Ashok Swain
@ashoswai
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau says Indian diplomats of the Modi regime, together with an Indian criminal gang, are engaged in murder & extortion of Canadians in Canada. When a criminal heads the government, it turns the government machinery to a criminal gang!

https://x.com/ashoswai/status/1845949810932596861

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Canada on Monday ordered six Indian diplomats to leave the country, including India’s top diplomat in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, officials said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/14/canada-modi-sikhs-v...

The killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada last year was part of a broader campaign of violence against Indian dissidents directed by a senior official in the Indian government and an operative in the country’s spy agency, according to Canadian officials who cited intercepted Indian communications and other newly acquired information.

Canadian authorities have also identified at least six Indian diplomats serving in Canada who were directly involved in gathering detailed intelligence on Sikh separatists who were then killed, attacked or threatened by India’s criminal proxies, Canadian officials said.

Canada ordered all six of those diplomats to leave the country in notices that were sent early Monday, the officials said. Among them were India’s top diplomat in the country, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and its top consular official in Toronto, the officials said.



The Biden administration, which has cultivated closer ties with India, last year confronted Modi administration officials with intelligence that an officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing, a spy service known as RAW, was behind an attempt to assassinate a Sikh separatist in New York — a failed plot with parallels to the Nijjar case in Canada. The Post identified the RAW officer as Vikram Yadav, though he was not named in a U.S. indictment accusing an alleged Indian drug trafficker of seeking to hire a hit man to carry out the killing.

Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the target of the New York plot, were leaders of a movement that for decades has campaigned to carve out an independent Sikh state in northern India. The movement was marked by violent clashes in the 1980s, but has been relatively dormant since a crackdown led to a mass exodus of Sikhs to other countries.

Modi, who came to power as a champion of Hindu nationalism, has revived concerns about the supposed threat posed by Sikhs living abroad. Modi and other officials have frequently accused Canada, which has the world’s largest population of Sikhs outside India, of harboring terrorists.



Canadian officials said they only recently began to grasp the magnitude of the covert campaign of violence India has waged against Sikhs as new evidence emerged from an ongoing investigation of Nijjar’s killing that is led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but has involved other agencies, as well as intelligence provided by the United States and other allies.

Officials said the investigation has uncovered evidence of Indian government involvement in home invasions, drive-by shootings, arson and at least one additional killing.

Officials cited the death of Sukhdool Singh, who was shot in Winnipeg on Sept. 20, 2023, less than a day after he was featured in a wanted list of gangsters posted on X by India’s National Investigation Agency. The killing came two days after Trudeau publicly accused India of killing Nijjar.

Pravin Sawhney
@PravinSawhney
As the SCO meeting which begins in Islamabad today, three Pakistan's bilaterals to watch out for are with:
1. Russian 76 member strong delegation
2. 200 members strong Chinese delegation
3. with Iran delegation.
These bilaterals will likely have impact on Pakistan's sought Brics membership - at 16th Brics in Russia from Oct 22-24.

Pakistan's two big geopolitical advantages (if it can harness them) are:
A. It has developed close ties with two Great Powers (China & Russia) which matter most in Asia Pacific
B. It can play an important role in Middle East - when it is at brink of larger regional war.

India's minister
@DrSJaishankar
is expected to talk about terrorism & sovereignty- which given India's recent spat with Canada is not likely to sound credible!

https://x.com/PravinSawhney/status/1845996235762893255

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Foreign dignitaries arrive for SCO summit spadework

https://www.dawn.com/news/1865054

Informed sources told Dawn that a four-member delegation from India, 76 delegates from Russia, 15 representatives of China, a two-member team from Iran and a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan reached Islamabad on Sunday.

Seven delegates of SCO also arrived in the capital.


Government of Pakistan
@GovtofPakistan
Pakistan is honored to host the 23rd SCO Heads of Government Meeting in Islamabad from October 15th to 16th, reflecting its commitment to regional cooperation.

The summit will focus on enhancing regional cooperation, trade, and financial integrity among member states, significantly boosting Pakistan’s image and future prospects. By positioning Pakistan as a trade hub for Central Asia, the summit aims to promote economic integration, a digital economy and cultural exchanges, fostering regional prosperity and stability.

https://x.com/GovtofPakistan/status/1845693140369330493

Why the US can't afford to sever military ties with Pakistan despite deep suspicions – Firstpost

Simantik Dowerah

https://www.firstpost.com/world/united-states/why-the-us-cant-affor...



Recent naval exercises

In October 2024, the US and Pakistan conducted a significant bilateral naval exercise in the Arabian Sea, involving the USS O’Kane and Pakistan Navy Ship Babur. This exercise, part of a series of collaborations aimed at enhancing maritime security, focused on improving readiness, countering terrorism and ensuring the freedom of navigation in key international waters. According to Pakistan Navy’s media wing, the exercise reflects both nations’ commitment to regional peace and stability. The ongoing partnership, especially in areas like maritime interdiction and mine countermeasures, showcases the critical role the navies play in maintaining order in the region.

These naval drills come at a time when the US is recalibrating its foreign policy in light of rising geopolitical tensions, particularly with China and Russia. Despite these global shifts, Pakistan continues to be seen as a valuable partner, particularly in the US 5th Fleet’s area of operations, which spans the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.


The broader context

While the naval exercises highlight the current military engagement, they are part of a larger pattern of cooperation between the two nations. Earlier in 2024, both countries participated in Inspired Union 2024, a four-day military exercise in Karachi that focussed on maritime interdiction, explosive ordnance disposal and harbour security. Exercises like this, as well as the Infantry Rifle Company Exchange, which focussed on counterterrorism in urban settings, emphasise the shared security concerns that bind the two nations together.

These collaborations reflect a broader military relationship that has weathered significant ups and downs. From Cold War-era alliances aimed at containing Soviet influence to post-9/11 cooperation in the War on Terror, US-Pakistan military ties have been shaped by shifting geopolitical imperatives. Although tensions have arisen, particularly over Pakistan’s alleged support for Taliban factions, military cooperation has remained a cornerstone of the relationship, with both countries recognising the strategic value of working together on security issues.

Suspicion and strategic cooperation

Despite the ongoing military exercises, Washington’s relationship with Islamabad is marked by suspicion and caution. The US has long harboured concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions and its dual dealings with militant groups like the Taliban, which have strained bilateral trust. The 1985 Pressler Amendment, which curtailed US aid due to Pakistan’s nuclear programme, is a stark example of how strategic concerns can lead to a rift in relations.

However, the need for counterterrorism cooperation, especially following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, has kept security ties afloat. Pakistan’s geographic location, with its long border with Afghanistan, makes it a crucial partner in regional stability efforts. The US continues to engage with Pakistan on security issues, providing military aid and conducting joint exercises, even as it keeps a wary eye on Islamabad’s broader geopolitical moves.

China factor

The evolving global power dynamics, particularly the US focus on countering China’s influence, have added a new layer of complexity to US-Pakistan ties. The Biden administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS) emphasises the importance of building alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s growing clout. Pakistan, with its close relationship with China, has become a key factor in Washington’s regional calculus.