[ NATIONAL ]

India airlifts around 110 people including Afghan nationals from Kabul

ANI-A special repatriation flight from Kabul with around 110 people including Afghan citizens belonging to the Hindu and Sikh communities, is set to arrive here on Fri.

Tech firms must contribute to preserving open societies: Modi at Biden’s Summit for Democracy

In a virtual summit hosted by US President Thu, PM Modi outlined sensitivity, accountability, participation, and reform orientation as 4 pillars of Indian democratic governance.

India, US, Israel, UAE Quad meeting could happen in early 2022 in Dubai: Israeli envoy Gilon

Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon on Thu said that India-US-Israel-UAE Quad meet could happen in early 2022 in Dubai.

UK High Court rejects India’s appeal to extradite terror accused Kuldeep Singh

Kuldeep Singh alias Keepa Sidhu is charged with conspiring with others to commit terror activities in Punjab dating back to 2015-16, including a plot to assassinate then CM and deputy CM Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal.

CDS chopper crash: Did IAF carries out recce? Not clear yet

According to an official attached to the Sulur airbase, two small IAF choppers were sent to scout the route as part of the protocol to gauge the weather conditions. However, a senior official from the Madras Regimental Centre at Wellington said, “Actually no trial runs by small choppers were made as the Mi-17 V 5 is a reliable aircraft.”

LS passes bill to fix tenures of CBI, ED chief

The fixed tenure granted to the head of investigative agencies would help in speedy disposal of cases and bring down pendency, Minister of Personnel Jitendra Singh said in his reply to a debate on the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

West Bengal CID busts fake arms license racket, 6 held

The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) busted a fake arms license racket and arrested six people from Burdwan and North 24 Parganas. Around 36 fake seals of different officials of West Bengal and other states, 5 fake arms licenses, and 5 arms and ammunition were recovered from the accused. As per CID sources, acting on a tip-off, the CID’s Special Operation Group on Fri night arrested six persons from different places in Burdwan.

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 131.18 cr

India’s cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 131.18 crore doses on Friday, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This has been achieved through 1,36,76,290 sessions, informed the ministry.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

TTP declares end to the ceasefire

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thu declined to extend the month-long ceasefire with the govt, accusing it of failing to honor the decisions reached earlier. The announcement has put the nascent peace efforts into the doldrums.

Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says ‘will pay price for wrong acts’

IOC president Thomas Bach said that he was staying politically neutral on the matter, insisting that the important point is the “participation of the athletes”

Taiwan loses another ally to China, Nicaragua recognizes Chinese sovereignty

Taiwan lost Nicaragua diplomatically after the Central American country said it would officially recognize only China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory. In a statement, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it “deeply regrets” Nicaragua’s decision to “unilaterally” sever ties. On Fri, officials from Nicaragua and China will meet in the Chinese city of Tianjin. According to Reuters, China has recently increased its attempts to sever ties with Taiwan’s supporters, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Paraguay, and Belize are just a few of the countries in this region that recognize Taiwan. Taiwan now has only 14 formal diplomatic. 

Xi responsible for Uighur ‘genocide’, unofficial tribunal says

An unofficial tribunal of lawyers and campaigners said on Thu that Chinese President Xi Jinping bore primary responsibility for what it said was genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture of Uighurs and Kazakhs in Xinjiang. “The Tribunal is satisfied that President Xi Jinping… and other very senior officials in the PRC and CCP bear primary responsibility for acts that have occurred in Xinjiang,” it said. China committed genocide in Xinjiang-An independent, an unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on China’s alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded Thursday that the Chinese govt committed genocide and crimes against humanity.

UN Says Equal Rights Must Become Everyday Reality in Afghanistan

Marking the International Human Rights Day, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) underscored the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its importance for Afghanistan and has called on the Islamic Emirate to support equal rights for all Afghans, UNAMA said in a statement.

Myanmar’s military government accuses UN of interference after Aung San Suu Kyi conviction

Myanmar’s military govt accused senior UN officials on Thu of interference and making judgments based on “distorted news”, days after a storm of international criticism over the jailing of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet was among several officials who denounced the conviction on Monday of Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s elected leader who was ousted in a Feb 1 coup.

“It is not appropriate to make a one-sided judgment against the decision of the court which falls within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country. Such acts constitute interference in the judiciary process and internal affairs of Myanmar,” the junta’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

India airlifts around 110 people including Afghan nationals from Kabul

ANI-A special repatriation flight from Kabul with around 110 people including Afghan citizens belonging to the Hindu and Sikh communities, is set to arrive here on Fri.

The flight chartered by India is being operated from Kabul and is arrived here around noon, which is repatriating the stranded Indian citizens there and distressed Afghan citizens belonging to the Hindu and Sikh Community along with spouses of Indian citizens, according to a statement by India World Forum.

The three Sri Guru Granth Sahib from historical Gurdwaras in Afghanistan and Hindu religious scriptures including Ramanaya, Mahabharat, and Bhagavad Gita from the ancient 5^th Century Asamai Mandir, Kabul is also brought.

• The India World Forum said that after their arrival, the Afghan nationals will be rehabilitated by Sobti Foundation.
• The Sri Guru Granth Sahib will proceed towards Gurdwara Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Mahavir Nagar and the Hindu religious scriptures will proceed towards Asamai Mandir in Faridabad.
• India has evacuated 565 stranded persons from Afghanistan since August when Kabul fell to the Taliban fighters, the Govt stated in the Lok Sabha last week.

Answering a question from Congress MP Hibi Eden, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said officials of the Ministry of External Affairs were in contact with the Indians left behind but did not elaborate if the airlifted individuals also included some Afghans.

India, US, Israel, UAE Quad meeting could happen in early 2022 in Dubai: Israeli envoy Gilon

ANI-Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon on Thu said that India-US-Israel-UAE Quad meet could happen in early 2022 in Dubai.

Envoy to ANI, “The meeting could happen in early 2022 in Dubai. … When they meet in Mar or Feb in Dubai. They will have a practical-oriented approach where the diplomats will step aside and let the private companies work directly“.

• When asked about the probable visit of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to India, Gilon said that the date has not yet been finalized.
• “The two PMs met in Glasgow in COP26 and they agreed to meet soon but there is no date yet. So, we are still working on it. I hope that it takes place in the first half of 2022,” Gilon told.
• He also said that since the change in leadership in Israel, the two countries have had wonderful momentum and have great chemistry in their relationship.

Tech firms must contribute to preserving open societies: Modi at Biden’s Summit for Democracy

Technology firms should contribute to preserving democratic societies as technology can impact democracy “positively or negatively”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thu at a virtual summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, participated by representatives from over a hundred countries.

Modi outlined –

• Sensitivity, accountability, participation, and reform orientation as four pillars of Indian democratic governance.
• principles of democracy should also guide global governance and highlight India’s civilizational ethos as one of the sources of democracy.
• The democratic spirit, including respect for rule of law and pluralistic ethos, is ingrained in Indians, the sources said.
• The Indian diaspora carries it too, thereby contributing to the economic well-being and social harmony of their adopted homes, they said.
• In his remarks, Modi recalled that exactly on this date 75 years ago, India’s Constituent Assembly had held its first session.
• The need for democratic countries to deliver on values enshrined in their constitutions.

As a special gesture, Modi was invited to participate in the main ‘Leaders’ Plenary Session’ hosted by President Biden. This closed-door session saw interventions from 12 select countries, including India.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

TTP declares end to the ceasefire

Dawn-A statement issued by the TTP late in the evening gave out details of the 6-point agreement that it said it had reached with the government under the aegis of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” (IEA) on Oct 25, 2021.

The two sides had accepted that the IEA would play the role of a mediator and that both sides would form 5-member committees each which, under the supervision of the mediator, would discuss the next course of action and demands of each side.

Both sides, it said, had also agreed to observe a month-long ceasefire from Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2021, and that the govt would release 102 “imprisoned mujahideen” and hand them over to the TTP through the “IEA and that both sides would issue a joint statement regarding the ceasefire on Nov 1, 2021”.

Group’s 12 ‘de-radicalized’ foot soldiers released-According to the statement, the Govt not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but to the contrary, the security forces conducted raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi and North Waziristan and killed and detained militants.

“Under these circumstances, it is not possible to extend the ceasefire,” the TTP said.

• Earlier in audio, Mufti Noor Wali Mahsud announced an end to the ceasefire and asked his fighters to resume attacks past midnight.
• The ceasefire had come into effect on Nov 9.
• In audio -since the TTP has not heard back from the mediators or the govt, therefore, past midnight, his fighters reserve the right to resume attacks wherever they were.
• The TTP decision to end the ceasefire is a big setback to the government’s efforts to secure a peace agreement with the militants waging war against the state for decades.
• Official sources had earlier said that both sides had agreed to initiate “formal talks” and had finalized five names of negotiators each.
• While the TTP said it had formed a 5-member committee for negotiations, the govt, it appears, took time to notify the committee.

A lot of informal discussions had taken place between the two sides before and during the ceasefire and certain confidence-building steps had been agreed upon to reassure each other, these sources said.

Afghan Taliban are playing the role of principal mediator between Pakistan and the outlawed militant conglomerate comprising several factions.

Government officials say Afghan Taliban have offered Pakistani authorities several options but that they prefer that the TTP be engaged through negotiations and persuaded to return to their country peacefully.

Ceasefire impact-Ceasefire or cessation of hostilities has remained enforced with no major violations. TTP-led militant attacks inside Pakistan which had seen a dramatic spike in the immediate aftermath of the Afghan Taliban’s takeover in mid-Aug have seen a steady decline.

These attacks saw a further decrease of 28% since Oct, when the ceasefire came into effect, according to official statistics of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The only notable exception to the ceasefire violations has been 24 attacks mounted by Hafiz Gul Bahadar (HGB) and TTP-affiliated Aleem Khan Khushali (AKK) in North Waziristan. HGB is not part of TTP and had reached a separate ceasefire agreement.

Release of de-radicalized militants

• One particular step was the release of some foot soldiers. The govt has agreed to release close to one hundred militants being held at ‘de-radicalization centers’.
• The first batch of around 12 has already been released.
• The second batch is expected to be freed in the next few days, to be followed by more in the days and weeks to come.

Red lines

• The sources say that during the informal talks, it has been made clear to the other side that there are certain red lines, which are not open to negotiations.
• The TTP, however, has set its conditions which among other things include enforcement of Shariah and restoration of tribal areas to their pre-merger status.

Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says ‘will pay price for wrong acts’

• China has warned Australia, the UK, the US, and Canada, saying that nations would “pay the price” for the diplomatic boycott of the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. 
• On Mon (Dec 6), the US announced a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics citing reports of ‘egregious’ human rights violations, which China has denied repeatedly. 
• Hours after the US’s announcement, Australia, the UK and Canada also confirmed that they will not send officials to the Games, which will be held between Feb 4 to 20, 2022. 
• However, the athletes of the mentioned countries will participate as scheduled. 

In the aftermath, the Chinese foreign ministry told a regular news conference: “The US, Britain, and Australia have used the Olympics platform for political manipulation. They will have to pay the price for their mistaken acts.“

• Meanwhile, France on Thu said it will not be boycotting the Games, adding that violations of human rights in China must be condemned.

The attempt to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics is “insignificant,” said French President Emmanuel Macron on Thu and said his country has no plan to join the US and west in doing the same. Macron said the boycott was “a symbolic step” and will not have a useful outcome.

• Also, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said Wed (Dec 8) that he was staying politically neutral on the matter.
• He insisted that the important point is the “participation of the athletes in the Olympic Games”.

Chinese Embassy in Australia reacts to diplomatic boycott

• The Chinese Embassy in Australia issued a statement saying that ‘mountains can not stop the river from flowing into the sea’ after Australia’s decision.
• In the statement, the embassy blamed Australia for the current predicament of China-Australia relations, stating that the onus lies “squarely on the Australian side”.