Rise in India's Foreign trade

After India made its case in front of the International Court of Justice, now Pakistan responds on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. 

After India made its case at the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan is presenting its case. 

The floodgates are about to open. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Beijing over the weekend to participate in the One Belt, One Road summit, and the top item on his agenda is to finalise the Long Term Plan for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Dawn has the details of the extent of China's long-term plans in Pakistan. Read

The hearing of the brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old Dalit woman in Sonipat will be conducted in a fast-track court, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today. "Such kind of heinous crimes would not be tolerated at any cost in a civilised society and the guilty would be punished," he said. 


The decomposed and mutilated body of the woman, who went missing from Sonipat on May 9 and was gang-raped and brutally murdered, was found near the Industrial Model Township in Urban Estate, Rohtak, on May 11.


Stray dogs had bitten off the face and lower portion of her body. The sheer brutality of the crime, reminiscent of the 'Nirbhaya' incident in Delhi which triggered nation-wide outrage, occurred barely a month after the BJP-led Haryana government launched 'Operation Durga' to stop harassment of women.

An autopsy of the victim had stated that the bones of the woman's skull were shattered into pieces and "some sharp-edged objects may have been inserted in her private parts".

"The findings suggest that it was a brutal rape and murder,' said S K Dhatterwal, head of the department of forensic medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, who conducted the post-mortem examination.

Two persons, including the main accused Sumit, who is also a Dalit, have been arrested by the Haryana Police which has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Police said the family of the victim have suspected the involvement of six more persons, out of whom five are related to the main accused.

The kin of the victim have also alleged that they had approached the Sonipat police about a month back with a complaint that Sumit was harassing their daughter, but there was no action.

The chief minister also promised strict action against those involved in the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman at Gurgaon in the state. The woman from Sikkim was allegedly raped by three men in a moving car and thrown out on a road in Delhi yesterday.

With the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing the case of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of being a spy, his friends continued to pray for him.

"The stay on execution has lit a ray of hope. But now everything depends on today's hearing. We are continuously praying that the judgement should be in Kulbhushan's favour. He is an ordinary and innocent man, he must be released," said Vandana Panwar, Kulbhushan Jadhav's friend.

"We gave a free trial to a terrorist like Kasab and Pakistan hasn't even revealed in what condition Kulbhushan is in. We hope we will get justice from the International Court of Justice and bring him back to India," Jadhav's friend Vijay Kanojiya said.


Kanojiya said there are almost 70,000 signatories that there should be a discussion at the White House regarding this case.Praveen Bhoj another friend, said, "India has international support in this case. We hope that Kulbhushan gets justice. We thank the present government for pursuing this case so well."The ICJ on May 9 had put a stay on the death sentence given by Pakistan to the alleged Indian spy.

AIADMK (Amma) faction leader TTV Dinakaran today sought in a special court the copy of a CD which allegedly has audio recordings of phone conversations between him and a co-accused in the Election Commission bribery case.

The response of Dinakaran, who is in judicial custody, came on the Delhi Police's plea seeking his consent for taking the voice samples.

Dinakaran's counsel told Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry that he should be given a copy of the CD which the police claimed had the audio recordings of telephone conversations between him and arrested alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekar and others.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said he is not in the race for the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2019.

"Main nahin hoon 2019 mein PM pad ka dawedar," Nitish Kumar said at a press conference in Patna.

The JD-U leadership has been repeatedly projecting Nitish Kumar as the PM candidate of non-BJP parties in 2019.

In a reply to a question, Nitish asked whether PM Narendra Modi was known to everyone across the country five years ago. "Modi emerged as a PM candidate and won with the popular support of the people and today he is PM," said Nitish Kumar.

When asked about reports that some non -BJP parties are planning a grand alliance ahead of 2019, Nitish Kumar said there should be opposition unity at the national level. "Like Bihar's grand alliance, there is a need for unity of all non-BJP parties," he said.

Nitish, who is president of JD-U said only the future can tell who will be the prime ministerial candidate from the Opposition.

"The candidate will come before the people at the right time," he said.


-- MI Khan/Rediff.com

Benchmarks Sensex and NSE Nifty closed at fresh lifetime highs of 30,322 and 9,445, respectively, today as lower inflation numbers and better- than-expected quarterly earnings drove investors. The 30-share barometer closed at an all-time high of 30,322.12, up 133.97 points, or 0.44 per cent. It broke previous record closing of 30,250.98 touched on May 11.

A Haryana District court on Monday sent the two accused in the brutal Rohtak gang-rape case, to seven days in police custody.

The accused will be produced before the Sonipat District court next on May 22.

Meanwhile, ensuring speedy justice by fast track courts, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said the culprits involved in the brutal crime will not be spared.

"Two of the culprits have been nabbed. The police is actively investigating the matter. Culprits involved in such ghastly acts won't be spared, will ensure speedy justice by fast track courts," Khattar said.

On May 9th, a woman was brutally gang-raped and murdered. Her mutilated body was found in an empty plot in Haryana's Rohtak. The victim had allegedly refused a marriage proposal, following which the accused reached her home a week later with his friends. A heated argument broke out which resulted in the woman slapping him.

In revenge, the accused along with his friends allegedly raped and murdered her.

"The victim was tortured and her body was mutilated after the gang rape. She was killed after being raped involving at least seven people. Her skull was smashed in a way which indicates that she was run over by a vehicle in order to hide her identity," the forensic team has stated.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said he is not in the race for the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2019.

"Main nahin hoon 2019 mein PM pad ka dawedar," Nitish Kumar said at a press conference in Patna.

The JD-U leadership has been repeatedly projecting Nitish Kumar as the PM candidate of non-BJP parties in 2019.

In a reply to a question, Nitish asked whether PM Narendra Modi was known to everyone across the country five years ago. "Modi emerged as a PM candidate and won with the popular support of the people and today he is PM," said Nitish Kumar.

When asked about reports that some non -BJP parties are planning a grand alliance ahead of 2019, Nitish Kumar said there should be opposition unity at the national level. "Like Bihar's grand alliance, there is a need for unity of all non-BJP parties," he said.

Nitish, who is president of JD-U said only the future can tell who will be the prime ministerial candidate from the Opposition.

"The candidate will come before the people at the right time," he said.

With the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing underway over the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of being an Indian spy, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir on Monday said that India will make sure he is not sentenced to death.

Expressing confidence over the matter, Ahir told ANI that India have put forward their views in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"I am sure he will get justice. We will make sure he is not sentenced to death. We will fight for his justice," he added.

The ICJ, which is the UN's principal judicial organ, is holding a public hearing where India and Pakistan will be asked to present their case over the Jadhav issue.


Last month, a Pakistani military court awarded death sentence to former Indian Navy official for alleged espionage and subversive activities.


India denied that he has any connection with the government and charged that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy.

The ICJ judge closes the session for India.
Pakistan will present its case later in the day. 

In other news: The maiden session of the newly elected UP Assembly began on a tempestuous note today with opposition members throwing paper balls at Governor Ram Naik during his address and marshals trying to dodge them with files. This is the first assembly session after the BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath came to power last month after a landslide victory in assembly elections.

The customary address of the governor to the joint sitting of the two Houses of the state legislature was drowned in the uproar created by the opposition. Throughout the governor's 35-minute address, SP legislator Rajesh Yadav blew a whistle to ensure that the address is not heard. All the while, others threw paper balls, some of which hit the governor despite marshals trying their best to shield him.

A young Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Update on the Jadhav hearing at ICJ: India's counsel Harish Salve presenting the case. Highlights...

-- Fear Pakistan will hang Kulbhushan Jadhav before UN court order.

-- Human rights which are treated as "basics" have been thrown to the wind by Pakistan.

-- Pakistan repeatedly denied consular access to India and no document of Jadhav's trial process was given by Islamabad.

-- All requests for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav fell on "deaf ears".

-- The present situation is grave and that is why India has sought the indulgence of the ICJ.

-- India calls for immediate suspension of Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence and accuses Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention
of consular access.

India may avail a "short extension" beyond 90 minutes to present its case, the judge said in his opening remarks. 

The situation is grave, hence approached this court at such short notice: Harish Salve at International Court of Justice. Salve (pictured) is the counsel for India.

VD Sharma, the co-agent presents his points, followed by Harish Salve, the counsel. Salve, presenting India's case, says, the situation is grave and urgent. India made innumerable requests to Pakistan for consular access which Pakistan has repeatedly denied, Harish Salve says. Pakistan has violate the Vienna Convention. Pakistan did not inform India about the arrest.

India's agent Deepak Mittal (pictured) tells ICJ that the trial of Kulbhushan Jadhav in a Pakistan court was farcical, urges for provisional measures. He said Pakistan is in violation of the Vienna Convention. "There is an 'immediate threat' that the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav may be carried out even before the country can intervene. Jadhav has been denied his rights; this is a serious miscarriage of justice.

The one-day hearing will involve two sessions of an hour-and-a-half, according India and Pakistan an opportunity to make their case, starting with India. Pakistans session will follow thereafter. The courts judgment, which could follow as early as in a few days or take several months, is binding with no appeal.

An 11-judge bench is hearing the case.

Dr Deepak Mittal, who is the Agent of the Republic of India, speaking now.
The India side is also represented by:
VD Sharma, Joint Secretary, MEA as co-Agent
Harish Salve as Counsel
Kajal Bhat, First Secretary, Embassy of India in the Netherlands as Adviser
Chetna N Rai as Junior Counsel.

Ronny Abraham, who is the president of the International Court of Justice, is a French academic and practitioner in the field of public international law who was elected to the International Court of Justice, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of judge and former President Gilbert Guillaume.

The court is now hearing India's appeal.

The Pakistan side will be represented by its UAE consul Moazzam Ahmad Khan.

The hearing begins at the International Court of Justice.

Jadhav has been sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of being an Indian spy. India and Pakistan to present their arguments in the trial. The ICJ has put a stay on the death sentence given by Pakistan to Kulbhushan Jadhav after an appeal from India, which accused Pakistan of "egregious violations of the Vienna Convention." India moved a petition in the UN seeking justice for Jadhav after being denied 16 consular accesses, alleging violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by Pakistan.

At the ICJ, Hague, Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve, who will be representing India, is inside the courtroom. India and Pakistan will meet in the International Court of Justice after 18 years.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will shortly hold public hearings on the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the former Indian Naval officer, who was arrested and sentenced to death by Pakistan in April over allegations of espionage and abetting terror.

Judge Ronnie Abraham from France, who will be heading the hearing has just walked in.

No, ICSE results 2017 have NOT been announced today, despite contrary reports.

The Board has confirmed that ICSE results were not going to be released today. The Board has urged students and parents to check for official updates at cisce.org.

The government today told the Supreme Court that it will come out with a law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if triple talaq is held invalid and unconstitutional by the court.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar: "If the practice of instant divorce (triple talaq) is struck down by the court, then Centre will bring a law to regulate marriage and divorce among the Muslim community."

Rohatgi's submission came when the court asked him what are the remedies for a Muslim man to come out of a marriage if such practices are struck down.

Earlier in the day, the apex court bench also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, said it was keeping open the issues of practice of polygamy and 'nikah halala' among Muslims for adjudication in future, as the Centre insisted on judicial deliberations on these aspects as well.

"It may not be possible to deal with all the three issues in the limited time we have. We will keep them pending for future," the bench said.

"Gujaratis need not be ashamed of the lack of martial tradition. They contribute to their country in other ways. And, of course, they can also claim that while they may not have produced many martyrs, they produced the greatest one: Gandhi," says Aakar Patel. Read the column here.

The Indian delegation leaves for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), at the Hague, which will hear the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of espionage.

Reports say that Jadhav, who has been denied consular access, is alive.

The Netherlands-based ICJ will likely take up Jadhavs case at around 1pm India time in the Great Hall of Justice housed in the Peace Palace in the city of The Hague.

Both sides will get 90 minutes each to make their arguments, with India getting the first say.

This morning, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, expressed optimism saying that India has the upper hand in the matter.

"I think India has a very good case on violation of all international norms and treaties," Rohatgi told ANI.


He further reiterated that Pakistan's trial of Jadhav had rejected all international laws as well as human rights, as he was tried in a military court without the presence of an attorney.


The ICJ on May 9 put a stay on the death sentence given by Pakistan to the alleged Indian spy.


The development came after India instituted proceedings against Pakistan, accusing the latter of "egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations" in the matter of detention and trial of Jadhav, and sought a stay on his death sentence.


India earlier contended that it was not informed of Jadhav's detention until long after his arrest and that Pakistan failed to inform the accused of his rights, an official release from the ICJ said.


India further said that, in violation of the Vienna Convention, the authorities of Pakistan were denying it its right of consular access to Jadhav, despite its repeated requests. It's also pointed out that India learned about the "death sentence against Jadhav from a press release."


India submitted that it had information that Jadhav was "kidnapped from Iran, where he was carrying on business after retiring from the Indian Navy, and was then shown to have been arrested in Baluchistan" on March 3, 2016, and that the Indian authorities were notified of that arrest on March 25, 2016.


India also asked the ICJ to declare the decision illegal being violative of international law and treaty rights and restrain Pakistan from acting in violation of the Vienna Convention and international law by giving effect to the sentence or the conviction in any manner, and directing it to release the convicted Indian National forthwith, if Pakistan is unable to annul the decision.


Pakistan had claimed that Jadhav was arrested from the Baluchistan province last year. A military court sentenced him to death, alleging he was involved in espionage and anti-national activities. Pakistan also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy."


India outrightly denied the claims, saying Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was running a business, and adding he was a retired Navy officer.


Pakistan has turned down 16 requests from India for consular access to Jadhav.Jadhav was sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) last month for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.


File pic of the International Court of Justice.

Bakhtawar Bhutto warns that people could die as a result of strict new penalties for those who eat publicly during Ramzan. Read

Pathankot terror attack martyr Kulwant Singh's younger brother and his wife were allegedly thrashed by a travel agent and his accomplices over a monetary dispute, the police said today.


Hardip Singh and his wife, Kulwinder Kaur, were beaten up outside a shop in an area falling under Bhaini Mian Khan Police Station on May 13 and a video of the incident went viral on social media.


The dispute arose after Hardip gave Rs 9 lakh to the travel agent, Gurnam Singh, for sending him abroad, Gurdaspur Sub Inspector Vijay Kumar said. After Gurnam failed to send him abroad, the family demanded that the money be returned.


The agent gave them Rs 5 lakh and promised to return the balance amount as well, the police said. When he failed to honour its promise, Hardip and his wife decided to lodge a police complaint.


On May 13, Hardip and his wife were on their way to a police station to lodge a complaint when they stopped at a shop to recharge a mobile phone. There Gurnam's family members appeared and they allegedly started thrashing Hardip and Kulwinder.


A case has been registered against 11 persons.


Hawaldar Kulwant Singh was among the seven security personnel who lost their lives when four terrorists sneaked in from across the border and attacked the Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1 and 2 last year. Kulwant was a resident of the Chak Sharif village in Gurdaspur.


Also read: 'Not a terrorist attack, but an attack on India's sovereignty'

The horrific torture, gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old Dalit woman has sent shockwaves across Haryana's Rohtak, bringing back memories of the brutal Delhi rape of a young woman on a bus in December, 2012. The woman's mutilated body was found by her family on 11 May after she went missing for two days, and such was the state of her body, that she could only be identified through her clothes.

Her post mortem report last night revealed horrific details of the torture she had undergone at the hands of an accused she had allegedly slapped and refused to marry. The police, on arresting Sumit, 24, one of the two accused in the rape and murder, found out the details of the crime. Sumit and Vikas (28), who were arrested for possessing illegal weapons, allegedly confessed to Sonipat SP Ashwin Shenvi that they had smashed the woman's face with bricks in an attempt to hide her identity.

According to her autopsy, the bones of her skull were shattered into pieces and "some sharp-edged objects may have been inserted in her private parts", PTI reported.

"The findings suggest that it was a brutal rape and murder," Dr SK Dhatterwal, head of the department of forensic medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, who conducted the post-mortem examination, told PTI. The Haryana Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Police also said that the family of the victim suspected the involvement of six more persons, out of whom five were related to Sumit.

The autopsy report said that that her "oesophagus (food pipe) was missing and gnawing effects were seen over chest. Her face, tongue, eyes and ears were totally distorted. He face was not identifiable."

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has initiated proceedings to determine whether ICJ has jurisdiction to adjudicate a matter referred to it by India relating to the death sentence given to an Indian national, Kulbhushan Jadhav, in Pakistan.

India claims that by disallowing consular access to Jadhav, Pakistan has committed a violation of its commitments as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR). Pakistan needs to put up effective legal arguments before the ICJ which will initially involve challenging the jurisdiction of the ICJ to adjudicate upon India's application. The first hearing will be held on Monday, May 15, at the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands.  Read more

A day after a video surfaced where a man was being brutally beaten up by a group of cow vigilantes, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh on Monday said that he has ordered an inquiry in the matter and will ensure justice is done in the case.

The MP Minister said that the guilty once caught, will be severally punished for their unwarranted deed.

"This is a serious incident. The moment I got to know about the incident I ordered an investigation in the matter. And once the investigation report comes, we will prosecute the guilty and se that justice is done," Singh said.

Cow vigilantes in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh brutally thrashed a man on the suspicion of him hurting a cow.

The incident took place on Saturday when a group of men claiming to be ' gau rakshaks' cornered a man and started beating him ruthlessly, accusing him of beating a cow.

The victim who sustained severe injuries after the incident was rushed to the nearby hospital.

"I can't share his recent photographs with you," says a CRPF officer grimly, as we discuss Hidma Madvi. "He will find out the person who leaked his photographs to us through the location, his dress, the people around him in these photographs. He will then hunt down the informer and eliminate him ruthlessly," he says explaining his refusal to share Hidma's photographs with the media.


Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore and Uttam Ghosh spoke with CRPF officers who are hot on the chase to arrest the Maoist who has emerged as a major threat to the security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.
Please read

Triple Talaq hearing: The Supreme Court considers the plea of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, says issues of polygamy and 'nikah halala' will remain open for future adjudication. The SC also says that due to paucity of time it will only be dealing with the issue of triple talaq and will keep issues of 'polygamy' and 'nikah halala' pending.

The Supreme Court is continuing the hearing on the Triple Talaq case.

The Centre, on May 11, told the apex court that it opposes the triple talaq practice and wants to fight for women equality and gender justice.

However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that triple talaq is a matter that comes under the Muslim board and therefore, in his opinion, the top court should not interfere in it.

The Central Government makes rules but in my opinion the apex court should not interfere into it, Sibal said.

While hearing several pleas filed by Muslim women challenging the practice of triple talaq, the apex court observed that it would examine whether the issue is fundamental to religion or not.

A five-judge bench of the apex court further observed that it would not hear polygamy issue along with the triple talaq case.

"The Ek Do Teen song was shot for many days. Listening to it so many times during the shoot, we knew it would be a big hit. When Tezaab released, Madhuri had gone to the US for a holiday. When she returned to Mumbai, there was a large crowd waiting for her at the airport, calling out 'Mohini, Mohini,' her character from Tezaab.That day Madhuri had arrived in the real sense."

In the run up to Madhuri Dikshit's 50th birthday, Patcy N/Rediff.com meets Rikku Rakesh Nath, the superstar's manager for 28 years, and the man should be credited with her success. Do read

Superstar Rajinikanth met his fans today after a gap of nine years at the Raghavendra Wedding Hall in Chennai. Fan clubs shared pictures of the 66-year-old, dressed in black, from the venue.

Rajinikanth last organised a meet-and-greet session with his fans in 2008.

The superstar told his fans that he had committed a mistake by supporting a political alliance 21 years ago and that it was a political accident. In 1996 Rajinikanth had lent his support to the DMK-TMC (Tamil Manila Congress).

Refuting rumours about entering politics, Rajini, while addressing a large gathering clarified that he doesnt intend to join politics. He said that political parties often seek vote banks by using his name but he doesnt support anyone from politics.

The legendary actor also said that he stands by his decision to cancel his tour to Sri Lanka.

"In case I decide to join politics, I won't allow the wrong people to join me, I'll keep them away," he told his fans. 

New French President Emmanuel Macron is set to name a prime minister and visit German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his first full day in office.


The 39-year-old centrist leader laid out his ambitious plans for France as he took power yesterday, promising to restore France's shattered self-confidence and help rebuild the flagging European Union.


His choice of prime minister will be crucial for the first task, with the 46-year-old centre-right Edouard Philippe from the Republicans party seen as the favourite for the job. Picking him would send a clear signal that Macron hopes to attract other young modernisers from the Republicans to his new centrist party, Republic on the Move, which will contest parliamentary elections in June.

Trade unions of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) have called for the suspension of bus services from today. 

Ousted All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dinakaran and his aide Mallikarjuna will be produced before a Delhi court today after expiry of their judicial custody.

On May 1, Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna were sent to the judicial custody till May 15.

The Delhi Crime Branch earlier recovered Dinakaran's five bank accounts from Chennai, through which transactions of huge amount were carried out, after which the police sought for further remand of the ousted AIADMK leader.

As per sources, most of the amounts were paid to a Hawala Operator.

Dinakaran's chartered accountant was also called by the crime branch for questioning in the matter.

The crime branch officials also recovered mobile phone of alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar from Chennai and also found the details of communication between Chandrashekhar and Dinakaran.

Earlier on Friday, a Delhi Court sent Chandrashekhar to judicial custody till May 12. -- ANI

President Pranab Mukherjee will call on Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Muthuvel Karunanidhi in Chennai on May 23 and greet him in advance for his 94th birthday.

The President will be on a two day visit to Tamil Nadu on May 23 and 24.

DMK leaders including Kanimozhi -- Karunandihi's youngest daughter -- met the President recently and requested that he meet the ailing DMK leader.

The DMK is hosting a grand event to celebrate Karunanidhi's 94th birthday on June 3.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik and Mamta Banerjee as well as Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav have been invited for the event.

North Korea has said that its Sunday's test-fire of a ground-to-ground ballistic missile proved the missile is capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead.

North Korea's state news agency KCNA said in a report on Monday that country's leader Kim Jong Un, supervised the launch of the Hwasong-12 missile that reached an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers and flew 787 kilometers.

The test was 'aimed at verifying the tactical and technological specifications of the newly developed ballistic rocket capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead', KCNA said, adding that the rocket accurately hit the targeted open waters 787 km away after flying to the maximum altitude of 2,111.5 km along its planned flight orbit.

It also warned that if the United States attempts to provoke the Pyongyang 'it will not escape from the biggest disaster in the history'. -- ANI

India's refusal to join China's high-profile Belt and Road initiative is 'regrettable' but New Delhi's boycott will not at all affect the cooperation in infrastructure development among its neighbouring countries, a report in a Chinese state-run newspaper said on Monday.

The two-day Belt and Road Forum which is being attended by leaders from 29 countries, including Pakistan, has been boycotted by India due to sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion (Rs 3.25 lakh crore) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

'While India recently issued an official statement saying it would not be part of the 'One Belt and One Road' (B&R) initiative, it will not affect the trend towards cooperation in infrastructure development among its neighbouring countries at all,' Global Times said on Monday.

'India was openly sceptical of Chinas Belt and Road Forum hours ahead of the opening of the event, mainly due to concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key project of the B&R, and whether it might influence the disputed Kashmir region,' it said.

The B&R is a grand economic cooperation and development plan open to everyone, and is aimed at improving infrastructure in countries along the B&R route, thus benefiting the local people, it said.

'China would never force any country to participate in the B&R if it was too sceptical and nervous to do so. It is regrettable but not a problem that India still maintains its strong opposition to the B&R, even though China has repeatedly said its position on the Kashmir dispute would not change because of the CPEC,' the article said.

Referring to the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on March 13, a day before the two-day B&R summit, it said India also cited the potential debt burden as one of its other concerns, saying that, 'connectivity initiatives must follow the principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create an unsustainable debt burden for communities'.

'It is strange that the onlooker is more anxious than the players. While India cares about its neighbours' debt burden, the neighbours appear willing to take on more,' it said.

On Saturday, Pakistan and China inked new deals worth nearly $500 million (Rs 3,250 crore), covering airport, port and highway construction, it said.

The article further stated that given the active responses from countries along the route, there is no way for India to impede its neighbouring countries from cooperating with China in infrastructure development.

'China has formally invited India to join the B&R. If India doesnt want to take a part on the stage, then it should just be a good member of the audience. The role is still available if India changes its mind, but it may only be a small role if it is left too late,' it said. -- PTI

IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a toast during the welcoming banquet for the Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

A cross border infiltration bid was successfully foiled by the Border Security Force troops in Gurdaspur, Punjab, who gunned down a Pakistani intruder.

This comes after a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was arrested from along the Indo-Nepal border yesterday.

Earlier on Saturday, Jammu Police confirmed that they had arrested five persons and busted a Lashkar-e-Tayyaba module, following the May 7 attack on a police station on Tanta Doda district.

Inspector General of Police (Jammu) Dr S D Singh, who confirmed the news of the arrests, informed media that a Special Investigation Team of five senior officers has been formed to interrogate the suspects for more information on their operations.

So far, the SIT has picked up local suspects, including one Abdul Rashid Harga, a surrendered former LeT terrorist.

Indian security forces are maintaining severe caution in keeping a check on the cross border infiltrations, especially after the Krishna Ghatti incident, where two Indian soldiers were mutilated by Pakistan Army. -- ANI

Representative image.