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Pakistan PM Khan seeks peace talks after Modi’s election win

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Modi’s campaign included promises to ‘punish’ Pakistan for allegedly supporting the armed revolt in Kashmir.by Asad Hashim4 hours ago

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours remain high, after a military standoff earlier this year [File: Madoka Ikegami/Reuters]

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani Prime MinisterImran Khan has congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on what appears to be a landslide win in his country’s general election, adding that he looked forward to working with him “for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia”.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 303 seats out of the 542 that it contested in the elections, election results showed. The result means the right-wing party is set to overtake its current tally of 282 seats in parliament, further strengthening Modi’s hold on power.

Known for his support for Hindu nationalism, Modi’s campaign included strong messaging on national security and promises to “punish” Pakistan for allegedly supporting the armed revolt in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Following Khan’s tweet on Thursday, Modi thanked the Pakistani prime minister for his “good wishes”, saying he had “always given primacy to peace and development in our region”.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours remain high after a military standoff earlier this year saw both countries launch air raids on each other’s territory, and an Indian fighter jet shot down in an aerial dogfight.

That skirmish followed a suicide attack in the disputed territory of Kashmir, which India and Pakistan both claim in full but administer in parts.

The attack, in the town of Pulwama in mid-February, killed at least 40 Indian security personnel, with India blaming Pakistan for “controlling” the attack. Pakistan denied the accusation. 

On February 26, Indian aircraft conducted air raids on Pakistani territory, claiming to have destroyed a training camp run by the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) armed group.

An Al Jazeera visit to the site of the bombing found little evidence to support the claim. At least four Indian bombs appeared to have hit a hillside near a JeM-run school, wounding one man.

As a show of force, Pakistan carried out retaliatory air strikes on unpopulated areas in Indian-administered Kashmir a day later. An Indian fighter jet was shot down that same day and the pilot captured.

He was returned to India two days later, in a move aimed to defuse mounting fears of open conflict.

Modi’s BJP made the air attacks and his government’s hardline stance against Pakistan a key part of their election platform.

Before the election, the Pakistani president had expressed the opinion that having a hardline right-wing government in India made it easier to hold peace talks.READ MORE

Pakistan military says it test-fired ballistic missile Shaheen-II

Analysts, however, warn that it is possible that Modi, while empowered by his mandate, may also be locked into a position based on election rhetoric. 

“His whole election campaign was based on two things: national security and taking tough action on Pakistan,” Zahid Hussain, a security analyst, told Al Jazeera.

“So I don’t think the situation will change for the time being.”

Hussain said the massive election victory for Modi’s BJP may, in fact, “reinforce his hardline position”.

“He may now demand that Pakistan come to its knees to hold talks.”

Khan’s government was grappling with an economic crisis at home, the central bank raising interest rates to 12.25 percent earlier this week to attempt to curb rising inflation and the country’s current account deficit.

This week, central bank data showed the country’s fiscal deficit was up to five percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first nine months of the financial year, a 10-year high.READ MORE

India elections 2019: All the latest updates

“Pakistan seems to be quite desperate to find a way forward, also because of its economic situation and external pressures,” said Hussain. “There is certainly a willingness to move forward from Pakistan.”

On Wednesday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

“I made it clear to her that we want to amicably resolve all issues,” Qureshi said in a statement released after the meeting.

India’s foreign ministry did not comment on that meeting.

Aljazeera

Trump orders intelligence agencies to join probe into 2016 campaign surveillance

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Moscow, May 24 (Sputnik) US President Donald Trump authorized the US intelligence community to engage in an investigation led by US Attorney General William Barr into surveillance activities surrounding his 2016 presidential election campaign, the White House has said.
“Today, at the request and recommendation of the Attorney General of the United States, President Donald J. Trump directed the intelligence community to quickly and fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation into surveillance activities during the 2016 Presidential election,” the White House press secretary said in a statement late on Thursday.
Trump also authorized the attorney general to declassify data as part of the probe.
“Today’s action will help ensure that all Americans learn the truth about the events that occurred, and the actions that were taken, during the last Presidential election and will restore confidence in our public institutions,” the statement added.
The surveillance activities that affected some of the members of the Trump campaign team back in 2016 are seen by many as one of the origins of the probe into the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the run-up to the presidential election, won by Trump.
While the probe failed to establish evidence of the alleged collusion, which was denied by both Moscow and Trump, in April, Barr announced an investigation into its origins.

In mid-May, Barr assigned John Durham, the US attorney in Connecticut, to look into the origins of the Russia probe.

Rahul expresses gratitude to Wayanad voters, tweets in Malayalam

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New Delhi, May 24 : A day after he faced a humiliating defeat in Nehru-Gandhi family’ s traditional stronghold Amethi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday thanked voters in Wayanad, from where he secured his Lok Sabha entry in the just concluded election.

“Ningalude prathinidhiyaayi enne thiranjedutha wayanattile ellaa janangalkkum nandi parayunnu”- (I am thanking to all the people from Wayanad who have selected me as their representative) Mr Gandhi tweeted in Malayalam.

The Congress president won by 4,31,770 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)’s PP Suneer in Kerala’s hilly constituency.

The Congress high command had announced Mr Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad as his second constituency in the middle of Lok Sabha election.

Wayanad, considered as a stronghold of Congress-led United Democratic Front, and won by late MI Shanawas with a margin of 20,870 votes in 2014.

Mr Gandhi’s entry into Wayanad had energised party workers across the state and it won 19 seats out of 20 in the LDF ruled Kerala.

The only seat, UDF lost was Alappuzha, which was represented by Mr Gandhi’s trusted aide and party’s organisational general secretary KC Venugopal in 2014.

Mr Venugopal had opted out from the contest this time, citing organisational responsibilities.

However, BJP nominee Smriti Irani defeated Mr Gandhi in Amethi with a margin of 55,120 votes.

Mr Gandhi has been representing the prestigious Amethi seat for last 15 years since 2004.

KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao owns responsibility for party’s defeat in the LS polls

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Bengaluru, May 23 (UNI) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dinesh Gundu Rao today owned responsibility for the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha election.
Speaking to newsmen here, he said that “I own the moral responsibility for the defeat and as party’s disciplined soldier I am ready to obey any direction by the party High Command.”
“We all worked unitedly still the outcome was very disappointing and I personally take the responsibility and adhere to party direction whether to continue or tender resignation to the post,” he added.
Congress, the coalition partner with JDS in Karnataka government, tasted most unexpected defeat in the Lok Sabha election as it could win only one seat out of 21 seats it contested after allowing 7 seats to JDS. The only seat Congress won was that of Bangalore Rural when D K Suresh, brother of Minister D K Shivakumar, retained the seat by defeating BJP’s Ashwathnarayana Gowda.

World leaders cheer Modi for his splendid performance

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London, May 23 : With all indications that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Prime Minister Mr Modi was headed for another five-year term, several world leaders on Thursday congratulated him for the splendid performance in the general election.

Elections on 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats were held between April 11 and May 19.

The Lok Sabha election results 2019 are being announced on Thursday. A party or alliance needs 272 seats to form government at the Centre and the NDA is likely to win more seats than the mandatory requirement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by phone on his party’s victory in the parliamentary elections, during the conversation, the leaders confirmed their readiness to cooperate and continue contacts, the Kremlin said in a statement Thursday.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated Mr Modi on the phone in connection with the convincing victory of his Bharatiya Janata Party in the general parliamentary elections in India,” a Kremlin statement said in Moscow.

During the conversation, the leaders “reaffirmed their mutual readiness to contribute in every possible way to the further strengthening of friendship between the peoples of Russia and India, to the development of a particularly privileged bilateral strategic partnership, and to continue close coordination on the international arena,” it said.

Earlier, Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Mr Modi in connection “with the convincing victory of the BJP at the general parliamentary elections.”

President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping, congratulated PM Narendra Modi. He conveyed his message in telephonic conversation with the Indian leader.

Pakistan Prime Minsiter Imran Khan also congratulated Mr Modi.
“I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.

Japanese PM Shinz? Abe has also congratulated PM Narendra Modi. Mr Abe also made a phone call to Mr Modi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in congratulating the leader who has brought Indo-Israeli ties to new heights. “Heartiest congratulations, my friend @Narendramodi, on your impressive victory in the elections,” Netanyahu wrote in a Hebrew tweet.

“The election results are more validation of your leadership and the way in which you lead the largest democracy in the world. Together we will continue to strengthen the great friendship between us and between India and Israel and bring it to new peaks,” Mr Netanyahu added.

The Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, however, was among the firsts who congratulated Mr Modi.

“Congratulations on your victory and the people’s re-endorsement of your leadership. Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing the warm and constructive relationship with India in the future.@narendramodi,” he said on his Twitter handle.

Renil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, took to Twitter to congratulate his Indian compatriot Narendra Modi after poll results showed a staggering victory for him in the Lok Sabha poll. Wickremesinghe said he was looking forward to working closely with the Indian Prime Minister.

Congratulating Mr Modi Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli said he looked forward to work closely with him. “I extend warmest congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for landslide election victory in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. I wish all success ahead. I look forward to working closely with you. #PMOIndia.”

King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck congratulated Narendra Modi over telephone.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani also tweeted a congratulatory message to Narendra Modi. “Congratulations to PM @narendramodi on a strong mandate from the people of India. The government and the people of Afghanistan look forward to expanding cooperation between our two democracies in pursuit of regional cooperation, peace and prosperity for all of South Asia.” Mr Ghani said.

Ken Juster, US ambassador to India also congratulated Mr Modi. “Congratulations to @narendramodi and the #NDA on your sweeping victory! The United States looks forward to working closely with our strategic partner #India in the years to come,” he said.

YSRCP establishes clear leads in 101 Assembly Constituencies

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Vijayawada, May 23 : Opposition Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy established clear leads in 101 Assembly constituencies after completion of first round of votes.

The ruling Telugu Desam party is leading in 17 constituencies.

Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was trailing in Kuppam Assembly constituency in the first round. However he is leading after the second round started.

The YSRCP candidates established clear leads in Rayalaseema region and in Coastal AP districts.

The Janasena party led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan is leading in two Assembly constituencies in the first round

People have taught Congress befitting lesson in Karnataka: BS Yeddyurappa

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As the election results trickle in, it seems like the BJP has swept the polls in Karnataka. The party is leading in 24 out of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies, including several crucial ones like Kalaburgi (Gulbarga), Tumakuru (Tumkur) and Kolar.

The Congress is leading in only two seats – Bengaluru Rural and Chamarajanagar – while the JD(S) is leading in Hassan.

Speaking to the media, BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa said that the electorate has “taught the Congress a befitting lesson” by supporting the BJP.

“Many stalwarts, including former PM HD Deve Gowda, leader of Opposition for Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Union Ministers Veerappa Moily and KH Muniyappa, have lost terribly. This shows that the people of Karnataka have believed in Narendra Modi. The people have taught a befitting lesson to Siddaramaiah, who spoke arrogantly against Narendra Modi and the BJP,” Yeddyurappa said.

Calling the 2019 elections a historic one for the BJP, Yeddyurappa thanked the electorate for the trust they placed in the party.

“In the history of Karnataka elections, the people of Karnataka have for the first time given BJP a thumping majority. We are leading in 24 seats for the first time and creating history. In North Karnataka, coastal Karnataka and Malnad region, the people have supported us unconditionally. I thank them immensely for this,” he added.

Yeddyurappa said that the lack of developmental works, the betrayal people suffered after the coalition went back on its promise of waiving farm loans, and massive corruption had left the voters disillusioned.

“Besides, massive corruption in the coalition government, the rampant discrepancies in transfer of officials have all resulted in the people losing confidence in the Congress and JD(S),” he said.

When asked whether the coalition government would fall, Yeddyurappa said that the BJP has decided to wait and watch. He said that the BJP is waiting for the Congress and JDS to make a decision.

“We will wait and see what happens next, I cannot tell you now. The decision has to be taken by Congress and JDS leaders. I don’t want to say anything now. I saw on TV that the JDS state president Vishwanath has resigned, but let us wait till tomorrow and see what happens. We are also awaiting decisions from the central leadership,” he added.

Agencies

“India Wins Yet Again”, Tweets PM Narendra Modi After BJP’s Big Victory

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said “India wins yet again” with his party, the BJP, set for a landslide victory in the national elections. Leads show that the BJP will again get a clear majority on its own by winning 294 seats, which is better than the 282 seats it had won in the 2014 general elections.

“Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat,” PM Modi tweeted this evening.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance or NDA is ahead in 345 seats, leads show, while the Congress-led UPA is leading in 91 seats. In 2014, the NDA had won 336. It was the first time in more than three decades that a single party won majority on its own. 

BJP chief Amit Shah today said the massive win is the victory of PM Modi’s development and the people’s trust in him. 

“This victory is India’s victory. This is the victory of the hopes of youths, the poor, and farmers. This massive win is the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development and the people’s trust in him. On the behalf of crores of BJP workers, I congratulate Narendra Modi,” Mr Shah tweeted.

The leads show that the BJP will manage to keep its core states – the Hindi heartland, Gujarat and Maharashtra – while posting fresh victories in Bengal, Odisha and the northeast. It has also scored a huge win in Karnataka – a state the Congress rules jointly with HD Kumaraswamy.

In Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of lawmakers to the Lok Sabha, the BJP has established a huge lead over the Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav alliance and is ahead in 61 seats. The gathbandhan is leading in only 18 seats. In Bengal, leads show the BJP has made huge inroads, and is set to win 19 seats, compared to 22 by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. In 2014, the BJP had won just two seats in Bengal.

The final results will be declared only by late evening.

Agencies

New Indian government faces crucial foreign policy decisions, say US experts

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Given Trump’s relentless focus on trade issues, India’s new government will need to figure out how to put the trade relationship on a positive footing, a former White House official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump (File Photo | PTI)

WASHINGTON: Eminent Indian experts in the US believe that the next Indian government to be formed after the declaration of the election results on May 23 faces crucial foreign policy decisions, particularly in the economic realm.

“No matter who forms the next government, India faces crucial foreign policy decisions particularly in the economic realm,” Alyssa Ayres of the Council on Foreign Relations told media.

Author of the book “Our time has come: How India is making its place in the world”, Ayres, who served in the previous Obama Administration, said although the US-India relationship has made solid strides across governments in defence and security, there are increased tensions on the trade and economic front.

“I would also expect to see increased attention in the United States (particularly among members of Congress) to issues of religious freedom in India, especially given the tenor of the elections these past few weeks,” Ayres said.

In an op-ed titled “Troubles Aplenty: Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next Indian Government”, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Ashley Tellis stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who the exit polls predicted to be reelected, will have to confront serious external challenges both around India’s periphery and farther beyond.

“If India is to realise its great power ambitions in the decades to come, the next government will have to accelerate economic reforms domestically, strengthen India’s institutions, preserve its constitutional ethos and protect the nation’s internal cohesion, all of which have floundered dangerously in recent years,” Tellis wrote.

Associate professor of practice and fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Joshua White asserted that though there are many things the new government can and should do to move beyond its election-induced foreign policy “lethargy” of the previous year, economic reforms are arguably the most vital.

A former White House and Pentagon official under the previous Obama Administration, White believes that with the partial exception of Vice-President Mike Pence, the new Indian government will find itself lacking ‘through no fault of its own’ effective high-profile champions in the Trump administration, and will be forced to engage an American policymaking apparatus dominated by trade hawks, who see the relationship in narrow transactional terms.

“While policy experts in Washington have largely assumed that Prime Minister Modi’s cautious foreign policy turn has been a product of his election imperatives, there is a growing anxiety that President Trump may have, in more fundamental ways, prompted New Delhi to question the assumptions that undergird deeper US-India alignment,” White told media.

Whoever comes to power will face a multitude of foreign policy challenges that are only growing in number and complexity, noted Anish Goel, a senior fellow at the New America think-tank.

“First and foremost is the relationship with the United States. Given President Trump’s relentless focus on trade issues, the new government will need to figure out how to put the trade relationship on a positive footing, and at the very least prevent any disagreements on trade from overwhelming the other more positive aspects of the strategic partnership,” Goel, a former White House official under the Obama and Bush administrations, told media.

This is complicated by the fact that the relationship will need to be balanced against India’s ongoing interactions with Russia and Iran.

Both countries represent strategic threats to the United States, yet remain vital trading partners for India, he said.

Beyond these global power politics, India will face challenges within its own neighbourhood, Goel said.

While tensions with Pakistan are perpetually simmering, they are even more heightened at the moment because the after-effects of the Pulwama-Balakot crisis have not been fully resolved and continue to linger, he added.

“As the United States looks for an exit ramp from Afghanistan, India-Pakistan relations will take on even greater importance. In addition, Sri Lanka has flared up as an unexpected regional challenge for India. After nearly a decade of relative peace on the island, the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings highlighted how terrorism can take root in the region,” Goel said.

“And finally, India must reckon with China,” the former White House official said in response to a question.

The world’s attention may be focused on US-China relations at the moment, but this doesn’t mean that India-China issues are not serious and prevalent.

“China’s increasing assertiveness will continue to cause concern in New Delhi. India has already expressed its displeasure with the Belt Road Initiative, but the reality is that the project is moving forward. The question now becomes what is India going to do in response,” Goel said.

According to Tellis, at a time when India’s external environment has grown more precarious because of the weakening liberal international order, China’s continuing ascendancy and assertiveness, and the prevailing capriciousness in Washington, continued stumbles in New Delhi will end up being cumulatively costly and will subvert India’s larger ambitions even more consequentially.

“Today, when India’s claims to exceptionalism will not suffice to either protect its security or to increase its influence, its missteps within will have outsized impact abroad,” he warned.

PTI

Pak boat seized off Gujarat coast, Heroin worth more than Rs 400 cr recovered

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Ahmedabad, May 21 : The Indian Coast Guard ship on Tuesday intercepted a Pakistani Fishing Boat ‘Al-Madina’ off Jakhau in Gujarat coast and recovered around 194 packets of suspicious substance, suspected to be Heroin, worth around Rs 400 to 500 crore, from the boat.
According to a Defence Spokesperson, at around 1900 hrs on Monday, the Indian Coast Guard received inputs from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and other intelligence agencies that a Pakistani fishing boat is waiting near the International Maritime Boundary Line, to deliver narcotics to a receiver, off the Jakhau coast.
”Accordingly, the ICGS which was in the patrolling area, was diverted to intercept the suspected boat. Also, two fast Interceptor Boats of ICG were deployed from nearby CG stations to augment the operation. In the morning hours of Tuesday, the Coast Guard ship finally intercepted Pakistani Fishing Boat Al-Madina off Jakhau coast.

”The ICG Ship chased the foreign boat and succeeded in boarding and taking control of the situation in the Indian waters, despite rough sea conditions.
”Meanwhile, the crew jettisoned/threw the bags containing the suspicious material in the water. However, the Coast Guard ships boarding party took the Pakistani crew in its custody and managed to retrieve seven bags from water.
”Preliminary testing of one of the packets by a drug detection kit, the material revealed to be likely Narcotics. The approximate cost of the seized Narcotics is Rs 400-500 crore, which will depend proportionately on purity of the narcotics.
”The rummaging of boat is in progress. The Pakistani boat will be taken either to Jakhau or other CG station for further interrogation of crew, rummaging by all other law enforcement and Intelligence agencies and for further legal action.
Earlier in March this year, 100 kg Heroine was seized in a joint operation by the ICG and ATS, Ahmedabad, based upon input off Porbandar coast. This is the second incidence in this year, when the ICG has seized such a large quantity of Heroin from the coast of Gujarat.

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