1. ‘Engine Got Stuck in Full Throttle’: Navy After 13 Dead in Ferry Crash Near Gateway Of India
2. Dutch PM Schoof rings Modi: Focus on boosting ties in security, tech, green energy
3. NSA Ajit Doval meets China FM Wang Yi; Beijing says ‘ready to work with India’
4. China hasn’t eased LAC build-up: Pentagon
5. Satellite images show China has built villages near Bhutan’s Doklam: Report

What Else

1. PM Modi to travel to Kuwait this weekend, first visit by an Indian prime minister since 1981
2. Foreigners’ entry restricted in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland
3. 5 Terrorists Killed in Kulgam Encounter With Security Forces, 2 Soldiers Injured
4. My words twisted; Congress anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution, says Amit Shah
5. Bangladesh references JN Dixit in apparent effort to counter Modi
6. Threat perception, China-Pakistan nexus necessitates substantial enhancement of border infrastructure, Army tells Par panel
7. J&K: Arms, ammunition recovered from forest area in Kupwara
8. US assures safety of Indian Ambassador Kwatra amid threats from Pannun
9. ‘Misleading’: Pakistan’s Fake Propaganda About UNGA Resolution on J&K Busted
10. Bangladesh: Remittance dollar hits all-time high of Tk127 – signaling economic headwinds
11. Bangladesh seeks an additional $750m from IMF to address economic challenges
12. Bangladesh: High Court acquits Babar in 10-truck arms haul case
13. Nepal: President Paudel appoints envoys to India and Malaysia
14. US imposes more sanctions over Pakistan’s missile program

—————-

‘Engine Got Stuck in Full Throttle’: Navy After 13 Dead in Ferry Crash Near Gateway Of India

• The Neelkamal ferry was en route to Elephanta Islands when it capsized after being struck by a small boat around 4 pm ¹.
• The rescue operation is quite extensive, with the Navy deploying 11 boats, three Marine Police boats, a Coast Guard vessel, and four helicopters.
• Personnel from various agencies, including the police and local fishermen, are also involved in the search and rescue mission.
• Unfortunately, one passenger has died, and about a dozen others are still missing ¹. The authorities are working tirelessly to locate them. (more)
• The Navy craft was undergoing engine trials and lost control, according to a statement from the Indian Navy.
• After this, it collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal carrying nearly 110 passengers off Karanja, Mumbai.
• So far, 99 survivors have been rescued, the statement said, with 4 naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, 1 Coast Guard boat, and 3 Marine Police boats pressed into action. (more)

Dutch PM Schoof rings Modi: Focus on boosting ties in security, tech, green energy

• Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call to strengthen ties between their countries. They discussed:
• Enhancing cooperation in security, semiconductors, healthcare, and green hydrogen.
• Opportunities for a strategic partnership in key sectors.
• The ongoing war in Ukraine.
• Modi called the Netherlands a “trusted & valued partner” and expressed commitment to advancing bilateral ties in diverse sectors, including Water management; Agriculture; Security; Technology; and Renewable energy. (more)

NSA Ajit Doval meets China FM Wang Yi; Beijing says ‘ready to work with India’

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wed to discuss key issues, including management of peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and restoration of bilateral ties.
• The meeting marks the 23^rd round of the Special Representatives’ talks, which have been revived after a 5-year hiatus.
• China has expressed optimism about the talks, stating its readiness to work with India to implement commitments based on common understandings between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping.
• The two officials are expected to discuss rebuilding bilateral ties following the October 21 agreement on disengagement and patrolling in eastern Ladakh.
• The meeting is significant as it’s the first structured engagement between the two countries to restore relations. (more)
• China and India agree on a six-point consensus: Following border talks in Beijing, India and China have reached a six-point consensus.
• The agreement aims to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, promote healthy bilateral relations, and seek a fair solution to the boundary issue.
• The two countries agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges, resume Indian pilgrimages to China, and revitalize cross-border river cooperation.
• The next round of talks will be held in India next year. (more)
• Resume institutional dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, and culture; bring bilateral relations back onto the track of stable development: Chinese Vice President tells Indian NSA Ajit Doval
• India and China have issued separate statements following their recent meeting.
• India emphasized the need for peace and tranquility along the border, while China highlighted a six-point consensus agreement.
• However, India has not commented on China’s six-point consensus.
• Despite the differences, both countries have agreed on several key issues, including:
• Mansarovar Yatra: Resuming the Hindu pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet.
• Data sharing on rivers: Exchanging data on river flows and hydrological information.
• Border trade: Enhancing trade along the India-China border.
• India has also called for learning from the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, while China’s Wang Yi described the meeting as “hard-won and worth cherishing”.
• In a surprise move, Beijing broke protocol by having National Security Adviser Ajit Doval meet with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who emphasized the need for ties to return to a “track of stable development”.

China hasn’t eased LAC build-up: Pentagon

• China has maintained a significant military presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.
• The US Department of Defense stated that China’s People’s Liberation Army has not reduced its troop numbers or positions along the LAC and has instead built infrastructure to support multiple brigade deployments.
• The PLA continues to focus on developing capabilities to deter or defeat third-party interventions in the Indo-Pacific region.
• China has also demonstrated an increasing willingness to use military coercion and inducements to achieve its aims.
• In terms of military capabilities, China has over 600 operational nuclear warheads and plans to increase this number to over 1,000 by 2035.
• China’s military modernization efforts aim to improve its capabilities across all warfare domains, including land, air, maritime, nuclear, space, and cyberspace operations. (more)

Satellite images show China has built villages near Bhutan’s Doklam: Report

• China has built at least 22 villages and settlements in Bhutan’s territory over the last eight years, according to reports citing satellite imagery.
• 8 of these villages are near the strategic Doklam plateau, alarming China watchers in New Delhi.
• The construction has taken place despite a 2017 border standoff between India and China over Chinese construction in Doklam.
• Satellite images show stepped-up Chinese construction activity around Doklam.
• “The sighting” comes as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss border issues and bilateral ties. (more)

PM Modi to travel to Kuwait this weekend, first visit by an Indian prime minister since 1981

• PM Modi is set to make a historic visit to Kuwait this weekend, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.
• The last time an Indian PM visited Kuwait was in 1981.
• The visit is significant, as it will close the last gap in India’s expanded diplomatic engagement with the Gulf, which is crucial for the country’s security and prosperity.
• The visit is expected to strengthen India’s ties with Kuwait and the broader Gulf region (more)

Foreigners’ entry restricted in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland

• The Union Home Ministry has reinstated the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
• This move aims to closely monitor the movement of foreigners due to growing security concerns arising from the influx of people from neighboring countries.
• As a result, foreigners visiting these 3 northeastern states must now obtain prior permission and special permits.
• The relaxation of these rules, which was in place for 14 years, has been withdrawn.
• According to guidelines, foreigners are discouraged from visiting protected areas unless there are extraordinary reasons to justify a visit.
• The Manipur govt has stated that the reimposition of PAR will help monitor the movement of foreigners in the state.
• This development comes amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur between the tribal Kuki-Zo people and the Meitei community, which has resulted in over 250 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 people. (more)

5 Terrorists Killed in Kulgam Encounter With Security Forces, 2 Soldiers Injured

• Five terrorists have been killed during an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, officials said, reported PTI.
• The area was cordoned off after the forces launched an operation at Kadder in the Behibagh area of the district on Wed night.
• Officials said they had received inputs about the presence of suspected terrorists in the area.
• The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire on the security forces. (more)

My words twisted; Congress anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution, says Amit Shah

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress of distorting his comments on Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha.
• Shah claimed that the Congress has a history of being anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution, and anti-reservation.
• The controversy surrounds an 11-second clip of Shah’s speech, which the Congress alleges insulted Ambedkar.
• PM Modi defended Shah on social media, and the BJP has threatened to explore legal options against the Congress for twisting Shah’s statement.
• The row has sparked a political firestorm, with the Congress demanding Shah’s apology and resignation. (more)
• [Amit Shah’s remark was a sarcastic jab at the Congress, implying that their attempts to invoke Ambedkar’s name can’t erase the party’s past disrespect towards him. In essence, Shah said that the Congress’s “mntrajap” (repeated invocation) of Ambedkar’s name can’t hide the real insult their party has inflicted on him in the past]

Bangladesh references JN Dixit in apparent effort to counter Modi

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh stated on Wed, seemingly in response to PM Modi’s message on Victory Day, Dec 16.
• The statement, titled “Facts in History,” highlighted Bangladesh’s emergence as a sovereign nation after a 9-month brutal war in 1971.
• It also quoted former Indian Foreign Secretary JN Dixit, who pointed out that Bangladesh was kept out of the surrender ceremony, generating resentment among Bangladeshi political circles.
• Although the foreign ministry didn’t explicitly state that the statement was in response to Modi’s message, it was released a day after Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain announced that they would officially respond to his remarks.
• Modi’s message praised Indian soldiers who died in 1971 and described the day as a victory for India, “drawing widespread criticism in Bangladesh” [or installer of puppet govt]. (more)
• [This regime’s actions are overtly hostile towards India, without provocation. Specifically, it’s releasing terrorists from jail, overturning convictions of BNP ministers who supplied arms to ULFA in India, and reopening the BDR mutiny case to distort history and implicate India]

Threat perception, China-Pakistan nexus necessitates substantial enhancement of border infrastructure, Army tells Par panel

• The Indian Army has emphasized the need to enhance and improve border infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, citing the ongoing military build-up and China’s collusion with Pakistan.
• The Army has deployed over 169 infantry battalions along the LAC, which is divided into 3 sectors: Western, Middle, and Eastern.
• To counter the rapidly changing threat from China and non-state actors, the Army is replacing legacy equipment with state-of-the-art weapon systems and platforms.
• The Army has also conducted exercises like Exercise Him Shakti in Ladakh to train troops in realistic conditions.
• Furthermore, the Army is undertaking life-cycle sustenance of equipment and infrastructure, including maintenance and repair, as well as logistical exercises to sustain troops along the northern borders. (more)

J&K: Arms, ammunition recovered from forest area in Kupwara

• Security forces in J&K have made a significant seizure, recovering a cache of arms, ammunition, and narcotics from a forest area near the Line of Control in Kupwara.
• The joint operation by the army and police was based on specific intelligence and took place in the Amrohi area of Tangdhar on Tue.
• The haul included four pistols, six pistol magazines, approximately four kilograms of narcotics, and other war-like materials. (more)

US assures safety of Indian Ambassador Kwatra amid threats from Pannun

• The US has assured the safety of the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra after threats were made against him by Pannun, a terrorist listed in India.
• A US Embassy Spox stated that the US govt is committed to the security and safety of all diplomatic personnel in the United States.
• Pannun, a US-Canadian citizen, has a history of issuing threats against Indian interests.
• Additionally, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a listed terror group in India, has offered $25,000 to track Ambassador Kwatra in the US.
• The group has claimed India-Russia links to attacks on Khalistani separatists in North America. (more)

‘Misleading’: Pakistan’s Fake Propaganda About UNGA Resolution on J&K Busted

• Pakistan’s claim that the UNGA adopted its resolution on the “Universal Realization of the Right of the Peoples to Self-determination” has been busted as misleading propaganda.
• A source revealed that Pakistan tables this resolution every year in the UN’s Third Committee, and it’s adopted without a vote.
• Notably, the resolution doesn’t mention Jammu and Kashmir.
• This annual resolution is part of the Third Committee’s focus on human rights, humanitarian issues, and societal issues. (more)
• [When Pakistan talks about “Self-Determination”, it’s essentially a euphemism for Kashmir. By using this phrase, Pakistan aims to keep the Kashmir issue alive without directly mentioning it, thereby achieving a win-win situation]

[Neighborhood]

Bangladesh: Remittance dollar hits all-time high of Tk127 – signaling economic headwinds

• The remittance dollar rate in Bangladesh has surged to an all-time high of Tk127, driven by increased demand and aggregator exchange houses’ tactics.
• This has led to a severe cash dollar shortage in the kerb market, with the dollar selling for up to Tk127.50.
• Bankers attribute the hike to several factors, including:
• Increased demand for dollars
• Aggregator exchange houses’ practices
• Central bank’s reduced dollar sales
• IMF’s pressure to adopt a crawling peg system
• State banks’ emergence as new competitors in the remittance dollar market (more)

Bangladesh seeks an additional $750m from IMF to address economic challenges

• Bangladesh has requested an additional $750 million loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tackle economic challenges and foreign exchange shortages.
• If approved, the total loan amount will increase to $5.3 billion.
• The IMF has projected Bangladesh’s real GDP growth to slow to 3.8% in FY25 due to various factors, including output losses caused by public uprising, floods, and tighter policies.
• However, growth is expected to rebound to 6.7% in FY26 as policies relax.
• The IMF has also emphasized the need for near-term policy tightening to address emerging external financing gaps and high inflation.
• This includes fiscal consolidation, monetary tightening, and exchange rate reforms.
• Additionally, the IMF has stressed the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in the banking sector, enhancing governance and transparency, and building resilience to climate change. (more)

Bangladesh: High Court acquits Babar in 10-truck arms haul case

• The High Court has acquitted former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar and five others who were sentenced to death in the 2004 10-truck arms smuggling case in Chittagong.
• The court reduced ULFA leader Paresh Barua’s death sentence to life imprisonment and commuted six other death sentences to 10 years in prison.
• The case involved the seizure of 10 truckloads of arms at the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited jetty in 2004.
• Fourteen people were initially sentenced to death, including Babar and Barua.
• It’s worth noting that Babar cannot be released from prison yet, as he is serving a sentence in another arms case. (more)
• [Weapons, it is believed were meant for the terror group ULFA, which could have been used for instability in the Indian state of Assam.]

Nepal: President Paudel appoints envoys to India and Malaysia

• Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has appointed two new ambassadors: Shankar Prasad Sharma to India and Netra Prasad Timilsina to Malaysia.
• Sharma, who previously served as Nepal’s envoy to India from March 2022 to July 2024, returns to the position after receiving approval from India.
• Timilsina will serve as Nepal’s residential ambassador to Malaysia.
• Both appointments were endorsed by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee in Sept. (more)

US imposes more sanctions over Pakistan’s missile program

• The US has imposed sanctions on several Chinese entities for their involvement in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
• Specifically, a Chinese research institute and several companies have been targeted for providing materials and services that contribute to Pakistan’s missile development.
• This move is part of a broader effort by the US to curb the proliferation of missile technology in the region.
• In October 2023, the US similarly imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan.
• These sanctions aim to prevent the spread of sensitive technologies that could be used to develop ballistic missiles.

The US has been closely monitoring Pakistan’s missile program and has expressed concerns about its potential implications for regional stability. (more)