Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music.
Articles by Rezaul H Laskar
2 Indians killed in drone attack in Abu Dhabi identified: Indian embassy in UAE
The embassy in Abu Dhabi also said two of the six people injured in Monday’s attack were Indian nationals and were discharged after medical treatment
Published on Jan 18, 2022 01:25 PM IST
2 Indians killed in fires triggered by suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Police were cited by state-run Emirates News Agency WAM as saying that two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed and six more injured in a fire that triggered an explosion in three petroleum transport tankers near ADNOC’s storage tanks at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi.
Updated on Jan 18, 2022 06:32 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
India, Sri Lanka review progress in extending loans worth $1.5 bn
Sri Lanka has been grappling with a severe debt and foreign exchange crisis, which has been exacerbated by a downturn in tourist arrivals because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Published on Jan 15, 2022 05:48 PM IST
Philippines to acquire 3 batteries of BrahMos
The defence deal is unlikely to go down well with China, whose aggressive behaviour in the disputed South China Sea has taken relations with the Philippines to a fresh low.
Updated on Jan 15, 2022 01:27 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
‘Seek better relations with India, Kashmir at core of ties’: New Pak security policy
National security adviser Moeed Yusuf said Pakistan’ new National Security Policy (NSP) document was finalised with ‘full civil-military consensus’.
Published on Jan 15, 2022 12:32 AM IST
Philippines confirms move to acquire BrahMos cruise missiles in $375 mn deal
Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a Facebook post said he recently signed the “notice of award” – or the acceptance of India’s proposal for supplying the missile – for the Philippine Navy’s shore-based anti-ship missile acquisition project.
Published on Jan 14, 2022 08:51 PM IST
Delhi, Colombo should build on Trincomalee deal with broader strategy’: Lankan envoy
Sri Lankan high commissioner Milinda Moragoda said the two countries should move on from the transactional phase and look at the bigger picture, including integrating Sri Lanka into India’s overall energy security policy.
Published on Jan 14, 2022 07:42 PM IST
South Korea looks to upgrade CEPA without early harvest deal
South Korean trade minister Yeo Han-koo said in an interview that South Korea and India have great potential to forge stronger partnerships for the post-pandemic era in key areas
Published on Jan 13, 2022 01:24 PM IST
Not early harvest package, looking at CEPA upgrade: South Korean minister Yeo
South Korean trade minister Yeo Han-koo said Korea and India “have great potential” to forge stronger partnerships in key areas such as supply chains, emerging technologies, climate change, digital and vaccines
Updated on Jan 12, 2022 09:53 PM IST
With Islamabad's new security policy, Pakistan-India trade on the cards
- Pakistan’s new security policy is being described as the first-ever codified policy covering both internal security and foreign policy
Published on Jan 12, 2022 03:10 PM IST
India for early stabilisation of situation in Kazakhstan, says all Indians safe
The National Security Committee, Kazakhstan's counterintelligence and anti-terrorism agency, said that the situation in the country has "stabilized and is under control."
Updated on Jan 11, 2022 12:04 AM IST
Will help India ship humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: Iran
The offer of cooperation – made by Abdollahian during a phone conversation with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Saturday – assumes significance in view of hurdles created by Pakistan for shipping 50,000 tonnes of wheat offered by the Indian side.
Published on Jan 09, 2022 11:14 PM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Iran to cooperate with India in shipping wheat, medicines to Afghanistan
Iran’s offer of cooperation assumes significance in view of hurdles created by Pakistan for shipping 50,000 tonnes of wheat offered by the Indian side.
Published on Jan 09, 2022 08:00 PM IST
India sends 2 tonnes of medicines for Kabul hospital
India is committed to “continue our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and provide them humanitarian assistance.
Updated on Jan 08, 2022 01:05 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
Trincomalee oil tank farm deal to boost energy security, set stage for further eco cooperation
The Lanka government, IOC subsidiary Lanka IOC (LIOC), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and a joint venture between LIOC and CPC signed three lease agreements on Thursday on refurbishing and developing the 850-acre oil storage facility.
Published on Jan 08, 2022 12:46 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar and Rajeev Jayaswal, New Delhi:
India, China LAC talks likely on January 12: Official
The upcoming talks are likely to focus on disengagement at Hot Spring, one of the main friction points in the military standoff, which began in May 2020 and has taken bilateral relations to an all-time low.
Published on Jan 07, 2022 11:43 PM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
India, China army commanders to meet on Jan 12, spotlight on Hot Spring
The Indian and Chinese sides have done considerable work on addressing differences at Hot Spring. The Indian side was hopeful of disengagement at this friction point at the October 10 round of talks but there was no headway.
Updated on Jan 07, 2022 10:35 PM IST
India to roll out chip-embedded e-passports in 2nd phase Passport Seva Programme
The new chip-embedded e-passports will have digital security features to prevent unauthorised reading of data stored on the chip.
Published on Jan 07, 2022 09:08 PM IST
India, China fail to decide date for next round of military talks
Deadlock as Beijing opposes New Delhi’s proposal to resolve remaining friction points on LAC in one go
Updated on Jan 07, 2022 05:09 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Chinese army built bridge in illegally occupied area: India
The ministry of external affairs also describes the tone of a letter sent by a Chinese official to MPs and ministers who attended a meeting on Tibet as unacceptable
Updated on Jan 07, 2022 06:52 AM IST
India skewers China over letter to MPs over Tibet meet, Pangong Lake bridge
India also criticised China for trying to name 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh last week, saying it was a ridiculous exercise to support untenable territorial claims, and that Beijing should work with New Delhi to resolve the Ladakh friction points instead of “engaging in such antics”
Updated on Jan 06, 2022 08:31 PM IST
In China moving goalposts, India sees a not-so-new plan to drag Ladakh friction
Tactics adopted by Xi Jinping’s China, coupled with PLA beefing up infrastructure, dual-use airports and missile and air defence positions on its side in Ladakh sector, has forced the Indian security establishment to conclude that China isn't serious about the negotiations.
Updated on Jan 06, 2022 06:05 PM IST
The protests in Kazakhstan: Its implications in the neighbourhood
- President Tokayev’s response to the Kazakhs' demands could have far-reaching implications for Central Asia
Updated on Jan 06, 2022 03:37 PM IST
Indian troops celebrate new year at Galwan Valley
The images of the Indian soldiers were released three days after China’s state-run media extensively reported on new year celebrations by Chinese troops in Galwan Valley
Updated on Jan 05, 2022 06:40 AM IST
Mossad likely behind bomb attacks on firms linked to Pak nuke programme: Report
Swiss historian Adrian Hänni said Mossad was likely involved in the bomb attacks on German and Swiss companies. Though there was no “smoking gun” to link Mossad to the bombings, the attacks “bore a secret service signature”, he said, according to a report by a Swiss German-language newspaper, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Updated on Jan 04, 2022 05:07 PM IST
Pakistan urges India to join Saarc summit virtually
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that the onus is on India to take steps to create an environment conducive to dialogue between the two sides.
Updated on Jan 04, 2022 07:07 AM IST
China building bridge across Pangong Lake: Satellite imagery
The bridge – which spans a narrow section of the 134 km lake and is almost complete – is expected to enhance road connectivity for the PLA in the area and allow the speedy movement of both troops and heavy equipment
Updated on Jan 04, 2022 04:47 AM IST
Rezaul H Laskar, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Pakistan reiterates its offer to host Saarc Summit, then throws darts at India
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Saarc was an “important forum” and accused India of making “this forum dysfunctional because of its stubbornness.
Updated on Jan 03, 2022 06:30 PM IST
India donates 500,000 Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan
The vaccines were sent to Kabul via a flight of Iran’s Mahan Air, as there are currently no direct flights between India and Afghanistan.
Published on Jan 01, 2022 11:30 PM IST
The link between instability in Myanmar and India's border regions
- With the Myanmar military’s focus shifting to pro-democracy fighters, the pressure has eased on militant groups from northeastern states that operate from the neighbouring country’s border regions
Published on Jan 01, 2022 05:48 PM IST