[ NATIONAL ]

Hybrid militant module busted in Srinagar, 4 arrested: Police

GreterKashmir-First direct involvement of a Saudi-based Kashmiri doctor in militancy established: IGP Kashmir. Police on Thu claimed to have busted a “hybrid module” of The Resistance Front (TRF) outfit in Srinagar city by arresting two militants and two of their associates.

Four former J&K chief ministers likely to lose SSG security cover

The decision will entail the withdrawal of the security cover of Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti at a time when several terror incidents have taken place in Srinagar. 4 former CMs of the erstwhile state of J&K are likely to lose their Special Security Group (SSG) protection as the Union territory’s administration has decided to “right-size” the elite unit established in 2000, officials said on Thu. The move came a little over 19 months after the Centre issued a gazette notification – J&K Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020 — on March 31, 2020, amending the SSG Act of the erstwhile J&K govt by omitting a clause that provided former chief ministers and their families with SSG security.

Nuke capable Rafale-M tested for INS Vikrant in Goa

The marine version of the Rafale jet has a reinforced undercarriage and nose wheel, a bigger arrester hook, an integrated ladder, and other minor differences from the Rafale currently in use in the Indian Air Force. India on Fri will test the Rafale-M jet for use on its Vikramaditya aircraft carrier as well as the indigenous aircraft carrier 1 (IAC1), which will be deployed as the INS Vikrant, at the INS Hansa in Goa, a shore-based test facility. The aircraft for the test arrived Thu.

Why AUKUS is good to keep China at bay in Indo-Pacific

While France may have legitimate reasons for being upset with Australia for reneging on the submarine deal, the emerging picture in Indo-Pacific clearly shows that AIP submarines would have been a half-measure in containing a belligerent China under President Xi Jinping.

India closely monitoring China’s building of bridge near Pangong lake: MEA

ANI – The govt has been monitoring closely “Beijing’s building of a bridge” in border areas that have been under illegal occupation of China for around 60 years now and New Delhi is taking all necessary steps to ensure that its security interests are fully protected, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a regular briefing on, Thu when asked about India’s position over the bridge being built by China near Pangong Tso.

Jaishankar holds talk with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, countries to mark 30 years of diplomatic ties

ANI -External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar spoke to the Foreign Minister of Israel Yair Lapid where they discussed their bilateral and plurilateral cooperation on Fri. Notably, Regular Embassies were opened in 1992 when full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. India and Israel will celebrate 30 years of up-gradation of diplomatic relations in 2022. On Jun 14, 2021, PM Narendra Modi congratulated Israel’s PM Naftali Bennett on assuming office. PM Modi undertook a historic first-ever visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister on July 4-6, 2017 during which the relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. The then PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu made a return visit to India on Jan 14-19, 2018. Joint statements were issued during both visits, said MEA in a statement.

PM Security Breach: MHA’s three-member panel in Ferozepur to inquire into security breach during PM’s Punjab visit

ANI (sources)- A 3-member committee, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, reached Ferozepur to inquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab. The committee led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat and comprising of Balbir Singh, Joint Director, IB, and S. Suresh, IG, SPG is learned to have reached Ferozepur late on Thu night and visited the spot early on Fri for an hour, where PM’s convoy was stuck for over 15-20 minutes due to road blockade by protesters. SC orders protection of all travel records in Punjab: The Supreme Court directed the state government to ensure that all records and materials on the PM’s movements be immediately secured in the custody of the registrar-general of the Punjab & Haryana high court.

India adds 9 countries to the list of countries from where travelers need to follow additional measures on arrival. 8 of the new addition are African countries: Ghana, Tanzania, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zambia.

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How China is keeping to its strict ‘zero Covid’ strategy

China has a formula it calls “dynamic zero” for curbing outbreaks: strict lockdowns and immediate mass testing.

Bajwa underscores the importance of peace in Afghanistan

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thu underscored the importance of peace and reconciliation initiatives in Afghanistan. During a meeting with Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu at the General Headquarters, Gen Bajwa stressed the need for global convergence and sincere efforts to avert a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Martyrs’ blood went into Pak-Afghan border fencing, will continue as planned: DG ISPR

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar on Wed said that fencing of the Pak-Afghan border would continue as planned, adding that the blood of martyred soldiers was involved in erecting the fence.

Decision on extension for Pakistan army chief General Bajwa can wait: PM Imran

“The current year has just started and Nov is far away. Then why there is worry about extension in the tenure of the army chief,” the Pakistan PM said. Bajwa will remain the army chief till Nov 28, 2022. Talking about the contentious issue of the extension in Bajwa’s tenure, PM Khan said that he enjoyed an unprecedented relationship with the military leadership, the Dawn newspaper reported. Khan said that he had so far not thought about an extension. Bajwa, a close confidant of Khan, at the end of his 3-year original term but PM Khan gave the COAS another extension of the same length, citing regional security. However, the Supreme Court on Nov 28 suspended the govt order, observing that there is no law to give extension to the army chief’s tenure. But the apex court granted a 6-month extension to Gen Bajwa after being assured by the govt that Parliament will pass legislation on the extension/ reappointment of an army chief within 6 months.

Pakistan’s progress at stake due to economic stagnation

Pakistan’s economic progress appears to be at stake due to economic inaction with govt’s failed efforts to increase foreign direct investments. According to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), FDI inflow to Pakistan decreased by 30% to USD 1.39 billion during July-Mar (FY 2020-21) against USD 2.15 billion for the same period in the previous year.

Hybrid militant module busted in Srinagar, 4 arrested: Police

GreterKashmir-First direct involvement of a Saudi-based Kashmiri doctor in militancy established: IGP Kashmir. Police on Thu claimed to have busted a “hybrid module” of The Resistance Front (TRF) outfit in Srinagar city by arresting two militants and two of their associates.

• Deputy Police Chief, Sujit Kumar said they have “busted a module on credible human intelligence”.
• The members are said to have carried out a recce of headquarters of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi.

Kumar -“On Dec 22, 2021, terrorists targeted and killed a property dealer in Safakadal area. After the incident, during the investigation, the movement of some suspects was detected in Srinagar city.”

• The arrested terrorists have been identified as Suhail Qadir Khanday, Tral Pulwama, Suhail Mushtaq, Niklora (both are active terrorists).
• So far 4 pistols, 8 pistol magazines, 99 live rounds, 2 pistol silencers have been recovered in the case.
• They further identified 2 associates Basit Bilal Makaya and Naikoo Imad Nasar who were operating with them as Over Ground Workers, who have been arrested.
• The terrorists disclosed that they were operating in Srinagar city under the direction of person Asif Maqbool Dar, Dammam Saudi Arabia, and Sajjad Gul, Parimpora, Pakistan.
• This module has also done recce of security installations like NIA office, Delhi Police Headquarters, etc., and shared the same with handlers in Pakistan.
• As per the investigation the targets in the city for killings were also selected and conveyed to them by Asif and Sajad Gul.

Khandy was working in Saudi with Asif and last Aug on the direction of Asif, he came back and started working as an operative of TRF for coordinating the collection of arms/ ammunition, money, and terror attack in Srinagar City.

Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar has “it is the first time that Dr. Asif has been found directly involved in terrorism.”

There are already 3 more FIRs registered against Asif in Srinagar for using provocative language to invoke disaffection against the govt and promote enmity between the different groups.

3 terrorists killed in J-K’s Budgam encounter associated with JeM, says IGP Kashmir

The 3 terrorists who were neutralized by security forces in Thu evening encounter in J&K’s Zolwa Kralpora Chadoora, Budgam have been identified to be affiliated with the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, police said Fri. 3 AK 56 rifles recovered.

• Earlier on Thu evening, the police had informed about the beginning of the encounter headed by police and security forces.
• As many as 11 terrorists have been gunned down in J&K in the new year so far, and most of them were top commanders of JeM and LeT, said Kumar on Fri.

California University Disaffiliates From Indian Scholar for Being Dishonest With Kashmiri Subjects

University of California San Diego’s Critical Gender Studies Program has disaffiliated from Dr. Saiba Varma, Associate Professor in the Anthropology Department and a former CGS Executive Committee member and Faculty Affiliate, saying that she had engaged in a serious ethical and political breach in her research practices.

• Varma’s book is at the center of a major controversy after the reavelation that her father was an officer in Research and Analysis Wing, who was posted in J&K in the 90s.
• Varma’s book ‘The Occupied Clinic: Militarism and Care in Kashmir” has been published by Duke University in the US and Yoda Press in India.

On its website, Varma’s book is described by the Duke University Press as an exploration of the “psychological, ontological, and political entanglements between medicine and violence in Indian-controlled Kashmir — the world’s most densely militarized place”.

Varma is accused of hiding her background from the trauma patients and using her father’s connections during her research.

The revelations, however, raise key questions about the ethical obligations of all scholars who do ethnographic and archival research in Kashmir, with particular relevance for scholars who are committed to supporting the Kashmiri political struggle.”

NIA files charge sheet against 5 Al-Qaeda operatives in a conspiracy to carry out IED blast in UP

ANI – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 5 arrested Al-Qaeda operatives in a conspiracy to carry out an IED blast by the terror outfit in Uttar Pradesh.

• The case relates to FIR filed by UP Anti-Terrorist Squad on July 11 last year in Lucknow, which was re-registered by NIA on Jul 29 last year.
• The accused are Museeruddin, Minhaj Ahmad, Shakeel, Mustaqeem, Mohammad Moid.
• NIA claimed that accused Minhaj Ahmad was radicalized online by 2 Al Qaida terrorists based in J&K.

NIA -“Minhaj Ahmad had entered into a conspiracy with them for further recruiting members for Al-Qaeda affiliate AGH (Ansaar Gajwatul Hind) and for committing terrorist acts. He recruited Museeruddin into Al Qaida fold and involved him in the conspiracy for committing terrorist acts in UP”.

• Museeruddin and Minhaj Ahmad procured arms, ammunition, explosive material and conducted reconnaissance of vulnerable areas for carrying out blasts to wage war against the govt.
• Other 3 accused Shakeel, Mustaqeem and Moid aided and abetted Minhaj and Museeruddin in procuring weapons and ammunition, thus becoming a party in furtherance of the conspiracy,” said the NIA.

Why AUKUS is good to keep China at bay in Indo-Pacific

HT-Paris is aggrieved over Australia nullifying a $59 billion air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine deal and opting for nuclear-powered conventional weapon attack (SSN) submarines under the AUKUS pact with the US and the UK signed in Sept last year.

• France may have legitimate reasons for being upset with Australia for reneging on the deal.
• The emerging picture in Indo-Pacific clearly shows that SSN would have been a half-measure in containing a belligerent China under President Xi Jinping.
• Given the strategic condition in the Indo-Pacific and the SCS, Canberra’s choice is the better option in tackling a PLA Navy and the Chinese medium-range ballistic missile.

The state of strategic play is such that India also has no choice but to go for long-range nuclear-powered submarines and delivery platforms as it is only a matter of time that the Chinese carrier force will be patrolling the Indian Ocean.

• With 2 SSN already operational and the 3^rd one in progress, India is building leverage in case the PLA decides to deploy strong-arm tactics on the Line of Actual Control.

• Canberra decided on the nuclear option, as it is a deterrent to China’s Taiwan ambitions.
• The signing of a security pact between Japan and Australia, with the bottom line on convergence in the Indo-Pacific, is also a step to ask China to mend its aggression.
• PM Scott Morrison said the agreement “will underpin greater and more complex practical engagement between the Australian and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces”.
• Juxtapose the new security pact with AUKUS and Quad and the larger picture emerges on the Indo-Pacific with India having a logistics agreement with all the Quad partners.

The Australian nuclear-powered conventional attack submarines will be an answer to the massive deployment of DF-21 and DF-26 series of ballistic missiles by the PLA on the Chinese east coast to prevent US aircraft carriers from entering the South China Sea in the worst-case scenario over Taiwan.

• The US aircraft carrier force will have to operate outside the first chain of islands after China, or else be in the cross-hairs of these PLA delivery platforms.
• While the US and Russia were bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty since 1987, before its suspension in 2019.
• The PLA has built a massive intermediate-range ballistic missile arsenal with its propaganda media nick-naming the DF-21 and DF-26 as carrier killer and Guam killer.
• The Chinese missile sites on the east coast will be endangered by the sub-surface attack platforms which can stay underwater for months together in the SCS or the Indo-Pacific.
• The fact is that the AUKUS is a game-changer for the Indo-Pacific as even the latest AIP diesel submarines must surface.

Thus, from a strategic perspective, the Australian SSN with conventional ballistic missiles as deterrents will allow US aircraft carriers to operate between the Chinese coast and the first island chain and also enforce laws of the seas and freedom of navigation in the SCS.

Looking at the Chinese threat to Taiwan by breaching its air defense identification zone, it is for the US to speed up the SSN production for Australia as time is running out for Taipei and the security of the Indo-Pacific.

Nuke capable Rafale-M tested for INS Vikrant in Goa

HT-India on Fri will test the Rafale-M, the F4 equivalent standard naval version of the Rafale for use on its Vikramaditya aircraft carrier as well as the indigenous aircraft carrier 1 (IAC1), which will be deployed as the INS Vikrant, at the INS Hansa in Goa, a shore-based test facility. The aircraft for the test arrived Thu.

The jet has a reinforced undercarriage and nose wheel, a bigger arrester hook, an integrated ladder, and other minor differences from the Rafale currently in use in the Indian Air Force.

(expert)- the Rafale-M is better suited for use on the aircraft carriers than the F18 Hornet fighter from the US for several reasons.

• It can fit into the lift bay of the Vikramaditya, unlike the F18 which cannot fit the lift of the Vikramaditya even with folded wings.
• The Rafale-M’s dimensions also mean more of them (14) can fit onto the deck of the Vikramaditya as compared to 10 or 11 F18s.
• It also requires very minimal modification to the wheel-chokes of the Vikramaditya, which are reversible and can be de-modified, if required.
• The Rafale-M can carry up to 4-5 tonnes of external load (with full internal fuel) for a ski take-off.
• With lesser internal fuel, it can carry more weapons depending upon mission requirements.
• Thus it can carry out all roles, including combat air patrol, intercept, AD escort, as well as sea and land-strike with full internal fuel.
• Unlike the F18s, which require the carriers to be fitted with a new carrier optical landing system, the Rafale M’s can work with the existing one on the Vikramaditya.
• There’s also the benefit of a common platform across the navy and the IAF.
• Apart from synergies in logistics and maintenance, Indian Navy pilots could be trained on IAF’s Rafales for “faster induction”.
• The navy will likely test the F18s at the same facility in March.
• The Vikrant is likely to be commissioned by Aug 15, and if the Rafale-M is chosen, India may seek to lease 4-5 of the aircraft for immediate deployment.
• The Vikramaditya is currently equipped with two squadrons of aging MiG-29.
• The Rafale-M sent for testing is the latest version of the fighter with India-specific enhancements.
• It is nuclear-capable, carries Meteor air-to-air missiles, SCALP air-to-ground missiles, and Hammer precision-guided ammunition.

India closely monitoring China’s building of bridge near Pangong lake: MEA

The govt has been monitoring closely “Beijing’s building of a bridge” in border areas that have been under illegal occupation of China for around 60 years now and New Delhi is taking all necessary steps to ensure that its security interests are fully protected, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a regular briefing on, Thu when asked about India’s position over the bridge being built by China near Pangong Tso.

“As you are well aware India has never accepted such illegal occupation,” Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of MEA added.

Concerning the reports of the Chinese side renaming some of the places in Arunachal Pradesh last week, Bagchi said, “We had at that time conveyed our issues… does not alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will always be an inalienable part of India.”

“We hope that instead of engaging in such antics, China will work constructively with us to resolve the outstanding friction points in areas along with the Western Sector of the Line of Actual Control in India-China border areas,” he added.

Concerning the reports of unfurling of Chinese flags by PLA allegedly in the Galwan area, Bagchi said that these media reports are not factually correct.

On seeking a reaction, on the writing to Indian legislatures by Chinese Embassy, Shri Bagchi, “We have seen reports about the political counselor at the Chinese Embassy, writing letters to MPs on their participation at an event. The substance, tone, and tenor of the letter are inappropriate..…. We expect the Chinese side to refrain from hyping normal activities by MPs and complicate further the situation in our bilateral relations.”

MEA-India is closely monitoring ongoing developments in Kazakhstan amid protests in the country.

“Our embassy in Kazakhstan is closely monitoring ongoing developments there particularly from the perspective of the safety of Indian nationals”.

MEA also stressed assisting Indian citizens in Kazakhstan and said, “We will, of course, assist any Indians in distress. For the moment we are not aware of any such incident or situation.”

Al Jazeera – Kazakhstan is witnessing a massive protest over soaring fuel prices across the country. The protest took place in the western town of Zhanaozen against the doubling of the price of liquefied petroleum gas, which most Kazakhs use as car fuel, reported.

A state of emergency has been declared in the country in the light of the eruption of this violent protest.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces will be dispatched to Kazakhstan for a limited period and will guard state and military facilities and assist local law enforcement, the secretariat of the organization said on Thu.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

How China is keeping to its strict ‘zero Covid’ strategy

The distressing case of a pregnant Chinese woman miscarrying after a strict lockdown delayed her access to medical treatment has reignited debate over the limits of China’s zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19.

The country where the coronavirus was first detected in 2019 is now among the last places still hewing to “zero Covid”, placing millions under quarantine even as Beijing prepares to host next month’s Winter Olympics.

– How is China maintaining ‘zero Covid’? –

• People in China can be banned from leaving their buildings or forced to remain inside hotel rooms if they are considered high-risk contacts.
• The historic city of Xi’an, home to the famed Terracotta Warriors, was locked down in Dec, forcing its 13 million residents indoors after around 150 cases were detected.
• The similarly sized city of Zhengzhou tested every resident after just 11 cases.
• International flights are a fraction of pre-pandemic levels with arrivals undergoing strict weeks-long quarantine.
• Mandatory track-and-trace apps mean close contacts are usually detected and quarantined quickly.

Pakistan’s progress at stake due to economic stagnation

Pakistan’s economic progress appears to be at stake due to economic inaction with govt’s failed efforts to increase foreign direct investments. According to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), FDI inflow to Pakistan decreased by 30% to USD 1.39 billion during July-Mar (FY 2020-21) against USD 2.15 billion for the same period in the previous year.

The drop is an indication of the country’s deteriorating business climate for investments including for the telecommunication sector, while the govt blamed the overall weak global trends for the tepid FDI inflows.

• The Singapore Post- Depreciating Pakistan’s currency PKR and continuing high inflation rate are viewed as the immediate factors affecting returns for foreign investors.
• The value of PKR has plummeted to around Rs 177.49 against USD by Dec 2021 from Rs 123 in Aug 2018, a depreciation of over 44% since the current PM took over administration.
• PKR is among the world’s worst-performing currencies in recent times and has depreciated concerning all major currencies of the world.
• Inflation also rose from 5.65% in Jan-2021 to 12.3% in Dec 2021.

The Singapore Post- Pakistan’s inconsistent economic growth rate, rising debt payments, a balance of payment crisis, increasing country’s current account and fiscal deficits, and poor security scenario have also impacted foreign investors’ confidence.

• The country’s terror financing and anti-money laundering laws are also still not compliant with international standards.
• Further, political instability and constant imbalance in civil-military relations too discourages foreign investment.

The FATF’s (Financial Action Task Force) listing of Pakistan in grey list intermittently also resulted in a USD 38 billion economic loss coupled with stringent domestic tax and interest rate policies, contributing to deteriorating business interests for overseas investors.

The US Department of State, in its 2021 Investment Climate Statement on Pakistan noted that Pakistan remains a challenging environment for investors with FDI declining by 29% in the first half of FY 2021 against the same period in FY 2020, despite having a relatively open formal regime.

• Interestingly, Pakistan’s ‘all-weather/iron friend’ China is also wary of the present business climate in the country.
• China has been the largest investor in Pakistan for several years.
• However, Chinese FDI inflow during July-Mar (FY2020-21) had declined to USD 650.8 million compared to USD 859.3 million during the same period for the previous year.

China’s reluctance for investing in the Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) construction project can be seen in the backdrop of emerging differences between the 2 countries over the USD 6.8 billion worth of railway project.

The adverse business climate also impacted Pakistan’s other indicators. The current govt nearly doubled its foreign debt in just 3 years, adding USD 35.1 billion to bring the total to USD 85.6 billion as of June 30, 2021.