1. Sikkim Floods: 18 Killed; Govt Warns Explosives, Arms Likely to be Found Along Teesta Banks
2. MEA says talks ongoing on ‘modalities’ to achieve parity in diplomatic presence with Canada
3. MEA says Afghan embassy’s closure ‘internal matter’, rejects claim of no diplomatic support from India
4. Ties with India ‘could get worse’ due to Canada row, US envoy told team: Report
5. Army says officer injured in ‘grenade accident’ at a post in J&K’s Rajouri

What Else

6. India, EU discuss ways to sustain secure maritime environment
7. “Indian leadership…led by national interests”: Vladimir Putin
8. India building two more controversial hydropower projects on Chenab River
9. Centre declares J&K Democratic Freedom Party as ‘unlawful association’ for 5 yrs
10. Lakshadweep MP Mohd Faizal disqualified from Lok Sabha
11. Amit Shah to chair review meeting on ‘Left Wing Extremism’ on Friday
12. Shutter down strike in AJK rising prices of electricity and flour
13. 2 dead, 1 injured in ‘unprovoked, indiscriminate’ firing by Afghan sentry on pedestrians at Chaman border: ISPR
14. Pakistan takes up challenges confronting regional peace with Afghanistan
15. Terror threat to China ‘is challenge to our own’, Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership pledges to Beijing in apparent first
16. China seeks to gain control over Pakistani media: US State Department report

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Sikkim Floods: 18 Killed; Govt Warns Explosives, Arms Likely to be Found Along Teesta Banks

• Rescue operations continued on Fri after the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin.
• The death toll in the disaster rose to 18 while 98 people, including 22 army personnel who were swept away, are still missing.
• In a statement, the govt of neighboring West Bengal said 4 of the 18 bodies were identified as ‘jawans’.
• However, it is not immediately clear whether they were part of the 22 missing soldiers.
• 26 people have suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment
• West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri District Police warned people not to touch packages, firearms or any unfamiliar objects seen floating in the water as they pose a potential risk of a dangerous explosion.
• Certain military equipment including firearms and explosives were carried away by the Teesta River, the police said. (here)

MEA says talks ongoing on ‘modalities’ to achieve parity in diplomatic presence with Canada

• Indian and Canadian officials continue to be engaged in discussions on how to achieve ‘parity’ in diplomatic presence, MEA spox said in his weekly presser on Thu
• He, however, neither confirmed nor denied reports suggesting that India asked over 40 Canadian diplomats to leave the country by Oct 10.
• “Given the much higher diplomatic presence of Canada here and their continuing interference in our internal affairs, we have sought parity,” he said.
• Bagchi added that “discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving” this ‘parity’ in strength and rank equivalence.
• Earlier this week, a report by Financial Times indicated that India had asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats stationed in the country. [as we reported] (here)
• India has taken up concerns about security of diplomats with UK authorities: MEA
• India has taken up its concerns regarding the security of diplomats and premises there with the UK authorities, said Ministry of External Affairs Spox Bagchi on Thu.
• Bagchi stated that New Delhi has been taking up concerns regarding the security of diplomats and premises and other elements related to people there who are wanted by the security or judicial systems in India. (here)

MEA says Afghan embassy’s closure ‘internal matter’, rejects claim of no diplomatic support from India

• The MEA termed a statement from the Embassy of Afghanistan — which closed down earlier this week allegedly due to lack of diplomatic support from India — as “factually incorrect” and “inaccurate”.
• On Oct 1, the Afghan embassy announced it would cease operations due to a lack of support from the host government, among other reasons.
• At a weekly press briefing Thu, MEA spox: “Our understanding is that the embassy in New Delhi is functioning or continuing to function. We are in touch with Afghan diplomats there in that embassy as well as the Afghan diplomats.” (here)

Ties with India ‘could get worse’ due to Canada row, US envoy told team: Report

• Politico- US Diplomat to India Garcetti told his team in the country that relations between India and the US “could get worse for a time” due to New Delhi’s diplomatic spat with Canada
• According to an unnamed State Department official, Garcetti also said that “the US may need to reduce its contacts with Indian officials for an undefined period “.
• “The US embassy dismissed the report, saying that “Garcetti is working hard every day to deepen the partnership between the people and govts of the US and India.”
• The US has said that Canada’s allegations of a “potential” involvement of GoI agents in the killing of terrorist Nijjar in June are “serious” and has called for a full investigation.
• It has also said that it has discussed the matter with New Delhi and has urged it to participate actively in the probe. (here)
• The US will continue to foster a stronger defence partnership with India, the Pentagon said on Fri.
• “We very much appreciate our relationship with India on a defense level. We continue to foster a stronger defense partnership with India and that is something that I think you’ll continue to see us do going forward,” the Pentagon Press Secretary told reporters
• In 1997, defense trade between India and the US was almost negligible, today it stood above USD 20 billion.
• Responding to a question, Ryder said China remains the “pacing challenge” for the Department of Defense. (here)

Army says officer injured in ‘grenade accident’ at a post in J&K’s Rajouri

• On Oct 05, an Indian Army Major has reportedly fired and lobbed grenades at his fellow officers this evening in 48RR Camp in Thanamandi of Rajouri.
• 4 including 3 officers are injured.
• Army major has been caught.
• Senior officers have rushed to the scene.
• Further investigation of the incident in progress: 16 corps.
• “On 05 Oct 23 one officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri sector. Officer evacuated and stable post-initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress” the official statement read. (here)

India, EU discuss ways to sustain secure maritime environment

• India and the EU discussed ways to sustain a secure maritime conducive for inclusive growth, during the 3^rd Maritime Security Dialogue held in Brussels on Thu.
• The two sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation initiatives in the maritime domain and avenues of reinforcing international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security, as per a release issued by the MEA.
• The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary for Disarmament and International Security Affairs, and the EU delegation was led by the Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service Ambassador. (here)

“Indian leadership…led by national interests”: Vladimir Putin

• Reuters- Heaping praise on India, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Indian leadership is “self-directed” and led by the country’s national interests.
• Speaking at an event, Putin alleged that the West is trying to cast everyone “who is not ready to blindly follow these Western elites as the enemy“.
• “At a certain point in time, they tried to do the same with India. Now they are flirting, of course. We all understand this very well. We feel and see the situation in Asia.”
• But, they continue. They are trying to cast Arabs as the enemy.
• Calling India a “powerful country”, Putin said that it is growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of PM Modi, Russia-based RT News reported. (here)

India building two more controversial hydropower projects on Chenab River

• India has started constructing 2 more controversial hydro projects – Kiru and Kwar — on the Chenab with designs that are in sheer breach of the provisions of the IWT.
• Islamabad and New Delhi are already in a legal battle in the court of arbitration and neutral expert, the 2 international forums on the ‘faulty designs’.
• Pakistan has objected to the designs of the Kiru and Kwar hydropower projects with capacity of 624MW and 540MW respectively.
• India is bound to share the designs of its projects with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty. (here) [However, no such reports in Indian Media]

Centre declares J&K Democratic Freedom Party as ‘unlawful association’ for 5 yrs

• The Central govt on Thu declared the J&K Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association for a period of five years.
• Ministry of Home Affairs made the declaration through a notification announcing the JKDFP as an ‘Unlawful Association’ under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.
• The notification mentions that the action is based on inputs that the organization has been involved in “anti-national activities since 1998 and its members have always promoted separatism and terrorist acts in India.” (here)

Lakshadweep MP Mohd Faizal disqualified from Lok Sabha

• NCP Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Wed a day after the Kerala high court rejected his plea to suspend his conviction in an attempt to murder case.
• Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951, a sitting legislator who is convicted for an offence and sentenced to a punishment of 2 or more years stands disqualified from the date of conviction and for a further period of six years unless they can get the order of conviction suspended. (here)

Amit Shah to chair review meeting on ‘Left Wing Extremism’ on Friday

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a review meeting on ‘Left Wing Extremism (LWE)’ here in the national capital on Fri.
• The meeting is likely to be attended by CMs, Home Ministers or their representatives from the states of Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Kerala.
• These are those states that are affected by ‘LWE’ or the naxal problem.
• LWE has been a significant security challenge for so many decades. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Shutter down strike in AJK rising prices of electricity and flour

• A complete shutdown strike was observed and mass protests were held in various cities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir against the rising prices of electricity and flour.
• The shutter down strike began on Thu morning and rallies were held in various cities, with protesters chanting slogans against the government during the demonstrations.
• The strike was called by the Joint PAC of AJK, against rising prices have been ongoing for several months in AJK.
• Last week, the police removed camps in cities such as Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, and others and arrested many protesters.
• After that, all regional action committees joined together to form the Joint Public Action Committee.
• Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq said, “Protesting is the right of the people, but no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.” (here)
• It is the first time that such widespread protests and demonstrations are taking place across AJK.

• AJK Police has demanded Rs.2 billion dealing with the protest movement by the Awami Action Committee.
• The Police expressed worry that if they did not have funds to maintain law and order would go out of their control.
• AJK Police need more vehicles, water cannons, shelling material, and other security equipment for controlling protests.
• There will be a complete strike today across AJK as called by the AAC. People were jubilant after the arrested AAC leaders were released. (Siasat)

2 dead, 1 injured in ‘unprovoked, indiscriminate’ firing by Afghan sentry on pedestrians at Chaman border: ISPR

• At least 2 people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed on Wed when an Afghan sentry opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing on at the Chaman border in Balochistan, the military’s media affairs wing ISPR said.
• According to the ISPR, a child was also injured during the firing.
• The ISPR said the incident occurred at the outbound gate located on the zero line.
• “Own troops exercised extreme restraint and avoided any exchange of fire in the presence of innocent passengers to avoid collateral damage,” it stated.
• The new policy announcement triggered concerns by several quarters, including the Afghan govt which termed it “unacceptable”. (here)

Pakistan takes up challenges confronting regional peace with Afghanistan

• Interim FM Jalil Abbas Jilani Thu apprised his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi about challenges confronting regional peace, as Pakistan faces an uptick in terror activities — that also involved Afghan nationals.
• The caretaker government has given a 28-day deadline to all illegal immigrants, including Afghan refugees, to leave the country or face forceful expulsion.
• “The FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties with Afg[hanistan],” the ministry said.
• The meeting was held in Tibet, China, where the FMs is visiting China to participate in the 3^rd Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation — being held from Oct 4 to 5.
• The major decision to ask illegal migrants to leave the country came after Pakistan witnessed an uptick in unlawful and terror activities.
• The interior minister revealed that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals.
• Taliban authorities have been trying to tempt back those who left, despite the nation suffering from a massive scaleback of aid following the collapse of the US-backed govt.
• Also, in response to Pakistan’s plan to evict hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants, Taliban authorities said it was “unacceptable”. (here)

Terror threat to China ‘is challenge to our own’, Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership pledges to Beijing in apparent first

• Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has assured Beijing that it has worked to combat terrorism and regards threats to China as seriously as a threat against its own country.
• Speaking to Chinese FM Wang Yi in Niyingchi, Tibet, Muttaqi said that “we have done a lot of work to combat terrorism and we take security threats against China like a challenge to our own”, according to a foreign ministry statement.
• “We will not allow any activities that would harm the security and stability of China to happen in Afghanistan.”
• He also gave an “effective guarantee” of Chinese nationals’ safety in Afghanistan but did not elaborate.
• While the Taliban has made previous pledges to clamp down on terrorism, this is the 1^st time such language has been used in the release of meetings with Chinese officials. (here)

China seeks to gain control over Pakistani media: US State Department report

• China has developed a web of international operations to have a say over media narratives and seeks to gain significant control over the Pak media, a US report has said.
• In addition to working closely with Russia in the information space, China has attempted to enlist other close partners to counter unfavorable narratives.
• Prominent among them is Pakistan, it said.
• “With Pakistan, Beijing has sought to deepen cooperation on ‘combating disinformation’, including under the CPEC Media Forum,” said the report.
• Beijing and Islamabad use the Media Forum to address what they view as propaganda and “malicious disinformation” and have launched initiatives like the “CPEC Rapid Response Information Network” and, most recently, pledged to launch the China-Pakistan Media Corridor (CPMC), it said. (here)