AIR World Service English

At a time when China’s image has taken a beating due to its failure to share information with regard to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic; its belligerent behaviour too, has been condemned by the 10 nation ASEAN group that held its virtual meeting in Manila last week. The group reiterated its’ position that “the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the basis for determining the maritime entitlement, sovereign rights and legitimate interest over maritime zones”, this further exposed Beijing’s obduracy and its scant regard for international law. It is unfortunate that at a time when the world is busy fighting the pandemic; which incidentally originated in Wuhan, China’s belligerence is on ascendency be it in Hong Kong, or sabre rattling in the Taiwan Straits or at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border. In April this year, in a wanton act, a Chinese ship sank a Vietnamese boat with a crew of eight on board near the disputed Paracel Islands...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly Mann ki Baat programme on All India Radio said, Mann Ki Baat has now attained the halfway mark in its journey for the year 2020. During this period, naturally, most of the issues in the broadcast revolved around the global pandemic; the calamity that confronted the human race but, now the endless topic of discussion among people is, “when will this year go by!” People just want the year to be over, one way or the other. The Prime Minister said. Just 6-7 months ago, we knew little about the catastrophe that Corona is, nor had one expected the fight to go on this long! As if one calamity weren’t enough, the country has had to face an unending slew of challenges, day after day. Our east coast had to face the fury of cyclone Amphan; on the West coast it was cyclone Nisarga. In many states, our farmers had to bear the brunt of swarming locust. Many parts of the country have been witnessing intermittent earthquakes. Amidst all these, the country h...

My dear countrymen, Namaskar! Mann Ki Baat has now attained the halfway mark in its journey for the year 2020. During this period, we touched upon a multitude of subjects. Naturally, much of our conversation revolved around the global pandemic; the calamity that confronted the human race but, I have been noticing these days, an endless topic of discussion among people is, “when will this year go by!” Phone conversations tend to begin with the lament, “why is this year moving on so sluggishly?” People are writing, conversing with friends on how the year is not good. Some of them are expressing that 2020 is not auspicious. People just want the year to be over, one way or the other. Friends, there are times when I feel why it isso! It is possible that there are reasons behind such remarks. Just 6-7 months ago, little did we know about the catastrophe that Corona is, nor had one expected the fight to go on this long! As if one calamity weren’t enough, the country has had to face an unendi...

All is not well in Pakistan. The country is facing the twin scourges of covid19 and a grim economic scenario. Added to it, its own stance on global terrorism, of which it was once a ‘Frontline fighter” lies in tatters. No sooner had the US State Department in its latest report observe that Pakistan is a “safe harbour” for regional terror groups and that Islamabad has not done anything in to curn terrorism, Pakistani leadership tried to fend off the accusations, but instead created further controversy. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called the 9/11 mastermind and al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden a "shaheed" (martyr) during a discussion in the ongoing budget session of Pakistan’s National Assembly on Thursday. Mr. Khan went on to say Islamabad faced "embarrassment" by taking part in America's war on terror. The Pakistan Prime Minister continued by saying that the American forces entered Pakistan and killed bin-Laden without informing Islamabad after which every...

China has been strengthening its military infrastructure along the India-China border in the last couple of decades. On the other hand, India started its infrastructure upgrades on the Indian side of the border much later, especially gathering speed only after 2014. The Indian side has finished constructing over 1,000 kilometres of road so far, as part of its border project. The India-China border project has three phases, and India is about to complete the first one. The Indian infrastructure catch-up has made China apprehensive. As India goes on developing its border infrastructure, its patrolling capabilities along the LAC have improved considerably, much to the chagrin of China. Consequently, the border situation has become tense, with the first stand-off occurring on May 5, 2020, when scuffles broke out between Indian and Chinese troops in Pangong-Tso in Ladakh and Naku La in North Sikkim. Both sides suffered injuries. However, the Chinese started reinforcing troops closer to the...

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Russia visit is significant not only for India but also for Russia and China especially when the world is coming to terms with the covid19 pandemic. During the three day visit, the Indian Defence Minister held talks with the top Russian military brass and attended the grand military parade in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War. The Indian participation in the Victory Day parade marked not only a tribute to the great sacrifices made by Russia and other nations in the Second World War but the significant contribution Indian soldiers had made in the WWII. The highlights that emerged from Mr. Singh’s visit that came in the midst of the escalating border standoff between India and China can be surmised by the participation of a tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent in the Parade where participants from China also participated; the visit also came in the backdrop of the strength ...

Nepal’s relations with India are multi-faceted with hardy any sphere of every-day life not linked. Such ties, in-fact, are not witnessed anywhere else in the world. But, complexities and willingness to invoke anti-India nationalism pervades in Nepali politics. In recent weeks, such politics has propelled time-tested India-Nepal ties, borne by geography and history, into a grave challenge and for little reason. Matters went into this tailspin with Nepal amending its constitution last week and updating its map incorporating cartographically sovereign territories of India. These are the areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpyadhura in Uttarakhand near the Chinese border that have been used traditionally for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. An outline of this map is in Nepal’s coat of arms (national emblem). The incorporation was done unilaterally and has unleashed an issue that is clearly untenable and should have been avoided under all circumstances. Matters are likely to be further compou...

The 17th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China took place recently under the trilateral Russia-India-China (RIC) format. Presided by Russia, it was aimed at celebrating 75 years of victory over Nazism in the Second World War apart from strategizing a common response to the COVID-19 crisis. This virtual event stands out for taking place amidst the shadow of the ongoing border standoff between New Delhi and Beijing. Unsurprisingly, India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar clearly spelt out the nation’s position as the precursory sine qua non for RIC to gain any traction in the future. It included the need to respect international law, recognise the legitimate interests of partners, support multilateralism and promote common good. This largely sums up the core objectives of the RIC format which, arguably, is facing its moment of truth. Questions have been raised about its efficacy, given the growing fault-lines within the troika. However, the very fact that the me...

After the brutal killing of 20 Indian soldiers and officers who defended the territorial integrity of India on 15 June in the Line of Actual Control on India-China border, China unabashedly harangued its false claims on the Galwan valley in Ladakh, a territory that indisputably belongs to India’s sovereign territorial jurisdiction, contradicting Beijing’s own earlier position in an act of deceit and treachery. China’s unsubstantiated claims have been strongly rebuttal by Government of India. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement reiterated India’s well established historical position on the Galwan Valley. New Delhi asserted, “Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to the LAC are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China’s own position.” India is not only in physical possession of the area, but also as the name itself suggests, it was named after a local native Ghulam Rasool Galwan during the time of British-Ind...

For the last few days, the media have been busy reporting on the sudden and uncalled for violence that erupted at a certain point on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between China and India. There can be and in fact, are differences on border issues between many countries and most of them have put in place several mechanisms at both military and diplomatic levels for their peaceful settlement, China and India being no exceptions. That is why the present unprovoked aggression by Chinese troops, that too when the entire world is fighting a pandemic having its origins in China, has caused so much public rage and indignation. Though both are developing economies, in terms of purchasing power parity they are second and third largest economies in the world. A major source of that growth in both nations have been effective participation in world trade. It is truer for China than India. Orthodox Marxist ideology considers international trade as an instrument of capitalist exploitation. The fi...

China’s territorial aggression in Ladakh, well beyond the Line of Actual Control (LAC) into the Indian territory of Galwan Valley and its barbaric and reprehensible act of killing 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, has portrayed the Beijing leadership as irresponsible. The motive is driven by both triumphalism and a sense of insecurity. Even since Xi Jinping came into power and consolidated his rule by making himself ‘President for life’, he has abandoned Deng Xiaoping’s famous dictum ‘hide your strength and bide your time,’ he has whipped up Chinese nationalism to make its citizens believe that the time has come to regain China’s lost glory, its perceived territories, land or sea, and establish its hegemony in the region, if not in the world. Never before in post-W.W.II period, had any major power behaved so irresponsibly and callously like China-in hiding facts about Covid-19, which has already taken the lives of 453,000 globally and growing. Had Beijing been honest and not hi...

India is a founding member of the United Nations. She signed the UN Charter at the San Francisco Conference on 26 June 1945. The UN Charter created the UN Security Council (UNSC) with five non-elected permanent members (China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union) and 10 elected members who serve for two-year terms. The UNSC has been given primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security by the UN Charter. Following her independence in August 1947, the first time India was elected to one of the vacant seats to the UN Security Council was for the 1950-51 term. Since then, India has been elected for a two-year term on the Security Council seven times, averaging one term every decade. Her last term on the Security Council ended in December 2012. In November 2013, India’s candidacy for her eighth term was formally communicated to the UNGA in a joint communication from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and India. This followed Afghanis...

Tensions escalated at Galwan and Pangong Tso areas in the Western sector of Ladakh, due to the aggression of Chinese troops resulting in the death of 20 Indian Army personnel and about 43 Chinese troops on June 15. India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to convey India’s strong protest. He also raised concerns over Chinese troops violating the June 6 local commanders’ de-escalation plan. China had tried to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Dr Jaishankar stated that the unprecedented incident in Ladakh will have “serious impact on the bilateral relationship” between the two countries. Both Ministers, however, agreed to address the issue “in a responsible manner”. The incident in Galwan came along with a series of border incidents that have been rattling regional security since the Chinese troops transgressed in Naku La in Sikkim, Pangong Tso and Galwan areas in Ladakh since May 5. While Naku La in...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Chief Ministers of states and Lieutenant Governors of Union territories; through video conferencing to discuss the situation emerging post Unlock 1 and plans ahead for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the sixth such interaction of the Prime Minister with the Chief Ministers. The earlier ones had been held on 20th March, 2nd April, 11th April, 27th April, and 11th May. Prime Minister observed that timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing its spread in the country. When we look back, people will remember that we have presented an example for cooperative federalism to the world, he said. Prime Minister said, we have tried to save each and every life. He underlined that all modes of transport are now open, lakhs of migrant labourers have travelled back to their villages, thousands of Indians have returned from abroad, and even though India has a huge population, coronavirus has not assumed...

The Lower House of Nepal’s Parliament, the Pratinidhi Sabha approved a Constitution Amendment Bill to change the country’s political and territorial map on 13th June, 2020; which shows some parts of the Indian territory in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state as Nepalese territory.  Discussion on the bill was fast tracked by the House earlier, adopting a resolution. The new map of Nepal approved by the Cabinet on 18th May 2020 includes Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh region as Nepalese territory. These areas always have been and are integral parts of India; under the administrative control of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. The area comprising of nearly 350 square kilometres of terrain is of strategic importance to India as an important pilgrimage route to Kailash-Mansarovar, a cherished destination of every Indian, passes though it besides being a trade route between India and Tibet. It is in the vicinity of the trijunction of India, Nepal and China’s Tibet Aut...

While delivering the inaugural address at the 95th annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that any crisis provides us with opportunities. We must identify these opportunities to build a “self-reliant” India, which he had coined as “AtmaNirbhar Bharat”. He also emphasised that we are dealing with a huge public health crisis – the covid 19 pandemic - amidst the climate change crisis. Indian economy is currently in the ‘command and control’ mode. The Prime Minister expressed the need for leading the nation to “plug and play” mode. The detailed methodologies of these announcements are awaited. Moving away from conservative approaches, India needs to prepare a globally competitive domestic supply chain. This requires bold investment decisions. Enhancing public investment is the need of the hour to attract private corporate investment. Prime Minister Modi emphasized on reforms relating to infusing liquidity into MSMEs and Non-Ba...

Pakistan is reeling under the impact of twin challenges; i.e., the covid19 pandemic and steep economic distress. This has come during one of the worst phases of the country. Pakistan had already been reeling under severe economic crisis due to the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), when it released a US$ 6 billion bailout package. In last year’s budget, Pakistan had aimed for a primary deficit of 0.6 percent of GDP. This was supposed to be supported by tax policy revenue mobilization measures to eliminate exemptions, curtail special treatments and improve tax administration. Pakistan has repeatedly struggled with generating tax revenue. The IMF bailout package was to improve public finances and reduce public debt through tax policy and administrative reforms, and ensure a more equal and transparent distribution of the tax burden. While releasing the first instalment of the bailout, IMF had said that a plan for “cost-recovery in Pakistan’s energy sect...