Page 1461 - Politics
Amit Shah questions Pak PM's silence on Pulwama attacks
BJP President Amit Shah Friday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for not condemning the Pulwama terror attack and asked how can India trust him. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Shah said the Modi government has been able to create "fear" in the minds of those behind terrorism with its action against Pakistan-based terrorists. "I believe the track record of our government has been the best in dealing with terror since Independence... Maximum number of terrorists have been eliminated under BJP government led by Modi," he said. Questioning Khan's silence on the Pulwama attack, he said, "The Pakistan PM should have criticised the Pulwama attacks at least once. How can we expect anything from him, or trust him. Maybe the situation is not in his control. At least he could have done lip service". 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying security
Pilot's return our diplomatic victory: Amit Shah
BJP President Amit Shah Friday said creating situation for return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan was a diplomatic victory, ahead of the expected arrival of the captured pilot. Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan since then. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture". Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Shah said, "Creating situation for return of pilot Abhinandan in such a short span of time is our diplomatic victory". Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. A team of .
UNGA president concerned over situation between India, Pakistan
UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa is following with "great concern" the situation between India and Pakistan and calls on both sides to seek dialogue to avoid an escalation of tensions, her spokesperson said. Espinosa's spokesperson Monica Grayley said the UNGA President stresses that the use of "diplomatic means is basically the best way to settle political differences, to settle political disputes" and hopes that the relevant parties can resolve the current situation through peaceful means. The President of the General Assembly is "actually following with great concern the latest reports on the situation between India and Pakistan, told reporters Thursday during her press briefing. Espinosa, who had visited India before assuming office last year and had made a trip to Pakistan in January this year, asks for both sides right now to seek dialogue to avoid an escalation of tensions but also to avoid further tragic loss of life." Several international leaders too ...
Pompeo hopeful India-Pak tensions would come down
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that he had "good conversations" with Indian and Pakistani leaders and was hopeful that the rising tensions will come down between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Over the last two days, Pompeo spoke to the leaders of the two countries including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "We were and continue to be very engaged with the issue between India and Pakistan," Pompeo told reporters travelling with him from Hanoi to Manila on Thursday. "I spent a good deal of time on the phone last night talking to leaders in both countries, making sure there was good information exchanged, encouraging each country to not take any action that would escalate and create increased risk," he said. "I had good conversations, and I am hopeful that we can take down the tension there, at least for the time being, so they can begin to have conversations that don't ...
Australia defence minister latest to quit ahead of vote: reports
Australia's experienced defence minister is to quit politics, media reported Friday, the fourth cabinet member to announce their retirement as the government braces for a tough election battle. National broadcaster ABC reported that Christopher Pyne, who also serves as Leader of the House for the Liberal government, would step down at the next election, due by mid-May. ABC said he would make the announcement on Saturday. Media reports said junior defence minister Steven Ciobo would also announce his retirement at the weekend. Pyne would become the fourth cabinet member in Prime Minister Scott Morrison's six-month-old government to announce they were quitting politics. Several backbench Liberal MP's have also announced they won't contest the next election, or will do so as independents. First elected in 1993, Pyne has held multiple cabinet positions and was seen as the most prominent moderate in the upper ranks of the Liberal party. Conservatives inside the party ousted centrist ...
US vows Philippines aid against "armed attack" in China-claimed sea
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday vowed to defend the Philippines against "armed attack" in the disputed South China Sea in Washington's starkest warning yet against Chinese claims to most of the strategic waterway. Speaking in Manila after meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Pompeo said Beijing's building of artificial islands in waters also claimed by Manila and other neighbours were potential threats to the two allies. "China's island-building and military activities in the South China Sea threaten your sovereignty, security and therefore economic livelihood, as well as that of the United States," he said at a joint news conference with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin. "As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack of Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea will trigger mutual defence obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defence Treaty." Pompeo's comments marked the first time any US official ..
For Congress, contesting Lok Sabha polls appears to be uphill task (News Analysis)
For the Congress party leadership in BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh, contesting the parliamentary polls appears to be an uphill task.
Pak set to release Indian pilot
Pakistan is set to release the captured IAF pilot on Friday as a "first step" to open negotiations with India. Pakistan detained the IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control when his MiG 21 fighter jet was downed. India Wednesday summoned the acting high commissioner of Pakistan and demanded immediate and safe return of the IAF pilot who was detained by Pakistan following an aerial engagement by air forces of the two countries. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing a special joint sitting of the parliament on Thursday announced that Pakistan will release the pilot. The government due to security reasons has not announced any time or place to hand him over to Indian authorities. But diplomatic sources said that the pilot will be taken to the Wagah border crossing near Lahore and handed over to officials of the Indian High Commission.
Aircraft carrying TN CM returns to Chennai following 'technical snag'
A Tuticorin-bound private aircraft carrying Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami returned here Friday following a "technical snag," airport officials said. Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami was scheduled to travel to Kanyakumari from Tuticorin to attend a government event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be present. According to airport officials, the pilot of the aircraft detected the technical snag and returned here. The chief minister later travelled to Madurai by a different aircraft, they said.
Announcement of release of IAF Wing Commander a 'welcome step': UN
The United Nations on Friday called the announcement of a release of Indian Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan by Pakistan a "welcome step". "The report of the release of the Indian pilot by the Pakistani authorities would be very much a welcome step," Dawn quoted UN chief Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying."We would encourage both parties to do whatever they can to de-escalate the situation and this is the message that has been passed on by the United Nations and, I think, by the international community as a whole," the spokesperson added.As a peace gesture, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced the release of the pilot. IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released on Friday.Abhinandan, flying a MiG -21 Bison fighter plane, was chasing Pakistani jets which transgressed into Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday and crossed over to PoK where his aircraft was shot down. He was ejected safely and was taken to the custody by the Pakistani ...
JeM chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan: Pak FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is very unwell, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has confirmed."He (Masood Azhar) is in Pakistan. According to my information, he is very unwell. He's unwell to the extent that he cannot leave his house because he is really unwell. So, that's the information I have", Qureshi told CNN in an interview.Qureshi added that Pakistan will take action against Azhar if India provides "solid, inalienable evidence" against him."If they give us evidence which is acceptable to the courts of Pakistan… after all we will have to justify they will go to the court. If they have solid, inalienable evidence, share it with us so that we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan," he said.Talking about the decision made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday where he announced that Islamabad will release Indian Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as a peace gesture, Qureshi said, "This was a goodwill gesture and we
Trump demanded top-secret security clearance for Kushner
US President Donald Trump commanded his then-Chief of Staff John Kelly to grant his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a top-secret security clearance, despite intelligence concerns, informed sources told The New York Times.
Civilian injured in Uri shelling
A civilian was injured in overnight shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector, police sources said.
UN Security Council rejects US, Russian resolutions on Venezuela
The UN Security Council has failed to adopt two competing draft resolutions on Venezuela, sponsored by the US and Russia respectively.
Sushma Swaraj reaches Abu Dhabi to address OIC conclave
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday reached Abu Dhabi to attend a conclave of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a Guest of Honour."Recognising India's engagement with the Islamic world. EAM SushmaSwaraj arrives in Abu Dhabi for the Ministerial Meeting of India has been invited by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of UAE as the 'Guest of Honour'," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.Swaraj will address the plenary of the two-day 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the 57-member body. She has been invited by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to address the OIC meeting.Swaraj, who will be attending as a 'Guest of Honour' despite Pakistan's objections, will underscore India's long and historical relationship with the OIC member countries, sources said on Thursday.India considers its bilateral ties with the UAE as vital, the sources said.Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has ...
US working hard to reduce tension between India, Pakistan: Pompeo
United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Thursday said Washington is "working hard" to reduce the tension between New Delhi and Islamabad so that the process of talks could begin.Talking with travelling press, Pompeo said: "We were and continue to be very engaged with the issue between India and Pakistan. I spent a good deal of time on the phone last night talking to leaders in both countries, making sure there was good information exchanged, encouraging each country to not take any action that would escalate and create increased risk.""I had good conversations, and I am hopeful that we can take down the tension there, at least for the time being, so they can begin to have conversations that don't portend risk of escalation to either of the two countries. So we're working hard on that," he added.Pompeo made these remarks during his two-day visit to the Philippines.This comes a day after Pompeo called India and Pakistan and asked them to observe restraint.National Security
Russia, China veto US push for fresh election in Venezuela
Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a United States resolution in the United Nations Security Council to call for a fresh election in Venezuela and unhindered aid access.In a 15-member council, the US draft gathered a minimum of nine votes with South Africa voted against it. It had forced Russia and China to use their veto power, reports Euro news. In addition to that Indonesia, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast had abstained."We are seriously concerned about the fact that today's meeting may be exploited as a step for preparations of a real, not humanitarian, intervention ... as a result of the alleged inability of the Security Council to resolve the situation in Venezuela," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said.The United States and Russia have been blaming each other for the worsening political and economic situation in Venezuela. While Washington openly supported self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, Moscow and Beijing are more inclined toward President Nicolas ...
Syria to announce 'complete victory' over ISIL, says SDF chief
Syria will announce "a complete victory" over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terror group in a week, said Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander in Chief Mazloum Kobani."We will announce after a week a complete victory over Daesh (ISIL)," Aljazeera quoted Kobani as saying.Kobani made the remark while meeting 24 Kurdish leaders who recently after they were held by ISIL.Meanwhile, while speaking to troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, United States President Donald Trump said: " US-backed forces in Syria have retaken 100 per cent of the territory once held by Caliphate and ISIL."The Islamic State (ISIS) has been reduced to just 700 square metres in Syria, as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a major offensive last week to eliminate the terror outfit from the war-torn country, a top commander overseeing the operations said on Saturday.Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011. The grim situation was further aggravated with the ...
Bangladesh tells UN it will no longer take in Myanmar refugees
Bangladesh told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it will no longer be able to take in refugees from Myanmar. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a council meeting that the crisis over the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had gone from "bad to worse" and urged the council to take "decisive" action. Around 740,000 Muslim Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Myanmar's northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. "Here, I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar," said Haque. Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return. "Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a ...
US offers reward for Osama's son Hamza
The US is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information about the son of the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, Hamza.