ISLAMABAD, 21 June 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Ebrahim Raisi on being elected as the president of the Islamic republic of Iran.

Premier said on Twitter "Congratulations to Excellency brother Ibrahim Raisi on his landmark victory in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 13th Presidential elections.”

He added "Look forward to working with him for further strengthening of our fraternal ties and for regional peace, progress and prosperity.”

Messages congratulating Raisi poured in after he won Iran's presidential election as his rivals conceded even before official results were announced.

The other three candidates in the race congratulated him for his victory, which had been widely expected after a host of heavyweight rivals had been barred from running.

“I congratulate the people on their choice,” said outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani without naming Raisi. “My official congratulations will come later, but we know who got enough votes in this election and who is elected today by the people.”

KABUL, 20 June 2021, (TON): Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has replaced two top ministers charged with managing the country’s faltering security, as the Taliban presses on with their campaign to capture new territory in fierce battles with government forces.

The shake-up of the defence and interior ministry portfolios comes as violence surges and peace talks remain deadlocked, with the Taliban claiming to have seized more than 40 districts in recent weeks across the rugged countryside.

The presidency announced in a statement that General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, who fought under the late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud during a 1990s civil war, has been appointed new defence minister.

He has replaced Asadullah Khalid who has held the job since 2018 and has repeatedly flown out of the country for treatment to wounds suffered after a suicide bomber attacked him in 2012.

Mohammadi has previously held the defence and interior ministry portfolios and also served as the chief of army staff after the fall of the Taliban regime following a US-led invasion in 2001.

Ghani also appointed General Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal as interior minister, the presidency said. Mirzakwal has previously held several regional posts.

RIYADH, 20 June 2021, (TON): Saudi Arabian air defences destroyed ten armed drones launched by Yemen's Houthi movement towards the south of the kingdom, state television cited the Saudi-led coalition as saying.

The Houthi military spokesman said on Twitter that one drone was launched at a military base in Khamis Mushait. The coalition later in the day said two more drones were fired at Khamis Mushait while seven drones were fired towards the south of the kingdom. All of these were intercepted.

Houthis have frequently targeted Khamis Mushait and other Saudi cities along the frontier in the more than six-year-old Yemen war.

A military coalition led by Riyadh intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government from the capital Sanaa.

KABUL, 20 June 2021, (TON): Twenty-seven Taliban have been killed in clashes with security forces in the Dara-i-Suf Paen district of northern Samangan province.

Police Spokesperson Abdul Munir Rahimi said that the Taliban attacked the Dara-e-Suf Paen district which were repulsed by newly fresh forces.

“Last night the Taliban stormed security check points 12 times but security forces resisted the attacks.”

He said the Taliban forced to go back after suffering heavy losses.

BEIRUT, 20 June 2021, (TON): The European Union's foreign policy chief told Lebanon's leaders, they were to blame for the country's political and economic crisis and some could face sanctions if they continue to obstruct steps to form a new government and implement reform.

Speaking after what he called a "frank exchange" with President Michel Aoun, Josep Borrell said “he was bringing a firm message that the country stood on the edge of financial collapse and politicians could not afford to waste more time.”

He told reporters "the crisis Lebanon is facing is a domestic crisis. It's a self-imposed crisis,".

It's not a crisis coming from abroad or from external factors. It's a home-made crisis, a crisis done by yourselves.

Lebanon's currency has lost 90% of its value. More than half the population are living in poverty and struggling with rampant inflation, power blackouts and shortages of fuel and food.

The crisis has been exacerbated by political stalemate, with Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri at loggerheads with Aoun for months over forming a new government capable of introducing reforms which could unlock desperately needed foreign aid.

ISLAMABAD, 20 June 2021, (TON): according to a statement from the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) “Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that his country was not supporting military solution or Taliban’s military victory in Afghanistan.”

During a meeting the HCNR Chairman Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomatic Forum Qureshi reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The statement said “both sides discussed bilateral cooperation, peace process and recent political and military development in the region.”

Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to political reconciliation and rejected support to military solution.

Abdullah said that “had a detailed & frank discussion with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on the sidelines of Antalya DF. We exchanged views on the Peace Process & bilateral relations. He assured me of Pakistan’s full support for the acceleration of peace talks and stability in Afghanistan.”

NEW DELHI, 20 June 2021, (TON): Speaking at the graduation parade of the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana, Bhadauria said “the process of talks with China for disengagement in eastern Ladakh is on but the armed forces are monitoring all activity across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).”

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said that there is a proposal to hold talks with China at the Division Commander-level, which is at the Major General rank, but a decision is yet to be taken on it.

Speaking at the graduation parade of the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana, he said “the process of talks with China for disengagement in eastern Ladakh is on but the armed forces are monitoring all activity across the Line of Actual Control.”

He said “the talks are on. The 11th round had taken place, (For) the next round of talks there is some activity in terms of, there is a proposal for Div Commander level talks, so those decisions will be taken.”

The first attempt is to continue with the talks and do the disengagement at the balance friction points, and of course follow it up with de-escalation.

However, in parallel, the ground realities are being monitored closely. Whatever is the reality across, in terms of current leftover locations, deployments any changes that is being monitored closely, and whatever actions are required on our part we are taking.

ISLAMABAD, 20 June 2021, (TON): Inter-Services Public Relations said that “two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation carried out by the security forces in Spinwam, North Waziristan.”

The Pakistan Army's media wing said that the two terrorists were eliminated following an intense exchange of fire.

ISPR said “the terrorists belonged to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit.”

The statement said "killed terrorists were active members of TTP in Spinwam, North Waziristan and involved in terrorist activities against security forces.”

ISPR said that during the operation, a soldier, Naik Nazakat Khan, embraced martyrdom.

BEIRUT, 20 June 2021, (TON): Lebanese experts have said “the recent Group 7 (G7) and NATO summits have laid bare the hypocrisy of Washington, which once again revealed the US obsession with aggression and dominance.”

Adnan Bourji, director of the Lebanese National Center for Studies, said Thursday that the G7 summit statement is illogical and unbelievable.

In a written interview with Xinhua, he noted the United States has occupied Iraq, deployed its forces in Syria, and openly supported Israel in the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict, adding that the United States continues to violate international resolutions and wantonly point fingers at other countries' human rights records.

He said that this is ironic, global affairs observers would not buy the US  accusations against other countries in the statement, given what the United States has done around the world.

He further said “Washington, calls for non-interference in internal affairs, but do they start implementing these views by withdrawing their forces from Syria? The United States talks about world peace, so why didn't they mention Palestine in one word?"

Bourji said "the era of flashy and deceptive slogans is over”,  urging the G7 countries to match their promises with actions and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

Mahmoud Raya, editor-in-chief of the news website China in Arab Eyes, also believes that the US approach in global relations does not suit the world anymore.

COLOMBO, 20 June 2021, (TON): With the Chinese Navy getting new port projects in Sri Lanka, a top Indian Navy officer said that it could pose a threat to Indian interests in the region and there is a need to keep a close watch on such activities.

In an interview with ANI, Navy vice-chief vice-admiral G Ashok Kumar said “the Indian Navy is very well prepared to secure the maritime boundaries of the country and there is no way anyone can surprise us.”

He said "if you want to analyse whether it is a threat or not, it is a very difficult question. But the fact that when somebody is external to the region starts showing so much interest even though they might have rational reasons to do so as the majority of their energy sources pass through this region. Is it a logical thing for nations to do, yes? Could that pose a threat to us, it could. We just need to ensure that it is being closely watched.”

Asked if the Indian Navy was keeping a close watch on such activities, he said, "Yes, on the entire region."

The Chinese have been making inroads in Sri Lanka where they recently got a reclaimed port city near Colombo. Prior to that, they gained control over the Hambantota port which was built by them.

Responding to a query on whether the Chinese could surprise us through the sea route as they did along the northern waters last year, he said that after the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, India had taken a number of steps like installation of coastal security network and had enhanced surveillance capabilities.