1. PM Modi’s Bhutan visit postponed due to inclement weather, new dates being worked out: MEA
2. Modi congratulates Putin on win, ‘expresses support for Ukraine’s sovereignty’ in call with Zelenskyy
3. Rohingyas have no fundamental right to reside and settle in India, Centre tells Supreme Court
4. ISIS’s India head, aide arrested from Assam’s Dhubri
5. Centre notifies fact check unit under PIB

What Else

• Russia to deliver last two squadrons of S-400 air defense missiles by 2026
• Centre seeks report from Punjab over IVF pregnancy of Moosewala’s mother, CM Mann draws Opposition ire
• India criticizes ‘Uniting for Consensus’ Model at UN for opposing reforms to Security Council
• ‘Arunachal Pradesh part of India’: US amid rising India-China tensions
• Multiple explosions, gunfire in Pakistan’s Gwadar port; 8 attackers shot dead following assault on Gwadar Port Authority complex
• Islamabad seeking 24th bailout, IMF confirms
• US expresses concerns over “electoral abuse and violence” in lead-up to Pakistan polls; rubbishes Imran Khan’s cipher allegation
•  ‘Cousins at war’: Pakistan-Afghan ties strained after cross-border attacks
• Pakistan: An explosion in a coal mine in southwest Pakistan kills 12 miners while 8 are rescued
• Shifting tides in American perceptions: ‘China is seen as number 1 enemy’
• China on track to be ready for Taiwan invasion by 2027: US
• EU sees 200% surge in imports from China’s Xinjiang region despite human rights concerns

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PM Modi’s Bhutan visit postponed due to inclement weather, new dates being worked out: MEA

• PM Modi’s State visit to Bhutan has been postponed due to inclement weather conditions there and the new dates are being worked out, the MEA said on Wed.
• Modi was scheduled to visit Bhutan on Mar 21-22 as part of the Indian govt’s emphasis on its ’Neighbourhood First Policy’.
• A day before the scheduled visit, the ministry stated, “Due to ongoing inclement weather conditions over Paro airport, it has been mutually decided to postpone.”
• “New dates are being worked out by the two sides through diplomatic channels,” added.
• Bhutanese PM Tobgay was on a 5-day visit to India starting Thu last week, his first foreign trip after assuming charge of the top office in Jan.
• During his visit, he had called on President Droupadi Murmu and met PM Modi.
• He also met with captains of various industries, besides other engagements. (here)

Modi congratulates Putin on win, ‘expresses support for Ukraine’s sovereignty’ in call with Zelenskyy

• PM Modi on Wed spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation for a 5^th term.
• The two leaders agreed to make concerted efforts towards further strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the future
• They also reviewed progress in various issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Ukraine conflict.
• While discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position in favor of dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward, MEA said. (here)
• During the call with President Zelensky, PM highlighted India’s backing for peaceful resolutions to all disputes and reiterated its commitment to supporting peace efforts.
• The MEA said PM Modi in his call with the Ukrainian president “He added that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.”
• President Zelensky expressed appreciation for India’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and both leaders agreed to maintain communication.
• Moreover, Ukraine’s FM Dmytro Kuleba is due to visit India next week. (here)
• Zelenskyy added, “It will be important for us to see India attend the inaugural Peace Summit, which is currently being prepared in Switzerland.” (here)
• Ukraine’s President has invited PM Modi to visit his country

Rohingyas have no fundamental right to reside and settle in India, Centre tells Supreme Court

• Modi govt told the SC that illegal Rohingya Muslim migrants do not have a fundamental right to reside and settle in India and that New Delhi does not recognize UNHCR refugee cards.
• It added that the judiciary cannot enter legislative and policy domains exercised by the parliament and the executive.
• The submissions were reportedly made in an affidavit in which it is said that a foreign national has a right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The right to reside and settle in the country is available only to Indian citizens.
• An unspecified number of Rohingya Muslims have secured UNHCR refugee cards and have reportedly used them as a basis to claim refugee status in India.
• The govt said that India is already grappling with large-scale illegal migration from a neighboring country that has altered the demographic profile of some border states.
• The govt claimed that there is “credible input” about a large number of Rohingyas indulging in activities of obtaining fake Indian identity documents and partaking in subversive activities in different parts of the country.
• The response came in counter to the petition filed by Priyali Sur, founder of ‘The Azadi Project’ Sur had filed a petition for the release of Rohingyas who have been detained.
• The govt added that India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. (here)

ISIS’s India head, aide arrested from Assam’s Dhubri

• ISIS India head and an associate were arrested in Assam’s Dhubri on Wed after they crossed over from Bangladesh, Assam Police reported.
• According to the Assam Police chief public relations officer, they were apprehended in the Dharmasala area by the Special Task Force (STF) following a tip-off.
• The suspects were later transported to Guwahati for further proceedings.
• The identity of both of them was ascertained and it was found that accused Haris Farooqi, alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi of Chakrata, Dehradun, is the head of Isis in India
• His associate Anurag Singh, alias Rehan of Panipat, converted to Islam, while his wife is a Bangladeshi national, the CPRO said. (here)

Centre notifies fact check unit under PIB

• The govt on Wed notified the ‘Fact Check Unit’ under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as the fact check unit of the Centre.
• “…the Central Govt hereby notifies the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the fact check unit of the Central Govt for the purposes of the said sub-clause, in respect of any business of the Central Govt,” the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said in a Gazette notification.
• The development comes just a few hours after stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and the Editors Guild of India moved the Supreme Court in the matter, seeking a stay on FCUs under IT Amendment Rules.
• It is Kamra’s case that the FCU regime will in effect coerce social media companies to implement self-interested censorship of online content about the Centre. (here)

Russia to deliver last two squadrons of S-400 air defense missiles by 2026

• Amid delays due to its ongoing military conflict, Russia has informed India that it would be able to supply the remaining 2 squadrons of the S-400 by Aug ’26.
• Russia and India had signed a deal to buy 5 squadrons of the S-400 ADS for Rs 35000 cr, of which 3 have already been supplied, while the remaining 2 could not be supplied.
• The air defense system is capable of hitting targets at 400 Km and can be very effective against fighter jets, and cruise missiles.
• The Russian side was expected to deliver all the systems by 2024 but had to change plans due to its requirements in the ongoing conflict there.
• The IAF, which recently received the indigenous MR-SAM, Akash missile systems as well as the Israeli Spyder quick reactions surface-to-air missile systems, believes the S-400 will be the game changer for it. (here)

Centre seeks report from Punjab over IVF pregnancy of Moosewala’s mother, CM Mann draws Opposition ire

• The Centre sought information from the Punjab govt regarding the pregnancy of Sidhu Moosewala’s mother through IVF, flagging the age limit set to avail of the recourse
• Under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the age limit for availing IVF treatment for men and women is 55 years and 50 years respectively
• While Moosewala’s family has not disclosed where the baby was conceived, sources close to the late singer’s kin had hinted earlier that the IVF took place abroad (here)

India criticizes ‘Uniting for Consensus’ Model at UN for opposing reforms to Security Council

• India has criticized the Uniting for Consensus model at the UN for opposing reforms to the SC, citing a lack of African, Global South representation and no change in the permanent seat.
• India’s Permanent Rep to the UN Ruchira Kamboj slammed the UfC model and stated that it stands against the idea advocated by a majority of the UN member states which is an expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories of an expanded SC.
•  “The UfC, which comprises 12 countries and 2 observers including a P5 country and, which stands against the idea advocated by a majority of the UN member states which is an expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories of an expanded security council,” Kamboj said in a response to the UfC model by Italy IGN. (here)

‘Arunachal Pradesh part of India’: US amid rising India-China tensions

• The US govt recognizes Arunachal as a part of Indian territory and “strongly” opposes any “incursion or encroachments” along the LAC, the US State Deptt said on Wed.
• It comes days after the Chinese military called Arunachal an “inherent part of China’s territory”.
• “The US recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursion or encroachments, military or civilian across the Line of Actual Control,” it said. (here)
• On Wed, Chinese mouthpiece, GT, “Indian govt’s recent acts and remarks over Chinese territory of Zangnan are in the interests of helping PM Modi win re-election, as he and his party want to shape a hawkish image for their nationalist voters. This does not necessarily mean India will take real actions to provoke China or change the status quo in border regions, because New Delhi wants to win the election, not sparking a military conflict that it cannot afford, Chinese analysts said.”
• “Deeply concerned about Impact of CAA on Muslims in India”[?]: US Senator
• An American senator has expressed concern over the Indian govt notifying rules for the implementation of the CAA, saying that as the US-India relationship deepens, it is important that the cooperation is based on shared values.
• India implemented the CAA, 2019 last week, paving the way for the grant of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from 3 Muslim majority nations who came before Dec 31, 2014.
• The govt also came out with a press statement to say that Indian Muslims need not worry as the CAA will not impact their citizenship and has nothing to do with the community which enjoys equal rights as Hindus.
• “I am deeply concerned …. the law’s potential ramifications on India’s Muslim community. Making matters worse is the fact that it is being pushed during the holy month of Ramadan,” Sen Ben Cardin, chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• India had sharply rebuked the US State Department for its criticism and said it is “misinformed and unwarranted.” (here)
• Dawn reported in 2014, that an estimated 1 thousand Christian and Hindu women are forced to convert and marry Muslim men in Pakistan every year. (here)

[Neighborhood]

Multiple explosions, gunfire in Pakistan’s Gwadar port; 8 attackers shot dead following assault on Gwadar Port Authority complex

• 8 armed assailants were shot dead by security forces on Wed after they forcibly entered the Gwadar Port Authority Complex and opened firing, according to officials.
• Makran Commissioner said that multiple blasts were also reported in the attack.
• A large contingent of police and security forces had reached the scene when the intense firing was ongoing.
• UN Deptt for Safety and Security stated that “several explosions followed by continuous firing” were reported, adding that it hosts several govt and paramilitary offices.
• The Majeed Brigade of the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• The Brigade, which was formed in 2011, is a particularly lethal guerilla cell. (here)
• Eyewitnesses said that they heard multiple explosions after firing in the complex which houses the passport office, ECP office, and other govt offices.
• [Why do most of the news agencies post the same news, as they have no reporters on the ground]
• Gwadar, a deep-water port situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, plays a pivotal role in the Arabian Sea’s oil shipping route.
• This is central to the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which includes infrastructure projects such as roads and energy initiatives. (here)
• Terrorists’ infiltration from Afghanistan behind spike in terror attacks: ISPR-Army media wing ISPR has said that the continuous use of Afghan soil is behind the “growing terrorism in Pakistan”.
• A statement issued by ISPR on Mon said that Pakistan’s security forces have been engaged in the war against terrorism for the past 2 decades.
• “It is clear to all that the recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan has the full support and assistance of Afghanistan,” it added. (here)

Islamabad seeking 24th bailout, IMF confirms

• Announcing the staff-level agreement on the successful completion of the existing short-term facility, the IMF on Wed confirmed Pakistan was seeking a 24^th medium-term bailout package for a permanent push towards longstanding structural reforms.
• The IMF said that subject to the approval of its executive board, the staff-level agreement would enable Pakistan to access about $1.1 billion — 828 million special drawing rights (SDR) — by late Apr.
• It said Pakistan “expressed interest in a successor medium-term Fund-supported program to permanently resolve Pakistan’s fiscal and external sustainability flaws, firming its economic recovery, and laying the foundations for strong, sustainable, and inclusive growth”.
• It said the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement with the Pakistani authorities on the 2^nd and final review of Pakistan’s stabilization program supported by the IMF’s $3 billion standby arrangement approved in July last year. (here)

US expresses concerns over “electoral abuse and violence” in lead-up to Pakistan polls; rubbishes Imran Khan’s cipher allegation

• A senior US State Department official has raised concerns over “electoral abuse and violence” in the lead-up to Pakistan’s general election last month.
• A subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives held a hearing on the “future of democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan relationship” on Wed
• Donald Lu, the Asstt Secy of State for South and Central Asian affairs, said President Biden’s admin identified a series of “irregularities” in the conduct of the Feb 8 elections.
• “We were particularly concerned about electoral abuses and violence that happened in the weeks leading up to the polls,” Lu said.” (here)

‘Cousins at war’: Pakistan-Afghan ties strained after cross-border attacks

• Pakistan’s air raids inside Afghanistan on Mon amid rising tensions between the neighbors have injected new uncertainty into ties, say analysts.
• The Afghan Taliban reacted swiftly to the Pakistani attacks, calling them “reckless”.
• Hours after the air raids, the Afghan military fired mortar shells on Pakistani military positions near border districts, which left 4 civilians and 3 soldiers injured.
• The Taliban govt spox, denied that foreign armed groups are allowed to operate from Afghan soil, but he conceded that the border between Pak-Afghan was hard to control
• For years, Pakistan was seen as a patron of the Afghan Taliban, which first rose to power in 1996.
• It was believed to hold considerable sway on the Taliban leadership, whom it sheltered, funded, and shielded diplomatically. (here)

Pakistan: An explosion in a coal mine in southwest Pakistan kills 12 miners while 8 are rescued

• An explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan killed 12 miners while 8 were rescued, an official said Wed.
• The bodies of the dead were all recovered after the overnight collapse in Harnai, a district in the Baluchistan province, a mine inspector Abdul Rashid said.
• He said investigators were still working to determine the cause of the blast.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement expressed his sorrow
• Safety standards are commonly ignored in the coal mining industry, leading to accidents and explosions that kill dozens of mine workers every year.
• Miners often complain that owners fail to install safety equipment.
• Despite the danger and low wages, hundreds of miners work in Baluchistan, where unemployment is higher than in other parts of the country. (here)

Shifting tides in American perceptions: ‘China is seen as number 1 enemy’

• The latest GWA poll reveals significant shifts in our perceptions of global adversaries, with notable changes in perceived enemies and favorability towards various countries.
• America’s greatest enemies: A new hierarchy emerges 41% of US citizens now see China as the US’ greatest enemy, holding its place at the top for the 4^th successive year, although with a slight decrease from previous years.
• Russia follows, named by 26% of the populace, then Iran at 9%, indicating a rise in negative sentiment.
• Surprisingly, 5% of Americans view their own country as the greatest enemy, a record high since the question was first posed in 2001.
• Internal reflection: The US as its own worst enemy: An unprecedented 5% now identify their own nation as its greatest enemy, surpassing previous records and reflecting a growing internal critique within the United States. (here)

China on track to be ready for Taiwan invasion by 2027: US

• China is building its military and nuclear arsenal on a scale not seen since WW II and all signs suggest it’s sticking to ambitions to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, a top US admiral testified.
• Despite Beijing’s economic challenges, its official defense budget has increased by 16% over recent years to more than $223 billion, Adml John Aquilino, the leader of the Indo-Pacific Command, told the US House Armed Services Committee on Wed.
• In the 3 years since he took command, he said the PLA, has added more than 400 fighter aircraft, along with more than 20 major warships.
• It’s also doubled its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles since 2020, he said.
• The Chinese military has also been rehearsing various tasks linked to operations against Taiwan such as simulating an encirclement with a maritime and air blockade
• US lawmakers, officials, and military leaders have hotly debated Xi’s intentions for Taiwan, especially in light of his 2027 target for his nation’s military to become a “world-class force.” (here)

EU sees 200% surge in imports from China’s Xinjiang region despite human rights concerns

• The EU’s imports from the Chinese of Xinjiang surged in the first 2 months of the year, even as the bloc moved to finalize 2 laws aimed at tackling rights complaints there.
• Exports from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to the EU’s 27 members rose 217.8% from Jan Feb compared with the same period last year as per calculations
• While the total value of those shipments – US$312 million – was small in the grand scheme of things, it represented a huge increase from just US$98 million a year prior.
• The biggest buyers of goods were in Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
• The most popular goods were lithium-ion batteries, tomato paste, and miscellaneous low-value goods that fall below the threshold for customs duties.
• The statistics emerge as Brussels puts the finishing touches on a ban targeting goods made using forced labor.
• While the ban does not name China, it was written with Xinjiang in mind. (here)