Gold imports, which have a bearing on the country's current account deficit (CAD), rose by 22.58 per cent to USD 34.6 billion (about Rs 2.54 lakh crore) during 2020-21 due to increased domestic demand, according to the Commerce Ministry data.&nbsp;

Silver imports during the last fiscal, however, dipped by 71 per cent to about USD 791 million. Imports of the yellow metal stood at USD 28.23 billion (about Rs 2 lakh crore) in 2019-20, the data showed.&nbsp;

Despite growth in gold imports, the country's trade deficit narrowed to USD 98.56 billion during 2020-21 as against USD 161.3 billion in 2019-20.&nbsp;

Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Chairman Colin Shah said that increasing domestic demand is pushing up imports of gold. &nbsp;

The demand for gold would further increase on account of forthcoming auspicious Akshaya Tritiya and marriage season which could increase the CAD.&nbsp;

The CAD is the difference between inflow and outflow of foreign exchange. India's current account swung to a deficit for the first time in the current fiscal, with the gap coming at USD 1.7 billion or 0.2 per cent of the GDP in the December quarter.&nbsp;

India is the largest importer of gold, which mainly caters to the demand of jewellery industry. Gems and jewellery exports declined by 27.5 per cent to USD 26 billion in April-March 2020-21.&nbsp;

In volume terms, the country imports 800-900 tonnes of gold annually.&nbsp;

The government in the Budget reduced the import duty on the yellow metal from 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent (7.5 per cent customs duty plus 2.5 per cent Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess).&nbsp;

Gold imports, which have a bearing on the country's current account deficit (CAD), rose by 22.58 per cent to USD 34.6 billion (about Rs 2.54 lakh crore) during 2020-21 due to increased domestic demand, according to the Commerce Ministry data.

Gold imports, which have a bearing on the country's current account deficit (CAD), rose by 22.58 per cent to USD 34.6 billion (about Rs 2.54 lakh crore) during 2020-21 due to increased domestic demand, according to the Commerce Ministry data. Silver imports during the last fiscal, however, dipped by 71 per cent to about USD 791 million. Imports of the yellow metal stood at USD 28.23 billion (about Rs 2 lakh crore) in 2019-20, the data showed. Despite growth in gold imports, the country's trade deficit narrowed to USD 98.56 billion during 2020-21 as against USD 161.3 billion in 2019-20. Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Chairman Colin Shah said that increasing domestic demand is pushing up imports of gold. The demand for gold would further increase on account of forthcoming auspicious Akshaya Tritiya and marriage season which could increase the CAD. The CAD is the difference between inflow and outflow of foreign exchange. India's current account swung to a deficit for the first time in the current fiscal, with the gap coming at USD 1.7 billion or 0.2 per cent of the GDP in the December quarter. India is the largest importer of gold, which mainly caters to the demand of jewellery industry. Gems and jewellery exports declined by 27.5 per cent to USD 26 billion in April-March 2020-21. In volume terms, the country imports 800-900 tonnes of gold annually. The government in the Budget reduced the import duty on the yellow metal from 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent (7.5 per cent customs duty plus 2.5 per cent Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess).

Gold imports rise by 22.58% to $34.6 bn in 2020-21 

India's Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar to visit Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Jaishankar's Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi will also be present on the same day.

Pak: India, Pakistan foreign ministers will not meet in UAE

A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken India's total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.&nbsp;

The death toll increased to 1,77,150 with a record 1,501 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.&nbsp;

Registering a steady increase for the 39th day in a row, the active cases stand at 18,01,316, comprising 12.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86.62 per cent, the ministry said.&nbsp;

The number of people, who have recuperated from the disease, surged to 1,28,09,643, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.20 per cent, the data stated.&nbsp;

India's Covid-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.&nbsp;

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.&nbsp;

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 26,65,38,416 samples have been tested up to April 17 with 15,66,394 samples being tested on Saturday. &nbsp;

The 1,501 new fatalities include 419 from Maharashtra, 167 from Delhi, 158 from Chhattisgarh, 120 from Uttar Pradesh, 97 from Gujarat, 80 from Karnataka, 66 from Madhya Pradesh, 62 from Punjab and 39 from Tamil Nadu. &nbsp;

These fresh fatalities also include 37 each from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, 34 each from Bihar and West Bengal, 32 from Haryana, 30 from Jharkhand, 27 from Kerala, 15 each from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and 12 from Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

The ministry said a total of 1,77,150 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 59,970 from Maharashtra, 13,270 from Karnataka, 13,071 from Tamil Nadu, 11,960 from Delhi, 10,540 from West Bengal, 9,703 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,834 from Punjab and 7,388 from Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities.&nbsp;

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.&nbsp;

A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken India's total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken India's total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll increased to 1,77,150 with a record 1,501 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. Registering a steady increase for the 39th day in a row, the active cases stand at 18,01,316, comprising 12.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86.62 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people, who have recuperated from the disease, surged to 1,28,09,643, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.20 per cent, the data stated. India's Covid-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 26,65,38,416 samples have been tested up to April 17 with 15,66,394 samples being tested on Saturday. The 1,501 new fatalities include 419 from Maharashtra, 167 from Delhi, 158 from Chhattisgarh, 120 from Uttar Pradesh, 97 from Gujarat, 80 from Karnataka, 66 from Madhya Pradesh, 62 from Punjab and 39 from Tamil Nadu. These fresh fatalities also include 37 each from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, 34 each from Bihar and West Bengal, 32 from Haryana, 30 from Jharkhand, 27 from Kerala, 15 each from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and 12 from Himachal Pradesh. The ministry said a total of 1,77,150 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 59,970 from Maharashtra, 13,270 from Karnataka, 13,071 from Tamil Nadu, 11,960 from Delhi, 10,540 from West Bengal, 9,703 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,834 from Punjab and 7,388 from Andhra Pradesh. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

Covid-19: India records highest single-day rise of 2,61,500 cases, 1,501 deaths  

Indian Prime Minister Modi held a high review meeting on COVID-19. India has reported over 200,000 daily cases for 3rd day in a row.

India: 234,692 new COVID cases in last 24 hrs

As the daily COVID-19 cases surged to a staggering record-high level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the availability and supply of ventilators, oxygen and medicines to fight this pandemic.

India: PM Modi holds review meet on COVID-19

India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6 per cent in new COVID-19 cases, leading to an alarming rise in the daily number of active cases in the country, which currently stand at 16,79,000, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry also informed that there is also a sharp growth of 10.2 per cent in the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in the country.

"India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6% in new COVID cases, which is 1.3 times is spreading at a much faster rate than recoveries with consistently growing active cases," the ministry said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-faces-shortage-of-oxygen-hospital-beds-as-city-records-24000-cases-in-24-hours-kejriwal-378235" hreflang="en">Delhi faces shortage of oxygen, hospital beds as city records 24,000 cases in 24 hours: Kejriwal</a>

In a meeting with the health ministers of 11 states and union territories, Dr Harsh Vardhan assured a fresh supply of the lifesaving machines to states that have been most severely affected by the pandemic - 1,121 ventilators to Maharashtra, 1,700 to Uttar Pradesh, 1,500 to Jharkhand, 1,600 to Gujarat, 152 to Madhya Pradesh and 230 to Chhattisgarh.

Maharashtra remains the worst affected states in the country, with 67,123 fresh cases, 56,783 discharges, and 419 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are currently 6,47,933 active cases in the state.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 59,970 patients. The total new cases include 8,834 from Mumbai, 6,956 in Nagpur, and 10,963 in Pune.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-reviews-covid-19-surge-calls-for-utilising-all-private-public-facilities-to-ramp-up-vaccine-production-378300" hreflang="en">PM reviews COVID-19 surge, calls for utilising all private, public facilities to ramp up vaccine production</a>

Delhi recorded the biggest single-day spike of 24,375 new COVID-19 cases. The city also reported 15,414 discharges and 167 deaths. The cumulative caseload in the national capital reached 8,27,998 including 7,46,239 discharges, 69,799 active cases and 11,960 deaths.

As many as 17,489 new coronavirus cases, 5,565 discharges and 80 deaths were reported in Karnataka. The total cases now stands at 11,41,998, including 10,09,549 recoveries, 1,19,160 active cases and 13,270 deaths. Kerala reported 13,835 fresh cases, 3,654 recoveries and 27 deaths.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-vaccination-coverage-nears-120-million-378139" hreflang="en">India's vaccination coverage nears 120 million</a>

The number of active cases is now at 80,019 and the death toll stands at 4,904. As many as 9,541 new cases were reported in Gujarat, along with 3,783 discharges and 97 deaths. The total positive cases now stands at 3,94,221, including 3,33,564 recoveries, 55,398 active cases and 5,267 deaths.

Tamil Nadu reported 9,344 new cases, 5,263 discharges and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total positive cases to 9,80,728. So far, 9,02,022 discharges, 13,071 deaths and 65,635 active cases have been reported.

Haryana reported 7,717 new cases, taking the total number of cases to 3,49,794, while Punjab reported 4,498 new cases, 2,615 discharges and 64 deaths. Out of these, 431 were reported from Chandigarh.

Uttarakhand reports 2,757 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,179 cases in Dehradun and 617 in Haridwar where lakhs gathered for the Kumbh Mela, taking the total number of cases to 1,21,403.

Jammu and Kashmir reported 1,145 new COVID-19 positive cases; 503 from Jammu division and 642 from the Kashmir division.

The total positive cases now stand at 1,45,166 including 10,910 active infections. A total of 1,32,205 recoveries and 2,051 deaths have been reported so far.&nbsp;

India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6 per cent in new COVID-19 cases, leading to an alarming rise in the daily number of active cases in the country, which currently stand at 16,79,000, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday.

India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6 per cent in new COVID-19 cases, leading to an alarming rise in the daily number of active cases in the country, which currently stand at 16,79,000, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday. In a statement, the ministry also informed that there is also a sharp growth of 10.2 per cent in the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus in the country. "India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6% in new COVID cases, which is 1.3 times is spreading at a much faster rate than recoveries with consistently growing active cases," the ministry said. Also read | Delhi faces shortage of oxygen, hospital beds as city records 24,000 cases in 24 hours: Kejriwal In a meeting with the health ministers of 11 states and union territories, Dr Harsh Vardhan assured a fresh supply of the lifesaving machines to states that have been most severely affected by the pandemic - 1,121 ventilators to Maharashtra, 1,700 to Uttar Pradesh, 1,500 to Jharkhand, 1,600 to Gujarat, 152 to Madhya Pradesh and 230 to Chhattisgarh. Maharashtra remains the worst affected states in the country, with 67,123 fresh cases, 56,783 discharges, and 419 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are currently 6,47,933 active cases in the state. The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 59,970 patients. The total new cases include 8,834 from Mumbai, 6,956 in Nagpur, and 10,963 in Pune. Also read | PM reviews COVID-19 surge, calls for utilising all private, public facilities to ramp up vaccine production Delhi recorded the biggest single-day spike of 24,375 new COVID-19 cases. The city also reported 15,414 discharges and 167 deaths. The cumulative caseload in the national capital reached 8,27,998 including 7,46,239 discharges, 69,799 active cases and 11,960 deaths. As many as 17,489 new coronavirus cases, 5,565 discharges and 80 deaths were reported in Karnataka. The total cases now stands at 11,41,998, including 10,09,549 recoveries, 1,19,160 active cases and 13,270 deaths. Kerala reported 13,835 fresh cases, 3,654 recoveries and 27 deaths. Also read | India's vaccination coverage nears 120 million The number of active cases is now at 80,019 and the death toll stands at 4,904. As many as 9,541 new cases were reported in Gujarat, along with 3,783 discharges and 97 deaths. The total positive cases now stands at 3,94,221, including 3,33,564 recoveries, 55,398 active cases and 5,267 deaths. Tamil Nadu reported 9,344 new cases, 5,263 discharges and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total positive cases to 9,80,728. So far, 9,02,022 discharges, 13,071 deaths and 65,635 active cases have been reported. Haryana reported 7,717 new cases, taking the total number of cases to 3,49,794, while Punjab reported 4,498 new cases, 2,615 discharges and 64 deaths. Out of these, 431 were reported from Chandigarh. Uttarakhand reports 2,757 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,179 cases in Dehradun and 617 in Haridwar where lakhs gathered for the Kumbh Mela, taking the total number of cases to 1,21,403. Jammu and Kashmir reported 1,145 new COVID-19 positive cases; 503 from Jammu division and 642 from the Kashmir division. The total positive cases now stand at 1,45,166 including 10,910 active infections. A total of 1,32,205 recoveries and 2,051 deaths have been reported so far.

India currently reporting sharpest growth rate of 7.6pc in new COVID-19 cases: Govt

India has reported 2,34,692 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country`s overall Covid tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday. 
 
This is the third consecutive day that the country has registered over 2 lakh Covid cases. India recorded 2,00,739 and 2,17,353 cases on Thursday and Friday respectively. 
 
Meanwhile, as many as 1,341 people died of Covid in the last 24 hours, taking the country`s death toll to 1,75,649 so far. The daily active cases tally on Friday rose to 16,79,740. 
 
A total of 1,23,354 patients recovered in the same time span, taking the number of recoveries to 1,26,71,220, with a recovery rate of 87.23 per cent. 
 
The Health Ministry said that a total of 14,95,397 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. 
 
So far, 26,49,72,022 samples have been tested in the country. 
 
According to the government data, a total of 30,04,544 people were also vaccinated in the same period, taking the total inoculation count to 11,99,37,641. 
 
Delhi and Maharashtra recorded their biggest single-day rise in coronavirus cases since early 2020. The national capital has registered on Friday night 19,486 new cases. 
 
The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (3,703,584), Kerala (1,197,301), Karnataka (1,109,650), Tamil Nadu (962,935), and Andhra Pradesh (942,135).

India has reported 2,34,692 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country`s overall Covid tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday.

India has reported 2,34,692 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country`s overall Covid tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday. This is the third consecutive day that the country has registered over 2 lakh Covid cases. India recorded 2,00,739 and 2,17,353 cases on Thursday and Friday respectively. Meanwhile, as many as 1,341 people died of Covid in the last 24 hours, taking the country`s death toll to 1,75,649 so far. The daily active cases tally on Friday rose to 16,79,740. A total of 1,23,354 patients recovered in the same time span, taking the number of recoveries to 1,26,71,220, with a recovery rate of 87.23 per cent. The Health Ministry said that a total of 14,95,397 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. So far, 26,49,72,022 samples have been tested in the country. According to the government data, a total of 30,04,544 people were also vaccinated in the same period, taking the total inoculation count to 11,99,37,641. Delhi and Maharashtra recorded their biggest single-day rise in coronavirus cases since early 2020. The national capital has registered on Friday night 19,486 new cases. The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (3,703,584), Kerala (1,197,301), Karnataka (1,109,650), Tamil Nadu (962,935), and Andhra Pradesh (942,135).

India witnesses biggest spike with 2,34,692 coronavirus cases in 24 hours

The special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan have started a two-week military exercise in Bishkek with a focus on counter-terror drills. 
 
The exercise named, `Khanjar`, was inaugurated on Friday at the Special Forces Brigade of National Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. 
 
It is the eight edition of the India-Kyrgyz Joint Special Forces Exercise. 
 
Initiated first in 2011, the two-week long exercise focuses on high-altitude, mountains and counter-extremism. 
 
Commander of Kyrgyz National Guards, Colonel Ergeshov Talantbek, in his opening remarks, commended high-altitude resilience of the two personnel and their camaraderie and interoperability. 
 
Recalling the India-Kyrgyz civilisational bonds, Ambassador Alok A. Dimri welcomed the Indian contingent for the Exercise and felicitated their role as a bridge in promoting shared mountain and nomadic-heritage of the two peoples. 
 
A ceremonial parade graced the occasion along with a display of equipment and weapons and a visit to the training arena and barracks. 
 
It envisaged conduct of joint military exercises, exchange of experience and information, and exchange of military observers and instructors besides others. 
 
In 2018, India and Kyrgyzstan signed four agreements, including one to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises. 
 
The two countries had agreed to expeditiously consider signing an agreement on "combating international terrorism and other crimes". 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a visit in 2018 to emphasis the need to combat terrorism and extremism, a threat without borders.

The special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan have started a two-week military exercise in Bishkek with a focus on counter-terror drills. The exercise named, `Khanjar`, was inaugurated on Friday at the Special Forces Brigade of National Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek.

The special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan have started a two-week military exercise in Bishkek with a focus on counter-terror drills. The exercise named, `Khanjar`, was inaugurated on Friday at the Special Forces Brigade of National Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. It is the eight edition of the India-Kyrgyz Joint Special Forces Exercise. Initiated first in 2011, the two-week long exercise focuses on high-altitude, mountains and counter-extremism. Commander of Kyrgyz National Guards, Colonel Ergeshov Talantbek, in his opening remarks, commended high-altitude resilience of the two personnel and their camaraderie and interoperability. Recalling the India-Kyrgyz civilisational bonds, Ambassador Alok A. Dimri welcomed the Indian contingent for the Exercise and felicitated their role as a bridge in promoting shared mountain and nomadic-heritage of the two peoples. A ceremonial parade graced the occasion along with a display of equipment and weapons and a visit to the training arena and barracks. It envisaged conduct of joint military exercises, exchange of experience and information, and exchange of military observers and instructors besides others. In 2018, India and Kyrgyzstan signed four agreements, including one to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises. The two countries had agreed to expeditiously consider signing an agreement on "combating international terrorism and other crimes". Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a visit in 2018 to emphasis the need to combat terrorism and extremism, a threat without borders.

India, Kyrgyzstan special forces start two-week counter-terror drills

What will a Taliban takeover mean for India-Afghanistan ties? What can India do to protect its investments from being targeted? WION's Palki Sharma decodes New Delhi's options in Afghanistan.

Gravitas: How should India engage with the Taliban

India likes to see a transition in Afghanistan that is "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled".&nbsp;

The question is: How will New Delhi enable that?

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-should-india-engage-with-the-taliban-378058/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

The answer to this is: by engaging constructively.

The Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib told us this morning he had a conversation with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/has-taliban-really-changed-378054">Has Taliban really changed?</a>

India's stakes are high and External Affair Minister S Jaishankar shared with us that India is running development projects in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

However, New Delhi's approach has met with criticism too.

In a conversation at Stanford University this week, former US National Security Adviser HR McMaster spoke about the fears of Pakistan.

He spoke about how Islamabad needs to maintain influence in Afghanistan because it fears a strategic encirclement by India.

Jaishankar said there is an attempt to create a misleading narrative around New Delhi's assistance to Afghanistan.

"Look at our record," Jaishankar said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

India likes to see a transition in Afghanistan that is "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled". The question is: How will New Delhi enable that? Watch | The answer to this is: by engaging constructively.

India likes to see a transition in Afghanistan that is "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled". The question is: How will New Delhi enable that? Watch | The answer to this is: by engaging constructively. The Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib told us this morning he had a conversation with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Also read | Has Taliban really changed? India's stakes are high and External Affair Minister S Jaishankar shared with us that India is running development projects in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. However, New Delhi's approach has met with criticism too. In a conversation at Stanford University this week, former US National Security Adviser HR McMaster spoke about the fears of Pakistan. He spoke about how Islamabad needs to maintain influence in Afghanistan because it fears a strategic encirclement by India. Jaishankar said there is an attempt to create a misleading narrative around New Delhi's assistance to Afghanistan. "Look at our record," Jaishankar said.

Decoding India's role as Afghanistan set to begin a new chapter

India is the second most populous country in the world. Contributing nearly 17.5% global population. There are figures which say that India is already on the population stabilisation path but the population is still rising. How are we going to tackle this?

Mission Sustainability- Population vs Planet: 'India's population is already stabilising'

Prime minister Boris Johnson is all set to visit India on 25th April but this will a curtailed visit.

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson all set to visit India on April 25

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country touched 12 crore on Saturday as part of the world`s largest inoculation drive with over 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours, as per data by the Union Health Ministry. 
 
According to the Ministry, cumulatively, 11,99,37,641 vaccine doses have been administered through 17,37,539 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am&nbsp;on Saturday. 
 
These include 91,05,429 Health Care Workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 56,70,818 HCWs who have taken the second dose. 
 
A total of 1,11,44,069 Front Line Workers (FLWs) have been administered first dose while 54,08,572 FLWs have received second dose. 
 
Of the total, 4,49,35,011 people of more than 60 years old have been given first dose and 34,88,257 have been injected second dose. A total of 3,92,23,975 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years have been given first dose and 9,61,510 have got the second dose. 
 
The Ministry stated that over 30 lakh vaccination doses were administered to the people in the last 24 hours. 
 
As of Day-91 of the vaccination drive (April 16), 30,04,544 vaccine doses were given. 
 
Out of which, 22,96,008 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 37,817 sessions for first dose and 7,08,536 beneficiaries received second dose of vaccine. 
 
Eight states account for 59.56 per cent of the total doses given so far in the country. 
 
Maharashtra with 1,18,86,859 doses of vaccine is in the first place across the country followed by Uttar Pradesh (1,05,38,702), Rajasthan (1,05,23,372), Gujarat (1,01,65,603), West Bengal (86,09,305), Madhya Pradesh (71,15,737), Karnataka (69,10,399) and Kerala (56,81,972). 
 
The inputs came when India`s daily infection tally have continued to rise with 2,34,692 new cases registered in the last 24 hours. 
 
Ten states, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, have reported 79.32 per cent of the new cases. 
 
Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 63,729. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 27,360, while Delhi reported 19,486 new cases.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country touched 12 crore on Saturday as part of the world`s largest inoculation drive with over 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours, as per data by the Union Health Ministry.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country touched 12 crore on Saturday as part of the world`s largest inoculation drive with over 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours, as per data by the Union Health Ministry. According to the Ministry, cumulatively, 11,99,37,641 vaccine doses have been administered through 17,37,539 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Saturday. These include 91,05,429 Health Care Workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 56,70,818 HCWs who have taken the second dose. A total of 1,11,44,069 Front Line Workers (FLWs) have been administered first dose while 54,08,572 FLWs have received second dose. Of the total, 4,49,35,011 people of more than 60 years old have been given first dose and 34,88,257 have been injected second dose. A total of 3,92,23,975 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years have been given first dose and 9,61,510 have got the second dose. The Ministry stated that over 30 lakh vaccination doses were administered to the people in the last 24 hours. As of Day-91 of the vaccination drive (April 16), 30,04,544 vaccine doses were given. Out of which, 22,96,008 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 37,817 sessions for first dose and 7,08,536 beneficiaries received second dose of vaccine. Eight states account for 59.56 per cent of the total doses given so far in the country. Maharashtra with 1,18,86,859 doses of vaccine is in the first place across the country followed by Uttar Pradesh (1,05,38,702), Rajasthan (1,05,23,372), Gujarat (1,01,65,603), West Bengal (86,09,305), Madhya Pradesh (71,15,737), Karnataka (69,10,399) and Kerala (56,81,972). The inputs came when India`s daily infection tally have continued to rise with 2,34,692 new cases registered in the last 24 hours. Ten states, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, have reported 79.32 per cent of the new cases. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 63,729. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 27,360, while Delhi reported 19,486 new cases.

India's vaccination coverage nears 120 million

Two months back, India and Pakistan decided to renew a ceasefire agreement.

The announcement came out of nowhere and was big news all over the world. A lot of questions were unanswered, but a few weeks later, a report came out which said the UAE had brokered talks between India and Pakistan.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-the-uae-broker-indo-pak-talks-377837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Neither Islamabad nor New Delhi has responded to the report.

So what exactly was in this report?

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/under-pm-modi-india-more-likely-to-respond-with-force-to-pakistani-provocation-us-intelligence-report-377388">Under PM Modi, India 'more likely' to respond with force to Pakistani provocation: US intelligence report</a>

It talked about a three-step peace process: a ceasefire, followed by reinstating envoys and finally a lasting settlement on Kashmir.

The UAE acted as a mediator as Emirati officials handled the backroom talks between India and Pakistan.

Until now, there was no official word on this and the report was based on unnamed sources and conjecture.&nbsp;

But now, a senior Emirati diplomat has confirmed the UAE's role.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-the-uae-broker-indo-pak-talks-377837">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-the-uae-broker-indo-pak-talks-377837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

UAE's ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, one of the senior-most diplomats in the country, confirmed this.&nbsp;

The UAE maintains warm ties with Pakistan and India, which was enough to bring both sides to the table.

But a lasting Kashmir resolution is aiming too high.

The ambassador realises this, and said the UAE just wants a functional and operational relationship.

To be clear, there were indications that something was brewing.

In November, India's foreign minister S Jaishankar visited Dubai and the very next month his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi also landed in the city.

Cut to March 2021, when the Pakistani leadership was waving a white flag with its Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa talking of peace.

He called a stable Indo-Pak relationship, the key to unlocking South Asia's potential.

India responded with caution because we've seen this before peace offers, followed by deadly attacks.

India's demands have been clear from the start: Stop funding terror groups and we'll talk business.

The India-Pakistan conflict isn't new, neither is the question of Kashmir.

India insists it's a strictly bilateral issue.

Many countries have tried to cool tensions in the past and all ended in failure.

Pakistan can't retain a government long enough to hold talks with India and when things appear to be positive, the tanks roll in from Rawalpindi. 
&nbsp;

Two months back, India and Pakistan decided to renew a ceasefire agreement. The announcement came out of nowhere and was big news all over the world. A lot of questions were unanswered, but a few weeks later, a report came out which said the UAE had brokered talks between India and Pakistan.

Two months back, India and Pakistan decided to renew a ceasefire agreement. The announcement came out of nowhere and was big news all over the world. A lot of questions were unanswered, but a few weeks later, a report came out which said the UAE had brokered talks between India and Pakistan. Watch | Neither Islamabad nor New Delhi has responded to the report. So what exactly was in this report? Also read | Under PM Modi, India 'more likely' to respond with force to Pakistani provocation: US intelligence report It talked about a three-step peace process: a ceasefire, followed by reinstating envoys and finally a lasting settlement on Kashmir. The UAE acted as a mediator as Emirati officials handled the backroom talks between India and Pakistan. Until now, there was no official word on this and the report was based on unnamed sources and conjecture. But now, a senior Emirati diplomat has confirmed the UAE's role. Watch | UAE's ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, one of the senior-most diplomats in the country, confirmed this. The UAE maintains warm ties with Pakistan and India, which was enough to bring both sides to the table. But a lasting Kashmir resolution is aiming too high. The ambassador realises this, and said the UAE just wants a functional and operational relationship. To be clear, there were indications that something was brewing. In November, India's foreign minister S Jaishankar visited Dubai and the very next month his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi also landed in the city. Cut to March 2021, when the Pakistani leadership was waving a white flag with its Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa talking of peace. He called a stable Indo-Pak relationship, the key to unlocking South Asia's potential. India responded with caution because we've seen this before peace offers, followed by deadly attacks. India's demands have been clear from the start: Stop funding terror groups and we'll talk business. The India-Pakistan conflict isn't new, neither is the question of Kashmir. India insists it's a strictly bilateral issue. Many countries have tried to cool tensions in the past and all ended in failure. Pakistan can't retain a government long enough to hold talks with India and when things appear to be positive, the tanks roll in from Rawalpindi.

Despite UAE's efforts, Indo-Pak relations likely to remain rocky

A senior diplomat confirmed that the UAE is mediating between India and Pakistan on a lasting Kashmir resolution. Are the Emirati royals behind Islamabad's softening approach to India? WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Did the UAE broker Indo-Pak talks?

The United Arab Emirates’ envoy to US confirmed that the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a “healthy and functional” relationship. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said that the UAE played a role “in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire".

Emirates’ envoy to US confirmed UAE mediation between India and Pakistan

Amid a steep rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday undertook a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country and called for ramping up its production.

With cases hitting a new peak in several parts of the country, the demand for medical oxygen has increased as it is a critical component in the treatment of COVID-19-affected patients.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-second-wave-of-covid-19-is-affecting-more-children-377673/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Prime Minister Modi took a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Inputs from ministries like health, steel, road transport, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) were also shared with the prime minister during the review, it said.

Prime Minister Modi stressed that it is important to ensure synergy across ministries and state governments, the PMO said.

He also took a detailed review of the current situation of oxygen supply and projected use in the coming 15 days across 12 high-burden states -- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The PMO said that an overview of district-level situation in these states was presented to the prime minister. 
He was informed that the Centre and states are in regular contact and estimates for projected demand have been shared with states as on April 20, April 25 and April 30, it said.

The PMO said, accordingly, 4,880 MT , 5,619 MT and 6,593 MT have been allocated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand of medical oxygen as on April 20, April 25 and April 30, respectively.

The prime minister was briefed about production capacity in the country to meet the rising demand, it said. 
He suggested increasing oxygen production as per capacity of each plant.

It was discussed that surplus stocks of oxygen supply in steel plants are being offered for medical use, the PMO said.

The prime minister also asked officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the country.

The government has exempted all inter-state movement of oxygen tankers from registration of permits to enable easier movement, the PMO's statement said.

Prime Minister Modi was informed that states and transporters have been asked to ensure tankers move round the clock with drivers working in shifts to ensure faster turnaround and adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand.

Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted to work for 24 hours with necessary safeguards, the PMO said.

The government is allowing industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging, it said. 
Similarly, nitrogen and argon tankers will be automatically allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to overcome the potential shortage of tankers.

During the review, officials also briefed the prime minister about the efforts being made to import medical grade oxygen, the PMO said.

India added a record 2,17,353 new coronavirus infections in a day taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,42,91,917, while active cases surpassed the 15-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Amid a steep rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday undertook a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country and called for ramping up its production.

Amid a steep rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday undertook a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country and called for ramping up its production. With cases hitting a new peak in several parts of the country, the demand for medical oxygen has increased as it is a critical component in the treatment of COVID-19-affected patients. Watch | Prime Minister Modi took a comprehensive review to ensure adequate medical grade oxygen supply in the country, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. Inputs from ministries like health, steel, road transport, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) were also shared with the prime minister during the review, it said. Prime Minister Modi stressed that it is important to ensure synergy across ministries and state governments, the PMO said. He also took a detailed review of the current situation of oxygen supply and projected use in the coming 15 days across 12 high-burden states -- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The PMO said that an overview of district-level situation in these states was presented to the prime minister. He was informed that the Centre and states are in regular contact and estimates for projected demand have been shared with states as on April 20, April 25 and April 30, it said. The PMO said, accordingly, 4,880 MT , 5,619 MT and 6,593 MT have been allocated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand of medical oxygen as on April 20, April 25 and April 30, respectively. The prime minister was briefed about production capacity in the country to meet the rising demand, it said. He suggested increasing oxygen production as per capacity of each plant. It was discussed that surplus stocks of oxygen supply in steel plants are being offered for medical use, the PMO said. The prime minister also asked officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the country. The government has exempted all inter-state movement of oxygen tankers from registration of permits to enable easier movement, the PMO's statement said. Prime Minister Modi was informed that states and transporters have been asked to ensure tankers move round the clock with drivers working in shifts to ensure faster turnaround and adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand. Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted to work for 24 hours with necessary safeguards, the PMO said. The government is allowing industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging, it said. Similarly, nitrogen and argon tankers will be automatically allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to overcome the potential shortage of tankers. During the review, officials also briefed the prime minister about the efforts being made to import medical grade oxygen, the PMO said. India added a record 2,17,353 new coronavirus infections in a day taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,42,91,917, while active cases surpassed the 15-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

PM Modi calls for increasing production of medical grade oxygen

Backing India-developed Chabahar port's role as central to "development and prosperity" in the region, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said that the port is not against China or Pakistan's port Gwadar.

Gwadar is key to China's mega infrastructure project the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and provides connectivity to China's westernmost region to the Arabian Sea and West Asia. Gwadar is just 170 km away from Chabahar port.

Zarif, speaking at a virtual event, said, "We have made very clear to our Indian, Chinese friends that Chabahar is open for cooperation for everybody. Chabahar is not against China, is not against Gwadar. Chabahar is a place where we can all come together in order to help Afghanistan, help development and prosperity in the region."

He explained, "India is playing an active role in Chabahar. Chinese are interested in playing an active role elsewhere in Iran and also in Chabahar".

New Delhi is helping develop the Iranian port which has been playing an important role in connecting India with Afghanistan. Last year, India sent 75000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via the port to deal with any food scarcity that arose from the pandemic.&nbsp;

Highlighting the benefits of the port to Afghanistan, the Iranian foreign minister said, "If we provide Afghanistan transit opportunities through Chabahar, through elsewhere, to the international market...the unofficial economy will go away. That economy gives rise to drug trafficking, human trafficking."

Earlier this year, India sent four cranes for the port operations. Two more will be sent soon. The port is getting more interest, especially from central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

On the Afghan peace process and the issue of terror, the Iranian foreign minister said, "All of us have shared interest, share threats in Afghanistan. I think all of us need a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. An Afghanistan where terrorists have the freedom to operate is a threat to Iran, India, Pakistan, China, Central Asia, Russia, and a threat to the world. We have seen that in 2001, we have seen that in the murder of PM Benazir Bhutto".

Iran has been engaging with the Taliban in the Afghan peace process. &nbsp;On the Taliban, and its role in the peace process,, Zarif said, "An Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is an existential threat to Pakistan, national security threat to Iran and India. We have a similar area of common interest with our Pakistani friends, similarly with Tajik, Uzbek friends who are threatened by extremism."

He pointed that Tehran has had a "frank and open discussion with the Taliban" and his govt has told them that "it is a very different society, the different situation...we need to preserve what was achieved in Afghanistan, we cannot create a vacuum".

"A vacuum doesn't help the people of Afghanistan, it only draws in fighting, violence, civil war. We need to have a continuity," he added.

Backing India-developed Chabahar port's role as central to "development and prosperity" in the region, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said that the port is not against China or Pakistan's port Gwadar.

Backing India-developed Chabahar port's role as central to "development and prosperity" in the region, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said that the port is not against China or Pakistan's port Gwadar. Gwadar is key to China's mega infrastructure project the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and provides connectivity to China's westernmost region to the Arabian Sea and West Asia. Gwadar is just 170 km away from Chabahar port. Zarif, speaking at a virtual event, said, "We have made very clear to our Indian, Chinese friends that Chabahar is open for cooperation for everybody. Chabahar is not against China, is not against Gwadar. Chabahar is a place where we can all come together in order to help Afghanistan, help development and prosperity in the region." He explained, "India is playing an active role in Chabahar. Chinese are interested in playing an active role elsewhere in Iran and also in Chabahar". New Delhi is helping develop the Iranian port which has been playing an important role in connecting India with Afghanistan. Last year, India sent 75000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via the port to deal with any food scarcity that arose from the pandemic. Highlighting the benefits of the port to Afghanistan, the Iranian foreign minister said, "If we provide Afghanistan transit opportunities through Chabahar, through elsewhere, to the international market...the unofficial economy will go away. That economy gives rise to drug trafficking, human trafficking." Earlier this year, India sent four cranes for the port operations. Two more will be sent soon. The port is getting more interest, especially from central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. On the Afghan peace process and the issue of terror, the Iranian foreign minister said, "All of us have shared interest, share threats in Afghanistan. I think all of us need a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. An Afghanistan where terrorists have the freedom to operate is a threat to Iran, India, Pakistan, China, Central Asia, Russia, and a threat to the world. We have seen that in 2001, we have seen that in the murder of PM Benazir Bhutto". Iran has been engaging with the Taliban in the Afghan peace process. On the Taliban, and its role in the peace process,, Zarif said, "An Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is an existential threat to Pakistan, national security threat to Iran and India. We have a similar area of common interest with our Pakistani friends, similarly with Tajik, Uzbek friends who are threatened by extremism." He pointed that Tehran has had a "frank and open discussion with the Taliban" and his govt has told them that "it is a very different society, the different situation...we need to preserve what was achieved in Afghanistan, we cannot create a vacuum". "A vacuum doesn't help the people of Afghanistan, it only draws in fighting, violence, civil war. We need to have a continuity," he added.

Chabahar is not against China, Gwadar: Iranian foreign minister 

Against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden's announcement of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and India's NSA Ajit Doval spoke on Friday morning. This is the first-ever high-level engagement between the two sides and comes just two days after the announcement came from Washington.

Mohib, speaking at an event virtually, confirmed the call and said, "I spoke to Ajit Doval this morning about our views and shared what we think should go and happen".

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-troops-in-afghanistan-the-20-year-war-377951/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India supports "Afghan-led , Afghan-owned, and Afghan controlled" peace process. In the last two decades, since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in New York, New Delhi had emerged as the country's major development partner.&nbsp;

The Afghan NSA, speaking at the event, slammed Pakistan for its support to the Taliban. Without taking the country by name, he pointed out, "any further push means that there is direct involvement in, by a neighbour which can be very dangerous. Nationalistic forces in Afghanistan are very angry, upset over this."

Warning that If this "limit is passed, then I think, there would be a huge problem for the said neighbour in their country by all Afghans who are there and from within Afghanistan. There could be huge blowback which can be destructive for the neighbour".

In the past, Taliban top leadership like Mullah Baradar have been coming to Pakistan, and not only holding a meeting with foreign minister Qureshi and Pakistani Prime minister Imran Khan but also their fighters in the country. This has irked the Afghan government, which has strongly raised the matter with Islamabad.

On Taliban, he said, "Taliban has no reason to continue violence in Afghanistan, the reason, why they continued, are totally out the picture and its time they make real peace with Afghan govt, become part of the mainstream political society".

"They need to know, they can't take power by force, they can start a civil war but not come to power through that."

He expressed confidence in the capabilities of Afghan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSAF).

He said, "I see it as a time where Afghan take care of the full security situation in our country...Afghanistan doesn't need US combat troops on the ground, what we need is support to ANDSAF, which we have been told will continue."&nbsp;

Since 2014, ANDSAF has been in charge, and since the US Taliban pact of last year, 94 per cent&nbsp;of combat offensive operations have been done by them independently.

Dismissing the parallels in Afghanistan when it comes to the 1990s, Mohib said, "Afghanistan is not what it was, but one thing is for certain, those parallels do not reflect the realities of Afghanistan".

Against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden's announcement of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and India's NSA Ajit Doval spoke on Friday morning.

Against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden's announcement of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and India's NSA Ajit Doval spoke on Friday morning. This is the first-ever high-level engagement between the two sides and comes just two days after the announcement came from Washington. Mohib, speaking at an event virtually, confirmed the call and said, "I spoke to Ajit Doval this morning about our views and shared what we think should go and happen". Watch | India supports "Afghan-led , Afghan-owned, and Afghan controlled" peace process. In the last two decades, since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in New York, New Delhi had emerged as the country's major development partner. The Afghan NSA, speaking at the event, slammed Pakistan for its support to the Taliban. Without taking the country by name, he pointed out, "any further push means that there is direct involvement in, by a neighbour which can be very dangerous. Nationalistic forces in Afghanistan are very angry, upset over this." Warning that If this "limit is passed, then I think, there would be a huge problem for the said neighbour in their country by all Afghans who are there and from within Afghanistan. There could be huge blowback which can be destructive for the neighbour". In the past, Taliban top leadership like Mullah Baradar have been coming to Pakistan, and not only holding a meeting with foreign minister Qureshi and Pakistani Prime minister Imran Khan but also their fighters in the country. This has irked the Afghan government, which has strongly raised the matter with Islamabad. On Taliban, he said, "Taliban has no reason to continue violence in Afghanistan, the reason, why they continued, are totally out the picture and its time they make real peace with Afghan govt, become part of the mainstream political society". "They need to know, they can't take power by force, they can start a civil war but not come to power through that." He expressed confidence in the capabilities of Afghan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSAF). He said, "I see it as a time where Afghan take care of the full security situation in our country...Afghanistan doesn't need US combat troops on the ground, what we need is support to ANDSAF, which we have been told will continue." Since 2014, ANDSAF has been in charge, and since the US Taliban pact of last year, 94 per cent of combat offensive operations have been done by them independently. Dismissing the parallels in Afghanistan when it comes to the 1990s, Mohib said, "Afghanistan is not what it was, but one thing is for certain, those parallels do not reflect the realities of Afghanistan".

Afghan, Indian NSAs speak in the backdrop of Biden's announcement of troop withdrawal 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India from April 25 and is set to agree a 'Roadmap 2030' for re-energised India-UK relations across trade and investment and climate action, the Indian High Commission in London said on Thursday.

Earlier, Downing Street had confirmed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in India, Johnson has decided to shorten the length of his planned visit with the bulk of the programme now set to take place during the course of Monday, April 26.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-boris-johnson-shortens-india-visit-due-to-covid-19-377692/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

The visit, previously postponed from a Republic Day tour in January, is the first major bilateral visit for Johnson outside Europe since the UK general election in December 2019 and the conclusion of the Brexit transition period at the end of December 2020.

"The visit of PM Johnson is expected to positively transform the partnership across the wide-spectrum of issues and areas relating to Defence and Security, the Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean Region (WIOR), Trade and Investments, Health care, Climate Change and people-to-people connect," the High Commission of India in London said.

"India and UK are set to agree on a 'Roadmap 2030' for future relations. The 2030 vision is for revitalised and dynamic connect between people; re-energised trade, investment and technological collaboration; enhanced defence and security cooperation and closer engagement on regional issues including the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific. The India-UK Partnership in Climate Action, clean energy and health care is geared for mutual benefit and a better world,"&nbsp;it adds.

As part of the UK's post-Brexit Global Britain engagement as a non-member of the European Union (EU), all eyes have been on a proposed Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) with India which will pave the way for a full-fledged Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the future.

The ETP was expected to take firm shape during Johnson's visit this month but it remains to be seen how that progresses given the scaled-back programme.

"India-UK successful collaboration in the COVID-19 mitigation efforts over the last year has emerged as the silver lining in the bilateral relationship. Building upon the success achieved in the joint development, manufacture and distribution of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the visit will provide an opportunity to further consolidate the India-UK joint partnership in addressing future pandemics through health infrastructure development, joint investment in research and development of vaccines, swifter exchanges of healthcare professionals and strengthening existing institutional links/partnerships in the health sector,"&nbsp;the Indian High Commission said.

The last bilateral visit by a British Prime Minister to India took place in November 2016 when Theresa May met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks, a visit widely seen as unsuccessful largely from the point of view of Britain's perceived unwelcome visa stance towards Indian students and professionals at the time.

Johnson's visit, which has been repeatedly hit by COVID-19 pandemic constraints, is by contrast expected to deliver a "streamlined and liberalised regime" for the flow of people between the two countries.

Downing Street is yet to reveal a detailed itinerary of Johnson's truncated agenda but confirmed on Wednesday that it will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi and high-level ministerial as well as business talks.

"This programme will be focused on high level discussions with the Indian government and Indian business leaders. We'll set out more details in due course, but the visit will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi," Johnson's spokesperson at 10 Downing Street said.

The spokesperson said the Prime Minister took the decision to reduce the length of the visit to a shorter programme in New Delhi in light of the COVID situation in India and following discussions with the Indian government.

"As with all the Prime Minister's visits, his trip to India will prioritise the safety of those involved. All elements of the visit will be Covid secure,"&nbsp;the spokesperson said.

The visit comes in the wake of the UK's foreign policy vision for an Indo-Pacific tilt as part of its 'once-in-a-generation'&nbsp;Integrated Review released last month, with the India visit highlighted as a central plank of that strategy during its launch in the House of Commons.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India from April 25 and is set to agree a 'Roadmap 2030' for re-energised India-UK relations across trade and investment and climate action, the Indian High Commission in London said on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India from April 25 and is set to agree a 'Roadmap 2030' for re-energised India-UK relations across trade and investment and climate action, the Indian High Commission in London said on Thursday. Earlier, Downing Street had confirmed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in India, Johnson has decided to shorten the length of his planned visit with the bulk of the programme now set to take place during the course of Monday, April 26. Watch | The visit, previously postponed from a Republic Day tour in January, is the first major bilateral visit for Johnson outside Europe since the UK general election in December 2019 and the conclusion of the Brexit transition period at the end of December 2020. "The visit of PM Johnson is expected to positively transform the partnership across the wide-spectrum of issues and areas relating to Defence and Security, the Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean Region (WIOR), Trade and Investments, Health care, Climate Change and people-to-people connect," the High Commission of India in London said. "India and UK are set to agree on a 'Roadmap 2030' for future relations. The 2030 vision is for revitalised and dynamic connect between people; re-energised trade, investment and technological collaboration; enhanced defence and security cooperation and closer engagement on regional issues including the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific. The India-UK Partnership in Climate Action, clean energy and health care is geared for mutual benefit and a better world," it adds. As part of the UK's post-Brexit Global Britain engagement as a non-member of the European Union (EU), all eyes have been on a proposed Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) with India which will pave the way for a full-fledged Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the future. The ETP was expected to take firm shape during Johnson's visit this month but it remains to be seen how that progresses given the scaled-back programme. "India-UK successful collaboration in the COVID-19 mitigation efforts over the last year has emerged as the silver lining in the bilateral relationship. Building upon the success achieved in the joint development, manufacture and distribution of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the visit will provide an opportunity to further consolidate the India-UK joint partnership in addressing future pandemics through health infrastructure development, joint investment in research and development of vaccines, swifter exchanges of healthcare professionals and strengthening existing institutional links/partnerships in the health sector," the Indian High Commission said. The last bilateral visit by a British Prime Minister to India took place in November 2016 when Theresa May met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks, a visit widely seen as unsuccessful largely from the point of view of Britain's perceived unwelcome visa stance towards Indian students and professionals at the time. Johnson's visit, which has been repeatedly hit by COVID-19 pandemic constraints, is by contrast expected to deliver a "streamlined and liberalised regime" for the flow of people between the two countries. Downing Street is yet to reveal a detailed itinerary of Johnson's truncated agenda but confirmed on Wednesday that it will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi and high-level ministerial as well as business talks. "This programme will be focused on high level discussions with the Indian government and Indian business leaders. We'll set out more details in due course, but the visit will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi," Johnson's spokesperson at 10 Downing Street said. The spokesperson said the Prime Minister took the decision to reduce the length of the visit to a shorter programme in New Delhi in light of the COVID situation in India and following discussions with the Indian government. "As with all the Prime Minister's visits, his trip to India will prioritise the safety of those involved. All elements of the visit will be Covid secure," the spokesperson said. The visit comes in the wake of the UK's foreign policy vision for an Indo-Pacific tilt as part of its 'once-in-a-generation' Integrated Review released last month, with the India visit highlighted as a central plank of that strategy during its launch in the House of Commons.

Boris Johnson's India visit to finalise 'Roadmap 2030' for India-UK ties 

Nepal's Health Ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports that some Indian businessmen have received Chinese vaccines against the coronavirus in Kathmandu to be eligible for travelling to China.

Some media reports claimed that dozens of Indian businessmen flew from New Delhi to Kathmandu just to get the Chinese vaccine after Beijing made it mandatory for those wishing to visit China for business or study purposes to get vaccinated with the Chinese vaccines.

China has donated 800,000 doses of vaccines to Nepal.

There is no possibility of Indian businessmen getting the Chinese vaccines in Nepal as those wishing to get vaccinated must produce their identity before receiving the jab, said Ganesh Shrivastav, information officer at the Ministry of Health and Population.

"We have been regularly maintaining the record of those receiving vaccines against COVID-19, so there is no possibility of someone getting vaccinated without disclosing their identity,"&nbsp;he told PTI.

Srivastav said that he has clarified the issue to Indian authorities.&nbsp;

Nepal's Health Ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports that some Indian businessmen have received Chinese vaccines against the coronavirus in Kathmandu to be eligible for travelling to China.

Nepal's Health Ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports that some Indian businessmen have received Chinese vaccines against the coronavirus in Kathmandu to be eligible for travelling to China. Some media reports claimed that dozens of Indian businessmen flew from New Delhi to Kathmandu just to get the Chinese vaccine after Beijing made it mandatory for those wishing to visit China for business or study purposes to get vaccinated with the Chinese vaccines. China has donated 800,000 doses of vaccines to Nepal. There is no possibility of Indian businessmen getting the Chinese vaccines in Nepal as those wishing to get vaccinated must produce their identity before receiving the jab, said Ganesh Shrivastav, information officer at the Ministry of Health and Population. "We have been regularly maintaining the record of those receiving vaccines against COVID-19, so there is no possibility of someone getting vaccinated without disclosing their identity," he told PTI. Srivastav said that he has clarified the issue to Indian authorities.

Nepal rejects reports of Indian businessmen getting Chinese vaccines in Kathmandu

With many states reporting a shortage of vaccines, the Indian government has decided to fast-track foreign-made jabs. How long before they reach India? Do foreign jabs hold the key to India's vaccination drive? WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: India's evolving vaccine strategy

Delhi Chief Minister&nbsp;Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital.

All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders.

"I had a meeting with L-G (&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor). We have decided to impose a weekend curfew in Delhi. This is because people generally go out for work on weekdays and entertainment on weekends. So to break the chain, we are imposing a weekend curfew, exempting essential services," Kejriwal said.

However, keeping in mind that essential services do not get affected by the decision, the state government has given exemption in certain categories.

What's allowed:

Essential services to operate with curfew passes.

Interstate transport to continue.

Wedding guests in the permissible limit can apply for passes for movement.&nbsp;

No pass required for movement for medical purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Movie shows are allowed to operate at 30% of seating capacity.

Traveller movement allowed but need to show passes.

Only one weekly market will be allowed each day per zone.

Home delivery of food is allowed.

What's not allowed:

Markets, malls, gyms, spas, auditoriums, and swimming pools to remain shut &nbsp;

Work from home in all private offices.

No dine-in restaurants, only take-aways.&nbsp;

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital. All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital. All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders. "I had a meeting with L-G ( Lieutenant Governor). We have decided to impose a weekend curfew in Delhi. This is because people generally go out for work on weekdays and entertainment on weekends. So to break the chain, we are imposing a weekend curfew, exempting essential services," Kejriwal said. However, keeping in mind that essential services do not get affected by the decision, the state government has given exemption in certain categories. What's allowed: Essential services to operate with curfew passes. Interstate transport to continue. Wedding guests in the permissible limit can apply for passes for movement. No pass required for movement for medical purposes. Movie shows are allowed to operate at 30% of seating capacity. Traveller movement allowed but need to show passes. Only one weekly market will be allowed each day per zone. Home delivery of food is allowed. What's not allowed: Markets, malls, gyms, spas, auditoriums, and swimming pools to remain shut Work from home in all private offices. No dine-in restaurants, only take-aways.

COVID-19: Delhi CM announces weekend curfew: Timings, what's open, what's closed and guidelines

As fresh infections surge, India has decided to fast track approvals for foreign vaccines. What does this mean? How soon can Indians get more shots? WION's Palki Sharma tells you all that you need to know - with 10 questions and answers.

Gravitas: India fast-tracks approvals for foreign vaccines

india

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news