A walk through Wednesday

[ Important Picks of the Day ]

[ NATIONAL ]

Delhi Police claimed that Terrorists traveled Via Oman, Iran, trained in Karachi by Pakistan Army for ‘Max Impact’ (↓)

The terrorists were first made to go to Muscat, Oman’s port capital, on a valid visa where they were quarantined for 10 days. After this, they were sent to Iran by sea.

Quad has broad, substantive agenda, seeing it with limited agenda is partly gamesmanship of critics, says India (↓)

Ahead of a maiden in-person meeting called by US president Joe Biden in Washington later this month, India said Quad should not be perceived as a grouping with limited agenda as it has a broad and substantive agenda.

India concerned about Afghanistan being used by LeT & Jaish, Foreign Secretary Shringla says (↓)

India’s External Affairs Ministry says the international community must stand with the people of Afghanistan in their desire to live in peace and dignity.

Deeply engaged with India on terror in Afghanistan, Blinken testifies at Congressional hearing (↓)

At US congressional hearing on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defends Biden’s decision to carry out troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, says President inherited deadline & not plan.

Govt. curbs funding for 10 NGOs (↓)

The govt has moved to monitor the funding for a group of 10 American, Australian, and European NGOs dealing with environmental, climate change, and child labor issues.

Govt Gives Booster Shot to Auto, Telecom Sectors; Drones Get Wings (↓)

The Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the PM took place today and there are some important decisions including a relief package for debt-strapped telecom companies and PLI for auto companies that are expected to come.

Central Vista revamp: 7,000 defense ministry officials to move to new offices

More than 7,000 defense ministry officers and staff are set to move into brand new offices at Africa Avenue & Kasturba Gandhi Marg from their existing decades-old workplaces in a clutch of pre-Independence era huntsmen in the vicinity of the North & South Blocks to make way for the Central Vista revamp, HT reported cites sources on Tuesday.

‘What Kind of Selection is This?’ SC criticizes Centre for ‘Cherry Picking’ Names for tribunals, sets deadline:

Chief Justice, during the hearing, said: “I have seen the National Company Law Tribunal appointments…. more recommendations were made. But in appointments.“

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Over 150 Afghan media outlets shut down since Taliban takeover: Report

More outlets are expected to discontinue operations in the country if the media’s financial problem is not resolved and restrictions against them are not addressed, according to officials.

Taliban fighters have little food to eat, haven’t received any money in months: Report (↓)

Several Western nations have halted aid to the Taliban after it took control over Afghanistan last month. UN has warned the country is suffering from diarrhea and malnutrition cases.

Taliban’s balancing act on Kashmir: Nations should resolve issues via dialogue (↓)

“Kashmir and everywhere else where there is tyranny, our policy is that we should stand with them. However, if there is a conflict between 2 countries, like how it is said in the world to solve issues through talks, we would also try to solve it through talks. However, we stand with those who are oppressed,” said Amir Khan Muttaqi.

China brokers drop yuan forecasts to avoid regulators’ ire

(Reuters) – Brokerages in China have dropped detailed currency forecasts from their research notes, or have restricted access to them, underlining the growing sensitivity in the financial sector to a regulatory clampdown on speculative investment.

China tells Taliban it will not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs

The assurance from China comes on the same day Beijing said it will donate 3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan in the first batch with more emergency supplies to follow.

UK Parliament’s banning of Chinese ambassador from attending events: embassy spokesperson (GT)

UK Parliament’s banning of Chinese envoys from attending events reflects the narrow and parochial mindset of some individuals in the UK. It is a shortsighted, reckless, and cowardly move, and the Chinese embassy strongly condemns it.

The 1^st of 2 Airbus A320s acquired by PIA arrives in Islamabad

1 of the 2 Airbus A320 aircraft the Pakistan International Air-lines had acquired on dry lease from the Bank of Utah, the US, landed at Islamabad Airport on Tuesday morning. The Fleet will expand to 29 aircraft with the arrival of a 2^nd plane this month.

Delhi Police claimed that terrorists traveled Via Oman, Iran, trained in Karachi by Pakistan Army for ‘Maximum Impact’

The six terrorists, including two Pakistan-trained terror operatives, arrested on Tue were trained in a farmhouse on the outskirts of Karachi by Pakistan army personnel and were taught “how to cause maximum damage”.
They were made to travel to Pakistan via two other countries. CNN-News18 has accessed exclusive travel and military training details of the group.
The group was first made to go to Muscat, Oman’s port capital, on a valid visa where they were quarantined for 10 days. After this, they were sent to Iran by sea. From Iran they went to Karachi, using a boat.
They also talked to them about how to make a maximum impact by targeting high-density population areas.
Delhi Police Special Cell, along with Uttar Pradesh ATS, Mumbai Police, had busted this terror module.
The police further said underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Anis was part of the team and funding was being done through the Hawala network.
However, on Wed, the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist squad while confirming the link of Jaan Mohammad Shaikh with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, but added that when he was arrested from Kota, no arms or explosives have been recovered.
Those arrested have been identified as – Jaan Mohammad Shaikh (47) from Maharashtra, Osama (22) from Delhi, Moolchand (47) from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareilly, Zeeshan Qamar (28) from Pryagraj, Mohd Abu Bakar (23) from Behraich, and Mohd Amir Javed (31) from Lucknow.
The police said the arrests were made during raids at various places in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Those arrested were doing recce of cities ahead of the upcoming festive season, police said, adding, “Navarati and Ram Leela gatherings were their targets.”
“Out of the 6 who were arrested, two (Osama and Zeeshan) were trained in Pakistan and they entered India just this year. We formed a special team when we received information about these individuals.
The first arrest was made in Maharashtra, then two from Delhi, following that we tied up with UP ATS to arrest three from there,” said Neeraj Thakur, Delhi Special CP (Special Cell) during a press conference.
The police have also recovered arms, ammunition, explosives, and special pistols that were supposed to be used for targeted killings from their possession.

Pak’s ISI trained terror module busted: Operatives trained under Lieutenant rank officer near Gwadar port-ANI

A day after the Delhi Police busted a Pakistan’s ISI trained terror module that has been closely managed by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, an investigation into the matter has revealed that the operatives were trained under a major or Lieutenant rank officer named Ghazi.
According to the sources, Ghazi had two subordinates named Jabbar and Hamza.
The police had arrested six operatives of Pakistan’s ISI-trained terror module.
Two accused Zeeshan Qamar and Osama informed the police that they were taken to Pakistan on boats and they reached Jioni near Gwadar port in Pakistan after several short sea-journeys, changing boats several times, according to the accused.
There they were received by one Pakistani who took them to a farmhouse in the Thatta area of Sindh province in Pakistan, where 3 Pakistan nationals were present.
Two of these, Jabbar and Hamza imparted training to them.
Both of them were from Pakistan Army as they wore military uniforms. Hamza use to wear civilian clothes but was widely respected in the camp.
They imparted training to these two accused Zeeshan Qamar and Osama in making bombs and IEDs and committing arson with the help of items of daily use.
They were also trained in handling and use of small firearms and AK-47s. The terror operatives have been remanded for 14-day by the police, while 2 other accused Zeeshan Qamar and Mohammad Amir Javed will be presented before the court on Wed.
Delhi Police had said the latest imported weapons, Italian pistols, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the arrested persons.
Interrogation of the arrested persons and further investigation is underway.

Quad has broad, substantive agenda, seeing it with limited agenda is partly gamesmanship of critics, says India

Speaking to US-based academician Ashley Tellis on the Indian Ocean and its impact on regional security, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said, ” … Again I want to highlight Quad has agenda that extends to multiple domains, much broader cooperation. And to make it in a sense to give it a sharp edge and a very limited agenda partly is gamesmanship of critics. I think Quad has an increasing agenda and a substantive agenda in multiple spheres of activities .”
Jaishankar further said, “Without diminishing Quad, what I also wanted to point out Quad is not limit there are other plurilateral in the world. There are other plurilateral in the Indo-Pacific region.
We have a plurilateral which means more than two arrangements with Australia and Japan and also with France Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives.
So this is a larger generic point on evolution on the international order that as multilateralism shows an inability to address key issues of the day and as bilateralism has its mix I think that gap today is increasingly going to be filled by an understanding of the willing and the cooperative.”
“Quad as an example it is an effort of cooperation, the effort of cooperation between four countries who are located on the four corners of Indo-Pacific but are all impelled by a sense of responsibility.
He underlined the Indian Ocean itself historically had an organic unity that’s very important today for Indian Ocean countries to recall and refresh, it was a very pluralistic culture of the Indian Ocean.

China on Quad formation: After US President Joe Biden announced about hosting the first-ever Quad Summit on Sept 24, the Chinese govt hit out at its formation and that the group is “close, exclusive, and targeted small circles… unpopular and have no way out.” Earlier, China termed Quad as an “Asian NATO” which was also criticized by EAM Jaishankar at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be participating in the Leaders’ Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework in Washington along with his US, Japanese and Australian counterparts on Sept 24.

India concerned about Afghanistan being used by LeT & Jaish, Foreign Secy Shringla says

India on Tueay said it continues to remain “concerned” over developments in Afghanistan, even as it emphasized that the country should not be used for “sheltering, training, planning or financing” terror networks such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

“As a neighboring country of Afghanistan, we are naturally concerned about the developments within that country and their external repercussions. India has a civilizational relationship with the Afghan people and those long-standing links guided and will continue to guide our approach,” said Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla, who was speaking at an online symposium.

He added that while most Indian nationals were able to leave Kabul when Taliban forces took over the Afghan capital on Aug 15, the evacuation process could not be completed due to the deteriorating security situation at the airport.

‘International community must stand with people of Afghanistan’

At the UN Tuesday, Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, who spoke at the 48^th Session of Human Rights Council, in Geneva, also highlighted New Delhi’s concern for Afghanistan.

“The situation in Afghanistan continues to be of grave concern,” she said, adding that the UNSC Resolution 2593 “should guide the international community’s approach to Afghanistan”.

“It (resolution) reaffirms the importance of upholding human rights including those of women, children, and minorities, allowing safe passage for those wanting to leave Afghanistan and ensuring unhindered access for humanitarian assistance,” she said.

“The international community must stand with the people of Afghanistan in their desire to live in peace and dignity.”
The Taliban dispensation there announced a new interim government in Kabul on Sept 7^th. The interim govt has in key positions individuals who are on the UN blacklist for terrorist activities.

Deeply engaged with India on terror in Afghanistan, Blinken testifies at Congressional hearing

The US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken Monday said that Washington is now “deeply engaged” with India for “over-the-horizon” capabilities to keep a check on Afghanistan and the new Taliban regime there. Testifying on the first day of the Congressional hearing — Afghanistan 2001-2021: Evaluating the Withdrawal and US Policies — Blinken said the US is also engaged with India on the growing influence of Pakistan in the war-torn country.

“The Taliban should remember what happened last time … It (Taliban) has made commitments it will not let that happen, but of course, we are not relying on those commitments,” he told the bipartisan Congressional committee.
He added that the US will deploy “over the horizon capacities to detect the re-emergence” of al Qaeda from Afghanistan and other terrorist groups, for which it will align more with its allies, especially India.
The statements come days before US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold their first bilateral meeting, expected to take place on 24-25 September.
On being asked whether India is a priority, given that it neighbors Afghanistan while nations such as Qatar and Kuwait are farther away, Blinken said, “We are deeply engaged with India across the board.”
Blinken fielded the questions in a 5-hour-long testimony to irate lawmakers, including some who repeatedly demanded he resigns. The hearing also witnessed Republican and Democrat senators exchange sharp jibes over the issue. He is the first Biden administration official to testify publicly since the Taliban’s takeover.

Govt. curbs funding for 10 climate change, child labor NGOs- The Hindu

Five years after it canceled the registration of international non-governmental organization (NGO) Greenpeace to receive foreign funds, the govt has moved to restrict the funding for a group of ten American, Australian, and European NGOs dealing with environmental, climate change, and child labor issues.

An internal Reserve Bank of India notes dated July 1, 2021, that was sent to all banks, said the govt had specified the number of foreign entities to be placed on the “Prior Reference Category” (PRC list) under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010, that was tightened in Sept 2020, making both banks and chartered accountants accountable for any unauthorized funds that come through.

80 agencies on the list: The NGOs, that add to more than 80 international voluntary agencies now on the government’s PRC list, include the European Climate Foundation, three U.S.-based NGOs: the Omidyar Network International, Humanity United and Stardust Foundation, two Australia-based NGOs: Walk Free Foundation and Minderoo Foundation, and U.K.-based Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Freedom fund, and Laude’s foundation, as well as U.K./ U.A.E., based Legatum fund.

“The RBI has instructed that any fund flow from the (specified) donor agencies to any NGO/Voluntary organization/ persons in India should be brought to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that the funds are allowed to be credited to the recipients only after clearance/ prior permission from the MHA’s Foreigners Division of the FCRA wing,” the notice sent out recently by a private bank to its branches, which The Hindu obtained a copy of, said.

The Reserve Bank didn’t respond to a request for a comment, but officials confirmed informally that the note had been sent out, in line with previous such circulars sent to banks warning them of NGOs banned or suspended from acquiring or disbursing foreign funds.

Govt gives booster shot to Auto, Telecom Sectors; Drones get wings

100% FDI in telecom via automatic route is approved by Cabinet. Non-telecom revenue won’t be included in AGR definition prospectively, he added.
Cabinet has approved big reforms for the telecom sector today. All license fee and spectrum use fee had interests and penalties…we have relaxed it…penalty has been removed…interest will compound annually and not monthly,”.
Govt has given incentives to the tune of Rs 120 cr for the drone industry. The drone industry will receive exceptional treatment
The automobile industry contributes to 35% of the manufacturing GDP of the country. It is a leading sector in generating employment. If we speak of the global automotive trade, then we need to increase India’s participation, says Anurag Thakur

Union Cabinet approves Rs 26,000-Cr PLI Scheme for Auto Sector

Union Cabinet on Wed approved the revised production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile sector worth Rs 26,000 crore. Last year, the govt had announced the scheme for the automobile and auto components sector with an outlay of Rs 57,043 crore, earmarked for 5 years.

It has been reduced to Rs 25,938 crore because the scheme will now only incentivize makers of electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, sources had earlier said.

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the Italian Republic on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

The MoU seeks to put in place a system, whereby both India and Italy will benefit from the Disaster Management mechanisms of each other and it will help in strengthening the areas of preparedness, response, and capacity building in the field of Disaster Management.
The MoU on cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction and management between the NDMA of the Republic of India and the Department of Civil Protection of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic was signed in June 2021.

‘For the next pandemic, we’ll have gigantic MRNA factories in India’

Bill Gates, the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, says the Delta variant will make it difficult for the world to end the pandemic by 2022, missing his last year’s estimate. In a telephone interview to TOI+, Gates spoke on a range of issues, from vaccinating the elderly to creating factory capacities large enough to supply vaccines for the entire world within 200 days.

The foundation is very proud that back in the spring of 2020 we got $300 million to Serum (Institute of India). The serum has executed very well on ramping up the volume, making record numbers of vaccines.
Now, we wish we’d have even more, but in the months ahead the numbers are going to go up quite a bit. Novavax will come into the picture.
We’ll have Johnson & Johnson. We’ll figure out what can be done with the booster. We’re not quite sure about that right now, but that’s probably beneficial as we get into 2022.

Taliban leaders Baradar, Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani involved in a major row: Repor

The argument between the two leaders over the make-up of the Taliban’s interim cabinet occurred at the presidential palace in Kabul last week, BBC cited unnamed senior Taliban officials as saying.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister in the Taliban set up in Kabul, and Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, a minister and senior leader of the Haqqani Network, were involved in a “major row” over the sharing of power.-BBC.
There have been reports of differences between various sections of the group’s leadership over the composition of the governing structure in Kabul almost since the Taliban marched into Kabul on Aug 15.
The leaders from the Taliban’s political office were believed to be opposed to a larger role for the Haqqani Network, which is considered the main fighting arm of the Taliban and has close ties with Pakistan’s military establishment.
There were also differences between leaders from Kandahar province, the Taliban’s traditional stronghold, and leaders from north and east Afghanistan.
After Baradar disappeared from public view in recent days and rumors swirled that he had been shot and injured during a quarrel at the presidential palace in Kabul, the leader issued an audio message on Mon to say that he was alive and “away on trips”.
BBC Pashto cited a Taliban source as saying that Baradar and Haqqani, the minister for refugees, had “exchanged strong words, as their followers brawled with each other nearby”. Another senior Taliban member based in Qatar and a person connected to those involved “confirmed that an argument had taken place late last week”.
The argument broke out because Baradar was “unhappy about the structure of their interim government”. The row also stemmed from “divisions over who in the Taliban should take credit for their victory in Afghanistan”.BBC

Taliban’s balancing act on Kashmir: Nations should resolve issues via dialogue- WION’s

The Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on Tue, said that the Taliban stand with Kashmir and everywhere else where there is ‘tyranny’ but would want issues between the 2 countries to be solved through talks.

In response to WION’s question on the Taliban’s Kashmir policy in his press conference today, he said that “Kashmir and everywhere else where there is ‘tyranny’, our policy is that we should stand with them. However, if there is a conflict between two countries, like how it is said in the world to solve issues through talks, we would also try to solve it through talks. However, we stand with those who are oppressed. “

Earlier on Sept 3, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had said that as Muslims, we also have a right to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India, or any other country.
The Taliban also praised the world for pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian relief to Afghanistan during today’s press conference and encouraged the US to exhibit “heart” in future interactions.
The Taliban, according to Muttaqi, will use donor money responsibly and use it to alleviate poverty.
He was speaking a day after the United Nations announced that a total of $1.2 billion in aid had been offered to Afghanistan since the Taliban took control on Aug 15.
“The Islamic Emirate will do everything possible to deliver this assistance to the poor in a completely transparent manner,” Muttaqi stated.
He also requested that Washington express gratitude to the Taliban for allowing the US to complete a troop withdrawal and the evacuation of over 120,000 people last month.
“Because America is such a large country, they require a big heart,” he remarked.

China tells the Taliban it will not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs:

China has assured the Taliban govt in Afghanistan that Beijing respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will not interfere in its internal affairs.

In a meeting with acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul on Tue, Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu said Beijing hopes that a “broad and inclusive” political structure is being established in Afghanistan.
The assurance from China comes on the same day Beijing said it will donate three million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan in the first batch with more emergency supplies to follow.
The vaccines will be part of the $31 million worth of food, winter weather supplies, vaccines, and medicine that Beijing pledged to provide Kabul earlier this month.
In Kabul, Wang Yi told Amir Khan Muttaqi: “China respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, will not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, and supports the Afghan people to independently choose a development path that suits their national conditions.”
This was the 2^nd ‘publicized’ high-level China-Afghanistan meet in Kabul after the Taliban swept to power last month. In late Aug, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy head of the Taliban political met Ambassador Wang Yu in Kabul.

Pakistan, Russia to ‘coordinate’ positions on Afghanistan: Al Jazeera

The Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have held telephone conversations to “coordinate” their position on the situation in Afghanistan, statements from both govt say, ahead of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) later this week.