[ NATIONAL ]

PLA ‘fully rotates’ troops as China & India both beef up presence in eastern Ladakh for winter

Almost all soldiers deployed by PLA at forwarding points along LAC for the winter are in their early 20s, a move seeking to ensure they can take on the harshness of the climate.

Ahead of Putin’s visit, Defense Ministry to take up AK-203 deal in a high-level meeting

With Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to visit India from Dec 5^th, a high-level Defence Ministry’s special defense acquisition council meeting. After S400, India & Russia are likely to hold talks on S500 and S550 missile systems

Galwan valley clash hero Colonel Santosh Babu accorded Mahavir Chakra posthumously

India to release 5 million barrels of crude oil from strategic reserves

TOI-India plans to release about 5 million barrels of crude oil from its emergency stockpile in tandem with the US, Japan, and other major economies to cool prices, a top government official said on Tue.

NIA arrests Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez from Jammu and Kashmir

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with local police and Central Reserve Police Force on Mon arrested prominent human rights activist, Khurram Parvez after raiding his residence and office in Srinagar, J-K in connection with its ongoing probe in a terror funding case.

Security strengthened at Shimla railway station amid threats from terror organizations

ANI -The authorities of the Shimla railway station in Himachal Pradesh have strengthened the security and safety measures on the Kalka-Shimla railways.

India, US have realized the necessity of diversifying critical supply chains: Piyush Goyal

Noting that the world looks at India as a “trusted partner,” Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Mon said that India’s competitive advantages of cost, skilled manpower, and huge market combined with US’ innovation and investment can become a winning partnership amongst natural friends while welcoming US Trade Representative Katherine Tai at a reception at New Delhi.

At UNSC open debate, India commits to intl obligations on the illicit arms trade

ANI – India on Mon (local time), during an open debate at UN Security Council (UNSC), committed to implementing its international obligations regarding illicit trade in small arms.

MEA refutes media report speculating BIMSTEC leaders as chief guests for Republic Day 2022

BIMSTEC is a subregional grouping consisting of seven South Asian countries — India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

The US again sends warship through Taiwan Strait

SCMP-Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a ‘routine Taiwan Strait transit’, the US Navy said

‘No jobs, water, power’: Unrest in Pakistan’s Gwadar over Chinese projects

China’s multibillion-dollar projects in Pakistan have become a cause of major unrest in the country with massive protests erupting in the port city of Gwadar where Beijing has built a deep seaport as part of its $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pak allows India to provide wheat to Afghanistan via its territory

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Mon that his government will allow India to send a humanitarian shipment of 50,000 MT of wheat to neighboring Afghanistan through its territory after the finalization of the transit modalities.

Govt releases over 100 TTP prisoners as ‘goodwill gesture’

The government has released more than 100 Taliban prisoners as a “goodwill gesture” to reciprocate the ceasefire announced by the group earlier this month, The Express Tribune can report on the authority of security officials.Most freed Taliban inmates have not completed the 6-month de-radicalization and rehabilitation process

Taliban inducts 2 dozen high-level officials for the interim Afghan govt

The Taliban urged the US and other countries to recognize their govt in Afghanistan and said that the failure to do so would lead to problems not only for the country but for the world.

PLA ‘fully rotates’ troops as China & India both beef up presence in eastern Ladakh for winter

ThePrint-The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has rotated its troops posted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh as both India and China beef up positions for the grueling winter.

(Sources)- the PLA has carried out a full rotation, which means new troops were brought in rather than just a regular transfer of troops.

• A usual rotation means soldiers posted at the front are moved back, and those in the second tier are deployed forward.
• The troops in reserve are sent in as second-tier protection. The cycle keeps repeating.
• Chinese have been rotating troops in a much shorter time frame than the Indian Army, but refused to divulge information on when the latest rotation took place.
• Moreover, almost all the soldiers of the PLA at the forward points along the LAC for the winter are in their early 20s, a move seeking to ensure that they can take on the harshness of the climate.
• The current rotation of troops (new battalions) happened with all communication systems switched off to minimize the chances of tracking, added the sources.
• The PLA also laid huge emphasis on setting up medical infrastructure to ensure that the troops are taken care of as winter in eastern Ladakh can be punishing.

Last winter saw the PLA troops remain deployed in forward positions along the LAC in eastern Ladakh for the first time.

India prepared too: The Indian Army and the Air Force have also ensured huge logistics support for the nearly 30,000 troops that remain deployed in eastern Ladakh.

(Sources) -all specialized shelters that were made last year for the winter deployment have been beefed up, and logistics have been taken care of.

• The logistics include rations, specialized fuel, and ammunition, and other support systems.
• Last week, the Army and Air Force carried out Operation Hercules, to strengthen the logistics supply in the northern sector and augment winter stocking in the areas.
• C-17, IL-76, and An-32 were the platforms used for the airlift.
• This was also a signal on how additional troops and equipment can be quickly deployed if needed.
• Emphasis has also been laid on underground hardened storages, which can withstand any kind of assault, and on increasing the number of repair facilities of various equipment.
• It is not only the Army, which is deployed at forward locations but the IAF has its personnel deployed at multiple locations along the LAC for operating surveillance radars and air defense systems.
• The Army has also carried out major changes to its Order of Battle and Command structure to take care of the LAC.

Is the PLA ground force facing comparative neglect?

ANI (citing Pentagon’s report on Nov 3^rd)–The ground force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) contains approximately 975,000 active-duty soldiers, but in some regards, its modernization is being left behind by China’s heavy investment in the navy, air force, and missile force.

The ground force makes up slightly less than half the PLA’s two million members.

It summarized, “Despite the pandemic, border clashes with India and other significant events in 2020, the PLA (ground force) accelerated its training and fielding of equipment from the already fast pace of recent years.” It says:

• Chinese ground force “remains a relative laggard within the PLA in terms of modernization”, which is quite astounding, but there are reasons for it.
• Within the PLA, major modernization efforts have occurred approx every 20 years.
• Future targets, as articulated by Chairman Xi Jinping, are to “basically complete national defense and military modernization by 2035”, and to possess a “world-class military” by 2049.
• Many commentators make much of the “rapid” pace of PLA modernization, but perhaps this word is not the aptest as it would take a long time to replace legacy equipment.
• Therefore, it would perhaps be better to term the Chinese military’s modernization as “deliberate.

Dennis Blasko, (an expert on the PLA)- “..probably 25-30% of the ground force – whether tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, etc. – is still legacy equipment and thus, it will probably take till 2035 to get rid of all.

• In 2018 only modern Type 96 and Type 99 tanks made up half the PLA’s tank, a process that took 20 years.
• If the Type 15 light tank is added, perhaps 60-70% of the tank fleet today can be described as modern, which means that obsolete equipment (e.g. Type 59 tanks) is still common.
• Certainly, the PLA has been undergoing upheaval as the cumbersome, hierarchal, and corrupt organization transformed in the past 5 or so years and in 2016 Xi created 5 PLA theatre commands to promote joint operations.

Has this reorganization been effective? The answer is not clear, with Blasko told ANI, “

• With the PLA not having fought a war since its unsuccessful cross-border campaign against Vietnam in 1979, it is extremely difficult to calculate the combat effectiveness.
• It underwent extreme growth pangs after 2016 as the whole military transformed when the 5 theatres were formed, but further trouble was caused by the ground force transitioning.
• China has continued to tinker with its military structure since then, making modifications as it sees fit.
• As part of the PLA’s reorganization, Xi wanted to redress the historical dominance of the army over the navy, air force, and rocket force.
• On 2 occasions, a theatre command has been led by a commander other than an army general, but currently, the PLA is back to five army commanders.

The PLA has been flaunting its strength in the SCS – where it has built military bases on reclaimed reefs, and shadows any foreign warship or aircraft that passes through or over international waters – and is doing much the same with Japan in the ECS.

• Similarly, China has been using its air force to fly into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone to cow Taipei into submission.
• The PLA ground force has been largely missing out on such enthusiasm, and the only real chance to flex its muscle is along with border areas, principally the disputed frontier with India.
• This area falls under the aegis of the Western Theater Command -the largest of the five theatres, and which contains Tibet and Xinjiang.
• Satellite imagery taken earlier this year suggests that perhaps a Chinese division’s (10,000 personnel and thousands of vehicles were spread over a 320 km front at a distance of 30 km from LAC in the Aksai Chin area.
• Blasko: Those are defensive positions. … But it’s a deployment meant to consolidate ground; it’s not a deployment that is concentrating on a push into India, but can negotiate.’
• Indeed, Blasko sees Indian border tensions as analogous to Beijing’s South China Sea “salami-slicing” strategy – consolidating claims in disputed territory and extending its strategic depth.

With this focus on the Aksai Chin area, it is interesting to note that the Xinjiang Military Command’s 4 divisions have now all transformed into combined-arms divisions, each with 3 combined-arms regiments, a combat support regiment and a newly created firepower regiment (combining artillery and air defense assets).

Examples of new hardware include PCL-181 6×6 155mm truck-mounted self-propelled howitzers in firepower regiments in both the 8^th and 11^th Combined Arms Divisions to replace 152mm towed howitzers. Another new type of artillery is the PCL-161 4×4 122mm truck-mounted howitzer.

Chinese cemetery for PLA’s 1962, Galwan war dead now patriotic education base

HT-A high-altitude, wind-swept, a military cemetery in Xinjiang, which houses the tombs of more than 100 Chinese soldiers who died fighting Indian troops during the 1962 war and 2020 is being renovated to serve as a base for patriotic, a first such “patriotic education base” in connection with Sino-India military history.

Ahead of Putin’s visit, Defence Ministry to take up AK-203 deal in a high-level meeting

ANI – With Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to visit India from Dec 5^th, a high-level Defence Ministry’s special defense acquisition council meeting, would be held on Tue to discuss the finalization of the over Rs 5,000 crore deal with Russia to manufacture 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, which may be signed during the visit. Though the deal had been agreed upon between the two sides a few years ago and now the last major issue would be resolving the issues on the transfer of technology. The first 70K will include Russian-made components as the transfer of technology slowly happens. These will be delivered to the army 32 months after the production process begins.

After S400, India & Russia are likely to hold talks on S500 and S550 missile systems

HT- India is likely to discuss the potential sale of super-advanced S-500 & S-550 missile systems with Russia next month.

• A report in Eurasian times said that PM Modi could discuss the potential sale of S-500 and S-500 missile systems with Putin.
• If talks are fruitful, India could become the first foreign buyer of the Russian-made S-500 & S-550 SAM Air Defence Systems.
• S-500 Prometey (Russian for Prometheus) is already developed & it was first tested successfully in July this year.

NIA arrests Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez from Jammu and Kashmir

ANI – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with local police and Central Reserve Police Force on Mon arrested prominent human rights activist, Khurram Parvez after raiding his residence and office in Srinagar, J-K in connection with its ongoing probe in a terror funding case.

• The agency had also conducted raids at several locations in the valley including Parvez’s residence and office in Oct last year.
• ANI (sources)- Parvez has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
• Parvez was slapped with the Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2016.
• His arrest had come a day after he was barred from traveling to Switzerland to participate in a session of the UN Human Rights Council, who was released after 76 days of prison.
• Parvez is the chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the program coordinator of the J-K Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS).
• He had lost his leg in a landmine while monitoring the 2004 Parliamentary elections.

Trilateral exercise ‘Dosti’ between navies of India, Maldives, Sri Lanka underway

ANI – The 15^th edition of the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka biennial Trilateral Exercise ‘Dosti’ is underway in the Maldives from Nov 20 -24, as per an official release on Mon.

• Indian Coast Guard vessels, ICGS Vajra, ICGS Apoorva and, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, SLCGS Suraksha have arrived in the Maldives for the exercise, which is in its 30^th year.
• The focus in the last 10 years is exercises and drills on providing assistance in sea accidents, eliminating sea pollution, and the Coast Guard’s procedure.
• Exercise Dosti was initiated in 1991, between the Indian and Maldives Coast Guard. Sri Lanka joined the exercise for the first time in 2012, the release added.

At UNSC open debate, India commits to intl obligations on the illicit arms trade

ANI – India on Mon (local time), during an open debate at UN Security Council (UNSC), committed to implementing its international obligations regarding illicit trade in small arms.

“Participated in UNSC Open Debate on ‘Impact of diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security‘ hosted by Mexican Presidency. India fully committed to implementing its international obligations regarding illicit trade in small arms,” said Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary to Govt of India in the Ministry of External Affairs on Twitter.

Bhattacharyya tweeted after speaking at a 2-day high-level meeting to review progress in implementing the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in July 2010.

Abdulla Shahid, President of the UN General Assembly said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated factors that fuel human traffickings such as poverty, unemployment, and gender-based violence.

• People of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities can fall prey to human trafficking, which is linked to crimes, UN News reported.
• Ghada Waly, Executive Director at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), explained that vulnerability has increased during the pandemic due to lockdowns, learning disruptions, and loss of livelihoods.
• UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed pointed out that women and girls are disproportionately targeted for trafficking. (ANI)

India, US have realized the necessity of diversifying critical supply chains: Piyush Goyal

ANI – Noting that the world looks at India as a “trusted partner,” Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Mon said that India’s competitive advantages of cost, skilled manpower, and huge market combined with US’ innovation and investment can become a winning partnership amongst natural friends while welcoming US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai at a reception at New Delhi.

“The year 2020 had tested the world’s resolve and brought the world to a standstill and despite the lockdown, India does not let down any of its international commitments for a while. We re-jigged our business processes. As a result, today the world looks at India as a ‘trusted partner,‘” Goyal said.

Referring to US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), the minister said that India and US can use this platform to engage and amicably resolve outstanding issues and send a strong message to the world that the US and India partnership is stronger than ever before.

• The minister said the relationship between the two countries gained strength due to defense cooperation.
• Goyal said India-US bilateral trade is showing a robust increase and the Indian economy has also recovered sharply.
• India has administered more than 1.1 billion doses, while it plans to manufacture 5 billion doses next year to help serve and secure all of humanity.
• On her 2-day visit to India, US Trade Representative Tai, along with her deputy Sarah Bianchi, will also participate in the US-India Trade Policy Forum, (TPF).
• This is Tai’s first visit to India after she took over the office in March this year.
• Bianchi will also participate in a digital trade industry roundtable.

ThePrint-Earlier, in a statement, the office of the USTR said: “Ambassador Katherine Tai and Ambassador Sarah Bianchi will travel to New Delhi, India to meet with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to deepen the US-India trade relationship”.

Terming top US trade official’s visit to India as a “very important” one, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Nisha Biswal said it is an agenda-setting visit to see how the two countries can align their ambitions and approach to trade.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

The US again sends warship through Taiwan Strait

SCMP-Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a ‘routine Taiwan Strait transit’, the US Navy said

• There was no immediate response from Beijing, which sees such moves as attempts to stir regional tensions
• A US warship again sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tue, barely a month after a joint transit with Canada.
• It was part of what the US military calls routine activity but such moves always rile Beijing, as it believes Washington is trying to stir regional tensions.
• The US Navy said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” through international waters per international law.

“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows,” it added.

• Last month, the Chinese military condemned the US and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region.
• China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its territory, and has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the past year or so.
• The US like most countries has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.
• Beijing calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.
• US Navy ships have been transiting the strait roughly monthly, to the anger of Beijing.
• US allies occasionally also send ships through the strait, including Britain in Sept.

Pak Govt releases over 100 TTP prisoners as ‘goodwill gesture’

The Express Tribune -Most of the freed Taliban prisoners were undergoing de-radicalization and rehabilitation at the internment centers set up by the government, the officials said on the condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak on the record.

“Most of the released inmates have not completed a 6-month mandatory de-radicalization and rehabilitation program,” one official said. “The rest were ordinary foot soldiers.”

The officials also clarified that the prisoners were not released in compliance with any demand from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is currently engaged in negotiations with the govt.

• On Nov 8, the TTP announced in a statement that it had reached an agreement with the govt to cease hostilities for one month.
• Federal Information Min Fawad Hussain also confirmed talks with the TTP which, he said, were being held within the ambit of the Constitution and law of the land.
• He also confirmed that both sides have agreed to a ceasefire during the talks, facilitated by the interim Afghan government.
• The truce was the result of a series of meetings held between the two sides in Afghanistan.

Both sides held at least 3 rounds of talks — one in Kabul and 2 in Khost – during which they formed committees to take the process forward and try to convert the ceasefire into a permanent peace deal.

• TET (officials) – there have been no direct talks thus far between the 2 sides and that they are engaged through intermediaries.
• The Afghan foreign minister also confirmed during a recent visit to Pakistan that they were mediating between the TTP and the Pakistan government.

The 3 demands during the exploratory talks, which include allowing the opening of a political office in a 3^rd country, reversal of erstwhile FATA’s merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and enforcement of Islamic shariah in Pakistan.

• The group was particularly told in categorical terms that enforcement of their version of Islamic law was out of the question.
• Pakistan is an Islamic republic and its Constitution clearly states that all laws in the country have to conform with the teachings of Islam.

The officials told the TTP that Pakistan could only allow them to restart their lives if they fulfill certain conditions, which include accepting the writ of the state, laying down arms, and publicly apologizing over the attacks committed by them.

Taliban inducts 2 dozen high-level officials for the interim Afghan government

HT (Pajhwok Afghan News)-The Taliban on Tue announced 25 high-level officials, including ministers and deputy ministers, for its interim govt in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson for the interim govt, Zabihullah Mujahid said the officials and the ministers have been inducted in compliance with orders from the Taliban’s supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

Maulvi Shahabuddin Delawar has been appointed as the acting minister of mines and petroleum while Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund has been given the role of acting minister of disaster management.

The list released by Zabihullah Mujahid, and accessed by Pajhwok Afghan News, show names of 25 others who have been appointed as deputy ministers, corps commanders, and heads of independent departments, including acting director of prisons, deputy minister of border and tribal affairs, and head of Kandahar airport.

• The Taliban announced its caretaker govt in Sept, weeks after taking over the capital Kabul in an effortless siege after ousting former President Ashraf Ghani. 
• No country has formally recognized the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan.
• However, senior government officials from several countries have been meeting with the Taliban leadership both in Kabul and abroad to broker peace and aid deals.