Briefly

INDIA

Country pulls out of military exercises

India has announced that its defense forces will not take part in this year's multilateral military exercises Kavkaz-2020 to be hosted by Russia from Sept 15 to 27.The decision not to take part has been taken in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a representative of India's defense ministry said. "At Russia's invitation India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send (a) contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020.The same has been informed to the Russian side."

AFGHANISTAN

Seven die in roadside bomb attacks

Roadside bomb explosions killed seven people and injured eight others across Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said. A roadside bomb planted by armed insurgents struck a car in northern Sari Pul Province early in the day, killing a father and his son, a provincial police spokesman said. Three hours later two more roadside bombs targeted two cars in Shahjoy district of southern Zabul Province, killing five people and wounding four others, a provincial government spokesman said. Two more blasts injured four people, including a civilian, in eastern Paktia province, police said. More than 1,200 civilians had been killed in the first six months of the year, according to Naeem Nazari, deputy head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. According to the watchdog, the Taliban militants are responsible for 48.5 percent of civilian casualties in the country.

Xinhua