Budget 2018-19

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning against the “serious” possibility of a complete economic collapse in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Afghanistan Crisis:  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning against the “serious” possibility of a complete economic collapse in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Guterres made the remarks here on Monday while convening a high-level ministerial meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, reports Xinhua news agency. He highlighted the acute and urgent need for funding support and action in the country. “The people of Afghanistan need a lifeline. After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, they face perhaps their most perilous hour,” he said during his opening remarks at the meeting. “Let us be clear: This conference is not simply about what we will give to the people of Afghanistan. It is about what we owe,” he added. The UN chief said that as of today, one in three Afgha...

  This comes after negotiations with resistance leader Ahmad Massoud failed. The Taliban on Thursday said that it has killed 34 members and captured 11 checkpoints of the Afghan resistance forces in the northern Panjshir province. The information about the incident was provided by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid to Sputnik. The Taliban attack on Panjshir was launched after negotiations with resistance leader Ahmad Massoud failed. “Our Mujahideen have made enough progress, so far we have captured 11 checkpoints and killed 34 people of resistance forces, including two key commanders. We have now reached the main road of Panjshir and we have captured Shital district and just two Mujahideen were injured,” Mujahid said. Since mid-August, forces opposed to the  Taliban  have gathered in the valley under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud, son of famous Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. Ahmad Massoud, along with former Afghanistan Vic...

  It will be premature for India to think UNSC resolution on Afghanistan was in its favour, says Congress leader. Senior Congress leader  P Chidambaram  on Wednesday said it is too premature to congratulate ourselves over the UN Security Council adopting a resolution on Afghanistan, and cautioned that the possible axis of China, Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a cause for worry. His remarks came after the UN Security Council, under India’s Presidency, adopted a strong resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists and that it expects the Taliban will adhere to commitments made by it on regarding the safe and orderly departure from the country of Afghans and all foreign nationals. Reacting to the development, Chidambaram said the government is congratulating itself for the UNSC resolution adopted on  Afghanistan . “‘Resolution’ has two meanings. The first is that the issue has been ‘resol...

  The Indian ambassador to Afghanistan and around 120 of his staff members are being brought back to India on Tuesday from Kabul by a C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the IAF The Indian ambassador to Afghanistan and around 120 of his staff members are being brought back to India on Tuesday from  Kabul  by a C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the IAF as part of an emergency evacuation in view of the prevailing situation in the Afghan capital after its take over by the Taliban, people familiar with the development said. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that it was decided that the ambassador and his Indian staff will move to India immediately in view of the prevailing circumstances. “In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately,” Bagchi tweeted. An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft brought back some personnel from Afghanistan...

  Militant group says it is holding talks aimed at forming an open, inclusive Islamic government in Afghanistan. A Taliba n  spokesman and negotiator said told The Associated Press on Sunday that the militant group is holding talks aimed at forming an open, inclusive Islamic government in Afghanistan. Suhail Shaheen spoke to the AP after the Taliban overran most of the country in a matter of days and pushed into the capital, Kabul, as the United States scrambled to withdraw diplomats and other civilians. Earlier, a Taliban official said the group would announce a new government from the presidential palace, but those plans appear to be on hold.  Afghanistan ‘s embattled president left the country Sunday, joining thousands of his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban and signalling the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking the country. The Taliban fanned out across the capital, and an official wi...