VIF Information Alerts - 13th August 2018

US wants India to act fast on Haqqani Brothers

Published: The Economic Times
13 Aug 2018

India’s inability to designate the Haqqani brothers as terrorists because of a lacuna in Indian terror laws is turning into a thorny issue for the US, which has complied with almost all Indian requests on terror designations. The US has designated 13 LeT individuals this year alone, taking the overall tally to 40, over and above the banning of frontal organisations, including the political front of LeT, Milli Muslim League, ahead of the Pakistan elections.

ET has reliably gathered that Washington has now asked New Delhi to expedite its internal processes so that a similar framework of designations is possible here. The US argument is that terror designations must be as specific as possible to be effective.Click here to read... [2]

China’s Xi Jinping beset by economic, political challenges

Published: The Indian Express
13 Aug 2018

As China’s leaders gather for their annual Yellow Sea retreat, the country’s political waters are looking choppy. Chinese President and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is beset by economic, foreign policy and domestic political challenges just months after clearing his way to rule for as long as he wants as China’s most dominant leader since Mao Zedong.

Mounting criticism of the Xi administration’s policies has exposed the risks he faces from amassing so much power: He’s made himself a natural target for blame. “Having concentrated power, Xi is responsible for all policy setbacks and policy failures,” said Joseph Cheng, a retired City University of Hong Kong professor and long-time observer of Chinese politics.Click here to read... [3]

China has prevented ‘great tragedy’ in Xinjiang, says state media in response to UN report

Published: Hindustan Times
13 Aug 2018

Massively stepped-up security in China’s restive far western region of Xinjiang has helped prevent “great tragedy”, a state-run newspaper said on Monday, in the country’s first response to a critical United Nations report on the situation there.

A UN human rights panel said on Friday that it had received many credible reports that 1 million ethnic Uighurs in China are held in what resembles a “massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy”Click here to read... [4]

India to push for its own BRI norm at BIMSTEC meet

Published: The Economic Times
13 Aug 2018

Sub-regional connectivity and creation of a development fund to address poverty alleviation will top the agenda of the fourth edition of BIMSTEC summit, which will be held in Kathmandu on August 30-31, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders of six other member states.

Senior officials of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states, who met in Kathmandu last week to firm up the agenda, agreed on regional connectivity and poverty alleviation as key themes for the summit.Click here to read... [5]

Army carries out officer cadre review after 14 years

Published: Hindustan Times
13 Aug 2018

The army is carrying out an overarching review of its officer cadre aimed at striking a balance between career progression and functional requirements of the force, the first such exercise in 14 years said two people familiar with the development, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The scope of the review covers an assessment of future needs, downsizing, deficiency of officers in units, career management of non-empanelled officers, provisions related to leaving service and improving the efficiency and morale of officers, said one of the two people, both of whom requested anonymity.Click here to read... [6]

Nepali, Indian experts propose ‘smart border’ to limit crossings

Published: Kathmandu Post
13 Aug 2018

In an attempt to check infiltration, curb criminal activities, and maintain records of people crossing on either side of the border, the Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal-India Relations has recommended establishing “smart borders” limiting cross-border movements only through designated points. At present, people who cross either side of the Nepal-India border do not have to produce any kind of identity cards and there are no prohibited entry or exit points.

But, according to a classified report seen by Nepali officials and the details of which were obtained by the Post, a panel of experts from both countries has recommended making electronic national identity cards mandatory as well as limiting movement to designated border points only.Click here to read... [7]