News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
The visiting Indian Navy warship, INS TARKASH, has concluded a naval manoeuvre with Nigerian Navy frigate NNS UNITY and three other patrol vessels – NNS KARADUA, NNS SAGBAMA and NNS NGURU – as part of scheduled activities to mark the end of her visit to Lagos.
With Pakistan all set to move a resolution on Kashmir at the forum, India is prepared to present a counter offensive. The idea is not only to counter Pakistan’s move but also to put Islamabad on test regarding the human rights situation in Pakistan, situation of the minorities and concerns regarding blasphemy laws. India and human rights groups would also be raising the issue of violations in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan’s move to separate Gilgit-Baltistan from PoK and the human conditions there.
One of the initiatives include creating a huge ‘green path’ running from Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace at Porbandar in Gujarat to New Delhi as part of the country’s scaled up target to restore minimum 30 million hectares of degraded land – little less than 1/3rd of India’s total degraded land – in a time-bound manner.
Taking a strong stance against Islamabad for using its consulate for anti-India activities, Iranian officials on 15th August forcibly removed banners from Pakistan’s consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad. The anti-India banners on so-called “Kashmir Solidarity day” were removed in the middle of the night from the walls of the Pakistani consulate by the local police.
Calling such methods as “undiplomatic tactics”, Tehran told Islamabad in clear terms that putting such banners against a third country goes against diplomatic norms. A disappointed Pakistan through a note verbale had raised the matter to Iran which Tehran termed as unfortunate. Officials in Tehran asked Pakistani diplomats how will foreign office in Islamabad react if Iranian mission in Islamabad puts up banners against Saudi Arabia, will Pakistan allow this. Curiously, Pakistan remained adamant and told Iran that the South Asian country’s mission was within its right to display the messages. Iran reiterated its stance on Kashmir hasn’t changed, said, while Pakistan is a brotherly country, India is not an enemy either.
Meanwhile, anti-India protests organised by Pakistani missions in Iran have been raised in Delhi also, with Iranian Ambassador being handed over a protest note. Before this incident, 2 anti-India protests were organised by Pakistani missions in Iran without any permission. Pakistani missions and diaspora globally have been trying to indulge in the anti-India activity in the aftermath of New Delhi’s internal decision to remove the special autonomous status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Last week Pakistani diaspora and Khalistanis had staged a massive protest outside the Indian mission in London and vandalised the property of the mission. This was the second major protest by the Pakistani diaspora in London and was announced by Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi. Globally protests have happened outside Indian missions in Washington, South Korea, and Germany by Pakistani groups.
“We are saddened by the large scale destruction caused in The Bahamas by Hurricane #Dorian. In solidarity with the friendly people of The #Bahamas in this difficult moment, the Government of India is extending an immediate disaster relief of $ 1 million,” he tweeted.
There has been no incident of major violence. “Not even a single live bullet has been fired. There has been no loss of life. Some small protests have been handled by local police while exercising full restraint,” the envoys were informed.
“Solar panels, a gift from India, are installed on the roof of the UN. The panels are powered up to reach the max of 50 KW of generation power,” the United Nations tweeted.
Ajit Doval, Indian National Security Advisor held talks with French President’s advisor, Emmanuel bonne. The meeting was held on August 29, 2019 in New Delhi, after which NSA Doval validated that the delivery is due on September 20.
Top diplomatic sources have confirmed that “The discussions related with the ACSA are almost completed and during the forthcoming, first ever 2+2 India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, the draft will be finalised.”
It is learnt that Korea assured India that it would not grant any government support to its companies operating in PoK as per a change of policy that it implemented in 2014. The Korean side conveyed that government-sponsored benefits like subsidies and tax breaks will not be applicable to its companies setting shop in the disputed region.
