PTI

Gandhinagar, October 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of a new airbase coming up in north Gujarat near India-Pakistan border and said it will emerge as an effective centre for the country’s security.

Speaking after inaugurating the Defence Expo 2022 in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar, Modi also said that defence forces will release a list of 101 more items that cannot be imported.

With this 411 defence-related goods can only be procured locally, he said.

“This will give a major boost to the Indian defence industry,” he said.

The PM said this is an unprecedented DefExpo as only Indian companies are participating in it for the first time.

He said the air base coming up at Deesa in Banaskantha in North Gujarat will “emerge as an effective centre for the security of the country.

He also said that the exports of Indian defence products have increased eight times in the last few years.

The country has come a long way, as “earlier we used to release pigeons and now we release cheetahs”, he added.

North Korea’s military on Wednesday said that it fired artillery shots overnight into maritime buffer zones near the inter-Korean border as a “serious warning” over Seoul’s ongoing military drills.In a statement, a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) said the North’s military launched a “threatening and warning” fire as its “powerful military countermeasure” against South Korea’s military exercises, reports Yonhap News Agency. The spokesperson also called on the South to immediately stop “reckless and inciting provocations” that have raised military tensions on the peninsula, according to the carried by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency.The shots came hours after the North launched more than 250 artillery shells into waters off its east and west coast.The KPA official said the move came in response to a series of “military provocative acts by enemies”, citing the Hoguk military drills under way in the South. South Korea kicked off its annual Hoguk field training on Monday to hone defence capabilities to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. IANS

Fears are growing inside Russia that Vladimir Putin is preparing to declare all-out war on Ukraine amid speculation that the President could resort to a nuclear show of force over the Black Sea as his invasion fails, a media report said.Putin will hold an emergency national security meeting on Wednesday with the Russian Senate ordered to sit late so they can rubber-stamp any directives, Daily Mail reported. At the same time, his new commander in Ukraine – Sergei Surovikin, dubbed ‘General Armageddon’ – appears to be preparing the ground for a retreat from the city of Kherson. General Surovikin said on Tuesday the situation in the southern Ukrainian city is ‘tense’ and that people living there will be ‘resettled’ in order ‘to protect the lives of civilians and our service members’.“We are not excluding the most difficult decisions,” he said, Daily Mail reported.Evacuations got under way on Wednesday as Vladimir Saldo, the Russian official overseeing occupied Kherson, said that up to 60,000 people will be moved over the next six days suggesting the city could fall within a week. The administration is also moving, Saldo added, while vowing Russia would “fight to the death” to regain full control.The defeat would be the most humiliating that Putin has suffered yet, driving fears over how he might respond, Daily Mail reported. Escalating the ‘special military operation’ into an all-out war would hand the Russian leader powers to close the country’s borders, declare martial law, and strong-arm more men into the armed forces. Meanwhile, news that UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had been called to an emergency meeting at the Pentagon in the US on Tuesday sparked more fears that Putin could be preparing some kind of nuclear show of force, potentially including the first open-air detonation of an atomic weapon since the 1960s, Daily Mail reported.UK Minister of State for Armed Forces, James Heappey, did little to dampen those fears when he said the discussions Wallace is having are “beyond belief”. Experts have speculated that Putin may detonate a nuke at a remote testing ground or above the Black Sea to prove that Russia’s huge but ageing stockpile of warheads still works, Daily Mail reported.Increasing the unease is the fact that Russia is expected to carry out an annual test of its nuclear weapons within days in an exercise dubbed ‘Grom’, but has not yet notified Washington when it will take place

GANDHINAGAR, OCTOBER 19 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India is looking forward to furthering its engagement in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to ensure the region takes its rightful place as the driving engine of the global economy. He said India is determined to take a responsible role and continue to work for the regional and global security of the IOR. Representatives of around 44 countries participated in the IOR meeting on the sidelines of Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar. Singh said India is willing to work together with all the stakeholders to ensure a rules-based maritime border for the benefit of one and all in the region. He also said that interdependence instead of dominance is the only way to keep this important trade and energy waterway stable. He called for IOR countries to put in a collective effort to address the present and emergent threats to ensure stability in the region. The defence minister said India looks forward to working with the representatives of governments, businesses and academia of partner countries to promote cooperation and closer interaction among the nations seeking peace and stability in the region. Addressing the IOR + Defence Ministers’ Conclave, Singh said India “unequivocally rejects any hierarchical conception of global order” and believes in one based on mutual respect and the well-being of every country. “India is determined to take a responsible role and to continue to work for regional and global security. We have demonstrated our commitment to organisational as well as operational aspects at various bilateral and multilateral forums of the IO region, and look forward to furthering our engagement to ensure that the IOR takes its rightful place as the driving engine of the global economy in the near future,” Singh said. He said that sustainable exploitation of maritime resources will be an important means for sustained growth and development of nations across the IOR in the 21st century. “We must therefore ensure a collaborative effort in ensuring the maritime expanse of the Indian Ocean is peaceful and is optimally harnessed for ensuring regional and global food security,” he said. Singh said terrorism, “exported, supported or coordinated through maritime routes” remains a major concern, and “India continues to guard against the spread of terrorism by sea routes.”

I ndia does not believe in a hierarchical world order where a few countries are considered superior to others, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, addressing the 2nd India­Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) at the DefExpo 2022. He invited African countries to explore Indian defence equipment and technologies, stating that India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years. “We do not believe in making or becoming a client or satellite state, and so, when we partner any nation, it is on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect. Forging relations comes naturally to India, as we work towards mutual economic development,” he said. Africa, South East Asia and Middle East have emerged as major focus areas as India looks to emerge as a major global arms exporter. Stating that peace, security and development are inter­related, he said security is essential for enabling development in the region. “We have created a robust public and private defence industry. A defence manufacturing ecosystem has been created in India which has the advantage of abundant technical manpower. Our defence industry can work with you to fulfil your defence requirements,” Mr. Singh said. The IADD adopted a ‘Gandhinagar declaration’ as an outcome document. It proposes to enhance cooperation in the field of training in all areas of mutual interest by increasing training slots and deputation of training teams, empowerment and capability building of the defence forces of Africa, participation in exercises and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.  India offered fellowship for experts from African countries through Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis. Mr. Singh termed India and African countries as important stakeholders in ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment, especially in the Indian Ocean Region while reiterating India’s support to Africa to deal with challenges of conflict, terrorism and violent extremism. Later in the day, Mr. Singh inaugurated Manthan 2022, an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence­Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX­DIO) of the MoD. ‘We don’t believe in hierarchical world’ Sleek chopper: The Light Combat Helicopter on display during the DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar. VIJAY SONEJI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells African nations that India can partner with them to fulfil their military requirements and contribute to training  D

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 18

In the third such incident in the past four days, the BSF shot down a drone carrying suspected narcotics near Chhana village along the International Border with Pakistan here late on Monday evening.

BSF troops posted at a border outpost near Chhana village first heard the sound of the drone around 8.30 pm on Monday. After they fired at it, the drone fell down.

In a press release issued today, a BSF spokesperson said along with one quad-copter of DJI Matrice make, a polythene bag weighing approximately 2.5 kg suspected to be containing a narcotic substance was also recovered.

BSF officials said alert troops have shot down three unmanned aerial vehicles in the past four days.

In the first incident three days ago, the BSF had shot down a quad-copter near Ramdas in Ajnala subdivision. In the second incident, the 22nd Battalion had downed a drone near Ranian village along the IB.

The BSF had recovered 2-kg contraband dropped from the drone.

PTI

New Delhi, October 19

India on Wednesday said it has noted the World Bank’s announcement to concurrently appoint a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration in the matter relating to the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power projects.

India and Pakistan are locked in a dispute over the two projects that come under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.

“We have noted the World Bank’s announcement to concurrently appoint a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration in the ongoing matter related to the Kishenganga and Ratle projects,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The World Bank on Monday said it is confident that the neutral expert and the chair of the Court of Arbitration will engage in fair and careful consideration of their jurisdictional mandate, as they are empowered to do by the water treaty.

“Recognising the World Bank’s admission in its announcement that ‘carrying out two processes concurrently poses practical and legal challenges’, India will assess the matter,” the MEA said.

“India believes that the implementation of the Indus Water Treaty must be in the letter and spirit of the treaty,” it said.

India and Pakistan signed the treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory of the pact.

The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers.

However, India and Pakistan disagree over whether the technical design features of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants contravene the treaty.

PTI

United Nations, October 19

China has put a hold on a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to list Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist, the fourth instance in as many months that Beijing has blocked bids to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists at the world body.

It is learnt that China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, placed a hold on the proposal by India and the US to designate Mahmood, 42, as a global terrorist under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

The US Department of Treasury had designated Mahmood as well as another LeT leader Muhammad Sarwar in December 2016 as part of the action “to disrupt Lashkar-e Taiba’s (LeT) fundraising and support networks.” The decision to hold comes at a time when UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in India and has paid homage to the victims of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. The Terror attack carried out by LeT in which over 160 people, including American citizens, were killed.

According to information on the US Department of the Treasury’s website, Mahmood “has been a longstanding senior LeT member based in Karachi, Pakistan, and has been affiliated with the group since at least 2007. As early as June 2015 through at least June 2016, Mahmood served as the vice chairman of Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a humanitarian and fundraising arm of LeT.”     In 2014, Mahmood was the leader of FIF in Karachi. In August 2013, Mahmood was identified as a LeT publications wing member, the website said.

 “Mahmood was previously part of LeT’s overseas operations team led by Sajjid Mir…Additionally, in August 2013, Mahmood was instructed to forge covert links with Islamic organisations in Bangladesh and Burma, and as of late 2011, Mahmood claimed that LeT’s primary concern should be attacking India and America,” the US Department of Treasury said.

This is the fourth time in as many months that China has put a hold on listing proposals to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee regime.

In June this year, China put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

Makki is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba head and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. New Delhi and Washington had put in a joint proposal to designate Makki as a global terrorist under the 1267 ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council but Beijing placed a hold on this proposal at the last minute.

Then in August, China again put a hold on a proposal by the US and India to blacklist the senior leader of Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) Abdul Rauf Azhar.

Azhar, born in 1974 in Pakistan, had been sanctioned by the US in December 2010. China put a hold on a proposal by India and the US to designate Azhar as a global terrorist and subject him to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.https://2a98a1c7c2254b0625abd5ef8867bb24.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The US Department of Treasury had in December 2010 designated “Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior leader of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM), for acting for or on behalf of JEM.” The US said as a senior leader of JeM, Abdul Rauf Azhar “has urged Pakistanis to engage in militant activities. He has served as JEM’s acting leader in 2007, as one of JEM’s most senior commanders in India, and as JEM’s intelligence coordinator. In 2008 Azhar was assigned to organise suicide attacks in India. He was also involved with JEM’s political wing and has served as a JEM official involved with training camps.” In September, Beijing put a hold on a proposal moved at the United Nations by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, as a global terrorist. Mir is one of India’s most wanted terrorists and has a bounty of USD5 million placed on his head by the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

In June this year, he was jailed for over 15 years in a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, which is struggling to exit the grey list of the FATF. Pakistani authorities had in the past claimed Mir had died, but Western countries remained unconvinced and demanded proof of his death. This issue became a major sticking point in FATF’s assessment of Pakistan’s progress on the action plan late last year.

Mir is a senior member of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is wanted for his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. “Mir was LeT’s operations manager for the attacks, playing a leading role in their planning, preparation, and execution,” the US State Department has said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in his address to the high-level UN General Assembly session in September that “The United Nations responds to terrorism by sanctioning its perpetrators. Those who politicise the UNSC 1267 Sanctions regime, sometimes even to the extent of defending proclaimed terrorists, do so at their own peril. Believe me, they advance neither their own interests nor indeed their reputation.” Amid repeated holds on proposals to designate terrorists under the UN sanctions regime, Jaishankar had told reporters here last month that terrorism should not be used as a political tool and the idea that something is blocked without assigning a reason challenges common sense.

 “We do believe that in any process if any party is taking a decision, they need to be transparent about it. So the idea that something is blocked without assigning a reason, it sort of challenges common sense,” Jaishankar had said in New York in response to a question by PTI on the issue of repeated holds and blocks on proposals to list terrorists under the UN sanctions regime.

Earlier also, China, an all-weather friend of Islamabad, has placed holds and blocks on bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists. In May 2019, India had won a huge diplomatic win at the UN when the global body designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”, a decade after New Delhi had first approached the world body on the issue.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China was the sole hold-out in the 15-nation body on the bid to blacklist Azhar, blocking attempts by placing a “technical hold”.  

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry Press Service, fragments of a Russian rocket that was shot down by the Ukrainian air defence system burn down in the village of Kipti, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. AP/PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 19

India on Wednesday issued a travel advisory asking its citizens to leave the country at the earliest.Leave by any available means in view of deteriorating situation and recent escalation of hostilities all across Ukraine: Indian mission in Kyiv

Indians were asked to leave by any available means in view of the deteriorating situation and recent escalation of hostilities all across Ukraine, said the Indian mission in Kyiv.

On October 10, after Russia had retaliated for the bombing of the bridge to Crimea over Kerch Strait, the Indian embassy in Kyiv had issued an advisory asking Indians in Ukraine to avoid all non-essential travel in view of escalation in hostilities.

Indians were also asked to keep the Indian embassy informed about their whereabouts.

Western countries had asked their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately after hostilities began in mid-February. However, several thousands of its nationals are now confirmed to be fighting on the side of the Ukrainian forces.

After October 10, Russia has continued with aerial attacks all over Ukraine including the national capital Kyiv. This has resulted in civilian casualties as well as power outages.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss Tehran’s weapon transfer to Moscow followinga complaint by Ukraine that Iranian drones are being used in the recent attacks on its cities by Russia.