Time for a global consensus to pull up China for the Pandemic

China has set his eyes on becoming the global numero uno. Rising to an enviable position of an economic superpower China steadily consolidated its strangle hold over the global supply chains. Till 2012, China largely adhered to Deng Xiaoping’s foreign policy of “bide your time and hide your strengths” postulated by Sun Tzu, Chinese master strategist. But President Xi revamped this strategy. Since his ascent to power, China catapulted itself to global leadership positions. It sought active role in BRICS paving way for creation of New Development Bank (NDB), energised SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), launched BRI(Belt and Road Initiative), started AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) challenging the hegemony of the Western financial institutions and pursued unabated reclamation of the territorial features in South China Sea (SCS).

Despite three decades of stupendous economic rise and burgeoning global heft, China’s chequered history replete of lies, deception, subterfuge evokes suspicion. Shrouded by an aura of opacity, all its initiatives are perceived with scepticism. Roping 120 countries under the touted global connectivity-BRI, China stabilised its position as a global player. But barely years into BRI’s official launch, World agencies warned active BRI member countries of an imminent “debt trap” owing to Chinese mercantilist style of functioning. Unruffled by scepticism, China continued to flex muscles and increased its global foot print. By vehemently refusing to abide by the PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration) verdict pertaining to territorial dispute in South China Sea (SCS), China disregarded international rules. China’s defiance and unrestrained aggression began to threaten region’s peace and stability. Dragon’s damning record on human rights violations and containment of over 1.5 million Uighur Muslims in detention camps raised serious doubts about its global aspirations. Fearing economic repercussions Muslim countries never brooked this issue. Curiously, China never faced any international indictment, for its preposterous activities. Dragon evaded censure at all global platforms. Smartly outwitting influential western powers, China slowly penetrated various intergovernmental organisations. It muzzled UNSC voice, stalled all discussions pertaining to human rights violations in Xinjiang.

As of 2019, China headed the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). It eventually compelled UN Officials to endorse BRI as an initiative meant for supporting development under the tag line of “win-win cooperation” ². After the US scaled down funds to UN, China eventually emerged as pillar of UN Peacekeeping Force as well becoming the second largest contributor to the overall UN budget. Indeed, countries welcomed that China should be allowed to take leadership role at the UN which is dominated by Western nations. Asserting influence on the UN, China avoided any scrutiny on suppression on free press, freedom of speech and expression the basic minimum rights denied to its citizens.

Even China’s reputation of fudging numbers is a common knowledge. Its strategic use of bilateral trade, tourism as instruments of coercion are well known. But the latest addition to this dubious list is the massive coverup exercise and suppression of facts which led to eventual spread of Chinese Corona virus (CCV) to 168 countries. At the heart of global spread of CCV has been China’s disproportionate influence on the WHO (World Health Organisation), mandated with the task to eradicating the spread of communicable diseases.  

On January 23^rd when China has locked down Wuhan, WHO debated for a week to declare the CCV as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHIEC).  On Jan 28^th, Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met President Xi and commended measures taken by Chinese government to curb the disease spread. By then, China has arrested several whistle blowers which included doctors who raised concerns about Chinese reprehensible measures. Finally, on Jan 30^th WHO, watch dog of global public health emergencies after much trepidation, declared CCV as PHIEC. By then the virus has spread to 18 countries and number of infections touched 7,781 cases.

Even as infections proliferated across the World, Tedros criticized countries like the US, Australia and Singapore which considered travel restrictions to contain the spread. He warned them against, “recrimination or politicization” of the outbreak. At a Munich Security Conference, he heaped praised on China for its swift action. Throughout Tedros acted as Chinese apologist. Tedros came under fire for his actions in 2017 for failing to investigate the outbreak of Cholera in Sudan, by terming it as “acute watery diarrhoea” putting thousands of lives under risk ¹⁸.

Experts recounted that Tedros actions were in sharp contrast to Dr. Bruntland who recommended against travel to China during 2003 SARS outbreak. Analysts say that those were different times as over years, WHO has become more reliant on voluntary contributions made by countries. Since 2003 China has increased its contributions enormously and gained tremendous influence. China is known to have supported Tedros candidature in DG elections. Tedros in turn has not only endorsed “One China Policy” but ever since ensured that Taiwan isn’t extended any invitation to join the World Health Assembly as Observer ⁴. From 2009-2016 Taiwan participated the event. After the election of President Tsai Ing-Wen a staunch advocate of an independent Taiwan, Taiwan was stripped from the Observer status. Handing out a clean chit to China despite the threatening Pandemic, WHO named viral outbreak caused by novel-Corona Virus (nCoV), as COVID-19 short name for “Corona Virus Disease 2019” on Feb 11^th. Citing the new guidelines set by FAO and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), WHO nearly wiped off all the traces pandemic’s origin to China.  Apparently, China wielded extensive clout in both WHO and FAO.

Thanks to WHO’s inaction and an extended delay, world has lost precious time in curtailing viral spread in initial phase, which could have cut down the threat by 95%. Today the humanity is paying heavy price for China’s global aspirations and geopoliticking. To preserve its reputation, Beijing has brazenly dumped the entire World and thrown them into a frenzy of extended lockdown.

Uncovering the dereliction of duty on the part of WHO and despicable negligence of China, South China Morning Post reported that first case of CCV could be traced to November 17^th, 2019. Since then a minimum of five cases are reported every day. By the end of the year, 266 persons in Hubei province were infected. By Jan 1^st, the numbers rose to 381. While the WHO reports first case dated back to Dec 8^th. Medical Journal The Lancet, traces first infection to Dec 1^st. ³

The timeline of the viral outbreak clearly suggests that China has faltered to control the virus. China has first reported of a mysterious pneumonia perhaps originating from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on Dec 31^st to WHO. China closed the Seafood market on January 1^st. It must be noted since the outbreak of SARS in 2003 and later Swine Acute Diarrhoea Syndrome (SADS) in 2017 scientists warned about dangers of the zoonotic disease caused by Corona viruses (CoV) which harbour in bats and spread to humans. SARS and SADS originated in China. Virologists cautioned China of a future outbreak from bats as “Chinese food culture maintains that slaughtered animals are more nutritious” ⁵. This belief has invariably aided in viral transmission. Despite these warnings, China never mulled a ban on sale of live animals to prevent outbreaks. Interestingly, in the wake of CCV outbreak, Vietnam passed a legislation banning the trade of live animals.

By Jan 7^th China isolated the virus and called it nCoV. First death due to nCoV occurred in China on Jan 11^th while Thailand reported first death due to nCoV on Jan 13^th. Cognizant of the threatening nature of Coronal viral infection and with reports of several hundreds of infections in hand, Hubei province organised a public buffet for over 40,000 families on the eve of Chinese New Year on January 18^th. Around this period, Wuhan held 14^th People’s Congress and 13^th Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Except for closing down of Wuhan on Jan 23^rd, China didn’t impose any restrictions on travel commemorating the New Year the following week ie. from Jan 23^rd to Jan 31^st. By then several thousands have travelled across the globe and spread the infection. A report stated that 175000 people left Wuhan on Jan 31^st. A special carrier operating directly between Wuhan to Lombardy in Italy carried over 15,000 Chinese during the Chinese New Year. Intuitively, Italy which has large numbers of aged population paid heavy price for this unrestrained entry of infected persons. Currently, death toll in Italy have surpassed China’s figures. Similarly, Iran which cultivated extensive ties with Communist China after US imposed economic sanctions had one of the highest death tolls due to CCV.  China, insisted that virus didn’t transmit from human to human till it was really very late. WHO official site carried out similar tweet endorsing China’s version. This actually complicated the issue.

In an overdrive to exculpate from devious negligence of causing the CCV spread, Chinese Red Cross airlifted 30 tonnes of medical supplies to Italy. While Chinese propaganda missionary is quick to trumpet this as act of reciprocity, German chancellor Angela Merkel called it a gesture of “reciprocity” since Italy sent 18 tonnes of relief material last month of Wuhan ¹⁹. Supplies of Chinese red cross must be viewed with caution as Red Cross have admitted, “Ninety percent of the stuff we’re getting is not up to the standard” ²⁰. A Czech News Agency reports that nearly 80% of Corona virus test kits donated by China are giving false positives forcing the health workers to dump them for the indigenous laboratory tests ²¹. China has been using the pandemic for global propaganda and it refused to acknowledge India’s help which sent 15 tonne medical supplies.

The US imposed restrictions on the entry of Chinese on Jan 31^st, after the WHO declared CCV as public health emergency. Experts from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO offered to travel to China to help understand the viral outbreak. But China didn’t respond ⁶. By mid-December doctors in Wuhan contracted the infection. Dr Li Wenliang, raised alarm about the symptoms which are similar to SARS infection. But the Wuhan administration dismissed these reports and arrested eight health workers which included Dr Li for spreading rumours. Subsequently, Wuhan provincial authorities passed ordered stopping further tests, destruction of samples and suppression of news.  Provinces in China are ranked based on their growth indices. Scared of a negative report, Hubei province officials erased all evidences of infection. By the end of January, Li has published his letter on Weibo, which went viral. Chinese officials extracted a confession stating that his statements were false before he succumbed to infection on Feb 7^{th 7}.

After China reported about infection to WHO, President Xi stayed away from the entire issue. He was no where to be seen when China was fire-fighting the infection which spiralled into enormous proportions. Subsequently, China extended the lockdown to other provinces. But the clamp down on the movement of people in Wuhan, epicentre of the outbreak has been “draconian, aggressive and brutal”. China employed all the modern tools to surveillance the private movements of the individuals as well. As infections continued to surge, China has changed counting procedure twice. Both the times, numbers showed a decline. This created a confusion and hinted at obfuscation of data. Overriding these issues, visiting WHO experts said that there is a steep decline in infections ⁸.

By last week of February, for the first time since the Cultural Revolution in 1967, China has postponed National People’s Congress (NPC) held in March every year. By this time, several nations began to reel under the burden of the burgeoning viral outbreaks.

In second week of March, when infection levels receded in China, Chinese bots flooded the social media. Carrying out a disinformation campaign, they birthed the conspiracy theory of virus having originated in the US and deflected the blame. Singing paeans of the authoritarian Chinese regime for its success in curtailing the virus, State Media, the avowed mouth piece of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) lashed out at countries that imposed travel restrictions. Hailing the characteristic “Chinese way” of brutal clamp down of the civil liberties during the viral outbreak as the only salvation, prided in heavy-handedness of the regime.

Normalising the lockdown, Chinese media began to bombard the social media networks with videos of so-called Chinese experts to whitewash massive coverups. Having claimed to have completely controlled the viral spread, rebranding itself as the “Global Leader”, China sent an expert team to Italy. While the Global Times began to plant new theories that “Italy might may have had an unexplained strain of pneumonia as early as November and December 2019 with highly suspected symptoms of COVID-19” ⁹. Clearly, this strategy is no different from “Nine-Dash Line” theory propped up by the Communist regime. Enraged by China’s relentless ludicrous campaign, twitter trended- “China lied, people died”. China’s latest coverup exercise and attempts to deflect the blame for the spread of CCV buttressed people’s mistrust of the Middle Kingdom.

Reinforcing its claims of tumbling of infections, President Xi travelled to Wuhan on March 10^th epicentre of the CCV. Even as Chinese media aggressively, launched the hyped-up propaganda of all is well, whistle blowers tore up this crafty ruse. Local companies are persuaded to boost electricity consumption to show that things are back to pre-Corona levels ¹⁰. Chinese telecom companies reporting loss of 15 million subscribers post-CCV ¹¹, disappearance of a Chinese business tycoon for his scathing essay calling Xi as “Clown” ¹², record levels of Sulphur dioxide emissions in Wuhan in the second week of March ¹³ are pointing to a massive coverup exercise.  Clearly, things are seriously amiss.

Mounting evidence and series of events indicate an undeniable China’s role in pandemic spread. China’s denials, call for gratitude education, advocacy of its authoritarian model and attempts to exonerate the regime of all culpability exemplified hegemony and hubris. China has put the entire World at risk. The double whammy of the major health emergency and tanking stock markets has already brought several countries to its knees.

Pulling up China for the Pandemic, Florida’s The Berman Law Group filed a class-action law suit against People’s Republic of China ¹. American lawyer Larry Klayman and its advocacy group Freedom Watch filed $20 Trillion class-action law suit against Chinese government, Chinese Army, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Director of Wuhan Institute of Virology and Chinese Army Major, Chen Wei claiming that Corona virus is a biological weapon unleashed by Chinese authorities ¹⁴. Close on heels, an attorney in Las Vegas filed a law suit against China for hiding information and causing losses to 32 million businesses in the US ¹⁵. It is time to evolve a global consensus and pull up China for the pandemic that caused devasting financial losses, unspeakable mental trauma, panic and fear.

While the World continues to dilly-dally and fumble, China, the chair of UNSC for the month of March deferred discussion on Corona Virus. Chinese envoy added, “Council members generally feel there is no reason to panic at the moment and plan to monitor the situation… (with) COVID-19 currently not on organ’s agenda” ¹⁶. Even as the World is grappling with the CCV, reports of Hanta Virus emanating from rodents with mortality rate of 38% is reported to have caused first death in China ¹⁷. It can’t be business as usual anymore. World will have to pay huge price if it fails to call a spade a spade.

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India overwhelmingly embraces Janta Curfew

Unlike the country wide imposition of lockdown of Emergency days, today 1.3 billion Indians voluntarily embraced Janata Curfew. Complying the twin mantras of “resolve” and “restraint” advocated by Prime Minister Modi to break the viral transmission chain, Indians pointedly underscored the importance of “social distancing”. By 5pm, reiterating solidarity, people thronged to balconies, windows and doors expressing gratitude to doctors, health workers, sanitation workers, paramedics and essential services personnel. Heart-warming applause in the form of tali, thaali, shankh naad, traditional bells, dholaks against the background of the Gayatri mantra in some places has connected the citizenry in an emotional bond. Reverberating sounds symbolised harmony, resilience and the battle readiness of the people. With their categorical approval, ordinary citizens have pledged to work in unison.

India is home to one-sixth of the humanity. Prevention of viral outbreak in this densely populated nation is a huge challenge. Instead of resorting to characteristic Chinese way of draconian and aggressive crackdown, as a leader of masses, honouring the precedents of a democratic society, Modi made an earnest appeal to countrymen.  Urging the nation to come together, Modi psychologically readied the citizens for an impending graded lockdown.  The test of real leadership is the moments of crisis. Standing tall and leading from the front, Modi galvanised entire nation. Mobilising the nation for an unprecedented health emergency, Modi sought the voluntary participation and cooperation of people. In the process, he has proven to the World how a diverse, large and often chaotic nation like India can work as a single unit in times of need.

India is about to step into the crucial third phase of the community spread and an imminent surge in infection rate is anticipated. While critics expressed concerns of India’s readiness and limited resources to tackle the viral outbreak, Modi advocated the smart strategy of social distancing. Janta Curfew is thus, Modi’s way of announcing its long battle against the Chinese virus. Instead of coercing people through a regimental approach, in synchrony with state governments- sealed the state borders, cancelled interstate buses, passenger trains and suspended local metros. Simultaneously, government identified 75 districts, the hotspots of viral infection for imposing section-144. In sharp contrast to stringent and spontaneous clamp down, Modi government adopted a slow and graded response, giving leeway for citizens to adjust to new statusquo. This will eventually go a long way in containing viral spread.

Modi’s second term has been full of surprises and replete of deliverance on various fronts. Like the iconic legislations which changed the political, social, economic scenario, Prime Minister’s approach to the health emergency is bound to overhaul the public health services. Unlike the first World which is caught napping, India upped its guard just days after the news of Chinese viral infection made to the headlines. While WHO dithered and wasted precious time in designating the viral outbreak as a pandemic, India enforced massive thermal screening, isolation, quarantine and managed to keep the infections low.

Raising the guard, Modi launched, Janata Curfew, to underline the importance of staying at home, restricting unnecessary travel and socialising. People firmly endorsed this landmark event which spurred the nation to embrace social distancing and empathically cooperate with government agencies to keep our nation infection free. By entrusting the citizens with the responsibility of serving the nation by staying at home, Modi successfully sent the larger message to each and every citizen of the nation.

Indian Prime Ministers thus far are known to have special appeal among restricted sections of the society. Modi has defied all class boundaries. As an orator of par excellence, he touched the hearts of millions of Indians spanning all sections of society. With his unparalleled communication skills, Modi managed to bring the diverse Indian society together. The success of this massive people’s exercise stands testimony to this fact. Unruffled by the massive disinformation campaign that feeds on negativity and pessimism, Modi has reposed faith in Indian masses. Amidst pessimism, defiance and callous attitude of the entitled class, Modi appealed for public support in his current battle against Chinese virus. People have resoundingly responded to his exhortations. Over the past six years, Modi has created a feeling of belongingness to the nation among the citizens. He believed in collective functioning. For centuries, colonists trampled Indians with -Divide and Rule Policy, and Modi sowed the seeds of “Together, we shall overcome”.

By winning the confidence of people, Modi has earned the support of the people and overcome a major barrier. Pray people continue to respond in one voice and collectively overcome the threat of Chinese virus pandemic.

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With the SAARC outreach, India leads regional efforts to combat Covid-19

World is grappling with Covid-19. On March 11^th, after virus caused infections to 118,000 in 110 countries, WHO declared Covid-19 a Pandemic. Covid-19 has caused unprecedented disruption of global supply chains and exposed the weak links in the interconnectedness of globalisation. Blood bath on global stock markets is making the world jittery. Major sectors like services, hospitality, tourism, hotels and aviation have took a major hit. Large economies being resilient are able to take this major shock, travel restrictions are taking a huge toll on small economies reliant on tourism.

This sudden downturn in global economies dawned at time countries are recalibrating their position on openness and globalisation. This symptomatic “inward-looking” approach of the countries reincarnated as ‘America First Policy’ and the ‘Brexit’ reaffirmed their new found-caution and retrenchment from global platforms. As a result, the World is devoid of a global leadership, which is crucial for mitigating a pandemic.

India the second most populous country which shares nearly 3400km land border with China, the epicentre of virus is at a higher risk. Notwithstanding the threat of a massive outbreak, reflective of his proactive outreach, bearing the mantle of leadership in the region, Prime Minister Modi spearheaded a joint strategy to tackle Covid-19. True leadership is tested during the crisis. Instead of resorting to blame game and brow beating of neighbours for restrictions like China, India decided to play a constructive role.

Modi’s proposal came in the wake of Jim O Neill, the man who coined, “BRICS” and currently chair of Chatham house made derisive comments against India casting aspersions on India’s governance to handle the Corona virus. He said, “Thank God, this didn’t start in somewhere like India because there is absolutely no way that the quality of Indian governance could move to react in the way, the Chinese have done, that’s the good side of Chinese model, and I think you could probably say the same about Brazil too”. Social media activists rebuked his blatant loathsome attitude towards Indian government. Indian public health services have a rich legacy of dextrous handling of epidemics (including the most recent Napa virus outbreak in Kerala) and containing its spread with openness and transparency unlike the authoritarian Dragon. Similar, negative press against India began to gain momentum after India reported first death due to Corona virus.

At a time when global players are retracking from the multilateral forums due to self-inflicted contradictions, Modi inaugurated a fresh chapter in regional collaboration for crisis management through the existing regional platform-SAARC. While Modi’s use of SAARC rekindled fresh hopes in strategists about its revival, Modi is simply intent on exploring the possibility of fighting the pandemic as “one force”. South Asia home to one fifth of the humanity is densely populated and hence highly vulnerable to epidemic outbreaks. The report titled, “A world at risk: Annual Report on global preparedness for emergencies” jointly prepared by World Bank and WHO assessed that in an event of a Pandemic, South Asia might suffer economic losses to the tune of $53 billion¹. Invariably smaller economies are going to be worst hit. Assuring commitment to work together, beyond boundaries and raising above differences, India displayed a rare geopolitical maturity and offered to lead a fight against the Pandemic.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka immediately welcomed India’s initiative. After much dillydallying Pakistan agreed to join the video conference scheduled for March 15^th. Barring Pakistan, heads of the state of SAARC nations attended the video conference. Pakistan was represented by special advisor to Prime Minister, Zafar Mirza.

Unlike Europe and other developed countries which were caught off guard, South Asian countries exercised caution and managed to restrict the infection till now. With the guiding mantra of “Prepare but not Panic” Modi exhorted his counterparts to create awareness among the vulnerable sections to contain virus spread. He highlighted India’s proactive steps like thermal screening at the ports of entry, tracing of contacts, isolation, quarantine, setting up of over 60 testing labs, evacuation of over 1400 Indian citizens from the disease hotspots (including 9 Maldivians and 23 Bangladeshis) and deployment of mobile testing laboratories abroad. After seeking inputs from SAARC leaders and responding to concerns of disproportionate impact on economies, Modi proposed creation of Covid-19 Emergency Fund from the voluntary contributions from the countries. India made an initial offer of $10 million to the fund for meeting the immediate requirements of SAARC countries.

India pledged to assemble Rapid Response Team of doctors and specialists, testing kits and other equipment. Offered to arrange for online training capsules for emergency response teams and shared the software- Integrated Disease Surveillance Portals used to trace contacts of infected persons. Modi sought to use SAARC Disaster Management Centre and creation of common research platform supported by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to evolve best mechanisms to control epidemic diseases.

India’s political decisions in the recent past has potentially widened the fissures in the region and Nepal’s growing closeness to China raised apprehensions about India’s Neighbourhood first policy. Other than Pakistan’s pathological hatred towards India, Post-CAA India’s relations with neighbouring Muslim countries took a hit. India is privy to anti-India barbs from Bangladesh. But sporadic anti-India sloganeering at anti-CAA in Afghanistan caused significant discomfort, denoting trust deficit. Disregarding this brewing discontent, India sought the cooperation of all neighbours. Modi’s promise of training personnel through distance learning was particularly hailed by Afghanistan shares open borders with Iran and hence highly vulnerable to Covid-19. India’s enthusiastic drive substantially temporarily subdued animosities in the neighbourhood. Setting the stage ready for the health experts led by health ministries of respective countries to carry forward this mission, Modi successfully flagged off a regional cooperative effort to tackle Covid-19.

SAARC leaders hailed Modi’s forward-looking approach of evolving common SAARC Pandemic Protocols and plans to mitigate economic losses from Covid-19. As the resident power of the region while India showed magnanimity, Pakistan with its blatant political posturing has forever cemented its position as the “disrupter-in-chief” of the region. By deputing an advisor to represent its country, Pakistan has not disrespected the SAARC, but displayed its meanness. Pakistan brazenly shirked the responsibility of evacuating its citizens from the epicentre of infection, Wuhan, Pakistan to express solidarity to China. By doing so, it consolidated its status as a vassal state of China. Reiterating servility, Pakistan recommended that China should oversee SAARC countries joint strategy against Covid-19 as an Observer of the group.

Demonstrating its lack of commitment and seriousness to combat Covid-19, Pakistani Prime minister deputed a proxy, Mirza to rake up Kashmir issue at the conference. Mirza is currently probed for his involvement in the smuggling of 20 million face masks to foreign countries ². Also, while SAARC leaders appreciated and thanked Modi for the collective effort, Mirza refrained from acknowledging Modi but wished good health to Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli who underwent surgery recently. After India refused participate SAARC summit at Islamabad, Pakistan blamed India for making regional grouping SAARC defunct. Debunking, Pakistan’s false propaganda, Modi used SAARC platform to engage with leaders in the immediate neighbourhood signalling India’s commitment towards SAARC. While all SAARC leaders dispassionate assessed the current situation, Pakistan evaded disclosing confirmed numbers akin to its master. In the past 24 hours Pakistan’s number shot up suddenly, surpassing India, touching 183 infections standing out as the epicentre of Corona virus infection in the region. Devoid of the seriousness to assess the threat of Corona threat, Pakistan might soon be the ‘Sick man of South Asia’.

Lauding Modi’s efforts, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, offered to coordinate G-20 leaders for a collaborative effort to combat Wuhan virus. Taking a cue from Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a video conference of G-7 leaders to discuss measures to strengthen financial markets and rev up cooperation to develop a vaccine.

India has peerless reputation as first responder and true to its credentials, on March 12^th, as per directives of Indian government, INS Shardul, delivered 600 tonnes of rice to flood-ravaged Madagascar³. Despite the ban on the export of medical products, India dispatched medical supplies to China and Israel. India sent a consignment of 5.5 tonne medicines and 14-member medical team to Maldives. India have always been at the forefront in offering assistance to neighbours in peril and Modi’s regional efforts to fight Covid-19 hold testimony to India’s soft diplomacy.

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Delhi Riots: How global players are advancing their agenda through civil society groups in India? Part-2

Neil Clarke, a prolific blogger and journalist as early as 2003, warned the international community of Soros motives and elucidated his crucial role in the collapse of former Soviet Union ⁸. Since 1979 he has donated $3million to the Poland Solidarity Movement, opened Open Society Institutes in Hungary and pumped in millions of dollars to separatist forces, opposition parties and independent media. Through a compromised “Civil Society”, he weakened existing political structures and plotted the fall of the Eastern European Block.

Soros has been instrumental in the collapse of Yugoslavia. Since 1991 he channelled over $100 million to the anti-Milosevic forces, publishing houses and the CIA-created Radio Free Europe which played a prominent role in creating mayhem and unrest. By 2000, Slobadan Milosevic of Socialist party was toppled in a coup that was executed, financed and planned in Washington. Milosevic was tried for genocide, human rights violation at the Hague Tribunal under the aegis of Human Rights Watch (HRW) which received donations to the tune of $100 million from Soros agencies. After the fall of Milosevic, Serbia has become weak. Soros and his associates bought several national assets at knockdown prices. He repeated this time-tested strategy in Kosovo. Making an investment of $50 million he and his associates gained the control of Trepca Mines with vast reserves of gold, silver, lead and other minerals worth $ 50 billion. Eventually Soros has opened OSF institutes in majority of economically weaker Eastern European countries.

Last year, six American senators wrote to Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson to investigate the allegations of role of Foundation Open Society Macedonia and Open Society Foundation for Albania for using the US embassies, USAID missions and diplomatic agencies for meddling in the local politics and toppling the governments. This letter has sparked a debate in the US with people praising the role of the OSF in Macedonia for spending more money than the government in the areas of education, health and legal aid. But the crux remains that OSF has made attempts to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms under the garb of “progressive agenda” in the former communist states ⁹. But incidentally the “progressive agenda” has an underlying “political agenda”. The seemingly innocuous NGOs of Soros have an ugly underbelly.

Even the much-touted International Crisis Group, propped up by Soros is headed by former NATO commanders. Over the decades, Soros, who considers himself as a God ⁷, built a huge network of NGOs to create a positive perception towards him. Given the blatant notoriety of OSF, Soros organisations are now encountering significant backlash. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, backed a legislation “Stop Soros bill” which called for shutting down of the Central European University, run by Soros’s son and the entire network of OSF organisations in the country. Soros NGOs backed the settlement of illegal migrants in Hungary, which refused European Union’s resettlement program. It has strictest anti-immigration laws. Similarly, Russia and Uzbekistan banned OSF. Pakistan has recently ordered the closure of an affiliate to OSF without citing any reasons.

While the western media continues to defend Soros and disapproves of the paranoia of “the prophet of open society” mounting evidences indicate otherwise. A study by the European Centre for Law and Justice in Strasbourg revealed that nearly a quarter of the judges at European Courts of Human Rights (ECHR) and NGOs are funded by Soros ¹⁰. The growing penchant of Indian civil society to seek the approval of European agencies should certainly ring a bell. India’s legislations are now widely debated in Europe with an uncanny enthusiasm. Judges serving on the ECHR bench are closely associated with OSF NGOs. Most of them have either been directors or program heads of OSF or have held teaching positions at its institutes. In a vast majority of the cases, OSF NGOs would bring cases to ECHR as applicants, as lawyers for applicants and sometimes as third parties to lobby for a cause. But all of these parties are funded by the same source. In some cases, the judges are also co-opted but none of them would declare conflict of interest and recuse from the cases. Indeed, judicial system is irretrievably penetrated by OSF and the NGOs can now lobby for a candidate and have him elected. As per the report nearly 51 of 100 judges in ECHR have been human rights activists with no law degree and experience of judicial system. In other words, the activists pronounce any judgement, which is not necessarily what the law ordains. Interestingly ECHR hasn’t thus far, contested the revelations of the report implying that ECHR has descended into a new low and replete of corruption.

Soros wields tremendous influence on the Western media which is inherently anti-India. American watch dog Media Research Centre (MRC) found that nearly 30 media agencies are funded by Soros. This includes- CNN, Associated Press, Washington Post, The New York Times, Huffington Post, NPR (National Public Radio), NBC and ABC ¹¹.  The Columbia School of Journalism and some journalist associations operate on funds received from OSF ¹². Given Soros overbearing influence on the Western media it is no surprise that they carry rabidly anti-Indian articles.

Soros is avowed sympathiser of Pax-Americana. But unlike the American politicians, he isn’t crass about it. He breached communist bastions to create a new World order. Hence his special interest in Myanmar should be unsurprising. With a twin purpose of containing the rise of China and paving way for democracy, he invested $2 million a year to control the government, institutions and economy of Myanmar since 2003. US aimed to retain Myanmar as a client to contain the hegemony of China. After hydrocarbon reserves are discovered in the Rakhine state, where China has made substantial investments, external global players fuelled Islamic extremism in the region. Precisely for the same reason, Soros has escalated the Rohingya Crisis to beef up US presence in Myanmar in 2011-12¹⁵. In 2012, US administration lifted arms embargo on Myanmar and President Obama travelled to buttress American influence in the region. But the strident anti-Burmese campaign over Rohingya migration by the Western media, pushed Myanmar back into Chinese arms. Ever since vilification of Myanmar heightened and it had to face a trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Soros is known for his mastery to prise open countries to own national assets at a throw away prices.  And Myanmar ticked all these boxes. 

As a bogeyman of the right, he denounced the former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Salvini for his anti-immigration policies. Nigel Farage, Brexit Party leader rebuked Soros for encouraging the illegal migration to the UK. President Erdogan denounced Soros for his divisive methods, held him responsible for the 2013-Genzi Park protests that challenged Erdogan’s 15-year rule ¹⁶ and ordered the shutdown of OSF offices in Turkey. Some reports indicate that OSF has funded the protestors in Charlottesvilla, Virgina and even staged neo-Nazis torch light procession which led to clashes and killing of a 32-year old, just eight months into the Trump regime ⁶. He loathes Trump’s regime. He donates liberally to the Democrat camp. Soros funded re-election campaign of President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s Presidential race. Ironically being a Jew, he has been always been critical of Israel’s democracy and actively funded the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

OSF funded French NGO Sherpa, known for meddling in the affairs of African countries to get media coverage and funds. It filed a petition against Rafale in France and offering legal aid to the illegal Rohingyas in India.

Delhi police is investigating the role of Women rights group Pinjra Tod for persisting on the anti-CAA women protestors to shift to Jaffrabad metro station and block the arterial road on the intervening night of Feb 22^nd/ 23^rd and joining the bandh called by Bhim Army. Another NGO, “United Against Hate”, which launched a tollfree number for lynching led by Nadeem Khan actively joined hands with the jihadist groups during the anti-CAA protests are also scanner for its complicity ¹⁷ in fanning communal tensions.

Of late there has been a surge in the PILs filed by NGOs contesting various aspects of governance, existing laws and administration. The unwarranted judicial intervention is posing impediments in seamless implementation of legislations enacted by elected representatives. Curtailing the activism of foreign-funded NGOs several countries are imposing sanctions on them. It is time India must revisit its policies on NGOs. On the contrary, a two-judge bench headed by L Nageswar Rao and Deepak Gupta ruled that government can’t stop the NGOs and other social organisations from receiving foreign funds even if they are involved in hartals, bandhs and mobilising the people.  It stated that restrictions on getting foreign funds is applicable to organisations involved in active politics alone. Apathy of the Indian judiciary to the burgeoning threats from the vested interests who operates through NGOs that are posing threat to the social harmony and peace, is appalling ¹³.

Op India exposed the dark side of Mander, who is found to be trainer with Ara Pacis Initiative (API) which collaborates with propaganda machinery that advances narratives of Western powers. API is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy and works hand in glove with the Italian secret services. Mander’s role as a pawn of foreign government agency and his dangerous associations demands thorough investigation by Indian agencies ¹⁴.  Clearly the Civil Society and its illustrious members masquerading as intellectuals under the garb of activism are posing fresh threat to the democratic precincts of India.

Soros is known for his reputation to rake up religious, social and ethnic contradictions. Obviously, India teeming with protests against CAA and NPR has been his best bet to orchestrate crisis and weaken the nation. A strong nation is difficult to negotiate with and by weakening its institutions, Soros intends to bring India to its knees. The left had always harboured an inveterate hatred for India, the land of thriving native civilisation. A resurgent Hindu nationalism in India is the least the Western World ever anticipated. The looming threat from the “Break India Forces” is real and India must wake up to reality….

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Delhi Riots: How foreign players are advancing their agenda through civil society groups in India? Part-1

Just yesterday three more bodies are recovered near the Shaheen Bagh Protest site. With this the death toll in Delhi riots reached 52. Much has been written about the riots by the Western media which portrayed it as a “Pogrom”, “Genocide” and castigated Hindu community for the violence. While the violence abated after 36 hours, it wasn’t spontaneous but appears to be well-planned and orchestrated by various forces. Investigation agencies are unravelling riots. New leads are affirmatively confirming the role of usual suspects which included Pakistan’s deep-state in this planned anarchy, mayhem and violence. Local subsidiaries working at the behest of the external forces, with a single-point agenda of defaming India and stigmatising the Modi government seemingly fuelled the riots.

The role of PFI was established early on and new investigations confirmed the role of ISIS indoctrinated couple in the riots. Some reports suggested that Delhi riots were planned at the Nepal Aalmi Ijetma 2020, held from Feb 15-17 attended by over 5 lakh Indian Muslims and inaugurated by Hazrat Maulana Shah. Hindustan Times hinted at the role of ISI handlers. Clearly, vested interests actively stoked violence in Delhi to unleash the mayhem coinciding with the strategically important Trump’s state visit to India. Cognizant of its implications, anti-India forces stoked communal cauldron. Investigative journalists are now admitting to have received inputs about looming threat of riots from their undercover informants. While security agencies have sharpened their investigation in tracing role of avowed Indian enemies and jihadists, it is concerting that despite several exhortations, the role of internal enemies who serve as conduits for global players in preparing ground for the communal tensions are ignored.

At the time of writing, OpIndia reported about Nidhi Razdan of NDTV having conversations with the ISIS couple- Jehanjeb Sami and Hinda Bashir Beg arrested by Delhi police for their strong links with Islamic State Khorasan of Afghanistan ¹. The couple who operated OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) account on Twitter under the name of -kashmirosint shared stories of Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan and actively posted pictures of shelling along the border and other raw pictures.

Clearly, Delhi Riots are not a manifestation of simple provocation spurred by inciteful speeches, but a planned operation diligently carried out by many actors to disrupt the peace and harmony of India. It will be interesting to dissect the role of each of these actors and their ulterior motives. But the author intends to analyse the role of liberante (civil society) masquerading as activists in fomenting communal tensions.

Of them the insinuating speech of Harsh Mander, former bureaucrat, member of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Sonia Gandhi during the UPA era featured prominently.  His role in instigating the anti-CAA crowds came under scanner after this inflammatory speech urging the protestors, “the future of this country will not be decided in either the Supreme Court or the Parliament, but it will be decided on streets of this country” became viral on the social media. Spurring the protestors to plunge into action, he termed Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on the Ayodhya issue and abrogation of the article 370 as partisan and casted aspersions on the functioning of the courts as well. He has been partisan and his support to dangerous twitter handle-kashmirosint ² confirms the same.

Mander’s prominently featured during the anti-CAA protests his petitions seeking Supreme Court’s intervention on hate speeches by BJP leaders in Delhi and demand for immediate FIRs garnered much attention. Ironically, the man who derided SC and questioned its fairness publicly, thronged its corridors for swift legal action. But in an unanticipated turn of events, Solicitor General produced Mander’s videos of provocative speeches. SC took cognisance of his hate videos, slammed him for inciting the public and refused to hear his petition seeking a clarification. Incidentally by then, Mander has reportedly, packed off his bags and fled to the US.

Mander who served as an IAS officer in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh was Additional Collector of Indore which witnessed worst anti-Sikh riots in the wake of assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. But resigned from public administration after the Gujarat 2002 riots and became an active Civil Society member. Since then he headed various organisations like the Centre for Equity Studies, run on funds received from the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church and served as director of ActionAid India. He. During the UPA regime, he has been part of several working groups instrumental in legislating various bills like the Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill, Child Labour Abolition, Urban Poverty and Homelessness, Disability Rights, Bonded Labour. It is no secret that foreign funded civil society exerted tremendous influence on the functioning of the UPA regime, Mander who has been an influential member of this group co-convened a group which drafted discriminatory Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill 2011. By default, the bill assumed that religious and linguistic minorities, people from Scheduled Castes and Tribes as victims of communal violence irrespective of the ground realities and laid the onus of proving innocence with the people from majority community. Defending his brazen anti-majority position, Mander alluded to Imran Khan’s perception of Muslims in his article on political marginalization ³. He has been patron of the India Spends, a fact checker which spreads false information.

True to his anti-Hindu and anti-India posturing, he spear-headed anti-CAA protests decrying it as communal while he had no qualms in formulating the discriminatory Communal Violence bill in 2011. Citing civil disobedience, Mander threatened to declare himself as a Muslim if CAB becomes law. Though Mander’s term wasn’t renewed in 2012, he remained chief facilitator and beneficiary of vested interests.  In 2017, Harsh Mander started an initiative, “Karwaan e Mohabbat” to express solidarity to minorities, specifically the victims of lynching and counterintuitively create panic among them. This initiative has been extremely active during anti-CAA protests and urged people to oppose CAA.

As a chairman of Open Society Foundation (OSF)’s Human Rights Initiative Advisory Board, he began peddling lies about CAA which triggered protests in the North East that claimed 31 lives. Mander with his dubious credentials had been an apt fit for the OSF which relies on judicial activism, independent media and NGOs to cripple a system.

OSF is extensively funded by George Soros, Hungarian Jew by birth, philanthropist and among the World’s richest men. Influenced by the writings of Vietnamese Professor Karl Popper, as a student at London School of Economics, Soros advocated Open Society ⁴ and aspired to shape a World without boundaries. Soros who began his career as a banker, mastered the craft of arbitrage and trading currencies. Having understood the market fundamentalism he started, Soros Fund Management in 1970, generated funds worth $40 billion by 2013 and became famous as the “man who broke the Bank of England”. Soros made windfall of monies from speculations that led to recession and fall of Asian economies in 1997. Obsessed by Popper’s ideology, Soros started Open Society Foundation in 1979 which has three-pronged objectives of destroying societies, nations and religions. OSF is now currently operating in 120 countries.

True to his liberal and leftist attributes, Soros supported causes that undermined the national sovereignty, funded various separatist movements to topple governments. He abhorred nationalism and deemed the rise of the right-wing leadership and resurgence of nationalism as inimical to the World. Mincing no words at his discomfort towards populist movements and emergence of new crop of nationalist leaders, in his speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) octogenarian, Soros pledged $1 billion towards Open Society University Network (OSUN) to strengthen civil society (an intellectual class) in a world ruled by “would-be and actual dictators”. He launched attacks on the authoritarian regimes and accused Modi of “creating a Hindu nationalist state”. He said, “Nationalism, far from being reversed, made further headway. The biggest and most frightening setback occurred in India where a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship”. His implicit references to CAA and revocation of article 370 hinted at an impending onslaught of an orchestrated and exaggerated anti-Indian propaganda.

Soros ominous plans, his anti-India and more cogently his anti-Hindu agenda shouldn’t be ignored. Lest we forget the role of Amnesty International, funded by Soros in bad-mouthing India through its biased one-sided presentation of facts of 2002 Gujarat riots. Interestingly, the Soros network prepared the ground to repeat the stereotypical exaggeration of the Delhi riots along the lines of 2002 riots narrative. Delhi riots occurred a month after Soros announced his fight against the Modi government at WEF. The numerous petitions filed by Mander seeking court’s interventions while instigating mobs that courts can’t offer any solutions clearly hints at the modus operandi of Soros OSF which invariably relies on judicial activism. Another indispensable accompaniment of Soros agenda has been media. In the aftermath of enactment of CAA, Western media, flagged off negative propaganda through the outlandish fear-mongering editorials penned by OSF’s cultivated intellectual class. To shape the narrative, Soros roped in Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Namati Inc whose forte is environmental justice and prominent intellectuals like Indira Jaisingh, Amartya Sen and Pratap Bhanu Mehta ¹¹. As of now, these are found to associated with OSF but the actual list may be exhaustive. Soros modus operandi reminds Indians of the Urban Naxals who use media as a hand maiden and lodge PILs to advance their agenda.

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US-Afghan Taliban Peace Deal stumbles

19 years into war, after having lost 2400 American lives and spending $ 1 trillion, the US which is keen on withdrawal of forces has sealed a peace pact with the Afghan Taliban at Doha on Feb 29^th. On the same day, the US made a joint declaration with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRA) and Indian Foreign secretary, Harsh Shringla made a brief sprint to Kabul to attend the event. Keen on fulfilling the electoral promise, Trump administration has pulled all stops to reach an agreement in the election year. US envoy, Zalimay Khalilzad negotiated for one and half years with Taliban to bring them to the table. In September 2018, President Trump even invited Taliban representatives to Camp David for peace negotiations.  Cognizant of the implications of the event scheduled days head of the anniversary of 9/11, the President called off the event at the eleventh hour after the death of American soldier in a Taliban attack. But within weeks, the US again resumed conversations and prepared ground for withdrawal of troops.

The deal is an outcome of growing realisation that neither sides-America nor Taliban sure of an outright victory. The losses in terms of men and material is mounting and the public outcry against American involvement is palpable. Unlike previous leaderships, advocating America’s global retrenchment, Trump has committed to bring back the forces. Taliban welcomed Trump’s initiative which is in congruence with its plans of donning a political role.

As a confidence building measure, a week preceding the proposed signing of agreement, Taliban refrained from violent attacks. The pact titled as “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) which is not recognised by the United States as a state and known as the Taliban and the United States of America” ¹ has four important parts- guarantees on preventing the use of Afghanistan soil by any group against the US; announcement of timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan; Taliban to begin intra-Afghan negotiations with Afghan side on March 10^th at Oslo; negotiations and dialogue for “comprehensive and permanent ceasefire” for evolving a future political roadmap for Afghanistan. The time-bound implementation of first two parts of the agreement would pave way for the execution of next two parts. By and large, all the four aspects are interconnected and interrelated.

Setting the ball rolling, within 135 days of agreement, the US and its allies agreed to reduce the forces to 8600 from the existing 13000 troops and withdrawal all troops from the five military bases. Subsequently, the US will pull out troops from the remaining bases in the next 9.5 months. Also, the US has committed to ensure prisoner swap of 5000 Taliban prisoners held by Afghan Taliban in exchange of 1000 Afghan security forces held in captive by Taliban. After the start of intra-Afghan talks, US is expected to initiate the review of sanctions on Taliban, appeal UNSC to remove the Taliban from the terror list, refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of Afghanistan and seek economic cooperation for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

While the US is ordained to deliver on various fronts, Taliban in return is expected to deny shelter, asylum, support to any agencies or individuals in Afghan territory to plot attacks on the US or its allies. In its overdrive to extricate troops from Afghanistan, America has alluded to the IEA as an entity along the lines of a nation,(with an authority to issue visas) saying- “IEA (Taliban) will not provide visas, passports, travel permits or other legal documents to those who pose a threat to the security of the US and its allies to enter Afghanistan”

The half-baked deal, lacking any provisions for enforcement mechanisms appear to have at best achieved a safe passage for the exit of the American and its allied troops from Afghanistan. While Trump is revelling in the glory of pulling out American troops from the war zone, Taliban triumphantly termed the deal as “termination of occupation agreement with the United States”. In his message, Hibatullah Akhundzada, proclaiming the Taliban as the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, a new nation, underscored it as an Islamic polity replete of true Islamic governance ⁴. While there is no overt mention of sharia, in all likelihood it is going to make a return and undo the rights enjoyed by Afghan women since 2001. By way of directly engaging with the Taliban, America has indirectly elevated its stature.

After signing the peace agreement with Taliban at Doha, adroitly balancing its relations with Afghanistan regime, Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani made a Joint Declaration for bringing peace to Afghanistan^3. Afghan regime reaffirmed to contain the efforts of terror outfits like al-Qaeda and ISIS -K from using its territory against the US. America reiterated its commitment to conduct military operations, extend support to Afghan forces to defeat terrorist organisation and offered to “facilitate discussions” between Afghanistan and Pakistan to ensure that neither country’s territories are used by terror outfits which threaten each other’s security. Also, the US along with IRA will seek the removal of Taliban members removal from UN sanctions list by May 29^th and subsequently, the US will consider withdrawal of sanctions against Taliban by August 27^th.

In absence of any direct costs on Taliban in case it reneges the terms of the agreement, Taliban eventually emerged as the major benefactor of the agreement. With Trump administration keen on pulling itself from the “endless wars”, the field is virtually open for Taliban to wreak havoc. 

America’s agreement with Taliban and Joint Declaration with Afghanistan is expected to bring a modicum of peace to the region. It is anticipated that violence would also come down. A day after the deal, exposing fissures, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani contradicted “prisoner swap” as a precondition for direct talks and refused to release Taliban prisoners ². Ghani even questioned America’s authority on committing a prisoner swap as Afghan government alone is entitled to make such a call. Ashraf’s objections posed fresh hurdles to scheduled intra-Afghan talks and highlighted the intractable differences. Losing no time, Taliban negotiator announced delaying of intra-Afghan talks if prisoners are not released. Additionally, ending the truce, Taliban resumed operations in Afghanistan saying, “that as per the US-Taliban agreement, our mujahideen will not attack foreign forces but our operations will continue against the Kabul administration forces” ⁵.  While US secretary, Mike Pompeo, advised not to get carried away by Taliban’s statements in an interview, explosion of bomb laden motor vehicle during a football match on Monday killing three people reignited worse fears capitulating  the return of unabated violence in Afghanistan.

In wake of the prisoner swap dispute, to ensure progress of scheduled Afghan talks President Trump spoke to Taliban negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund assuring him of removing all obstacles ⁶. American desperation to pull out the troops from Afghanistan is bound to leave the country in a lurch. By directly conversing with Taliban leader, Trump has eventually mainstreamed the terror outfit. Definitely Taliban couldn’t have asked more. In its hurry to leave Afghanistan, besides investing heavily in negotiating Taliban, America conceded lot of ground, inadvertently made one-sided concessions and turned Taliban into a pivotal player and reduced the sovereign nation (Afghanistan) a secondary entity.

Hours after Trump’s telephonic conversation, America launched first air strike since the peace deal in response to Taliban’s reported 43 attacks on Afghan National Defense Forces (ANDF) in Helmand province which killed 25 soldiers and 13 personnel injured ⁷. By defending Afghan forces, America reaffirmed that it wouldn’t abandon its allies. While Taliban’s terror attacks days after proclaiming to bring peace in Afghanistan exposed its hypocrisy. A spree of violent attacks elicited numerous doubts about the plausibility of a prospective intra-Afghan dialogue.

Withdrawal of US forces is bound to create power vacuum in the region and India is closely monitoring the developments in the neigbourbood. Responding to the US-Taliban deal, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, said, “To the US and the West-our message has been though the achievement of 18 years, is in global interest, those achievements are to be protected, not jeopardised”. Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Policy Research Dialogues, two days after the deal, he said, “To my mind, the real negotiations will start now.” And prophetically added, “we have to see that many of the assumptions that we had-how cohesive are various players, what do they do, what are their demands, and finally do the Taliban join a democratic setup or does a democratic set up adjust to the Taliban. I think those are issues for which right now there are no clear answers”^8. Interestingly, Taliban’s reluctance to give up terror and the relentless attacks despite the deal has reaffirmed India’s worse concerns about the Taliban. India has always firmly supported all opportunities and mechanisms that bring peace, stability and development to Afghanistan. In the Joint Statement during the Trump’s recent visit, both India and the US advocated, “Afghan-led, Afghan-driven, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process” for sustainable peace, cessation of violence and preservation of gains made in 18 years.

America’s objective of bringing together contrasting stakeholders- Afghan regime and Taliban to charter a roadmap for peaceful and stable Afghanistan has hit a major roadblock. While American is exuberant over its planned withdrawal from the region, a surge in Taliban attacks is an ominous sign of the deal falling apart even before it could take off.

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