Skip to main content

India says border peace critical to ties with China amid reports of military tensions

India's foreign ministry said peace along its disputed border with China is critical to ties between the Asian neighbours, amid reports of renewed military tensions between the two countries' troops in a remote corner of the Himalayas. New Delhi's comment is its second in less than a week and comes as the Asian giants, who share a long and disputed frontier, mend ties following deadly clashes in 2020. It also comes ahead of a BRICS summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. "In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious," Indian foreign ministry ⁠spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday at a regular media briefing. "We have also stated that the state of...

Chinese national killed in Afghanistan, ISIS claims responsibility

A Chinese mine worker was killed in a targeted attack in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, with the Islamic State (ISIS) claiming responsibility for the assault. The attack occurred in Takhar province, near the Tajikistan border, when the victim was traveling with a translator. Provincial police spokesman Mohammad Akbar Haqqani confirmed that the worker was shot dead by “unknown armed men.” The translator, who was accompanying the victim, was unharmed. The Chinese national, who was involved in a mining project in Afghanistan, was reportedly traveling without notifying local security authorities, which is a standard procedure for foreign nationals in the country. Police said the purpose of the trip remains unclear. ISIS’s regional affiliate later claimed responsibility for the killing. According to jihadist monitor SITE, the group issued a statement asserting that its fighters targeted a vehicle carrying a "communist Chinese" in Takhar. The attack follows a pattern of violence carried out by ISIS in Afghanistan, with the group maintaining an active presence in the region, especially since 2022. The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior confirmed the details of the killing, stating that the victim was a business owner involved in a contract for mining in the country although the Chinese Embassy in Kabul has not yet commented on the incident. The attack raises concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in Afghanistan, especially amid the Taliban’s efforts to attract foreign investment, particularly from China, to tap into the country’s rich, largely untapped natural resources. These resources, including vast mineral deposits, have been highlighted by the Taliban as key to Afghanistan's economic recovery. On Tuesday, Afghan and Chinese officials marked 70 years of diplomatic ties in Kabul. During the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai assured Chinese business representatives that Afghanistan was now a peaceful and secure destination for investment, despite ongoing security challenges in certain regions. While the Taliban claims that security has drastically improved since their takeover in 2021, attacks by ISIS on civilians, security forces, and foreigners continue to occur. In 2022, at least five Chinese nationals were wounded in an ISIS attack on a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese business people.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/YXbCeEc

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...