South East Asia

Pakistan and the US have resumed their talks for devising joint strategies to combat militancy along the restive Pak-Afghan border, days after America handed over a top Pakistani Taliban militant to the country. The talks were held amid signs of improvement in relations between the defence establishments of the two countries.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said Friday the international forces would launch a new mission in Afghanistan to provide support and consultations for the local forces. The beginning of next year will witness the launch of non-combat operations of international forces in Afghanistan, which means the mandate of these troops will …

In the dusty badlands along its disputed border with Afghanistan, Pakistan is carving out a massive trench to keep out separatists, smugglers and militants in an attempt to bring order to a lawless, tribal region. But like the Berlin Wall or Israel’s West Bank barrier, the planned 485-km trench is …

A healthy relationship between India and China is in the interest of America, nominee for US Ambassador to India has said noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set out on a positive footing in reaching out to its neighbour. “Much like the United States, the Indian relationship with China has elements of cooperation …

The French and Indian defence ministers agreed on Monday to overcome any differences and finalise the sale of 126 fighter jets to India in a deal worth an estimated $15 billion, the Indian defence ministry said. France’s Dassault Aviation has been trying to clinch a deal to sell India its …

The Pakistan government today decided to resume dialogue with Imran Khan, a day after he threatened to “shut down” the entire country by December 16 if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to initiate an impartial probe into the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections. Official sources told Dawn that Sharif …

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in India on a three-day visit later this month to hold talks with his counterpart Manohar Parrikar during which the issue of the multi-billion dollar deal for Rafale combat aircraft is likely to come up. He will arrive in India on November …

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, on Monday said that President Barack Obama was looking forward to attend the Republic Day function in New Delhi next year. “He is very much looking forward to it,” Biswal announced.

Pakistan and Russia on Thursday signed a military cooperation agreement to deepen their defence ties and vowed to translate their relationship in “tangible” terms during the first visit of a Russian Defence Minister in 45 years. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Pakistan comes at a very critical juncture …

Ignoring India’s opposition, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan would hold a dialogue with Kashmiri separatists to take them into confidence before engaging in peace talks with India. “It is our fundamental belief that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue. My government started dialogue with India …