WORLD

Describing India as a very important country in the region, the Taliban said after India’s Afghanistan conference that they wanted good diplomatic ties with the Indian government. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also assured that as per the “policy of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan”, its land will not be used against any country and that Taliban want mutual cooperation.

“Though we are not present in this conference, we firmly believe that this conference is in the better interest of Afghanistan as the entire region is considerate of the current Afghan situation and the participating countries also must be thoughtful of improving and safeguarding the security situation in Afghanistan and helping the current government to ensure security in the country on its own,” said Mujahid, adding Taliban didn’t have any anxiety about India’s conference. He expressed hope the outcome will be “utilised and implemented”.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has strengthened facilities for its soldiers along the disputed border with India ahead of winter in anticipation of “small frictions”, a state media report said on Wednesday.

Observers told the state-run tabloid Global Times that although “large-scale clashes are unlikely to occur in winter, small frictions may happen from time to time” along the Sino-India border, making it necessary for PLA to be ready.

Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 2020 when a violent clash in the Pangong lake area led to both sides gradually deploying tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry along the border. Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have only resulted in partial disengagement of troops until now.

In reflection of their growing defence ties, India and Israel on Tuesday sealed an agreement to jointly develop next generation technologies and products such as drones, robotics, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, officials said.

The Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA) was firmed up between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel's Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D).

The pact will provide for promoting innovation as well as research and development in startups and MSMEs to develop dual-use technologies, the officials said.

The defence ministry described the BIA as a "tangible demonstration" of the growing Indo-Israeli technological cooperation.

The agreement was signed between DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy and head of DDR&D Daniel Gold.

With an ever increasing battery of threats and uncertainties, the Indian Ocean Region will face an increasingly complicated, rapidly evolving, and more demanding security situation, requiring the navies, the coast guards and the maritime security agencies of this region to do more together, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Monday.

“India stands ready and willing to do its share – and more – in tackling these problems. We cannot anticipate each and every problem that will arise. We can, however, work on strengthening the structures, the understandings, the procedures, and the resources that are deployed. This will enable us to better manage known problems. It will also enable us to create a “surge” capacity to deal with the unknown,” he said at the Goa Maritime Conclave on ‘Maritime Security and Emerging Non-Traditional Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies’

China has completed all due preparations for fully implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Global Times reported.

China has completed all the necessary plans for implementing committed tariff reductions, adjustments on the rules of origin for goods and software system updates at customs authorities to ensure smooth tariff reductions, said Yu Benlin, Director-General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs with MOFCOM.

A total of 166,000 Chinese entrepreneurs, trade and customs officials and related personnel have completed RCEP training in over 600 sessions and online training courses.