archivetalks

CANBERRA, June 29: Australia's new defense minister on Wednesday talked down the prospect of Australia acquiring U.S. nuclear-powered submarines by the end of the decade, describing such a timetable as "optimistic in the extreme." Defense minister Richard Marles, whose party came to power at elections last month, said his priority was closing a naval capability gap that is expected to open when Australia's aging fleet of six Collins-class diesel-electric submarines begins to retire from 2038. The United States and Britain have agreed to provide Australia with a fleet of submarines...

Peshawar, May 19: Afghanistan's Taliban government has confirmed that it is playing the role of a mediator in the ongoing talks between the Pakistan government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan during which the dreaded militant group has demanded the release of 30 key commanders detained by Pakistani authorities. Spokesman for Islamic state of Afghanistan Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the Afghan government was playing the role of mediator between Islamabad and the Pakistani Taliban. "Talks were held in Kabul between the government of Pakistan and the Taliban Movement of Pakistan with the mediation...