1. Polling under way for phase 2 of assembly polls in Gujarat, PM Modi casts his vote
2. Terror mouthpiece threat triggers fear among Kashmiri Pandit employees in Valley
3. India, Germany ink deal on comprehensive migration and mobility partnership
4. Indian Navy chief says keeping ‘close watch’ on Chinese ships in Indian Ocean Region
5. BSF targets Pakistan smugglers using drones for drugs & arms trafficking

What Else

1. G20 not a ‘magic forum’ to solve the war in Ukraine: US diplomat
2. A scientist who worked at Wuhan lab makes startling revelation; says COVID was a man-made virus
3. Taliban Urges India To Invest In Afghanistan’s Urban Infrastructure
4. ‘There will be China Go Home campaign soon, and I will lead it,’ warns Lanka MP
5. Paris Club for 10-year moratorium on Colombo debt, global north and south to take haircut
6. New Pakistan Army chief says will defend ‘every inch of motherland’, warns India: Reports
7. US puts 4 militants operating in Afghanistan, Pakistan in list of global terrorists
8. ISIS claims responsibility for attack on top Pak diplomat in Kabul
9. Russia to provide petrol, diesel to Pakistan at discounted rates: minister

Polling under way for phase 2 of assembly polls in Gujarat, PM Modi casts his vote

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the young as well as women voters to exercise franchise in large numbers.
• Voting for the second and final phase of the Gujarat elections for 93 assembly constituencies across 14 districts of north and central Gujarat began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements on Mon. The Prime Minister cast his vote in Ahmedabad. (here)
• Congress party alleges that PM Modi violated the poll code as held a roadshow after casting his vote.
• Meanwhile, BJP contends that there were no poll code violations. PM Modi asked voters to vote and did not to vote for BJP, said CR Patil.

Terror mouthpiece threat triggers fear among Kashmiri Pandit employees in Valley

• The Resistance Front – an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, has issued a threat to 57 Kashmiri Pandit employees working as teachers under the PM’s Rehabilitation Package in the Valley.
• The threat letter naming these employees has triggered fear among 6,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees serving in various government departments in the Valley at present.
• The threat has been issued in the backdrop of the killings of 24 Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri Hindus by the terrorists in the Valley during the last year.
• Kashmiri Pandit organizations have demanded a high-level inquiry to find out how the names of employees were leaked to the terrorist outfit. (here)

India, Germany ink deal on comprehensive migration and mobility partnership

• EAM S Jaishankar signed an agreement on the comprehensive migration and mobility partnership with German FM Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi on Mon.
• Jaishankar welcomed Baerbock who began her 2-day India visit today.
• During her visit, she will be discussing cooperation on the transition to renewable energy and India’s relationship with Russia and China.
• During the visit, cooperation in the energy transition away from oil, coal, and gas will also play a role.
• On Fri, the German FO said Baerbock will visit projects for renewable energies and sustainability in the rural surroundings of the capital New Delhi.
• Jaishankar discusses the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific region with his visiting German counterpart. (here)
• “Our trade with Russia is small..most European countries have multiple times trade”, Jaishankar in response to a question on growing India Russia; mentions New Delhi has handed over a list of products India is competitive to Russia.
• Baerbock calls China as “a partner in global challenges, a competitor and increasingly as a systemic rival as well”
• India and Germany have maintained a strategic partnership since 2000 and have held inter-governmental consultations every 2 years since 2011, last in Berlin in early May.

Indian Navy chief says keeping ‘close watch’ on Chinese ships in Indian Ocean Region

• India’s Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Sat (Dec 3) that there are a “lot of Chinese ships” operating in the IOR and the Navy is keeping a close on all the activities.
• During an annual presser, he said: “We have about 4-6 PLA Navy ships, then some research vessels which operate…We keep a close watch on all developments.”
• The Indian navy chief also mentioned that nearly 60-odd other extra-regional forces are always present in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• “Our job is to see that India’s interests in the maritime domain are protected,” he added.
• He further said that the Indian Navy is ready to “protect, preserve and promote” the national interest in the maritime domain.
• Meanwhile, the Navy chief said maintaining a credible deterrence is the task of any armed force, especially the Navy.
• On Mon, a media report mentioned that Yuan Wang 5, China’s missile and satellite tracking vessel has entered the Indian Ocean region (here)

BSF targets Pakistan smugglers using drones for drugs & arms trafficking

• The Border Security Force (BSF) has been cracking down hard on Pakistan’s aerial conspiracy — its attempts to send drugs and weapons through drones inside India.
• Pakistan smugglers have started using old drones assembled in Pakistan instead of new ones made in China to carry out their nefarious plans.
• According to sources, this is being done to reduce the economic loss due to the continuous actions taken by the security forces and the expensive Chinese drones.
• Most of the drones that come from Pakistan to Indian territory are made in China, including hexacopter and quadcopter drones.
• The equipment fitted in the drone belonged to different companies and it has been sent for forensic examination to gather more information.
• 17 drones were shot down in 2022, and drugs worth crores seized
• BSF seized 26469.943 kg of drugs till Oct 31 this year, which includes 518.272 kg from the Western Front and 25,951.671 kg from the Eastern Front. (here)

Taliban Urges India To Invest In Afghanistan’s Urban Infrastructure

• Afghanistan requires Indian investment, according to a media report.
• Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s Head of Political Office, said that a Taliban delegation met with the head of mission in Kabul and invited its teams to assist in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects in the country.
• Shaheen said that the Minister of Urban Development, Hamdullah Nomani and the Indian Charge d’Affaires discussed the issue of investment and various projects.
• Nomani is a senior Taliban leader who previously served as the Taliban’s Education Minister from 1996 to 2001.
• Several Indian companies were involved in the construction and maintenance of health and electricity infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
• The recent interaction between the two occurred against the backdrop of regional consultations, and rejuvenation hopes for a more significant Indian presence. (here)

G20 not a ‘magic forum’ to solve the war in Ukraine: US diplomat

• The G20 is not a “magic forum” for finding a solution to the Ukraine war, though the crisis is not solely a European problem since it has implications for food and energy security around the world, the US diplomat in India said on Fri.
• In the context of the conflict, both support a rules-based international order even though the policies adopted by the two countries “aren’t necessarily always the same”.
• The US, she said, is “very energized” by India’s G20 presidency as it demonstrates to the international community India’s leadership capacity in a very complex world.
• Asked if the US side would be prepared to “be in the same room as the Russians” during India’s presidency over the Ukraine war, Jones replied, “There isn’t a big effort to have meetings but also the G20 isn’t focused on solving the [Ukraine] war either. (here)
• Canada: Trudeau-led govt pushes back against pressure from key political ally to boycott G20 events in India: The Canadian govt has pushed back against pressure from a principal political ally, the New Democratic Party, to boycott G20 events in India.
• On Dec 1, two MPs from the NDP, led by Indo-Canadian Jagmeet Singh, called upon the ruling Liberal Party of PM Justin Trudeau to “engage in a diplomatic boycott of G20 activities in Kashmir, India. The call comes in response to the govt’s inaction to condemn India’s BJP govt’s discriminatory anti-minority laws.” (here)
• Responding to President Biden’s congratulatory message for India, PM Modi tweeted, “Thank you @POTUS. Your valued support will be a source of strength for India’s G-20 Presidency. It is important, we all work together to build a better planet.”

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

A scientist who worked at Wuhan lab makes startling revelation; says COVID was a man-made virus

• In what appears to be an astonishing revelation, a US-based scientist, who worked at a controversial research lab in China’s Wuhan, has said that COVID-19 was a “man-made virus” that leaked from the facility.
• In his latest book, “The Truth About Wuhan,” epidemiologist Andrew Huff claims that the pandemic was caused by the US govt’s funding of viruses in China.
• Excerpts of Huff’s book have been out in the UK-based tabloid The Sun.
• Huff is the former vice president of the EcoHealth Alliance, a non-profit organization based in New York that studies infectious diseases.
• Huff claims in his book that China’s gain-of-function experiments were conducted with inadequate security, resulting in a leak at the Wuhan lab. (here)

‘There will be China Go Home campaign soon, and I will lead it,’ warns Lanka MP

• A Parliamentarian, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has warned that he will lead a “ChinaGoHome” campaign if the Chinese govt do not work for the benefit of his countrymen and fail to restructure debts.
• Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Rasamanickam has raised questions over the Chinese Embassy’s involvement in matters raised in parliament.
• Speaking in the parliament, he stressed that China’s involvement poses a grave threat to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
• Earlier, while he was speaking in Parliament on Nov 30, he accused China of being a friend of former Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and not the island nation.
• In response, the Chinese Embassy made a series of tweets. “Sorry Mr. MP, your understanding is incorrect and incomplete.”
• Addressing the Chinese Embassy in his speech, Rasamanickam said that he is ready for a Twitter war if they intend to start it.
• He claimed that China knew that Sri Lanka’s economy was collapsing ‘as a guise’ to include the island nation in China’s debt trap. (here)

Paris Club for 10-year moratorium on Colombo debt, global north and south to take haircut

• Paris Club creditor nations are proposing a 10-year moratorium on Sri Lankan debt and another 15 years of debt restructuring as a formula to resolve the financial crisis.
• While the Paris Club is still to formally reach out to India and China, two of Sri Lanka’s biggest creditors with Beijing holding near 50% of external debt.
• Colombo on its part is still to initiate a formal dialogue with Beijing and the chances of getting extended fund facility of $2.9 bn approved from IMF this month is faint.
• This means that Sri Lanka will have to wait for the March IMF meeting of the IMF before any aid is extended by the Bretton Woods institution.
• While Sri Lanka owes $800 million in structured debt to India, the Modi govt has provided emergency aid to the tune of $4 billion to the Island nation. (here)

New Pakistan Army chief says will defend ‘every inch of motherland’, warns India: Reports

• Less than a week after becoming army chief, Gen Syed Asim Munir visited the Rakhchikri Sector in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Sat.
• Where he the military was ready to defend “every inch of our motherland” if attacked, in a direct warning to India.
• Munir was referring to Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi’s recent statement, “As far as the Indian Army is concerned, it will carry out any order given by the govt of India.” (here)

US puts 4 militants operating in Afghanistan, Pakistan in list of global terrorists

• The US has added 4 top Islamic militants operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan to its list of “global terrorists,” amid a resurgence of violence and border tensions in the area.
• The militant leaders hail from the Pakistani Taliban and an al-Qaida branch in South Asia.
• Both militant groups operate from Afghanistan, but they have hideouts in Pakistan’s mountainous northwest and elsewhere as well.
• The announcement on Thu comes days after Pakistan’s Taliban movement, known as  TTP, ended a monthslong ceasefire with Pakistan and resumed attacks.
• The TTP has asked its fighters to target security forces across the country.
• The State Department said the terrorist designation of the militants would trigger sanctions against the 4 militants who are from the TTP and al-Qaida. (here)
• Experts disagree about the potency of the IS-K threat and the Taliban’s “self-asserted ability” to counter the group without external help, says a report to Congress.

ISIS claims responsibility for attack on top Pak diplomat in Kabul

• The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul on Fri, which left the security guard of the Head of Mission critically injured.
• However, according to Khaama Press, quoting Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Mission Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani escaped unhurt in the incident.
• The Pakistan foreign office further claimed the attack was mainly orchestrated to assassinate the envoy and its ambassador to Afghanistan.
• Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s minister for foreign affairs in Afghanistan, spoke with Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the phone about the incident. (here)
• Afghanistan spokesperson Zabihullah confirms arrest of IS member behind Pakistan Embassy attack.
• He also hinted at the involvement of a foreign hand in it which aimed at ruining good relations between the 2 countries, attack was jointly carried out by IS and another gr.

Russia to provide petrol, diesel to Pakistan at discounted rates: minister

• State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik announced on Mon that Russia has decided to provide crude oil, petrol, and diesel to Pakistan at discounted rates.
• The decision comes a month after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the country is considering buying discounted Russian oil,
• He pointed out that neighbour India has been purchasing oil from Moscow and Islamabad also has a right to explore the possibility.
• Subsequently, Malik flew to Russia last week for talks on issues including oil and gas supplies.
• Pakistan struggles to meet domestic gas supply needs as winter approaches while battling to contain a current account deficit swelled by energy payments, mostly oil.
• In a press conference in Islamabad today, Malik said: “Our visit to Russia turned out to be more productive than expected.” (here)
• Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar approved the import of 450,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.