[ NATIONAL ]

At UNSC meet, India reiterates call for ‘humanitarian access’ to armed conflict areas in Ukraine

Tirumurti said that there is an urgent need to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population in Ukraine. India on Tue (local time) reiterated its call for unimpeded humanitarian access to areas of armed conflict in Ukraine, said India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti at a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. India has already sent over 90 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and its neighbors. However, as expected he refrain himself to comment on Russia.

Europe’s situation raised a question mark over the stability of international order: PM Modi at BIMSTEC

In a virtual address to the BIMSTEC conference on Wed, PM Narendra Modi said the continuing Russia-Ukraine situation has “raised worries about the stability of the world order.” “The recent developments raised questions about the stability of the international order….. Today we are adopting the Bimstec charter to develop institution architecture for our group,” he said at the 5^th BIMSTEC Summit. Sri Lanka is hosting the summit. PM Modi announced that India will provide $1 million to the Bimstec secretariat to boost its operational budget. 

War in Ukraine enhances EU’s resolve to act in Indo Pacific, says top diplomat Gabriele

WION-EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific Gabriele Visentin who is in Delhi has said that the war in Ukraine “does not reduce the resolution of the EU to act in the Indo pacific“. During the India visit, the envoy met Secy, West Joint Secy Indo Pacific, and envoys of all EU countries on the grouping’s role in the region and the implication of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Indo-Pacific, Visentin said, “EU strategy for cooperation on Indo Pacific aims at strengthening and reinforcing the current and ongoing cooperation in the Indo Pacific” In Feb, France, and the EU co-hosted a foreign ministers’ meeting on the Indo Pacific. 

Germany ‘will not preach to India’ about its position on Ukraine: Jens Plötner

Germany is aware that India “lives in a challenging neighborhood” and “will not preach to India” about its position on Ukraine. Instead, it will attempt to discuss the situation with India, said Jens Plötner, the German foreign and security policy advisor.”We are not here to lecture or demand,” he added.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon arrives in India

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon on Wed arrived in India as he begins his first official visit to the country. Casaubon is on a two-day (Mar 30 to Apr 1) official visit to India, at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Casaubon will also visit Mumbai. Both Jaishankar and Casaubon will undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and will also discuss international issues of mutual interest.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to visit India tomorrow: MEA

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to India on Thu, the minister of external affairs informed. The two-day visit is the highest level of engagement between the two govt’s since Moscow launched its military offensive against Ukraine on Feb 24. Lavrov is traveling to India after completing a 2-day visit to China. The visit also comes as the western nations have intensified pressure on Russia over the Ukraine invasion.

India to arm Tejas fighter jets with American JDAM bombing kits

Amid an ongoing conflict with China, India has placed orders for American Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided bombing kits to enhance the capabilities of its LCA Tejas fighter jets. IT citing sources, writes that the acquisition of JDAM kits under delegated financial powers by the Air Force will enable jets to take out enemy bunkers and runways at 80 km and beyond. The order for the JDAM was placed to prepare the indigenous aircraft for taking on enemy planes in a much better way. India has already activated 2 LCA Tejas fighter squadrons and is looking to get 4 more in a couple of years. They will replace the outgoing MiG-21 inventory.

India successfully conducts two test firings of a medium-range surface-to-air missile system

India carried out two successful test firings of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) air defense systems off the coast of Odisha in Balasore on Wed. The launches were carried out to establish the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system against targets covering the sea-skimming and high altitude functionality within the envelope. Performance of all weapon system components including missiles, weapon system radar, and command posts have been validated during these trials.

India condemns terror attack in Israel, expresses condolences

Ministry of External Affairs said that India condemns the terrorist attacks in Israel and expressed his condolences on the loss of innocent lives. 2 people were killed and 6 were injured in a shooting attack by ISIS operatives on Sun in the Israeli city of Hadera, some 31 miles north of Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said. Meanwhile, on late Tue, a Palestinian gunman opened fire at passersby and vehicles outside Tel Aviv, killing 5 people in the third shooting or knife attack in a week, prompting the police to raise its alert level nationwide to “the highest possible.”

Journalist-turned-terrorist among two killed in Srinagar encounter

Security forces neutralized two terrorists during an encounter in the Rainawari area of Srinagar on early Wed morning. J&K police said that one of the terrorists, identified as Rayees Ahmad Bhat, was a former journalist who ran an online news portal ‘Valley News Service’ in Anantnag. Bhat joined the terrorist ranks of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Aug last year and was categorized as ‘C’ in the terrorists’ list of J&K police. J&K govt terminates 5 of its employees under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, for having alleged terror links. The 5 include 2 police constables, 1 teacher, 1 computer operator & 1 nursing orderly.

Exercise increased caution while traveling to India: New US travel advisory

The United States in a new travel advisory on Tue urged its citizens to exercise “increased caution” while traveling to India and advised them not to travel to J&K and within 10 km of the Indo-Pak border, except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh. The US travel advisory comes a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of Covid-19 in India.  The US said in its latest travel advisory for India that decreases the risk of travel to India from Level 3 to 2 was on Jan 25^th.

India Ratings cuts GDP growth forecast to 7-7.2 % from 7.6% for 2022-23

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) on Wed cut India’s GDP growth forecast for the 2022-23 financial year to 7 – 7.2% from its earlier estimate of 7.6% announced in Jan. The rating agency said the 7.6% growth projection announced in Jan 2022, is unlikely to hold due to the global geopolitical situation arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

US strategy prioritizes China’s challenge in Indo-Pacific as the top threat, Russia next

Allaying apprehensions that the Ukraine crisis may lead to a reset in the US’s geopolitical priorities, the US national defense strategy 2022 – a key document that outlines goals and strategies and serves as a basis for policy for Pentagon – has prioritized the challenge from China in the Indo-Pacific over the Russian challenge in Europe, and termed China as America’s “most consequential strategic competitor”.

China hosts Afghanistan talks as neighbors seek to ease concerns over Taliban

China hosts a series of meetings about Afghanistan on Wed, featuring representatives of Russia, the US, the Taliban, and South and Central Asian countries, as it ramps up diplomatic engagement with its troubled neighbor. The meetings in Tunxi, in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, will be a rare instance of officials from Moscow and Washington meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine last month. The Chinese foreign ministry said on Tue that Yue Xiaoyong, China’s special envoy to Afghanistan, would host counterparts from the US, Russia, and Pakistan for the latest “troika plus” talks.

Taiwanese lawmakers slam advert promoting unification placed by a member of a semi-official body

A board member of Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation, which deals with cross-strait affairs, has come under fire from lawmakers for running a full-page newspaper advertisement to promote “peaceful unification” with mainland China. Bucking the growing popularity of keeping the self-ruled island outside Beijing’s control, John Peng, a director of the foundation, called for the govt of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to reconsider its position. “The war between Russia and Ukraine, starting in late Feb, has led many to think of the cross-strait tension and wonder if there would be war between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait,” said Peng in the advert, published on Tue in Taipei-based newspaper China Times.

Journalist groups call for the release of Chinese-Australian TV reporter Cheng Lei

Journalist groups have renewed calls for the release of Chinese-Australian business reporter Cheng Lei on the eve of her trial in Beijing on espionage charges. Formerly a leading presenter for state-owned China Global Television Network, Cheng has been held for 19 months on suspicion of relaying state secrets abroad. It is not clear if Australian diplomats who have asked to attend her trial will be permitted to do so.

China is, was, and will stay Pakistan’s reliable ally: FM Qureshi

Pak, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, after a one-on-one meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Wed said Beijing had reaffirmed that it was and would always stay a close ally of Pakistan. Qureshi reached China on Tue to attend the third round of talks of the ‘Foreign Ministers of Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan’. “I am immensely happy to share that the Chinese FM has given a nod of approval on the rollover of commercial loan as well.”

Pakistan’s embattled PM Imran Khan summons special session of cabinet

Pakistan’s embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wed summoned a special session of the federal cabinet amidst reports that two ministers belonging to the ruling coalition partner MQM-P have resigned after their party announced that it will support the Opposition’s no-confidence motion.

Six Pakistani officers, soldiers martyred in a helicopter crash in Congo: ISPR

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the six Pakistani martyred officers. Six Pakistani officers and soldiers were among eight UN peacekeepers who lost their lives as a Puma helicopter crashed while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo, the ISPR said on Tue.

Pakistan: Attack on FC fort in Tank district kills 3 security personnel, 18 injured

In an overnight attack on Frontier Corps (Pakistan’s paramilitary forces) fort in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district, 3 security personnel were killed and 18 injured in the exchange of fire that began late on Tue and continued till Wed morning leaving 3 terrorists killed. The information on this attack on FC fort was given by District Police Officer (DPO) said on Wed, reported Dawn. According to the DPO, the people who were injured in the attack were moved to a district hospital. Following the attack that left 3 Pakistani security personnel killed in the attack, an emergency in the area has been declared while more forces had been dispatched to the region, reported Dawn. In another incident, 4 Pakistani soldiers were killed as they foiled plans of a group of terrorists who “attempted to infiltrate” Pakistan from Afghanistan, said Inter-Services Public Relations. During the combat between the Pakistani Armed Forces and the terrorists, the soldiers were killed while the terrorists fled away with severe injuries.

On Ukraine Crisis: Russia to reduce ops in Ukraine’s Kyiv; Putin-Zelenskyy meet ‘possible’

The 34^th day of the Russia-Ukraine war witnessed what could be seen as a breakthrough after talks between the delegations of the two countries settled with Moscow agreeing to “radically” cut down military activities in Kyiv and Chernihiv – located in northern Ukraine.

• Russia hailed the talks as “meaningful” after several rounds in the past failed to yield any fruitful result.
• Moscow stressed that de-escalation does not mean a ceasefire – which the Ukraine negotiators had been pinning on in every round of peace talks so far.
• On these two developments, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation told TASS that to prepare an agreement in a mutually acceptable manner, there is still a “long way to go”.

• Russia says it will reduce attacks in Kyiv, Chernihiv during peace talks with Ukraine There is cautious optimism from Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine amid war. Russia pledged to reduce attacks in Kyiv, Chernihiv.
• ‘Nobody should be fooled’: Pentagon on why Russia is moving its troops from Kyiv: If Russia after its weeks-long attempts to capture Kyiv now announces it is withdrawing its troops from around the Ukraine capital, it will now concentrate on other areas and Kyiv will also not be completely free from attacks, the Pentagon said.
• The Pentagon – “This is a repositioning, not a real withdrawal“

US President Joe Biden, who recently landed in hot soup after his “butcher” and “cannot remain in power” remark on Putin, spoke over the phone for around an hour with leaders of the West, including his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian PM Mario Draghi, and British PM Boris Johnson.

• Medinsky said that Russia is no longer opposed to Ukraine joining the European Union (EU) after the latter proposed the same during the talks between Moscow and Kyiv. 
• Furthermore, Ukraine’s negotiators called for an international agreement similar to NATO’s ‘Article 5’ in which the nation’s security will be guaranteed by third countries.
• Ukraine named Israel and NATO members Poland, Turkey, Canada, and even the US, UK, China, and Russia as well, among others, as those nations.

China-EU relations: amid Ukraine war, Beijing says choosing sides won’t solve complex security issues

• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hold a video conference ahead of a summit on April 1^st.
• EU has said the Ukraine war will be a key topic for the talks, while Beijing seeks progress on stalled investment treaty
• Wang has told Europe that “choosing sides” will not resolve its security challenges as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine overshadows Beijing’s ties with the bloc.
• In a video conference with Borrell on Tue, Wang said ruling other nations as either an adversary or an ally was no solution for managing difficult geopolitics.

“In dealing with complex security issues, we should not adopt a simplistic approach that [a party is] either an enemy or a friend,” Wang said, according to a Chinese FM statement.

“All countries have the right to decide their foreign policies independently.”

Germany ‘will not preach to India’ about its position on Ukraine: Jens Plötner

“We are working with India on how best to stop this war,” Jens Plötner, the German foreign and security policy advisor said, adding his presence in New Delhi before Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit later in the week was to understand the Indian position.

“It is preposterous to say I have come to preempt Indian discussions with Lavrov. Of course, we would love to have India in our camp, but you live in a complicated neighborhood and you have challenges of your own.”

• He said that he hoped to understand the Indian position and acknowledged that “acting together on sanctions may be asking too much.“
• On several occasions in the UN, including in the UNSC, India has abstained on the Ukraine issue and called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue between the 2 countries.
• Speaking about the recent peace talks, he said “some positive things” have emerged but it is still premature to speak of a breakthrough.
• Plötner said he was cautiously optimistic about the situation.
• Plötner said that shelling continues, and it is imperative to have a ceasefire, a position that India also holds.

German NSA meets EAM Jaishankar in Delhi.

Plötner met national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary HV Shringla.

ANI-During the talks, the two sides reaffirmed the strength and resilience of the strategic partnership between the two countries and the immense potential that it holds for mutual benefit.

They agreed that the upcoming 6^th Inter-Governmental Consultations would provide an opportunity for the leadership on both sides to engage and intensify the bilateral partnership.

Plötner acknowledged that Germany and several other European countries were dependent on Russian energy, but said that Berlin wanted to end coal imports from Moscow by the end of the year, petroleum imports shortly afterward, and then, LNG by 2024.

• He hoped that India would not buy more oil from Russia than it does now.
• Currently, India buys around 2% of its petroleum requirements from Moscow.

The Plötner visit is an important one for India, and part of a busy week as the British foreign secretary Liz Truss and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected in the next few days.

The New York Times- News Analysis: “As international outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine boiled over, foreign ministers and envoys filed into New Delhi, hoping to pull India off the fence and into a clearer condemnation of Russia,”

India successfully conducts two test firings of a medium-range surface-to-air missile system

India carried out two successful test firings of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) air defense systems off the coast of Odisha in Balasore on Wed.

• The launches were carried out to establish the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system against targets covering the sea-skimming and high altitude functionality within the envelope.
• Performance of all weapon system components including missiles, weapon system radar, and command posts have been validated during these trials.
• The flight tests were carried out in the presence of senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army.
• Earlier also on Mar 27, the missile system was successfully flight tested twice against high-speed aerial targets for different ranges as part of the live firing trials.
• With the flight trials for different ranges and scenarios, the system has completed its development trials.
• This MRSAM version is a Surface-to-Air Missile developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel for use by the Indian Army.
• The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, mobile launcher system, and other vehicles.
• The flight tests were carried out with the weapon system in deliverable configuration.

India Ratings cuts GDP growth forecast to 7-7.2 % from 7.6% for 2022-23

• India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) on Wed cut India’s GDP growth forecast for the 2022-23 financial year to 7 – 7.2% from its earlier estimate of 7.6% announced in Jan.
• The rating agency said the 7.6% growth projection announced in Jan 2022, is unlikely to hold due to the global geopolitical situation arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• In the new report, Ind-Ra has created two scenarios concerning the FY23 economic outlook basis certain assumptions.
• In Scenario 1, the crude oil price is assumed to be elevated for 3 months, and in Scenario 2, the assumption is for 6 months, both with a half cost pass-through into the domestic economy.
• Ind-Ra expects GDP to grow 7.2% in Scenario 1 and 7.0 % in Scenario 2 in FY23, compared to its earlier forecast of 7.6 %.
• However, the size of the Indian economy in FY23 will still be 10.6 % and 10.8 % lower than the FY23 GDP trend value in Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, respectively.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

US strategy prioritizes China’s challenge in Indo-Pacific as the top threat, Russia next

HT-Allaying apprehensions that the Ukraine crisis may lead to a reset in the US’s geopolitical priorities, the US national defense strategy 2022 – a key document that outlines goals and strategies and serves as a basis for policy for Pentagon – has prioritized the challenge from China in the Indo-Pacific over the Russian challenge in Europe, and termed China as America’s “most consequential strategic competitor”.

According to a factsheet with the salient points of the strategy, the Department of Defence said its top priorities included

• “defending the homeland paced to the growing multi-domain threat posed by the PRC (China)”
• “deterring strategic attacks” against the US, allies, and partners
• “deterring aggression, while being prepared to prevail in conflict when necessary, prioritizing the PRC challenge in the Indo-Pacific, then the Russia challenge in Europe”, and
• finally, building a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem.

“The department will act urgently to sustain and strengthen deterrence, with PRC …and the pacing challenge for the department,” says the document.

• The classified strategy has been sent to Congress, while an unclassified strategy will be put out in the public domain in the future.
• It lists out other threats, the methods to deal with challenges, and places importance on the role of allies and partners.

Other Threats

• Russia, poses “acute threats”, as illustrated by its invasion of Ukraine, but also points to the need for burden-sharing without using the term.
• US defense planners have been encouraged in recent weeks by the willingness of Europeans, particularly Germany, to take on more security responsibilities.
• The strategy also points to other threats – both State and non-State, both regional and thematic.

The Joe Biden administration has emphasized the value of allies and partners, both in the European theatre with Nato and in the Indo-Pacific theatre with Quad.

METHODS

To achieve all these goals and deal with threats, the Department has proposed 3 strategies.

1. Integrated Defence–This entails developing and combining strengths by working across warfighting domains, theatres, the spectrum of conflict, other instruments of US national power, and with allies and partners – “enabled by combat-credible forces, backstopped by a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent”.
2. Campaigning to strengthen deterrence-. The strategy explicitly states that the US will operate forces, synchronize efforts and align its activities with other instruments of national power “to undermine acute forms of competitor coercion, complicate competitors’ military preparations, and develop our warfighting abilities together with allies and partners”.
3. Building Enduring Advantages” for the future– This involves reforms to accelerate force development, getting technology quickly, and investing in the department’s personnel. (2)

China is, was, and will stay Pakistan’s reliable ally: FM Qureshi

Pak, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, after a one-on-one meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Wed said Beijing had reaffirmed that it was and would always stay a close ally of Pakistan.

• Qureshi reached China on Tue to attend the third round of talks of the ‘Foreign Ministers of Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan’.
• “I am immensely happy to share that the Chinese FM has given a nod of approval on the rollover of commercial loan as well.”
• The $4.2 billion debt, which was maturing this week, has been rolled over providing major financial relief to Pakistan.
• Pak FO said that Qureshi assured Pakistan’s support to the One China Policy and core Chinese interests.
• Pak Ministry of Finance released the monthly economic update and outlook report. Inflation is expected to be between 9.5% and 11.5% this month.
• The dollar rose by 26.39 rupees in one year. Jul-Feb remittances rose 7.6% to over $20 billion. Exports rose 28% to $20.6 billion. Imports raised by 49% to $ 47.9 billion.

Russian foreign minister Lavrov, Pakistan FM Qureshi meet in China on the sidelines of the Afghanistan meet

“Those who tried to make Afghanistan center of the world politics, now try to make Ukraine replace Afghanistan. And we all understand what it is about“, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov tells Pakistan FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Tunxi, China.

1. https://www.aninews.in/news/business/india-ratings-cuts-gdp-growth-forecast-to-7-per-cent-for-2022-2320220330144807/
2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-strategy-prioritises-china-challenge-in-indo-pacific-as-top-threat-russia-next-101648556964475.html