INDIA: Week at Glance:

Sino-Indian Standoff: China upgrades ‘logistics to brave winter’
Afghanistan: India hosted NSA-level summit on Afghanistan; 7 nations in attendance.
PM Modi meets US Congress delegation, exchanges views on enhancing bilateral ties.
Jaishankar also meets US Congress delegation, exchanges views on Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan
Jammu & Kashmir: 3 Hizbul Mujahideen Militants, including Kulgam Cmdr, killed in Kulgam.
At least 5 suspected Maoists were killed in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district
India strongly takes up ‘Khalistan’ referendum with the UK.
UK defense firms should invest, make, co-create, co-develop in India: UK India business body
Center releases grant of Rs 8,453.92 cr to 19 states to strengthen health systems.

Also: PM Modi to launch 340-km Purvanchal Expressway on Nov 16, Rafale Fighter Jet to showcase Military Prowess Via Air Show, participated by the aircraft like Sukhoi-30 MKI, C-130J Super Hercules of the Air Force will land. President confers honorary rank of ‘General of Indian Army’ on Nepal Army Chief, in continuation of a tradition that started in 1950, Gen Sharma was conferred with the honorary rank, who is currently on a 4-day visit to India to expand bilateral defense cooperation. Reflecting worldwide acceptance of India’s vaccines and our vaccination process, 96 countries have agreed to Mutual Acceptance of Vaccination Certificates: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Meeting between External Affairs Minister and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf; Visit of MoS, External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan to the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Rwanda.

Neighborhood: Week at Glance

China delivers the most advanced warship to Pakistan with an eye on the Indian ocean.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authority boosted by Communist Party’s rare resolution.
Joe Biden won’t hold back concerns US has with China, says White House
At least 7 were injured in the blast in Quetta’s Nawa Killi area, 2 were killed in action.
‘India losing battle of hearts and minds’ in occupied Kashmir, says FM Qureshi alongside OIC envoy: Pakistan to host OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers summit in March, OIC delegation’s report on Kashmir to come under discussion

[ INDIA ]

Sino-Indian Standoff:

China’s J-20 stealth fighter jets deployed 200 miles from Ladakh airbase.
If China again carries out a Galwan, they will get it in the same coin as last time: CDS Bipin Rawat
The divergence between CDS and MEA on ‘Chinese village in Arunachal’
Army turns its focus to flying arm, sets up 3 integrated Aviation Brigades amid tensions at LAC
Tibet, Buddhism, India-Pak tension — 3 factors that define China’s foreign policy in South Asia

China upgrades ‘logistics to brave winter’

After months of tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China had decided to deescalate earlier this year, however, reports say PLA troops continue to remain at strategic locations.

Wion- India along the LAC, China’s state-run Global Times newspaper said front-line troops at the border are preparing “logistics for the upcoming winter“.

GT-“several new measures” and “facilities to improve the living and working condition of officers and soldiers” has boosted the morale of the PLA soldiers in the high-altitude region during the winter.

GT (expert)-India ‘toughening up stance on the border cannot cover its inadequate logistics’

“…… although “large-scale clashes are unlikely to occur”, however, “small frictions may happen from time to time” therefore “logistics is a key factor for border troops to overcome the winter” while touting it as an “advantage” over India.

After months of tensions along the LAC, China had decided to deescalate earlier this year, however, reports say PLA troops continue to remain at strategic locations and have fortified their positions while falling back strategically.

Two countries had conducted the 13round of commander-level talks last month, which however ended in a stalemate, and the 2 sides blamed the other for the failure.
GT made a warning tone by saying it hopes “India will not misjudge the situation”.
GT blamed India “creating frictions at border region” while asserting that “the border region has been intense for a while with India consistently increasing troop numbers.“

China’s J-20 stealth fighter jets deployed 200 miles from Ladakh airbase

China had unveiled its new stealth fighter jet, the J-20, the first radar-evading combat aircraft, at the airbase in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province in January 2011.

A test flight of China’s new jet on Jan 11 overshadowed a US bid to shore up uneasy military relations, underscoring a growing rivalry between the two powers.
Reportedly, China has deployed J-20 stealth fighter jets 200 miles from Ladakh airbase.
Satellite images in mid-Aug showed 2 jets at Hotan amid the standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Reportedly, India has deployed Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and MiG-29K fighters and the turn of Rafale to be stationed close to the border.

China may have downgraded the super-jet

Reportedly, China has at least 20 J-20 jets which are claimed to be the most advanced fighter jet with long-range strike capability and sophisticated AI capability.
However, the J-20s which have largely been untested in battle conditions can operate in the high altitude regions in the upper Himalayas?
There were reports that China may have downgraded the super jet after a GT report said it was a “4^th-generation” and not a “5^th-generation” jet.

Albeit the Chinese Air Force likes to compare the J-20 to the US F-22 and F-35 fighters but western experts feel the Chinese jets still have some way to go because China still hasn’t tested it in “war-like” live situations.

China’s fighter was ‘inspired’ by American theories on air combat: The J-20 can reportedly climb at the rate of 1094 km/hr with a max speed of 2,100 km/h. The single-seater fighter jet has been manufactured by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG).

If China again carries out a Galwan, they will get it in the same coin as last time: CDS Bipin Rawat

Disengagement of closely deployed troops at friction points along the LAC is taking place but a larger de-escalation of border tensions with China is still farfetched, as thousands of PLA troops have been placed at forward positions, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat has said while speaking at the Times Now Conclave.

Gen Rawat– it is up to China to carry out another Galwan-like incident on the border but Indian troops are fully prepared and the PLA will ‘get it in the same coin’ again.

The Chinese side has been building villages along the LAC but said that no such village has come up on the Indian side of the border.

“Some of the (old) huts have been broken and modern ones have come up..” CDS said.

PLA has been upgrading existing infrastructure on the LAC and that old dilapidated huts are being replaced with modern living units, perhaps to house the families of Chinese troops who are missing.
The building up of this infrastructure is not muscle-flexing by the Chinese but an attempt to reach out to their border areas and that India should do the same.
The main issue is deciding on how the separation of troops that are facing each other will be carried out, on the differences that have come up during ongoing dialogue with the Chinese side.

The divergence between CDS and MEA on ‘Chinese village in Arunachal’

The Hindu- CDS on Thursday contradicted the official position of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding Chinese construction activities in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh. India never accepted China’s “illegal occupation” of its territories, MEA’s said at a weekly press briefing.

But, soon after this, speaking at a TV channel event, Gen. Rawat stated that the Chinese constructions were “well within their side of the LAC”.
“As far as we are concerned, there is no such village development that has taken place on our side of the LAC.”

Gen. Rawat acknowledged that China was building villages along the LAC, but asserted that the “present controversy that has erupted that Chinese have come across into our territory and have built a new village is not true.”

U.S. report: The recent report from the U.S. Department of Defence pointed out that sometime in 2020, China “built a 100-home civilian village inside disputed territory between PRC’s Tibet Autonomous Region and India’s Arunachal Pradesh state…”

MEA-India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims”. India had “taken note” of the U.S. report that detailed construction activities by China in the eastern sector.

CDS stressed that the Chinese and the Indian forces were on respective territories facing each other and that the Chinese have been building infrastructure and huts for their soldiers based on their “perception” of the LAC that is partially known to India.

MEA- India had always “strongly protested” against such construction activities on its sovereign territories through “diplomatic channels”.

Army turns its focus to flying arm, sets up 3 integrated aviation brigades amid tensions at LAC

As tensions with China continue to simmer along the LAC, the Indian Army is focusing on increasing its surveillance and move capability and is in the process of revamping its Aviation Corps.

(Sources) in the defense and security establishment said the Army has set up 3 integrated Aviation Brigades (with integrated surveillance and operations centers), 2 of which are along the LAC.

While a new Aviation Brigade has come up under the Eastern Command, 2 more have been set up under the Northern and the Western Command as part of the new Order of Battle (ORBAT).

Also, all drones operations have now been moved to the Aviation Corps from the Artillery which used to be in charge of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as part of the revamp.
Sources – a need was felt to have a more coordinated round-the-clock surveillance capability rather than just boots on the ground.
Multiple forward helicopter bases have been set up along the LAC which enables the force with more options, like troops insertion and movement of logistics.
The Army is also in the process of procuring new-age portable helipads that are user-friendly, ruggedized with scope for modularity.

Revamp of Army Aviation Corps: As part of its revamp, all drones operated by the Army have been moved to the Aviation Corps from the Artillery.

(Sources)- the Aviation Corps will see a huge expansion in the coming months as the force was focusing on the induction of light combat helicopters, the Apache attack choppers, and replacements for the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

The Army has focused on the move capability, transfer of soldiers from one sector to another since the tensions began at the LAC last year.
Deployment of more Rudra helicopters has come as a bonus for the Army because the Army can carry out operations in the high altitude regions through Dhruv helicopters with the protective cover of Rudra.

Tibet, Buddhism, India-Pak tension — 3 factors that define China’s foreign policy in South Asia

ThePrint: China’s foreign policy in South Asia is shaped by the issue of Tibet in its engagement with Nepal, using Buddhism as a tool of “soft power”, and leveraging the ‘perennially tense’ India-Pakistan relationship, experts and researchers said Fri at the virtual All India Conference of China Studies, hosted by the Institute of China Studies (ICS).

‘Perennially tense’ India-Pak relationship makes Beijing relevant: Antara Ghosal Singh, research associate at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), New Delhi, explained that Chinese scholars resent Beijing being viewed as a “cash cow” in South Asia.

Buddhism as a tool of soft power

Chulanee Attanayake, a research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, explained that China uses Buddhism as a tool of soft power in South Asia.

Diplomacy:

1st India – Luxembourg Foreign Office Consultations (Fri): The first-ever Foreign Office Consultations between India and Luxembourg was held in Luxembourg. They were co-chaired by Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) MEA, and Sylvie Lucas, Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg.

India-Vietnam Political Consultations and Strategic Dialogue (Fri): The 11^th round of Political Consultations and the 8^th round of Strategic Dialogue between the Foreign Ministries of India and Vietnam was held online.

India-Netherlands Foreign Office Consultations: Foreign Office Consultations between India and the Netherlands was held on Nov 10^th in The Hague, Netherlands between the Indian delegation, led by Reenat the Dutch side was led by Paul Huijts, Secretary-General, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meeting between External Affairs Minister and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf

Visit of MoS, External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan to the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Rwanda

Afghanistan: India hosted NSA-level summit on Afghanistan; 7 nations in attendance

Parallelly, Pakistan held ‘Torika Plus’
A tale of two meetings: India and Pakistan held different conferences on Afghanistan this week
Afghanistan might become a tourist destination in future under ‘Taliban 2.0’ says Britain’s defense chief

HT-India on Wed hosted a regional summit to discuss the ongoing situation in neighboring Afghanistan following the fall of the democratically-elected govt and the subsequent Taliban takeover of the country, has chaired by India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his counterparts from Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are at the attendance.

Attendees– Iran’s secretary of Supreme National Security Council, Admiral Ali Shamkhani; Kazakhstan‘s Karim Massimov, chairman of national security committee; Marat Mukanovich Imankulov, secretary of the security council of Kyrgyz Republic; Nikolai P Patrushev, secretary of the security of the Russian federation; Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, secretary of the security council of Tajikistan; and Charymyrat Kakalyyevvich Amavov, deputy chairman of cabinet of ministers of Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan’s Victor Makhmudov, secretary of the security council is also there.

Delhi Declaration -calls for “open and truly inclusive government that represents the will of all the people of Afghanistan“
India had formally invited the NSAs of the aforementioned countries, along with China, Pakistan, which refused to attend, and No delegation from Kabul was invited.
Ministry of External Affairs, India on Thu took a dig at Pakistan for not attending Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, stating that skipping such an important meeting shows its approach towards issues concerning Afghanistan.
Ministry at the weekly media briefing that India had also invited China for the NSA-level meeting in Delhi but they did attend due to “scheduling reasons.”
This is the first time that all Central Asian countries are participating in discussions in this format, according to people aware of the developments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met NSAs of 7 countries including 5 Central Asian countries and Russia and Iran

The 3^rd such meeting is being seen as part of Indian efforts to remain relevant in addressing the fallout of the developments in Afghanistan while the previous 2 regional meetings in this format were held in Iran in Sept 2018 and Dec 2019.

Kabul has seen the conference as a hopeful step to “facilitate the provision of assistance to Afghanistan,” as per local media.

Kabul said the first regional meeting by India was in its “better interest” and reiterated its stated policy that “its land will not be used against any country”.

No country has formally recognized the Taliban govt in Afghanistan and the country is on the verge of economic collapse as international aid has stopped.
Afghanistan is also facing a threat from the Islamic State, which has ramped up attacks over the last few months.
Since the Taliban takeover, New Delhi has cautioned the global community not to rush into any formal recognition of the setup created in Kabul.

It has also urged the world leaders to ensure that the Taliban deliver on their commitments that Afghan soil will not be used by terror groups, especially Pakistan-based organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Parallelly, Pakistan held ‘Torika Plus’

Pakistan, China, Russia, and the US on Thu asked the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a “decisive manner”, and “deny space to any terrorist organization operating inside” Afghanistan.

The Troika Plus meeting on Afghanistan has inaugurated by Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and is attended by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, US (Thomas West), Russia ( Zamir Kabulov), and Chinese (Yue Xiaoyong), along with a Taliban delegation led by interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Muttaqi also held separate meetings with the senior Pakistani government officials, including Prime Minister Imran Khan.
They condemned in “strongest terms” the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.
They also called on the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards neighboring countries, and uphold Afghanistan’s legal obligations, and protect the safety and legitimate rights of foreign nationals and institutions in the country.
The Troika Plus also expressed concern over the “potential” of an “economic collapse” of Afghanistan and “significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a new refugee wave”.
However, it “welcomed the international community’s urgent provision of humanitarian assistance” to Kabul.

Qureshi pushes the world for ‘positive engagement’ with Taliban-Pakistan again called upon the international community to have a “positive engagement” with the interim Taliban government, adding that Islamabad as an immediate neighbor has a “direct stake” in the peace and stability of Afghanistan.

A tale of two meetings: India and Pakistan held different conferences on Afghanistan this week

The Hindu-Delhi and Islamabad have held two parallel tracks on Afghanistan this week — the two meetings sharpening the divide between India and Pakistan and their view of each other’s role in the region.

Regional players engage Delhi and Islamabad: The meetings make it obvious that the US, and other major countries in the region, which include China, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, perceive their engagement with India and Pakistan on Afghanistan separately, but equally vital.

Pakistan is seen as a necessary interlocutor with the Taliban leadership, and an important transit point of trade and connectivity from Afghanistan, The Hindu said.

As a result, China with CPEC and the U.S. and Uzbekistan have all negotiated transit trade agreements with Islamabad, Turkmenistan’s govt sent a delegation to Kabul to discuss the TAPI gas pipeline, and Uzbekistan’s govt received the Taliban Dy PM for a visit last month.

India is seen as a powerful force in the region, which must be engaged with, and kept onside for the difficult conversations on terrorism, drugs, and migration, as well as a traditional bilateral partner to all the countries minus Pakistan.

This explains:

Russia has sent its Security Chief to Delhi while special envoy to Islamabad this week.
Iran held a Foreign Ministers meeting including Pakistan, but not India, just a fortnight before attending the NSA meet in Delhi.
Most of the Central Asian security chiefs visiting Delhi have engaged Kabul and Islamabad in the past few months.
U.S. Special envoy Thomas West is on an extended trip to the region, where he will visit Islamabad, Delhi, and Moscow.
Beijing declined the invitation to the Delhi meet, citing “scheduling difficulties”, but said it was open to a bilateral discussion.

Different pitches: The NSA meeting in Delhi is a pitch for India’s continuing role in regional security, even if its bilateral relations with Afghanistan are suspended for the moment.

The fact that the Taliban leadership, including the Haqqani network that took power, was supported and sheltered by Pakistan over the past 3 decades, meant that India’s strategic and security partnership with Afghanistan is at an end.

However, while India’s engagement with the new Taliban regime is limited, it has not extended support to the “National Resistance Front” led by Ahmed Masoud, has controlled visas to Afghans down to just a few dozen, has not yet announced any monetary aid for Kabul, while its plans to send wheat and medicines by road to Afghanistan have been declined by Pakistan.

However, on Saturday, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan would “favorably” consider the request by the Taliban government for transporting wheat offered by India through the country on an “exceptional basis” for humanitarian purposes.

According to a handout issued by the PMO, the premier expressed the views while speaking to a delegation led by Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Afghanistan might become a tourist destination in future under ‘Taliban 2.0’ says Britain’s defense chief

Independent-The head of the British military has insisted that it is too early to say whether the West was defeated in Afghanistan, and has also claimed that the country could be a better place shortly than people expected.

Making his last appearance before the Commons Defence Committee, outgoing Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Sir Nick Carter maintained that the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan are different from their brutal predecessors and as a result, the country could become far more inclusive.

The CDS told MPs: “ Taliban 2.0 is different. There are a lot of people in Taliban 2.0 who would like to govern in a more modern way.”

“…then there is no reason to suppose that Afghanistan over the next five years might not turn into a country that is more inclusive than it might have otherwise”.
Gen Carter continued that his close relationship with the Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, and the Pakistani military enabled him to carry out this effort.

Gen Carter was speaking to MPs on the day images emerged of the Taliban parading trucks with hanged men in Lashkar Gah, the former center of British operations, and there were more reports of female human rights workers murdered.

Pakistan had long been accused by American and British officials of feeding and watering the Taliban in their sanctuaries across the border.
The rapid Taliban advance which saw them isolate and take the Afghan capital had been planned, according to some claims, by Pakistani officers.

PM Modi meets US Congress delegation, exchanges views on enhancing bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met with the US Congress delegation here and had a “frank” discussion on regional issues of mutual interest, including those related to South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

PMO- PM Modi met with US Congressional delegation led by Senator John Cornyn which included Senator Michael Crapo, Senator Thomas Tuberville, Senator Michael Lee, Congressman Tony Gonzales, and Congressman John Kevin Elizey Sr. Senator John Cornyn is the co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

PM Modi appreciated the consistent support and constructive role of the US Congress in deepening the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership.
PM Modi and the visiting delegation noted the increasing convergence of strategic interests between the two strategic partners and expressed a desire to further enhance cooperation to promote global peace and stability.

Jaishankar meets US Congress delegation, exchanges views on Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Friday met the US Congress delegation in New Delhi and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and regional issues, including Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan. The US delegation in India is led by Senator John Cornyn.

This meeting comes at a time when India is holding discussions with its partner countries over the security situation arising out of the Taliban’s take over of Afghanistan.
Last month, US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, during her India visit had reaffirmed strong ties with New Delhi.

Jammu & Kashmir:

Tire, track eliminate: Why has the Poonch encounter dragged on for so long? Its 34^th day of the ongoing encounter
5,500 more troops have been sent to J&K in wake of attacks

3 Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including Kulgam Cmdr, were killed in Kulgam

Three militants, including Hizbul Mujahideen Kulgam district commander of the proscribed terror outfit, have been neutralized in two different anti-terrorists operations on Thu, J&K police said.

The police, in a press release, said that in village Chancer of Kulgam’s Chawalgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched. Killed identified as Shiraz Ahmad alias Shiraz Molvi alias Abu Haris (with 15 FIR, an A++ categorized terrorist, active since 2016 and among the list of most-wanted terrorists) and Yawar Ahmad Bhat of the proscribed terror outfit.

“The two killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crimes including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities,” police said.
Earlier on Thursday, an encounter had started between terrorists and security forces in the Chawalgam area of the Kulgam district of J&K.
Haris was also involved in recruiting innocent youth in the Devsar and Brazloo areas of Kulgam.
In the 2^nd operation in the Bemina (Srinagar), the police said: the terrorists attacked a checkpoint established near Bund Bemina which was retaliated leading to an encounter.

“It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist is the relative of one of terror attacker in Lethpora and preliminary investigation indicated that he was assigned to carry out similar kind of fidayeen attack” Police.

Digital evidence recovered from his mobile show that he was prepared by terror outfit for fidayeen attack,” the police claimed.
The police have also recovered incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition including one AK-rifle and a Pistol from the Kulgam encounter, and one AK-rifle from the Bemina encounter site were also recovered.

Tire, track eliminate: Why has the Poonch encounter dragged on for so long? Its 34^th day of the ongoing encounter

The police have now placed several persons under the scanner, while 7 have been arrested for providing logistic support to the terrorists during the ongoing encounter at Bhata Dhurian is one of the longest in recent times.

In the encounter, 9 Army personnel including JCOs have lost their lives: After the Indian Army suffered casualties, there was a complete change in strategy and it was decided to adopt a wait and watch policy and tire the terrorists out before taking them head-on and eliminating them.

(Sources) – the terrorists are very highly battle-hardened during the extensive training imparted and are being guided on a minute-to-minute basis by retired officials of the Pakistan Army.

The Indian Army has been told by the commanders to adopt a different strategy as they do not want any more casualties.
The soldiers have been asked to be patient and tire out the terrorists. Once done, they would track the terrorists and then eliminate them.
This is a war in the jungle and considering its density, it is a very difficult operation.
The fact that the terrorists are operating in buddy pairs too has made it even more challenging, said an official who refused to be named.
Pakistan has very often in the past used the services of retired army personnel to train their terrorists.

The investigation into the Mumbai 26/11 attacks made it clear that a group of former naval officers had trained the terrorists to launch an attack from the seas.

An official said that this has been an old strategy by the Pakistan establishment to use retired personnel to train terrorists, which gives the establishment to deny.
In this context, one must look into the role played by the mysterious Sajid Mir in the 26/11 attacks.

Just a matter of time for a 9-day encounter in Rajouri-Poonch jungles to end He had coordinated with David Headley and played an extremely crucial role in the logistics part of the attacks.

While Pakistan continues to deny Mir’s existence, the Indian Intelligence agencies say that Mir was once part of the ISI.
He was then asked to quit to specifically train and guide terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.
A specific team has been put in place to particularly train and then guide the terrorists, infiltrated from Pakistan into the jungles over the past 3 months.
Despite the security measures, terrorists managed to infiltrate as they came in smaller numbers instead of an entire group resulted in dodging the agencies.

5,500 more troops have been sent to J&K in wake of attacks

TOI– (Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar)- as many as 130 terrorists have been killed in counter-terror actions, and 39 terrorists and more than 700 overground workers arrested in the Kashmir region since the beginning of this year.

In the Jammu division, 8 terrorists have been neutralized and 16 arrested so far this year.

(CRPF) – the force has, to counter the reworked strategy of the terrorists to utilize “hybrid” recruits for one-off attacks on civilians and easy targets in Kashmir, have initiated a series of measures to increase their visibility on the ground, and are employing deterrent strategies.

While the BSF has deployed an additional 25 companies in Kashmir, the CRPF too sent in reinforcements comprising 25 companies in the wake of the civilian attacks and will be deploying five more companies over the next week.

The focus (source) is to increase the boots on the ground in civilian areas to ensure foolproof security to all the civilian settlements, given how thickly populated and widely spread they are.

“Over the past few days, we have been frisking around 15,000 people and checking 7,000-8,000 vehicles daily,” said a police officer.
Meanwhile, a major crackdown on overground workers is underway in J&K as part of a determined effort to dismantle the entire “terror eco-system”.
This includes identifying the terror sympathizers who radicalize youths in schools and civilian neighborhoods and extending logistical support to terrorists.

Also, there is a conscious move to deny state-funded benefits including govt jobs to Kashmiris who openly support Pakistan and terrorist outfits backed by it, despite being in govt setups, where they avail of subsidized education and scholarships at the GoI’s expense.

Unverified sources said that the Security forces have identified 38 Pak terrorists active in JnK, 27 from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and 11 from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)

At least 5 suspected Maoists were killed in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district

At least 5 suspected Maoists, including two women, were killed on Saturday in an anti-rebel operation in the Mardintola jungle in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

National Investigative Agency, filed the charge sheet against 7 Naxals and conspirators in the Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana. Top members of banned CPI (Maoist) hatched a criminal conspiracy along with overground workers to wage war against the government by attacking security personnel.

Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, his wife and son along with 4 other soldiers lost lives in an ambush by terrorists in the Singngat area of Manipur China-funded terrorists getting active again in North East.

TIE (Sources)-the incident occurred at around 10 am near S Sehken village under Behiang police station, which is located close to pillar number 43 on the India-Myanmar border.

CO Viplav Tripathi, accompanied by his wife and 9-year-old son, was reportedly returning to his base from the Behiang company post when their convoy was ambushed.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack till now, unconfirmed reports said that the proscribed outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur may be behind it.
Churachandpur Manipur’s Churachandpur district, where the Assam Rifles personnel were ambushed on Saturday
Behiang village is situated near the India-Myanmar border, about 122 km from Imphal.
Due to its strategic importance, the state govt has been considering ideas to develop the place as the 2^nd trade corridor to South-East Asian countries after Moreh town.

UK defense firms should invest, make, co-create, co-develop in India: UK India business body

ThePrint-The Indo-Pacific region is the economic growth engine of the world and companies from the United Kingdom are looking at engaging more with India as a place to invest, manufacture, co-create and co-develop, said Richard McCallum, vice-chair of UK India Business Council (UKIBC).

McCallum is hopeful of the early completion of a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, which he said would open up more opportunities.
He cited IPR and customs duty as a common goal for companies.
Anything that can improve the operating environment would be beneficial.
McCallum said it (recent visit of the Carrier Strike Group to Mumbai) was a marker of the UK’s ambitions in the region and its desire to strengthen its relationship with India.
UK’s flotilla had passed through the Indian Ocean in July on its way to the South China Sea, the first such tour for the British.

Want to Make in India: McCallum said UKIBC has been encouraging its defense members to look at India not just from the export of goods perspective.

UK firms are very keen on some of the mega Indian defense deals in the offing including the collaboration of the 5^th-generation fighter aircraft program (AMCA) besides the plans to make 6 new conventional submarines (P75I).

According to UKIBC, of the 5 original equipment manufacturers shortlisted for the submarine project, critical equipment for Navantia’s S-80 and Daewoo’s KSS-III platforms have been supplied by UK companies, which includes Weapons Handling Equipment (WHE) by Babcock International and Towed Array Sonar System by QinetiQ. UK Industry has also been supplying pressure hull domes for the S-80.
He underlined that UKIBC is strongly encouraging its members to invest in India.

India strongly takes up ‘Khalistan’ referendum with the UK

Even though India and the UK share similar views on the Indo-Pacific as strategic partners, New Delhi has conveyed its serious concerns to London for allowing the banned pro-Khalistan organization, Sikhs for Justice to hold a referendum on the secession of Punjab on Oct 31.

While the so-called referendum held in downtown London turned out to be a damp squib, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval made it clear to his UK counterpart Stephen Lovegrove that the Indian govt takes strong exception to the UK allowing a referendum on affairs of a third country by weaponizing a minuscule section of the Indian diaspora.

The Indian position was conveyed during the bilateral strategic dialogue on Nov 3 in London.
New Delhi made it clear that there was total peace in Punjab with radical Sikh elements failing to get even 1% of the vote during assembly or Lok Sabha polls held every 5 years.
New Delhi conveyed its concern that the UK is turning a blind eye to the open radicalization of the Indian diaspora by Sikh-banned groups to promote their secessionist agenda.
Under the influence and support of the Pakistani deep state, the Sikh radicals have been holding protests on the 3 farm laws and punitively participating in anti-India activities in the UK.
Despite the SFJ being a banned organization in India since 2019 and its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu being declared a terrorist, the UK allowed the US-based extremist organization to conduct an illegal referendum on the Indian Punjab.

It is understood that while UK NSA Lovegrove assured NSA Doval that no anti-India sentiment will be promoted, India is watching London carefully to see whether the promise gets translated on the ground as adversarial actions will directly impact bilateral ties.

Center releases grant of Rs 8,453.92 cr to 19 states to strengthen health systems

ANI – The Central government has released an amount of Rs 8,453.92 crore as a health sector grant for rural and urban local bodies of 19 states to strengthen health systems and plug critical gaps in the health care system at the primary health care level, informed the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Sat.

The Department of Expenditure, MoF has released the grant as per the recommendations of the 15^th Finance Commission (FC-XV report; from 2021-22 to 2025-26), which has recommended a total grant of Rs 4,27,911 crore to local govt.

The 19 states are Andhra Pradesh (Rs 488.1527 cr), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 46.944 cr), Assam (Rs 272.2509 cr), Bihar (Rs 1116.3054 cr), Chhattisgarh (Rs 338.7944 cr), Himachal Pradesh (Rs 98.0099 cr), Jharkhand (Rs 444.3983 cr), Karnataka (Rs 551.53), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 922.7992), Maharashtra (Rs 778.0069 cr), Manipur (Rs 42.8771), Mizoram (Rs 31.19 cr), Odisha (Rs 461.7673 cr), Punjab (Rs 399.6558 cr), Rajasthan (Rs 656.171 cr), Sikkim (Rs 20.978 cr), Tamil Nadu (Rs 805.928 cr), Uttarakhand (Rs 150.0965 cr), and West Bengal (Rs 828.0694 cr).

“The grants recommended by the Commission inter-alia include health grants of Rs 70,051 crore. Out of this amount, Rs 43,928 crore have been recommended for Rural Local Bodies and Rs 26,123 crore for Urban Local Bodies,” Ministry said.

The Commission has also identified interventions that will directly lead to strengthening the primary health infrastructure and facilities (PHC) in both rural and urban areas and has earmarked grants for each intervention.

Rs 16,377 cr – diagnostic infrastructure to PHC in rural areas,
Rs 5,279 cr – block-level public health units in rural areas,
Rs 7,167 cr – construction in PHCs, CHCs in rural areas and
Rs 15,105 cr – the conversion of rural PHCs and sub-centres into health & wellness centre (HWCs).
Rs 2,095 cr – diagnostic infrastructure to the PHC in urban areas and
Rs 24,028 cr –urban HWCs.

[ NEIGHBOURHOOD ]

China delivers the most advanced warship to Pakistan with an eye on the Indian ocean

China has delivered its largest and most advanced warship to Pakistan as it seeks to beef up the navy of its all-weather ally in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, where it has increased its naval presence in recent years.

Designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the Type 054A/P frigate (PNS Tughril) was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai, the CSSC announced in a statement on Mon- GT reported on Tue.

Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said that the commissioning of the PNS Tughril ensures a balance of power in the Indian Ocean.

The PNS Tughril – 4 Type 054 frigates are being constructed for the Pak Navy and the vessel is a technologically advanced and highly capable platform with enormous surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and underwater firepower, besides extensive surveillance potentials, the daily quoted a Pakistan Navy’s statement.

The Type 054A/P frigate- the largest and most advanced warship China has ever -exported can simultaneously execute several naval warfare missions in a highly intense multi-threat environment-media said.

China has emerged as the biggest weapons supplier for the Pakistani military.
Besides the advanced naval ships, China also partners with the Pak Air Force to build JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft.
ThePrint (expert)- the military cooperation in recent years focussed more on the navy as China gradually stepped up its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

Besides building its first military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa in the Indian Ocean, China has acquired Pakistan’s Gwadar port in the Arabian Sea which connects with China’s Xinjiang province by land in the USD 60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The modernization of the Pak Navy coupled with the acquisition of Lanka’s Hambantota port was expected to shore up the Chinese Navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.

Also, Pakistan will be getting 8 Chinese submarines as part of the modernization of the Pak Navy, its Chief Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi told the daily in Feb this year.

The Pak Navy has contracted the construction of four Type 054A/P frigates from China since 2017.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authority boosted by Communist Party’s rare resolution

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authority has been amplified by a rare resolution passed by the Communist Party in its plenary session, which made Xi, the uncontested leader of the PRC has been heading a pivotal plenary of the ruling party’s top figures since Mon in the Chinese capital.

The resolution on the party’s “achievements and historical experiences” since its founding 100 years ago was passed at the end of a 4-day, closed-door meeting of more than 300 top leaders on its Central Committee, state media reported.

This becomes more important amid the rumors of power shifts in Beijing.
It puts Xi on the same pedestal as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, who cemented their position as pre-eminent leaders with the only other two such resolutions passed, in 1945 and 1981 respectively.
According to the end-of-meeting communique reported by state media, that it must “resolutely uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position” in the party.

Jude Blanchette (an expert on Chinese politics at Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies)- the messaging around Xi from the party was assuming “cult-like features”.

Xi’s tenure has been marked by an extensive anti-corruption crackdown, repressive policies in regions like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and an increasingly assertive approach to foreign relations.
He has also created a leadership cult that has quashed criticism, stamped out rivals, and introduced his political theory, called “Xi Jinping Thought,” to school students.

Joe Biden won’t hold back concerns US has with China, says White House

ANI-US President Joe Biden will hold a virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Mon and the two leaders will confront tensions.

Commenting on whether the two leaders will concern over the Sino-Indian Standoff, the White House (WH) said the US leader would “certainly discuss security-related issues.”

There has been no shortage of tension in the relationship in recent months as Biden has made clear he sees Beijing’s actions on several fronts like criticism of China for human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in northwest China, maritime issues, Taiwan, South China sea.

Speaking over it, WH: “Joe Biden will not hold back concerns the US has with China.”

Addressing a press briefing on Fri (local time), WH said that one of the purposes of this engagement is to also discuss areas where “there are strong concerns and disagreement”.

It comes after the US and China this week pledged at UN climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions.

“…we have also taken measures on our own including visa restrictions, global Magnitsky and financial sanctions, export controls, import restrictions, the release of a business advisory, and rallying the G7 to commit to taking action to ensure all global supply chains are free from the use of forced labor,”- WH.

Straits Times: Biden-Xi virtual summit: Value lies in managing tensions so don’t expect breakthroughs, say experts

The meeting is a chance to manage the superpowers’ tensions but major announcements are not expected.

China warned the US not to support Taiwan independence: Chinese foreign ministry

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told US Secy of State Antony Blinken not to “send wrong signals” to Taiwan pro-independence forces, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sat.

Both men also spoke about the virtual meeting that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden would have next Tuesday morning at Asia time.

“If the United States really wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it should clearly and resolutely oppose any Taiwan pro-independence behavior,” Mr Wang said.

At least 7 injured in blast in Quetta’s Nawa Killi area

At least seven people, including a police official, were injured including women, in a blast in Quetta’s Nawa Killi area on Saturday, Civil Hospital spokesperson Waseem Baig said.

Security forces and rescue officials rushed to the area following the explosion.
The injured were transferred to Civil Hospital Quetta and the area was cordoned off, police officials said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Asad Nasir said the explosion occurred near a police mobile.
He added that 3-4 kg of explosive, fitted to a motorcycle, was used in the blast, and was detonated via remote control as per initial reports.

It was the 2^nd explosion in Pakistan, while earlier in the day, 2 policemen were martyred in an improvised explosive device attack during a routine patrol in Bajaur.

Bajaur’s District Police Officer (DPO) Samad Khan told Dawn that the police officers were deployed near Raghagan Dam when the IED got set off at around 10:30 am.

Earlier this year, a policeman was martyred and 17 people injured in a blast near Balochistan University on the city’s Sariab Road.

Then-Balochistan govt spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said that a police truck deputed outside the varsity gate was targeted and an explosive device was planted in a motorcycle.
On Oct 16, the body of a policeman earlier reported as missing was found in the Alizai area of Khar tehsil in Bajaur.
In Aug, two policemen were injured when suspected criminals hurled a grenade at a police party during a raid on a house in Khar.

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