News Analysis India

Tag: Taliban

  • RSS chief raises concern over Taliban, collusion of China-Pakistan

    By ANI

    NAGPUR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday showed concern over the geo-political changes in Afghanistan and questioned the intention of Taliban, Pakistan and China while adding that our military preparedness on the borders needs to be strengthened.

    In his annual Vijaya Dashami address, the RSS chief said, “We know Taliban’s history. China and Pakistan support it to this day. Even if the Taliban changed, Pakistan didn’t. Has China’s intentions towards India changed? While dialogues should happen but we need to be aware, alert and prepared.”

    “Their predisposition – passionate fanaticism, tyranny and terrorism in the name of Islam – is sufficient to make everyone apprehensive of the Taliban. But now China, Pakistan and Turkey have coalesced in an unholy coalition with the Taliban. Since Abdali, our north-western borders are once again a matter of serious concern,” said RSS chief.

    Bhagwat said that border security needs to be strengthened not just along the land border but also along the coastline where silent attacks take place.

    He said that the illegal infiltration from across the border should be completely curbed while adding that these infiltrators should be deprived of citizenship rights by creating a national citizen magazine.

    Bhagwat, who recently went to Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370, while praising the administration urged the government to take necessary measures to stop targeted killings in the valley.

    “Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir have restarted the spate of targeted killings of nationalists especially Hindus. This is being done to destroy their morale and to re-establish the reign of terror in the valley. The government should fast track its efforts to curb and neutralise the terrorist activities,” added Bhagwat.

    Bhagwat emphasised that it is India’s culture to integrate varied linguistic, religious and regional traditions and to promote mutual cooperation among all while accepting and honouring all as equal with identical opportunities for growth.

    “Our ideals are our common ancestors. It is the grasp of this very fact that the country saw martyrs like Hasankhan Mewati, Hakimkhan Suri, Khudabaksh and Gaus Khan and a revolutionary like Ashfaqullah Khan. They are admirable role models for all,” said Bhagwat.

    ALSO READ | Terrorists resorting to targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, says RSS chief

    The Vijaya Dashami address of the RSS chief is considered the most important event for the organisation as it is during his address future plans and vision are put forth for all to follow. It is from this stage that RSS stand on many issues of national importance is known.

    Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami, according to the Hindu calendar is celebrated on the 10th day after the 9 days of Navratri festivities in the month of Ashvina. 

  • India, Germany will see closer cooperation on Afghanistan: Envoy

    Lindner said the two nations supported the previous government in Afghanistan and tried to help it make headway and improve the situation.

  • Taliban execute child after his father suspected of being member of Afghan resistance movement

    By ANI

    KABUL: The Taliban brutally executed a child in Takhar province of Afghanistan after his father is suspected to be a part of the Afghan Resistance Forces.

    The brutality has been reported by Panjshir Observer which is an independent media covering Panjshir and Afghanistan situation.

    “Child executed in Takhar province by Taliban fighters after his father is suspected of being in the Resistance. #WarCrimes #Afghanistan,” Panjshir Observer said in a tweet.

    The incident reflects the Taliban’s crackdown on Afghans who raised voices against the outfit.

    The Taliban after the siege of Afghanistan is trying to deliver a moderate image to the world in an attempt to gain international confidence but experts say that the scenes at the Kabul airport were proof that the terrorist group has returned with the same radical and violent mindset.

    Violence was an integral trait of the Taliban even in their previous term. The so-called transfer of power exercised in Kabul without any bloodshed, was nothing but a part of ‘good image plan’, Inside Over reported.

    As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts also believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the terrorist group regime. 

  • Essential to ensure Afghanistan territory not used to spread terrorism: PM Modi at UNGA

    By ANI

    NEW YORK: Noting that the danger of regressive thinking and extremism is increasing in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that it is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities.

    “Today, the danger of regressive thinking and extremism is increasing in the world. In these circumstances, the whole world has to make science-based, rational and progressive thinking the basis of development,” PM Modi said while addressing the UNGA.

    “It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities,” he added.

    The Prime Minister said there is a need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests.

    He also said that people of Afghanistan, women and children, minorities need help that should be provided to them.

    “We also need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests. At this time, people of Afghanistan, women and children, minorities need help. We must fulfill our duties by providing them with help,” he said.

    PM Modi said the world has for the past one-and-a-half years is facing the worst pandemic of the past 100 years and paid his tributes to all those who lost their lives in COVID-19.

    “For the last-one-and-half years, the world has been grappling with the worst pandemic it has seen in a hundred years. I pay my tributes to all those who have lost their lives in a dangerous pandemic and I express condolences to their families,” PM Modi said. 

  • Events in Afghanistan raise questions about use of terrorism to change State structure: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The developments in Afghanistan raised questions about role of power politics and the use of terrorism as a tool to change State structures and behaviour, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    In an address at the National Defence College, Singh also said that there has been growing realisation of India’s concerns over Pakistan’s support to radical and terror groups.

    In a veiled reference to Pakistan, he said the turmoil caused in the region has been brought about by “aggressive designs” and the active support to non-State players by irresponsible States.

    ​ALSO READ | India, US condemn cross-border terrorism; call for perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to be brought to justice

    “Today, the world is witness to the destabilising effects of terror and the especially dangerous precedence of violent radical forces attempting to gain legitimacy by creating new normals,” he said.

    The defence minister said that there is a widespread realisation amongst all responsible nations over the need to come together against the common challenges.

    “The recent events in Afghanistan have reinforced the reality of our times. The only certainty about evolving geopolitics is its uncertainty. Changes in State boundaries may not be as frequent today,” he said.

    “However, the fast-transforming structure of States and the influence that external powers can have on it is clearly evident,” he said “These events raise questions regarding the very role of power politics and the use of terrorism as a tool to change State structures and behaviour,” Singh added.

  • Supporting Taliban means supporting anti-India acts: UP CM Adityanath

    We have to be cautious of such people who support the wrong acts of Taliban, the UP CM said.

  • BJP believes there is Talibani rule in Opposition ruled states: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday slammed newly appointed West Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar for his “Taliban government in West Bengal” remark, and said usage such of language in democracy degrades the level of political discourse.

    Speaking to ANI, Raut said that BJP believes that there is “Talibani rule” in every Opposition governed state. “Where there is no BJP government or there is a government of an opposition party, the BJP believes there is Talibani rule. What is the meaning of Talibani Raj? In a democracy, this kind of language does not suit anyone. Mamata Banerjee’s government was elected with a majority. So, is BJP calling the people of West Bengal ‘Talibanis’? If such statements are made in politics, then what will be the level of our politics?” he asked.

    Sukanta Majumdar, who is an MP from Balurghat, on Monday replaced Dilip Ghosh as state president. Days after his appointment, he equated TMC’s government to the Taliban and said that he would fight against it.

    The Shiv Sena leader also hit out at the Central government for not taking action against BJP leaders comparing democratically elected state governments in India with the Taliban. “A Union Minister was also comparing our government in Maharashtra with Taliban. The MP who is from West Bengal is calling the elected government there ‘Talibani’. The Central government is not taking action against these people. Is this kind of behaviour acceptable to the government? In the faceoff between Union and State, if any state does not agree to Centre’s views, then could such language be used?” he asked further.

  • BJP uses Taliban, Afghanistan, Pakistan to garner votes: Mehbooba Mufti

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Accusing the BJP of playing politics over the issues of Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to garner votes, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the seven-year rule of the saffron party has brought miseries to the people of the country and left Jammu and Kashmir “destroyed”.

    She claimed that it is not Hindus but the democracy and India which are in danger under the BJP rule, which has undone all the “good work” of the past 70 years of the Congress and started selling national resources and raising the prices of essentials to fill its coffers to “buy or intimidate” opposition legislators.

    The former chief minister taunted her critics and said the mere mention of Taliban or the party’s vision of self-rule makes her “anti-national” and triggers debates and discussions even as the focus should have been the ongoing agitation of the farmers, inflation, and other issues of public importance.

    “Jammu and Kashmir are in trouble and so is the entire country…they say Hindus are in danger but they are not in danger and the fact it is India and the democracy which are in danger because of them (BJP),” Mehbooba said addressing a rally organized by the youth wing of her party here.

    Mehbooba reached Jammu late on Saturday after a five-day tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts, facing a small protest by a group of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists who attempt to stop her cavalcade near Dogra chowk in the city was foiled by police.

    As the elections in different states come nearer, the BJP will start cashing on the god-given opportunity of Taliban and Afghanistan and if it would not work, they will bring Pakistan and drones into the picture, the Peoples Democratic Party chief said.

    “They will not talk about China which has intruded into Ladakh because they do not get votes by talking about that country. If you want to frighten people, talk about Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and do something here and there and seek votes,” she said.

    Referring to the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mehbooba alleged that the BJP’s incumbent state chief minister failed to provide jobs, roads, and schools, while as the river Ganga which is considered sacred by the people of the country was made a dumping ground for human corpses because people do not have money to perform the last rites of their relatives.

    “…They do not have anything to sell to the people and therefore they will use Pakistan and J-K to garner votes. They have destroyed J-K and are using sticks to oppress the people who are not allowed to speak openly for their rights,” she said.

    Mehbooba said the BJP is watching what she is saying to trigger a debate in media.

    “The farmers’ agitation, growing unemployment, inflation, and other issues facing the country should have been the focus of our debates but there is no discussion on these important issues. Since the elections in UP are drawing closer, there will be more discussion on Taliban and Afghanistan,” she said.

    She alleged that the BJP government is using crores of rupees on the self-projection and taxing people by rising petrol and diesel prices to fill its coffers and use the money to “buy MLAs of other parties and use government agencies to intimidate those who reject its offer”.

    Mehbooba said there are debates on the oppressive measures adopted by the Taliban against women in Afghanistan but nobody is talking about the women of India who are facing rapes and dowry deaths.

    “I know unemployment is such that we cannot provide jobs to everyone. Mufti had a plan to address this problem but if I name the plan which is self-rule, I will be dubbed as anti-national and it will trigger debates and discussions,” she said.

    Explaining self-rule, she said Jammu and Kashmir are holding a strategic position and can be a gateway to central Asia if all the cross-border traditional routes are opened and all the neighboring countries allowed to open bank branches which will generate employment.

  • Won’t let India become Pakistan or Taliban: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that she will not allow the country to turn into Pakistan or the Taliban.

    Alleging that the saffron party has claimed the Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata will become Pakistan if the TMC wins the by-poll from there, Banerjee accused the BJP of practising divisive politics.

    The Trinamool Congress supremo is contesting the by-election from Bhabanipur.

    “I don’t like the policies and politics of the BJP. They only follow the politics of dividing people on religious lines. In Nandigram, they had said it would become Pakistan (if the TMC wins). In Bhabanipur too, they are saying it will turn into Pakistan. This is shameful,” Banerjee said while campaigning.

    Banerjee lost to Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP from Nandigram during the assembly election held earlier this year.

    She has to win this by-poll to retain her chief minister’s post.

    “I want my country to be strong and will protect my motherland with all my might. We don’t want India to become another Taliban (ruled state). I will never allow my country to turn into Pakistan,” she said while talking to the voters in the area.

    Criticising the state BJP leadership for taking exception to her recent visit to a mosque in the area, Banerjee said the saffron camp has a problem with her visiting a Gurudwara too.

    “I have visited a mosque; I have visited a Gurudwara also; and the BJP has a problem with both.

    I don’t bring religion into politics, unlike the BJP leaders who only understand the language of divisive politics,” she said.

    On the sizeable Hindi-speaking population of the Bhabanipur constituency, the TMC boss said she would stand by them through thick and thin.

    “I never differentiate among communities.

    It is the BJP which destroys brotherhood and social fabric among communities,” she said.

    To woo the area’s business community, Banerjee said she was the first politician in the country who had opposed demonetisation in 2016.

    “I was the first to oppose demonetisation. I know the kind of harassment the business community has gone through during demonetisation. I used to regularly visit Burrabazar (the business hub of Kolkata) and talk to the business community members,” she said.

    Hitting out at the saffron camp over its “ploy” to sell off the country’s assets, she said those were not personal property of the BJP.

    “The government is trying to sell off the entire country. Railways, airports and ports. They want to sell everything off. Can you sell the soil of the country?” Banerjee said.

    Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August announced a Rs 6 lakh crore National Monetisation Pipeline that will look to unlock value in infrastructure assets across sectors ranging from power to road and railways.

    Banerjee said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ensure that Covaxin is recognised so that those who availed that vaccine against Covid-19 can travel abroad.

    Later, Banerjee visited the Laxmi Narayan Temple in the area and offered puja.

    She was also seen offering ‘Arati’.

    A metropolitan constituency, Bhabanipur is home to a large number of Gujaratis and Sikhs, mostly into business, living alongside Bengalis.

    Banerjee, who is herself a resident of Bhabanipur constituency, had won the seat twice in 2011 and 2016 but shifted to Nandigram, to dare her former protege and now a BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in his home turf.

    Though Banerjee powered the TMC to a resounding win for a third straight term in office, she lost in Nandigram.

    Banerjee is required to win a seat in the state assembly by November 5 in conformity with the constitutional provisions to continue as chief minister.

    After her defeat in Nandigram, state cabinet minister and TMC MLA from Bhabanipur Sovandeb Chattopadhyay vacated the seat to allow Banerjee to contest from there.

    Banerjee is pitted against the BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal and CPI(M)’s Srijib Biswas for the September 30 by-poll.

    Congress has decided not to field a candidate against her.

    The votes will be counted on October 3.

  • Bhowanipore bypoll: Won’t let India become Taliban or Pakistan, says Mamata

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of exploiting religions for politics. Referring to her recent visit to a mosque, Mamata said the BJP circulated the video footage of her visit to the shrine and accused her of practising the politics of appeasement. 

    While interacting with Gujrati electorates in by-poll bound Bhowanipore Assembly constituency, she said, “When I visit temples and other religious places, they become mum. Before the Assembly elections, they described Nandigram, where a conspiracy was hatched to defeat me, as mini Pakistan and now they are again adding the colour of religion in Bhowanipore. I would not let India become Taliban or Pakistan.” 

    The non-Bengali voters in Bhowanipore, who form 40% of the total electorates, are under the scanner of both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Both the rival political forces are desperate to woo them.

    Mamata on Wednesday visited a Gurudwara in Bhowanipore in a bid to secure the support of Sikh voters, and on Thursday, she interacted with Gujrati electorates at the Ladies Park in the constituency. 

    ALSO READ | CBI summons Mamata Banerjee’s election agent Sheik Sufian in post-poll violence case

    Mamata urged the people to dethrone the BJP from the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “The general election will be very important. For the sake of the country, we must dethrone the BJP from power,” she said. 

    The BJP, which keeps hitting out at Mamata over the issue of appeasement politics, sharpened its attack on her from the day she visited the mosque. The party said her intention was to consolidate Non-Bengali voters in the constituency who can easily decide the fate of the candidate of any party. “Ahead of the recent Assembly elections, she (Mamata) labelled our party as a political outfit comprising non-Bengali speaking persons. Now she is seeking blessings from the same set of voters. If we can successfully consolidate the non-Bengali voters in our favour, Mamata’s journey in the by-election will not be a cakewalk,” said a senior BJP leader.  

    In another development, Sajal Ghosh, the chief election agent of BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal, lodged a complaint with the returning officer of the constituency accusing Mamata of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and Covid protocols while visiting the Gurudwara on Wednesday. 

    The returning officer had issued a notice to Priyanka on Wednesday for the alleged violation of MCC and Covid norms while filing her nomination.