1. India, China discuss proposals for disengagement in remaining areas in open, constructive manner
2. Host India avoids discussion on more Russia sanctions at G20 meet: Report
3. ‘Bread & butter’: Adani can make Haifa the port it needs to be, says Israeli envoy Naor Gilon
4. Cochin Shipyard commences construction of 2 Anti-submarine warfare crafts for navy
5. Russia-Ukraine war, China will be high on agenda of Chancellor’s India visit: German envoy

What Else

6. Centre likely to auction lithium reserves by June
7. Japan Eyes Inviting Australia, India to G-7 Summit, NHK Says
8. UK govt defends BBC, raised issue with New Delhi; MPs call for US & other allies to exert pressure on India
9. Leaders of Muslim bodies praise PM Modi for minority welfare initiatives
10. China blasts Pentagon official’s Taiwan visit, military ties
11. China and Japan meet for formal security talks to stabilize tensions
12. In Kabul talks, Pakistan and Afghanistan discuss growing threat of TTP, ISKP
13. Pakistan: PM announces sweeping austerity measures; ministers to pay own bills, forego salaries
14. Pak: Police raid Balochistan minister’s house after 3 bodies recovered
15. Imran Khan’s party launches ‘fill the jails’ protest in Pakistan

India, China discuss proposals for disengagement in remaining areas in open, constructive manner

• The 26^th meeting of the WMCC on India-China Border Affairs was held on Feb 22, 2023, in Beijing, marking the first in-person meeting since July 2019.
• The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secy (East Asia) from the MEA, while the Chinese delegation was led by the DG of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs, Chinese FM.
• During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border and disengagement in the remaining areas.
• By existing bilateral agreements and protocols, the two sides agreed to hold the next (18^th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date.
• They also agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels to achieve their objective. (here)

Host India avoids discussion on more Russia sanctions at G20 meet: Report

• New Delhi has been taking great efforts to avoid discussion on additional sanctions against Moscow at the G20 bloc’s finance chiefs gathering taking place on Thursday
• Ukraine seeks India’s backing in a draft resolution against Russia at the upcoming UNGA meet,
• India was not keen on discussing the issue even though US Treasury Secy Yellen said that they will “join with allies in holding Russia accountable” for the war during G20.
• Apart from that, confusion prevailed at the meeting convened on Wed to decide on the draft of the G20 communique witnessed.
• Despite India’s best efforts to form a consensus on the words by calling it a “crisis” or a “challenge” instead of a “war”, discussions remained inconclusive, delegates of at least seven countries present in the meetings told Reuters. (here)

‘Bread & butter’: Adani can make Haifa the port it needs to be, says Israeli envoy Naor Gilon

• It was a sign of big trust in depositing a strategic asset (Haifa port) in the hands of an Indian company, Israel envoy to India Naor Gilon commented Wed on recent takeover.
• The conglomerate, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, acquired the strategic Israeli port for $1.2 billion at the end of Jan.
• Adani promised to transform the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its decision to invest more in Israel, including opening an AI lab in Tel Aviv.
• “Haifa port is a strategic asset, and the fact that we are giving it to an Indian company,” said Gilon.
• Gilon said Adani’s “bread and butter” was ports and added that Israel was happy with this decision.
• Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships. (here)

Cochin Shipyard commences construction of 2 Anti-submarine warfare crafts for navy

• Officials of state shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Limited marked the commencement of the construction of two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts for the Navy.
• Known as “keel-laying”, the ceremony is the formal recognition of a ship’s construction.
• Once built and formally commissioned, these vessels (briefly designated as BY524 and BY525) will undertake sub-surface surveillance in coastal areas to detect and neutralize underwater threats.
• The Govt had awarded a contract for the construction of 8 ASW SWCs, to the Cochin Shipyard, in line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat'(self-reliant India).
• At present, 3 ships of the 8 in this series are under construction.
• According to the Indian Navy, all major and auxiliary systems for these vessels have been sourced from indigenous manufacturers. (here)

Russia-Ukraine war, China will be high on agenda of Chancellor’s India visit: German envoy

• Russia-Ukraine conflict & China will be “high on agenda” of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s 1^st-visit this weekend, since taking the charge, German envoy Ackermann said on Wed.
• Stating that ‘geopolitics’ will be a key element of Scholz’s talk with PM Modi and there is ample opportunity to discuss the difficult international environment.
• As “we see India as a very influential and extremely valuable partner” in discussing these questions.
• Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the envoy said that there is not regular but uninterrupted communication between Kremlin and some European capitals.
• On India buying Russian oil, the ambassador stressed the fact that India buying oil from Russia is none of our business.
• That’s something that the Indian Government decides and you get it at a very low price.
• Speaking about if there will be any defense pacts signed during the visit, the envoy said that ‘Defence will be on the agenda.’ (here)

Centre likely to auction lithium reserves by June

• The govt is poised to invite bids for the auction of the newly discovered lithium reserves in Jammu as early as the June quarter
• This will give India access to the strategic mineral that helps power everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles.
• Earlier this month, the Geological Survey of India reported the presence of significant lithium reserves totaling 5.9 million tonnes in the Reasi district of J&K.
• The find has catapulted India into the world’s 7^th-largest holder of lithium reserves.
• The discoveries are not early-stage finds, and the government plans to call for bids to start the process, a govt official said. “[This is a] G-3 level finding. (here)

Japan Eyes Inviting Australia, India to G-7 Summit, NHK Says

• Japan is making arrangements to invite Australia and India to a G7 summit it’s hosting in May to discuss issues including Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and climate change.
• In addition to Australian PM Anthony Albanese and PM Modi, Japan is also considering welcoming Ukraine President Zelenskiy to the meeting in Hiroshima. (here)

UK govt defends BBC, raised issue with New Delhi; MPs call for US & other allies to exert pressure on India

• The uproar over the BBC’s contentious documentary on PM Modi and the income-tax surveys carried out at its offices in India,
• the UK govt has for the 1^st time publicly defended, with a representative repeatedly stating in the UK Parliament that it has brought these issues up with New Delhi.
• “We stand up for the BBC. … We think the BBC World Service is vitally important,” at a House of Commons debate on Tue headed “Raid of BBC Offices in India,” parliamentary under-secretary, David Rutley stated.
• He claimed that the UK had “wide-ranging conversations with the Indian government. These issues have been raised as part of those conversations”.
• Jamie Stone, a Liberal Democrat, urged the govt to get in touch with the US and other allies to exert pressure on India and let them know that “this behavior” is wholly unacceptable. (here)

Leaders of Muslim bodies praise PM Modi for minority welfare initiatives

• Leaders of various Muslim organizations praised PM Modi and his govt for taking several steps for the welfare of minorities including the abolishment of triple talaq.
• This came in at the “All India Minority Conclave – Role of Minorities in Amrit Kaal” event organized by the NID Foundation
• Ahsan Ghouri, Director of External Affairs, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said, “PM Modi has taken many steps for the country and especially for the minorities and it should be appreciated. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China blasts Pentagon official’s Taiwan visit, military ties

• China on Wed sharply criticized a visit to Taiwan by a Pentagon official and reaffirmed it has sanctioned Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying military equipment to the self-governing island democracy.
• The comments from the Cabinet’s Taiwan Affairs Office underscore the dramatic deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan, technology, spying allegations, and, increasingly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• China “resolutely opposes any official interaction and military collaboration” between the U.S. and Taiwan.
• China considers Taiwan part of its territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary and has been stepping up its military and diplomatic harassment. (here)

China and Japan meet for formal security talks to stabilize tensions

• Chinese and Japanese officials met in Tokyo on Wed for formal security talks for the first time in four years, in a meeting aimed at stabilizing increasingly strained relations.
• In Japan’s national security strategy, released in Dec, China was described as “the greatest strategic challenge” to Japan’s peace and security.
• Both sides expressed concerns at the meeting.
• China said it was troubled by Japan’s military buildup while Tokyo is worried about China’s use of spy balloons as well as military activities around Japan.
• Last week Japan’s defense ministry said that it believed Chinese spy balloons had flown over Japan on at least 3 occasions since 2019.
• In Dec, Japan, a key US ally, announced a historic rise in defense spending, pledging to double the defense budget to 2% of GDP by 2027.
• In 2023 alone the defense budget increased to £41.7bn, an increase of more than 26% in 2022. (here)

In Kabul talks, Pakistan and Afghanistan discuss growing threat of TTP, ISKP

• Islamabad and Kabul discussed the growing threat of terrorism in the region, from the banned militant groups TTP and ISKP, in high-level talks held in Kabul on Wed.
• The FO said that the Pakistani delegation arrived in Kabul earlier in the day for talks with officials of the interim Afghan govt on security-related matters,
• Pak press release said the delegation led by Def Min Khawaja Asif met Afghan Dy PM Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, DM Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and FM Amir Khan Muttaqi.
• In photos released by the Afghan PM office, the Pakistani delegation — comprising ISI DG Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secy Asad Majeed Khan, Chargé d’Affaires (CdA), and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan— can be seen.
• Meanwhile, a statement from the Afghan Council of Ministers (PM) said the two sides discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations.
• The statement said that the Afghan dy PM asked the Pak delegation to release Afghans detained in jails across Pakistan.
• He also urged Pakistan to ensure facilities for Afghan passengers at the Torkham and Chaman-Spin Boldak borders, with special consideration for emergency patients. (here)
• TTP has issued a statement saying that the Barkhan incident is a tragedy.
• Instead of weeping and crying over the dead bodies and taking out rallies, come out and fight with the criminals.
• TTP in its statement said that one feudal lord and the provincial minister had imprisoned a family in his private jail and the Balochistan govt could not get them released.
• Even the video of a mother asking for help with the Quran in her hands could not move anybody. (Intekhab Daily)

Pakistan: PM announces sweeping austerity measures; ministers to pay own bills, forego salaries

• While eyeing an ambitious plan to save Rs200 billion annually, PM Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wed that federal ministers, etc will not receive salaries and other benefits as part of the govt’s austerity measures.

• Speaking to the press after a meeting of the cabinet, the PM stated that all federal ministers would now be required to pay their electricity, gas, and water bills.
• The move is part of the govt’s broader efforts to cut expenses and reduce the budget deficit.
• The PM emphasized that these measures were necessary to address the country’s economic challenges, including rising inflation and debt.
• He noted that the govt was committed to restoring economic stability and promoting growth. (here)

Pak: Police raid Balochistan minister’s house after 3 bodies recovered

• After recovering 3 bodies from a well in Barkhan, Balochistan, police raided the houses of state Minister for Construction, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran.
• The discovery of 3 bodies late on Mon night is said to be the wife and two sons of one Khan Muhammad Marri.
• The police spokesperson also said that the roads leading to Khetran’s house in Quetta’s Patel Bagh had been sealed, adding that the raid was carried out to recover Khan Muhammad Marri’s 5 children.
• Meanwhile, the relatives of the dead and Marri tribesmen held a sit-in in the provincial capital, seeking the arrest of the minister and a judicial inquiry. (here)

Imran Khan’s party launches ‘fill the jails’ protest in Pakistan

• The political party headed by Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan has launched a “Jail Bharo Tehreek” movement to “protect the fundamental rights of the people”.
• The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Wed began its drive from the eastern city of Lahore, where authorities have imposed restrictions on public gatherings in some areas.
• In a series of tweets, Khan laid out the reasons for the “peaceful, non-violent protest against the attack on our constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights”.
• “We are facing sham FIRs and NAB (non-bailable) cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people,” he wrote. (here)