INDIA: Week at Glance:

Sino-Indian Standoff: ‘Peace in border areas is sine qua non’: Foreign Secretary pushes for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ amid India-China LAC tussle (↓)
Jammu & Kashmir: Amit Shah is on 3 days state visit, while its 13^th day of the continuous encounter going on (↓),
J&K Govt signs MoU with Dubai govt to develop real estate, industrial parks
India among select few countries developing hypersonic missiles: U.S. Congressional report
India, UK have a busy calendar of engagements ahead: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says Britain and India must deepen defense, economic ties
India a ‘huge friend’ of Israelis, Naftali Bennett tells Jaishankar during the first meet
Jaishankar participated in the new quadrilateral-level meeting with the US, Israel, UAE
Indian Delegation Meets Taliban Team In Moscow
‘Technical glitch’ interrupts Indian diplomat’s assertions on China’s BRI at UN transport conference in Beijing last week
How Afghanistan’s neighbors plan to deal with it — India to figure out at Moscow talks on Wed.
PM Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh

Also: India, US sign contracts. Indian Defence Ministry to procure MK 54 Torpedo and Expendable (Chaff and Flares) for Indian Navy at ₹423 Crores; These weapons are the outfit of P-8I aircraft; India on Thu crossed the landmark of 100-crore Covid-19 vaccine doses in 9 months. “Congratulations India!; IAF plane crashes at Bhind in Madhya Pradesh; pilot ejects safely; Can’t Block Roads Indefinitely: Supreme Courts Gives Farmers 3 Weeks To Reply; Punjab govt to probe Captain’s friend Aroosa Alam’s link with ISI: state Home Minister; The DG of World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on PM Narendra Modi today in Delhi; US has banned the Pakistani blog: Indian Govt had earlier shut it on technical grounds. J&K Police Cyber Wing which had been aiming to shut Pakistan based terror blog which acted as threatening base against Kashmiri activists, journalists, politicians and cops.

Neighborhood: Week at Glance

“We Have A Commitment To That”: Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked
China tells France it will lose respect if it ‘submits’ to the US
Pakistan to remain on FATF ‘grey list’ till April 2022
Pak PM to Release Notification for Lt Gen Anjum’s Appointment as ISI Chief by Sat
Several roads remain blocked in Lahore, Islamabad as TLP protest continues
Taiwan foreign minister adds Slovakia to rare Europe trip
Five security personnel martyred in two KP attacks
Hindu villages were burnt, Hasina was playing the flute: Taslima Nasreen slams Bangladesh PM

[ INDIA ]

On Sino-Indian Standoff, Troops and Guns deployments and counter deployments continue:

Top Army brass to discuss China, Pak activities along the border from Monday
‘Peace in border areas is sine qua non’: Foreign Secretary
India enhanced counter-deployments substantially, in Arunachal besides Laddakh, with a mix of defensive-offensive strategy
China has ramped up troops deployment, infra along LAC but so have we — Eastern Army, commander

Top Army brass to discuss China, Pakistan activities along the border in the high-level meeting from Monday

ANI-At a time when Pakistan and China have heightened activities along the borders, top Indian Army brass would be discussing the ways to deal with the security situation during the Commanders’ conference Army Commanders’ Conference scheduled to be held next week from Oct 26-29.

The meeting would be happening at a time when the Pakistan Army is ‘violating ceasefire’ along the Line of Control (LoC) and attempting to infiltrate terrorists into India, whereas the Chinese have also continued to deploy their troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The Army commanders are also expected to take up the issue of Pakistan Army and ISI activities in Punjab and adjoining areas along with the other security challenges faced by the country.
On LAC -The Indian Army has adopted a very strict posture against the Chinese aggression along the LAC and deployed a heavy number of troops to respond to any possible misadventure by the adversary there.
On LoC, activities have gone up significantly from the last month of Sept with an increase in ceasefire violation along the LoC and a rise in terrorist activities inside the Kashmir valley.
The security forces have also taken strong steps against the terrorist activities and a large number of overground workers along with terrorist commanders are being neutralized in encounters.
The Chinese Army is continuing with its heavy deployment of troops all along the line of actual control from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
The top army commanders are also expected to be briefed about the increasing activities of the Pakistan army and ISI in and around Punjab in a possible bid to revive terrorist activities there as well.

India Today, citingArmy chief – the reluctance of the Chinese army to move back its troops from the forward locations and increase in their activity is a matter of concern for the forces but they were ready to tackle any situation or any eventuality.

‘Peace in border areas is sine qua non’: Foreign Secretary pushes for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’

Shringla said that the developments along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh have ‘seriously disturbed’ the peace and tranquility in border areas
China is no longer India’s largest trading partner as the United States bagged the top spot in the first nine months of 2021

The Secretary stressed that the developments since then, including the COVID-19 pandemic, “…the developments along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility in border areas.”

China has ramped up troops deployment, infra along LAC but so have we — Eastern Army, Commander, Lt Gen Manoj Pande

China has deployed a high number of reserve troops in the Eastern Command since tensions broke out last year, and it has also ramped up integrated military exercises, the Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Pande said (while addressing the media in Arunachal Pradesh’s Rupa, on Tue), who underlined that India too has built up its capacity and all contingency plans are in place.

The dual (military cum civil)use of new border villages created by China is a concern and this has been taken into operational planning.

Lt Gen Pande-while there has been a “marginal increase” in patrolling activities in some areas along the LAC, there has “not been any noticeable change”.
“…from the view of the Eastern Command specifically, the focus has been on preparedness and our ability to respond and react to any contingency,” he said.
Lt Gen Pande – a large number of emergency procurement has been done and the focus is on harnessing niche technology and its integration with the troops on the ground.
Lt Gen Pande – while the Eastern Command has increased its presence in certain vulnerable areas, there has not been any significant increase in troop levels.
He – they are looking at a strategic infrastructure and that is too close to the LAC, in terms of capability development.
India is reviewing existing border agreements and management mechanisms at the LAC

Increase in the number of border defense groups: Talking about the activities of the PLA, Lt Gen Pande said that there are 3-4 issues.

“There has been some increase in the level of activity (by China) in an annual training exercise in-depth areas.”
India and China were beefing up the infrastructure and both are trying to build up along the LAC.
With Chinese infrastructure at the LAC at several places completed, “there is an increase in the number of border defense groups”.
In Asafila in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, Indian troops have noticed some infra development close to the LAC in terms of habitat.

Talking about the Indian response, he said the Eastern Command has taken several steps.

Enhancing our surveillance, up to in-depth areas, by synergizing all surveillance equipment, from strategic like a satellite to tactical.
we have an adequate number of forces in each sector to deal with any contingency.
The Eastern Command is also looking at maximizing technology for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Have both defensive and aggressive posture: Noting that along the entire LAC — a significant portion of it lies in the Eastern Command — there are several areas or points where “soldiers between both sides interact, as per schedule or by chance”, a euphemism for face-offs.

“… We have a robust SOPs and mechanism which helps resolve the issue,” he said, adding that the role of junior officers and commanders is very important because they are the ones who should develop mutual understanding with the commanders of the other side.

Lt Gen Pande said that there are areas like Nakula where Indian and PLA troops do come face to face but there are standard drills agreed upon to resolve the issue.
Asked about the posture of the Army along the LAC, Lt Gen Pande said during normal times, it is for maintenance of peace and tranquility.

INDIA enhanced counter-deployments substantially, in Arunachal besides Laddakh, with a mix of defensive-offensive strategy

ThePrint-India has deployed the newly upgraded L-70 air defense guns and several units of the 155 mm Bofors and the M-777 lightweight howitzers into the Eastern Sector, as part of its strategy to ramp up its defensive and offensive capabilities against China.

India has also set up a series of Integrated Defended Locations (IDLAs) along the LAC, which sees a multi-tiered defensive system in which the infantry, artillery, aviation, air defense, mechanized and armored columns of the Army work as one unit backed by the Indian Air Force assets.

On offensive capabilities- the Army focuses on the faster movement of equipment and troops, and also deploying new versions of various kinds of missiles.
Numerous new fortified underground bunkers have been created and the basic firearm has also got an upgrade fully equipped with Sig Sauer 716 rifles.
The Eastern Command has seen its share of new deployments, making the LAC here one of the most heavily guarded.
Eastern Sector is raising a new aviation brigade besides transferring all surveillance drones from the artillery to the aviation wing of the army.
As reported earlier, the focus of the Eastern Command is to have more technology rather than more boots on the ground.
Indian Army has deployed Pinaka and Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MRLS) at the forward position near the China border to counter any threat arising across the LAC.
Pinaka weapon system is an autonomous rocket artillery system that can engage area targets up to 38km at mean sea level.

India enhances firepower: The Army has just inducted the newly upgraded L-70 air defense guns with full day and night vision capabilities and automatic target acquisition mode.

While the guns were first bought in the 1960s, 200 of them underwent an upgrade following a 2017 contract with state-run Bharat Electronics Limited.
The first of these guns, which can take down all flying targets within a range of 3.5 km, was inducted a few months back and now remain camouflaged.
(official)- the main threat is from the air and the upgraded guns, integrated with fire catcher radar and new electro-optical systems, strengthen the air defense.
The Army had also inducted the Bofors guns, along with the M-777, which have been deployed at heights of over 12K’ into the Eastern Command last year.
The M-777 (range of 40 km), can be lifted and thus can reach where the Bofors can’t, and deployed anywhere with the Chinook transport fleet of the IAF.
The M-777s also the tracked K-9 Vajra guns system — along with the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) — when inducted in the future, will take firepower to the next level.

Layered defense system in place: The Eastern Command has been focusing on Integrated Defended Locations (IDLAs) along the LAC, a strategy which is now being replicated in the Ladakh sector as well.

What was showcased was a counter to an armored and mechanized column attack by the enemy.
On display were various strategies, drills, and other tactics to ensure that the enemy is not able to breach this particular location as they had in the 1962 War.
The forces are training their defensive and offensive strategy regularly.

On Laddakh Front: India launches infrastructural development

Despite the faceoff with China on the LAC, India has begun infrastructural development in East Ladakh in earnest, to ensure connectivity, about 6 telecom towers, including 1 at Demchok, are being built.

The Union Territory of Ladakh is looking at a Rs 245 crore project for helping grazers, who have a nomadic life, will be provided tents, solar lighting, etc.
In the areas schools and 6 sports complexes are being built.
They will be covered and heated, allowing people to use the facilities throughout the year, including in the difficult winter months.
Water, electricity, and heating facilities will be available for groups of people on the move in different areas, similar to the facilities provided at campsites in the US.
Importantly, about 40 families from Kharnak, a village close to the LAC, who had moved to Leh when the Chinese troops began the faceoff, have moved back.
The locals are reassured by the presence of Indian troops.

Army’s drone formation sees massive changes as tensions with China mount at LAC

ThePrint (sources) – As tensions with China mount at the LAC, the Army has made massive changes to its drone deployment in the region, and is banking on its fleet of Israeli Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to keep a close eye on the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The Army is also waiting for new satellite link-enabled RPA, commonly known as drones, and up-gradation of existing ones.
(sources) The force has more than doubled its drone sorties at the LAC since the stand-off and is flying the Israeli Heron MK 1 day and night.
The army has set up a new Aviation Brigade in the Eastern Command this year to coordinate the activities and to have a more localized control.
The drones in the Eastern Command have also been brought under the Army Aviation Corps from the Artillery, in a phased manner that began last year.
This change has been made across the Army since last year to ensure that all flying assets of the Army remain as a single cohesive unit.

Focus on new drones from Israel, upgrades: (sources) – 4 new Heron Mk 2 drones, which are about to get shipped to India after being procured under emergency contract, will be deployed exclusively for the LAC. Added that the plan is to have satellite link-enabled drones.

Integrated ‘sensor to fire’ focus: (Sources) the focus has been on ensuring that the “sensor to shooter” link is established.

This meant that the drones can communicate with a central system, which can then be in contact with other operators of different systems to ensure that pinpointed firing takes place, or realignments in deployment is carried out if needed.

Beijing deploys 100 rocket launchers at high altitude areas

SCMP (source)- The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China has deployed over 100 PCL-181 light and truck mounted-howitzers, and long-range rocket launchers at its high-altitude borders amid a standoff with India, to ramp up its defense for the winter season

The move has come after the Indian Army enhanced its deployment of M777 ultra-light howitzers at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
India had recently added Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Heron I and ALH Dhruv choppers to its aviation brigade to counter China.
It is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class and is being used for quick mobilization of troops.
As the PLA aggression at the LAC, the force has increased the frequency of surveillance at the border area to keep a tap on their activities.
Meanwhile, Rudra is the first Army Aviation aircraft to add ‘teeth to the fleet of Army Aviation with its Mistral air-to-air missiles, 70 mm rockets, 20 mm guns, and ATGMs.
The ALH (WSI) is a force multiplier for the field force commander with its potent weapons on board.
This helicopter will be able to storm the enemy forces and hunt them down when required.
From Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, India shares a total of 1,346-km-long LAC with China.
India and China have been engaged in a border standoff for the past 18 months.

‘Technical glitch’ interrupts Indian diplomat’s assertions on China’s BRI at UN transport conference in Beijing last week

A technical glitch at the United Nations transport conference held in Beijing last week raised eyebrows and surprised many.

Microphone suddenly went silent when Indian diplomat Priyanka Sohoni was explaining India’s position on China’s Belt And Road Initiative (BRI).
The chair of the conference represented by China later apologized for the technical glitch.

All was going well when interestingly Indian diplomat started her speech by emphasizing Indian initiatives like the spirit of South-South cooperation, climate change, International Solar Alliance (ISA), but as soon she started speaking on India’s objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and how it affects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, in the middle of speech microphone went off.

Moderator said that they are confronting a technical problem and moved to another speaker, but the Indian diplomat was given dais to resume and she completed her speech after the next speaker.

Before the microphone went silent Priyanka Sohoni said, “There have been some references to Belt and Road Initiative or BRI at this conference.
Here I wish to say as far as China’s BRI is concerned, we are uniquely affected by it. Inclusion of the so-called CPEC as a flagship project impinges on India’s sovereignty.”

Pakistan and Chinese representatives in the conference lauded BRI and China also asked others to join the initiative.
After interruption when the Indian diplomat resumed her speech, she completed her remarks on BRI.
At the conference, India also stressed that it is of the firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognized international norms.
They must follow principles of openness, transparency, and financial responsibility.

Jammu & Kashmir: Amit Shah is on 3 days state visit, while its 13^th day of the continuous encounter going on

TheHindu (Sat)-Post-civilian killings and in the days running up to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s visit to Srinagar on Sat, around 700 people have been detained in Jammu and Kashmir, including a few under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), particularly in South Kashmir, many overground workers of terrorist groups were among those picked up by the police.

PSA- unique to J&K, (‘ignored to mention’, enacted by former CM Faruq Obadullah) an individual can be detained based on an executive order for a maximum of 2 years, without trial, if their act is prejudicial to the security of the State or the maintenance of public order.

The crackdown comes ahead of Mr. Shah’s 3-day visit to Srinagar-Jammu beginning Sat.

News18: (Fri) J&K Govt directs to remove/shift 26 detainees who have been detained under the provisions of Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 from their present place of lodgement to Central Jail, Agra, Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect.

ThePrint (On Thu) -A spate of civilian killings has come as a reminder of peak-militancy days in Kashmir in 1989-1990 when thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee the Valley.

NIA along with local Police and intelligence agencies has launched an operation to “break the network of overground workers (OGWs)” involved in terrorist operations.
(Sources)- the strategy has been devised in light of the string of civilian killings in Kashmir over the past 2 weeks.

The crackdown has led them to identify over 1,000 OGWs and newly inducted militants — those who carry out an attack and then merge with residents, going back to their daily routine — in the J&K. While 800 have been detained, 9 suspects have been arrested.

This will be Mr. Shah’s first visit to J&K after Article 370 of the Constitution was read down and the former State of J&K was downgraded and bifurcated into two UTs — J&K and Ladakh in Aug 2019.

Mr. Shah is expected to review security and development-related projects in Srinagar on Saturday and is likely to hold a public rally in Jammu on Sun.
11 civilians, mostly migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been killed in a spate of targeted attacks in the Valley this month.
The Resistance Front, a front for Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has claimed responsibility for the civilian killings.
The J&K police in a series of tweets on Fri sought public help “to share timely information regarding Terrorism, Narcotic-drug peddling, or any other anti-National/ social activity.”

Sharing the numbers of police helplines, the tweet said the initiative “will help the JK Police to fight the inimical forces with a stronger punch” and it was an effort to increase the sense of security among the businessmen, tourists, transporters, students, and other sections of the society.

Video Reveals Pakistan Connection to J&K Terror; JeM Handler Seen Training Kashmiri Militant

CNN-News18– the video which is part of a Pakistan handler training a Kashmiri militant, shows “undeniable proof” of Pakistan’s connection in the recent incidents of terror in J&K.

The video was in the possession of the accused, identified as Arif who has been arrested by J&K police from his possession.

What is in the video: Arif was also appearing as getting trained by the handler on “how to load and unload new, sophisticated weapons” in the video. The trainer is allegedly from the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

This comes even as Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the state between Oct 23 and 25 amid several incidents of terror in the state.

The J&K police have also been carrying out massive search operations because of which the Indian Army troops recovered IEDs fitted in the branch of a tree in the forest area of Sawalkot in Ratangir ridge in the Poonch district.

2 IEDs have been destroyed by Army during the encounter in Bhatadurian, Poonch.
The terrorist seems to placed IEDs in way of Army teams launching a hunt for them.
The search operations entered day 12 on Fri even as 9 army personnel were killed in 9 separate attacks last week.
Drones and helicopters were pressed to assist the marching troops, which included para-commandos, in the jungle spread over a nearly 8×2 km area at a distance of 4 km from the LoC.
The entire forest belt is still under tight security cordon to neutralize the terrorists, the officials said, adding the area is mountainous and the forest is dense, making the operation difficult and dangerous.
Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of 9 terrorists in separate encounters.

Citing officials, News18 has reported – there was no contact with the terrorists, as the security forces moved cautiously in the dense forests of Mendhar and Surankote in Poonch and Thanamandi in Rajouri, clearing a vast area during the day.

The Central gov, meanwhile, has decided to send more forces to J&K amid targetted killings and encounters between security forces and terrorists. As per officials (Thu), 25 companies of troops will soon be sent to J&K.
A security review conference was chaired by General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps on Fri.
It was attended by GOC, CIF(D), Additional Director General of Police & IGP, J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force & DIG, Border Security Force, and others.

Alarmed by civilian murders, NIA and J&K police target terrorist aides, detain 800

Army Chief was in Jammu (on Thu) to review security situation, counter-terror ops: Amid heightened counter-terror operations in the Poonch-Rajouri sector, Army Chief General MM Naravane is on a two-day visit to the Jammu region to review the overall security situation on the ground.

NDTV (Sources) –Pak Commandos’ Hand Suspected In Deadly J&K Encounter

The group of terrorists in J&K’s Poonch have been able to evade thousands of security forces for 13 days while 9 soldiers have died in the encounter.

It is also unclear if any of the terrorists have been killed since nobody found yet. the fighting in 8-9 km stretch of the thick forest has continued despite a massive combing operation, a tight cordon, and intense shelling.

9 soldiers including 2 Junior Commissioned Officers, 11 and civilians have been killed, since last Mon (Oct 10^th).

After 7 civilian killings in the first week of Oct, a source said, “a high-level meeting was held earlier this month in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and it was decided that the network of OGWs needs to be busted”.

HT: Shadowy group claims responsibility for the attack on migrant workers in J&K: Umar Wani, who claimed to be a spokesman for the ULF (United Liberation Front) claimed responsibility for the attack in Wanpoh in a statement circulated on social media.

In a statement circulated on social media, around midnight yesterday, ULF said the attack was carried out as a reprisal to what it claimed the “lynching of 200 Muslims only in Bihar” in the last year by “Hindutva forces”. There is no record of 200 lynchings in last year in Bihar.

After the meeting, the source said, the NIA registered an umbrella case of “conspiracy” against unidentified men and started searches.
Of the 800 detained, the people “with the deepest involvement” in terrorist activity will be arrested and probed by the NIA, while others with a “lesser degree of involvement” will be investigated by J&K Police.
The latter will be booked under the Public Safety Act. Those with no involvement but with a suspicious track record will be let off, and “monitored”, the source said.

‘OGWs involved’: According to a source in J&K Police, a total of 30 civilians had been killed by terrorists this year, including 5 who belonged to the local Hindu/Sikh community.

These killings, the source said, were an “act of desperation” because a large number of terrorists of all outfits have been killed, especially their leadership, and their support structures destroyed amid continuous and effective efforts to maintain law & order.

The case and raids: According to the FIR, the NIA received “reliable information” that cadres of proscribed terrorist organizations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, al-Badr, and others, and their affiliates such as the Resistance Front, People Against Fascist Forces, Mujahideen Gawatul Hind are all active in J&K, and are being operated from Pakistan.

After the case was registered, the NIA conducted searches at 16 locations in the Valley in connection with the case Tue.
On Wed, the NIA again conducted searches at multiple locations and arrested a total of 9 men — Waseem Ahmed Sofi, Tariq Ahmed Dar, Bilal Ahmed Mir, and Tariq Ahmed Bafanda, Haneef Chiralu, Hafeez, Owais Dar, Mateen Bhat, and Arif Farooq Bhat.
Several electronic devices, “incriminating jihadi documents”, and records of suspicious financial transactions have also been seized.

Amit Shah to chair meet on internal security, police matters with state DGPs, IGPs, CAPF chiefs

ANI -Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a closed-door National Security Strategy Conference, meeting on Mon to review overall security across the country and policing issues with all the director-general of police (DGPs) and inspector-generals of police (IGPs) as well as the chiefs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The present situation in J&K as well as Naxal issues are believed to be the key agenda of the meeting in which National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Director Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar along with his colleagues will take part.

NIA conducts raids in 11 locations in Srinagar, Sopore & Pulwama amid the rise in civilian killings

Amid the recent civilian killings in J&K, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided 11 locations in Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore, Pulwama, Kulgam on Wed.
The NIA raided the residences of Rashid Bhat, Fahad Ali Wani in Hamdaniya Colony, Chanpora, and Furkan Imran Akhan in Govt Housing Colony in Bagh-e-Mehtab.
The raids are part of NIA’s attempt to crack down on terror networks and overground workers (OGWs) of terror outfits. Nearly a dozen people have been taken by the NIA.

Pakistan’s ISI’s conspiracy against Jammu and Kashmir exposed, ‘blueprint’ reveals major plot

ZeeNetwork (Wed)- Amid a slew of selective killing of minorities in J&K, an alleged ‘blueprint’ of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has surfaced. The ‘toolkit’ contains as many as 22 points as part of an ISI’s plan for the Kashmir valley. The development comes at a time when 11 civilians have been killed by terrorists in the Valley this month.

As per the alleged blueprint, terror groups have been asked to target several people and act upon the following 22 points which in short can be stated as protecting the valley from non-valley occupants and derailing all the efforts which may “misguide” from the cause of Kashmir:

Target every non-local official- in the Valley or at their native places.
Target non-locals whosoever comes to the Valley for a long stay.
Migrated Kashmiri Pandits are planning to shift back.
Every non-local employee.
Target every house of JK Police personnel.
Petrol bombs, stones, etc to be thrown towards informers’ locations locally.
Wherever any non-local is located, he is to be warned to leave the Valley at the earliest.
Local Govt employees should show their resentment against freedom.
Sports events organized by the occupier regime have to be banned /boycotted.
Whosoever is involved in govt/occupational forces events has to be dealt with harshly.
Don’t welcome those Kashmiri Pandits who revert in the Valley.
Target those heads of educational institutions who are hand in glove with the occupier.
Boycott all those media outlets whose names have emerged as collaborators.
Maintain distance with the occupier stooges and its forces especially JK Police whosoever is directly or indirectly involved in the anti-Kashmir cause.
Identify every collaborator and traitor.
Freedom fighters have to prioritize their targets according to the Kashmir cause.
Locals should shun their dependence on non-locals.
Keep distance from such elements who are against the Kashmir cause.
Try to understand the negative impact of non-locals residing in JK.
In the toolkit, it is written that ‘this act might look vague but in the long run it will prove beneficial and effective for Kashmir cause’.
It becomes mandatory to expand operations outside JK and it is to be intensified.
Target Govt properties (projects, bridges, schools, colleges, and sports infrastructure).

The Assam Police has also sounded an alert over possible terror strikes by Pakistan’s ISI and terror outfit al-Qaeda over alleged persecution of Muslims in the state. A circular issued by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) on Sat said the alert has been issued following reports received from the Special Branch of the state police.

TheHindu: (Tue) ‘New terror outfit’ claims responsibility for Poonch attack

Video on social media says the group attacked Army patrol, killing 9 soldiers: “A new terrorist group” on Mon released an 8-minute video about the ongoing encounter in J&K’s Poonch region along the Line of Control (LoC), in which 9 soldiers have been killed so far.

In the video, the group calling itself the PAFF (People’s Anti Fascists Front) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Republic: The Indian Army sources on Tue have slammed the propaganda and misinformation surrounding the situation.

According to Army sources, the name of a soldier, which is being shared as killed is alive and serving, pointing out a report in a ‘national daily’ which carried the story.
The misinformation is also being peddled on social media by the terrorist organization named ‘People’s Anti-Fascists Front’, an offshoot of Pak-based LeT.
On Oct 12, around midnight (01 am) the terrorist organization claimed that it carried out an attack, and hours later they released another, an aforementioned video claiming that an Indian Army soldier had been killed.

J&K administration signs MoU with Dubai govt to develop real estate, industrial parks

Jammu and Kashmir administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai government for the development of real estate, industrial parks, super-specialty hospitals, etc.

Talking about the significance of the MoU, Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said that with the signing of the MoU with the Dubai govt, the world has started to recognize the pace with which J&K is traversing on the development bandwagon, which homework has completed during Goyal’s Dubai visit for Dubai Expo 2020, from Oct 1-3.

The Center hopes that the MoU will prove to be a milestone after which the investment will pour in from around the globe, ushering in a big developmental push.
Apart from bringing much-needed investment to J&K, the MoU also promises to help India gain greater support of UAE, which has a strong presence in the comity of Islamic nations, as well as counter Pakistan’s propaganda on Kashmir.
The MoU follows after the govt announced the recent industrial package of Rs 28,400 crore for the Union Territory.
J&K, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that this agreement will help the Union Territory to scale new heights in industrialization and sustainable growth.

GOYAL’S VISIT TO J&K: In an attempt to underline that the recent attacks on civilians in J&K have not deterred the govt’s developmental plans, to signal that the development of the UT remains a top priority.

The Union minister inspected stalls put up by various departments, including animal husbandry, district industries, ICDS, social welfare, horticulture, sheep husbandry, handloom, and handicrafts department.

He emphasized promoting products that can add up to the export potential of the UT.
He gave directions to the district administration to extend all possible support to the local entrepreneurs and artisans for increasing productivity.
The minister also distributed kits among newly born female infants (the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme), and grants distributed under the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme.
Goyal distributed sanction letters among beneficiaries for the purchase of milk vans, and tricycles were also distributed among specially-abled persons.
He directed the district admin to work out plans for homestay tourism in Pahalgam that will both boost the local economy and add to the tourist potential of Pahalgam.

Goyal also met a delegation of industrialists from the valley, who apprised the minister of issues being faced by the industry and bottlenecks in the export of Kashmiri shawls.

India among select few countries developing hypersonic missiles: U.S. Congressional report

TheHindu: India is among the select few countries which are developing hypersonic weapons, an independent Congressional report has said, amidst a media report which claimed that China recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, which circled the globe before missing its target, demonstrating an advanced space capability that caught U.S. intelligence by surprise.

The independent Congressional Research Service (CRS), in the latest report this week, said that although the U.S., Russia, and China possess the most advanced hypersonic weapons programs, several other countries, including Australia, India, France, Germany, and Japan, are also developing hypersonic weapons technology. CRS report:

While Australia has collaborated with the U.S., India has collaborated with Russia on this, the CRS said in its report.
India has collaborated with Russia on the development of BrahMos II, a Mach 7 hypersonic cruise missile, the said.
India operates nearly 12 hypersonic wind tunnels and is capable of testing speeds of up to Mach 13, which is prepared by independent subject area experts.
Since 2007, the U.S. has collaborated with Australia on the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) program to develop hypersonic technologies.
The most recent HIFiRE test, successfully conducted in July 2017, explored the flight dynamics of a Mach 8 hypersonic glide vehicle.
HIFiRE’s successor, the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) program, is to further develop hypersonic air-breathing technologies.
In addition to the Woomera Test Range facilities, one of the largest weapons test facilities in the world, Australia reportedly operates 7 hypersonic wind tunnels with a capability of up to Mach 30.
France has also collaborated and contracted with Russia on the development of hypersonic technology.
Japan is developing the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP), it said.

“Although BrahMos II was initially intended to be fielded in 2017, news reports indicate that the program faces significant delays and is now scheduled to achieve initial operational capability between 2025 and 2028.”

“Reportedly, India is also developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle program and successfully tested a Mach 6 scramjet in June 2019 and September 2020,” the CRS said.

As reported earlier, The Financial Times this week reported that China has tested hypersonic missiles. However, China denied it, saying it tested a hypersonic “vehicle” and not a nuclear-capable hypersonic “missile” as reported by the leading British newspaper which also said that the missile missed its target by about two-dozen miles.

PM Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wed, (Oct 20) inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport, built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, in Uttar Pradesh, which will provide connectivity to 8 key Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Kushinagar is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site and is believed to be the final resting place (Mahaparinirvana Sthal ) of the Gautama Buddha located at the center of a key Buddhist tourist circuit, which includes Lumbini, Sarnath, and Ayodhya.

An inaugural flight of Sri Lankan Airlines landed at the airport earlier in the day, bringing a large contingent of Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan Ministers.
This is U.P.’s 9^th airport, 7 of which have been developed in the past 7 years alone.
The State will get 11 more airports in the years to come, including 2 international ones, U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.
“With the launch of this airport, I, as a representative of Poorvanchal, have also fulfilled one of my commitments to this region,” Mr. Modi said.
The airport will see scheduled commercial flights from Nov when SpiceJet is likely to launch 4 weekly flights.
In Dec, the airport will also be connected to Mumbai and Kolkata.
PM said that govt is aiming to set up over 200 airports, heliports, and water dromes for seaplanes across the country in the next 3-4 years.
The opening of Kushinagar Int’l Airport is very encouraging, especially for Buddhist devotees, to visit Kushinagar and Lumbini in Nepal too: Ananda Prasad Sharma, Min Counsel of Nepal

India, UK have a busy calendar of engagements ahead

UK foreign secretary begins India visit Fri; tech, infrastructure deals on cards

HT (Fri)-The United Kingdom will announce a series of tech and infrastructure deals, including a £50.4 million investment to fund green tech infrastructure projects across India, during foreign secretary Liz Truss’ visit beginning Friday.

As part of the India-UK 10-year roadmap, Truss and her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar will announce the “Strategic Futures Forum”, bringing together leading figures from government, business, and academia of both countries to drive closer links in key areas such as tech and security and to shape the long-term, strategic vision for the bilateral partnership.

The tech and infrastructure deals to be finalized are aimed at boosting jobs and increasing green growth.
Unveil the £50.4-million ($70 million) investment by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office’s investment arm CDC to fund green tech infrastructure projects across India through the joint Green Growth Equity Fund.
An £11.5-million British investment in two venture capital funds aimed at supporting India’s transition to cleaner energy.
An investment of £500,000 by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to build a new virtual network of Indian and British labs working to promote net-zero targets in key industries such as glass, cement, and metals.

In a statement ahead of her arrival in India, Truss said, “I want the UK and India to step up their partnership in critical ….India is a tech, and economic powerhouse and a vital strategic partner for the UK.”

Truss will also outline agreements to deepen investment ties between the two sides and work together on finance and technical support packages for the developing world.
While India has the 3^rd-highest number of tech start-ups in the world, the UK has the 3^rd-largest number of tech “unicorns” or start-ups valued at more than $1 billion.
Truss wants to strengthen Britain’s economic, technology, and security links with fast-growing economies and like-minded partners and build “a network of liberty” around the globe, the statement said.
“Closer ties with like-minded democracies such as India are key to that ambition,” it added.

The Roadmap 2030 for India-UK ties was finalized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at their virtual summit in May.

Besides Jaishankar, Truss also met with environment minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi to discuss areas for closer collaboration.
During her meeting with Yadav, Truss has discussed climate targets and underlined the importance of making concrete progress on climate change ahead of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow next month.
She will then travel to Mumbai, where she will visit the UK carrier strike group, which is led by Britain’s largest warship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Truss will also meet Indian business leaders at a Build Back Better World roundtable in Mumbai on Saturday to boost infrastructure in the developing world.

ANI -India and the UK will be having a busy calendar of engagements starting with the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by 65,000 tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth entering Indian water and one of the ships dockings at Mumbai Port.

HMS Queen Elizabeth – the most powerful surface vessel (Royal Navy’s history), taller than Niagara Falls, propulsion power equal to 50 high-speed trains, with the largest surface equipped with the 5^th-generation F-35B lightning multi-role aircraft.

They are being jointly crewed by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and the US Marine Corps. British foreign secretary Liz Truss and Chief of defense staff Gen Nick Carter will also be on board.
This leads 6 Royal Navy ships: an RN submarine, a US Navy destroyer, and a frigate from the Netherlands in the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was earlier in the South China Sea in a ‘non-provocation’ position.

UK foreign secretary will later hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and also meet business leaders in Mumbai.

Visiting HNE Queen Elizabeth will do the 1^st tri-service exercise Konkan Shakti.
Another army exercise, Ajeya Warrior is ongoing in Uttarakhand where around 120 British soldiers are participating.
ANI- Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also keen to visit India. Earlier, two of his visits to India were canceled due to the COVID-19 situation, instead, the two PMs will have an opportunity to meet on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow.
India and UK are also expected to begin talks on a free trade agreement. Both countries are proponents of freedom of movement and navigation.

India a ‘huge friend’ of Israelis, Naftali Bennett tells Jaishankar during the first meet

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wed had a “warm and rich” discussion with the top Israeli leadership on realizing the full potential of the bilateral strategic partnership and exchanged views on the changes in the geopolitical landscape and global affairs.

Jaishankar called on Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and they discussed strengthening the strategic alliance, expanding bilateral ties, and deepening the warm friendship between Israel and India,” the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser said.

PM Bennett thanked his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the PM for their commitment to the partnership between Israel and India, the adviser said.
“I speak on behalf of Israelis: We love India. We view India as a huge friend and we’re looking forward to expanding our relationship in all fields and all dimensions”, Prime Minister Bennett told Jaishankar at the start of the meeting.
Jaishankar conveyed the greetings of PM Modi to the Israeli leader and invited him to make his first official visit to India.
Jaishankar said that Bennett’s sharing of strategic perspectives was also very valuable.
“India and Israel will work even more closely to realize their partnership’s vision for the next 30 years,” he tweeted.
Earlier, Jaishankar called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Beit HaNassi, the president’s official residence here.
The two leaders discussed ways to promote and strengthen the growing bilateral relations in various sectors besides exchanging views on global strategic affairs.
President Herzog thanked Jaishankar for his commitment, and that of PM Modi and his ministers, to promoting and strengthening ties with Israel,-a press release, President’s office.
During the diplomatic working meeting, Herzog also praised the flourishing of the Israel-India relationship in a range of fields.

Ahead of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and India next year, President Herzog emphasized his intention to personally assist in promoting and strengthening this important relationship, the statement said.

President Herzog and Jaishankar further discussed global strategic affairs, it said.
Jaishankar said that it was “a great honor” to call on President Herzog.
This is Jaishankar’s first visit to Israel as External Affairs Minister. He is visiting the country at the invitation of the Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.
On Wed, Jaishankar also unveiled a plaque at Ra’anana in northern Israel in the memory of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Battle of Tabsor during WW-I.
On Tue, Jaishankar met with Israeli Parliament Speaker Mickey Levy and they discussed at length the common challenges faced by the two countries like radicalization, and took stock of the developments in the region.

On Mon, Jaishankar held “very productive talks” with his counterpart Lapid during which the two countries agreed to resume negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) from next month to conclude the long-pending deal by next June. India and Israel elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of PM to Israel in Jul 2017.

Jaishankar participated in the new quadrilateral-level meeting with the US, Israel, UAE

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has held a virtual conference with his counterparts from the US, Israel, and the UAE, agreeing to utilize complementary capabilities to fulfill overlapping interests and strengthen the strategic partnership at a quadrilateral level.

Jaishankar, who is currently on a 5-day visit to Israel, was accompanied by the home nation’s Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, during the quadrilateral-level meeting on Mon, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan participated virtually.

Blinken described Israel, the UAE, and India as 3 of “our most strategic partners”.

He said by “bringing friends together in new ways, we are making these partnerships even greater than the sum of their parts”.

And given so many overlapping interests — energy, climate, trade, regional security — this seems like a really interesting and good idea to try and use this new format and very complementary capabilities in very many areas to just see many more things get done. That’s the idea,” Blinken said.

Lapid, who is also Israel’s Alternate PM, noted that “one of the things we are looking for is synergy, and that is what we will try and create after this meeting.”
The Lapid felt that the key to achieving what they were aiming at was quickly moving from govt-to-govt to business-to-business.
He emphasized the need for this quadrilateral grouping to quickly put adequate mechanisms in place to translate efforts into real businesses around the globe.
UAE’s Al Nahyan thanked Blinken and Lapid for graciously “proposing the idea” of creating this kind of forum to boost cooperation.
Talking about India, the UAE minister said, “Minister Jaishankar is an old friend, I could say, but also India and UAE have such a strong and diverse relationship.”

Touching upon bureaucratic hurdles that often slow down such initiatives, Al Nahyan suggested businesses should be surprised by opportunities, and then it should be observed how the trading community responds, in terms of putting a robust plan forward.

Jaishankar, in his brief comment, said, “The three of you are among the closest relationships we have, if not the closest”.
He agreed with Blinken that this kind of forum could work much better than 3 different bilateral engagements.
Jaishankar cited the fight against COVID-19 at a difficult time as an example of the benefits of such cooperative mechanisms where bilateral ties tend to fail.
Later, the four foreign ministers entered a closed discussion to draw a strategy to make this quadrilateral cooperative plan a reality.

Reports have indicated a new quad post the Abraham accords being inked last year.

In Aug 2020, Israel, the UAE, and the US signed Abraham Accords, which helped Israel and the UAE normalize their ties.
India had welcomed the agreement, saying it “has always supported peace and stability in West Asia which is our extended neighborhood.”
India and Israel elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the ‘Make in India’ initiative.—PTI

Indian Delegation Meets Taliban Team In Moscow

NDTV-A high-level Taliban delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan’s interim govt, Abdul Salam Hanafi on Wed met with an Indian delegation (led by JP Singh, the Joint-Secy of the Pak-Afghan-Iran division of the Ministry of External Affairs) during which the Indian side expressed its readiness to provide extensive humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country, which is now ruled by the insurgent group.

The Indian delegation was in Russia to attend the “Moscow Format” meeting at the invitation of Russia, held talks with the Taliban leaders on the sidelines of the conference, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a brief statement.

There was no official word from the Indian government on the meeting.
India had its first formal contact with the Taliban in Doha on Aug 31 but this meeting on Wed was the first formal contact between the two sides after an interim Cabinet.
The Indian side expressed readiness to provide extensive humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, Mujahid was quoted as saying by Afghanistan’s Tolo news.
India has in the past provided assistance both for infrastructure as well as for humanitarian purposes to Afghanistan.
The two sides also emphasized the need to take into account each other’s concerns and improve diplomatic and economic relations, Mujahid said.

The Moscow format was established in 2017, based on a 6-party consultation mechanism of the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, and Pakistan to address Afghan issues.

This was the 1^st Moscow format dialogue since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, on Aug 15, 2 weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly 2-decade war.
In the meeting, Hanafi called on the international community to recognize Afghanistan’s interim govt, which is dominated by leaders, including those who are on the UN blacklist and urged the US to unfreeze the reserves of Afghanistan’s Central Bank (about USD 9.4 bn).
On other hand, the US has refused to release the frozen assets adding “it’s important to keep pressure on the Taliban”.
US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said, “We’ll not let…Taliban access the money in an ongoing situation…We’ll continue to assert our restrictions on the Haqqani network and…Taliban.”
Russian officials said that the recognition of the Taliban would not be discussed.

The Russian Federation’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called for the formation of an inclusive government that “truly reflects the interests of all ethnic and political forces”.

Russia expressed concerns over the increasing presence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan after the Taliban take over.
Any contact with a Russia-designated terror group like the Taliban is punishable under Russian law. Yet without delisting Taliban, Moscow just hosted a Taliban delegation headed by Abdul Salam Hanafi, a UNSC-designated terrorist and drug trafficker since 2001.
Delhi is also accusing Pakistan spy agency of supporting anti-India terror groups Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish on Afghan soil.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi, along with ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed leading a high-level delegation, arrived at Kabul. During the one-day visit, he will hold talks with Acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi and call on the leadership of the interim government in Kabul. He will meet other Afghan dignitaries as well, according to footage released by state broadcaster Associated Press of Pakistan.

The Pakistan FO stated: as a “close fraternal neighbor”, Pakistan had always stood by Afghanistan, mentioning several measures in this regard such as keeping border crossing points open, the institution of a facilitative visa regime for Afghan nationals, and provision of humanitarian aid and assistance in the form of food items and medicines.

[ NEIGHBOURHOOD ]

China’s explosive missile test causes consternation

ANI-Revelations about an advanced Chinese missile test in Aug have startled many by the technological know-how displayed by China. In the test, a space rocket boosted a hypersonic glide vehicle, one capable of carrying a nuclear device, which circled the globe before impacting- Financial Times (Oct 17)

The hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) was launched atop a Long March 2C rocket, and it flew through space in a low orbit before impacting about 24 miles from its target.
China failed to divulge this 78^th launch of a Long March 2C rocket, which occurred between other launches on July 19^th and Aug 24^th.
HGV has taken the global strategic community by surprise, not just due to the experiment itself but also the fact that it was kept a secret for 2 months.

This underscores how China’s space program falls under the aegis of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), an astounding achievement project is led by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, a subdivision of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

It was the first time China has conducted such a feat, and the pace at which Beijing is developing such technologies is the stunning US officials.
While the world is in the worry with exponentially growing might of China, especially post-pandemic, what is more, alarming is how secretly it could keep secrete.
Nonetheless, the whole report is based on the Financial Times, which in turn cited 5 unnamed people familiar with the test.

This capability bears all the hallmarks of a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS). Russia was the first country to develop one in the mid-1960s before fielding multiple-warhead missiles made it’s FOBS redundant.

FOBS: Unlike a ballistic missile, (launched parabolically), it comprises an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which launches a warhead into low Earth orbit with a flatter trajectory (speeds > 6115km/hr) and as it approaches the target, an onboard retro rocket detaches the payload and causes it to return to Earth. Thus, tough to track and hit.

While the test came as a shocker to the world, especially the US intelligence, the Indian defense establishment is not alarmed.-ThePrint

ThePrint (Sources)- ….they added that China’s experiment, which missed its target by “about two dozen miles”, according to the FT report, just goes to show that the country will master the technology in the coming years.

China’s new missile a threat to the US: In this Aug, a US Congress report had noted that both China and Russia have several hypersonic weapons programs and “have likely fielded operational hypersonic glide vehicles — potentially armed with nuclear warheads”, while the US hypersonic weapons are not being designed for use with a nuclear warhead.

As a result, US hypersonic weapons will likely require greater accuracy and will be more technically challenging to develop than nuclear-armed Chinese and Russian systems, it said.

Meanwhile, Chinese FM “China followed USS Dewey & HMCS Winnipeg’s transit through the Taiwan Straits last Fri, and PLA Eastern Theater Command issued a statement. It was a show of force & provocation by the US which disrupted peace & stability.”

“We Have A Commitment To That”: Joe Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked

Joe Biden’s statement was at odds with the long-held US policy known as “strategic ambiguity,” where Washington helps build Taiwan’s defenses but does not explicitly promise to come to the island’s help.

President Joe Biden on Thu said the United States would come to the defense of Taiwan if the island were attacked by China, which considers it part of its territory.
“Yes,” he responded when asked in a CNN town hall about defending Taiwan. “We have a commitment to that.”
Biden’s statement was at odds with the long-held US policy known as “strategic ambiguity,” where Washington helps build Taiwan’s defenses but does not explicitly promise to come to the island’s help.
He made a similar pledge in August during an interview with ABC, insisting that the United States would always defend key allies, including Taiwan, despite the withdrawal from Afghanistan in the face of the victorious Taliban.
Biden said the US made a “sacred commitment” to defend NATO allies in Canada and Europe and it’s the “same with Japan, same with South Korea, same with Taiwan.”
The White House subsequently told reporters that US policy on Taiwan “has not changed.”
If adds the two statements, it can be concluded that the US will not defend Taiwan, if China attacks, it will protect (?).

We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and 3 China-US joint communiqués, be cautious in words and deeds on the Taiwan question and refrain from sending any wrong signal to secessionists, so as to not seriously damage China-US relations. No one should underestimate the strong resolve, determination, and capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has no room for compromise: FM spokesperson responds after Biden’s comment.

China: CPC official sanctioned for human rights violations to head Tibet’s party unit

Wang’s appointment to the Tibet post would be keenly watched by worldwide rights groups, as well as New Delhi, given the continuing border tensions along the Line of Actual Control, (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Wang Junzheng, a senior official sanctioned by the US, the UK, the EU, and Canada for his participation in alleged human rights violations in China’s far western Xinjiang region has been promoted to the top post in Tibet.

Wang 58, was the deputy secretary of the CPC committee of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, was promoted to Communist Party leader of the Tibet autonomous territory on Tue, according to Chinese official media.

The incumbent Communist Party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), 65-year-old Wu Yingjie, who took office in 2016, was not immediately apparent, but he has most certainly retired.
Wang’s elevation demonstrates Beijing’s rejection of the West’s reaction to its actions in Xinjiang, as well as its rising interest in the pool of officials who have been held up as examples of competence in places with significant ethnic minority populations.
Wang will succeed Wu Yingjie in Tibet when he retires at the age of 65 in 2 months.
Wang’s elevation was among a slew of regional head appointments announced on Tue, as Beijing steps up preparations for the 20^th party congress, a 5-year power transfer, set to take place next fall.

Taiwan foreign minister adds Slovakia to rare Europe trip

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will visit Slovakia next week on a rare trip to Europe that will also include a trip to the neighboring Czech Republic and a virtual address to a forum in Rome, his ministry said on Thu (Oct 21).

Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province, to be reunified, by force if necessary, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with any European country, apart from the Vatican City.

However, Taiwan has been keen to promote ties with other like-minded democracies in the EU.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Lithuania have all donated Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan, and Lithuania and Taiwan are due to open de facto embassies in each other’s capitals before the end of the year, to Beijing’s anger.
Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou told reporters that Mr. Wu would first attend a forum in Slovakia next Tue organized by a local think tank, and then go to Prague to meet the Czech Parliament Upper House speaker Milos Vystrcil and Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib.
Mr. Vystrcil and Mr. Hrib visited Taiwan last year, infuriating China. Mr. Wu’s Czech visit had previously been confirmed, but not his trip to Slovakia.
Mr. Wu will also “think of a way” to speak virtually at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s summit in Rome next Fri, Ms.
Ou added, an event being attended by Mr. Penpa Tsering, head of the exiled Tibetan government, and other people at odds with Beijing.
Due to Chinese pressure, many countries are unwilling to host senior Taiwanese ministers, though Mr. Wu visited Denmark in 2019 to speak at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
China has ramped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan to force it to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its freedom.

China tells France it will lose respect if it ‘submits’ to the US after Paris plays a lead role in UN statement on Xinjiang

Beijing’s UN ambassador Zhang Jun made the comments after Paris read out a statement citing ‘credible’ reports up to a million Uygurs had been detained in camps
French relations with the US have been strained by the Aukus pact, but Zhang said the country was acting as one of Washington’s ‘henchmen’

A senior Chinese diplomat has warned France not to “submit to the United States”, or it will risk losing dignity and respect.

Zhang Jun, the ambassador to the United Nations, made the comments in response to a joint statement, signed by 43 mainly Western countries and read out by France at a UN meeting, that criticized China’s policies in Xinjiang, where it is accused of widespread human rights abuses.

“To France and other followers of the US: What you are doing is submitting your independence and autonomy, and serving as the henchmen of the US, as if you can gain superiority by acting at the beck and call of the superpower. But the truth is, you are giving up your own dignity, and will win no respect from others,” Zhang said.

Pakistan likely to remain on FATF ‘grey list’ till April 2022

Wion: Pakistan is likely to remain on the Financial Action Task Force’s ‘grey list’ till the next session of the global money laundering and terror financing watchdog in April 2022, as per a report by Pakistan-based The News International, Islamabad is still short of meeting the FATF criterion, including curbing terror financing.

Paris-based FATF will be in session for three days from Oct 19 to 21.
Deutsche Welle (sources) – the global body’s decision on putting Pakistan off the ‘grey list’ may be taken in the next session slated for April 2022.

The FATF in June retained Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ for failing to check money laundering, leading to terror financing, and asked Islamabad to investigate and prosecute senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terror groups, including Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.

It also asked Pakistan to work to address its strategically important deficiencies.
Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by Oct 2019.
Since then, the country continues to be on that list due to its failure to comply with the FATF mandates.

With Pakistan’s continuation in the grey list, it will increasingly become difficult for the country to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the EU.

Pakistan has so far avoided being on the blacklist with the help of China, Turkey, and Malaysia.
Apart from Pakistan, Turkey may also be “greylisted” since it has reportedly failed to combat terrorist financing and money laundering.
The Financial Times reported that that global financial watchdog may approve the decision to put Turkey on the ‘grey list’.
There are 22 countries on FATF’s grey list -Yemen, South Sudan, Syria, Morocco, Albania, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Philippines among others.

Five security personnel martyred in two KP attacks

5 security personnel were martyred in 2 incidents in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wed.

Dawn cited official-a roadside bomb went off in the hilly area of Mamund tehsil near the Pak-Afghan border and the blast occurred by an IED device in Teer Banda locality when a joint team of security forces and police were conducting a search operation in the area following an earlier explosion that had targeted a vehicle of a contractor, wounding 2 persons.

After the incident, security forces and police cordoned off the blast site and launched a search operation to trace those involved in the blast.
However, no arrest was reported till late into the night.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The tribal elders and political figures asked the authorities to take serious action against the attackers.
Earlier in the morning, an army soldier was martyred in a terrorist attack on the Chapri Waziran check post adjacent to the North Waziristan tribal district in the Hangu area.
The Inter-Services Public Relations – troops initiated a prompt response and effectively engaged the terrorists.
Area clearance was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the locality.

Several roads remain blocked in Lahore, Islamabad as TLP protest continues

Several roads remained blocked in Lahore and Islamabad on Sat as the protest by the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) continued.

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) issued a list of roads that were closed: the closed routes include Dubai Chowk to Scheme Mor, Kharak to Scheme Mor, Liaquat Chowk to Scheme Mor, Gulshan Ravi to Yateem Khana, Samanabad to Yateem Khana, Bandar Road Shell Pump to Yateem Khana, Babau Sabu to Motorway, Shahdara Chowk, Sagian Bridge, Old Ravi Bridge, Moon Market to Scheme Mor, Bijli Ghar to Scheme Mor, district courts to Sagian, Data Darbar to Pir Makki and Lahore Ring Road.

The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) also issued an alert, informing residents that Express Chowk was closed for traffic, adding that Margallah Road, Ayub Chowk, Nadra Chowk and Dhokri Chowk could be used alternatively.

3 policemen martyred:A day earlier, three policemen were martyred and several others injured in clashes with TLP workers.

Chauburji, Lower Mall and surrounding areas turned into battlefields with videos of the clashes showing police firing teargas shells to disperse the protesters who in return pelted the law enforcers with stones. Many TLP workers carrying clubs appeared to be fighting back when the riot police tried to disperse them.

A TLP media coordinator, Saddam Bukhari, said the police attacked the peaceful rally that was on its way to Islamabad.
Life in the areas where the clashes took place came to a standstill, as the Punjab government suspended mobile phone services and power supply to the areas following the tense situation.

Security arrangements: On Fri, the Central Police Office issued instructions to the four regional police officers and district police officers to beef up security on GT Road leading to Islamabad to stop the TLP procession at any cost. Rawalpindi police blocked almost the entire city by placing containers on roads.

Following the clashes, the TLP leadership refused to talk to a govt committee till the release of their incarcerated leader Saad Rizvi, whom the group said would lead any negotiations.
They alleged that on the one hand the authorities were engaging them in talks, and on the other, “thousands of their workers” had been shot at and many were wounded.
The Punjab govt had earlier on Fri constituted a committee comprising provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat and Minister for Prosecution Chaudhry Zaheeruddin for holding talks with the TLP ahead of its march on Islamabad.

Meanwhile, directives were issued to the Islamabad administration and police to arrest all TLP leaders, activists and workers wherever they were seen, sources told Dawn. Besides, instructions were issued to use force against the banned outfit if it tried to enter Islamabad.

So far, police have arrested 50 leaders, activists and workers in Islamabad and detained them in different police installations.

Maulana Aziz announces support: Lal Masjid has already announced its support to the TLP and it is likely that students and followers of Maulana Abdul Aziz will hold their own protest in Aabpara or around Lal Masjid.

Talking to Dawn, Maulana Aziz said on Fri that he supported the cause of the TLP and would encourage his supporters to take part in the sit-in at Faizabad.

Pak PM Imran Khan to Release Notification for Lt Gen Anjum’s Appointment as ISI Chief by Saturday

News-18: Nadeem Anjum met Imran Khan on Thu evening when the Pakistani PM informed him that the notification will be released soon.

Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum is all set to become the new Director-General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as the notification in this regard is likely to be released Sat by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

(Sources)- The Pak PM will release the notification today or on Sat before leaving for his trip to Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
Also “PM had requested for a meeting with all the candidates for the ISI chief’s position. However, the DG of the ISI panel rejected the request,” sources said.
(Sources)- only Nadeem Anjum, who will take over the charge as new ISI chief, was sent to meet Imran Khan on Thu evening and the meet was cordial.
Pakistani PM Imran Khan told Anjum that the notification will be released soon.
Pak’s army chief Gen QJ Bajwa had instructed Lt Gen Anjum to take charge.
He has also instated a tradition of at least a year of experience as Core Commander mandatory to become army chief.

Hindu villages were burnt, Hasina was playing the flute: Taslima Nasreen slams Bangladesh PM

Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Taslima Nasreen slammed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the ongoing violence against the Hindu community in the country,

Taking to Twitter, Nasreen claimed that “two Hindu villages were burnt down by jihadis” on the night of Oct 17. Hitting out at the Bangladesh PM, she wrote, “Hasina was playing a flute.”

Further, she tweeted, “Hasina is celebrating today her brother Sheikh Russel’s birth anniversary when thousands of Hindus are homeless after their houses were demolished or burnt down.”

COMMUNAL VIOLENCE ESCALATES: Taslima Nasreen’s tweet comes after a report claimed that a group of people attacked houses of the Hindu community as communal violence escalated in Bangladesh.

At least 20 houses were completely burnt in Majhipara’s Jelepolli at Ramnathpur Union in the attack carried out late on Sunday over a social media post that allegedly dishonored religion.

Some 65 houses were torched during the attack, as per the local Union Parishad chairman.

HASINA WARNS ‘BAD ELEMENTS’: Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina gave a stern warning on Thu to “bad elements” trying to “disturb communal harmony”, after reports of attacks on Durga Puja pandals emerged from across the country.

Addressing a gathering of the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja at the Dhakeswari temple in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina said that action would be taken against the perpetrators of communal violence in Comilla.

There will be none left in 30 years-DhakaTribune

Hindus of Bangladesh, in numbers:

11.3 million were forced to flee between 1964 & 2013.
2.4 million perished in the 1970-71 Genocide.
1.2 million families have been dispossessed of 2 million acres.
12.6 million is the current population.

In a Gist