World
India demands UN action against terror threats to Afghanistan
United Nations: India has lashed out against the “systematic state supporta” from outside to terrorist organisations bent on destabilising Afghanistan and has called on the UN Security Council to act immediately against the threat from these forces.
Speaking at a Security Council debate Monday on aid to Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative Asoke Kumar Mukerji said, “It is terrorism and not tribal differences or ethnic rivalries, which is the main source of insecurity and instability in Afghanistan.”
“Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s report to the Security Council last month on Afghanistan and international security backs up this view of India,” he said.
“These terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT, are active despite the efforts of the valiant personnel of the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) and the international coalition forces,” Mukerji said. “It is obvious that their activity cannot be sustained without systematic state support from beyond Afghanistan’s borders.”
Although he tactfully avoided naming names, singling out Lashkar-e-Taiba made clear the source of the “systematic state support.” The terror group is based in Lahore and operated training camps in Pakistan-administerd Kashmir, a fact acknowledged by the US State Department.
“Reports indicate these groups are mutating into more virulent forms, in a region already impacted by terrorism,” Mukerji added. “The Council must act against this threat with a sense of urgency.”
Ban’s report said that “the rise in the overall number of security incidents recorded indicates a mounting challenge to the Afghan security forces from insurgent groups.”
Highlighting the growing violence, it said, “In 2014 there were 22,051 recorded (insurgent) incidents, which surpassed those of 2013 by 10 per cent. In terms of incidents recorded over the past 13 years, 2014 was the second-highest, after 2011.”
Acknowledging that “as anticipated, violence has escalated”, Pakistan’s newly-appointed Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi asserted that her country’s “military operation has targeted all terrorist groups without distinction”.
The trend of Afghanistan warming towards Pakistan and China under the new government of President Ashraf Ghani and Beijing’s backing for the Islamabad-backed dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban was in evidence during the Security Council discussions.
Ban’s report set the scene by referring to last month’s China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Strategic Dialogue in Kabul. It said, “Both China and Pakistan pledged to support the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.”
The three countries discussed “the peace and security situation in the region, as well as the need to deepen trilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and security”, it added.
Lodhi said Afghanistan and Pakistan “share a vision of a partnership built on multiple pillars of common security and economic interests”. She added, “We welcome China’s closer engagement in promoting reconciliation and economic development in Afghanistan.”
And Afghanistan’s Permanent Ambassador Zahir Tanin reciprocated, “We welcome the new phase of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan towards the shared goal of peace and reconciliation.” And as for Beijing, he added that Kabul would like to “express our appreciation to the People’s Republic of China for its help facilitating the peace process”.
Ban’s special representative to Afghanistan Nicholas Haysom mentioned among reasons for “renewed hope for peace” the dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul on peace, trade and security.
Wang Min, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative, said that the international community should adapt to the new reality in Afghanistan and promote a broad-based reconciliation process.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.