[ NATIONAL ]

India successfully test-fires surface to surface BrahMos cruise missile

DRDO on Wed successfully test-fired the surface to surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. According to officials, the missile hit the target with pinpoint accuracy.

China ramps up arms exports to Pakistan, aiming to squeeze India

From the sale of stealth fighters to submarines, China is accelerating its defense cooperation with Pakistan in a bid to exert pressure on India, a rival in border disputes with both. Beijing and Islamabad grow closer with an eye on the mutual rival.

India now abstains from voting on Russian resolution in UN, skips statement

India maintained its neutral stance on the Rusia-Ukraine situation by abstaining from a resolution brought by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The resolution was not adopted by the UNSC as it got 2 yes votes from Russia and China. India along with 12 other UNSC members skipped voting on the resolution that demanded: “civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children are fully protected, calls for a negotiated ceasefire for enabling safe, rapid, voluntary and unhindered evacuation of civilians, and underscores the need for the parties concerned to agree on humanitarian pauses to this end.” China being the sole supporter of the Russian resolution said the UNSC should play its role in the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

The group from different Ministries examining all aspects linked to Ukraine-Russia conflict: Centre tells RS

The Centre on Thu assured the Rajya Sabha that all aspects linked to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, including impact on trade, are being examined by a group of different Ministries led by the Union Finance Ministry.

India Slams China Minister’s J&K Remark In Pak Ahead of his likely Visit

India on Wed reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and said it rejects the “uncalled reference” to it by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his speech at a function in Pakistan. “Matters related to the UT of J&K are entirely the internal affairs of India. Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from the public judgment of their internal issues,” ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters today in response to queries on Wang’s speech. Wang had made a reference to Kashmir in his opening speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Pakistan. “On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope,” he had said.

Nepal PM in New Delhi from April 1 for a 3-day visit

Nepalese Prime Minister is all set to embark on a 3-day official visit to India from April 1, according to local media. The Kathmandu Post citing sources said that PM Sher Bahadur Deuba has already received and accepted the invitation extended by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit the neighboring country. This comes after Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi concluded his 3-day Nepal visit. Last week, Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa visited New Delhi and met PM Modi as well as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India has stepped up and pledged a whopping US$ 2.415 bn to the island nation to help overcome dire financial constraints caused by external debt payments and a lack of US$ in the country for business. In Jan this year, Jaishankar held a virtual meeting with the Rajapaksa and conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka.

Shringla meets UN chief at UN Headquarters, discusses Afghanistan, Myanmar issues

Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and discussed issues on UN Security Council’s agenda including Afghanistan and Myanmar. On Wed, he met UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Almarar on the sidelines of the UNSC meeting. Shringla congratulated Almarar on the UAE’s successful Presidency of the UNSC and the adoption of the Presidential Statement by UNSC on UN- League of Arab States cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Shringla said that India will continue to partner with the LAS in combating terrorism and promoting plurality. This statement comes in the backdrop of increasing terrorism in different Gulf countries. Syria is one of the countries where the terrorism incident has increased in the past few years. Shringla was speaking at the UNSC meeting on the Cooperation between the UN and regional organizations (LAS) on Wed.

Rift over Ukraine exposed as high-powered UK delegation to India called off

Boris Johnson tries to persuade Indian PM to take a more robust approach to Russia over invasion

Lashkar’s grenade-throwing Module Busted In Srinagar

A grenade-throwing module of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was busted in Srinagar on Wed with the arrest of 4 terrorist associates and recovery of 4 hand grenades, police said. Police said an overground worker (OGW) of the LeT, was intercepted by police during a Naka checking at Bemina Chowk in the evening and a hand grenade was recovered from his possession. He was put under arrest and a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act registered against him. During questioning, the accused revealed that he had received the grenade from another OGW. The other was also arrested and during questioning, he told the officials that he had received a consignment of hand grenades and handed over a grenade each to Sheikh, Amir Rehman Dar, and Shahid Ahmed Mir, police added.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan meets PM Modi in Delhi

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thu in New Delhi. “Kerala CM Vijayan Pinarayi called on PM Narendra Modi,” PM’s Office said. The CM held a press conference at 4 pm today at Kerala House. This comes just a day after the CM informed that the land acquisition process for the Kochi-Bangalore Industrial Corridor, a leap forward in the industrial sector of Kerala, is progressing rapidly. Also, this meeting is crucial as several people across Kerala are protesting against the SilverLine project. Vijayan earlier this month assured that govt would pay 4 times the prevailing market prices as compensation for acquiring land. The 529-km railway project will link Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in north Kerala, covering 11 districts through 11 stations, and will be completed in 12 hours. It is also being opposed by the opposition Congress-led UDF, which has been alleging that the project is “unscientific and impractical” and will put a huge financial burden.

EEL developing Micro-missile for Anti-Drone Operations

Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), India’s first private defense company is developing a Micro-missile based Counter-Drone System with both soft-kill and hard-kill capability. The proposed system under development contains a large number of 2 kg micro-missiles which can effectively engage hostile drones up to a range of 2 km. Designed for rapid operational deployment on a highly mobile system, a micro-missile cassette/pod containing 24/36/48 missiles achieve a heavy and sustained volume of fire and can be seamlessly integrated with a Radar and a Jammer on a 4×4, 2.5 Ton Vehicle or any other vehicle as deemed appropriate like an All-Terrain Vehicle.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Wang Yi arrives in Afghanistan from Pak on an unannounced visit

Beijing has remained tightlipped about the details of Wang’s ongoing tour, and China’s official media has released statements and reports only after his meetings with the Pakistani leadership were over.

Taiwan says ‘reunification law’ would bring too much pressure for Beijing

A senior Taiwanese official on Thu said he did not see mainland China adopting a “reunification law” as it would put too much pressure on Beijing to set a timetable for bringing the island under its control, which could severely raise tensions. Beijing, which views democratically run Taiwan as its territory, has not officially proposed such legislation. It would be a follow-up to a 2005 law giving Beijing the legal basis for military action if it judges Taiwan to have seceded or to be about to. But it has been discussed in state media, and last week a spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, asked about a suggestion from a political adviser for such a law, said they “carefully listen to and study opinions and suggestions”.

Early elections are a possibility, says Sheikh Rashid

He made these remarks during a press conference in Islamabad during which he talked about the upcoming no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thu told members of the ruling PTI that “switching parties won’t do them any good“, saying that “turncoats must also keep in mind that early elections can also be called in the country“.

PM Imran calls on the nation to participate in PTI’s March 27^th power show

In the recorded message, the prime minister began by quoting a verse from the Holy Quran. He noted that Muslims had been told to “stand with good and against evil”. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thu invited the nation to participate in the PTI’s Mar 27 power show at Islamabad’s Parade Ground, calling on the people to join him in “standing against evil“. The premier’s message comes as the govt is facing a no-confidence motion moved by the opposition. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has summoned the session of the lower house to deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution against PM Imran on Mar 25 at 11 am. Dawn citing sources, reported that PM was apprised in the PTI’s Political Committee meeting that their allies had decided to join the opposition camp and vote against him.

OIC adopts 70-point Islamabad Declaration

The 2-day meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Council of Foreign Ministers ended on Wed with an affirmation of support for Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir disputes. OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, while speaking at a media conference at the end of the 48th meeting of the 57-member body, said: “Palestine remains high on the agenda of OIC and was discussed thoroughly. “The question of J&K was thoroughly discussed. This is a just cause. It has our full support. The conference reaffirmed our stance and reiterated support for the right of Kashmiri people to self-determination.” A wide-ranging Islamabad Declaration containing as many as 70 points was adopted at the meeting by the conference. However, the entire focus of Pakistan was on J&K. Pak FM SM Qureshi, said Palestine and Kashmir were two glaring examples of injustice, oppression, occupation, and human rights violations. He said the OIC Contact Group on Occupied Kashmir decided that its members would meet more frequently to coordinate their positions on the dispute and monitor human rights violations.

One police personal dead and one injured in a Terrorist attack

One police person was martyred and another seriously injured in an attack by unknown terrorists on a Drabin check post in the western tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan. Terrorists fled when police retaliated. Reportedly police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. (Jasarat, Khabrain)

Protest in Dakha for global recognition of the genocide by Pakistan in Bangladesh

Scores of people protested in front of the National Museum, Shahbag in Dhaka to mark the genocide by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh in 1971 in which thousands of people, including children, were slaughtered. The protest organized by Bangladesh Conscious Citizens Committee (BCCC), commemorating Genocide Remembrance Day, saw participation by prominent people including Muktijoddha Professor Dr Neemchand Bhowmik. That was the kickoff of one of the biggest genocides in the world, led by General Yahya Khan of Pakistan, causing the biggest ever humanitarian catastrophe after World War II. They killed 30 lakh people and violated two lakh, women and children. Freedom fighters and researchers claim that still, many mass graves in the district and Upazila levels remain unidentified.

China ramps up arms exports to Pakistan, aiming to squeeze India

From the sale of stealth fighters to submarines, China is accelerating its defense cooperation with Pakistan in a bid to exert pressure on India, a rival in border disputes with both. China is believed to want to expand its influence in South Asia while the U.S. and Europe are focused on the war in Ukraine.

Beijing “stands ready to assist within its capacity for Pakistan to overcome difficulties and recover its economy,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a Tue meeting, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Khan expressed hopes for joint achievements and cooperation “in all fields,” the ministry said.
• China this month delivered 6 J-10CE fighter jets to Pakistan, the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times has reported.
• An update to China’s homegrown J-10s, they are a key part of the Chinese air force and often fly into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
• The J-10CE is a so-called 4.5-generation fighter, placing it somewhere between the F-15s used widely by Japan and the U.S. and F-35 stealth fighters in terms of capability.
• The delivered jets later took part in a military parade in Pakistan.
• Pakistan this month is also adding 50 new JF-17 fighters, which were developed jointly with China.
• They do not match the performance of the J-10CE but do come with near-stealth capability.
• India recently deployed the Russian S-400 missile defense system with an eye toward Pakistan.

China looks to bolster its response to potential Indian air operations through greater cooperation with Pakistan.

• China is actively contributing to improvements in Pakistan’s navy as well, concerned that the Indian military could wield greater clout in key Indo-Pacific sea lanes.
• Pakistan in January inducted a Chinese-built Type 054 frigate, which is designed for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.

“Pakistan is reportedly also planning to purchase from China 8 submarines, which Pakistan is positioning as the ‘backbone of the Navy,'” Japan’s Ministry of Defense said in its 2021 white paper.

• “Four will be built in China, with the remainder to be built in Pakistan.”
• Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, meets with PM Imran Khan in Nov 2018.
• Both China and Pakistan have territorial disputes with India.
• Sino-Indian relations have deteriorated since the deadly 2020 border clash in the Himalayas.
• India also announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics at the last minute after a Chinese soldier who had been involved in the fighting was chosen as a torchbearer.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Khan to the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
• At a Feb. 6 summit, Xi told Khan that bilateral ties had gained greater strategic significance amid global turbulence and transformation.
• He expressed firm support for Pakistan’s sovereignty — a likely signal that China stands with Pakistan in the latter’s border dispute with India.
• Khan expressed hopes for greater cooperation with China. No force can stop China’s advance, he said.

Why China is sending its foreign minister to India

HT- China’s decision to send foreign minister Wang Yi on a visit to India is linked more to Beijing’s geostrategic imperatives related to the turmoil created by the war in Ukraine than efforts to end the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that began almost two years ago. While India should keep the focus on the resolution of the standoff in Ladakh.

• Given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian performance, and China’s position, the geopolitical landscape for China’s not ideal with the US, Europe, Japan, etc.
• And unhappiness may cause Beijing’s position worse. Thus, seen PRC outreach to the Middle East, South Asia.
• Thus, easing tensions with India could also create some diplomatic space for Beijing.
• In past also, China do this before, e.g. in 2017, when it was feeling the heat from the Trump admin and reached out to both India and Japan to stabilize relations

Also, an opportunity for Wang to explore India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine, and perhaps try to encourage it to continue its stance of not criticizing Russia publicly (or even more) — and to show solidarity with Russia-China position on multipolar world, regime change, etc.

• Relatedly, this year China’s supposed to be hosting the BRICS summit and Beijing will want to see Modi attend.
• Also, China will try to enchase rift between India and the west and try to show RIC solidarity

India successfully test-fires surface to surface BrahMos cruise missile

Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wed successfully test-fired the surface to surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

• The extended range missile testfiring was witnessed by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other defense officials.
• The missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy, the officials claimed.
• The Air Chief Marshal was reviewing the operational preparedness of forces in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• The BrahMos missile was recently in the spotlight after one of them misfired due to a technical malfunction from an Indian Air Force unit during a Command Air Staff Inspection there.
• The missile landed in Pakistani territory, causing very little damage to property and equipment and no harm to people.
• Following the incident, India sent a letter to Pakistani authorities expressing its deep regret for the incident, as well as issuing a statement.
• BrahMos is a nuclear-capable missile that can be fired from land, surface, and air.

The group from different Ministries examining all aspects linked to Ukraine-Russia conflict: Centre tells RS

The Centre on Thu assured the Rajya Sabha that all aspects linked to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, including impact on trade, are being examined by a group of different Ministries led by the Union Finance Ministry.

“…..our govt is examining various aspects, including the payment aspect. There is a group within the govt composed of different ministries. It is led by Fin Min to examine these matters,” said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while replying to a supplementary question asked by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral during Question Hour.

• Gujral mentioned that the West is playing a double game as they continue to import petroleum from Russia while lecturing us (India) not to trade with them.
• “For many years India had a policy and we used to do rupee trade with Russia. Is the govt thinking on those lines?” Gujral asked.
• Jaishankar clarified that India imports very little oil from Russia (<1%).

Replying to another supplementary query of another member, he said that India is very clear on its policy “which is very much guided by our belief that the international border must respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state.”

• “At the same time, what is happening in our neighborhood is it is in our attention. There is a lot of development taking place and we are monitoring them very carefully,” said Jaishankar.
• Noting that India had a robust policy from 1947 onwards whenever territorial integrity or sovereignty is violated anywhere in the world, Jha had asked-
• “Are we in sync with the same kind of policy as far as our statement is concerned on the Ukraine-Russia issue?
• Are we (India) watching rearrangement in our immediate neighborhood?”
• On another supplementary question asked by BJP leader Swapan Das Gupta, Jaishankar said “our (India’s) position is for peace”.
• But there was also a larger conversation about what we could do to lead to encourage a secession of hostilities and return to diplomacy and dialogue.
• Today, that sentiment is widely shared by many countries in the world,” the EAM said.
• Pointing at increasing polarization, Gupta had asked “Is this going to have any negative impact on some of our (India’s) closest allies?”

Rift over Ukraine exposed as high-powered UK delegation to India called off

A high-powered cross-party UK delegation to India led by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and his deputy has been called off at the last minute in a sign of a growing rift over India’s refusal to distance itself from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• The delegation has been in discussion with India since Jan and was planning to visit Delhi, but the Indian high commission is understood to have raised objections at the last minute.
• Boris Johnson spoke with Indian PM, Narendra Modi, on Tue in an attempt to use his influence to persuade India to take a more robust position over Russia.
• India has not imposed sanctions or even condemned Russia, its biggest supplier of military hardware.
• The Speaker’s visit, the first of its kind to India and part of his effort to act as a diplomat between parliaments, was due to go ahead during the Easter parliamentary recess.

The delegation had originally been foreseen as nudging to encourage progress on a UK-India free trade deal, but the context changed after the Ukraine crisis in Feb, and Britain’s leading role in supporting the armed resistance of the Ukrainians.

It is unclear if India’s issues were with members of the delegation or related to a wider concern about British MPs being given a platform in India to urge Modi to take a more robust position.

Britain has been concerned about reports that India’s central bank is in initial consultations on a rupee-rouble trade arrangement with Moscow, which would enable exports to Russia to continue after western sanctions restricted international payment mechanisms.

• The talks would allow India to continue to buy Russian energy exports and other goods.
• However, India, locked in a land border dispute with China, may feel it cannot afford to alienate its main arms supplier.

Ukraine war: India says the US, Russia ties ‘stand on their own merit’ despite Ukraine war

India has friendly relations with both the United States and Russia that stand on their own merit, the foreign ministry told parliament on Thu, in reply to a query whether the Ukraine war had affected ties.

Why the Quad’s OK with India, not China, giving Russia economic support

• The muted response to India buying discounted Russian oil – in contrast to China buying its wheat – is more than just a double standard, analysts say
• It reflects a desire among the US and its allies to preserve India’s position in the regional security framework and prevent Moscow from getting closer to Beijing
• As the US, Japan, and Australia harden their stance on Russia for waging war on Ukraine, the fourth member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue continues to be the odd one out.

India has not only refused to condemn its long-time defense partner for invading a sovereign nation – choosing instead to support calls for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution while delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine – it is also forging ahead with fresh purchases of discounted Russian crude oil. When China made a similar move by announcing last month that it was open to Russian wheat imports, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison later accused Beijing of throwing Moscow an “economic lifeline.”

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Wang Yi arrives in Afghanistan from Pak on an unannounced visit

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is squeezing in an unannounced visit to Afghanistan during his ongoing South Asia tour during which he has already been to Pakistan, will visit Nepal, and is expected to drop by New Delhi.

• There’s been no official word from either New Delhi or Beijing about Wang’s India visit though news reports have said it was finalized at China’s request.
• Beijing has remained tightlipped about the details of Wang’s ongoing tour, and China’s official media has released statements and reports only after his meetings in Islamabad were over.
• Wang’s Afghanistan visit will be a short but crucial one, given the Taliban govt has been working on being diplomatically recognized by China.
• Also, it’s in the backdrop of talks being reopened to resume copper mining in Mes Aynak, in Afghanistan’s Logar region.
• Tolo News reported earlier this month, the Taliban govt has asked China Metallurgical Group Corp (MCC Group) to pursue the project that’s been stalled for years.

“The agreements signed in May 2008 between the then Afghan govt and the MCC Group, called for the Chinese side to pay $400 million a year for a 30-year mining concession,” the report said.

• The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum had said on Mar 14^th that a Chinese delegation will arrive in Kabul by the end of this month.
• Wang Yi’s visit will also likely focus on the resumption of work at the Afghan embassy in Beijing.
• Some of the Afghan diplomats who were stationed in Beijing have moved to the US.
• Xinhua (Thu)- minister Wang on Wed met with Pakistani Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa when the two discussed Afghanistan among a range of issues.
• On the Afghanistan issue, Wang called for wisdom of the East to promote dialogue and communication to solve it, instead of resorting to pressure or sanctions.

Noting that Afghanistan enjoys favorable geographical advantages, resources endowment, and development potential, Wang said the international community should support Afghanistan in finding the right path of economic development, livelihood improvement, and self-reliance.

• Beijing and Islamabad have been working closely in dealing with the new Taliban govt in Kabul.
• China shares a short border with Afghanistan and Beijing has dispatched humanitarian supplies to the country since the Taliban’s return to power in August.

Comment: Is Beijing’s interest in Afghanistan is same as it was in Washington? Maybe yes except for the difference that China Shares a small border with Afghanistan, which is a matter of concern for Beijing too, besides, Copper mines, opium, its geopolitical locations, wherein a poorly governed system, lacking basic essential requirements, can be used for Beijing. However, China wouldn’t be the only player, though it has the support of Pakistan.