F ive years after storming to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime is set to host its first ever public reception in India next week to mark the anniversary of its "Victory Day", reflecting the broadening engagement between the two sides. Taliban's Delhi envoy to host August 17 reception The "celebration and reception" on August 17 is being hosted by Noor Ahmed Noor, the Taliban's chargé d'affaires at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, and the event is expected to be attended by diplomats, prominent members of society, members of the Afghan diaspora and the media. "The reception will be like other events that used to be hosted by the Afghan embassy before the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government in August 2021. It will be different as it is the first event being hosted in New Delhi by the Taliban," a person familiar with the matter said. The Indian government is expected to be represented at the event, though it was not immediately clear exactly who will attend the reception, a second person said. The Indian side, which like most other countries doesn't officially recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, is expected to keep a close eye on diplomatic symbols used at the reception, such as the flag. The formal invitation for the event referred to Noor as the chargé d'affaires of the "Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" in India. Over the past few months, Noor - who usually keeps a low profile - has been spotted at a handful of diplomatic receptions hosted by various countries in New Delhi. The upcoming reception will be his first major public engagement, the people said. Taliban envoy's public profile grows in New Delhi Noor, the first Taliban-appointed official posted in the Indian capital since the group took control of Afghanistan, arrived in the country in January. Since then, he has interacted with officials of the external affairs ministry on several occasions, reflecting India's deepening engagement with the Taliban to secure its interests in Afghanistan. He earlier served as director general of the first political department at the foreign ministry in Kabul and was part of the delegation that accompanied Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on his visit to India last October. It was during Muttaqi's visit - the first by a senior Taliban functionary to India - that New Delhi agreed to allow the group to post its diplomats in the Capital. Two other Taliban officials posted to India - Ikramuddin Kamil and Habibur Rahman Aftab - currently head the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad. India-Taliban engagement expands after Muttaqi visit Following Muttaqi's visit, India decided to upgrade the status of the "technical mission" in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy. At the time, the external affairs ministry said its decision "underscores India's resolve to deepen bilateral engagement" with Afghanistan. Since Muttaqi's visit, three more Taliban leaders have travelled to India to discuss cooperation in different areas - industry minister Nooruddin Azizi in November 2025, health minister Noor Jalal Jalali in December 2025, and agriculture minister Ataullah Omari in July this year. India allocated ₹150 crore for Afghanistan in budget for 2026-27. India has provided humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and backed it during recent tensions with Pakistan. Read more news like this on HindustanTimes.com

P anchalingala (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 14 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has alleged that law and order has deteriorated in the State and the coalition government is pursuing its vindictive politics but will have to repent in the coming days. Speaking to the media here on Thursday after meeting party MLA Virupakshi in the local jail, YS Jagan said it has become common in the TDP coalition government to name victims as accused and file false cases against them to gag the opposition, and they have been targeting BCs, who form our support base. False cases were filed against Virupakshi, and the Red Book constitution is in full play in booking the sitting MLA, his kin and followers in fabricated cases involving 38 persons and repeating their names to make the list longer. Police gate-crashed into the house of the MLA, destroyed the CC cameras and arrested the people's representative in a nocturnal activity and slapped serious charges on him and others. TDP has stooped to such a level that the ruling party worker tore the robes of his wife and blamed it on the MLA to enable the police to book him under SC ST case. The same police refused to file a case when evidence was shown of the attack on a YSRCP cadre's house, he said, as per a party press release. Reddy claimed that the MLA had gone to the rescue of his followers after the police failed to act when the Party worker was being attacked and sent an SOS. While cadre Hari was being ferried by the MLA to safety, TDP goons attacked the car, gravely injuring the MLA's brother. The Government has been targeting BC leaders one after the other. They have arrested Seridi Apparaju and jailed him after converting a simple road accident case into a case with serious charges. They arrested Mustafa in a tobacco deal on flimsy grounds and made it a case of kidnapping. They also arrested Chinthada Ravi on charges of assaulting a woman SI while he was helping in clearing the mob. The motive has been clear: to trouble the political adversaries by foisting false cases, but days will not be the same, and the people pursuing the Red Book constitution will have to repent in the coming days. Though we have brought in police reforms and initiated police reforms, while I went in to meet the MLA, the police took my photo from an inappropriate angle in a standing posture, he said. (ANI)

T he United States is preparing to deploy the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East, where it will replace the USS Abraham Lincoln amid growing concerns over the impact of the Lincoln's prolonged deployment on its crew , who have reportedly tried to jump off in a bid to escape deployment at sea. The USS George Washington recently departed Da Nang, Vietnam, and has since transited through the Singapore Strait and the Strait of Malacca on its way to the Indian Ocean, according to US Navy statements and officials familiar with the carrier's movements. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that the change is part of a previously scheduled rotation and is not directly linked to the situation aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The deployment change comes as lawmakers and military families have raised concerns about reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln after sailors spent more than 250 days at sea. Reports have suggested that crew members have experienced severe exhaustion and worsening living conditions during the unusually lengthy mission. There have also been allegations that several sailors attempted to go overboard during the deployment. According to reports, at least one sailor was prevented from doing so by a fellow crew member. The nuclear-powered USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines, departed San Diego on November 21 for what was originally intended to be a Pacific deployment. However, the carrier was redirected to the Middle East after the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict on February 28. Lawmakers have noted that the vessel has spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, placing unprecedented pressure on both the crew and the Navy's operational capabilities. Concerns over the sailors' mental health have intensified in recent weeks. During a meeting in San Diego attended by about 200 family members, relatives questioned acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and senior naval officials about the deployment and the lack of a clear timeline for the crew's return. Family members have also reported shortages of basic supplies and deteriorating living conditions aboard the carrier. Senator Richard Blumenthal said he had received complaints about shortages of essential supplies, contaminated water, plumbing failures, safety issues, worsening mental health and major disruptions to the mail system. Additional complaints included mould, malfunctioning toilets, extended periods without hot water and shortages of food and personal hygiene products. The US Navy has disputed claims that there has been a significant rise in suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts among the crew. Officials have maintained that sailors continue to have access to counsellors, chaplains, clean drinking water and adequate meals. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also dismissed reports describing poor living conditions aboard the carrier, saying the situation had been "completely misrepresented." However, the Navy acknowledged that the conflict had disrupted traditional supply networks in the Middle East, resulting in delays in the delivery of food, hygiene supplies and mail. Meanwhile, the USS George Washington and its accompanying strike group continue their journey toward the region as the United States maintains a substantial naval presence amid ongoing tensions with Iran and concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Indian teenager charged with murdering mother, brother in US; asked ChatGPT 'how to kill family'