1. US Tariffs on India Hit Russia, Modi Seeks Putin’s Clarity on Ukraine: NATO Chief claims
2. PM Modi Emphasizes Self-Reliance Amid Global Uncertainties
3. Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Pharmaceutical Imports
4. India Sends Third Batch of Aid to Quake-Hit Afghanistan
5. Jaishankar’s Veiled Critique of Trump’s H-1B Visa Policy: Call for a Global Workforce

What Else

1. India-Maldives Relations: Reinforcing Old Ties Amid Changes
2. Banks should work to be in global top 10, fund small & medium firms: Amit Shah
3. Trump Meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir In Latest Sign Of Warming Ties
4. Bangladesh’s Yunus Blames India’s Reaction, Pushes for Regional Cooperation
5. Bangladesh: Tarique to return within weeks to lead BNP: Zahid
6. Xi Jinping Declares Victory in Xinjiang, Rejects Rights Abuse Claims

US Tariffs on India Hit Russia, Modi Seeks Putin’s Clarity on Ukraine: NATO Chief Claims

• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte claimed US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India are indirectly affecting Russia.
• Speaking during the UN General Assembly, Rutte said India’s PM Modi is in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeking explanations on Russia’s Ukraine strategy due to the impact of US tariffs on India.
• Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, plus an additional 25% penalty related to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
• The US aims to discourage India’s reliance on Russian energy, which it claims supports Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
• India criticized the tariffs as unjustified, highlighting its need for affordable energy amid global disruptions.
• Modi’s calls for clarity from Putin highlight India’s difficult balancing act amid US pressure and its long-standing ties with Russia. (more)
• [Understand, NATO’s role is mainly military, not economic policing, and many analysts and Indian officials see Rutte’s statements as diplomatic overreach aligned with US policy]

PM Modi Emphasizes Self-Reliance Amid Global Uncertainties

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the critical importance of self-reliance for India’s future amidst global geopolitical and economic challenges.
• Speaking amid strained India-US ties, Modi called for reducing dependency on other nations by boosting indigenous capabilities in key sectors like technology, defence, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and space exploration.
• He highlighted initiatives like the development of Made-in-India semiconductor chips, expansion of nuclear energy, and the Deep Ocean Mission, aiming to achieve a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
• Modi urged youth, scientists, and entrepreneurs to innovate and participate actively in nation-building.
• He also mentioned measures to strengthen farmers and small businesses, while underscoring the nation’s resolve to protect its sovereignty and demographic integrity.
• Modi’s vision seeks to blend economic modernization with nationalist pride, emphasizing that true independence comes through technological and economic self-sufficiency. (more)

Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Pharmaceutical Imports

• US President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on imports of branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs starting October 1, 2025, unless companies are building manufacturing plants in the United States.
• This move could severely impact India, the largest supplier of generic and biosimilar drugs to the US, with $8.7 billion worth of pharmaceutical exports to the American market in FY 2024.
• Indian firms like Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma, and Aurobindo Pharma could face significant losses, as these tariffs mainly target patented drugs, though uncertainty remains about the fate of complex generics.
• Trump emphasized that companies breaking ground or already constructing US plants would be exempt from the tariff.
• The president framed tariffs as necessary for national security and boosting domestic manufacturing.
• Besides pharma, tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% will also apply to kitchen cabinets, furniture, and heavy trucks.
• The tariffs may lead to higher drug prices and supply chain disruptions in the US while challenging Indian exporters operating on thin margins.
• The 100% tariff applies specifically to branded and patented pharmaceutical products, not raw materials or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
• The tariffs target finished, fully processed drugs imported into the US, particularly those that are branded or patented. [API & KSM are not much manufactured in India. Secondly, it won’t affect India, as projected by many media, due to the lack of competitors. ]

India Sends Third Batch of Aid to Quake-Hit Afghanistan

• India has dispatched a fresh consignment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan following last month’s devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 2,200 people and displaced over 23,000.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the latest shipment, consisting of three containers of relief materials, reached Kabul via the Chabahar port and was handed over to Afghan authorities on Thu.
• This marks the third batch of Indian assistance since the disaster.
• The consignment included food supplies, water purifiers, protein powder, hygiene kits, blankets, tents, medicines, water tanks, and other essential materials aimed at supporting relief efforts.
• The first shipment, sent on Sept 1, provided tents for 1,000 families, while the second batch delivered 21 tonnes of critical supplies such as blankets, water purifiers, and medicines.
• India’s continued support highlights its commitment to addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, worsened by poverty, drought, and instability. (more)

Jaishankar’s Veiled Critique of Trump’s H-1B Visa Policy: Call for a Global Workforce

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing an event alongside the UNGA, highlighted the necessity of embracing a global workforce amid changing demographics and labor demands worldwide.
• Without directly naming US President Donald Trump, he underscored that many countries cannot meet workforce needs internally due to demographic realities, emphasizing that “you cannot run away from this reality.”
• Jaishankar advocated for creating a more acceptable, contemporary, and efficient model for a distributed global workforce, stressing international economic adaptation.
• His remarks come amid Trump’s implementation of a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which disproportionately affects Indian professionals who form the majority of beneficiaries.
• Jaishankar further noted ongoing trade challenges but remained optimistic about evolving trade arrangements facilitated by improved connectivity and technology.
• He emphasized resilience and self-reliance as key priorities in navigating today’s volatile global economic environment. (more)
• [Critics argue Jaishankar’s foreign policy lacks significant results, especially in South Asia and China relations, and hasn’t boosted India’s global standing compared to predecessors.]

India-Maldives Relations: Reinforcing Old Ties Amid Changes

• Maldives Foreign Ministry Secretary Ahmed Shiaan, accompanied by High Commissioner Aishath Azeema, emphasized the island nation’s enduring close ties with India amid global geopolitical shifts.
• They highlighted regular high-level interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu, reflecting strong bilateral relations based on people-to-people contact dating back millennia.
• Addressing the hydrographic agreement, which expired in 2024 and was not renewed, Shiaan clarified it was tied to a specific joint project now completed, with no current plans for renewal.
• Regarding Maldives’ acquisition of Turkish drones, Shiaan emphasized their use for domestic security purposes like curbing piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational crime, not military posturing.
• The Maldives prioritizes safeguarding its vast maritime territory independently while continuing defense cooperation with India.
• Shiaan also discussed economic reliance on tourism, adapting to changing tourist demographics, and the Maldives’ leadership in climate change advocacy.
• The Maldives maintains balanced relations with both India and China, continuing engagement with both powers constructively. (more)

Banks should work to be in global top 10, fund small & medium firms: Amit Shah

• INDIAN banks should no longer plan just for growth; rather, they must start thinking of changing the scale, and try to figure among the top 10 banks in the world, said Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, on Thu at the Financial Express Best Banks Awards event in Mumbai.
• Addressing senior bankers and industry leaders, Shah asked banks to provide funds to the small and medium enterprises since they were key to nation-building.
• “If banks don’t value MSMEs, it amounts to stopping their unfortunate growth.
•  MSMEs have huge potential. Look at Ambani, Adani, Torrent, etc… all of them started as MSMEs.” (more)

[Neighborhood]

Trump Meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir In Latest Sign Of Warming Ties

“Pakistan’s Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the Prime Minister, both, and they’re coming, and they may be in this room right now,” Trump said, speaking to reporters.

• US President Trump met Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief FM Asim Munir at the White House on Sept 25, 2025, signaling a significant warming of US-Pakistan ties.
• The meeting, held in the Oval Office and attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, followed a recent trade deal between the two countries and was a follow-up to a brief encounter at the UNGA earlier that week.
• Trump praised both leaders publicly, calling them “great leaders,” and highlighted Pakistan’s strategic importance.
• The talks reportedly covered bilateral relations, regional security issues, including Afghanistan, counterterrorism cooperation, economic opportunities, and development projects such as investment in Pakistan’s minerals and oil reserves.
• This meeting marked a shift from the historically strained relationship, with Pakistan seeking to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties.
• The White House did not release detailed statements, but the engagement reflects Trump’s renewed focus on Pakistan amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in South Asia. (more)
• [Trump Meets Pak PM, Country He Once Called Terrorist Safe Haven]

Bangladesh’s Yunus Blames India’s Reaction, Pushes for Regional Cooperation

• Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said India has not accepted the political change in Dhaka because it “did not like” the student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina last year.
• Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Yunus criticized India for hosting Hasina, blaming her for violence against youth and straining bilateral ties.
• He also condemned fake news portraying Bangladeshi youth as Taliban, adding humorously that even he was labeled one.
• Stressing regional unity, Yunus highlighted the original vision of SAARC as a platform for economic cooperation and people-to-people links but lamented that political issues stalled it.
• He urged greater integration with neighbors, pointing to opportunities with Nepal, Bhutan, and India’s northeastern states, while also exploring ASEAN cooperation despite Myanmar-related challenges.
• Yunus emphasized peaceful relations with Myanmar and expressed hope for the safe return of Rohingya refugees. (more)
• Yunus Meets World Leaders at UNGA: In his exchange with PM Albanese, Yunus discussed Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, reforms by the interim govt, and the role of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Australia.
• His conversation with Queen Máxima and Princess Catharina-Amalia focused on broadening health insurance, innovations in finance, and maternal healthcare.
• Key topics discussed ranged from strengthening bilateral relations and supporting Bangladesh’s upcoming elections, to expanding trade, deepening health sector cooperation, and seeking increased international support for Rohingya refugees.

Bangladesh: Tarique to return within weeks to lead BNP: Zahid

• BNP Standing Committee member AZM Zahid Hossain yesterday said Tarique Rahman, the party’s acting chairman, will return to Bangladesh within weeks to lead BNP’s election process and the “final stage of restoring democracy”.
• He was speaking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
• Responding to a question on the party’s election strategy, Zahid said BNP leaders and activists are actively campaigning across the country with Tarique Rahman’s 31-point programme.
• He noted that the number of nomination seekers is “ten times more than the seats available”. (more)

Xi Jinping Declares Victory in Xinjiang, Rejects Rights Abuse Claims

• During his third visit to Xinjiang in 3 years, Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated the 70^th anniversary of the region under Communist control, declaring the Communist Party’s governance strategy both “scientific and effective.”
• Speaking in Urumqi, Xi emphasized policies aimed at pacifying and developing Xinjiang, urging efforts to build a socialist modern region characterized by unity, harmony, prosperity, and cultural integration with broader Chinese society.
• He stressed maintaining social stability, combating terrorism, and fostering a strong sense of Chinese nationhood among ethnic groups.
• Xi’s visit comes amidst international accusations, particularly from the US and human rights organizations, of severe human rights violations, including mass internment, forced labor, religious repression, and destruction of Uyghur cultural sites.
• Despite Western condemnation and economic sanctions, Beijing maintains its narrative of economic progress and stability, rejecting allegations of abuse.
• Xi’s visit, echoing a prior trip to Tibet, marked a symbolic assertion of Chinese control over its restive western frontiers. (more)