Worldview with Suhasini Haidar: Recent Episodes
The Hindu
The Hindu's Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar analyses the key development of the week in international affairs.
2 years after the Taliban took control of Kabul- is the international community and India simply enabling their regime but abandoning the Afghan people? While New Delhi. supplies food and medical aid, and sent diplomats for a technical mission – why is it so hard for India to issue visas for students, businesses, activists and even Afghan spouses of Indian citizens? Read more
Pakistan that seems to be in a state of “permanent uncertainty” had another dramatic week in politics: 1. To begin with, a court in Islamabad sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 3 years in Jail for misappropriation of official gifts, or what was called the Toshakhana case. The 3 year term also disqualifies him from standing for elections for the next 5 years. Unlike 3 months ago, when he was last arrested for another corruption case that he was charged in however, this time, his party workers did not come out on the streets. 2. The arrest was significantly timed, as it is also time to head towards the next elections in Pakistan Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stood up for one last time for a farewell address to the Pakistani parliament, after which the President dissolved the assembly 3. Another big moment this week- the publication of this article in US website The Intercept- that put out the text of a diplomatic telegram dated March 7,2022 that detailed how a senior US State department official conveyed deep concerns to the Pakistani Ambassador about then Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ties with Russia – indicating that if Khan was voted out in the confidence vote , the US and Europe would be willing to “forgive” Pakistan for the visit to Moscow by Imran Khan right as the invasion of Ukraine was launched. When he was ousted, Imran Khan had alleged that it was the Pakistani military who had helped push him out at the US’s behest, a charge they all denied. So three interconnected, but equally important events in Pakistan’s politics- and we will try and pull all the threads together. Read more here
Two years after an Indian baby was taken from her parents by German Youth Services after allegations of abuse, the government is taking political heat, with the opposition calling for her return to India. What are the government’s diplomatic options when Indians are kept in custody of different kinds abroad? Read more
This week marked an important moment in the G20 Presidency of India- -With a crucial Sherpa Meeting held in Hampi and the last Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governers meeting in Gandhinagar being held back to back. Remember these are the two twin tracks of any G20 Presidency: The Sherpa track and the Finance Track. -The two tracks also preside over about 13 working groups between them, and then finally present a Leader’s Declaration that would be put up for adoption on September 9-10, when the Summit is held in Delhi. Read more here
Marching in step, Indian and French troops took part in France’s National Day or Bastille day parade, an event where PM Modi was invited as Chief Guest by French President Emmanuel Macron. Along with the tri-services marching down the Champs Elysee, Indian airforce Rafale fighter jets were in the flypast, and the INS Chennai docked at France’s Brest port. The occasion also marked 25 years of the France-India Strategic Partnership. Read more here
Last year, WorldView came to you from Samarkand- and a grand summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO there with Putin, Xi, Sharif, Central Asian Leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi . This year, the comparison was stark- as India hosted its first SCO summit, online. Read more here
Russia is rocked by a short-lived rebellion as the Wagner group chief goes rogue- how does India see the fallout of failed mutiny? It’s been a dramatic week in Russia, with what some called a coup against Russia’s top military leadership contained- what’s clear is that the failed mutiny by the Wagner group militia chief had reverberations around the world, not the least in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Read more here
This week we are looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, which saw US President Joseph Biden roll out the red carpet for him. PM Modi’s visit included a private dinner at the White House, a ceremonial welcome, a state banquet, an address to the US Congress joint session and lunch at the State Department. Read more here
This week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the media about what he saw as the key achievements of the Modi government’s foreign policy since 2014. Now in India, foreign policy has traditionally been a continuum, not something ascribed just to one government or another, so just the fact that the EAM put out these pointers is a significant change. However, it should be remembered, that Mr. Jaishankar was formerly Foreign Secretary from 2015-2018 and has been Minister from 2019 to date, so except for about two years in total, he has been at the helm of Indian FP for the past 9 years. Read more here
Just weeks after what seemed to be a grand celebration of the Chinese Communist party’s achievements, came protests in several Chinese cities and many college campuses, calling for an end to the government’s Zero- Covid restrictions, to brutal lockdowns and crackdowns, and even some calling for Xi Jinping to step down. Finally, in what seemed to be a softening of tone, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan chaired a meeting where she indicated covid protocols could now be reviewed.Read more
Another climate change summit has ended- COP27 in Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh nearly ended last weekend without a deal. But on Sunday, it came out with progress on a long-pending agreement to set up a loss and damages fund to help the world’s most vulnerable countries hit by climate change.
India takes charge of the G20 process after a summit in Indonesia marked by crises and sudden consensus for a joint communique- how hard will hosting the summit next year in Delhi be? Read more
Two months after the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, protests against the regime continue, and grow in other parts of the world- are the anti-Hijab protests at a tipping point, or will they peter out as others have? Read more
An attempt to assassinate Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan during a rally throws Pakistan into further turmoil as his supporters blame the military, demand elections On Nov 3, Opposition leader and former PM Imran Khan, who has just launched a Haqeeqi Azadi or real freedom movement- calling for immediate elections, was shot at in both legs during a rally in Wazirabad, about 100 km from Lahore- he is now stable, and recovering from his injuries in hospital- at least 1 person was killed in the shooting and several others, including Khan’s aides, were injured. Imran Khan is not just a former Cricket Captain and former PM but an international personality, and statements have come in from the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the OIC, condemning the attack- this is clearly an event the world is watching closely, as is India Read more
It has been a week of change in UK’s 10 Downing Street, and a week of celebration for many in India as Rishi Sunak became the country’s new Prime Minister. This is the first time that a non-white, Asian immigrant of Indian ancestry has done so. Liz Truss, the incumbent who lasted less than 45 days, threw in the towel recently. Read more
As China’s 20th party congress gives Xi Jinping an unprecedented third term, what will his plans for the future entail Will China’s fighting spirit mean more conflict in the region? The 20th Party Congress is significant for a number of reasons which is why there was such international attention given to it Read more
Russia rains missiles on 40 Ukrainian cities after an explosion on a Crimean bridge that Putin blames Ukrainian special forces for. As the War in Ukraine continues for the eighth month and the death toll rises, more than two-thirds of the UN votes against Russia’s annexation- can India continue to abstain? Read more here
The MEA steps up its responses to reports of hate crimes against the Indian diaspora abroad: Riots in the United Kingdom, vandalism and attacks in Canada...and the government issues strong demarches against the US and other countries for long visa delays for Indians. How does this impact India’s bilateral ties? Read more
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s 10-day visit to the United State included an intense week in Washington, marked by many official meetings and areas of agreement- but the US’s decision to offer Pakistan a maintenance package for fighter aircraft became a flashpoint- why is the F-16 such a thorn in the side of India-US ties? Read more
The annual gathering of the UN General Assembly, of leaders of 193 member nations in New York is underway this week, and with it come the annual calls for the 77-year-old body to consider reforming its structure and revising who should be at the high table. This year, the calls seem louder, much of it due to the idea that Security Council leaders have ensured a logjam in any forward movement with their veto power of any resolution- primarily in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Read more
Uzbekistan, historically the crossroad of different Silk roads, is today the venue of the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended with a host of leaders who are regional strongmen. Read more
This week saw the Bangladesh PM in Delhi, and she also travelled to Ajmer to offer prayers. This could also be her last visit to India before elections- due at the beginning of 2024, at the end of her third consecutive tenure as PM. Read more
6 months later- the war in Ukraine continues, and as global polarisation between the US-EU western coalition and the Russia-China led combine grows, diplomats fight it out in Delhi. Has the Modi government shifted India’s stand? Read more
This week marks the 5th anniversary of the biggest migration of Rohingya refugees who faced what the UN calls state-sponsored ethnic genocide in their homes in Rakine state, as more than 700,000 fled to neighbouring Bangladesh and other countries around the world. The issue has reopened the debate over India’s refugee policy, especially after a tweet by Minister for Urban Development praising India’s decision to house Rohingyas, which was quickly cut down by the Minister for Home Affairs. Read more
August 15 marked a somber anniversary for Afghans- one the Taliban celebrated, but hundreds of thousands of Afghans in exile mourned as the day they lost their country to the terrorist group. Inside Afghanistan, the story is more complex. Read more
The scene that played out in the UN Security Council seemed eerily familiar- after India and the US brought a joint proposal to designate Rauf Asghar, deputy chief of the Jaish e Mohammad and brother of its chief Masood Azhar, as a global terrorist under UNSC resolution 1267, China placed a technical hold on the listing. In that speech, Ambassador Khamboj hit out at: - China- for blocking terrorist designations - Pakistan- for harbouring terrorists, and for glorifying their acts - Afghanistan- for the Taliban regime’s support to terror groups - even the United Nations Secretariat itself, for not including Indian inputs on these groups in its latest situation report that the UNSG presented. Ruchira Khamboj speech at UNSC: “An effective functioning of the Sanctions Committees requires them to become more transparent, accountable and objective. The practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification must end. It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals pertaining to some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold. Double standards and continuing politicization have rendered the credibility of the Sanctions Regime at an all-time low.” Read more
The past week saw a dramatic scale up in tensions in the Taiwan Strait- after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went ahead with the visit of the congressional delegation to Taipei- to meet the leadership and many civil society representatives in the island. The visit went ahead despite several warnings from China that this would destabilize the region, and even a disavowal of the trip from the US government, that said Ms. Pelosi’s plans were not helpful, and even an appeal from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who said humanity is one miscalculation away from annihilation. Read more
This week, at least 160,000 British Conservative party members will begin to receive ballots for the election to decide between Liz Truss, former Trade and Foreign Minister and Rishi Sunak, former Chancellor of the Exchequer or Finance Minister- as the next party leader, and the next British Prime Minister. An election within the UK’s Tory party- as the Conservative party is known should not, in the normal course, mean much for the rest of the world- but there are several reasons why it has caught global attention, and more importantly for WV, India’s attention. Read more
Both US President Joseph Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin made their way to different parts of West Asia or the Middle East as it is called in the past week. Both visits were important signals, meant to strengthen ties that have been historically strong, but the underlining theme was a way to shore up support during the Russia-Ukraine war for Washington and Moscow respectively. We are going to take a look at how both worked out, and how it all could impact India. Of course, the I2U2 summit which Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in, was among those meetings. But the big snapshot of the visit was this fistbump between Mr. Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman- whom he once threatened to treat as an outcast. Read more
Let us get up to speed with all that happened- much of it on live cameras, in a country that saw change in its highest office through the power of people taking to the streets
- In the past week, those protests grew louder, and more violent. Despite much of the cabinet having stepped down as they demanded, crowds stormed the Presidential palace, burned down PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private home. The visuals were unprecedented for a country with high security and very heavy handed security forces.... as the protestors occupied the president's rooms, the gym, even the swimming pool.
- On Monday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had tried to leave the country over the weekend but failed, flew to the Maldives- and after protests followed him there, took a commercial, Saudia flight to Singapore. The Singapore Foreign Ministry said he had been allowed entry as a visitor, not granted asylum. His brother former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has not left the country, and is overseeing party strategy, but other members of the family are reportedly trying to leave as well.
- On Thursday, after missing several deadlines, Gotabaya finally resigned, nominating Wickremesinghe as the Acting President, pending an election in Parliament. The SLPP is still the largest party in parliament- and will be important in an all-party government likely to follow.
- The Presidential election is expected in the next week- where Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, as well as former Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, who could stand, are being seen three as main contenders. Read more
With increasing regularity, India is facing comments from abroad expressing concern and criticising the government for failing to keep its commitments on democratic freedoms, religious freedoms, media freedoms, and so on. Read more
The Summit of G-7 leaders, the group of the world’s “most industrialised economies”, was held in Germany this week, where India along with Indonesia and a few other countries, was a special invitee. Last week, we told you about the BRICS summit of emerging economies, that was once seen as a complementary and now a potentially competitive grouping to the G-7. What they have in common is that the agenda is driven by the economy. Read more
Is BRICS, a grouping of once emerging economies from Asia, Africa and South America an effective anti-thesis to the developed world’s most industrialised nations led by U.S. and Europe at the G-7? More importantly, how does India navigate its role in the grouping, given BRICS’ clear criticism of the west’s economic domination of the world, the current standoff between Russia and the west, along with India’s problems with China? Read more
The second year anniversary of the Galwan clashes- that occurred on the night of June 15-16, 2020 passed quietly- no memorials, no speeches-- a tweet from the defence minister. 20 Indian soldiers were killed brutally that night, in fighting with PLA soldiers using clubs with spikes, and rocks, and even drowned in the Galwan river. China has only admitted to 4 of its soldiers being killed, but there are believed to be many more casualties at Galwan- which marked the first deaths in clashes along the India -China boundary since 1975, and since the 1962 war at the LAC along Ladakh. Read more
This week, the government dealt with a sudden diplomatic storm- one which it clearly didn’t expect, as a flurry of countries across the gulf and other parts of the world picked up on statements made about Prophet Mohammad by spokespersons of the ruling party here more than a week ago. While there have been protests in India for some days, the government had not reacted to them- and the MEA seemed unprepared for what followed. Read more
In a sudden move, the Modi government sent a senior M.E.A. official and diplomat to Kabul on Thursday, to meet with the Taliban regime’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Mottaqi. Thus far, Delhi, which doesn’t have an embassy in Kabul and like other countries doesn’t recognise the Taliban regime had not sent a former delegation, which many countries have. Read more
This week, the four leaders of the Quad- US President Biden, Japanese PM Kishida, Australian PM Albanese and PM Narendra Modi met in Tokyo for the 2nd time in person for the Quad Summit. In the past year, the Quad has clearly undergone a change, from a largely strategic, theoretical grouping based on ensuring “a Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, to one with a number of specific practical tasks- on Covid, technology, climate change and infrastructure, space and cybersecurity- and we will tell you more about each. Read more
This week the UN takes up global food security on a war footing- the Ukraine war, that is, which has led to a slump in wheat production from a region known as the world’s bread basket- Russia and Ukraine together account for 25% of the world’s wheat exports. India is the world’s second-largest wheat producer and one of its biggest consumers- when the government decided last week to ban wheat exports in the face of climbing prices, there were many protests from the international community. Read more
As Sri Lanka’s crisis continues to spiral out of control, the country gets a new Prime Minister: what are the lessons from India’s neighbourhood? After weeks of turmoil on the streets of Colombo, citizens’ protests, fatal police shooting of a protester, violent assault on peaceful protesters by Rajapaksa supporters, and incensed mobs burning down property in retaliation, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down this week, paving the way for opposition leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe to be appointed in his place. Read more
3 days, 3 countries and meetings with 7 heads of government- PM Narendra Modi certainly packed some pace in his tour of Europe- but did the meetings lack punch? We are going to tell you about the agreements and the areas of disagreement during his visits to Germany, France, and Denmark. Remember, the visit also took place just after European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen visited Delhi last week for the Raisina Dialogue (Ep 59) and held talks with the PM. Read more
Sparks flew across the Raisina sessions, where a number of European Foreign Ministers and officials, led by European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen hardened positions on Russia, and called on India to reconsider its position on the conflict in Ukraine. During the EU President’s speech, and when the Foreign Ministers came face to face at a town hall with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, many questions were asked. Read more
India and US receive a reality check as they intensify talks in Washington: agree to disagree on Ukraine, announce agreements on other fronts. This week saw high-level, intense meetings between India and the United States- as PM Modi and US President Biden announced a surprise virtual summit to take place just before talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and their American counterparts US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Gen (Retd) Lloyd Austin. While Austin and Blinken have visited Delhi in the past year, this is the first 2+2 Ministerial held since the Biden administration took over, and the fourth such meeting ever. At present India holds a 2+2 with only 4 countries: the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia, which are seen as a productive way to discuss Diplomatic, Military and Strategic issues altogether. And the 4 meetings they held yielded some agreements, although the talks focused for a considerable part, according to both sides, on the situation in Ukraine. Read more
Scenes from Colombo just outside the President’s House stunned all last week- as protesters vented their anger over the economic situation they blame the Rajapaksa government- led by President Gotabaya and his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The worry for both Sri Lanka, as well as India and the regional economy- is Sri Lanka’s economy headed for a crash? Read more
Amidst a diplomatic downpour in Delhi from Western countries urging sanctions against Russia, we look at 10 reasons why the Modi government hasn’t budged on ties with Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi at the very end of a deluge of envoys and ministers from countries pushing sanctions against Russia. In Delhi, he met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval and PM Narendra Modi. Read more
On March 24, the Chinese Foreign Minister made a short trip to Delhi. Not only were his official meetings just a few hours, but the visit was also completely unannounced, and there was no build-up of expectations. Wang Yi flew into Delhi after visits to Islamabad and Kabul and held a one-hour meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, followed by a three-hour meeting and lunch with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar before he left for Kathmandu.
In this episode, we look at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s no-confidence vote and its impact on India. Opposition leaders in Pakistan have come together to present a no-confidence resolution against PM Imran Khan’s PTI government, which is now set to be taken up on March 28th.
Since February 21, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of sovereignty of two Ukraine states and February 24, when he announced military operations on Ukraine, a number of countries have announced a massive list of sanctions against Russia, aimed at “isolating” the Russian economy and cutting off their financial connections entirely. Read more here
In today’s episode, we look at India’s evacuation policy for the diaspora, as the government tries to complete Operation Ganga, its mission to bring home about 20,000 Indian citizens, mostly students, who have managed to come out of the warzone in Ukraine to four neighbouring countries. Read more here.
Two months after the U.S. first warned the world Russia was planning to invade Ukraine, and after weeks of denying he had any plans to do so, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation on Ukraine, one which could change the course of the world, or simply end up repeating history. What was the sequence of events that led to this? What do Putin and his government say they want? What are India's stakes? Read more here.
India and the UAE announced the launch of their free trade agreement or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the UAE Deputy Commander, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed held a virtual summit on Friday. PM Modi was due to visit Abu Dhabi in January, a trip that cancelled due to the Omicron wave of COVID - and while he still might go next month, before the Dubai Expo ends on March 31, the two sides decided to delay the launch of CEPA no further. The agreement is a first in many ways. Read more here.
The Foreign Ministers of India, Japan and United States met in Australia for the Quad ministerial, which is preparing the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Modi, U.S. President Biden, Australian PM Morrison, hosted by Japanese PM Kishida in Tokyo in the next few months. Read more here.
This week on Worldview, we discuss Russia-NATO tensions over Ukraine — how close is the world really to open war in Europe, does diplomacy have a chance and how is India affected? If you thought we could start a new year without COVID or an impending international conflict, think again. As we speak, Russia has reportedly amassed about 100,000 troops at its border with Ukraine, and another 30,000 are in Belarus for massive war exercises. NATO- the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries are also deploying troops to their Eastern flank countries- like Romania and Poland- the U.S. is sending 3,000 more troops. Meanwhile, diplomacy to avert a full crisis is on as well- and amidst visits including U.S. officials in Europe, the British PM in Ukraine, the Hungarian PM in Moscow and another possible Biden-Putin calls….all eyes on the next round of Normandy talks, expected in Berlin- where Russian and Ukrainian security advisors will meet, along with German and French advisors for talks on de-escalating the situation. Read more here.
A year of continuing coronavirus worries, some hope and a lot of despair worldwide, is ending. What does 2022 have in store for Indian Foreign Policy? 1. COVID-19 diplomacy and Delta variant disruption 2. Taliban takeover Afghanistan 3. China’s territorial claims get shriller 4. Two Quads and an AUKUS 5. Russia-NATO tensions 6. Pegasus row and international surveillance operations 7. Climate change promises 8. UN continues to fail 9. Change of guard in Washington and U.S. push for Democracy 10. India’s domestic disturbances Read more here.
Russian President Putin will be in India in early December and so will the Russian S-400 Triumf long range air defense systems — and the question is, will the US government place sanctions on India, or will President Biden use his powers for sanctions waiver. Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a 2018 American law, pushed by the Democrats during US President Trump’s tenure that mandates the US government to put financial sanctions, travel bans on any country or its officials who are part of transacting any significant defence or intelligence deal with Russia, Iran or North Korea. Remember this is a US law, not a UN rule or international law, and can be ignored by any country What are the kinds of sanctions the U.S. can impose? Read more here
Scientists and Climate activists have long been seen as alarmist for suggesting that global warming and climate change will destroy Planet Earth, but by this week, and the 26th meeting of the Conference of Parties or CoP 26, it was world leaders that were making dire predictions and some new commitments. India was most closely watched, as it has yet to update its NDCs or Nationally Determined Contributions to countering climate change. And there was some suspense, given that: - Climate negotiators from the UK, US, EU had all visited India in the last few months but had not been given any promises (Kerry and Sharma visited twice) - India had not updated NDCs by October 12, the UNFCCC deadline - And just a day before he went to Glasgow, at the G-20 in Rome, PM Modi had made no commitments, and in fact G20 Sherpa Piyush Goyal said India was not in a position to identify a year by which it would reach Net Zero. Net zero is when a country’s carbon emissions are offset by taking out equivalent carbon from the atmosphere, so that emissions in balance are zero. But in his national statement in Glasgow PM Modi spelt out five targets for India: Read more here
Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar joined Israel FM Yair Lapid in Jerusalem for a video conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed- being called the new Quad in West Asia or the Middle East – as opposed to the other Quad in the Indo-Pacific. Within a week, New Delhi became the venue for an Israel-Iran spat. After the new Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon accused Iran of destabilising the region, and indicated that last year’s Abraham Accords, that saw UAE and Israel recognise each other, as well as the new Quad were a result of concerns about Iran, the Iranian embassy in Delhi hit back- calling the Ambassador childish and adventurous, and Israel a murderous regime. While such spats are not uncommon between Tehran and Jerusalem/ Tel Aviv, it is rare to see New Delhi, which has thus far been careful about maintaining good ties with both countries become the setting for the latest round. Some speculation that Iran's decision to hold a foreign minister's meeting that didn't include India was connected with its unhappiness over the new quad as well. Why are the Middle Eastern Quad and the Indo-Pacific Quad being compared- apart from the fact that they involve four countries: You can read more here
In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa talks about where journalism is headed in the age of authoritarianism, big tech and terrorism. As press freedom faces its biggest challenges in democracies today, what is the message from the Nobel Peace Prize for Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov? Read more here
This week on Worldview, we discuss whether India-China talks at the LAC have hit an impasse This week, India China talks at the LAC took an acrimonious turn at the 13th round of talks between military commanders at Chushul-Moldo, a process that began in June last year to try and de-escalate tensions, disengage troops, dismantle infrastructure built close to the LAC and reduce the number of soldiers on both sides from the points of contention. The Indian readout from the talks said clearly that the situation had been caused by China’s attempts to alter the status quo, that China should take appropriate steps to restore peace at the LAC. It also said that Chinese side was not agreeable to India’s constructive suggests and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. “The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas.” The Chinese government statement, accompanied by tough rhetoric from state-aligned media said that India had made “unreasonable and unrealistic demands”. Read on why the talks are at an impasse and more here
This week on Worldview, the recent tensions between China and Taiwan, how worried India should be about the situation? Chinese jets across Taiwan, US and UK exercises in the waters, how worried should India be about the situation in the South China Sea? Over 4 consecutive days this week China sent a record number of 149 jets to conduct sorties inside Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, although since 1949 it has been controlled by a separate government. The sorties came as the US UK and allies conducted military exercises in the region, passing south of Taiwan, including the British carrier Queen Elizabeth, the first time it has sent this kind of ship and flotilla since 1997. Also follows the first Quad summit in Washington and the announcement of the AUKUS partnership for nuclear submarines in Australia Taiwanese Defence Minister called it the worst situation in 40 years, and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen wrote in an article that Taiwan will never bow to Chinese pressure The US, which criticised the flights, counselled restraint, President Biden said the US and China will abide by their earlier agreements. At a meeting in Zurich US NSA Jake Sullivan and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi set the stage for a virtual summit between Biden and Xi in the next two months. The Taiwan situation also came up during a visit to Delhi by US Dy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who called the Chinese strikes a very dangerous action. IAF chief said he would not comment on an issue between two other parties Read on why it matters to India and more here
After vaccine nationalism, are India and the developing world suffering vaccine racism? This week, the UK is easing restrictions for travellers from a number of countries, who will not have to undergo mandatory quarantines, if they have taken a recognised vaccine. Indian-made Covishield, an Astrazeneca variant is on the list of approved vaccines after a major protest by India but India itself is not yet on the list of countries that will be given the exemption. Simply put, if you have been vaccinated in India, you will have to quarantine for 10 days and test negative twice in order to be allowed out in the UK. This is indeed a long way from January this year, when PM Boris Johnson and PM Modi were expected to announce a vaccine partnership using Indian manufacture and British expertise to produce vaccines for the world. At the UN, PM Modi said he was proud of India's vaccines: DNA, MRNA, and soon a nasal vaccine. The British rule has been taken up by External Affairs Minister Jaishankar with his UK counterpart Liz Truss, and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said the rules are discriminatory and would incur reciprocal action from India Read on why it is a discrimination and more here
In this episode, our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar discusses the takeaways from PM Modi's visit to the U.S. PM Modi travelled to the U.S. for a number of important meetings. A bilateral with US President Biden, a delegation level meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris, meetings with 5 CEOs of US companies and of course, the main highlight of the visit: the Quad summit. As Prime Minister, Modi has visited the US seven times in seven years – in 2014, 2015, twice in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021, and has met with three different Presidents- Obama, Trump and Biden, whom he met when he was Vice President too. This visit was watched particularly closely because: 1. First big visit abroad (apart from Bangladesh visit) after two years- Covid Impact 2. First face to face meeting with President Biden, though Defence Secy Austin, Secy State Blinken and Climate Change Envoy Kerry have visited Delhi 3. First ever in person Quad Summit, first meetings with Japanese and Australian PMs. Also watched closely as just a week ago, the US announced a different coalition in the Indo-Pacific: AUKUS 4. First meeting with Kamala Harris, who has in the past been critical of Modi policy on Kashmir, on EAM Jaishankar’s boycott of a meeting with US Congresswoman Jayapal over Human rights issues, the Delhi riots etc 5. First visit since Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump public rallies, and administration change in US Read more here
This week on WorldView, SCO and Quad summit meetings within a week, can India walk the non-aligned tightrope or is it attempting to put its foot in two boats? On two Fridays, a week apart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending two very different summits, that some would call geopolitical contradictions of each other. On the one hand, there is the SCO or Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, that is made up of Russia, China, Pakistan, Central Asian countries, India and now Iran…and on the other a visit to Washington to attend the US-Australia-Japan-India Quadrilateral summit. Read more here
Twenty years ago, the entire world came to a crashing halt, when two planes one after the other struck New York’s iconic Twin towers, and the Pentagon building in Washington. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, some of whose remains are still being identified, and led to the launch of the Global War on Terror, that began with US strikes on Afghanistan. How has the world changed since then? Read more here
An analysis on the failures of the United Nations in the past one year. September is UN month, given the UN General Assembly of 193 countries meets beginning September 14 for the 76 year, and over the course of the next week world leaders will address the body. There’s much to dwell upon this year, but three issues where the United nations system appears to have failed quite visibly are: the Fight against Covid, the coup in Myanmar, and now the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Read more here
This week on Worldview: Does Mission evacuation mean India is out of Afghanistan, and what will Taliban rule mean for the world? In the space of a week, Taliban fighters went from terrorist insurgents to taking control of Kabul. Former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, so have many in his cabinet. India closed its Kabul Embassy, bringing back 192 staff and security personnel. US and other NATO embassies have relocated to the Kabul international airport, where a massive evacuation effort is underway for Afghans desperate to leave. At a rare and unprecedented press conference, Taliban representatives rejected democracy, and said they would rule by Sharia law. They also promised all diplomats safety, offered an amnesty to government officials, and agreed that women could work, but on the ground, especially outside Kabul, stories of brutal repressions, actions against women , and identification of execution of Afghan officials and military officers are also coming out. Read more on our site: Worldview with Suhasini Haidar | What does Taliban rule mean for the world?
In this episode of Worldview, our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar takes a deeper look at the Taliban's current advance in Afghanistan Events in Afghanistan are moving faster than the speed of analysis - as the Taliban claims more than 14 of 34 Afghan provinces, and cities including Lashkar Gah, Ghazni, Herat and even Kandahar. The claims are questionable - because in most areas Taliban soldiers are simply filmed walking in to the city centres, with no pushback or fighting required. This could mean that they may not be able to hold these areas, if Afghan forces make a strong push to reclaim them, but for the moment that counter attack has not come. Many now wonder if Kabul will be next, and how soon that might happen. To read more, visit the full article on our website: Worldview with Suhasini Haidar | Taliban advance in Afghanistan
In this episode of Worldview, our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar takes a deeper look at the current and historical ties between India and Iran. External Affairs minister S. Jaishankar was one of 115 high officials from 73 countries who attended Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s swearing in ceremony in the Majlis or Parliament in Tehran on August 5. Among the guests were Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, leaders of Iraq, Armenia and Algeria, and ministerial level dignitaries from more than a dozen countries. Why is this significant? And does this signal a new chapter in India-Iran ties? You can also read more here Write to us at socmed6@thehindu.co.in You can watch previous episodes of Worldview With Suhasini Haidar on our YouTube Channel
In this episode, The Hindu's Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar discusses the takeaways from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to India US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Delhi was less than 24 hours and saw four meetings. He began the day by meeting civil society representatives, then NSA Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What are the takeaways from the Blinken visit to #India, and what does it mean for the Blinken-Modi roadmap? Write to us at socmed6@thehindu.co.in You can watch previous episodes of Worldview With Suhasini Haidar on our YouTube Channel
In this episode, Suhasini Haidar discusses the diplomatic implications of the Pegasus revelations In the space of a week, 17 media organisations across the world have unloaded the names of thousands of people – mainly journalists, activists, government officials who were on a list of numbers believed to have been targeted for hacking, using an Israeli company NSO’s technology called Pegasus. The list was leaked to a French organisation called Forbidden Stories which worked with Amnesty International’s tech arm. The revelations are explosive for a number of reasons: 1. Pegasus technology is so powerful as a cybersurveillance tool, it is actually classified as a weapon, and goes through export clearances as a lethal weapon would from Israel- once it infects a phone, it can not only read every message and call, it can turn on the phone remotely to record every conversation made near the device, without the target’s knowledge. 2. NSO, which has denied the list, says it only sells and installs the technology for foreign governments or their law enforcement agencies, which would imply that if the list is real, these were people under surveillance from governments 3. Ten countries were seen as the most concentrated areas of the targets, implying that people in those countries were being hacked by a government, and the suspicion is, it was their own governments who had the most reason to do so. Apart from India, the list of countries includes Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 4. NSO and the Israeli government have repeatedly said that Pegasus is meant to track down only the most wanted terrorists and criminals, and the invasion of privacy that it involves is only warranted because of that. Yet, a majority if not nearly all the numbers tracked belong to civil society, government officials, and political opposition leaders, not dreaded criminals. In India for example, of 115 names released thus far, 40 are journalists, 40 are civil rights activists 14 are politicians including ministers, and the minister of IT . Globally there are ten heads of state or former heads of state on the various lists, atleast 180 journalists amongst 50,000 phone numbers believed to be targets chosen by clients of NSO since 2016. This is not the first time such revelations have come about with such far reaching consequences. To read more, visit the article on The Hindu website here Write to us at socmed6@thehindu.co.in You can watch previous episodes of Worldview With Suhasini Haidar on our YouTube Channel