(160904) -- HANGZHOU, Sept. 4, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Hangzhou International Expo Center to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 4, 2016. The 11th G20 summit opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)(mcg)
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Canada in 2018 after a dispute over Canada’s demand for Saudi Arabia to release detained activists….reports Asian Lite News
Saudi Arabia and Canada have agreed to restore diplomatic relations and appoint ambassadors, the Saudi foreign ministry announced.
The Ministry said on Wednesday in a statement that the decision was made based on the two sides’ wishes to restore ties on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Canada has appointed a new ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau,” the Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement while announcing the decision.
The move follows discussions between Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the APEC summit in the Thai capital of Bangkok in November 2022, the Ministry added.
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Canada in 2018 after a dispute over Canada’s demand for Saudi Arabia to release detained activists.
Conference on “India Confronting Terrorism as a Global Threat” in Toronto musters the support of security experts, policymakers, and scholars to discuss and analyse the impact of Khalistani terrorism and strategies to counter this menace
The Canadian city of Toronto recently hosted a conference to discuss India’s efforts in confronting terrorism as a global threat. The conference aimed to address the challenges posed by various forms of terrorism, including Khalistani extremism, and explore the funding of such activities, some of which originate from Pakistan.
The conference brought together experts, policymakers, and scholars to discuss and analyse the impact of Khalistani terrorism and strategies to counter this menace. The following report summarizes the key discussions and recommendations put forward by the four distinguished speakers during the conference. Martin Forget, Michael Giles, Broaden Roth and Mario Silva share their expertise on global terrorism and the need to tame it with a united force.
The speakers shed light on the nature of Khalistani terrorism, India’s response to this threat, the role of Pakistan in supporting these activities, and the importance of international cooperation in countering terrorism financing and radicalisation.
Khalistan
Understanding Khalistani Terrorism and its Global Implications Martin Forget, an expert in counterterrorism, provided insights into the nature of Khalistani terrorism and its global implications. He highlighted the historical background of the Khalistan movement and its evolution into a terrorist organization.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the socio-political factors that contribute to radicalising and recruiting individuals into Khalistani terrorist groups. He also stressed the need for international cooperation to combat the transnational nature of Khalistani terrorism and the exchange of best practices in countering violent extremism.
India’s Response to Khalistani Terrorism and its Challenges Michael Giles, an expert on India, focused on India’s counterterrorism measures in addressing the challenges posed by Khalistani terrorism. He highlighted the proactive approach taken by Indian security forces in dismantling Khalistani terrorist networks and preventing attacks.
He outlined the legal and operational frameworks to counter terrorist activities, including intelligence sharing, capacity-building initiatives, and legislation targeting terrorist financing. He also highlighted the challenges faced by Indian security agencies, including the external support and funding provided to Khalistani groups from Pakistan.
Broaden Roth, an expert in terrorism financing, shed light on the crucial issue of funding Khalistani terrorism, with a particular focus on the role played by Pakistan. He discussed the various channels through which funds are credited to Khalistani terrorist groups and the need for robust measures to disrupt these financial flows.
He stressed the importance of international cooperation in tracking and preventing terrorist financing, particularly in countering cross-border funding from Pakistan. He called for increased scrutiny of financial transactions and enhanced collaboration between intelligence agencies to tackle this challenge effectively.
Strengthening International Cooperation and Countering Radicalization Mario Silva, an international relations expert and President of IFFRAS emphasised the significance of international cooperation in countering Khalistani terrorism. He stressed the importance of sharing intelligence, best practices, and expertise among countries to effectively tackle the transnational nature of this threat.
He also highlighted the need for concerted efforts in countering radicalisation, particularly through initiatives that promote inclusivity, education, and religious tolerance. He underlined the importance of addressing socio-economic disparities and promoting social cohesion as key elements in preventing the rise of extremism.
The conference on “India Confronting Terrorism as a Global Threat” provided a platform for comprehensive discussions on the challenges posed by Khalistani terrorism and the funding of such activities from Pakistan. It also highlighted the need for more robust measures to disrupt terrorist financing, enhance intelligence sharing, and address the root causes of radicalisation.
New Delhi miffed as Trudeau govt fails to rein in anti-India activities.(photo:IN)
Since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and entities in Russia…reports Asian Lite News
Canada has announced new sanctions against Russia.
According to a statement on the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s website, Canada is imposing new sanctions on 17 individuals and 18 entities linked to Russian companies that provide military technology and know-how to Russia’s armed forces, family members of listed persons, and members of the Kremlin elite.
The statement said that other sanctions on 30 individuals and eight entities are involved in human rights violations, Xinhua news agency reported.
Since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada’s allies and partners.
Both sides highlighted the solid foundation of the trade and economic relationship between Canada and India….reports Asian Lite News
In a significant move aimed at increasing their trade and economic ties, India and Canada have agreed to enhance cooperation in coordinated investment promotion and information exchange.
This decision came during the sixth India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) held in Ottawa. The meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng.
Both ministers highlighted the solid foundation of the trade and economic relationship between Canada and India. They also recognized the significant opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and economic partnership.
Significantly, in 2022, the bilateral trade in goods between both nations was nearly $8.2 billion, an impressive 25% increase from the year before. Additionally, the services sector was highlighted as a key contributor to the bilateral relationship, with bilateral services trade amounting to approximately US $6.6 billion in 2022.
At the ministerial discussion, Minister Mary Ng praised India’s aims in the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group and emphasized her support for it as the G20 Chair. She also mentioned how excited she was to take part in the future G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Summit, which would be held in India in August 2023.
The ministers emphasized the need for collaboration in areas such as clean technology for infrastructure development, essential minerals, electric cars and batteries, renewable energy/hydrogen, and artificial intelligence (AI). They gave their officials orders to have routine meetings to examine bilaterally significant trade remedy concerns.
After an assessment of the discussions’ progress, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to addressing high-level commitments in the areas of goods, services, investment, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical trade obstacles, and dispute resolution.
Key outcomes of the dialogue included the decision to explore enhanced cooperation through coordinated investment promotion, information exchange, and mutual support between the two parties. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is also expected to be signed in the fall of 2023, further solidifying this commitment.
Furthermore, both ministers agreed to establish an official conversation annually on the sidelines of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference (PDAC) in Toronto because they understood how crucial G2G cooperation was in maintaining the resilience of the essential mineral supply chain.
Both ministers concurred that the Canada-India CEO Forum should be revamped and relaunched with a fresh emphasis and set of objectives in order to promote business-to-business interaction. With short notice, it is anticipated that the CEO Forum will be announced.
Moreover, Minister Mary Ng announced that she will head a Team Canada trade trip to India in October 2023 with the goal of fostering even stronger commercial relations between the two nations.
Both ministers highlighted their wish for further conversations on migration and mobility while acknowledging the significant flow of professionals, skilled workers, students, and business visitors between India and Canada. They also spoke about how to collaborate on talent and innovation to develop the bilateral innovation ecosystem.
The two sides decided to create an annual work plan within the MDTI framework, which would be evaluated and reported on a regular basis, to guarantee effective development. In order to maximize the potential of the trade and investment relationship between India and Canada, this strategy seeks to preserve momentum in linkage development and sectoral collaboration. (India News Network)
As the protests have erupted in various parts of Pakistan, the US, Canada and the UK have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff….reports Asian Lite News
The United States, United Kingdom and Canada have issued new travel advisories for their citizens citing political unrest following the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, ARY News reported.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, ARY News reported. After his arrest, PTI workers across the country held protests and called for his release.
As the protests have erupted in various parts of Pakistan, the US, Canada and the UK have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff. The US Embassy has announced a travel alert for its citizens in Pakistan. The latest advisory issued by the US Embassy said, “The U.S. Embassy is monitoring earlier reports of clashes between demonstrators and police in Islamabad and also sporadic demonstrations underway or being planned elsewhere throughout Pakistan.”
The US Embassy in Islamabad has cancelled consular appointments for May 10 due to “political traffic disruptions and restrictions.” US citizens have been advised to exercise heightened vigilance and avoid locations with large crowds, as per the ARY News report.
The US Embassy asked people to review personal security plans, carry identification and follow requests from law enforcement and be aware of their surroundings and monitor local media for updates.
The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advised their citizens to avoid all political demonstrations, large crowds of people, and public events and be prepared to change plans as necessary. The UK FCDO urged people to keep track of local news.
UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office stated, “Public demonstrations are common in Pakistan. You should keep track of the local news. Protests can occur with little warning and while most remain peaceful, they can turn violent and escalate quickly,” as per the ARY News report.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government asked its citizens and diplomatic staff to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the “unpredictable security situation.” It further said, “There is a threat of terrorism, civil unrest, sectarian violence and kidnapping.”
Reacting to Imran Khan’s arrest, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the United States does not have a stance on one political candidate or party and called for respect for democratic principles.
Karine Jean-Pierre in the press briefing said, “United States does not have a position on one political candidate or party versus the another. We call for respect for democratic principles and the rule of law around the world.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a joint news conference said, “We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution.”
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stressed “We want to see peaceful democracy in that country. We want to see the rule of law adhered to.” (ANI)
China has decided to declare the consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, Jennifer Lynn Lalonde ‘persona non grata’…reports Asian Lite News
In a tit-for-tat move, China has expelled Canada’s consul in Shanghai after Ottawa said it was expelling a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
China has decided to declare the consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, Jennifer Lynn Lalonde ‘persona non grata’, in a reciprocal move to Ottawa’s move to send home diplomat Zhao Wei. Lalonde has been asked to leave China by May 13.
“On May 9, the Canadian government declared a diplomat of the Consulate-General of China in Toronto persona non grata. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious demarches and strong protest to Canada,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in an official statement.
China said that it reserves the “right to further react.”
“As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada’s unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata, who has been asked to leave China no later than May 13,” the statement added.
Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Canada said that Ottawa’s actions violate international law and basic principles of international relations and relevant bilateral agreements between the two nations.
Canada has alleged that Zhao Wei was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, Global Times reported citing The Canadian Press.
The Chinese Embassy said that Beijing never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. It called the claim of “Chinese interference in Canadian domestic affairs” hyped up by some politicians and media “baseless and a blatant slander” against China on the basis of ideological bias and political manipulation.
The Chinese Embassy noted Canada’s action seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Beijing’s diplomatic and consular personnel. Canada’s action comes after the Canadian side summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday and threatened the expulsion of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.
Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims “purely baseless and defamatory”.
“Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr Zhao Wei,” read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.
“I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home,” she added. (ANI)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly.(photo:wikipedia)
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that Canada has declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei “persona non grata”…reports Asian Lite News
Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat after allegations that Beijing tried to intimidate an MP and interfere in the countrys elections, according to media reports.
In a statement on Monday, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that Canada has declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei “persona non grata”, CNN reported.
“I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home,” she added.
Monday’s development follows mounting public pressure on the Ottawa government to respond following revelations the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition MP Michael Chong, and his relatives in China, after he sponsored a motion to condemn Beijing’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority group.
The intelligence service also reportedly said Beijing had tried to sway the outcome of Canada’s federal elections in 2019 and 2021.
The allegations were first reported by Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail.
Chong, who represents the Wellington-Halton Hills district in Ontario, has repeatedly called for Zhao’s expulsion since the media report of Chinese actions emerged.
In response to the explusion, the Chinese Embassy in Canada called allegations of political interference “groundless” and warned of “consequences”.
“China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it and has lodged a solemn representation with Canada. China will resolutely take countermeasures, and Canada will bear all the consequences arising therefrom,” CNN quoted the Embassy as saying in a statement late Monday.
It added that the move “deliberately undermines China-Canada relations”.
The latest allegations come amid other intelligence reports, leaked to Canadian media outlets, that have accused China of attempting to interfere in Canadian elections, the BBC said.
In March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an independent special rapporteur to investigate the interference claims.
The interim agreement will include high-level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures…reports Asian Lite News
The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Canada is likely to be finalised sooner than the one with the UK, media reported.
According to The New Indian Express, the interim agreement between India and Canada will bring early commercial gains, according to a top government official. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Canada to sign the deal, which includes high-level commitments in goods, services, and other areas mutually agreed upon.
The interim agreement will include high-level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement, and may also cover any other areas mutually agreed upon, it was reported.
Meanwhile, talks with the UK have slowed down after the new government took over, with the next round of meetings scheduled for May-end or beginning of June. The UK is demanding duty concessions on Scotch whisky, electronic items, and automobiles, while the corporate sector wants progress on visa and mobility issues.
“Under the regime of Boris Johnson, the trade talks were at full swing. But after the Diwali deadline couldn’t be met, things seem to have slowed down. However, the negotiations will gain momentum going forward,” the report quoted the official as saying.
The ministers will review India-Canada CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiations…reports Asian Lite News
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will be in Canada’s Toronto from Tuesday-Wednesday, where he will have various engagements to promote trade and investment.
The engagements will include meetings with CEOs of key Canadian companies, a Round Table of Indian and Canadian CEOs, interaction with Canadian and Indian companies based in Canada and a Financial Sector Round table, among others. The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral trade and investment relations. The Minister would be accompanied by a delegation of Indian CEOs led by industry body FICCI.
Minister Goyal along with Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Government of Canada, will co-chair the discussions for the sixth India- Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) in Ottawa.
MDTI is a bilateral mechanism that provides an institutional mechanism to discuss a broad spectrum of trade and investment-related issues and cooperation areas.
The Dialogue will focus on various themes including strengthening the Bilateral Trade Relationship between India and Canada, Investment Promotion and Cooperation, Green Transition – including Critical Minerals discussion and new Areas of Cooperation such as promoting B2B engagements.
The ministers will also review India-Canada CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiations.
At the last MDTI meeting in March 2022, both ministers launched the CEPA negotiations with the possibility of an interim agreement or EPTA (Early Progress Trade Agreement). Since then, seven rounds of negotiations have been held.
Goyal will also inaugurate the Indian Pavilion at SIAL CANADA-2023, which is the largest food innovation trade show in North America with the participation of more than 1000 national and international exhibitors from 50 countries.
There will also be a Trade and Investment Promotion Event for the Agricultural and Food Processing sector with Indian companies and Canadian importers on the sidelines of SIAL-2023. This event is likely to be attended by 200 companies. (ANI)
Law and Society Alliance, an independent organisation based in London, hosted a webinar on ‘How Khalistanis use Western democracy to promote extremism and violence ?’ The webinar was centred around a 160-page report by Colin Bloom, an Independent Faith Engagement Advisor. The report talks about the means and ways in which the terrorist groups that demand a separate Khalistan have been making use of the freedom provided in Western nations, especially the UK, to fan the flames of hate and extremism and also bring violence to innocents that dare to speak up against their violent ways.
Amid a sharp increase in pro-Khalistani activities across the globe, a new report revealed that the Khalistani movement at present is being fanned in US and Europe by an extremely small group of a minority of terrorists and extremists, aided and funded by Pakistan.
The webinar was centred around a 160-page report by Colin Bloom, an Independent Faith Engagement Advisor. The report talks about the means and ways in which the terrorist groups that demand a separate Khalistan have been making use of the freedom provided in Western nations, especially the UK, to fan the flames of hate and extremism and also bring violence to innocents that dare to speak up against their violent ways.
According to the report, the truth is that the majority of Sikhs and Indians living abroad do not support extremism and the call for a separate Khalstan. They are deeply patriotic Indians.
The Idea of Khalistan is a long dream of Pakistan. The report points out that there is a power tug-of-war between the Khalistanis and larger Sikh organisations in the UK for the control of the Gurudwaras, the Khalistanis use the gurdwaras as a means to spread their messages of hate and extremism and also to collect funding for their operations. Additionally, the Bloom report highlights that the Sikh community in the UK, which supports the Khalistan cause, is in a tiny minority but they use violence, harassment, and their influence to coerce other moderate and peaceful Sikhs to fall in line and support their ideology.
Speakers of the webinar.
Violence and intimidation go completely against the tenets of the Sikh faith, the Khalistanis in the UK and all across the world are trying to also hijack the Sikh faith and use it for their benefit.
The first speaker at the webinar was Sameer Kaushal, from Sher-e-Punjab Radio based in Canada. He started by stating that this 159-page report is extremely comprehensive and recorded the answers of 2100 respondents. He added that according to the report, people are divided into three categories, True Believers, who are generous and kind and follow the teachings of their faith, then there are some who do not believe in a higher power, these people are also largely peaceful and kind, and lastly, there are the make-believers, these comprise of people and individuals that do believe in religion but use their religion as a justification of violence and personal greed.
He also said the majority of Sikhs in the UK have perfectly assimilated with life in Britain and benefit British society. It is only a small vocal minority of extremists that use aggressive tactics to propagate their beliefs. Kaushal then goes on to narrate his own experience of how he was attacked and harassed by Khalistani activists during an event organised by the Indian High Commission in Surrey, Canada. While attempting to enter the event, Kaushal was labelled as anti-Sikh even if he is from Punjab. Kaushal then had to leave the event for their safety and the mob of extremists were turning hostile and violent against him.
Khalistan
He added that the report clearly shows that some places of Sikh worship have been taken over by Khalistani elements and these places are then used as tools of violence and hate propaganda to please Pakistan. Kaushal goes on to add that these extremists are brainwashing the youth and creating a false narrative that the Indian state is hostile towards the Sikhs, which is not true. Kaushal has even interviewed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the Legal Counsel for Sikhs for Justice, asking him why Khalistani extremists demand that Khalistan be carved out of the Indian side of Punjab and not the one that lies in Pakistan.
Unsurprisingly, Punnun did not have a satisfactory answer. This raises a lot of questions — who is truly behind the call for Khalistan? The majority of Sikhs have no opinion on it and wish to live in peace and harmony.
The next speaker was Mahajan. He started by saying that Western democracies are giving too much freedom of speech to these extremists, this allows these extremists to freely propagate their message of hate and secession.
In the garb of the freedom of speech and freedom of protest, Khalistanis force the governments of the UK, Canada, and other Western countries to allow their protests and actions, Mahajan said, adding that they are using the values of the country’s democracy against them. He further claimed that even the gurdwaras of Canada have become breeding grounds for extortionists and crime due to the influence of Khalistani extremists. Canadian law does not allow questioning of the finances of religious institutions, thus allowing Khalistani extremists to use the money from these places of worship for their extremist agenda, he noted.
Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate amid heightened security, in San Francisco on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
The basic premise of Khalistanis as presented in the Bloom report is correct, he said, adding that their use of religious sentiments for their benefits is correct. Most of the Indian diaspora are peace-loving and wish just to live with their families but extremists create a false narrative that the Indian diaspora is anti-India.
Law and Society Alliance is an independent Indian national growth organisation providing legal and knowledge intervention on issues that need study and research, data mining and analysis, and prolonged groundwork on matters such as National Security, Human Rights, Terrorism, Narcotics, Legal Reforms, Legislative Reforms, Financial Inclusion, Economic Growth, and all walks of human activity aimed at development, modern standards of living, and cultural moorings of humanism. (with inputs from ANI)
