Terror elimination precondition for cooperation in South Asia: S Jaishankar

Elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation, but also for the very survival of the region itself, Jaishankar said.

Elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a "precondition" for fruitful cooperation in South Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, in a veiled attack on Pakistan while emphasising that the relevance of the SAARC will be determined by decisive actions against the scourge.

In his statement at the informal meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers on the margins of the 74th session of the General Assembly here on Thursday, Jaishankar said, "Ours is really not just a story of missed opportunities but also of deliberate obstacles. Terrorism is one among them."

Elimination of terrorism in all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation, but also for the very survival of the region itself, Jaishankar said at the meeting.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi boycotted Jaishankar's opening statement at the meeting to protest over Kashmir after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August. India has asserted the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter".

Jaishankar in his statement reiterated SAARC leaders' statement in Kathmandu in 2014, where they called for "full and effective implementation of SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, including through enacting necessary legislation at the national level to root out terrorism"

"The relevance of SAARC would be determined by these actions against terrorism and this will decide our collective journey of the future become more productive," the minister said.

Jaishankar said while regionalism has taken root in every corner of the world, if the South Asian region has lagged behind it is because the region does not have the normal trade and connectivity that other regions do.

Business Standard

Elections 2019: Will Masood Azhar's tagging as 'global terrorist' help BJP?

The BJP needs to sweep the remaining three phases of voting to be able to get close to its performance in 2014; this tagging has given its workers another talking point.

Nearly 70 per cent of the Lok Sabha polls is over with polling completed in 373 of 542 Lok Sabha seats (Polling for Vellore seat will take place later). However, elections have now entered their most crucial juncture since much of the Hindi heartland will go to polls over the remaining three phases.

If it has to return to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would need to maximize its gains in the remaining 170-seats that will go to polls on May 6, 12 and 19. The BJP had accomplished this in 2014 when it swept the Hindi heartland.

Until now, the BJP’s election campaign has focused on the “decisive” leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stoking “nationalism” sentiment centred on the Pulwama terror attack and Balakot terror strikes.

Increasingly, however, the BJP’s discourse has shown diminishing returns on the ground with local issues coming back to dominate, including questions being asked about the performances of incumbent BJP MPs.

For example, in Uttar Pradesh, Pulwama and Balakot gave BJP’s core support base a reason to continue to keep their faith with Modi. However, enough people are also asking inconvenient questions on the security failure that had led to Pulawama, and why the BJP leadership contradicted each other in their claims about the numbers killed in the Balakot strike.

It is also common to find voters who believe Modi government announced demonetisation on November 8, 2016, primarily to win the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, and view the party’s current discourse around nationalism through the prism of it seeking potential electoral gains in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

It is in this context that the BJP will use the tagging of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist as an achievement of its policy of “zero tolerance” against terrorism. It will be the BJP’s counter to the opposition’s narrative of the sundry “failures” of the Modi government, particularly in tackling job losses and farm distress, and Congress party’s promise of ‘Nyay’, or minimum income guarantee to the poorest 20 per cent.

In the next three phases, 21-seats of Bihar, 41 of UP, 4 of Himachal Pradesh, 11 of Jharkhand, 23 of Madhya Pradesh, 13 of Punjab, 10 of Haryana, 1 of Chandigarh, 12 of Rajasthan, 24 of West Bengal and 7 of Delhi go to polls. Apart from Bengal and Punjab, the BJP had swept all other states in 2014.

Business Standard

Indians most worried about terrorism, jobs and corruption: Survey

What Worries the World is a monthly online survey of adults aged under 65 in 28 nations, including India, China, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the US.

Indians are most worried about terrorism, unemployment, and financial and political corruption, even as at least 73 per cent of the countrymen are optimistic that the nation is headed in the right direction, according to a survey.

The Ipsos’ What Worries the World Global Survey observed that worries notwithstanding, India bucks the global trend of pessimism where 22 countries out of the 28 nations covered feel their country is on the wrong track.

On the other hand, the global list of issues across the 28 markets surveyed is quite different in order, with financial and political corruption and poverty and social inequality tied at the top spot being the prime concerns, followed by unemployment, crime and violence, and healthcare.

“Pulwama terror strike has propelled terrorism to the fore. It was way down in the pecking order in the past waves. Terrorism is bothering Indians the most.” “Likewise, lack of jobs is weighing on the minds of Indians and government needs to take the bull by the horns and actively needs to address job creation and tighten its stranglehold on terrorism,” said Parijat Chakraborty, Service Line Leader, Ipsos Public Affairs, Customer Experience and Corporate Reputation.

China inspires the most confidence about its national direction with at least nine in 10 Chinese citizens saying that their country is moving in the right direction. Saudi Arabia is in second place, followed by India and Malaysia. On the other hand, the top-five nations where citizens are most apprehensive about the course their country is taking were South Africa, France, Spain, Turkey and Belgium.

What Worries the World is a monthly online survey of adults aged under 65 in 28 nations, including India, China, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the US.

Business Standard

India-Pakistan tensions: Getting arrested IAF pilot back may not be easy

P D T Acharya, a constitutional expert and a former secretary-general of the Lok Sabha, said it was unlikely the pilot would be repatriated soon.

Bringing back the Indian Air Force pilot captured by Pakistani forces on Wednesday will not be easy and depend on formal and back-channel negotiations between the two nations and international intervention, experts say.

Thee Indian government on Wednesday said IAF had shot down a PAF F-16 in engagements over the Line of Control, and added that India had lost a MiG-21 Bison and a pilot was missing in action.

Pakistan officially said the pilot was in its custody. Pakistani media and social media was circulating videos of him being questioned. In the absence of formal declaration of hostilities, the Geneva Convention governing the treatment and repatriation of prisoners of war (PoWs) do not apply. “The Geneva Convention is applicable to a war or a war-like situation. And, there is no declaration of war yet,” said retired Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak of the Center of Air Power Studies.

(Business Standard)

The convention clearly states PoWs must be treated humanely, cannot be prosecuted for taking part in hostilities, and should be released and repatriated without delay after the end of hostilities. None of these apply to the IAF pilot.

“There are always channels of communication for such situations. Since this time an Indian pilot has been captured, we should initiate talks to get him back,” said Kak, putting the onus on the Indian government to begin the process.

P D T Acharya, a constitutional expert and a former secretary-general of Lok Sabha, said it is unlikely the pilot will be repatriated soon, and a lot will depend on intervention by other global powers.

“They will keep him there for quite some time. There are no easy options. It won’t be unusual for a foreign power to intervene and get him released after some time, but not immediately,” said Acharya. “Once the temperature between the nations comes down, we can see some movement. Pakistani PM (Imran Khan) has already talked about dialogue. He seems to be in a conciliatory mood. That only shows there has been intervention by foreign countries.”

Retired Wing Commander Praful Bakshi, a security expert, said: “If we escalate, you can forget about this boy. There can be talks between the two high commissions and foreign ministries, the two directors general of military operations, even the Prime Minister’s Offices.”

All three analysts agreed on one thing, though: That the IAF pilot won’t be mistreated or tortured. He was declared by the Pakistani channels and establishment as being in their custody -- his videos were being circulated -- and that showed Pakistan was responsible for him now and that gave him some kind of protection from any mistreatment, they said

Strategies for Pulwama-like attacks trace back to ISI HQ: Christine Fair

Pakistan may try more attacks via proxy because this is the only way it can show India that it is not defeated, no matter how powerful India becomes.

In the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, India needs a discussion about what is in its best interest — should it continue with its strategy of restraint or change its behaviour — says C Christine Fair, author of In Their Own Words: Understanding Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War. Fair tells Bhaswar Kumar in an interview that terrorist attacks like Pulwama will continue because this is the only way Pakistan can show India that it is not defeated, no matter how powerful India becomes. Edited excerpts:

Do you think successive Indian governments’ strategic thinking has been to bide time and avoid a large confrontation with Pakistan in the interest of economic growth?

Indian governments do not say so. Unlike the US, India does not have a written National Security Strategy (NSS). Each American President has to issue an NSS and this is the standard by which informed citizens can monitor the budget and other applications of national powers. Few countries have NSS documents. These are helpful documents, as they effect a public debate and provide a road map for the elected government.

So, though one could not be certain, one could infer a general avoidance of confrontation from the Indian government's behaviour. And, it seems to be a constant since the post-Kargil time.

India understands that if it can keep focusing on its economy, it can continue increasing its defence allocation in real terms, with its overall economy continuing to grow. That will allow India to outgrow the Pakistan threat.

For its part, Pakistan understands that it has an army that cannot win the wars that it starts, and nuclear weapons that it cannot use, so it must demonstrate that India's hegemonic goals are not unchallenged. This means Pakistan must attack India through proxy actors under its nuclear umbrella, just to demonstrate that India has not defeated it or forced it into accepting the status quo.

In other words, these terrorist attacks will continue because it is the only way Pakistan can show India it does not stand defeated, no matter how powerful India becomes.

As for India, there is some value in its strategy: More people die of roads accidents in a day than those from terror in a year. But, car accidents cannot be a political issue; terror attacks can be.

Business Standard

Pulwama attack: UN Secretary General calls on India, Pak to defuse tension

Last week, Guterres had "strongly" condemned the terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to take "immediate steps" to deescalate tension that soared after 40 Indian security personnel were killed in an attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama.

"The Secretary General stresses the importance for both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalation, and his good offices are always available should both sides ask," the UN Chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Tuesday at the daily press briefing.

Dujarric was asked about a meeting Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN has sought with the Secretary General and also about Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi saying the UN must step in to defuse tensions between the two nations.

"...Looking at the situation in general between India and Pakistan, we're deeply concerned at the increase in tensions between the two countries in the wake of the attack on Indian security personnel on 14 February in Pulwama," Dujrraic said.

He said Pakistan's mission at the UN requested for the meeting with the Secretary General.

"We have seen press reports of a letter having been delivered to the UN. As far as we've ascertained, none has been received as of this very minute," he added.

ALSO READ: Anyone picking up the gun in Kashmir will be neutralised, says Army

Last week, Guterres had "strongly" condemned the terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, calling for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.

"We strongly condemn today's attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the government and people of India," Dujarric had said at the daily press briefing last Thursday.

Responding to a question by PTI on the terror attack, Dujarric said, "We of course wish a speedy recovery to those injured and call for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.

Business Standard

Aussie film 'Hotel Mumbai' is fictional recreation of 2008 Mumbai attacks

Hotel Mumbai tackles a delicate subject that is still very raw for many of the 2008 Mumbai attacks survivors.

Three years after French director Nicolas Saada's "Taj Mahal", which focused on a single site of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras' debut narrative feature, "Hotel Mumbai", enters the precincts of the iconic property and presents a fictional recreation of the violence perpetrated on India's financial capital by heavily armed terrorists a decade ago and the remarkable resilience displayed by the staff and guests that were caught unawares.

"The film is about one of the most terrible incidents imaginable, but it is also about people from different groups cutting across ethnicity, race and class coming together to fight off the attackers," Maras said at a press conference after the world premiere of "Hotel Mumbai" at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival.

In a reaction that is typical of Indian journos covering the festival, the film was critiqued by some ever-touchy quarters for not mentioning Pakistan by name as the perpetrator of the heinous act of terrorism, as if the role of elements in the neighbouring nation is in any need of reiteration. In any case, it would not have changed the story or its emphasis in any way.

In response to a question, the director, known for several awarded shorts, said, "'Hotel Mumbai' is an anthem of resistance and tenacity. The hotel restaurant was up and running within three weeks of the attack and the damaged structure was restored to its old glory in 21 months. That is the spirit that my film celebrates," added Maras.

"The overarching narrative," said Maras, "is that 500 people were caught up in a situation and fought their way through with exemplary courage."

He pointed out that the film does not view only the four gunmen who wreaked havoc in the Taj weren't as guilty. "Their handlers were just as culpable," he said.

The star-studded cast of "Hotel Mumbai", shot in Adelaide and Mumbai, is led by Dev Patel, who plays a Sikh concierge who goes beyond the line of duty to protect the guests whose lives were at grave risk during the siege.

"It tackles a delicate subject that is still very raw for many of the survivors. It humanizes the situation," he told the media.

"Hotel Mumbai" also stars Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher and Jason Isaacs. Kher is cast as the Taj Mahal Hotel's real-life head chef Hemant Oberoi.

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J&K: Azadi will never happen, says Army chief Bipin Rawat to Kashmir youth; highlights

Days after a 22-year-old tourist from Tamil Nadu died after being hit by a stone, during a protest, in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said he was concerned over Kashmiri youths 'picking up guns' or resorting to stone pelting.

In an interview to the Indian Express, Rawat said youth of Kashmir should understand that 'Azaadi' is not possible. “I want to tell Kashmiri youth that Azadi isn’t possible. It won’t happen. Don’t get carried away unnecessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek Azadi, those who want to secede. (Azadi) is not going to happen, never”.

Recently, several districts in Jammu and Kashmir was rocked by protests after security forces killed five terrorists, including an assistant professor of Kashmir University, in an encounter in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday chaired an all-party meet to discuss the situation in Kashmir. After the meeting, Mufti said the central government would be approached with a request to halt security force operations during the forthcoming holy Muslim month of Ramadan and the ensuing Amarnath Yatra.

General Bipin Rawat's interview and other top developments on Jammu and Kashmir crisis:

1. Bipin Rawat vows to fight back the stone pelters: “Once a stone is thrown at us…once they fire at us.. then there is no way we will not respond and respond sternly. Those who want to fight us, we will fight them," Rawat told the Indian Express.

Stressing that there is no 'military solution' to the Kashmir unrest, he said politicians, political representatives should " go into villages especially in South Kashmir to talk to people".

Rawat said the Army doesn't enjoy killing, but if anyone wants to “fight us then we will fight you with all our force”. “Kashmiris have to understand that the SFs (security forces) haven’t been so brutal — look at Syria and Pakistan. They use tanks and air power in similar situations. Our troops have been trying their level best to avoid any civilian casualty despite huge provocation,’’ he said.

2. Numbers don't matter, says Rawat: Rawat said he doesn't attach much importance to the number of militants who are killed in encounters with the Army. “These numbers don’t matter to me because I know this cycle will continue. There are fresh recruitments happening. I only want to stress that all this is futile, nothing is going to be achieved by them. You can’t fight the Army”.

3. Centre should consider ceasefire in J-K from Ramzan, says Mufti: The Centre should consider a unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir starting from Ramzan in mid-May till the completion of the Amarnath yatra in August, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday.

She made the remarks after chairing a four-hour all-party meeting, which was convened to discuss the present situation in the Kashmir Valley especially after a tourist from Chennai died due to stone pelting on May 7.

Mufti appealed to all shades of opinion in joining in the mission to get the state out of violence and bloodshed.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, she said, "Everyone (all parties) agreed that we should appeal to the Centre to consider a ceasefire like the unilateral ceasefire in (former PM Atal Bihari) Vajpayee's time in Ramzan (later this month) till Amarnath yatra and Eid."

She said a ceasefire would provide relief to the people and help create a better atmosphere in the state.

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