Newsletter 13 June

This Week (June 13^th)

COVID-19 crisis become secondary, while Sino-Indian border Tension still growing. However, Borders with Nepal and Pakistan also not calm.

Headlines of the Week

Sino-Indian Tension continued, even after several rounds of talks.
Indo-Nepal Border is also not Sounding Calm
Tension over Indo-Pak border is also on the escalation in JnK Region
Rap to India on religious freedom: Visas denied to teams advising US Congress
ISI-run espionage ring busted in Rajasthan, two arrested

Sino-Indian Tension continued

Major Developments

With no indications of Chinese troops withdrawing from Indian territory they occupied last month in Ladakh, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Fri met the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat and the army, navy and air force chiefs to review the situation.

On Tue, Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander, infantry division that defends the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in this sector, held talks with a Chinese general in an attempt to defuse tensions and encourage Chinese troops to withdraw.

Though there is no official information available from either side, only speculations are floating in social media by experts through citing ‘their sources’. Mainstream media in India is only showing official bites. Despite that, ‘sources’ on the ground say the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is only strengthening its hold on 60-odd square km of disputed territory that it has illegally occupied.

How were the condition in this week?

On Sat, The “situation along our borders with China is under control”, Army Chief General MM Naravane said, adding that a series of meetings between senior military commanders from both sides had resulted in “a lot of disengagement” and that “all perceived differences that we (India and China) have will be set to rest”.

This is questioned by many experts by saying Army Chief must be apolitical. Painting Chinese moves in virtually benign light, the Army chief further said China’s actions on Ladakh and Sikkim fronts were “neither co-related” nor connected “with other global or local activities.” China’s actions were indeed co-related, reflecting its broader expansionism.

Chinese diplomat (Press Officer) tweets a twist to Ladakh standoff, sees link to Article 370

“India’s actions of unilaterally changing the status quo of Kashmir and continuing to exacerbate regional tensions have posed a challenge to the sovereignty of China and Pakistan and made the India-Pakistan relations and China-India relations more complex,” Wang tweeted.

This added another angle to Sino-Indian border tension. “It seems as if the Chinese are leaning on us and the situation isn’t as simple as some are making it out to be. It’s also strange that such a tweet emanated from a Chinese official in Islamabad. There is a Pakistani connection to it and it’s almost as if the Chinese are trying to reassure the Pakistanis,” ex diplomat said.

On Fri, the Global Times reported that Chinese and Indian border troops are conducting multi-level meetings on the ground to promote the implementation of high-level consensus on taking border situation under control. However, Contrary to this, the deployments of forces continues from both sides.

If you consider the ‘Global Times’ as a mouthpiece of CCP, this tweet may clear you concept “Eased border tensions bring China-India economic relations back to crossroads. But if India joins the US in confronting China, China will not hesitate to protect its own interests, whether political or economic.”

So Monday’s and today’s (Fri) high-level military conference (HLMC) between Indian and Chinese commanders in Ladakh is likely to result in the resolution of issues at PP-14, PP-15 and PP-17 in the next few days even as talks on restoration of status quo ante in Finger area continue.

At PP-14, PP-15 and PP-17 (general area Galwan and Hot Springs), the focus is on gradual descalation from the rear areas in which larger number of troops had been deployed by both sides inside their own territories. The Lt Gens level talks will happen subsequently. Date undecided.

To reiterate, no Indian territory has been occupied in Galwan. A few hundred troops have started falling back from the forward deployed areas from both sides in the Galwan Valley. Minor but important movement on eventual de-escalation has begun- Nitin A. Gokhale’s tweet.

India ‘working faster’ on bridge in Galwan Valley after China’s objections amid stand-off:There are no transgressions in Galwan Valley, said Govt officials, but Finger area of Pangong Lake is a trouble spot and could take longer to resolve.

“The work on the bridge, which is about 7 to 7.5 km from the LAC, had started much earlier. However, around 10 May, the Chinese came to know of the construction and objected to it. The work on the bridge continues. The ongoing issues have only made us work faster on this bridge,” The Print Reported. [2]

On Thurs, “Both sides are maintaining their military and diplomatic engagements to peacefully resolve the situation at the earliest”: MEA on India-China stand-off.

LAC standoff: India looks at ‘early resolution’, while China says agreement reached- Nayanima Basu reports

On Wed “India have been effectively communicating via diplomatic and military channels over issues concerning the western sector of the China-India border, during which a positive consensus has been reached”: Hua Chunying, Chinese FM spokesperson

By quoting Global Times, China, India reach ‘positive consensus’ on border issue: Beijing.

However, In response to a question by AFP, as Indian media reported that Chines and Indian border troops are disengaging and moving back, from 3 locations, in the west section of China-India Boundary, is it true?

Hua Chunying said “through the diplomatic and military channels. China and India had effective communication and reached agreement on properly handling the situation in the west section of India-China Boundary. At present the two sides are taking actions in the line with agreement to ameliorate the border situation.

Clearly, China’s statement doesn’t support Indian claims about “troops’ de-induction” and “disengagement.” The aggressor speaks of “properly handling the situation” and actions to “ameliorate” the situation. There’s absolutely no evidence that PLA is willing to roll back its encroachments.

Far from submitting to its aggression, New Delhi will adjust its policies to impose costs on Beijing- Brahma Chellaney

On Tue, Indian Media claimed that Chines army, deescalated around 2-2.5 km.

On Mon, Defense Minister said India’s military and diplomatic levels talks with China have been positive and will continue.

Having caught India napping with its intrusions, China says in a cheeky statement the two sides must ensure “differences do not escalate into disputes.” In plain language, India must put up with China’s aggression or else the situation will cease to be “stable and controllable.”- Brahma Chellaney

On Sat, As MEA issued a statement after 7 hrs talk went fruitless, except that possibilities for next meeting continues.

Situation on Ground

Telegraph UK, on Fri, claimed that China has occupied more than 60 sq km of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh, on ground of senior Indian Army source, in a dramatic escalation of the simmering tension between the two Asian superpowers.

It added that up to 12,000 Chinese troops pushed over the border into India last month amid border clashes as Beijing looks to slap down Indian PM Narendra Modi over his ever-closer relationship with the US.

The move echoes Xi Jinping’s expansionism in the South China Sea where Beijing have moved to construct military bases in contested territory and has been unchallenged due to its superior military.

From China Side

The PLAAF (PLA Air Force) brought in additional strength of half-a-squadron of fighters to the western Xinjiang region in the name of military exercises and had not only activated its air defenses but also all the air bases—Kashgar, Hotan, Yarkand, Korla, Ngari-Gunsa—in the region.

The MEA remains tight-lipped about the ground situation in eastern Ladakh, but it is understood that the disengagement will be done slowly and steadily by the two armies with the military commanders being in touch with each other.

Senior IAF officials said the loading of air-to-air missiles is a sure indicator of the adversary’s intent as the seekers of missiles have limited shelf life and hence there is no point in loading the fighters with expensive weapons if there is no hostile intention

From India Side

It is emerging that the Chinese Army has deployed its troops AND DONE military has done military build-up, all along the over 4,000 km-long LAC after which India has also rushed its fighting formations to forward locations in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, wherever it shares borders with us.

The build-up includes troops and heavy weaponry which are deployed in rear positions,” government sources told ANI. To avoid any possibility of any misadventure by the Chinese, we have rushed in our fighting formations to forward locations in all these sectors, the sources said.

The reserve brigades of a Corps with an area of responsibility including Himachal Pradesh have gone up to the Ladakh sector to provide backup and cushion to the 3 Infantry Division based in Karu there. Additional fighting formations have also been moved forward to the border locations in Himachal Pradesh where Chinese choppers had shown up in April.
In Uttarakhand also, additional troops have been deployed in the Harsil-Barahoti-Nelang Valley and other sectors as Chinese choppers had come there also before the build-up started and have been seen carrying out foot patrols.
In the Eastern sector starting from the Chicken’s neck corridor, the training brigades of the Corps formations including the Sukna-based 33 Corps and Tezpur-based 4 Corps have been deployed on the front locations and a Brigade of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps is also ready for deployment, the sources said.
The Indian side has also rushed in its new ultra-light howitzers and other heavy weaponry to the forward locations for countering this build up on the other side by China.
When the Chinese build-up started, their choppers had started unusual activity at multiple locations including the Ladakh sector where they came right above the new bridge being built by the Indian Army to connect the all-important Durbuk-Shyok-DaulatBegOldie (DSGBO) road with the Patrolling Point 14 in the Galwan area.
The chopper had flown close to the Indian Territory in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district and Barahoti in Uttarakhand in an apparent bid to confuse the Indian side about their intentions all along the LAC.
Along the Line of Control in the Ladakh sector only, the Chinese side has deployed over 10,000 troops and heavy weaponry including tanks and long-range artillery guns and India wants that they should de-induct troops from the rear positions before, for the tensions to really end along the LAC.
India, at present, is talking to the Chinese military leadership for resolving the dispute at three sites including the Galwan area, Patrolling Point 15 (114 Brigade area) and Patrolling Point 17 (Hot Springs) at multiple levels from battalion commanders to the Corps Commander.

The assumption behind Xi’s muscular approach—that there would not be a significant geopolitical price to pay—had thus far proved right. But by opening multiple fronts, from India and Hong Kong to South and East China Seas, Xi is courting a global backlash.- Brahma Chellaney

According to a source-based report in ‘The Hindu’, the situation at the border had been building up since late April and there were clashes between the two sides at Pangong Tso and at Naku La in early May. But senior journalist Coomi Kapoor wrote in The Indian Express that alarm bells started ringing only on May 17^thin India.

The stand-off may have been triggered, analysts told Al-Jazeera, by infrastructure activities carried out by India along the LAC. Sources also told PTI that the trigger was China’s opposition to India laying a key road near the Pangong Tso Lake and the construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley.

Three points emerge from the trajectory of the recent standoffs at multiple locations along the India-China boundary. One, China is testing Indian military’s readiness and speed of response; Two, the PLA is unhappy with India’s improving infrastructure along the LAC.-Nitin A Gokhale.

On the first count, Indian military built up strength in no time to match Chinese mobilization across the perceived LAC around Galwan and Hot Springs areas. No intrusions/incursions were allowed. So after a couple of days of face-offs, troops remained distant from each other.
Military leadership on the ground emphatically asserts that there were no intrusions or occupation of Indian Territory in these parts. We were not surprised, commanders in Ladakh said. Because we kept watch, we had a faceoff at PP-14 and PP-15, they added.
What indeed was new was the substantial numbers that were amassed on the Chinese side supported by armor, arty guns and APCs. Watching the buildup closely, India also mobilized similar or larger strength quickly with similar elements.
India has made it clear it will continue to build roads, bridges, shelters and support systems within its own territory in spite of the Chinese objections. Also, there is no danger of the DS-DBO road being cut off or threatened by the Chinese, military leaders have asserted.
The area between Finger 4 and Finger 8 however remains tricky. It now emerges that because of a couple of Indian foot patrols using hitherto unexplored mountainous route to reach Finger 7 from Finger 4, surprised and alarmed the Chinese last October.
To prevent Indian patrols once again using the same route to reach Finger 7 (which the Chinese perceive to be within their area), the PLA deployed soldiers on the spurs this summer. This could become a matter of prolonged discussion. But overall, disengagement is well on its way
India-China border standoff; Disengagement begins showing first signs of a climb-down (Times Now). Official sources have informed Times Now that the forces from both the sides of India and China have climbed down by around 1 to 2 kilometers.
Citing the same as positive developments in the recent standoff between the countries, reports claim that diplomatic conversations have aided in the entire process.
The recent reports that China crossed the LAC border and was encroaching Indian territory were met with severe backlash from the opposition and they questioned the government’s initiatives on the issue.

During the military-to-military dialogue on Sat (June 6^th), China refused to even discuss its intrusions into the Galwan River valley, instead claiming ownership over the entire area.

There were three major points to discuss.
1. The issue of disengagement in the Galwan Nala and Finger areas.
2. India wanted to restrict the strength of patrols. A patrol with fewer soldiers was seen as a confidence-building measure.
3. To reduce levels of suspicions, no patrolling at night. Also, it was important to ensure there was no violence at faceoff points.

Three days after Indian and Chinese military commanders met on Sat for 7 hrs, at Chushul, in Ladakh, to discuss the crisis caused by the occupation by thousands of Chinese soldiers of territory traditionally patrolled by both armies, top army sources in India sought to depict a rapidly improving situation.
Claiming that both sides – the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Indian Army – have “retreated a bit” after the Sat meeting, the army sources revealed that another Sino-Indian meeting would be held on Wed at a more junior level.
However, sources on the ground paint a far bleaker picture of Chinese intransigence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They say that during the talks, the PLA interlocutors flatly rejected the Indian demand for Chinese troops to withdraw from areas they occupied in May and restore the status quo that prevailed in April.
In fact, during the military-to-military dialogue on Sat, China refused to even discuss its intrusions into the Galwan River valley, instead claiming ownership over the entire area.
Underlining these sharp divergences between the Indian and Chinese positions, no joint statement was released after Lt General Harinder Singh, the Leh corps commander, met PLA Major General Liu Lin, who heads the South Xinjiang Military Region in a bid to defuse the confrontation.
Nor did New Delhi release any details about the military discussions. Only on Tue after being sharply criticized by opposition members, including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party, did “top army sources” present the media with the military’s version of events?
According to their version, the Indian and Chinese corps commanders met one-on-one for almost three hours before engaging further during delegate-level talks. The two sides “mutually agreed and identified five locations of conflicts” between PLA and Indian troops. These include Patrolling Point 14 (PP14), PP15, PP17, the north bank of Pangong Tso Lake and Chushul.
The fact that these conflict locations make no mention of the Galwan River valley lends credence to the argument that the sector did not feature on the discussion agenda.

Galwan River valley

During the talks, the PLA indicated they were taking control of the Galwan River valley, which has traditionally been a peaceful sector where China adhered to a claim line. Now PLA negotiators have asserted ownership of the entire Galwan Valley, claiming that China had controlled the hilltops astride the Galwan River for “as long as they could remember.”
The PLA alleged that the one-km-long track that India had built from the Shyok-Galwan river junction, heading eastwards along the Galwan River, was an encroachment on Chinese territory. They alleged that India was developing this track into a metal (black-topped) road.
The Indian army representatives countered that the Chinese had constructed a metal road right to where the LAC had existed up till May – that is five km from where the Galwan flows into the Shyok river – and that the road would soon cross the LAC. The Chinese responded that the Galwan Valley was their area and it was legitimate for them to build a road in it.
Indian negotiators also objected strongly to PLA troops deploying in the close vicinity of India’s Gogra post. Sources say the PLA did not offer a cogent response.
Nor was there a cogent PLA response to Indian allegations that the Chinese were constructing a road on India’s side of the LAC between Hot Springs and Gogra.

Pangong Tso area

Responding to Indian charges of Chinese intrusions onto the Pangong Tso north bank, the PLA negotiators claimed they had “acted rightfully” in constructing a metaled road up to Finger 4, and preparing defensive positions in that disputed area.
Prior to May, the Indian army regularly patrolled till their perceived LAC at Finger 8, eight km east of Finger 4.
However, since May 5, when thousands of PLA troops blocked and savagely beat up outnumbered Indian troops in that area, Indian patrols are unable to go beyond Finger 4, which the Chinese now claim is the LAC.
The Chinese military officials accepted that the aggression with which PLA soldiers attacked Indian troops at the Pangong Tso in mid-May “was not in the right spirit,” but said it was a reaction to Indian patrols crossing the PLA’s version of the LAC.
The Indian army also brought up the need to reduce forward deployments of PLA soldiers, armored vehicles and artillery guns. The Chinese responded they would have to refer the matter to their superiors.

Gains and losses

Army sources apprehend the PLA has gained strategically in the Galwan Valley, where they now occupy positions overlooking the strategic Darbuk-Shyok-Daulet Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road to Depsang, at the base of the Karakoram Pass.
The Chinese have also gained strategically by isolating the Depsang area, as a consequence of dominating the DSDBO road. There is currently a large Chinese armor build up opposite Depsang, which is raising apprehensions of surprise ingress in that sector by the PLA.
Chinese gains in the Pangong Tso area, however, are being seen as tactical, even though the levels of violence the PLA displayed there is worrisome.
The other PLA activities at Naku La (Sikkim) and at Harsil and Lipu Lekh (Uttarakhand) are being viewed as “red herrings”, aimed at tying down Indian troops rather than serving any larger strategic objectives.
The army is also closely watching the long border between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, which is called the McMahon Line. This has been entirely quiet so far, with no Chinese activity in this area.
On Tue, Indian army sources provided a military-political perspective to the on-going PLA intrusions. “The core issue is the undecided LAC. Until that is solved, these episodes and issues will continue to happen,” they stated.

Also to blame, according to the army sources, was the PLA’s militarization of the border areas. “China has deployed fighter bombers, rocket forces, air defense radars, jammers, and etcetera. India has also deployed all its major assets along the LAC… just a few Km away from the frontline. India will continue to have a major build up until China withdraws the buildup [it has] done there,” they said.

Parts of Beijing locked down due to fresh virus cluster: AFP news agency

Beijing closed the city’s largest wholesale food market Saturday after the discovery of seven coronavirus cases in the previous two days.Seven cases have so far been linked to Xinfadi meat market, six of them confirmed on Saturday, officials said. Nine nearby schools and kindergartens have been closed.

The Xinfadi market, which has 4,000 tenants, will be disinfected after workers tested positive and the virus was found in the environment, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The National Health Commission said that six new cases were confirmed in Beijing on Friday. Another case was reported Thursday. They are the first locally transmitted cases in the Chinese capital in more than 50 days.

Attention focused on the market after the discovery of the first three cases. Two of the infected people had been to the market, and the third worked with one of them at a meat research institute, according to Chinese media reports.

Indo-Nepal Border is also not Sounding Calm

Talking about the Nepal incident, the Army chief said on Sat, that India will not severed its ties with its neighbors

On Sat’s afternoon, Nepal’s parliament officially endorses the new map — including (occupied by India) Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh. A colossal blow to India’s failed (neighborhood first) foreign policy.

On Fri, One Indian farmer killed and four injured with bullet wounds at India-Nepal border as Nepal fires at Indian farmers working on Indian territory. Incident took place this morning today at Sitamarhi at the Narayanpur border between India and Nepal. A farmer from Bihar’s Sitamarhi district was on Friday killed while two others were wounded in alleged firing by the Nepal Police along the India-Nepal border.

As per Inspector General (IG) of the Sashastra Seema Bal’s Patna Frontier, Sanjay Kumar, the incident occurred between locals and Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF).
Notably, the incident occurred during the ongoing border dispute between India and Nepal.
The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Vikesh Yadav.
The injured – Uday Thakur (24) and Umesh Ram (18) – were rushed to Sitamarhi Sadar Hospital, where their condition is stated to be out of danger.
There is no involvement of Sashastra Seema Bal, tasked to guard the 1,751 km open India-Nepal border, in the matter. Senior Bihar Police officials and the SSB are at the spot.

As Nepal paints itself into a corner on Kalapani issue, India must tread carefully

India-Nepal relations are far too important to be derailed by this unfortunate display of cynical brinkmanship by Nepal’s short-sighted leaders. India will need to tread carefully.

On June 10, Nepal’s House of Representatives unanimously approved the tabling of an amendment to the country’s constitution which will now formally depict nearly 400 sq km of Indian territory extending west from the Lipulekh Pass, and including it, as part of Nepal’s sovereign territory.
While it remains to be passed by the Upper House and signed by the president, the die has been cast. In doing so, Nepal has etched its territorial claim in stone which would make any concession by this or any future government of Nepal virtually unthinkable.
After the vote, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali declared: “We are for starting dialogue soon. The problem will be resolved through diplomacy.”
Short of expecting India to accept the fait accompli determined unilaterally by Nepal, what will diplomacy achieve?
India should be prepared to engage in a dialogue on this and other outstanding border issues, but Nepal’s brinkmanship has made it much more difficult to explore a mutually acceptable solution.
Gyawali said that the dialogue will be carried out “on the basis of historical facts”. Perhaps that offers an opening although I doubt that any “facts” contrary to what have been adduced by the Nepali side will be countenanced. But let us review the “historical facts”.
One, Nepal bases its claim to the additional territory now included in its official map on the Anglo-Nepal Treaty of Sugauli of 1816, which determined the Kali River as the western boundary between British India and Nepal.
An East India Company map has been produced from the archives to show that the British considered the tributary of the Kali River, the Limpiyadhura, as its main channel. But a map drawn up in 1879 after surveys had been carried out shows the boundary along a ridge just west of the Tinker Pass.
As per this and later official British maps and what India claims, Kali River originates from a natural spring at Kalapani, where it is joined by a rivulet flowing down from Lipulekh Pass. This was not challenged then nor at any time subsequently until after 1990.
In fact, Nepali maps have all along reflected the same alignment. Some Nepali journalists and scholars now argue that the monarchy, first under King Mahendra and later under King Birendra, was reluctant to raise this issue with India for fear of Indian reaction. This is laughable as both the monarchs thrived on a diet of anti-Indian nationalism.

Tension over Indo-Pak border is also on escalation in JnK Region

A Lashkar-e-Taiba operative was arrested from Pathankot while he was trying to flee to JnK following the arrest of his two associates on Thurs; all three had come to Amritsar to collect a consignment of weapons: Punjab Police on Sat.
Pakistan sacks two journalists for showing Kashmir as part of India after matter raised in Parliament
- The incident, which occurred on June 6, was raised in Parliament on June 8
- Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also demanded action
- Pakistan, in its official map, shows Kashmir as its part
Indian Army launches operation to flush out terrorists in JnK. Acting on an intelligence input, Indian Army personnel launched an operation on Sat in Maldera village of Shopian district to flush out terrorists holed up inside the region. “Joint Operation launched at forenoon today on intelligence input. Cordon was laid & contact established. A firefight ensued,” tweeted Chinar Corps – Indian Army.
With the killing of 2 militants in Nirpora, Kulgam, security forces in Jammu & Kashmir have eliminated 100 terrorists till now in 2020 in less than six months. Great coordination seen between JnK Police, Indian Army & CRPF. Great human intelligence by J&K Police has helped Ops.
Pakistan Army launched shelling and Ceasefire Violation Fri’s morning which led to the death of a local innocent Kashmiri Muslim woman Akhtar Begum. Another woman Parveena was injured. Several civilian houses attacked. 62 people and children rescued by local admin at the LoC.
One Lashkar Terrorist arrested in Indian Army’s Operation Khojpura in Shopian of South Kashmir. On specific intelligence input by JnK Police, cordon and search Ops established at Asthan Mohalla. 1 LeT terrorist apprehended. 1 Pistol, 2 Magazines & 12 rounds recovered.
A total 16 Militants have been killed in 4 different encounters, while Only Hindu Sarpanch in valley has been killed.
Five Pakistan Sponsored Militants killed in Shopian of South Kashmir in an anti-terror operation that began early morning of Wed. J&K Police confirms. 14 terrorists killed in Shopian in less than a week. Major success for J&K Police, Indian Army and CRPF.
- Op Sugu Handamah (Shopian). Joint operation was launched at 0145 hrs based on J&K Police intelligence. Cordon was laid and contact was established at 0530 hrs. Security Forces eliminated three terrorists.
9 terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen have been killed in operations that were carried out yesterday and today. In the last 2 weeks, 9 big operations were carried out in which 22 terrorists have been eliminated including six top commanders: Jammu and Kashmir DGP, Dilbag Singh
Terrorists have shot dead Kashmiri Pandit Sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti din of Omkar Nath Pandita in Anantnag of South Kashmir. The 40 year old was Sarpanch of Lukbawan, Larkipora. SSP Anantnag Sandeep Chaudhary has confirmed the development. Probe underway.
- Pakistan’s TRF has claimed responsibility for the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sarpanch in Anantnag, Kashmir. TRF – The Resistance Front is actually Terror Revival Front becuase it has the same terrorists of Lashkar e Tayyiba. J&K Police suspects role of local Hizbul terrorists.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry, strongly condemned the extra-judicial killings of 9 more Kashmiri youth by Indian occupation forces in fake “encounters” & so-called “cordon-and-search” operations in Shopian area of IOJ&K.
- It is highly reprehensible that while world community is grappling with #COVID19, India remains busy intensifying its brutalization of the Kashmiri people. “Hindutva” agenda of RSS-BJP combine is targeting defenseless Kashmiris with mindless violence to break their will.
- It is responsibility of world community to urgently act & protect Kashmiris from wanton killings & other brutalities being inflicted by Indian occupation forces. Pakistan will continue to call for holding India accountable for its crimes against the Kashmiri people.
- At Non-Aligned Movement’s NAM virtual meeting today with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Pakistan’s Ambassador Khalil Hashmi stressed that amidst COVID crisis, the curve of human rights abuses in international recognized situations of foreign occupation had shockingly peaked, especially in India Occupied JnK.
  - Reiterated concerns that in IOJK, under garb of COVID, Earth globe America’s longest physical and digital lockdown had been intensified with brute force to alter demography and stifle dissent with impunity. Reaffirmed Flag of Pakistan call for close monitoring and continued Kashmir reporting by OHCHR, on its HR merits.
  - COVID heralded a disturbing surge in Islamophobia in South Asia. Recalling well-documented incidents of denial to health services, socio-economic boycott and outright violence against Muslims, Amb called on OHCHR to pay special attention to this virulent assault on human dignity

Rap to India on religious freedom: Visas denied to teams advising US Congress

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said this in a letter on June 1^st to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had raised the observations made by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in Parliament in Dec 2019.

The government denied visas to teams of a non-governmental advisory body to the US Congress after its denouncement of the state of religious freedom in India.

In April, the USCIRF had recommended to the US administration that India be designated a “country of particular concern”.

It was the first time since 2004, when its recommendation came against the backdrop of the Gujarat riots in 2002 — that the USCIRF had sought this.

The USCIRF’s annual report had also named Home Minister Amit Shah twice, once recalling that he had referred to migrants as “termites” to be eradicated.

In his letter to Dubey, Jaishankar wrote, “We have denied visa to USCIRF teams that have sought to visit India in connection with issues related to religious freedom, as we do not see the locus standi of a foreign entity like USCIRF to pronounce on the state of Indian citizens’ constitutionally protected rights.”

The USCIRF’s views are not meant to represent the opinion of the US administration or the US Congress.

The minister added, “USCIRF has been known to make prejudiced, inaccurate and misleading observations regarding the state of religious freedom in India. We do not take cognisance of these pronouncements and have repudiated such attempts to misrepresent information related to India.”
Jaishankar also noted that the MEA had earlier rejected the USCIRF’s statements as “inaccurate and unwarranted”. He said India “will not accept any external interference or pronouncement on matters related to our sovereignty and the fundamental rights of our citizens that are guaranteed by the Constitution”.
In its report in April, the USCIRF had said religious freedom in India had seen a “drastic turn downward”, with religious minorities under “increasing assault” in 2019, and talked of “rising Islamophobia”. It ranked India along with Pakistan, North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia, among others, as “countries of particular concern”, for “engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act”.
It cited the CAA-NRC issue, the scrapping of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the Delhi riots in February. The USCIRF said the CAA and NPR moves were first steps towards a national NRC.
Throughout 2019, it said, Indian government actions — whether on the CAA or the enforcement of cow slaughter and anti-conversion laws — created a “culture of impunity for nationwide campaigns of harassment and violence against religious minorities”. It also cited the Supreme Court ruling handing over the disputed Babri Masjid site to the Hindu side in November 2019.
The USCIRF recommended that the Trump administration “impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals’ assets and/ or barring their entry into the United States… citing specific religious freedom violations”.

At the time the report came out, India had said the USCIRF’s “biased and tendentious” comments against the country were “not new”, but that, on this occasion, “its misrepresentation has reached new levels”.

ISI-run espionage ring busted in Rajasthan, two arrested

Rajasthan Police arrests two ISI agents from Shri Ganganagar & Bikaner based on Intel by Military Intelligence Lucknow. Vikas Kumar, a civil defense employee at Army Ammunition Depot & Chiman Lal, a civil contract employee at Army Mahajan Field Firing Range arrested.
Photographs of “Water Distribution Register” clicked by ISI agent Chiman Lal and sent to Pakistan by Vikas Kumar. Down pointing backhand index More than 100 such pages have been sent to Pakistan giving away the details of Army units coming to Mahajan Field Firing Range for practice or military training.
“The operation assumes great importance as both, the said Ammunition Depot and MFFR are strategically important military installations in the Western Front of the country,” an official said.

Based on inputs given by a Lucknow based Military Intelligence units, the Rajasthan Police have arrested two people and busted an espionage ring being run by ISI officials to steal classified information pertaining to defense establishments.

Activist Teesta Setalvad presented with a lifetime achievement award by Delhi Minorities Commission

The Delhi Minorities Commission has recently declared that they would be awarding Teesta Setalvad, the lifetime achievement award for her outstanding contribution to the human rights in India.
Teesta has been a controversial figure and one of the biggest vocal supporter of Anti CAA/NRC protests across the country.
Several political leaders have criticized her for instigating the crowd during the protests.
The award comes in the backdrop the government trying to find the culprits behind the Delhi riots and is locating the instigators who led to the killing of people.
She has been always critic to Modi’s policy for minorities since Gujrat Riots. Also, the chairman of Minorities commission has also been in News for his letter in Social media.

Miscellaneous

India has appointed Monika Kapil Mohta (IFS: 1985), presently Ambassador of India to Sweden, as the next Ambassador of India to Switzerland.

Nation Amid COVID-19

COVID Crisis This Week

India reached three lakh coronavirus cases in a matter of ten days since it had recorded two lakh cases. The toll climbed to 8,884 with 386 new fatalities as on Sat.

Loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia) has been added to the list of coronavirus symptoms in the document ‘Clinical Management Protocol: COVID-19’ issued by the Health Ministry. Fever, cough, Fatigue, shortness of breath are among the seven other symptoms.
During the last 24 hours, 7,135 COVID-19 patients have been cured. Thus, so far, 1,54,329 patients have been cured of COVID-19. The recovery rate is 49.95% amongst COVID-19 patients. There are 1,45,779 active cases & all are under active medical supervision: Union Health Ministry
Home Minister Amit Shah and Union health minister Hash Vardhan will hold a meeting with Delhi LG, CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday to discuss COVID-19 situation in the National Capital, PTI quotes officials as saying. According to news agency ANI, Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other senior officers are also expected to join the meeting.