NEW DELHI: President Hamid Karzai held talks with Indian leaders yesterday, hoping to secure more military aid as he looks to beef up his security forces after international troops pull out next year.
An Indian foreign ministry source confirmed that Karzai had held talks late yesterday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a separate meeting earlier in the evening with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
But there were no immediate details about the discussions and officials said there would be no official statement as is customary after such meetings nor any plans for a press conference.
Officials had said before the meeting that Karazai would use his trip to India to drum up support from a long-time ally.
Karzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said last week that Karzai would ask for “all kinds of assistance from India in order to strengthen our military and security institutions” during his talks in the capital New Delhi.
An Indian foreign ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said at the weekend that the discussions would cover a potential arms deal between the two countries.
“India is ready to meet any request that would strengthen Afghan security institutions,” said the official.
India has been training a limited number of Afghan military officers for years at its military institutions, but has provided little weapons assistance except for some vehicles.
Speaking on Monday night as he accepted an honorary degree from a university in the northern state of Punjab, Karzai thanked India for its support since he came to power in 2001 after the fall of the Taleban. “India, as a friend of Afghanistan, has made an immense contribution in uplifting its youths,” he said.
“India has contributed $2 billion from the hard-earned money of its taxpayers for the betterment of Afghanistan.”
India’s support for Karzai is a reflection of its desire to ensure that the departure of the United States and other foreign forces in 2014 does not lead to the return of the radical Taleban to power in Kabul.
The two countries are attempting to step up their already solid relationship before international troops leave Afghanistan in 2014, foreign policy expert Brahma Chellaney said.
But any extra aid from India will be in the form of “indirect security assistance” such as more training of security officers and transfer of technology, said Chellaney, strategic studies professor at New Delhi’s Center for Policy Research, a think-tank.
“This (Karzai’s visit) is part of a more intense interaction between the two countries before 2014,” he said. “(But) there is no intention for India to have boots on the ground there.” In 2011, India and Afghanistan began a “strategic partnership” to deepen security and economic links. But Indian activity in Afghanistan has triggered unease in neighboring rival Pakistan, which fears losing influence in Afghanistan.
The former Taleban regime was allied with Pakistan and gave refuge to virulently anti-Indian Islamist extremists.
India has been notably cool about US-backed attempts to negotiate a peace settlement with Taleban elements.
Speaking on a visit to Washington in February, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said New Delhi saw little “dividing line” between Al-Qaeda and other militants.
Karzai is a regular visitor to India and spent time as a student in the northern resort city of Shimla. He was last in New Delhi in November when he told Indian business leaders that Afghanistan was ripe for investment and promised them a “red carpet welcome.”
Karzai to push for Indian military aid
Karzai to push for Indian military aid
Halal travel accolade to ‘energize’ Philippine tourism
- Country wins Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award for second time
- Developing halal travel is key part of the Philippines’ tourism strategy
MANILA: A newly won award at this year’s Halal in Travel Global Summit is expected to further motivate Philippine industry stakeholders to cater to visitors from Muslim and Middle Eastern countries, tourism authorities said on Saturday.
The Philippines was recognized as an Emerging Muslim-friendly non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation Destination at the summit held by Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index in Singapore on May 30.
The index is an annual report benchmarking destinations in the Muslim travel market.
“Being recognized by the world’s leading halal travel authority is definitely a big boon for the Philippines,” Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Abubakar told Arab News.
“It would definitely energize our tourism stakeholders, incentivize our partners and ensure that the Philippines rises as a preferred destination for Muslims, including those in the Middle East.”
The award, she said, was also a recognition of the country’s efforts to cater to the needs of Muslims.
In 2023, the Philippines also won the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award at the Halal in Travel Global Summit, and has since boosted efforts to attract visitors from the Middle East and neighboring Muslim-majority Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, particularly by ensuring that Muslim tourists have access to halal products and services.
The predominantly Catholic country — where Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the almost 120 million population — welcomed more than 2 million international travelers since the beginning of the year and marked a 10 percent increase in visitors arriving from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE — which are among the Philippine government’s key emerging-market targets.
Earlier this month, the Department of Tourism led a delegation to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, where it promoted the country’s best destinations, and signed an agreement with one of the largest Philippine hospitality chains to turn its properties into Muslim-friendly and halal-friendly establishments.
“As a country known for its warm hospitality, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural attractions, catering to the needs of Muslim travelers through the development of halal tourism is crucial in ensuring that we raise our competitiveness in the global tourism market,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement welcoming the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award.
“Adapting to the changing needs of Muslim travelers by offering halal-friendly accommodations, dining options, prayer facilities and other services not only enhances the overall visitor experience, but also showcases our respect for diverse cultural and religious practices.”
Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives at Singapore security forum
- Ukrainian leader has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the army
SINGAPORE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived Saturday at a Singapore security forum, as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.
Zelensky will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said, saying that Zelensky would appear in person.
There had been speculation that Zelensky would make an appearance at this weekend’s security forum attended by defense ministers from around the world, including the United States and China.
Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.
The Singapore announcement follows a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky has hailed as a “step forward.”
US President Joe Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban but had resisted for fear it could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.
Germany said Friday it too had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that there would be “serious consequences” if Western countries gave approval to Ukraine.
Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months.
With Russia’s war against Ukraine in its third year, Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted and outgunned.
Many Kyiv allies remain uneasy about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked an uproar among NATO members when he refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.
Zelensky has visited Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium in recent days as he seeks more weapons and aid for his struggling military, and to whip up support for a peace summit due to be held in Switzerland this month.
Sweden pledged on Wednesday military aid of 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) to Ukraine.
The Scandinavian country, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of military supplies, including ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, and its entire fleet of PBV 302 armored tracked personnel carriers.
Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine, in an overnight barrage targeting energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.
Russia has launched hundreds of aerial attacks at Ukraine’s power facilities throughout the war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine’s stretched air defenses struggle to repel waves of drones and missiles.
Russian missiles and drones target Ukrainian energy sites
KYIV: Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight, in a barrage that targeted energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.
Russia has launched hundreds of aerial attacks at Ukraine’s power facilities throughout the two-year war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine’s stretched air defenses struggle to repel the waves of drones and missiles.
“The enemy launched 53 missiles of various types and 47 attack drones,” the air force said, adding that it shot down 35 of the missiles and all but one of the drones.
Two thermal power plants were damaged in the attack, the DTEK operator said, without specifying where they were located.
“It was another extremely difficult night for the Ukrainian energy sector. The enemy struck two of our thermal power plants. The equipment was seriously damaged,” the company said in a statement on Telegram.
It was the sixth major attack on DTEK thermal power plants since mid-March, it added.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said Russia had targeted sites in five regions — Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhia — stretching from near the eastern frontlines to Ukraine’s west, which borders the EU.
The ministry warned that power restrictions were likely on Saturday evening as a result of the attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was trying to “exploit” a lack of “determination” among Ukraine’s key Western backers and repeated his call for more air defense systems.
“Russia’s main goal is to normalize terror, to exploit the lack of sufficient air defense and determination of Ukraine’s partners,” he said in a social media post.
“This is a test of humanity and determination for the free world. Either we pass this test together, or the world will plunge into even greater destabilization and chaos,” he added.
Indonesia ready to send peacekeepers, medical staff to Gaza
- Prabowo said US President Joe Biden’s three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction
- Indonesia was also ready to receive and to treat 1,000 patients from Gaza
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, said on Saturday that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security conference, Prabowo said US President Joe Biden’s three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.
“When needed and when requested by the UN, we are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as providing protection and security to all parties and to all sides,” Prabowo said.
The 72-year-old former special forces general and current Indonesian defense minister takes on the presidency of the world’s most populous Muslim nation in October.
He said President Joko Widodo had instructed him to announce that Indonesia was also ready “to evacuate, to receive and to treat with medical care up to 1,000 patients” from Gaza.
The Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, which was run by an Indonesia NGO, closed in November amid the fighting.
Prabowo said a comprehensive investigation into the humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area of Gaza was needed as well as a “just solution” to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“And that means the rights of not only Israel to exist, but also the rights of the Palestinian people to have their own homeland, their own state, living in peace.”
Separately, the outgoing president, popularly known as Jokowi, condemned Israel’s attack on Rafah and called on Israel to obey the International Court of Justice.
“Israel should have an obligation to obey international courts, including stopping offensive attacks against Palestine,” Jokowi told reporters on Saturday.
20 drown in boat accident in eastern Afghanistan, official says
- At least five bodies had been recovered and efforts were underway to find the others
- Official says five people survived the accident, the cause of which was being investigated
KABUL: Twenty people, including children, drowned when a boat sank during a river crossing in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, a provincial official said.
“A boat with women and children on board sank on Saturday morning at 7 am (0230 GMT) in the river in the Basawul area of Momand Dara district” of eastern Nangarhar, said Quraishi Badloon, the head of the province’s information department, in a post on social media platform X.
He said five people survived the accident, the cause of which was being investigated.
The Nangarhar Information and Culture Department said the authorities had sent a medical team and ambulances to the area, in a message shared with media.
At least five bodies had been recovered and efforts were underway to find the others, provincial government officials said.
Residents in the area regularly cross the river using boats often in poor condition, as there is no nearby bridge, local media reported.
