New Delhi
Only a section of 'sickular' Indian media and some microscopic minority in opposition camp may be swayed. But nevertheless, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made laudatory comments on Indian foreign policy in his latest televised broadcaston Friday, April 8, night.
Irony and truth: They never met as two PMs
The former cricket star Imran claimed he knew India 'better' than other politicians and expressed sadness that his government did not have good relations with it because of "RSS ideology and what happened in Kashmir". (sic)
He praised India's "independent" foreign policy, saying no superpower had the courage to tell his neighbouring country and bitter rival to change its foreign policy.
"They (India) are saying they will import Russian oil because it is better for their people despite the sanctions [on Russia]." He said he had the "same problem".
Imran tried to make a cause that while he was not against any one or any country but he put the 220 million (22 crore) people of Pakistan first and then looked at what other countries were saying
and doing about the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Nevertheless, the story is far bigger. The real issue at stake is why its 'iron brother' China has abandonedIslamabad during its crisis.
This is the way Beijing functions. Just recall what all Imran tried to do with China and for China.He virtually dumped the United States and befriended communists China.
Now according to a report, "Zhao Gancheng, a research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), told the 'Global Times' that Washington has failed in its attempts to rope in Khan, so it is possible it now has meddled in Pakistan's politics to topple the current government.
Liu Zongyi, secretary-general of the Research Center for China-South Asia Cooperation, also believes the West, and particularly the US, doesn't want to see Khan remain in power since he has gotten tougher on them".
But this is the maximum Chinese have done so far for Imran.
On the other hand, there are reports suggesting that Pakistan army has reconciled itself to playan active ally of the United States. China is not comfortable with such an idea.
On Sri Lanka front too, Chinese have tried to give the impression that they have nothing to dowith the turmoil and hardships in the island nation.
It is essentially Chinese debt that has sparked problems in Sri Lanka.
"Even though the political upheaval in Sri Lanka is mainly because of the economic crisis it is being confronted - one of the country's worst ever, there is still the possibility that Washington will take advantage of the situation to stir up troubles and undermine the bilateral relations between Beijing and Colombo".
That is what China says - it should be wary of.
In short, the double standards of Beijing have come to the fore. As an ally it need not be trusted in future.
But protagonists like Imran would learn the bitter lesson only when there is utter darkness and there isa dead end at the end of the tunnel.
And if 'The Global Times' gives an inkling of what's in the US mind, we are told theUS will not stop "meddling in the politics of some of China's neighbors" to undermine Beijing's development and neighborhood diplomacy.
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Why Russia got a friend in Hungary ? Why US is 'selective’ on sanctions ?
Since the Russian invasion commenced, it is estimated about $900 mn. is being paid to Russia from Europe every day. The US continues to import a substantial 16 per cent of its Uranium, fertilisers, including Potash from Russia.
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| Blogger |
In a simpler sense, the west is not inclined to make a sacrifice too. But they do mind if nations such as India adopt a middle way and abstain from voting. This has been the persistence of India’s stance nine times.
The big brother, the US, continues to import a substantial 16 per cent of its Uranium from Russia, and hence Uranium is out of the purview of sanction!
In April 2004, a US supplies column to a forward base in the Iraq city of Fallujah was ambushed. The US Marine Corps called in the devastatingly effective AC-130 gunships and levelled six blocks of the city in what was openly described as a punitive action. There is no record of the number of civilian casualties in the densely packed city. This was just an example.
Well, what Russia is doing is ‘not desperately different’ from what has been done by US-led coalitions in wars in the past.
India abstains yet again as the UN General Assembly expels Russia from UNHRC
New Delhi
India abstained yet again at the UN General Assembly voting on Thursday.
An Emergency Special Session of the 193-member UN body resumed on Thursday over the draft resolution to suspend Russia.
As many as 93 members voted in favour of the resolution, while 24 were against it and 58 nations abstained.
India abstained on the resolution that was adopted in the UN General Assembly.
"India abstained on the UN General Assembly vote this morning. I made a statement of Explanation of Vote,"India's Permanent Representative at the UN T S Tirumurti tweeted.
"India has been at the forefront of protecting human rights, right from the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We firmly believe that all decisions should be taken fully respecting due process, as all our democratic polity and structures enjoin us to do. This applies to the international organisations as well, particularly the United Nations."
“War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights,” Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted in response. “Grateful to all member states which … chose the right side of history.”
The US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, had launched the effort to suspend Russia from the 47-member human rights council with the world still recoiling from images of mass graves and corpses strewn in the streets of Bucha following Russian soldiers’ retreat.
UKraine, other issues to figure at 2+2 Indo-US Ministerial Dialogue
New Delhi:
India on Thursday said that the much awaited 2+2 dialogue with the US next week will provide an opportunity to exchange views on important regional and global developments and also ensure how both sides can work together to address common interests and concerns.
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| Jaishankar and Blinken: Step by Step |
Of course the emerging geopolitical situation in Ukraine is expected to be discussed at length
during the dialogue.
The fourth edition of the 2+2 Plus Ministerial Dialogue will be held on April 11 in Washington.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will hold the talks with
US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson, said, "The dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a
comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy,
defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further
consolidating the relationship".
Dr Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet senior members of the US administration to further advance the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
"The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global
developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern," Mr Bagchi said.
"As part of an ongoing and regular dialogue, the Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar
will separately meet his US counterpart Secretary Blinken," Bagchi said.
Jaishankar and Blinken held a telephonic conversation on Tuesday, focusing on the latest developments in Ukraine and bilateral ties.
Last week, US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics, Daleep Singh, visited India
and held important parleys with Indian officials.
MEA spokesman Bagchi also said that India has established economic relations with Russia and the focus
has been to stabilise these ties in the current circumstances.
The Indo-US ties have evolved over the years and have lately taken a new dimension especially in the wake
of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022.
The last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the two countries was held in October 2020 in New Delhi.
India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 inter-sessional meeting in September 2021 in Washington.
In 2021 engagements, both sides exchanged assessments on developments in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region
and the Western Indian Ocean.
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No pressure on India over trade with Russia’: MEA
New Delhi
The Government and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said there was
no pressure on India from western nations on New Delhi's ties with Moscow
“Don't think there is any such pressure. Talks of sanctions going on but it's not on the entire trade.
A lot of trade is going on. Trade of oil too. Our focus is to maintain and stabilise our established economic
relations with Russia,” MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.
He said India’s focus was on maintaining and stabilising established economic relations with Russia
under current circumstances.
During the regular media briefing, the spokesman was asked
about the recent statements from US deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh.
"We have been been very open about it. I think that's very clear regarding our position,” he said.
Bagchi also said discussions were underway to see what kind of payment mechanism could work
between India and Russia.
He also cited how energy flows from Russia had continued despite the sanctions.
“...Energy flows to Europe are continuing, fertiliser purchasing has been insulated… There are such
other examples also. I think I will rely on what EAM (S Jaishankar) said - political colouring should not be
attributed to our actions,” the MEA spokesman asserted.
“If India has chosen a side, it is a side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence," Dr Jaishankar
had said in Parliament.
In fact, during his latest visit to India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had also said: "Have no
doubt pressure doesn't affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our
(Indo-Russia) partnership".
No Comments on Pak politics:
MEA spokesperson also declined to comment on the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan and said
India does not comment on the internal matters of a country.
"This is their internal matter, I actually have no comments to offer as of now. We are watching
the developments but we don't comment on internal matters."
On being asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Bagchi said certain remarks were made in the context of domestic political developments and does not
have anything to do with foreign policy.
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