India vice-captain Virender Sehwag will miss the World Twenty20 Championships for the second time in a row with a shoulder injury.
“Virender Sehwag has sustained a shoulder injury and has been advised rest for three to four weeks. He has therefore been ruled out of the ICC World T20,” the Indian cricket board said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sehwag will be replaced in the 15-man squad by Tamil Nadu batsman Murali Vijay, while Gautam Gambhir will take over as vice-captain to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“The ICC’s technical committee has permitted a replacement for him. The all-India senior selection committee has accordingly picked Murali Vijay,” the release added.
Incidentally, Sehwag had been injured in the 2009 edition of the T20 Worlds as well when he travelled to England with the squad but did not play a game.
The third edition of the 12-nation tournament will be played in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16.
India, drawn in Group C, meet Afghanistan in their opening match at St. Lucia on May 1, before playing South Africa the next day.
Showing posts with label Afghanistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afghanistan. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
India playing a stellar role in rebuilding Afghanistan: Krishna
Refuting reports that it has been “squeezed out” of Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna has said India was playing a “stellar role” in rebuilding the war-torn country which was acknowledged by the people and the legitimate government there.
He also said India has taken note of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s statement that it was a friend and Pakistan a conjoined twin.
“I do not think that India has been squeezed out. I think India is playing a stellar role in rebuilding Afghanistan which has been acknowledged by the people of Afghanistan and by the legitimate Government of Afghanistan, and that is what matters,” Krishna said in an interview to Karan Thapar for Devil’s Advocate.
He was asked about the media reports that whilst Pakistan’s influence was growing, India was either left out of the loop or is being squeezed out.
On Mr. Karzai’s statement, the minister said “In President Karzai’s assessment, I think that is the scheme of things.”
“We take note of that”, was his reply when asked if it worried India.
About attacks on Indians, Mr. Krishna noted that those who have gone there on humanitarian purposes are unarmed which makes them “easy and soft targets” but he said Afghanistan government has assured that they will be able to protect the Indian personnel who have gone there on call of duty.
He said “apart from what the Afghanistan government is doing, India will have to take some additional measures ourselves.”
The Minister also rejected the reports that the US Administration was trying to minimise India’s presence in Afghanistan.
“We have in our interactions with the US Administration at various levels not got the impression that the United States is trying to convey directly or indirectly to the Indian Government that our presence in Afghanistan should be minimised. That is not my impression,” he said.
He also said India has taken note of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s statement that it was a friend and Pakistan a conjoined twin.
“I do not think that India has been squeezed out. I think India is playing a stellar role in rebuilding Afghanistan which has been acknowledged by the people of Afghanistan and by the legitimate Government of Afghanistan, and that is what matters,” Krishna said in an interview to Karan Thapar for Devil’s Advocate.
He was asked about the media reports that whilst Pakistan’s influence was growing, India was either left out of the loop or is being squeezed out.
On Mr. Karzai’s statement, the minister said “In President Karzai’s assessment, I think that is the scheme of things.”
“We take note of that”, was his reply when asked if it worried India.
About attacks on Indians, Mr. Krishna noted that those who have gone there on humanitarian purposes are unarmed which makes them “easy and soft targets” but he said Afghanistan government has assured that they will be able to protect the Indian personnel who have gone there on call of duty.
He said “apart from what the Afghanistan government is doing, India will have to take some additional measures ourselves.”
The Minister also rejected the reports that the US Administration was trying to minimise India’s presence in Afghanistan.
“We have in our interactions with the US Administration at various levels not got the impression that the United States is trying to convey directly or indirectly to the Indian Government that our presence in Afghanistan should be minimised. That is not my impression,” he said.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Angelina opens school for girls in Afghanistan
Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has helped open a primary school for girls in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
The Changeling star, who is also the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, had donated USD 75,000 toward the school’s construction in Tangi when she had visited the place in 2008, reported TMZ.
Admissions are going on in the school, which has a capacity of 800 girls divided in two shifts. Classes are slated to start coming Monday.
The building has eight classrooms, four administrative buildings, a well and eight latrines, according to UNHCR website.
“This is what we needed here and I believe there is a need for every community if we want to build the future of our country to build schools and get education,” a former teacher said about the actress’ contribution.
The Changeling star, who is also the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, had donated USD 75,000 toward the school’s construction in Tangi when she had visited the place in 2008, reported TMZ.
Admissions are going on in the school, which has a capacity of 800 girls divided in two shifts. Classes are slated to start coming Monday.
The building has eight classrooms, four administrative buildings, a well and eight latrines, according to UNHCR website.
“This is what we needed here and I believe there is a need for every community if we want to build the future of our country to build schools and get education,” a former teacher said about the actress’ contribution.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Air India security beefed up in Kabul
With Indians and assets in Afghanistan coming under constant attack from Taliban and Al Qaeda, Air India has beefed up security in flights to and from Kabul following information that it was a “sitting duck” for terror groups.
While the airline officials declined to speak on the issue, sources in the national carrier said that a two-tier security mechanism has been put in place which carries out extensive check of all the baggages loaded into the aircraft.
The flag carrier, which is one of the few international airlines that operates to Kabul, six times a week with virtually full load, has been spotted as by international and Indian agencies a “sitting duck” for terror groups like Taliban, Al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Finding that screening continued to be “lax”, intelligence agencies have told Indian authorities that extra steps needed to be taken for ensuring safety of passengers as terror groups were planning either to hijack its aircraft or smuggle some explosives in the luggage, if the screening continued to be lax.
The screening of the baggage is being done by a local Afghan agency and now Air India has included another tier of security, where their security staffs carry out screening of the luggage of all the passengers, the sources said.
A report emanating from the war-ravaged country shows terror groups were attempting to penetrate into the ground handling agency of Air India, an information which has been shared with the Afghan Civil Aviation Authorities as well.
The Air India aircraft also carry air marshals on board and have a special contingent for the security of the plane while on tarmac at the Kabul International airport.
Air India has the distinction of carrying all the United Nations staff to Kabul. Besides the Indian carrier, Pakistan International Airlines and a private afghan airline operate from the Kabul International Airport.
Seven Indians, including three major-rank Army officers, were killed when Taliban suicide bombers carried out a string of attacks in the heart of Kabul on February 26, in yet another incident targeting Indian interests in Afghanistan.
The Indian assets in Afghanistan have been a constant cause of worry and efforts were set afoot to provide security to its nationals prompting the government to rework the security plan for its citizens working there.
The government has already augmented presence of security personnel by pooling in 40 additional ITBP commandos to secure its people and installations in the war-hit country.
They will be deployed in the Indian missions, a few others would be stationed in guest houses frequently used by Indians involved in development work.
About 4,000 Indians are engaged in reconstruction projects in health, power, roads and social sector across Afghanistan under the $1.3 billion assistance programme.
India has already halted operations of its medical mission in Kabul because of lack of adequate personnel as one of its 11 members was killed and four others injured.
While the airline officials declined to speak on the issue, sources in the national carrier said that a two-tier security mechanism has been put in place which carries out extensive check of all the baggages loaded into the aircraft.
The flag carrier, which is one of the few international airlines that operates to Kabul, six times a week with virtually full load, has been spotted as by international and Indian agencies a “sitting duck” for terror groups like Taliban, Al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Finding that screening continued to be “lax”, intelligence agencies have told Indian authorities that extra steps needed to be taken for ensuring safety of passengers as terror groups were planning either to hijack its aircraft or smuggle some explosives in the luggage, if the screening continued to be lax.
The screening of the baggage is being done by a local Afghan agency and now Air India has included another tier of security, where their security staffs carry out screening of the luggage of all the passengers, the sources said.
A report emanating from the war-ravaged country shows terror groups were attempting to penetrate into the ground handling agency of Air India, an information which has been shared with the Afghan Civil Aviation Authorities as well.
The Air India aircraft also carry air marshals on board and have a special contingent for the security of the plane while on tarmac at the Kabul International airport.
Air India has the distinction of carrying all the United Nations staff to Kabul. Besides the Indian carrier, Pakistan International Airlines and a private afghan airline operate from the Kabul International Airport.
Seven Indians, including three major-rank Army officers, were killed when Taliban suicide bombers carried out a string of attacks in the heart of Kabul on February 26, in yet another incident targeting Indian interests in Afghanistan.
The Indian assets in Afghanistan have been a constant cause of worry and efforts were set afoot to provide security to its nationals prompting the government to rework the security plan for its citizens working there.
The government has already augmented presence of security personnel by pooling in 40 additional ITBP commandos to secure its people and installations in the war-hit country.
They will be deployed in the Indian missions, a few others would be stationed in guest houses frequently used by Indians involved in development work.
About 4,000 Indians are engaged in reconstruction projects in health, power, roads and social sector across Afghanistan under the $1.3 billion assistance programme.
India has already halted operations of its medical mission in Kabul because of lack of adequate personnel as one of its 11 members was killed and four others injured.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Four Indians among 15 dead as Taliban bombers attack Kabul
Suicide bombers attacked in the heart of Kabul on Friday, triggering a series of explosions and gunbattles that killed at least 17 people in an area that’s home to small residential hotels used by foreigners, police and witnesses said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying five suicide bombers conducted the early morning attacks on two buildings used by foreign citizens, while police said the attackers numbered at least three. Police said Indians were among those killed.
Dr. Surbod Sanjiv Paul of India stayed holed up in his bathroom for three hours inside one of the guest houses when it came under attack.
“When I was coming out, I found two or three dead bodies,” Paul said later at a military hospital, where his wounded foot was bandaged. “When firing was going on, the first car bomb exploded and the full roof came on my head.”
The attacks in Kabul came as thousands of U.S., Afghan and NATO soldiers were in their second week of a major offensive against a Taliban stronghold in the town of Marjah in Helmand province. In recent weeks, more than two dozen senior Taliban figures have been detained in Pakistan in recent weeks, suggesting that the attack in the capital could be a way for the militants to show that the insurgency remains potent.
At least 17 people were killed in Friday’s attack and 32 wounded, said Abdul Ghafar Sayedzada, head of criminal investigation for the Kabul police. He said three of the dead were police officers and most of the civilians who were killed were Indians.
The targets were two residential hotels. A car bomb flattened the Hamid Guesthouse and assailants also attacked the nearby Park Residence, Sayedzada said. An Associated Press reporter saw police carry seven bodies from the Park Residence.
“I saw foreigners were crying and shouting,” said Najibullah, a 25-year-old hotel worker who ran out into the rain-slickened street when he heard the first explosion.
Najibullah, whose face and hands were covered in blood, said he saw two suicide bombers at the site. “It was a very bad situation inside,” he said. “God helped me, otherwise I would be dead. I saw one suicide bomber blowing himself up.
The explosions woke up residents near the Kabul City Center, a nine-story shopping area that includes the four-star Safi Landmark Hotel. Witnesses said one explosion created a crater about 3 feet (1 meter) wide and that windows of the nearby Safi hotel were blown out.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying five suicide bombers conducted the early morning attacks on two buildings used by foreign citizens, while police said the attackers numbered at least three. Police said Indians were among those killed.
Dr. Surbod Sanjiv Paul of India stayed holed up in his bathroom for three hours inside one of the guest houses when it came under attack.
“When I was coming out, I found two or three dead bodies,” Paul said later at a military hospital, where his wounded foot was bandaged. “When firing was going on, the first car bomb exploded and the full roof came on my head.”
The attacks in Kabul came as thousands of U.S., Afghan and NATO soldiers were in their second week of a major offensive against a Taliban stronghold in the town of Marjah in Helmand province. In recent weeks, more than two dozen senior Taliban figures have been detained in Pakistan in recent weeks, suggesting that the attack in the capital could be a way for the militants to show that the insurgency remains potent.
At least 17 people were killed in Friday’s attack and 32 wounded, said Abdul Ghafar Sayedzada, head of criminal investigation for the Kabul police. He said three of the dead were police officers and most of the civilians who were killed were Indians.
The targets were two residential hotels. A car bomb flattened the Hamid Guesthouse and assailants also attacked the nearby Park Residence, Sayedzada said. An Associated Press reporter saw police carry seven bodies from the Park Residence.
“I saw foreigners were crying and shouting,” said Najibullah, a 25-year-old hotel worker who ran out into the rain-slickened street when he heard the first explosion.
Najibullah, whose face and hands were covered in blood, said he saw two suicide bombers at the site. “It was a very bad situation inside,” he said. “God helped me, otherwise I would be dead. I saw one suicide bomber blowing himself up.
The explosions woke up residents near the Kabul City Center, a nine-story shopping area that includes the four-star Safi Landmark Hotel. Witnesses said one explosion created a crater about 3 feet (1 meter) wide and that windows of the nearby Safi hotel were blown out.
Monday, February 22, 2010
'Pak should take effective action against anti-India groups'
Ahead of the Indo-Pak talks this week, India made it clear that process of normalisation of ties with Pakistan can be sustained only by "effective action" against groups there calling for jihad against India.
"...calls of jihad, hostility and aggression continue to be made openly against India. This reflects the real and tangible difficulties that we face in dealing with Pakistan," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, delivering the key note address at the 3rd International Institute of Strategic Studies-MEA Dialogue here on Monday.
She also emphasised that "effective action against such groups" by Pakistan is an "absolute must" if the process of normalisation that India desires with Pakistan was to happen.
Referring to the talks in New Delhi on Thursday with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, Ms. Rao said India is making "another sincere attempt" to initiate dialogue with Pakistan.
"We hope we can build, in a graduated manner, better communication and a serious and responsive dialogue to address issues of concern between our two countries," she said.
Describing terrorism as the pivotal security challenge for India, Ms. Rao said terror groups implacably opposed to India continue to recruit, train and plot attacks "from safe havens across our borders."
Terming Pakistan's steps against terrorism as "selective," Ms. Rao demanded that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror strikes are brought to justice expeditiously and act decisively to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its territory.
"Under pressure and faced with the threat of terrorism in its own country, Pakistan has initiated some steps to fight this scourge. But these steps are selective," the Foreign Secretary said, adding that distinctions between Taliban, Al Qaeda and terrorist outfits such as LeT were now meaningless.
"...they are now in effect fused both operationally and ideologically. We have consistently maintained that Pakistan should bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice and in a transparent manner," she said.
Ms. Rao also noted that terror groups implacably opposed to India continue to recruit, train and plot attacks from "safe havens across our borders."
"The greatest threat to peace and stability in our region emanates from the shelter terrorists find in the border of Afghanistan-Pakistan and in Pakistan itself," she said.
To a question on what she expected from the talks, Ms. Rao said: "I think, I should leave any comment, till after the meeting."
Asked whether Kashmir would figure at the talks, she said "the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is something we must discuss bi-laterally and resolve peacefully. But at the talks our core concern is terrorism and it is essential to focus on it. We will move in a manner, slow and deliberately."
On Afghanistan
On Afghanistan, Ms. Rao said India's focus is on development activity with the aim to build indigenous Afghan capacities and institutions.
"This will enable an effective State system to improve the delivery of goods and services to Afghan people. Our assistance, now over US$ 1.3 billion, is spread over a large number of provinces in Afghanistan," she said.
To a question on clandestine activities in the neighbourhood in respect of "nuclear terrorism", Ms. Rao said India would tackle it through the U.N. process.
"India has initiated on the issue in cooperation with Russia. The matter has been moved to the US and US President Barack Obama is expected to endorse the initiative this year," she said.
On China
She said there is both competition and collaboration in the dynamic equilibrium of India's relationship with Beijing.
Key elements in the India-China relationship like imbalances in bilateral trade, the unresolved boundary question, our dialogue on water resources with regard to the trans-border rivers like the Brahmaputra and the Sutlej point to the complex and evolving nature of our dialogue, she said.
"In our own region, which remains geo-politically unstable, China has an enduring strategic relationship with Pakistan, and a growing presence in other neighbouring countries.
Ms. Rao said: "We are conscious of these leverages that China has developed in our region and realize fully that our relations with China cannot be uni-dimensional, or seen through a narrow prism."
Sri Lanka
Ms. Rao said India's political relations are close, trade and investment have increased exponentially, and there is broad-based engagement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation.
"We view the conclusion of the military operations against the LTTE as providing an opportunity to finally achieve a lasting political settlement acceptable to all communities, including the Tamils, within a united Sri Lanka," she said.
Bangladesh
"India's relations with Bangladesh have acquired further substance and scope in recent months, particularly after the very successful visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January this year," Ms. Rao said.
"Our security related cooperation has developed positively as also our cooperation in infrastructural development in Bangladesh, for which we have announced a USD 1 billion concessional Line of Credit," she said.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Bomb kills US service member in Afghanistan
A bomb killed a U.S. service member on Monday in southern Afghanistan, NATO said.
The American death toll has risen as fighting escalates with an influx of 37,000 additional U.S. and NATO forces being sent to Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s war strategy.
At least 29 U.S. troops died in January, more than double the 14 deaths recorded in the same month last year. That made it the deadliest month since November, when 30 died.
The statement announcing Monday’s attack gave no further details, but fierce fighting has taken place in the south, which is expected to be a major focus of the troop surge.
NATO and Afghan forces also killed seven militants in a gun-battle on Sunday in the south of the country, according to the Afghan army.
The troops were on patrol in Helmand province when they came under attack and returned fire, said Gen. Sher Mohammad Zazi, the army commander for southern Afghanistan. He said no government or international troops were wounded, and the bodies of seven militants were recovered after the battle. NATO forces did not immediately comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, two would-be suicide bombers targeted a police station on Monday in southern Zabul province, but were driven back before they could set off their explosives.
Officers opened fire on the two attackers as they approached the police headquarters in Qalat city, killing one, said deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Jalanai Farahi. One officer was wounded in the firefight.
The second attacker escaped during the fighting and security forces were searching for him, Mr. Farahi said.
The American death toll has risen as fighting escalates with an influx of 37,000 additional U.S. and NATO forces being sent to Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s war strategy.
At least 29 U.S. troops died in January, more than double the 14 deaths recorded in the same month last year. That made it the deadliest month since November, when 30 died.
The statement announcing Monday’s attack gave no further details, but fierce fighting has taken place in the south, which is expected to be a major focus of the troop surge.
NATO and Afghan forces also killed seven militants in a gun-battle on Sunday in the south of the country, according to the Afghan army.
The troops were on patrol in Helmand province when they came under attack and returned fire, said Gen. Sher Mohammad Zazi, the army commander for southern Afghanistan. He said no government or international troops were wounded, and the bodies of seven militants were recovered after the battle. NATO forces did not immediately comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, two would-be suicide bombers targeted a police station on Monday in southern Zabul province, but were driven back before they could set off their explosives.
Officers opened fire on the two attackers as they approached the police headquarters in Qalat city, killing one, said deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Jalanai Farahi. One officer was wounded in the firefight.
The second attacker escaped during the fighting and security forces were searching for him, Mr. Farahi said.
