Biden confident Iraq won't alter withdrawal timetable for US troopsSeptember 17th, 2009 Biden: Iraq won't alter troop withdrawal timingBAGHDAD — Vice President Joe Biden says he is confident that Iraq will not alter the timetable for the withdrawal of American troops. Biden told reporters in Baghdad on Thursday that there are a number of steps that would have to be taken before Iraq could call a referendum that could alter the so-called status of forces agreement.
Omar Abdullah appeals to Centre to withdraw AFSPA from KashmirAugust 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday appealed to the Centre and all the political parties to take a pragmatic view on the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) the state. Speaking at the chief ministers conference on internal security here, Abdullah also pressed the Centre to withdraw the special anti terror laws imposed in the state.
Omar says 'out of power' PDP is nervous and worriedAugust 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the opposition party in the state was coming out with false accusations against his government, as they were finding it difficult to cope up with the fact that they were out of power. "The PDP is nervous and worried.
Jammu and Kashmir governor rejects Omar Abdullah's resignationJuly 30th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra Thursday rejected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's resignation, which Omar had submitted Tuesday after the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linked him to a 2006 prostitution racket.
Omar Abdullah submits resignationJuly 28th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned Tuesday after being linked to a sex scandal by the opposition. He submitted his resignation to Governor N.N.
Congress asks Omar not to be too emotionalJuly 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Congress, partner of the ruling Jammu and Kashmir coalition, Tuesday asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah "not to get too emotional" after a high political drama unfolded in the state assembly following the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegations that he was involved in 2006 sex scandal. An emotionally charged Abdullah threatened to resign from his post after senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig alleged that his name figured in the list of accused in the sex scam that rocked the state in 2002.
Father, three-year-old son gunned down in KashmirJuly 23rd, 2009 SRINAGAR - A three-year-old boy and his father were shot dead by suspected guerrillas in a south Kashmir village, police said Thursday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the murder and challenged the separatists' silence over it.
Kashmir tense amid violent protestsJuly 2nd, 2009 SRINAGAR - Over two dozen people were injured in sporadic clashes between the police and stone pelting mobs Thursday in the tense Kashmir Valley where violent protests have been raging since last month over alleged rights abuses and killings by security forces. Police officials described the overall situation in the valley tense but under control Thursday, a day after the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered central paramilitary troopers to withdraw from the troubled Baramulla town where four youth were killed in firing allegedly by security forces this week.
US commander says Iraqi troops ready to handle urban security after US combat troops withdrawJune 28th, 2009 US commander: Iraqi troops ready for city securityWASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in Iraq says he believes Iraqi forces are ready to take over when American combat troops pull out of Baghdad and other cities by Tuesday.
Indian Army chief reviews Kashmir securityJune 16th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, a day after the annual Amarnath pilgrimage began despite inclement weather. "Kapoor reviewed the over all security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the arrangements for smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage)," said a defence ministry official.
Positive response from Chidambaram on Kashmir troop reduction: MehboobaJune 11th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram gave a "positive response" to suggestions of troop reductions in Kashmir, People Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said Thursday.
500 paramilitary forces withdrawn from Orissa's KandhamalMay 31st, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - At least five companies of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprising about 500 personnel, were withdrawn Sunday from Orissa's Kandhamal district that had witnessed communal violence last year, an official said. An official of the state home department told IANS that the paramilitary troops would be replaced by an equal number of state police personnel.
National Conference denies tiff with Congress over ministerial berthsMay 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Denying any tiff with the Congress, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his party was not looking for any ministerial berth in the new government. The unscheduled departure of National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah to South Africa today, when the new government will be sworn-in, gave rise to speculation over tiff between the NC leader and the Congress.
Decision on troop reduction in Kashmir after summer: Army chiefApril 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Army chief Saturday said that any decision on troop reduction in Jammu and Kashmir will be taken after this summer. 'It is premature to talk about troop reduction in Kashmir...
Omar Abdullah to be next chief minister of Jammu and KashmirDecember 29th, 2008 NEW DELHI - The National Conference and the Congress Tuesday confirmed that they would form the new coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, with Omar Abdullah heading it. The announcement was made after the National Conference chief, Omar Abdullah, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the national capital.