US Secretary of State in frosty exchange with Chinese State Councillor in Beijing

The US is not interested in regime change in Tehran, but wants it to change its behaviour and stop continuing with their terror threats to the world, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday as he described Iran as the world's "largest state sponsor of terror".

Earlier this year, the Trump administration had withdrawn from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed a series of tough sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

While the first phase of sanctions is already in place, the sanctions would come into full force on November 4 and the US expects all countries, including India, to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero by then.

"We have made very clear that regime change is not President (Donald) Trump's policy. We've laid out what it is we want from the Islamic Republic of Iran," Pompeo told MSNBC in an interview.

The demand from the US, he said, is pretty straightforward.&nbsp;

"For starters, stop launching missiles into Riyadh, arming Hizbollah, and threatening Israel. How about ceasing to be the world's largest state sponsor of terror. These are simple demands that we make of every country in the world, and that's what we are looking for from Iran as well," Pompeo said.

"When the Islamic regime makes that change, we'll be happy to have a conversation with them. President Trump's made that very clear. But there's no signs that they're backing off continuing their terror threats around the world," he said.

In another interview with CNN, Pompeo alleged that Iran has been confronting the world as the world's largest state sponsor of terror for quite some time.

"They have armed militias the Lebanese Hizbollah, Kata'ib Hizballah, and militias in Iraq. They are arming the Houthis in Yemen, launching missiles into the Gulf states. The US has begun to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran to prevent them from doing this. That's our mission," he said.

The Trump administration, he said, has told the Islamic Republic of Iran that using a proxy force to attack an American interest will not prevent US from responding against the prime actor.&nbsp;

"That is, we will not let Iran get away with using a proxy force to attack an American interest. Iran will be held accountable for those incidents," he said.

Pompeo said that Iran is going to be held accountable for those acts. "If they're responsible for the arming and training of these militias, we're going to go to the source," he said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be the world's largest state sponsor of terror," Pompeo told Fox News in another interview.

"We are determined to stop that behaviour and to change the way the Iranian regime inflicts horrors all around the world," he said.&nbsp;

A good piece of that was President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which to him made no sense whatsoever, to begin to reimpose costs on Iran so that they don't have the wealth, the contacts around the world, and the capacity to inflict harm on the American people and others around the world.&nbsp;

"We're looking for our European partners to join us, but we have a big coalition that understands that these sanctions make sense and will continue to assist us in enforcing them," Pompeo told Fox News.

The US is not interested in regime change in Tehran, but wants it to change its behaviour and stop continuing with their terror threats to the world, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday as he described Iran as the world's "largest state sponsor of terror".

The US is not interested in regime change in Tehran, but wants it to change its behaviour and stop continuing with their terror threats to the world, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday as he described Iran as the world's "largest state sponsor of terror". Earlier this year, the Trump administration had withdrawn from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed a series of tough sanctions on Iran. While the first phase of sanctions is already in place, the sanctions would come into full force on November 4 and the US expects all countries, including India, to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero by then. "We have made very clear that regime change is not President (Donald) Trump's policy. We've laid out what it is we want from the Islamic Republic of Iran," Pompeo told MSNBC in an interview. The demand from the US, he said, is pretty straightforward. "For starters, stop launching missiles into Riyadh, arming Hizbollah, and threatening Israel. How about ceasing to be the world's largest state sponsor of terror. These are simple demands that we make of every country in the world, and that's what we are looking for from Iran as well," Pompeo said. "When the Islamic regime makes that change, we'll be happy to have a conversation with them. President Trump's made that very clear. But there's no signs that they're backing off continuing their terror threats around the world," he said. In another interview with CNN, Pompeo alleged that Iran has been confronting the world as the world's largest state sponsor of terror for quite some time. "They have armed militias the Lebanese Hizbollah, Kata'ib Hizballah, and militias in Iraq. They are arming the Houthis in Yemen, launching missiles into the Gulf states. The US has begun to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran to prevent them from doing this. That's our mission," he said. The Trump administration, he said, has told the Islamic Republic of Iran that using a proxy force to attack an American interest will not prevent US from responding against the prime actor. "That is, we will not let Iran get away with using a proxy force to attack an American interest. Iran will be held accountable for those incidents," he said. Pompeo said that Iran is going to be held accountable for those acts. "If they're responsible for the arming and training of these militias, we're going to go to the source," he said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be the world's largest state sponsor of terror," Pompeo told Fox News in another interview. "We are determined to stop that behaviour and to change the way the Iranian regime inflicts horrors all around the world," he said. A good piece of that was President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which to him made no sense whatsoever, to begin to reimpose costs on Iran so that they don't have the wealth, the contacts around the world, and the capacity to inflict harm on the American people and others around the world. "We're looking for our European partners to join us, but we have a big coalition that understands that these sanctions make sense and will continue to assist us in enforcing them," Pompeo told Fox News.

Not interested in regime change but want Iran to change its behaviour: Pompeo

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that three Americans detained by North Korea have been released and are on their way home with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-chief-diplomat-heading-to-pyongyang-to-prepare-summit-informs-president-trump-135590">Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a>.

"I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.

Trump said he will greet Pompeo and the Americans when they land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) Thursday morning. "Very exciting!" he wrote on Twitter.

The fate of Korean-Americans Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul had been among a number of delicate issues in the run-up to the first-ever meeting of US&nbsp;and North Korean leaders.

Trump sent Pompeo to Pyongyang to accompany the men home following US calls for Kim to free them as a gesture of goodwill and sincerity before the US-North Korea meeting, which is expected to take place in late May or early June.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Secretary Pompeo and his “guests” will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 A.M. in the morning. I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/994194233111273472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Trump said he will greet Pompeo and the Americans when they land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) Thursday morning. 'Very exciting!' he wrote on Twitter

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that three Americans detained by North Korea have been released and are on their way home with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. Trump said he will greet Pompeo and the Americans when they land at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) Thursday morning. "Very exciting!" he wrote on Twitter. The fate of Korean-Americans Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul had been among a number of delicate issues in the run-up to the first-ever meeting of US and North Korean leaders. Trump sent Pompeo to Pyongyang to accompany the men home following US calls for Kim to free them as a gesture of goodwill and sincerity before the US-North Korea meeting, which is expected to take place in late May or early June. Secretary Pompeo and his “guests” will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 A.M. in the morning. I will be there to greet them. Very exciting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018 ×

Pompeo returning from North Korea with three US detainees: Trump

The US Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump's secretary of state on Thursday, putting the former CIA director in a pivotal role to handle U.S. foreign policy challenges such as North Korea and Iran.

Pompeo, a former Army officer who was a Republican congressman, is regarded as a Trump loyalist with hawkish world views.

He is already deeply involved in diplomacy. Trump sent Pompeo to North Korea three weeks ago to meet with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, ahead of a summit with the U.S. president to address Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Senators voted 57-42 in favour of Pompeo, who had faced stiff resistance from Democrats worried about his reputation for hawkishness and past harsh statements about homosexuality and Islam.

Pompeo will be forced quickly to address a wide array of other international challenges, including long conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Chinese expansionism in Asia and Russian assertiveness.

Washington is also working with European allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to decide whether to toughen an international nuclear agreement with Iran.

Pompeo narrowly avoided a historic rebuke by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Pompeo, who became one of Trump's closest advisers during his 15 months at the CIA, faced stiff opposition from Democrats, who worried he might be too closely aligned with the president.

While in Congress, Pompeo was an outspoken opponent of the Iran nuclear accord.

But he said during his confirmation hearing that he was open to fixing, rather than blowing apart, the pact, which the West believes is key to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear bomb.

Trump picked the CIA's deputy director, Gina Haspel, to replace Pompeo as head of the spy agency. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the first woman to hold the post.

Pompeo avoided being the first nominee for secretary of state ever rejected by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee only when Republican Senator Rand Paul, who had vowed to oppose him, announced his support minutes before the committee voted on Monday after pressure from the party.

While in Congress, Pompeo was an outspoken opponent of the Iran nuclear accord.

The US Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump's secretary of state on Thursday, putting the former CIA director in a pivotal role to handle U.S. foreign policy challenges such as North Korea and Iran. Pompeo, a former Army officer who was a Republican congressman, is regarded as a Trump loyalist with hawkish world views. He is already deeply involved in diplomacy. Trump sent Pompeo to North Korea three weeks ago to meet with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, ahead of a summit with the U.S. president to address Pyongyang's nuclear program. Senators voted 57-42 in favour of Pompeo, who had faced stiff resistance from Democrats worried about his reputation for hawkishness and past harsh statements about homosexuality and Islam. Pompeo will be forced quickly to address a wide array of other international challenges, including long conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Chinese expansionism in Asia and Russian assertiveness. Washington is also working with European allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to decide whether to toughen an international nuclear agreement with Iran. Pompeo narrowly avoided a historic rebuke by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Pompeo, who became one of Trump's closest advisers during his 15 months at the CIA, faced stiff opposition from Democrats, who worried he might be too closely aligned with the president. While in Congress, Pompeo was an outspoken opponent of the Iran nuclear accord. But he said during his confirmation hearing that he was open to fixing, rather than blowing apart, the pact, which the West believes is key to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Trump picked the CIA's deputy director, Gina Haspel, to replace Pompeo as head of the spy agency. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the first woman to hold the post. Pompeo avoided being the first nominee for secretary of state ever rejected by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee only when Republican Senator Rand Paul, who had vowed to oppose him, announced his support minutes before the committee voted on Monday after pressure from the party.

US Senate confirms Mike Pompeo as US secretary of state

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that Rex Tillerson`s firing as US secretary of state did not come up during his talks overseas this week, describing interest in the issue as largely a &quot;Washington, DC, story.&rdquo;&nbsp;

In his first public remarks on the matter since President Donald Trump announced Tillerson`s dismissal on Tuesday, Mattis, who had forged a close working relationship with Tillerson, said allies understood that ties with the United States were deeper than with any one individual.&nbsp;

&quot;This issue has not even come up, other than with you all(in the media) &ndash; and I understand why you`re asking,&quot; Mattis told reporters as he flew back to Washington from the Gulf nation of Bahrain. He had also travelled to Afghanistan since Tillerson&rsquo;s firing.&nbsp;

&quot;But I`m just pointing out that in most parts of the world, this is a Washington, DC, story.&quot;&nbsp;

Reuters has reported that differences over how to deal with North Korea`s nuclear challenge were a key factor in Trump`s decision to replace Tillerson as America`s top diplomat. Trump nominated Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to take the job.

Mattis had made no secret of his strong rapport with Tillerson, saying in January that the two had breakfast every week together and communicated frequently - sometimes two or three times a day.&nbsp;

The goal was to hammer out a consensus on key issues before addressing them to the White House.&nbsp;

&quot;We settle all of our issues between he and I, and then we walk together into the White House meetings. That way, State and Defense are together,&quot; Mattis said at the time.&nbsp;

It was unclear whether Mattis, a retired Marine general, would be able to forge as strong a relationship with Pompeo.&nbsp;

Mattis declined to comment on when he learned of Tillerson`s dismissal and did not offer any personal thoughts about it, other than to say it was not discussed in his past two days of conversations with Bahrain`s leaders and NATO`s envoy to Afghanistan and multiple town hall-style gatherings with US troops.&nbsp;

&quot;The durability of our relations with these countries, with the United States having very strong institutions, go beyond personalities,&quot; Mattis said.&nbsp;

Mattis suggested that cooperation with allies was unshaken by the dismissal.&nbsp;

&quot;It`s not about whether or not the United States is still an ally to the countries I`ve been in or the countries I`ve been talking to,&quot; Mattis said.&nbsp;

&quot;I`ve signed letters while I`ve been out here, the normal coordination. ... The work goes on.&quot;

Mattis said on Thursday that Rex Tillerson`s firing as US secretary of state did not come up during his talks overseas this week

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that Rex Tillerson`s firing as US secretary of state did not come up during his talks overseas this week, describing interest in the issue as largely a "Washington, DC, story.” In his first public remarks on the matter since President Donald Trump announced Tillerson`s dismissal on Tuesday, Mattis, who had forged a close working relationship with Tillerson, said allies understood that ties with the United States were deeper than with any one individual. "This issue has not even come up, other than with you all(in the media) – and I understand why you`re asking," Mattis told reporters as he flew back to Washington from the Gulf nation of Bahrain. He had also travelled to Afghanistan since Tillerson’s firing. "But I`m just pointing out that in most parts of the world, this is a Washington, DC, story." Reuters has reported that differences over how to deal with North Korea`s nuclear challenge were a key factor in Trump`s decision to replace Tillerson as America`s top diplomat. Trump nominated Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to take the job. Mattis had made no secret of his strong rapport with Tillerson, saying in January that the two had breakfast every week together and communicated frequently - sometimes two or three times a day. The goal was to hammer out a consensus on key issues before addressing them to the White House. "We settle all of our issues between he and I, and then we walk together into the White House meetings. That way, State and Defense are together," Mattis said at the time. It was unclear whether Mattis, a retired Marine general, would be able to forge as strong a relationship with Pompeo. Mattis declined to comment on when he learned of Tillerson`s dismissal and did not offer any personal thoughts about it, other than to say it was not discussed in his past two days of conversations with Bahrain`s leaders and NATO`s envoy to Afghanistan and multiple town hall-style gatherings with US troops. "The durability of our relations with these countries, with the United States having very strong institutions, go beyond personalities," Mattis said. Mattis suggested that cooperation with allies was unshaken by the dismissal. "It`s not about whether or not the United States is still an ally to the countries I`ve been in or the countries I`ve been talking to," Mattis said. "I`ve signed letters while I`ve been out here, the normal coordination. ... The work goes on."

Tillerson firing a 'Washington DC story', says Mattis

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday the United States supports Egypt&#39;s fight against Islamic State but reiterated that it advocated free and fair elections in the Arab country.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Tillerson also said that Washington remained committed to achieving a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, despite President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

Tillerson arrived in Egypt at the start of a regional tour amid heightened tensions between Israel and Syria after an Israeli F-16 aircraft was shot down. It also follows a major security operation by the Egyptian military to crush Islamist militants who have killed hundreds of people since 2013.

&quot;We agreed we would continue our close cooperation on counterterrorism measures,&quot; Tillerson said.

&quot;The Egyptian people should be confident that the US commitment to continue to support Egypt in fight against terrorism and bringing security to Egyptian people is steadfast.&quot;

The Egyptian military campaign comes ahead of presidential election in March, in which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is seeking a second term in office.

Asked about the Tillerson said the United States supports a credible, transparent election in Egypt and Libya.

&quot;We have always advocated for free and fair elections, transparent elections not just in Egypt but in any country,&quot; Tillerson said.

&quot;The US is always going to advocate for electoral process that respects rights of citizens,&quot; he told journalists, adding that the United States was also keen to continue supporting Egypt in its economic recovery. 
&nbsp;

Tillerson also said that Washington remained committed to achieving a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, despite President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday the United States supports Egypt's fight against Islamic State but reiterated that it advocated free and fair elections in the Arab country. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Tillerson also said that Washington remained committed to achieving a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, despite President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Tillerson arrived in Egypt at the start of a regional tour amid heightened tensions between Israel and Syria after an Israeli F-16 aircraft was shot down. It also follows a major security operation by the Egyptian military to crush Islamist militants who have killed hundreds of people since 2013. "We agreed we would continue our close cooperation on counterterrorism measures," Tillerson said. "The Egyptian people should be confident that the US commitment to continue to support Egypt in fight against terrorism and bringing security to Egyptian people is steadfast." The Egyptian military campaign comes ahead of presidential election in March, in which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is seeking a second term in office. Asked about the Tillerson said the United States supports a credible, transparent election in Egypt and Libya. "We have always advocated for free and fair elections, transparent elections not just in Egypt but in any country," Tillerson said. "The US is always going to advocate for electoral process that respects rights of citizens," he told journalists, adding that the United States was also keen to continue supporting Egypt in its economic recovery.

US Secretary of State says Washington backs Egypt in fight against terrorism

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that too many terror groups were finding safe haven in Pakistan -- which is now threatening the stability of the Pakistani government.&nbsp;

Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj were making a joint press statement in New Delhi.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan which is now threatening stability of the Pak govt: Rex Tillerson,US Secy of State
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/923105462584721408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/923101428255559681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Tillerson added that he had had a &quot;very open, frank exchange&quot; with Pakistan&#39;s leaders in Islamabad on Tuesday, and that he had conveyed to them the US&#39;s expectations.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-tells-tillerson-it-has-produced-results-in-fighting-terrorism-22846" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Pakistan PM tells Tillerson it has &#39;produced results&#39; in fighting terrorism</a>

&quot;Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated,&quot; Tillerson said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

But he added that the US wanted to work with Pakistan &quot;in a positive way as we think this is&nbsp;in their interest in the long term&quot;.&nbsp;

Tillerson was, on the contrary, full of praise for India.&nbsp;

India and the US, he said, were &quot;natural allies&quot;. And that they stand &quot;shoulder-to-shoulder against terror&quot;.&nbsp;

He added that India was crucial to the US strategy in Afghanistan and that they &quot;back India as a leader in the region&quot;.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she was happy &quot;our defence and strategic relations have deepened&quot; after Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s US visit.&nbsp;

And that &quot;recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this&quot;.&nbsp;

She added that President Trump&#39;s policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action against terror groups.&nbsp;

Swaraj also added that an India-US-Afghanistan trilateral meeting will be held in December: EAM Swaraj

Swaraj said she had also discussed the H1B visa issue -- and the &quot;important contribution of Indians working in the US on the visa -- with Tillerson.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa: EAM Swaraj after meeting with Rex Tillerson
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/923100617064640512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

US President Donald Trump has clamped down on the visa. Most Indians in the US are there on the H1B.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-will-not-allow-h1b-visa-holders-to-replace-us-workers-9979" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Trump says will not allow H1B visa holders to replace US workers</a>

Swaraj also indicated that India was toeing the US line on North Korea.&nbsp;

&quot;Our trade with North Korea has reduced a lot and our embassy there is very small,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

The US had recently decreed that firms that do business with North Korea will not be allowed to do business with the US.&nbsp;

Swaraj did add however that she had told Tillerson that some nations friendly with the US must have an embassy in North Korea, making at least some communication possible.&nbsp;

Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj were making a joint press statement in New Delhi

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that too many terror groups were finding safe haven in Pakistan -- which is now threatening the stability of the Pakistani government. Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj were making a joint press statement in New Delhi. Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan which is now threatening stability of the Pak govt: Rex Tillerson,US Secy of State — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017 × Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017 × Tillerson added that he had had a "very open, frank exchange" with Pakistan's leaders in Islamabad on Tuesday, and that he had conveyed to them the US's expectations. Also read: Pakistan PM tells Tillerson it has 'produced results' in fighting terrorism "Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated," Tillerson said on Wednesday. But he added that the US wanted to work with Pakistan "in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the long term". Tillerson was, on the contrary, full of praise for India. India and the US, he said, were "natural allies". And that they stand "shoulder-to-shoulder against terror". He added that India was crucial to the US strategy in Afghanistan and that they "back India as a leader in the region". External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she was happy "our defence and strategic relations have deepened" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit. And that "recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this". She added that President Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action against terror groups. Swaraj also added that an India-US-Afghanistan trilateral meeting will be held in December: EAM Swaraj Swaraj said she had also discussed the H1B visa issue -- and the "important contribution of Indians working in the US on the visa -- with Tillerson. We also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa: EAM Swaraj after meeting with Rex Tillerson — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017 × US President Donald Trump has clamped down on the visa. Most Indians in the US are there on the H1B. Also read: Trump says will not allow H1B visa holders to replace US workers Swaraj also indicated that India was toeing the US line on North Korea. "Our trade with North Korea has reduced a lot and our embassy there is very small," she said. The US had recently decreed that firms that do business with North Korea will not be allowed to do business with the US. Swaraj did add however that she had told Tillerson that some nations friendly with the US must have an embassy in North Korea, making at least some communication possible.

Too many terror groups finding safe haven in Pak: Tillerson

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a frosty welcome to Pakistan Tuesday after Washington turned up the heat on Islamabad for allegedly providing &quot;safe havens&quot; for Taliban militants.

America&#39;s top diplomat was quietly greeted by a mid-level Pakistani Foreign Office official at the military airport in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, an AFP photographer saw -- a welcome devoid of the pomp that usually marks high-level visits.

He was then driven in a convoy of Land Cruisers amid tight security to the US embassy in Islamabad&#39;s diplomatic enclave, before scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the powerful military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The secretary&#39;s visit, the first to nuclear-armed Pakistan by a senior Trump administration official, comes months after the US President angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring &quot;agents of chaos&quot; who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.&nbsp;

It follows on the heels of an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America&#39;s commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made &quot;very specific requests&quot; of Pakistan seeking to &quot;undermine the support that the Taliban receives&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ahead-of-islamabad-visit-today-tillerson-talks-tough-on-paks-safe-haven-to-terrorists-22786" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Tillerson talks tough on Pak&#39;s &#39;safe haven to terrorists&#39;</a>

Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militant groups including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan&#39;s shadowy military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks.

During his brief visit to Afghanistan&#39;s Bagram air base Monday, Tillerson told reporters Pakistan needs to &quot;take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside&quot; the country.

US and Pakistani sources say his visit to Islamabad will be followed later in the year by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to send a tough message to the wayward Cold War ally.

No pleasing the US? 
The US-Pakistan relationship has waxed and waned dramatically since Trump took office in January.

Pakistan said the President had praised its then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif as &quot;terrific&quot; in an effusive phone call when Trump took office in January.

But Trump&#39;s blistering speech in August accusing Pakistan of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting the US took no account of the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism.

Following the August speech, Tillerson cautioned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued providing support to Afghan militant groups.

As one of 16 &quot;Non-NATO Major Allies&quot;, Pakistan benefits from billions of dollars in aid and has access to advanced US military technology banned from other countries.

However political analyst Zahid Hussain said there may be little Islamabad can do at this point to convince the US that it had prevented militants from using its territory to target forces in Afghanistan.

&quot;I think they would like to assure to the Americans that they are sincere and they are taking action against some of the groups,&quot; Hussain told AFP.

&quot;The perception here is whatever they do, it is not going to please the Americans.&quot;

Earlier this month Pakistani forces acting on American intelligence rescued a US-Canadian family which had been in Taliban captivity for five years, sparking hopes that ties were on the mend.&nbsp;

The rescue was followed by a series of drone strikes on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border targeting long-time foes of both Washington and Islamabad.

The US has vowed to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already deployed there, to train and advise Afghan troops and police as part of a new strategy outlined by the administration.

Tillerson had warned on Monday that Washington has made 'very specific requests' of Pakistan seeking to 'undermine the support that the Taliban receives'

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a frosty welcome to Pakistan Tuesday after Washington turned up the heat on Islamabad for allegedly providing "safe havens" for Taliban militants. America's top diplomat was quietly greeted by a mid-level Pakistani Foreign Office official at the military airport in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, an AFP photographer saw -- a welcome devoid of the pomp that usually marks high-level visits. He was then driven in a convoy of Land Cruisers amid tight security to the US embassy in Islamabad's diplomatic enclave, before scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the powerful military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The secretary's visit, the first to nuclear-armed Pakistan by a senior Trump administration official, comes months after the US President angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. It follows on the heels of an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America's commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan seeking to "undermine the support that the Taliban receives". Also read: Tillerson talks tough on Pak's 'safe haven to terrorists' Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militant groups including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks. During his brief visit to Afghanistan's Bagram air base Monday, Tillerson told reporters Pakistan needs to "take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside" the country. US and Pakistani sources say his visit to Islamabad will be followed later in the year by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to send a tough message to the wayward Cold War ally. No pleasing the US? The US-Pakistan relationship has waxed and waned dramatically since Trump took office in January. Pakistan said the President had praised its then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif as "terrific" in an effusive phone call when Trump took office in January. But Trump's blistering speech in August accusing Pakistan of harbouring militants saw Islamabad angrily hit back at the claims, insisting the US took no account of the thousands of lives lost and billions spent in fighting extremism. Following the August speech, Tillerson cautioned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continued providing support to Afghan militant groups. As one of 16 "Non-NATO Major Allies", Pakistan benefits from billions of dollars in aid and has access to advanced US military technology banned from other countries. However political analyst Zahid Hussain said there may be little Islamabad can do at this point to convince the US that it had prevented militants from using its territory to target forces in Afghanistan. "I think they would like to assure to the Americans that they are sincere and they are taking action against some of the groups," Hussain told AFP. "The perception here is whatever they do, it is not going to please the Americans." Earlier this month Pakistani forces acting on American intelligence rescued a US-Canadian family which had been in Taliban captivity for five years, sparking hopes that ties were on the mend. The rescue was followed by a series of drone strikes on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border targeting long-time foes of both Washington and Islamabad. The US has vowed to send more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, on top of the 11,000 already deployed there, to train and advise Afghan troops and police as part of a new strategy outlined by the administration.

Tillerson gets frosty welcome in Pak after warning over Taliban safe havens

China said Thursday the United States should &quot;abandon its biased <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/india-must-take-leadership-role-in-regional-security-tillerson-22611">views&quot; towards the country, as it hit back at cutting remarks made</a> by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Ahead of his visit to India next week, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-pledges-to-build-modern-socialist-country-ruled-by-party-but-open-to-world-22592">President Donald Trump&#39;s top diplomat stated the US preference</a> to work with New Delhi over Beijing during the next century to promote a &quot;free and open&quot; Asia-Pacific region led by prosperous democracies.

The speech was perceived as a warning to the world&#39;s second-largest economy that Washington will build regional alliances to counter Beijing&#39;s ever-growing power.

Tillerson also took the opportunity to compare China with its giant neighbour and criticised Beijing for its &quot;provocative actions&quot; in the South China Sea.

&quot;China, while rising alongside India, has done so less responsibly, at times undermining the international, rules-based order,&quot; the US diplomat said.

Beijing responded Thursday by saying that America was biased.

&quot;We hope the US side can look at China&#39;s development and role in the international community in an objective way, and abandon its biased views of China,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular press briefing.

&quot;Based on the purposes and principles of the UN charter, we will firmly uphold multilateralism, yet we will also firmly safeguard our own rights and interests.&quot;

Tillerson&#39;s comments were seen as particularly provocative as they came the same day that China&#39;s ruling Communist Party opened its 19th National Congress -- a twice-a-decade meeting of party delegates expected to give President Xi Jinping a second five-year term and consolidate his already formidable power.

They also followed a months-long military standoff between China and India in a disputed Himalayan border area in the summer.

Tillerson did not directly address the stand-off but vowed that Washington &quot;won&#39;t shrink from China&#39;s challenges to the rules-based order, or where China subverts the sovereignty of neighbouring countries&quot;.

Trump is due to visit Beijing next month.

 
&nbsp;

Ahead of his visit to India next week, President Donald Trump's top diplomat stated the US preference to work with New Delhi over Beijing during the next century to promote a "free and open" Asia-Pacific region led by prosperous democracies.

China said Thursday the United States should "abandon its biased views" towards the country, as it hit back at cutting remarks made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Ahead of his visit to India next week, President Donald Trump's top diplomat stated the US preference to work with New Delhi over Beijing during the next century to promote a "free and open" Asia-Pacific region led by prosperous democracies. The speech was perceived as a warning to the world's second-largest economy that Washington will build regional alliances to counter Beijing's ever-growing power. Tillerson also took the opportunity to compare China with its giant neighbour and criticised Beijing for its "provocative actions" in the South China Sea. "China, while rising alongside India, has done so less responsibly, at times undermining the international, rules-based order," the US diplomat said. Beijing responded Thursday by saying that America was biased. "We hope the US side can look at China's development and role in the international community in an objective way, and abandon its biased views of China," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular press briefing. "Based on the purposes and principles of the UN charter, we will firmly uphold multilateralism, yet we will also firmly safeguard our own rights and interests." Tillerson's comments were seen as particularly provocative as they came the same day that China's ruling Communist Party opened its 19th National Congress -- a twice-a-decade meeting of party delegates expected to give President Xi Jinping a second five-year term and consolidate his already formidable power. They also followed a months-long military standoff between China and India in a disputed Himalayan border area in the summer. Tillerson did not directly address the stand-off but vowed that Washington "won't shrink from China's challenges to the rules-based order, or where China subverts the sovereignty of neighbouring countries". Trump is due to visit Beijing next month.

China hits back at US over Rex Tillerson's remark

In a highly unusual intervention, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to remove Iraq and Myanmar from a US&nbsp;list of the world&#39;s worst offenders in the use of child soldiers, disregarding the recommendations of State Department experts and senior US&nbsp;diplomats, US&nbsp;officials said.

The decision, confirmed by three US&nbsp;officials, would break with longstanding protocol at the State Department over how to identify offending countries and could prompt accusations the Trump administration is prioritising security and diplomatic interests ahead of human rights.

Tillerson overruled his own staff&rsquo;s assessments on the use of child soldiers in both countries and rejected the recommendation of senior diplomats in Asia and the Middle East who wanted to keep Iraq and Myanmar on the list, said the officials, who have knowledge of the internal deliberations.

Tillerson also rejected an internal State Department proposal to add Afghanistan to the list, the three US&nbsp;officials said.

One official said the decisions appeared to have been made following pressure from the Pentagon to avoid complicating assistance to the Iraqi and Afghan militaries, close US&nbsp;allies in the fight against Islamist militants. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Foreign militaries on the list can face sanctions including a prohibition on receiving US&nbsp;military aid, training and US-made weapons unless the White House issues a waiver.

Human rights officials expressed surprise at the delisting, which was expected to be announced on Tuesday, the officials said, as part of the State Department&#39;s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

A State Department official said the TIP report&#39;s contents were being kept under wraps until its release and the department &quot;does not discuss details of internal deliberations.&quot;

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008, the US&nbsp;government must be satisfied that &quot;no children are recruited, conscripted or otherwise compelled to serve as child soldiers&quot; in order for a country to be removed from the list and US&nbsp;military assistance to resume.

In the lead-up to Tuesday&#39;s report, the State Department&#39;s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which researches the issue and helps shape US&nbsp;policy on it, along with its legal office and diplomatic bureaus in Asia and the Middle East concluded that the evidence merited keeping both countries on the list, the officials said.

Officials said that although the report had been finalised there was always the possibility of last-minute changes.

Betraying Children

Human Rights Watch said removing Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, from the list would be a &quot;completely premature and disastrous action that will effectively betray more children to continued servitude and rights abuses.&quot;

The decision also would put the Trump administration at odds with the United Nations, which continues to list the Myanmar military, along with seven ethnic armed groups, on its list of entities using and recruiting child soldiers.

&quot;What&#39;s particularly astonishing is this move ignores that the U.N. in Burma says that it is still receiving new cases of children being recruited&quot; by the Myanmar military, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Rights groups have long accused Myanmar of using child soldiers. Bordering both China and India, Myanmar is also of growing strategic importance to the United States at a time of increasing encroachment in the region by China, which has sought closer relations with its neighbour.

Iraq, which has received more than $2 billion in US&nbsp;arms and training over the last three years, was added to the State Department&rsquo;s &quot;Child Soldier Prevention Act List&quot; in 2016. However, the flow of US assistance has continued.

Former President Barack Obama handed out full or partial waivers regularly, including last year to Iraq, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan and others out of 10 countries on the list.

Last year&#39;s State Department report said some militias of Iraq&#39;s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Shi&#39;ite Muslim factions with ties to the Iraqi government and backed by Iran, &quot;recruited and used child soldiers.&quot;

The report said that despite the PMF being funded by the government, Baghdad struggled to control all of its factions.

&quot;The government did not hold anyone accountable for child recruitment and use by the PMF and PMF-affiliated militias.&quot;

Human Rights Watch said in January that it had learned that militias had been recruiting child soldiers from one Iraqi refugee camp since last spring.

The broader TIP report, the first of Trump&#39;s presidency, is sure to be closely scrutinised for further signs that under his &quot;America First&quot; approach there will be little pressure brought to bear on friendly governments, especially strategically important ones, for human rights violations at home.

The Obama administration, while more vocal about political repression around the world, also faced criticism from human rights groups and some US&nbsp;lawmakers that decisions on annual human trafficking rankings had become increasingly politicised.

Tillerson overruled his own staff?s assessments on the use of child soldiers in both countries and rejected the recommendation of senior diplomats in Asia and the Middle East

In a highly unusual intervention, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to remove Iraq and Myanmar from a US list of the world's worst offenders in the use of child soldiers, disregarding the recommendations of State Department experts and senior US diplomats, US officials said. The decision, confirmed by three US officials, would break with longstanding protocol at the State Department over how to identify offending countries and could prompt accusations the Trump administration is prioritising security and diplomatic interests ahead of human rights. Tillerson overruled his own staff’s assessments on the use of child soldiers in both countries and rejected the recommendation of senior diplomats in Asia and the Middle East who wanted to keep Iraq and Myanmar on the list, said the officials, who have knowledge of the internal deliberations. Tillerson also rejected an internal State Department proposal to add Afghanistan to the list, the three US officials said. One official said the decisions appeared to have been made following pressure from the Pentagon to avoid complicating assistance to the Iraqi and Afghan militaries, close US allies in the fight against Islamist militants. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Foreign militaries on the list can face sanctions including a prohibition on receiving US military aid, training and US-made weapons unless the White House issues a waiver. Human rights officials expressed surprise at the delisting, which was expected to be announced on Tuesday, the officials said, as part of the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. A State Department official said the TIP report's contents were being kept under wraps until its release and the department "does not discuss details of internal deliberations." The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008, the US government must be satisfied that "no children are recruited, conscripted or otherwise compelled to serve as child soldiers" in order for a country to be removed from the list and US military assistance to resume. In the lead-up to Tuesday's report, the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which researches the issue and helps shape US policy on it, along with its legal office and diplomatic bureaus in Asia and the Middle East concluded that the evidence merited keeping both countries on the list, the officials said. Officials said that although the report had been finalised there was always the possibility of last-minute changes. Betraying Children Human Rights Watch said removing Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, from the list would be a "completely premature and disastrous action that will effectively betray more children to continued servitude and rights abuses." The decision also would put the Trump administration at odds with the United Nations, which continues to list the Myanmar military, along with seven ethnic armed groups, on its list of entities using and recruiting child soldiers. "What's particularly astonishing is this move ignores that the U.N. in Burma says that it is still receiving new cases of children being recruited" by the Myanmar military, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Rights groups have long accused Myanmar of using child soldiers. Bordering both China and India, Myanmar is also of growing strategic importance to the United States at a time of increasing encroachment in the region by China, which has sought closer relations with its neighbour. Iraq, which has received more than $2 billion in US arms and training over the last three years, was added to the State Department’s "Child Soldier Prevention Act List" in 2016. However, the flow of US assistance has continued. Former President Barack Obama handed out full or partial waivers regularly, including last year to Iraq, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan and others out of 10 countries on the list. Last year's State Department report said some militias of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Shi'ite Muslim factions with ties to the Iraqi government and backed by Iran, "recruited and used child soldiers." The report said that despite the PMF being funded by the government, Baghdad struggled to control all of its factions. "The government did not hold anyone accountable for child recruitment and use by the PMF and PMF-affiliated militias." Human Rights Watch said in January that it had learned that militias had been recruiting child soldiers from one Iraqi refugee camp since last spring. The broader TIP report, the first of Trump's presidency, is sure to be closely scrutinised for further signs that under his "America First" approach there will be little pressure brought to bear on friendly governments, especially strategically important ones, for human rights violations at home. The Obama administration, while more vocal about political repression around the world, also faced criticism from human rights groups and some US lawmakers that decisions on annual human trafficking rankings had become increasingly politicised.

US to drop Iraq, Myanmar from list of worst child soldier offenders

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed developments in Syria and in the row between Qatar and its fellow Arab states on a phone call late on Saturday, Turkish foreign ministry sources said.

The call, held at Tillerson&#39;s request, came after Tillerson on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar, saying it was causing unintended humanitarian consequences and affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State.

No further details of the call were immediately available.

Referring to Tillerson&#39;s comments on the blockade, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul on Friday: &quot;I say it should be lifted completely&quot;.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and their adversary Iran - allegations Qatar says are baseless. Several countries followed suit.

Erdogan vowed to keep supporting Qatar after his rapid approval of legislation on deploying Turkish troops there. On Saturday, he told Bahrain&#39;s foreign minister that the dispute should be resolved by the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Erdogan on Thursday also approved an accord between Turkey and Qatar on military training cooperation. Both bills were drawn up before the dispute between Qatar and others erupted. Turkey has also pledged to provide food and water supplies to Qatar.

Turkey has maintained good relations with Qatar as well as several of its Gulf Arab neighbours. Turkey and Qatar have both provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and backed rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey and fellow NATO member the United States have also been at loggerheads regarding US&nbsp;support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency on its soil.

The United States said last week it had started supplying arms to the YPG for an assault on the Syrian town of Raqqa, deepening Turkey&#39;s anger. The YPG&#39;s role in the Raqqa campaign has strained ties between the United States and Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish ascendancy along its border.

(Reuters)

The call, held at Tillerson's request, came after he on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed developments in Syria and in the row between Qatar and its fellow Arab states on a phone call late on Saturday, Turkish foreign ministry sources said. The call, held at Tillerson's request, came after Tillerson on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar, saying it was causing unintended humanitarian consequences and affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State. No further details of the call were immediately available. Referring to Tillerson's comments on the blockade, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul on Friday: "I say it should be lifted completely". Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and their adversary Iran - allegations Qatar says are baseless. Several countries followed suit. Erdogan vowed to keep supporting Qatar after his rapid approval of legislation on deploying Turkish troops there. On Saturday, he told Bahrain's foreign minister that the dispute should be resolved by the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Erdogan on Thursday also approved an accord between Turkey and Qatar on military training cooperation. Both bills were drawn up before the dispute between Qatar and others erupted. Turkey has also pledged to provide food and water supplies to Qatar. Turkey has maintained good relations with Qatar as well as several of its Gulf Arab neighbours. Turkey and Qatar have both provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and backed rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Turkey and fellow NATO member the United States have also been at loggerheads regarding US support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency on its soil. The United States said last week it had started supplying arms to the YPG for an assault on the Syrian town of Raqqa, deepening Turkey's anger. The YPG's role in the Raqqa campaign has strained ties between the United States and Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish ascendancy along its border. (Reuters)

US, Turkey discuss Qatar row, Syria on phone call: Sources

US&nbsp;military strikes against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons are a warning to other nations, including North Korea, that &quot;a response is likely&quot; if they pose a danger, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday.

As a US&nbsp;Navy strike group headed toward the Korean Peninsula, Tillerson said China agrees that action is necessary to address North Korea&#39;s nuclear arsenal, following last week&#39;s meeting between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Asked if Friday&#39;s strikes against Syria were a message to North Korea, Tillerson told ABC&#39;s This Week: &quot;The message that any nation can take is, &#39;If you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken.&#39;&quot;

&quot;In terms of North Korea,&quot; he added, &quot;we&#39;ve been very clear that our objective is a denuclearized Korea peninsula.&quot;

In a separate interview, Tillerson told CBS&#39; Face the Nation: &quot;President Xi clearly understands, and I think agrees, that the situation has intensified and has reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken&quot;.

Trump will soon review options for removing the &quot;threat&quot; posed by North Korean missiles, White House national security adviser HR&nbsp;McMaster said on Sunday.

North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un, have repeatedly indicated an intercontinental ballistic missile test or something similar could be coming, possibly as soon as April 15, the 105th birthday of North Korea&#39;s founding president and celebrated annually as &quot;the Day of the Sun&quot;.

Reuters was first to report on Saturday that the Navy strike group Carl Vinson, whose flagship is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of that name, will make its way toward the Korean peninsula from Singapore as a show of force after Pyongyang tested a liquid-fueled Scud missile this month.

&quot;It&#39;s prudent to do it, isn&#39;t it?&quot; McMaster said of the deployment on Fox News Sunday.

&quot;This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime, and President Xi and President Trump agreed that that is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,&quot; he said.

A US&nbsp;national security review of options on North Korea include economic and military measures. But they lean more toward sanctions and increased pressure on Beijing to rein in its neighbour.

(Reuters)

'A response is likely' if nuclear-armed states like North Korea pose a danger, said the US?Secretary of State

US military strikes against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons are a warning to other nations, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday. As a US Navy strike group headed toward the Korean Peninsula, Tillerson said China agrees that action is necessary to address North Korea's nuclear arsenal, following last week's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Asked if Friday's strikes against Syria were a message to North Korea, Tillerson told ABC's This Week: "The message that any nation can take is, 'If you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken.'" "In terms of North Korea," he added, "we've been very clear that our objective is a denuclearized Korea peninsula." In a separate interview, Tillerson told CBS' Face the Nation: "President Xi clearly understands, and I think agrees, that the situation has intensified and has reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken". Trump will soon review options for removing the "threat" posed by North Korean missiles, White House national security adviser HR McMaster said on Sunday. North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un, have repeatedly indicated an intercontinental ballistic missile test or something similar could be coming, possibly as soon as April 15, the 105th birthday of North Korea's founding president and celebrated annually as "the Day of the Sun". Reuters was first to report on Saturday that the Navy strike group Carl Vinson, whose flagship is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of that name, will make its way toward the Korean peninsula from Singapore as a show of force after Pyongyang tested a liquid-fueled Scud missile this month. "It's prudent to do it, isn't it?" McMaster said of the deployment on Fox News Sunday. "This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime, and President Xi and President Trump agreed that that is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said. A US national security review of options on North Korea include economic and military measures. But they lean more toward sanctions and increased pressure on Beijing to rein in its neighbour. (Reuters)

Tillerson: Syria strike a message to others, including North Korea

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that the only way to secure a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians is to negotiate a two-state solution to their conflict.

&quot;Today, there are a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states,&quot; he told an audience of diplomats in Washington.

&quot;But here is a fundamental reality: if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic -&ndash; it cannot be both -&ndash;and it won&#39;t ever really be at peace.&quot;

Kerry was explaining the US witholding its UN Security Council veto in the 14-0 vote that called for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.&nbsp;

&quot;The vote in the UN was about preserving the two-state solution.

&quot;That&#39;s what we were standing up for: Israel&#39;s future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors,&quot; he said.

The US secretary of state explained the US vision for a solution to the conflict and warned Israel was on a course leading to a &quot;perpetual occupation&quot; of Palestinian-owned land.

&quot;The two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,&quot; Kerry said, but warned that solution was in &quot;serious jeopardy.&quot;

&nbsp;He also warned that Israel&#39;s &quot;settler agenda&quot; was determining its policy in the West Bank and imperiling peace with the Palestinians.

&quot;The settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel.&quot; 
 
However, it is not clear whether the obama administration&#39;s roadmap for a solution to the conflict will taken forward by US President-elect Donald Trump. 
 
Trump made his pro-Israel stand clear on Twitter on Wednesday morning ahead of Kerry&#39;s speech, saying the US could not continue to treat Israel with &quot;such total disdain and disrespect.&quot;&nbsp;He promised Israel he would improve ties between the two nations after taking charge on January 20.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/814113616110751744">December 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/814114980983427073">December 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

Israel meanwhile asked Jerusalem&#39;s city hall to delay a vote on new settlements for Israelis in East Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision the same day that Kerry was to make his speech.

But while a Jerusalem planning committee postponed the request for building permits for nearly 500 homes, it did grant approval for a highly controversial settler building in east Jerusalem, AFP quoted an NGO as saying. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

 
&nbsp;

'They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states,' he said

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that the only way to secure a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians is to negotiate a two-state solution to their conflict. "Today, there are a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states," he told an audience of diplomats in Washington. "But here is a fundamental reality: if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic -– it cannot be both -–and it won't ever really be at peace." Kerry was explaining the US witholding its UN Security Council veto in the 14-0 vote that called for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories. "The vote in the UN was about preserving the two-state solution. "That's what we were standing up for: Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors," he said. The US secretary of state explained the US vision for a solution to the conflict and warned Israel was on a course leading to a "perpetual occupation" of Palestinian-owned land. "The two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Kerry said, but warned that solution was in "serious jeopardy." He also warned that Israel's "settler agenda" was determining its policy in the West Bank and imperiling peace with the Palestinians. "The settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel." However, it is not clear whether the obama administration's roadmap for a solution to the conflict will taken forward by US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump made his pro-Israel stand clear on Twitter on Wednesday morning ahead of Kerry's speech, saying the US could not continue to treat Israel with "such total disdain and disrespect." He promised Israel he would improve ties between the two nations after taking charge on January 20. We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but....... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 × not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 × Israel meanwhile asked Jerusalem's city hall to delay a vote on new settlements for Israelis in East Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision the same day that Kerry was to make his speech. But while a Jerusalem planning committee postponed the request for building permits for nearly 500 homes, it did grant approval for a highly controversial settler building in east Jerusalem, AFP quoted an NGO as saying. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Two states only way to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace: Kerry

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state, US media reported late Monday, setting up what will likely be contentious confirmation hearings over the oilman&#39;s ties to Russia.

&quot;I will be making my announcement on the next Secretary of State tomorrow morning,&quot; Trump said Monday evening using his favoured medium, Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>If he is indeed nominated on Tuesday, Tillerson -- who has no formal foreign policy background -- is sure to face sharp questions in Senate confirmation hearings</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=If he is indeed nominated on Tuesday, Tillerson -- who has no formal foreign policy background -- is sure to face sharp questions in Senate confirmation hearings" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

News outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post and NBC News cited sources as saying the real estate mogul had settled on Tillerson after a drawn-out and public search for the nation&#39;s top diplomat.

There had been eight or nine contenders for the job, including former CIA director David Petraeus, former UN ambassador John Bolton and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker.

Also on that list was erstwhile Trump critic and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who indicated on Facebook he was out of the running shortly after Trump said he would soon make his choice official.

&quot;It was an honour to have been considered for secretary of state of our great country,&quot; Romney wrote.

&quot;My discussions with President-elect Trump have been both enjoyable and enlightening. I have very high hopes that the new administration will lead the nation to greater strength, prosperity and peace.&quot;

CNN reported that Trump had called Romney to tell him he had not been selected.

Sharp questions&nbsp;

Trump&#39;s secretary of state will be tasked with overseeing international relations for a political novice who seems intent on trashing protocol and upending relationships built on decades of delicate diplomacy.

If he is indeed nominated on Tuesday, Tillerson -- who has no formal foreign policy background -- is sure to face sharp questions in Senate confirmation hearings.&nbsp;

As ExxonMobil&#39;s president and CEO, the 64-year-old Texan oversees the company&#39;s business activities in more than 50 countries.

He has opposed sanctions on Russia and in 2013 was awarded Russia&#39;s Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin following several years of Exxon projects in the country.

Trump has praised Tillerson as &quot;much more than a business executive.&quot;

&quot;I mean, he&#39;s a world-class player,&quot; the president-elect told Fox News Sunday. &quot;He knows many of the players and he knows them well.

&quot;He does massive deals in Russia. He does massive deals for the company, not for himself, for the company.&quot;

&nbsp;Ruffling feathers

With more than five weeks to go before he is sworn in, Trump is already ruffling feathers with his statements about two major world powers: Russia and China.

The president-elect has stoked alarm -- even among fellow Republicans -- by calling for closer ties with Moscow, in contrast to received wisdom in Washington that Russia remains a global security threat.

He has dismissed as &quot;ridiculous&quot; reports that US intelligence has concluded that Russia interfered in last month&#39;s presidential election to sway the vote in his favor.

And Sino-US relations are strained after a series of moves by Trump that provoked China, America&#39;s biggest single goods trading partner and the holder of almost a trillion dollars in US government debt.

The incoming president has suggested that Beijing may have to make concessions on trade if US policy toward China is to stay the same. He also directly challenged China over its currency and its takeover of disputed islets in the South China Sea.

That came after Trump raised eyebrows by taking a congratulatory call from the president of Taiwan, a self-ruling island that Beijing considers a rogue province awaiting unification.&nbsp;

It was a break from the &quot;One China policy&quot; -- which recognises Beijing as the sole representative of China -- the cornerstone of the relationship between the countries since Richard Nixon went to China in 1972.

China&#39;s foreign ministry has warned that if the One China policy is &quot;compromised or disrupted,&quot; cooperation in major fields would be &quot;out of the question.&quot;

(AFP)

There will probably be contentious confirmation hearings over Rex Tillerman's ties to Russia

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state, US media reported late Monday, setting up what will likely be contentious confirmation hearings over the oilman's ties to Russia. "I will be making my announcement on the next Secretary of State tomorrow morning," Trump said Monday evening using his favoured medium, Twitter. If he is indeed nominated on Tuesday, Tillerson -- who has no formal foreign policy background -- is sure to face sharp questions in Senate confirmation hearings × News outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post and NBC News cited sources as saying the real estate mogul had settled on Tillerson after a drawn-out and public search for the nation's top diplomat. There had been eight or nine contenders for the job, including former CIA director David Petraeus, former UN ambassador John Bolton and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker. Also on that list was erstwhile Trump critic and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who indicated on Facebook he was out of the running shortly after Trump said he would soon make his choice official. "It was an honour to have been considered for secretary of state of our great country," Romney wrote. "My discussions with President-elect Trump have been both enjoyable and enlightening. I have very high hopes that the new administration will lead the nation to greater strength, prosperity and peace." CNN reported that Trump had called Romney to tell him he had not been selected. Sharp questions Trump's secretary of state will be tasked with overseeing international relations for a political novice who seems intent on trashing protocol and upending relationships built on decades of delicate diplomacy. If he is indeed nominated on Tuesday, Tillerson -- who has no formal foreign policy background -- is sure to face sharp questions in Senate confirmation hearings. As ExxonMobil's president and CEO, the 64-year-old Texan oversees the company's business activities in more than 50 countries. He has opposed sanctions on Russia and in 2013 was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin following several years of Exxon projects in the country. Trump has praised Tillerson as "much more than a business executive." "I mean, he's a world-class player," the president-elect told Fox News Sunday. "He knows many of the players and he knows them well. "He does massive deals in Russia. He does massive deals for the company, not for himself, for the company." Ruffling feathers With more than five weeks to go before he is sworn in, Trump is already ruffling feathers with his statements about two major world powers: Russia and China. The president-elect has stoked alarm -- even among fellow Republicans -- by calling for closer ties with Moscow, in contrast to received wisdom in Washington that Russia remains a global security threat. He has dismissed as "ridiculous" reports that US intelligence has concluded that Russia interfered in last month's presidential election to sway the vote in his favor. And Sino-US relations are strained after a series of moves by Trump that provoked China, America's biggest single goods trading partner and the holder of almost a trillion dollars in US government debt. The incoming president has suggested that Beijing may have to make concessions on trade if US policy toward China is to stay the same. He also directly challenged China over its currency and its takeover of disputed islets in the South China Sea. That came after Trump raised eyebrows by taking a congratulatory call from the president of Taiwan, a self-ruling island that Beijing considers a rogue province awaiting unification. It was a break from the "One China policy" -- which recognises Beijing as the sole representative of China -- the cornerstone of the relationship between the countries since Richard Nixon went to China in 1972. China's foreign ministry has warned that if the One China policy is "compromised or disrupted," cooperation in major fields would be "out of the question." (AFP)

Trump to pick ExxonMobil chief as secretary of state: US media

Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson was chosen as the new US Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump, a nomination that could face intense scrutiny due to the veteran oil executive&#39;s close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

&quot;His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him (Tillerson) an excellent choice for Secretary of State,&quot; Trump said in the statement.

Like Trump, Tillerson, 64, has no formal foreign policy experience whatsoever, but has built close relationships with many world leaders by closing massive deals across Eurasia and the Middle East on behalf of the world&#39;s largest energy company.

Tillerson was originally a dark horse for the secretary of state nomination, but emerged from a lengthy public interview and vetting process that included better-known quantities like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney and Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

Trump has called Tillerson a &quot;world-class player&quot; and the transition team is likely to stress that his mastery of complex negotiations and knowledge of geopolitical factors shaping the oil industry are directly relevant to heading US diplomacy and managing the State Department.

Tillerson was recommended to Trump by former secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and James Baker and former Secretary of Defence Bob Gates, CNN quoted sources as saying. Trump and Tillerson possess similar dealmaking business backgrounds and similar views of the world, sources said, and there was a level of comfort that Trump hadn&#39;t found with anyone else.

Tillerson&#39;s nomination could face intense scrutiny in the Senate, considering his years of work in Russia and the Middle East on behalf of the multinational petroleum company. Tillerson is considered one of the faces of Big Oil globally. In 2011, Exxon signed a deal with Russian oil giant Rosneft to provide access to oil resources in the Arctic. Rosneft&#39;s largest shareholder is the Russian government. Putin attended the Exxon signing ceremony and later awarded Tillerson the country&#39;s Order of Friendship.

(PTI)

Like Trump, Tillerson, 64, has no formal foreign policy experience whatsoever, but has built close relationships with many world leaders

Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson was chosen as the new US Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump, a nomination that could face intense scrutiny due to the veteran oil executive's close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him (Tillerson) an excellent choice for Secretary of State," Trump said in the statement. Like Trump, Tillerson, 64, has no formal foreign policy experience whatsoever, but has built close relationships with many world leaders by closing massive deals across Eurasia and the Middle East on behalf of the world's largest energy company. Tillerson was originally a dark horse for the secretary of state nomination, but emerged from a lengthy public interview and vetting process that included better-known quantities like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney and Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Trump has called Tillerson a "world-class player" and the transition team is likely to stress that his mastery of complex negotiations and knowledge of geopolitical factors shaping the oil industry are directly relevant to heading US diplomacy and managing the State Department. Tillerson was recommended to Trump by former secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and James Baker and former Secretary of Defence Bob Gates, CNN quoted sources as saying. Trump and Tillerson possess similar dealmaking business backgrounds and similar views of the world, sources said, and there was a level of comfort that Trump hadn't found with anyone else. Tillerson's nomination could face intense scrutiny in the Senate, considering his years of work in Russia and the Middle East on behalf of the multinational petroleum company. Tillerson is considered one of the faces of Big Oil globally. In 2011, Exxon signed a deal with Russian oil giant Rosneft to provide access to oil resources in the Arctic. Rosneft's largest shareholder is the Russian government. Putin attended the Exxon signing ceremony and later awarded Tillerson the country's Order of Friendship. (PTI)

Trump appoints Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson US state secretary

US secretary of state John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians.

In unusually stark terms, Washington&#39;s top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side.

At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s government had made &quot;profoundly disturbing&quot; statements.

&quot;And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state,&quot; he said.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace.

Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel.

However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians.

&quot;There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace,&quot; he said. &quot;Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.&quot;

In the US government&#39;s view, Israel&#39;s accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added.

&quot;I&#39;m not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they&#39;re not,&quot; Kerry said.

&quot;But I also can not accept the notion that they don&#39;t affect the peace process, that they aren&#39;t a barrier to the capacity to have peace,&quot; he argued.&nbsp;

&quot;And I&#39;ll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don&#39;t want peace.&quot;

US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu&#39;s government.

Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington.

Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said.

Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history.

(AFP)

Kerry said more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state

US secretary of state John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians. In unusually stark terms, Washington's top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side. At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had made "profoundly disturbing" statements. "And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state," he said. Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace. Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel. However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians. "There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace," he said. "Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality." In the US government's view, Israel's accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added. "I'm not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they're not," Kerry said. "But I also can not accept the notion that they don't affect the peace process, that they aren't a barrier to the capacity to have peace," he argued. "And I'll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don't want peace." US President Barack Obama's administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu's government. Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington. Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said. Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history. (AFP)

John Kerry accuses right-wing Israelis of sabotaging peace process with Palestine

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has emerged as a leading candidate to be Republican President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s secretary of state, a source familiar with the situation said on Monday.

The source said John Bolton, who served as US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations under President George W&nbsp;Bush, was also under consideration to head the State Department.

Besides Giuliani and Bolton, former US&nbsp;House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich has also been reported as a possible secretary of state.

Giuliani, a vocal supporter of Trump during his presidential campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton, had previously been reported as a candidate for attorney general.

(Reuters)

Trump may also pick former US House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich for Hillary Clinton's former job

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has emerged as a leading candidate to be Republican President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state, a source familiar with the situation said on Monday. The source said John Bolton, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W Bush, was also under consideration to head the State Department. Besides Giuliani and Bolton, former US House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich has also been reported as a possible secretary of state. Giuliani, a vocal supporter of Trump during his presidential campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton, had previously been reported as a candidate for attorney general. (Reuters)

Giuliani, Bolton leading candidates for next US secretary of state

US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday urged Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban militants to follow the recent example of a notorious warlord and make an &quot;honourable&quot; peace with the Kabul government.

Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and is designated a global terrorist by the United States, was a &quot;model for what might be possible&quot;.

&quot;There is a path toward an honourable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged,&nbsp;it is a conflict that cannot be won on the battlefield,&quot; Kerry told an international donor conference in Brussels.

Hekmatyar&#39;s deal requires him to stop violence, end ties with &quot;international terrorist organisations&quot; and accept Afghanistan&#39;s constitution including guarantees of rights for women, Kerry said.&nbsp;In return the group &quot;will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society&quot;.&nbsp;He added: &quot;The message for the Taliban would be: take note.&quot;

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who signed the pact with Hekmatyar, told the Brussels conference: &quot;Afghans can make peace, we will make peace, we are committed to constructive politics, not destructive politics.&quot;

Hekmatyar, widely known as the &quot;butcher of Kabul&quot; in Afghanistan, was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war.

He is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. But the Taliban themselves have resisted any peace deal and continue to push on with offensives, including against the Afghan city of Kunduz this week.

Kerry added that a peace deal would in fact achieve the Taliban&#39;s aim of expelling foreign forces from Afghanistan, 15 years after a US-led invasion drove the Islamist group from power.

&quot;A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown of international military forces, which is their goal,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not come by the continued insurgency, it will come by peace.&quot;

Around 9,800 US troops remain in Afghanistan, although numbers have reduced dramatically from their peak of 140,000 NATO-led soldiers in 2011.&nbsp;The Brussels conference is aimed at securing funding for Afghanistan for the next four years until 2020.

(AFP)

Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Hezb-i-Islami group's chief was a 'model for what might be possible'

US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday urged Afghanistan's Taliban militants to follow the recent example of a notorious warlord and make an "honourable" peace with the Kabul government. Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and is designated a global terrorist by the United States, was a "model for what might be possible". "There is a path toward an honourable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged, it is a conflict that cannot be won on the battlefield," Kerry told an international donor conference in Brussels. Hekmatyar's deal requires him to stop violence, end ties with "international terrorist organisations" and accept Afghanistan's constitution including guarantees of rights for women, Kerry said. In return the group "will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society". He added: "The message for the Taliban would be: take note." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who signed the pact with Hekmatyar, told the Brussels conference: "Afghans can make peace, we will make peace, we are committed to constructive politics, not destructive politics." Hekmatyar, widely known as the "butcher of Kabul" in Afghanistan, was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. He is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. But the Taliban themselves have resisted any peace deal and continue to push on with offensives, including against the Afghan city of Kunduz this week. Kerry added that a peace deal would in fact achieve the Taliban's aim of expelling foreign forces from Afghanistan, 15 years after a US-led invasion drove the Islamist group from power. "A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown of international military forces, which is their goal," he said. "Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not come by the continued insurgency, it will come by peace." Around 9,800 US troops remain in Afghanistan, although numbers have reduced dramatically from their peak of 140,000 NATO-led soldiers in 2011. The Brussels conference is aimed at securing funding for Afghanistan for the next four years until 2020. (AFP)

Kerry urges Taliban to choose 'honourable' peace

The US secretary of state Mr John Kerry got to his talk at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi an hour late but he more than made up for it in his speech. He said, among other things Indians would have liked to hear, the US saw India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean commensurate with its expanding global role.&nbsp; 
 
Kerry is in India on a three-day visit to take part in the second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. He was this morning talking to about 200 students at the Indian Institute of Technology, the venue having been chosen because its alumni have gone on to head large enterprises both in the US (Sun Microsystems) and in India (Flipkart and Snapdeal) and the two countries think of entrepreneurship as a significant creator of jobs going into the future. 
 
Coming back to India, Mr Kerry said the country and Bangladesh have been able to resolve their maritime differences because India chose to accept the Hague court&#39;s verdict. He added that China and the Philippines will have to do the same when it comes to their conflict over the South China Sea -- that they will have to abide by the Hague&#39;s decision which Mr Kerry said was &quot;final and legally binding&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
There is no military solution, he added, to the South China Sea dispute. 
 
He also talked about deepening India and US cooperation. He was referring to the LEMOA agreement (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) signed by India and the US -- the Indian defence minister Mr Manohar Parrikar is in America at the moment -- on Monday which allows the militaries of both countries to use each others bases for resupply and repair purposes.&nbsp; 
 
And in what the Indians would have liked to hear, he blamed conflict around the world on &quot;non-state actors&quot;.&nbsp;
<h2> 
&#39;Pakistan has work to do&#39;</h2>
Mr Kerry said Pakistan has to do more to clear terror sanctuaries on its soil and push harder against &quot;indigenous groups&quot; operating from its territory. They, he said, are affecting ties with India and Afghanistan&#39;s peace and stability. 
 
The US secretary of state said that he has discussed with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif the issue of taking stronger action against groups such as the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). 
Terror groups like Daesh, Al Qaeda, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), he said, cannot be fought by a single nation alone. 
 
&quot;We are working on it. I have been working on this issue very hard. I have had many engagements with Nawaz Sharif. We have been talking on the sanctuaries in the western part of the country, how to deal more effectively with the Haqqani network and the LeT. 
 
&quot;It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors who are affecting not only India- Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan,&quot; Kerry said.&nbsp; 
But, Mr Kerry added, Pakistan has fastened the process in recent months.&nbsp;
<h2>Democracy, pluralism &amp; free speech</h2>
Mr Kerry talked for about half an hour, which was followed by a question and answer session for about the same length of time. He touched on a number of topics, which included global warming, energy, trade and economy, and culture, under which subhead he talked about democracy and pluralism.&nbsp; 
 
For example, on globalisation he said: no one can put that genie back in the bottle. 
 
On South Asia, he said: it is the least inter-connected market.&nbsp; 
 
It was not the most riveting of speeches. Mr Kerry has done better in the past, and it was certainly no match for the speech US President Obama had given in Delhi in early 2015. (In that speech too, Mr Obama had talked about pluralism and how India must not let go of it easily.)&nbsp; 
 
But the comments by Kerry that made people prick up their ears were: &quot;People should be allowed to protest in peace&quot; and &quot;People should not be jailed for speech or the things they say&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Mr Kerry&#39;s comments are open to interpretation for they could equally be applied to both countries -- India and the US.&nbsp; 
 
Close to 70 protesters have been shot dead by security forces in the Indian state of Kashmir over the last seven weeks, and sedition charges were filed recently against Amnesty International India after a few Kashmiri members in the audience at a function organised by Amnesty shouted azaadi (freedom) slogans.&nbsp; 
 
Correspondingly, there have been massive protests in the US after a number of African American men were shot dead by police forces. And the idea of free speech -- or pluralism and democracy -- seems to be at variance with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump&#39;s current election campaign. 
 
(Written by Parakram Rautela, with inputs from agencies)

But in a gentle reminder, he also says 'people should be allowed to protest in peace' and 'people should not be jailed for things they say'

The US secretary of state Mr John Kerry got to his talk at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi an hour late but he more than made up for it in his speech. He said, among other things Indians would have liked to hear, the US saw India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean commensurate with its expanding global role. Kerry is in India on a three-day visit to take part in the second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. He was this morning talking to about 200 students at the Indian Institute of Technology, the venue having been chosen because its alumni have gone on to head large enterprises both in the US (Sun Microsystems) and in India (Flipkart and Snapdeal) and the two countries think of entrepreneurship as a significant creator of jobs going into the future. Coming back to India, Mr Kerry said the country and Bangladesh have been able to resolve their maritime differences because India chose to accept the Hague court's verdict. He added that China and the Philippines will have to do the same when it comes to their conflict over the South China Sea -- that they will have to abide by the Hague's decision which Mr Kerry said was "final and legally binding". There is no military solution, he added, to the South China Sea dispute. He also talked about deepening India and US cooperation. He was referring to the LEMOA agreement (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) signed by India and the US -- the Indian defence minister Mr Manohar Parrikar is in America at the moment -- on Monday which allows the militaries of both countries to use each others bases for resupply and repair purposes. And in what the Indians would have liked to hear, he blamed conflict around the world on "non-state actors". 'Pakistan has work to do' Mr Kerry said Pakistan has to do more to clear terror sanctuaries on its soil and push harder against "indigenous groups" operating from its territory. They, he said, are affecting ties with India and Afghanistan's peace and stability. The US secretary of state said that he has discussed with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif the issue of taking stronger action against groups such as the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Terror groups like Daesh, Al Qaeda, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), he said, cannot be fought by a single nation alone. "We are working on it. I have been working on this issue very hard. I have had many engagements with Nawaz Sharif. We have been talking on the sanctuaries in the western part of the country, how to deal more effectively with the Haqqani network and the LeT. "It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors who are affecting not only India- Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan," Kerry said. But, Mr Kerry added, Pakistan has fastened the process in recent months. Democracy, pluralism & free speech Mr Kerry talked for about half an hour, which was followed by a question and answer session for about the same length of time. He touched on a number of topics, which included global warming, energy, trade and economy, and culture, under which subhead he talked about democracy and pluralism. For example, on globalisation he said: no one can put that genie back in the bottle. On South Asia, he said: it is the least inter-connected market. It was not the most riveting of speeches. Mr Kerry has done better in the past, and it was certainly no match for the speech US President Obama had given in Delhi in early 2015. (In that speech too, Mr Obama had talked about pluralism and how India must not let go of it easily.) But the comments by Kerry that made people prick up their ears were: "People should be allowed to protest in peace" and "People should not be jailed for speech or the things they say". Mr Kerry's comments are open to interpretation for they could equally be applied to both countries -- India and the US. Close to 70 protesters have been shot dead by security forces in the Indian state of Kashmir over the last seven weeks, and sedition charges were filed recently against Amnesty International India after a few Kashmiri members in the audience at a function organised by Amnesty shouted azaadi (freedom) slogans. Correspondingly, there have been massive protests in the US after a number of African American men were shot dead by police forces. And the idea of free speech -- or pluralism and democracy -- seems to be at variance with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's current election campaign. (Written by Parakram Rautela, with inputs from agencies)

Kerry calls India net security provider, talks of its expanding global role

Early morning torrential rains on Wednesday (August 31) brought the Indian capital New Delhi to a standstill as the waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including the US secretary of state John Kerry,&nbsp;stranded on the roads.&nbsp; 
 
What started as a light drizzle early morning soon took face of a heavy downpour later. 
 
Kerry, who is in Delhi and recently signed a pact with India for the countries to share their military bases, was caught up in a traffick snarl on his way to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).&nbsp; 
 
However, senior officials of the Delhi police claimed that Kerry was &quot;given a clear passage and did not have encounter traffic&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
However, despite the absence of traffic, Kerry&#39;s motorcade was delayed as there were several stretches of roads that were waterlogged, sources said. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t know how you all got here, you must have needed boats to get here,&quot; Kerry joked.&nbsp; 
 
As rains lashed the city, Kerry had to cancel visits to three religious sites.&nbsp; 
 
Television channels beamed harrowing images of office workers and school children stuck in traffic&mdash;frustrated and tired. Pedestrians could be seen wading their way through knee-deep waters.&nbsp; 
 
The capital has received the highest daily rainfall of the annual monsoon season, said a meteorological department official. 
 
Excess rains triggering floods have killed at least 150 people in various parts of north and east India.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

Waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including US secretary of state John Kerry, stranded for hours

Early morning torrential rains on Wednesday (August 31) brought the Indian capital New Delhi to a standstill as the waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including the US secretary of state John Kerry, stranded on the roads. What started as a light drizzle early morning soon took face of a heavy downpour later. Kerry, who is in Delhi and recently signed a pact with India for the countries to share their military bases, was caught up in a traffick snarl on his way to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). However, senior officials of the Delhi police claimed that Kerry was "given a clear passage and did not have encounter traffic". However, despite the absence of traffic, Kerry's motorcade was delayed as there were several stretches of roads that were waterlogged, sources said. "I don't know how you all got here, you must have needed boats to get here," Kerry joked. As rains lashed the city, Kerry had to cancel visits to three religious sites. Television channels beamed harrowing images of office workers and school children stuck in traffic—frustrated and tired. Pedestrians could be seen wading their way through knee-deep waters. The capital has received the highest daily rainfall of the annual monsoon season, said a meteorological department official. Excess rains triggering floods have killed at least 150 people in various parts of north and east India. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Heavy rains in Indian capital trigger massive traffic jams, bring city to standstill

There&#39;s an &quot;urgent necessity&quot; for Pakistan to &quot;dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks&quot;, including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Dawood Ibrahim gang, operating from its territory. India and the United States reaffirmed this in a joint press conference after the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&amp;CD). 
 
Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, &quot;Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly.&quot; Swaraj and US secretary of state John Kerry addressed the press conference together. Kerry referred to the Indian minister using her first name several times.&nbsp; 
 
Swaraj said she and secretary Kerry &quot;discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security&quot;. 
 
&quot;I am happy to note that there was a &#39;meeting of minds&#39; on this issue.&quot; 
 
&quot;We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations, &quot; Swaraj said. 
 
The Indian external affairs minister also briefed secretary Kerry on the problem of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan that India and the neighbourhood faces. 
 
&quot;It is vital that Pakistan joins with other nations in fighting this challenge,&quot; Kerry said. He said he was noting progress in counter-terrorism operations in the west of the country and was in touch with Pakistan&#39;s civilian and military leaders on terrorism. 
 
&quot;My hope is that Pakistan as a country is not isolated by this, but is encouraged by this,&quot; Kerry said, referring to the planned US-India-Afghan talks that would be held at the annual UN meetings in New York. 
 
&quot;I thanked Secretary Kerry for the US constant support for India&#39;s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large,&quot; she added. 
 
&quot;For this, we need to define the benefits associated with India`s designation as a &#39;Major Defence Partner&#39; of the US during the Prime Minister&#39;s visit in June. This would spur defence industry collaboration between India and the US and help India play the desired role as a net provider of security in the region,&quot; Swaraj said. 
 
Pointing out that both countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law, she said, &quot;India&#39;s enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the U.S. to secure our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation,&quot; said Swaraj, &quot;we look forward to resuming the meeting of the Trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from ANI)

Swaraj stressed on the need for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice

There's an "urgent necessity" for Pakistan to "dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks", including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Dawood Ibrahim gang, operating from its territory. India and the United States reaffirmed this in a joint press conference after the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD). Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly." Swaraj and US secretary of state John Kerry addressed the press conference together. Kerry referred to the Indian minister using her first name several times. Swaraj said she and secretary Kerry "discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security". "I am happy to note that there was a 'meeting of minds' on this issue." "We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations, " Swaraj said. The Indian external affairs minister also briefed secretary Kerry on the problem of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan that India and the neighbourhood faces. "It is vital that Pakistan joins with other nations in fighting this challenge," Kerry said. He said he was noting progress in counter-terrorism operations in the west of the country and was in touch with Pakistan's civilian and military leaders on terrorism. "My hope is that Pakistan as a country is not isolated by this, but is encouraged by this," Kerry said, referring to the planned US-India-Afghan talks that would be held at the annual UN meetings in New York. "I thanked Secretary Kerry for the US constant support for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large," she added. "For this, we need to define the benefits associated with India`s designation as a 'Major Defence Partner' of the US during the Prime Minister's visit in June. This would spur defence industry collaboration between India and the US and help India play the desired role as a net provider of security in the region," Swaraj said. Pointing out that both countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law, she said, "India's enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the U.S. to secure our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)." "In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation," said Swaraj, "we look forward to resuming the meeting of the Trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year." (WION with inputs from ANI)

Pakistan must dismantle terrorist safe havens, assert India, US

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday&#39;s bloody events. 
 
But he added that the failed &#39;putsch&#39; had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington&#39;s support for President Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s elected government. 
 
&quot;If you&#39;re planning a coup you don&#39;t exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO,&quot; Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. 
 
&quot;It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey,&quot; the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let&#39;s reserve all judgment until the facts are in,&quot; he asserted.&nbsp; 
 
The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. 
 
(AFP)

If you're planning coup, you don't advertise it to your partners in NATO: John Kerry said when asked how US intelligence missed this

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday's bloody events. But he added that the failed 'putsch' had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington's support for President Tayyip Erdogan's elected government. "If you're planning a coup you don't exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO," Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. "It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey," the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals. "I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let's reserve all judgment until the facts are in," he asserted. The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. (AFP)

No one saw Turkey coup bid coming: US envoy

US secretary of state John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin about boosting military and intelligence cooperation against Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria and told him that without &quot;concrete, near-term steps&quot;, diplomatic efforts to end the war could not go on indefinitely. 
 
Kerry met Putin for three hours at the Kremlin and their talks lasted until 1am local time on Friday. 
 
The state department said Kerry expressed concern about repeated violations of a cessation of hostilities by the Moscow-backed Syrian government. It said the two also discussed the need to increase pressure on groups like Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda&#39;s affiliate in Syria. 
 
Kerry &quot;emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely&quot;, a statement said, adding that discussions between Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday were expected to explore initiatives in more detail. 
 
On Thursday, the Washington Post published a leaked document it said Kerry would put forward in Moscow calling for intelligence sharing to identify leadership targets, training camps, supply lines and headquarters of the Nusra Front, al Qaeda&#39;s affiliate in Syria. 
 
It said strikes against those targets could be carried out by US or Russian jets and expanded coordination would be channelled through a Joint Implementation Group based in the vicinity of the Jordanian capital, Amman. 
 
The extent of cooperation proposed in the document would represent a major US shift after years of rivalry between Washington and Moscow, which support opposing sides in Syria&#39;s five-year civil war, but the idea has raised doubts among US defense and intelligence officials. 
 
Putin said at the start of his meeting with Kerry that his last conversation with US President Barack Obama had convinced him that both sides were sincere in their efforts to find a solution in Syria. 
 
&quot;I hope after today&#39;s consultations you&#39;ll be able to advise him of the progress made and possible headway for us to make,&quot; he told Kerry. 
 
A test of Russia 
 
US officials described the visit as a test of Moscow&#39;s willingness to use its influence on the Syrian government to help revive the country&#39;s peace process. 
 
Under the leaked plan, the US and Russia would establish separate headquarters and a shared coordination office, where they would deploy senior officials, intelligence personnel and experts in strike planning and targeting. 
 
They would decide on a date to simultaneously begin strikes against Al-Nusra Front targets and to stop all Syrian military air activities in designated areas, except for non-combat purposes and against areas where Nusra Front has acquired territory. 
 
The proposal also allows for Russia to use air power to defend Syrian forces from attack from AL-Nusra Front within a designated area, if agreed in advance with the United States. 
 
Washington sceptical 
 
The White House and Pentagon offered lukewarm support for the plan and demanded that Moscow show it was serious about fighting Islamic State, not just propping up President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry himself took a tough line after his meeting on Thursday with Putin, state department spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Moscow. 
 
&quot;Secretary Kerry emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely,&quot; Kirby said. 
 
A senior US official said before the talks that expectations were &quot;very low&quot;, but added: &quot;Either we find a way to do something about it or not. 
 
&quot;And if we don&rsquo;t, the entire thing breaks down. That would be an end of the cessation of hostilities and that would not be a good thing for Russia, or the United States, or the world, or, most importantly, for the Syrian people.&quot; 
 
Kerry faces some strong opposition to his efforts to woo Russia from US defense and intelligence officials who say Washington and Moscow have diametrically opposed objectives in Syria. 
 
(Reuters)

US secretary of state seeks concrete, near-term steps from Moscow

US secretary of state John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin about boosting military and intelligence cooperation against Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria and told him that without "concrete, near-term steps", diplomatic efforts to end the war could not go on indefinitely. Kerry met Putin for three hours at the Kremlin and their talks lasted until 1am local time on Friday. The state department said Kerry expressed concern about repeated violations of a cessation of hostilities by the Moscow-backed Syrian government. It said the two also discussed the need to increase pressure on groups like Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. Kerry "emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely", a statement said, adding that discussions between Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday were expected to explore initiatives in more detail. On Thursday, the Washington Post published a leaked document it said Kerry would put forward in Moscow calling for intelligence sharing to identify leadership targets, training camps, supply lines and headquarters of the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. It said strikes against those targets could be carried out by US or Russian jets and expanded coordination would be channelled through a Joint Implementation Group based in the vicinity of the Jordanian capital, Amman. The extent of cooperation proposed in the document would represent a major US shift after years of rivalry between Washington and Moscow, which support opposing sides in Syria's five-year civil war, but the idea has raised doubts among US defense and intelligence officials. Putin said at the start of his meeting with Kerry that his last conversation with US President Barack Obama had convinced him that both sides were sincere in their efforts to find a solution in Syria. "I hope after today's consultations you'll be able to advise him of the progress made and possible headway for us to make," he told Kerry. A test of Russia US officials described the visit as a test of Moscow's willingness to use its influence on the Syrian government to help revive the country's peace process. Under the leaked plan, the US and Russia would establish separate headquarters and a shared coordination office, where they would deploy senior officials, intelligence personnel and experts in strike planning and targeting. They would decide on a date to simultaneously begin strikes against Al-Nusra Front targets and to stop all Syrian military air activities in designated areas, except for non-combat purposes and against areas where Nusra Front has acquired territory. The proposal also allows for Russia to use air power to defend Syrian forces from attack from AL-Nusra Front within a designated area, if agreed in advance with the United States. Washington sceptical The White House and Pentagon offered lukewarm support for the plan and demanded that Moscow show it was serious about fighting Islamic State, not just propping up President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry himself took a tough line after his meeting on Thursday with Putin, state department spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Moscow. "Secretary Kerry emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely," Kirby said. A senior US official said before the talks that expectations were "very low", but added: "Either we find a way to do something about it or not. "And if we don’t, the entire thing breaks down. That would be an end of the cessation of hostilities and that would not be a good thing for Russia, or the United States, or the world, or, most importantly, for the Syrian people." Kerry faces some strong opposition to his efforts to woo Russia from US defense and intelligence officials who say Washington and Moscow have diametrically opposed objectives in Syria. (Reuters)

Kerry meets Putin about cooperating against Islamic State in Syria

us-secretary-of-state

Us Secretary Of State, News on Us Secretary Of State, stories on Us Secretary Of State, articles on Us Secretary Of State, Us Secretary Of State stories at Wion, Us Secretary Of State news, Us Secretary Of State latest news

us secretary-of-state