Archive for April, 2019

Doha talks postponed after Taliban objects to presence of Afghan officials

A three day conference between the Taliban and a delegation of Afghan that was to be held in Doha, Qatar has been postponed after the Taliban objected to the presence of Afghan government officials. The Taliban has consistently refused to negotiate with the Afghan government and said the composition of the delegation to Doha indicates that it represents the Afghan […]

Read more ›

UN Security Council condemns Taliban offensive as a blow against ‘sustainable peace’

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the announcement by Taliban militants in Afghanistan of its spring offensive, saying it will result in more “unnecessary suffering and destruction for the Afghan people”.

Read more ›

Suresh Bhat Bakrabail – Terrorism and Failure to call a spade a spade

The Oxford Dictionary (2011) defines terrorism as ‘the unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the attempt to achieve political aims’. However, it is distressing to note that a lead article headlined “The many and different faces of terror” and written by Mr M.K.Narayanan (former National Security Adviser) in The Hindu dated 3 April, 2019, focuses just on […]

Read more ›

‘Down With Terrorism’: Pakistan’s Minority Hazara Protest For Third Day After Attack

Members of Pakistan’s Shi’ite ethnic Hazara minority have held a sit-in protest in the southwestern city of Quetta for a third consecutive day, following a deadly suicide bombing that appeared to target the community.

Read more ›

Taliban Spring Offensive Draws U.S. Ire Amid Peace Efforts

The U.S. and Afghan governments condemned the Taliban’s launch of a new spring offensive in Afghanistan as the world’s biggest military power continues to pursue peace talks with militants in the war-torn country.

Read more ›

Md. Aariz Imam – A Draft Charter of Demands for India’s Muslims

1. Removal of Hindu bias from the constitution evident in Article 1, 25, (a)(b), 48, 341, 343, 351 & in 8 the Schedule, through a constitution amendment bill

Read more ›

Ex-ambassador: Don’t leave Afghanistan without a deal built on national unification

When I led the U.S. team trying to bring peace to Afghanistan, we coined a term — “dirty reconciliation” — for the United States making a deal with the Taliban that protected our minimal security interests, while abandoning both the Afghan government and any attempt to preserve the gains made in Afghan society since 2001. The idea was purely a […]

Read more ›

Taliban announce annual spring offensive in Afghanistan

Taliban fighters mounted a big attack in eastern Afghanistan on Friday heralding the start of a spring offensive despite ongoing preparations for another round of peace talks.

Read more ›

Pakistan Market Bomb Blast Kills at Least 16 People in Quetta

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 16 people were killed when a powerful bomb ripped through a vegetable market in Quetta in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, officials said. At least nine of the dead were Hazaras, a Shiite Muslim minority group that has repeatedly been the target of Sunni extremists.

Read more ›

Tirupathi Factor: Unbreakable Symbol of Sri Lankan politician’s spiritual dependence of India

Man’s association with faith is the most inexplicable thing in the world which gives no clues of comprehending its very nature. Even the most powerful men in world history were known to be shaky and crumbled before the creed they ardently believed. In the annals of Roman history we find emperors like Hadrian who was extremely obsessed with Hellenic culture […]

Read more ›