VIF Information Alerts - 19 Mar 2018

Govt moves on integrated theatre commands; amends rules to bring three forces under single leadership
Published: The Economic Times
19 Mar 2018

India has finally taken the first step towards eventually having integrated theatre commands, where all the manpower and assets of the Army, Navy and IAF are under the operational control of a single three-star general in theatre commands, by amending command and control rules for joint organisations and establishments. Click here to read... [2]

Wang Yi is China’s key negotiator on border talks with India
Published: Financial Express
19 Mar 2018

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will now be its key negotiator with India on the vexed border issue after Beijing promoted him to the post of State Councillor, the country’s top diplomat, it was announced on Monday. Wang succeeds Yang Jiechi, China’s senior-most diplomat, who until now was the country’s Special Representative on border talks with India. He will also remain the Foreign Minister. Click here to read... [3]

Quad countries to discuss Maldives situation in next meeting: US
Published: DNA
17 Mar 2018

The US has said that the Maldives issue will be discussed by the Quad countries, which includes, India, Japan, Australia and the US in its next meeting and it is closely monitoring the Chinese actions in the Indo-Pacific region. Click here to read... [4]

Narendra Modi government making Pakistan policy divisive: Congress
Published: The Economic Times
18 Mar 2018

Stressing that Modi government has no roadmap and its Pakistan policy was a disaster, the Congress on Sunday said the government has made the policy towards Islamabad as a "divisive domestic issue".

The Congress, in its resolution on foreign policy, recognised that the key foreign policy challenges include managing India's relations with China and Pakistan. Click here to read... [5]

Afghan Govt Working to Resolve Issues with Pakistan
Published: TOLO News
19 Mar 2018

Senators in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Sunday said the Afghan government needs to raise people’s concerns in their discussions with Pakistani officials and find ways to settle disputes.

This comes after President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday officially invited the Pakistani prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to visit Kabul. Ghani has also called on Islamabad to hold direct negotiations with Afghanistan in a bid to resolve problems between the two countries. Click here to read... [6]

Pakistan eliminated sanctuaries of all terror groups, including Haqqanis: DG ISPR
Published: Geo News
18 Mar 2018

Pakistan has rid its soil of all terrorist sanctuaries, including those of Haqqani Network through a well-thought-out military campaign, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Asif Ghafoor said in an interview with UAE media.

Maj-Gen Ghafoor told Gulf News that Pakistan has taken action against terrorists of all shades and kinds, including the Haqqani Network, which was also the main concern of the United States. Click here to read... [7]

Pakistan all set to seek $2 bn from friendly country
Published: The News
19 Mar 2018

With the general elections looming and the federal budget on the anvil, the government is all set to knock at the doors of friendly countries to rattle up two to three billion US dollars to meet international obligations, The News learnt.

Sources said that initially two friendly countries have been contacted and the response was optimistic. This will almost be the same arrangement as was managed during the early days of Musharraf government, The News learnt. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives' Islamic council rejects EU parliament resolution
Published: AVAS online
18 Mar 2018

In a 11-point resolution introduced and passed unanimously on Thursday, the EU Parliament called on the EU "to make full use of all instruments at its disposal to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the country pending the resumption of the rule of law and abidance by democratic principles." Click here to read... [9]