Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hrs

    
     FGN3 US-KHALISTAN-REPORT
     Pak-supported separatist Khalistani groups gaining ground in US: Report
     Washington: Separatist Khalistani groups backed by Pakistan are quietly gaining ground in the United States, a top American think tank has warned, ruing that the US government has so far remained indifferent to the appeals made by New Delhi to curb their destabilising anti-India activities. By Lalit K Jha    
    
     FGN33 US-SANDHU-LD INDIAN OCEAN
     India sees itself as net provider of security in Indian Ocean region: ambassador Sandhu
     Washington: India sees itself as a net provider of security in the strategic Indian Ocean region where it helps build economic capabilities and improve maritime security for its friends and partners, India’s top diplomat in the US has said, ahead of the next week’s first in-person Quad summit to be hosted by US President Joe Biden. By Lalit K Jha
         
     FGN35 LANKA-PRISON-TAMILS-MINISTER-RESIGN
     Sri Lankan prison minister resigns after threatening to kill Tamil prisoners
     Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Prisons Management Lohan Ratwatte tendered his resignation on Wednesday, days after he allegedly threatened to kill Tamil prisoners during his visit to the Anuradhapura prison in the country’s northern central region, a senior official said.
    
     FGN34 PAK-SCO-IMRAN
     Pak PM Imran Khan to visit Tajikistan for SCO summit
     Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a two-day official visit to Tajikistan to attend the SCO summit and have bilateral talks with the Tajik leadership on mutual ties, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.

     FGN30 SINGAPORE-PM-FOREIGNERS
     Singapore PM says MPs took unequivocal stance against racism, xenophobia on foreigners
     Singapore: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday said that he was glad that MPs took a “firm and unequivocal” stance against racism and xenophobia in Parliament, asserting that the city state must remain open and welcoming to foreigners. By Gurdip Singh
         
     FGN21 PAK-AFGHAN-WOMEN-FOOTBALLERS
     Afghan female footballers evade Taliban, reach Pakistan
     Islamabad: Thirty-two women football players from Afghanistan, who were facing threats from the Taliban, have reached Pakistan along with their families after the government issued emergency humanitarian visas to evacuate them, according to a media report on Wednesday. By Sajjad Hussain

     FGN20 UN-SHAHID-SECURITY COUNCIL-REFORMS
     Wish had magic wand to complete Security Council reform: says President of 76th session of UNGA Abdulla Shahid
     United Nations: President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid has said he wished he had a “magic wand” to complete the Security Council reform and expressed hope that the UN members will take this process seriously as he began his “presidency of hope” of the 193-nation body. By Yoshita Singh

     FGN16 SINGAPORE-PARLIAMENT-LD JOBS
     Singapore Parliament rejects Opposition proposal on employment under free trade pact with India
     Singapore: Singapore's Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal from the Opposition hitting out at a free trade pact with India for allegedly paving the way for Indian professionals to take up domestic workers' jobs in this country. By Gurdip Singh

     FGN4 US-SANDHU-INDIAN-OCEAN
     India sees itself as net provider of security in Indian Ocean region: ambassador Sandhu
     Washington: India sees itself as a net provider of security in the Indian Ocean region where it helps build economic capabilities and improve maritime security for its friends and partners, India’s top diplomat in the US has said, ahead of the next week’s first in-person Quad summit. By Lalit K Jha

     FGN2 US-PAK-TALIBAN-INDIA
     Pakistan's role in enabling Taliban is victory for hardliners: top US senator
     Washington: The role of Pakistan in enabling the Taliban is a victory for the hardliners in the country’s government, a top American lawmaker has said, asserting that the unfolding developments in Afghanistan and the role being played by Islamabad in Kabul are not sending a good message to India. By Lalit K Jha
    
     PTI IND
IND

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)