Saifuddin Abdullah

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting in Azerbaijan and held an "open and candid conversation on outstanding issues."

Malaysia's embattled premier will preside over a tense ruling party assembly this week amid calls for his removal over a funding scandal that has left the party facing one of the biggest crises in its half-century rule.

Ahead of announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress Minister Sham Lal Sharma, who has been facing criticism over handling of recent floods, has tendered his resignation from the Omar Abdullah ministry.

The Congress today formally ended its partnership with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would "fight the forthcoming election on our own strength".

Omar Abdullah's move to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir has in the past few days led to a confrontation with the Army. Today, Mr Abdullah's ally, the Congress, also questioned his announcement.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting in Azerbaijan and held an "open and candid conversation on outstanding issues."

Malaysia's embattled premier will preside over a tense ruling party assembly this week amid calls for his removal over a funding scandal that has left the party facing one of the biggest crises in its half-century rule.

Ahead of announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress Minister Sham Lal Sharma, who has been facing criticism over handling of recent floods, has tendered his resignation from the Omar Abdullah ministry.

The Congress today formally ended its partnership with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would "fight the forthcoming election on our own strength".

Omar Abdullah's move to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas of Jammu and Kashmir has in the past few days led to a confrontation with the Army. Today, Mr Abdullah's ally, the Congress, also questioned his announcement.