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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Dinesh K Patnaik set to be India's new envoy to Canada
Senior diplomat Dinesh K Patnaik, currently India's envoy to Spain, is expected to be the new high commissioner to Canada as the two sides reset their relationship, people familiar with the matter said. Patnaik is expected to be replaced in Spain by Jayant Khobragade, currently India's ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the people said on condition of anonymity. The process for securing an agrément, or the formal agreement whereby a state receives a foreign country's envoy, for Patnaik is already underway, the people said. During their first meeting on Tuesday on the margins of the G7 Summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, agreed on several steps to reset bilateral ties, which had plunged to an all-time low because of a diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistani separatist in 2023. Among these steps was the appointment of new high commissioners in each other's capitals. HT first reported in March that Patnaik, from the 1990 batch of the Indian Foreign Service, was the front-runner for the post of high commissioner in Ottawa. He is one of India's senior-most diplomats and served as deputy high commissioner to the UK during 2016-2018, a position that required handling the Khalistan problem within the Indian diaspora, as is the case with Canada. Patnaik has more than 30 years of experience in assignments within India and abroad. He has served in the missions in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, and in the divisions focusing on Africa, Europe (West), the UN, and external publicity in the external affairs ministry. Patnaik was the deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Austria during 2009-2012, the ambassador to Cambodia during 2012-2015, and the envoy to Morocco during 2015-2016. Though Khobragade was officially named as India's envoy to Poland in January, the posting did not go ahead because of various reasons, the people said. Khobragade is from the 1995 batch of the Indian Foreign Service and has done a stint in the Indian embassy in Spain in the past. He has also served in the Indian missions in Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan, and served as the ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. Within the external affairs ministry, he has served in the disarmament and international security division and the West Africa Division. He has also served on deputation with the Department of Atomic Energy from 2017 to 2020. Khobragade was appointed the ambassador to Asean in Jakarta in 2021, months after Pakistan refused to accept his posting as the charge d'affaires in Islamabad.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India's first envoy to Bolivia has a Gujarat connection, is a native of Okha
Ahmedabad: Rohitkumar Vadhwana, 44, made history when he was recently appointed as the first ambassador to the Plurinational State of Bolivia. He heads India's first mission in the South American country known for its natural resources. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At La Paz, the highest capital city in the world at nearly 12,000 feet in the Andes mountains, Vadhwana has a tall task at hand. "Now, I am in La Paz, tasked with setting up an embassy from the ground up," explains the envoy with a Gujarat connection, the scale of the job evident in his voice. "First, we set up the office and recruit staff. It's a matter of laying the foundation of the Indian mission," says Vadhwana, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 2010 batch with an illustrious career. His path has taken him from Embassy of India in Iran to Indian High Commissions in the UK and Kenya. He also had a stint as deputy permanent representative to the UNEP and UN-Habitat during his tenure in Nairobi. Speaking to TOI about his 'unconventional' journey from the coastal town of Okha to the highlands of La Paz, he said, "I did not know about the Union Public Service Commission exams till I graduated in 2003. In Porbandar, he earned his LLB degree from Saurashtra University and also pursued an MA through distance learning. "It was advice from a well-wisher that put me on the path to becoming a civil servant. I enrolled at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) in 2004-05 and other organisations for preparations," he said. In Ahmedabad, while he was preparing for his career in civil service, he also achieved a personal milestone – he met Femida Shaikh, the love of his life, and the couple eventually married. Vadhwana even took a year's break to address challenges of their inter-religious union. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The couple is now in La Paz, making new friends in the Spanish-speaking country. Vadhwana's family, including his parents and sister, are still in Okha. "I want to promote India's soft and hard power in the country," he says. "It is significant today as Bolivia celebrates its 200 years of independence this year, and India opening a diplomatic mission here is a symbolically high point in bilateral relations." The last fiscal year saw India exporting automobiles and pharmaceuticals to Bolivia and importing gold and fertilisers from Bolivia. It is trade of about $2.3 billion, which fell to less than half a billion dollars mainly due to the restriction of gold export from Bolivia, indicate official sources. "As a mission, we are committed to increasing bilateral trade," he said. "India is keen explore collaborations in critical sectors such as infrastructure, mining, minerals, and energy."
News18
29-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Experts discuss terrorism, national security at event in Jaipur
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Jaipur, May 29 (PTI) Defence veterans, diplomats, and academicians came together for a dialogue on terrorism, national security, and civic responsibility at an event organised in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Thursday. The 'Dialogue of Defence Experts in the Context of Operation Sindoor' was hosted by Vishwam, a geopolitical and diplomatic forum, to discuss India's evolving security challenges. Vishwam founder Vikrant Singh emphasised the need to instill patriotism and national awareness among the youth. 'It is essential to provide a deeper understanding of threats to the nation and the role of citizens in preserving democratic and sovereign values," Singh said. Former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Gauri Shankar Gupta highlighted the role of Pakistan-backed terrorism and its international network. 'India will now treat any terrorist attack as an act of war and will respond with decisive force," he said. Retired Colonel Rajesh outlined a long-term security strategy, advocating for the global isolation of Pakistan. An Indian Air Force veteran stressed the importance of constructive youth engagement and renewed focus on nationalist education in India. PTI SDA OZ OZ (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published:
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Uzma Ahmed's story inspired The Diplomat but what motivated her to escape captivity in Pakistan? Her answer gave John Abraham goosebumps
When Uzma Ahmed was trapped in the remote terrains of northern Pakistan, her story became a symbol of grit and hope. A survivor of deception and captivity, Uzma's courageous escape and return to India in 2017 turned her into a beacon of light for countless trafficking victims. Years later, her real-life ordeal inspired a gripping film, The Diplomat, drawing actors John Abraham and Sadia to meet the woman whose strength now fuels a cinematic retelling. In an interview with Instant Bollywood, when Sadia praised Uzma's courage, she humbly responded that it's not the girl (in her) who's brave, it's the mother. Uzma revealed that her sole reason to fight and return home was her daughter, Falak. The only thought in my mind was: I have a daughter. I have to see her again. I must go back,' she said. She recalled how, when she arrived in Pakistan, she didn't know they were supposed to register her entry at the embassy, something they deliberately skipped. It was later, she shared, that JP Sir raised a critical point that if her perpetrators had not done any wrong, why was her entry never officially recorded then? What is the story of Uzma Ahmed? In 2017, Uzma Ahmed, a young mother from Delhi, found herself at the center of an international crisis after being forced into marriage at gunpoint in Pakistan. What began as a hopeful romantic connection quickly spiraled into a nightmare. Her desperate plea for help led her to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, setting off a high-stakes diplomatic rescue mission led by Indian Foreign Service officer JP Singh . Her harrowing experience and eventual escape now form the foundation of the recent movie 'The Diplomat', a gripping political thriller starring John Abraham as Singh and Sadia Khateeb as Uzma. Uzma's story began when she met Taher Ali in Malaysia. Believing he was kind and trustworthy, she accepted his invitation to visit Pakistan. He even promised to help care for her daughter, who suffered from thalassemia. But once she arrived in Pakistan, the reality shattered her expectations. Taher turned out to be already married with children and forced Uzma into marrying him at gunpoint and she was held captive. Fearing for her life and desperate to return to her daughter in India, Uzma fled to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. That's where she met JP Singh, the then Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, who quickly became her lifeline. Singh's decision to help Uzma was not only morally right but also fraught with political consequences. Providing her refuge inside the embassy, legally considered Indian territory, triggered a diplomatic standoff. Uzma's presence in the High Commission set the stage for a complex international legal battle. According to Pakistani law, she needed her husband's permission to leave the country, a deeply problematic requirement in her situation. The embassy, led by Singh, immediately filed a legal petition for her safe return to India, but the case stalled in Pakistani courts. Faced with growing legal and political hurdles, Singh reached out to India's then External Affairs Minister, the late Sushma Swaraj , known for her resolute stance on protecting Indian citizens abroad. Together, they carefully navigated the tightrope of diplomacy while fiercely advocating for Uzma's rights. Singh arranged for legal representation in Pakistan, ensured Uzma's safety within the embassy, and helped her file a counter-petition stating that she had been coerced into the marriage. For weeks, Singh juggled media scrutiny, political pressure, and cross-border sensitivities while making sure Uzma's voice was heard in the courts. After intense legal proceedings, the Islamabad High Court finally ruled in Uzma's favor. On May 25, 2017, she crossed the Wagah border and returned safely to India, greeted not only by her family but also by an entire nation that had followed her story with concern and hope. Directed by Shivam Nair, The Diplomat dramatizes this powerful real-life incident, with John Abraham portraying JP Singh and Sadia Khateeb bringing Uzma's ordeal to the screen.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Anee Bullion case: HC grants anticipatory bail to IFS officer Niharika Singh
LUCKNOW The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Niharika Singh in the Anee bullion case. Her husband, Ajit Kumar Gupta, is the owner of Anee Bullion Industries, which allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme, duping hundreds of investors of crores of rupees. He is the alleged mastermind of the around ₹600 crore Anne Bullion Industries fraud case. A single-judge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi passed the order on the anticipatory bail plea of the IFS officer. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case against Niharika Singh, her husband Ajit Kumar Gupta, and others. According to the agency, the couple collected huge sums of money from gullible investors through fraudulent schemes. Niharika Singh is accused of helping her husband in layering the proceeds of crime through various companies and using them to purchase immovable properties, said the ED. She allegedly used her influence to persuade people to invest in Anee Bullion. The court granted anticipatory bail to Niharika Singh, considering that she cooperated with the investigation and no charge sheet was filed against her in 12 cases related to the scam. The court added that if Singh is taken into custody, she will be released on furnishing two sureties. Due to her active involvement in raising funds by canvassing in various functions organized by Ajit Kumar Gupta and his companies, Singh was referred as the first lady of the Anee Group of Companies. She allegedly aided her husband in commission of scheduled offences and generation of proceeds of crime to the tune of ₹44.44 crore. The complaint stated that the applicant actively and knowingly assisted her husband in acquisition, possession, layering, concealment and utilization of proceeds of crime to the tune of ₹2.03 crore and, therefore, she committed the offence of money laundering as defined under Section 3 and punishable under Section 4 of PMLA, 2002. She was made an accused in 12 cases relating to the scheduled offences, but after investigation, her name had not been included in the charge sheet submitted in respect of any of those 12 cases. The trial court issued a non-bailable warrant against the applicant . Having considered the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case coupled with the fact that the applicant is a woman, she stands absolved in all the scheduled offences and has not been arrested during investigation of the present case, which stands concluded, I am of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail, said the court. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application stands allowed, added the court. The court also directed Singh to make herself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required. The court directed the applicant not to leave India without the permission of the court.
