Important Picks of the Day

[ NATIONAL ]

PM Modi in US 23rd September 2021

Highlights:

Strict action needed against terror groups in Pakistan –Harris (↓)

PM on Thursday met US Vice President Kamala Harris, his Australian counterpart Scott Morrisson and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, other than holding one-to-one meetings with CEOs of General Atomics, Blackstone, First Solar, Adobe, and Qualcomm.

Would US welcome India, France Nuclear Sub Alliance? Blinken Said Hypothetical (↓)

PM Modi and France’s Macron discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan and shared their concerns about the possible spread of terrorism, narcotics, illicit weapons, and human trafficking.

Govt condemns “Abuse Levelled” at PM in UK Parliamentarians’ debate

The Minister for Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Amanda Milling, responded to the debate by reiterating the UK government’s unchanged stance on Kashmir as a bilateral issue.

Had a very productive meeting with FM Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan. 

Discussed modalities to deepen cooperation in the areas of regional security, trade, and Investment, connectivity, development projects, education, and culture- Meenakshi Lekhi, MoS, MEA

Large grazing area lost to growing Chinese presence, says Ladakh councilor (↓)

This was never a disputed area, says Chushul councilor Konchok Stanzin.

Govt seals Airbus transport aircraft deal for the purchase of 56 C-295 (↓)

The Ministry of Defense on Friday announced that it has signed a ₹22,000-crore contract with Airbus for 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

Assam govt orders judicial probe into firing incident in Darrang district during the anti-encroachment drive (↓)

The Assam government has ordered a judicial probe into a firing incident that took place in Dhalpur, killing two civilians and injuring 9 policemen in Darrang district during an anti-encroachment drive.

UK quarantine policy for fully-vaccinated Indian travelers‘ ‘discriminatory’, Modi government says

Indians vaccinated with Covidshield have to be in self-isolation for 10 days. Union Health Secy R Bhushan said India reserves the right to reciprocate similarly. PM to announce the nationwide rollout of Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission on Sept 27^th. Under this, a unique digital health ID will be provided to the people, which will contain all the health records of the person: Health Min.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Pakistan welcomes Afghan cabinet expansion as ‘positive step’-Dawn

Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the expansion in the Afghan cabinet as a “positive step” and called for more such actions by the Taliban for stability in the war-ravaged country. “This is a positive direction, and we hope they continue to take steps leading to lasting stability in the country,” Foreign Office spokesman Asim Iftikhar.

Pakistan, China agree not to alter tariff on power deals

Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to keep unchanged the tariff and tax policies relating to power sector contracts and arrest and prosecute the attackers of the July 14 Dasu bus tragedy at the earliest. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. However, it could not finalize arrangements for over $6 billion Mainline Railway Track and a framework agreement on industrial cooperation pending for a long time.

Taliban leader says executions will return in Afghanistan

Taliban carried out brutal and inhuman executions that were often public during their rule in Afghanistan in the 90s. The regime has been claiming that they will be different this time. But there are signs that things may soon get worse. Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, one of the dreaded figures from Tailban’s past rule has said that executions are set to return

While Kamala Harris talked of Pakistan’s terror role, her top diplomat was ‘appreciating’ it over Afghanistan

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had his first in-person meeting with US secretary of state Anthony Blinken in New York, just hours apart from a meeting held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President Kamala Harris. During their meeting, Harris took note of Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, while Blinken ‘appreciated’ Islamabad for its assistance in the Afghanistan crisis.

Quad ‘incapable of inflicting substantial harm to China’

Chinese state media GT reacted on QUAD, citing the experts, “Members to become US ‘cannon fodder’ to contain Beijing”. The Quad summit, will likely mention marine security concerns to contain China and demonstrate that the Indo-Pacific is the current strategic center of the US, was at the stage of forging verbal consensus rather than signing substantial deals. It adds the US typical practice of abandoning its allies like dumping trash in front of its interests will make Quad another NATO which is existing only in name.

China’s central bank rules all crypto transactions are illegal.

PM Modi in US 23 Sept 2021 Highlights:

Strict action needed against terror groups in Pakistan – Kamala Harris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thu met US Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed gratitude to America for extending help to India during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, invited her to India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval also attended the meeting.

PM Modi and Harris, in a joint statement, called for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“India is a very important partner to the US. We had COVID-19, the kind of crisis and importance of our shared belief in a free and open Indo-Pacific region. On COVID-19, our nations have worked together. Early in the pandemic, India was a vital source of vaccines for other countries” – Harris said.

Need to defend democratic principles and institutions in both India and the US: Harris

Expressing anguish over the imminent threat to democracies around the world, Harris underlined the urgency to defend democratic principles and institutions in both India and the United States.

“In that context when the issue of terrorism came up. The Vice President suo moto referred to Pakistan’s role in that regard. She said that terror groups were working there. She asked Pakistan to take action so that these groups do not impact on US security and that of India,” the Foreign Secretary said at a special briefing. However, no one else confirmed it.

Qureshi, Blinken hold first meeting with Afghanistan in focus: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi ‘finally’ for the 1^st time, met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on Thu (nearly the same time, when VP Harris was meeting with PM) on the sidelines of the 76^th UNGA session, which lasted in hr.-Dawn

• Following the meeting, Qureshi said he had reiterated Pakistan’s focus on a relationship with the US, based on trade, investment, energy, and regional connectivity.
• Regarding Afghanistan, the Qureshi stressed Pakistan’s commitment to an inclusive political settlement. “The world should not repeat the mistake of disengaging with Afghanistan,” he stressed.
• Observers expressed doubts about the sincerity of Washington’s approach towards Pakistan, wondering if America is changing its tone depending on the audience when formulating its approach towards its now-estranged ally in South Asia. US President Joe Biden, significantly, is yet to call Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PM Modi also met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrisson and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga and discussed a wide range of subjects, like cooperation in trade, energy, commerce, etc. Their interaction notably comes a day ahead of the first in-person QUAD summit.

• Morrison explained to PM Modi the rationale behind Australia seeking to initiate the AUKUS trilateral security pact during their one-on-one meet in Washington, DC.
• “…He felt that the technology they received was appropriate and there was a brief discussion in that regard,” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed.

China ‘a very major global player’: Modi to Australian, Japanese PMs

• “… Obviously, the issue of China as a very major global player did come up and of course, this is one of the many issues that were discussed,” Shringla said.
• PM Modi stressed that a healthy India-Japan relationship will benefit not the two countries but also “the entire planet”.

“Dear POTUS, We The Indian Farmers…”: Tweet Tags Biden Before PM Meet-The govt, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogue with the protestors, has maintained that the laws are pro-farmer and has offered to amend them. Earlier this year, the protests gained global attention when American singer Rihanna, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Meena Harris, an American lawyer and niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, actor Amanda Cerni, singers Jay Sean, Dr. Zeus, and former adult star Mia Khalif tweeted, which was, however, as per Govt was the part of a toolkit, designed by the “Sikhs for the justice Foundation”, exposed by tweets of Thunberg itself.

PM also held one-to-one meetings with CEOs of General Atomics, Blackstone, First Solar, Adobe, and Qualcomm, from a range of diverse sectors ranging from drones to 5G, semiconductor, and solar and encouraged them to step up their investments by highlighting the vast opportunities in India.

In India, Qualcomm Ventures has invested in companies that address key domestic issues from dairy, defense transportation. “He was interested in India’s strides in 5G and our efforts such as PM-WANI to boost connectivity,” Modi said.

• They discussed investment opportunities offered in India’s telecommunications and electronics sector. This included the recently launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing as well as developments in the semiconductor supply chain in India.
• Strategies for building the local innovation ecosystem in India were also discussed,” the MEA said in a release.
• During his meeting with Widmar, PM discussed India’s renewable energy landscape and welcomed the leading US-based manufacturer of solar panels to investing in the country.

Widmar shared plans to use the Indian govt’s ambitious PLI scheme for manufacturing solar power equipment with unique thin-film technology and integrating India into global supply chains, it added.

• First Solar has successfully commissioned 150 MW of Utility-Scale Solar Power to the Grid in India and has installed 1.8 GW of solar capacity in the country.
• Early this year, it announced its intention to set up a new 3.3 GW Facility in India.
• As such First Solar is contributing to India’s plans to ramp up solar power generation to 100 GW by 2022.
• During the meeting, the PM elaborated on India’s efforts to harness solar energy, including the ‘One World, One sun and One grid’ initiative and investment opportunities in the sector.
• “…. our target of 450 GW electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030,” the ministry said.

In his meeting with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, PM Modi discussed Adobe’s ongoing activities in India and future investment plans, also focused on India’s flagship program Digital India, and the use of emerging technologies in sectors like health, education, and R&D. Both emphasized on creating few centers of excellence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India.

• Modi also met Vivek Lall, chief executive of General Atomics, and Stephen A Schwarzman from Blackstone.
• The PM and Lall discussed India’s strides in drone technology, including the path-breaking reforms and PLI scheme.
• General Atomics, which opened its first office in India in 2018, is making significant contributions to deepen India-US defense and security cooperation.
• It is working with both governments to provide India with the latest systems and technologies supporting the national defense.
• General Atomics has also partnered with Indian companies to develop solutions for Indian defense as well as capacity building.
• Blackstone, which started its operations in India in 2006 and has so far invested around USD 15 billion in various sectors including private equity, real estate, education, fashion, packaging, and housing finance.

PM Modi to participate in Quad leaders meet in Washington today

PM Modi will participate in the first in-person Quad leaders meeting along with leaders of the US, Japan, and Australia in Washington on Fri. President Joe Biden will be hosting the first in-person Quad leaders’ summit comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the US.

As part of their ongoing efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, PM Modi along with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and their Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga will review the Quad Vaccine initiative which was announced in Mar, the Ministry of External Affairs has said.

The leaders will review progress made since their 1^st virtual Summit (Mar 12, 2021), and discuss regional issues of shared interest, current global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change, and education.

During the first Quad, the 4 leaders stressed a free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is “anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion“.

China: No cooperation mechanism should target or undermine the interests of any third party, or set up a closed clique targeting others, which runs counter to regional aspirations, and is unpopular and doomed to fail: FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian comments on QUAD summit.

Biden is scheduled to host PM Modi at the White House on Sept 24: This is going to be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President on Jan 20.

• PM Modi’s US visit will conclude on Sept 25 with an address at the UNGA focusing on the pressing global challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change, and other important issues.
• PM Modi is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secy Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and senior officials. The high-level session of the UNGA began on Tue in New York.
• The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the UN.
• Ahead of leaving for the US to participate in Quad Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wed said his visit will be an occasion to strengthen the strategic partnership with the US, Japan, and Australia.

Key issues expected to be discussed: Two leaders are expected to discuss how to strengthen defense and security collaboration, boost strategic clean energy partnership, improve bilateral trade and investment ties, new avenues in emerging technologies. Need to stamp out radicalism, extremism, and global terror networks. Direct joint efforts towards a global solution in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Would US Welcome India, France Nuclear Sub Alliance? Blinken Said This

The US and France have “very strong interests” in strengthening their respective relationships with India even more, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, while not getting into the “specific hypotheticals” of a future nuclear submarine alliance between New Delhi and Paris.

Blinken was responding to a question on, would Washington welcome a nuclear submarine alliance between India and France as the Quad Leaders’ Summit gets underway. He was also asked about the recent telephonic conversation earlier this week between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have a “wide partnership”.

“I’m not going to get into any specific hypotheticals about the future, but let me simply say that both France and the United States have very strong interests in strengthening, even more, our respective relationships with India. This is something that we strongly support,” Blinken said at a press conference here on Thu.

PM Modi and France’s Macron discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan and shared their concerns about the possible spread of terrorism, narcotics, illicit weapons, and human trafficking.

During their telephonic conversation, the two leaders reviewed the increasing bilateral collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, and the important role that the India-France partnership plays in promoting stability and security in the region, a statement released by the PM’s Office said.

• France is angry after the US, Australia and the UK clinched a deal to supply Australia with submarines.
• Blinken said the US very much welcomes European engagement and French engagement and leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and that’s a point that bears emphasis.
• The European Union strategy that came out on the Indo-Pacific a few days ago, a strategy in which France played a leading role in developing, is one that we very, very strongly welcome.

“We’re going to put out our revised strategy in the months ahead. It will be very much informed by what the European Union has done with France’s very, very strong input. And so one area where we will look to deepen our cooperation and collaboration is in the Indo-Pacific, and there are many ways in which we can do that.”

• The resource-rich Indo-Pacific region is where China has been trying to spread its influence.
• India, the US, and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the region.

Government Condemns “Abuse Levelled” At PM In UK Parliamentarians’ Debate

Members of Parliament from the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir have tabled a motion on “Human rights in Kashmir” for a debate in the House of Commons, drawing a strong reaction from India which said any assertion made in any forum on a subject related to an integral part of the country needs to be duly substantiated with authentic verifiable facts.

• The Minister for Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), Amanda Milling, responded to the debate on Thu by reiterating the UK govt’s unchanged stance on Kashmir as a bilateral issue.

“The government takes the situation in Kashmir very seriously but it’s for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political solution, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It’s not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator,” said Amanda Milling.

• The government expressed its dismay at some of the language used by participating MPs in the Backbench Debate, specifically Pakistani-origin Labour MP Naz Shah.
• A minister from the Indian High Commission in London condemned the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted Kashmir’s status as an integral part of India.
• “As on previous occasions, the High Commission of India reiterates that any assertion made in any forum on a subject related to an integral part of India needs to be duly substantiated with authentic verifiable facts,” the minister added.
• The debate, which was scheduled to be held in March 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, was opened by Opposition Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams who recounted her visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Feb 2020.
• “Kashmiris must be at the heart of a ‘trilateral’ peacebuilding process,” she said, reiterating that Thu’s debate was not “pro or anti” any country and only speaking in favor of human rights.
• Over 20 cross-party MPs participated on both sides of the debate, with Labour MP Barry Gardiner highlighting the terrorist camps harbored by Pakistan in the region and drawing parallels with neighboring Afghanistan.
• Conservative Party MPs Bob Blackman and Theresa Villiers spoke about India’s democratic credentials and flagged the completion of local elections in Kashmir last Dec despite pandemic-related adversities.

Large grazing area lost to growing Chinese presence, says Ladakh councilor

Villagers have lost access to a vast grazing area near Gogra in eastern Ladakh owing to growing Chinese presence in the area, Konchok Stanzin, a councilor from Chushul has claimed.

• Gogra is one of the several friction points in eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a stand-off since April-May 2020.
• The troops have disengaged from the north and south banks of the Pangong Tso and Gogra sector, creating “no zones” in areas along the un-demarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC) that was regularly patrolled by Indian troops pre-April 2020.
• The Hindu reported citing Stanzin that the Army has stopped the villagers’ access to the Kiu La pass that was, till a few years ago frequented by the villagers of Lukung, Phobrang, and Yourgo for cattle-grazing.

“A group of villagers marched to the Kiu La pass a few days ago but they were denied access by the Army. There used to be a bunker on the upper reaches, but it is no longer there. We fear that the Chinese are nibbling away at our territory. This was never a disputed area,” Mr. Stanzin said.

No connectivity: Since April 2020, Chinese troops have blocked Indian troops from reaching at least 10 patrolling points (PPs) in eastern Ladakh — running from Depsang plains in the north to the Pangong Tso Lake in the south.

• In all, there are more than 65 PPs from the base of the Karakoram to Chumar. Mr. Stanzin said that China has constructed permanent structures and roads close to the LAC while the Indian side could only boast of a few roads.
• On April 2, the Ministry of Defence in a communication to Mr. Stanzin said, “due to the present operational situation in Ladakh, grazers have been asked to restrict their cattle movements”. Army authorities when contacted declined to comment.

Govt seals Airbus transport aircraft deal for the purchase of 56 C-295 

The Ministry of Defence on Fri announced that it has signed a ₹22,000-crore contract with Airbus for 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force to replace the IAF’s fleet of aging Avro-748 planes. The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by PM Modi, cleared the purchase a fortnight ago.

• Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will jointly execute the project to equip the air force with the new transport aircraft under the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the aerospace sector.
• Airbus will supply the first 16 aircraft in flyaway condition while the remaining 40 will be assembled in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), as previously reported by HT.

The Avro replacement project was in the works for almost a decade. The defense acquisition council accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to replace the Avro planes with 56 new aircraft in 2012.

• Under India’s defense procurement rules, AoN by the council is the first step towards buying military hardware.
• The Avro-748 entered service in the early 1960s and has been long due for replacement.

Air Marshal, Vivek Ram Chaudhari, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will take over as the Chief of the Indian Air Force next week. And the new Air Chief would hardly have time to breathe easily because his ‘to do’ list is a lengthy one-ThePrint

• The Modi government’s move to appoint him as the Vice Chief in July was critical — he got the time to understand the crucial juncture at which the IAF currently stands. Before this, he had a ringside view.
• Air Marshal Chaudhari, the IAF is standing at the brink of the biggest defense reform that the Indian military will see – theaterization.

Assam govt orders judicial probe into firing incident in Darrang district during anti-encroachment drive

The Assam government has ordered a judicial probe into a firing incident that took place in Dhalpur killing two policemen in Darrang district during an anti-encroachment drive. As per the official notification, the inquiry would be conducted under the chairmanship of a retired Judge of Gauhati High Court.

• Violence broke out on Thu in Sipajhar of Darrang district in Assam during an anti-encroachment drive.
• Superintendent of Police (SP), Darrang Sushanta Biswa Sarma said that people at the spot pelted stones and attacked police personnel. He further said that 11 police personnel, including a DySP were injured in the incident.
• At least 800 families, occupying about 4,500 bighas of land in Assam’s Darrang district, were evicted as part of the state government’s drive against “illegal encroachments”.
• Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed four religious structures and a private institution were also demolished.
• One of the BJP govt’s major poll promises before assembly elections in 2016 and 2021 was to free govt land and land belonging to temples and monasteries from “encroachers” and allot them to “indigenous landless people” of the state.
• “Illegal Bangladeshis descend on the land like an army of marauding invaders armed with dangerous weapons, set up illegal villages, mostly on the char lands overnight, in full view and with the tacit, if not active, connivance and encouragement of corrupt govt officers, as also with abetment of communal political leaders,” read the report.
• The Brahma committee report also says that the identity of as many as 18 Xatras (Vaishnavite monasteries that are cultural hubs in Assam) was under threat following large-scale encroachment by alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
• However, the incident of September 23 has earned the administration massive flak from the public. Though the police team was attacked by the “encroachers”, the disproportionate use of force has been widely condemned.

ITR espionage: IAF joins probe on espionage at DRDO Integrated Test Range (ITR). Accused have confessed to passing information on the target range of different missiles test-fired from the ITR launch pad, ordnance depot, and exact location of the launchpad to the ISI handler.

CID took over the probe in alleged espionage by DRDO staff in Odisha: The four accused have been identified as AC operator Basanta Behera (52), diesel Genset operator Hemanta Kumar Mistri (52), an employee at ITR main gate Tapas Ranjan Nayak (41), and AC operator Sk. Musafir (32), all from Balasore district.

A day (Sept 16, Wed) after the arrest of four contractual employees of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from its Integrated Test Range facility in Chandipur area of Odisha’s Balasore district for allegedly leaking classified information to a Pakistani agent, the probe was handed over to the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Wed.

• Sources said there was evidence that the accused were honey-trapped into spying for Pakistan’s ISI.
• Police officials said the four allegedly had a link with a woman in Pakistan who had reportedly lured them into passing sensitive information to ISI.
• A case has been registered against them under Sections 120-B/121-A/34 of the Indian Penal Code.
• The woman allegedly contacted the four on Facebook messenger and remained in touch on WhatsApp using fake names. The men were allegedly paid in exchange for secret information.