Elements in Pakistan, Hurriyat fomenting Kashmir trouble: Government
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Elements in Pakistan with the support of the two factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference were fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken said Wednesday.

The minister told the Rajya Sabha that the government was "aware of anti-India elements based in Pakistan provoking the people of Kashmir with the support of certain sections of secessionist groups based in Kashmir on various pretexts to arouse ... Read More

Cameron warns Pakistan against exporting terror to India
Bangalore, July 28 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday warned Pakistan against exporting terrorism to India, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.

“We want to see a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan, but we cannot tolerate in any sense export of terrorism, whether to India, Afghanistan or anywhere in the world,� Cameron said in his address at the Infosys Technologies Ltd campus on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Expressing concern over the reported leakage ... Read More

Sri-Lanka Sinister Symbol at Buddha Gaya
By: Dr C P Thiagarajah

An Indian news reported that a Stupa (a dome) made of empty cartridge shells and remnants of weaponry left behind from Sri Lanka's long civil war had become a major tourist attraction in Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, in India’s Bihar State. This monumental piece of work by Sri-Lankan was donated this February by a military group from Sri Lanka, apparently to spread a message of peace among world citizens.

A Buddhist ... Read More

Tarnishing image of refugees as terrorists is an injustice to humanity
By: SatheesanKumaaran

Tarnishing the image of genuine asylum seekers, with the same brush used to expose terrorists, is just a ploy to reject them, with no consideration of their dire situation as persecuted persons. After spending weeks on the high seas, facing the dangers of such perilous travel on the oceans, in search of protection to try to escape persecution and oppression in their own states, the Tamils flee Sri Lanka. However, the host countries tend ... Read More

Attacks on Christians again in Nepal
Kathmandu, July 28 (IANS) Attacks on Christians have resumed in this country with a mob breaking a 68-year-old Indian Army veteran's ribs for praying in a church in western Nepal, an activist has alleged.

Sher Bahadur Pun, a 68-year-old retired Nepali soldier who had served with the Indian Army, faced his worst fight last month when he and his son, Akka Bahadur Pun, were attacked by a mob during mass in Aulo village in Myagdi district ... Read More

China jails Tibetan fugitives deported by Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar

Kathmandu, July 28 (IANS) Seven years after triggering international condemnation by violating a "gentlemen's agreement" and handing over a group of fleeing Tibetan refugees to China, Nepal has again deported three more fugitives under growing Chinese pressure, a rights organisation said.

Two Tibetan monks from Korchak monastery in Tibet, located close to the border with Nepal, and a woman, who was probably a government official, were sent back in an extraordinary way, involving flying ... Read More

Cultural spotlight is on South Asia: ICCR chief
By Madhusree Chatterjee

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) South Asia is fast emerging as the key focus area of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with four major events taking place in a span of four months since December 2009.

The 33rd SAARC Festival of Literature hosted jointly by the Foundation of SAARC Writers' and Literature and ICCR will begin March 26.

"The SAARC Festival of Literature scheduled March 26-28 has the highest priority in ... Read More

Tata Motors to set up heavy truck plant in Myanmar
Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) Tata Motors Monday signed a turnkey contract with Myanmar Automobile & Diesel Industries Limited, a government enterprise, to set up a heavy truck plant at Magwe, around 480 km from Yangon.

The project has been funded by a line of credit from the Indian government.

The facilities planned at the plant include a flexible chassis and frame assembly line along with a cab manufacturing, painting and trimming setup, a company statement here ... Read More

Iron Lady of Manipur re-arrested for refusing to eat
Imphal, March 11 (IANS) Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, jailed since 2000 for resorting to a hunger strike against alleged rights violations by the security forces in Manipur, was once again arrested by police on charges of attempted suicide. The activist continued her refusal to eat a single morsel of food.

Sharmila, who earned the sobriquet Iron Lady of Manipur and is now in her 10th year of judicial custody, was arrested Wednesday night and was ... Read More

Jihad Jane : Charged with plotting terror in South Asia
By Arun Kumar

Washington, March 10 (IANS) An American woman, nicknamed as "Jihad Jane" and "Fatima LaRose," has been indicted for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists to wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe.

Colleen LaRose, 46, who was arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oct 15, has also been charged with making false statements to a government official and attempted identity theft, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

No arraignment date has been set for LaRose, ... Read More

'Jihad Jane', the woman who plotted terror in South Asia via internet
By Arun Kumar

Washington, March 10 (IANS) A middle-aged American woman, nicknamed "Jihad Jane", has been charged with using e-mail, YouTube videos, phony travel documents and a burning desire to kill "or die trying," to help terrorists in South Asia and Europe.

Colleen LaRose, 46, who also went by the name of "Fatima LaRose," has also been charged with helping to recruit a network for suicide attacks and other terrorist strikes to wage violent jihad, according to ... Read More

11 killed, 68 hurt in Lahore suicide car bombing
Lahore, March 8 (IANS) Eleven people were killed and 68 injured when a bomber rammed a car stuffed with explosives into a building housing an investigative agency in this Pakistani city, the police said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, located in the upmarket residential Model Town neighbourhood, was teeming with employees when the deafening blast shattered it.

"It was a car bomb. The terrorists detonated the explosive-laden vehicle at the main gate," DPA quoted ... Read More

Eight dead, 45 hurt in Lahore blast
Lahore, March 8 (IANS) Eight people were killed and 45 injured Monday when a suicide bomber struck at a building housing an investigative agency in this Pakistani city, police said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, located in the upmarket residential Model Town neighbourhood, was teeming with employees when the massive bombing took place.

"It was a car bombing. The terrorists detonated the explosive-laden vehicle at the main gate of the building," DPA quoted Tariq ... Read More

Germany launches fellowship to boost South Asian culture ties
New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) The South Asian Network of the German government's Goethe-Institut Sunday announced a fully funded fellowship to further boost cultural relations with India and create cultural leaders.

The fellowship, named ARThinkSouthAsia, in its first edition has selected 17 fellows from across the region, the Goethe-Institut said.

The fellowship is designed to help develop skills, knowledge, networks and experience of potential leaders in the cultural sector which includes museums, the visual and ... Read More

Top UN official to visit India, Nepal
United Nations, March 6 (IANS) A top UN official will visit India and Nepal next week to discuss regional and international issues with officials and political parties in both the countries.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe will be in India March 9 to hold discussions with government officials on a range of regional and international issues, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Friday.

Pascoe will travel to Nepal from March 10-12, Nesirky told reporters.

He ... Read More

EU asked to set up larger embassies in India, Pakistan
Brussels, March 6 (IANS) Britain and Sweden have asked the European Union to set up larger diplomatic offices in India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia and Brazil with a view to "deepen and broaden" relationship with these countries.

British foreign secretary David Miliband and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt have sent a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urging the bloc to create "larger and more political" delegations in the capitals of India, Pakistan, China, ... Read More