Ending a long wait, the govt today approved the purchase of the Mk1A version of the indigenously developed Tejas fighter aircraft has for Indian Air Force. The Cabinet Committee of Security chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved a defence procurement deal worth Rs 48,000 crore for the LCA Tejas Mk1A aircraft. According to the decision, 83 planes will be purchased from HAL under the biggest ever indigenous defence deal.
The CCS chaired by PM Sh. @narendramodi today approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about 48000 Crores to strengthen IAF’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’. This deal will be a game changer for self reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh revealed the decision on Twitter, saying that “this deal will be a game changer for self reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing.” He said that the LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet in years to come. The minister said that LCA-Tejas incorporates a large number of new technologies many of which were never attempted in India. At present, the indigenous content of LCA-Tejas is 50% in Mk1A variant, and it will be enhanced to 60%.
Rajnath Singh informed that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has already set-up second line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru Divisions to manufacture the light combat aircraft. He said that HAL will steer LCA-Mk1A production for timely deliveries to the IAF.
Of the total 83 aircraft, 73 will be fighters and the rest 10 are trainers. HAL is to deliver them by 2026.
Tejas Mk1A is an advanced version of Tejas Mk1 (Final Operational Clearance), which has already been inducted into the IAF with an order for 16 planes. These Mk1(FOC) are upgraded from their previous version Mk1(IOC).
Mk1A has several improvements over the Mk1 version, which includes improved maintainability, active electronically scanned array radar which replaces the mechanically-steered radar, air-to-air refuelling, long-range beyond visual range missiles, advanced electronic warfare to jam enemy radars and missiles etc. The Mark A1 version of the jet will have a total of 43 improvements over the initial version.
The Tejas Mk1A aircraft will replace the aging planes currently operated by Indian Air Force, which include Mig-21 and Jaguar planes.
Today’s CCS approval paves the way for signing a contract with HAL for delivery of the planes.
A truck carrying coronavirus vaccine from Kolkata to Bankura in West Bengal was stuck in traffic jam because of protests led by TMC leader and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s President Siddiqullah Chowdhury against farm laws. As reported by NewsX, Chowdhury and his followers were blocking National Highway No 2 due to which the truck got stuck in traffic and had to take a 25 km detour.
National General Secretary, BJP, Kailash Vijayvargiya shared a video in a tweet in which Chowdhury was seen holding a stick and running after those who were against the farmer protests. Vijayvargiya said, “West Bengal Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury protested against the agriculture laws in East Burdwan Galsi. When people protested against the roadblocks created by Chowdhury and his followers, the minister started hitting people with a wood stick.”
प.बंगाल के मंत्री सिद्दीकुल्लाह चौधरी ने कृषि कानून के ख़िलाफ़ पूर्व बर्दमान के गलसी में विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। इस प्रदर्शन के कारण बहुत देर तक रास्ता जाम होने पर लोगों ने विरोध भी किया, मंत्रीजी हाथ में लकड़ी लेकर लोगों को मारते हुए देखे गए।
Minister further asked if the incident should be considered political hypocrisy.
As per reports, when people came to clear the roadblock, Siddiqullah and his followers fought with them. As can be seen Chowdhury is hurling that stick at the ones who wanted to clear the roadblocks to let the vaccine pass.
Coronavirus vaccine was dispatched from Serum Institute of India’s Pune facility on Tuesday, January 12 for different parts of India so that the vaccination process can begin from January 16. The vaccine needs to be stored at specific temperature so that its efficacy is not lost.
Farmer protests
A large group of farmers is lodged on Delhi border protesting against the recently enacted Agriculture laws. The next round of discussion between unions and Government is scheduled for January 15. Amidst the ongoing protests, the Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of the laws till further notice and formed a 4-member committee to file a report on the laws.
The Government has said on multiple occasions that it is open for discussion, but the farmer unions have stubbornly asked to repeal the laws. The Government had told the Supreme Court that organizations like Sikhs For Justice are taking advantage of the protests to provoke people against India. The Government will also submit an affidavit with documents to prove the claim that people with vested interest have infiltrated the protests.
The Mumbai Police on Monday arrested one Anwar Ali Shaikh on the charges of murdering his wife, Poonam Chavan. Shaikh is accused of allegedly letting go of his 37-year-old wife while she was pivoting around the support poles at the entrance to the railway coach, resulting in her death. Shaikh was arrested based on a fellow commuter’s testimony.
According to the police, as quoted by the Times of India, the duo had tied knots just a month ago and the motive of the murder is not clear yet. Shaikh and Chavan reportedly lived in a chawl in Mankhurd with Poonam’s three-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. Shaikh had no permanent employment and would sparingly work as a driver. The police also added that the couple begged for a living during the lockdown.
As per the TOI report, on Monday, the couple, along with the daughter, was travelling in a Panvel-bound local. Around 3:20 PM, as the train was passing between Chembur and Govandi, the woman started whirling around the support pole.
Shaikh let go of his wife as she precariously whirled around the pole: An eyewitness account
Sangeeta Bhalerao, a fellow co-passenger in the train was worried about what was going on. “Bhalerao was going back to her home. She told us Chavan was joined by her husband. It was undoubtedly dangerous as the train was moving. At one point, Chavan leaned out of the train and her husband clasped her hand in a tight grip. But he suddenly let go of her, and she landed on the tracks. When the train stopped at the Govandi station, Bhalerao hustled to find an on-duty policeman and narrated the incident,” said a police officer. Police arrested Shaikh and brought him to the Wadala GRP post.
Chavan’s body was later found on the tracks. The police officer said there are no CCTV cameras on the track between Chembur and Govandi and they will have to rely on the eyewitness account. He further added that the police are trying to track down Chavan’s relatives to investigate if her husband had been harassing her. The child has been handed over to Chavan’s stepmother.
The Uttar Pradesh police nabbed two persons named Shahbaz and Mohammad Wasik after they received a complaint from a journalist accusing the two of stalking and eve-teasing. On January 10, Charul Sharma, a news anchor with Sahara Samay new channel, had tagged Meerut police in a tweet complaining about the culprits. Sharma had also posted a picture of the culprits.
She also posted a short video in which the two culprits can be seen sitting on a two-wheeler without a number plate. She had tweeted that the two had been stalking and eve-teasing her on her way from Hapur Adda till Nai Sarak.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the UP police was able to trace and catch the culprits. Shalabh Mani Tripathi, the media advisor of Uttar Pradesh government, took to Twitter to inform that the culprits have been caught by the police.
आपकी सूचना पर शाहबाज और मोहम्मद वासिक को @Uppolice ने कुछ ही घंटों में गिरफ़्तार कर लिया, ये दोनों शोहदे हैं, पुलिस इन्हें ऐसे संस्कार सिखा रही है कि आगे से ये किसी को भी परेशान करने योग्य ना रहें।आपकी सतर्कता के लिए आभार @Charuls4 जी। https://t.co/EJe2AXktsSpic.twitter.com/FByaSaP9P6
Tripathi informed that the culprits were nabbed by the police within hours of receiving complaint against them and that the necessary action was being taken against them.
UP police called the incident a perfect blend of vigilant citizen & digital Policing, which brought a happy ending. They said that after Charul Sharma had made video of the crime and informed police about the same through social media, instructions were given to Meerut Police for immediate action. Accordingly, the Police launched a manhunt leading to arrest of stalkers.
A perfect blend of a vigilant citizen & #digital Policing brings a happy end.@Charuls4 made video of her stalkers & tweeted it to @Uppolice from where instructions were given to @meerutpolice for immediate action.
Terrorist organization Sikhs For Justice’s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has announced a reward of USD 2.5 lakh for any Sikh organization or Sikh Youth who would hoist the Khalistani flag on India Gate on the Republic Day. In a letter issued by SFJ, Pannu “gave a call to the Punjab farmers protesting on Singh border to raise Khalistani flag at India Gate on January 26 and receive a reward of USD 2.5 lakh.”
Pannu often releases provocative videos on his YouTube channel to provoke Sikhs in Punjab against India.
Letter issued by SFJ announcing 2.5 lakh USD for Sikh organization or individual for hoisting Khalistani flag on India Gate
The venomous video of SFJ
On January 11, SFJ released an incriminating video on its YouTube channel to provoke Sikh individuals living in India especially those who agree with the Khalistani movement. Pannu in the video asked the Sikh Youth to hoist Khalistani flag on India Gate and remove Indian flag India Gate as well as from every corner in Delhi. He said, “On January 26, Sikhs should roam in Delhi on their tractors and remove every tricolour. The Indian flag is the symbol of suppression that Sikhs have faced in India. Every Indian flag must be removed and crushed.”
Screenshot from SFJ’s video
Pannu further added that whoever hoists Khalistani flag on India gate will be rewarded with USD 2.5 lakh. If the Indian government arrests the person under Indian Law, his organization says it will help the person(s) move out of India and settle down in the UK. He said that Sikhs have taken over Delhi as the Indian government has enacted three black laws.
Pannu further added that Sikhs have to come out for the armed revolution if the Indian government does not allow peaceful protest.
Center to file affidavit in Supreme Court about Khalistanis in farmers protests
On January 12, the central government had told the Supreme Court that they have credible input from the Intelligence Bureau that there is the presence of Khalistani supporters in the farmers’ protest. Attorney General of India (AG) KK Venugopal had raised the issue in the Supreme Court during the hearing on petitions regarding Agriculture laws.
CJI had asked the government to formally submit the documents supporting their claim. The centre replied that the government would compile the information from the Union Home Ministry and submit an affidavit on Wednesday.
CJI to AG : If there is an infiltration by a banned organization, and somebody is making an allegation here on record, you have to confirm it. You file an affidavit by tomorrow.
There is a petition filed by the Delhi police pending in Supreme Court to restrict the farmers from holding tractor rally in Delhi on January 26. In its petition, the police said that there would be a law and order problem if such rally is permitted. The letter issued by SFJ is believed to be a part of the affidavit that the centre is going to submit in the Supreme Court.
Tehelka promoter and former TMC Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh was on Wednesday arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.
Singh’s arrest is related to Enforcement Directorate probe that was launched in September 2016 against him and a company (Ms Alchemist Infra Realty Limited) linked to him. A criminal case was filed against him under the PMLA, on the basis of a charge sheet lodged against the company, its directors and others by the market watchdog SEBI.
In a statement released by the ED in January 2019, the agency had stated that its probe revealed that the proceeds of the crime generated by Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd were routed through a web of shell companies.
The investigation also found that the funds sought by the firms from various investors were never used for the purpose for which they were mobilised and the same were transferred to the bank accounts of other companies which were nothing but shell companies. The siphoned off funds were later used to buy properties at various locations in India, the ED said.
Alchemist Group involved in running ponzi chit fund scheme without seeking approval from SEBI
The ED has also alleged that the company had launched an illegal collective investment scheme and mobilised funds of about Rs 1,916 crores from the public in the years preceding 2015. The firm had allegedly launched the scheme without seeking approval from the SEBI and thereby led to cheating of unsuspecting investors.
In 2015, the firm had informed the SEBI that it had refunded Rs 1,077 crores after the market watchdog probe and sought more time to return the rest of the amount. However, SEBI turned down its request and later filed a charge sheet in the case in March 2016.
KD Singh’s connection with beleaguered Tehelka magazine
It is noteworthy to mention that KD Singh was also associated with Tehelka magazine, whose editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal is mired in a sexual assault case. The case had come to fore in 2013 when one of the staffers of the organisations had levelled allegations of rape against Tejpal.
Soon after the allegations surfaced against Tarun Tejpal, Kanwar Deep Singh tried to distance himself with the organisation, stating that he had nothing to do with the firm and was just a promoter. At the time of the incident, Tehelka was owned by Anant Media Pvt Ltd., a subsidiary of the KDS Corporation, a company controlled by KD Singh.
However, according to details available, about 65.75% of the Anant Media Pvt Ltd was owned by Royal Building and Infrastructure Ltd, a company owned by KDS Corporation, which in turn was controlled by the then Trinamool Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist KD Singh. KDS Corporation owned 85% in the Royal Building and Infrastructure Ltd.
A year after the sexual assault allegations were levelled against Tarun Tejpal, KD Singh, in an interview with the Quartz in December 2014 said that he owned 70-80 per cent of the shares and reposed his faith in the magazine, stating that the firm can make a comeback and do the stories that it was known to pursue.
“I think it was a wise decision to stay by the magazine and believe that the magazine could get back on track and do the kind of hard-hitting stories that we have always done,” Singh had then said.
On Wednesday, the entire country of Pakistan went into a jubilatory mood after Pakistan Prime Minister and former captain Imran Khan emerged victorious in a Twitter poll conducted by International Cricket Council (ICC) to decide the greatest player as captain.
The ICC had carried out a poll on micro-blogging site Twitter on Tuesday to decide who is the best cricketer as a captain. The ICC poll included three legendary players and a Pakistani cricketer. The three legends included in the poll were Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli, South Africa captain AB de Villiers, Australia women’s cricket team skipper Meg Lanning. Pakistan’s former captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan was also included in the poll by the ICC.
Even though Indian skipper Virat Kohli was way ahead in the polls till the last stages, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who during his days played some cricket, emerged at the top of the poll after patriotic Pakistanis jumped in by the thousands to vote for Imran Khan to save him from another international humiliation.
Amusingly, following the victory of Pakistan PM Imran Khan in a Twitter poll, Pakistanis are now rejoicing over the victory and nationwide celebrations have begun to cheer for their beloved PM Imran Khan.
Interestingly, the victory of Imran Khan in a Twitter poll has now taken a political turn after Imran Khan’s political party ‘Tehreek-e-Insaf’ took to Twitter to depict as some sort of political win for the Prime Minister Khan and claimed that, “Once a leader, always a leader”.
The victory celebrations did not stop there. Zartaj Gul Wazir, Minister of State for Climate Change, did not miss the opportunity to celebrate PM Imran Khan’s victory in the Twitter poll. She said Imran Khan was the greatest cricketer and skipper to emerge from the sub continent.
Several high-profile Pakistanis too descended on Twitter to make merry of Imran Khan ‘majestic’ achievement of winning a Twitter poll carried out by the ICC.
Not just Pakistani establishment, even the media in Pakistan cheered up for Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s victory in a Twitter poll.
It is pertinent to note that Pakistan media had earlier run a campaign to influence the Twitter poll so that former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan, who is now the Prime Minister of the country, did not lose in the poll against Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. TV channels in Pakistan were reportedly urging people to vote for their PM.
Indian Muslims, opposition party members join Pakistani bots to secure win for Imran Khan
Earlier in the day, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan won a Twitter poll ran by ICC to decide who was the best player as a captain. After over 5,00,000 votes cast, the poll went towards a nail-biting finish between Virat Kohli and Imran Khan. In the end, with the massive backing by the Pakistani state and its media’s nationwide campaign, surprisingly just for a Twitter poll, former Pakistan captain took a slender leader to emerge victorious in the ICC poll.
In the poll, Virat Kohli had 46.2 per cent of the vote while Imran Khan received 47.3 percent of the total 5,36,346 votes. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers received only seven percent of the vote while Australian women’s team captain Meg Lanning unfortunately received only one percent.
As Imran Khan trailed in the initial stages, the Pakistani establishment got triggered and resorted to cheap tricks of employing massive state-sponsored social media groups to influence the poll. Soon, votes started to pour in favour of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Pakistani bots and social media users, who perhaps have no idea how voting in real life feels like, enthusiastically voted on a Twitter poll like never before.
It seemed like the Inter-Services Public Relations, the propaganda arm of the Pakistan Armed forces, did not want their Prime Minister to humiliatingly lose to Indian yet again and arranged for some votes on Twitter to make sure that he wins the Twitter poll at least.
Shockingly, not just Pakistani Twitter accounts and bots managed by the Inter-Services Public Relations, several Indians also voted in favour of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Twitter poll. The ‘Team Baan’, which indulges in mass rigging of Twitter polls with the help of bots and often resort to posting abusive rants on social media against Hindus and BJP supporters, unsurprisingly campaigned on behalf of Imran Khan and voted for Pakistan Prime Minister Khan in the Twitter poll ran by the ICC.
Dalit Positive Movement, a Dalit and OBC Rights initiative, has written a letter to National Commission for Protection of Children Rights (NCPCR) seeking immediate intervention in the alleged forced drug and porn addiction of Dalit children by goons in the restive region of Mumbai’s Malwani.
The Dalit Rights body has alleged that local goons under the aegis of Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh are pushing the Dalit children into the abyss of drug and pornography addiction. It has also stated in its complaint that names of BJP leaders Gopal Shetty and Ashish Shelar are being misused by the goons to suppress resistance from Dalit families in the region.
The Dalit Positive Movement took cognisance of the rampant drug and porn addiction pushed by the ruffians in Malwani and wrote an email to NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo to take urgent action to stop the goons from forcing Dalit children into the abyss of drug and pornographic material addiction.
Besides, the Dalit Rights body has also sought intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Ramdas Athavale to establish central intelligence agency to probe into 12 more cases of Hindus, including Dalits, the exodus from Mumbai’s Malwani region under the duress of Muslim oppressors and real estate mafias.
Muslim goons in Malwani allegedly accused of encroaching upon Hindu and Dalit lands and houses
Besides the scourge of drug and pornography addiction, in Mumbai’s Malwani, a Muslim majority region, the Hindu minority is constantly threatened and intimidated by the Muslim hooligans to force them into leaving their homes and lands. From once having more than 100 Hindu families, the locality now houses a mere 8-10 Hindu families and even they are planning to leave the area for the fear of persecution from the Muslim thugs.
According to the residents of the region, the goons enjoy political patronage from the local Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, who is also a cabinet minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Allegedly, emboldened by their leader’s support, the Muslim hooligans have unabatedly encroached their lands and built madrassas and dargahs on government lands, the victims’ claim.
Earlier this month, BJP Mumbai President Mangal Prabhat Lodha took cognisance of the plight of the Hindu minority in Malwani and paid a visit to the region. Lodha, along with other local BJP leaders, met with the residents of the area and listened to their injustice meted out on them.
Speaking on the course of action to be taken by the party, BJP leader Sunil Koli informed OpIndia that they have given an ultimatum to the police officials to initiate action in the matter and submit them a report of the same to them by January 15. If the police fail in addressing the grievances of the victims, the saffron party would hit the roads and protest against the harassment of Dalits at the hands of the Muslim thugs in the region, he added.
A complaint has been filed against self-proclaimed ‘Mythologist’ ‘Devdutt Pattanaik in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha for attempting to instigate divide in the Hindu society on the basis of caste by spreading blatant lies, fake news about the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha.
Activist Anil Biswal has lodged a complaint against controversial writer Devdutt Pattanaik in the Capital Police Station in Odisha’s Bhubaneshwar for putting out false and derogatory tweets against Lord Jagannath of Puri and for hurting the religious sentiments of Jagannath devotees.
Taking to Twitter, activist Anil Biswal said Devdutt Pattanaik has spread blatant lies against the traditions of Puri Jagannath Temple, with the ill intention of creating a divide between Hindus on the basis of caste.
“It is pejorative remarks, designed intentionally to defame Jagannath Temple as well as Hindu Traditions. This person has a history of repeatedly insulting Hindu Gods and Hindu Dharma. There is no restriction on entry of any Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs to Shri Jaganath Temple,” the activist said.
Earlier, Devdutt Pattanaik had stoked a massive controversy after falsely claiming that Dalits are not allowed to enter the Puri Jagannath Temple.
Filing a complaint against Pattanaik, Biswal said that the remarks made by the self-proclaimed ‘mythologist’ are not only a false but have also been done with a clear intention in hurting religious sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees.
He added that every day thousands of devotees of all sects, caste of Hindus including SC, ST, OBC are visiting Shree Mandir and there is no issue of any caste-based discriminations at the Puri Jagannath temple. “It is completely a false allegation that Dalits are not allowed to Shree Jagannath Temple,” he has added.
The Hindu activist asserted that contrary to propaganda peddled by the likes of Pattanaik, Jagannath culture aims at the upliftment of the poor, fallen and the downtrodden.
In his complaint, Anil Biswal has requested the Odisha Police to take appropriate action against the author under IPC Section 295A, 500, 505, & IT Act Section 67 for hurting religious sentiments of devotees.
It is notable here that Pattnaik’s tweet was condemned and called out by many Odias. The Puri Jagannath Temple does not discriminate on the basis of caste. A significant number of Sevayats are non-Brahmins.
In 2018, there were some false media reports claiming that President Ramnath Kovind was ‘mistreated’ inside the Puri Jagannath Temple due to his caste. However, those reports were false and the Rashtrapati Bhavan had denied any such incident. The President and the First Lady had visited the Temple and had Darshan near the Sanctum Sanctorum as all devotees do.
Devdutt Pattanaik: Fake news and abuses on social media
Devdutt Pattanaik has a chequered history of abusing people who do not conform to his worldview. There have been myriad instances when the so-called historian has resorted to crass remarks and vile abuses on social media websites. Pattanaik had also made fake assertions about the Citizenship Amendment Act and routinely indulges in ridiculing and abusing Hindus and Hindutva. Because of his chronically abusive behaviour and anti-Hindu antecedents, social media users have expressed their displeasure for having him invited for an event sponsored by the Indian government.
According to Nityanand Misra, an IIM graduate working in the finance industry, the self-proclaimed mythologist’s writing is not based on stories in Hindu Puranas. He also reveals that the author might be misinterpreting Sanskrit words.
Nityanand claims that Devdutt has been inventing his own stories and selling them as Hindu mythology. In addition to this, Misra says that the Pattanaik has a special hatred for Brahmins and doesn’t accept genuine criticism of his work.
On numerous occasions, Pattanaik is seen launching vile abuses and derogatory rants against anyone who disagrees with him.
The Trump Administration in the US had envisioned a growing role of India in the Indo-pacific region, in an attempt to counterbalance China. It was disclosed in the recently declassified United States Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific, which talked about “accelerating India’s rise” and blocking China from establishing “illiberal spheres of influence”.
The strategy document prepared in 2018 was scheduled to be declassified after 30 years, which was marked as “secret” and “not for foreign nationals”. But in an unprecedented move, it was declassified this week, just a week before Trump administration leaves the White House.
The partially redacted document, which has been made available for the public, notes that a strong India, in cooperation with like-minded countries, would act as a counterbalance to China. It says that “China seeks to dominate cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and bio-genetics, and harness them in the service of authoritarianism. Chinese dominance in these technologies would pose profound challenges to free societies.”
The Framework says “India maintains the capacity to counter border provocations by China.” It mentions that that India’s preferred partner in the security related issues is the USA, and the both nations cooperate to preserve maritime security and counter Chinese influence in South and Southeast Asia and other regions of mutual concern.
It envisions that India will remain preeminent in South Asia and will take the leading role in maintaining Indian Ocean security, increase engagement with Southeast Asia, and expand its economic, defence, and diplomatic cooperation with other U.S. allies and partners in the region.
The framework says that USA aims to Align its Inda-Pacific strategy with those of Australia, India, and Japan; and also aims to create a quadrilateral security framework with India, Japan, Australia, and the United States as the principal hubs.
Under the “India and South Asia” section of the framework, it notes its objective as “accelerate India’s rise and capacity to serve as a net provider of security and Major Defense Partner; solidify an enduring strategic partnership with India underpinned by a strong Indian military able to effectively collaborate with the United States and our partners in the region to address shared interests.”
The strategic framework for Indo-Pacific region talks about defence technology transfer to India, “to enhance India’s status as a Major Defense Partner; increase our cooperation on shared regional security concerns and encourage India’s engagement beyond the Indian Ocean Region”.
It says that the Trump administration supports India’s membership in the Nuclear Supplier’s Group, and offers “support to India through diplomatic, military, and intelligence channels – to help address continental challenges such as the border dispute with China and access to water, including the Brahmaputra and other rivers facing diversion by China”. It adds that USA supports India’s “Act East” policy and its aspiration to be a leading global power, highlighting its compatibility with the U.S., Japanese, and Australian vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Framework also talks about partnering with India on cyber and space security and maritime domain awareness, and expanding U.S.-India intelligence sharing and analytic exchanges.
On infrastructure front, the USA plans to work with India and Japan to help finance projects that enhance regional connectivity between India and countries of the region.
Other than India, Japan and Australia, the USA also plans to enhance ties with South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia and other “democratic partners” in the region.
The USA thinks that Russia will remain a marginal player in the Indo Pacific region relative to the United States, China, and India. It also says North Korea no longer poses a threat to the U.S. homeland or its allies, and the Korean Peninsula is free of nuclear, chemical, cyber, and biological weapons. However, the framework aims to help South Korea and Japan acquire advanced, conventional military capabilities, and draw south Korea and Japan closer to one another against North Korea.
The United States believes that China will take increasingly assertive steps to compel unification with Taiwan, and aims to help Taiwan in preventing that. It aims to “enable Taiwan to develop an effective asymmetric defence strategy and capabilities that will help ensure its security, freedom from coercion, resilience, and ability to engage China on its own terms.”
