India Develops Lightest Bulletproof Jacket Against Highest Threat Level

DRDO unit develops India's lightest bulletproof jacket. Jacket designed to withstand highest threat level, Level 6. Front Hard Armour Panel capable of withstanding multiple hits

New Delhi: The jacket, according to a DRDO official statement, offers protection against 7.62 x 54 R API ammunition and novel material along with new processes has been used to develop it

A unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country designed to withstand the highest threat level, known as Level 6, officials said on Tuesday.

The jacket, according to a DRDO official statement, offers protection against 7.62 x 54 R API ammunition and novel material along with new processes has been used to develop it.

"DRDO's Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. Recently, this bulletproof jacket was successfully tested at TBRL, Chandigarh as per BIS 17051-2018," the statement said.

The front Hard Armour Panel (HAP) of the jacket is a standout feature, capable of withstanding multiple hits (up to 6 shots) of 7.62 x 54 R API (Sniper rounds) in both ICW (in-conjunction with) and standalone designs.

What sets this jacket apart is its ergonomically designed front HAP, crafted from a monolithic ceramic plate with polymer backing. This design not only ensures maximum protection but also enhances wearability and comfort during operations.

"The areal density of ICW hard armour panel (HAP) and standalone HAP is less than 40 kg/m2 and 43 kg/m2 respectively," the statement added.

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'We're Going To Continue To Disrupt': US Warns Pakistan of Sanctions For Doing Trade With Iran

Washington: The US on Tuesday (local time) warned Pakistan of "potential risk of sanctions," adding that they will continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks considering business deals with Iran.

Emphasising the US imposing sanctions on suppliers to Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said "We're going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur...Just let me say, broadly, we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits."

Responding to a question on the reason behind these sanctions, Patel while addressing the presser, said, "The sanctions were made because these were entities that were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery."

He said that these entities were based in China and Belarus.

"These were entities based in the PRC in Belarus and that we have witnessed to have supplied equipment and other items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program...," he added.

Further, highlighting the Iranian President's visit to Pakistan and the MOUs signed between the two countries, Patel advised to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions whosoever considers signing business deals with Iran.

In the wake of President Raisi's three-day visit to Pakistan, eight bilateral agreements inked by the two countries, the spokesperson alluded to the possibility that these relations could be jeopardized by sanctions because of Iran's standing in the international community.

Led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from the Pakistani side and President Raisi representing Iran, the discussions underscored the shared vision of advancing political, economic, trade, and cultural ties between the two nations, reported Samaa.

Earlier in the day, Iran and Pakistan inked eight memoranda of understanding for collaboration in a range of areas. PM Shehbaz and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi witnessed the MoU signing ceremony.

The accords included cooperation in veterinary and animal health, judicial support in civil cases, and security matters.

Last week, the US State designated four entities targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These entities have supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.

The entities included Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant which has worked to supply special vehicle chassis to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program.

It further imposed sanctions on three Chinese entities, including, "Xi'an Longde Technology Development Company Limited", "Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd" and "Granpect Company Limited".

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‘India's Security Can't Be Outsourced’: Army Chief General Manoj Pande Stresses On Self-Reliance

The Army is pursuing 45 niche technologies, which have been identified for military application. — Gen Manoj Pande, Army chief

Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Tuesday mentioned the need for developing critical technologies saying “if we are import-dependent for critical technologies, we must be very clear that we will always remain behind the technology cycle”.

He shared his thoughts on ‘Relevance of Hard Power in India’s Rise, and how the Indian Army is shaping capabilities through self-reliance’. General Pande was speaking at the All-India Management Association (AIMA) national leadership conclave.

The Army Chief said the current geo-strategic landscape is characterised by change, taking place at unprecedented scale and speed. “Countries will not hesitate to go to war for their national interest,” he added.

Military strength and capabilities are necessary to prevent war — to present a credible deterrence. The Indian Army, he said, has taken unprecedented steps for the potential of disruptive technologies and is looking at four key drivers of Indian Army’s transformation efforts.

The vision for the future is to transform into a modern, agile, adaptive, technology enabled and self-reliant future ready force, capable to deter and win wars in a multi-domain operational environment, across the full spectrum of operations, to protect our national interests, General Pande said.

The transformation has ‘five pillars’ — force restructuring and optimisation, modernisation and technology infusion, improving our systems, processes and functions, human resource management and promoting jointness and integration with other armed forces.

The Army, he said, was pursuing 45 niche technologies, which have been identified for military application.

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Indian Envoy Harish Jain Meets Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha

Kyiv: Indian envoy to Ukraine, Harish Jain on Tuesday held a meeting with the newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha and congratulated him on his appointment to the Foreign Office.

During the meeting, both the leaders discussed India-Ukraine bilateral relations and India's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

In a post on X, the Indian embassy in Ukraine shared details of their meeting saying, "Amb. Harsh Jain met Andrii Sybiha, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine and congratulated him on his appointment. They discussed bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest including India's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine."

Last month, India and Ukraine discussed regional and global matters including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and efforts to achieve a 'peaceful settlement', during the visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro to New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

During his visit, FM Kuleba met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Kuleba held on Friday focused on fostering constructive dialogue and strengthening bilateral relations between India and Ukraine, including in areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, defence, agriculture, health, culture, and education, the statement read.

Both ministers also held a separate discussion on matters related to the India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, industrial and cultural cooperation and its working groups.

Moreover, New Delhi and Kyiv agreed to work towards holding the seventh Inter-Governmental Commission meeting later this year.

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Beijing Wants To Deploy Own Security Amid Attack On Nationals In Pakistan: Report

In recent past, there have been multitude of attacks against Chinese workers across Pakistan

Beijing: Concerned over the deadly attacks on its nationals in Pakistan, China has sought approval from Islamabad to deploy its security personnel in the country to counter the security concerns, a senior fellow with the Department of War Studies of King's College London and former director of naval research for the Pakistan Navy, Ayesha Siddiqa said in an opinion piece, Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday.

Sources indicate that Islamabad was close to accepting Beijing's demand in 2016, during Nawaz Sharif's tenure as PM. However, the Pakistan Army, led by Raheel Sharif at the time, intervened and established new military units with around 12,000 personnel tasked with protecting CPEC projects. These units have since failed to prevent attacks against Chinese workers effectively.

"Beijing wants foolproof security for its 1,200 workers building critical infrastructure and teaching in Pakistan. In the face of persistent attacks, Beijing has asked Islamabad to allow it to deploy its own security personnel, but Pakistan has yet to agree," she said in an opinion piece.

"I have been told that Islamabad came close to accepting Beijing's demand around 2016 during Nawaz Sharif's third term as prime minister, but the Pakistan Army blocked the plan. Raheel Sharif, then the military chief, instead created a new army and naval units with around 12,000 personnel with the ostensible mission of protecting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects," she added.

Further, in her opinion piece on Nikkei Asia, she stated that the recent attacks on foreign nationals have raised serious concerns about the security of Chinese workers and investments in the country, jeopardizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Last month, a suicide attacker targeted a bus carrying Chinese engineers, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. In another incident, a convoy of Japanese workers was attacked, believed to have been mistaken for Chinese workers. Beijing has repeatedly urged Islamabad to ensure the safety of its 1,200 workers engaged in critical infrastructure and educational projects in Pakistan, Nikkei Asia reported.

In 2022, after a suicide bombing killed three Chinese language teachers at Karachi University, Islamabad allowed Beijing to send its investigators for the first time and pledged better protection for Chinese workers. However, a subsequent attack on Chinese engineers last month revealed lapses in security protocols, including transporting workers in unsecured buses.

The CPEC army division, although led by military officers, primarily consists of civilian police officers with inadequate training. Many of these officers have been deployed for domestic political tasks, diverting attention from their primary duty of ensuring the security of Chinese workers.

Further, amid domestic political and economic crises in Pakistan, the CPEC and China's ongoing projects appear to be losing priority. Pakistani officials have reportedly engaged in discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) regarding the Reko Diq copper and gold mine in Balochistan. Western diplomats have also visited Gwadar, a key area of Chinese interest, while China's top envoys have been absent, Nikkei Asia reported.

While China remains a vital source of weapon systems for Pakistan and crucial to its defence infrastructure, the current army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, has expressed a preference for closer ties with the West. Munir's recent visit to Washington led to promises of support from the U.S. in various sectors, including agriculture, mining, and counterinsurgency efforts.

Observers suggest that China might begin to feel sidelined as other nations, such as Canada's Barrick Gold, operate in Pakistan with fewer security concerns. Baloch nationalist groups view Chinese companies as collaborators with the Pakistani state and are less critical of Western companies operating in the region.

The opinion piece also asserted that in a broader sense, Islamabad's focus has drifted from the CPEC and China's ongoing projects, making Beijing increasingly wary.

Domestic political and economic crises in Pakistan have consumed attention in Islamabad in recent years despite recurrent references by the leaders in power to the importance of the CPEC.

It simply no longer appears to be a top priority. The emerging reality is that while rhetoric about Pakistan's deep friendship with China is still frequently heard, officials are increasingly signalling an interest in making room for other foreign investors, even in areas that had been informally reserved for Chinese use.

These developments certainly do not mean that China has become unimportant to Pakistan. Beijing is now the only major source of weapon systems for Pakistan and key to its defence industrial infrastructure, Nikkei Asia reported.

Yet Qamar Javed Bajwa, who succeeded Raheel Sharif as army chief in 2016, often spoke privately about feeling more affinity with the West than with China. At a private briefing at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London in 2019, he remarked that Pakistan has "genetic ties with the West" that could supersede its links with China.

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Lashkar Terrorist Behind Government Employee's Killing In Rajouri: J&K Cops

Mohammad Razaq (40) was killed on Monday in the Kunda Top village of the Thanamandi area. Razaq worked in the government's Social Welfare department while his brother Mohammad Tahir Choudhary is a soldier in the Territorial Army. A reward of ₹ 10 lakh has been announced for providing information on the terrorist

Rajouri: Police on Tuesday claimed a foreign terrorist codenamed "Abu Hamza" of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved in the killing of a government employee in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district and announced a ₹ 10 lakh reward for information on him.

Mohammad Razaq (40) was killed on Monday in the Kunda Top village of the Thanamandi area. Razaq worked in the government's Social Welfare department while his brother Mohammad Tahir Choudhary is a soldier in the Territorial Army.

Razaq was buried in the village on Tuesday.

"Two terrorists affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) barged into the compound of a Territorial Army official in the village," a police spokesperson said.

Choudhary, however, escaped unhurt from the attack, she said.

A case has been filed at the Thanamandi police station, the official said and added, "An investigation has been launched to track down each person involved in this act of terror." Credible evidence has been obtained that identifies one of the assailants as a "foreign terrorist" with the code name Abu Hamza, the spokesperson said.

The police and security forces deployed in the twin districts of Rajouri-Poonch are working to neutralise this group, she added.

A reward of ₹ 10 lakh has been announced for providing information on the terrorist, the police said while releasing a poster of his likeness.

The 32-year-old terrorist was wearing a Pathani suit with a brown shawl and had an orange bag. He has been operating in the Shadra Sharief and the Der ki Gali areas and involved in numerous terror activities, the police said.

"Whoever provides any information leading to the arrest of the accused shall be rewarded ₹ 10 lakh and the identity of the informant will be kept secret," the spokesperson said.

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At UNSC, India's Top Diplomat Highlights Country's Leadership In Combating Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

New York: India's commitment to the women, peace, and security agenda was underscored by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, who articulated the country's comprehensive approach to addressing conflict-related sexual violence, emphasising the nation's dedication to international collaborations, national policy reforms, and grassroots initiatives.

The top Indian diplomat, Kamboj, was addressing an open debate on "Preventing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) through Demilitarisation and Gender-Responsive Arms Control" at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Kamboj began by affirming India's multifaceted approach, stating, "Our nation's dedication to the women peace and security agenda is demonstrated through a comprehensive approach to combating conflict related sexual violence."

"This approach includes international collaborations, national policy reforms, and grassroots level initiatives. At the international level, India has contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping missions and has been very vocal about the need to incorporate gender perspectives into peace and security policies," she added.

Notably, the UNSC annual open debate on CRSV provides an opportunity for the member states to reflect on emerging themes associated with the systematic use of sexual violence by state and non-state actors as a tactic of war, torture, and terrorism in armed conflicts.

Acknowledging India's contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, Kamboj proudly mentioned, "Indian female peacekeepers have played a crucial mentoring role in preventing conflict related sexual violence, and we also take immense pride that Major Suman Gawani was awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate of the year in 2019."

She also noted the crucial role played by Indian female peacekeepers in mentoring and preventing conflict-related sexual violence.

Furthermore, Kamboj highlighted India's proactive measures in supporting victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, saying, "India was also the first country to contribute to the Secretary-General's Trust Fund in support of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse." She said that the significance of India's signing of the voluntary compact on sexual exploitation and abuse with the Secretary-General in 2017.

India's commitment to women's empowerment was evident in Kamboj's mention of the recent constitutional amendment, "Recognising the pivotal role of empowered women as agents of change, the Indian government has very recently amended its constitution to reserve one third of the seats in national and state legislatures for women, underscoring their crucial contributions to peace and security."

During its presidency of the G20, Kamboj highlighted India's focus on women-led development, stating, "India had drawn the international community's attention to women led development with a focus on women's empowerment and gender equality." She also highlighted the establishment of the G20 Women's Empowerment Working Group as a significant step in advancing these goals.

Addressing the intersection of gender and conflict, Kamboj stressed the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 of 2000, stating, "One of the central aspects of this resolution was in addressing conflict-related sexual violence, a brutal weapon frequently used against women during conflicts."

Kamboj concluded by reiterating the need for collaborative efforts, stating, "Combating conflict-related sexual violence demands a multifaceted strategy that integrates prevention, survivor support, perpetrator accountability, and societal change regarding gender-based violence."

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Diffidence To Confidence: EAM Jaishankar Elaborates How 'Faith And Vote Bank' Influenced India's Foreign Policy In Past

Hyderabad: Stating that India's policy in the past was influenced by "faith" and "vote bank", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that a change has taken place in the policymaking today.

He further said that many decisions that were made in the initial years after independence created problems for the country later.

Jaishankar was speaking at 'Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence' in Hyderabad, Telangana on Tuesday.

Addressing the event, Jaishankar said, "When we say an era of diffidence, it is not just an era of diffidence, it's an era where we don't have clarity, our nationalities. We somewhere, mixed a certain ideological outlook...what could be our contribution to the world."

"We also do many things for the world but that cannot be at the cost of our national interest. That's why 'India First', 'Bharat First' and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' are two sides of the same coin, but we should never allow Bharat First to be compromised," he added.

Giving the example of India's relationship with Israel, the EAM pointed out India didn't have an embassy in Israel till 1992 and no Prime Minister visited the country before PM Modi. He further opined that how "vote bank" influenced India's policy.

"Just think of a country like Israel. People say everybody is the same, we should not bring faith in any discussion. Israel became independent in 1948. From 1948 to 1992, we chose not to have an ambassador and an embassy in Israel. Why? From 1992, we had an embassy. From 1992 till 2017, when Narendra Modi went to Israel, no prime minister of India ever visited Israel. Think about it and then tell me that faith does not influence our policy. Is this not vote bank?" Jaishankar further asserted.

Emphasising the importance of abrogation of Article 370, Jaishankar said that the Indian leadership had created a "vote bank lobby" that kept the special provision intact in the erstwhile state. He also emphasised that it was a 'temporary' provision and had to be ended.

"Please understand the importance of what we did with the abrogation of Article 370. We have corrected an enormous mistake, we made in 1947. We created a lobby, we created a vote bank lobby, we created a Kashmiri lobby, some people were arbitraging," the Foreign Minister said.

"I would show to everybody in the Western press one page of the Constitution called temporary provision. You know the meaning of the word temporary, it comes to an end. There is nobody as blind as someone who doesn't want to see," he added.

He criticised India for signing the Nehru-Liaquat Pact with Pakistan in 1950 despite seeing the violent fervours of partition three years back.

Speaking on the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act, without naming it, he said that after the number of Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities plummeted since partition, India is trying to give citizenship to those people who have nowhere else to go.

"Partition has happened, you can see the violence that has happened and yet we agree with Pakistan that you will treat your minorities well and I will treat my minorities well. If they had treated the minorities well, there would have been no partition. He went to partition with the mindset of not treating the minority well," Jaishankar said.

"See the result, look at the dramatic decrease in the number of minorities. We had finally the situation, that you have minorities in your neighbourhood...whose only logical place to go is India. And yet when we do something very logical, we are correcting a mistake we made 75 years ago...I am giving people rights, I am not taking away people's rights...I am telling people who have nowhere else to go that please come here and I will try my best to fast-track to do whatever I can to help them," he further added.

He further said that today there is a change in the mindset of India's policymaking which is making the country act, think, behave and stand very differently than before.

"You can see how much Vichaardhara (ideology) shapes thinking and when we speak about diffidence to confidence...it is a different mindset. It is the change in the mindset today that is making us act, think, behave, stand very differently," he added.

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Western Media Criticises Our Democracy Because They Think They Are Also Political Players In Our Election: Jaishankar

Hyderabad: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed Western media, emphasising that they criticise our democracy because they think they are also political players in our election and not because they lack information.

Addressing a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar said, "I get a lot of these noises from the Western press and if they criticize our democracy, it's not because they lack information. It is because they think they are also political players in our election."

Further, Jaishankar said that in an article by the Western media, they stated that in such a heatwave in India, why are they holding elections?

"Now I read that article and I wanted to say listen, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best run," Jaishankar said.

He added that these are games that are being played with us.

"These are politics. These are our domestic politics which is going global, global politics which feels they must now intrude in India. How can these chaps decide who should be ruling them without consulting us?" he said.

Moreover, Jaishankar stressed that "They (West) actually think they are part of our electorate", adding, "I think it's time today that we disabuse them and the best way that we do that, is by confidence."

EAM emphasised the need to stand up to these kinds of attacks and criticisms and rankings and reports because they will question everything.

"They will question your election system, your EVM, your election commission, even the weather," he said.

"And one complaint is...BJP is so unfair, BJP thinks it's going to win very big," he said, adding that, in a kind of way, today, we are at a very important inflexion point.

Jaishankar said that the decisions, the government will be making, are not just for the next five years, and will give our nation, our society, and our coming generations a very big vote of confidence.

"It is the guarantee, the guarantee is an expression of confidence. It is an expression of confidence based on what we have delivered for the last ten years," he added.

He highlighted how India has been regarded across the world in the last ten years, how the country is today preparing for the next 25 years is the mindset with which we need to approach the world.

Moreover, recalling the G20 Summit, Jaishankar said that during the presidency, several countries wanted to connect to India.

"During our G20 presidency, a number of countries, but particularly this was an initiative called IMEC through Saudi Arabia, they wanted to connect India to Europe. Russia and Iran also want a connectivity passage to Europe. In the east, countries like Vietnam, and Cambodia, want a passage through Myanmar to India," he said.

Lauding India's prominence on the global stage, Jaishankar said that there is a lot of interest in somehow accessing India, connecting to India and working with India

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar said, "It is the combination of all of this and, as I said, the stature which the prime minister personally commands...I see that because I travel with him often."

Recalling when India got the G20 presidency, Jaishankar said, "When we got our G20 chair presidency, it was on December 1, 2022. I think most of the world said, you know, I don't know where you guys got stuck. You know how this is going to happen. You are going to have a really difficult time managing this. And yet, actually, when the G20 summit met, within the first day, we were actually able to forge a consensus."

He further emphasised that when something happens, people can only see the final outcome and not the work done behind the scenes.

"It's worth thinking why? Because when something happens, we think it's natural. It's not natural. Something happens behind the scenes, you are only seeing the final production, but behind the scenes there is a lot of work," he said.

The fact is, when the G20 met, there was a lot of respect in the rest of the world for PM Modi personally and for Modi's Bharat, Jaishankar stressed.

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'Modi's Guarantee Doesn't Stop At Indian Borders, It's Global': Jaishankar

Hyderabad: Stressing that the security of Indians based or settled overseas, especially in conflict zones, was paramount for the government, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said 'Modi's guarantee' doesn't stop at the country's borders.

Addressing a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister said, "Modi's guarantee doesn't stop at the borders of India. Modi's guarantee is global."

Invoking the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts that necessitated diplomatic intervention in securing the lives of distressed natives, Jaishankar said, "We have seen it in Covid. We have seen it in conflicts in Ukraine. We saw it in Sudan. We saw it in Israel recently. So we have to prepare for those challenges as well."

Addressing the session on 'Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence' in Hyderabad, the External Affairs Minister underscored the importance of a 'good system', highlighting that "just strong belief doesn't matter, it must translate into reforms in the government".

"We have to prepare for a world where things can go wrong. It will go wrong statistically. And we have to have a continuous ability to respond and react at very, very short notice. And you know, to create, to change government, some of us have worked in it. People work in their own departments, you know, Foreign Ministry does Foreign Ministry, Defense does defence, army does army, Home Ministry does Home." Jaishankar said.

"You know, that within a matter of hours, when Sudan fighting happened, within 24 hours, our Navy and Air Force with it," he said.

"There are other examples I can give you of confidence. One is how to defend your borders more strongly because we have challenges on our borders. And the key to defending our borders is not to just posture in public. It requires a lot of homework. It requires building the infrastructure. It requires supporting the military. It requires creating systems that will respond whenever the border is under threat," Jaishankar said.

On India's ties with sectors, transcending sectors and spheres, the EAM pointed out India didn't have an embassy in Israel till 1992 and no Prime Minister visited the country before Narendra Modi.

Claiming that 'vote bank' influenced India's foreign policy in the previous years, Jaishankar said, "Just think of a country like Israel. People say everybody is the same, we should not bring faith in any discussion. Israel became independent in 1948. From 1948 to 1992, we chose not to have an ambassador and an embassy in Israel. Why? From 1992, we had an embassy. From 1992 till 2017, when Narendra Modi went to Israel, no prime minister of India ever visited Israel. Think about it and then tell me that faith has no influence on our policy. Is this not vote bank?"

Emphasising the importance of abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, Jaishankar said the leadership at the time created a "vote bank lobby" that kept the special provisions intact in the erstwhile state. He also emphasised that it was a 'temporary' provision and had to be ended.

"Please understand the importance of what we did with the abrogation of Article 370. We have corrected an enormous mistake, we made in 1947. We created a lobby, we created a vote bank lobby, we created a Kashmiri lobby, there were people who were arbitraging," he said.

"I would show to everybody in the Western press one page of the Constitution called temporary provision. You know the meaning of the word temporary, it comes to an end. There is nobody as blind as someone who doesn't want to see," Jaishankar added.

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India, Kuwait Sign MoU For Information Sharing On Sidelines of Investment Conference 2.0

Kuwait City: The Indian Embassy in Kuwait organised the India-Kuwait Investment Conference 2.0 on Tuesday. The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to share information regarding technologies and innovation within the financial and regulatory ecosystem.

The conference was held with the support of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Union of Investment Companies (UIC) and Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

"The India-Kuwait Investment Conference 2.0 was organized by the Embassy with the support of IBPC, UIC and KCCI. The Managing Director of Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) was the Chief Guest. Senior-official led delegations from GiFT city, NIIF, InvestIndia and CII participated," the Indian Embassy in Kuwait posted on social media platform X.

The Managing Director of Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) was the Chief Guest at the conference. Senior-official led delegations from GiFT city, NIIF, InvestIndia and CII also participated.

Representatives of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Invest India also spoke at the event.

Furthermore, representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) spoke at the conference.

On the sidelines of the conference, India's International Financial Services Centres Authority and Kuwait's Capitals Market Authority (CMA) signed an MoU to collaborate on sharing information concerning the application of technologies, and innovation within the financial and regulatory ecosystem for the development of financial markets in respective jurisdictions, the Indian Embassy said.

"The IFSCA and the Capitals Market Authority (CMA), Kuwait, on the sidelines of India Kuwait investment conference, signed an MoU to collaborate on sharing information concerning the application of technologies, innovation within the financial & regulatory ecosystem," the Indian Embassy in Kuwait posted on X.

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Baloch National Movement Germany Elects New Cabinet At 5th General Body Meeting In Hannover

Hanover: The German chapter of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) on Monday organized its fifth General Body Meeting in Hannover and elected its new cabinet, according to a press release by BNM.

Social and human rights activists like Naseem Baloch, the Chairman of BNM Hatim Baloch, the Central Committee member and Coordinator of BNM's Human Rights Department, Paank Haji Naseer and Hammal Baloch participated in the meeting.

After the session, BNM's Germany Chapter elected new officials in the cabinet - Shar Hassan as President, Safia Manzoor as Vice President, Jabbar Baloch as General Secretary, Shali Dad as Joint Secretary, and Amjid Murad as Finance Secretary.

The event concluded with Chairman Naseem Baloch extending congratulations to the new cabinet members and expressing hope for the continuation of the legacy established by Waja Gafaar Baloch, the founder of the BNM Germany Chapter.

The BNM has been at the forefront of Baloch rights advocacy, raising its voice against the Baloch genocide.

Previously the Baloch National Movement in the Netherlands called for global attention to the Baloch genocide and organized a protest rally in Amsterdam. The protesters, holding placards and banners, denounced the forced occupation of Baluchistan by Pakistani forces.

Protesters were also seen distributing pamphlets to raise awareness among locals about the Baluchistan issue. Highlighting their struggle, protesters emphasized how Pakistani forces annexed Baluchistan on March 27, 1948.

Taking to social media platform X, Islam Murad Baloch, a member of Baloch National Movement said, "The international community must intervene in Baluchistan against the violations of Baloch human rights. The human rights defenders and the UN must put sanctions on Pakistan for the violations of Baloch rights. Pakistan must leave Baluchistan."

Another activist, Fazila Baloch, stressed that Baluchistan was never part of Pakistan and was illegally occupied on March 27. "Baluchistan was never part of Pakistan. It was illegally occupied on March 27, 1948. Since then the Baloch nation has been resisting the invasion of their motherland. Baluchistan Is Not Pakistan," Fazila stated on X.

In Pakistan's most underdeveloped area of Baluchistan, the country's intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, has been accused of committing all kinds of atrocities, including, abduction, killing and torture, to instil fear. Moreover, Baloch activists are signing a petition urging the international authorities to take action on the ongoing genocide of their community members.

They are demanding the United Nations and human rights organizations take action and hold the authorities accountable for the crimes committed in Baluchistan. They further want a fact-finding mission headed by the United Nations Working Group to investigate the matter.

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U.S. Senate Passes USD 95 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

Washington: After months of delay, the Senate successfully passed a USD 95 billion package aimed at providing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, CNN reported.

The bipartisan effort marks a significant victory for President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats, and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, who has been a staunch advocate for supporting Ukraine despite increasing reluctance from some within his own party.

The comprehensive package, which now awaits President Biden's signature, bundles together four bills that had previously faced hurdles in both chambers of Congress. This legislative feat follows a rare Saturday session in the House, where nearly USD 61 billion in aid for Ukraine, over USD 26 billion for Israel, and more than USD 8 billion for the Indo-Pacific were approved.

Notably, the package includes provisions to increase sanctions on Russian assets and contains language that could lead to a ban on the popular social media platform TikTok. Under the bill, Chinese parent company ByteDance is given a nine-month ultimatum to divest from TikTok or face a ban from American app stores--a move aimed at safeguarding national security interests.

When asked about the bill's prospects, McConnell expressed optimism, saying, "Hope so." His leadership played a pivotal role in navigating the legislation through the Senate, despite internal divisions within his party.

House Speaker Mike Johnson faced challenges from conservatives within his own party who opposed sending aid to Ukraine. However, after bipartisan negotiations, the legislation ultimately received broad support in the House.

The path to delivering aid to Ukraine and Israel had been fraught with obstacles, as House and Senate Republicans initially insisted on addressing border security concerns before proceeding with foreign aid. Former President Donald Trump's opposition to the final deal further complicated negotiations, leading Republicans to discard the border package.

McConnell emphasised the importance of upholding American leadership and global responsibilities, describing the Senate's action as "overdue" and "a test, and we must not fail it."

"Our global interests come with global responsibilities. Healthy alliances lighten the burden of these responsibilities," he also said, CNN reported.

This report is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

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World Sindhi Congress Highlight Unlawful Land Accusation In Pakistan At UN

New York: A group of delegates from the World Sindhi Congress (WSC), an organisation involved in Sindh rights advocacy, participated on Tuesday in the 23rd session of the ongoing UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNIPFII), raising concerns about the occupation of agricultural and residential lands belonging to the Sindhi people by the military and their proxies, the World Sindhi Congress said in a press statement.

During his intervention, the representative of the World Sindhi Congress, Farhan Soomro, made a statement on the grave situation of the occupation of the lands of the Sindhi people by the Pakistani army and its proxies.

He said that the process started at the inception of Pakistan when Sindhi Hindus were coerced to leave and their lands seized.

"We need our rights to life, food, and economic security. This issue traces back to the displacement of Sindhi Hindus at the time of Pakistan's inception and further intensified Ghulam Muhammad Barrage in 1955. This resulted in the allocation of vast tracts of land to military affiliates through opeques processes by an unelected interim government," he said.

"These allocations are often void of transparency and legal rectitude and do not represent the local communities. This a stark representation in the Dhabeji area, where 50 thousand acres of land are under threat of military occupation, manoeuvres, and military firing jeopardising centuries-old villages. Moreover, Bahria Town's occupation of 46 thousand acres of land in Karachi despite being ruled illegal by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, underscored the persistent disregard for the law and rights of indigenous people," Soomro added while highlighting the sheer lawlessness in Sindh.

Putting forward the demands of the local people of Sindh, the WSC leaders stated, "In light of these circumstances, the World Sindi Congress urgently requests the United Nations to press the Pakistan government to immediately seize the land exploitation in Sindh and facilitate the restoration of land wrongfully snatched back to their rightful Sindhi owners. Further also addresses poverty and malnutrition in the region".

"We demand increased transparency, legal adherence, and accountability in all regional and land transfers, particularly those involving military and commercial interests. These steps are crucial to rectify the severe human rights infringements to preserve the dignity and rights of indigenous Sindhi people," he added.

The press statement by the WSC also stated that the process has continued unabated and is seeing unparalleled haste to illegally occupy vast areas of agricultural and residential lands.

The Pakistani military has announced plans to occupy 1.3 million of acres of land in Sindh for corporate farming. This practice is causing grave harm to the rights of Sindhi people to life and well-being as well as destroying ecological habitats and historical sites.

This report is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

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Police Foil Potential Consulate Attack In Paris As Terrorist With Explosive Vest Enters Premises; Suspect Arrested

French police and members of French special police forces of Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) secure the area near Iran consulate where a man is threatening to blow himself up, in Paris

The suspect, initially sighted outside the consulate, triggered a massive police response, with images circulating on media platforms depicting a tense standoff

Paris: Paris was gripped by tension on Friday as police launched a high-stakes operation at the Iranian consulate following reports of a man armed with a grenade and explosives vest.

The suspect, initially sighted outside the consulate, triggered a massive police response, with images circulating on media platforms depicting a tense standoff.

Amidst escalating fears of a terror attack, French authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, intensifying security measures to neutralize the imminent threat.

Reports surfaced that the individual had threatened to detonate himself within the consulate premises, heightening apprehension among witnesses and law enforcement alike.

While details regarding the suspect’s motives remained undisclosed, witnesses recounted chilling moments as the man allegedly desecrated flags within the consulate, citing vengeance for his brother’s death, Le Parisien newspaper reported.

Despite the swift police action leading to the suspect’s apprehension, concerns persisted about the potential repercussions of the incident.

In response to the unfolding crisis, Parisian transport services suspended traffic on metro lines traversing near the consulate, exacerbating the city’s state of alert.

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and regional instability, the incident underscored the pervasive threat of violence amidst diplomatic strains with the Middle East facing ongoing instability and diplomatic challenges.

However, it was unclear whether the incident had any link to current tensions between Iran and Israel.

(With Agency Inputs)

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