI

Indian diplomat's mike goes silent while criticising China's BRI

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

India has voiced its strong opposition to China's Belt and Road Initiative and its flagship project -- the CPEC -- at the just concluded second UN Sustainable Transport Conference where the Indian diplomat's mike curiously went silent while she was highlighting New Delhi's objection to the controversial projects.

Scribe named in Facebook executive's complaint files FIR against her

Scribe named in Facebook executive's complaint files FIR against her

Rediff.com18 Aug 2020

Three persons, identified as Ankhi Das from New Delhi, Ram Sahu from Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) and Vivek Sinha from Indore (Madhya Pradesh), were booked.

All eyes on SCO meet after Taliban takeover

All eyes on SCO meet after Taliban takeover

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

After two decades, the SCO appears to be at a cross-roads with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, asserts Srikanth Kondapalli, the leading China expert.

UAE helped bring down India-Pak tensions: Envoy

UAE helped bring down India-Pak tensions: Envoy

Rediff.com15 Apr 2021

India and Pakistan in a surprise announcement said on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.

Pak-India ties: One step forward, two steps backward

Pak-India ties: One step forward, two steps backward

Rediff.com23 Dec 2021

So far, almost every positive development in terms of the bilateral ties has been overtaken by innate hostility that is often driven by popular sentiments.

Reach out to Taliban, don't allow polarisation: Eminent citizens to govt

Reach out to Taliban, don't allow polarisation: Eminent citizens to govt

Rediff.com1 Sep 2021

Expressing concern over the situation in Afghanistan, a group of eminent persons, including former ministers K Natwar Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Mani Shankar Aiyar, on Wednesday urged the government to continue engaging with the Taliban and not allow any political party to use the developments in that country to communally polarise Indian society for electoral gains.

Afghanistan, terror sanctuaries in Pak on agenda for Blinken's India visit

Afghanistan, terror sanctuaries in Pak on agenda for Blinken's India visit

Rediff.com25 Jul 2021

The two sides are also expected to explore ways to deepen defence collaboration, including exercises, defence transfers and technologies ahead of the next edition of the 2+2 defence and foreign ministerial dialogue to be held in the US later this year, they said.

India Tries To Find A New Route in Kabul

India Tries To Find A New Route in Kabul

Rediff.com4 Nov 2021

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.

Taimur is 4 and FABULOUS!

Taimur is 4 and FABULOUS!

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

Here's looking at pictures from Taimur's fourth birthday party.

India tops ransomware attacks globally

India tops ransomware attacks globally

Rediff.com2 Jun 2021

About 67 per cent of Indian organisations whose data was encrypted paid a ransom to get back their data-a slight increase on the previous year when 66 per cent paid a ransom. In fact, Indian entities were the most likely to pay a ransom of all countries surveyed: the global average was just under a third (32 per cent). These were the findings of the global survey 'The State of Ransomware 2021' conducted by cybersecurity firm Sophos. The survey findings further stated that the total cost of recovery from a ransomware attack has more than doubled in a year, increasing from $761,106 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021 globally.

What Indian drivers do, Kyrgyz drivers seem to do better!

What Indian drivers do, Kyrgyz drivers seem to do better!

Rediff.com3 Oct 2013

In this second part of a series, Sudha Mahalingam goes deep into silk territory in Kazakhstan and says that the Ferghana Valley seems like a gift from the Gods

What India should watch out for at SCO summit

What India should watch out for at SCO summit

Rediff.com8 Jun 2018

'India needs to be cautious that its differences with Pakistan do not obstruct SCO's functioning,' says Sana Hashmi.

India to share Co-WIN source software with over 50 countries: R S Sharma

India to share Co-WIN source software with over 50 countries: R S Sharma

Rediff.com28 Jun 2021

About 50 countries, including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria and Panama, have shown interest in having a Co-WIN like system to run their vaccination drive, a senior official said on Monday, adding India is ready to share the open source software free of cost.

China launches advanced warship for Pakistan Navy

China launches advanced warship for Pakistan Navy

Rediff.com24 Aug 2020

The launching ceremony for the first warship was held at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on Sunday. Pakistan-China defence ties turn a new chapter with the launch of the first ship of Type-054 class frigate, Pakistan's state-run APP news agency reported.

India Must Be Prepared for the Taliban

India Must Be Prepared for the Taliban

Rediff.com10 Aug 2021

Robust military preparedness along the entire perimeter of our nation is the only iron-clad permanent guarantee for our security, asserts Vivek Gumaste.

Jaishankar to hold talks with Chinese, Russian foreign ministers on June 22

Jaishankar to hold talks with Chinese, Russian foreign ministers on June 22

Rediff.com18 Jun 2020

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov will be the other two participants at the conference. Uncertainty had loomed over the meeting following the cross border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley on Monday evening.

China's posturing in Indian Ocean to disturb stability: Experts

China's posturing in Indian Ocean to disturb stability: Experts

Rediff.com3 Aug 2020

Defence and strategic experts on Monday said that China's posturing in the Indian Ocean will disturb stability and peace in the region.

Can the Panjshiris BATTLE the Taliban?

Can the Panjshiris BATTLE the Taliban?

Rediff.com24 Aug 2021

The Taliban is highly pragmatic and would regard it wasteful to resume military offensive to capture Panjshir. The Taliban's preference, historically, has been to keep the military option as the last resort, explains Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar

Jaishankar-Blinken talks focus on Covid relief, LAC situation

Jaishankar-Blinken talks focus on Covid relief, LAC situation

Rediff.com29 May 2021

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he had a productive meeting with visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during which they discussed the bilateral ties, COVID-19 relief efforts, India-China border situation and Afghanistan and vowed to work together to address areas of shared concern.

Can the Taliban Survive?

Can the Taliban Survive?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2021

The US intends first to cripple the Afghan government financially through sanctions, freezing of assets, denial of access to international banking, etc, and then proceed to do pretty much what it wants to do with scant regard for Afghanistan's sovereignty, predicts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Obama omits Pak from NATO speech, snubs Zardari

Obama omits Pak from NATO speech, snubs Zardari

Rediff.com21 May 2012

In an apparent snub to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, his United States counterpart Barack Obama on Monday did not mention Pakistan in his opening remarks at the NATO Summit meeting on Afghanistan and instead welcomed the presence of officials from the Central Asia and Russia.

'India's greatest threat in Afghanistan is China'

'India's greatest threat in Afghanistan is China'

Rediff.com9 Sep 2021

'Imagine China pursuing its aims in Jammu and Kashmir by using Pakistani and now Afghan proxies.'

US On Diplomacy Road With Taliban?

US On Diplomacy Road With Taliban?

Rediff.com29 Sep 2021

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.

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

In a significant policy statement on the Taliban which is making big gains in its offensive in Afghanistan, China has asked it to make a "clean break" from all terrorist forces, especially the Al Qaida-backed Uyghur Muslim militant group ETIM fighting for the volatile Xinjiang province's independence.

India's Chabahar port plan is to buffet China's plans in Gwadar

India's Chabahar port plan is to buffet China's plans in Gwadar

Rediff.com7 Jun 2016

To this end, India has recently committed USD 400 million in steel to construction of the railway connecting Chabahar and Zahedan, near Afghan border, the report said.

Has Pakistan Learnt Its Afghan Lessons?

Has Pakistan Learnt Its Afghan Lessons?

Rediff.com24 Sep 2021

Imran Khan knows Pakistan is holding a strong hand and doesn't have to flaunt it while claiming victory. But Pakistan has learned from the experience of the 1990s -- high risk of going out on a limb, asserts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Remittances to India likely to see 23% drop: World Bank

Remittances to India likely to see 23% drop: World Bank

Rediff.com23 Apr 2020

Remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 per cent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, the World Bank has said. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic and shutdowns, according to a World Bank report on the impact of the Covid-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday.

Envoy's Arunachal visit shows our support for India's sovereignty: US

Envoy's Arunachal visit shows our support for India's sovereignty: US

Rediff.com31 Oct 2019

The envoy's "Tawang visit highlights resolute US support for Indian sovereignty and commitment to local partnerships", Alice G Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asia, said in a tweet on Wednesday.