Several western strategists had targeted Beijing for coercion, repression

Photo for representation. — iStock

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 15

The Chinese embassy here has sought to counter remarks made against Beijing during the ongoing Raisina Dialogue by several western political and military leaders whose participation is high as this year’s version is fully digital.

The Chinese embassy spokesperson Wang Xiaojian protested remarks made by US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Phil Davidson and others about Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, by describing happenings in these regions as China’s internal affairs. “Making baseless and irresponsible remarks is not acceptable. We are firmly opposed to interference in China’s internal affairs by any country or anyone under any pretext,” he said.

Wang also objected to some western officials stating that ‘China does not share our values’. “China has being calling for upholding values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. Aren’t these the values that all of us should be committed to,” he asked. 

Emirati ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba made revelation during a virtual discussion

Dubai, April 15

The United Arab Emirates played a role in bringing down the tension between India and Pakistan and getting their bilateral ties back to a “healthy functional relationship”, Emirati ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba has said.

“They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get it to a level where it’s functional, where it’s operational, where they are speaking to each other,” al-Otaiba said during a virtual discussion with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution on Wednesday.

India and Pakistan in a surprise announcement said on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors. 

Al-Otaiba himself brought up the issue while responding to a question, acknowledging his country’s role in “bringing Kashmir escalation down” between the two neighbours.

“We try to be helpful where we have influence with two different countries. So, India and Pakistan was the most recent one…,” he said.

“We don’t think they are going to become the most favoured nation to each other, but I think it’s important for them to have a healthy functional relationship,” he added.

In New Delhi, asked about media reports that backchannel talks between India and Pakistan were going on for more than a year, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi did not give a direct reply.

“If you talk about channels of communication on this issue, let me just recall that our respective high commissions exist and are functioning. So that is a very effective channel of communication,” Bagchi said on April 9.

India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

On the same day, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman stopped short of categorically denying its involvement in some kind of backchannel talks with India.

Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry at the weekly press briefing on April 9 was asked by several journalists about reported backchannel talks with India.

Instead of rejecting it outrightly he said: “States have their ways and means to communicate which remain available even during wars. Therefore, whether any talks are taking place between India and Pakistan is not important.”     

He added that the real issue was what should be discussed between the two countries and how the dialogue could be made meaningful and result-oriented dialogue.

Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country.

Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship dipped further after India’s war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

The relations deteriorated after India announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August, 2019.

Last month, Pakistan’s powerful Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that it was time for India and Pakistan to “bury the past and move forward” as he asserted that the peace between the two neighbours would help to “unlock” the potential of South and Central Asia.

The powerful army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 70 plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy.

Under the guidance and leadership of Brig Prahalad SIngh ,GOG Distt head Pathankot and Chairman Sanjha Morcha sets an example to pay rich tributes to any ESM in any village as they deserve it.

There is a SOP for Station HQ to send a rifleman and a bugler to pay the last salute to the departed Soul of an ESM but is overlooked as families are not aware of this order

Many ESM families are not even aware that they can claim Rs 10000/- from dependent CSD Canteen . Brig Prahalad says that we ESM must assist the families of diseased ESM and send him off with due respect and honour.

GOGs are in red-maroon Caps and turbans

Analysts said that the disengagement process promises to be a lengthy affair
The two countries have successfully disengaged and pulled back troops from the Galwan Valley, where 24 soldiers were killed, and Pangong Tso, a cross-border lake, in the Ladakh region.
But the two countries have yet to resolve other “friction points”, where troops and weaponry remain, with the latest round of talks seeing a “detailed exchange of views” on disengagement at the Gogra, Hot Springs and Demchok areas but no breakthrough.
No joint statement was released after the 11th round of talks, which took place last Friday (April 9), over a month after the previous round of talks.
Talks are set to continue, with China’s People’s Liberation Army in a statement saying that India should “cherish the current positive trend of de-escalation and cooling in the border areas”.
The Indian defence ministry said that “the two sides agreed on the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner” and jointly maintain stability on the ground.
India and China have since the 90s successfully followed a policy of delinking border troubles from the rest of their relationship. This led to a robust economic relationship, with China becoming India’s biggest trading partner.
But this balance was disrupted by last year’s border trouble, the worst in four decades.
India banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, citing security reasons, and put investments from China through additional scrutiny.
Analysts said that the disengagement process promises to be a lengthy affair, with little hope of reducing the trust deficit at present or seeing some forward movement in ties.
“I think the trust deficit is as wide as it was last year. I don’t think it will go down without a dramatic shift. The temperature has come down and imminent conflict is gone. And there is a certain space that India and China have for diplomatic engagement,” said Professor Harsh Pant, director of studies at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“The realistic understanding is that it (border resolution) is not going to happen any time soon. It would require a degree of patience. India is going into this negotiation with eyes open. There is a sense this is a challenge and that the broader relationship with China is also going to be a challenge.”
The border troubles with China also resulted in New Delhi throwing off any hesitancy in embracing the Quadrilateral Security Forum, which groups India, the US, Australia and Japan. India last year invited Australia to be part of the annual Malabar exercises with the US and Japan.
Some analysts believe the border talks need to be seen in a larger context. Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, a China expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said there could be a potential go-slow approach by China against the backdrop of the Quad leaders’ summit in March.
At the summit, the group agreed to cooperate in a range of areas, including vaccine manufacturing. China sees the Quad as a grouping that aims to keep it in check.
Prof Kondapalli said: “The geopolitical issues are linked as far as China is concerned. In the light of the Quad meeting, it appears the disengagement process is going to be slow.
“If border talks continue like this, there won’t be much forward improvement in bilateral relations because the Indian side has categorically said there needs to be disengagement first.”

Russia and India are committed to adhering to timelines and other obligations under the S-400 missile deal, Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said on Wednesday amid apprehensions of possible US sanctions against New Delhi over procurement of the weapons systems.
The envoy also said that both Russia and India do not recognise bilateral sanctions as they are “illegal tools” of “unlawful and unfair” competition and pressure.
During his visit to India last month, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said there was no discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the possibility of American sanctions against India over its S-400 deal with Russia as there has been no delivery of the missiles.
At the same time, Austin urged all allies and partners of the US to avoid buying Russian equipment that may invite US sanctions.
“Together with India, we do not recognise bilateral sanctions as they are illegal tools of unlawful and unfair, should I say, competition, pressure and even blackmail. It was clearly stated by the two foreign ministers in the course of their exchange,” Kudashev said.
“With regard to S-400 and broader agreements, both sides are committed to the agreed timelines and other obligations. This contract is being successfully fulfilled,” he added.
The US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchase of S-400 missile defences from Russia.
Kudashev also said that the world order should be free from “unilateral approaches, illegal sanctions, double standards” and interference in domestic affairs of sovereign states.
“Collective international law based solutions should prevail over zero-sum games,” he said, in his initial statement.
Ahead of Austin’s high-profile India visit, Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a letter urged the US Defence Secretary to take up with Indian leaders the issue of New Delhi procuring Russian S-400 missile defence system.
In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.
India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems in 2019. The S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
Following the US sanctions on Turkey, there have been apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India.
The supply of S-400 missiles to India by Russia is expected to begin later this year.

Roopinder Singh

Atall, handsome Sardar sporting a milky-white beard, wearing an Air Force uniform with five stars on the lapel, marched up to President KR Narayanan with a sure stride. He belied his 83 years and stood straight before the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces on April 22, 2002. Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh’s investiture ceremony took place at the 32-metre-by-20-metre Ashoka Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

‘His inspiring career, towering personality and distinguished reputation have endowed him with a unique stature in society and have earned him the respect of the nation. Even till date, he actively associates himself with various welfare activities of the Air Force as a father figure of the service, which he nurtured from its fledgeling days.

‘For his most outstanding and extraordinary service to the nation, the President of India is pleased to confer upon Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force,’ read the citation.

The President acknowledged the salute of the veteran warrior. The cerulean and gold baton was brought up on a velvet cushion. The President handed the baton to Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, who saluted him again. The President shook his hand.

The lady of the day, Teji Arjan Singh, looked elegant in a russet organza sari. She has stood by her husband for all the eventful years with grace and charm that became legendary. Sitting next to her in a white embroidered outfit was their daughter, Asha. The National Anthem was played again and the President and his guests retired to the Banquet Hall.

The ceremony had been as impressive as it was brief. During tea at the Banquet Hall, adjoining Ashoka Hall, the mood was informal. Life-size portraits of past Presidents seemed to look upon the historical event approvingly as many of his well-wishers greeted MIAF Arjan Singh. The President and others gracefully conceded the centre stage to the 83-year-old pilot, who proudly wore the Distinguished Flying Cross, Padma Vibhushan, and a host of other medals.

A comment he had made soon after the announcement of the rank on January 26 that year is still fresh in my mind: ‘Roopinder, I will finally get rid of that ‘retired’!’ After leaving active service in IAF, he had a distinguished career in diplomacy and public service, but IAF was his life.

Personal sacrifice demonstrates leadership. Two years later, he sold his farm near Delhi. With the support of the family, a corpus of Rs 2 crore was used to establish the Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust. It provides assistance to ex-Air Force personnel/their widows. After his death, his children gave Rs 25 lakh more for the trust.

A Field Marshal never retires. MIAF Arjan Singh DFC was an extraordinary human and one who led by example. A salute to IAF’s only Field Marshal on his birth anniversary. He would have been 102 today. He continues to inspire us.

Imran’s rigidity a hurdle in the way of maintaining peace on our borders

n a bind: India is dealing with one of the most opinionated politicians in Pakistan — Imran Khan. Reuters

G Parthasarathy

Chancellor, Jammu Central University & former High Commissioner to Pakistan

Tensions with Pakistan have been a continuing feature of India’s problems in its neighbourhood. Are we, however, seeing after a long time, the emergence of a ‘Naya Pakistan’, with its perennially hostile military, favouring a cooling of tensions with India? There has been a feeling in recent days that there are good reasons for cautious optimism in India and Pakistan that the two countries could negotiate ways to live in peace. Most Indians feel that for the past four years, India is dealing with one of the most opinionated politicians in Pakistan — Imran Khan. His Tehreek-e-Insaf Party was ideologically moulded by the anti-India, former ISI chief, Lt Gen Hamid Gul.

China has naturally regarded Imran Khan’s anti-India diatribes as a blessing. It complements the daily dose of anti-India rhetoric dished out by Beijing’s official mouthpiece, the Global Times. All this is having an impact within Pakistan, where there are many who understand the urgent need for economic realism to meet challenges posed by the pandemic. Pakistanis would surely have noted that while their foreign exchange reserves have dwindled to a mere $14.8 billion, Bangladesh, whose people have traditionally been looked down upon by their erstwhile West Pakistani brethren, has steadily growing foreign exchange reserves of $44 billion. Bangladesh has overtaken Pakistan in virtually every financial, social and economic indicator, within half a century of its birth in 1971.

There are now many in Pakistan who believe that it is imperative to focus on economic development with their neighbours. Pakistan army chief General Bajwa, who, like his predecessors, is Pakistan’s de facto ruler, called for measures to boost intra-regional trade and connectivity. A few days earlier, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan had reached an agreement on a ceasefire across the LoC. Meanwhile, the economic coordination committee of Imran Khan’s cabinet, headed by Finance Minister Hammad Azar, recommended that trade with India needed to be resumed to revive the economy.

The cabinet rejected the recommendations of the committee the very next day. Those leading the rejectionists included minister for human rights Shireen Mazari, who has a track record of vitriolic anti-Indian writings and pronouncements, SM Qureshi, the hawkish minister for foreign affairs, and Sheikh Rashid, the interior minister. Mazari asserted: ‘The cabinet stated clearly that there could be no trade with India. The Prime Minister made it clear there can be no normalisation of relations with India, until they reverse their illegal actions of August 5, 2019, on Jammu and Kashmir’. Imran Khan appears determined to ridicule what was an action to cool temperatures in relations with India, initiated by General Bajwa. He was, thereby, sending the message that he remained a ‘hawk’ on J&K. This will, no doubt, please Bajwa’s rivals in the army, who reportedly include the ISI chief, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who is in the running to succeed Bajwa. The ISI chief is, no doubt, pledging eternal loyalty to the army chief at the same time.

While his actions may have enabled Imran Khan to strengthen his position amongst those opposed to General Bajwa, he could well find that he has opened the doors for his political opponents like Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP and Maulana Fazlur Rahman of the JUI, who has conservative, Islamist support within Pakistan, to pose a serious political challenge. Imran Khan remembers that in his early days in politics, he had the strong army support to pose challenges to his then rival, Nawaz Sharif. Even as his present relations with General Bajwa are not as cordial as they were earlier, he is making sure that he retains support in the higher echelons of the army. He is, at the same time, working to convince US President Joe Biden that he will facilitate a smooth withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, while remaining a trusted loyalist of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Both China and Russia have their eyes on Afghanistan’s immense resources.

India needs to play its cards skilfully in this complex scenario. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who was posted in our embassy in Islamabad in the early 1980s, developed a perceptive understanding of the complexities of the internal situation in Pakistan. The two countries should have ambassadors in each other’s capital as a first step, for any move forward. It is only natural for Doval to continue guiding any ‘back channel’ negotiations. India’s highly respected, former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satinder Lambah, did a commendable job as Special Envoy in his ‘back channel’ meetings with General Musharraf’s confidant, Tariq Aziz, after the 2003 Kashmir ceasefire. That entire dialogue process was undermined by Gen Ashfaq Kayani, who succeeded Musharraf as army chief. Imran Khan would be well advised to study details of those talks, instead of shooting from the hip. That dialogue was based on then PM Manmohan Singh’s simple proposition: ‘Borders cannot be redrawn, but we can work towards making borders irrelevant — towards making them just lines on a map’. He added: ‘People on both sides of the Line of Control should be able to move freely and trade with one another’.

The way ahead for maintaining peace on our borders is going to the complex. One hopes that the Biden administration will show wisdom and foresight by ending sanctions on Iran. Teheran has a vital stake in seeing that its eastern borders with Afghanistan are not administered by ISI-backed, Wahhabi-oriented fundamentalists. Democratic processes can be revived in J&K with the revival of statehood for the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley, when the situation stabilises. Pakistan will have to be cautioned by those desiring peace and stability against any effort to resume infiltration across the LoC. This process can also be facilitated if China ends its efforts for ‘salami slicing’ of Indian territory in Ladakh.

Farmers raise slogans at Aasoda toll plaza in Jhajjar. Tribune Photo

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, April 14

The administration’s move to reactivate the toll booth on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway near Aasoda village failed within 24 hours as protesting farmers created a ruckus on Wednesday, forcing toll officials to stop charging tax from commuters. This was for the third time in four months that farmers shut the KMP Expressway toll plaza.

The protesting farmers lifted the toll barriers, giving a free passage to the commuters. They also staged a dharna at the plaza and raised anti-government slogans. Bahadurgarh SDM Hitendra Sharma, present on the spot along with a heavy police force, said the farmers were requested not to take law into their hands by closing the toll plaza but they did not pay heed.

The toll plaza was restarted on Tuesday in the presence of the SDM and the police to prevent any untoward incident. The farmers did not come yesterday as they had got together at Tikri border for the Baisakhi fair, said sources.

BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni had appealed this morning to farmers to reach the Aasoda toll plaza to ensure its closure in a peaceful manner. Suman Hooda, a farmer leader, said they would not leave the toll plaza till the administrative officers and police forces remained at the spot.

Meanwhile, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) condemned the toll companies for restarting the collection. “These are provocations to disrupt the stir when harvesting is at its peak,” the AIKS said.