Pick of the Week: Though the world is revolving around Afghanistan, however, other developments have also appeared

Diplomacy

1. Developments in Afghanistan will have the greatest impact on countries like India, PM Modi says
2. Ahead of SCO summit, Jaishankar meets Tajikistan’s top leadership over Afghan situation
3. PM Modi will hold a bilateral meet with US President Joe Biden likely on Sept 24:
4. Over 100 world leaders including Modi, Biden to address UNGA in person next week
5. India, Australia call for ‘broad-based & inclusive’ govt in Afghanistan at 2+2 meet
6. Iran’s foreign minister to visit India as new Taliban govt begins to settle in Afghanistan

Defense

1. India is looking to raise new ‘rocket force’ for missiles, says Gen Bipin Rawat
2. Non-Contact Warfare Doctrine, Local Languages in Military & More: Task Force to Track Work on PM’s Directives
3. Military personnel arrested from Agra over suspected links with foreign spies
4. India sets the scorching pace for military drills across the globe
5. Delhi Police claimed, Terrorists Travelled Via Oman, Iran, Trained in Karachi by Pak Army for ‘Maximum Impact’

Domestic

1. The US is interested in transferring its capital from China to India, says Nitin Gadkari.
2. Gujarat’s cabinet has 24 new faces as CM Patel drops all Rupani ministers.
3. Govt. gives booster shot to auto, telecom sectors; drones get wings.
4. Cabinet approves MoU between India and the Italian Republic on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

External

• Taiwan wants its US office to be renamed; China retaliates: Report
• Cornered for role in Taliban takeover, Pakistan accuses India of ‘Running ISIS Camps’ to malign Kashmiris
• Afghanistan Crisis: Growing extensively

Diplomacy

Developments in Afghanistan will have the greatest impact on countries like India, PM Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the global community should decide “collectively” and “thoughtfully” on recognizing the new set-up in Afghanistan given questions over its acceptability as the change of power was not “inclusive” even as he warned that continuing instability and fundamentalism in that country will embolden terrorist and extremist ideologies all over the world.

In a virtual address at a meeting on Afghanistan of the heads of state of the SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Modi said the Afghan soil should not be used to spread terrorism in any country and called for having a code of conduct to prevent cross-border terrorism and terror financing.

Without naming the Taliban, the prime minister mentioned four specific issues covering key concerns relating to the developments in Afghanistan and the need for the international community to look at them.

1. The questions over the change of power as it was not inclusive and took place without negotiation.
2. Talking about the second issue, the prime minister said if instability and fundamentalism continue in Afghanistan, it will lead to terrorist and extremist ideologies all over the world, and the SCO member countries should develop strict and common norms on this subject and they can also become a template for global anti-terror cooperation.
3. The developments in Afghanistan could lead to an uncontrolled flow of drugs, illegal weapons, and human trafficking, and that a large number of advanced weapons remain in that country.
4. the serious humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He also underscored the economic woes of the Afghan people are increasing due to the interruption of financial and trade flows amid the challenge of COVID-19. “Even today we are eager to deliver food items, medicines to our Afghan friends,” he said.

The prime minister said there was a need to work together to ensure that humanitarian aid relentlessly reaches Afghanistan.

“The Afghan and Indian people have had a special relationship for centuries,” he said, adding India will have full cooperation in every regional or global initiative to help the Afghan society.

While addressing the Plenary Session of the 21^st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, PM Modi said

As expected, he started with praising the great tradition of Sufism in Central Asia, and he underscored the need for de-radicalization, and empower youth with knowledge of science and technology, which is the main obstacle in the slow exploitation of huge Central Asian resources. Without naming any nation he also emphasized the connectivity projects shouldn’t be ‘one-way’, else it will create distance instead of proximity.

The SCO, which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an 8-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organizations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

Ahead of SCO summit, Jaishankar meets Tajikistan’s top leadership over Afghan situation

• External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Thu met Tajikistan’s top leadership Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and exchanged views on the recent developments in Afghanistan and their impact on regional security.
• Jaishankar, who is in the Tajik capital to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on the situation in Afghanistan after its takeover by the Taliban, called on Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon.
• He said that India and Tajikistan are strong partners in fighting terrorism, fundamentalism, and radicalism.
• Jaishankar also met his Kyrgyz counterpart Ruslan Kazakbaev. The two leaders noted growing development in partnership and the two leaders agreed to strengthen traditional cooperation on regional and multilateral issues.
• Jaishankar has likewise met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and Iranian counterpart Amir-Abdollahian, in bilateral meetings.
• Among other leaders, Jaishankar also met on Fri with his counterparts from Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, and Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov. Our conversation focused on the Afghanistan situation. As countries combating terrorism and fundamentalism, our close cooperation is in mutual interest, he tweeted after the meeting
• Jaishankar has also attended a meeting on Afghanistan of the heads of state of SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
• Dr. Jaishankar meets his Belarus counterpart Vladimir and said India and Belarus’ economic cooperation has progressed visibly and he is looking forward to further growth of ties.
• India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defense.
• India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

Dr Jaishankar also met with their Chinese counterpart, Wang

Essential that China shouldn’t’ view ties with India through the lens of the 3^rd country: Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the Summit and discussed the disengagement process between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Jaishankar stated that it is essential that China does not view its relations with India through the lens of a third country. China and India should set an example for Asian solidarity.

• Jaishankar recalled that Wang had in their last meeting noted that the bilateral relations were at low ebb.
• Jaishankar further underlined that it was necessary to ensure progress in the resolution of remaining issues to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh noting that peace and tranquillity in the border areas have been an essential basis for progress in the bilateral relations.

Visit of Muraleedharan, MoS for External Affairs to Algeria

Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs visited the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on Sept 15 -17. During the visit, he called on Aimene Benabderrahmane, Prime Minister of Algeria, and held discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. MoS had fruitful discussions with Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Foreign Minister and Minister of National Community Abroad, and Mr. Rashid Chakib Kaib, Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was agreed to hold the 10^th round of the India-Algeria Joint Commission Meeting at an early date.

Algeria has a small but vibrant Indian community of about 4000 persons, mostly working for various companies

Lekhi meets Portugal’s Secretary of State for International Affairs, signs agreement on recruiting Indians to work in Portugal

Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Mon met Portugal’s Secretary of State for International Affairs and Cooperation Francisco Andre and signed an agreement on Labour Mobility facilitating recruitment of Indian citizens to work in Portugal.

Lekhi and Andre discussed a complete range of bilateral relations focusing on key areas of mutual interest like Science and Technology, IT, Migration and Mobility, and Trade.

PM Modi will hold a bilateral meet with US President Joe Biden likely on Sept 24: Ministry of External Affairs

The four leaders would discuss promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, addressing the climate crisis and deepening their ties, and advancing practical cooperation on areas like combating COVID-19, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Mon.

• In his address to an event here of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for launching the Indian Ocean Initiative, Sandhu said that the Indian Ocean is a bridge with nations in immediate, and extended neighborhoods.
• Carnegie’s launch is coming at a time when the term Indo-Pacific is, perhaps, increasingly becoming one of the most frequently used terms in the global strategic lexicon, the ambassador said.
• Our relationships with countries in the Indian Ocean are strong, and we are also helping build economic capabilities; and improve maritime security, for our friends and partners.
• During COVID-19, we sent medical teams and supplied equipment to the Indian Ocean island nations of the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, among other countries in the Indian Ocean region, he said.
• Sandhu said that India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific was articulated in Prime Minister’s keynote address to the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018.

We view the Indo-Pacific, as a free, open, inclusive region, which embraces all, in the common pursuit of progress and prosperity. The centrality of ASEAN is a key element of the Indo-Pacific. There is convergence on this, with our partners, whether it be under the QUAD; or the trilateral with France and Australia, he said.

• The US has been pushing for a broader role by India in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.
• India, the US, and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the region.
• China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China 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.

• 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.

India expresses concern over activities by Khalistani separatist groups in the US

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said ensuring the security of the Prime Minister and his delegation was an important issue when asked about reports that a banned Khalistani group is planning to hold protests in Washington and New York during PM Modi’s visit to the two cities.

Referring to a report by leading American think-tank Hudson Institute about the Khalistani groups, he said it reflected how Pakistan was continuing efforts to undertake activities against India from the US. (as reported on Thu)

“I do not know about the specific call given by the banned outfit. I am not going to comment on that. But we certainly take a lot of interest in ensuring the security of the Prime Minister and his delegation,” Bagchi said at a media briefing.

• “We convey and share (this) with the host country, in this case, the US. If the organization is banned, it should not be undertaking these kinds of activities,” he said.
• The MEA said the issue is not about protest. “This issue is about security and these are organizations that have had problems in the past in terms of terrorist activities etc. I would not like to go into details,” he added.

Pakistan’s destabilization playbook: Khalistan separatist activism within the US

Hudson Institute’s South and Central Asia Program assembled a group of South Asia experts to evaluate the 55 interlinked Kashmiri and Khalistani groups currently operating within the United States and the possibility that these groups receive funding, support, and military training from Pakistan, have ties to militant and terrorist groups in India, and could detrimentally impact US foreign policy in South Asia.

• The activities of Khalistani groups located in North America should be investigated, within the limits prescribed by law, to prevent a reoccurrence of the violence orchestrated by the Khalistan movement in the 1980s.
• During that period, along with numerous attacks on civilians, the Khalistan movement was linked to the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 from Montreal to London that left 329 dead and the failed bombing of an Air India jet in Tokyo on the same day.
• The US govt has shown reluctance to act on intelligence from India concerning Pakistan-supported Khalistan militancy, largely due to Pakistan’s role as the artery providing logistical support to the US military mission in Afghanistan following 9/11.
• Compounding the issue, China has blocked the designation of Pakistan-based terrorists under the United States’ terrorist-designation process within the United Nations Security Council.

India sees itself as ‘net provider’ of security in the Indian Ocean region, says envoy Sandhu

India sees itself as a net provider of security in the Indian Ocean region where it helps build economic capabilities and improve maritime security for its friends and partners, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu in the US has said, ahead of the next week’s first in-person Quad summit.

The challenges that we face today, as nations, are far too complex, to be tackled single-handedly. This mutual interdependence, to me, is not a sign of weakness; but a source of strength. It is the friendship that we cherish; the trust that we build; the connectivity that we craft that holds potential solutions to many of the pressing problems that confront today’s world, Sandhu said on Tue.

US President Joe Biden will host the first in-person Quad summit on Sept 24 in Washington which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga.

US, UK, and Australia announce new defense pact: On Wed, US President Joe Biden announced a new defense pact between the US, UK, and Australia, known as AUKUS, to share advanced technologies, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Politico reports that the agreement will help the three countries share expertise in artificial intelligence, cyber underwater systems, and long-range capabilities as well as result in Australia obtaining an American-made “conventionally armed” nuclear-powered submarine.

Australia will build 8 nuclear-powered submarines under a new Indo-Pacific security partnership with the United States and Britain that analysts say will likely rile China, which will see the pact as an attempt to contain it

AUKUS defense pact formed after deep consideration informed India about the decision: Australian High Commissioner

Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell on Fri said that decision to form AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) defense partnership was taken after deep consideration and Canberra informed their Indian counterparts about the decision. Experts believe it is a veiled way to confront China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

Over 100 world leaders including Modi, Biden to address UNGA in person next week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will address the UN General Debate in person next week, as over 100 heads of state and government arrive in New York to attend the annual high-level, 193-members of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, which had gone virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The theme for this year’s General Debate is Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the UN’, the MEA statement said.
• Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid will be President of the year-long session.
• Modi will address on the morning of Sept 25, a day after he participates in the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC hosted by Biden on Sept 24.

Modi, Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga will participate in the Leaders’ Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework in Washington and review progress made since their first virtual Summit on 12 Mar 2021 and discuss regional issues of shared interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

• As per the second provisional list of speakers for the General Assembly, about 109 heads of state and govt will address the General Debate in person and nearly 60 will deliver speeches through pre-recorded video statements.
• The US is traditionally the 2^nd speaker after Brazil at the General Debate, which this year will run from Sept 21-27.

Afghanistan’s diplomat is listed as the last speaker on the last day of the General Deb

• Currently, the Afghan envoy at the UN is Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai, who was appointed by former President Ashraf Ghani as Kabul’s envoy to the UN in June 2021.
• The interim Taliban government in power has not yet made any submission challenging Isaczai’s credentials.
• The diplomats of Myanmar and Guinea are also listed to speak on behalf of their countries on the last day of the debate.
• However, following the coup in Myanmar, its military rulers have said the country’s Ambassador at UN Kyaw Moe Tun has been dismissed and they want Aung Thurein to replace him.

In response to a question on who should represent Myanmar at the UNGA, UN Secy-Gen Antonio Guterres had said that it is a matter that is strictly in the hands of the Credentials Committee and, of course, we will abide by what member states decide in the Credentials Committee or eventually, if necessary in the General Assembly. This is an area where the Secretariat has no power whatsoever.

Modi had last addressed the UNGA session in 2019. Last year, world leaders had submitted pre-recorded video statements for the UNGA session in Sept, for the first time in 75 years’ history, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The other events during the 76^th session of the General Assembly are

• the meeting to commemorate the 20^th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on Sept 22,
• Dialogue on Energy convened by UN Secretary-General Guterres on Sept 24, and
• the plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September 28.
• Guterres and UK Prime Minister Johnson will hold an informal, closed-door roundtable with a small but representative group of heads of state and government on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Sept 20

Iran’s foreign minister to visit India as new Taliban govt begins to settle in Afghanistan

The new Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amirabdollahian, is likely to visit India later this month as the Taliban’s caretaker government settles in Afghanistan. Iran will also press India to resume oil purchases, (ThePrint has noted).

The visit will come days after minister Amirabdollahian held a telephonic conversation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, having succeeded Javad Zarif as Iran’s foreign minister. Amirabdollahian served as Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs between 2011 and 2016. After assuming office as the foreign minister of Iran, he has met his counterparts from Pakistan and Qatar, among others.

• Iran, apart from China and Pakistan, has also been playing a crucial role in Afghanistan, even as it has been tacitly supporting the Taliban’s comeback and the ousting of US and NATO forces from there.
• Like India, Iran has also expressed concerns over the new Taliban interim govt and said it lacks inclusiveness.
• During the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Australia last week, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had expressed similar concerns.
• During the phone call between Amirabdollahian and Jaishankar, India had sought Iran’s help in facilitating evacuation flights from Afghanistan.
• Iran was also part of a regional conference that took place virtually on Sept 8, a day after the Taliban announced their new interim government. The meeting was also attended by China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
• In that forum, Amirabdollahian had said that Tehran supports “intra-Afghan talks and agreements”.
• While India has been maintaining a dialogue with the Taliban leaders in Doha, it is yet to speak to anyone who is now ruling the corridors of power in Afghanistan.

Resumption of oil trade between India and Iran

• Iran has been insisting that all parties should come back to the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), ever since the Biden administration came to power in the US in Jan 2021.
• The previous Trump administration had walked out of the JCPOA and imposed massive sanctions on Iran, which led India to also stop its oil purchases from Iran, coming down to nil in May 2019.
• On Jan 8, 2020, Qasem Soleimani, Iranian envoy to India, said Iran will welcome any peace initiative by India to de-escalate tensions with the US following the killing of an Iranian military commander.
• However, Iran now wants India to review the policy and resume the purchases to continue the momentum in the bilateral ties by leveraging its growing strategic ties with the Biden government.
• Of late, Iran and India have been regularly communicating on important bilateral issues. In July, Minister Jaishankar became the first foreign dignitary to meet Iran’s hard-liner President Ebrahim Raisi after he came to power there in a June election.
• In August, Jaishankar represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of President Raisi in Tehran, which signaled the importance of bilateral ties between India and Iran.

Meeting of intelligence chiefs in Pakistan, minus India

• On Sat, Pakistan’s ISI chief Faiz Hameed held a meeting of all regional intelligence chiefs in Islamabad, in which the head of intelligence of Iran was also present.
• The meeting took place to discuss the stability of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the situation unfolding there, even as countries wait to see the war-torn nation run normally, and international flights resume.

India, Australia call for ‘broad-based & inclusive’ govt in Afghanistan at 2+2 meet

India and Australia have called for a “broad-based and inclusive” govt in Afghanistan to ensure long-term peace and stability in the war-torn country, signaling their clear unwillingness to accord any recognition to the Taliban regime.

In a joint statement issued early on Sun following the inaugural India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue,

Main points of Statement:

• The protection of rights of women and children and their full participation in public life and expressed concerns over targeted violence against the defenders of their rights.
• There is an urgent need for all countries to take “immediate, sustained, verifiable and irreversible” action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such strikes.
• The importance of an early resolution of the issue of taxation of offshore income of Indian firms under the India-Australia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
• the ministers renewed commitment to achieving an “early harvest” announcement by Dec on an interim agreement to liberalize and deepen bilateral trade in goods and services that would pave the way for an early conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
• The ministers noted reports of a rapid roll-back on women and girls’ rights and access to services and public spaces, as well as targeted violence against the defenders of their rights.
• The joint statement said Australia also expressed its strong support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• The two sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism
• It said the two sides agreed to continue cooperation in the sphere of counter-terrorism, including countering radicalization and violent extremism, combating the financing of terrorism, and preventing exploitation of the internet for terrorist activities.
• The two sides also reiterated their commitment to furthering cooperation in counter-terrorism in multilateral fora such as the UN, G20, FATF, as well as in Quad consultations.

Australia reiterated its condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and Pulwama attacks, and reiterated its support for New Delhi in the fight against terrorism, the joint statement said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held in-person talks on Sat with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton.

Terror fallout from Afghanistan, China and Indo-Pacific top agenda of India-Australia talks

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton held bilateral talks Friday, ahead of the first-ever 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Australia tomorrow.

• This along with the increased muscle-flexing by China and the need for open and stable sea lines of communication topped the agenda of the bilateral talks held between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton Friday, ThePrint reported citing government sources told.
• According to sources, these issues will be discussed in further detail during the first-ever 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Australia tomorrow, in which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne will also take part.
• The situation in Afghanistan was a major focus of the discussion between the two countries with both agreeing that the Taliban government should be held to its commitment of not allowing Afghan territory to be used against any other country.
• Singh, sources noted, told his counterpart that global efforts should be undertaken to ensure that Resolution 2593, passed during India’s presidency of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last month, is implemented.

UK Parliamentarian Bob Blackman writes to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stressing the UK to join hands with other leading democracies for a long-term strategy against terrorism in the Indo-Pacific region especially after the Taliban take over Afghanistan.

Defense

India is looking to raise new ‘rocket force’ for missiles, says General Bipin Rawat

Warning that China is becoming very aggressive, and would soon step into Afghanistan after friendly overtures to Iran and Turkey, Gen Rawat on Wed said India needs an integrated national security architecture to deal with 2 hostile neighbors, non-contact technological warfare, and internal security challenges.

• Taking recourse to Samuel Huntington’s seminal thesis ‘Clash of Civilizations’ during a talk at the India International Centre, the chief of defense staff said it mentions that the Confucian or `Sinic’ civilization would actually join hands with the Islamic civilization to counter the western one.
• Noting that the rise of China had happened faster than what the world has envisaged, India will have to wait and watch how events unfold in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
• Turning to Pakistan, the CDS said the western adversary will continue to fuel and expand its proxy war against India.

“A weaker adversary like Pakistan will always keep us engaged through a proxy war. They are, in fact, a proxy of our northern adversary. China has shown aggression in the South China Sea with the nations in that area. Whether it happens in the form of direct aggression or use of technology along our land borders, we have to be prepared,” he added.

• India is adopting “a whole of govt approach” to deal with all security issues.
• The country is looking to raise a new `rocket force’ for different kinds of missiles, ensure more `jointness’ between the armed forces and the central armed police forces, and create dual-use infrastructure and logistics through civil-military fusion, he said.
• Efforts are already underway to build integrated war-fighting machinery through the creation of unified theatre commands, strengthening capabilities in the domains of space, cyberspace, and special operations.
• With China becoming “more and more aggressive”, India also has to consider technology as a very important facet of war-fighting because an adversary will try to disrupt our strategic networks as well as energy, banking, transport, and communication grids.
• Overall, India needs to start looking at “transforming” the national security architecture, which will require some kind of integration and jointness among all security forces as well as civilian organizations, he added.

Non-Contact warfare doctrine, local languages in Military & more: Task Force to track work on PM’s directives

A task force headed by Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat will track the implementation of a set of directives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including drafting a doctrine for non-contact warfare, reforming public sector units in defense, handholding the domestic defense industry and ensuring greater use of indigenous languages in the military.

News18 reported citing the source, that the task force featuring top officers from the defense ministry, the armed forces, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) will meet at South Block to discuss charting a road map for the timely implementation of the PM’s directives that came during the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC-2021) at Gujarat’s Kevadia in March.

CCC is a brainstorming event for top military commanders of the army, navy, and air force.

• An instruction to set up the task force to monitor work on the PM’s directive came from his office in April.
• The task force will also look into the implementation of a set of directives by defense minister Rajnath Singh over the last two years.
• The task force has held its first meeting. It will submit a quarterly report to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the defense minister’s office on the progress.

AREA OF INTEREST

India’s top defense officials have agreed in the past that there is an increased need to bolster capabilities and prepare for non-contact warfare, which has been emerging as a bigger challenge than conventional warfare.

• Non-contact warfare comprises all non-kinetic forms, including those related to information, cyberspace, and psychological domains, even though the military aspect of such warfare could involve drones and other such munitions.
• A single doctrine is needed to coordinate and synergize all constituents of non-contact warfare, which could intimidate the adversary without any physical contact, Report says.
• At present, tri-services bodies such as the defence cyber agency and the defense space agency are working together on these areas.

MORE ON THE AGENDA: Some of the other directives by the PM, which are being reviewed by the task force, relating to plans for celebrating 75 years of independence next year. This, among others, involves identifying several obsolete laws and practices in defense that can be done away with, and a greater focus on the use of indigenous languages in the Indian military to mark the occasion.

Military personnel arrested from Agra over suspected links with foreign spies

India Today reported citing sources that a few military personnel have been arrested in Agra over suspected links with foreign spies.

Several military personnel have been arrested from Agra over suspected unauthorized links with foreign spies. They were alleged, using unauthorized communication with undesirable elements was recently discovered based on proactive actions by our intelligence agencies. The arrests were a result of strict surveillance maintained by authorities over military installations across the country.

• Some of the suspected individuals have been taken into custody and are being questioned to verify details and probe the possible involvement of others.
• Constant surveillance is being maintained to monitor the activities of such agents, particularly in the vicinity of military areas and garrisons.
• The report further said the attempts are being made by our adversaries to obtain information about activities undertaken by the military. Service personnel are regularly briefed and updated on the modus operandi of agents working for adversaries.

On July 16, Punjab: Two Indian army sepoys held for spying for ISI: The two army men had already shared photos of over 900 classified documents — about the defense of the country and national security — over four months between Feb and May 2021

On July 15^th Pokhran spy case: Kingpin in Pak high commission, blackmailed arrested agent: Intel sources

Intelligence sources have said that the Pokhran espionage case has a connection with Pakistan’s high commission. Habeeb Khan alias Habibur Rahman, who was arrested in the espionage case, was being blackmailed by one Kamal posted with Pakistan’s high commission, according to intelligence sources.

In Feb of last year, 13 Indian Navy personnel were apprehended in connection with an espionage case.

India sets the scorching pace for military drills across the globe

India may have put a halt to its bilateral and largely symbolic `Hand-in-Hand’ exercise with China since the military confrontation erupted in eastern Ladakh in May last year, but it’s all systems go as far as other countries are concerned.“

• “Defence diplomacy is an instrument to further India’s diplomatic interests,” TOI reported citing a senior official.
• India, for instance, has stepped up its outreach to Africa, a continent where China has made deep inroads, with military exercises being used as one of the tools.
• Then, of course, there is strategic signaling to countries like China through exercises like the quadrilateral `Malabar’ among India, the US, Japan, and Australia, the last edition of which was conducted off Guam in the Western Pacific towards the end-Aug.
• The growing strategic congruence to deter coercion in the Indo-Pacific also came through the `Quad-plus-France’ exercise called La Pérouse’ in the Bay of Bengal in April.
• Having already set a scorching pace in undertaking exercises this year, India has several more scheduled in the last four months. A`Quad-plus-UK’ naval exercise, for instance, is slated in the Bay of Bengal next month.
• This will be followed by the first tri-service exercise with the UK, centered around the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth with its 5<sup>th</sup>-generation F-35B `lightning’ fighter jets, off the western coast from Oct 24-27.

• India has undertaken tri-service exercises only with the US and Russia till now. The Indian Army, having just concluded bilateral exercises `Indra’ in Russia and `Kazind’ in Kazakhstan, has currently deployed around 200 soldiers for the ongoing 17-nation `Zapad’ exercise at Nizhny in Russia.
• Other forthcoming Army exercises include `Surya Kiran’ with Nepal, `Mitra Shakti’ with Sri Lanka, `Ajeya Warrior’ with the UK, `Yudh Abhyas’ with the US, and `Shakti’ with France in the Sept-Nov timeframe.
• The Navy, in turn, has conducted bilateral exercises with countries ranging from Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to Kenya, UAE, Qatar, Brunei, Bahrain, Egypt, UK, and Germany this year.
• Indian warships also undertook their first-ever naval exercises with countries like Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan, and the European Union Naval Taskforce.
• Not to be left behind, the IAF dispatched its Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft to take part in the `Desert Flag’ exercise, which saw the participation of air forces from India, US, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, at the Al Dhafra airbase in Mar.
• “India is steadily enhancing its military outreach to the strategically-located Persian Gulf region,” TOI.

Delhi Police claimed, 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.

Domestic

The US is interested in transferring its capital from China to India, says Nitin Gadkari

Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the US has shown its interest in transferring its capital from China to India.

“During a meeting just eight days ago, the US ambassador to India told me that the US is interested in transferring its capital from China to India. They want to support us with their technology and capital for the progress and development of India,” said Gadkari while addressing the 19^th convocation program of Visvesvaraya National Institute Of Technology, Nagpur.

• “India human intellectual is well recognized and appreciated in the entire world. The entire world is looking at India for sustainable economic growth,” further said the BJP leader.
• “We are encouraging and supporting youth under the ‘Atma Nirbhar’ initiative, proactive schemes like ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’, ‘Start-Up India’ is encouraging the youth to transform the nation through their innovative ideas and concepts,” added Gadkari.
• Taking about technological development in the country, Gadkari highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested to me in the cabinet meeting that drone technology can be used in apple farming in the hilly areas.
• Reflecting on the evolution of drone technology, Gadkari said that, “We are now giving special packages for automobile and technology. Drone technology is very important We are using drones in agriculture, for spraying pesticides. “We are inviting investors from abroad.

My request to VNIT is to make a special department for drones. Our future transport mode is drones. It can be used for agriculture and transport also,” Gadkari added. (ANI)

Gujarat’s cabinet has 24 new faces as CM Patel drops all Rupani ministers

The swearing-in was supposed to take place on Wed but had to be deferred following protests over the choice of ministers. 

• Patel did not retain any of his predecessor Vijay Rupani’s ministers. The only old guard is assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi who resigned from that post earlier in the day. Trivedi is likely to get a key portfolio.
• Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to 10 cabinet ministers and 14 ministers of state, including five ministers of state with independent charge.
• CM Patel was present at the Raj Bhavan ceremony, along with Rupani, whose sudden resignation from the post last Sat led to the formation of the new ministry.
• The cabinet ministers are Rajendra Trivedi, former state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, Rushikesh Patel, Purnesh Modi, Raghavji Patel, Kanubhai Desai, Kiritsinh Rana, Naresh Patel, Pradip Parmar, and Arjunsinh Chauhan.
• The portfolios are likely to be announced in the evening after the first cabinet meeting, officials said

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.

• 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.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Taiwan wants its US office to be renamed; China retaliates: Report

Taiwan had earlier renamed its office in Vilnius as “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania“. China had hit back by imposing sanctions against Lithuania while recalling its envoy.

• Wion reported that the Biden administration is considering a request from the Taiwan govt to change the name of its mission in Washington from Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to Taiwan Representative Office.
• China has reportedly hit out at the move and warned the US govt not to intervene in the One-China policy.
• Reports added that the US Govt is “seriously considering” allowing Taiwan to use its name which is being widely seen as a symbolic gesture amid tensions with China.
• The US had repeatedly stressed its support for Taiwan maintaining that it is “rock-solid”. Taiwan had earlier opened a  representative office in Lithuania and named it “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania”. 
• China reacted angrily as it recalled its envoy from the country and imposed sanctions on Lithuania, however, the country’s foreign minister backed the move amid tensions with China although he added that Lithuania is keen on finding a diplomatic solution to the tussle with China.
• The US government had recently approved howitzers and munitions kits worth $750 million and given advanced jets to the country.
• Amid tensions with Taiwan, Chinese jets have repeatedly entered Taipei’s airspace in the past year raising tensions between the two countries. 
• Meanwhile, Taiwan began its five-day military exercise on Mon with live-fire drills. The drill involved fighter jets and Naval ships. Taiwan also deployed the C-130 transport aircraft as it conducted a simulated Chinese attack. 

On Mon, Chinese state media Global Times published an OpEd that said the Sending PLA fighter jets over the island of Taiwan is a step we must take. The move will pose a fundamental warning to the Taiwan authorities and bring about the reconstruction of the situation across the Taiwan Straits. It will be a clear declaration of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan island and create unprecedented conditions for us to further implement this sovereignty.

Cornered for Role in Taliban Takeover, Pak Accuses India of ‘Running ISIS Camps’ to Malign Kashmiris

• Pakistan on Sun accused India of “hosting and running terror caps of ISIS” in multiple cities at home to “malign the freedom struggle of Kashmiris”.
• Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, NSA Moeed Yusuf, and human rights minister Shireen Mazari held a press conference and released a 131-page dossier against India and claimed that these “ISIS terror camps” operate in Gulmarg, Raipur, Jodhpur, Chakrata, Anupgarh, and Bikaner.
• Foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar alleged that “by injecting these state-trained ISIS fighters, India may try to establish linkages of the freedom movement with Taliban international terrorism to malign the freedom struggle of Kashmiris,” The Times of India reported.
• Qureshi said that the dossier was compiled given India’s alleged actions after the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and their treatment of his family.
• The secessionist Hurriyat leader, who was a devout supporter of Pakistan, breathed his last on Sept 1^st and India released a video showing his burial as per Islamic rites.

Pak ISI Chief Meets Intelligence Heads of China, Russia; Slams India’s Role in ‘Promoting Terrorism’

Pakistan ISI Chief Faiz Hameed on Sat met with the intelligence chiefs of Russia, China, Iran, and Tajikistan to brief them about the Taliban government in Afghanistan and the “new changing order” of the world, CNN-News18 reported citing sources.

• In a meeting hosted by Hameed, he briefed the intelligence representatives of the key countries of the region on the roles of “different players in Kabul”.
• He also spoke to them about the alleged “role India played with previous Afghanistani governments in promoting terrorism”, the sources said.
• Pakistan has been keen to become a key player in the new regime of Afghanistan. Hameed had earlier visited Kabul over the government formation and is said to have briefed the officials of this visit, as well.
• Pakistan also wants to control Afghanistan’s economy after the country gained entry into the Afghan army as well as intelligence.

On Thu, Pakistan announced its economic plans for Afghanistan and has decided to conduct bilateral trade with the Taliban in Pakistani rupees.

Earlier, the Taliban bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was in US dollars, and the Afghan currency was powerful. Through this move, Pakistan’s currency will have a hold over Afghan traders and the business community.

• However, a rift between the Taliban and Pakistan is indicated according to fresh audio that has gone viral. In the audio, that went viral on Facebook on Fri, a Taliban Commander could be heard talking to other Commanders alleging that Pakistan has spoiled their reputation internationally.
• The rift between the Taliban and Pakistan is considered to be on the recent cabinet formation in Afghanistan where the ISI chief proposed names from Haqqani and Quetta shura.
• The Taliban commander is heard saying that Faiz Hameed, the Punjabi General has created a major problem.
• The hardline Islamists retook power on August 15, after a lightning offensive that capitalized on the chaotic last weeks of the 20-year US-led occupation that followed the 2001 attacks.
• While speculation was rife that the Taliban may use the Sept 11 anniversary to swear in their new govt, but the day unfolded without formal recognition.

Pakistan International Airways becomes the first passenger flight to arrive in Kabul after the Taliban’s takeover: The resumption of commercial flights will be a key test for the Taliban, who have repeatedly promised to allow Afghans with the right documents to leave the country freely.

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

Taliban Shootout in Palace Sidelines Leader Who Dealt With U.S.- Bloomberg

• Baradar attacked by the leader of the Haqqani family over cabinet
• Moderate leader’s proposal for inclusive government rejected

The man the U.S. and its allies hoped would be a moderate voice in Afghanistan’s Taliban government has been sidelined after a dramatic shootout in the presidential palace in Kabul, Bloomberg reported on Fri citing sources.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the group’s most public face who led peace talks with the U.S., was physically attacked by a leader of the U.S. terrorist-designated Haqqani Network in early Sept during talks at the palace over forming the cabinet, the people said, citing anonymous condition.

• Baradar had pushed for an “inclusive” cabinet that included non-Taliban leaders and ethnic minorities, which would be more acceptable to the rest of the world, the people said.
• At one point during the meeting, Khalil ul Rahman Haqqani rose from his chair and began punching the Taliban leader.
• Their bodyguards entered the fray and opened fire on each other, killing and wounding a number of them, the people said.
• While Baradar was not injured he has since left the capital and headed to Kandahar — the group’s base — to speak with Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, effectively the Taliban’s spiritual head.
• The cabinet lineup released on Sept. 7 included no one from outside the Taliban, with about 90% of spots going to ethnic Pashtuns from the group.
• Members of the Haqqani family received four positions, with Sirajuddin Haqqani — leader of the Haqqani Network who is on the FBI’s most-wanted list for terrorism — becoming an acting interior minister.
• This was the time when ISI Chief was there.
• Baradar was named one of two deputy prime ministers. The Taliban and Haqqani groups merged around 2016.

Pak Involved In “Harbouring Members Of Taliban”: US Secretary Of State

The United States will be looking at its relationship with Pakistan in the coming weeks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Mon, to formulate what role Washington would want it to play in the future of Afghanistan.

In the first public hearing in Congress about Afghanistan since last month’s collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, Blinken told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan has a “multiplicity of interests some that conflict with ours.”

CIA says Al Qaeda is regrouping post-Taliban takeover in Afghanistan: Report

United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wed (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.org

• However, he added that the CIA was already working to develop “methods to work within the horizon”.
• Cohen reportedly referred to current intelligence reports of the CIA.
• He was speaking at Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington DC.
• During his address, he reportedly acknowledged that shuttering of the United States embassy in Kabul, as well as the closure of a network of CIA stations across Afghanistan, had “diminished” the ability of American intelligence agencies to assess conditions on the ground
• Cohen added that much of the intelligence that has been collected in recent weeks comes from “over-the-horizon platforms”, meaning that the collection is taking place from countries that border Afghanistan.
• At the moment, the US intelligence community estimates that it could take Al Qaeda between one and two years to amass its former strike capability, to directly threaten American interests, reported Intelnews.org.
• The presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was the primary reason behind the invasion of the country by the United States in 2001.

The US wanted to replace top envoy Khalilzad hours before Taliban takeover in Kabul

The US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken wanted to replace special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for peace talks and Afghanistan reconciliation hours before the Taliban’s forced takeover in Kabul, CNN-News18 reported citing anonymous sources.

• This was stated in the last phone call between Blinken and former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Aug 14.
• The report further says that In the last call with President Ghani, Blinken told him that Salman Ahmed was to lead the peace efforts. There was no mention of Zalmay Khalilzad.
• The plan, however, was derailed after the Taliban decided to enter Kabul and stage a coup that led to Ghani’s escape to “prevent mass bloodshed and killings” in the Afghan capital.
• Salman Ahmed is a Pakistani-American who is currently the Director of Policy Planning in the Biden Administration advising on national security and foreign policy aspects at the US State Department.
• Ahmed was even dispatched to Doha during the Taliban takeover to assist Khalilzad with the negotiations around mid-August.
• Ahmed was earlier part of Obama’s National Security Council and has served at the United Nations focused on the peace process.
• There had been an increasing level of frustration with Khalilzad, at the White House, who was a Trump appointee, since the killings and explosions in Kabul didn’t end and the Taliban was going back on its commitments.
• In the days after the fall of Kabul, Khalilzad has been criticized for offering false commitments for peace and power-sharing on behalf of the Taliban. Khalilzad also had no credibility left with the Ghani-led Afghan govt.

Senior Afghan diplomat and Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ambassador Ashraf Haidari believes Ambassador Khalilzad was tasked to talk to the Taliban and exclude the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to achieve the presidential goal tied to the US electoral politics.

Afghanistan: Haqqani network’s Anas Haqqani says India is ‘not a true friend’ (WION)

• The Haqqani Network’s scion Anas Haqqani has criticized the Indian government and media, claiming that India’s policy toward Afghanistan needs to change.
• He claimed the people of Afghanistan “understand India is not a true friend.”
• Refuting the news of a dispute in top Taliban leadership, Haqqani has said that there are no differences between Taliban leadership.
• He alleged that rumors of clashes within the Taliban leadership are being spread by elements linked to the former govt of Ashraf Ghani.
• He also said that Germany could be the first one to open its embassy in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan on verge of economic collapse as cash crisis continues ANI

Afghanistan’s already weak economy has taken a nosedive after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul last month, according to multiple reports.

• Soon after the Taliban’s siege of Kabul on Aug 15, foreign assistance was immediately frozen.
• Besides this, the US stopped USD 9.4 billion in reserves to the country’s central bank, The New York Post reported.
• Moreover, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have also stoped loans, and the Financial Action Task Force warned its 39 member nations to block Taliban assets.
• The IMF has said its engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended until there is clarity within the international community on the recognition of the government led by the Taliban.
• Scores of people have been seen waiting in long lines to withdraw their savings since the Taliban’s takeover.
• Reports of freezing of Afghanistan’s bank assets by the US as well as the announced halt of funds by the international agencies have fueled concerns among Afghans.
• According to other experts, an informal economy may be the only way for Afghans, including the new government, to stay afloat.
• According to The Post, the Taliban themselves primarily relied on hawala to survive during their insurgency years.
• Amid the worsening economic situation in the country, the United Nations has pledged more than USD 1 billion in aid for Afghanistan, warning that majority of the population could soon plummet below the poverty line.
• Muhammad Suleiman Bin Shah, the deputy minister of commerce and industries in the last Afghan govt said the country had a fragile economy before the takeover.

SCO countries should help Afghanistan: Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Fri said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states should facilitate a smooth transition in Afghanistan and encourage Kabul to install a broad-based and inclusive political govt, while Xi was addressing a meeting of the heads of state of the SCO in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, via video link.

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.

China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran must exert positive influence to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan-Wang

Wang made five proposals on the next-stage coordination on the Afghan issue, including

1. urging the US to perform its duties to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan,
2. contacting and guiding Afghanistan to form an inclusive political structure and
3. implement moderate domestic and foreign policies and
4. respect the basic rights of ethnic minorities, women, and children,
5. help the country to integrate itself into regional economic cooperation and connectivity networks, and achieve economic development and prevent spillover of security risks.

• The informal meeting was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Rasoul Mousavi.
• In a talk with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Dushanbe, Wang said that China is ready to strengthen coordination with Russia to jointly handle the issue of Afghanistan, urge US-led Western countries to shoulder their responsibility, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
• The Russian Foreign Minister noted that his country firmly supports China’s position on the issues of Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and human rights.

In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Wang said that China supports Iran to become a member of the SCO, is willing to work with Iran to strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs, jointly promote the Iran nuclear agreement negotiations to adhere to the correct direction and reach a consensus as soon as possible.

China is also ready to work with Iran to promote Afghanistan to form an inclusive political framework, maintain friendly relations with its neighbors, and take practical actions to crack down on all forms of terrorism, Wang said.

Taliban must fulfill promises made in Afghanistan, says Pakistan PM at SCO summit

• The premier expressed these views while addressing the 20^th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.
• Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry were also present alongside the premier.
• The prime minister said that it was also important to ensure respect for the rights of all Afghans while ensuring that it is never again a haven for terrorists.
• He said that Pakistan, which had suffered due to the spillover of conflict and instability in the neighboring country, had an interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
• Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, PM Imran said that a “new reality” had been established in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and withdrawal of foreign troops.
• “It is now in the international community’s collective interest to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in Afghanistan and the security situation is stabilized,” he said while seeking time from the International community for the Taliban.
• The PM said that preventing a humanitarian crisis and an economic meltdown were “equally urgent priorities”.
• He said that it would be unwise to spread negativity or indulge in propaganda at this critical juncture. “This will only serve to undermine the prospects for peace, to the detriment of Afghan people,” he said.

Shift to geoeconomics

• The premier also highlighted that sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan will ultimately benefit the region, adding that the government had shifted its focus from geopolitics to geoeconomics.
• He said that Pakistan offered the shortest route to the sea for many of its partners in Central Asia, and commended the Uzbekistan president for hosting a conference on regional connectivity in Tashkent last July.
• Upon arriving at the Nauroz Palace, the venue of the SCO meeting, the prime minister was warmly received by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.

‘Give them time’: Imran Khan defends Taliban again, terms Haqqani terror network a tribal group

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the Taliban must fulfill the promises it has made in Afghanistan and called on the international community to stand with the people of the war-torn country. While Pak NSA criticizes ‘wait and watch’ policy on recognizing Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf has said that the ‘wait and watch’ policy on recognizing the Taliban regime was flawed and could result in the economic collapse of the conflict-torn country.

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.

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. “

India Tue 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.