Monthly Archives: August 2018

Brussels, February 3

NATO called Friday on Russia to respect the only treaty it has with the United States aimed at keeping a lid on nuclear weapons expansion and urged Moscow to allow on-the-ground inspections of military sites to resume.

The so-called New START Treaty was signed by Russia and the US in 2010. It caps at 1,550 the number of long-range nuclear warheads they can deploy and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons. It allows short-notice inspections of each other’s nuclear bases and support facilities.

“We note with concern that Russia has failed to comply with legally-binding obligations under the New START Treaty,” NATO ambassadors said in a statement.

The 30-nation US-led military alliance supports the treaty and believes that it helps to limit the expansion of nuclear forces.

The envoys said that Russia’s refusal to hold consultations or to allow US inspections since last August “prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty, and undermines the United States’ ability to adequately verify Russian compliance with the Treaty’s central limits.” “We call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty by facilitating New START inspections on Russian territory, and by returning to participation in the Treaty’s implementation body,” the forum in which the two sides could consult, NATO said.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly ramped up his nuclear rhetoric since he ordered Russian troops into Ukraine almost a year ago, raising concern among Western allies and the public over whether he might actually use such weapons.

The US-Russia committee formed under the treaty last met in October 2021, but Russia unilaterally suspended its cooperation with the pact’s inspection provisions in August 2022 to protest US support for Ukraine.Inspections of US and Russian military sites under the New START treaty were paused by both sides because of the spread of the coronavirus in March 2020.

The US State Department warned on Tuesday that “Russia’s refusal to facilitate inspection activities prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and threatens the viability of US-Russian nuclear arms control.” AP

The meeting between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington DC earlier this week was their first interaction under the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. PTI file photo
The meeting between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington DC earlier this week was their first interaction under the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). This initiative had been announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in May 2022 on the sidelines of the Quad summit in Tokyo. In the backdrop of China’s tech-driven expansionist ambitions, India and the US are keen to expand and strengthen their strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation. The White House statement has affirmed the two nations’ commitment to ‘fostering an open, accessible and secure technology ecosystem, based on mutual trust and confidence, that will reinforce our democratic values and institutions.’

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations are an integral part of defence preparedness in the 21st century. This underscores the need for India and America to fast-track the $3-billion MQ-9B predator-armed drone deal, which has been in the works for the past five years. These drones are expected to help New Delhi bolster its surveillance prowess along the Line of Actual Control and the Indian Ocean — two regions where China has been busy flexing its muscles in recent years.

The detection of a Chinese ‘surveillance’ balloon, spotted flying over US airspace days ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Beijing trip, implies that there is no room for laxity when national security is at stake, even as China has claimed that it was a civilian airship used for research purposes. Last year, India remained on its toes in the Indian Ocean due to the presence of Chinese ‘spy vessel’ Yuan Wang 5, which docked at a Chinese-owned port in Sri Lanka despite New Delhi’s objections. Close collaboration between India and US in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum and telecom technologies, high-performance computing, co-production of jet engines, semiconductor supply chains and commercial space launches is a must to deepen defence ties. Such cooperation can give the two allies greater confidence to counter China, described by CIA Director William Burns as the ‘biggest geopolitical challenge’ that the US is facing.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 3

The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a Pakistani drone reportedly carrying 5 kg of heroin near Kakkar village in Amritsar sector. The packet of narcotics was wrapped in a yellow adhesive tape.

Around 2.30 am, BSF personnel heard a buzzing sound of a flying object entering from Pakistan into the Indian territory near Kakkar village, an official said.

The BSF personnel shot down the drone and cordoned off the whole area. With the help of the police and agencies concerned, a search was carried out and a packet containing heroin was recovered, the official said.

1. @IND,O-CANADIAN VETERAN GROUP,SECY SUB AVTAR SINGH ,HONORED
2. @CONTACTS OF SPARSH OFFICIALS
3. @43 INDIAN TROOPS DIED ON DUTY IN AFRICA UNDER PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS SINCE UN’S INCEPTION: GOVERNMENT
4. @INDIA FLAGS WB MOVE ON INDUS ROW
5. @US VISA RENEWAL APPLICATION CAN NOW BE SUBMITTED THROUGH DROPBOX
6. @SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF INDIANS IN CANADA PRIORITY FOR GOVT: MOS MURALEEDHARAN
7. @LCA TEJAS AIRCRAFT TO BE AT CENTRE STAGE OF INDIA PAVILION AT AERO INDIA 2023
8. @REPUBLICAN SENATORS ASK BLINKEN TO HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR RIGHTS ABUSES, AGGRESSION TOWARDS ALLIES LIKE INDIA AND TAIWAN
9. @DRDO SEEKS INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP ADVANCED WHEELED AND TRACKED ARMOURED VEHICLES
10. @HERE IS WHY PAKISTANI-BANGLADESHI-ORIGIN COUPLE NAMED THEIR CHILD ‘INDIA’
11. @EXPOSE BLACK SHEEP IN FORCES HELPING DRUG PEDDLERS: AND DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE AT GROCERY STORES. PB GOVERNOR TO BORDER VILLAGERS
12. @PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO GIVE JOB TO FORMER HOCKEY PLAYER CURRENTLY WORKING AS ‘PALLEDAR’

INDO-CANADIAN VETERAN GROUP,SECY SUB AVTAR SINGH ,HIGHLIGHTS SERVICES IT WILL RENDRED IN FUTURE ALSO HONORED FOR SUCESSFULLY RUNNING HIS AGENCY VICTORIA IMMIGRATION IN CANADA. THE GROUP IS AFFILIATED TO SANJHA MORCHA AND PRESIDENT CUN GEN SECY COL CHARANJIT SINGH KHERA IS MEMBER OF IT.

E-mail ID of various Officials:

Dr. Km. Gurpreet Kaur (CDA)
SPARSH PCDA PENSION Prayagraj
PCDA Pensions Draupadi ghat, Allahabad
Email Address: cda-albd@nic.in
Contact Number: 05322421867

Mr. Dharmendra Kumar Singh (Contact Number: 9389075910) and
Mr. Anshuman Sharma (Contact Number: 9936691809)
SPARSH Nodal Officer (Air Force)
SPARSH PCDA PENSION Prayagraj
PCDA Pensions Draupadi ghat, Allahabad
Email Address: sparshairforce.dad@gov.in
Contact Number: 9389075910, 9936691809

1. PCDA (P) Prayagraj (head) : pcdapprayagraj.dad@gov.in
2. SPARSH Call Centre: offr.record@gov.in
3. JCDA (Air Force): dcdaaf-delh.cgda@nic.in
4. JCDA, AF (CDA): dcdaaf_delh.cgda@nic.in,
5. CGDA: cgda-atpension.dad@hub.nic.in,
6. CGDA: cgda@nic.in
7. CGDA (grievances): grievancecgda.dad@gov.in
8. Financial Advisor and Joint Secretary Defence Finance: vedveerarya.dad@hub.nic.in
9. Financial Advisor (Defence Finance): fads1-mod@gov.in
10. Principal advisor (Defence Finance): geetachhabra.icoas@nic.in
11. Pension Adalat: pensionadalat.dad@hub.nic.in
12. Principal Director DAV: dav@iaf.nic.in
13. DAV Directorate of Air Veterans: dav.airmen@gov.in,
14. DPENGRAM: rakshapension@desw.gov.in,
15. Department of Military Affairs: jsg@nic.in
16. Defence Ministry II: mos-defence@gov.in
17. Defence Ministry: rmo@mod.nic.in
18. Secretary (Dept. of Ex-servicemen welfare): secyesw@nic.in
19. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare: jsesw@nic.in
20. Secretary Kendriya Sainik Board: secretaryksb@gmail.com
21. Joint Director (Grievances) KSB: jdgrievancesksb-mod@gov.in
22. Deputy Secretary (CPENGRAMS): naresh.bhardwaj@nic.in
23. Under Secretary (Co-ordination/CPENGRAMS): dutta.rk@nic.in
24. Prime Minister’s Office: us-public.sb@gov.in
25. Under Secretary (Petition) President’s Secretariat: us.petitions@rb.nic.in

V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, File photo
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PTI

New Delhi, February 2

A total of 143 Indian troops died on duty in Africa under UN peacekeeping missions since the United Nation’s inception, the government said on Thursday.

A total of 143 Indian UN peacekeeping troops died on duty in Africa under peacekeeping missions since the UN’s inception, the government said on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the total number of women troops who have died during UN’s peacekeeping missions across the world is 35.

To a separate question, Muraleedharan said India continues to assist Sri Lanka in its economic development as also support it in overcoming its economic challenges, under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

In January 2022, India extended a USD 400 million currency swap to Sri Lanka under the SAARC Framework and deferred successive Asian Clearing Union (A.C.U.) settlements of around USD 2 billion, he said.

A Line of Credit of USD 500 million was extended to Sri Lanka for importing fuel from India, he said.

“In addition, India has extended a credit facility of USD 1 billion for the procurement of food, medicines and other essential items from India. Humanitarian assistance was also provided to Sri Lanka by gifting essential medicines worth about INR 6 crores, 15,000 litres of kerosene oil and US $ 55 million LoC for procurement of Urea fertilizer,” Muraleedharan said.

The Tamil Nadu government has contributed rice, milk powder and medicines worth US$ 16 million, as part of the larger Indian assistance effort, he added.

Asks why two processes to resolve conflict

New Delhi, February 2

India on Thursday questioned the World Bank’s decision to appoint a Court of Arbitration and a neutral expert under two separate processes to resolve differences between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in J&K.

Last week, India had issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a review and modification of the 62-year-old Indus Waters Treaty for management of cross-border rivers following Islamabad’s “intransigence” in handling disputes. “I do not think they (World Bank) are in a position to interpret the treaty for us. It is a treaty between two countries and our assessment of the treaty is that there is a provision of graded approach,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

India took the significant step of sending the notice to Pakistan conveying its intent to amend the treaty months after the WB announced appointing a neutral expert and a chair of Court of Arbitration to resolve differences over Kishenganga and Ratle projects. New Delhi has been particularly disappointed over the appointment of the Court of Arbitration.

PTI

New Delhi, February 2

People seeking renewal of US visa can now submit their applications through dropbox, the US Embassy has said while clarifying that such requests would not be entertained through email.

According to John Ballard, the consular chief at the US Consulate General in Mumbai, the US embassy and consulates in India have prepared to receive a record number of visas from Indian students in 2023.

The US embassy adjudicated over 1,25,000 student visas in 2022.

“It was the most students that we have ever adjudicated here in India and we expect in 2023, we will have even more Indian students that will be coming into apply for visas,” Ballard told PTI.  

PTI

New Delhi, February 2

The safety and well-being of Indian nationals in Canada is a priority for the government, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday.

His remarks came in response to a question in Rajya Sabha on instances of increasing hate crime and sectarian violence against Indians in Canada.

Muraleedharan said India regularly takes up with Canada untoward incidents affecting the Indian community and requests it to bring the perpetrators to justice after carrying out proper investigation.

“The safety and well-being of Indian nationals in Canada is a priority for the government. The Indian Mission/Consulates in Canada are constantly engaged with the Indian community, including on measures to ensure their safety and well-being,” he said.

“The ministry and our Mission/Consulates in Canada regularly take up any untoward incidents related to the Indian community, with the concerned Canadian authorities and request them to ensure proper investigation, identify the perpetrators and impart justice,” he said.

Muraleedharan said the ministry as well as the Indian mission and consulates in Canada have issued advisories from time to time, asking Indian nationals residing in that country to exercise due caution and remain vigilant.

Few days back, a prominent Hindu temple in Brampton in Canada was targeted with anti-India graffiti, causing outrage among the Indian community.

Condemning the act of vandalism at Gauri Shankar Mandir, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto said the defacing of the temple has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.

To a separate question on India’s policy towards Taiwan, he said it is clear and consistent.

“The government facilitates and promotes interactions in areas of trade, investment, tourism, culture, education and other such people-to-people exchanges,” he said.

Though India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, the bilateral trade relations have been on an upswing.

Following the eastern Ladakh border row with China, some experts in India have been pushing for upgrading New Delhi’s ties with Taipei, especially in the trade and investment sectors.

In 1995, New Delhi set up the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei to promote interactions between the two sides and to facilitate business, tourism and cultural exchanges.

India-Taipei Association has also been authorized to provide all consular and passport services.

In the same year, Taiwan too established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Delhi.