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Foreign Secretaries of neighbouring countries India and Pakistan could finally be meeting towards the end of first week or in the second week of February. They were earlier supposed to meet in Islamabad on January 15-16, but the meeting was postponed after the Pathankot terror strikes. The agenda of the meeting is to finalise the modalities for Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. 
 Officials of both countries have kept in touch to reschedule the meeting, as confirmed by ET sources, keeping in mind the preoccupations of both Indian foreign secretary <keyword id="491850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="S-Jaishankar">S Jaishankar</keyword> and his Pakistani counterpart <keyword id="1252768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aizaz-Ahmad-Chaudhry">Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry</keyword>. 
 
"The two sides are in touch over the issue of the talks and dates would be announced after mutual agreement," said a Pakistani official. The meeting would prove that the terrorist act couldn’t halt the momentum for normalisation of ties that is being generated from both ends. 
 
<a href="http://nation.com.pk/print_images/large/2015-03-04/pakistan-india-exchange-conflicting-narratives-1425424316-4506.jpg">Image source</a>

Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan may finally meet in early February

India and Pakistan agreed to defer foreign-secretary levels talks on Pathankot air base attack, which killed seven Indian security personnel. 
 
Meanwhile, India said it will support Pakistan to investigate the probe as Islamabad plans to send a special team to Pathankot for investigation. 
 
“We have noted that the Pakistan government is considering sending a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the Pathankot terror attack. We look forward to the visit of the SIT. Our investigative agencies will extend all cooperation to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice,” said external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup, adding Pakistan’s crackdown on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist group was a positive first step. 
 
Talks will be rescheduled between the two neighbours. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

India to help Pakistan probe Pathankot attack, foreign-secretary level talks deferred

<ul><li><keyword id="691827" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Foreign-Secretary-of-India">Foreign Secretary of India</keyword> VK Gokhale makes the first official statement from India after the air strikes across the Line of Control</li><li>India calls the strike by the Air Force as 'pre-emptive, non-military' attack on terror camps</li><li>The attack by <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> has come days after a terror attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives killed 40 Indian security personnel in Kashmir</li></ul> India's first official statement on the air attack across the Line of Control has come from the country's Foreign Secretary VK Gokhale. "Credible intel was received that JeM was planning more suicide attacks in India. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary," Gokhale said in the first government address after the Indian air strike on Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Top commanders were eliminated in the strike, he added. Indian Air Force fighter jets dropped 1,000 kilos of bombs across the Line of Control with <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword> before returning, said several media reports suggested earlier in the day. He also called the attack 'non-military' and that it was targeted specifically at Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps. "We avoided civilian casualties with the selection of the camp, which is located deep inside forests, Gokhale said. Gokhale's statement mentioned the attack by terrorists in Pulwama, Kashmir on February 14 that killed over 40 Indian troopers. However, he did not clearly say that this attack from the Indian side was retaliatory. Gokhale refused to take any questions from the journalists present at the briefing. India responded to a similar attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2016 with the surgical strikes by the army. At that time, the first briefing was addressed by the army chief. However, India has a struck diplomatic tone by letting the top foreign ministry official take the stage. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-air-force-drops-payload-across-the-line-of-control/articleshow/68163111.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Indian fighter jets drop a ton of bombs across the Line of Control</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/water-wars-india-decides-to-stop-indus-water-supply-to-pakistan/articleshow/68099006.cms">Water wars: India decides to stop Indus water supply to Pakistan</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-pushing-for-pakistan-inclusion-on-fatfs-terror-financing-blacklist/articleshow/68108197.cms">Despite Indian efforts, Pakistan avoids being blacklisted for terror financing</a>

It was a 'pre-emptive, non-military' attack on 'terror camps', India says

India has officially joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (<keyword id="735897" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="MTCR">MTCR</keyword>) as a full member, saying that it would prove to be mutually beneficial to enhance global non-proliferation norms. 
 Foreign Secretary <keyword id="491850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="S-Jaishankar">S Jaishankar</keyword> signed the instrument of accession to MTCR, marking India's first entry into any <keyword id="3447127" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="multilateral-export-control-regime">multilateral export control regime</keyword>. 
 
"India has joined the MTCR this morning...India's entry into the regime as its thirty-fifth member would be mutually beneficial in the furtherance of international non-proliferation objectives," said a statement from the External Affairs Ministry. 
 
"India would like to thank each of the thirty-four MTCR Partners for their support for India's membership. We would also like to thank Ambassador Pieter de Klerk of The Netherlands and Mr Robert Steinmetz of Luxembourg, co-Chairs of the MTCR," the statement said. 
 
This MTCR entry has come days after it couldn’t get into NSG because of stark opposition from China and a few other countries. China, additionally, is not even a member of MTCR. 
 
By this membership, India will be able to buy high-end missile technology while also being able to enhance its joint ventures with Russia. 
 
<a href="https://twitter.com/NewIndianXpress/status/747310491886723072">Image source</a>

India officially joins MTCR, the elite missile club

<ul><li>Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was India’s top diplomat till January 2018. </li><li>He had joined the Tata Group as the President of Global Affairs after retiring from service.</li><li>Jaishankar is an expert on foreign affairs in US and Europe to China, Japan, and southeast Asia.</li></ul>Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was India’s top diplomat till January 2018. Three months later, <a href="http://www.tata.com/htm/Group_Investor_GroupFinancials.htm">the $145 billion Tata group</a>, comprising over 100 companies that produce everything from steel to software, announced that Jaishankar would take over as its president for global corporate affairs. In March 2019, Jaishankar had received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind. Now, he has been appointed as the Minister for External Affairs in the Modi government that has come back to power for a second consecutive term. He was the country's longest-serving foreign secretary and has helped craft much of Modi's foreign policy. He joined Indian Foreign Service in 1977 and served as Indian Ambassador to the United States in 2014 and 2015. He was India's ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013, and to the Czech Republic from 2001 to 2004. He also planned and executed a highly successful maiden visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US in September 2014 and his landmark address to the Indian diaspora at the Madison Square. A major highlight of his diplomatic career was his tenure as Joint Secretary in-charge of Americas Division from 2004 to 2007 when he was involved in negotiating the historic Civil Nuclear Agreement. He also led the Indian team of negotiators for the subsequent 123 Agreement with the US, which was linked to the Civil Nuclear deal and concluded in 2009. Jaishankar's tenure as India's Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013, which was the longest by any IFS officer, coincided with several major developments in bilateral relations. It was his briefing to the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2010 regarding China's refusal to issue a visa to the Northern Army Commander which led to suspension of Indian defence co-operation with China and military exercises, before the matter was resolved in April 2011. Also in 2010, Jaishankar negotiated an end to the Chinese policy of issuing stapled visas to Indians from Jammu and Kashmir. Jaishankar also had to do <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/what-all-can-the-court-overlook-in-the-rafale-matter-723110.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">some fire-fighting for the Modi government</a> as a foreign secretary when the opposition parties raised the ante on the final deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault. "Jaishankar has an extremely good relationship with Modi, even before his term as foreign secretary," G Parthasarathi told India Today. Jaishankar is also the son of K Subrahmanyam, an extremely influential foreign affairs expert in the country, a journalist and a former civil servant. He played a key role in determining India's global stance on key issues including the country's nuclear doctrine. With inputs from IANS SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/new-cabinet-ministers-ravi-shankar-prasad-gets-eit-communication-and-law-and-justice/articleshow/69594535.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Ravi Shankar Prasad retains all his ministries in Modi 2.0 government</a>

Modi's new Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is a career diplomat and former Tata Group employee

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is getting more vigilant over foreign funding to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and has asked the home ministry to tighten rules of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). 
 
Acting on the instructions, the home ministry will scrutinise foreign-funded NGOs based on recommendations of Intelligence Bureau. 
 
The home ministry expedited its review of FCRA rules after the PM's Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra wrote to Home Secretary LC Goyal asking him to put a mechanism in place "without any delay" to monitor foreign funding of NGOs. 
 
The PMO wants to put in place new measures by June 15 in the interest of India's "economic security", officials told Economic Times, explaining the urgency of the matter. The FCR rules were brought in by the Congress-led Indian government after FCRA was enacted in 2010. 
 
Under the proposed changes, NGOs may have to provide details of all foreign funding within two days to ensure transparency. 
 
"NGOs would be mandated to have a website on which they will be required to put out the details of each foreign inflow for public viewing within 48 hours of receiving the funds. This will include the source of funds, the intended activity for which the funds are expected to be used and the details of its partner NGOs in that specific project," a senior government official told ET. Annual audited reports for previous years should also be made public, the official said. 
 
The official added that the 'oversight' part of the new measures would allow the government to keep close tabs on NGOs through stricter checks and inspections. 
 
A senior ministry official told ET that the PMO communication to home ministry had stressed the "need for effective linkage between MHA, Reserve Bank of India and banks for effective monitoring" of NGOs. 
 The move comes amid criticism faced by PM Narendra Modi over his clamp down on foreign-funded NGOs. The US-based <keyword id="57946" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ford-Foundation">Ford Foundation</keyword>, one of the biggest non-profit organisations across the world, was put on a watch list by home ministry. 
 
(Image: PIB)

Modi government to keep an eagle eye on foreign-funded NGOs

<keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> took to Twitter on <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/973540316656623616">March 13th</a> to announce the firing of the US Secretary of State, <keyword id="361068" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rex-Tillerson">Rex Tillerson</keyword>, adding to a long list of recent high-profile departures from his administration. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 For Tillerson’s replacement, <keyword id="6354862" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trump">Trump</keyword> has named another member of his administration, <keyword id="3109665" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mike-Pompeo">Mike Pompeo</keyword>, currently the director of the CIA, declaring that he would “do a fantastic job”. Pompeo’s appointment is subject to the approval of the US Senate. But what does this mean for India? Here are six highlights of what is expected and what India can hope for (but may be unlikely) from the new leader of US foreign policy: <ol><li>A stronger relationship with <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword> (hopeful)</li></ol>While seemingly counterintuitive to India’s interests, declining investment in Pakistan by the <keyword id="6356955" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states">United States</keyword> has been largely replaced by investment from China. In 2016-2017, for example, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the US was $45 million compared to $1.2 billion from China. Ten years prior, US FDI was $1.3 billion while “Chinese investment was scarce,” according to <a href="http://www.gatewayhouse.in/asian-age-us-pak-dynamic/">Gateway House</a>, a foreign policy think tank based in Mumbai. The other traditional theater of US influence, defence, has seen similar decline. From Gateway House: “Over 60 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports (2012-16) were from China. Pakistan uses Chinese-built submarines, warships and combat jets, the most expensive platforms for any armed force.” Seeing large investment in Pakistan by the United States has traditionally been a thorn in India-US relations. But given a choice between Chinese or US influence in Pakistan, the latter would be more strategically advantageous for India because it would isolate Chinese military influence to the India-China border. Trump <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/world/asia/afghanistan-troop-increase-trump-taliban.html?mtrref=www.google.co.in&amp;gwh=45B9D17EC30AA75D3E3F390758871604&amp;gwt=pay">has already deployed more troops</a> to Afghanistan since taking office, so it is possible that a larger commitment to Pakistan in support of that strategy may get more steam with a new Secretary of State. 2. Or a colder relationship with Pakistan (expected) Trump’s first tweet of 2018 was an insult-laden message directed at Pakistan for its alleged weak stance on terrorism, a message India <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/our-stand-vindicated-says-india-after-us-president-donald-trump-rips-into-pakistan-on-terrorism-1794603">welcomed</a>. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 This was followed by the US canceling $255 million USD in military aid to Pakistan. Like Trump, Pompeo <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-cia-director-mike-pompeo-on-face-the-nation-jan-7-2018/">has lambasted Pakistan</a>, saying in a January 2018 interview: “We see that Pakistan is continuing to provide safe harbor havens inside of Pakistan for terrorists who present risks to the United States of America.” 3. A tougher stance on China (hopeful and expected) Less than two months ago, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42867076">Pompeo cited</a> infiltration of schools, hospitals, and corporate America as examples of China’s larger capacity to engage in cyber attacks in comparison to Russia. "Think about the scale of the two economies,” said Pompeo referring to Russia and China. “The Chinese have a much bigger footprint upon which to execute that mission than the Russians do." In light of the ongoing investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia during the 2016 election, it can also be expected that focus on China’s capacity to interfere will only grow. This trend of shifting focus from Russia to China began to play out in <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/world/us-very-clear-on-pushing-back-against-chinese-threats-says-cia-chief-1686019.html">comments on China made on Monday on Fox News</a> where Pompeo used the phrase “pushing back against the Chinese threat” twice in a nearly identical context. 4. More restrictions on free trade (expected) <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mike_Pompeo_Free_Trade.htm">USA Engage</a>, a trade council, shows Pompeo has having a neutral stance on free trade, a departure from a longer term trend of US endorsement of removing trade barriers. In the past, Pompeo has voted <a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll576.xml">against</a> the US Export-Import bank resuming the aid that it offers to foreign companies in the form of loans and insurance for buying US commodities. This is all in the larger context of Trump signing new tariffs on steel and aluminum last week, signalling a broader Trump Administration turn towards protecting American industry at the expense of freer trade. 5. Stronger demands of the India-US relationship in Afghanistan (expected) In a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/world/asia/trump-speech-afghanistan.html">speech </a>given at the Fort Myers military base August last year, Trump told an audience that included Mike Pompeo that he wanted India to take a more decisive role in Afghanistan. He alluded to the $30 billion USD trade deficit the US has with India and said that India could use some of its trade gains to invest in Afghanistan’s redevelopment. The announcement, which came two months after Narendra Modi’s <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy/article/2100099/modi-takes-diplomacy-next-level-and-hugs-trump-three-times">hug-heavy</a> visit to the White House, showed that the Pompeo could solicit more help from India in rebuilding Afghanistan. This would be restricted to economic aid as India <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/why-is-india-reluctant-to-send-troops-to-afghanistan/a-40706506">has ruled out military involvement</a>, which at least makes geographic sense: despite <a href="https://www.quora.com/In-Google-India-Maps-Jammu-Kashmir-in-its-entirety-is-shown-as-part-of-India-How-is-Jammu-Kashmir-shown-in-Google-Pakistan-Maps-Google-China-Maps">India’s Google Map rendition of India’s border</a>, there is not a direct route for India to reach Afghanistan by land or air. 6. More “Trumpism” in US foreign policy (expected) It is no secret that Tillerson and Trump have had a tense relationship, which was likely a large factor in Tillerson’s removal. Tillerson was reported by NBC to have called Trump a “moron,” which Tillerson has not denied (a State Department spokesperson denied the comment) and Tillerson appears to have found out he was fired via Trump’s Twitter feed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 A difference of opinion does not make for a unified Trump cabinet, but it does imply that the foreign policy leadership of Tillerson was not necessarily the verbatim will of the President. By contrast, Pompeo is very much in line with Trump. A former US army veteran and Republican congressman from Kansas, Pompeo has opposed the nuclear deal with Iran, called China out for sending spies to the US with the intention to steal secrets, and led the inquiry against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for her handling of the attacks on a US diplomatic enclave in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. Even in public statements, Pompeo has always tailored his responses to match with the President’s outlook. A glaring example is how Pompeo <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2017/11/9/16620648/pompeo-cia-trump-russia">dealt</a> with speculation of Russia hacking the US Elections of 2018.

Six things India can expect (and hope for) from Trump’s new Secretary of State

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has asked the economic ministries to come up with strategies in a bid to revive foreign <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword> in the country. The new strategies should be able to change the negative global narrative about India and reposition the country as a viable investment destination. 
 Over the weekend, <keyword id="577616" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Nripendra-Misra">Nripendra Misra</keyword>, principal secretary in the PMO, chaired a meeting with secretaries from core economic ministries to discuss measures that would revive investment in the country. “The PMO conveyed its concerns about improving the business environment in order to revive investments and stir job creation,” an official said. 
 “There was a general brainstorming on some of the immediate steps, such as resolving conflicts between investors and the government,” he added. Although officials did not divulge any information about the specific deliberations at the meeting, it is learnt that <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> (foreign direct investment) in defence had been discussed. 
 A proposal to amend the FDI policy in the defence sector is likely to be taken up soon as Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has signalled allowing more FDI than the present cap of 26% and 49% (on a case-to-case basis). “Why should we import defence equipment? We dream of an India that is self-sufficient in producing defence equipment, using the latest technology,” Modi had said at the launch of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in Goa.

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Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan may finally meet in early February

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India to help Pakistan probe Pathankot attack, foreign-secretary level talks deferred

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It was a 'pre-emptive, non-military' attack on 'terror camps', India says

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India officially joins MTCR, the elite missile club

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Modi's new Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is a career diplomat and former Tata Group employee

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Modi government to keep an eagle eye on foreign-funded NGOs

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Six things India can expect (and hope for) from Trump’s new Secretary of State

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PMO Asks Economic Ministries To Revive Foreign Investments

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