VIF Information Alerts - 22nd May 2019

Lanka, Pulwama attacks made India more determined to resolutely fight terrorism: Swaraj tells SCO

Published: The Economic Times

22 May 2019

India on Wednesday said the ghastly bombings in Sri Lanka at a time when the wounds of the Pulwama terror attack were still raw in people's mind has made it more determined to resolutely fight against the menace.
Addressing the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India is determined to consistently strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Click here to read... [2]

China delivers first overhauled JF-17 fighter jet to Pakistan

Published: Deccan Chronicle

22 May 2019

In a major boost for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), China has delivered the first overhauled multi-role JF-17 fighter jet to Islamabad as part of a project undertaken by the two countries over a decade ago for the development and manufacture of the aircraft.
The overhaul of the fighter jet includes major maintenance, featuring repairs and replacement of old components, including the airframe and engine. Also, a Block 3 variant of the JF-17 is under development.Click here to read... [3]

Fiscal blowout as deficit jumps to 5pc, revenues flat

Published: The Dawn

22 May 2019

ISLAMABAD: In the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s first year in office, the country’s fiscal deficit in first three quarters (July-March) of the current fiscal year peaked to five per cent of GDP as expenditures broke past records and revenue performance was the the lowest almost in a decade.
The details of fiscal operations released by the ministry of finance on Tuesday put the country’s nine-month total fiscal deficit at Rs1.922 trillion — the highest 3rd quarter deficit recorded in a decade, which is the time period for which data is maintained on the ministry’s website. It was Rs1.48tr in the same period last year.Click here to read... [4]

Russia raises alarm about Islamic extremists in Afghanistan

Published: The Washington Post

21 May 2019

Russia’s top security chief on Tuesday raised alarm about Islamic extremists massing on Afghanistan’s northern border. Alexander Bortnikov, chief of the main Russian intelligence agency FSB, said on a visit to Tajikistan that some 5,000 fighters of an Islamic State group affiliate have gathered in areas bordering on former Soviet states in Central Asia, saying that most of them fought alongside IS in Syria.Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh halts visas for Pakistani nationals

Published: The Hindu

21 May 2019

The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad has stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals for one week over a fresh diplomatic row, a Bangladeshi official said on Tuesday, amid strained bilateral ties since 2013 when Dhaka decided to hang several of the 1971 war criminals. Last year, Dhaka denied visa to the Pakistan High Commissioner.Click here to read... [6]