Important Picks of the Day :

[ NATIONAL ]

Sino-Indian faceoff in Tawang: Indian soldiers foil Chinese intrusion attempt in Arunachal Pradesh: Sources (↓)

There was no damage to Indian defenses in the area. The sources added that since the India-China border was not formally demarcated, there were different perceptions among the troops of both countries as to where one border ends and the other starts.

Why India is set to miss the 2021 deadline to upgrade Mirage 2000 fighters (↓)

The contract for the upgrade of 51 Mirage 2000s was signed in 2011. ThePrint−only about 50% upgrade has been completed & the program will take another 2-3 yrs to finish.

After tit for tat, UK recognizes Covishield, junks ‘discriminatory’ order (↓)

From October 11, Indians who have been fully vaccinated with WHO-approved Covishield will not be required to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine on arrival in the UK, ending a stand-off between the two countries. The decision came hours after MEA described the UK’s earlier decision to quarantine fully vaccinated Indians as “discriminatory”.

India, Nepal review the progress of key cross-border railway projects (↓)

The two countries signed an SOP and MoU to ensure the early start of the rail services and also discussed the ongoing works on two broad gauge railway lines, the MEA said.

Vaccine Maitri: Centre gives nod to SII to send Covid jabs to neighbours; Bharat Biotech to Iran

SII has also been allowed to supply bulk Covishield vaccine, which is equivalent to around 3 crore doses, to AstraZeneca in the UK, besides exporting 10 lakh Covishield doses each to Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, while Bharat Biotech will provide Iran with 10 lakh doses of Covaxin under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program in October, an official said on Thursday.

Vandalization at Kabul gurdwara raises concerns for India and world, says Arindam Bagchi

The MEA spokesperson on Thursday said it is important that the global community continue to insist on the fulfillment of goals outlined in the UN Security Council resolution.

2^nd meeting of the India-UK JWG on cyber capacity building

The second meeting of the India-UK Joint Working Group on Cyber Capacity Building was held on Oct, 7^th through video conferencing. The meeting discussed various aspects of cooperation in the area of cyber capacity building.

India issues notification for a joint military exercise in the Arabian Sea, on Oct 19-twitted d-atis

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Satellite images show China expanding airbases near Taiwan as tensions rise (↓)

It’s not clear if the electronic warfare aircraft was among the planes that flew into the island’s air defense zone in a recent show of force.

Taiwan will work to ensure peace, Tsai says days after record PLA sorties

Tsai says Taiwan is ‘moved’ that the French visited despite ‘pressure’ from Beijing, while Tony Abbott notes how the island is ‘challenged on an almost daily basis.

US troops secretly training Taiwanese since last year: Report (↓)

The Journal said about two-dozen US service members have trained Taiwanese ground and maritime forces “for at least a year,” amid China’s rising verbal threats against the island ally of the United States

US Navy nuclear submarine hits underwater ‘object’ in South China Sea: Report

US Navy has said that there were no life-threatening injuries to its sailors after the collision. News reports have said that USS Connecticut, the submarine, was in the South China Sea. But US Navy has preferred to say that the submarine was in the ‘Asia-Pacific region’

The world must maintain contact with the interim Taliban govt, NSA Yusuf tells visiting US official (↓)

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, in a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Thursday, stressed that the international community “must maintain contact” with the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan.

SIGAR set to investigate alleged money taken out by Ghani

Ghani has been bitterly criticized for fleeing as the Taliban reached the outskirts of Kabul in August. John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, said on Wednesday that his office would look into allegations that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took millions of dollars with him when he left the country.

With normalcy underway, Denmark PM to become first world leader to visit India in 20 months

PM Mette Frederiksen will be visiting India over the weekend, becoming the first head of state to visit New Delhi in over 20 months. The visit highlights India’s increased engagement with the Nordics.

Sino-Indian faceoff in Tawang: Indian soldiers foil Chinese intrusion attempt in Arunachal Pradesh: Sources

It has come to light that Indian soldiers repelled intrusion by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh 10 days back.

• The face-off took place when some 100 (some reported 200) Chinese troops crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Yangtse, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Chinese troops were detained by Indian soldiers briefly, as the India-China border was not formally demarcated.
• The Indian troops outnumbered the Chinese at the location and the face-off lasted for several hours. The troops disengaged after local commanders resolved the issue.

As per reports, No damage was done to Indian defenses in the area. Unverified sources claimed that 10 Chinese soldiers are injured.

• China and India have seen heightened tensions since last when on May 5, a violent clash took place between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh.
• The incident saw both nations ramping up military presence along the LAC with an increased number of troops and heavy military machinery.
• India deploys substantial troops in Tawang, which China claims to be part of south Tibet, to thwart any misadventure by the PLA.
• Chinese troops have intruded across the LAC in the sector to damage unoccupied bunkers and other infrastructure on the Indian side several times in the past.
• The new incident comes at a time when India and China are slated to hold the 13^th round of corps commander-level talks next week in yet another bid to defuse the 17-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh.

Chief of Army Staff: Noting the situation has been “quite normal” at the friction points

India, China 13^th round corps commander talks to be held in next 3/4 days: Sources (ANI): India and China would be holding their 13^th round of corps commander talks, aiming to resolving the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh and reaching an agreement on the last remaining friction point in the Hot Springs area which had emerged post-Apr-May 2020 aggression shown by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

However, no substantial progress has appeared in the last 12 rounds of talk, except disengagement at Pangong Tso, where India had achieved dominating position.

Former PLA commander responsible for the border with India dies from gastrointestinal issues: Report

58-year-old Chinese military commander General Zhang Xudong who was responsible for the military’s Western Theatre Command which borders India, a report in the South China Morning Post has revealed.

• Chinese state media are yet to officially confirm the death. General Zhang was suffering from cancer and gastrointestinal issues added the report.
• The Western Theater Commands is one of 5 theater commands in China’s army following a major military reshuffle in 2016. It covers the areas of Xinjiang, Tibet, and the border with India in the Himalayas.
• The report highlights health risks faced by servicemen, such as Zhang and his successors, stationed at such “low-oxygen, low-temperature, high-altitude” terrains.

Xi Jinping shuffled military leadership 3 times in 9 months: Zhang was one of three leadership changes made in the Western Theatre Command’s leadership in the past nine months.

Health risks of persons stationed in tough terrains: A source told SCMP that Xu, like Zhang, was facing gastric issues.

Why is Tawang important?

News18- the lines of communication from Tawang stretched to Guwahati and the extended Siliguri corridor, which makes Tawang important from the military point of view. The 3 major passes there — Bomdilla, Nechiphu, and Se La (connecting Tawang to the rest of Arunachal Pradesh) — aid in the deployment of defenses by India.

At present, Indian troops are preparing to brace yet another harsh winter across the LAC, while China has been carrying out major infrastructure up-gradation on its side of the LAC, India too has developed rapid and mass-scale infrastructure in the region for thousands of the additional 50-60K troops inducted at the LAC — mostly in eastern Ladakh — since last year.

Why India is set to miss the 2021 deadline to upgrade Mirage 2000 fighters

ThePrint -nearly USD 2.5 billion plan to upgrade India’s Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft by the end of 2021 is set to miss the deadline, with only half of them have completed so far.

The contract for the upgrade of 51 Mirage 2000s (bought between 1982-1985), and used in the Balakot airstrikes, to up to date and give them better firepower, new sensors, the latest electronic warfare systems, and a life-extension.

• As part of the plan, Dassault Aviation, the original French manufacturer of the Mirage, was to upgrade two aircraft in France and then two more in India, at the Bengaluru facility of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
• The rest were to be upgraded by the HAL under transfer of technology.
• The upgrade includes a new mission computer with higher memory, new radar, advanced navigation, and electronic warfare systems, advanced communication and identification systems.
• The upgraded aircraft are also supposed to undergo a massive upgrade of the cockpit, with two lateral displays, glass cockpits, and helmet-mounted displays.
• As of today, only about 50% of the upgrades have been completed, sources in the defense and security establishment said, adding that the program will take another 2-3 years to finish.

What led to the delay HAL sources said a fatal accident in February 2019 involving an upgraded Mirage during a test flight, and the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic led to the delay.

The IAF, meanwhile, says there were issues with the FOC variant, as they were not fully satisfied with certain integration of new systems.

General Bipin Rawat’s Russia, US visits show something is changing in India’s military diplomacy

India has openly pitched for exporting weapons to regions such as Africa, which has been traditionally dominated by China. However, both are important and give an insight into how India is playing its diplomatic and military cards in the global arena.

• In his first, 2-days visit abroad as CDS, Gen Rawat in Sept traveled to Russia to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) peace mission exercise, where he also attended the conference of the Chiefs of General Staff of the SCO member States in Orenburg.
• India had sent a team of 200 personnel for the nearly 2-week-long Exercise Peaceful Mission that began on 13 Sept.
• From Russia, General Rawat flew straight to the US where he met his American counterpart, General Mark Milley.
• According to a statement issued by the Pentagon, the two military leaders discussed a range of issues, including ways to ensure regional security and their respective roles as principal military advisors to the civilian leadership.
• These two trips are just the beginning of a series of visits the CDS is expected to undertake to steer India’s military diplomacy.

The UK to lift quarantine rules for Indians fully vaccinated with Covishield from 11 October

Ending a diplomatic row over vaccine certification, the UK on Thu added India to its vaccine-eligible countries list for Covishield, which would mean fully vaccinated Indians will no longer be required to quarantine on arrival in Britain from Oct 11.

Eligible travelers vaccinated in over 37 new countries, including India and Pakistan, will be treated the same as returning fully vaccinated UK residents, so long as they have not visited a red list country or territory in the 10 days before arriving in England, the Department for Transport said.

• The decision was taken after close technical cooperation between our ministries taking public health factors into account, British High Commission in New Delhi said.
• The extension of vaccine certification is a further step to enable people to travel more freely again, safely and sustainably, while protecting public health, it is added.
• From Oct 11, Indian travelers who have received both doses of Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine at least 14 days before arrival in the UK can travel without having to quarantine; will not be required to take a pre-departure test nor take a day 8 test following their arrival.
• The updated travel guidance for India states that the county will be added to the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination 4 am Mon 11 Oct.
• UK government sources said efficacy data and information on vaccine rollout internationally is kept under review, implying talks around the wider recognition of other India-made vaccines remains ongoing.

The announcement follows a diplomatic row after the UK had included Covishield in its approved vaccine formulations but refused to recognize Indians vaccinated with it as eligible for travel without quarantine measures. India had imposed reciprocal measures, requiring vaccinated British travelers to also quarantine at a declared destination on entry into India.

• Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy and leveling up this country, said UK Transport, Secretary Grant Shapps.
• The updated rules also allow for cheaper lateral flow tests as opposed to PCR tests.

Indian minister of external Affairs, Dr. S Jaishankar tweeted on Fri, “Good to talk to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (@trussliz). Agreed to facilitate travel between our two countries. This will help to implement the “Roadmap 2030”.

Vandalization at Kabul gurdwara raises concerns for India and the world, says Arindam Bagchi

The vandalization of a gurdwara in Kabul raises concerns not just for India but for the world and the international community must continue to insist on fulfilling goals outlined in a UN Security Council resolution, Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thu.

• According to reports, Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul was vandalized two days ago.
• “…. it is important that the international community insist on the fulfillment of goals of UN Security Council resolution,” Bagchi said while replying at a media briefing.
• The UNSC resolution on Afghanistan was adopted on Aug 30 under India’s presidency of the powerful body.
• Bagchi said issues relating to the Afghan situation were figured during US Deputy Secy of State Wendy Sherman’s talks in India on Tuesday, adding there was a need to ensure that terrorism does not emanate from Afghan soil.

India, Nepal review the progress of key cross-border railway projects

India and Nepal reviewed the implementation of ongoing cross-border railway links along with the overall bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thu. The two countries held the 5th Joint Working Group (JWG) and the 7^th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings from Oct 6-7.

On the Indian side, JWG was led by Dr. Manoj Singh, Executive Director (Traffic Transportation-Freight), Ministry of Railways, and the PSC by Anurag Bhushan, Joint Secretary, DPA-III MEA, while the Nepalese side was led by Keshab Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, for both meetings.

• The two sides signed the SOPs to start train services on the Jaynagar-Kurtha section and the MoU for Final Location Survey (FLS) of the proposed broad gauge railway line from Raxaul to Kathmandu, the MEA said.

• The SOPs will serve as a guiding document for the early start of rail services in the upcoming cross-border railway links with Nepal.
• The proposed Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line will extra boost connectivity between the two.
• The technical preparedness of the completed 34-km-long section of the railway line, from Jaynagar (India) to Kurtha (Nepal) for the operationalization of passenger train services was also reviewed.
• The Nepalese side also informed that a necessary regulatory framework will be put in place to facilitate early operationalization, the MEA said.
• For Kurtha to Bilajpura (17.25 km) section of the railway line, the Nepalese side assured to provide necessary facilitation for completion of the work at the earliest, it said.
• Both sides also agreed to expedite the work on completion of the 18.6-km long Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link, and its early operationalization, the statement said.
• The progress on Raxaul-Kathmandu Broad Gauge Railway Link and Phase-II railway link projects were also discussed at the meetings.

US troops secretly training Taiwanese since last year: Report

US special operations forces and marines have been secretly training Taiwanese troops for more than one year, risking the ire of China, the WSJ reported, citing an anonymous source on Thu, while Taiwan’s Defense Ministry declined to comment.

• The WSJ said about two dozen US service members have trained Taiwanese ground and maritime forces “for at least a year,” amid China’s rising verbal threats against the island ally of the United States.
• ‘Over 15 sailors injured’, as per unverified reports.
• The Pentagon did not confirm or deny it, instead, it said:

“Our support for and defense relationship with Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by China, we urge Beijing to honor its commitment to the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences.”

The report seemed to confirm Taiwan media articles last Nov – which cited Taiwan’s Naval Command — that US troops had arrived there to train Taiwan marines and special forces in small-boat and amphibious operations, which was also denied by the US and Taiwanese officials, rather they emphasized the two sides are involved in bilateral military exchanges and cooperation.

• The US supplies weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for defense and fighter jets, amid Beijing’s threat to forcibly retake control of the island and reintegrate it with China.
• The US also maintains an ambiguous commitment to defend Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.
• A video released last year and featured in Taiwan media showed US troops taking part in an exercise on the island dubbed “Balance Tamper.”
• Chinese forces have stepped up their activities toward Taiwan in the past year, conducting sea assault exercises and flying large sorties of bombers and fighters close to Taiwan airspace.

Chinese FM on Fri said that the Chinese mainland will take all necessary measures to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity, following US media reports that there were two dozen US troops deployed on the island of Taiwan, helping train local troops in secret.

The world must maintain contact with the interim Taliban govt, Pak NSA, Yusuf told visiting US official

According to a report by Radio Pakistan, during the meeting, both sides expressed the desire to promote bilateral relations between the US and Pakistan. They also discussed economic cooperation as well as the security situation in the region, it added.

• According to the report, the US delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to evacuate foreigners from Afghanistan and the help it extended to Afghan refugees.
• Yusuf “blatant human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir also posed a threat to regional peace”.
• Sherman, the highest-ranking US visitor to Pakistan under Biden since the Taliban’s victory in Kabul, along with her 7-member team, arrived in Islamabad on Thu for a two-day visit to the country.

Important visit, said a senior diplomat citing the ‘timing of the visit’.

• “This is an important visit, and we look forward to engaging with Deputy Secretary Sherman,” Pakistan’s US Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan earlier told Dawn.
• Dawn citing the sources: Biden administration is focusing on 4 major points in its talks with Pakistan — recognition of the Taliban govt, international sanctions on Afghanistan, access to Afghanistan, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
• It added, the US does not want Pakistan to recognize the Taliban regime before the rest of the international community, instead, it wants Pakistan to continue its efforts for softening the Taliban position on controversial issues.
• “We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism and we expect sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups without distinction,” Sherman had told reporters last week ahead of the visit.
• “Both of our countries have suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism and we look forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats,” she had said.

‘Wait-and-see approach’ on Afghanistan tantamount to world abandoning it: Moeed−Meanwhile, hours before this, Yusuf has said that a “wait-and-see approach” on Afghanistan is tantamount to abandoning the war-torn country and has called for holding a donor conference to formulate immediate humanitarian and economic relief plans for averting the risks of instability and threat of terrorism faced by the entire world.

Pakistan wants broad, long-term, and stable relations with the US, Qureshi tells visiting American official − Foreign Minister SM Qureshi on Fri said that Pakistan wants broad-ranging, long-term and stable relations with the US to promote economic cooperation and establish peace in the region, in a meeting with Sherman. He stated:

“A representative and inclusive [Afghan] government can be a trustworthy partner for the international community. In the current situation, there is a need for proper steps by the international community to ensure positive inclusion, provision of humanitarian aid and financial resources [to set up] a stable economy to solve the problems of the Afghan public,”