• Relation with Shri Lanka

India-Sri Lanka online workshop to mark Binara Poya Day

Key points:

1. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), High Commission of India, organized an online workshop titled ‘Buddhist Heritage Management and Conservation: From Mountains to Oceans’ to mark Binara Full Moon Poya day on August 31. Six internationally renowned scholars from Sri Lanka and India, working in the fields of art, architecture, archaeology, and heritage management delivered lectures at the workshop.
2. To coincide with the event, the Consulate General of India in Hambantota organized a photo exhibition, ‘India through Sri Lankan eyes’ at Hiththatiya Raja Maha Viharaya, Matara, on September 1. The exhibition displayed photographs of famous Buddhist temples in India (Dambadiva).
3. The panelists from India were Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Founder, Himalaya Cultural Heritage Foundation, Ladakh, Dr. Tejas Garge, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, and Sanjay Dhar, a well-known wall painting conservator and heritage manager from Delhi.

(The Island, 06 September, 2020) News Link

• Relation with US

1. Trump Offers Mediation over India-China Border Dispute

Key points:

1. The United States President Donald Trump offers to mediate between India and China, saying US is “ready to help resolve the dispute” between the two nuclear-rivals over the “mountain border running thorough the western Himalayas.”
2. Trump told reporters the situation was “very nasty,” adding the two countries were “going at it much more strongly than a lot of people even understand,” as Reuters reported.“The U.S. assessment is that neither China nor India are interested in pushing the dispute to the point that they would engage in war.” the report added a US government source in Washington.
3. In a briefing, Trump said Washington is doing what it can to deescalate the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.“We stand ready to help with respect to China and India. If we can do anything, we would love to get involved and help,” he said.

( Khaama, 06 September, 2020) News Link

• Relation with Pakistan

1. Pakistan summons senior Indian diplomat over ‘ceasefire violations

Key points:

1. Pakistan on Sunday summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission here to register its protest over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).
2. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that due to “indiscriminate and unprovoked firing” in the Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC on Saturday, one civilian sustained serious injuries.
3. The Indian forces along “the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons,” the statement alleged.

(The Hindu, 06 September, 2020) News Link

• Soldier killed, two injured in Pakistan firing in Kupwara

Key points:

1. An Army soldier was killed and two others were injured in Pakistani firing in Kupwara. An official said Pakistan resorted to “unprovoked firing and mortar shelling” along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara’s Nowgam Sector on Saturday.
2. “Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowgam Sector by firing mortars and other weapons … One soldier laid down his life in the line of duty. Two soldiers sustained injuries and have been evacuated to 92 Base Hospital. Their condition is stable,” the Srinagar-based Army spokesman said. The deceased soldier was identified as gunner Bupinder Singh.

(The Hindu, 06 September, 2020) News Link

1. On India’s request, Russia reiterates policy of no arms supply to Pakistan

Key points:

1. Russia has retreated its policy of no arms supply to Pakistan following India’s request on the same according to sources.
2. Russia made commitment during the meeting between defense minister Rajnath singh and his counterpart Gen Sergy Shoigu in Moscow.

(The Times of India, 06 September, 2020) News Link

1. ईरानी रक्षा मंत्री से राजनाथ सिंह की मुलाकात, द्विपक्षीय संबंधों और क्षेत्रीय सुरक्षा पर हुई चर्चा

Key points:

1. देश के रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने ईरान के रक्षा मंत्री ब्रिगेडियर जनरल हतामी से मुलाकात की और बैठक को काफी सार्थक बताया। राजनाथ सिंह ने इस दौरान द्विपक्षीय संबंधों को बढ़ाने और अफगानिस्तान सहित क्षेत्रीय सुरक्षा से जुड़े मुद्दों को लेकर ईरान के रक्षा मंत्री से चर्चा की।
2. राजनाथ सिंह शंघाई सहयोग संगठन (एससीओ) के रक्षा मंत्रियों की बैठक में शामिल होने संबंधी अपनी तीन दिवसीय मॉस्को यात्रा के समापन के बाद लौटते हुए शनिवार को तेहरान पहुंचे थे। उन्होंने मॉस्को में रूसी, चीनी और मध्य एशियाई देशों के समकक्षों से द्विपक्षीय वार्ता की थी।
3. उन्होंने ट्वीट किया कि तेहरान में ईरानी रक्षा मंत्री ब्रिगेडियर जनरल आमिर हतामी से अत्यंत सार्थक मुलाकात हुई। हमने अफगानिस्तान सहित क्षेत्रीय सुरक्षा और द्विपक्षीय सहयोग पर चर्चा की। राजनाथ ने एक अन्य ट्वीट में कहा कि दोनों रक्षा मंत्रियों ने द्विपक्षीय सहयोग को आगे बढ़ाने पर चर्चा की तथा अफगानिस्तान में शांति और स्थिरता सहित क्षेत्रीय सुरक्षा के मुद्दों पर विचारों का आदान-प्रदान किया।

( Amar Ujala, 06 September, 2020) News Link