Newsletter 24 August

Sino-Indian Standoff:

India has ‘military options’ to deal with Chinese transgressions if talks fail: CDS Rawat

· Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Mon stated that India has “military options” to deal with the Chinese on the issue of transgressions if talks between both the countries at the military and diplomatic level don’t yield any results.

· “The military option to deal with transgressions by the Chinese Army in Ladakh are on but it will be exercised only if talks at the military and the diplomatic level fail,” Rawat said here on the ongoing dispute between India and China in Eastern Ladakh.

· India and China are engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including Finger area, Galwan valley, Hot springs and Kongrung nala.

· The talks between the two sides have been going on for the last 3 months including five Lt General-level talks but have failed to yield any results so far.

· The Chinese Army has refused to withdraw or disengage completely from the Finger area and seems to be buying time to delay its disengagement from there

China refuses to budge, continues infrastructure build-up along LAC

· China is showing no intent of disengaging from the troop confrontation in eastern Ladakh, while further digging in its heels by continuing to build roads, bridges, helipads and other military infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to back its troops at the actual face-off sites.

· “China is indulging in ping-pong tactics by shuttling the ball between diplomatic and military talks, without any serious attempt at conflict resolution. There is no change in the ground situation,” said a senior military official on Sat.

· China is building military facilities “at an exponential pace since its troops intruded into Indian Territory at multiple points”. Its construction of new border missile sites underscores its reliance on missile power.

While efforts are underway to resolve the ongoing border dispute, India has rejected the Chinese suggestion to disengage equidistantly from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh.

· After the diplomatic level talks, the two sides are also working to hold more military-level talks to resolve the boundary issue which has been going on for more than three months now.

· The Chinese have done construction in the Finger area also where Indian Territory extends up to Finger 8.

· The Indian side is firm that the Chinese should first disengage and then the two sides can discuss de-escalation from Eastern Ladakh and Depsang Plains and Daulat Beg Oldi areas.

Global Times (Chinese State Media), editor-in-chief Hu Xijin, warned: “Not firing the first shot” does not mean Beijing would tie its hands. If increasing provocations by the island of Taiwan and the US eventually lead to a breakout, then China will have no choice but resolutely fight a just war.

Global Times also claimed Russia and Turkey have signed a contract to deliver a second regiment of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey, the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Sun. Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev did not disclose further details when speaking to RIA Novosti news agency.

Interim President, Sonia Gandhi will continue as Interim President of Congress

A huge (6 hrs long) Drama finished of over INC Presidential Post, when Interim President, Sonia Gandhi Sought resignation

CWC meet: Sonia Gandhi, 73, has asked the Congress to begin deliberations to set in place a process to find her replacement.

High drama unfolded at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting with a furious Rahul Gandhi questioning the timing of a letter targeting the Gandhi leadership and his reported allegation that signatories of the letter were in cahoots with the ruling BJP.

But amid reports of his sharp reactions, Rahul Gandhi as well as the Congress put out denials. The denial came after senior leader Kapil Sibal, one of the signatories to the “dissenters'” letter, posted an angry tweet in reaction to Rahul Gandhi.

The crucial meeting started at 11 this morning – a day after an explosive letter written by 26 top leaders calling for “a full-time, visible leadership” emerged – with Sonia Gandhi’s letter asking to be relieved as Congress president and asking the party to begin deliberations to set in place a process to find her replacement.

Mrs Gandhi’s announcement led to statements in support of her and sharp criticism of the letter-writers, mainly by Rahul Gandhi who intervened twice to accuse the “dissidents” of collaborating with the BJP.
Over 20 Congress leaders have, in a letter, called for a “full-time”, “effective leadership” that will be “visible” and “active” in the field, sources said.
It also called for “honest introspection” and suggested a “collective leadership”, reforms including decentralization of power, empowerment of state units and organizational elections at every level, sources said.
Ahmed Patel while speaking at the meeting proposes Rahul Gandhi to take over as party president: sources
After his tweet objecting to Rahul Gandhi’s accusation, Kapil Sibal tweeted again to inform that he was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never said what was attributed to him.

Ghulam Nabi Azad used to call us BJP’s ‘B’ team. Now, his party’s former chief said he colluded with BJP by signing on the letter. Muslim leaders in Congress, who are wasting time, should think for how long they’ll remain slave of Congress leadership: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

Indian agencies call out Pakistan's bluff on Dawood, to take up matter in FATF meet

India says, “The move puts Pakistan in the dock as the sovereign country is lying. The evidence will be put forth by India in the upcoming FATF (Financial Action Task Force) meet in Sept.”
If what Pakistan claims as per the information provided previously was true, then it would have mentioned the same during all meetings of the task force and it would have subsequently reflected in FATF documents.
Indian intelligence agencies have called out Pakistan’s lies on most-wanted Dawood Ibrahim and 26/11-accused Zakir ur Rehman Lakhvi.
Sources say India now has evidence that Pakistan never mentioned the facts in any official document till Aug 18, 2020. Agencies state that the 2020 Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) is the first time Dawood’s details have been published by Pakistan, [as said on Sat’s Weekly Letter].
An examination of the technical back-end of the 2015 and 2019 SROs shows that it was uploaded later and back-dated.
India says, “The move puts Pakistan in the dock as the sovereign country is lying. The evidence will be put forth by India in the upcoming FATF (Financial Action Task Force) meet in September.”
If what Pakistan claims as per the information provided previously was true, then it would have mentioned the same during all meetings of the task force and it would have subsequently reflected in FATF documents.
For example, this year’s SRO issued on August 18 has a reference to “2020/08” in its link. Similarly, a fraction of the URL of another SRO dated May 22 states ‘2020/05’ as the upload date.
However, the majority of SROs, from Dec 22, 2015, to Jan 16, 2020, had a reference to ‘2020/01’ in their URLs. This includes the December 2015 and July 2017 SRO issued by Pakistan foreign office, which had mentioned Dawood Ibrahim and Lakhvi in their annexure.

Soon after issuing a list bearing the name of Dawood Ibrahim as a designated terrorist along with his address in Karachi and details of his passports, Pakistan on Sat denied his presence on its soil. It said there is no admission that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pak.

Pakistan’s insincerity in combating stands exposed with the fact that while it has issued a notification to release a UN list bearing Dawood Ibrahim’s name among the designated terrorists, neither Dawood Ibrahim nor Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi are listed on Pakistan’s national terror list.
The nation terror list falls under the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (NACTA) Schedule IV (Proscribed Persons) Data.
Meanwhile, Masood Azhar, whose presence in Pakistan is also denied by the authorities, figures on the list.

Op Gorakhdhanda: Pakistan ISI honey traps Indian, coerces him to send ‘sensitive’ info on Gorakhpur

How the Indian Army’s Military Intelligence and Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) unearthed a nefarious design in Karachi, Pakistan based ISI unit. Important thread on the Operation Gorakhdhanda.
The caller, Fahad enquired about Arif’s well-being and asked him to save his number. Arif saved the number as “Bhai” in his phone. After few days Fahad called again and asked him to send some photos of Zafra Buzzar in Gorakhpur with some innocent pretext.
Arif shared some photos within a few days. Fahad then asked him to send photos of Gorakhpur Air Force Station, which Arif declined, knowing the repercussions. Next ISI agent sent Arif photo/video of him and the sex-worker he had taken service of, on that fateful night in Karachi.
They blackmailed Arif to work for them or they’d send recordings to his sister Zarina. Arif reluctantly agreed & helped them in activating an Indian WhatsApp account by sharing account creation OTP. He had acquired the SIM using his own identity and took it off from his phone.
It is believed that WhatsApp account was used by ISI to approach serving defense/security personnel to lure them and acquire classified defense/security info. WhatsApp number has penetrated into & created many WhatsApp groups with serving soldiers/ security personnel as members.
Apart from this, Arif during his questioning also revealed to have sent photos of Gorakhpur Railway Station and main gates of Indian Air Force Station and Kundra Ghat Military Station. He had received a payment of Rs 5000/- from the two Pakistani ISI agents.
Arif further revealed that he was asked by the two ISI agents to introduce some soldier/security-forces personnel or anyone having access to such establishment to them. Arif found it difficult to meet their demand and started avoiding them.
Subsequently Arif stopped using internet. Moreover he got remarried to his second wife Shama Praveen and wanted to lead a trouble-free life. Further he got his mobile handset formatted on 14th July this year as he claimed it got locked accidentally.
It was felt that he was not of much help to ISI and realized his wrongdoing well in time. Keeping in mind his age, family background, findings and absence of credible evidence to convict him in court, it was decided that Arif be left to go home after suitable counseling/warning.
This is a typical soft-neutralization of an asset under cultivation by ISI. This case has unearthed the nefarious modus operandi of ISI operatives against members of poor or lower-middle class Muslim families visiting their relatives in various cities of Pakistan.
The case has some similarity with that of Mohammed Rashid’s case who was arrested in a joint operation of Military Intelligence and UP ATS in Feb 2020.
Presently the case is being investigated by the NIA.

Day after ISIS operative's arrest, huge amount of explosives recovered in UP's Balrampur

According to the police, the accused has been identified as Mohd Mustakim Khan (36) aka Abu Yusuf Khan aka Yusuf Khan, a resident of village Badhiyaa Bhaisaahi, Utraula in Uttar Pradesh
A huge amount of explosives, including explosive jacket, allegedly prepared for a fidayeen attack have been recovered from Balrampur, UP sources said on Sun.
This comes a day after the Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested an ISIS operative carrying two pressure cooker-based IEDs after a brief exchange of fire and averted a major terror strike in the national capital, the police said.
UP sounded a high alert on Sat following the arrest of the ISIS operative.

Illicit arms, ammunition and narcotic drug syndicate operating in UP, Delhi and Haryana busted. Two criminals arrested; 5 sophisticated .32 bore pistols, 10 live cartridges, 15 kgs of opium & a car recovered: Delhi Police

Desperate ISI and Pakistan terror groups turn to local Indian gangsters to execute attacks in India

There has been a recent trend which has attracted the attention of Intelligence Agencies as well as security agencies in India.
Pakistan’ ISI and its terror outfits who are unable to execute any attacks in the country to disturb law and order situation due to the alertness of forces and intelligence agencies are now giving the task to local gangsters.
Recently, Chandigarh intelligence unit alerted all intelligence agency units regarding such tie-up between terrorists and gangsters who have clout and local connections.
While giving names of some gangsters, the intelligence wing alerted other units that ISI and terrorist organizations are in touch with these gangsters and giving them tasks to execute attacks in India.
An official claimed that there is a possibility that the ISI might try to contact or is already in touch with these local but highly influential gangsters.
In an alert issued a few days back, the Punjab unit of the Central intelligence agency had alerted that the ISI and other terror organizations had tasked 5 gangsters to target few leaders.
Two of five gangsters are absconding and cops are looking for them while three others are lodged in different jails in Punjab.
These gangsters are involved in dozens of murders, robbery, narcotics cases and running racket from the jails.
Local police have been asked to keep a track of such local gangsters and keep an eye on their movement even if they are in jail.
According to an official, reasons behind this latest strategy are that ISI’s backbone which is local sleeper cells have been almost eliminated or refusing to work as they fear being killed by security forces.
Also, there is hardly any top-level commander to control local sleeper cells.
As local gangsters can easily collect material and execute attacks in states, terror organizations are turning to them to execute their mischievous tasks. (ANI)

A Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) delegation met Defense Min, Rajnath Singh to apprise him about 108 systems & subsystems which have been identified for designing and development by the Indian Industry only: Office of Defense Minister of India.
The DRDO will provide its support to industries in this development process. This initiative will pave the way for Indian Defense industry to develop many technologies towards building an AtmaNirbhar Bharat: Defense Ministry said in a statement.
DRDO provided list of 108 systems and subsystems to Ministry identified for designing & development by the Indian Industry only.

PM Modi holds meeting with senior Ministers and officials on Sat to discuss ways to boost manufacturing and global imprint of Indian toys

PM Modi calls for promoting domestic toy clusters through innovative and creative methods

Toys can be an excellent medium to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, said PM

Kerala Assembly passes ‘unanimous resolution’ demanding withdrawal of Centre’s decision to lease out international airport in Thiruvananthapuram.

Moving the resolution, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Centre should re-examine its decision and the operation and management of the airport handed over to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in which the state government has a stake.
Despite the state government agreeing to give the amount quoted by Adani Enterprises, the Centre’s decision to privatize the airport cannot be justified, he said.
The Centre had decided to lease out airports at Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run 6 airports – Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram, through the PPP model after a competitive bidding process in Feb 2019.

Neighborhood

A hacking group claims to have breached three Chinese tech companies responsible for the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) social media surveillance Saturday, with the group attempting to blast leaked documents across social media.

The hacking group, CCP Unmasked, says it infiltrated the Knowlesys, Yunrun Big Data Service, and OneSight data firms, VICE reported. The group attempted to send the information out via its Twitter account, but the platform suspended their account under its policy against hacked documents.

President urges world to take notice of Indian oppression in IIOJK-Pak Radio

President Dr. Arif Alvi has urged the world community to take notice of Indian oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He expressed these views while talking to the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Gabriela Cuevas Barron who called on him in Islamabad Mon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan PM also tweeted “MashaAllah Pakistan’s economy is on the right track. After current account balance posted deficit of $613 mn in July 2019 & a deficit of $100 mn in June 2020, in July 2020 current account balance swung upwards to a surplus of $424 mn.

China rejects India’s position on Kashmir: Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Qureshi, said China’s stand on the issue of Kashmir is clear, rejecting New Delhi’s claim on the region.
Qureshi made this statement after recently returning from China for the annual strategic dialogue, where both countries issued a joint statement on Fri which opposed any unilateral action on Kashmir and asked New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve this issue peacefully.
India on Sat again rejected China’s interference on the matter and its Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that “the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and we expect the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India.”
Qureshi also said that there was an impression earlier that SAARC countries are pro-India but now not only Nepal is showing eyes but ties between Dhaka and New Delhi are also not as close as it used to be.
“We will plan forward keeping all these considerations in mind,” he said.
Qureshi also said Saudi Arabia has no ambiguity on the matter of Kashmir and it is being discussed how to take the matter forward.
He further said MEA’s comments on the position of Kashmir are laughable, adding that the world also doesn’t agree with India’s claims, despite only a handful countries criticizing New Delhi on the issue.