Pick of the Week :

It seems the world is in the US, developments were centered to UNGA, Afghanistan

Diplomacy

PM Modi addressed UNGA focused on Covid, democracy, and terrorism.
Quad leaders press for ‘free & open’ Indo-Pacific, in a veiled reference to China.
India, US committed to taking on toughest challenges together, said Biden; Biden backs India’s bid for UNSC permanent seat, PM Modi on Thursday met US Vice President Kamala Harris, PM also met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrisson and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, and he also held 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 ‘we strongly support.’
Government condemns “Abuse Levelled” at PM In UK Parliamentarians’ Debate.
UK quarantine policy for fully-vaccinated Indian travelers‘ discriminatory’, Modi government says.

Defense

China’s provocative behavior and unilateral attempts to alter the status quo led to the Galwan valley incident: India
Large grazing area lost to growing Chinese presence, says Ladakh councilor
India military accelerates historic overhaul to counter China.
Behind IAF’s new deal for Mirage 2000 spares is a 40-year saga of missed opportunities- ThePrint
Key trial of 5,000-km ICBM Agni-V on Oct, 26 – 28 2021 (d_atis)
Govt seals Airbus transport aircraft deal for the purchase of 56 C-295.
Air Marshal, Vivek Ram Chaudhari, will take over as the Chief of the Indian Air Force next week.

Domestic Affairs

Assam govt orders judicial probe into firing incident in Darrang district during anti-encroachment drive
Amit Shah to chair meet with CMs of 10 Naxal hit states on Sunday
CJI Ramana calls for the people-friendly judiciary; says the legislature needs to revisit, reform laws.

Foreign Affairs

China releases 2 Canadians after Canada frees Huawei executive post deal with the US.
65 countries express opposition to interference in China’s internal affairs at UNHRC-GT
PM solicits world support for new Afghan rulers.
‘Pak has a history of supporting terrorists’, India applied its Right of Reply at UNGA
Pakistan, China agree not to alter tariff on power deals

DIPLOMACY

PM Modi addressed UNGA focused on COVID, democracy, and terrorism

In the last 1.5 years, the entire world has been facing the worst pandemic in 100 years, I pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in this deadly pandemic and I express my condolences to their families.

Development should be all-inclusive, universal and one that nurtures all.

“I represent a country which is known as the ‘Mother of Democracy’. Yes, democracy can deliver. Yes, democracy has delivered. Today is the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the proponent of ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan’, meaning integral humanism or the development journey taken together, the expansion from self to universe.” said PM Modi during the address.

“When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms.”
“India has embarked on a journey to provide clean, potable water.” were the key points during his address.

I extend an invitation to all vaccine manufacturers from across the world to make vaccines in India.

“I would like to inform the UNGA that India has developed the world’s first DNA vaccine. This can be administered to anyone above the age of 12. An mRNA vaccine is in the final stages of development. Indian scientists are also developing a nasal vaccine against COVID19.”
“The Corona pandemic has taught the world that the global economy is further diversified. That is why the expansion of global value chains is very important. Our ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ is inspired by this sentiment.”
“In such a situation, the entire world must make science-based, rational, and progressive thinking the basis for development. To strengthen a science-based approach, India is promoting experience-based learning.”
“It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan’s territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities.” As expected, there was no mention of Pakistan but it’s clear where the barb is aimed at.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla, and India’s Ambassador to the UN TS Sandhu were present at the UN Headquarters, ahead of PM Modi’s address at UNGA.

Quad leaders press for ‘free & open’ Indo-Pacific, in a veiled reference to China

Though there was no mention of China but the reaction coming from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and states’ media outlet ‘showing’ it is concerning against the own interest. While Indian experts are showing their unwillingness in accepting that it is in any way anti-China, rather they see it as “Washington is becoming slowly softer towards Beijing”. Nevertheless, it’s quite visible that the focus shifted from security to prosperity. A joint statement of more than 2k+ words, out of which some points to underline:

We, the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, convened today in person as “the Quad” for the first time. On this historic occasion, we recommit to our partnership, and to a region that is a bedrock of our shared security and prosperity—a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is also inclusive and resilient.
The occasion of the Quad summit is an opportunity to refocus ourselves and the world on the Indo-Pacific and on our vision for what we hope to achieve. Together, we recommit to promoting the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states. We also welcome the Sept 2021 EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Since our first meeting, we have made considerable progress in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and critical and emerging technologies.
The Quad also welcomes India’s announcement to resume exports of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including to COVAX, beginning in Oct 2021
We will also strengthen our Science and Technology cooperation in the areas of clinical trials and genomic surveillance so that we can accelerate our efforts to end this pandemic and build better health security.
We have joined forces to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the urgency it demands. Quad countries will work together to keep the Paris-aligned temperature limits within reach and will pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
We have established cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, to ensure the way in which technology is designed, developed, governed, and used is shaped by our shared values and respect for universal human rights.
Going forward, we will not only deepen our cooperation in these critical areas, but we will broaden it to new ones. Building upon each of our regional infrastructure efforts, separately and together, we are launching a new Quad infrastructure partnership.
Today, we begin new cooperation in cyberspace and pledge to work together to combat cyber threats, promote resilience, and secure our critical infrastructure.
We are proud to begin a new chapter of educational and people-to-people cooperation as we inaugurate the Quad Fellowship.
In South Asia, we will closely coordinate our diplomatic, economic, and human-rights policies towards Afghanistan and will deepen our counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in the months ahead per UNSCR 2593.
We also recognize that our shared futures will be written in the Indo-Pacific, and we will redouble our efforts to ensure that the Quad is a force for regional peace, stability, security, and prosperity.
Towards that end, we will continue to champion adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas.
We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea per United Nations Security Council resolutions and also confirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

We will continue to build habits of cooperation; our leaders and foreign ministers will meet annually and our senior officials will meet regularly. Our working groups will continue their steady tempo to produce the cooperation necessary to build a stronger region.
At a time that tests us all, our commitment to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific is firm, and our vision for this partnership remains ambitious and far-reaching. With steadfast cooperation, we rise to meet this moment, together.

Biden is going to extraordinary lengths to ease tensions with China: After not uttering the word “China” in his UN speech, Biden removes an irritant in ties with Beijing through a deal that allowed Huawei founder’s daughter to leave for China on the day he hosted the Quad summit.- Brahma Chellaney

Thanks to the unremitting efforts of the Chinese govt, Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou has left Canada on a chartered plane by the Chinese govt and is about to arrive back home and reunite with her family: Xinhua

China criticizes Quad ahead of the maiden in-person summit, says it’ll find no support: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Friday told the media that the quadrilateral grouping should not target any third country and its interests.

PM Modi in US [Sept 23-25]

HIGHLIGHTS:

Modi puts India-US trade in focus at the first bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden

India, US committed to taking on toughest challenges together, says Biden: India and the US are the world’s largest democracies and the two countries are committed to taking on the toughest challenges together, President Joe Biden said after his first-ever in-person meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The meeting of the two leaders in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday lasted for more than 90 min, instead of the scheduled 60.

At their first-ever in-person bilateral interaction, PM Modi says trade between India and US is ‘complementary’, President Biden speaks of a ‘new chapter’ in ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday batted for enhancing trade between India and US as he met Joe Biden for their first in-person interaction since he became US President.
“Between India and the US, the trade will continue to assume importance, and we find that the trade between our two countries is actually complementary,” Modi said at a joint press briefing before their meeting began.
“There are things that you have and there are things that we have, and then we in fact complement each other. I find that the area of trade during this decade is also going to be tremendously important.”
This is the first time trade took center stage in India-US talks under the Biden administration. Under the Donald Trump administration, both sides appeared close to signing a small trade deal, which was to be followed by a larger trade pact, but it couldn’t be achieved.
Under the Trump administration, in June 2019, India was also stripped of trade benefits under the US’ Generalised System of a Preferences program, which has no mention of reinstating India’s status in the program.
India enjoyed trade benefits to the tune of about $6 billion under the GSP, and there are expectations that the Biden administration will restore it.
After his interaction with Biden, Modi tweeted that they had an “outstanding meeting”.

Joint Statements: ‘Transformative period’ for democracies: Under the new US administration, Modi told Biden, democracies around the world will witness a “transformative period”.

“I find that under your leadership, the seeds have been sown for Indo-US relations to expand, and for all democratic countries in the world, this is going to be a transformative period. I can see that very clearly,” he said.
“When I talk about conditions, talking about democratic predictions, democratic values, traditions to which both our countries are committed, I find that the importance of these traditions will only increase further,” Modi added.
In his remarks to Modi, President Biden said US-India ties can help “solve global challenges”.
“I think that the relationship between India and the United States, the largest democracies in the world, is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter, and I believe it can benefit the whole world,” he said.
India and the US, Biden added, are set to launch a “new chapter” in the history of bilateral ties that will seek to take on “some of the toughest challenges we face together”.
“Of course our partnership is more than just what we do. It’s about who we are… It’s about our shared responsibility to uphold democratic values, our joint commitment to diversity, and it’s about family ties, including four million Indian Americans who make the United States stronger every single day,” he said.
“The world celebrates Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday next week,” Biden added. “We’re all reminded that his message of non-violence, respect, tolerance, matters today maybe more than ever.”

US president Joe Biden backs India’s bid for UNSC permanent seat: In a development that can have a big impact, US President Biden endorsed India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council during his bilateral meeting with PM Modi on Friday.

The joint statement by the two sides read, “President Biden applauded India’s strong leadership during its UN Security Council Presidency in Aug 2021. In this context, President Biden also reiterated US support for India’s permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for other countries who are important champions of multilateral cooperation and aspire to permanent seats on the UN Security Council.”

While 9 votes are required to pass a decision, this has to include the concurring votes of all the permanent members (P5). Essentially, the P-5 countries have a veto power which implies that no proposal can be approved if either of them disagrees.

PM Modi raises the issue of H-1B visas with President Biden: Shringla

PM Modi in his first-ever in-person meeting with President Joe Biden raised several issues involving the Indian community in America, including access for Indian professionals in the US and speaking about the H-1B visas, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said.

Strict action needed against terror groups in Pakistan – Kamala Harris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday 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.

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.

Would US Welcome India, France Nuclear Sub Alliance? Blinken said ‘we strongly support’

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 Thursday.

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.

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

India believes the UK’s decision of 10-day quarantine for those vaccinated with Covishield here is “discriminatory” and New Delhi reserves the right to reciprocate similarly, the government said on Thursdayb and hoped a quick resolution would be found.

Amid a growing outcry in the country over the UK’s new travel rules, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told a press conference here both the countries are engaged in a dialogue on the matter.
British High Commissioner Alex Ellis on Thursday said India and the UK held an “excellent” technical discussion on the issue of vaccine certification.
Ellis had said on Wednesday there was no problem with the Covishield vaccine but the main issue is the vaccine certification done through India’s Cowin portal.
Following India’s strong criticism of the UK’s refusal to recognize Covishield, London on Wednesday amended its new guidelines to include the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine in its updated international travel advisory.
Notwithstanding the amendment, Indian travelers fully vaccinated with Covishield will still have to undergo 10-day quarantine, UK officials clarified on Wed, saying the inclusion of the vaccine will not make much of a difference.
“We’re clear Covishield is not a problem. The UK is open to travel and we’re already seeing a lot of people going from India to the UK, be it tourists, business people, or students, Ellis had said in a statement on Wed.
Previously according to the new rules, Indian travelers who received both doses of the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India will be considered unvaccinated and will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days.
In a strong reaction, India had Tue warned of “reciprocal measures” if the UK does not address New Delhi’s concerns, with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla describing these norms as “discriminatory”.

PM Modi calls for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates for easier international travel: At the Global Covid Summit hosted by US President Biden, Modi also talked about the Co-WIN app and said over 200 million Indians are now fully vaccinated.

DEFENSE

China’s provocative behavior and unilateral attempts to alter the status quo led to the Galwan valley incident: India

India on Friday said China’s “provocative behavior and unilateral attempts” to alter the status quo in eastern Ladakh in serious disturbance of peace and tranquillity in the mountainous region resulted in the Galwan valley clashes.

The statement was issued by the External Affairs Ministry in response to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s comment that the “Galwan valley incident took place because India violated all the treaties and agreements and encroached upon China’s territory”.

Reacting to the Chinese remarks made earlier in the day, Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Chinese actions in the Ladakh row have “impacted bilateral relations”.

“We reject such statements. Our position with regard to developments last year along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh has been clear and consistent. It was the provocative behavior and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter status quo in contravention of all our bilateral agreements that resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquility. This has also impacted the bilateral relations,” the MEA said in a statement.

Last week, (Sept 16) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met in Dushanbe on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
At the meeting with Wang, Jaishankar conveyed that the two sides should work for an early resolution of the remaining issues.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two foreign ministers agreed that the military and diplomatic officials of both sides should meet again and discuss resolving the remaining issues at the earliest.

Twenty Indian soldiers laid down their lives in deadly clashes with the Chinese troops in Galwan valley on June 15 last year that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. In February, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes with the Indian Army though it is widely believed that the death toll was higher.

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.

India military accelerates historic overhaul to counter China- TOI

India’s long-delayed plans to overhaul its military are getting a new life by undertaking the biggest reorganization of India’s military since independence in 1947, as PM Modi’s govt moves closer to the US and its allies, which are strengthening defense cooperation against China.

The moves to integrate the army, air force, and navy — which now operate with little coordination — come as the US and UK work with Australia to put more nuclear-powered submarines in Asia-Pacific waters.
Last month, a newly created Department of Military Affairs ordered the Indian Army unit overseeing the Pakistan border to draw up a plan for integrating with the navy and air force, according to officials aware of the developments.
That model will be replicated throughout the country so the entire military is under a new operating structure by 2024, said the officials, who asked not to be identified due to rules for speaking to the media.
A more unified Indian armed forces would make it easier for the country to link up with militaries from the US and its allies in the event of a conflict.
A key aspect of the AUKUS partnership announced last week by the US, Australia, and the UK involves interoperability in a range of defense areas — something India currently lacks within its forces.

“The Quad partners have previously found that they can only exercise with one Indian service at a time — for example, the navy but no air force, or air force but not navy,” said David Brewster, a senior research fellow at the National Security College of the Australian National University who wrote the book “India as an Asia Pacific Power.” “This severely hampers cooperation when many if not most operations will be joint.”

Over the decades, Indian leaders kept military command and control divided to avoid coups that were once common in the neighborhood.

While bureaucrats and military officials have resisted proposals for unification that have been around since the 1990s, mostly due to turf wars, the current structure is proving a disadvantage in countering China, which moved to a similar model as the US and Australia in 2016.

Battle for cash: “The modernization of the Indian military is underway to meet the regional challenges and technological changes,” A. Bharat Bhushan Babu, a Defense Ministry spokesperson, said without providing more details on the plan. The Indian tri-services didn’t comment immediately.

The reorganization would create at least four theater commands: One in the west looking at Pakistan, another in the east focused on China, a maritime command for the Indian Ocean region, and an air defense command, while The restive northern section of Jammu and Kashmir will remain untouched for now TOI reported.

The move is designed to allow India’s military to operate seamlessly across land, sea, and air.
The theater commands would pool warships, patrol craft, soldiers, and fighter jets, and work with other missile and gun regiments that have a network of ground radars to handle threats along its disputed borders with China and Pakistan, the report says.
While China has the largest standing army, with more than 2.1 mn troops, India is second with a bloated ground force of 1.2 mn regular soldiers and 960K reserves whose pay and pensions absorb most of the defense budget.
The Indian Army estimates that organizing along theaters will yield economies of scale, cutting expenditure by about one-third while concentrating power in a single office: the Chairman of the Joint Staff Committee.
Over the last five years, the challenges to the Indian military have grown manifold and it is an open question whether they have been able to match those challenges.
The Indian Air Force in particular has opposed the concept of multiple theaters, arguing that its scarce resources will be spread too thin if they aren’t able to respond to threats in different parts of the country, officials said.
The tri-services still don’t have a common secure communication network, which was evident in 2019 when Indian Air Force jets fired missiles into Pakistan to destroy an alleged terror training camp in response to a suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 40 soldiers dead.
Indian Army units were put on alert but they weren’t told why or what to expect, TOI reported citing an anonymous officer.
While India’s military answers to elected representatives, a tradition of political non-interference has also allowed feuds between the three main services to flourish.
That has also strengthened the army, which commands more than 60% of total military spending, leading to a greater focus on land borders overbuilding the capacity to become a force in Indo-Pacific waters.

“The problem with India’s reorganization so far is the tendency to reinforce army dominance of the defense force and reinforce a narrow focus on continental defense,” said Brewster from the Australian National University.

“This may mean a reduced capability of Indian armed forces to project power around the Indo-Pacific region in cooperation with the Quad partners.”

Behind IAF’s new deal for Mirage 2000 spares is a 40-year saga of missed opportunities-ThePrint

India had the opportunity to manufacture Mirage 2000s twice, in the 1980s and 2000s. But now, it has to buy phased-out aircraft to keep its fleet of 50 going.

The Indian Air Force signed a contract worth about Rs 300 crore with a French private firm on Aug 31 for the purchase of phased-out Mirage 2000 aircraft to be used as ‘Christmas trees’ for spares.
The French Air Force has fully phased out Mirage 2000s in favor of the Rafale, but India currently has a fleet of 50 Mirages still in service.
This is the second deal the country has signed in the last year to ensure spares for them — sources said the IAF had last year also signed an agreement with the French Air Force for supplying 16 phased-out Mirages, whose delivery was completed this year.
Nearly half the Mirage fleet in India has gone through an extensive upgrade, increasing the aircraft’s life cycle. But the upgrade process is slow.
Upgrades mean that India’s Mirages will fly for at least another decade. And hence, a need was felt to ensure that there are enough spares in supply for the aircraft.

“Slowly, the Mirages are being phased out by countries which were using them. Production of spares will decrease over time, and eventually, they will have to be produced especially for us. This means that the cost will rise significantly, and hence, steps are being taken to ensure that we have spares in supply,” ThePrint reported citing the source in the security establishment.

Explaining the thinking behind the 31 August deal, sources said the Mirages purchased will come in containers as knocked-down versions.

Key trial of 5,000-km ICBM Agni-V on Oct, 26 – 28 2021 (d_atis)

India will soon conduct another test of its most formidable strategic missile, the over 5,000-km Agni-V, even as work is still in progress to develop the multiple-warhead capability for ballistic missiles. The “user-trial in full operational configuration” of the Agni-V missile, which carries a single 1.5-tonne warhead, will be conducted by the tri-Service Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in Oct, TOI reported on Thu.

It will be the first user trial of the 3-stage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is now gradually being inducted into the SFC since the military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh erupted in April-May last year.
The operational deployment of the over 50-tonne Agni-V will enhance the deterrence posture against China, which has missiles like the Dong Feng-41 (12,000-15,000-km) that can hit any Indian city, which has also recently gone in for a huge expansion in new missile silo fields for launching nuclear-tipped ICBMs.
Agni-V, which will bring even the northernmost part of China within its strike envelope, is operationally better than the earlier Agni variants because it is a canister-launch missile to ensure lesser maintenance as well as swifter transportation and firing.
The Agni-V test will come soon after a new-generation two-stage missile called Agni-Prime, with a strike range of 1,500-km, was tested on June 28.
The Agni-Prime, also a canister-launch missile will eventually replace the Agni-I (700-km) missiles in the arsenal of the SFC, which also has the Prithvi-II (350-km), Agni-II (2,000-km), and Agni-III (3,000-km) missile units.
DRDO is simultaneously working to develop `multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) for the Agni missiles.
An MIRV payload will have a single missile-carrying 4-6 nuclear warheads, each programmed to hit a separate target.

India has also for long modified some Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage-2000, and Jaguar fighters to deliver nuclear gravity bombs. The new French-origin Rafale fighters being inducted by the IAF are also capable of doing it.

But the third leg of India’s nuclear triad is still far away from becoming robust, represented as it is by the solitary nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant armed with only 750-km range K-15 missiles as of now.
Countries like the US, Russia, and China have SSBNs with well over 5,000-km range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
India has three more SSBNs under development, with INS Arighat now slated for commissioning next year after some delay.
The K-4 missiles, with a strike range of 3,500-km, in turn, will take at least one more year to be ready for induction.

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 Defense 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.

DOMESTIC

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

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday hinted at the role of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the violence that broke out during an eviction drive in the Sipajhar area.

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 Thursday 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 Sept 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.

However, ignoring the reality of the incident, a video floating on social media, which is reflecting the beating of an injured person, by a cameraman, who allegedly went with forces. However, what is an important point is who else was making another video, as landless poor villagers won’t be expected to has a cellphone with a camera. If this video is true then the act is highly unfortunate.

Indian Cd’A summoned to convey Pakistan’s grave concern over the targeting of Muslims in Assam: FO-Pak Radio

The Indian Charge d’ Affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office on Fri and conveyed Pakistan’s grave concern over the recent targeting of Muslims in India’s State of Assam, where a brutal eviction drive against Muslim residents of the State has been launched. The Foreign Office conveyed to him that recent incidents of violence are, unfortunately, only a continuation of the relentless anti-Muslim violence, which has become a norm in India under state patronage.

Amit Shah to chair meet with CMs of 10 Naxal hit states on Sunday

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level meeting with Chief Ministers of ten Naxal-hit states in Delhi on Sun to review the current status as well as to discuss future road map for security and development issues, said official sources.

The meeting will be held in Vigyan Bhawan where Chief Ministers of all the ten Naxal-affected states–Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh– or their representatives will apprise about the current situation in their states and the progress of developmental projects.
ANI reported citing sources, a similar Naxal meeting is held every year once or twice as per the need of the situation.
Chief Ministers and their representatives will be sharing the measures so far taken by their state administration to handle Naxals.
Director Generals of Police along with chief secretaries of these ten states and heads of paramilitary forces will also attend the meeting where Intelligence Bureau (IB) is expected to make a presentation on the issue.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, IB Director Arvind Kumar, and senior Home Ministry officials will be attending the meeting.
An invitation was sent from Union Home Minister Shah’s office earlier this week to take stock of Naxal activities and discuss measures on how to tackle Naxalism.
The meet will have a special emphasis on Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra as well as to ensure a proper bonding with state government and police with paramilitary deployed there during Naxal operations.
The center is stated to be planning to intensify operations in Naxal-affected areas in Chhattisgarh where major attacks were witnessed in the last few years hitting security forces.
The mass killing of 22 security personnel on Chhattisgarh on April 3 in one of the biggest Naxal attacks this year would be the hot topic of the meeting.
The role of Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) Cobra and Bastariya battalions in Chhattisgarh in the fight against Naxals would also be focussed, said the sources.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may send a representative for the meeting, and her Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel is yet to take a call.
States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which have skeletal-level Naxal cadres, are also expected to join the meeting.

CJI Ramana calls for the people-friendly judiciary; says the legislature needs to revisit, reform laws-ANI

The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday stressed making the judiciary “people-friendly” and expressed the need for the legislature to revisit the laws and reform them to suit the needs of the time and people while speaking at the inauguration of a new building of the Odisha State Legal Services Authority at Cuttack.

The CJI said, that the executive and the legislature should function in “unison” to simplify the laws and rules for the common people.
He admitted that although a harsh reality, often our legal system fails to take into consideration the social realities and implications.
He added, “sadly, our system is designed in such a way that by the time all the facts and laws are churned in the court of law, much gets lost in the process.”
People might be bringing their problems to the courts, but what remains at the end of the day is yet another “case”,

Chief Justice said that it is a general understanding of the people that it is the court’s responsibility to make laws. “This notion has to be dispelled. This is where the role of other organs of the state, i.e. the Legislature and the executive assumes great significance,” he said.

He further said, “The legislature needs to revisit the laws and reform them to suit the needs of time and people. I emphasize, our laws must match with our practical realities. The executive has to match these efforts by way of simplifying the corresponding rules. Most importantly, the executive and the legislature should function in unison in realizing the Constitutional aspirations.”

NEIGHBORHOOD

China releases 2 Canadians after Canada frees Huawei executive post deal with the US

Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were arrested in China nearly 3 years ago have been released and are on a flight back home, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced.
Trudeau announced on Fri (local time) that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, also known as the ‘two Michaels’ were returning home, after being released from a Chinese jail, Japan Times reported.
The development comes after Huawei Technologies chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who was being held in Vancouver resolved the criminal fraud charges against her in a deal with the US Justice Department and US had sought to extradite Meng from Canada on charges of fraud.
At a federal court hearing in Brooklyn, US, which was attended by Meng through video, the US Justice Department reached an agreement that cleared the way for Meng, to return to China in exchange for admitting wrongdoing in a fraud case, according to the New York Times.
A Canadian judge announced on Fri, the release of Meng who was arrested in Dec 2018 at the request of the US.
The US Secretary of Statement Antony Blinken in a statement welcomed the China release of Kovrig and Spavor after more than two-and-a-half years of arbitrary detention.
Chinese state media Xinhua reported that “Through unremitting efforts of the Chinese government, Meng Wanzhou has already left Canada, on 24 September local time, on a charter flight organized by the Chinese govt. She will soon return to her home country and reunite with her family.”

65 countries express opposition to interference in China’s internal affairs at UN Human Rights Council-GT

Pakistan, on behalf of 65 countries, delivered a joint statement against interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights at the 48^th session of the Human Rights Council on Fri.

The joint statement stressed that respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states represent basic norms governing international relations.
Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet-related issues are China’s internal affairs that brook no interference by any external forces. The joint statement reiterates support for China’s implementation of “one country, two systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
It also calls upon all states to uphold multilateralism, solidarity, and collaboration, and to promote and protect human rights through constructive dialogue and cooperation.
The joint statement emphasizes that the 65 countries oppose the politicization of human rights and double standards.
They also oppose unfounded allegations against China out of political motivation and based on disinformation, and interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
In addition, six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a joint letter supporting China’s position.
More than 20 countries expressed their support to China in their national statements. Altogether, nearly 100 countries expressed their understanding and support for China’s legitimate position.

PM solicits world support for new Afghan rulers

Addresses UNGA session via video link

Urges pressure on India for resolution of Kashmir dispute
Asks UN to convene a global dialogue on countering Islamophobia

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Fri made a strong pitch for the world to rally behind Afghanistan’s nascent Taliban government for preserving the progress made by the war-ravaged country over the past two decades and preventing it from turning into a safe haven for terrorists, while speaking at the 76^th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video link, Khan.

Resolution of Kashmir dispute

PM Khan called on the world community to take urgent steps for preventing a conflict between India and Pakistan by taking steps to resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

“India’s military build-up, development of advanced nuclear weapons, and acquisition of destabilizing conventional capabilities can erode mutual deterrence between the two countries,” he said, pointing to the growing Hindu extremism in India that has become a threat for its Muslim population and those belonging to other religious minorities.
Mr. Khan reiterated, wanted peace with India and earlier this year renewed the 2003 understanding on the LoC ceasefire out of hope that it could force a “strategic rethink” in Delhi. However, Indian provocative actions in occupied Kashmir and human rights violations there further vitiated the environment.
He recalled the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Kashmir where Indian authorities have engaged in arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances, besides denying the people of the disputed region basic freedoms.
He also criticized the world for its silence on Indian actions in occupied Kashmir.

‘Pak has a history of supporting terrorists’, India applied its Right of Reply at UNGA: India slammed Imran Khan in its Right of Reply in response to Pakistan PM’s references to Kashmir in his UNGA virtual speech and stated that Islamabad has an established history of actively supporting terrorists.

Sneha Dubey First Secretary at UNGA said, “Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world’s attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down.”

She slammed Pakistan for bringing up the internal matter of India.
India’s secretary Dubey talking about the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks said, “We marked the solemn occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks a few days back, referred the Osama Bin Laden’s location.
The world has not forgotten that the mastermind behind that dastardly event, Osama Bin Laden, got shelter in Pakistan. Even today, Pakistan’s leadership glorifies him as a martyr.
Pakistan nurtures terrorists in their backyard in the hope that they will only harm their neighbors. Our region, and the entire world, has suffered because of their policies.
On the other hand, they are trying to cover up sectarian violence in their country as acts of terror.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood 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.

Pakistan highly values its bilateral relations with Sweden: FM:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan highly values its bilateral relations with Sweden as an important partner in the European Union, while he was talking to his Swedish Counterpart Ann Linde on the side-line of the 76^th session of UNGA in New York on Fri.

Qureshi presented a dossier to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York containing details of the gross, systematic, and widespread human rights violations in Indian IOJK. As regards Afghanistan, both the FM and Guterres were of the view that urgent and unconditional humanitarian assistance, as well as financial support, should be provided to the Afghan people to prevent a humanitarian disaster or an economic collapse.

Qureshi also met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Sophie Wilmes. Pakistan and Belgium have agreed to remain engaged on the situation in Afghanistan and to work together for promoting bilateral relations. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan values Belgium as an important partner. He stressed the need to further enhancing the political, investment, and trade relations between the two countries.

Qureshi has expressed Pakistan’s resolve to further solidify its political and economic ties with Finland. Talking to his Finnish counterpart, Pekka Haavisto in New York, Foreign Minister said the reopening of the Finnish Embassy in Islamabad would further facilitate trade relations as well as promotion of people-to-people contacts.

Pakistan, China agree not to alter tariff on power deals

Pakistan and China on Thu 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 (JCC) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, it could not finalize arrangements for over $6 billion Mainline Railway Track (ML-1) and a framework agreement on industrial cooperation pending for a long time.

The Chinese have been agitating the build-up of power sector dues going beyond $1.4bn (about Rs230bn), creation of a revolving fund for automatic payments, and an increase in withholding tax rates after the agreements were signed.
Pakistan has been seeking changes in tariff structure for independent power producers to reduce financial burden in line with tariff discounts secured from other IPPs to address the circular debt pressure.
He said that on the directives of the prime minister, the ministries of finance and energy were to look into a clear path, whether it was through a revolving fund or some other method, to ensure payment of dues to Chinese IPPs. He said the dues stood at $1.4bn or Rs230bn as of now.
Asad Umar said the framework agreement on cooperation was signed between Ningbo Port and Gwadar Port, besides the lease deed of Gwadar Expo Centre, during the meeting.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on the Karachi Comprehensive Coastal Development Zone (KCCDZ) project was also signed. The MoU will pave the way for the resolution of infrastructure issues plaguing Karachi, besides fostering maritime development and providing job opportunities through the generation of sustainable economic activity based on the transfer of technology to the country’s maritime industry.

In a Gist