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Tag: Aditya Raj Kaul

  • Aditya Raj Kaul joins NDTV as senior executive editor for geopolitics and security

    Aditya Raj Kaul joins NDTV as senior executive editor for geopolitics and security

    NEW DELHI: NDTV has named Aditya Raj Kaul senior executive editor for geopolitics, national security and strategic affairs at NDTV 24×7, bolstering its newsroom with one of India’s most seasoned voices on foreign policy and defence.

    Kaul wasted no time settling in. On his very first day, he was filing dispatches from Tianjin, China, where Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin gathered for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
    With more than 15 years in frontline journalism, Kaul has reported from some of the world’s most volatile flashpoints — the India-China standoff in Ladakh, the abrogation of Article 370, the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Jordan, major terror strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and India’s first state visit to Israel and Palestine. He was the first journalist on the ground during the 2014 Kashmir floods and has tracked disasters from Uttarakhand to Chhattisgarh’s Maoist belt.

    His international docket includes the G20 in Australia, Brics in China, Asean in Malaysia and Vietnam, and Saarc in Nepal, alongside high-level visits to the US, Germany and Israel. Along the way, he has secured exclusives with leaders such as S. Jaishankar, Amrullah Saleh, Tony Abbott and Benjamin Netanyahu.

    An award-winning documentary maker, Kaul’s films include Airlift on India’s evacuation in Ukraine and Killed by the Taliban on the death of Danish Siddiqui. His work has earned the Golden DigiPub World Award, News Television Award, and the Ram Jethmalani Prize.

    Rahul Kanwal, NDTV’s chief executive and editor-in-chief, hailed him as “among the finest in the field of strategic and international journalism,” adding that his presence in Tianjin on day one “shows his readiness and NDTV’s intent to be at the forefront of global stories.”

    Kaul said he was “honoured to join NDTV at this important juncture,” pledging to bring “clarity and context to events that impact millions.”

  • News9 Plus launches ‘The Diplomat’

    News9 Plus launches ‘The Diplomat’

    New Delhi: News9 has announced the launch of its groundbreaking series, The Diplomat, in association with VFS Global as the presenting partner. This exclusive 12-part series is set to explore the intricate world of international diplomacy, offering viewers a unique window into India’s evolving global relationships, strategic trade ties, and its prominent role on the world stage.

    Each episode of The Diplomat will feature distinguished ambassadors and diplomats from key global players, engaging in candid discussions on pressing issues such as geopolitical strategies, trade partnerships, and cultural exchanges. The series will delve into how India is shaping and responding to the global diplomatic landscape, with insights on topics ranging from policy alignments to the softer aspects of diplomacy like sports and entertainment.

    Anchored by News9’s national security expert Aditya Raj Kaul, The Diplomat promises to be both informative and engaging. With its fresh perspective on serious global issues, presented in an approachable format, the series aims to resonate with younger audiences as well as policy enthusiasts. Viewers can expect a seamless blend of formal diplomatic discourse with lighter, more relatable themes such as cultural diplomacy and culinary experiences of diplomats living in India.

    Highlighting the strategic vision behind this initiative, TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das said, “At News9, we are committed to redefining how news is consumed by the discerning English audience. The Diplomat is a unique offering that decodes the complexities of global diplomacy, making it accessible and relevant for today’s audiences. Through this series, we hope to engage viewers in thought-provoking conversations, showcasing India’s expanding role in shaping global narratives.”

    The Diplomat will debut on News9 OTT and will be streaming across major Connected TV platforms. With special visibility at key airports in Delhi and Mumbai, the series is set to engage high-profile travellers and global influencers, ensuring maximum reach among India’s most discerning audience.

    “Diplomacy is not just about foreign policies and trade agreements; it’s also about the cultural narratives and the human stories that define nations. With The Diplomat, we are bringing these stories to the forefront, giving our audience a 360-degree view of how diplomacy operates behind closed doors and how it impacts everyday lives,” said Aditya Raj Kaul,

    VFS Global COO, South Asia, Yummi Talwar said, “We are excited to collaborate with News9 on The Diplomat series, a significant initiative that will provide audiences with deep insights into cross-border relationships. Through candid conversations with ambassadors, we will explore each nation’s growing relationship with India, India’s rising influence globally, and the expanding opportunities in travel and trade. At VFS Global, our mission is to simplify cross-border mobility, and these discussions will contribute to fostering greater understanding between nations, promoting stronger ties and cooperation.”

  • News9 Plus’ investigative documentary reveals Indian Diplomat Ravindra Mhatre’s killer 40 years after murder

    News9 Plus’ investigative documentary reveals Indian Diplomat Ravindra Mhatre’s killer 40 years after murder

    Mumbai: In what could be termed as the biggest revelation of 2023, News9Plus Investigation has tracked the murderer of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre nearly 40 years after his brutal killing in Birmingham of United Kingdom.

    Ravindra Mhatre was an Assistant Commissioner in India’s Consulate at Birmingham. On 3 February 1984, four terrorists abducted him from outside his office. The next morning, an unknown group called Kashmir Liberation Army (KLA), claimed responsibility for the abduction.

    The abductors demanded the release of terrorist Maqbool Butt from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail and nine others, along with one million pounds as ransom. On the evening of 5 February, a motorist found Mhatre’s body with two gunshot wounds on his head. Fearing that their plan could fail any moment, the abductors had assassinated Mhatre in cold blood.

    “Both the UK and India failed to bring the killer of Ravindra Mhatre to justice. That is the reason we had to step in and do their job, even if four decades later,” said Aditya Raj Kaul.

    News9Plus investigation traced the killer of Ravindra Mhatre, identified as Malik Massarat, in Kotli of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    “Our investigation hit a lot of roadblocks but finally we were able to corroborate from multiple sources location and present state of the terrorist Malik Massarat who lives a shadowy life in Kotli of PoK since last 40 years. He fears even today that he would be arrested or killed for the killing he committed in 1984. Yet now that UK and Indian Government have the names, witnesses, evidence and location, the ball is in their court to act or remain a mute spectator as before”, Aditya Raj Kaul who interviewed two witnesses added.

    “I can confirm that the order to kill Ravindra Mhatre was given by Amanullah Khan. He was the Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Khan felt that Police would be able to arrest the arrest the kidnappers and that would disgrace the JKLF, hence a new identity of KLF was given to the kidnappers”, said JKLF former secretary general Shabir Chaudhary in an interview from UK.

    “Masarat Iqbal was involved in this abduction. He was Amnullah Khan’s tenant. He called Amanullah Khan and told him that Police could be reaching them soon, what should we do? Amanullah Khan told him in front of me, ‘Shoot him Dead and dispose off the body’. I opposed Amanullah and told him not to kill this innocent man”, revealed Hashim Qureshi, a close associate of Amanullah Khan and India’s first hijacker of the Ganga Aircraft in 1971.

    For the last few months, Indian diplomats in the United States and Canada have been receiving death threats from designated Khalistani terrorists. Death threats to our envoys cannot be taken lightly. The ongoing investigation of News9Plus began tracking the trail of intimidation. It led us to the sensational and yet unsolved murder of an Indian diplomat in the United Kingdom 40 years ago.

    External affairs minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had denounced the “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada.

    News9 Plus investigation spread across months also revealed a failed attempt to assassinate a former Indian Prime Minister in the UK and a conspiracy to kill a former Indian ambassador to France in 1985-86.

    “This is a story that we should all feel touched by because what happened to him could have happened to anybody. It happened to an Indian diplomat, and it happened in this country. When people think that this was just one incident, I want them to remember that this has a grave implication for the way diplomats are treated and looked after worldwide,” said Vikram Doraiswami, India’s High Commissioner to the UK.

    Ravindra Mhatre’s daughter Asha D’souza wants the killers to be brought to justice. “I wouldn’t advocate killing anybody, but have a trial, and then convict that person so that people know what they’ve done.”

    Watch the two-part documentary here: https://www.news9plus.com/webseries/murder-of-an-indian-diplomat