[ NATIONAL ]

Constructive talks held in the environment of openness, mutual understanding: Turkmenistan President after meeting President Kovind

President of Turkmenistan Seder Berdimuhamedov on Sat after a delegation-level talk with Indian counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind stressed that talks have demonstrated that there are mutual understanding and convergence in principles and approaches for major issues of international politics. He further said that Turkmenistan and India are firm supporters of building a fair and balanced system of international relations based on the interests of all states, strengthening the role of developing countries in global politics. In this context, a high assessment was given to the level and nature of the interaction between Turkmenistan and India in the global arena. Berdimuhamedov said that we agreed to continue the mutual support in international organizations, primarily in the UN. We will also consistently improve our cooperation in the Non-Aligned Movement, the goals and principles of which are especially in demand amid the backdrop of the complex processes and trends that are observed in many regions of the world today. He added that both nations want to see Afghanistan as a peaceful and prosperous, good neighbor and partner of all the states of the region. In this context, I highly appreciated the efforts of India in the Afghan direction, including the successfully organized “Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan” on Nov 10-11, 2021, and the subsequent adoption of the Delhi Declaration. We have reached an agreement to expand cooperation in the educational and scientific fields, in particular, between higher educational institutions of the two countries, as well as through the Academies of Sciences.

Nepal’s PM Concluded his three days visit to India on Sun

From power trade to rail connectivity – India, Nepal work to revamp ties after map row. 4 Projects were signed and 4 documents were exchanged, besides, flagging off cross-border passenger train services between Jayanagar in India and Kurtha in Nepal through videoconferencing. Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba raised the outstanding border issues between India and Nepal with PM Narendra Modi in their summit meeting on Sat and urged India to resolve the disputes through established bilateral mechanisms.

With surging exports, India to push its businesses abroad more boldly

ANI-India has recently inked crucial trade agreements with the UAE and Australia. Talks with Israel, the EU, and Britain are also progressing well, according to a senior official. Recently, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicated that several agreements will be inked by the end of 2022, India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was concluded in a record of 88 days. India is expecting a major boost in a 2-way trade with Australia and UAE after the pacts. Earlier, India had walked out of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations citing national interests.

WHO Suspends Procurement, Supply of Bharat Biotech Covid Vaccine

The World Health Organization suspended procurement and supply of Covaxin, a Covid-19 vaccine made by Bharat Biotech International Ltd., citing issues following an inspection at the company’s facilities. It said the suspension doesn’t change the vaccine’s risk assessment, and data indicates it is effective and no safety concerns exist.

Iranian hacker’s new challenge, says Indian Cyber Security experts

India’s cyber security grid has now been facing newer challenges from the Middle-East countries, particularly from Iran, as hackers from there have been making attempts to breach the strategic online architecture of the country’s govt departments, say experts. According to sources in India’s cyber security grid, till a few months ago “we were facing challenges from hackers based out in Pakistan and China, but now a new phenomenon has emerged where hackers sitting in Middle East countries, particularly in Iran, are found trying to breach computers of strategic govt departments”.

Australia opens doors for techies, chefs, students, millennials

From 1,800 chefs and yoga teachers, who can hope to get a quick entry, or students, who can now stay for up to four years on post-study work visas, and 1,000 millennials who can mix work and pleasure, thousands of Indians are set to get easy access to Australia with the signing of the bilateral trade agreement with India.

Pak army chief plays peacemaker, seeks dialogue with India on all disputes

Pakistan wants Kashmir and all other disputes with India “settled quickly through dialogue and diplomacy” while continuing to build on its “long history of excellent strategic relationship with the US” and “close ties” with China, army chief Gen QJ Bajwa declared on Sat, appearing to set a foreign policy direction even as PM Imran Khan braced for a trial by the no-trust vote in parliament on Sun.

EAM Jaishankar meets PM Modi, discussions likely on the current scenario in the neighborhood

Amid political turmoil in India’s two neighboring nations – Pakistan and Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital today (Mon). Meanwhile, in Pak, PM Imran Khan got the National Assembly dissolved and called for fresh elections after Opposition leaders pushed him to undergo a no-confidence vote. Pakistan National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on Sun dismissed the no-trust motion against the government, terming it a contradiction of Article 5 of the country’s Constitution. India is yet to make an official statement on the political developments in Pakistan.

In ‘Atmanirbhar’ push, India to make 108 military equipment

In a fresh impetus to its flagship Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, India will soon start indigenous production of 108 military equipment, including complex defense systems. Defense minister Rajnath Singh is likely to make a formal announcement in this regard next week. The development comes less than a year after the Centre approved the ban on the import of the said number of equipment.

Chief of the Army Staff MM Naravane lays a wreath at Kranji War Memorial in Singapore

On the first day of his visit, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane laid a wreath at Kranji War Memorial in Singapore and paid tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 2^nd World War in Singapore. Gen Naravane has proceeded on a 3-day (Apr 4 to 6) visit to Singapore. The COAS is also scheduled to call on with the Minister of Defence, Chief of Singapore Army, and other senior dignitaries where he will discuss avenues for enhancing India-Singapore defense relations. The COAS will also visit the Infantry Gunnery Tactical Simulation and Wargame Centre, Regional HADR Coordination Centre, Info Fusion Centre, and the Changi Naval Base.

Ahead of summer, top IAF, Army brass to assess the China border situation

The top brass of the Indian Army and Air Force would be assessing their preparedness and infrastructure requirements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the militaries of both India and China continue to remain in a standoff position in eastern Ladakh. The IAF brass would be meeting this week from Apr 6 to discuss the security situation including air operations along the northern borders. The Army commanders led by Army Chief would be assessing the present deployments along with the LAC from Apr 18 onwards in the bi-annual commanders’ conference. The Indian side has strengthened its deployments manifold. The IAF has also started building advanced bases in the forward areas including infrastructure to operate fighter jets and attack helicopters from the forward fields such as Nyoma.

Vice Chief Lt Gen Manoj Pande All Set to Become Army Chief

IANS-Army Vice Lt Gen Manoj Pande is all set to become Chief of the Army Staff with incumbent Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, seen as the frontrunner for the Chief of Defence Staff’s post, is due to retire by the end of this month. In other appointments, Lt. Gen. C. Bansi Ponnappa took over as Adjutant General of the Army while Lt Gen J. P. Mathew who was commanding the Dimapur-based 3-Corps took over as the General Officer Commanding Uttar Bharat area. Vice-Admiral Sanjay Mahindru assumed charge as Dy Chief of the Naval Staff from Vice Adm Ravneet Singh. In addition, Lt. Gen. M. K. Katiyar is set to take over as the Director-General of Military Operations in April.

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorist hideout busted near LOC, huge cache of arms recovered

A joint team of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police busted a terror hideout and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition near a village along the Line of Control in Poonch district. The Indian Army said that a search operation was conducted based on specific inputs, following which a team consisting of the Poonch Brigade of White Knight Corps and a special operations group (SOG) raided Noorkote village of Haveli tehsil on Sun evening. He added that the search team seized 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 AK 47 magazines, 1, 223 bore AK shape gun with handgrip, 2 magazines of 233 bore AK shape gun, 1 Chinese Pistol, 1 Chinese pistol magazine, 63 AK-47 rounds, 20 rounds of 223 bore AK Shape gun and 4 Chinese pistol rounds. Officials said that no arrests were made during the search operation.

Two CRPF jawans were injured in a terrorist attack in Lal Chowk, Srinagar,

One CRPF jawan was injured in the terrorist attack at Maisuma in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, succumbs to his injuries in the hospital. A terrorist attack was reported in the evening at Maisuma in Lal Chowk, Srinagar. So far in the 3 terrorist attacks that have been carried out in the last 2 days—4 migrant workers and 1 CRPF soldier were injured and 1 died. An attempted infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists in Naushera, Rajouri was eliminated by the Indian Army on the night of 3-4 Apr. The body of one terrorist along with arms & ammunition was recovered. Operation underway: White Knight Corps

Delhi HC allows Rana Ayyub to travel abroad

The Delhi High Court on Mon allowed journalist Rana Ayyub to travel abroad while hearing her plea seeking interim relief over an Enforcement Directorate circular stopping her from leaving the country, Bar and Bench reported. The journalist is accused of a money laundering case, which is being probed by the ED.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Sri Lanka’s cabinet resigns en masse amid worsening economic crisis

Sri Lanka’s cabinet resigned en masse from their positions at a late-night meeting on Sunday, the education minister Dinesh Gunawardena confirmed. All 26 ministers aside from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted letters of resignation, the education minister said.

Pakistan’s top court adjourns till tomorrow while hearing Khan’s decision; still PM for now

Pakistan’s Supreme Court will hear arguments later on Mon around Prime Minister Imran Khan’s shock decision to call an early election, sidestepping a no-confidence vote that would have seen him booted from office. The opposition had expected to take power on Sun after mustering enough votes to oust the cricketer-turned-politician, but the national assembly deputy speaker refused to allow the motion to proceed because of “foreign interference”. Simultaneously, Khan asked the presidency, a largely ceremonial office held by a loyalist, to dissolve the assembly, meaning an election must be held within 90 days. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Mon nominated former chief justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed for the office of the caretaker prime minister.

Imran gets House dissolved after deputy speaker junks no-trust move

Pakistan’s political slow burn over weeks culminated in President Dr. Arif Alvi dissolving the National Assembly on Sun on the recommendation of PM Imran Khan, who swiftly settled for the option of general elections within 90 days after the opposition’s no-trust motion against him was no-balled as unconstitutional by the deputy speaker of parliament’s Lower House.

Nepal’s PM Concluded his three days visit to India on Sun

ANI -Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sat said that the transfer of power from Nepal to India will be enhanced significantly in 2022 as compared to the previous year, while addressing a press conference, following the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was on a 3-day India visit, concluded yesterday (Sun).

Projects launched (MEA)

1. Launch and operationalization of 35 km long cross border rail link from Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal
2. Inauguration of the 90 km long 132 KV Solu Corridor transmission line built with Indian Line of Credit at INR 200 crore
3. Launch of RuPay Card in Nepal
4. Witnessing a video clip on the progress in the construction of the 132 Health facilities in Nepal, undertaken with US$ 50 million in post-earthquake reconstruction grant

Documents exchanged

1. International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement handover by Nepal
2. Exchange of MoU on enhancing Technical Cooperation in the Railway Sector
3. Exchange of Agreement on Supply of Petroleum Products between IOC and NOC
4. Exchange of Agreement for sharing of Technical Expertise between IOC and NOC

Both Prime Ministers agreed:

• Two sides noted unprecedented opportunities for expanding and further bilateral cooperation in the power sector including
  • joint development of power generation projects in Nepal,
  • development of cross-border transmission infrastructure,
  • bi-directional power trade with appropriate access to electricity markets in both countries based on mutual benefits, market demand, and applicable domestic regulations of each country,
  • coordinated operation of the national grids and
  • institutional cooperation in sharing the latest operational information, technology, and know-how.
• To expand such cooperation to include their partner countries under the BBIN framework.
• To make renewable energy production, hydropower in particular, a cornerstone of their energy partnership.
• That Indian investment in Nepal’s renewable power sector, in particular the Hydropower sector, has the potential to benefit both countries by strengthening their economies generating employment, and enhancing export.
• Nepal invited Indian companies to invest in the development, construction, and operation of viable renewable power projects.
• Both PMs agreed to prioritize expeditious movement on projects and initiatives based on this joint vision.
• The two PMs directed their concerned officials to expedite the bilateral discussions toward the early finalization of the project’s DPR.

The two leaders also briefly discussed the boundary dispute between India and Nepal, with an understanding that such issues need to be solved through dialogue and deliberations, and politicization of the boundary issue needs to be avoided.

Nothing concrete on Nepal’s 2020 map- Although the border issue was discussed, no progress was made on the matter, which has the potential to disturb the delicate relationship between India and Nepal once again.

• “We discussed the boundary matters and I urged him to resolve them through established mechanisms,” said Deuba in his media statement.
• Modi said the issue of “open borders of India and Nepal” was discussed in the wake of it being “misused by unwanted elements.”
• “We also stressed maintaining close cooperation between our defense and security institutions,” he added.
• However, India did not officially raise the issue of Nepal changing its political map in 2020 and including in its territory the disputed regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.

Deuba also visited Varanasi (UP), an ancient city with age-old witnessed relations with India and Nepal, where CM welcomed him.

• The last Head of State/Head of Govt-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM KP Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi.
• Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in Aug 2018 for the 4^th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018.
• PM Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence, followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 Jul 2021.
• The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on Nov 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow.
• Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba’s fifth tenure as PM.
• His first term was from Sept 1995 to Mar 1997.
• He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power.
• This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2018. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996.

HT-During his trip to India last week, Nepal PM Deuba informally shared a conversation about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to Kathmandu in late Mar.

• The Nepalese PM told the visiting Wang that his country can only accept grants from Beijing and not loans for infrastructure projects.
• Fact is, not a single agreement on the much-touted Belt Road Initiative (BRI) was signed during Wang’s visit to Kathmandu.
• With the Chinese debt in South Asia rising from US$ 4.7 to 40 billion.
• Deuba chose to walk out of the debt trap of Beijing after seeing the mounting political crisis in the tributary states of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

With surging exports, India to push its businesses abroad more boldly

ANI (Official)-Buoyed by the recent surge in Indian goods exports which touched USD 400 billion this year, India will give a further push to economic diplomacy and will market its business more boldly and openly across the globe.

• India has recently inked crucial trade agreements with United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia.
• Talks with Israel, European Union, and Britain are also progressing well, as per officials.
• Recently, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicated that several agreements will be inked by the end of 2022, India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was concluded in a record 88 days.
• India is expecting a major boost in two-way trade with Australia and UAE after the pacts.
• Earlier, India had walked out of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations citing national interests.
• Last year in Aug, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the head of missions abroad and urged them to take advantage of the post-Covid business environment and promote Indian businesses.
• He also urged Indian envoys to make the world aware of India’s capabilities in developing a reliable supply chain and valuable products.
• Therefore, India can expect a major push from the government to promote Indian businesses abroad as various other countries do as a diplomatic practice.

India’s exports rise to a record high of $418 billion in FY-22

ANI – India has crossed 418 billion US$ of exports in Financial Year 2021-22 which is about 5% more than the previous financial year, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sun, adding that the consistency is such that we exceeded 40 billion dollars in Mar.

The government data earlier informed that India’s merchandise export in Apr 2021-Feb 2022 was USD 374.05 billion, an increase of 45.80% over USD 256.55 billion in Apr 2020-Feb 2021 and an increase of 28.16% over USD 291.87 billion in Apr 2019-Feb 2020.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Sri Lanka crisis: President Rajapaksa announces 4 new ministers in the cabinet

ANI-Following the mass resignation of his Cabinet ministers, President Rajapaksa on Mon named at least 4 ministers, to maintain legitimacy and stability of Parliament and other functions of the country until a full Cabinet is appointed, even as he asked opposition members to join a unity government in the face of protests against an economic crisis. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dropped his brother as finance minister on Mon after calling for a unity govt as protests against an economic crisis persisted and cracks emerged in the ruling coalition.

• The President replaced his brother Basil Rajapaksa and named Ali Sabry as the new Fin Min.
• The 4 new ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today.
• Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Minister of Edu and Chief Govt Whip Johnston Fernando was sworn in as the Minister of Highways, Colombo Post reported.
• Prof. GL Peiris was re-appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Leader of the House, Dinesh Gunawardena said the President made these appointments this morning to maintain govt affairs until a full permanent Cabinet is appointed.
• A permanent cabinet will be appointed after discussions with the political parties, the Colombo Post added further.

Sri Lanka: State of emergency still in place as curfew lifted

The 36-hour long curfew that was imposed on Sri Lanka on Sat evening has been lifted on Mon at 6 am but the country is still under the effect of a state of emergency. The curfew was imposed on Sat from 6 pm by the President following protests outside the residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the country faces its worst economic crisis since independence. As of now, around 600 protesters have been arrested.

The Lankan President has invited all political parties’ representatives in Parliament to take up ministerial posts and work together to find a solution to the national crisis.

“Please try and help Sri Lanka to the maximum possible extent. This is our motherland, we need to save our motherland,” Sajith Premadasa, LoP in Sri Lanka gives a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The Governor of the country’s Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Mon said he has submitted his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Cabraal announced his decision to step down from the post in a Twitter post today.

• Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has resigned from all his portfolios.
• The 26-member Sri Lankan cabinet submitted letters of resignation – but not Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa amid rising public anger against the govt over the economic crisis in the country.

• Daily Mirror- They have all signed a general letter, consenting to resign paving the way for a new cabinet to be formed.
• The country is witnessing protests over the government’s handling of the worst economic crisis in decades.
• Lanka’s economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector, which is the main revenue source in the island country.
• Lanka is presently facing a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a food, fuel, power, and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance.
• President issued a Gazette Notification on Apr 1^st, imposing a state of emergency in the country and saying that it is to ensure “public security and maintenance of public order.”

India has come forward to bail the island nation out of the crisis.

India has responded to urgent requests from Sri Lanka with promptness. Gopal Baglay India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka:

• Since Jan this year, support from India to Sri Lanka exceeds USD 2.5 billion.
• A fuel line of credit of USD 500 million was signed on Feb.
• 4 consignments totaling over 150,000 tons of jet aviation fuel, diesel, and petrol have since arrived beginning in March.
• Five more consignments are to follow till May.
• Another line of credit of USD 1 billion for food, medicine, and essential items was signed last month,”
• Besides, the Reserve Bank of India has extended a currency swap of USD 400 million and deferred payments owed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Union worth several hundred million dollars.
• India has supplied around 200,000 MT of fuel to the island nation over the last 50 days.

Colombo Telegraph -Sri Lanka is facing a century of humiliation and shame as the Rajapaksa family is selling the island off to foreign powers to stay in power. Sri Lanka seems to be falling firmly into the trap laid by the US and the Indian strategists to secure the island nation as a hub for its attempted control over the Indian ocean.

The report further made a self-goal, by putting naming Victoria Nuland “as a key character behind the regime-change operation in Ukraine in 2014” to push his narrative, while noting that “Rajapaksa’s willingness to drag Sri Lanka into the US-India sphere of influence will also invalidate Sri Lanka’s position as a neutral trading hub in the middle of the Indian ocean.”

Comment– Aforementioned comment is enough to indicate who is behind the current disturbance, notably the “selling island” to “foreign powers,” while the disturbance started a day later to completion of the Indian External Minister’s visit to Columbo. Question from above claim then raises, if Lanka is already in lap of the US will create disturbance?

Imran Khan to continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of caretaker PM: Pakistan President

In a development that is likely to worsen the political crisis in the country, Pakistan President Arif Alvi has said that Imran Khan will continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of a caretaker PM under Article 224 A of the Pakistan Constitution.

This comes after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was de-notified as the prime minister of Pakistan.

Geo News– A statement was issued in this regard from the country’s Cabinet Division after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

• The de-notification comes after the dy speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against the PTI chairman and termed it “unconstitutional”.
• Pakistan Opposition parties have been contemplating their actions going forward after the no-confidence motion against Khan was rejected and the NA was dissolved.

Business Recorder– Opposition Leader, Shehbaz Sharif said that Khan and NA speaker Asad Qaisar will be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution once their govt falls.

• Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said that the opposition will “initiate a legal battle” against the “unconstitutional ruling by the NA Dy Speaker”.
• After the no-trust motion against Imran Khan was dismissed on Sun, Pakistan Army had said it is not involved in politics.
• Pakistan Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that all orders and actions initiated by Imran Khan and the president regarding the dissolution of the NA will be subject to the court’s order.
• Bandial was observed after taking notice of the current situation following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan by Dy Speaker Suri.

Hours before the crucial vote on the no-confidence motion against PM Khan, the ruling party has doubled up efforts to gain support from the public, as the PM called the youth of the country to protest for two days against the “foreign conspiracy” to oust him.

He said that this conspiracy was hatched against his govt as Pakistan’s NA is going to vote against him on a no-confidence motion on Sun, Geo TV reported.

Pak rights group warns against unconstitutional move during no-trust-vote today (Sun)

The Human Rights Commission (HRCP) strongly had warned the federal govt to refrain from resorting to any unconstitutional measures to prevent members of Parliament from attending Sun’s NA session where a no-confidence motion against PM Khan will be held.

China keeps a close watch on the political turmoil in Pakistan

A wary China on Sun kept a close watch on the rapid political developments in Pakistan – its all-weather ally – after the Parliament in Islamabad was dissolved over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegation that there was an American hand behind the Opposition party’s no-confidence motion against him.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka face political turmoil fueled by Chinese debt

It is the unfolding crisis in Pakistan and Sri Lanka which is forcing countries like Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh to think again about Chinese infrastructure loans and being part of the BRI initiative.

Role of Beijing: Sri Lanka and Pakistan Crisis

Pakistan-With more than 10% of external debt owed to China, the relationship is descending into political chaos with all democratic institutions made vulnerable by a self-serving Pak PM Niazi and his cronies.

Sri Lanka -The situation is no different and this time they don’t have India to blame for the country staring into an economic and political abyss with hardly any foreign reserves to buy fuel and oil.

• President Rajapaksa brought the country under severe economic stress by taking high-interest loans from China in the name of infrastructure development.
• Today, the nation is under lockdown with the public having no options but to protest the state of governance of the Rajapaksa family.
• It seems that Sri Lanka has realized the soup its economy is in,

It is the unfolding crisis in Pakistan and Sri Lanka which is forcing countries like Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh to think again about Chinese loans or being part of the BRI.

• It was not long ago that the Chinese envoy to Nepal used to be the Queen Bee in Nepali politics with Maoist and Communist politicians paying loyalty to Beijing’s representative.
• Pakistan has doubly complicated its economic recovery with PM Niazi plunging the country into a full-blown political crisis for his survival.
• He is trying to whip up public sentiment in his support by singling out the Biden administration for covertly conspiring with the Opposition to topple his regime.
• As if the US has Pakistan still on its high priority at a time when the Russian President has invaded Ukraine.

While Imran Niazi’s rant against the US may be music to Beijing’s ears, China should also be worried about the future of BRI in Pakistan and about the recovery of the multi-billion-dollar loan given to Islamabad.

• A weak Islamabad will give strength to fissiparous forces within Pakistan as nationalist movements are building up in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Given the US control of global financial institutions, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will find it very hard to recover as the two countries had shifted loyalties to Beijing in the past 2 decades.