Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul H Laskar heads the Foreign Affairs desk at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music.
Articles by Rezaul H Laskar
India delivers 1st batch of heavy cranes to bolster operations at Chabahar port
By Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 18, 2021 12:17 AM IST
Hindustan Times had first reported last month that the cranes were set to be delivered in January, months after India cancelled a $30-million contract with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries for heavy cranes because of delays by the Chinese company in supplying the equipment ordered in 2017.
In bid to meet vaccine needs of other nations, India’s neighbours to be priority
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 08:01 PM IST
- As the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, there is considerable pressure on India, especially from neighbours and developing countries, to supply Covid-19 vaccines.
'Will never allow interference in domestic politics': Nepalese foreign minister
By Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 16, 2021 05:29 PM IST
- Gyawali said his country has “excellent” ties with India and China and seeks to improve connectivity and economic ties with both.
Kathmandu requests early provision of vaccines
By Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 16, 2021 04:16 AM IST
Both sides have worked closely to combat the pandemic, and the Nepalese side lauded India on its success in the production of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines and “requested for early provision of vaccines to Nepal”, the external affairs ministry said.
At bilateral meet with India, Nepal’s foreign minister Gyawali raises border row
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
PUBLISHED ON JAN 15, 2021 08:21 PM IST
- Nepal is looking to India to provide vaccines as grant assistance for the first phase of its vaccination programme, which requires 12 million doses to cover 20% of its population. Nepal also plans to buy millions of doses from foreign suppliers, including SII and Bharat Biotech.
US adds Xiaomi to its list of ‘Communist Chinese military companies’
UPDATED ON JAN 15, 2021 01:44 PM IST
The Pentagon on Thursday added Xiaomi Corporation and eight other firms to the list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military in line with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump
Brazil sends aircraft to collect vaccines, 'too early' for exports, says India
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
UPDATED ON JAN 14, 2021 10:50 PM IST
- A statement issued by Brazil’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said an Airbus A330neo aircraft of Azul Airlines equipped with special containers was set to fly back from Mumbai with two million doses of vaccine from Serum Institute of India and reach the country on January 16.
'Security concerns' push UAE to suspend issuance of visit visas to Pakistan
PUBLISHED ON JAN 14, 2021 09:27 PM IST
The move followed specific alerts about possible attacks on Israeli citizens, who have been travelling in large numbers to the UAE since the two countries normalised their ties in August.
Joint commission meet with Nepal not right forum for taking up border row: India
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
PUBLISHED ON JAN 14, 2021 09:26 PM IST
- Nepal’s foreign ministry, while announcing the visit on Tuesday, said in a statement that the joint commission will discuss the gamut of bilateral relations, including the boundary issue, Covid-19 cooperation, infrastructure, connectivity, trade and transit.
Nepal foreign minister Gyawali in New Delhi to discuss Covid-19 cooperation, boundary issue
PUBLISHED ON JAN 14, 2021 03:02 PM IST
During the two-day visit, Pradeep Gyawali will meet his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar for talks on Friday, and the two ministers will chair a meeting of the bilateral joint commission
Synchronising efforts, says Afghanistan on NSA Ajit Doval’s quiet Kabul visit
UPDATED ON JAN 13, 2021 05:50 PM IST
NSA Ajit Doval also met President Ashraf Ghani and “discussed cooperation in countering terrorism and strengthening a regional consensus on the Afghan peace process”, Afghan chargé d’affaires Tahir Qadiry said on Twitter
Secret Indo-Pacific strategy: How the US sees China
UPDATED ON JAN 14, 2021 01:02 AM IST
The document, declassified by the outgoing Trump administration’s National Security Adviser, states that China’s influence will “continue to increase in the near-term and challenge the US ability to achieve its national interests in the Indo-Pacific”
Bolster India’s rise to counter China challenge: Secret US strategy for Indo-Pacific
PUBLISHED ON JAN 13, 2021 10:09 AM IST
Among the “desired end states” of the strategy is India-US cooperation to “preserve maritime security and counter Chinese influence in South and Southeast Asia and other regions of mutual concern”
Dawood Ibrahim's group enjoying 'five-star hospitality': Jaishankar
UPDATED ON JAN 12, 2021 11:57 PM IST
- Without naming either Pakistan or China, Jaishankar said some countries are “clearly guilty” of supporting terrorism and providing financial assistance and safe havens to terrorists.
Covid-19 vaccines, cooperation to be focus of Nepal foreign minister's visit
UPDATED ON JAN 12, 2021 07:35 PM IST
- Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali is visiting for a meeting of the India-Nepal joint commission, which will discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
US planned to back India in addressing issues like border dispute with China: Document
PUBLISHED ON JAN 12, 2021 05:03 PM IST
The US planned to “offer support to India through diplomatic, military and intelligence channels,” ABC News reported, citing the newly declassified US national security document
Satellite imagery shows China creating new military logistics hub in Tibet
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sparshita Saxena, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 11, 2021 10:29 PM IST
- Experts say the move comes in a bid to bolster connectivity and infrastructure for operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
23 Indian sailors stranded in Chinese waters set to return next week
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
UPDATED ON JAN 09, 2021 08:38 PM IST
- The seafarers are expected to reach Chiba port on January 14, and will fly back to India after the completion of procedures related to Covid-19 protocols.
India to chair 3 key UNSC committees
PUBLISHED ON JAN 09, 2021 09:41 AM IST
TS Tirumurti, India’s envoy to the UN, said the country was asked to chair three important subsidiary bodies of the Security Council – the Taliban sanctions committee, the counter-terrorism committee and the Libya sanctions committee.
Pak court jails LeT’s Lakhvi for terror financing, India calls it ‘farcical’
By Imtiaz Ahmad and Rezaul H Laskar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi/Islamabad
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 07:54 PM IST
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was convicted and sentenced in his first appearance in court after his arrest on terror financing charges on January 2.
India to chair Taliban sanctions committee, to keep focus on terrorists, sponsors
By Rezaul H Laskar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 01:25 PM IST
After a recent visit to Pakistan by a Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, videos emerged of the group’s leaders visiting terror training camps on Pakistani soil
Ahead of FATF meet, Pakistan seeks Maulana Masood Azhar’s arrest; court issues warrant
By Neeraj Chauhan & Rezaul H Laskar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 09:25 PM IST
Based on a disclosure made by Pakistani authorities, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge at Pakistan’s Gujranwala – Natasha Naseem Supra issued an arrest warrant for Masood Azhar on charges of terror financing and directed that he be produced in court on Friday.
India’s self-reliance initiatives may lead to trade barriers with other nations, says outgoing US envoy
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 01:40 AM IST
Juster pointed to “frictions and frustrations” on trade and investment between India and the US, and said the two sides were unable to finalise even a “small trade package” despite persistent efforts.
Make in India could hit trade: Outgoing US envoy
PUBLISHED ON JAN 06, 2021 12:08 AM IST
US welcomes LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s arrest on charges of terror financing
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 11:16 PM IST
Six US citizens were among the 166 people killed when a 10-member LeT team attacked Mumbai in November 2008. Lakhvi, who is also a UN-designated terrorist, will now face trial in an anti-terrorism court in Lahore.
India may have to make choices on arms deals, says outgoing US envoy Kenneth Juster
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 10:09 PM IST
The US recently imposed secondary sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for a $2.5-billion deal with Russia for S-400 systems.
LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi arrested on charges of terror financing
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 02, 2021 06:44 PM IST
The arrest came weeks ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) planned reassessment of Pakistan’s efforts to counter terror financing. In October last year, the multilateral watchdog retained Pakistan in its “grey list” for failing to fully deliver on an action plan to fight terror financing.
India weighs various options to evacuate sailors stranded in Chinese waters
By Rezaul H Laskar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 01, 2021 06:06 PM IST
India has taken up the matter with the Chinese foreign ministry and local provincial authorities, who have been requested to allow the ships to dock or for their crews to be allowed to be changed.
Indian, Afghan clerics jointly call on Taliban to stop attacks on civilians
By Rezaul H Laskar | Edited by Sohini Sarkar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 31, 2020 09:39 PM IST
Cities across Afghanistan have witnessed a spate of attacks in recent weeks, targeting civil society activists, human rights workers and members of the media. Dozens have been killed in these attacks, and interior minister Massoud Andarabi has blamed the Taliban for certain killings across the country. The group has denied involvement in the attacks.
China cautions against use of ‘Tibet card’, says it will damage bilateral ties
By Rezaul H Laskar | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 30, 2020 09:50 PM IST
The unusually blunt statement from the Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong called for “an objective and fair stance” on the “highly sensitive nature” of Tibet-related issues and China’s territorial integrity.