Month: April 2024

The US-China relationship can only move forward with direct and open communication, Yellen told Li, after arriving in the Chinese capital from the southern city of Guangzhou.

“China sincerely hopes that the two countries will be partners, not adversaries,” Li said in welcoming remarks to Yellen. He added that Chinese internet users have closely followed the details of her trip since her appearance in Guangzhou, showing “expectation and hope for the China-US relationship to continue to improve”.

Yellen held a series of meetings in the southern port city, including hours of discussions with her counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Both countries have since agreed to hold talks on balanced growth under an existing working group, allowing officials to discuss the key US concern of overcapacity.

This refers to a situation where Chinese government support to industries fuels production capacity, but risks a surge of exports at depressed prices to the global market, undercutting international competitors. Washington is especially concerned about this phenomenon in new industries such as electric vehicles and solar energy.

Yellen’s trip marks her second visit to China in less than a year.

“While we have more to do, I believe that, over the past year, we have put our bilateral relationship on more stable footing,” she said in opening remarks to Premier Li as she began two days of high-level talks in Beijing.

Rather than avoiding hard conversations, this has meant “understanding that we can only make progress if we directly and openly communicate with one another”, the Treasury chief said. Yellen also stressed, ahead of talks with Beijing mayor Yin Yong, the need to engage with local officials to understand China’s “economic future”.

“Local governments play a critical role, from boosting consumption to addressing overinvestment and Beijing of course has particular importance,” she said.

A senior treasury official told reporters on Saturday that Washington believes household spending needs to be a bigger part of China’s economy.

Speaking to professors from the Peking University National School of Development, Yellen said she was keen to hear their perspectives on “the potential long-term impacts of today’s policy decisions”.

Tensions remain

Yellen told Li that the world’s two biggest economies have a duty to “responsibly manage our complex relationship” and show leadership when it comes to working on global challenges.

On Saturday, the Treasury also said US and Chinese officials would start talks under another existing working group for cooperation on tackling money laundering. The aim is to cut off financing for criminal organisations such as drug traffickers.

Despite the outcomes of meetings so far, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency warned in a commentary of the “spectre of protectionism” in the US. It criticised existing US tariffs on Chinese imports, while accusing Washington of “suppressing” China’s electric vehicle-related industries, signalling at tensions that remain.

Another state media outlet, The Global Times, pointed to “negative actions toward China” in an editorial, referring to US trade and tech curbs, and “an ever-growing list of sanctions against Chinese companies”.

‘Possibility for progress’

“Yellen’s visit has opened space to test the possibility for progress,” Brookings Institution senior fellow Ryan Hass told AFP. He added that her trip has “illuminated that the Chinese recognise a need to engage on overcapacity and are prepared to explore cooperation on anti-money laundering”.

But only time can tell if these efforts bring material progress, he said.

In meetings with Vice Premier He, Yellen also warned companies in China not to provide support for Russia’s war in Ukraine — including to Moscow’s defence industrial base — cautioning of “significant consequences”.

While in Beijing, Yellen will also meet with Finance Minister Lan Fo’an on Sunday. On Monday, she is due to speak with former vice premier Liu He and central bank governor Pan Gongsheng.

Congress, which had ruled India for more than 50 years with centre-left policies, has struggled in the past decade to compete with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which counts the country’s Hindu majority as its main vote base.

The seven-phase election starts on April 19, with vote counting on June 4.

More help for so-called backward castes and the poor irrespective of caste were among Congress pledges in its election manifesto, including assured jobs for the young, guaranteed prices for farm produce and higher health insurance payouts.

“Congress has been the most vocal and active champion of the progress of the backward and oppressed classes and castes over the last seven decades,” said the manifesto released by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who himself is from one of India’s most backward castes.

“However, caste discrimination is still a reality.”

Kharge listed some of the key pledges with only a feeble response from party workers at a press conference, leading him to comment: “No claps, nothing!”

Many analysts say morale is low in Congress because of the BJP’s dominance of the country’s politics. An opinion poll released on Wednesday predicted Modi’s National Democratic Alliance coalition could win 399 of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament while the BJP alone is projected to win 342.

Congress could fall to 38 seats, a record low, it said.

Close election

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the election is “much closer than being propagated”.

“It’s a close election and we are going to fight an excellent election and we are going to win the election,” he said at the event.

Should it be voted back to power, Congress said it would conduct a socio-economic and caste census to “strengthen the agenda for affirmative action”, guaranteeing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for backward castes in government jobs and education.

The party said such groups make up nearly 70 per cent of India’s 1.42 billion people, but “their representation in high-ranking professions, services and businesses is disproportionately low”.

The caste system has set out hierarchies in the Hindu religion for thousands of years, but it has been countered by affirmative action policies in recent decades albeit with uneven effect.

Average monthly spending by marginalised castes from so-called scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes lagged privileged castes by 27 per cent in rural and 30 per cent in urban India in 2022/23, according to a government survey released last month.

In a major development, Pakistan and the United States (US) on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to work together to promote cooperation in many fields including counter-terrorism.

The resolve comes during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Currently, Pakistan is witnessing another wave of terrorist activities, including cross-border terror attacks from Afghanistan and killings by the agents of Indian intelligence agencies on its soil.

A day earlier, The Guardian, a noted British daily newspaper, report revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government “ordered killings” on Pakistan’s soil, lending further credence to Islamabad’s claims.

Exposing the “sophisticated and sinister” Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi, in January this year, said that Islamabad had “credible evidence” of Indian agents’ link to the killings of two of its citizens on its soil.

During the fresh contact, Islamabad and Washington reiterated their dedication to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all spheres of mutual interest.

“Pleased to receive a congratulatory telephone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,” Dar wrote on his official X handle. Important bilateral issues were discussed in the telephonic conversation, he added.

Both the sides reiterated their resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade, economy, investment, climate change, agriculture and security.

Various matters of regional importance such as situation in Gaza, the Red Sea and developments in Afghanistan were also discussed.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current positive momentum in bilateral relations.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related causalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations, including around 1,000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel during the last year.

A day earlier, the US had said that it prioritises security-related cooperation with Pakistan and would continue to work to further expand bilateral relations in this regard.

Addressing a media briefing in Washington, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller had said: “We will continue to work to expand the security partnership between the US and Pakistan […] It’s been a priority for us and will continue to be so.”

His remarks came to a question regarding US support for Pakistan in tackling its security concerns arising from neighbouring countries and combating the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Washington’s reassurance comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his response to US President Joe Biden’s letter, underscored Pakistan’s desire to work with the US for the achievement of shared goals of global peace and stability as well as regional progress and prosperity.

The premier had also said that both countries have been working together on various significant initiatives in energy, climate change, agriculture, health and education sectors.

Earlier, President Biden had addressed a letter to PM Shehbaz in which he extended felicitation to the new government. He further emphasised upon the “enduring partnership” between the US and Pakistan.

In the first diplomatic correspondence between the US and the new government in Pakistan, Biden had vowed that Washington would “continue to stand with Pakistan” in tackling the “most pressing global and regional challenges”.

Underlining the deep-rooted Pakistan-Turkey brotherhood, Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey, Dr Yousaf Junaid, reiterated that the relationship between the two nations epitomises sentiments such as a “heart-to-heart connection” and “two countries, one nation.”

The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara hosted a grand reception commemorating the 84th National Day of Pakistan. Turkish Minister for National Defence Yasar Guler and Turkish Minister for Trade Prof Dr Omer Bolat graced the occasion as chief guests.

Dr Junaid, in his remarks, elucidated the historical importance of Pakistan Day, highlighting the pivotal role of the Pakistan Resolution adopted on March 23, 1940, for the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims based on the Two Nation Theory.

He paid tribute to the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and also reaffirmed Pakistan’s current leadership’s commitment to transforming the nation into a bastion of peace, progress, and human dignity.

The ambassador also expressed gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his stewardship of the bilateral relationship and emphasised the importance of working together to nurture and strengthen these brotherly ties for future generations.

In his address, Turkish Minister for National Defence Guler lauded the exemplary and historic bilateral relations, particularly highlighting the flourishing defence ties and excellent cooperation between the armed forces of both nations.

He also emphasised that the strategic and comprehensive bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkiye play a vital role in promoting peace and stability, both regionally and globally.

Acknowledging the historical significance of the bilateral relations, Turkish Minister for Trade Prof Dr Bolat underscored the importance of transforming the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye into economically beneficial multifaceted cooperation.

He also expressed optimism that this friendship would continue to strengthen in the years ahead, based on shared values and mutual interests.

The event was attended by Former speaker Turkish Parliament Ismail Karaman, Chief of Turkish General Staff General Metin Gurak, Turkish Land Forces Commander General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, Commander Turkish Air Force General Ziya Cemal Kadioglu, Commander Turkish Naval Forces Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz, Chairman Pakistan-Turkiye Parliamentary Friendship Group Ali Sahin, Mayor Ankara Mansur Yavas, Former deputy prime minister Recep Akdag, former agriculture minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker, former interior minister Efkan Ala, Deputy Commerce Minister Mustafa Tuzcu, Former Chairman SSB Ismail Demir, Members of Parliament, as well as high-ranking Turkish civil and military officials, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, academia, Pakistani community, and media representatives.

The report cited intelligence officials from both countries as well as documents shared by Pakistani investigators, saying they “shed new light on how India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began to carry out assassinations abroad as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019”.

It should be mentioned that while India has denied the claims made in the report, there has been no official comment from Pakistan thus far. However, on January 25, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi had said in a news conference that there were “credible evidence” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nationals in Sialkot and Rawalakot.

The Guardian report said that the accounts appeared to “give further weight to allegations that Delhi has implemented a policy of targeting those it considers hostile to India”. It noted that India has been publicly accused by Washington and Canada of involvement in the murders of dissident activists.

“The fresh claims relate to almost 20 killings since 2020, carried out by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan. While India has previously been unofficially linked to the deaths, this is the first time Indian intelligence personnel have discussed the alleged operations in Pakistan, and detailed documentation has alleged Research Analysis Wing’s (RAW) direct involvement in the assassinations,” it said.

It further said claims suggested that Sikh separatists in the Khalistan movement were targeted as part of these Indian foreign operations, both in Pakistan and the West.

The report, quoting Pakistani investigators, said, these killings were orchestrated by Indian intelligence sleeper cells “mostly operating out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)”.

It quoted two Indian intelligence officers as saying that RAW’s shift to “focusing on dissidents abroad” was triggered by the 2019 Pulwama attack which killed scores of security personnel in held Kashmir in February 2019 and which India blamed on Pakistan.

“After Pulwama, the approach changed to target the elements outside the country before they are able to launch an attack or create any disturbance. We could not stop the attacks because ultimately their safe havens were in Pakistan, so we had to get to the source,” The Guardian quoted one Indian intelligence operative as saying.

Conducting such operations “needed approval from the highest level of government”, he said, adding that India “drew inspiration” from intelligence agencies such as Israel’s Mossad and Russia’s KGB.

Meanwhile, the report cited unnamed senior officials from two separate intelligence agencies in Pakistan as saying that Islamabad suspected India’s involvement in up to 20 killings since 2020.

It said that the officials pointed to evidence relating to previously undisclosed inquiries into seven of the cases — including witness testimonies, arrest records, financial statements, WhatsApp messages and passports — which investigators said showcased in detail the operations conducted by Indian spies to assassinate targets on Pakistani soil. The Guardian said it had seen the documents, but they could not be independently verified.

The intelligence sources alleged that targeted assassinations increased significantly in 2023, accusing India of involvement in the suspected deaths of about 15 people, most of whom were shot at close range by unknown gunmen.

Investigators alleged that millions of rupees would often be paid to criminals or impoverished locals to carry out the murders, with documents claiming that payments were mostly done via Dubai. Meetings of RAW handlers overseeing the killings are also said to have taken also place in Nepal, the Maldives and Mauritius, the report said.

“This policy of Indian agents organising killings in Pakistan hasn’t been developed overnight. We believe they have worked for around two years to establish these sleeper cells in the UAE who are mostly organising the executions. After that, we began witnessing many killings,” a Pakistani official was quoted as saying.

The Guardian said that the figures it was given matched up with those collected by analysts tracking unclaimed militant killings in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, India categorically denied the report by The Guardian. India’s Ministry of External Affairs denied the claims, reiterating an earlier statement that they were “false and malicious anti-India propaganda”.

The ministry emphasised a previous denial made by India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, that targeted killings in other countries were “not the government of India’s policy”.