Beijing: China has for the first time landed a military plane on one of its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, upping the ante amidst a raging territorial row with countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. The state media said an air force landed on the Fiery Cross Reef on Sunday and evacuated three injured workers. China turned Fiery Cross Reef into an artificial island through a massive dredging operation, and constructed buildings and an air strip in the strategically vital sea. PTIJoin talks or face consequences, Pak warns TalibanIslamabad: Embarrassed by Taliban’s refusal to join the fledgling peace process with the Afghan government, Pakistan has warned the insurgents to call-off their recently-proclaimed ‘spring offensive’ or face consequences, a media report said on Monday. The Taliban earlier this month announced the start of “Operation Omari”, named after the late Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, pledging to launch large-scale offensives to oust the West-backed Afghan government from power. PTI