Page 1469 - Politics
China urges India, Pakistan to ease tension through talks
China on Thursday urged India and Pakistan to resolve their problems through dialogue in the wake of escalating tensions between them.
J&K political parties welcome IAF pilot's release tomorrow
Mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir Thursday welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by the neighbouring country after his MiG 21 went down, will be released on Friday. "The decision to hand over Wing Commander Abhinandan is a great gesture & shouldnt be seen in isolation. It also comes at a time when Pak could've chosen to further escalate an already tensed situation. I see it as a mark of reconciliation. Our leadership should reciprocate," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote on her Twitter handle. The former chief minister said the Pakistan prime minister exhibited "real statesmanship". "It is time for our political leadership to step up & take measures to de escalate the current situation. People of J&K are living under unimaginable duress. How much longer will we suffer for?" she added. National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also expressed happiness over the ...
'I told you so!': No deal summit no surprise to N. Korean defectors
The abrupt end to the summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un came as no surprise to North Korean defectors in the south, with one saying simply: "I told you so!" The defectors, who now live in Seoul, chatted and laughed at the office of North Korea Free Radio as they awaited news from the US president and the leader of their former homeland. But they quickly fell silent as it became clear the talks were deadlocked. Cha Ri-hyuk, 33, told AFP at the radio station -- which is staffed by defectors and broadcasts into North Korea -- that he was not shocked by the no deal outcome. "I knew that Kim Jong Un would never give up the nukes. If the two countries were to make an agreement, I think they would have done it in Singapore last year," added Cha, who left North Korea in 2013. Jo Young-hwa, aged 39, who defected a year earlier, said his countrymen "don't care" about the summits. "Whenever I talk to them in the North, they are not interested. They don't bother trying to learn anything
Japan's Abe backs Trump after Kim summit ends with no deal
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe backed Donald Trump Thursday after the US president's talks with North Korea's leader ended without a deal. Tokyo has regarded the US-led diplomatic push with Pyongyang with suspicion, and has sought to keep its interests on the table in the discussions by coordinating closely with its ally Washington. "Japan fully supports President Trump's decision to make no easy compromise and at the same time continue productive discussions, and urge North Korea to take concrete action," Abe told reporters after a phone call with the US president. Trump and Abe spoke as the US president headed back to Washington after a summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un that ended abruptly, with plans for a joint statement scrapped. Trump told reporters after two days of talks with the North Korean leader: "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times." A key issue for Japan is the fate of several of its citizens kidnapped by North Korean agents, which Abe .
Imran Khan says ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism
Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday, maintaining that dialogue is the "only way" for peace and stability in the region. Chairing a Cabinet meeting, Khan briefed the members about the latest developments in the Indo-Pak relations following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and subsequent aerial engagement by the two countries' fighter jets. "Dialogue is the only way for peace and stability in the region," Khan said. "I had made an offer to India to investigate the Pulwama attack and hold dialogue on bilateral issues. "Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including terrorism," Geo news quoted Khan as telling Cabinet members. India on Thursday told Pakistan that it has to take concrete steps against the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group before they could engage in talks. A 12-point agenda, including the current security situation, was discussed during the meeting and the ministers of
Pak to release IAF pilot after India says there will be no deal to secure his freedom
Pakistan announced Thursday that it will free captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a peace gesture, hours after a strong message from India demanding his unconditional release, largely de-escalating tensions between the two neighbours. Prime Minister Imran Khan's surprise announcement to a joint session of Parliament, that Varthaman will be released Friday, was greeted by loud thumping of desks by the lawmakers. Earlier, his foreign minister said Khan was also willing to talk to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone to talk peace. However, India appears in no mood to have talks with Pakistan, saying it first wants action from Islamabad on combatting terrorism. New Delhi had also made it clear that Varthaman cannot be a bargaining chip while demanding his unconditional and immediate repatriation. Though India has secured what it wanted, there was no immediate reaction from the Indian government on the development. "In our desire for peace, I announce ...
J&K CPI(M) leader urge India, Pak to end standoff
Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Thursday urged governments of India and Pakistan to immediately take steps to end the standoff through de-escalation. "We urge both the governments to immediately take steps to end this dangerous standoff by going for de-escalation, which is in the best interests of the people of both the countries, especially those who live in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," Tarigami said. "War-mongering and jingoism need to be put an end in both the countries. Yesterday's events revealed that conflict and war brings a terrible human toll," he said. Tarigami said war was never a solution, but diplomatic engagement is. The billions of people living in the subcontinent cannot be put in peril due to the looming conflict, the Left leader said. In both the countries, governments, political leaders, media and the civil society must act with caution and responsibility, Tarigami said, adding that diplomatic engagement seemed the only way out in the current crisis.
Pakistan to free captured Indian pilot (Third Lead)
In what is being seen as a diplomatic victory for India, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday that the captured IAF pilot will be freed on Friday after New Delhi sought his unconditional, immediate and unharmed release.
Digital archive on show in Berlin hopes to help rebuild Syria
After eight years of brutal war in Syria, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Aleppo lies in ruins -- but a vast digital archive in Germany aims to keep its memory alive and help rebuild it one day. The Syrian Heritage Archive Project documents what it can of the millennia-old history of a part of the world that saw some humanity's earliest urban centres and writing systems, but which has become a symbol of the barbarity of war. The special exhibition opening in Berlin on Thursday features a digital treasure trove of photographs, maps and films as well as artefacts to take visitors on a virtual journey through Aleppo and other cultural marvels of Syria. "This project aims to preserve the past and also has a vision for the future: to gather archives so that reconstruction can happen quickly," said Stefan Weber, director of Berlin's Museum of Islamic Art, which is hosting the exhibition until May 26. "For over 100 years, our museum has had a special connection with Syria," said ...
We've better chances during LS poll in Telangana: BJP leader
: Disagreeing to the view that BJP had not done well the December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana where the party had won only one seat, a leader of the party Thursday said it has better chances to do well in the state in Lok Sabha elections. The BJP had contested the Assembly elections on its own and the percentage of votes it got had gone up, the party-in charge for Lok Sabha elections in Telangana Arvind Limbavali told PTI here. "I will not agree to the argument (that the BJP did not do well in the Assembly polls. Our party had put up a good performance. First time, we came out of the coalition era and we contested all the constituencies of the state," he said. "Also, the first time our workers went to the voters seeking votes for the BJP symbol," he said. "The forthcoming general elections, the second time we are going to seek votes from the people of Telangana (without alliance). We are confident to contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies. Definitely, we ..
Libya rivals agree to hold polls: UN
The head of Libya's internationally recognised government and a military strongman who backs a rival administration in the country's east have met and agreed to hold elections, the United Nations said Thursday. Unity government leader Fayez al-Sarraj met Khalifa Haftar on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, where they agreed "on the need to end the transitional phase through general elections and on ways to preserve the stability of #Libya and unify its institutions," the UN's Libya mission UNSMIL tweeted. Libya has been torn between rival administrations and a myriad of militias since the NATO-backed overthrow and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Chief among them are Sarraj's Government of National Accord, based in Tripoli, and an administration based in the east and backed by Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army. The leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May 2018 to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions in
China says N. Korean nuclear issue can't be solved 'overnight'
Beijing expressed hope Thursday that the US and North Korea will keep talking, saying the nuclear issue will not be solved "overnight", after a much-anticipated summit in Hanoi ended without a deal. China is Pyongyang's sole major ally and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travelled across the neighbouring country by train to his second meeting with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule Thursday without any joint announcements. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he had yet to hear what Trump or the North Korean leader had to say about the meeting. "But I have always hoped that everyone can realise that the nuclear problem on the Korean peninsula has been going on for many years, and that solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight," Lu said at a regular press briefing. "It is not a very easy process, otherwise it would not have dragged on until today," Lu said. Lu reiterated Beijing's call for Washington and Pyongyang ..
IAF pilot to be released Friday as peace gesture: Pak PM; pilot cannot be a bargaining chip, say Indian govt sources
Pakistan will set free captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Friday as a peace gesture, its Premier Imran Khan announced Thursday, a move that came just hours after his foreign minister said the Pakistani leader is ready for telephonic talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions. The surprise announcement also came on the heels of India sending a strong message to Pakistan rejecting the possibility of any deal for securing the release of the pilot and demanding his unconditional and immediate repatriation. Indian government sources also emphatically said the pilot cannot be a bargaining chip. "In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow (Friday), and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody," Khan said. The announcement during a joint session of Parliament was greeted by thumping of desks by lawmakers. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who had earlier in
AIADMK government schemes not visible to Stalin: Palaniswami
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday said the AIADMK government is implementing various schemes for the people but those are not visible to DMK President M.K. Stalin.
PAF's F-16 had fired 'beyond visual range missile'
India has conclusive evidence that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16s were involved in the aerial engagement on the LoC on Wednesday as parts of AIM-120 AM-RAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) were found on the Indian side.
Indian pilot to be freed Friday as 'peace gesture', says Imran
The captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot will be freed on Friday "as a peace gesture", Pakistan Prime Minister announced on Thursday, hours after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Imran Khan was ready to talk to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to de-escalate tensions between the two neighbours.
Clear and specific threat to Punjab from Pakistan, militancy spillover from Kashmir: Amarinder (IANS Interview)
Even as a minister in his cabinet continues a pro-Pakistan rant, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has spoken his mind out about the "conspiracies" being hatched by Pakistan, especially its Army and the ISI, to revive terrorism in Punjab.
Why did Maratha community not agitate for quota in the past: HC
The Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government Thursday what prompted the Maratha community to agitate for reservation only in the recent past. A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre was hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the state government's decision to grant 16 per cent reservation to the community in government jobs and educational institutions. The demand for Maratha reservation was not raised after the Mandal commission submitted its report in 1980 or when the state backward classes commissions submitted their reports, the court said. "What was the sudden change in scenario in the recent past that prompted the state government to seek data on the condition of the Maratha community?" Justice Dangre asked. "After the Mandal commission report, there was no violence or agitation by the community demanding reservation. What happened suddenly that prompted such protests?" she asked. The state government's lawyer V A Thorat said the community was ...
Unite and defeat Pak's sinister designs: JKNPP chief to political parties
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Thursday urged all political parties to unite and back the government and armed forces to defeat Pakistan's "sinister designs". "It is the time to display unity to defeat the sinister designs of the enemies of the nation, particularly Pakistan," said JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh. "We urge upon the entire political class in the country to come together and back the government and armed forces in the present situation," he added. The former J&K minister said Pakistan could not defeat India in direct conflicts but was able to take advantage of its fractitious polity at a time when elections in the country were round the corner. "At the same time, the govt should also refrain from drawing any political mileage out of the situation," he added. Crediting the successful counter-terror operations mostly to the IAF and military brass, he said all political parties would earn peoples' goodwill if they demonstrate that despite their ...
Dozen journalists arrested at Algiers censorship protest
Algerian police arrested a dozen journalists participating in a rally Thursday against alleged censorship of coverage of protests against a fifth term for veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, an AFP correspondent reported. Around 100 print and broadcast journalists, working for both state-owned and private outlets, joined the demonstration in central Algiers against reporting restrictions they say have been imposed by media bosses on the protests that broke out last Friday. "Free our colleagues," the remaining demonstrators shouted as those arrested were driven off in the back of police vans. "Fourth estate, not a press that follows orders." Algeria has been hit by a wave of protests over the ailing Bouteflika's announcement he will seek a fifth term in an April 18 election despite using a wheelchair and making few public appearance since suffering a stroke in 2013. Tens of thousands took part in the first protests last Friday, and there have further demonstrations daily since, ...