Indo-Pak defence secretary-level talks begins

After a gap of three years, defence secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the long-pending Siachen issue will kick off in New Delhi on Monday.
"Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar will lead the Indian delegation during the two-day talks," a Defence Ministry official said, adding that "India and Pakistan decided to resume the talks last year after both Prime Ministers met in Thimpu."

Pakistan's Defence Secretary Lt General (Retd) Syed Ather Ali arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the 12th round of talks, which will conclude on Tuesday.While the Pakistani delegation has two civilian officials and four military officers, the Indian side includes Special Secretary R K Mathur, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General A M Verma and Surveyor General S Subha Rao, defence officials said.

Siachen, the world's highest militarised zone, has been a long pending issue between India and Pakistan over differences on the location of the 110-km long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) which passes through the Soltoro Ridge and Siachen glacier.

India wants Pakistan to authenticate the AGPL, both on the maps and the ground, as it occupies most of the dominating posts on the Saltoro Ridge, officials said.Pakistan, in turn, has been insisting on maintaining the pre-1972 troop positions as agreed in the Simla Agreement.

Retaliating to Pakistan Army's advances in the glacier in 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot and deployed its troops in most of the dominating features in the area.The defence secretary-level talks between the two countries on Siachen dates back to 1985.

The decision to hold joint talks was taken by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Pakistan President General Zia-ul-Haq.

US give list of five terrorist to Pak

US has drawn up a list of five terrorists it expects Pakistan to provide intelligence about immediately and possibly target in joint operations, according to a media report on Saturday.The list was discussed during three meetings between Pakistani and US officials in the past two weeks, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Friday, media reports quoted a US official, a Pakistani government official and a Pakistani intelligence official as saying.

The list also includes Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar, commander Siraj Haqqani and Atiya Abdel Rahman, the Libyan operations chief of Al Qaida.The US views the list as a test of whether Pakistan is "serious about fighting terrorists who have long enjoyed safe havens within its borders", the report said.An American source too confirmed the existence of the list to the Dawn newspaper and said the US softening its position on unilateral action against terrorists found in Pakistan was conditional.

"The message given to Pakistani leaders was loud and clear: you either cooperate with us on these list of terrorists or we'll take care of them by ourselves," the source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.Ilyas Kashmiri has emerged as one of the most dangerous terrorists in recent years. He is a militant with international goals and connections across Arabia and South Asia.

Afghan president moves to stop NATO night raids

Afghan president has ordered his defence minister to tell NATO that Afghan forces and not the international troops should be the one to carry out special operations and nighttime raids.

Hamid Karzai's announcement on Saturday also says NATO should not proceed with any raids that have not been coordinated with Afghan forces.The move is meant to assuage rising popular anger over coalition searches and nighttime raids of homes.

NATO forces have faced violent protests over night raids on villages where they are trying to flush out insurgents.It's unclear what immediate impact Karzai's statement will have.NATO says the coalition understands it "must move from Afghan participation in night operations to Afghan forces having responsibility for night operations."

CMAI Delegation to CommunicAsia 2011 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

CMAI Delegation to CommunicAsia 2011 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

CMAI is pleased to announce CMAI Delegation to CommunicAsia 2011 scheduled to be held from 21-24 June, 2011 at marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
CommunicAsia2011 will feature a comprehensive myriad of key and emerging technologies from backhaul network, systems integration to software and applications to the end users. Highlighting the newest technology innovations, latest industry updates from the ICT industry and featuring thought-provoking sessions by prominent industry players in the Summit. The event is scheduled to witness over 3000 exhibitors from over 100 countries with over 70,000 international visitors. More details are available at http://www.communicasia.com/

Delegation members would be provide the following services:

1. Express Group Registration

2. Free copy of the Show Directory worth S$120

3. 20% discount on delegate fee if interested to attend any concurrent seminar

4. Guided tour around the exhibition

5. Special Networking meetings with exhibitors

6. Invitation to concurrent Networking events.

Members interested to join the delegation or members who are already travelling to the expo are requested to send in their name and email address and take advantage of the above facilities. We are also talking to Tourism Singapore to provide complimentary vouchers to the delegation.

Address by Prime Minister at the Indian Community Function

Address by Prime Minister at the Indian Community Function
Following is the text of the address by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the Indian Community Function in Addis Ababa:

"It is a great privilege for me to meet the members of the Indian community in Ethiopia.

Indian merchants and artisans came to this country as far back as the 19th century. They made a home here and with painstaking effort built for themselves a respected place in Ethiopian society.

I was very proud to hear that many Ethiopians have high regard for the Indian teachers who taught them. I am told that even today Ethiopian universities are keen to recruit Indian professors.

I see this spirit of selfless and dedicated service among all Indian communities I meet during my visits abroad. While retaining and carrying forward the high values, strong family traditions and work ethic of their motherland, they adapt very well in their adopted homes. They are pillars of their communities and a source of pride and achievement for Indians everywhere.

I have been in Addis Ababa for the last three days. My visit to Ethiopia has been a most rewarding experience. I have been struck by the extraordinary goodwill, love and affection for India in this country. We are indeed fortunate to have friends like the people of Ethiopia.

I have come to Africa with a message of friendship and solidarity from India. I conveyed to the African leaders how much importance the people and government of India attach to reviving our historic relations with this great continent.

We concluded the second Africa India Forum Summit yesterday. Together with leaders from across the continent of Africa, we set out an ambitious road map to comprehensively expand the India-Africa partnership.

Indian communities in Africa have an important role to play in renewing and strengthening relations between India and Africa. The rise of India and Africa is opening new opportunities for collaboration. There is much that we can do together to increase each others’ welfare and prosperity.

I have held detailed discussions on our bilateral relations with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia His Excellency Mr. Meles Zenawi. We agreed that there is vast untapped potential in developing our bilateral relations. Prime Minister Zenawi is a strong advocate of a robust and diversified relationship between India and Ethiopia.

Today India is on a path of high economic growth. There is confidence and hope among our youth and a desire for change. A new India is rising fast as a fast growing, democratic and pluralistic society. These are features we share with Ethiopia.

In recent years, Ethiopia’s economic performance, political stability and democratic polity have attracted the attention of the international community. Ethiopia's voice is heard with increasing respect because of these achievements.

I am confident that my visit will open a new chapter of multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

In recent times, the flow of Indian investments in Ethiopia has grown. I am told that over 450 Indian companies have invested in Ethiopia with total committed investment of more than 4 billion US dollars.

I would urge the Indian business community to set high standards of professional conduct in this country. Businesses that seek a long term presence here should work hard to earn the support and goodwill of local communities. They should aim to be model corporate citizens.

Your contribution to the economic development of Ethiopia is highly appreciated. I would like you to know that your motherland recognises the value of this contribution and your hard work.

The welfare, safety and well-being of Indian citizens will always receive our close attention. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has been working hard to strengthen links of our overseas communities with India and to harness their knowledge, skills and resources.

I am happy to announce that we will shortly set an Indian Community Welfare Fund for Indian citizens in distress in Ethiopia.

I thank you all for coming here today. I wish you

5th Renewable Energy India 2011

Industry Colleague are cordially invite you to be part of the 5th Renewable Energy India 2011 Expo - South Asia’s largest event on Renewable Energy being held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi during 10-12 August 2011.The 3-day international conference being held concurrent to the main exhibition is an ideal platform to address the challenges of innovative technologies, market developments, project financing; Government policy and regulations in the field of renewables.The focus areas are: Solar PV & Thermal, Wind, Small Hydro, Bio Energy and Electric Vehicles.It will be our pleasure to have your esteemed presence at the conference.
Conference Delegate Charges
All 3 days Rs. 15,000 / US$ 150
1 Day Rs. 5,000 / US$ 450

Smoke erupts from Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano

An eruption by Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano has put airline safety officials on alert as a billowing cloud of ash drifts toward northern Europe.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office says the volcano, which lies beneath the island's largest glacier, has been shooting plumes of smoke at least 11 kilometers into the air since Saturday. Weather officials are uncertain of the exact path of the ash cloud as it drifts across the continent, but they expect it to touch Scotland, Ireland and Britain by late this evening or early Tuesday.

They say the cloud could travel as far as Scandinavia, western France and Spain by later this week. But experts say the impact of the eruption is expected to be far less severe than last year's eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano.

Aviation authorities say they have shut down the island's main airport in the capital, Reykjavik, and may have to close the island's other airports. The city has been coated with ash, shutting out the daylight and covering the city's buildings and vehicles. Grimsvotn last erupted in 2004.