News Broadcasting
LeT behind Herat consulate attack: President Hamid Karzai to Headlines Today
MUMBAI: Banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba is behind the attack on the Indian Consulate at Herat, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said today. In an explosive and exclusive interview to Headlines Today Karzai did not mince words saying it is in Pakistan’s interest to uproot the sanctuaries and safe havens terrorists have on their territory.
“According to information given to us by a western intelligence agency, the perpetrators of the Herat attack belonged to the LeT. This was mentioned in writing in the report shared with us,” he said. President Karzai who is in India to participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing in ceremony complimented the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel and the Afghan National Security Forces for their prompt response in neutralizing the LeT terrorists.
“Herat was very clearly a terrorist strike on Indian and Afghan interests. Luckily the Indian and Afghan security forces were alert and they prevented major damage to life and property,” he said. In response to a specific query on India and Afghanistan both being victims of Pakistan sponsored terror, President Karzai said: “Both Afghanistan and India hope that relevant authorities in Pakistan will react and uproot the source and sanctuary of terror in Pakistan.”
President Karzai is to meet prime minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House Tuesday morning and is expected to discuss issues confronting both India and Afghanistan. Kabul has in the past also handed over a weapons wish list to India. Responding to a question President karzai said: “India has been a great friend of Afghanistan and has stood by the people of Afghanistan in the past 12 years. We have given a weapons wish list to the government of India, some have been accepted and delivered and we are confident prime minister (Narendra) Modi will consider it favourably.”
The Afghan army has fought Pakistan based and sponsored terrorists and Taliban bravely without ceding ground and President Karzai said he says the 2014 drawdown not as a threat but an opportunity. “2014 for us is an opportunity and a great one to build on our strengths and show to the world that the nation is now self-reliant of course with the help, support and guidance of friends like Indi,” he said.
He discounted fears that post the drawdown Pakistan could once again install a puppet Taliban government in Kabul for strategic depth. “That fear is completely unfounded but all powers in the region need to come together and repel and defeat the forces of terror,” he added.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
