[NATIONAL]

Visit of the Prime Minister of the UK to India from Apr 21-22

Ministry of External Affairs informed that the maiden visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will pay an official visit as UK’s PM. He will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral summit meeting on Fri. “The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defense, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission.

To boost Make in India, IAF shelves plan to buy 48 Russian Mi-17 V5s

ANI -Amid a strong push by the govt for indigenization, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has shelved its plan to buy 48 additional Mi-17 V5 medium-lift helicopters from Russia. India had signed a deal with Russia about 10 years ago for the procurement of 80 Mi-17V5s that have been inducted in batches into the force and these 48 were planned to be inducted into the force and other aviation agencies who don’t want it anymore. It has been decided to close the deal, much before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had started, and was part of the deal foreclosed given the govt’s decision to stop imports and replace them with indigenous. India is one of the largest operators of the Mi-17V5 and Mi-17 helicopter fleets and even uses them for flyings its VVIPs. The Mi-17V5 is the workhorse of the force and is used for maintaining Indian positions in the Siachen glacier and Eastern Ladakh daily along with the high altitude and far-flung areas in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The IAF is supporting the indigenous programs in a big way under the Make in India and has been positively working towards acquiring indigenous missiles, fighter aircraft, and choppers including the ALH Dhruv and the Light Combat Helicopter.

Mauritius PM arrived on an 8-day visit on Sun

Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will travel to Gujarat as well as Varanasi apart from his engagements in New Delhi. It said Jugnauth will be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his 8 days visit from April 17 to 24. Jugnauth will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine on Apr 19 and the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit on Apr 20, along with PM Narendra Modi. India has been one of the largest trading partners and exporters of goods (mainly petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, etc) and services to Mauritius since 2007. India had extended a US$ 353 million to Mauritius in May 2016 as a Special Economic Package for 5 priority projects, of which the Social Housing Project was the last to be completed. Two agreements were also exchanged, one for an extension of a US$ 190 million Line of Credit to Mauritius for the Metro Express and other infrastructure. In Mar, Mauritius became a member of the Colombo Security Conclave, a grouping of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The NSA’s from these countries work for regional security by focusing on areas such as maritime security, countering terrorism, combating trans-national crime, and cyber security.

Sri Lanka seeks bridging finance from India till the IMF bailout

ANI – While India plays a prominent role in helping its neighbor Sri Lanka come out of a deep economic crisis, it was learned from reliable sources that Colombo has asked New Delhi to provide bridging finance for the crisis-ridden country till the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides adequate funds, which may take another 3-4 months. Notably, this comes after Fin Min N Sitharaman held several rounds of discussions with her Lankan counterpart and High Commissioner. Sri Lanka has also asked India to use its influence on friendly countries like Japan to help Colombo with a line of credit and also reach out to multilateral organizations for assisting the island nation. The Sitharaman was positive about this proposal and is expected to reach out to other friendly countries to mobilize assistance for the economic crisis-affected Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Fin Min is expected to meet Sitharaman in Washington DC in the coming week. In the shape of the line-of-credit for food, fuel, medicine, currency swap, and deferment of payment at the Asian Clearing Union, India has already assisted to the tune of USD 2.4 Bn to Sri Lanka. However, Lanka will be needing much bigger financial backing for imports. Thus, Colombo is looking for bridging finance for this period from India and other countries. Sources familiar with the developments said India is the first and only country that is coming forward to bring Sri Lanka out of its financial mess, and Colombo sees it as a new chapter in the bilateral relationship with New Delhi. Sri Lanka sees the bilateral relationship as long-term, beyond crisis, and hopes to play a prominent role in India’s energy aspirations for the future, they said. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of its people, resulting in massive protests over the govt’s handling of the situation.

J-K: SIA tightens noose around the author of the seditious article, searches premises of media outlet

ANI – The State Investigation Agency tightened the noose around the author of a seditious article Abdul Aala Fazili and the Editor and other associates of the monthly digital magazine “The Kashmir Wala“. The search was held at several locations in Srinagar, informed the officials on Sun. “The article titled “The shackles of slavery will break” written by Fazili and published in the monthly digital magazine “The Kashmir Wala” on the one hand is highly provocative, written to abet the youth to take the path of violence by glorifying terrorism and on the other, the write-up promoted and propagated the false narrative, which is essential to sustain secessionist-cum-terrorist campaign aimed at breaking the territorial integrity of India,” informed the police in an official statement. [Still, its social media account is full of provocative content],

Delhi: Bricks were thrown at the police team in Jahangirpuri, one detained

ANI – Bricks were allegedly thrown at the Delhi Police Crime Branch team at C-block in Jahangirpuri here on Mon where they were probing the violence case. Rapid Action Force and police had been deployed in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area. Earlier on Mon, Delhi police top cop, Rakesh Asthana said that the police are monitoring social media to curb the spread of misinformation in the wake of the violence that erupted in the Jahangirpuri area, while also stating that action will be taken against culprits attempting to disturb the peace. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Crime Branch and the district police are jointly probing the incident. Some 23 persons have been arrested in this case so far. After the violence erupted in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, during the Ramnavami procession, this incident happened in New Delhi. At least 15 people were injured and 20 were arrested after stones were allegedly pelted as clashes broke out between two groups in Holagunda of Kurnool’s Allur in Andhra Pradesh on Sat. According to the police, the incident took place during a Hanuman Jayanthi procession. As per the police, stone pelting was witnessed when the religious procession was crossing a mosque while playing songs on the DJ.

NIA charge-sheeted 3 ISIS recruiters for radicalizing Muslim youth

ANI – The National Investigation Agency on Sat filed a supplementary charge-sheet against 3 ISIS recruiters on charges of radicalizing and recruiting gullible Muslim youth into a fold of ISIS through the “Quran Circle” group. The anti-terror agency filed the charge sheet in a special court in Bengaluru. The agency registered the case on Sept 19, 2020, after examination of Dr Abdur Rahman in the IS Khorasan Province Case which led to the unraveling of an ISIS module wherein the names of various persons responsible for radicalizing and funding the visits of Muslim youth from Bengaluru and Karnataka to ISIS areas such as Syria had emerged.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Over 40 civilians including children killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan

Over 40 Afghan civilians, including children, were killed after Pakistani aircraft launched airstrikes in different parts of Khost and Kunar provinces on Fri night, according to Habib Khan, a journalist and the founder of Afghan peace watch, Afghanistan’s independent peace watchdog. The local officials on Sat of the Khost and Kunar provinces confirmed the attack. Following the incident, the Taliban summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to convey concerns to the Pakistan govt over the incident. According to the Afgan FM, the Afghan acting minister, and the acting deputy defence minister were present in the meeting and condemned the attacks by Pakistani forces. Meanwhile, according to analysts, the attacks indicate Pakistan’s direct interference and violation of Afghan national sovereignty, reported.

Biden to host US-ASEAN special summit in Washington on May 12-13

ANI -US President Joe Biden will host a special in-person summit with ASEAN leaders on May 12-13, a White House statement said Sat (local time). According to the White House, President Biden will host the Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the aforementioned date as the summit will commemorate 45 years of US-ASEAN relations. “It is a top priority for the Biden Administration to serve as a strong, reliable partner in Southeast Asia. Our shared aspirations for the region will continue to underpin our common commitment to advance an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, secure, connected, and resilient,” WH said. The summit is being held amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which has entered the 51^st straight day. The summit might witness deliberations on the situation in Ukraine and Europe.

European concerns over Serbia’s ties to China resurface after reports of missile delivery

SCMP-The controversy over Serbia’s deal to buy Chinese missiles reflects concerns about China’s military power projection as well as local tensions, according to analysts. Recent reports that FK-3 surface-to-air missiles had been transported to Serbia by Chinese jets were criticized by its neighbors Montenegro, which voted to end its union with Serbia in 2006, and Kosovo, which broke away from Serbia after a bloody conflict in the late 1990s. Montenegro says Belgrade was buying weapons from ‘an open enemy of Europe’ and analysts say there are concerns the missiles might be delivered to Russia.

Shanghai’s Covid-19 outbreak stalls plans for China’s third aircraft carrier

SCMP-Shanghai’s coronavirus lockdown has slowed China’s shipbuilding plans and may affect the launch of the country’s third aircraft carrier, sources said. The People’s Liberation Army Navy had been widely expected to launch the new carrier around the navy’s 73rd anniversary, on April 23. “But the plan faces delay as the rampant pandemic in Shanghai has delayed the transport of some key components,” one of the sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said.

Sri Lankan president expands cabinet ahead of IMF talks

Reuters – Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expanded his cabinet with 17 new ministers on Mon, but they did not include members of his family who were dropped as protests erupted over the govt’s handling of a devastating economic crisis. The president’s elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, however, remains prime minister. The island nation of 22 million is suffering from prolonged power cuts and fuel and medicines shortages, triggered by a sharp fall in its foreign exchange reserves that have stalled imports of essentials and brought thousands out on the streets.

Pakistan delegation to meet IMF to sort out economic crisis

ANI – Due to the rising political tension in Pakistan, and also the raging economic crisis, a high-profile Pakistani delegation is likely to make fresh contacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in a meeting at Brent Wood Institutions. The potential prime minister’s advisor on Finance, Miftah Ismail confirmed the participation of the Pakistani team in the BWIs meeting, reported Geo News. Finance Secretary Hamid Yaqoob told The News, ” We have been sharing data with the IMF. Now with the spring meeting next week, our discussions have become more regular and focused on completing the 7^th Review”. However, he did not mention any specific time frame for the completion of the 7^th Review under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). A top govt official confirmed that the Ministry of Fin will hold a technical meeting with the IMF this Fri but there is no virtual meeting scheduled for review talks at this point. During the week ending on Apr 1, SBP reserves decreased to USD 11.3 Bn, largely due to debt repayment and govt payment about the settlement of an arbitration award related to a mining project. In Jan 2022, the SBP released data showing that the Current Account Deficit rose to an all-time high of USD 2.56 billion.

Both serving, retired officers likely to be considered for CDS appointment: Sources

ANI – For the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Staff, the government is likely to consider both serving and retired military officers.

• The post has been lying vacant since Dec 8 last year after the death of the country’s first CDS late Gen Bipin Rawat in an air crash.
• The govt is also expected to announce the appointment of the next Army chief in the coming week itself as a decision has already been taken.
• The panel is also likely to include both 3-star and 4-star-rank officers, they said.
• The appointment of the CDS by the Modi govt within 6 months of coming back to power in 2019 has been hailed as one of the biggest reforms in the military structure.

The CDS office and the theatre command planned to be created and put under its command are expected to make it the strongest ever military office in the country with all fighting formations reporting directly to it.

• The CDS was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs which functions at present under an Additional Secretary-rank Lt General.
• The CDS is also the head of the Integrated Defence Staff presently headed by a three-star officer from the Indian Air Force.
• The govt has also made the CDS in charge of the Make in India, defense and has been given the mandate of promoting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme in the defense.

Gen Rawat used to devote most of their time to promoting self-reliance and was also responsible for bringing out the positive list of indigenization which listed items being put in the import ban lost to promote job creation within the country.

The CDS is also the single point of contact for the govt for giving military advice and is the senior-most bureaucrat in the defense ministry which has 4 major departments.

Army commanders to assess national security challenges, Ukraine war implications

ThePrint– Top Army commanders will carry out an extensive review of India’s national security challenges along the borders with China and Pakistan as well as assess any possible geopolitical implication of the Russia-Ukraine war for the region at a 5-day (April 18-22) conclave starting Mon.

• The conclave will be held at the national capital and will be chaired by Army Chief Gen MM Naravane.
• The commanders will also focus on specific plans for capability development and boosting operational preparedness of the 1.3 million-strong force, officials said on Sun.
• The Army Commanders’ Conference is an apex-level biannual event that is held in Apr and Oct every year.
• The conference is an institutional platform for conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army.
• The detailed deliberations have been planned to assess the possible implications of the war in Ukraine for regional security as well as various military aspects of the conflict.

A comprehensive review of India’s military preparedness along the 3,400km-long Line of Actual Control given the lingering military standoff with China at certain friction points in eastern Ladakh, they said.

Visit of the Prime Minister of the UK to India from Apr 21-22

Ministry of External Affairs informed that the maiden visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will pay an official visit as UK’s PM. He will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral summit meeting on Fri.

ThePrint-Ahead of his visit to India later this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that as “democracies and friends”, India and the UK should “stick together”, seemingly referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war keeping in mind New Delhi’s stand on the issue.

• Johnson’s trip comes within weeks of a visit by UK Secretary Elizabeth Truss, who came to India end-March to give New Delhi a “diplomatic push” for calling out Russia.
• During her visit to India, Truss and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had a verbal duel of sorts on New Delhi’s plans to import oil from Russia.
• Addressing an event jointly with Truss, Jaishankar said that a certain “campaign” is going on against India while European countries are continuing their energy purchases from Russia.
• “As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” Johnson said ahead of his visit.

“My visit to India will deliver on the things that matter to the people of both our nations — from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defense,” he added.

• Discussions between Johnson and Modi will be “dominated” by the situation in Ukraine.
• Britain may, like its other western allies, push India to call out Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and also take stringent actions against Moscow.
• The British PM may also like to “assess” how India’s stance will shape up going forward as the war may soon enter its third month.

The visit comes at a time when intense acrimony has built up between Britain and Moscow, so much so that the Russian foreign ministry imposed a ban on Johnson and his senior cabinet colleagues for “fuelling anti-Russian hysteria” even as the UK has put unprecedented sanctions on the Kremlin.

Earlier this month, Johnson made a surprise visit to Ukraine where he met its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, committing more military help to Kyiv by way of armored vehicles and anti-ship weapons.  

UK’s Indo-Pacific ‘tilt’

• During the visit, both sides will also discuss their vision of the Indo-Pacific strategic construct under the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, sources said.
• The visit will also assume significance in light of the UK’s 2021 Integrated Review — a “comprehensive articulation of the UK’s national security and international policy”.
• Unveiled on Mar 16, 2021, which put India as a priority country while enumerating Britain’s foreign and security policy ‘tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific region.
• India and the UK will also hold discussions on expanding their defense and security, sources said, adding that both sides might make some announcements on that front.
• In Oct 2021, the UK Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 2021, led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth, sailed to India to expand defense and maritime cooperation with India.
• During their 1^st bilateral summit since Johnson took over as PM, held virtually last year, the two laid down a roadmap for their strategic ties till 2030.  

MEA- the PMs “will review the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and set their vision for further intensifying cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral ties”, as well as “exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest”.

“The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defense, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission.

India-UK free trade agreement

• PM Modi and PM Johnson will also give a push to ongoing talks on the proposed India-UK free trade agreement, and finalize a deadline for signing an interim deal.
• The FTA negotiations began in 2021 after the UK expressed its intentions to sign a trade pact with India in 2017 post its exit from the EU.  

“He (UK PM) will use the visit to drive progress in the FTA .. a deal with India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to £28 billion annually by 2035 and increase wages across the UK by up to £3 billion,” -the British High Commission.

• Investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK.
• This is the reason why Johnson, upon landing in India, will head straight to Ahmedabad to meet the business community there on Thu.
• “In Gujarat, the PM is expected to announce a major investment in key industries in both the UK and India,” the British High Commission said.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Sri Lankan president expands cabinet ahead of IMF talks

Reuters – Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expanded his cabinet with 17 new ministers on Mon, but they did not include members of his family who were dropped as protests erupted over the government’s handling of a devastating economic crisis.

• The president’s elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, however, remains prime minister.
• The island nation of 22 million is suffering from prolonged power cuts and fuel and medicines, triggered by a sharp fall in its foreign exchange reserves.
• Rajapaksa’s govt is set to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Mon for a loan program,
• However, analysts have flagged political instability as a risk in Sri Lanka finding a way out of financial turmoil.
• Faced with growing popular unrest, Rajapaksa dissolved his cabinet earlier this month and invited all parties in the parliament to form a unity govt, which was rejected by the opposition.
• “17 new cabinet ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s Secretariat today morning,” a statement from the president’s office said.
• Only 5 members of the previous cabinet were sworn in again, while most of the other portfolios were allocated to members of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
• Sri Lankans have been protesting outside the president’s office in the commercial capital Colombo for over a week, asking for the Rajapaksas to quit the government.

Economic mismanagement by successive govt weakened Lanka’s public finances, but the situation was exacerbated by deep tax cuts enacted by the Rajapaksa administration soon after it took office in 2019.

Key sectors of the economy, particularly tourism, were then battered by the pandemic, and the govt dragged its feet on approaching the IMF for help. read more