New Delhi, Jun 23: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will chair the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. The Council includes the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.

The meeting will be attended by the Chief Ministers of the member states, two senior ministers from each, Chief Secretaries, and senior officials from both state and central governments.

It is being organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Zonal Councils are chaired by the Union Home Minister. They serve as platforms for intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation. “From each member state, the Governor nominates two ministers as members of the council,” the Ministry noted.

Reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on cooperative and competitive federalism, the Councils aim to promote consensus on issues of shared interest between the Centre and states. “With the cooperation of all state governments, central ministries, and departments, a total of 61 meetings of the various Zonal Councils and their permanent committees have been held in the last eleven years,” the Ministry stated. The Varanasi meeting will focus on issues of regional and national importance, including fast-tracking cases of sexual offenses, expanding rural banking infrastructure, strengthening the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), and improving health, education, nutrition, electricity, and urban planning in member states.

New Delhi, June 23: Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser of India, on Monday met with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing.

NSA Doval is currently in China to attend the 20th Meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed recent developments in India-China bilateral relations and underlined the importance of promoting the overall development of bilateral ties, including the enhancement of people-to-people exchanges.

NSA Doval emphasized the need for continued cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to ensure peace and stability in the region.

The two sides also exchanged views on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest.

NSA Doval conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Mr. Wang Yi to India at a mutually convenient date for the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Talks.

Islamabad, June 23: Pakistan authorities on Monday announced to extend the airspace ban on Indian aircraft for another month.

The ban was initially imposed on April 23 for one month in the wake of tension between the two countries following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed at least 26 people.

Later, it was extended for another month on May 23, when ties had deteriorated due to the four day conflict as India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and destroyed terror infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan.

According to a NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority, the ban has been extended from June 23 to July 23.

“Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators including military flights,” it said.

India’s strikes as part of Operation Sindoor triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with the cessation of on-ground hostilities after an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. However, the bilateral ties have not yet improved even when the ceasefire has been holding on.