India’s Border Security Efforts Thwarted by Bangladesh Border Guards
Bangladesh vows to pursue Sheikh Hasina’s return from India, may seek global support
At least 12 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh encounter with security forces
The meeting was attended by officials of the Shia Waqf Board and representatives of various Muslim organizations and the UP govt
US Secretary of State Rubio meets EAM Jaishankar, discusses strategic cooperation

What Else

Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs Against India, Other BRICS Countries If…
India needs more oil, may scale up energy purchases from US: Puri
India set to take back 18,000 citizens from US to placate Trump
Boost for India as DRDO successfully conducts scramjet engine ground test for hypersonic missiles
China for advancing bilateral ties with Bangladesh: Wang Yi
Pakistan secures $1b loan from two Middle Eastern banks
15-Year AL rule: Govt plans to withdraw all false cases by February
Xi tells Putin he wants to take ties to new heights, soon after Trump’s return to White House

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India’s Border Security Efforts Thwarted by Bangladesh Border Guards

The Bangladesh Border Guard stepped in to stop the Indian Border Security Force from building a barbed-wire fence at the Uchna border area in Joypurhat’s Panchbibi upazila.
The BSF tried to construct the fence within 30 yards of the international zero point, which is a clear violation of border agreements, claimed the 20-BGB Battalion.
The BGB intervened promptly, and the BSF withdrew their materials and left the site.
This incident is not isolated, as there was another border-related incident in Joypurhat earlier this month, where BSF personnel fired a blank shot near the Bhuidoba border.
Despite these events, the BGB has assured that the situation along the border remains calm, with efforts ongoing to maintain peace and prevent further tension, a local news outlet reported. (more)

Bangladesh vows to pursue Sheikh Hasina’s return from India, may seek global support

Bangladesh’s interim govt is pushing for the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since Aug 2024.
The govt claims that if India refuses to return Hasina, it would be a violation of the extradition treaty between the two countries.
However, the treaty also allows for the refusal of extradition if the offense is of a “political character.”
Bangladesh files graft cases against Sheikh Hasina’s family, but India has not yet decided whether to extradite her.
The Indian govt has extended Hasina’s visa, but this does not necessarily mean that she will be granted asylum.
Bangladesh’s Law Adviser, Asif Nazrul has stated that the govt will continue to seek Hasina’s extradition and may seek international intervention if necessary.
On the other hand, India is cautious about getting involved in Bangladesh’s internal affairs and is weighing its options carefully.
It’s worth noting that the relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since the interim govt headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power. (more, more)

At least 12 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh encounter with security forces

At least 12 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district on Tue.
This incident occurred just a day after two women Naxalites were killed and a CoBRA officer was injured in a separate encounter during the same operation.
The fresh exchange between forces and the Naxalites took place in a forest under the jurisdiction of the Manipur police station area along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.
A joint team of security personnel from the District Reserve Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, CoBRA, and Special Operations Group carried out the operation, which was launched after receiving intelligence reports of Maoist activity in the area. (more)

The meeting was attended by officials of the Shia Waqf Board and representatives of various Muslim organizations and the UP govt

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, led by Jagdambika Pal, held a crucial meeting in Lucknow, attended by officials from the Shia Waqf Board, Muslim organizations, and the Uttar Pradesh govt.
State Minority Welfare Minister OP Rajbhar stated that the govt aims to benefit poor Muslims from Waqf properties, and those opposing the bill are likely the ones who have illegally occupied Waqf land.
UP Shia Waqf Board Chairman Zaidi raised concerns about the future of “Waqf in-use” properties, which are not recorded in writing but come under Waqf in terms of use.
The JPC, has been holding meetings in various states to discuss objections to the bill and is expected to present its report by the end of the 2025 Budget Session. (more)

US Secretary of State Rubio meets EAM Jaishankar, discusses strategic cooperation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Washington, DC, to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the US-India partnership.
This meeting marked Rubio’s first bilateral engagement since taking office.
The two leaders discussed various topics, including regional issues, economic ties, and addressing irregular migration concerns.
They emphasized collaboration in areas like critical technologies, defense, energy, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar expressed optimism about the bilateral relationship, thanking Rubio for hosting the meeting and looking forward to working together to advance strategic cooperation.
The US-India relationship has grown substantially in recent years, focusing on defense collaboration, trade, and shared strategic goals in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian American community plays a significant role in strengthening ties between the two nations. (more)

Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs Against India, Other BRICS Countries If…

So, US President Donald Trump is warning the BRICS nations, including India, that if they try to replace the US dollar, they’ll face 100% tariffs on their business with the US.
He’s basically saying, “If you want to play with alternative currencies, that’s okay, but you’ll have to pay a hefty price for it“.
This isn’t the first time he’s issued this warning, by the way – he made a similar statement back in Dec.
It’s worth noting that India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has already clarified that India is not in favor of de-dollarisation and has no plans to introduce a BRICS currency.
The RBI’s Guv, Shaktikanta Das, has also explained that India’s focus is on de-risking domestic trade from potential geo-political disruptions, rather than replacing the dollar
Trump’s stance on this issue is pretty clear: he wants to protect the US dollar’s dominance in global trade, and he’s willing to impose tariffs to make that happen.
But it’ll be interesting to see how the BRICS nations respond to this warning, and whether they’ll continue to explore alternative currencies despite the potential consequences. (more)

India needs more oil, may scale up energy purchases from US: Puri

India is looking forward to more oil and gas entering the market, with the US under President Donald Trump being a potential source of increased fuel supplies.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri believes that oil prices could come down with oversupply, and with the US already producing around 13 million barrels per day they’re expected to add at least 1.4-1.5 mn BPD to the market.
This is great news for India, which imports about 85% of its total energy requirements and has been seeking more sources of cheap oil, especially after the US imposed fresh sanctions on Russian oil companies and vessels.
In fact, Russia has been India’s top supplier of crude oil for the past 3 years, offering discounts to get around Western sanctions.
However, with the US expected to increase its oil production, India may have more options for affordable energy.
Puri also mentioned that more oil would come into the market from Brazil, Guyana, Surinam, and Canada, which would help meet India’s growing energy demands. (more)

India set to take back 18,000 citizens from US to placate Trump

India is taking a proactive approach to work with the US to identify and repatriate its citizens residing illegally in the US, with around 18k persons identified for deportation.
This move is seen as an effort to appease the Trump admin and avoid a trade war.
In return, India hopes that the US will protect legal immigration channels, including student visas and H-1B programs, which are crucial for Indian citizens.
India has already shown its willingness to cooperate with the US on migration issues, with the latest deportation of Indian nationals from the US being a result of this cooperation.
The country is also working to deter illegal migration and create more avenues for legal migration from India to the US.
While India is a relatively modest contributor to illegal migration in the US, the numbers have been rising in recent years, particularly at the northern US border.
The total number of unauthorized Indian immigrants in the US is estimated to be around 220,000 as of 2022.
By taking back illegal migrants, India also aims to further PM Modi’s goal of deterring secessionist movements overseas, including the Khalistan movement.
However, the country is cautious of any unpredictable actions from the US president, which could lead to a costly trade war. (more)

Boost for India as DRDO successfully conducts scramjet engine ground test for hypersonic missiles

India has made a significant breakthrough in its pursuit of hypersonic missiles, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducting a ground test of an Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor for 120 seconds.
This is a major milestone, as it paves the way for India to develop hypersonic cruise missiles that can travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
The indigenous development of endothermic scramjet fuel and a new advanced ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) were central to this achievement.
With this technology, India would be able to have a longer range of hypersonic missiles than those currently deployed in the world, and these advanced weapons have the potential to bypass existing Air Defence Systems and deliver rapid and high-impact strikes. (more)

[Neighborhood]

China for advancing bilateral ties with Bangladesh: Wang Yi

China’s FM Wang Yi expressed his country’s willingness to deepen its friendship with Bangladesh, strengthen strategic communication, and advance their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
This comes as Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain visits Beijing, marking the importance Bangladesh’s interim government places on their bilateral relations.
China has always prioritized Bangladesh in its neighborhood diplomacy, adhering to a good-neighbor policy, and is keen to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to further advance their ties.
The two countries are looking to coordinate major projects, consolidate traditional cooperation, and explore new areas of collaboration.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the China-Bangladesh Year of Cultural Exchange, which provides a strong foundation for their partnership to grow.
B’desh values China’s support in safeguarding its independence and sovereignty, and both nations are committed to mutual support in international forums and regional affairs. (more)
Bangladesh asks China to reduce interest rate from 2-3% to 1%, waive commitment fee and extend loan repayment period from 20 years to 30 years for both the Preferential Buyer’s Credit (PBC) loan and Govt Concessional Loan (GCL): read B’desh statement.

Pakistan secures $1b loan from two Middle Eastern banks

Pakistan has finalized terms for a $1 billion loan from two Middle Eastern banks, with an interest rate of 6-7%, as part of its broader plan to raise $4 billion from Middle Eastern commercial banks by the next fiscal year.
This move is expected to help stabilize the country’s economy, which has been facing challenges due to its vulnerability to climate change and structural weaknesses.
The govt is also looking to revive Pakistan International Airlines through privatization and has requested $1 billion from the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) for climate-related initiatives. (more)

15-Year AL rule: Govt plans to withdraw all false cases by February

The interim govt in Bangladesh is taking steps to withdraw over 2,500 ghost and politically motivated cases filed during the past 15 years of Awami League rule, to complete the process by Feb.
These cases, which involve opposition leaders, activists, and numerous unidentified individuals, were filed under laws related to explosives, arms, and special powers.
The govt is also working to withdraw cases involving speech offenses under the Cyber Security Act, with 322 such cases currently under trial.
The law ministry has already dismissed 113 of these cases, and the rest are expected to be withdrawn within two weeks.
The govt is taking these steps to address concerns about freedom of expression and to repeal or amend controversial laws. (more)

Xi tells Putin he wants to take ties to new heights, soon after Trump’s return to White House

Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin had a virtual meeting on Tuesday, during which they discussed elevating bilateral ties between their countries to new heights in 2025.
Xi expressed his readiness to work with Putin to respond to external uncertainties and promote development, revitalization, and international fairness and justice.
They also reflected on World War II and agreed to uphold a multipolar international system, defend their rights as UNSC members, and cooperate on energy ties, particularly the China-Russia East-Route Natural Gas Pipeline.
The meeting came hours after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and expressed his intention to meet Putin “very soon”.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he could end the war in Ukraine quickly, and Putin has shown a willingness to talk to the Trump administration.

However, experts believe that the US is unlikely to improve relations with Russia to counter China, and instead might pursue a “double strike” or “double containment”, which could lead to China and Russia strengthening their relationship (more)

Top Headlines: India’s Border Security Efforts Thwarted by Bangladesh Border Guards