[NEWS OF THE DAY]

India, ASEAN Foreign ministers meet begins in Delhi

The foreign ministers of India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) began a special 2 days “special meeting” in New Delhi, on the 30^th anniversary on Thu to review relations between the two sides and to forge a response to the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the economy and security of the region. The meeting is being co-chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Singaporean counterpart V Balakrishnan, who both referred to the fallout of the war in Ukraine in their televised opening remarks. Jaishankar noted that the strong convergence between the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) is testimony to the shared vision of the two sides for the region. Analysts point out that as Beijing has been the grouping’s biggest trading partner since 2009, ASEAN countries are careful to balance their ties with both sides. Trade with China, which remains a big market for their exports, touched around $ 878 billion in 2021, (Global Times). (here) A rivalry between superpowers US and China has direct implications for all of Asia, according to Balakrishnan. In their statement, the co-chairs said that the meeting reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism founded on the principles of international laws including the Charter of the UN, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and other relevant UN treaties and conventions. (here)

NSA Ajit Doval Calls For Cooperation Against Terrorism ‘without Any Reservations’ At BRICS

National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval attended a BRICS meeting with his Chinese counterpart NSA Yang Jiechi on Wed wherein he emphasized the need to bolster cooperation against terrorism “without any reservations”.  During the virtual meeting which was hosted by China on the second anniversary of the Galwan Valley clash, both Doval and Jiechi affirmed “strengthening political and security cooperation” with other members of the union as officials from Brazil, Russia, and South Africa were also present in the meeting. [It’s just the 2^nd anniversary of the Galwan clash in which the Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs, and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border.] Further, both Indian and Chinese NSAs underscored the importance of reforming the multilateral system to address global issues with credibility, equity, and accountability. PM Modi, Xi Jinping, and Putin are due to meet on the BRICS platform next week- The meeting of NSAs came a week ahead of the BRICS summit which is due to be held on June 24 with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of Brazil and South Africa. (here)

Israeli PM may visit India this summer, dates yet to be decided: Ambassador Eynat Shlein

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett may visit India later this year but the final dates are yet to be decided, said Ambassador Eynat Shlein, head of MASHAV, Israel’s international development Center. Earlier, the Israeli PM was scheduled to visit India in Apr but it was postponed after being tested positive for Covid-19. US President Joe Biden will host a virtual summit of the I2-U2 grouping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel PM, and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to West Asia from Jul 13 to 16. She also mentioned that these I2-U2 can come together to offer solutions to the growing issues. Shlein also believes that I2-U2 countries with their qualities can bring a change. (here)

Rahul Gandhi vs ED: Massive escalation in protests by Congress – scuffle breaks out in Bengaluru; violence in Hyderabad

A day after high drama on the streets of Delhi, the Congress on Thu intensified protests over Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case. The party held protests in several cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jammu, and Chandigarh. The protesters turned violent at some places and jostled with police personnel deployed to maintain law and order. The protesters clashed with police in Bengaluru and burnt tires on the streets of Hyderabad – similar scenes were played out in Delhi on Wed. Several senior leaders including Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot have been camping in the national capital to show their solidarity with Gandhi. (here)

Protests erupt in Bihar against the Agnipath scheme, Army aspirants demand its withdrawal

After the Centre launched the Agnipath recruitment scheme, the Armed forces aspirants protested in several parts of Bihar, Uttrakhand, and Hariyana, and demanded the withdrawal of the scheme. The aspirants said they are unhappy with the changes introduced under the new recruitment scheme for the Indian Army — particularly the length of service, no pension provisions for those released early, and the 17.5 to 21 age restriction that now makes many of them ineligible. The protestors also disrupted rail and road traffic in Jehanabad over the recently announced Agnipath recruitment scheme. In Chhapra, youth ablaze a passenger train and burnt tires on road, and vandalized a bus in protest against the program. (here) “Where will we go after working for only four years?” one young man, surrounded by fellow protesters in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, told ANI. “We will be homeless after four years of service. So we have jammed the roads.” [Whatever, the argument can be given but it seems that some people in the country are always ready to create ransack for any reason.]

[NATIONAL]

Bulldozer drive: SC seeks UP’s reply on ‘illegal’ demolition

The Supreme Court on Thu asked the Uttar Pradesh government, and authorities in Prayagraj as well as Kanpur Dev to file their responses on the alleged use of bulldozers for “retaliatory demolition” of houses of riot-accused, within three days. The top court has scheduled the next hearing in the said case for next week. (here)

Tibetan artists welcome PM Modi with the Tashi Shopa dance on his arrival in Dharamshala

The people of Himachal Pradesh extended a grand welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his road show from the KCCB Chowk to State Martyrs Memorial in Dharamshala. The artists from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) performed the traditional Tashi Shopa dance to welcome PM Modi. PM, who arrived in Dharmshala on Thu, will chair the first national conference of chief secretaries being held at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala from today. Tibetans in exile were very excited to welcome PM to Dharamshala. Hundreds of Tibetans have gathered to welcome PM Modi and to also participate in the roadshow. (here)

The National Payments Corporation of India International has signed an MoU with France’s Lyra Network.

In yet another boost to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Rupay, union communications and electronics & IT minister Ashwini Vaishnav has announced that UPI and Rupay cards will soon be accepted in France. UPI is already accepted in UAE, Singapore, and Bhutan. As part of the MoU, Lyra Networks will allow Indians to pay using UPI and Rupay cards at terminals and machines offered by Lyra Networks, making it easier especially for students and tourists from India to make payments. (here)

Their supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten: Rajnath Singh pays tributes to Galwan heroes

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on 2 days visit to Jammu & Kashmir, visited the forward area of Uri Sector, on Thu, and paid homage to the Indian Army soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clash two years ago in 2020. He will be visiting forward areas and interacting with troops during his visit. Also, he would attend the 200^th anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh’s ‘Rajyabhishek Ceremony’ in Jammu tomorrow. (here)

China-India border: state media marks the second anniversary of Galwan Valley clash in lead-up to new talks

Chinese state media marked the 2^nd anniversary of the deadly Galwan Valley clash with India on Wed as the two militaries prepare to hold the next round of talks aimed at a full disengagement at their disputed border. A nearly 3-minute video of comrades-in-arms tearfully sharing memories of 18-year-old Chen Xiangrong, one of the four soldiers [?] China confirmed were killed in the conflict two years ago, was published by the military channel of state broadcaster CCTV on its Weibo microblog on Wed. The video excerpt from a 5-episode documentary, Motherland Engraved, that was first released in Feb, included an interview with Chen’s comrade-in-arms who took a photo of a smiling Chen at a bonfire party. 2020 border clash left at least 20 Indians dead, New Delhi expects to hold the 16^th round of talks with Beijing soon to ‘resolve the remaining issues along the LAC’ (here)

Imposter In Army Uniform Detained Near Eastern Command Headquarter In Kolkata

A con artist was detained in Kolkata while trying to get into an army headquarters wearing an Army Major’s uniform. Military intelligence got a specific input on the ‘imposter’ roaming around Eastern Command headquarters in army uniform. Acting on the input, a joint operation was launched with Kolkata Police to catch the suspect. The suspect has been named Mohammad Akbar Khan.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China will keep backing Russia on ‘sovereignty, security’, Xi tells Putin

All parties involved in the Ukraine crisis should settle it responsibly, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin during a phone conversation on Wed but added that Moscow has Beijing’s full support for its core interests like “sovereignty and security”. China is “willing to continue to offer mutual support (to Russia) on issues concerning core interests and major concerns such as sovereignty and security,” Xinhua said in a statement released on Wed evening during the afternoon talks between the two leaders. On Ukraine, Xi said “all parties should push for a proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis in a responsible manner”, adding that China for this purpose will continue to play its due role. The interaction came in the backdrop of the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the impact the conflict was having globally. Beijing and Moscow have grown increasingly close in recent years. In Feb, Putin and Xi signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership aimed at countering US influence and said they would have “no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”. (here)

‘No basis’ for attack fears in China’s new rules for PLA activities

A Communist Party regulation, which gives a legal underpinning to the PLA’s peacetime activities at home and abroad, will not allow Beijing to unilaterally send troops to other countries, and is unlikely to have implications for any potential attack on Taiwan, military analysts said. The outline order on “non-war military activities” takes effect on Wed, according to a report by CCTV, after the recent signing by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also chairs the party’s all-powerful Central Military Commission. Experts said the regulation covered the PLA’s non-traditional military missions, such as disaster relief, humanitarian aid, peace-keeping, as well as responding to political crises at home and overseas. (here)

Leader of US House Armed Services Committee calls for both dialogue and deterrence to deal with China

The US needs to bolster its relations with allies, modernize its military and work with China and Russia to reduce nuclear weapons, the chairman of a key congressional committee overseeing the US military said on Wed. But Washington should also try and keep the door open with Beijing, added Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington state, at a time when relations between the two nations are at a historic low amid rising tension over Taiwan, trade, espionage, and the South China Sea. “If we can find a way to get along with China, to get China to recognize that it’s not a zero-sum game, they’re hung up on this notion that they’re going to bury us,” said Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “We’re not going anywhere. And neither is China. China’s going to be a big powerful country. The world is in fact big enough for the both of us, and we need to look for opportunities to try and convince them of that.” On a separate panel, experts discuss a war-game exercise they recently held to identify how the US and allies could deter China from invading Taiwan (here) [Adam who see China and US as two big companies which are in the market to sell their products. He stated to Foreign Affairs Council in 2020, “But the second piece of that is we’re in competition with China to influence the world. And this is where I think we are not making that clear and we are not in a particularly strong position right now.” (here)

Taliban seizes weapons in Afghan province meant to be smuggled to Pakistan

The Taliban claimed to have seized another cache of weapons in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), Afghanistan’s spy agency, believes that the arms and ammunition were to be smuggled out to neighboring Pakistan. The seizure comes weeks after a Canada-based think tank warned that rampant smuggling of weapons from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to Pakistan will “eventually be used in cross-border skirmishes against India”. The think tank, however, warned that Pakistan will have to pay a huge price when the separatist and terrorist organizations operating from its land get a hand on these weapons on a large scale. The seizure comes weeks after a Canada-based think tank warned that rampant smuggling of weapons to Pakistan will “eventually be used in cross-border skirmishes against India”. (here)

Pakistan will default if we don’t implement the PTI agreement with IMF: Maryam Nawaz

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thu said that the Shehbaz-led govt hasn’t increased a single penny in the petrol price or tax at its own will, adding that it was because of the contract that the former govt signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Maryam Nawaz reads out the agreement between PTI and IMF. Says when Imran Khan realized his govt will not survive any longer, he damaged Pakistan. The dollar continues to rise, hitting Rs 207 in the interbank On Wed the PKR currency shed Rs 1.3 (or 0.63%) against the greenback to close at Rs 206.46. “How can they pretend to be innocent when what the nation is going through is their doing?” asks the prime minister said (here)

Hina Khar leads Pak’s hard push to get off the FATF grey list. Decision tomorrow

Pakistan is not expected to exit the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list” during a meeting in Germany this week despite a high-profile effort mounted by Islamabad to convince the multilateral watchdog about its actions to curb terror financing. Minister of state for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar is heading the Pakistani delegation participating in the FATF plenary meeting being held in Berlin during Jun 14-17. The watchdog will announce its findings on Pakistan’s counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering efforts after the meeting on Fri. Despite the hectic lobbying with FATF, The Express Tribune newspaper cited unnamed officials as saying that Pakistan will stay on the grey list till at least Feb 2023. However, India and several Western countries remain unconvinced about Pakistan’s efforts to counter terror financing. (here)