India, Afghanistan ink pact for visa-free travel by diplomats

NEW DELHI: India and Afghanistan today inked a pact for visa-free travel by their diplomats following Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which they discussed key bilateral and regional issues including security cooperation.

“Sustained engagement with Afghanistan. Chief Executive Abdullah meets the Prime Minister… Promoting stronger diplomatic ties…India and Afghanistan sign agreement on visa free travel for diplomats,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.TOO

It is learnt that during the meeting Abdullah thanked Modi for consistent assistance from India in various spheres including defence and for meeting his country’s developmental needs. India had given three multi-role Mi-35 helicopters to Afghanistan in December for combating terrorism in the war-torn country.

Later, the visiting leader held talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during which they discussed the security situation, Afghan peace process, internal political situation in the strife-ravaged country as also the regional security situation, official sources said.

“The two leaders also discussed the role of international community to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan and to defeat challenge of terrorism,” sources said.

Swaraj informed Abdullah about India’s efforts to expedite implementation of as many as 92 small developmental projects in Afghanistan that are nearing completion. The minister also assured Abdullah of government’s help in facilitating participation of a strong Afghan contingent in the 12th SAF games to be held in Guwahati and Shillong.

The Afghan leader’s visit comes nearly a month after Modi’s trip to Kabul during which he inaugurated the new Afghan Parliament building, constructed with India’s aid.

Abdullah, who arrived here yesterday, is in India primarily to attend a conference on counter-terrorism in Jaipur organised by India Foundation in association with Sardar Patel University of Police Security and Criminal Justice. He will leave for Jaipur tomorrow. (AGENCIES)

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PM’s cash in hand only Rs 4,700, total assets over Rs 1 cr

PM’s cash in hand only Rs 4,700, total assets over Rs 1 cr

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Defamation case: Court allows Jaitley’s plea for DDCA records

Defamation case: Court allows Jaitley’s plea for DDCA records

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Governor summoning PDP-BJP over Govt formation Good:Omar

Governor summoning PDP-BJP over Govt formation Good:Omar

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BJP to consult central leadership before meeting Guv

JAMMU: BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit today said it will hold consultations with central leadership before meeting the Governor to discuss government formation, a day after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti indicated she was “reassessing” whether to continue alliance with it.

BJP’s core group in the state met this morning after Governor N N Vohra asked leaders of the party and PDP to meet him tomorrow to clarify their stand on government formation.

After the meeting, which also discussed Mehbooba’s statement made yesterday, BJP leaders asserted that there was “no concrete” demand or condition from the PDP and their party was committed to the implementation of “Agenda of Alliance”.

“The Governor has called us in the evening (tomorrow) to discuss about the formation of the government.

“Today, we have decided in the core group meeting that our 2-3 members will go to Delhi and discuss the issues with the central leadership,” state BJP President Sat Sharma told reporters here.

“We will meet him (governor) and today’s meeting was regarding our stand on the issue of the formation of government,” Sharma said after the core group met at the residence of the state general secretary Ashok Kaul in Gandhi Nagar here.

(AGENCIES)

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Bajaj Auto unveils new bike ‘V’; price up to Rs 70k likely

Bajaj Auto unveils new bike ‘V’; price up to Rs 70k likely

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Night chill revisits Kashmir, Leh, Kargil freeze at minus 13 C after Chilai-e-Kalan

SRINAGAR : Minimum temperature recorded a drop due to clear sky after snowfall on upper reaches in the Kashmir valley today.
The temperature was above normal barring at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg where it was minus 7.2 degree Celsius.
Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region, which have remained cut off from the Valley since December last year due to closure of Srinagar-Leh national highway, continued to freeze at below minus 13 degree minimum temperature. A Met department spokesman said weather will remain dry in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next six days. However, this could result in drop in the minimum temperature due to open sky despite end of the 40-day-long Chilai-e-Kalan (CeK), harshest period of winter which was followed by 20-day-long Chilai-Khurd and 10-day Chilai Bacha. Sun was out today so are icy cold winds in the Kashmir valley, where people continued to wear warm and woolen cloths besides using electronic gadgets, gas heaters and ?Kangri? and bukharies. Snow continued to elude plains while the upper reaches experienced moderate to heavy snowfall during the past 48 hours. Gulmarg, 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the coldest in the valley after the minimum temperature dropped at minus 7.2 degree against yesterday’s minus 6 degrees due to fresh snowfall during the past 48 hours. There was also drop in the minimum temperature at Pahalgam, the world famous health resort, 100 km from here in south Kashmir. Against yesterday’s minus 2.3 degree minimum temperature it was minus 5.5 degrees, still half a notch above normal. Qazigund recorded 1.6 degree minimum temperature while Kokernag, 0.2 degree and Kupwara minus 0.8 degree against minus 2 degree which is being considered normal during this period of the winter. The Sun was playing hide and seek and icy cold winds continued in the summer capital where uncertainty continued over government formation. (AGENCIES)

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