Russia mulls stripping citizenship over IS links: Putin

Moscow, Apr 12 (AFP) Russia is weighing up stripping the passports of naturalised citizens accused of involvement with the Islamic State group, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview released today.

"According to the Russian constitution, we cannot strip anyone of citizenship," Putin told Mir television station.

"But we can cancel the decisions that served as the basis for obtaining Russian citizenship. We are holding consultations with our lawyers and I think that such decisions will be made in the very near future."

The comments come in the wake of a deadly attack on the Saint Petersburg metro by an alleged Russian citizen who was born in mainly muslim Kyrgyzstan in ex-Soviet Central Asia.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the authorities say they are probing ties to Islamic State jihadists.

Putin said that nearly 10,000 people from ex-Soviet countries part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were fighting in Syria, according to some estimates.

Other estimates put that figure at around 9,000 people, half of whom are Russian nationals, Putin said, adding that 5,000 of them hailed from Central Asia.

"The (terror) threat is very big and real," Putin said.

"We know it, we understand the scale of this threat and must do everything to minimise it."

Jihadists from IS - including foreign fighters from the ex-Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus region - have repeatedly threatened an attack on Russian soil to avenge Moscow's military support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

The head of the FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov, said yesterday that the core of "terrorist groups in Russia" is made up of citizens of ex-Soviet countries arriving "in flows of migrant workers," RIA Novosti state news agency quoted him as saying.

Tillerson in Moscow to confront Russia over Syria

Moscow, Apr 11 (AFP) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow today to confront the Russian leadership over its support for President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime.

Before setting off for Moscow, Tillerson told a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Italy that Russia should rethink its alliance in the light of the latest alleged chemical attack in Syria.

"I think it's also worth thinking about Russia has really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hezbollah," he said, referring to Syria's other military allies in its six-year-old civil war.

"Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" 

Tillerson was due to spend the night in Moscow before holding talks tomorrow with his opposite number Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

When Tillerson's predecessors visited the Russian capital it was usual for them to also be received by President Vladimir Putin, but Russian officials have said that no decision has been made on whether this will be the case.

Pak will be condemned worldwide if Jadhav hangs: Naidu

New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Pakistan will be condemned across the world if it hangs Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

"We leave their (Pakistan's) people. They are not able to come out of their old habits. It is very unfortunate. Whole world is watching what is happening and and it will attract worldwide condemnation," the information and broadcasting minister told reporters outside Parliament.

A Pakistani military court has sentenced Jadhav to death in an alleged espionage case.

Naidu also hit out at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks alleging BJP policies were to blame for poor voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls.

"Who is responsible for the Jammu and Kashmir problem?...

Comments for short political gains are not good for anyone," the minister said.

He suggested that one should think carefully and speak in favour of the country on such sensitive issues.

"One should keep in mind the country's unity and integrity before speaking...Pakistan is creating problems and separatists are fuelling the fire," Naidu said.

Yesterday, Gandhi had said that decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government.

Eight people were killed on Sunday in firing by security forces during the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll. Only 7.14 per cent of the electorate came out to cast their votes in the constituency.

Ready to supply uranium to India as soon as possible: Aus PM

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Malcolm Turnbull travelling to Akshardham temple in Delhi Metro, in New Delhi on April 10, 2017

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today said his country is ready to start export of uranium to India as soon as possible, two-and-a-half years after the two countries signed a civil nuclear cooperation deal.

Soon after holding wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turnbull said cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector has been on an upswing and Australia would like to assist India in generation of nuclear power.

"We are working closely with India to meet our respective requirements for the provision of fuel for India's civil nuclear programme," he said, adding Australia was looking forward to supply of uranium to India as soon as possible.

On his part Modi said Australia is now ready to export uranium to India with the passage of a legislation in the Australian Parliament with bi-partisan support.

A joint statement issued after the talks said Modi and Turnbull reiterated their support for continued bilateral nuclear cooperation and that they anticipated commercial export of Australian uranium to India could begin soon.

Australia has about 40 per cent of the world's uranium reserves and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes of yellow cake annually.

India and Australia began talks on the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2012 after Australia lifted a long- standing ban on selling uranium to energy-starved India. The agreement was signed during a state visit to India by Australia's then prime minister Tony Abbott in September 2014.

India, which has nuclear energy contributing just 3 per cent of its electricity generation, will be the first country to buy Australian uranium without being a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

In the talks, Turnbull noted Australia's strong support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Australian side also expressed its support for India's membership of the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, the two export control regimes.

Resolving to deepen maritime cooperation, the two prime ministers recognised that India and Australia share common interests in ensuring maritime security and the safety of sea lines of communication.

"Both leaders recognised the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, as well as resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," said the joint statement.

The comments are seen as an reference to China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"The two Prime Ministers highlighted their shared desire to ensure that Indian Ocean architecture keeps pace with regional issues and addresses emerging threats and challenges in the region," the statement said.

Modi and Turnbull agreed that the bilateral maritime exercise first held in the Bay of Bengal in 2015 will be repeated off Western Australia in the first half of 2018.

On defence ties, the statement said both countries remain strongly committed to the breadth of their defence ties and recalled the Special Forces Bilateral Exercise conducted in October 2016.

"They also welcomed a decision for the first bilateral Army-to-Army exercise to take place in 2018. They looked forward to the inaugural secretaries' defence and foreign affairs dialogue in the '2+2' format as a new mechanism to build on the deep strategic partnership."

Modi and Turnbull also emphasised on the need for an early peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process; and called for ending external support for terrorism.

On the issue of students, the Australian prime minister said he will ensure that they get outstanding opportunities.

The two leaders also decided to deepen efforts to "deter and disrupt" human trafficking, including to ensure the return of persons, subject to verification by Indian and Australian authorities.

Turnbull reiterated Australia's support for India's membership of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

In the meeting, Modi also welcomed Australia's continuing support for India as a permanent member in a reformed United Nations Security Council.

Recognising India's strong economic trajectory, Turnbull informed Modi he would commission an India Economic Strategy to define a pathway for the Australian business community to collaborate with India on its reform agenda.

The statement also said India and Australia are keen to secure a timely conclusion of a high quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The Australian prime minister also congratulated Modi on his leadership in setting up of the International Solar Alliance and announced that Australia intends to join the alliance.

On India's skill development programme, Turnbull said Australia's industry-led vocational education and training system can play a key role training 400 million Indians by 2022.

On the sports sector, Turnbull invited "elite" Indian sports teams to train in Australia ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

India to partner in Bangladesh's economic development: Prez

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina calling on the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 09, 2017.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) India is fully committed to be a partner in Bangladesh's economic development, President Pranab Mukherjee has said.

During a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who called on the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, Mukherjee also said the ties between the two countries are growing from strength to strength.

"Cooperation in the field of connectivity, power, energy, trade, capacity building and infrastructure development is especially praiseworthy. India is fully committed to be a partner in Bangladesh s economic development," a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan today quoted the President as having said.

Geographical proximity and connectivity are advantages that must be leveraged to mutual benefit, Mukherjee said.

He expressed hoped that the announcement of over USD 5 billion of Indian concessionary financing for infrastructure projects in Bangladesh over the next couple of years will usher in more development for Bangladesh.

The President said India deeply appreciates Hasina's role in giving a new direction to the India-Bangladesh relationship and making it what it is today strong, vibrant and exemplary partnership.

Mukherjee said Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening democracy, rule of law, pluralism and human dignity and to ensuring peace, security and stability in the country is commendable.

Welcoming Hasina, the President also remembered his visit to Bangladesh in March 2013. He also appreciated her for visit in August 2015 to attend the last rites of his wife.

The President said Bangladesh's gesture of honouring the Indian soldiers martyred during the 1971 Liberation War is highly appreciated in India.

"India considers it a demonstration of solidarity and a symbol of the unique history of bilateral ties. There is much that unites the two countries - a shared history and common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the arts," Mukherjee said.

He congratulated Bangladesh on successfully hosting the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Dhaka last week and also the 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development in December 2016.

If Pak executes Jadhav, it'll be a premeditated murder: India

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Reacting strongly, India today said it will regard as "premeditated murder" if Pakistan carries out the death sentence, awarded to its national Kulbhushan Jadhav "without observing basic norms of law and justice".

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a strongly-worded demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav were "farcical" as there were no "credible evidence" against him.

Reacting to a press release by Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Jadhav, India said he was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly.

India, through its High Commission in Islamabad, has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law and 13 such requests were formally made between 25 March 2016 and 31 March 2017, the demarche said.

"This was not permitted by the Pakistani authorities," it said.

The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him, it said, adding it is significant that Indian High Commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial.

"Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of evidence. The claim in the ISPR release that Jadhav was provided with a defending officer during the so-called trial is clearly absurd in the circumstances.

"If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," the foreign secretary said in the demarche.

Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest.

India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the navy but denied he has any connection with the government.

'Dalai Lama's successor must have China's endorsement'

Beijing, Apr 9 (PTI) China's official think-tanks countered the Dalai Lama's assertion that Chinese government cannot decide about his successor, saying the next highest monk of Tibetan Buddhism must have the endorsement of Beijing.

"The government of the People's Republic of China has proclaimed the power to approve the naming of 'high' reincarnations in Tibet, based on a precedent set by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty," said Wang Dehua, Co-Director, Centre for South Asia Studies, Tongji University in Shanghai.

"In my opinion it's ridiculous for the Dalai Lama to say he changed the centuries-old tradition, because the tradition was already changed in 1959. The central government will definitely support the Dalai Lama's successor if he or she is selected according to Chinese laws and historical rules, and the Tibetan people's will," he told PTI here.

Speaking in Tawang, close to the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh, the Dalai Lama yesterday said the Chinese government cannot decide who will be the next Dalai Lama.

"Beijing's bid to name my successor to undermine the Tibetans' cause is 'nonsense'," he said.

"As early as 1969, I had said the Tibetan people will decide if this very institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not. If this institution is no longer relevant, it should stop," said the Dalai Lama, who had fled Tibet back in 1959 to take refuge in Tawang.

"Nobody knows who or where the next Dalai Lama will be born or come from. Some indication (about his reincarnation) might come at the time of my death, but now there is no such indication," he said, asserting that China has no role in selecting his successor.

The Chinese government is yet to react to his comments made from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of Southern Tibet.

Shen Dingli, Vice Dean, Institute of American Studies, Fudan University, too said the Dalai Lama has been saying that the tradition of Dalai Lama could end when he passes away.

However, his successor has to have China's approval, he said.

Since he left Tibet in 1959 to escape from the Chinese occupation, the Dalai Lama who turned 81 this year has been keeping China on tenterhooks about his successor.

Considering the political and spiritual influence the Dalai Lamas' had over Tibetans for centuries, China is keen to pick up the successor to the current Dalai Lama to firm up its hold over Tibet, which it kept under tight political, military and administrative control after it took over the area in 1951.

China is apprehensive that the Dalai Lama may pick up a successor from Tawang from where the sixth Dalai Lama hailed.

While firmly opposing his visit to the Tawang in general and Arunachal Pradesh in particular with a diplomatic protest to India for permitting it, China is watching warily about any moves by the Dalai Lama to pick up his successor from there.

Statements by local legislators and officials from Tawang that it was the wish of the people that the next Dalai Lama should come from there also caused consternation in China.

"According to traditional practice it only happens after death of the Dalai. It is well known that the title of Dalai Lama, which was originally an academic title conferred by a Mongolian emperor under the rule of the (Chinese emperor) Ming government (1368-1644), became a political and religious title after it was recognised by the Qing government (1644-1911)," Wang said.

"Since then, the selection of the Dalai Lama has to be supervised and recognised by the central government in order to achieve legitimacy," he said.

Commenting on Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu's remarks that "an independent Tibet, not China, is India's true northern neighbour, he said it's against India's Long standing policy and will damage our bilateral relations.

Ahead of Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang, a scholar of China's state-run Tibetology Research Centre had said that the Dalai Lama's successor should come from native place in Qinghai, adjacent to Tibet Autonomous Region.

Lian Xiangmin, Director of contemporary research of the centre, told media that Dalai Lama's successor should be from his native town in Tibet and he should renounce separatism and accept Tibet and Taiwan as integral part of China.

Dalai Lama was born in Taktser village, Amdo of Qinghai province and picked up for the high spiritual post when he was a eight-year-old boy as part of reincarnation principle followed under Tibetan religious customs.

"On one hand the Dalai Lama says he will live up to 113 years on the other hand he talks about succession issue himself," Lin said.

"So far there have been 14 Dalai Lamas who have been produced in China. We hope that the present Dalai Lama will live for 113 years old. But if a succession is indeed needed we hope the new one will be produced according to the historical conventions in a traditional way," he said.

Outlining conditions for political rapprochement, Lin said the Chinese government has stipulated that the Dalai Lama must give up his pursuit of Tibet independence, stop separatist activities, recognise Tibet and Taiwan as part of China.

US vows to keep up pressure on Syria after missile strikes

Palm Beach (US), Apr 9 (AP) The United States is vowing to keep up the pressure on Syria after the intense nighttime wave of missile strikes from US ships, despite the prospect of escalating Russian ill will that could further inflame one of the world's most vexing conflicts.

Standing firm, the Trump administration on Friday signaled new sanctions would soon follow the missile attack, and the Pentagon was even probing whether Russia itself was involved in the chemical weapons assault that compelled President Donald Trump to action.

The attack against a Syrian air base was the first US assault against the government of President Bashar Assad.

Much of the international community rallied behind Trump's decision to fire the cruise missiles in reaction to this week's chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of men, women and children in Syria.

But a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the strikes dealt "a significant blow" to relations between Moscow and Washington.

A key test of whether the relationship can be salvaged comes next week when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson becomes the first Trump Cabinet member to visit Russia.

Tillerson said he sees no reason for retaliation from Russia for the US missile strikes. Russia maintains a close political and military alliance with the Assad government and has been implicated in many of the attacks against Syrians opposed to Assad's rule, though Moscow adamantly denies such claims.

In an interview to air Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," Tillerson said Russians were not targeted by the strikes. He also said the top US priority in the region hasn't changed and remained the defeat of Islamic State militants.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson also had planned to visit Russia this coming week, but decided yesterday to cancel the trip because of the fast moving events in Syria. Johnson, who condemned Moscow's continued defense of Assad, said Tillerson will be able to give a "clear and coordinated message to the Russians." 

At the United Nations on Friday, Russia's deputy ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, strongly criticised what he called the US "flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression" whose "consequences for regional and international security could be extremely serious." 

He called the Assad government a main force against terrorism and said it deserved the presumption of innocence in the chemical weapons attack.

The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the world is waiting for the Russian government "to act responsibly in Syria" and "to reconsider its misplaced alliance with Bashar Assad.

British FM cancels Moscow visit over 'developments in Syria'

London, Apr 8 (AFP) Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has cancelled a scheduled visit to Moscow next week, his office announced today, saying "developments in Syria have changed the situation fundamentally".

"My priority is now to continue contact with the US and others in the run up to the G7 meeting on 10-11 April," said Johnson, who was due to travel to Moscow on Monday.

"We deplore Russia's continued defence of the Assad regime even after the chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians," added Johnson.

He then called on Russia to do "everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated".

"I discussed these plans in detail with Secretary Tillerson," Johnson said, adding that the US foreign minister would still visit Moscow as planned following the G7 meeting to "deliver that clear and co-ordinated message to the Russians." 

Johnson expressed his support to the US yesterday after it fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Shayrat airfield near Homs in central Syria.

The move was in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun earlier in the week which killed at least 86 people according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Russia, one of the main backers of the Assad regime alongside Iran, condemned the US strike, denouncing a "flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression".

Hailing Bangladesh, Modi slams Pak for 'backstabbing'

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) While showering praise on Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today slammed another neighbour Pakistan in a veiled manner, saying it prefers "backstabbing over trust" and that its "mindset" is a roadblock to peace in the region.

He made the comments as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina felicitated Indian heroes of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan and recalled their sacrifices at a special event here.

He said India's doors are always open for cooperation, but for that terrorism has to be shunned, a clear reference to Pakistan.

Referring to his famous slogan "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" (eveybody's cooperation, everybody's development), Modi said it is not just restricted to India but also to the neighbouring countries as development of India is incomplete without the progress of the region.

"We have extended a hand of friendship towards every country (of the region) and have invited them to be a part of our growth. Without being selfish, we have wished good for the entire region," said the Prime Minister who had invited leaders of all the SAARC countries to his swearing-in ceremony in 2014.

"We truly think that citizens of all nations of the region progress and prosper. Our doors are open for cooperation, but for this terrorism has to be shunned," he said.

Without naming Pakistan but obviously referring to it, Modi said, "There is one mindset in South Asia which breeds, inspires and encourages terrorism. The mindset whose priority is not humanity, but extremism and terrorism." 

India and Bangladesh are a victim of that "mindset" which encourages terrorism, he said.

"The thinking, whose policymakers prefer terrorism over humanity, destruction over development, destruction over creation, backstabbing over trust, is the biggest challenge to the society and its economic development," he said.

Noting that 1,661 Indian soldiers had laid down their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War, Modi said the Indian army's struggle in this cannot be forgotten.

Before the function, Modi and Hasina met and posed for photographs with Major Ashok Tara of 14 Guards who had rescued the family of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from a house in Dhanmandi where they had been imprisoned by the Pakistani soldiers in 1971.

Rahman was the father of Sheikh Hasina.

"The Indian army never shied away from its duty and set an example by following conventions of the war. Over 90,000 Prisoners of War were released safely after the 1971 war. The humane gesture shown by India is one of the biggest events in the century. This also shows the character of the Indian army," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the genocide by Pakistan in 1971 was undertaken to wipe out an entire generation of Bangladesh and every person who was proud of the idea of Bangladesh was eliminated.

"The purpose of this genocide was not just killing the innocents, but to uproot the idea of Bangladesh," he said.

Speaking at the event, Hasina said, the history of Bangladesh has been written with the blood of Indian martyrs along with valiant freedom fighters of Bangladesh.

"They fought together for the independence of Bangladesh.

The story of their sacrifice will be remembered from generation to generation in our two countries," she said.

On the occasion, Hasina also honoured Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Major Anup Singh Gahlaut, Subedhar Malkiat Singh, Havildar Sungandh Singh, Lt Samir Das and Lance Naik Mohan Chandra, who laid down their lives in the 1971 war.

Modi, in turn, announced doubling of 'Mukti Yoddha' scholarship from 10,000 in the next five years, multiple visa entry for 'mukti yoddha' (freedom fighters of Bangladesh Liberation Movement) and medical assistance to 100 mukti yoddhas through a special scheme.