WHILE Pakistan's leafy Lahore suburb of Jati Umra saw former prime minister Nawaz Sharif play host to select members of the Indian media accompanying Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar's landmark appearance at the Shanghai Cooperation Council meet, Chinese officials were reported to have met with a Baloch separatist leader in a quiet café in London. Balochi leaders refused to confirm or deny the meeting, with most saying it had no sanction.
This took place days after a Baloch suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a convoy that killed three Chinese officials just outside Karachi International airport—a clear bid to derail the SCO meet. Chinese employees working on various projects on the Belt and Road Initiative and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor have also recently become the target of Baloch separatist ire. An increasingly concerned China—looking at ways to ensure its grand plan to connect the Central Asia states to the Arabian Sea through the key Pakistani port of Gwadar moves forward—has now offered to put boots on the ground and send its own security personnel to Pakistan.
The growing Chinese presence in Pakistan is poised to take on an even larger footprint. That factor alone must spur India, facing down the People's Liberation Army on its Northeastern border, into taking a fresh look at ties with its western neighbour.
Our equation with Pakistan has been on ice since India's cross-border attack in February 2019 on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot as retaliation for an attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. Trade between India and Pakistan had been suspended after the Pulwama attack as well, with India imposing heavy duties on goods from Pakistan.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Healing with art
NOW, what I want you all to do is, draw your inner mask and outer mask,\" instructs Vasavi Eriki as we grab our A4 sheets in unison and curiously look at the unknown faces on our screens at 'Explore, Express and Heal', an online art therapy workshop organised by Pause for Perspective.
Jr NTR's Devara: Part 1 gets OTT release date
On Tuesday, Netflix announced that the Jr NTR-starrer Devara: Part 1 is coming to the platform on November 8.
7 guarantees in INDIA manifesta
THE INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Jharkhand Assembly polls, promising the Sarna religion code for tribals, while guaranteeing Khatian-based domicile policy to woo the natives.
Eyes on host city as IOA submits letter of intent for 2036 Olympics
THE Indian Olympic Association has finally submitted the letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee on October 1.
ERIGAISI SURVIVES ANOTHER CLOSE MATCH
A win today will see the Indian GM becoming World Number 2
Delhi up against table toppers Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH are on a roll after initial disappointment when they lost their first match against Railways.
1574 players sign up for IPL mega auction
A WHOPPING 1574 cricketers, including 1165 Indians, have signed up for the mega auction ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025 which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, the BCCI announced on Tuesday.
Djokovic withdraws from ATP Finals due to injury
NOVAK Djokovic won't defend his ATP Finals title after ruling himself out on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury.
Muralikrishnan, Xiaomi India head, resigns
CHINESE smart devices firm Xiaomi's India head Muralikrishnan B has resigned from the company to pursue his interest in academic research, the company said on Monday.
Trade barriers could rise if Trump wins
THE US election results could have a far-reaching impact on global trade if Donald Trump emerges victorious on November 12, the election results day.