Kremlin invites Modi for V-Day celebrations, awaits response
Moscow, April: 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, but there has been no response from New Delhi, a top Kremlin aide said Thursday. On May 9, Russia celebrates victory in WWII over Nazi Germany and this year has invited leaders of select friendly nations to attend the 80th anniversary event. The leaders include Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has accepted the invitation. “The Prime Minister has been invited for 9 May, but so far we have not received any response,” Kremlin’s foreign aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Russian State TV. (PTI)
Russian SC temporarily suspends ban on Taliban
Moscow, April 17: Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday “temporarily” suspended the over two decades ban on Afghan Taliban, which will allow Moscow to interact with the government in Kabul with immediate effect. Russia had proscribed the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist outfit in 2003. However, since the hasty withdrawal of the US in August 2021, the Taliban has had de facto control over Afghanistan. According to TASS, the advocate and representatives of Taliban were present for the in-camera hearing. In December 2024, the Russian Duma amended the law which allowed the temporary lifting of the ban on Taliban for interaction with it. Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov had filed a petition in the Supreme Court with a request to lift the ban on the Taliban. (PTI)
Pakistan woman challenges Afghan husband’s deportation
Peshawar, April 17: A Pakistani woman married to an Afghan citizen filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court on Thursday challenging the deportation of Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizen Cards. Pakistan announced in January that all Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders should leave the country by March 31 or face deportation. Authorities launched a drive on April 1 to expel those falling into the category. The petitioner, Reshma, stated in the plea that she is married to Afghan citizen Tariq Khan and they have four children together. She requested the court to declare null and void the federal government’s policy about the expulsion of all Afghan nationals, even those possessing valid documents. (PTI)
Tribe in Pak pledges not to support terrorists
Peshawar, April 17: Tribal elders in South Waziristan district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan on Thursday pledged not to allow terrorists to carry out any activities in their area. Dotani tribe elders made the pledge during a large public gathering (jirga) in South Waziristan district in the wake of growing incidents of terrorism in their district for the last couple of months, security sources said here. The meeting of tribes people comes days after terrorists had kidnapped and brutally killed constables Hameed Shahid and Ashraf, both belonging to the Dotani tribe. (PTI)