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Blinken heads to Asia as Ukraine crisis boils

Blinken will spend three days in Melbourne for a meeting with foreign ministers of the Quad, the informal US-Japan-India-Australia grouping that Washington hopes will become a bulwark against Beijing’s push for regional dominance, reports Asian Lite News

Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed for the Asia-Pacific on Tuesday aiming to shore up regional partnerships in the face of an expansive China, even as the crisis on Ukraine’s border simmers.

Blinken will spend three days in Melbourne for a meeting with foreign ministers of the Quad, the informal US-Japan-India-Australia grouping that Washington hopes will become a bulwark against Beijing’s push for regional dominance.

The visit will include meetings with senior Australian officials, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as they seek to build on September’s AUKUS trilateral defense pact with Britain. The shock challenge to China included a Washington-Canberra deal to buy eight nuclear-powered submarines.

His trip comes only hours after a Washington press conference with top EU officials sought to show a united front on the threat presented by the estimated 1,40,000 Russian troops now massed on Ukraine’s border.

After departing Australia on Saturday, Blinken will stop briefly in Fiji to meet with a number of Pacific island leaders — many of who are being wooed by China.

“The key message that the secretary will take with him on this trip is that our partnerships deliver,” said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink.

“The Quad is a key component of US foreign economic and security policy in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

“It’s through this partnership that we’re strengthening the security environment in the region to push back against aggression and coercion.”

Launched in 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, has given a framework to what began as joint US-India-Japan naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, dubbed the Malabar Exercises.

Australia’s commitment to the initiative sagged until 2017, when the alliance was revitalized with a focus on countering China, as Beijing expanded its military presence regionally.

Australia rejoined the Malabar Exercises in 2020, the same year Chinese and Indian troops engaged in bloody clashes in a contested border region, giving traditionally non-aligned New Delhi a push towards the grouping.

India is “the critical, crucial member in the Quad,” Kurt Campbell, White House coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, said in November.

Washington has in recent years pushed to expand the Quad’s purposes, using it as a framework for coronavirus vaccine distribution and climate talks.

“It’s not just about competing with China. It’s also about advancing areas where we believe we have something to offer,” Campbell said.

The meetings in Melbourne will help set the agenda for a Quad leaders summit in Japan expected sometime mid-year.

Blinken’s meetings in Australia will take place under the cloud of Russia’s ongoing threat to Ukraine.

Even as the top US diplomat prepared to depart for Melbourne, US officials were saying Russia had at least 110,000 troops and large amounts of firepower standing ready to invade on the border of its pro-West neighbor.

“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said at Monday’s press conference.

Quad to be operationalised at Canberra Ministerial

In the run-up to Quad summit in April-May this year, the foreign ministers of powerful security grouping are meeting in Australia on Friday to operationalize the arrangement on Indo-Pacific, vaccine delivery, critical and emerging technologies, and global security environment.

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar left for the Quad ministerial via Qatar this morning with India clear that the security grouping should consolidate its gains and reflect policies on ground before even talking about expansion of the arrangement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Ann Payne will be attending the crucial meeting at a time when China is belligerent towards Quad partners over Taiwan and is dragging its feet to fully resolve the May 2020 Ladakh stand-off with India.

While the Quad has raised its level from Foreign Secretary in 2017, to Foreign Ministers in 2019 and Summit level in 2021, the grouping will be linked through a diplomatic block chain with no permanent secretariat as it is a thing of the past. The meeting is extremely significant as the foreign ministers will translate the QUAD policies on ground rather than reduce it to a talk shop. For instance, the four leaders will sit together to translate vaccine delivery on ground by giving specific tasks like manufacturing and funding of Covid vaccines to leader countries.

As the Quad ministers will deliberate on the Ukraine crisis and Chinese emerging proximity to Russia and its belligerence over Taiwan, the leaders will also discuss on building trusted supply chains for emerging and critical technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. “Rather than debating on expansion of Quad, time has come to translate policies on ground. The time for symbolism is over, Quad needs to be actionable,” said a former foreign secretary.

ALSO READ: ‘White House, diplomats resisted US’ Afghan evacuation for weeks’

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Blinken calls for end to Kazakhstan shoot-to-kill order

During this week’s violent upheaval in Kazakhstan, at least 164 people were killed and more than 5,000 were detained, as turmoil swept the country and the death toll climbed even higher…reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has slammed Kazakhstan’s shoot-to-kill order against protesters accused of fomenting unrest, calling for the policy to be withdrawn.

“That is something that I absolutely reject. The shoot-to-kill order, to the extent it exists, is wrong and should be rescinded,” the top US diplomat told ABC Sunday talk show “This Week”, media reported.

He said the US has “real concerns about the state of emergency that was declared in Kazakhstan”, adding that he spoke with Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi last week.

“We’ve been clear that we expect the Kazakh government to deal with protesters in ways that respects their rights, that pulls back from violence at the same time,” he added.

During this week’s violent upheaval in Kazakhstan, at least 164 people were killed and more than 5,000 were detained, as turmoil swept the country and the death toll climbed even higher.

The death toll, which was 44 on Friday has increased significantly, published by state-run TV station Khabar 24 on Sunday, citing the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health, reported CNN.

Meanwhile, according to state media, police have opened 125 criminal cases relating to incidents of violence, including allegations of assault, murder, and robbery.

According to Kazakh official media, at least 5,135 individuals have been detained so far for suspected participation in protests in Kazakhstan, according to the country’s Internal Affairs Ministry, reported the news portal.

The massive jump in the fuel price infuriated Kazakhs as the country is an exporter of oil and natural gases and Protests in the Central Asian country have resulted in the resignation of the government and the proclamation of a state of emergency, with soldiers from a Russia-led military alliance dispatched to quell the disturbance. (with inputs from ANI)

ALSO READ-US, Russia kick off talks on Ukraine

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Ghani pledged to fight but fled when the time came: Blinken

This government would have been “led by the Taliban but (would have) included all aspects of the Afghan society”, he said…reports Asian Lite News.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani promised to fight till death but fled Kabul when the Taliban came and captured the capital city, Dawn reported.

In a recent CBS News interview, Blinken was asked if he had personally tried to persuade Ghani to stay in Kabul.

The Secretary of State said he was on the phone with Ghani on Saturday (August 14) night, pressing him to accept a plan for transferring power to a new government in Kabul.

This government would have been “led by the Taliban but (would have) included all aspects of the Afghan society”, he said.

Ghani told him that “he was prepared to do that, but if the Taliban wouldn’t go along, he was ready to fight to the death”, Blinken said. “And the very next day, he fled Afghanistan.”

The Taliban captured Kabul on August 15 as Ghani flew out of Afghanistan.

“So, I was engaged with President Ghani over many weeks, many months,” Blinken added.

Asked if he did everything he could, the top US diplomat said the State Department was reviewing everything that Washington did, starting from 2020 when former President Donald Trump’s administration made an agreement with the Taliban for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan.

The review would include “the actions we took during our administration, because we have to learn every possible lesson from the last couple of years” and also from the last 20 years, he said.

ALSO READ-China shifts stance – now wants UN to steer Afghanistan

READ MORE-After China promised aid, only $1 million reaches Afghanistan

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Pakistan ‘surprised’ by Blinken’s remarks on reassessing ties

Pakistan has had deep ties with the Taliban and other outfits in the region. Moreover, the country has been accused of supporting the group during the US’s war on terror…reports Asian Lite News.

Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday expressed “surprise” over US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks on reassessing bilateral ties with Islamabad, saying it was “not in line with the close cooperation” between the two nations.

This comes after State Secretary told Congress that the US will be looking at ties with Pakistan in the coming weeks to formulate the role America wants Islamabad to play in the future of Afghanistan.

During a weekly presser, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Thursday termed Blinken’s statement a “surprise”, Dawn newspaper reported.

The spokesperson also highlighted that Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process, facilitation of the multinational evacuation effort from Afghanistan.

Pakistan has had deep ties with the Taliban and other outfits in the region. Moreover, the country has been accused of supporting the group during the US’s war on terror.

During his first testimony in US Congress after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Blinken on Monday noted that Pakistan has “harboured” members of the Taliban including the terrorists from the proscribed Haqqani network.

Afghan-students-hold-placards-and-their-country-flags-as-they-raise-slogans-during-a-protest-against-the-Taliban-takeover-of-Afghanistan-in-Bengaluru-Photo_IANS-.jpg

Asked by lawmakers if it is time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken said: “We are going to be looking at in the days and weeks ahead, the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years, but also the role that we would want to see it playing in the coming years.”

Blinken made the remarks during his first testimony before Congress since the Taliban took control of Kabul. The top US diplomat laid out the Biden administration’s posture toward the Taliban in remarks to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

At least two Congressmen, both Democrats, Bill Keating and Joaquin Castro focused on Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan terming it “duplicitous.” They also mentioned Prime Minister Imran Khan’s public statements after the Taliban took over Kabul last month, reported The News International.

Keating asked Blinken: “How do we reassess that relationship how we, how we learn from their actions? And when we go forward. What do we do, what are some of the big issues that we should have stakes in the ground that we should have in dealing with Pakistan and the way they’ve acted over these decades?”

Blinken told the lawmakers that the United States will reassess its relationship with Pakistan given its role in Afghanistan over the last twenty years and beyond.

“This is one of the things we are going to be looking at in the days, and weeks ahead — the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role we would want to see it play in the coming years and what it will take for it to do that,” Blinken told lawmakers on Monday during a congressional hearing on post-Afghan withdrawal from Kabul.

Responding to questions, Blinken said Pakistan needs to line up with the international community to force the Taliban regime to uphold the basic rights of Afghan people, women, and minorities, reported The News International.

“What we have to look at is an insistence that every country, to include Pakistan, make good on the expectations that the international community has of what is required of a Taliban-led government if it’s to receive any legitimacy of any kind or any support,” he told the committee. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Afghans stage 2nd protest against Pakistan in Delhi

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Every democracy is work in progress, says Blinken

When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Blinken announces a $25-million grant for India’s vaccine programme, and promised to strengthen vaccine supply chains to enhance production, reports Asian Lite News

Two of the world’s biggest democracies should do more to strengthen democratic institutions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his India visit.

“Shared values – freedom and equality – are key and none of us have done enough. We need to strengthen our democratic institutions. This is at the core of our relationship, beyond strategic and economic ties,” Blinken said.

“One of the elements Americans admire most is fundamental freedom and human rights. That’s how we define India. India’s democracy is powered by free-thinking citizens,” Blinken said.

Blinken told civil society groups – his first appointment before meeting Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi – that the US and India are “connected by shared values” such as rule of law and freedom of religion.

“Both of our democracies are works in progress… As I said before, sometimes that process is painful. Sometimes it’s ugly. But the strength of democracy is to embrace it,” Blinken said.

The Modi government has faced criticism over growing use of anti-terrorism legislation and sedition laws to arrest campaigners, journalists and students. The Supreme Court on July 15 described the British-era sedition law as “colonial”, and questioned whether the law was “still necessary after 75 years of Independence”.

In the talks with Blinken, Indian officials are expected to express alarm over Taliban gains in Afghanistan. India is worried that a possible takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, which it sees as backed by Pakistan, will turn the country into a base for terrorists to attack India.

The Taliban welcomed virulently anti-Indian terrorists when it ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. A hijacked Indian airliner was flown to the Taliban bastion of Kandahar in 1999.

On Afghanistan, Blinken and Jaishankar agreed that there was no “military solution” to the conflict, and that taking over the country by force would not help the Taliban gain the “international recognition” or “legitimacy” it desires, including the lifting of sanctions and travel bans against the Taliban leadership. In a reference to Pakistan, Jaishankar said one neighbour of Afghanistan was an “exception” to the consensus for a peaceful political settlement.

Ahead of the talks, MEA sources had said India would raise the need for “sustained pressure” on Pakistan on terror financing and safe havens. An Afghanistan that did not respect the rights of its people, and an Afghanistan that committed atrocities against its own people would not be part of the global community, Blinken said.

India, a firm backer of the Afghan government with billions of dollars in development aid, recently evacuated some of its staff from its Kandahar consulate due to the worsening security situation.

The two sides also spoke about the Quad’s initiative to provide Indian-made vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region. Blinken announced a $25-million grant for India’s vaccine programme, and promised to strengthen vaccine supply chains to enhance production.

Modi lauds Indo-US partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the India-US Strategic Partnership will be of even greater global significance in the coming years, in the context of the challenges posed by Covid-19, global economic recovery and climate change.

Modi made these remarks in a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken conveyed greetings of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Biden and Vice President Harris and his appreciation for the initiatives taken by President Biden including those related to the Quad, Covid-19 and climate change.

Blinken appreciated the increasing convergence between India and US on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, and the commitment of both strategic partners to convert this convergence into concrete and practical cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi said that the societies of US and India share a deep commitment to the values of democracy, freedom and liberty, and the Indian diaspora in the US has contributed immensely to the enhancement of bilateral ties.

ALSO READ-India, US should stand together as threats to democracy rise: Blinken

READ MORE-Blinken holds telephone conversation with Nepal’s Deuba

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Blinken holds telephone conversation with Nepal’s Deuba

During the conversation, US State Secretary and Nepali Premier discussed matters of common interests…reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephonic conversation with Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as he starts his two-day visit to neighbouring India.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Deuba emphasised the importance of the US-Nepal partnership and discussed the recent US donation of 1.5 million vaccines and other COVID-19 assistance to Nepal. The Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed our cooperation to combat the effects of climate change,” Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

US Secretary of State, Blinken landed in New Delhi for a two-day visit in which he is set to discuss with Indian officials issues related to bilateral relations, the situation in Afghanistan, and other regional matters including, Pakistan sponsored terrorism and Indo-Pacific.

During the conversation, US State Secretary and Nepali Premier discussed matters of common interest, as per the release from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The Secretary of State extended warm congratulations to the Prime Minister on his appointment. Matters of bilateral relations and cooperation, including the priority issues of the day, such as, COVID-19 vaccine cooperation and assistance of medical equipment and supplies to Nepal were discussed during the conversation,” the MoFA said.

The Prime Minister lauded the US Government for the assistance of 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine and requested the US Government for further assistance of appropriate vaccines to cover the children and younger population in order to better prepare for the prevention of widely speculated third wave of the pandemic.

The Prime Minister thanked the US Government for continued cooperation in the socio-economic development of Nepal. The conversation also covered various areas of Nepal’s development priorities, the United States’ cooperation and the MCC.

“The two sides discussed about the issue of global warming and climate change and its impact on the economies of climate vulnerable mountainous countries like Nepal. The Prime Minister asked the Secretary of State to convey his greetings and best wishes to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed his willingness to work closely with the Biden administration,” the release stated.

Janata Samajbadi Party splits

Nepal’s Madhesh-based party, Janata Samajbadi Party, has split after months of an intra-party rift as the Election Commission has granted legitimacy to the faction led by Upendra Yadav.

Along with this, the electoral body of the Himalayan nation also has directed the opposing faction led by Mahanth Thakur to register a new party.

The EC took the decision on Monday after Yadav was able to garner the signatures of a majority of executive members.

Of the total 56 executive members of the party, 34 signed in favour of Yadav while only 16 memes signed in favour of Thakur.

The constitutional body had heard advocates of both sides at the commission office last week.

With the decision of the Election Commission, the Yadav-led faction has decided to join the Sher Bahadur Deuba government.

“Regarding participation in the government, the process would be initiated from today itself,” Mohammad Istiyak Rai, leader from the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal told reporters.

He said there will be discussions on the party’s nominees to join the government.

The two sides had decided to split earlier this month and had urged the commission to decide which side would carry the legitimacy as the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSPN).

The Janata Samajbadi Party was divided over joining the previous K P Oli-led cabinet or staying in the opposition.

The rival factions had last month “expelled” members leading to a split. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Is China worried about new change in Nepal?

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India, US should stand together as threats to democracy rise: Blinken

US Secretary of State holds talks with NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is slated to meet PM Modi, reports Asian Lite News

India and the US should continue to stand together as leading democracies at a time when global threats to democracy and international freedoms are increasing, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Addressing a civil society roundtable on the theme “Advancing equitable, inclusive and sustainable growth and development”, Blinken said both countries also need a vibrant civil society in order to make their democracies more open, inclusive, resilient and equitable.

Ahead of Blinken’s visit, the US side had said it intended to raise human rights and democracy during the secretary of state’s engagements in New Delhi. The US has in the recent past spoken out on issues such as the situation in Kashmir and movements such as the farmers’ protest on the outskirts of Delhi.

The Indian side has usually been sensitive to such criticism and said before Blinken flew into New Delhi on Tuesday that is open to engaging on human rights and democracy with those who recognise the value of diversity. Defending its achievements in human rights and democracy, the Indian side also said both issues extend beyond a “particular national or cultural perspective”.

In his opening remarks at the roundtable, Blinken described India and the US as democracies that are “works in progress”. Both sides talk about such issues as friends “because doing the hard work of strengthening democracy and making our ideals real is often challenging”, he said.

“At a time of rising global threats to democracy and international freedoms – we talk about a democratic recession – it’s vital that we two world leading democracies continue to stand together in support of these ideals,” Blinken said.

Referring to efforts in the US to become a “more perfect union”, he said: “That’s an acknowledgement from day one of our country that in a sense we will always fall short of the mark, but that the way to make progress is by constantly trying to achieve those ideals.”

He added, “As I said before, sometimes that process is painful, sometimes it’s ugly, but the strength of democracy is to embrace it.”

Blinken, on his first visit to India since becoming secretary of state, said India’s achievements include a “free media, independent courts, a vibrant and free and fair electoral system – the largest expression of free political will by citizens anywhere in the world”.

All successful democracies include thriving civil societies, and this ensures citizens become more fully engaged in the life of their communities, Blinken said.

“It’s how we organise and provide the resources to respond to emergencies. And we’ve seen people and organisations come together throughout Covid-19 in creative and incredibly generous ways, and civil society is also where we’re able to build meaningful connections across our social, religious, and cultural differences,” he said.

“In short, if we want to make our democracies more open, more inclusive, more resilient, more equitable, we need vibrant civil society,” Blinken said, adding that he wants to support more connections between civil society organisations in India and the US to make the partnership between the two democracies even stronger.

Blinken met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and is slated to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During these meetings, he said he would talk about many critical issues the two sides are working on together, including Covid-19, climate change, defence, mutual security, trade and investment, education, energy, and science and technology.

“When you put it all together, the relationship between our countries is one of the most important in the world. And I think that’s because not only is it a relationship between governments…but critically it’s through relationships between the Indian and the American people,” he said.

ALSO READ-Quad partnership ‘sets the tone’ for Blinken’s India visit

READ MORE-Afghanistan to be key issue during Blinken’s India visit

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Afghanistan to be key issue during Blinken’s India visit

Blinken is the third high-ranking official of the Biden administration to travel to India after defence secretary Lloyd Austin in March and special envoy for climate change John Kerry in April, reports Asian Lite News

The situation in Afghanistan and a coordinated Covid-19 response will be key issues on the agenda for US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s engagements with Indian interlocutors during his two-day visit beginning on Tuesday.

The Indian side has also indicated that it is prepared to engage with the US on issues such as human rights and democracy, which American officials have said Blinken intends to raise during his maiden visit to New Delhi after assuming office earlier this year.

Blinken is the third high-ranking official of the Biden administration to travel to India after defence secretary Lloyd Austin in March and special envoy for climate change John Kerry in April. He will meet external affairs minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday before travelling to Kuwait on the next leg of his tour.

People familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Monday that the security situation in Afghanistan will be a key issue during Blinken’s visit as the Indian side believes US support for Afghan forces over the next few months will be crucial for retaining the gains made under the democratic system in Kabul over the past 20 years.

The Taliban stepped up its campaign to capture territory across Afghanistan once the US made it clear that it intended to complete the drawdown of its troops by next month. The US is keen on some sort of power-sharing arrangement in Kabul after facing criticism from some quarters for the nature of its withdrawal.

The Indian side, on the other hand, is expected to raise the implications of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the need for sustained pressure on Pakistan over terror financing and terrorist sanctuaries, the people cited above said.

A coordinated Covid-19 response, including open and consistent supply chains for materials and items required for producing vaccines, will figure in the discussions in line with India’s plans to ramp up production for both domestic vaccination and subsequent global supplies, the people said.

Further engagements under the rubric of the Indo-Pacific, including a possible meeting of Quad foreign ministers, an in-person Quad Summit and the Quad vaccine partnership, and bilateral contacts such as the 2+2 meeting of defence and foreign ministers are also expected to figure in the discussions.

Blinken’s visit is an opportunity to “continue the high-level bilateral dialogue and bolster the India-US global strategic partnership”, the external affairs ministry said last week while announcing the visit. “Both sides will review the robust and multifaceted India-US bilateral relations, and potential for consolidating them further,” it added.

India, Pakistan ties

Just before the all-important visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to India and other destinations of South Asia and the Middle East, the US has issued a statement, encouraging arch-rivals India and Pakistan to work for a more stable relationship.

As per Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Dean Thompson, Blinken would be discussing different options for what he called a “negotiated settlement” in Afghanistan.

“We strongly believe that India and Pakistan’s issues are ones for them to work out between themselves. Washington would continue to encourage better ties between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours,” said Thompson.

India Pak Flags (ANI)

“We are pleased to see that ceasefire that went into place earlier this year has remained intact, and we certainly always encourage them to continue their efforts to find ways to build a more stable relationship going forward,” he added.

The US played an important role in engaging both Pakistan and India to come down to an agreement and abide by the 2003 ceasefire after backdoor meeting between top military leadership of both countries in the Middle East.

ALSO READ-Austin tells Afghanistan to focus on slowing insurgents

READ MORE-Afghanistan sees surge in atrocities, rights abuses as Taliban capture new areas

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US asks India, Pak to work towards stable ties

India’s role in Afghanistan and relations with Pakistan is going to be on Blinken’s agenda during his visit to India, reports Hamza Ameer

Just before the all-important visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to India and other destinations of South Asia and the Middle East, the US has issued a statement, encouraging arch-rivals India and Pakistan to work for a more stable relationship.

Blinken is scheduled to visit India and other countries between July 26-29 in what is being said is an important tour in reference to the developing situation and increasing Afghan Taliban control in Afghanistan.

As per Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Dean Thompson, Blinken would be discussing different options for what he called a “negotiated settlement” in Afghanistan.

Blinken is going to be landing in New Delhi on July 28 and is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per details, India’s role in Afghanistan and relations with Pakistan is going to be on Blinken’s agenda during his visit to India.

“We strongly believe that India and Pakistan’s issues are ones for them to work out between themselves. Washington would continue to encourage better ties between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours,” said Thompson.

“We are pleased to see that ceasefire that went into place earlier this year has remained intact, and we certainly always encourage them to continue their efforts to find ways to build a more stable relationship going forward,” he added.

The US played an important role in engaging both Pakistan and India to come down to an agreement and abide by the 2003 ceasefire after backdoor meeting between top military leadership of both countries in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the US seems to have keen interest in engaging India in seeing its increased role in Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of all foreign forces.

“We expect that all the countries in the region have a shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan going forward. We will certainly be talking to our Indian partners about how we can work together to realise that goal, to find ways to bring the partners together, and continue to pursue a negotiated settlement to the longstanding war,” said Thompson.

Interestingly, Blinken’s visit does not include a visit to Islamabad. However, the Biden administration has invited Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed to Washington during next week for talks with the American counterparts.

Quad, defence ties to top Blinken’s agenda

Discussions on deepening Quad engagement will a key focus area of talks, with possibility of a Foreign Ministerial Quad meeting later this year. Both sides will also take forward Quad vaccine initiative to enable supply of vaccines produced in India from early 2022, to countries in Indo-Pacific region, sources said.

On the regional security situation, implications of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and the need for sustained pressure on Pakistan on terror financing and terror havens, will be part of the agenda.

The two sides will also exchange assessments about the Indo-Pacific region, with focus on Covid assistance, economic slowdown and security scenario. Latest developments pertaining to West Asia and Central Asia area also likely to be covered, sources said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfw9T-53jTE

Climate change remains an important area of our conversation, particularly potential for green collaborations as well as climate finance and transfer of clean technologies to developing countries.

India will also engage with the US on other global issues. Political and cultural rebalancing are important trends. India supports a truly multipolar, democratic and diverse world order and expects international conversations to reflect this evolution. “We believe in equity and fairness, whether in development, climate change or global decision-making,” sources said.

ALSO READ-Blinken may meet Modi during India visit next week

READ MORE-Quad partnership ‘sets the tone’ for Blinken’s India visit

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Blinken may meet Modi during India visit next week

Jaishankar and Blinken have met thrice in the past one year, with the latest coinciding with the Indian foreign minister’s visit to the United States in May…reports Asian Lite News.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is likely to visit India on his maiden trip next week since assuming charges under the Biden Administration in January.

While Blinken would hold a bilateral discussion with India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar the US diplomat may also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit, which could be between July 27 and July 28. However, an official announcement on the visit is awaited.

Jaishankar and Blinken have met thrice in the past one year, with the latest coinciding with the Indian foreign minister’s visit to the United States in May.

During the visit, the two leaders spoke on a wide range of issues, including Covid-19 relief, efforts to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad initiative, the security situation in Afghanistan and combatting climate change, among others.

The Quad, also known as Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India during which the countries discuss economic and military cooperation.

Blinken and Jaishankar may talk on a range of issues in New Delhi, including Covid-19 vaccines, the security crisis in Afghanistan in the aftermath of US troop pullout and China assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken would be the second top official of the Biden Administration to visit India after US Secretary of Defence Llyod J Austin flew to New Delhi in March.

Blinken’s visit also assumes in significance ahead of the Quad summit in October when US President Joe Biden would host the leaders of Australia, India and Japan.

US to continue expand India ties

The Biden Administration is expected to continue expansion of the bilateral partnership with India and the driving force of the relationship is concern about China’s growing economic and military power in the region, according to a Congressional report.

“Many speculate that the Administration would pay more attention to India’s domestic developments, including on human rights, but considered broad policies unlikely to change due to the perceived overarching need to counterbalance China, said the latest report on India-US relationship released by independent Congressional Research Service.

Independent observers widely expected the Biden Administration to continue expansion of the bilateral partnership (with India), and most saw concern about China’s growing economic and military power as the driving force of the relationship, said the report by the CRS, which is traditionally prepared for the American lawmakers to make informed decisions.

CRS reports, prepared by independent experts, are not considered as an official report or view of the US Congress. Of late, the US Congress has been making many of these reports public.

Many analysts laud an expected US return to multilateralism – especially given India’s recently warmer sentiments toward the Quad initiative – and were eager to see the extent to which the Administration would commit resources prioritising the Indo-Pacific region in its foreign policy, said the report authored by several South Asia experts led by Alan Kronstadt.

The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the “Quad” or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

In March, President Joe Biden virtually met Quad leaders, including Narendra Modi, during the first Summit of the bloc where he said that a free and open Indo-Pacific is essential for all and the US was committed to working with its partners and allies in the region to achieve stability.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims.

Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

The report notes that despite many areas of sometimes serious discord, the US Congress has remained broadly positive in its posture toward the US-India strategic and commercial partnership. The Biden Administration has indicated that it intends to maintain the expansion and deepening of US-India ties.

Congressional legislation and oversight has and can continue to affect the course of US-India relations, including in areas such as resourcing for a US Indo-Pacific strategy, trade and investment (including bilateral defense trade) relations, immigration policy, nuclear proliferation, human rights, and cooperative efforts to address COVID-19 and climate change, among many others, it said.

Observing that President Biden was a strong and consistent advocate of positive US-India relations and US support for India during his 36-year Senate career, the CRS notes that some analysts expect pressure to come on India in issues related to human rights private rather than public channels, with at least one contending that such messaging will be predictable, but inconsequential.

CRS said that defence trade has emerged as a key aspect of the bilateral partnership. New Delhi seeks to transform its military into one with advanced technology and global reach, reportedly planning up to $100 billion on new procurements over the next decade to update its mostly Soviet-era arsenal.

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