Newsletter 22 March

March 22, 2021
 Team

National

Sino-Indian Standoff: Next round of Indian, Chinese Army commanders likely to meet this week

The 11th round of India-China military dialogue to be held this month is expected to record forward movement in disengagement of armies in the Gogra-Hot Springs area of East Ladakh, people aware of the development said, citing progress made by the two sides during the recent meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.

Indian military commanders have noted the Chinese effort to invest heavily in significant surveillance capabilities along the border with battle-ready force in-depth areas

Background

  • The last meeting of the 10th round between Indian and Chinese diplomats was convened to ensure the resumption of the disengagement process round lasted in 16 hrs, on Feb 22nd, in which both sides agreed to resolve outstanding issues in a “steady and orderly” manner.
  • The meeting was stalled after the withdrawal of troops from Pangong Lake banks in Feb.
  • At the next meeting, the two sides are expected to discuss disengagement in the Gogra-Hot Springs area and restoration of unhindered patrolling rights in the Depsang bulge area.
  • A military commander said there were reports that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was moving heavy equipment from the Line of Actual Control to the PLA’s headquarters in Rutog county near the northern bank of Pangong Lake.
  • Military officials, however, cautioned that there was a clear effort by the PLA to consolidate its hold in Tibet and Xinjiang regions through long-term military plans.
  • The PLA has been moving heavy equipment to Rutog base in the occupied Aksai Chin area of the union territory of Ladakh, a senior military commander said, referring to a continuing effort to upgrade the military infrastructure in this region.
  • Indian national security planners noted that while the PLA has parked its heavy equipment in the depth areas at Rutog in Tibet and Xiadullah across Karakoram pass in Xinjiang, the new military infrastructure build-up allows PLA the capability to reach the LAC in a very short time.
  • All the airbases servicing the east Ladakh region including Gar Gunsa in Ngari prefecture and Hotan airbase have blast pens, which protect fighters from bombing during an enemy attack.
  • The PLA has dug into the mountain faces and parked rocket regiments inside to ensure that they escape any attack at the hands of the Indian Air Force in the worst-case scenario.
  • The Chinese airbases that have built blast pens include Hotan, Gar Gunsa, Lhasa, Yarkand, and Kashgar airbases.
  • The PLA’s electronic surveillance of LAC through radars and sensors also became clear when a massive exercise to lay down optical fibers was carried out during the Chinese aggression in Gogra general area (also called patrolling point 17A).
  • Radars and electronic surveillance equipment have also been placed at Tienweindien (TWD) post across the Daulet Beg Oldi sector with troops stationed at Xiadulla military camps.
  • The Chinese Army infra build-up along the 3,488-km LAC after its aggression on the north banks of Pangong Tso last May has been noted with concern by Indian military commanders as it will stretch the troops the year-round.
  • The Indian Army has also prepared a counter plan where reserve forces are stationed near the LAC and are deployed through new roads, helicopters like Chinook or C-130 J aircraft in case of any conflagration.

India has the world’s 4th strongest military, finds Military Direct’s study

China has the strongest military in the world, scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index, it noted.

China has the strongest military force in the world while India stands at number four, according to a study released on Sun by the defense website Military Direct.

The USA, despite their enormous military budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61, and then France with 58 points.

The study said the “ultimate military strength index” was calculated after taking into consideration various factors including budgets, the number of inactive and active military personnel, total air, sea, land, and nuclear resources, average salaries, and weight of equipment.

Secret India-Pakistan Peace Plan Brokered By UAE Royals: Report- Bloomberg

Bloomberg claimed by citing ‘unnamed’ official sources that behind the closed door, the India-Pakistan cease-fire marked a milestone in secret talks mediated by the UAE that began months earlier.

As per claim, ‘the cease-fire, is only the beginning of a larger roadmap, while next, the next step involves both sides reinstating envoys in New Delhi and Islamabad, who were pulled in 2019 after Pakistan protested India’s move to end special status for Jammu and Kashmir. This will be followed by the harder part: Talks on resuming trade and a lasting resolution on Kashmir, the subject of 3 wars 1947. Interestingly, the UAE asked Pakistan to pay at short notice USD 1 Bn just a month back.

Dig Deeper

  • Officials said expectations were low that the current detente would achieve much beyond the return of envoys and a resumption of trade through their Punjab land border.
  • About 24 hours after military chiefs from India and Pakistan surprised the world last month with a rare joint commitment “to respect a 2003 cease-fire agreement”.
  • The top diplomat of the UAE popped over to New Delhi for a quick one-day visit.
  • The official UAE readout of the Feb 26 meeting gave few clues of what Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed spoke about with Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, noting they “discussed all regional and international issues of common interest and exchanged views on them.”
  • This process appears to be the most concerted effort in years and comes as the Biden administration is seeking wider peace talks on Afghanistan — a place both countries for years have battled for influence.
  • PM Narendra Modi wants to shore up growth and focus military resources on the border with China, while Pakistan is also facing an economic crisis and looking to make a good impression with the U.S. and other powers.
  • No official comments have come out from any of country involved

Sheikh Mujibir Rahman, Oman’s Sultan Qaboos named for India’s Gandhi Peace Prize

India’s decision to award the Gandhi Peace Prize to Bangladesh’s father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, comes days before PM Modi makes his first foreign visit after the Covid-19 pandemic to Bangladesh.

This is the first time that the prestigious prize for 2019 and 2020 has been awarded posthumously, carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque, and an exquisite traditional handloom item.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman was the Middle East’s longest-ruling monarch and known internationally for his diplomatic balancing in the volatile Persian Gulf.

He often served as a facilitator of talks between adversaries, Iran and the U.S.

He was a key to meeting India’s energy security needs in the Persian Gulf.

PM Modi will attend the national day program of Bangladesh on March 26th as the guest of honor and participate in the commemoration of what New Delhi has described as “three epochal events” – Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Bangladesh’s father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50 years of diplomatic ties, and 50 years of Bangladesh’s war of liberation.

Dig Deeper

PM Modi’s itinerary in Bangladesh includes visits to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s memorial in Tungipara (birth Place of Mujibur Rahman), about 400 km from Dhaka.

It is also where the architect of the 1971 Bangladesh’s War of Independence lies buried inside a tomb called the ‘Bangabandhu mausoleum’.

PM Modi will also pay respect to Harichand Thakur, the founder of a religious reformation movement Matua Mahasangha at his shrine in Orakandi.

On March 27, PM Modi is scheduled to visit the famous Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Satkhira.

A large number of people from the Matua community migrated from Bangladesh to parts of Bengal and Assam over the last 5 decades to escape religious persecution.

High-Level Political Drama Continue in Maharashtra

  • While opposition (BJP) seeking resignation of the Home Minister and an impartial probe of the entire issue, Sanjay Raut warns against imposing President’s rule in Maharashtra
  • Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut on Mon has issued a warning to the Opposition over attempts being made to impose President’s rule.
  • Meanwhile, Ex Mumbai Cop rushed to Supreme Court for a CBI inquiry.
  • However, the state Home Minister also warned the Cop to file a defamation case.
  • Interestingly, Sharad Pawar said Anil Deshmukh was in the hospital from Feb 5 to 15 (the same time when Top Cop produced the chat). From Feb 15 to 27, he was in home isolation in Nagpur.

Know More

  • In Maharashtra, following the controversial letter of former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh, accusing Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of indulging in “malpractices” and asking suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month, instigated huge political chaos.
  • Raut also spoke about the ongoing Antilia bomb scare case’ investigations going on in Maharashtra.
  • He came out in support of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s comments made yesterday. Raut said, “If NCP chief has decided that the allegations should be probed, then what is wrong?
  • Pawar has given a clean chit to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and said the allegations against Deshmukh, made in former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh’s letter, are “vague”.
  • Meanwhile, Singh moves Supreme Court seeking CBI probe into alleged malpractice by Anil Deshmukh. The plea also challenges the order passed on Mar 17th transferring Singh from the post of Commissioner, Mumbai Police as being violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
  • However, Deshmukh has warned that he will file a defamation suit against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner for making false allegations against me.

Four militants gunned down in J&K's Shopian

Four unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces on Mon in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Manihal area of the district around midnight following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. In the exchange of fire 4 ultras were killed.

  • A Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson said four bodies were recovered from the site of the encounter. One AK-47 rifle and 3 pistols were seized from the slain militants.
  • An army man was also injured in the gun battle. Security forces have launched a combing operation after the encounter.
  • The police spokesperson said “Incriminating materials indicated that the 4 men were affiliated to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. They have not been identified but are suspected to be locals.”
  • Last week, three militants including two top commanders were killed in Rawalpora village in Shopian in a similar operation.

Kashmir Gears up for Successful Spring Season -ANI

With the opening of the historic Badamwari garden, tulip garden, and shikara rides, the Jammu and Kashmir Govt is geared up for a successful spring tourist season.

Recently, the JnK Tourism Department had organized roadshows in different states of the country including Poona, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Jaipur, said Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Director.

Centre, MP, UP sign MoU to implement Ken-Betwa river interlinking project

The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved region of Bundelkhand, according to PMO.

The project involves the transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa river through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectares, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people, and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.

International

Stop incursion and immediately recall boats, Philippines told China on South China Sea row

The Philippines defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana urged China to stop “incursion” after it spotted over 200 boats near a disputed reef in the South China Sea. He said “This is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area. These are territories well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.”

It’s not for the First Time

  • The Philippine coast guard said it detected the boats “in line formation” at Whitsun Reef around 320 km west of Palawan Island on Mar 7 this year.
  • In August last year, the Philippines had accused China of illegally occupying its maritime territory amid a fresh row over the disputed Scarborough shoal which China had seized from the Philippines in 2012 after a standoff.
  • In Apr 2019, Diplomat published that according to Philippine official, statistics for the first quarter of 2019, there were 657 sightings of 275 distinct Chinese vessels in the waters around Thitu Island, which is not far from one of China’s largest artificial islands in the Spratly group, Mischief Reef.
  • These vessels encompass the gamut of Chinese capabilities, including so-called “maritime militia” vessels – commercial ships tasked with asserting Beijing’s interests.

China hasn’t only created artificial islands but also ‘artificial disputes’ to fulfill its expansionism aptitude.

  • China is involved in the ongoing dispute with several nations including Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei over islands in the South China Sea.
  • An international tribunal had earlier invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea, however, Beijing does not recognize the ruling.
  • The military has submitted its findings to Govt agencies to take “appropriate actions not limited to filing diplomatic protests“.
  • Pag-Asa Island (means hope), West Philippine Sea—Chinese ships in their line of vision have become part of the daily life of Filipinos who call this speck of land smack in the middle of the South China Sea home.
  • The island shelters some 100 Filipinos on the front line of a potentially dangerous international maritime dispute.
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