India looks to cut troops to boost Kashmir peace
NEW DELHI - India could reduce troops in parts of Kashmir and allow greater access to visitors from the Pakistani side, a top official said on Friday, as part of a political solution to months of violent anti-India protests in the region.
More than 100 people were killed in the protests, which started in June and were the biggest since an armed revolt against Indian rule erupted in 1989 in the majority Muslim region.
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India's headline inflation accelerates in Dec
NEW DELHI - India's headline inflation accelerated in December on costlier food items, cementing expectations for another rate increase by the central bank later this month to cool spiralling prices.
Beset by the highest inflation of any major Asian economy, the Indian government is under criticism for failing to implement major structural reforms to control high food prices that have hit hundreds of millions of poor people amid signs of tension within the ruling coalition.
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U.S. sees better governance in some Afghan areas
WASHINGTON - Efforts to improve governance in Afghanistan are bearing fruit in areas where a troop surge has driven back the Taliban but more work is needed to sustain progress as Washington prepares to thin troops next year, a U.S. official said on Thursday.
"It's clear to us that within the security bubbles created by the sacrifice of Afghan and coalition forces, we've made a great deal of progress," said Henry Ensher, the top foreign civilian official for four key southern provinces, including the traditional Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. (Compiled by World Desk Asia, +65 6870-3815)
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