India ride into semis with easy win

Led by half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (56) and Virat Kohli (57*), India eased into the semifinals of the ICC World T20 with a comfortable eight wicket win over Bangladesh. India chased down the 1390run target with more than one over to spare

Spinners Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin shared five wickets as India kept hosts Bangladesh down to 138-7 in a Super-10 match of the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Friday.
Leg-spinner Mishra, who was man of the match in both the previous games against Pakistan and the West Indies, finished with three for 26 after India elected to field in the group two match.
Off-spinner Ashwin claimed two for 15 as Bangladesh batsmen faltered in front of a sell-out home crowd of 25,000 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Opener Anamul Haque top-scored with 44, but it was Mohammad Mahmudullah's unbeaten 32 off 23 balls that boosted the hosts after they were reduced to 82-5.
Mahmudullah, who hit five fours and a six, put on 49 for the sixth wicket with Nasir Hossain.
Bangladesh slipped to 21-3 by the fifth over after Ashwin dismissed Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman off successive deliveries.
Mishra also claimed two wickets off consecutive balls in the final over, leaving India well-placed to record their third successive win.
With Australia having lost to the West Indies earlier on Friday, a win for India will give them one of the two semi-final spots from the group.
Pakistan and the West Indies are likely to battle for the second spot.

India, US officials meet to discuss maritime security, trade

Washington: Top diplomats and military leaders from India and the United States are meeting here to discuss maritime security and regional trade as part of their East Asia consultations, a US official has said.

The sixth session of the US India East Asia Consultations, among other things would discuss a variety of issues including maritime security, expanding regional trade opportunities, and increasing cooperation in multilateral fora, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, said on the eve of the meeting today.

"As the United States continues to implement our strategic rebalance to Asia we will work with India to address both the challenges and the opportunities across the Indo Pacific region," Biswal said.


The India side would be represented by Indian Ambassador to the US, S Jaishankar, Joint Secretary for East Asia Gautam Bambawale, and Joint Secretary for the Americas Vikram Doraiswami.

The US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel J Locklear, along with Biswal and Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, would represent the American side.

"This dialogue is an opportunity for the United States and India to share views on regional priorities and identify areas for cooperation in our engagement with regional and multilateral institutions," the State Department said in a statement.

Elated by India's response at UN, Sri Lanka releases fishermen

Colombo: Elated after India's abstention at the UN Human Rights Council vote on Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday ordered the release of all Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody for poaching.

"President this morning has ordered the release of all Indian fishermen," Wijayananda Herath, a presidential spokesman told a news agency.


The Sri Lankan President's instructions have gone to the Attorney General and the Ministry of Fisheries to make the necessary arrangements for their release, Herath said.

Narendra Rajapaksa, the Fisheries Ministry spokesman, said that at least 98 Indian fishermen are under the Sri Lankan custody for violating the IMBL.

India was one of the 12 nations that abstained at yesterday's UNHRC vote on the resolution which has prescribed an international probe into Sri Lanka's alleged rights abuses.

Rajapaksa hailed the India's abstention as a very welcome and significant development which was very encouraging towards Sri Lanka.

India had supported both previous US-moved resolutions in 2012 and 2013.

ICC World Twenty20: Should India drop struggling Yuvraj Singh?

New Delhi: He might have had a phenomenal T20 record for the Indian team in the past, but one of the major concerns for the Indian team in the ongoing ICC World T20 has been the form of Yuvraj Singh.

The southpaw has looked clueless in the two matches India has played so far in the series. While Yuvraj was bowled by Bilawal Bhatti off the second ball he faced against Pakistan in the first match, he looked totally out of form during his 10-run knock against West Indies, for which he consumed 19 balls. If his batting form wasn`t enough to make him nervous, Yuvraj dropped a sittter at deep midwicket off Chris Gayle`s bat in the second match.

Yuvraj bowled just one over against Pakistan in which he conceded 13 runs and didn`t bowl against West Indies. His body language on the field is evident of the fact that he is clearly struggling in all departments of the game.

Yuvraj has been one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball in the shortest format of the game and has delivered several match-winning performances for the Indian team in the past. If he fails in another one match or so, the team management would have to seriously contemplate over other options.

People can forgive mistakes but not betrayals: Modi

New Delhi, March 26:

Maintaining his attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the people can forgive those who have committed mistakes but not those who have betrayed the nation. Apparently taking a jibe at the AAP, Modi said: “Delhi saw Congress A and Congress B. Such an unique alliance. First form a government and afterwards resign from it so as to hand it over Delhi to Congress A from the backdoor.” “Today who is running the government in Delhi? Through the L-G, the Congress despite losing the elections is running the government,” he added. “People can forgive mistakes but not betrayal. There is no place for betrayers in politics,” he said. He also said that earlier, all the opposition parties used fight together against the incumbent government, but the first time all parties are busy with unique alliances so that the BJP doesn''t come to power. He said that alliances are being formed just to stop Modi from coming into power. “During elections, the poll manifesto is sacred pledge. It represents the views and opinions of a political party. What are his objectives and what it will do for the society are all mentioned in it. It is serious document. But after seeing the Congress''s manifesto, it seems like a manifesto is a joke for them,” he said about the poll manifesto released by the Congress earlier today. He said the Congress manifesto contains the same points which were mentioned in its 2004 and 2009 manifestos. (ANI)

India-Pak DGMOs to meet on December 24 in bid to ease tension at the Line of Control

Islamabad:  The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan will meet on December 24 at the Wagah border to discuss ways to strengthen the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC), Army sources have said.

The move comes almost three months after the Prime Ministers of the two countries decided in New York that the DGMOs should meet to find ways to reduce tensions at the LoC.

"Pakistan Army DGMO has extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart for the meeting on December 24," a senior official of the Pakistan Army's media arm said. Sources in the Indian Army said, the offer has been accepted.

The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement that the invitation was extended to "strengthen the mechanisms to ensure ceasefire on the Line of Control".

The invitation was extended by the Pakistani DGMO soon after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss national security issues.

The DGMOs of the two sides have not held any meetings in the past few years. Indian DGMO Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Amir Riaz spoke on their hotline on October 25 and 29.

On September 29, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif agreed on a meeting between the DGMOs when they held talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The premiers felt a meeting between the military officials would help reduce tensions at the LoC that were at a peak following the killing of five Indian soldiers in an attack in August.

However, the meeting was not scheduled and both sides did not give reasons for the delay.

The already strained bilateral relations took a hit early this year when two Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops along the LoC in January.

Fierce exchanges of fire on the ceasefire line claimed the lives of soldiers on both sides. Both countries accused each other of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement.

Tensions eased following the meeting between the premiers in September.

Defence Minister AK Antony said yesterday that the DGMOs will meet when they feel the need for it. "The two DGMOs are talking and let them talk. Whenever they feel, they will meet. It is up to them," he told reporters in New Delhi.

The DGMOs talk to each other on Tuesdays and discuss matters such as ceasefire violations on the LoC and the International Border.

Flag meetings between local formation commanders of the two sides are usually fixed during these conversations.

This year, there were over 150 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops, who also carried out attacks inside Indian territory on some occasions.

India, Pakistan's DGMOs meet at Wagah-Attari border

Islamabad:  The much anticipated meeting between Director Generals Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan took place today along the Wagah-Attari border to work out a mechanism to ease tension and ensure peace at the Line of Control (LoC).

The Indian side was led by Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia while Major General Aamer Riaz headed the Pakistani side.

A Brigadier and three Lieutenant Colonels from each side also participated in the talks.

Official sources in Islamabad said that the meeting was scheduled to take place on the 'No Man's Land' at the Wagah-Attari border.

Pakistan military in a statement said that the decision for holding meeting between Pakistan and Indian DGMOs was taken on a political level.

The DGMOs discussed issues pertaining to tension on the LoC and other related issues on the working boundary with a focus to maintain ceasefire and bring normalcy.

The DGMOs of the two nations met for the first time in 14 years. They last met in 1999 after the Kargil war.

India was expected to forcefully convey to Pakistan the importance of maintaining ceasefire at the LoC.

Pakistani media reports had said Islamabad was expected to seek a bigger role for UN military observers deployed along the Line of Control.

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was established in 1949 under the resolution passed by the world body's Security Council to supervise ceasefire along the LoC.

The meeting comes three months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif proposed this meeting to defuse tensions.

Pakistan had initially proposed to include the Foreign Ministry officials in the meeting of senior military officials but India had rejected it.

However, Pakistan Foreign Office had said last week, "For the time being, this meeting will be between the DGMOs but our proposal is still on the table".

Pakistan in frenzied celebrations after beating India

KARACHI: Pakistanis engaged in frenzied celebrations after a thrilling Asia Cup win against arch-rivals India late Sunday, with one boy killed by jubilant firing in the air.

Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi hit two sixes off the final over to seal a one-wicket win in Dhaka in a crucial match.

The victory was watched by millions in the entertainment-starved country, and young people jammed the streets of Karachi till late into the night.

But celebrations were marred by tragedy in the southern city of Hyderabad where the boy was killed, senior police official Mir Farid Jan Sarhandi said.

Paramilitary Rangers were eventually called in to disperse jubilant youngsters in parts of Karachi.

Youths carrying green Pakistan flags and pictures of Afridi hailed the win as "a huge moment".

"Afridi has made us proud," said Khalid Shah. "Any win over India is just like winning the World Cup, so we are out to savour this."

Property tycoon Malik Riaz announced he would give Afridi a residential plot in a newly built housing scheme in Karachi, saying the all-rounder has made the nation proud.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi said the win would lift Pakistan at international level.

"Pakistan's win has proved that we cannot be left isolated," Sethi said in a television interview, referring to changes within cricket's governing body last month that gave more power to the so-called Big Three of England, Australia, and India.

The proposal was approved at an International Cricket Council meeting in Singapore.

"Pakistan will go on and win the Asia Cup and then the World Twenty20 to prove that we are a top cricketing nation," said Sethi.

The next edition of the World Twenty20 will also be held in Bangladesh, from March 16-April 6.

Pakistan previously won the event in 2009. Cricketing contests between Pakistan and India are fairly rare. Since the World Cup semifinal in 2011, they have played just six one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches against each other.

India, Pakistan agree to send back inadvertent border crossers

LAHORE: India and Pakistan today agreed that people who inadvertently cross the frontier would be immediately returned to their respective countries.

The decision was made during a five-day bi-annual meeting of officials of the Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force here.

According to a statement issued after the talks, the two sides decided to continue efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity on the international border.

The two border guard forces agreed that people who inadvertently cross the frontier would be immediately returned to their respective countries.

The two sides reached consensus on using communication channels more effectively to control violations on the frontier. They also agreed on "zero tolerance" for smuggling.

Consensus was developed on issues like stopping illegal construction' removal of wild growth like scrubs and maintenance of boundary pillars.

Defence constructions, border incidents and trans-border crimes like drug trafficking, infiltration and smuggling of arms and fake Indian currency, inadvertent border crossings and other matters of mutual interest were discussed for effective border management, authorities said.

The Indian delegation, headed by BSF chief Subhash Joshi, included senior officers from Chandigarh, Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and the BSF headquarters in New Delhi.

The decisions came days after the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries met after 14 years and decided to re-energise mechanisms for maintaining the ceasefire on the Line of Control.

Veena’s husband pleaded with me to help him clarify Veena’s anti-india Tweet : Mahesh Bhatt

Veena’s husband pleaded with me to help him clarify Veena’s anti-india Tweet : Mahesh Bhatt

Veena Malik’s husband Asad Bashir contacted Mahesh Bhatt to clarify Veena Malik’s False Anti-India Tweet. He said that it was made by Prashanth her ex manager who hacked her twitter account and made that tweet.

Mahesh bhatt’s response to Times Of India regarding this issue:

First of all, let me clarify this, that I have no role to play in Veena Malik’s either coming to India, or finding a name in the entertainment space. Yes, I was the person who brought Meera, another Pakistani actress here, was the first person to bridge the cultural gap between India and Pakistan and kick-start the cultural peace and exchange process that has taken a leaping curve in building relationship with our neighbouring country in the realm of performing arts.

I have never met Veena. I have spoken to her over the phone when she was going through a crisis earlier, but I have not played any role in making her part of the entertainment space in India. I think it was because of the television that she could be recognised at all. If she has made a statement as shocking as this, it is indeed heart breaking to the people who welcomed her with open arms. This is, I would say, a retrograde moment for the cultural peace process that has been strengthening between the two countries. That such people do not have a shred of gratitude for the affection and warmth shown to her, is a telling comment on her.

I got a call from her husband, Asad Bashir Khan Khattak, and he pleaded with me to help him clarify this controversy. He said, and this is clearly according to him, that this particular twitter account from which this comment was tweeted, was being misused by her ex-boyfriend/secretary. And then she came on the phone and said to me, ‘Kya karoon, I am being hounded for this comment, but I haven’t said any such thing at all. There is this individual, this secretary who has been misusing my account.’

I said, listen, since I have been an ambassador for the Indo-Pak peace process, for that sake alone, I am willing to speak to this secretary, and see if a solution can be found. So, I spoke to him, some Singh, I forget his name, and told him, ‘Veena Malik’s hubby called me, and I am seeking your help to clarify to the nation about this outrageous thing she is supposed to have tweeted.’ He told me, over the phone, that it was a joint account being used and managed by him and her. And that he was not only her secretary, but that he was a person having a relationship with her.

When I heard this, I said, ‘Aha, if this is a matter of the heart, I would step back to leave you two to solve this issue together, because in the matter of the heart, there is no easy solution.’ This is where my connection with this whole controversy begins and ends. I would again like to clarify that I have never had nothing to do, no role to play in Veena’s coming to India, or anything else.