Important Picks of the Day

NATIONAL

India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time: PM Modi at Eastern Economic Forum (↓)

India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time and the “robust” cooperation between the two countries was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, said PM Narendra Modi.

India-US Hold 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue; Review Prevailing Afghanistan Situation (↓)

India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla on Thu met US Deputy Secy of State Wendy Sherman and reviewed the ongoing developments in Afghanistan (↓)

India to engage with all 27 EU members, said EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Thu, assured that India will engage with all the 27 European Union members on Indo-Pacific.  (↓)

Study Suggests Ways to Integrate Lessons from Arthashastra, Gita in India’s Military Training

The internal study conducted by the College of Defence Management has recommended exploring ways of incorporating ‘relevant teachings’ from ancient Indian texts such as Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Bhagavat Gita, and Thirukkural in the modern context of strategic thinking, leadership, statecraft, and warfare, into the current military training curriculum. (↓)

J&K: Army foils infiltration bid in J-K’s Poonch; search operation underway

A massive search operation was launched in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt along the LoC around midnight. (↓)

India becomes the 3^rd largest startup ecosystem in the world

India has emerged as the 3^rd largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China and the pace of growth is not showing any signs of slowing down. Over the last year, India has added three unicorns every month taking the total count to 51, ahead of the UK (32) and Germany (18). A privately-held startup company valued at over $1 bn is called a unicorn.

Justice Manjula Chellur (R), ‘Upright Judge’ in Charge of SIT Probe in Bengal Post-poll Violence

The 1^st woman chief justice of Calcutta HC, Justice Chellur has been appointed to monitor the SIT probe because an SC judge was unavailable. As CJ of the Bombay HC in 2017, Justice Chellur caused a furor when she told protesting Mah doctors that they were “not factory workers” and if they were so scared of being beaten up they should resign and stay home. 

NEIGHBORHOOD

China opens first road-rail transport link to the Indian Ocean  

It connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar, China. The first shipments on a newly-launched railway line from the Myanmar border to the key commercial hub of Chengdu in western China, that provides China a new road-rail transportation channel to the Indian Ocean, were delivered last week, state media reported on Tue. (↓)

Afghanistan: Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar to lead new Afghanistan govt: Report

The Taliban, which seized Kabul on Aug. 15 after sweeping across most of the country, have faced resistance in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital, with reports of heavy fighting and casualties.

Pakistan’s debt rose to Rs 149 trillion during Imran Khan-led govt

Pakistan’s financial debt rose to Rs.149 trillion during three years under the Imran Khan-led-Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf govt, according to an annual report released by the State Bank of Pakistan. “The annual report released by State Bank of Pakistan shows government debts at 399 trillion and of this, debts rose by Rs.149 trillion during 3 years under PTI.

Pakistan: Taliban’s backer & broker

Pakistan is acting act as the Taliban’s broker for western powers. Foreign Ministers of Germany, the UK, Britain, and The Netherlands are making a beeline to Pak to keep refugees within Afghanistan. As interior minister claimed that Pakitan is the custodian of the Taliban.

Pakistan needs to coexist with and have a ‘realistic’ approach to the Taliban: Qureshi

FM SM Qureshi on Fri said that Pak needed to coexist with the Taliban and have a “realistic” approach towards the group. British Foreign Secy Dominic Raab said Pakistan and India must find a lasting political solution to the situation in Kashmir “bilaterally”.

Pakistan accused of undercounting Hindus, Christians in the latest census

The religious minorities in Pakistan have accused the government of undercounting them in the latest census data published in May. This comes in four years after the survey was conducted. The survey for the 6^th Population and Housing Census was undertaken under former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and got completed in 2017.

India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time: PM Modi at Eastern Economic Forum

Speaking at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), PM Modi said energy is another major pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries and that India and Russia can together help bring stability to the global energy market.

• Noting that India has a talented and dedicated workforce while the Far East is rich in resources, the PM said there is tremendous scope for Indian talent to contribute to the development of the Russian Far East.
• He recalled his 2019 visit to the Russian city of Vladivostok to attend the forum and the then announcement of India’s commitment to an “Act Far East policy”.

The policy is an important part of India’s “special and privileged strategic partnership” with Russia, Modi said.

India-US Hold 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue; Review Prevailing Afghanistan Situation

India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla on Thu met US Deputy Secy of State Wendy Sherman and reviewed the ongoing developments in Afghanistan, along with discussions on advancing India-US Strategic Partnership across sectors including defense, trade and investment, and climate change, Ministry of External Affairs, twitted.

• MEA also informed that they also reviewed developments in Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific region, COVID pandemic and discussed cooperation in the UN and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
• As per the official release, they also considered the possibility of enhancing collaboration in areas of counterterrorism, HADR, and maritime security.
• Shringla also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed bilateral ties and the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.
• Earlier on Thu, the Minister of External Affairs reiterated its stance and told the media that currently, India’s priority lies in the evacuation of stranded Indians in the war-torn nation.

India-US 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue: India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 Inter-sessional meeting at the official level on 1 Sept 2021 in Washington DC. As per the official release, they reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Oct 2020 and preparations for the forthcoming dialogue later this year. 

• The Indian delegation was led jointly by Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Somnath Ghosh, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence.
• The U.S. delegation was led by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs Dr. Ely Ratner alongside Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the Department of State, Ervin Massinga.
• As per the official release, both sides took stock of the progress and developments in the bilateral agenda under the India-US strategic partnership, including defense, global public health, economic and commercial cooperation, science and technology, clean energy, and climate finance, and people to people ties.
• They explored opportunities for enhancing ongoing cooperation in these fields based on mutual interests. Cooperation in contemporary areas such as space, cyber security, and emerging technologies was also discussed.

Unverified sources claimed that India’s Min of Defense and US Deptt of Defense have signed a project agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (AL-UAV) under Joint Working Group Air Systems in the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). Indian DRDO’s ADE & USAF Aerospace Systems Directorate to lead it. It will have three targeted uses, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, “cross-border operations,” and cave and tunnel inspection.

India to engage with all 27 EU members, said EAM

External Affair Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, during the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Thu, assured that India will engage with all the 27 European Union members on Indo-Pacific.

“I’ve tried to make it a point to make sure that we engage with all 27 EU members. We do realize that Europe is a collective enterprise and you need that to have all stakeholders as much as possible, Jaishankar said EAM’s remarks came at the Bled Strategic Forum panel discussion that took place in Slovenia on “Partnership for a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific”.

• This is an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council which is being held in Slovenia’s capital city.
• EAM is on an official visit to Slovenia, Croatia, and Denmark from Sept 2-5, as part of a tour to boost bilateral ties and further strengthen India’s cooperation with the Central European Countries.
• A MEA statement also informed that this visit will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in India’s bilateral ties with these three countries, and strengthening multifaceted relationships with the EU.
• Meanwhile, during the discussion, Jaishankar also said that it is important that “It is not India’s responsibility or capability to solve EU’s problems.
• Jaishankar also said that India sees to strengthen its relations with the European Union while refuting “the Western-Non-Western binary”.
• He also welcomed Slovenia’s Presidency of EU and meeting his counterpart Dr. Anze Logar. “Excellent meeting with Foreign Minister of Slovenia @AnzeLog. Agreed to deepen our political and economic relationship.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is on an official visit to Slovenia, Croatia, and Denmark from Sept 2-5, as part of a tour to review the bilateral relationship with the three Central European countries. (ANI)

Study Suggests Ways to Integrate Lessons from Arthashastra, Gita in India’s Military Training

An internal study conducted by the College of Defence Management (CDM) has recommended exploring ways of incorporating ‘relevant teachings’ from ancient Indian texts such as Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Bhagavat Gita, and Thirukkural in the modern context of strategic thinking, leadership, statecraft, and warfare, into the current military training curriculum.

The study also suggested setting up an ‘Indian Culture Study Forum’ and a dedicated faculty to research this possibility.

Located at Secunderabad, CDM is a premier tri-services military training institution, where senior officers from the Army, Navy, and the Indian Air Force are trained and groomed for higher defense management.

According to a report in The Print, the defense services have subsequently been working on coming up with new indigenous military band tunes, change some pre-independence era military battle honors, putting more emphasis on Indian war heroes and indigenous works in strategic studies.

What Are the Recommendations?

• For instance, it calls Kautilya’s Arthashashtra a “treasure trove” for the Armed Forces and states that it is relevant in the current context and contains lessons for a foot soldier to a general officer in the Armed Forces.
• The three texts, it stated, are relevant in the current scenario concerning leadership, warfare, and strategic thinking.
• The study recommended setting up an Indian Culture Study Forum on the lines of those existing in Pakistan and China.
• It has also been recommended that there should be a dedicated faculty headed by Commandant CDM, which will research ancient Indian texts and culture.
• It further recommended that a study on ancient texts and treatises such as Manusmriti, Nitisara, and Mahabharata should be carried out for two years, as well as organizing workshops and annual seminars on ancient Indian culture and its lessons for the Armed Forces.
• It stated that that the long-term objective should be to make CDM the Centre for Excellence in Indian Cultural Studies.
• It has also suggested involving religious teachers in the Armed Forces be engaged in the study of the ancient texts and draw out relevant lessons from them for the Armed Forces.

The study says that there is a need to incorporate these ancient Indian texts into the training curriculum of military institutions through an “institutionalized framework.”

J&K: Army foils infiltration bid in J-K’s Poonch; search operation underway

A massive search operation was launched in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control around midnight.

• Security forces are now carrying out a massive search operation in the Gulpur sector of Poonch district after an infiltration attempt was foiled.
• According to sources, 3-4 terrorists were spotted in the region, following which the Army opened fire at them.
• The infiltrators returned to the Pakistan-occupied J&K soon after the firing took place, sources said.

Authorities imposed strict restrictions on Fri in the entire Kashmir Valley to maintain law and order in the aftermath of senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s death on Wed, after the clashes broke out between stone pelters and the security forces in the Nawabazar area of downtown Srinagar in the evening.

Afghanistan: Reports claimed that Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar to lead new Afghanistan govt

• The Taliban, which seized Kabul on Aug. 15 after sweeping across most of the country, have faced resistance in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital, with reports of heavy fighting and casualties.
• Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar will lead a new Afghan govt that could be announced soon, sources in the Islamist group said on Friday, as it battled rebel fighters while striving to ward off economic collapse.
• Baradar, who heads the Taliban’s political office, will be joined by Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, in senior positions in the govt, sources said.

Rebels hold out in Panjshir; Taliban set up gov’t in Kabul: Taliban forces and fighters loyal to local leader Ahmad Massoud fight in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, as Taliban leaders work to form the government.

Taliban forces and fighters loyal to local leader Ahmad Massoud have fought in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, as Taliban leaders in the capital Kabul worked on forming a government. Each side said it had inflicted heavy casualties.

UN resumes humanitarian flights to Afghanistan: The UN has resumed Humanitarian Air Service flights to Afghanistan with three planes arriving in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif since Sun, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thu.

The flights, operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), link Pakistan’s Islamabad to Mazar-i-Sharif and the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. The program aims to deliver humanitarian aid to areas that are difficult to reach.

Blinken discusses Afghanistan in calls with counterparts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed the situation in Afghanistan in separate phone conversations with his Saudi, Italian, Spanish and German counterparts.

The UK will not recognize the Taliban but sees scope for dialogue: Raab

• The foreign secretary’s comments in Doha come as he remains under fire over his handling of the crisis.
• The United Kingdom will not recognize the Taliban but sees scope for dialogue, the British foreign secretary has said, adding that he is monitoring closely whether the hardline group lives up to its promises to maintain peace.
• During a diplomatic mission to Qatar to ensure the safe passage of the Britons and Afghans left behind, Dominic Raab said on Thu that he was attempting to build a regional coalition to “exert the maximum moderating influence” on the Taliban as they “adjust to the new reality” of the group in power.

Germany sets conditions for Kabul’s presence: Germany is ready to resume a diplomatic presence in Kabul if the Taliban meets certain conditions, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

“We want to see an inclusive Govt [in Kabul], the respect for fundamental human and women’s rights – and Afghanistan must not again become a breeding ground for international terrorism,” Maas told reporters in Slovenia, where he met his EU counterparts to discuss Afghanistan.

Italy’s Draghi says still hopes to hold a G20 summit on Afghanistan: Italy still hopes to hold an ad hoc summit of the Group of 20 chief economies on Afghanistan, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, adding that any such meeting would take place after this month’s UN General Assembly.

China: In response to whether China will accept Afghan refugees, the Chinese Foreign Minister said the priority is to ensure no new civil war or humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan. Other countries cannot just pass the responsibility on to Afghanistan’s neighbors and the international community. Is maintaining the Chinese embassy in Kabul a signal that the Taliban are recognized? Chinese FM said that the new Afghan govt is yet to be established, and China is closely following and observing the situation.

The U.S. presses Pakistan as Afghan crisis spirals, leaked docs show

• Pakistan’s ambassador questioned reports of Taliban reprisals as U.S. diplomats struggle with refugee arrivals.
• The Biden administration is quietly pressing Pakistan to cooperate on fighting terrorist groups such as ISIS-K and Al Qaeda in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
• In response, Pakistan — long accused by U.S. officials of aiding the Afghan Taliban — has hinted that Islamabad deserves more public recognition of its role in helping people now fleeing Afghanistan, even as it has downplayed fears of what Taliban rule of the country could mean.
• These exchanges and others, described in emails, sensitive but unclassified cables, and other written materials reported by POLITICO, offer a glimpse into how tensions between Washington and Islamabad linger after two decades of war in Afghanistan.
• They suggest that the two govt are far from lockstep on the road ahead, even now that the US has pulled its troops from Afghanistan.
• The Biden administration has been unusually circumspect about revealing its contacts and discussions with Pakistan.
• While a nuclear-armed country, Pakistan’s actions often appear at odds with the US, it nonetheless is a nation with links to the Afghan Taliban whose cooperation in fighting terrorism can be helpful, which the US would prefer not to lose entirely to Chinese influence.

Western Union resuming services to Afghanistan: Western Union Co is resuming money-transfer services to Afghanistan, a senior executive told Reuters, a decision he said was in line with a US push to allow humanitarian activity to continue after the Taliban’s takeover.

The U.S. has no plans to release billions in Afghan assets, Treasury says: The world’s largest money-transfer firm and MoneyGram International Inc, another global remittance provider, suspended services in Afghanistan two weeks ago after the group captured Kabul at lightning speed.

• The Biden administration has no plans to release billions in Afghan gold, investments, and foreign currency reserves parked in the United States that it froze after the Taliban’s takeover, despite pressure from humanitarian groups and others who say the cost may be the collapse of Afghanistan’s economy.
• Much of the Afghan central bank’s $10 billion in assets are parked overseas, where they are considered a key instrument for the West to pressure the Taliban to respect women’s rights and the rule of law.

China is our main partner, we care very much about Silk Road: Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman for the Taliban regime, told an Italian newspaper that China was “our main partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us as the Chinese govt is ready to invest and rebuild our country”, the Guardian reported. Mujahid told the La Repubblica newspaper that the Taliban “care a lot about the ‘One Belt, One Road’ project. Taliban to rely on Chinese funds, spokesperson says: With the help of China, the Taliban will fight for an economic comeback in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid tells an Italian newspaper.

Taliban Says “Have Right To Raise Voice For Muslims In Kashmir”: Report

• In an interview, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said: “We have this right, being Muslims, to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India, and any other country.”
• “We will raise our voice and say that Muslims are your own people, your own citizens. They are entitled to equal rights under your laws,” he added, according to Geo News.
• India is concerned that Afghanistan may become the epicenter of Islamic terrorism, a first-of-its-kind that has a state. In the past, ISIS and Al Qaeda also tried to establish a state but failed. There are fears that Sunni and Wahabi terrorist groups will turn the Taliban into their haven.
• Citing sources, NDTV reported that Pakistan spy agency ISI, which shares good relations with Taliban leadership, will try to influence the Taliban but it will not be able to have an effect since the Taliban this time is in a position of strength and only weak Taliban can be influenced by ISI.

Recently, a leader of Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has said that the Taliban would help the country in ‘liberating’ Kashmir from India. Speaking at a television news debate, leader Neelam Irshad Sheikh said, “Taliban have said that they are with us and they will help us in [liberating] Kashmir.”

China opens first road-rail transport link to the Indian Ocean

It connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar, China. The first shipments on a newly-launched railway line from the Myanmar border to the key commercial hub of Chengdu in western China, that provides China a new road-rail transportation channel to the Indian Ocean, were delivered last week, state media reported on Tue.

• The transport corridor involves a sea-road-rail link. Goods from Singapore reached Yangon Port, arriving by ship through the Andaman Sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean, and were then transported by road to Lincang on the Chinese side of the Myanmar-China border in Yunnan province.
• The new railway line that runs from the border town of Lincang to Chengdu, a key trade hub in western China, completes the corridor.
• China also has plans to develop another port in Kyaukphyu in the Rakhine State, including a proposed railway line from Yunnan directly to the port, but the progress there has been stalled by unrest in Myanmar.
• Chinese planners have also looked at the Gwadar port in Pakistan as another key outlet to the Indian Ocean that will bypass the Malacca Straits. Gwadar is being developed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the far western Xinjiang region but has been slow to take off amid security concerns.
• The costs and logistics through CPEC are also less favorable than the Myanmar route with the opening of the rail transport channel from the Myanmar border-right to western China’s biggest commercial hub, Chengdu. Transportation time on the railway line from the Myanmar border to Chengdu takes three days.
• The railway line currently ends in Lincang on the Chinese side opposite the Myanmar border trade town of Chin Shwe Haw. Plans are underway to develop Chin Shwe Haw as a “border economic cooperation zone” under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Irrawaddy said the route goes through Mandalay, Lashio, and Hsenwi on the Myanmar side and “is expected to become the lifeblood of international trade for China and Myanmar while providing a source of income for Myanmar’s military regime”.

Pakistan needs to coexist with and have a ‘realistic’ approach to the Taliban: Qureshi

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during the latter’s two-day visit to Pakistan, the foreign minister was questioned on whether Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban would be “conditions-based”. Responding to this, Qureshi said the choices available must be considered before determining any conditions.

• FM Qureshi said Pakistan had certain “compulsions” in its affairs with Afghanistan that “perhaps you don’t have to” such as daily border crossings of 20,000 to 25,000 people.
• “Can we block them? No, we can’t. Can we regulate them? Yes, we should. Are there risks? Yes, there are organizations there that are not friendly to you or us or anyone so we have to guard against that as well.”
• The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s stance that it “had no favorites” in Afghanistan. He said Afghanistan is comprised of different ethnic groups.
• “That is why we have said as neighbors and wellwishers that it is in your (Afghanistan’s) interest to adopt an inclusive approach,” Qureshi said.