1. Manipur: Internet shut for 5 days amid violence, Student Agitation
2. Rahul Gandhi in US; His Interview Creates War of Words in Domestic Politics
3. Senior American diplomat Donald Lu to visit India, Bangladesh
4. Doubt India wants Russian equipment that failed in Ukraine, don’t need loyalty test: Rice
5. BSF jawan injured in unprovoked firing by Pak troops in Jammu’s Akhnoor: officials

What Else

1. ‘Not closed to business from China.’ Jaishankar says issue is which sector, what terms
2. TATA-Lockheed Martin to set up C-130 MRO base in India for IAF, others
3. Bangladesh to seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India
4. After defence dialogue, Muizzu of Maldives set to visit Delhi next week
5. Gautam Adani wants Bangladesh to pay $800 million power dues soon: ‘I request…’
6. Pakistan: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar decries crackdown moments after being set at liberty
7. ATC approves eight-day physical remand of PTI leaders
8. 16 Afghan Taliban killed as Pakistan Army repulses cross border attack
9. US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

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Manipur: Internet shut for 5 days amid violence, Student Agitation

• The state govt on Tue suspended internet services in the entire state for 5 days amid intensified agitation by students.
• The decision was taken to curb the use of social media for transmission of images, hate speech, and hate video, the state home department said in a notification.
• Security forces fired tear gas shells on Tue as student and women demonstrators clashed with them during the agitators’ attempt to march towards the Raj Bhavan to press for their demands for the removal of the DGP and the state security advisor. (here)
• Hundreds of students, who have been camping at Khwairamband Women’s Market since Mon, tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan along the BT Road but were stopped.
• The district Admin of Imphal West and East has imposed a curfew in both districts starting from 11:00 am Tue, Sept 10.
• Now, due to the developing law and order situation in the district, the above-mentioned relaxation order stands canceled with immediate effect, i.e., from 11:00 am.
• A total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect and until further orders.
• The govt, however, has allowed the free movement of essential services.
• Meanwhile, a senior police officer said they have recovered tails of sophisticated rockets after recent drone and hi-tech missile attacks in Manipur.
• He also dismissed the claims of Lt. Gen P C Nair, (a retd DG) of Assam Rifles, that no drones or rockets had been used. (more)

Rahul Gandhi in US; His Interview Creates War of Words in Domestic Politics

• Congress MP Rahul Gandhi found himself at the center of an unexpected candid exchange with a student about the opposition’s much-touted ‘INDIA Alliance’.
• The episode, which began as a straightforward question on coalition dynamics, quickly transformed into a moment that went viral on social media.
• The student’s query cut straight to the heart of the coalition’s perceived weakness:
• Rahul, addressing the larger issue of the alliance’s vision, was quick to correct, “INDI is BJP’s framing, it’s INDIA alliance,” he said.
• However, the persistent student then questioned what the “A” in INDIA stood for.
• Rahul did manage to clarify the ideological foundation of the INDIA bloc
• Critics from the ruling party were quick to pounce, painting the moment as a representation of the opposition’s broader internal confusion.
• This comes amid a row over Rahul’s remarks where he said that today the “fight in India is whether a Sikh person will be able to wear his turban, kada, and visit Gurdwara”. (more)
• This caused retaliation from the BJP.
• Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tue lambasted Gandhi over his remarks on Sikhs, saying the LoP in the Lok Sabha was setting a dangerous narrative by speaking about sensitive issues in the US.
• Condemning the remarks, Puri said Rahul Gandhi’s statements in the US were sinister.
• He accused him of spreading falsehood among Sikhs based abroad. (more)
• Statement by Gurpatwant Pannu: “… Rahul Gandhi justified SFJ’s global Khalistan Referendum campaign when he stated: “Fight in India is whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear turban and kada, go to gurudwara”.
• Gandhi also met Ilhan Omar in the USA, who is known for her anti-India stance causing eruption of fresh row at home.
• LoP meets members of Congress, Repeats his message at other venues, that the US can expect broad continuity in India’s foreign policy. Meaning no radical departures as DC might want.
• Congressman Brad Sherman, posted on X: “… to discuss US-India relations. I proudly represent a vibrant Indian American diaspora & will keep working with all Indian leaders to deepen the alliance between our nations.”

Senior American diplomat Donald Lu to visit India, Bangladesh

• A senior US diplomat Donald Lu is traveling to India and Bangladesh this week to reaffirm the US commitment to supporting the economic growth of its partners and promoting stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the US State Dept said on Tue.
• Lu will 1^st stop in New Delhi, where he will highlight the US-India cooperation to promote development, security, and women’s economic security at the India Ideas Summit, hosted by the US-India Business Council.
• During the trip starting from Sept 10-16, Lu will also co-chair the 8^th US-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue alongside US Deputy Asstt Secy of Defence for Indo-Pacific and counterparts from the MEA and Indian Ministry of Defence.
• In Dhaka, Lu will join an interagency delegation for meetings with the interim govt.
• The delegation will include representatives from the US Dept of the Treasury, USAID, and the Office of the US Trade Representative.
• The two officials will discuss how the US can “support” Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability, and development needs. (more)
• The visit to Bangladesh represents a change in tone from the relationship that the U.S. had with the administration of former PM, Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since Aug.
• Hasina had blamed the U.S. for playing a role in ousting her, while US State Dept had denied having any role. (more) [But consequences are louder]

Doubt India wants Russian equipment that failed in Ukraine, don’t need loyalty test: Rice

• Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice emphasized that common values and interests will strengthen the India-US partnership, despite PM Modi’s visit to Russia.
• Speaking at the Indus X summit, she tinted the need for the Pentagon to enhance defense ties with India and agreed with India’s understanding of the China-Russia strategic relationship.
• There is a need to move away from a “loyalty test every 5 minutes” about who is meeting with whom, she said at the Indus X (India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem) summit to promote joint defense innovation at Stanford University.
• Rice acknowledged that there is a historical relationship that India has with Russia when it comes to weapon systems and the Pentagon needs to do more to leverage ties with India. (more)

BSF jawan injured in unprovoked firing by Pak troops in Jammu’s Akhnoor: officials

• A Border Security Forces personnel was injured in “an unprovoked firing incident” from across the International Border in the Akhnoor area of Jammu on Wed.
• The incident took place around 02.35 a.m. “An incident of unprovoked firing was reported in Akhnoor area from across the border. In this incident, one BSF constable, Durba Jyoti Das, sustained injuries. He was subsequently shifted to hospital,” BSF said.
• A befitting response was given by the BSF, officials said.
• The BSF has been put on alert “to avert any aggression by the enemy”.
• The ceasefire violation between the two countries has been very rare ever since India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement on Feb 25, 2021.
• Last year, a BSF jawan was killed in Pakistan Rangers firing in the Ramgarh sector, the first loss of life on the Indian side in more than three years. (more)

‘Not closed to business from China.’ Jaishankar says issue is which sector, what terms

• India is not closed to doing business with China, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Tue but highlighted that the issue was in which sector and on what terms.
• His comments at a conference in Berlin come at a time when China has pipped the US to become New Delhi’s largest trading partner in goods in 2023-24 despite strained ties.
• Though India subsequently put a squeeze on visas, commercial activity between New Delhi and Beijing has only grown these last years.
• Addressing the Annual Ambassadors’ Conference, Jaishankar said China was the 2^nd-largest economy in the world and was a premium manufacturer.
• On the Russia-Ukraine war, the FM reiterated that a solution would not be found on the battlefield and that both countries had to negotiate an end to the conflict.
• He added India was willing to give “advice” to either of them if requested.
• Trade in goods between the two neighbors stood at $118.41 billion at the end of the 2024 FY, with Beijing regaining its spot as New Delhi’s top trading partner after 3 years.
• Out of this, Indian imports from China were $101.74 bn, while its exports were roughly $16.66 billion. (more)
• Ukraine, Gaza, Indo-Pacific, and UN Reforms are among the key issues discussed between Jaishankar and German FM Baerbock.
• EAM says, “Germany is a crucial partner in accelerating our growth & development. India can contribute to building reliable and resilient supply chains”.

TATA-Lockheed Martin to set up C-130 MRO base in India for IAF, others

• TATA group and US aviation major Lockheed Martin will set up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the country to support the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet of 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as well as those operated by other countries.
• This is the first proper MRO facility to be established by a major aviation firm in India and will also cater to the global C-130J fleet spanning 27 operators in 23 nations.
• A joint statement issued by the companies also said they have agreed to expand a C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India, if and when they bag the contract.
• This means Lockheed Martin will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India.
• The company will, however, continue to build C-130Js for the US and other operators at the existing Super Hercules production facility in Marietta, Georgia, USA. (more)

Bangladesh to seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India

• Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal is to seek the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina from neighboring India, its chief prosecutor has said, accusing her of carrying out “massacres”.
• Weeks of student-led demonstrations in Bangladesh escalated into mass protests last month, with Ms. Hasina quitting as Prime Minister and fleeing by helicopter to old ally India on Aug 5, ending her iron-fisted 15-year rule. (more)

After defence dialogue, Muizzu of Maldives set to visit Delhi next week

• Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu is likely to travel to India on an official visit next week, probably mid-week, sources said.
• This comes days after New Delhi and Male held a defense dialogue in New Delhi last week, where they discussed “ongoing defense cooperation projects” and “forthcoming bilateral military exercises”.
• This will be a standalone bilateral visit, three months after Muizzu traveled to India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi on Jun 9.
• The defense dialogue last week was the first since India withdrew its uniformed military personnel from the Maldives earlier this year.
• The last one was in Male in Mar last year, when then-President Ibrahim Solih was in office, months before Muizzu took over.
• Seen as pro-China, Muizzu asked India to withdraw its military personnel soon after assuming office.
• Last Dec, the Muizzu govt also decided not to renew a 2019 MoU with India for hydrographic surveying. (more)

Gautam Adani wants Bangladesh to pay $800 million power dues soon: ‘I request…’

• Gautam Adani, Adani Group chairman, reportedly reached out to the chief advisor to the Bangladesh Yunus seeking his intervention in the early clearance of $800 mn of receivables due from the Bangladesh Power Development Board.
• In a letter, Adani wrote, “I would request for your kind intervention in early liquidation of $800 million of receivables due from Bangladesh Power Development Board.”
• He said, “May we request for regular payment of routine bills as we continue with our commitment on supplies and in addition significant tranches be made each month to liquidate outstanding dues.”
• Adani Power supplies electricity to Bangladesh from its 1.6 GW coal-fired power plant in Jharkhand through a dedicated transmission corridor which it began last Jun.
• Adani Power has invested $2 billion in building a state-of-the-art plant and associated transmission infrastructure, adding, “I would like to reiterate our commitment to your country’s energy security and infrastructure development.” (more)
• India-funded projects to continue: The projects taken under the Indian line of credit would continue considering their importance to the country, said Salahuddin Ahmed, the finance and commerce adviser to the interim government.
• The issues regarding the implementation and disbursement under the 3 Indian LoCs were discussed at the meeting.
• There were some issues related to the disbursement of funds under the LoCs.
• Bangladesh and India signed the first LoC agreement involving $862 million in August 2010, the second one involving $2 bn in Mar 2016, and the 3^rd one involving $4.5 bn in Mar 2017. (more)

 [Neighborhood]

Pakistan: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar decries crackdown moments after being set at liberty

• Police on Tue PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan a day after he was arrested over violation of newly implemented rules regarding public gatherings in Islamabad.
• The PTI chief was also discharged from a case registered against him in the Sangjani police station.
• He told media that police took him into custody and interrogated him about some cases.
• Police told him that there was no case registered against him, he said.
• A day earlier, police arrested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar outside Parliament House.
• Earlier, PTI’s firebrand leader Sher Afzal Marwat was also taken into custody.
• Meanwhile, the National Assembly Speaker took notice of the recent arrests. (more)
• The PTI chief is also discharged from a case registered in Sangjani police station.

ATC approves eight-day physical remand of PTI leaders

• An Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday approved an eight-day physical remand of PTI leaders who were arrested yesterday outside the parliament.
• The detained leaders include Sher Afzal Marwat, Aamir Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha, and others in connection with the Sangjani police station case.
• It merits mention the court rejected the physical remand request for Shoaib Shaheen and he was sent to judicial custody.
• Sources say Islamabad police presented Shoaib Shaheen and other arrested workers, charged under terrorism provisions, before Judge of the ATC on Wed. (more)

16 Afghan Taliban killed as Pakistan Army repulses cross border attack

• Pakistani Army gave a befitting response to the unprovoked aggression from Afghanistan on the border between two neighboring countries, killing 16 Afghan Taliban and injuring 27 others
• Since the morning of September 7, the Afghan Taliban resorted to unprovoked firing with large weapons at Pakistani check posts from Plosin, and the firing continued until the evening of September 8 and 9.
• The Pakistan Army effectively retaliated to the firing and inflicted heavy losses on the Afghan Taliban.
• Reports said 16 Afghan Taliban including two commanders have been killed and 27 injured so far in the retaliatory action.
• Two Afghan Taliban tanks were also destroyed in the action.
• A day earlier, security forces responded effectively and killed eight Afghan Taliban, including key Commanders Khalil and Jan Muhammad.
• In addition to terrorist attacks, the Afghan Taliban’s aggression on the international border is now openly visible. (more)

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

• The US and Britain underscored their commitment to a unified approach to China as the long-time allies opened a new bilateral strategic dialogue in London on Tue.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British counterpart David Lammy stressed the importance of their countries liaising on global issues, including their stance towards Beijing, at a conference at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development.
• Lammy, who was named Britain’s top diplomat following the Labour Party’s victory in the national general elections in Jul, highlighted the value of the new mechanism dubbed the UK-US strategic dialogue.
• He touted the allies’ partnership in the Indo-Pacific region and their dealings with China, saying these issues would play a central role in the strategic talks. (more)