Pak-based terror groups will be defeated: Chidambaram
New Delhi: India on Sunday described Pakistan-based terrorist groups as "dark forces" which are "implacably" opposed to the country and asserted that they would be defeated whenever confronted.

Home Minister of India P Chidambaram said militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for innumerable deadly terror strikes in India, held a meeting at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on Thursday and it was clear that these groups were "implacably" opposed to India.

"Their weapons are mayhem and violence; and their goal is forcible annexation of Kashmir. Let me make it clear that these dark forces will not succeed in their designs. We will defeat them whenever and wherever we confront them," he said in his opening statement at the Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security here.


PM assures no more attack on NE students in Delhi
Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed concern over the recent attacks on girl students of the north eastern region in New Delhi and said stern action would be taken against the culprits to prevent such incidents.

The Prime Minister made the statement in a letter to the North East Students Organisation (NESO) Chairman, Samujjal Bhattacharya.

Replying to a complaint lodged to Singh by the NESO, the Prime Minister said he had directed the authorities to take stern action against the culprits.

"The North East people in Delhi is a peace loving community which is making valuable contributions to the academic and economic life of the city," Singh said in the letter.

Bhattacharya told reporters he was happy to receive such quick response to their complaint from the premier.


Modi praises Home Minister and Home Secretary
New Delhi: A day after taking a jibe at the Centre over its "helplessness" on price rise, Chief Minister of India's western state of Gujarat Narendra Modi Sunday was found complimenting Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram and Home Secretary G K Pillai for their approach in tackling terror.

"Response of the Home Secretary and Home Minister is swift and positive whenever there is a demand from the states," Modi told reporters on the sidelines of the chief ministers conference on internal security.

He said due to the hostile attitude of "our neighbouring country, security is an important issue which needs to be taken seriously."

Asked about the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, Modi said there are only two ways to deal with security related issues.

"Firstly, we need modern weapons and an increased strength of forces. We believe in democracy, We believe in human rights.


India can't afford to be lax on inflation: CB
Sydney/New Delhi: India can't afford to be lax about fighting inflation as the nation seeks to slow price gains to 5 per cent or less, central bank Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty said today.

"You cannot afford to be in any way lax in monitoring inflation and controlling it," Chakrabarty said in an interview in Sydney. "We would not like to have more than 4 or 5 per cent inflation. That's the challenge."

Central Bank Governor Duvvuri Subbarao raised the amount lenders are required to set aside as reserves last month to prevent excess money in the banking system from fanning price gains. India's wholesale-food inflation rate rose to 17.56 percent in the week to January 23, moving closer to an 11-year high and fueling speculation that Subbarao may raise interest rates.


US not in direct contact with Taliban: Holbrooke
Munich: Washington is not in "direct contact" with the Taliban as part of efforts after January's London conference on Afghanistan to re-integrate insurgents, US envoy Richard Holbrooke said today.

"The press, since London, has been kind of obsessed with the idea that there are all sorts of secret talks going on with the Taliban. So I want to state very clearly that our nation is not involved in any direct contacts with the Taliban," Holbrooke said at an international security conference in Germany.

Washington and its allies agreed in London to support Afghan President Hamid Karzai's efforts to persuade insurgents not ideologically committed to the Taliban or Al-Qaeda to abandon fighting in favour of the prospect of jobs.


NATO chief seeks broader ties with China, India
Munich: The head of NATO today said that the alliance's troubled mission in Afghanistan shows it is vital to boost ties with nations like China, India and Pakistan.

Drawing from flaws exposed in Afghanistan, where NATO is struggling to hold off a Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency, Anders Fogh Rasmussen called for the military alliance to become the hub of a broad global security coalition.

"This is a key lesson we are learning in Afghanistan today ... we need an entirely new compact between all the actors on the security stage," he said at a major security conference in Munich, southern Germany.

"India has a stake in Afghan stability. China too. And both could help further develop and rebuild Afghanistan. The same goes for Russia. Basically, Russia shares our security concerns," he said.


Opportunities for private investments in UAE, India
Dubai: Investors have been asked to tap the opportunities in the private sector in the UAE and India to deepen economic ties between the two nations.

The UAE?s Ministry of Foreign Trade (MOFT) has asked the private sector in the UAE and India to tap investment opportunities generated by reforms in both countries.

In a study released today, MOFT said there are a host of potential opportunities for stronger economic cooperation and joint projects between the two countries.

The report was released to mark the official visit today to India by UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al-Qassimi, who is leading 43-members a delegation.

The visit, which concludes on February 12, includes a promotional tour to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The delegation will also participate in the second edition of the annual Arab-India Partnership Conference slated from February 8-9 in New Delhi under the umbrella of the India-Arab Cooperation Forum.


Bopanna-Qureshi win maiden ATP doubles title
Johannesburg: Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Qureshi today clinched their first ATP World Tour doubles title after a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 victory over Karol Beck and Harold Levy in the final of USD 442,500 South African Open here.

Unseeded Bopanna and Qureshi finally won an ATP doubles title together in their third attempt, having finished runners-up in both the previous final appearances -- in Mumbai (2007) and at Newport (2008).

The Indo-Pak duo had a dream run last year, winning three ATP Challenger events together, but were not able to clinch a Tour event.

For Bopanna, though, this is his second ATP doubles title after the LA Open triumph in 2008 partnering American Eric Butorac.

An elated Bopanna said, "Both of us are thrilled to have won this tournament.


End ad-hocism, govt interference in cricket: Imran
Lahore:Former captain Imran Khan today called for an end to ad-hocism and government interference in Pakistan cricket which he said have been damaging the game in the country.

"Ad-hocism, the influence of departmental teams and the practice of the President being chief patron of the cricket board are the three major causes for our cricket problems," Imran said at a show 'Cricket Ka Muqadma' (cricket's trial) on 'Geo News' channel.

"Our domestic structure is still weak and one of the main reasons for our team's inconsistent performances. Unless we have only regional cricket and unless we end this ad-hocism in cricket nothing will improve," he added.