Diplomacy

India-Bangladesh bonding on upswing with launch of another train

- by India Writes Network

Imparting a new impetus to regional connectivity in South Asia, the prime ministers of India and Bangladesh have flagged off another train service that will bolster people-to-people and economic ties between the two countries.The inauguration of the weekly ‘Bandhan Express,’ which will run every Thursday between Kolkata and Khulna, was attended by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee via a video link.
“We have inaugurated two rail bridges today (over rivers Meghna and Titaash). Built at a cost of about $100 million (Rs 651.55 crore), the bridges will help strengthen Bangladesh’s rail network. Being a trusted partner in Bangladesh’s development works is a matter of pride for India,” Mr Modi said on November 9.

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Trump’s Asia tour: What’s on the table?

- by India Writes Network

Amidst tensions simmering in the Asia-Pacific with regard to North Korea’s rapid nuclear programme and the US withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, US President Donald Trump’s five-nation Asian marathon will be a testing time for American diplomacy under its unpredictable leader. Mr Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines in one of the longest tour of Asia in 25 years by an American President.

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Manhattan’s Halloween horror: Truck mows down pedestrians in suspected terror attack

- by India Writes Network

Terror returned to haunt the streets of Manhattan as at least 8 people were killed and about a dozen injured when a pick-up truck ran over cyclists and pedestrians alongside the Hudson River on the far west side of lower Manhattan. The driver has been identified as a 29-year-old Uzbek who was shot in the abdomen by the police while he was about to flee after crashing his truck into a school bus.A joint task force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department and other agencies probing the attack have found out that Sayfullo Saipov, the attacker, was a resident of Florida and a a number of other registered addresses in Ohio. He had been previously booked for minor traffic violations. It is also reported that he had commercial license in two states that allowed him to drive large trucks.

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India’s Chabahar moment as first shipment of wheat leaves for Afghanistan

- by India Writes Network

Opening a new chapter in enhancing connectivity to Afghanistan, India has sent the first shipment of wheat to Kabul through Iran’s Chabahar port, bypassing Pakistan.The first wheat shipment was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on October 29 through a joint video conference. It has been hailed by New Delhi as a landmark moment paving the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan.
With US President Donald Trump envisaging a pivotal role for India in stabilising Afghanistan, Washington has taken a softer approach towards India’s Chabahar port drive. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during his recent visit to India, had clarified that the US would not impede any “legitimate business” between Iran and other countries in the region.

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With China on mind, Japan pushes quad dialogue with India, US & Australia

- by India Writes Network

With China’s President Xi Jinping promising to making China a major global power at the country’s twice-in-a-decade Party Congress, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has said that his country would soon propose a top-level security dialogue with the US, India and Australia on board.

Speaking to The Nikkei daily, he said that the “idea is for the leaders of the four nations to promote free trade and defence cooperation across a stretch of ocean from the South China Sea, across the Indian Ocean and all the way to Africa”. “We are in an era when Japan has to exert itself diplomatically by drawing a big strategic picture,” Mr. Kono said.

The daily reported that the foreign minister said that he had already had a brief discussion on the same with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meet in Manila two months back.

“Free and open seas will benefit all countries, including China and its Belt and Road Initiative,” he said, adding that dismantling North Korea’s missile programme will also focus prominently in the talks. Recently, expressing the US’s evolving view on China’s ambitious project, Mr. Tillerson had expressed concerns over China’s predatory economics and its not-so-responsible rise.

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Modi, Trump congratulate Xi; Kim Jong-un sends a special note too

- by India Writes Network

As China entered the Xi era with the consecration of President Xi Jinping among the pantheon of Chinese greats like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, there has been a flood of messages from world leaders congratulating Mr. Xi on his elevation as one of the most powerful leaders of his country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi choose to send a message through his Weibo account (a Chinese social network à laTwitter)saying: “Congratulations to President Xi on getting re-elected as CPC General Secretary. Look forward to further promote India-China ties together.” India-China relations had come under a cloud following the 72-day long stand-off at Doklam, but the two leaders had put that behind them when they met at the BRICS summit in the Chinese city of Xiamen in September.

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Tillerson seeks stronger India ties,no tolerance for Pak terror havens

- by India Writes Network

Setting the tone of his maiden official visit to New Delhi, US Secretary of State Rex Tillersonhad expressed last week the US administration’s determination to “dramatically deepen ways” to build an ambitious strategic partnership with Indianot just specific to South Asia but also including the Indo-Pacific, with an eye on China’s rising assertiveness in the region.
In New Delhi on a 36-hour visit, Mr. Tillerson reaffirmed his country’s support for India’s rise as a regional power and providing further assistance in advancing India’s military mordernisation by equipping it with best technologies.

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