1. PM Modi congratulates Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election
2. Elections 2024: Election Commission removes Bengal DGP, top bureaucrats in 6 states
3. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to US Defense Secretary Austin
4. India building dozens of integrated bunkers along LAC to help soldiers beat cold
5. Another Indian student dies in US, taking number of deaths to 9 in 2024

What Else

• External Affairs Min to visit Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia between Mar 23-27
• Guyana secures $23.27mn agreement with India for aircraft procurement
• Tensions high after Taliban says it targeted Pakistani troops at Afghanistan border in retaliation
• Chinese FM Official to Hamas Leader Isma’il Haniya: Hamas is part of Palestinian national fabric; China will maintain its ties with It
• Beijing criticizes South Korea for inviting Taiwan to democracy summit
• Chinese Amb Zhao Xing meets with acting dy PM of Afghanistan for Political Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir:

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PM Modi congratulates Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election

• PM Modi on Mon congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation.
• Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.
• Putin wins elections: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country’s presidential elections extending his rule till 2030.
• Vladimir Putin won 87.28% of the votes in the presidential election based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols, according to the CEC data.
• Putin’s closest opponent, the Communist Party’s Nikolay Kharitonov secured the 2^nd spot with 4.31% of the votes polled whereas NPP candidate Vladislav Davankov stood third with 3.85% votes and Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) got 3.20%.
• The voter turnout across Russia topped 74%, the Central Election Commission said.
• In a speech at his campaign HQ on Sun evening, Putin denounced the West’s criticism of the elections and said that the West’s reaction was on “expected” lines.
• Putin clinches landslide victory in ‘new’ territories: Putin gained 94.12% of the votes in Luhansk and over 95% in Donetsk, sometimes collectively referred to as the Donbas region that Russia now claims as its own in the wake of the war in Ukraine. (here)

Elections 2024: Election Commission removes Bengal DGP, top bureaucrats in 6 states

• The Election Commission of India on Mon removed the home secretaries of 6 states, including Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand, and UP.
• EC also ordered the transfer of WB’s Police chief DGP as the state has witnessed several instances of poll-related violence in recent years.
• Home secretaries were also transferred, along with senior officials from Mizoram.
• Also, Iqbal Singh Chahal, the Commissioner of BMC – the civic body that governs Mumbai – and Additional and Deputy Commissioners have been removed.
• It is not uncommon
• The reason for the big move: it is understood that it is done to ensure a level playing field and to “maintain the integrity of the poll process”. (here)
• ‘Modi ji twisting ‘Shakti’ remark’: Rahul Gandhi clears stance on PM Modi’s ‘jaan ki baazi‘ attack: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy on Mon with his “Shakti” remarks during the closing ceremony of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai
• With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming, PM Modi swiftly denounced Gandhi’s comments.
• Responding to the backlash, Gandhi issued a clarification, blaming PM Modi for “twisting” his remarks.
• The occurrences led to Gandhi’s address in Mumbai on Sun, where he criticized the ruling BJP and PM on multiple fronts, including allegations of tampering with EVMs
• ‘Will sacrifice my life…’: PM Modi’s sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi
• PM Modi aimed Gandhi’s “Shakti” remark, asserting that while the Congress purports to oppose Shakti, he perceives every mother and daughter as manifestations of ‘Shakti.’ (here)
• BJP’s seat-sharing talks with Maharashtra allies stuck over 3 seats: Sources
• Mahayuti alliance yet to finalize Lok Sabha seat-sharing deal in Maharashtra
• 3 seats – Baramati, Madha, Satara – causing uncertainty
• Party workers protest in Madha and Satara over candidate selection (here)
• NDA finalizes Bihar seat-sharing formula for Lok Sabha polls: The NDA’s seat-sharing formula was finalized in Bihar, where the BJP will contest from 17 seats, the JD (U) from 16, the LJP got 5, and Manjhi’s HUM and Kushwaha’s RLSP, each got 1 seat (here)

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to US Defense Secretary Austin

• DM Rajnath Singh on Mon discussed with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin ways and means to implement the ambitious India-US defense cooperation roadmap that seeks to significantly elevate strategic ties between the two countries.
• In a telephonic conversation, Singh and Austin also discussed a range of issues including that of regional security.
• The ministry said the secretary appreciated the important role being played by the Indian Navy in conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region.
• “Other defense industrial cooperation issues such as repair of US naval ships in Indian shipyards were also briefly discussed,” it said in a statement.
• It said both Singh and Austin also reviewed the recent bilateral events such as the INDUS-X summit held in Delhi last month. (here)
• India, US to take part in bilateral tri-service exercise- Tiger Triumph-24: A bilateral tri-service exercise between India and the US will be held on the Eastern Seaboard in the US from Mar 18 to 31.
• The exercise, Tiger Triump-24, is aimed at “developing interoperability” for conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations and “refining SOPs to enable rapid and smooth coordination between forces of both countries”, Indian Navy stated
• Similarly, the US would be represented by US Navy Ships with embarked troops of the US Marine Corps and US Army.
• The harbor phase will be held from Mar 18 to 25 and personnel from both the Indian and the US Navy will participate in it. (here)

India building dozens of integrated bunkers along LAC to help soldiers beat cold

• India is building dozens of bunkers that will house at least 120 troops along the India-China border and keep them combat-ready even at sub-zero temp, defense sources and a company engaged in infrastructure building along the border said.
• In the past wars with China and recently with Pakistan, soldiers have often suffered from harsh weather in unfamiliar territories, prompting the MHA to commission these specialized insulated bunkers.
• The bunkers earlier were mostly wooden or concrete structures lined with sandbags.
• They offered little protection to the troops from the harsh climate or the enemy.
• But the new one will have the comfort of AC using solar and geothermal energy, sleeping quarters, and space for more than 100 soldiers to withstand – 30^oC
• India shares a 3,488 km-long disputed border with China — 1,597km in E Ladakh, 545 km in Himachal and Uttarakhand, 220 km in Sikkim, and 1,126km in Arunachal.
• The country has already constructed a permanent integrated COY level building, of approx  27,000 ft², at the border outpost of ITBP Lukung at Leh, as a pilot project (here)

Another Indian student dies in US, taking number of deaths to 9 in 2024

• A 20-year-old 2^nd-year engineering student of Boston University in the US, hailing from Guntur district in Andhra, was found dead in a car that was abandoned in a forest area.
• Paruchuri Abhijit had been missing since Mar 11.
• After his friends reported his disappearance to police, cops tracked Abhijit’s body based on his mobile phone signals.
• However, the Indian consulate in New York, said on X on Mon that initial investigations “ruled out foul play”.
• This was the 9^th such case, in 2024 only

External Affairs Minister to visit Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia between Mar 23-27

• EAM S Jaishankar, at the invitation of his counterparts, will be on an official visit to Singapore, Philippines, and Malaysia from Mar 23-27, the MEA said on Sat
• The 3-nation visit of Jaishankar will focus on “enhancing bilateral relations” and would provide an “opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern.” (here)

Guyana secures $23.27mn agreement with India for aircraft procurement

• In a significant move aimed at bolstering the capabilities of the Guyana Defence (GDF), the Guyana Govt has inked a Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement worth US $23.27 million with the EXIM Bank for the procurement of two aircraft.
• “Government is investing heavily in strengthening the capabilities of the GDF, in particular, in some of its specialized wings, such as the Air Corps and the Coast Guard,” asserted a statement released by the Guyana govt.
• This investment underscores New Delhi’s commitment to modernizing and equipping the GDF for evolving security challenges in the region.
• The acquisition of two aircraft under this agreement marks the largest-ever investment in the capitalization of the force, signifying a pivotal moment in defense modernization.
• Furthermore, India’s commitment to capacity building is exemplified by its initiative to train Guyanese officials under the ITEC program. (here)

[Neighborhood]

Tensions high after Taliban says it targeted Pakistani troops at Afghanistan border in retaliation

• In fresh tensions between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the latter’s defense ministry said it had targeted Pakistani troops at the border in response to airstrikes in Afghan areas of Khost and Paktika early Mon.
• In a statement, the Taliban defense ministry said Afghan border forces targeted Pakistani military positions along with heavy artillery in response to alleged Pakistani bombings of civilian homes in districts of Khost, Barmal, and Paktika.
• In its statement, the Taliban spokesperson hit out at Pakistan’s domestic situation, which has been marked by an economic crisis and political instability, especially during the recently held elections in the country. (here)
• Pakistan carried out anti-terrorist intelligence operations inside Afghanistan, FO confirms
• The FO on Mon confirmed that Pakistan carried out “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations” inside the border regions of Afghanistan, hours after Kabul said airstrikes conducted on its soil had killed 8 people.
• A release said the prime targets of the operation on Mon were terrorists belonging to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group,
• The outfit, along with the banned TTP, was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pak, resulting in “deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials”.
• ‘Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed concerns to Afghan authorities’
• The FO said that over the years, “Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the interim Afghan govt over the presence of terror outfits, including TTP”.
• Afghanistan warns of dire consequences, summons Pakistani Cd’A: The spox of the govt, alleged in a statement that Pak aircraft had carried out airstrikes on Afghan soil in the provinces of Paktika and Khost along the Pakistan border, killing 8 people.
• Alleging that “houses of common people were targeted”, he said 3 women and as many children were killed in Paktika while two women were killed in Khost
• In a statement on Mujahid’s X, he said: “The Pakistani side is saying that [militant] Abdullah Shah was targeted in the strikes but he lives on the Pakistani side.”
• Afghan govt providing haven to terrorists: military media wing, ISPR
• Fatalities reported in Kurram cross-border clashes: A captain was reported to have been KIA and 2 soldiers were said to be injured in cross-border exchanges in Kurram distt.
• TTP funding: 2 days ago, Pakistan’s Special Rep. in Afghanistan said Islamabad had evidence that the TTP was getting money from India through Afghan proxies, estimating that 5,000 to 6,000 TTP militants had taken shelter in Afghanistan. (here)

Chinese FM Official to Hamas Leader Isma’il Haniya: Hamas is part of Palestinian national fabric; China will maintain its ties with It

• On Mar 17, a Hamas delegation led by Isma’il Haniya, head of the movement’s political bureau,  met in Qatar with Wang Kejian, an official in the Chinese foreign ministry.
• The meeting was also attended by China’s ambassador to Qatar, Cao Xiaolin.
• According to a statement issued by Hamas after the meeting, China, unlike the U.S. and some European countries, recognizes it as a legitimate part of the Palestinian fabric.
• The following are details about the meeting, as presented in Hamas’ statement.
• Haniya said that he was “proud of the close relations between the two friendly peoples” and hailed the role played by China in the UNSC and the ICJ, as well as the aid to Gaza.
• Kejian, for his part, “stressed the close and historical relations between the Palestinian and Chinese peoples, as well as China’s unwavering positions on the Palestinian issue and its support of the Palestinian people’s just demands for freedom, independence and the establishment of the Palestinian state.” (here)

Beijing criticizes South Korea for inviting Taiwan to democracy summit

• China lashed out at South Korea on Mon for hosting the Summit for Democracy and inviting Taiwan to take part in the conference.
• S Korea is hosting the 3^rd democracy summit, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which began on Mon.
• Similar to the previous two editions, Beijing was excluded while a Taiwanese official was invited to deliver an online message.
• Chinese foreign ministry spox Lin Jian said that the summit was using democracy as an “instrument and weapon” to draw a line based on ideology and that China “firmly opposes” the host country’s invitation of Taiwan.
• “What the world needs today is not creating a divide in the name of democracy,” Lin said at a press conference.
• “China sternly urges the South Korean side to abide by the one-China principle and stop providing a podium to the Taiwan independence forces,” he said. (here)

Chinese Amb Zhao Xing meets with acting dy PM of Afghanistan for Political Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir:

• On Mar 17^th, Ambassador Zhao Xing met with Acting Deputy PM of Afghanistan for Political Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir.
• They exchanged views on developing bilateral relations and deepening cooperation in all fields. (here)