Newsletter 16 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: Govt of India to carry out Review of Military talks

India to China: Hope countries will not comment on internal matters as much as they expect it of others

India has sent a strong message to China asking it to refrain from commenting on its internal affairs.
The remarks came after China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier this week that it does not recognize Ladakh UT and Arunachal Pradesh.
Commenting on the remarks by China, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India’s position has always been clear and consistent and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are, and would remain an integral part of India. He said Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.
China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters. We hope that countries will not comment on India’s internal matters, as much as they expect the same of others,” he said.
“This fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level” he added.
China had also said that India’s growing border infrastructure is the root cause of tension.
MEA has said that GoI is focused on infrastructure for the welfare of people and development measures are taken to boost economic development.
MEA also briefed media on the 7^th round of senior commander talks held on Oct 12 on border tensions in eastern Ladakh and said the two sides have a better understanding of each other’s positions.
He said disengagement is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC.

China Conducts Test Of Massive Suicide Drone Swarm Launched From A Box On A Truck

The Drive reported on Oct 14^th that China showed off its ability to rapidly launch 48 weaponized drones from the back of a truck, as well as from helicopters.
China recently conducted a test involving a swarm of loitering munitions, also often referred to as suicide drones, deployed from a box-like array of tubular launchers on a light tactical vehicle and from helicopters.
This underscores how the drone swarm threat, broadly, is becoming ever-more real and will present increasingly serious challenges for military forces around the world in future conflicts.

China protests against India Today interview with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu

Soon after India Today TV broadcast an interview with Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Joseph Wu, the Chinese embassy in Delhi has lodged a protest and said this stands in violation of “One-China principle” and has lodged a strong protest.

Chines embassy spokesperson has referred to Joseph Wu as the “so-called Taiwan foreign minister”.

Wu said, “Pressing Indians or the Indian press not to report about Taiwan’s National Day is against our value and we are very happy to see that the Indian press and the Indian friends disregarded the Chinese pressure and celebrated our National Day with us. The fact is that Taiwan is a democracy and shares the same value as Indians and we are very glad that the Indians are celebrating our national day with us.”

3-4 Rafale fighter jets to join Indian Air Force in Nov 1st week

Amid the ongoing China border conflict, Indian Air Force’s (IAF) offensive capabilities will get a boost as 3-4 Rafale fighter jets would be arriving at the Ambala airbase in Haryana by the first week of Nov.
This would be the second batch of these French-origin fighter jet aircraft as the first batch of five Rafales had arrived in India on July.
The Rafale fighters have already been operationalized and have also been deployed in the conflict zone of Ladakh in the short duration of time they have been with the Air Force.
The IAF will deploy one squadron each of the Rafale combat aircraft at its airbases in Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in West Bengal.

NSG has trained Sri Lankan PM's security personnel in close protection: Force chief

In his address on the occasion of the force’s 36th Raising Day, National Security Guard, director general (additional charge) S S Deswal said the force has acquired the most modern weapons and equipment’s to distinguish itself as a “world class zero-error force”.
“The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka wrote to the Indian PM and praised the training,” he said.
The National Security Guard, also known as the ‘black cat’ commandos, was raised as a federal contingency force in 1984 to undertake specialist counter-terrorist, counter-hijack and hostage rescue operations.

India US 2+2 dialogue likely to take place on Oct 26-27, official announcement expected soon

The talks between the defense and foreign ministers of India and the United States are expected to take place on Oct 26 and 27 in New Delhi.
An official announcement is yet to be made in this regard. High powered dialogue between India and the US is going to take place in the backdrop of ongoing border tensions between India and China.
New Delhi and Beijing have held seven rounds of military talks and multiple rounds of diplomatic level talks which have remained inconclusive and tensions between the two Asian giants along Line of Actual Control (LAC) still persist.

Government Will Decide On Right Age Of Marriage For Daughters Soon: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Fri assured the daughters of the country that the Govt will decide the right age for marriage as soon as the concerned committee gives its report.
“Discussion is underway to decide the right age for marriage of our daughters. From across the country, daughters have written to me asking why the concerned committee has not given its decision yet. I assure you that as soon as the report comes, the government will act on it,” PM Modi said during an event to release a commemorative coin of ₹ 75 denomination to mark the 75^th Anniversary of India’s long-standing relation with the Food and Agriculture Organization.
He also spoke about the steps taken by his government towards the maintenance of the health and hygiene of women.
India Providing Free Ration to 80 Crore Poor for Last 7-8 Months, said PM

PM Modi’s reforms could help turn India into food-export powerhouse

Of all the controversial reforms PM Modi has sprung on the market, the recent laws to liberalize farm sales could turn out to be the most far-reaching. Experts believe India’s agriculture sector needs private sector investment in technology and infrastructure to realize its full potential and compete globally. Farmers’ organizations, though, have responded with skepticism.

The central Govt on Sept 22 had said that a task force has been constituted to examine the correlation of the age of marriage and motherhood.

“A task force has been constituted to examine the correlation of the age of marriage and motherhood with

Health, medical well-being and nutritional status of mother and neonate/infant/child, during pregnancy, birth and thereafter,
Key parameters like Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate, Total Fertility Rate, Sex Ratio at Birth, Child Sex Ratio, and
Any other relevant points pertaining to health and nutrition in this context,” Union Min of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani had said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Gupta during the last Parliament session.

One Militant Arrested in JnK

Operation Chadoora, Budgam, concluded, as tweeted by Official account of Chinar Corps, Indian Army.
During the search at a joint Mobile Vehicle Check Post at Chadoora, today morning, a terrorist fired at the Security Forces.
Area was cordoned. Extensive search was carried out and the terrorist was apprehended with one AK.
Militant identified as Jahangir Ahmad Bhat of Chadoora, who had recently joined the militancy.

SSB jawan, who went missing with ammunition, arrested in Rajouri

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) constable Altaf Hussain had gone missing from the camp at Nagam area near Chadoora with one magazine of INSAS rifle and 20 rounds on Oct 13.
A jawan of the, who had gone missing along with ammunition from Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, was arrested in Rajouri district on Fri, police officials said.
He belonged to Rehan village of Koteranka tehsil of Rajouri district. He was apprehended by police from his native district along with ammunition, they said.

'Nagas Will Never Join Indian Union Nor Accept India's Constitution': NSCN (I-M) Chief

In an interview to The Wire, Thuingaleng Muivah added that there could be no compromise on the NSCN (I-M)’s insistence on a Naga flag and Naga constitution.
In an interview, which starkly reveals the sharp differences that are still separating the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) from the Indian Govt, the general secretary of the NSCN (I-M) has repeatedly and forcefully said that the Nagas will never be part of the Indian Union nor will they accept India’s constitution.
Thuingaleng Muivah added that there could be no compromise on the NSCN (I-M)’s insistence on a Naga flag and Naga constitution.
Muivah added that Naga organizations like the Naga National Political Groups or several civil society organizations, who are not insisting on a separate flag and constitution, are “traitors”.
In a 55-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, which will go up soon, Muivah, who is 86 and hard of hearing, also sharply criticized R.N. Ravi, the interlocutor and Nagaland Governor.
In 1980, a faction led by Isak Chishi Swu, Muivah and S. S. Khaplang broke away from NNC to form the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN).
The NSCN was formed as a result of discontentment with the Shillong Accord, and continued secessionist activities abandoned by the NNC. The group later split into NSCN (IM) led by Swu and Muivah, and NSCN (K) led by Khaplang due to major disagreements.

Peace talks

NSCN (IM) under the leadership of Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu signed a ceasefire agreement with the GoI in Aug 1997 after decades of engaging in hostile fighting with Indian security forces. The major break- through of the peace talk happened on Aug 3^rd 2015 with the signing of a peace accord between GoI.

Shaurya Chakra Awardee Balwinder Singh Shot Dead by two unidentified men In Punjab's Tarn Taran

National Investigation Agency stepped in, under apprehension of Pro-Khalistan movement link, to further investigate the matter, seized all electronic gazettes and site.
The state security provided to Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh, who had fought against terrorism in Punjab for years, was removed last year.
Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh, who had fought against terrorism for years, was shot dead by two unidentified men in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district today. He and his family had remained on terrorists’ hit list for years.
The security provided by the state Govt to Mr Singh, known for fighting and surviving numerous attacks by terrorists on his home between 1990 and 1991, had been removed a year ago on the recommendation of the local police.
Balwinder Singh had even erected bunkers on the roof of his house.
According to a Govt citation, Mr Singh and his family had survived a particularly deadly attack by at least 200 terrorists in Sept 1990.
Mr Singh, his brother and their wives fought off the terrorists – who had sophisticated weapons – for five hours using their pistols and STEN guns provided by the Govt. The terrorists finally retreated in the face of their resistance, the citation adds.

Bihar elections 2020: Odds against CM Nitish Kumar

PM Modi to hold 12 election rallies in Bihar starting from Oct 23. BJP, categorically denied the any alliance with Lok Jansakti Party, and asked party president Chirag Paswan, not to use the name of senior BJP leaders.
A fractured opposition may work in favor of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, but there are several odds that he is facing in the forthcoming elections. Kumar may eventually emerge victorious.
However, the situations are not as favorable as they were during the 2015 assembly elections.
The 15-year incumbency may weigh against Kumar along with the infighting.

Process for organizational elections in Cong begins, party may find Sonia's successor by early 2021

The process for organizational elections has started in the Congress party as the central election authority met on Tue, finalized the initial program of the process. The meeting was held at the AICC headquarters under the chairmanship of M Mistry.

According to sources, if everything goes as per schedule, Congress will have a newly-elected president by early 2021.
This comes after a letter was written by 23 leaders in the party demanding organizational elections from top to the bottom and visible leadership on the ground to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi in Aug.

India has not sent any message to Pak for talks: MEA

India on Thu rubbished the claim by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s adviser on national security that New Delhi has sent a message to Islamabad indicating a desire for talks between the two countries. “As regards the purported message, let me make it clear that no such message was sent from our side,” Spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs Anurag Srivastava said.

India to deliver kilo class submarine to Myanmar

“Cooperation in the maritime domain is a part of our diverse and enhanced engagement with Myanmar. In this context, India will be delivering a kilo class submarine INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy,” Spokesperson in the MEA said at a media briefing.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

At least 20 killed in two militant attacks in Pakistan

The first attack took place in Baluchistan, where at least 7 assailants armed with rocket launchers and other heavy weapons attacked a convoy of the state-owned Oil and Gas Development Corporation, the military said.
7 soldiers of Frontier Corps and 7 private security guards escorting the oil workers were killed in the encounter, which took place on the Coastal Highway near Ormara.
The staff of the company remained unharmed. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but it is believed that the attack may have been carried out by one of two major groups which are fighting for an independent Baluchistan.
ISPR, the Pakistan Army’s public relations department, said that such cowardly acts by inimical elements to sabotage peace, stability and economic development in Balochistan shall never be allowed to succeed.
In another incident on the same day, 6 soldiers, including an officer, were killed by an improvised explosive device attack on a convoy near Razmak in North Waziristan.
The latest incidents come four days after two soldiers were killed and 3 injured in an attack on a security post in Shawal valley of North Waziristan.