Newsletter 17 September

Sino-Indian Standoff:

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh delivered his Statement in Upper House

Though, it was supposed to be done yesterday, however, it postponed due to some unrevealed reason.

In the Yesterday’s evening of PM called an all-party meeting to reach a consciousness regarding the issue, so that no other message should be conveyed to world.

Main point form his statement

China has mobilized massive troops and ammunition at Line of Actual Control.
I brought up the issue of aggressive posturing by Chinese troops with my Chinese counterpart in Moscow.
China has enhanced border capabilities through infrastructure development.
1993 and 1996 agreements clearly lay down how any situation on LAC is to be dealt with, but Chinese actions were in violation of these.
It is incumbent upon the Chinese side to act responsibly to handle any situation.
China continues to be in illegal occupation of approx 38,000 sq. kms in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km. of Indian Territory in PoK to China.
No force in world can stop Indian forces from patrolling on Ladakh border.

Rajya Sabha Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu, after this statement, said “India in its entire history has never coveted land of another nation”.

The entire country is proud of the forces deployed on our borders. Do we understand that restoration of status quo ante is non-negotiable, Anand Sharma asked.

AK Antony, Former Def Min and member of said “Congress Galwan Valley was never a disputed site”. ‘Betrayal’ is a Chinese characteristic, several members say, warn Govt to tread cautiously. Members express solidarity with Indian forces on the border.

PLA Blocks Access to 900 Sq Km of Indian Territory in Depsang: Not in the Singh’s Statement

The scale of Chinese control in this strategically significant corner of Ladakh makes it the largest chunk of territory denied to Indian soldiers in a single swoop since the 1962 war, a fact that warranted inclusion in the defense minister’s speech.
The PLA has denied the Indian Army’s patrols access to five patrol points – PP 10, 11, 11a, 12 and 13 – which marked India’s limit of patrol, or LOP, by blocking them at Bottleneck/Y junction around 18 km inside the LAC.
The more worrisome is the fact that the army has always identified this area – including Trig Heights and
Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) – where it finds itself most vulnerable in Ladakh.
India contends that the line runs further northwards, placing the Siachen glacier firmly in Indian Territory.
That line beyond NJ9842 is called the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL). But the Pakistani side claims that the line runs towards north east, connecting NJ9842 to the Karakoram Pass.
That would place the Siachen glacier inside Pakistani control, and physically link Pakistan and China.
The strategically important area of SSN lies to the east of Siachen, located between the Saltoro ridge on the Pakistani border and the Saser ridge close to the Chinese border.
It is the only place where a physical military collusion can take place between Pakistan and China – and the challenge of a two-front war can become real in the worst-case scenario.
In such a scenario, it will be nearly impossible for India to launch a military operation to wrest back Gilgit-Baltistan from Pakistan.

Disengagement onus on India, says China

Despite the recent 5-point India-China consensus for defusing the border situation, China on Wed put the ball for disengagement in India’s court and said it was imperative for the latter to correct its “mistake”, disengage on the ground and take concrete steps to ease tensions.
A week after the consensus arrived in Moscow in the meeting of foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Wang Yi, the two sides are yet to finalize a date for the next meeting of senior commanders.
“The responsibility for the recent Sino-Indian border incidents is not on the Chinese side. It is the Indian side’s violation of the agreement and important consensus between the two sides, the first to illegally cross the line to provocation, the unilateral change of the status quo in the border area, and the threat to the security of the Chinese border troops,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
The Chinese statement followed Singh’s detailed remarks in Lok Sabha on Tue in which he accused China of violating bilateral agreements with its violent conduct on the LAC.
No date fixed so far, having a joint military and diplomatic dialogue.

Indian army's hunt for water at DBO and hope to revive a 10,000-year-old lake

The Indian Army has roped in geologists to try and find water sources in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), a high-latitude desert located at an altitude of 17,000 feet in eastern Ladakh.
DBO is the remotest and perhaps the most strategic outpost of the country along the LAC where Indian and Chinese soldiers are locked in confrontation since early May, 2020.
The army has roped in Dr Ritesh Arya, an eminent geologist who has worked with the army in the past at the Siachen Glacier and Batalik heights, has traveled all along DBO road.
”We have been successful at Pangong Tso, Lukung, Thakung, Chushul, Rezang La and Tangtse apart from Galwan,” he said.
”Hydro-geological conditions appear to be conducive for development of paleo channel for ground water resources at DBO.
The geologist is also hopeful of reconstructing a paleo lake that existed at DBO 10,000 years ago.

The Indian Govt has set up an inquiry into the revelations that a Chinese company is spying on Indian citizens including the top political class and officials across the board.

The Indian Army has roped in geologists to try and find water sources in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), a high-latitude desert located at an altitude of 17,000 feet in eastern Ladakh.
DBO is the remotest and perhaps the most strategic outpost of the country along the LAC where Indian and Chinese soldiers are locked in confrontation since early May, 2020.
The army has roped in Dr Ritesh Arya, an eminent geologist who has worked with the army in the past at the Siachen Glacier and Batalik heights, has traveled all along DBO road.
”We have been successful at Pangong Tso, Lukung, Thakung, Chushul, Rezang La and Tangtse apart from Galwan,” he said.
”Hydro-geological conditions appear to be conducive for development of paleo channel for ground water resources at DBO.
The geologist is also hopeful of reconstructing a paleo lake that existed at DBO 10,000 years ago.

The Indian Govt has set up an inquiry into the revelations that a Chinese company is spying on Indian citizens including the top political class and officials across the board.

Amid tensions on border, Indian Navy tracks Chinese research vessel in Indian Ocean

The Yuan Wang class research vessel had entered the Indian Ocean Region from Malacca straits last month. It was constantly tracked by Indian Navy warships deployed there in the region. The Chinese research vessel returned to China a few days ago after being under constant watch of Indian Navy vessels, the sources said.

Such research vessels have been coming regularly from China and they try to gain sensitive information about Indian maritime territory.

5 Chinese nationals charged in mega hacking scheme, Indian Govt networks hit: US

The US Justice Deptt, Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Wed claimed that 3 indictments have been unsealed in the matter that collectively charged 5 Chinese and 2 Malaysian citizens with hacking over a 100 companies and institutions in America and abroad, including the Indian Govt’s networks, and stealing valuable software data and business intelligence.
While, Malaysian nationals were arrested on Sun and the Chinese have been declared fugitive
Rosen severely criticized the Chinese government.
“In about 2019, the conspirators compromised GoI websites, as well as virtual private networks and database servers supporting the GoI.
The conspirators used VPS PROVIDER servers to connect to an Open VPN network owned by the GoI,” the indictment said. In the attacks, the conspirators installed ‘Cobalt Strike’ malware on Indian Govt-protected computers, it added.
Security researchers have tracked the intrusions using labels “APT41,” “Barium,” “Winnti,” “Wicked Panda,” and “Wicked Spider.”
The hackers, however were not successful in compromising the government computer networks in the United Kingdom.

India Wants Normal Neighborly Relations With Pakistan: Foreign Ministry

V Muraleedharan, MoS, FM, said that India’s call to condemn terrorism in all forms was accepted by the international community and it was evident in the documents issued after the bilateral Summit meetings with various countries.

Replying to an unstirred question in the Rajya Sabha on India’s present foreign policy towards Pakistan, the Minister said “Islamabad has to create a conducive atmosphere by taking credible, verifiable and irreversible action against terrorism.”

India working with other countries towards expansion of UNSC: MEA

India in collaboration with other pro-reform countries has been consistently making efforts to build support among the UN Member States for expansion of the UN Security Council, in both permanent and non-permanent categories, Muraleedharan told RS.
He said the government has made serious efforts to acquire a permanent seat in the UNSC.
He further said that India being one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces (in cumulative terms) “strengthens our credentials for seeking permanent membership of the UNSC.”

In Jammu and Kashmir: ED files charge sheet against Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah’s wife Bilquis

The probe agency named her as an accused in its supplementary charge sheet filed under sections 3 and 4 Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PAMLA) in the case on Wed.
The Enforcement Directorate has made Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah’s wife Bilquis Shah an accused in a 2005 case of money laundering for alleged terror financing against him and alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani.
The ED had earlier filed charge sheet against Shabir Shah and Aslam Wani.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (JnK) members in RS, raised the question of detention of former and last CM of integrated JnK, Mehbooba Mufti.

Three terrorists, woman killed in encounter in J&K

Three terrorists and a civilian identified as Kaunsar Riyaz were killed, while two CRPF personnel, including an officer, sustained injuries in a predawn Gun-battle on Thu in Batamaloo area of the city, officials said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Firdousabad locality in Batamaloo area at around 2.30 am following information about the presence of terrorists there, the officials.
Police, Rashtriya Rifles & CRPF held a joint search of the nursery area near forests of Gadikhal village in Awantipora and recovered 416 high explosive gelatin sticks & 50 detonators from two explosive dumps which were concealed underground in plastic tanks: Police, J&K claimed, todays’ afternoon.

I believe that business in this state has been affected for the past 15-20 years.

The committee made to revive trade & aid traders has already submitted its report. Soon we will announce: Manoj Sinha, LG, on the Business Revival Committee.

Opposition leaders meet President over Delhi riots investigation

Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Ahmed Patel, CPI (M)’s Sitaram Yechury and DMK’s Kanimozhi, met the president.
The leaders submitted a memorandum regarding the Delhi Police investigation into the Delhi riots
We have represented to the President that a proper & fair investigation has to be done.
The Delhi riots are being linked with the CAA protests. Politicians, activists, economists, the general public & students are being targeted: Kanimozhi, DMK Lok Sabha MP
People who are working to explain the right thing to the public are being attacked.
It should be a fair and unbiased probe: Ahmed Patel, Congress leader

PM Modi turns 70, wishes pour in

PM Modi turned 70 on Thu and wishes poured in for the BJP leader from top dignitaries, including Union ministers and leaders from across the political divide.

The BJP is organizing a number of events, mainly aimed at public service, across the country to celebrate Modi’s birthday as ‘Sewa Divas’.

Whereas, Indian National Congress rakes up ‘unemployment’ on the occasion of Modi’s birthday.

1/3 Delhiites has Covid antibodies: Latest sero survey

Nearly 33% of Delhi’s population has in all likelihood developed Covid antibodies. This was revealed in the initial analysis of the third serological survey in which 17K samples were collected from all 11 districts.

It means 66 lakh of the two crore Delhiites were infected with Covid-19 and now carry anti-bodies, making this the highest seroprevalence since the outbreak.

NEIGHBORHOOD/WORLD

Pak to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan to full-fledged province: Report

Pakistan has decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan’s status to that of a full-fledged province, a Pakistani media report on Thursday quoted a senior minister as saying.
India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.
India has said the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.
According to a report in the Express Tribune, Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur, on Wed said that PM Imran Khan would soon visit the region and make the formal announcement to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan to the status of a full-fledged province with all constitutional rights.
Gandapur also said that work on the Moqpondass Special Economic Zone would begin under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Originally valued at US$ 46 bn, the projects were worth over US$ 60 billion as of 2017.
India has protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Chinese envoy lauds Pakistan’s strategy in combating Covid-19

Ambassador of People’s Republic of China Yao Jing made a farewell call on the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in Islamabad on Thu. The Amb expressed his confidence that FATF’s Oct review will go well for Pakistan.
India says that Pakistan being retained in the FATF Grey List vindicates India’s consistent stand that internationally designated Terrorist groups and individuals continue to operate from and raise financial resources with impunity in Pakistan and carry cross-border Terrorism.

Pakistan International Airlines has planned to increase its flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia from 23 per week to 51 flights per week from Sept 30^th, said official Pakistan International Airlines.

Pakistan has been elected to the Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC) by securing 52 votes from 54-members

United Nations Economic and Social Council, Re-election to CPC is a resounding validation of Flag of Pakistan’s meaningful engagement within United Nation and its contributions in areas of IEC and SDGs.