JALALABAD: The killing of the Islamic State group’s leader in Afghanistan and Pakistan has dealt a major blow to the jihadists, but despite a US-backed scorched earth offensive the regional franchise is far from over, observers said Saturday. Hafiz Saeed was killed in a US airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province last month, the Pentagon announced […]
Region
Ghani unfit for Afghan presidency, says Abdullah
KABUL: Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah has castigated President Ashraf Ghani as unfit for the presidency, in a public outburst highlighting bitter internal divisions that threaten their power-sharing agreement. Abdullah’s comments come ahead of a September deadline for the government to honour the fragile agreement signed after the fraud-tainted presidential election in 2014, which […]
Afghan Taliban close in on Helmand capital
KANDAHAR: Afghanistan rushed military reinforcements to Helmand as Taliban closed in on the besieged capital of the southern province, with fighting intensifying in outlying districts, officials said Wednesday. Pitched battles were reported late Wednesday in Nawa district, just a few kilometres south of Lashkar Gah city, compounding fears that the provincial capital could fall despite […]
Modi calls for end to Kashmir violence
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tuesday for an end to the violence in Held Kashmir, promising jobs for young people, in his first comments since the deadly clashes began over a month ago. Much of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) has been under a curfew since protests broke out over the murder on July […]
Four more martyred in fresh clashes in IHK; toll rises to 68
SRINAGAR: Four people were killed and hundreds of others were injured in fresh violence in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) after Friday prayers taking death toll due to ruthless aggression of the Indian forces to 68. Despite curfew and other restrictions, thousands of people took to the streets in Srinagar, Badgam, Ganderbal, Pattan, Sopore, Baramulla, Palhallan, Langate, […]
Hurriyet to bestow posthumous Medal of Greatness on Wani
SRINAGAR: The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) has recently decided to honour Burhan Wani, a martyred Kashmiri young man, with Tamga-e-Azeemat— the Medal of Greatness. Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Shah Gilani, announced this medal for the late Wani based on his dedication, sincerity and bravery, and said that it was because of Wani’s efforts that […]
Iran executes 20 terrorists in a day
TEHRAN: Iran has said that it hanged 20 “terrorists” in one of the Islamic republic’s biggest mass executions in recent years. The men, hanged on Tuesday, were accused of carrying out a string of attacks against civilians and religious leaders in Iran’s western Kurdish region, state media reported. Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence earlier issued a […]
Heavy rains, lightning kill 41 in India, 15 in Bangladesh
MUMBAI/BHUBANESWAR: At least nine people were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in heavy rains in a Mumbai suburb on Sunday, state media reported, and officials said 32 people were killed by lightning a day earlier in Odisha. Authorities had already announced a death toll for Saturday of at least 17 people in heavy rains […]
Indian troops kill two more in IHK
SRINAGAR: At least two suspected ‘rebels’ were killed overnight in a gunfight with troops in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) near the Line of Control, the Indian Army said on Saturday, adding that two soldiers were also killed in the incident. Colonel NN Joshi said the firefight occurred in Naugam sector, some 120 kilometres northwest of the […]
Afghan Taliban delegation visits China to discuss unrest: sources
KABUL: A delegation from the Taliban visited China earlier this month to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where the insurgent movement is fighting the Western-backed government in Kabul. A delegation led by Abbas Stanakzai, head of the Taliban´s political office in Qatar, visited Beijing on July 18-22 at the invitation of the Chinese government, a […]