India-UAE flights to remain suspended until June 30
UAE Nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised Covid-19 protocols will be exempt for travel, reports Asian Lite News
Emirates has extended the suspension of passenger flights from India to the UAE until June 30, the airline stated on Sunday.
“Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE,” the airline said.
UAE Nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised Covid-19 protocols will be exempt for travel, the airline said.
The airline offered passengers two choices for cancelled bookings. Passengers could choose to keep their tickets for a future flight. In this case, they would not need to call up the airline, but rather visit the airline’s website for required information.
The second option is to rebook the flight for an alternative date, for which the airline recommended that affected passengers contact their respective travel agents or booking office.
Flights from India to UAE were first suspended from 11.59pm on April 24.
This was further extended on May 4 by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), in light of a deadly second wave of Covid-19 currently affecting India.
UAE’s decision to indefinitely extend its ban on the entry for travellers from India has come as a bolt from the blue for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)working in the seven emirates.
The worst-hit by the decision are hundreds of Non-Resident Keralites (NoRKs) working in the seven emirates and various countries. The hopes of hundreds who have been waiting to join their families during the holy month of Ramzan and the summer months, which are vacation for educational institutions, have ended. Many NoRK families had shelved the plans to come home in view of the strict quarantine norms in Kerala to contain the pandemic.
Hundreds of NoRKs working in the U.S and U.K. and their families, students who had gone abroad for studies and others had been hit by the indefinite restrictions.
India suspends international passenger flights till June 30
India’s had on Friday decided to suspend international passenger flights till June 30. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), however said that restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the aviation regulator. The ban has been in place since March last year.
The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights was last extended till May 31 amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, special international flights have been operating under the Centre’s Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July last year.
All scheduled international flights were restricted on March 23 last year in wake of the coronavirus pandemic and continue to be banned. However, various international flights were operationalised under bilateral air bubble agreements that India signed with several nations for the unhindered movement of passengers.
India has formed air bubble pacts with 27 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.
Given the rise in Covid-19 cases during the second wave of the pandemic, several countries have banned flights from India under the air bubble pact till the situation improves.
During the last financial year, India attracted $5.64 billion in FDI from Mauritius…reports Asian Lite News
The US replaced Mauritius as the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India during 2020-21 with inflows of $13.82 billion, according to government data. Singapore remained the top source of foreign direct investment into the country for the third consecutive fiscal at $17.41 billion.
During the last financial year, India attracted $5.64 billion in FDI from Mauritius, according to the data by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The island country was followed by UAE ($4.2 billion), Cayman Island ($2.79 billion), Netherlands ($2.78 billion), UK ($2.04 billion), Japan ($1.95 billion), Germany ($667 million), and Cyprus ($386 million).
Overall foreign direct investments into the country grew 19 percent to $59.64 billion during 2020-21 amid measures taken by the government for policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business. Total FDI, including equity, re-invested earnings and capital, rose 10 percent to the highest-ever $81.72 billion, as against $74.39 billion in 2019-20.
In 2020-21, the computer software and hardware sector attracted the highest inflows of $26.14 billion. It was followed by construction – infrastructure activities ($7.87 billion) and services sector ($5 billion). Commenting on the data, Mithun V Thanks, Partner – M&A, Private Equity and General Corporate at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said tax reasons aside, US-based entities have historically been bullish on the India story.
“This is expected to continue in the next few years, with the pandemic driven focus on increased tech adaptation and integration. Silicon Valley will continue to weave many a-billion-dollar sized dreams, at the sheer size of the Indian market – and added to the cash crunch at the domestic level – should present agreeable valuations,” he said.
He added that with the increased cash being introduced in the US economy, it is likely that a chunk of this will flow into India as well. “The prevailing polity of anti-China sentiments in India (and in the US) is likely to provide the continuing last-mile impetus,” he said.
Govt redirects vaccine manufacturing supplies to help India
Move will allow India to make additional 20 million Covid vaccine doses, reports Asian Lite News
The US government has redirected orders of critical vaccine manufacturing supplies, which will allow India to make over 20 million additional doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines.
The information was shared by Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, Dean Thompson.
“We’ve redirected one of our own orders of critical vaccine manufacturing supplies, which will allow India to make over 20 million additional doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine,” said Dean Thompson.
He also informed that US has provided over $500 million in Covid-19 relief supplies to India to fight against the pandemic.
“In total, the US government, state governments, US companies, and private citizens have provided over $500 million in Covid-19 relief supplies to India,” said the Acting Assistant Secretary.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed gratitude to United States for strong support and solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The minister’s counterpart, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the two countries were united in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic together.
Earlier, the White House had announced that US will be sending 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries starting from June 2021.
Will never forget India’s help, says Blinken
Jaishankar who wrapped his visit to the on Friday held wide-ranging talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and thanked the Biden administration for its “strong support and solidarity” with India at a moment of “great difficulty” for the country in combating the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Welcoming Jaishankar to the State Department, Blinken said in the early days of Covid-19, India was there for the US, something which the country “will never forget”.
“Now we want to make sure that we are there for and with India,” he said.
Addressing reporters at the State Department in a joint media interaction before the two leaders headed for the meeting, Jaishankar said, “We’ve a lot of issues to discuss. I think our relations have grown stronger over the years and I’m very confident that it’ll continue to do so.”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar eets US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (Photo @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
“I also want to take the opportunity to express to the Secretary, through him to the administration, (and) to the United States for the strong support and solidarity and at the moment of great difficulty (for us),” he said.
Blinken said the US and India are working together on many important challenges of “our time”.
“We are united in confronting Covid-19 together…We are united in dealing with the challenge posed by climate change and we are partnered together directly through the QUAD and other institutions in the United Nations in dealing with many of the challenges that we face in the region,” he said.
The Quad is a grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia that aims at strengthening a rules-based order in the strategically-important Indo-Pacific amidst China’s aggressive actions in the region.
“The partnership between the US and India is vital, strong, and I think it is increasingly productive,” Blinken added.
Jaishankar is also the only third foreign minister to have visited the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department to meet his US counterpart Blinken. The other two were Jordan’s Ayman Safadi and Columbia’s Foreign Minister-Designate Marta Lucia Ramirez, who met Blinken earlier in the day.
The Indian delegation included Ambassador of India to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu; MEA Joint Secretary Shilpak Ambule; Deputy Chief of Mission Sudhakar Dalela; and First Secretary Chitrangna Singh.
The American delegation included Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry. The other members were Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Dean Thompson; Coordinator for Global Covid Response and Health Security, Gayle Smith; Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council, Sumona Guha; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Tom Sullivan.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during which they discussed further developing strategic and defence partnership between the two countries and exchanged views on “contemporary security challenges”.
“A warm meeting with US @SecDef Lloyd Austin. A comprehensive conversation about further developing our strategic and defence partnership,” he tweeted after the meeting, sharing a photograph of them together.
Jaishankar further said they exchanged views on “contemporary security challenges”.
The two leaders are expected to have discussed the situation in the strategic Indo-Pacific region where China has been increasingly flexing its military muscles.
The controversy started in the morning when an official from the PMO called Suvendu Adhikari and was asked to stay in the review meeting at Kalaikunda..reports Asian Lite News.
It was a meeting that hardly lasted for a minute but the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee created a huge political controversy.
When senior leaders of the BJP claimed that it was the chief minister’s ego that resisted her from staying away from the review meeting with Suvendu Adhikari, Trinamool Congress alleged that the meeting with the Prime Minister personally was pre-scheduled but she was not allowed time as promised by the PMO.
The controversy started in the morning when an official from the PMO called Suvendu Adhikari and was asked to stay in the review meeting at Kalaikunda. Adhikari, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state legislative assembly, reached Kalaikunda at 1 p.m. much before the arrival of the Prime Minister.
Interestingly Mamata Banerjee announced from her review meeting in Hingalganj that she won’t be able to stay at the review meeting but she would hand over the estimate of the damage caused by the storm.
According to highly placed sources in the state secretariat, chief minister’s announcement comes after chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay confirmed that Prime Minister has given her separate time but when she reached Kalaikunda she was made to sit in a separate room and was informed that as the review meeting has started already, she will have to wait.
Mamata
Sources close to the chief minister said that she insisted for one minute time but she was requested to wait. Mamata Banerjee then walked into the review meeting, handed over the paper and walked out.
This one-minute incident was enough to attract strong political repercussions. Just after the meeting Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who was also present wrote, “At the Review Meet by PM #CycloneYaas to assess damage caused. CM and officials @MamataOfficial did not participate. Such boycotts both in consonance with the constitution and federalism. Certainly, by such actions neither public interest nor interest of state has been served.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee was quick to respond. In his tweet, Banerjee wrote, “@jdhankhar1, can you tell us, under what provision Nandigram MLA can be present in the review meeting between the central government headed by @narendramodi and state government headed by @MamataOfficial. Stop doing politics @jdhankhar1 in this situation”.
Suvendu Adhikari who was in the centre of the controversy wrote, “When Hon PM Shri @narendramodi stands strong with the citizens of West Bengal in wake of cyclone Yaas, Mamata ji should also set aside her ego for the welfare of people. Her absence from the PM’s meeting is murder of constitutional ethos & the culture of cooperative federalism”.
“Today is a dark day in India’s long-standing ethos of cooperative federalism, a principle held sacred by PM @narendramodi. If her track record is anything to go by, @MamataOfficial Didi’s administration was unable to manage Amphan relief. Rampant loot plagued the relief works. Even now, West Bengal is suffering and the state government is in absent mode,” he added.
Union Home Minister on his Twitter handle wrote, “Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that”.
Trinamool Congress refuted the allegation. The party’s spokesperson, Kunal Ghosh said, “There is no place for any kind of controversy. It was a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. The chief minister met the Prime Minister and submitted to him the details of the damage caused by the storm. There the matter ends”.
Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said, “This cannot be a good example of cooperative federalism. She gave preference to her personal ego more than the pains of the people of the state. Suvendu Adhikari is the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister has invited him to be present. Her absence in the meeting will send a very wrong signal”.
TMC General Secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “Those who are speaking of her insensitivity should know that she was in the state secretariat whole might to oversee the pains of the people. She is the one who is personally overseeing the relief operations in the state. I would like to ask where were those people during the storm?”
As many as 47.4 per cent respondents in the survey said that abrogation of Article 370 has been the biggest achievement of Modi 2.0…reports Asian Lite News.
For the first time in seven years, red lines have been breached on the approval ratings of the Narendra Modi government.
As per ABP-C Voter Modi 2.0 Report Card, voters say that abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is the biggest achievement of the Modi government, while not handling the Corona crisis effectively is its biggest failure.
The sample size of the survey was 1.39 lakh with the samples spread across 543 Lok Sabha seats. The fieldwork was done between January 1 and May 28.
The survey shows that on many issues, voters are disappointed with the Modi government and the high popularity ratings enjoyed by the Modi government in the last seven years are now dissipating.
As many as 47.4 per cent respondents in the survey said that abrogation of Article 370 has been the biggest achievement of Modi 2.0.
The biggest failure is handling of the Corona crisis with 41.1 per cent respondents saying so.
Also, 23.1 per cent said dissatisfaction and anger in the farming community over the new farm laws is the second biggest failure of the Modi government.
In a castigation of the Centre, more than half or 52.3 per cent said that government help did not reach them during the lockdown.
Voters are also unhappy with the poll campaign during the second wave of the pandemic.
To a question on “Do you think it was appropriate for Prime Minister to participate in the poll campaign and address election rallies during second wave of the pandemic in the country?”, a massive 59.7 per cent said as Prime Minister of the country, Modi’s participation in election campaign was wrong.
While there may be anger against the government, voters still do not want Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, who has been very critical of government’s handling of the pandemic.
On a question, “Do you think Rahul Gandhi would have handled the Corona crisis in a better manner, if he was Prime Minister of the country? Or you believe that PM Narendra Modi is handling it in the best possible manner”, 63.1 per cent said Modi is handling the situation in the best possible manner.
Most voters – 60.8 per cent — think that the Assembly polls in five states/UT and panchayat polls in Uttar Pradesh should have been postponed.
A majority of 55.3 per cent of the respondents said that the Kumbh Mela should have been held symbolically from the beginning, in view of the second wave of the pandemic.
As many as 47 per cent of the respondents hold the Central government responsible for the rise in diesel and petrol prices.
In a criticism of the Modi government, a massive 64.4 per cent said that big corporate houses benefitted the most in economic terms from the works of the Modi government.
A total of 44.8 per cent said China’s encroachment in Laddakh region is a failure on the part of the Central government.
However, voters are very happy with the government’s handling of Kashmir, and improvement in relations with foreign countries, but feel that the demands of the farmers should be met.
General Manoj Mukund Naravane says this is the first step on the long road to normalisation of ties between the two countries, reports Asian Lite News
Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has said that the restoration of ceasefire in February between Indian and Pakistani militaries along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir is holding, has led to a significant drop in infiltration by terrorists from Pakistan and contributed to the overall sense of peace and well-being in border areas.
“This is the first step on the long road to normalisation of ties between the two countries. We would like the ceasefire to continue. It has definitely led to an improvement in the security situation and benefited civilians living in forward areas,” Naravane said.
In a surprise development, Indian and Pakistani militaries announced on February 25 that they had begun observing a ceasefire along the LoC from the midnight of February 24. India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire on the LoC in November 2003, but it was frequently violated.
The army chief said the ceasefire violations by the neighbouring army were aimed at providing cover to infiltrators. No ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army indicated that infiltration attempts were not being supported, Naravane said.
“Counterterrorism operations will continue. We have no reason to believe that terror infrastructure along the LoC has been dismantled by the Pakistan army,” Naravane said.
India Pakistan border
Peace along the LoC is mutually beneficial, Naravane said. “The population living on either side suffers due to violence along the LoC. I am sure the Pakistan army is also concerned about the population and hopefully the ceasefire will hold,” the army chief said.
After February 24, there has been a solitary instance of cross-border firing along the international border in Jammu sector between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers.
Of the 30 terrorists killed by security forces in Kashmir during the last three months, only one was a foreigner, said officials familiar with the developments. “It’s an indicator that infiltration by Pakistani terrorists has dropped notably. We will have to wait and watch how things unfold as three months is a short window to confirm a pattern,” said one of the officials.
The escalation in ceasefire violations coincided with the first anniversary of the Centre’s move in August 2019 to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status that Islamabad reacted sharply to.
‘Troops on high alert at LAC’
Naravane said that the troops are on high alert at Line of Actual Control (LAC), keeping a close watch on the activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The army chief also pointed that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored.
Naravane stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides.
He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong Lake.
The army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in Eastern Ladakh in immediate depth, so India has also made mirror deployments in depth.
Naravane also said that India is keeping an eye on the developments on the Chinese side.
He said India is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang along the LAC.
He also pointed out that India’s stand in the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same, i.e., the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.
The army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.
The 12 rounds of military commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the border issue will take place soon. It has been delayed due to the surge in the number of Covid cases.
General Naravane recently reviewed the operational preparedness of the force along the borders with China in the Arunachal Pradesh region. He went to Dimapur in Nagaland on May 20 on a two-day visit to review the operational readiness along the northern borders of Arunachal Pradesh, and the security situation in the hinterlands of the Northeast region.
India and China are engaged in a year-long standoff along the LAC. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank, as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.
The network has contact with some hotel chains in India, where girls are trafficked, saidn Md Shahidullah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tejgaon Division…reports Sumi Khan
A human trafficking network spearheaded by Dhaka’s Tiktok Hridoy, 26, is active across Middle East, India and Bangladesh.
The gang has contact with some hotel chains in India, where girls are trafficked, Md Shahidullah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tejgaon Division, disclosed this at a media briefing here on Saturday.
Shahidullah told IANS: “Hridoy has a gang comprising some people from the southeastern districts of Bangladesh and some others from Indian states.”
Recently, Hridoy was in the news after a video of his alleged involvement in the gang-rape and brutal torture of a Bangladeshi girl in India’s Bengaluru went viral on social media.
Assam police had shared clips from the video that was circulating on social media to trace the accused, following which the Bengaluru city police arrested four men and two women in connection with the case.
The Bangladesh police later identified Hridoy from Dhaka’s Maghbazar as one of the perpetrators of the crime.
The rape victim’s father later filed a case with the Hatirjheel police station under the Human Trafficking and Pornography Act on Thursday night.
The victim’s mother said they were unaware that their daughter had been trafficked to another country.
She appealed to the police, “Bring back my daughter right away. I can’t imagine her being so far away, in another country.”
The victim, who had studied up to grade three, had married a man from Chandpur seven years ago. The couple with their three-year-old daughter used to live in Moghbazar. Her husband is a migrant worker who went to Kuwait three years back, and the woman used to regularly visit her parents.
“A little over a year ago, she met her husband’s friend Hridoy in Moghbazar and told me that he would help her find work abroad with her husband. I tried to stop her, but she went anyway,” the victim’s father said.
He alleged that his daughter might have been coerced into going to India. He could not keep in touch with her as he fell ill following the outbreak of Covid-19.
All five Bangladeshis arrested in connection with the incident in India went there illegally, and none of them had passports or visas.
They used to traffic school and college girls by conning them with TikTok related promises, Shahidullah said, adding: “India will investigate the case in its own way and we will probe the matter in our own way. However, since the perpetrators are Bangladeshis, efforts are being made to bring them back to the country through coordination between the two countries. Efforts to bring the survivor back are also being made.”
India’s External Affairs Minister said QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements, reports Reena Bhardwaj
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day US visit, discussed wide range of issues related to shared priorities and regional security challenges including Quad during his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Regarding Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consisting of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Jaishankar said “the strategic group has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements.”
“Quad fills a very important gap that has emerged in contemporary times,which cannot be filled by a single country, which cannot even be furthered by one bilateral relationship, and which is not being addressed at the multilateral level, Jaishankar added.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington. (Photo:https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar)
Quad alliance is seen by Beijing as a part of efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. In an effort to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad, the alliance had earlier discussed maritime security, connectivity, including technology issues, supply chain issues, vaccine production.
“So, there are a whole set of issues in the world have many, many concerns, you know, the many concerns have to be addressed by somebody, I mean, big countries can do a large portion of it, big relationships can add to it. But at the end of the day, most things work better if a group of countries sit together and say, okay, we all have similar positions and similar interest, and why don’t we all sit and address those sets of issues? So that’s how we see Quad we see what I mean, is an expression of the convergence of interests of many countries, it is, in many ways, a reflection of the contemporary nature of the world,” said Jaishankar.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
He also said that both the countries have also shared their concerns over China’s problematic activities, coup in Myanmar and COVID-19 origin tracing.
“On China, we shared concerns about Southern China’s problematic activities in the region, and it becomes increasingly like-minded on these issues. On the coup in Burma, the US and India have called for an end to the violence, urged the release of political prisoners, and called for the restoration of democracy,” informed DeanThompson, the Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in his briefing to reporters.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets NSA Jake Sullivan (Credit: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Talking about Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, “There is a recognition, clearly in the United States as indeed in many other countries. You know, when you talk about the future of Afghanistan, India, is an important part of that conversation. Just as when we look at Afghanistan, clearly, you know, given the American presence over many years, it is something that we will be discussing.”
During his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the issue of Afghanistan came up.
US troops will be withdrawing from Afghanistan by September 2021 and many fears that the withdrawal of foreign troops will lead to unrest in the war-torn country.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
“The possible scenarios, once the US military draws down is obviously something which is, which matters us, it matters very much. It matters to the United States, and it has a larger regional presence. So, in one of these meetings, this subject came up. I don’t think it was so much an issue of what is India’s role, I mean, India has interest, India has influence, India has stakes, India has a history.”
India had offered Afghanistan, a nascent democracy, an assistance package of USD 1 billion. It is the 5th largest donor to Afghanistan, providing development reconstruction assistance of USD 2 billion since 2001. Also, it supports Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled development of the war-torned nation.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar eets US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (Photo @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Regarding, India’s position on COVID-19 origin tracing, Jaishankar said that WHO convened a global study on origin of COVID-19 and that is an important first step.
“The probe stressed the need for next phase of studies to reach robust conclusion. So, that is the position which we have taken and the matter,” said Jaishankar. (ANI)
Indian Army Chief M.M. Naravane (Photo: Bidesh Manna/IANS)
Indian Army Chief said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong Lake, reports Asian Lite News
The chief of Indian Army, M.M. Naravane, said here on Friday that the troops are on high alert at Line of Actual Control (LAC), keeping a close watch on the activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The army chief also pointed that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored.
Naravane stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides.
He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong Lake.
The army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in Eastern Ladakh in immediate depth, so India has also made mirror deployments in depth.
Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane reviews security arrangements in Valley.
Naravane also said that India is keeping an eye on the developments on the Chinese side.
He said India is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang along the LAC.
He also pointed out that India’s stand in the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same, i.e., the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.
The army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.
Indian Army uses drones, cameras to monitor Chinese troops pullback at Pangong Lake
The 12 rounds of military commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the border issue will take place soon. It has been delayed due to the surge in the number of Covid cases.
General Naravane recently reviewed the operational preparedness of the force along the borders with China in the Arunachal Pradesh region.
He went to Dimapur in Nagaland on May 20 on a two-day visit to review the operational readiness along the northern borders of Arunachal Pradesh, and the security situation in the hinterlands of the Northeast region.
India and China are engaged in a year-long standoff along the LAC. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank, as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington. (Photo:https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar)
In a tweet after meeting Jaishankar, Blinken tweeted that they discussed the “India-China border situation”, although Jaishankar and State Department Spokesperson Ned Price made no mention of that topic, reports Arul Louis
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging India and the rising global tensions, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has capped two days of whirlwind diplomacy in Washington by meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin as they sought to deepen the ties between their countries.
His meetings on Friday with the two cabinet officials and earlier with national security officials and Congressional leaders signalled the high priority the two countries gave to strategic cooperation.
With those leaders and business groups, Jaishankar also discussed the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the joint efforts to fight it.
In a tweet after meeting Jaishankar, Blinken tweeted that they discussed the “India-China border situation”, although Jaishankar and State Department Spokesperson Ned Price made no mention of that topic. India has faced border incursions by China and a clash with fatalities over the last two years, during which Washington backed New Delhi.
“As friends, we will work together to address these areas of shared concern,” Blinken added mentioning also regional security and economic priorities, US Covid-19 relief efforts, and support for Afghanistan, from where the US is scheduled to pull out its troops after a 20-year deployment.
Jaishankar tweeted after their discussions with Blinken, “Today’s talks have further solidified our strategic partnership and enlarged our agenda of cooperation.”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
With Lloyd he had “a comprehensive conversation about further developing our strategic and defence partnership (and) Exchanged views on contemporary security challenges,” Jaishankar tweeted.
US spokespersons said after the separate meetings on Friday that the leaders pledged to continue to deepen ties between the two countries.
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that Blinken “reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to deepening the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership”.
He added that “a shared commitment to combating the climate crisis and enhancing multilateral cooperation” was another topic in their talks.
Jaishankar tweeted that they had “also focused on Indo-US vaccine partnership aimed at expanding access and ensuring supply.” He added, “Appreciated strong solidarity expressed by US at this time.”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets NSA Jake Sullivan (Credit: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
He said that the Indo-Pacific and the Quad — made up of the two countries and Japan and Australia — and Afghanistan, Myanmar, the United Nations Security Council, where India is currently an elected member, and other international organisations were discussed.
And Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby said that Austin and Jaishankar pledged to continue “strengthening the US-India Major Defense Partnership. They also discussed opportunities to deepen coordination amid the resurgence of Covid-19 cases.”
Kirby said that they discussed “shared priorities in the US-India strategic partnership and exchange views on a range of regional security challenges”.
Austin said he “looks forward to hosting Minister Jaishankar and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year” that the US is scheduled to host, Kirby added.
In his tweet, Jaishankar said that he “expressed appreciation of the US military role in responding to the Covid situation” in India.
The US Air Force flew in supplies of oxygen, equipment to make the gas, personal protection gear and other material to help India face the deadly second wave pandemic.
On Thursday, Jaishankar had met with the top strategic officials, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Jaishankar tweeted that he had “wide-ranging discussions including on Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan” with Sullivan and “conveyed appreciation for US solidarity in addressing the Covid challenge” where “India-US vaccine partnership can make a real difference”.
About his meeting with Haines, he tweeted, “Look forward to working closely together to address contemporary security challenges and advance our strategic partnership.”
The administration of President Joe Biden recently came out in support of a request by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organisation to waive patents for vaccine and after meeting US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Jaishankar said in a tweet that he welcomed her “positive stance” on the issue and her support for efficient and robust supply chains.
He added, “Our trade, technology & business cooperation are at the core of our strategic partnership. Enhancing them is vital to post-Covid economic recovery.”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (Photo @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
On Capitol Hill, Jaishankar’s outreach to Congressional leaders went off smoothly without any interference from Indian American member of the House of Representatives Pramila Jayapal, who is a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In 2019, a meeting between Jaishankar and the House Foreign Affairs Committee was cancelled after Jayapal was added to the list of participants although she was not a member of the panel.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who just ended her unsuccessful run for president, jumped into the fray criticising Jaishankar. “It’s wrong for any foreign government to tell Congress what members are allowed in meetings on Capitol Hill,” implying that an Indian leader could not have any autonomy and is obligated to be subservient to US politicians.
Jaishankar has so far not met Harris, who by protocol does not have to meet him. While she has had telephone conversations with several prime ministers and foreign ministers as part of her foreign policy apprenticeship, she has not spoken to any Indian leaders.
Jaishankar met with Gregory Meeks, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Michael McCaul, the Republican leader on the panel and discussed the Quad and cooperation on vaccines, the minister tweeted. He added that he recognised “their leadership in building stronger ties”.
He also met with the Co-chairs of the House India Caucus Brad Sherman, a Democrat, and Steve Chabot, a Republican.
Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, “The US Congress has been a tremendous pillar of support as India meets the Covid challenge.”
He and India’s Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu also had dinner with Sherman, who tweeted afterwards, “Learned how #India is fighting #COVID19 and working to disentangle its economy from China.”
Members of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and the US Global Task Force on Pandemic Relief also met Jaishankar.
The Indian embassy tweeted that he “appreciated the US private sector’s swift response in India’s fight against the pandemic” and the participation of CEOs of US companies, their support for India’s efforts against the pandemic, and the “US industry’s firm commitment to advance India-US trade, investment and technology partnership”.
