[NEWS OF THE DAY]

India, China likely to have Air Force-to-Air Force hotline to prevent possible flare-ups on LAC

India and China are likely to set up a hotline between their Air Forces to prevent any possible escalation of the situation and to directly discuss issues between them on the border. “The issue of having a direct hotline between the Chinese and the Indian Air Force had come up for discussion during the recent talks held in Chushul-Moldo border meeting point last week,” ANI reported citing sources. The need for a direct hotline between the air forces was felt as the issues involving fighter aircraft can escalate very fast and can lead to a major conflict. The discussions in this regard are happening in the backdrop of the recent Chinese Air Force activities in the Eastern Ladakh sector where they were frequently violating the 10 km Confidence Building Measure line and on one occasion, clearly crossing over while taking a turn on Jun 25. The Chinese were taken aback by the Indian response to their activities by Mirage 2000 aircraft from a nearby airbase in J&K had carried out extensive flying inside its territory and surprised the CAF aircraft by reaching the areas of possible intrusion much faster than they had expected in terms of response time. (here)

Mainland China releases white paper declaring Beijing’s ‘greatest sincerity’ over Taiwan reunification

Beijing emphasizes its “greatest sincerity” for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, amid escalating drills surrounding the self-ruled island in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s unannounced visit. The Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office, both under Beijing’s State Council, jointly issued a white paper titled “The Taiwan Issue and China’s Reunification in the New Era” on Wed, reiterating Beijing’s claims to the island and denouncing “Taiwan independence” efforts. The document, presented in five sections, repeats Beijing’s determination to reunite with the island but takes a relatively conciliatory approach in its emphasis on increased cross-strait communications. (here)

Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang delegation begins trip to mainland China

Taiwan’s main opposition party Kuomintang has sent a delegation to mainland China amid Beijing’s ongoing saber-rattling against the self-ruled island. KMT vice-chairman Andrew Hsia – a former head of the Mainland Affairs Council, the island’s top mainland policy planning body – and his group left for Xiamen in Fujian on Wed afternoon for what the party described as a 17-day “fact-finding” trip to boost cross-strait communication and to understand the plight Taiwanese people face in mainland China. “At this critical time, we need to show our concerns to our [compatriots] in mainland China and there is also a strong need for the two sides to have more communication channels,” Hsia said at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport before departing. (here)

China says exercises held near Taiwan have concluded

China on Wed announced that it has concluded its military drills after more than a week-long training near Taiwan, simulating an attack on the self-ruled island. (here) Chinese navy ships remained active off both Taiwan’s east and west coasts on Wed morning, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters, as Beijing kept up military drills in protest against last week’s visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A furious China has extended its largest-ever exercises around the self-ruled island it claims as its own beyond the originally scheduled four days. The drills last week have included ballistic missile launches, some of which flew over the island’s capital Taipei, and simulated sea and air attacks in the skies and seas surrounding Taiwan. Video released by state broadcaster CCTV on Wed showed Chinese fighter jets scrambling and refueling while airborne, as well as navy ships on what it said, were drills around Taiwan. The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army said the drills were focused on blockades and resupply logistics, “under a complex electromagnetic environment to refine joint containment and control capabilities“, claimed CCTV. About 20 Chinese navy and Taiwan navy ships remained close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, as of Wed morning, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters. (here)

At UNSC, India slams China, Pakistan for double standards on terrorism

India on Tue hit out at China, and Pakistan at the UNSC meeting on terrorism, calling out both on several counts from “double standards” to “hypocrisy” over the issue. Pointing out the “practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification“, India’s Ambassador to UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said, “It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals of some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold.” Earlier this year, China had put a hold on the UN listing of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba’s 2^nd command Abdul Rehman Makki. China has put a technical hold on Makki that will last for 6 months. In the past too, Beijing had put a hold on the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Maulana Masood Azhar and it took a decade for New Delhi to list him as an UN-listed terrorist. Notably, the meeting on the issue of terrorism comes under the month-long presidency of China of the UNSC. UN’s 1267 committee lists one of the largest numbers of Pakistanis as international terrorists, besides above, Hafiz Saeed, and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi. During her address, the ambassador announced that India will be hosting a special session of the UN’s counter-terror committee in Mumbai and Delhi on Oct 28^th and 29^th which will highlight the nature of the “threat, member states’ capacity gaps, and best practices and exploring the further course of action to effectively deal with this threat.” India is the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. (here) India has had a 1^st-hand experience of crime syndicates venturing into terrorism and then getting “state hospitality” in a neighboring country despite being blacklisted by the UN, envoy here said on Tue, in a veiled reference to D-company head Dawood Ibrahim who is believed to be in Pakistan.

‘Not PM Contender, will Work towards making Oppn Strong’, Nitish Says After Taking Oath

Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 8^th time while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was sworn in as his deputy after the JD(U) chief broke ties with the BJP on Tue. At 4 pm, Kumar met Governor Phagu Chauhan and tendered his resignation. In his first reaction after quitting as the CM of the NDA gov, Nitish said there was consensus in the JD(U) on walking out of the alliance. At 6 pm, Nitish staked a claim to form a new govt. The BJP accused Kumar of “insulting and betraying” people’s mandate while blaming his prime ministerial ambition for the JD(U)’s decision to walk out of the NDA and join hands with the RJD-led opposition. BJP leaders noted that he had snapped ties with the RJD in 2017 over allegations of corruption against its leader Tejashwi Yadav and asked how he will justify the alliance with the party again. (here)

[NATIONAL]

UP ATS arrests terrorist with ISIS links for planning an attack on Independence Day

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tue arrested a terrorist with Islamic State (ISIS) links from Mubarakpur in Azamgarh, who was planning an IED blast on Independence Day. According to an official release, the man has been identified as Sabauddin Azmi alias Dilawar Khan alias Bairam Khan alias Azar, a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Subauddin used to lure people to join it and also propagated about ISIS on social media platforms. A case has been registered against Sabauddin in Lucknow under sections 121A, 122, 123 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Arms Act. The accused after questioning and scanning his mobile data came to the fore that he joined the Telegram channel “Al-Saqr Media” created by ISIS to brainwash Muslim youth for terror and violence. According to the ATS, Shami told Sabauddin about the method and necessary material to make IEDs and he was contacted by ISIS recruiter Abu Umar, who is a resident of Mauritania. Sabauddin received training of hand grenades, bombs, and IEDs by Abu Umar through social media apps. The ATS also recovered illegal weapons and cartridges along with materials used in making bombs from his possession. (here)

2 militants killed out 3 trapped as encounter breaks out in J-K’s Budgam, say police

The security forces on Wed trapped terrorists of proscribed terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF)/ Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam. The J&K Police said that terrorist Lateef Rather, who was involved in several civilian killings including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat is also trapped. Chadoora Tehsil Office employee Rahul Bhat was shot dead by terrorists on May 12 in his office while Kashmiri TV actor Amreen Bhat was killed by unidentified terrorists in Budgam’s Chadoora area on May 26. Further details are awaited. Earlier on Sun, a ‘hybrid’ terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit LeT has been arrested by the Indian Army’s 34 RR unit in the Budgam area. The accused has been identified as Arshid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sangam Budgam. The officials also seized incriminating materials which include 5 pistols, 5 magazines, and 50 rounds. Two hand grenades were also recovered from the terrorist. (here)

Army medic who treated PLA troops was brutally killed in the clash, reveals new book

Two years after a savage brawl between Indian and Chinese soldiers put Ladakh’s secluded Galwan Valley in a global spotlight, a new book has revealed details about the fighting — thus far shrouded in secrecy — by stringing together first-person accounts of what happened that fateful June night. India’s Most Fearless 3: New Military Stories of Unimaginable Courage and Sacrifice, authored by HT’s Rahul Singh and India Today TV’s Shiv Aroor, captures disturbing battlefield scenes including how the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) brutally killed a selfless Indian Army medic who saved the lives of several wounded Chinese soldiers, the ferocity of the shock attack by the enemy, tactics employed by PLA to throw Indian soldiers off balance, and the terrifying conditions in which the two foes fought hand-to-hand till death. The Indian medic, Naik Deepak Singh, was posthumously awarded Vir Chakra, India’s second highest wartime honor, for saving the lives of more than 30 Indian soldiers. That he saved the lives of the enemy too was not known until now. (here)

Supreme Court Grants Bail to Varavara Rao on Medical Grounds, Lifts Time Bar

The Supreme Court on Wed granted regular bail to ‘activist’ Varavara Rao, an accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, on medical grounds. “We thus find P Varavara Rao is entitled to bail on medical grounds. We thus delete the para limiting the bail to a period,” a bench led by UU Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat said. However, the court said that its order will not have any impact on the cases of the other Bhima Koregaon accused or that of Rao on merits, Bar and Bench reported. (here)

The Supreme Court clubs and transferred all FIRs against Nupur Sharma

Further, all the clubbed FIRs against Nupur Sharma over the alleged hate statement on Prophet Mohammad, to Delhi have been transferred to Delhi Police for investigation, while hearing a review petition filed by Sharma. SC says till the probe is completed protection from arrest to Nupur Sharma shall continue in all pending and future FIRs. However, the same court had made strong verbal comments and asked the petitioner to withdraw, just 40 days back.

Indian companies swapping dollars for Asian currencies to buy Russian coal

Indian companies are using Asian currencies more often to pay for Russian coal imports, according to ST reported citing customs documents and industry sources, avoiding the US$ and cutting the risk of breaching Western sanctions against Moscow. Reuters previously reported on a large Indian coal deal involving the Chinese yuan, but the customs data underlines how non-dollar settlements are becoming commonplace. India has aggressively stepped up purchases of Russian oil and coal since the war in Ukraine began, helping to cushion Moscow from the effects of sanctions and allowing New Delhi to secure raw materials at discounts compared to supplies from other countries. Russia became India’s third-largest coal supplier in Jul, with imports rising by over a 5^th compared with Jun to a record 2.06 mn tonnes. In June, Indian buyers paid for at least 742,000 tonnes of Russian coal using currencies other than the US dollar, according to a summary of deals compiled by a trade source based in India, equal to 44% of the 1.7 mn tonnes of Russian imports that month. Indian steelmakers and cement manufacturers have bought Russian coal using the UAE dirham, HK$, yuan, and euro in recent weeks, according to customs documents separately reviewed by Reuters. (here)

IPS officer Madhur Verma appointed head of ACB

Senior IPS officer Madhur Verma was appointed the head of the anti-corruption branch (ACB), officials aware of the development said on Tue. Verma, a 2005 batch IPS officer, was earlier an additional commissioner in the Delhi police’s armed police department. The ACB is mandated to probe graft cases against Delhi govt officials. Verma has earlier worked as the DCPs of the crime branch, the police’s North district, and the New Delhi district. Verma was also the Delhi police’s public relations officer until mid-2019. Special commissioner Sunil Kumar Gautam, a 1989 batch IPS officer, who was heading the ACB until Tue will report to Delhi Police where he will be given a new posting. Another officer, whose transfer order was issued on Tue is BS Jaiswal, who was earlier with the Bureau of Police Research and Development posted as the joint commissioner of operations, technology, and project implementation. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pak, Sri Lanka, B’desh, Laos & More: China’s ‘Debt-Trap’ Pushing Vulnerable Countries to Economic Crisis

News18-After Pakistan and Sri Lanka fell under severe debts of Chinese loans, Bangladesh has now sounded an alert, warning developing countries to think twice overtaking more loans through China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as global inflation and slowing growth add to the strains on indebted and vulnerable emerging markets. Pakistan’s economic crisis is well known and Sri Lanka also just saw a dramatic change in govt followed by a massive revolt among its public over deep financial burdens, and sky-rocketing inflation triggered by depleting foreign reserves. Nepal, too, is said to be foreseeing an economic crisis and earlier this year banned the import of vehicles and other luxury items, due to declining foreign exchange reserves. One factor common between these countries is that they are all part of China’s BRI global infrastructure development strategy aimed at investment by Beijing in nearly 70 countries. Beijing, through BRI, invests in building ports, roads, bridges, dams, power stations, railroads, etc. China is known to have BRI deals with all 3 countries, 2 of which are already reeling under a massive economic crisis and the remaining foreseeing one. According to OECD China’s BRI development strategy aims to build connectivity and cooperation across 6 main economic corridors encompassing China and: Mongolia and Russia; Eurasian countries; Central and West Asia; Pak; other countries of the Indian sub-continent; and Indochina. (here)

B’desh Finance Minister warns developing nations of Chinese loans strapped with debt-trap

Warning developing countries of taking Chinese loans through its BRI, Bangladesh’s fin minister Mustafa Kamal said that the nations must think twice about these loans as Beijing’s poor lending decisions risk pushing these nations into debt distress, media reports said. He also cautioned Beijing on following a more robust process for evaluating its loans and noted that these kinds of bad loans add strains on indebted emerging markets. It needs to “make a thorough study” before lending to a project, he said. (here)

Bangladesh refuses to become China’s lackey despite being part of Belt and Road initiative

Despite being part of China’s BRI and enjoying growth in trade and investments, Bangladesh refuses to be China’s lackey. Recently, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his desire to visit Dhaka in the first week of Aug, his Bangladeshi counterpart AK Abdul Momen categorically asked him to reschedule his visit due to his scheduled official engagements in New York and Cambodia, Bangladesh Live News reported. Momen conveyed to Wang through diplomatic channels that he should arrive in Bangladesh in the second week of August. Earlier in May 2021, the Bangladesh govt gave China’s envoy to Dhaka, Li Jiming a soulful lecture and asked him to maintain “decency and decorum” after he warned Dhaka from a public platform to desist from joining the Quadrilateral Group. “Obviously it will not be a good idea for Bangladesh to participate in this small club of four because it will substantially damage our bilateral relationship,” Li warned Bangladesh at a meeting organized by the Diplomatic Association on May 12, 2021. Meanwhile, between 2011 and 2021, China invested $10 bn in infrastructure in B’desh but according to some media reports, Beijing had missed fulfilling the promises on several deals signed during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka in Oct 2016. (here)

China solicits South Korea’s support amid a rift with the US over Taiwan

China on Tue called on South Korea to “maintain independence and self-reliance”, Yonhap News Agency said, in an apparent gesture to seek Seoul’s support amid Beijing’s growing rift with Washington over tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his South Korean counterpart Park Jin during their meeting in the eastern port city of Qingdao that the two sides should not interfere with each other’s domestic affairs and not be affected by “external obstacles”, the agency said. Park visited China at the request of Wang, becoming the highest-ranking official of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration launched in May to visit the neighboring country. The 2 Asian countries will mark the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties later this month. (here) As reported, Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka is also in Qingdao for which the Chinese side has arranged a chartered flight.

PSX rises over 550 points in early trade on expected UAE investment, IMF tranche

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its positive momentum on Wed, gaining over 550 points in early morning trade. According to the PSX website, the benchmark KSE-100 index had gained 554.29 points, or 1.32%, by 10:18 am to reach 42,650.53 points. Head of Research at Intermarket Securities, Raza Jafri, attributed the stock market’s rise to expected investment from the UAE and the country moving closer to the resumption of the International Monetary Fund program. Last week, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported that the UEA intended to invest $1 billion in Pakistani companies across various sectors. The UAE is keen to continue cooperation with Pakistan “in various fields, which include gas, energy infrastructure, renewable energy, health care,” the agency added. (here)

Journalists condemn the arrest of Pakistani news channel head, threaten nationwide protest

Journalist organizations across Pakistan on Wed strongly condemned the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Yousaf and demanded his immediate release. The journalists’ bodies and press clubs termed the arrest of ARY News senior Vice President an act of victimization and said that journalists will call for a nationwide protest if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, ARY News reported. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in its statement said that the govt should come to its senses. PFUJ Dastoor Secretary General AH Khanzada said that if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, journalists will call for a nationwide protest. Yousuf’s arrest comes after the channel, which is the country’s biggest private broadcaster, was served a show cause notice by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Mon. Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of the network Salman Iqbal along with two other anchors have been booked for sedition. (here)

Sri Lanka presents a plan in Parliament to cut the president’s powers

Sri Lanka’s govt has tabled a proposal to curb the powers of the president’s office, the first step to reforming a political system widely seen as responsible for tipping the country into economic chaos and bankruptcy. The passing of the proposed constitutional amendment would be a win for President Ranil Wickremesinghe and buy him time to institute tough economic reforms to secure a bailout from the IMF, as the country struggles to find funds for food and fuel supplies. Wickremesinghe promised to follow through with the changes in the presidency – a key demand from protesters and lawmakers who say the sweeping powers of the executive led to missteps by the former leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration. Under Rajapaksa, the Constitution was amended to give him wide-ranging powers to appoint and dismiss ministers. The new proposals aim to give more oversight to Parliament, restore independence to commissions in decision making and prohibit Sri Lankans with dual citizenship from holding office. Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa tabled the Bill, known as the 22nd amendment to the Constitution, in Parliament on Wed. (here)