Newsletter 17 July

News in Box

Despite of regular dialogues between two countries, Corrosion in Sino-Indian relation continue. But in fact tension is also escalating in South China Sea, between China and America.

Headlines of the Week

Prime Minister to address High-Level Segment of ECOSOC on 17 July, 2020
Rajnath Singh Reached Leh on 2 Day Visit To Ladakh, JK; Will Visit Forward Areas Along LAC, LOC
America will stand with our friends in upholding sovereignty in the face of Beijing’s belligerence-whether in South China Sea or the Himalayas: US State Department
South China Sea is part of global commons: MEA Weekly Press Briefing on Thurs
Pakistan Offers India Third Consular Access to Kulbhushan Jadhav: Reports
India Lifted 273 Million People Out Of Poverty Between 2005-15, Most In The World: UN

Prime Minister to address High-Level Segment of ECOSOC on 17 July, 2020

PM Narendra Modi will deliver a keynote address virtually at this year’s High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council session on Fri, 17^th July 2020 from 0930-1130 hrs (local time) at the United Nations in New York.

PM will be speaking at the valedictory session along with the Prime Minister of Norway and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Rajnath Singh Reached Leh on 2 Day Visit To Ladakh, JK; Will Visit Forward Areas Along LAC, LOC

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Fri reached Leh as part of his scheduled two-day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. Later in afternoon he reached to Srinagar. He reviewed the situation at the borders especially with security status for Amarnath Yatra and also visit forward areas in Jammu & Kashmir:

The Def Min will take stock of the situation at both the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LOC). He is being accompanied by CDS General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MN Naravane.

Taking to Twitter, Singh said, “Leaving for Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. I shall be visiting the forward areas to review the situation at the borders and also interact with the Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region. Looking forward to it.

Witnessed the Fire and Fury of the Indian Army during the Para Dropping and other military demonstrations at Stakna near Leh today. Also, I got the opportunity to interact with them. I am proud of these brave and courageous soldiers: Defense Minister

He addressed troops at Lukung, a post on the bank of the Pangong Tso, not very from Finger 4. Singh interacts with Indian Army and ITBP personnel there.

Talks are underway to resolve the border dispute but to what extent it can be resolved I cannot guarantee. I can assure you, not one inch of our land can be taken by any power in the world. If solution can be found by talks, there is nothing better, Singh said.

He further added “India is the only country which has given the message of peace to the world and has never attacked any other country”.

The defense minister witnessed para dropping and scoping weapons here. He also inspected a Pika machine gun. Troops of Armed Forces carried out para dropping exercise here in presence of the Defense Minister and Army officials.

Earlier this month, PM Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Ladakh days after Chinese troops killed 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley. Addressing the troops, the PM said India’s determination to protect its territory was “as high as the Himalayas”.

“Friends, the age of expansionism is over, this is the era of development…whenever we have seen expansionist tendencies, these have spelt danger for world peace,” he said, addressing troops in Nimu, a short distance from Leh town.

This visit of Def Min was set earlier before the PM’s visit which postponed and instead PM made his surprised visit to Leh.

India was caught off-guard by China’s aggression in Ladakh that began in late April. More than 2½ months later, India’s defense minister finally visits Ladakh. The India-China disengagement process has hit hurdles: China refuses to vacate its key territorial gains of aggression.- Brahma Chellaney

The senior most minister in Modi’s Cabinet should have used his Ladakh visit to send China a message of India’s strength and resolve. Instead he referred to the Chinese aggression as the “border dispute.” Contrast this with Pompeo calling it China’s “incredibly aggressive action.” Brahma Chellaney

China’s current aggression against India is a result of the disruption India has faced in the last six years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi—be it the economy, its neighbors or foreign relations, Rahul Gandhi Former President of INC, said Fri. He said on India-China border conflict: ‘Empty words don’t suffice in world of geopolitics’, hits out at PM.

Navy conducts large scale fleet exercise on eastern seaboard

Amid increasing Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean Region, the Navy has conducted a large scale Fleet exercise on the eastern seaboard, which included the nuclear submarine Chakra as well as units from India’s strategic Andaman and Nicobar Command.
The exercise has been conducted to maintain high levels of combat readiness and counter emerging threats, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The exercises were conducted across a vast geographical area, extending from the Northern Bay of Bengal to the Andaman Sea.

As many as 24 ships, 2 submarines and over 10 aircraft participated in the exercise, which included the nuclear submarine Chakra as well as units from the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

A ship from the Western Naval Command, with the Kamov 31 Air Early Warning helicopter, was also deployed for the exercise.
With a view to hone war fighting skills and concepts, various aspects of maritime warfare were dove-tailed into the exercise, over a period of two weeks.

Incidentally, Sun Weidong, China’s ambassador to India, in a statement Friday, underlined: “We need to respect and accommodate mutual core interests and major concerns, adhere to the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.”
In Beijing’s book, any pro-active step by a foreign country with regard to Taiwan, Hong Kong, South China Sea, Tibet and Xinjiang are considered “sensitive” in nature.
And in 2014, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he invited Chung-Kwang Tien, Taiwan’s representative to India, along with Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government-in-exile) to his swearing-in ceremony.
In the MEA, a Joint Secretary who handles India’s ties with the US is considered a key official, together with those dealing with China and Pakistan.
The appointment of Das as envoy to Taiwan comes weeks after the BJP asked two of its MPs, Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan, to attend via virtual mode the swearing-in ceremony of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on May 20 – a fortnight after the start of the standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control.

America will stand with our friends in upholding sovereignty in the face of Beijing’s belligerence-whether in South China Sea or the Himalayas: US State Department

The United States once again affirmed that they stand strongly with India to combat China’s growing aggression and expansionist policies.

“Whether in the South China Sea or the Himalayas, America will stand with its friends in the face of Beijing’s belligerence,” tweeted the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA).
Issuing a statement, David R. Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs said, “The United States is resolved to protect our vital interests and those of our allies and friends. We are building our military capabilities. We are vigilant. We are exercising and operating wherever international law allows.”

“We are strengthening ties with our friends. We stand ready to help bolster the military capabilities of concerned nations. We support multilateral diplomatic efforts to resist PRC encroachments. And we are providing economic options to underscore that nations need not depend on initiatives from Beijing that are fundamentally predatory,” the SCA Bureau Assistant Secretary added.

The Chinese Communist Party is acting in a way that poses real threats to the world, and the United States is going to make sure that we preserve American national security and impose costs on the CCP in order to achieve a change in behavior. U.S. Secretary, M. Pompeo

On the other hand, the US also mentioned how Ladakh’s Himalayas witnessed a violent faceoff along the LAC between Indian soldiers and the PLA. “When Beijing uses coercion, empty promises, disinformation, contempt for rules, bad-faith diplomacy, and other underhanded tactics in the South China Sea, it is drawing on a playbook that it uses worldwide. We see it in the Himalayas, where Beijing recently took aggressive action on its frontiers with India,” said David R. Stilwell.

South China Sea is part of global commons: MEA Weekly Press Briefing on Thurs

South China Sea is part of global commons:

New Delhi, Jul 16 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs on July 16 said that the South China Sea is a part of global commons, and New Delhi has an “abiding interest” in peace and stability in the region.

“South China sea is a part of global commons. India has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the region,” said Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson, MEA

India lodges strong protest with Pakistan over construction of dam in PoK-PTI

MEA said it has strongly protested with Pakistan against the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and condemned Islamabad’s continuous attempts to bring about material changes in Indian territories under its illegal occupation.

India’s strong protest came after Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Wed kicked off construction work at the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, notwithstanding New Delhi’s objection to the China-backed mega project.

Asked about the development at the weekly briefing, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India had made its position on it clear earlier and it remains unchanged.

“The entire UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the UT of Ladakh, have been, are, and will be an integral and inalienable part of India. We have strongly protested against the construction of this dam to the government of Pakistan,” he said.

“This dam will lead to submergence of a large part of land of the Indian union territories of J&K and Ladakh and we condemn the continuous attempts by Pakistan to bring about material changes in Indian territories under its illegal occupation,” he said.

India has also consistently conveyed its protest and shared concerns with both China and Pakistan on all such projects in the Indian territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation where it has no locus standi, the spokesperson said.

The Pakistan Govt in May had signed a whopping Rs 442 billion contract with a joint venture of a Chinese state-run firm and a commercial arm of Pakistan’s powerful military for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam.

Asked about reports of Pakistan allowing Afghan goods to be exported via Wagah, Srivastava said it was another example of Pakistan’s creation of a mirage of goodwill.

“Let us be clear on this, Pakistan is not allowing Afghan trucks to carry Afghan goods and is seeking monopolistic transport practices. It is not allowing Afghanistan two-way transit rights as committed under article 3 of the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA),” he said.

“So, Pakistan has been following a policy of creating captive markets by denying full transit access to Afghanistan by restricting products from India and other countries. It is failing to fulfil its own commitments under APTTA,” Srivastava said.

Pakistan has even denied transit of humanitarian grant assistance, including wheat from India, to Afghanistan, he said

Pakistan Offers India Third Consular Access to Kulbhushan Jadhav: Reports

Quoting Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistani media also said that a note verbale (a diplomatic note that is more formal than an aide-mémoire and less formal than a note, is drafted in the third person, and is never signed) has been sent meeting India’s demand to not have a security personnel during the third meeting between Jadhav and Indian officials.
Yesterday, Pakistan provided second consular access to Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav at New Delhi’s request today.-Radio Pak reported. However, India had on Thurs complained that the consular access to Jadhav was not ‘meaningful and credible’, adding that throughout the meeting, ‘Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present in close proximity of Jadhav’.
Foreign Office spokesperson (Pak) Aisha Farooqui said first consular access under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 was earlier provided by Pakistan on second September last year.
She said the mother and wife of Commander Jadhav were also allowed to meet him on 25 Dec 2017.
Aisha Farooqui said two consular officers of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad were provided unimpeded and uninterrupted consular access to Commander Jadhav. However, Indian side declined the claim.
The spokesperson said that Commander Jadhav is in Pakistan’s custody following his arrest from Balochistan in a counter-intelligence operation on 3 March 2016. However, for this, New Delhi claims that Pakistan ISI, abducted him from Iran.
She said during investigation, Commander Jadhav confessed to his involvement in terrorist activities inside Pakistan that resulted in loss of many precious human lives. Such custodial confession will not sustain in ICJ or any court of Law.
Aisha Farooqui said Commander Jadhav also made important revelations about RAW’s role in sponsoring state terrorism in Pakistan.
She said Pakistan remains committed to fully implementing the International Court of Justice’s judgment of 17 July last year, while New Delhi claimed that Pak forcing Jadhav not to file review petition. In the weekly Press briefing, MEA, India didn’t comment citing the reason of official Confirmations.
New Delhi’s response came hours after senior officials in the Pakistani capital claimed Jadhav had refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad high court against the death sentence given by a military court despite an offer to do so.
The Farooqui expressed the hope that India will cooperate with the Pakistan court in giving full effect to the said judgement.

India Lifted 273 Million People Out Of Poverty Between 2005-15, Most In The World: UN

The data released by UNDP and OPHI shows that 65 out of 75 countries significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.

The UN report, noted that India has recorded the largest reduction in the number of people living in this category.
The data, released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), shows that 65 out of 75 countries studied significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.
Multidimensional poverty encompasses the various deprivations experienced by poor people in their daily lives – such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, poor quality of work, the threat of violence, and living in areas that are environmentally hazardous, among others.
Of the 65 countries that reduced their Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) value, 50 also reduced the number of people living in poverty.
“The largest reduction was in India, where approximately 273 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty over 10 years,” the report said.
The report said that four countries—Armenia (2010–2015/2016), India (2005/2006–2015/2016), Nicaragua (2001–2011/2012) and North Macedonia (2005/2006–2011) halved their global MPIT value and did so in 5.5–10.5 years.
“These countries show what is possible for countries with very different initial poverty levels. They account for roughly a fifth of the world’s population, mostly because of India’s large population,” the report said.
MPIT is the Multidimensional Poverty Index estimate that is based on harmonized indicator definitions for strict comparability over time.
The report noted that India saw the most people moving out of multidimensional poverty – some 270 million people between 2005/06 and 2015/16.
The report additionally notes that India and Nicaragua’s time periods cover 10 and 10.5 years respectively, and during that time both countries halved their MPIT values among children.
“So decisive change for children is possible but requires conscious policy efforts,” it said.
“COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the development landscape. But this data – from before the pandemic – is a message of hope.
Past success stories on how to tackle the many ways people experience poverty in their daily lives, can show how to build back better and improve the lives of millions,” Director of OPHI at the University of Oxford Sabina Alkire said.
Half of the 1.3 billion poor (644 million) have not yet turned 18, while 107 million are 60 or older, a particularly important figure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 84.3% of multidimensionality poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Condition still violent in JnK

Three army jawans were injured during the exchange of fire and were evacuated to Army hospital. The Killed 3 terrorists are from Jaish-e-Mohammed and reportedly include a top terrorist commander known to be an IED expert: Dilbag Singh, Jammu & Kashmir DGP
Out of the three terrorists killed in Kulgam today, one has been identified as ‘Walid’, a Pakistan national. He was active here for past one & half years. He had escaped our cordon four times & was the most wanted terrorist: Vijay Kumar, IGP, Kashmir. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search operation is concluded.
This operation has been conducted successfully 4 days before commencement of Amarnath Yatra. We want to send a message to locals that we remain committed to ensuring that Amarnath Yatra will be conducted peacefully without any hindrance. There are inputs that they (terrorists) would try their best to target the yatra. NH-44 continues to be sensitive because that is the route that the yatris would take to go up to the north routes: Brigadier VS Thakur, Commander, 2 Sector.
Media report said 3 terrorists of Pakistani terrorist group Jaish e Muhammad who killed in encounter includes a terrorist commander who was an IED expert who had escaped earlier from several encounters.
He was taking instructions from Pakistani handlers and was responsible for a large number of attacks against security forces in the recent past. He was reportedly able to escape from 3-4 encounters, leaving behind an MO4 American rifle in one case.
Till today JnK Police has equated last year’s tough benchmark of killing 133 militants from Jan 1^st 2019 to Aug 4^th The same has been achieved in 6 months and 17 days this year.
Security forces apprehended an active cadre of NSCN (K-YA) near Perizie Colony, Kohima on July 14 along with one point 22 mm pistol, live ammunition and incriminating documents: Eastern Command, Indian Army

India, US likely to partner on 5G: USIBC President- ANI

India and US are likely to partner on 5G network, US India Business Council (USIBC) President Nisha Biswal said on Thurs, adding that technology sector is a “very important area” of collaboration between our two countries.
Biswal said expects that digital commerce and all areas of the technology collaboration are going to continue to grow.
“I do think that the technology sector is a very important area of collaboration between our two countries. We have a very trusted relationship, and we have a very large digitally savvy population in both countries,” she said.
“So I do expect that digital commerce and all areas of the technology collaboration are going to continue to grow.
I also think that the US and India will partner on 5G and creating kind of the digital infrastructure of the future. And this will continue to be an area of growing importance,” she added.

Kerala Customs Raids Several Jewelry Shops In Kozhikode Amid NIA's Gold Smuggling Probe

In a development, the Kerala Customs department on Friday, has raided several jewelry shops in Kozhikode.
Custom sources believe that smuggled gold had arrived in a shop named Hessa Gold & Diamonds in Arakinar and several irregularities were discovered during the early hours of the morning.
However, Customs has not clarified whether the raids are connected to the Kerala gold smuggling probe by NIA.
Previously, the Kerala police had submitted a 2-page report highlighting that over 100 kgs of gold have been smuggled in and out of India along with Rs 1000 crore of hawala transactions in the past one year with Koduvally area of Kozhikode district as the ‘hub of smuggling’.
Moreover, former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM – M Sivasankar who was allegedly in contact with Suresh and several other accused in the case, was grilled by Customs about Suresh’s dubious educational qualifications, her role in the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) – which was headed by Sivasankar.
While Opposition has moved a no-confidence against CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Sivasankar himself has been suspended pending the departmental inquiry.
UAE’s acting-Consulate general flees India
On Thurs, acting in-charge of UAE consulate in India – Rashid Khamis Al Sheimeili reportedly fled India after he was named by key accused Swapna Suresh for directing her to contact the Customs department about the delay in consignment.
Suresh has reportedly mentioned in her bail petition that she had contacted the Asst Commissioner of Customs with regard to the release of the diplomatic baggage on the behest of Rashid.
Over 116 calls have been unearthed between Rashid and Suresh, while Rashid’s gunman has reportedly attempted suicide fearing an attempt at his life.
A gunman at United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram allegedly attempted to commit suicide today. He is currently admitted at a hospital. Probe underway.
Since Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary is involved, the involvement of CM’s office is very very clear: Alphons KJ, Rajya Sabha MP, said on Kerala gold smuggling case.

Miscellaneous

Saket Court allows 34 Thailand nationals to walk free on plea bargaining and imposing fine of Rs 6,000 each in connection with Nizamuddin Markaz case. The fine was deposited to PM CARES Fund on the directions of the court. 7 other Thailand nationals have gone for trial.
Opposition parties including Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Hindustani Awam Morcha, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, and Loktantrik Janata Dal write to Chief Election Commissioner, ECI appealing to ensure ‘substantial public participation & level playing field in 2020 Bihar polls’. People expect the Commission to ensure and satisfy the people that the entire poll exercise does not become a super spreader event: Bihar opposition parties to Election Commission of India COVID19

International

U.S. targets all Chinese Communist Party members for possible travel ban: Reuters

The Trump administration is considering banning travel to the United States by all members of the Chinese Communist Party and their families, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday, a move that would worsen already tense U.S.-China relations.
Such a ban, if implemented, could hit the ruling Communist Party from the highest levels down to its rank-and-file and would be certain to draw retaliation against Americans who travel to China.
This could include not only diplomats but also business executives, potentially harming U.S. interests in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said earlier such action by the United States, if true, would be “pathetic.”
S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stopped short of confirming it was under consideration but said: “We’re working our way through, under the president’s guidance, about how to think about pushing back against the Chinese Communist Party.”
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters: “We keep every option on the table with regard to China.”

The path taken by the Chinese people, that is the right path, cannot be denied by any country, person or force. The US can choose whether it wishes to be open or isolated. The world is watching: Chinese FM said in response to the US’ travel ban on Communist Party of China members.

UNSC Sanctions Tehrik-e-Taliban's Noor Wali Mehud; Imposes Travel Ban, Arms Embargo

Nur Wali Mehsud a.k.a. Abu Mansoor Asim, the leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has been put under sanctions in the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

In the other development in tightening the grip on the terrorist plotting against India from across the border, the United Nations Security Council has added another Pakistani terrorist in its designated terrorist list.
Nur Wali Mehsud a.k.a. Abu Mansoor Asim, the leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been put under sanctions in the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The terrorist is a Pakistan national.

Other UN Designated terrorists from Pakistan

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD) Chief Hafiz Saeed is also a UN Designated terrorist working from Pakistan soil and plotting terror activities against India.
He is the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack which killed 164 civilians.
The US has announced a bounty of USD 10 million on Saeed.
Also, the UNSC has sanctioned another Pakistani, Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).