National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Monday met Oman's top leader Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in Muscat and handed over a written message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that dealt with various aspects of the ties between the two countries. Separately, Doval also held talks with Oman's foreign minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi with a focus on possible bilateral cooperation in the spheres of technology, military matters and mining, the Oman News Agency reported. On behalf of the government of Oman, Sayyid Badr congratulated India for successfully hosting G20 meetings. Doval called on Sultan Haitham at the Al Baraka Palace and handed over Modi's message to him, the news agency said. It said Sultan Haitham and Doval explored ways to expand bilateral relations and exchanged views on various issues of common interest. Doval conveyed to the sultan greetings from the prime minister and wished for Oman's progress and prosperity. Sultan Haitham reciprocated the greetings and wishes.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his visiting American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious roadmap for Indo-US collaboration in seven specific high-technology areas, including semiconductors, next-generation telecommunication, artificial intelligence and defence. After the roadmap was unveiled at an event, Sullivan said both sides are looking at a number of "deliverables" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Washington, which are fundamentally designed to "remove obstacles" for a deeper cooperation in the areas of defence, high technology, trade and a greater exchange of students. The roadmap for collaboration was announced at the second Track-1.5 dialogue on the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) that was organised by industry chamber CII. "As we look ahead to the State visit that Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi will be embarking upon to Washington next week, a number of the deliverables at that visit are n
Tamil Nadu Governor's office putting up a clarification on Friday, said that no National Security Act action has been approved by the Governor R N Ravi against Bihar's YouTuber Manish Kashyap
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea of jailed Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap against whom the stringent National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked for allegedly circulating fake videos of migrant labourers being attacked in Tamil Nadu. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, however, granted Kashyap the liberty to challenge the invocation of the NSA at an appropriate judicial forum. It also rejected the plea for clubbing all 19 FIRs against him and their transfer to Bihar. We are not inclined to entertain the plea, the bench said while rejecting the vehement submissions of senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Kashyap who is presently lodged in Madurai jail of Tamil Nadu. Earlier, the top court had granted time to the Tamil Nadu government, represented by lawyer Amit Anand Tiwari, to respond to the amended plea of Kashyap against whom the stringent NSA was invoked for allegedly circulating the ...
NSA Ajit Doval on Monday held wide-ranging talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Shamkhani in Tehran focusing on economic, political and security ties between the two countries. The National Security Advisor is on a day-long visit to Iran. The two officials discussed economic, political and security issues concerning the two countries as well as the most important regional and international developments, Iran's IRNA news agency reported. Doval is also scheduled to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. There is no official word on Doval's visit by either India or Iran. Doval's visit to Iran comes ahead of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa this week. India is the current chair of the SCO and Iran is set to be made a permanent member of the grouping at its annual summit later this year. The implementation of the Chabahar Port project in Iran is also a key focus area in the bilateral ties between New
Singh was later flown by a special flight from Bhatinda air force station to Dibrugarh and lodged in a high-security prison
Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressive" laws such as the National Security Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Badal alleged the AAP government in Punjab has turned these "black laws into weapons of mass witch hunt" against members of the Khalsa panth, especially innocent Sikh youths. He claimed in a party statement on Friday that the Punjab government was picking up Sikh youths on suspicion and booking them under laws like the NSA and sending them to far-off places such as Assam. "They have brought back the bitter memories of Kala Pani for the Punjabis under the British," he claimed. "Even innocent members of Sikh families, including the elderly, the women and children are being subjected to repression," the Shiromani Akali Dal chief said. He sought Prime Minister Modi's immediate intervention for the repeal of "anti-democratic and repressiv
Days after launching a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides, the Punjab Police on Sunday said it has released 197 people out of the total 353 taken into preventive custody on apprehension of breach of peace and disturbance of law and order. The police said it has detained seven persons under the stringent National Security Act. On March 18, the police had launched a crackdown against elements of 'Waris Punjab De,' headed by pro-Khalistan radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has issued clear directions that the Punjab Police should adopt a positive approach while screening persons arrested on account of apprehension of breach of peace or in substantive criminal offences, said an official release here. "197 persons out of a total of 353 persons arrested under preventive sections of law have been released till today," it said. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said directions have been issued to all senior ...
The National Security Advisors of India and Iraq have agreed to enhance defence cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts and strengthen security linkages between the two countries, officials said on Friday. National Security Adviser of Iraq Qasem Al-Araji is visiting India between March 22 and 25 at the invitation of NSA Ajit Doval. The visit of the Iraqi NSA is the first cabinet minister-level visit from Iraq to India in the last seven years, the officials pointed out. Qasem Al-Araji was earlier the minister of interior from 2016 to 2018. He has been the NSA since July 2020. During the visit, both the NSAs had extensive dialogue on a vast area of mutual interest. Both sides discussed various aspects of ongoing bilateral cooperation. They agreed to enhance defence cooperation, counter-terrorism efforts and strengthen security linkages. They also exchanged views on the recent developments in their respective regions, the officials said. During the visit, the Iraqi NSA visited Bha
Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, claimed a lawyer. During a hearing on the habeas corpus petition seeking the preacher's production in court, Justice N S Shekhawat also pulled up the state government over Amritpal Singh giving police the slip on Saturday and called it an intelligence failure. The petition was filed by advocate Iman Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal advisor of Amritpal Singh and his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' The Punjab Police say the Khalistan sympathiser is still on the run after escaping their dragnet. During Tuesday's proceedings in the high court, Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh was also present. Khara claimed that Amritpal Singh was illegally and forcibly detained by police from the Shahkot area of Jalandhar. Speaking to reporters after the court hearing,
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to revive an ACLU lawsuit challenging a portion of the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance of Americans' international email and phone communications. The justices left in place an appeals court ruling against the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia. The organization said that the National Security Agency's Upstream surveillance program violates free-speech rights and protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Details of the Upstream program are classified, but it collects data from transmissions over high-speed cables that carry electronic communications into and out of the country. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, had ruled that the lawsuit must be dismissed after the government invoked the state secrets privilege against the possible damage to national security that might result from a court case.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to impose National Security Act (NSA) against those involved in unfair practices in the upcoming UP Board 2023 exams for Class 10 and 12.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held wide-ranging discussions in Moscow and agreed to continue working towards implementing the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Indian embassy in Moscow said the discussions were focused on bilateral and regional issues, but it did not elaborate on the issues. "NSA Ajit Doval called on HE President Putin. Wide-ranging discussion on bilateral and regional issues. Agreed to continue work towards implementing the India-Russia strategic partnership," the embassy tweeted. Doval began his two-day visit to Russia on Wednesday. On Monday, Russian Ambassador to New Delhi Denis Alipov said Russia wants to further diversify its relations with India. The NSA's visit to Russia came three months after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to the country during which the two sides vowed to expand their economic engagement including India's import of petroleum products from its ..
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a "special gesture" briefly joined a meeting here between India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his UK counterpart Tim Barrow and assured his government's full support to deepen bilateral strategic partnership in sectors like trade and defence. Doval and Barrow met at the UK Cabinet Office, a department responsible for supporting the prime minister. "A special gesture by PM @rishisunak to join for a while India-UK dialogue between Sir Tim Barrow & Mr Doval at @cabinetofficeuk," the Indian High Commission tweeted on Saturday. "Deeply value PM's assurance of his Govts full support to deepen strategic partnership in trade, defence, S&T. Look forward to the visit of Sir Tim to India soon," it added. Doval's trip to London follows his visit to the US where he met America's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday.
US Deputy Defense Secretary Dr Kathleen Hicks met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval here and discussed priorities for the US-India bilateral defence partnership, the Pentagon said. It said the discussions also included strengthening policy and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific region and increasing defence industrial cooperation between the two countries. They discussed a range of topics including US-India defence cooperation and regional security issues, the Indian Embassy said in a tweet Tuesday. Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon, in a readout of the meeting, said Hicks reiterated that building alliances and partnerships is a top priority for the department, and integral to the ongoing implementation of the US National Defense Strategy. She thanked Doval for India's leadership in the region and discussed avenues to deepen coordination between the US and Indian militaries to address the region's increasingly contested strategic environment, Pahon said. The two also ...
Retired director general of the Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh was on Monday appointed as deputy national security adviser. According to an official order, Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed on a re-employment contract for a period of two years. Singh retired as BSF chief on December 31, 2022 When Singh took charge of the BSF on August 31, 2021, he had created history of a son and a father holding the top post of a paramilitary force during their services. His father and retired IPS officer of the 1959-batch, Prakash Singh, had also headed the BSF from June, 1993 to January, 1994. Prakash Singh is considered an architect of police reforms in the country. He had petitioned the Supreme Court in 1996 for carrying out reforms in the police establishment following which the government started giving a fixed tenure of two years at least to the chief of the Intelligence Bureau, the CBI, foreign secretary, the RAW chief and the Unio
Rajasthan Police chief Umesh Mishra on Saturday said that the police is considering booking cheating and paper leak gangs under National Security Act. The Director General of Police said that the records of those who facilitate cheating would be scrutinised and strict legal action would be taken against them. Mishra in a statement also said that an amendment allowing police to seize the property of criminals involved in cheating gangs has been suggested in the Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act-2018 (PASA). According to the PASA, a person can be detained for a period of up to one year without any public disclosure. He said that the state Police is ready to conduct recruitment exams in a clean and fair manner. Mishra's statement came after police arrested 44 people on Saturday, hours before the General Knowledge paper in the Class II Teacher Recruitment exam. The paper was cancelled after it was leaked to the public. Mishra said that police will soon write a letter to the ..
India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval in a conference termed the existence of terrorist networks in Afghanistan as a matter of concern
NSA Ajit Doval on Tuesday strongly pitched for giving greater priority by countries of the region to counter terror financing, saying monetary resources are the "lifeblood" of terrorism. In an address at the inaugural India-Central Asia meeting of national security advisors, Doval also said that all UN member states should refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts and fulfil the obligations enshrined in relevant counter-terror conventions. He described Central Asia as India's "extended neighbourhood", and said New Delhi accords "highest priority" to this region. The NSAs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are attending the conclave while Turkmenistan is being represented by its ambassador to India. "Afghanistan is an important issue concerning all of us. India's concerns and objectives with regard to immediate priorities and the way forward are similar to those of many of us around the table," he said. Doval said
Emphasising that cross-border and ISIS-inspired terrorism continues to pose a threat, National Security Advisory Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that Ulemas have a "vital role" to play in countering radicalisation and extremism by propagating progressive ideas and thought. In his opening remarks at a dialogue between the Indonesian and Indian delegation of Ulema and leaders of other faiths, Doval said the cooperation of the civil society is essential in countering the threat from ISIS-inspired individual terror cells and returnees from theatres like Syria and Afghanistan. "...both our countries have been victims of terrorism and separatism. While we have overcome the challenges to a considerable extent, the phenomenon of cross-border and ISIS-inspired terrorism continues to pose a threat." "Cooperation of the civil society is essential in countering the threat from ISIS-inspired individual terror cells and returnees from theatres like Syria and Afghanistan," Doval said. Emphasising the