VIF Information Alerts - 11 October 2019

Turkish shipyard’s Pakistan links may nix its $2.3 billion India deal
Published: The Economic Times

11 Oct 2019

A $2.3-billion deal to build fleet support vessels in collaboration with a Turkish shipyard has come into question after security concerns were raised over the firm, including links with Pakistan.

Turkey’s TAIS had emerged as the lowest bidder in June this year, following a global competition, for a contract to manufacture five of the 45,000-tonne fleet support vessels (FSV) at the Vizag-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).Click here to read... [2]

India slams Turkey for Syria action
Published: The Hindu

11 Oct 2019

India on Thursday described Turkey’s military action in Syria as unilateral and asked Ankara to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria. The comment from the Ministry of External Affairs called upon Turkey to exercise restraint.

“We are deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in north-east Syria. Turkey’s actions can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism. Its action also has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress,” said the MEA in a press release.Click here to read... [3]

US left Syria after defeating Islamic State: Trump
Published: The Tribune

11 Oct 2019

The United States has three options in Syria--send in thousands of troops and win militarily, hit Turkey very hard financially with sanctions or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds--US President Donald Trump said asserting that American troops left the region only after defeating the Islamic State.

“We defeated 100 per cent of the ISIS caliphate and no longer have any troops in the area under attack by Turkey in Syria. We did our job perfectly! Now Turkey is attacking the Kurds, who have been fighting each other for 200 years,” Trump said in a tweet on Thursday night.Click here to read... [4]

Pakistan arrests ‘top four leaders’ of JuD/LeT ahead of crucial FATF meeting
Published: Hindustan Times

10 Oct 2019

Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies on Thursday arrested the “top four leaders” of the banned LeT/JuD on charges of terrorism financing, a move that authorities say would put the “entire core leadership” of these outfits on trial. The top four leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba /Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) arrested on Thursday have been identified as Professor Zafar Iqbal, Yahya Aziz, Muhammad Ashraf and Abdul Salam.Click here to read... [5]

India presses ahead with joining China-led RCEP despite domestic opposition
Published: The Economic Times

10 Oct 2019

India is pressing ahead with talks to join a China-led free trade pact, officials said on Thursday, despite the fears of some domestic producers that the country would be flooded with cheaper Chinese imports.

Negotiators for the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are in the Thai capital Bangkok this week for talks aimed at finalising the giant free trade zone by the end of the year.Click here to read... [6]