VIF Information Alerts - 08 Jan 2018

IS footprint on the rise in Pakistan, claims report
Published - The Dawn
08 Jan 2018

Footprint of the militant Islamic State (IS) group is continuously on the rise in the country, especially in northern Sindh and Balochistan, as over the past one year responsibility for as many as six deadliest attacks, in which 153 people were killed, was claimed by this outfit.

This has been claimed in a report, ‘Pakistan Security Report 2017’, released by a think-tank, Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), on Sunday. Click here to read... [2]

Govt nixes Rs 32,000 crore ‘Make in India’ minesweepers project
Published - The Economic Times
08 Jan 2018

In yet another major blow to the 'Make in India' plan in the defence sector, the government has cancelled the Rs 32,000 crore project to construct 12 advanced minesweepers in collaboration with South Korea at the Goa Shipyard. Click here to read... [3]

Terror-linked Charity Tries to Collect Funds Amid Government Warning in Pakistan
Published - Voice of America
06 Jan 2018

Police in Pakistan's capital are investigating banners that were put up on behalf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a U.N.- and U.S.-designated terror group, that urged residents in Islamabad to donate money for Muslims in Myanmar and Syria.

The banners appeared near a mosque in the capital last week, days after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) issued a directive barring groups placed on the U.N. Security Council's and Pakistan's terror watch list from collecting funds or arranging any political, social, welfare or religious gatherings in the country. Click here to read... [4]

Japan, Maldives agree to push Tokyo's Indo-Pacific strategy
Published - Nikkei Asian Review
06 Jun 2018

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Maldives counterpart Mohamed Asim met Saturday and agreed to cooperate closely in promoting Tokyo's diplomatic strategy for the Indo-Pacific amid China's rising clout in the region.

It is the first time a Japanese foreign minister has visited the Indian Ocean island chain country, located near a key shipping lane economically important for Tokyo. A Japanese prime minister has never traveled to the country. Click here to read... [5]

Myanmar seeks time to sign vehicle pact as India speed up highway to Thailand
Published - Hindustan Times
06 Jan 2018

Myanmar sought time to review the implementation of connectivity arrangements in the region before proceeding with a motor vehicle agreement to operationalise the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway that New Delhi wants to speed up, officials familiar with the developments said.

Ahead of the India-Asean Commemorative summit later this month, New Delhi is keen on making progress in the 1,360km IMT highway that could eventually extend up to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as a showpiece connectivity project of the region. Click here to read... [6]

First Djibouti ... now Pakistan port earmarked for a Chinese overseas naval base, sources say
Published - South China Morning Post
05 Jan 2018

Beijing-based military analyst Zhou Chenming said the base near the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea would be used to dock and maintain naval vessels, as well as provide other logistical support services.
“China needs to set up another base in Gwadar for its warships because Gwadar is now a civilian port,” Zhou said. Click here to read... [7]

Channels with Pakistan open: Centre
Published - The Hindu
05 Jan 2018

The government is in regular contact with Pakistan, but any meaningful dialogue would depend on an end to terrorism and cross-border violence, the Ministry of External Affairs told the Parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs, according to a report released on Friday. Click here to read... [8]