SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Friday, January 3, 2025 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
VOA Afghan: Taliban deny Pakistan’s allegation they sought money to remove Pakistani Taliban from border areas (VOA)
VOA [1/2/2025 6:11 PM, Staff, 2717K, Negative]
The Taliban rejected a Pakistani official’s claim that the group asked for money to remove Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan fighters from the border areas and move them to other parts of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, told local media that the allegations were unfounded. Law firm Hogan Lovells wins court fight over $1.2 mln Afghan legal bill (Reuters)
Reuters [1/2/2025 6:11 PM, David Thomas, 48128K, Neutral]
A federal judge in Manhattan on Thursday sided with Hogan Lovells in its bid to collect more than $1.2 million from Afghanistan for legal work the law firm performed for the country’s prior government between 2019 and 2021.
An arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association awarded the fees to Hogan Lovells from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in December 2022. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian confirmed the arbitration award on Thursday, ruling there was "no genuine issue of material fact precluding summary judgment as to all portions of the award.".
A spokesperson for 2,600-lawyer international firm Hogan Lovells did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rule since 2021, did not participate in the arbitration proceedings or the U.S. court case before Subramanian.
A representative for the Afghan embassy in Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. took control of the Afghan embassy in Washington and consulate in New York in 2022.
Hogan Lovells began doing legal work for the Western-backed Afghan government in 2015 on a fully pro bono basis, according to court filings. The firm signed a new engagement letter in 2019, as the government asked Hogan Lovells to take on larger matters, this time charging the country for half of its billed hours.
The government paid Hogan Lovells more than $1 million in legal fees before the Taliban entered Kabul in August 2021 and regained control amid the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces, according to court filings.
At the time, Hogan Lovells was representing at least three Afghan government agencies in other arbitration proceedings. By Nov. 10, 2021, the firm had withdrawn from representing Afghanistan in all matters.
The case is Hogan Lovells US LLP v. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as successor in interest, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1:24-cv-05541.
For Hogan Lovells US LLP: Dennis Tracey of Hogan Lovells. Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan offered to resign over chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal: Report (FOX News)
FOX News [1/2/2025 1:44 PM, Hanna Panreck, 57114K, Negative]
National security adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly offered to resign from President Biden’s administration after the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, according to The Washington Post’s David Ignatius.
Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist, spoke to Sullivan and several of his colleagues as the Biden administration nears its end.
Several of Sullivan’s colleagues reportedly told Ignatius that Sullivan offered to resign, and President Biden insisted the national security adviser stay on, according to the report.
Ignatius reported that the Afghanistan withdrawal "broke the early comity" of the Biden administration’s national security team, and created a riff between Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The 2021 withdrawal claimed the lives of more than a dozen American service members and led to the Taliban retaking control of the war-torn nation.
"You cannot end a war like Afghanistan, where you’ve built up dependencies and pathologies, without the end being complex and challenging," Sullivan told the Post columnist. "The choice was: Leave, and it would not be easy, or stay forever.".
He added that "leaving Kabul freed the [United States] to deal with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in ways that might have been impossible if we had stayed.".
Ignatius wrote that the Pentagon resisted Biden’s call to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and argued in favor of "a residual force of 2,500 in Kabul.".
Sullivan reportedly initially shared the Pentagon’s concerns, Ignatius wrote, citing two close advisers.
However, he set out to "loyally" uphold Biden’s plan to completely withdraw.
Wall Street Journal national security reporter Alex Ward, who wrote "The Internationalists," a book about the president’s foreign policy team, noted that the advisers he spoke to for the book said no one offered to resign.
The White House and the National Security Council did not immediately return requests for comment.
Sulllivan evaluated his performance towards the end of the interview with Ignatius.
"Are our alliances stronger? Yes. Are our enemies weaker? Yes. Did we keep America out of war? Yes. Did we improve our strategic position in the competition with China while stabilizing the relationship? Yes. Did we strengthen the engines of American economic and technological power? Yes," he said. The staggering toll US failure in Afghanistan has had on taxpayers is laid bare by government auditor (Daily Mail)
Daily Mail [1/2/2025 12:07 AM, Rob Crilly, 63029K, Neutral]
U.S. failure in Afghanistan was driven by a system that rewarded generals, diplomats, contractors, and policymakers who reported successes on the ground rather than the grim reality of a bloody insurgency, according to the watchdog who spent 12 years observing the war unravel.The result, said one U.S. military adviser, was that the system ‘became a self-licking ice cream cone’ as more money was committed to justify the billions already spent.John Sopko, the U.S. special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, will deliver his final report later this year.It will reveal that experts and government officials now believe that decisions made as far back as 2002 meant the war was doomed to fail.And it will highlight how American ignorance of Afghan culture, the impact of local corruption, plus weak cooperation between U.S. agencies all contributed to a war effort that left the country back in Taliban hands at a cost of more than 2,400 American lives and $2 trillion.Yet, writes Sopko in a New York Times opinion piece published Thursday, you wouldn’t know it from the optimistic reports coming from the officers and officials in charge at the time.‘But a perverse incentive drove our system,’ he writes.
‘To win promotions and bigger salaries, military and civilian leaders felt they had to sell their tours of duty, deployments, programs and projects as successes — even when they were not.
‘Leaders tended to report and highlight favorable information while obscuring that which pointed to failure. After all, failures do not lead to an ambassadorship or an elevation to general.’The U.S. war in Afghanistan ended with humiliation in August 2021.Taliban fighters had made rapid advances ever since President Joe Biden announced he was bringing home American troops in April of that year, and they quickly swept into the capital Kabul dashing Washington’s hopes that the Afghan government could survive without foreign forces.Thousands of Afghans and foreign civilians flocked to the capital’s airport seeking safe passage as U.S. diplomats hurriedly abandoned their embassy.Tragedy struck when a suicide bomber killed 13 American personnel amid the chaos at the airport.The confused exit cast a black cloud over Biden’s first year in office, undermining his reputation as a foreign policy expert and a safe pair of hands after Donald Trump’s first term. Those final weeks showed the futility of U.S. claims that things were moving in the right direction, says Sopko.‘The sudden collapse of the Afghan government and rise of the Taliban showed that the United States could not buy favorable Afghan perceptions of the country’s corrupt leaders and government, or of America’s intentions,’ he writes.‘Yet over two decades — and even as Afghan provinces fell like dominoes in the summer of 2021 — I do not recall any senior official telling Congress or the American people that failure was a real possibility.’Instead, he pointed to occasions when official spokesmen offered misleading information. He cited the Pentagon official who said just before the collapse that the Kabul government had more than 300,000 soldiers and police officers, despite evidence of thousands of ‘ghost’ personnel who existed only on paper so that bosses could collect extra salaries.‘Important information for measuring the success of initiatives was — at times deliberately — hidden from Congress and the American public, including USAID-funded assessments that concluded Afghan ministries were incapable of managing direct U.S. financial assistance,’ he writes.‘Despite vigorous efforts by the U.S. bureaucracy to stop us, my office made such material public.’ He describes how one general said his biggest problem was how to spend the remaining $1 billion from his annual budget in a little over a month, amid a culture that measured spending as the best metric of success.‘Another official we spoke to said he refused to cancel a multimillion-dollar building project that field commanders did not want, because the funding had to be spent,’ writes Sopko. ‘The building was never used.’Meanwhile, the spending continues. Sopko said much was routed that United Nations agencies that lacked transparency and proper oversight.And last year, his office reported that since the withdrawal, U.S.-funded partners paid at least $10.9 million in taxes and fees to Taliban authorities. Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign minister blames predecessors for TTP resurgence (Amu TV)
Amu TV [1/3/2025 4:55 AM, Siyar Sirat, Neutral]
Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, sharply criticized the country’s previous leadership on Thursday, alleging that hasty and informal decisions facilitated the return of thousands of members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) into the country.
Speaking during a briefing, Mr. Dar attributed the re-entry of 35,000 to 40,000 TTP fighters to poorly considered policies, including decisions reportedly made “over a cup of tea.”
He cited a visit by Faiz Hameed, the former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to Afghanistan shortly after the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 as a turning point.“Who opened the borders and freed TTP members over a cup of tea?” Mr. Dar asked, raising questions about the motivations and consequences of such actions.
The TTP, an insurgent group responsible for a series of violent attacks in Pakistan, has intensified its activities since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistani officials have expressed growing concerns over the security fallout, accusing the Taliban of providing shelter and support to TTP militants.
In recent weeks, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused the Taliban of demanding 10 billion Pakistani rupees to relocate TTP fighters from areas near the Durand Line, the border dividing Pakistan and Afghanistan, to western Afghanistan. The Taliban has denied the claim.
Relations between the two neighbors have grown increasingly strained, particularly after a Pakistani military airstrike targeted the Barmal district of Paktia Province in Afghanistan. Afghan officials said the strike, which they claimed hit a refugee camp, killed 46 people, including women and children. India
A $20,000 lab diamond and so much art: The gifts foreign leaders gave the Bidens (Washington Post)
Washington Post [1/2/2025 1:30 PM, Sabrina Rodriguez, 40736K, Positive]
President Joe Biden welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House in June 2023 as part of an effort to deepen ties with the world’s most populous nation. It was Modi’s first state visit to the United States, and Biden touted the U.S.-India relationship: “Two great nations, two great friends, two great powers that can define the course of the 21st century.”The Modi visit included a mix of showmanship and substantive agreements on technology, diplomacy and defense.It also involved a number of gifts, including one with a big price tag.The White House said at the time that Modi would receive a handmade, antique American book galley from the early 20th century as an official gift. He was also gifted a vintage American camera and a signed copy of “Collected Poems of Robert Frost,” among other items.Modi, in turn, gave first lady Jill Biden the most expensive gift either of the Bidens received from a government or head of state in 2023, according to a report released Thursday by the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol.He presented the first lady a lab-grown 7.5 carat diamond with an estimated value of $20,000 in the presence of the president. The gift put on display India’s efforts to become a global leader in producing man-made diamonds — a synthetic alternative with a much smaller carbon footprint than mined diamonds.Where is it now? It has been retained for official use in the East Wing, the report said.The State Department’s annual report provides a glimpse into the practice of gift-giving in diplomatic settings.All federal employees are required by law to report gifts from foreign government sources valued at $480 or more. The president, first lady and Vice President Kamala Harris were the most frequent recipients of foreign gifts, given their positions. Certain officials, such as national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, also received several gifts.Gifts of state are meant to be “enduring emblems of international cooperation and friendship,” according to the National Archives, one of the federal agencies responsible for keeping presidential gifts.In September 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave Biden a collage with an estimated value of $2,400 during his second visit to Washington since Russia launched an assault on Ukraine. The collage was titled “Qirim. Return” — an apparent reference to Crimea, which is derived from the Turkish word qirim. Crimea is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory, although it is occupied by Russia.Months earlier, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, gifted Jill Biden a forget-me-not flower brooch worth more than $14,000. The flower symbolizes true love and respect. The brooch was retained for official use in the East Wing.In modern times, a president might receive 15,000 gifts a year, according to the National Archives. The gifts from foreign governments are almost always accepted because, in the words of the State Department report: “Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.”The majority of gifts received by the Bidens were transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration, including the collage from Zelensky. Biden also received a wooden bench valued at $1,170 from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a jewelry box worth $480 from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and a gemstones portrait valued at $2,100 from Nguyen Phu Trong, former leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party. All were transferred.Had Biden kept some, he would have his pick of books — gifts from King Charles III and Kais Saied, the president of Tunisia, among others — waiting for him when he finishes his term on Jan. 20. The Bidens would also have their choice of bowls, vases, boxes and statues from foreign leaders around the world.Some of the gifts are officially displayed, such as a Ujamaa wood carving that Harris was given by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during her visit to the African country in March 2023.And a couple dozen gifts listed in the report that were given to William J. Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and other CIA employees were “destroyed.” That includes an Omega watch worth $11,000 that was given to Burns and a $30,000 women’s jewelry set gifted to another CIA employee.The report did not disclose who gave the gifts that were destroyed. It cited the U.S. Code, which states that the head of an agency within the intelligence community can request the exclusion of certain information “if the publication of such information could adversely affect United States intelligence sources or methods.” Jill Biden Gifted $20,000 Diamond From India’s Leader in 2023: Report (Newsweek)
Newsweek [1/2/2025 6:13 PM, Rachel Dobkin, 56005K, Neutral]
First lady Jill Biden was gifted a $20,000 diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, according to an annual accounting published by the U.S. Department of State on Thursday.
Why It Matters
It is not unusual for political figures, especially presidents and their families, to be given gifts, however, it’s a sensitive issue. Accepting gifts can be criticized as quid-pro-quo if the recipient does something to benefit the giver because of the gift they received.
Federal law requires White House officials to declare gifts they receive from foreign leaders and counterparts that are valued over $480. The more expensive gifts given to executive branch officials are often transferred to the National Archives or put on official displays.
What to KnowThe 7.5-carat diamond gifted to Jill Biden from Modi was easily the most expensive gift given to any member of the first family in 2023.
She was also given a $14,063 brooch from Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., as well as chairs, a bracelet, a brooch and a photograph album valued at $4,510 from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Egypt’s first lady, Entissar Amer.
The State Department said that the $20,000 diamond was retained for official use in the White House East Wing and the other gifts received by President Joe Biden and his wife were sent to the National Archives.
The Associated Press reached out to Jill Biden’s office for comment about the diamond’s use but did not immediately hear back.
What Was Joe Biden Gifted?
President Biden’s gifts included a commemorative photo album and a traditional Jarikki set worth $7,100 from the recently impeached South Korean President Suk Yeol Yoon and a statue of Mongolian warriors valued at $3,495 from Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene.
He also received a $3,300 silver bowl from the sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiaha, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from Israeli President Isaac Herzog and a $2,400 collage from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
What Gifts Has Donald Trump Received?
President-elect Donald Trump also received gifts from foreign leaders during his first term, getting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts in 2019.
Trump’s 2019 gifts included an $8,500 Ottoman Empire rifle from then-Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, a $7,200 Bronze sculpture of an Arabian horse from Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and a $6,300 gold, onyx, emerald and diamond statue of an Arabian oryx from Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
What People Are Saying
Kirstin Holm, a registrar of the Presidential Materials division at the National Archives, told The Washington Post in 2018: "There are often gifts that are interesting.".
"Sometimes it’s not quite clear what the message was with the gifts given. But we treat everything as an artifact," Holm added.
What Happens Next
Trump will take office in 18 days. Like in his first term and with presidents before him, he and his family will almost certainly receive gifts from foreign leaders, which will be documented if they exceed the $480 threshold. India aims to strengthen economic ties with US, engage with Trump administration (Reuters)
Reuters [1/3/2025 5:24 AM, Manoj Kumar, 5.2M, Negative]
India is looking forward to strengthening its economic relationship with the United States by engaging with the incoming Trump administration, India’s trade minister Piyush Goyal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. Why India is unlikely to extradite ousted Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina (South China Morning Post)
South China Morning Post [1/3/2025 5:00 AM, Shaikh Azizur Rahman, 9355K, Neutral]
Bangladesh’s formal request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has put New Delhi in a diplomatic bind, with officials and experts suggesting India is unlikely to comply due to legal uncertainties and fears of damaging its strategic interests.After a massive nationwide protest led by students ousted Hasina on August 5, ending her 15-year rule, she fled to India where she is reportedly staying in housing provided by the Indian government.India’s Ministry of External Affairs has declined to clarify its next steps in response to the extradition request, which was sent by Bangladesh last week.“At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on December 24.Some Indian foreign policy experts suggest New Delhi may not hand Hasina back without stringent proof of wrongdoing.“Bangladesh needs to present solid evidence that Hasina is guilty of the crimes they are accusing her of, as extradition is essentially a judicial process,” Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, told This Week in Asia.“The clauses of the bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries, which emphasise on fairness and safety, must also be honoured,” he added.In July, students in Bangladesh launched a mass movement demanding the abolition of a government job quota system. After government forces cracked down on the peaceful protest – allegedly following a directive from Hasina – violently killing many students, other people joined the protests, which finally forced Hasina to resign and flee the country.By the time Hasina was ousted following the seven-week uprising, more than 1000 protesters had been killed and around 20,000 left injured or disabled, according to an estimate by the interim government.As soon as the interim government was formed in August, students and other political and citizen groups launched a campaign demanding that Hasina be brought back to Bangladesh and made to face trial.The Dhaka-based International Crime Tribunal (ICT), a court of justice that investigates and prosecutes domestic war crimes, has issued arrest warrants against Hasina and her associates. Among the many court cases she faces, she is accused of orchestrating a genocide during last year’s protests, as well as other “crimes against humanity” throughout her 15-year reign. The interim government has also sought help from the international police organisation Interpol in seeking her arrest.Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who is based in the US, claimed the interim government had “weaponised the judiciary” and launched a “political witch hunt” against her in a social media post last week.On Tuesday, a student-led rally of thousands in Dhaka called for the prosecution of Hasina as well as close aides complicit in her alleged crimes. The protesters chanted slogans demanding Hasina be tried and that her political party be banned.Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Prize winner Mohammad Yunus, insists that it will continue to push for Hasina to be brought back to the country to face trial. Student activist Mahfuj Alam, who is also an adviser to the interim government, told This Week in Asia that the entire nation wants Hasina to face trial in Bangladesh for her all “crimes against humanity” during her regime.
“Apart from killing over 1,000 peaceful students and other protesters during the uprising in July and August, her government was behind thousands of cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings since 2009. She is accused of massive corruption, including siphoning off huge amount of public funds during her rule,” Alam said.
“The trial of Sheikh Hasina is linked to the democratisation of Bangladesh. She must stand trial for her all crimes against humanity.”
However, former Indian high commissioner Chakravarty said the fact that Hasina had no legal case against her at the time she fled to India could complicate Bangladesh’s extradition efforts.
There are “too many unanswered legal questions”, Chakravarty said.
“Can an unconstitutional temporary government seek extradition of a PM who was forcibly sent out of the country by the army but did not resign? Is the ICT empowered to issue an arrest warrant for crimes not related to the 1971 genocide?”
Chakravarty also explained that a “political exception” clause in the bilateral extradition treaty can also be invoked to reject a formal request.
Bangladeshi political analyst Zahedur Rahman told This Week in Asia that it is “almost certain” that India would not send back Hasina.
“India must have known how unpopular Sheikh Hasina was in Bangladesh during her long rule and how much anger, resentment, and hatred people had towards her. But since she was able to stay in power and fulfil India’s needs, the Indian government wanted to maintain that status quo,” he said.
“India surely knows that trying to bring Sheikh Hasina back to power in Bangladesh will only further incite anger, resentment, and hatred among the people, which will make it impossible for her to remain in power.”
Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Rashna Imam said that India may not be keen to extradite Hasina because it is “competing with China to become a superpower” and becoming a “regional hegemon” would pave the way for that.
“Hasina compromised the interests of Bangladesh in many ways in exchange for India’s backing to retain power. India is worried that if it does extradite Hasina, it might send out a message to its existing and future allies that India does not fulfil its end of the bargain when the time comes,” the jurist and political analyst told This Week in Asia.
If India refuses to extradite Hasina, it would be perceived as an affront to Bangladesh’s judicial process and sovereignty, she added.
“India’s refusal to extradite Sheikh Hasina will have far-reaching implications as far as the power dynamics in South Asia are concerned,” she said.
“Bangladesh will then in all probability deepen its regional alliances with China and Pakistan, leaving India behind to face the hard truth of their fast diminishing goodwill in the region. If India goes down that route and refuses extradition, its ambition of becoming a regional hegemon, let alone a superpower, may remain a far cry.”
Jon Danilowicz, a former US diplomat to Bangladesh, said that India is unlikely to extradite Sheikh Hasina in the near future due to its own domestic politics.
“The current narrative within India is that Hasina was a steadfast friend who was ousted because of a foreign-sponsored regime change operation,” he said, adding that Hasina’s fall is believed by India to have benefited “pro-Pakistani elements”, who have since embarked on an “anti-Hindu genocide”.
“Having done little to counter this false narrative, the Modi Government now has little room for manoeuvre,” Danilowicz told This Week in Asia. “As time passes and the cost of sheltering Hasina continues to rise, however, India will likely seek a face-saving way out of this dilemma by encouraging her to seek asylum elsewhere.”
Modi’s Ally Says He Can’t Scrap Adani Deal Without Proof, PTI Reports (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [1/3/2025 2:07 AM, Swati Gupta, 5.5M, Neutral]
The chief minister of India’s Andhra Pradesh state said his government can’t scrap power purchase agreements involving Adani Group, which are at the center of a bribery investigation by the US, until there’s solid proof of wrongdoing, the Press Trust of India reported.
Any immediate cancellation of the deal would have legal and other complications, PTI cited Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as saying. Officials are awaiting proper documentation to assess whether there was any corruption involved, he told reporters this week, according to PTI.
Naidu is a key coalition partner in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. US prosecutors in November indicted billionaire Gautam Adani — who is considered a close ally of Modi — and other senior executives in an alleged $250 million bribery plot to win solar energy contracts, and concealed the plan from US investors when seeking to raise funds from them.
Adani Group has denied allegations of misconduct by its executives and said it would defend itself in court.
The indictment cites alleged bribery in deals made in various states, including Andhra Pradesh, before Naidu’s party took control of the regional government in June. The power supply agreements involved Solar Energy Corp. of India and the state’s power distribution company.
Some media reports had suggested the state’s power purchase deal would be suspended following the US charges. Dense smog shrouds Indian capital, threatening to disrupt flights (Reuters)
Reuters [1/2/2025 11:54 PM, Shanima A, 5.2M, Negative]
Thick smog engulfed the Indian capital on Friday, prompting warnings of possible flight disruptions from airport and airline officials, as worsening air quality cut visibility to zero in some areas.
Delhi, which has been battling smog and poor air quality since the beginning of winter, ranked third among the world’s most polluted capitals in Friday’s live rankings by Swiss group IQAir.
No diversion or cancellation has been reported yet, an airport spokesperson said, although authorities warned in a post on X that aircraft lacking equipment to enable landings in low visibility could face difficulties.
On social media, India’s largest airline IndiGo and low-cost carrier Spicejet also cautioned against weather delays.
Delays averaged eight minutes for 20 flights by 10:14 a.m., aviation website FlightRadar24 said.
Some train services in the capital were also delayed, media said.
New Delhi’s air quality was rated "very poor" on Friday, with an index score of 351, the country’s top pollution control body said, well beyond the levels from zero to 50 that it considers "good". Fog disrupts life and travel in northern India (BBC)
BBC [1/3/2025 1:49 AM, Neyaz Farooquee, 76.2M, Negative]
A thick blanket of fog has engulfed Delhi and adjoining areas in northern India, leading to travel delays and chaos.
More than 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport on Friday morning, according to PTI news agency. Dozens of trains have also been rescheduled, or are running late.
India’s weather department has said that foggy conditions are likely to continue for the next few days.Dense fog is common at this time of the year in Delhi and other parts of northern India, as the region grapples with an intense cold wave.
Photos and videos showed several cities shrouded in dense mist and haze.
Around nine airports including the one in Delhi experienced zero visibility on Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The Delhi airport has issued an advisory to passengers, warning them of significant delays.
"While landing and take-off continue at Delhi airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected," the airport said in a statement, referring to the radar system that enables automatic landings when there is very low visibility.
Several airlines have also issued statements urging travellers to check flight schedules before planning their journeys.
IMD considers fog "dense" if visibility drops below 200m and "very dense" if it falls below 50m.
The weather department has said that Delhi may experience light to moderate rainfall on 6 January, which is likely to further lower temperatures. India’s NBFC body urges government to create liquidity facility for priority sector lending (Reuters)
Reuters [1/2/2025 9:15 AM, Sidhi Nayak, 48128K, Neutral]
An industry body for India’s non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) has asked the government to create a refinance or liquidity facility to boost lending to priority sectors such as agriculture, medium and small enterprises, and renewable energy.
Development-focused financial institutions like SIDBI can provide such an option to NBFCs, the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) said in a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of a pre-budget memorandum.
The FIDC highlighted that funds provided to NBFCs have not increased commensurately over the years, resulting in liquidity being "a recurring challenge" for the sector.
While the sector has reduced its reliance on bank borrowings following the RBI’s nudge, a large number of small- and mid-sized NBFCs have to borrow from their larger peers at a higher cost, it said.
The industry body also requested the government to create a mechanism of market-making to be able to access funds in an organised manner.
The FIDC also asked the government to reconsider limits imposed on all NBFCs borrowings to finance key sectors.
The current cap of 5% should be increased to at least 10% of the total priority sector lending done by banks in order to ensure a better flow of credit to the priority sector, the FIDC said. At last, India removes waste from Bhopal Union Carbide plant disaster (The Times)
The Times [1/2/2025 2:10 PM, Amrit Dhillon, 714K, Negative]
Early on December 3, 1984, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide factory owned by the American Union Carbide Corporation in Bhopal, capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.The gas poisoned more than half a million people, and caused up to 16,000 deaths, in the worst industrial disaster the world has seen.Forty years later, the Indian authorities said on Thursday that they had completed the clean-up operation, having moved a large amount of toxic waste from the site of the disaster to a disposal facility where it will take three to nine months to incinerate.Workers had spent months preparing leak-proof, fire-resistant trucks to carry the 337 tonnes of hazardous waste, sealed in 12 protective shipping containers.Heavy precautions were taken to avoid any further accident or disaster on the 143-mile journey from Bhopal to Pithampur, where the material will be burnt.Escorted by more than 50 vehicles — including fire engines, police cars and ambulances, with a total of 700 security personnel — the convoy of a dozen trucks left the rusting and derelict shell of the factory on Wednesday evening. It travelled on a route closed to all other traffic for the seven-hour drive with no stops.Built in 1969, the Union Carbide plant, which was bought by Dow Chemical in 2001, was seen as a symbol of industrialisation in India, generating thousands of jobs for the poor and, at the same time, manufacturing cheap pesticides for millions of farmers.But during the 1984 leak, the noxious cloud of pollution, helped by brisk winds, spread over a huge area. Many victims died choking in their beds, while thousands more died from the after-effects over the ensuing months and years.The exact casualty numbers are unknown, but victim support groups said in 2014 that up to 150,000 people were still suffering illnesses including chronic, debilitating cancer, lung problems and neurological disorders from having inhaled the deadly gas. The disaster has also been called an “ecocide” for its devastating affect on wildlife.In a settlement fiercely disputed by survivors, Union Carbide paid $470 million (£378 million) in compensation in an out-of-court settlement with the Indian government in 1989.The 55-hectare plant was abandoned, but a large quantity of chemicals and pesticides stored inside slowly leaked, seeped into the soil or contaminated the drinking water of more than 40 shantytowns. Waste materials left behind included tar and compounds containing chlorine, mercury, lead and other elements. Survivors and campaign groups had long called for the removal of the hazardous material but its disposal was delayed by bureaucracy and the technical challenges involved.A trial run for the disposal of ten tonnes of waste was conducted in 2015 in preparation for Thursday’s move. Swatantra Kumar Singh, the director of the government’s Bhopal gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation department, said that tests conducted by the federal pollution control agency found emission standards from burning the waste to be in accordance with prescribed national standards.Singh insisted the incineration would not harm the ecosystem.But Rachna Dhingra, a Bhopal-based activist who has worked with survivors of the tragedy, said the solid waste that remained after the incineration would be buried in a landfill and could cause contamination to water supplies.
“Why is the polluter Union Carbide and Dow Chemical not being compelled to clean up its toxic waste in Bhopal?” Dhingra asked.Survivors previously fought long campaigns for fairer compensation, removal of the waste, and for Warren Anderson, the chief executive of Union Carbide at the time of the disaster, to be brought back to India to face punishment.Anderson died at his Florida home in 2014 at the age of 92. He had been arrested when visiting Bhopal four days after the accident. But after quickly paying bail, he never returned to face trial.Among a slew of criminal and civil lawsuits following the tragedy are those from women who had babies with congenital abnormalities linked to the poisoning.Over the years, 28 judges hearing Bhopal-related cases have retired and died and new ones appointed, all while the victims have deteriorated or died. In 2010, eight former Union Carbide employees were convicted in India of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined about $2,000 each, the maximum penalty allowed under Indian law. All were released on bail shortly after the verdict.After decades of inaction, the state’s high court on December 5 ruled that remaining waste should be removed from the abandoned site forthwith, asking officials, “Are you waiting for another tragedy?”Victim support groups dispute that the risks have been removed, however. Dhingra said the waste transported by the convoy was previously being stored in a warehouse, and that more remained hidden in the plant.“It wasn’t even contaminating the groundwater. It’s all the rest of the chemicals lying inside the factory and in pits in the grounds that have been polluting the drinking water of the slum dwellers. This is all a gimmick to show India is taking action,” she told The Times.The Indian government paid the state government $14.5 million for the waste’s removal to Pithampur, an industrial area close to the city of Indore. Activists point out that in 2012, a German company offered to fly the waste to Hamburg, a distance of 4,000 miles and incinerate it for a fee of $12 million. The proposal was later dropped owing to opposition from local people.“Look at the difference. That extra money has gone as commission into officials’ pockets. It’s the usual corruption,” said Dhingra. “And where is the waste being taken? To Pithampur where the incinerated waste will be dumped in landfills to create yet another problem for the people there.” Manmohan Singh’s Mixed Economic Legacy (Wall Street Journal – opinion)
Wall Street Journal [1/1/2025 5:31 PM, Sadanand Dhume, 831K, Neutral]
The death of Manmohan Singh last week was followed by a flurry of sentimental obituaries eulogizing the former Indian prime minister, who led the government from 2004 to 2014. His admirers recall a soft-spoken economist who rose from humble beginnings, and they praise him for bringing India closer to the U.S. through a landmark 2008 deal on civilian nuclear cooperation with President George W. Bush.
Above all, Singh, who was 92, is remembered for the economic reforms he oversaw in 1991 as finance minister—reforms that opened India’s economy to more market competition and foreign investment. It was the first time since independence in 1947 that India repudiated the socialist policies that had pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy. Backed by then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Singh became the public face of the economic reforms. He devalued the rupee, reduced tariffs and other trade barriers, ended industrial licensing, and welcomed foreign investment.
Thanks to liberalization, India is now the world’s fifth-largest economy at market exchange rates and is on track to become the third-largest by 2028. What a contrast to 1991, when India was the world’s second-most-populous country but had only the 17th-largest economy.
Yet although Singh deserves some credit for these advancements, a closer look at his career reveals a mixed record. Departing from his legacy as finance minister, as prime minister he put the brakes on market-friendly reforms. India stopped privatizing state-owned companies, launched an expensive rural job-guarantee scheme, and introduced a retrospective tax that spooked foreign investors.
Today Singh’s political party, the opposition Indian National Congress, has all but turned its back on economic liberalization. The party’s leader, Rahul Gandhi, rails against big businesses and champions expanded caste quotas, a form of affirmative action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party isn’t the Thatcherite economic reformer his admirers hoped he’d be either. Granted, he has upgraded infrastructure, stanched corruption in welfare programs through digital transfers, somewhat simplified taxation through a national goods-and-services tax, and improved the balance sheets of India’s public-sector banks. But when it comes to politically contentious reforms, Mr. Modi has proved weak. His administration has struggled to privatize state-owned enterprises, enable businesses to hire and fire workers more easily, and allow market forces to play a greater role in agriculture and land acquisition. On these issues, Mr. Modi has either proceeded cautiously or retreated when challenged.
Under Mr. Modi’s leadership, India has also reversed its post-1991 policy of steadily lowering tariffs. The Modi model is a mixture of higher tariffs, spending billions of taxpayer dollars to boost manufacturing in favored industries, and a cozy relationship between the government and large Indian conglomerates such as the Adani Group and the Reliance Group. Dhiraj Nayyar, an economist with India’s Vedanta Group and former adviser to the Modi government, said in a phone interview that Mr. Modi “believes in industrial policy and in creating national champions,” as South Korea did while it industrialized.
The experience of the past 20 years—Singh’s two terms as prime minister followed by Mr. Modi’s first two terms—shows that the appetite for economic reform in India goes only so far. If both Mr. Singh, hailed as the hero of India’s reforms, and Mr. Modi, who enjoyed single-party majorities in his first two terms, were unable to advance the ball meaningfully on free-market reforms, it’s unlikely that Mr. Modi will do better in his third term—especially since his government now depends on support from coalition partners.
What does this mean for India and the world? The good news is that even India’s limited reforms have paid off. In 1990, 46% of India’s 850 million people lived in extreme poverty. Today, the World Bank estimates that only 9% of India’s 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty. Foreign direct investment has risen from less than $100 million in 1990-91 to $28.1 billion last year. Foreign-exchange reserves in 1991 stood at $1 billion, enough to cover roughly two weeks of imports. They’re now at $644 billion.
The bad news: India still punches below its weight. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that India’s gross domestic product will cross $5 trillion in 2027 but will still be only a fraction of America’s ($33 trillion) or China’s ($22 trillion).
China isn’t the only Asian country that is lapping India. In 1991, Vietnam’s per capita GDP was about half of India’s; now it’s nearly double: $4,650 compared with India’s $2,700. Indonesia remains similarly ahead of India in per capita GDP despite weathering the 1997 East Asian financial crisis and a tumultuous transition from dictatorship to democracy.
In a budget speech as finance minister, in 1991, Singh famously quoted Victor Hugo: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.” But if the idea was for India to join the ranks of East Asia’s prosperous economies, 1.4 billion people are still waiting for its arrival. India and China Should Admit Their Economies Are Intertwined (Bloomberg – opinion)
Bloomberg [1/2/2025 4:00 PM, Mihir Sharma, 21617K, Neutral]
India’s national security advisor met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the first time since 2019 last month. This get-together was previously an annual affair; but it had not been held since Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed on the border in the summer of 2020. Its resumption is another indication that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping seem to have agreed, when they spoke on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in Russia in October, to dial things down a notch.
But not too much. The two armies remain entrenched on disputed mountain tops in the depths of a Himalayan winter. Nevertheless, by the standards of the past four years, this counts as a thaw. Such progress could not have been predicted even last year. The two countries had dug themselves into adversarial positions. The Chinese resented India’s increasing closeness to the US, and the Indians were furious that Beijing seemed to be determined to change the status quo on the border to its advantage.A lot has changed since then. Most importantly, both nations are more than a little concerned about how they will revive slowing growth.China’s recovery from its property sector stumbles has not been as strong as its leaders hoped. Ripples from its 2021 crisis in real estate have now spread through its economy. Less demand for new construction has impacted sectors from steel to appliances; slowdowns in these sectors combined with stumbling house prices — which might decline by over 8% in 2024 — mean that many Chinese consumers are feeling poorer.China has over-invested in its industrial infrastructure; and now, consumer demand seems unable to absorb all that excess output. Exporting the excess is becoming difficult, as well. Some countries in Southeast Asia have enacted anti-dumping provisions targeted at imports from China.As the trade war gains momentum with Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House, economic planners in Beijing will thus be casting their eyes around for new destinations for their manufactures. India’s attempts to cut economic ties with China will have been identified as a problem that needs solving.India imports vast amounts of Chinese goods already; but attempts to wean itself off them intensified sharply after the border erupted in 2020. Regulatory action focused on imports for the mainland, including those being repackaged in Southeast Asia, with which India has a free trade agreement. Chinese investment into India was banned as well. Visas for Chinese citizens to visit India dried up.But that strategy didn’t seem to be working as planned. Indian policymakers noticed that the trade deficit continued to rise. Oddly, India was importing more from China in precisely those sectors — such as electronics — where it also seemed to be improving its own competitiveness, and exporting more to the West.They should have expected that. It was a sign of success, not failure. The iPhones that Apple Inc. now builds in India will naturally have an extended supply chain that includes companies in China. India’s government has struggled to create new, high-quality employment for its millions of young people, a problem worsened by economic growth that’s at its lowest for almost two years. If these new jobs in electronics exports need India to share supply chains with China, that might be a price worth paying.Some in India’s government have now begun to realize that breaking free of China — by growing domestic competitiveness and finding export markets of our own — won’t happen unless we enter supply chains that our northern neighbor currently dominates.In other words, an India that manages to compete with China will only do so with China’s help. Chinese businesses may have to invest in India’s manufacturing ecosystem if it is to emerge as an effective substitute for the factories those same businesses operate on the mainland. Chinese goods will need to serve as inputs for this emerging ecosystem. Chinese businessmen will have to be able to go back and forth.None of that could happen while the border was ready to explode at any moment. And thus both countries began, tentatively, to repair their grievously damaged relationship. We are still some distance from, say, New Delhi rolling out the red carpet for a Chinese state visit. But their growth slowdown gives both sides a solid reason to strive for the return of some sort of normalcy.Yet the fundamental problem remains: Both also want different things from this thaw. The Indians want Chinese investment, inputs, and for them to stop pushing on the border. The Chinese want another market, and hope they can get the Indians to be less enthusiastic participants in a future Trump administration’s attempts to isolate China politically and economically. New Delhi knows about this mismatch, and so does Beijing. But both countries economies are in such a hole that they are willing to overlook it — for now. NSB
Court Denies Bail for Hindu Leader Amid Sedition Charges (Newsweek)
Newsweek [1/2/2025 1:22 PM, Amir Daftari, 56005K, Negative]
A court in southeastern Bangladesh has once again rejected a bail plea for Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu, who faces sedition charges after leading large rallies demanding better protection for minority groups in the Muslim-majority nation.
The court decision was made Thursday, with security tight around the court as police and soldiers stood guard.
Why It Matters
Prabhu’s case highlights the tensions between the minority Hindu community and the secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It also sheds light on the challenges faced by minority groups in Bangladesh, where Hindu communities have reported thousands of attacks since early August.
The government has yet to effectively address these concerns, leading to further unrest.
What to Know
Krishna Das Prabhu, 39, was arrested after leading rallies in the southeastern city of Chattogram, where Hindu groups have voiced fears over escalating violence against their community. Prabhu’s lawyers argue that he has been unfairly targeted, but the court rejected his plea for bail, citing serious charges of sedition and threatening the country’s security.
Protests and Court Tensions
Prabhu’s first bail request was denied while he had no legal representation, with lawyers who attempted to represent him claiming intimidation. Tensions escalated outside the court, where clashes led to the death of a Muslim lawyer. At Thursday’s hearing, 11 lawyers traveled from Dhaka with a security escort to represent Prabhu.
Security Concerns and International Criticism
Hindu and minority groups in Bangladesh and abroad have condemned the actions of the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, for undermining the safety of minorities. These groups argue that reports of violence against Hindus since August have been downplayed or ignored by the government. In response, Yunus and his supporters have claimed that the reports are exaggerated.
Prabhu, a prominent spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, is closely associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna movement. His arrest and subsequent treatment have turned him into a symbolic figure for minority rights in Bangladesh.
What People Are Saying
Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesman of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group said: "(Prabhu) has become a face of minorities in Bangladesh. The minorities see him as a ray of hope. He represents their voice.".
Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan, Public Prosecutor said in relation to Prabhu: "He faces serious charges like sedition and others involving the security and sovereignty of our country. We argued in the court that if he gets bail it could create anarchy. As we saw in the past that he triggered violence on the court premises by calling thousands of his supporters to protest.".
What Happens Next
As Krishna Das Prabhu remains in custody, his legal team plans to appeal the court’s decision. The case continues to draw attention from both national and international advocates for minority rights, with growing pressure on the Bangladesh government to address the concerns of its Hindu population. Bangladesh: Hindu monk suspected of sedition denied bail (Deutsche Welle)
Deutsche Welle [1/2/2025 11:17 AM, Staff, 13448K, Negative]
A Bangladeshi court on Thursday rejected another bail application by a jailed Hindu monk who led protests for better security for Hindus in the Muslim-majority country.
Krishna Das Prabhu was detained after leading large rallies in the southeastern city of Chattogram.
He was arrested in November for allegedly insulting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally, and now faces sedition charges.
Another bail plea denied
The court rejected a previous bail request made when Prabhu didn’t have legal representation.
After the most recent denial, Prabhu’s lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee said they would appeal the decision.Meanwhile, public prosecutor said his office believed the monk could "misuse his bail" if released from custody.
"We argued in the court that if he gets bail it could create anarchy as we saw in the past that he triggered violence on the court premises by calling thousands of his supporters to protest," Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan told the AP news agency by phone.
Prabhu didn’t appear at the court. Violence broke out after a previous bail hearing, with his followers accused of killing a public prosecutor during the clash.
India-Bangladesh ties turn sour
Religious tensions in Muslim-majority Bangladesh have been high since student-led protests ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
New Delhi’s Hindu nationalist government was a staunch ally of Hasina, and the veteran leader has been hiding in India since fleeing Bangladesh.
Her departure has left a power vacuum that the new temporary government is struggling to fill. Hindu groups allege there have been thousands of attacks against Hindus after Hasina’s government was overthrown.
Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has downplayed those claims, calling reports of the attacks exaggerated. Bangladesh court again rejects bail for Hindu leader charged with sedition (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [1/2/2025 6:00 AM, Staff, 19588K, Negative]
A court in Bangladesh has again denied bail to an outspoken Hindu leader advocating for the protection of minority groups in the country.Krishna Das Prabhu did not appear at the hearing at the court in the southeastern city of Chattogram, where Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam rejected his bail plea, according to Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan.Security was tight at the hearing, with police and soldiers guarding the court. Violence had erupted following a previous bail hearing in November, with Prabhu’s followers accused of killing a Muslim public prosecutor.Prabhu, 39, was arrested for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally in Chattogram and faces sedition charges.Hindu groups allege there have been hundreds of attacks on Hindus since August when the nearly 16-year government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown.“He faces serious charges like sedition and others involving the security and sovereignty of our country,” Bhuiyan told The Associated Press news agency by telephone.“We argued in the court that if he gets bail it could create anarchy as we saw in the past that he triggered violence on the court premises by calling thousands of his supporters to protest. So, we moved against his bail plea as we believed that he could misuse his bail.”Prabhu is a spokesman for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group. He is also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), widely known as the Hare Krishna movement.Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, a lawyer representing Prabhu, said they would appeal the decision.Radharamn Das, vice president and spokesman of ISKCON in Kolkata, the capital of India’s West Bengal state, told India Today network that Prabhu’s health was deteriorating. He said the jailed Hindu leader “has become a face of minorities in Bangladesh”.“The minorities see him as a ray of hope. He represents their voice,” Das said.Meanwhile, the family of the lawyer hacked to death in November, Saiful Islam Alif, has filed two separate cases against those they say are linked to his death. That includes 58 Hindu lawyers accused of vandalism and carrying explosives.Bangladesh saw religious tensions after a mainly student-led revolution toppled “autocratic” Hasina. India’s Hindu nationalist government backed Hasina, who has been in exile in India since protesters stormed her palace on August 5.Bangladesh in December requested India send Hasina back to face charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity”. India confirmed it had received the request but declined to comment further.Hindu groups and other minority groups in Bangladesh and abroad have criticised the interim government led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus for undermining their security after Hasina’s fall.Yunus and his supporters say reports of attacks on Hindus and other minority groups since August have been exaggerated. The Forgotten Opposition: Bangladesh’s Left in the Shadow of Major Parties (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [1/2/2025 7:00 AM, Saqlain Rizve, 857K, Neutral]
On December 14, 2023, Shahriar Shihab was returning home through the University of Dhaka after paying tribute to the martyred intellectuals killed by the Pakistani military on the same date in 1971 during the Liberation War. Suddenly a group of 20-25 young men surrounded Shihab and began to assault him.
"At one point, they grabbed my beard and accused me of being a member of Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). Then they slapped me. It was absurd," said Shihab, the organizing secretary of the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Private University Unit, and a student at Prime University in Dhaka.
"I’m a leftist activist involved in leftist student politics. However, as a practicing Muslim, I keep beards, and they tagged me as a Shibir member," he told The Diplomat.
It was one example among many of how Bangladesh’s leftists are often conflated with larger political forces. In Shihab’s case, his activism demanding accountability from Bangladesh’s then-government saw him wrongly labeled an Islamist.
Shihab became involved in leftist politics after the 2018 student protests for road safety, joining through direct street activism. Since then, he has participated in various left-leaning political activities under organizations like the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, and Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote. Before the day of the attack, Shihab and his peers had organized a protest in Shahbagh, Dhaka, condemning the killing of four people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
"On December 14, another friend of mine was attacked elsewhere," Shihab recounted. "We were both on their target list because of our consistent efforts to mobilize protests against government policies and societal injustices. Both of us were severely injured – my friend nearly lost his eye.".
Over the past 15 years, leftist activists like Shihab have faced trauma and violence, often targeted by law enforcement and members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League (AL).
During the July 2024 student-led uprising in Bangladesh, Shihab and his fellow activists actively participated alongside general students and members of mainstream political parties. This movement highlighted a rare moment of unity across diverse ideologies, demonstrating the shared frustrations with the then ruling regime AL.
Despite their legacy of activism – whether opposing authoritarianism, addressing everyday crises, or raising their voices for workers’ and farmers’ rights – Bangladesh’s leftist groups remain marginalized in the broader political discourse. Why do their secular and liberal ideals fail to resonate more widely? And what lies ahead for them in the post Hasina Bangladesh?
Bangladesh’s political landscape has long been dominated by the fierce rivalry between the AL and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), leaving little room for other voices. Yet the country’s leftist political groups, though smaller in size and influence, have remained steadfast in their advocacy for justice, equality, and the rights of ordinary citizens.
Over the past 15 years under the AL’s autocratic rule, many leftist activists have consistently taken to the streets to oppose oppression and challenge the status quo – often at great personal risk and without the spotlight that shines on mainstream political actors.
During the 1960s and 1970s in then-East Pakistan, leftist ideologies, including Marxism, Maoism, and socialism, were pivotal in mobilizing people against autocratic rule. Parties like the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) were influential during the Liberation War, advocating for a classless, equitable society. However, internal divisions weakened their impact on national politics.
The Communist Party of East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) split into two factions: the pro-Moscow faction, which supported the liberation movement and aligned with the Indo-Soviet socialist bloc, and the pro-Beijing faction, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence and advocated for a complete revolution. These divisions became especially visible during the Liberation War, with the pro-Moscow wing working alongside the AL to achieve independence, while the pro-Beijing wing criticized the movement as incomplete.
The Maoist-inspired groups, such as Siraj Sikder’s East Bengal Workers Movement (EBWM) and later the Purbo Bangla Sarbohara Party (PBSP), initially fought against Pakistan but then rejected Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership and his vision of socialism. Disillusioned by what they saw as a "puppet government," these groups sought to establish a revolutionary socialist state, leading to clashes with the newly formed government. Their militant actions and opposition contributed to political instability, culminating in Mujib’s downfall in 1975. However, the decline of Maoist ideology in China left these revolutionaries without international support, weakening their influence in Bangladesh.
Overall, however, the left gained prominence in the 1971 Liberation War. Some leftist elements during that time allied with the AL to win Bangladesh’s freedom from West Pakistan. They forged connections with the masses while encouraging the general public, smallholder farmers, and the working class to support the movement. In addition, leftist groups also helped in instilling and directing ordinary people toward the tasks of the freedom struggle, which highly mobilized the movement’s rapid growth.
After the religion-based parties were banned in 1972, the leftist parties found themselves as the only oppositional parties. However, they were faced with conflicts both with the AL and with each other, so the left as a whole was never seen as serious political force.
Mujib took advantage of those divisions among the left by overthrowing one and forming the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL), a single party system. This amendment changed the political setting in Bangladesh and many parties were combined under the BAKSAL which included the ruling AL, Muzaffar Ahmed’s National Awami Party (NAP), and some executive members of the Communist Party.
Such restraints notwithstanding, the left did not remain apathetic in the early years of independent Bangladesh and instead worked toward economic and administrative developments. They were internationalist in scope and advocated for a society based on egalitarian values devoid of oppression. The Communist Party advocated for the cause of the working people and offered a different view of development built on fairness and social welfare. This egalitarian vision set the left apart from even the initial AL, as they wanted to build a better and more cohesive community.
In the post-independence period, the AL, led by Mujib, initially pursued socialist policies, such as nationalizing major industries and banks, as part of their vision for a self-reliant and egalitarian society. However, this period also saw limitations on freedom of expression and dissent. Leftist groups, particularly those critical of the AL’s policies or approach, faced suppression, including the curbing of media freedoms. For example, the government consolidated all newspapers into state-controlled outlets under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution in 1975. This move effectively stifled press freedom and centralized state control over public discourse.The assassination of Mujib in 1975 marked another political turning point. The subsequent regimes gradually abandoned socialist policies, shifting toward a market-oriented economy. This transition marginalized leftist parties, reducing their influence in the country’s political landscape. As Bangladesh moved away from its initial socialist ideals, leftist movements struggled to maintain their foothold amidst the growing dominance of capitalist and centrist political forces.
During the military regimes of Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad, leftist groups faced significant suppression alongside their efforts to resist their rule. Zia, while promoting economic liberalization and lifting the ban on religious political parties, notably oppressed leftist movements such as the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), whose leaders and activists were frequently targeted. Zia’s policies of reconciliation with Islamist forces marginalized the left further, undermining their influence in the political landscape.
Founded in 1972 by leaders like Serajul Alam Khan, JASAD sought to establish a socialist democracy in Bangladesh, driven by ideals of equality and anti-imperialism. However, the party’s radical approach, including the formation of the militant Gonobahini, made it a direct adversary to both the state and mainstream political forces. This opposition to authoritarianism and economic liberalization intensified its suppression during Zia’s regime, ensuring its further marginalization in Bangladesh’s political framework.
However, in 1980 the party started to back away from the goal to establish a socialist society. Later in the 1990s they started to embrace nationalism.
Many experts think the fall of leftism in the Soviet Union in 1992 was behind this shift in sentiment within JASAD. The Soviet collapse not only affected JASAD but also the whole left political landscape in Bangladesh.
Under Hussain Muhammad Ershad, leftist parties joined forces with centrist and right-wing groups in anti-autocratic movements, demonstrating their capacity for grassroots mobilization despite limited electoral success. Their role in uniting opposition forces was critical during the pro-democracy struggles of the 1980s. However, the fall of Ershad in 1990 marked a turning point. In the post-Ershad era, the political arena became increasingly polarized between the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaving leftist parties struggling to maintain relevance amid the dominance of the two major political forces.
In the last 15 years under the AL’s rule, leftist parties have faced severe oppression, further limiting their political influence. The government’s control over institutions, media, and law enforcement has stifled dissenting voices, including those from the left. Leftist activists have been subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrests, and political persecution. The Workers’ Party’s leader, Rashed Khan Menon, aligned with the AL, but faced significant backlash and was eventually arrested following Hasina’s ouster.
Grassroots leftist activism remains vibrant in labor unions, garment factories, and among rural communities, addressing wage inequality and labor rights. However, the rise of neoliberal policies and the dominance of identity-based politics have overshadowed class-based movements. Contemporary leftist parties, including the CPB, Workers’ Party, and Socialist Party of Bangladesh, have limited representation and operate on the periphery, focusing on workers’ rights, anti-globalization, and social justice. Their inability to adapt to contemporary challenges, build coalitions, and effectively communicate their relevance to younger generations has hindered their growth.
The 2013 controversy over the International Crimes Tribunal, established to prosecute those responsible for atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War, deepened Bangladesh’s democratic decline and widened the divide between secular and Islamist political forces. While leftist forces succeeded in concluding the tribunal, their broader influence has remained weak. The AL’s consolidation of power during this period further marginalized the left, leaving them with a diminished role in national politics.
Bangladesh’s left political landscape today reflects a fragmented and marginalized force. While their contributions to historical movements are undeniable, their struggle to counter Bangladesh’s growing authoritarianism and rightward political shift raises critical questions about their future. Institutional and ideological limitations, coupled with systematic suppression, continue to prevent them from becoming significant players in the country’s evolving political landscape.
Why Has the Left Gained So Little Traction?
Political scientist Tahmina Rahman highlighted that most experts she interviewed believe Bangladeshi leftist parties lack a distinct voice compared to their moderate counterparts. Historically, leftist parties sought to avoid confrontation with authoritarian regimes by aligning themselves with mainstream political forces. This strategy, driven by dictatorial repression and legal constraints, allowed them to pursue shared objectives, such as achieving independence from Pakistan and ending military rule. However, it also kept them subordinate to larger parties.
The dependence deepened after the restoration of democracy in 1991, as coalition politics further limited the left’s capacity to promote their agenda.
A seasoned leftist politician explained that while coalition politics offers certain advantages, it also leads to a reluctance to challenge oppression or advocate for significant legal changes. He described this as an "opportunist tendency," noting that fear of losing the perks of alliances often results in leftist parties appearing inactive, whether in Parliament or on the streets. This dependency, the politician argued, is a major drawback of forming alliances with dominant parties.
Leftist parties in coalition often become less able to hold centrist parties accountable and push for alternative policy proposals. The leading parties, too, take advantage of this dependency by not taking leftist policy proposals into consideration.
Dilara Chowdhury, former professor of the Government and Politics department at Jahangirnagar University, believes there is a significant communication gap between urban and rural areas when it comes to left politics. "Leftist discourse is often appealing, but they have failed to connect with people in rural areas," she told The Diplomat. "As a result, radical parties enjoy greater popularity in villages compared to leftist groups. While leftist parties claim to have thousands of activists outside urban centers, in reality, I don’t see much evidence of that.".Ruhin Hossain Prince, the general secretary of the CPB, also thinks that communication with the people needs to be strengthened.
"I can confidently say that the majority of the left political parties always come to the streets to raise voices against injustice. However, despite the enthusiasm we couldn’t do well in the electoral system. Somehow we have failed to get enough publicity," he said.
Another challenge is the atheist image of the left and progressive politics – a problem in this devoutly Muslim country.
Leftists in Bangladesh are often labeled as atheists, a perception that hampers their efforts to establish robust grassroots networks and a loyal voter base due to the prevalent anti-atheist sentiment in the country. In rural areas, openly identifying as an atheist can provoke intense disapproval, with many viewing atheism as deeply unsettling. This stigma has been reinforced by propaganda campaigns from authoritarian regimes both before and after Bangladesh’s independence, which portrayed leftists as irreligious and impious.
"The atheist image was a successful propaganda against us," Prince acknowledged. However, he added, "We raise our voices for labor class people. We actually don’t see the sentiment that much.".
Adding to these challenges is the lack of sufficient media coverage for leftist movements and ideologies. As media organizations in Bangladesh are largely products of capitalist systems, their priorities often align with corporate and political interests rather than grassroots activism. Dominated by the incumbent power, "mainstream media tend to marginalize or ignore leftist voices," said Prince, focusing instead on the two dominant political parties: the AL and BNP.
This media bias further reduces the visibility of leftist struggles and their role in addressing systemic inequalities, reinforcing the public perception of their irrelevance. Without platforms to amplify their causes, leftist activists face immense difficulty in challenging the narratives shaped by capitalist forces and the ruling elite, leaving them sidelined in Bangladesh’s political discourse.
Both religious and nationalist groups portray leftists as disconnected from the country’s cultural and religious values. The association of leftist ideologies with atheism, despite not being universally accurate, has alienated many potential supporters, particularly in the conservative heartlands of Bangladesh.
For example, during the Shahbagh Protest in 2013, radical factions accused leftist demonstrators advocating for the execution of 1971 war criminals of being "anti-Islamic," resulting in violence and increased division. Such narratives persist in undermining the left’s capacity for forging alliances with larger populations, particularly in hinterland regions where faith is of paramount importance.
Moreover, the leftist parties’ failure to update their methods of interaction with younger voters also adds to their tumult. Radical Islamists have been able to utilize social media, mobilize the grassroots, and increase their influence through religious organizations such as madrassas, while the leftist groups are rather slow to catch up with the digital revolution.
Additionally, the leftist political parties are apparently also burdened with the problem of establishing a unified front. They are still factionalized, with some advocating for pure ideology to the exclusion of coalition strategies. This disarray limits their capacity to confront the dominance of the AL, the BNP, and religious parties. To that end, absent organizational cohesiveness, groups on the left are unable to affect national politics or elections in a meaningful way.
Fresh air has been sweeping over Bangladesh since the fall of the AL, with people eagerly anticipating the upcoming parliamentary elections within one and half years. The process is currently underway under the Interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. An election commission has been formed to ensure free and fair elections, a significant step after more than a decade of concerns over electoral integrity.
As previously mentioned, left-wing politicians, activists, and supporters were vocal and active during the July Revolution. While many are optimistic about the future of leftist politics, others remain uncertain about what lies ahead.
After the 1990 uprising that led to the ouster of General Ershad, the 1991 parliamentary election was a disappointment for leftist parties, despite their efforts to restore democracy. In that poll, BAKSAL and the Bangladesh Communist Party each won five seats, while the National Awami League, Democratic Party, and People’s Party each won one seat. These parties were allied with the AL at the time, which secured 88 seats, while the BNP won 140 seats and formed the government.
Given this historical context, it’s difficult to predict that leftist parties will perform well in the upcoming elections, despite their struggles under the previous regime and participation in the recent uprising. Furthermore, radical groups are gaining traction and planning to form a coalition of Islamist political parties, already enjoying substantial support from the Muslim-majority population.
Prince weighed in on the situation, stating that now may not be the right time for left-wing politics to thrive. "There are powerful radical groups and imperialist forces that can overshadow leftist politics in the country," he warned. "To mitigate this risk, we need to establish a minimum democratic environment. If these powerful forces don’t dominate and if we are allowed to work freely, I believe there’s a strong possibility for left-wing politics to rise.".
Prince continued, "However, after August 5, we still feel there are significant threats from certain groups. For instance, in Tetulia, we recently tried to mobilize a protest, but members of a powerful faction prevented us from holding it. I was there.".
Despite the challenges, many hold onto hope for a brighter future, especially youth activists and politicians.
Dr. Monisha Chakrabarty, a young leftist politician from Barishal, a southern division of Bangladesh, has been actively engaged in politics for over a decade. In 2018, she made history as the first woman candidate in the Barishal mayoral election, representing the Socialist Party of Bangladesh. Although she did not win, she garnered significant support from the people of Barishal.
It was unprecedented for a woman to compete against candidates from Bangladesh’s two dominant parties, the AL and BNP. Furthermore, Barishal is a stronghold for Islami Andolon Bangladesh, one of the country’s largest radical political parties.
Monisha acknowledged the challenges faced by her party due to pressure from capitalist groups as they work to establish a socialist society. However, she remains optimistic. "Day by day, people are gaining trust in us. Commodity prices are rising rapidly, and it’s the poor and middle-class people who suffer the most. They need a new system, and as a result, they are joining us in street activism," she said.
She added, "If we could secure a democratic environment – which is obviously a challenge – the left would grow stronger for the benefit of society.".
In addition, interest in politics is growing among students at private universities, alongside those at public universities. The 2024 uprising has heightened political awareness among youth, and since August 5, political discussions and seminars about the country’s future have drawn packed audiences.
"Students are frustrated with the politics of the AL and BNP, so they warmly welcome leftist ideas on campus," said Shihab. "Currently, our Bangladesh Students’ Union Private University Unit has 16 executive members from various universities. We also have numerous activist friends across different institutions.". Central Asia
Kazakhstan caught in the middle of simmering Azerbaijani-Russian tension over jetliner crash (EurasiaNet)
EurasiaNet [1/2/2025 4:14 PM, Staff, 57.6K, Negative]
Kazakhstan is treading delicately as it strives to keep two feuding neighbors happy amid a row over Russia’s accidental shoot-down of an Azerbaijani civilian airliner, which crashed outside the Kazakh city of Aktau. Kazakh officials have little to gain and a lot to lose as they oversee the crash investigation.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia remain fraught as Azerbaijani officials await the results of the official crash investigation. Kazakhstan’s vice minister of transportation, Talgat Lastayev, announced December 30 that preliminary findings are expected to be released in late January.
Azerbaijani-Russian tension revolves around the Kremlin’s reluctance to admit Russian air defenses brought the plane down on December 25, killing 38 of the 67 individuals on board. Kazakhstan got caught in the middle because the stricken jet, which had been bound for Grozny in the Russian region of Chechnya, crossed the Caspian Sea to make a crash landing in Aktau. That fact thrust Kazakhstan into a key role in an investigation in which the principal actors – Azerbaijan and Russia – have starkly differing agendas.In the face of Russian silence over culpability for the crash, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev has pressed for a transparent probe. At the same time, he has accused Kremlin of trying to cover up its responsibility for the tragedy, pointing out that Russian officials initially offered several “absurd” alternate theories before evidence of the shoot-down came to light. Government-friendly news outlets in Baku even accused Russia of prompting the jet to attempt a landing in Aktau in the hope that it would crash into the Caspian, thus erasing all evidence of Russian involvement. Russia’s approach so far suggests the Kremlin is far from eager to see all the facts come out.
Ultimately, some of the 29 survivors have provided testimony substantiating a shoot-down, and the intact rear section of the plane shows signs of being hit by anti-aircraft flak. The black boxes have been recovered and sent to Brazil for analysis.
Despite their country’s central position in the investigation, Kazakh officials have tried to remain aloof from the festering controversy. In the first hours after the crash, Kazakh officials appeared to amplify alternative theories pushed by Russia to explain the tragedy, including the since discredited claim that an oxygen tank inside the aircraft exploded. Kazakh officials also initially backed a Russian proposal that a CIS commission handle the investigation, which would have given Moscow expanded influence over the probe’s scope and final report.
As evidence of a shoot-down, including survivor accounts, continued to mount, Kazakhstan has adopted a decidedly neutral tone. During the last days of December, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has had telephone conversations with both his Azerbaijani and Russian counterparts, Aliyev and Vladimir Putin, according to the presidential press service, which was notably silent on the substance of those discussions.
State-controlled media in Kazakhstan has largely refrained from reporting on what caused the crash. The leitmotif of official publications is that Kazakhstan is making every effort to find out what really happened. In recent days, Kazakh officials have been scrupulous in saying their actions are guided by international guidelines. For example, Transport Minister Marat Karabayev cited the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Chicago Convention in explaining why the crashed jet’s black boxes were sent to Brazil, action that seemed sure to rankle Russia, given the Kremlin’s apparent desire to suppress evidence of a shoot-down.“Kazakhstan stands for objectivity in investigation of air disaster,” stated a December 30 commentary published by the government newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, quoting a Kazakh political scientist, Eduard Poletaev. “The decision to send on-board recorders for decoding to Brazil is a manifestation of the independence, sovereignty and impartiality of Kazakhstan.”
Independent media outlets in Kazakhstan have covered the controversy over the crash’s cause. Accounts offered by Orda.kz, for example, have tended to highlight the assertions made by Aliyev and Western officials supporting the notion of Russian responsibility for the tragedy.
The reasons why Kazakh leaders are eager to avoid angering either Azerbaijan or Russia over their handling of the investigation are clear: both countries are key economic partners for Kazakhstan, and any hiccup in relations can have extensive financial repercussions for Astana.One source of leverage for Russia is the pipeline that connects oil produced in Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field to export markets via a pipeline and oil terminal at the Russian port of Novorossiysk under the auspices of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. The pipeline handles about 80 percent of Tengiz oil exports.
Russia, as a means of either influencing Kazakh decision-making or expressing its displeasure with Astana’s actions, could disrupt pipeline operations. “Moscow can stop the transportation of Kazakh oil to Europe under some pretext such as the repair of the CPC infrastructure, as they did during the summer of 2022,” Talgat Ismagambetov, a political scientist at the Almaty Institute of Philosophy, Politics and Religion, said in an interview. In such an instance, “Kazakhstan could suffer big losses again, and this would be a warning [or] punishment from Russia.”
At this point, Kazakhstan may have even more to lose by alienating Azerbaijan. The two countries are key transit nodes for East-West trade via the Middle Corridor route. In addition, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are partners in a developing consortium to ship solar- and wind-generated power to Western markets. “For Astana, Baku is a very important partner, and in the future, an even more important partner, especially in terms of the joint development of the Trans-Caspian route,” Ismagambetov said.
While Russia maintains its silence about the investigation, Aliyev has voiced approval of Kazakhstan’s actions so far, describing the Kazakh emergency response to the crash and outpouring of public sympathy for the victims as “what true friendship and brotherhood look like.”
Tokayev’s diplomatic background has proven beneficial in helping Kazakhstan negotiate a tricky situation so far, according to Ismagambetov. “Tokaev has acted subtly because he is a professional diplomat and this is his instinct,” he said. China urges safety assessments after deadly year in commercial aviation (Reuters)
Reuters [1/3/2025 12:49 AM, Sophie Yu and Ryan Woo, 9355K, Negative]
Chinese authorities have called for assessments of industry hazards to uncover any "hidden" operational dangers from flight routes to runways, following the deadliest year in global commercial aviation since 2018.Last year, 318 people died in commercial flight incidents around the world, according to data tracked by the U.S.-headquartered Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network, opens new tab. The last time fatalities exceeded 300 was in 2018.On Friday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said it had been alerting Chinese airlines to potential safety threats and adjusting flight routes."The Civil Aviation Administration of China has been... in a timely manner warning airlines of safety risks to flights, and adjusting route plans to ensure safe operation," Shu Mingjiang, a CAAC official, said at a regular press briefing.On Dec. 29, a Jeju Air jet flying from Thailand to South Korea belly-landed and overshot the runway in Muan following a bird strike. The Boeing (BA.N) 737-800 plane exploded into flames after hitting an embankment, killing 179 people.That was preceded by the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia where Ukrainian drones were attacking several cities at the time. Azerbaijan’s president said the plane had been damaged by accidental shooting from the ground in Russia.Chinese carriers including Air China and China Southern Airlines have started to avoid airspace in that region, financial and investigative news outlet Caixin reported. Most Western airlines and many in Asia have avoided Russian airspace entirely since 2022 due to the Russia-Ukraine war.Additionally, China’s CAAC has directed airports to take preventive measures against bird strikes and to conduct a comprehensive review of safety hazards on runways.Airports will "intensify operations to repel birds in and around airport facilities," Shu said. He also said airports are mandated to conduct investigations into "hidden dangers" to enhance the safety of runways.
The CAAC had also launched a major aviation safety drive in 2022 after a China Eastern Airlines plane plunged into the mountains of Guangxi and killed 132 people on board in mainland China’s deadliest aviation disaster for 28 years.
Nearly three years after the accident, it has yet to issue a final report outlining the cause. The CAAC did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the status of the report.
Some Chinese flights avoiding southern Russia after Azerbaijan Airlines crash (South China Morning Post)
South China Morning Post [1/2/2025 11:50 PM, Hayley Wong and Amber Wang, 9355K, Negative]
Some Chinese carriers appear to be avoiding the airspace over southwestern Russia after a deadly Azerbaijan Airlines crash that officials in Baku have blamed on the Russian military.
China is among the few countries still using Russian airspace for civilian flights since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
However, flights between western China’s Urumqi and Georgian capital Tbilisi have circumvented southwest Russia’s Dagestan region since an Azerbaijan Airlines came down on Christmas Day, according to tracking data from Flightradar24.
Flights operated by China Southern Airlines and Air China since December 26 flew into Georgian air space through Azerbaijan after crossing the Caspian Sea, and took the same route back, the data showed.
Changes were also seen in China Southern flights connecting Hungarian capital Budapest to Guangzhou in south China.
Instead of passing through the Dagestan region towards Hungary after crossing the Caspian Sea, China Southern planes in the past week have flown across central and western Russia before flying south to reach Budapest – a route that the airline sometimes took even before the crash.Most Chinese carriers have continued to use their original routes across Russian airspace, especially those bound for western Europe and Scandinavia.Euronews reported in July that China had the largest number of airlines using Russian airspace. Russia closed its airspace to most Western airlines in 2022, in retaliation for sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.The flight route changes – first reported by mainland-based Caixin Media – follow an Azerbaijan Airlines crash in western Kazakhstan on Wednesday that killed 38 people.Flight J2-8243 had been headed to the Russian city of Grozny, but was diverted. It flew hundreds of kilometres off its scheduled route to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea, near the Kazakh city of Aktau.A preliminary investigation by Azerbaijan reportedly showed that the Embraer jet, carrying 67 passengers and crew, had been shot down by Russian air defence units near Grozny.Grozny, capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, is about 70km (43 miles) from the Dagestan border. Russia has reported repeated attacks by Ukrainian drones in the Chechnya region in recent months.Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what the Kremlin called a “tragic incident” over Russia.During a phone call with President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, Putin admitted that Russian air defence units were active when Flight J2-8243 tried to land in Grozny. He apologised for “the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace”, but did not claim responsibility.The Chinese route changes around Russia’s Dagestan region could be a result of flight safety considerations, according to Li Wei, former researcher with China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a Beijing-based think tank.“But it is unclear whether it is the [result of the] airlines’ own decision, or possibly due to Russia’s arrangements,” he said.“Safety comes first and cannot be replaced by other factors, especially for civil aviation enterprises.”Flying to Europe and beyond through Russian airspace helped to reduce costs, because of the “shorter routes”, he pointed out.Russia and Azerbaijan are carrying out separate investigations into the accident. Following the phone call with Putin, Aliyev has demanded that Russia formally accept responsibility and compensate the survivors.“The Azerbaijani civilian plane was damaged from the outside over Russian territory, near the city of Grozny, and almost lost control,” Aliyev told state television.“Electronic warfare systems put our plane out of control,” he said, adding that “fire from the ground” had “severely damaged” the tail of the plane.He said while the “plane was hit by accident”, Baku was angry that Moscow had apparently tried to hide the cause of the crash. Uzbek Driver Punished for ‘Petty Hooliganism’ Following Gas Station Outburst (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [1/2/2025 2:42 PM, Catherine Putz, 857K, Neutral]
On December 23, 47-year-old minibus driver Gayrat Dustov waited in line for six hours at a gas station in Tashkent. He was unable to fuel his vehicle and let out his frustration, insulting the station’s employees and shouting. His rant, in which he took off his shoes and gestured to their worn-down soles, was recorded and quickly went viral on social media.
"Are the Uzbeks really sheep?! After all, Uzbekistan is not a poor country! It has enough underground and above-ground resources! Let us live freely. Why are you torturing us like this? Better take a machine gun and shoot us!" he said, according to RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service, Ozodlik.
Dustov’s angry outburst earned him a 15-day administrative sentence on a charge of "petty hooliganism," and fines amounting to 843,750 Uzbek soms ($65), but more than few are sympathetic to his frustration.
Uzbekistan has long been secure in its own energy supplies. But it has struggled in recent years to balance rising domestic demand for energy, primarily natural gas, with waning production and existing export commitments. In October 2023, Uzbekistan began importing natural gas from Russia via Kazakhstan, but it hasn’t been enough to forestall occasional domestic restrictions.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is the most common fuel for vehicles in Uzbekistan. It’s also far cheaper than gasoline. As Ozodlik noted in an early December article, "Filling a car’s tank with methane [CNG] costs $15, gasoline costs $40-50 – hence the great popularity of methane in Uzbekistan.".
In a December 9 statement, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy explained that a sharp increase in demand, on the back of a plunge in temperatures, had led to a decrease in pressure in natural gas pipelines. The ministry announced plans for "short-term" restrictions on gas compressor stations for the filling of cars in high consumption areas. Priority, the ministry said, was given to providing natural gas to households and important social facilities, such as hospitals and schools.
Lines at operating gas stations were reported soon after and continued through the end of the year. Dustov’s angry shouting spoke for many, as evidenced by the discussion his detention has sparked in the Uzbek media, both social and traditional.
Economist and blogger Otabek Bakirov posted on Telegram on January 1 hopes for Dustov’s release. "A strong state does not hesitate to show mercy," he wrote.Lawyer and blogger Khushnudbek Khudoyberdiev, also in a January 1 Telegram post, wrote, "We started the year with a big mistake." His commentary noted, "When people feel justice, they endure many hardships patiently… But when they sense injustice at every turn, the strain on society becomes unbearable":
If khokims, whose words do not match their actions, get off with a single apology, if some officials who exceed their authority and violate the law are limited to a warning, and an ordinary citizen with holes in his shoes, who after a long wait in line was outraged by the closure of a gas station, is arrested and he celebrates the New Year not with his family, but behind bars, the people see injustice in this. And it really is unfair.
Uzbek human rights activist Abdurakhman Tashanov said in a Facebook post that lawyers were volunteering to help Dustov and an appeal hearing would take place on January 3. RFE/RL reported, citing activists, that an effort to collect and transfer funds amounting to $1,550 to Dustov’s family had been blocked.
Dustov’s detention is a symptom of two larger problems: Uzbekistan’s energy issues and the country’s not-so-distant past, when all criticism of the state was punished swiftly and harshly. Twitter
Afghanistan
Habib Khan@HabibKhanT
[1/2/2025 11:05 AM, 247.3K followers, 46 retweets, 188 likes]
Western-born or raised Muslim Jihadists fanboys flocked to Afghanistan after the Taliban’s return, glorifying the Taliban. Many are tied to Pakistani-run mosques. To prevent attacks like New Orleans, the U.S. should closely monitor these individuals—they are not hard to identify.
Yalda Hakim@SkyYaldaHakim
[1/2/2025 4:28 AM, 218.3K followers, 234 retweets, 504 likes]
1203 days since the Taliban banned teenage girls from school. 743 since the Taliban banned women from going to university. The Taliban has now announced it will close any NGOs still employing women in Afghanistan. #LetAfghanGirlsLearn
Jahanzeb Wesa@jahanzeb_Wesa
[1/2/2025 5:28 PM, 5.2K followers, 35 retweets, 77 likes]
Mawlawi Anabi in Panjshir province tells the people that if women go to university, they will learn to speak and write, and tomorrow they will demand their rights. Afghan women say this is why Taliban fear them and block their education—to prevent them from stand against them.
Mariam Solaimankhil@Mariamistan
[1/2/2025 6:02 PM, 95.1K followers, 2 retweets, 11 likes]
Pakistan is deporting terrorists it harbored for decades, dumping them onto the Taliban, who are incapable of verifying who is crossing the Durand Line. Women are also being forced back under Taliban rule. Afghanistan faces betrayal after betrayal. My heart aches for my homeland. @amnesty @UNAMAnews @hrw @SE_AfghanWGH @SR_Afghanistan @michaelgwaltz @marcorubio @JohnRatcliffe this is morally irresponsible
Mariam Solaimankhil@Mariamistan
[1/2/2025 2:11 PM, 95.1K followers, 3 retweets, 28 likes]
Why was TTP designated as a terrorist group, but the Afghan Taliban never were? Only a handful of talibs, never the organization. Remember this double standard. Ask who it protects and what it enables. Pakistan
Government of Pakistan@GovtofPakistan
[1/2/2025 7:23 AM, 3.1M followers, 15 retweets, 21 likes]
Through prudent policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, achieved economic stability now aiming strength, paving a path to a strong economy with 5 year bold transformative plan "Uraan Pakistan".
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan@ForeignOfficePk
[1/1/2025 8:34 AM, 480.5K followers, 30 retweets, 69 likes]
The Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired the meeting of the preparatory committee for the International Conference on "Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities," to be hosted by Pakistan from 11–12 January 2025.
The meeting was attended by the Minister Youth Affairs, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Chairman CDA, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
The Committee reviewed the preparations for the Conference, which will feature a comprehensive agenda, including discussions on barriers to girls’ education; the social and economic benefits of girls education; and innovative approaches to advancing education equity.
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI
[1/3/2025 1:01 AM, 21M followers, 3.7K retweets, 6.7K likes]
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in conversation with media representatives in Adiala Jail - January 2, 2025 "Happy New Year to everyone! 2025 is the year of our genuine freedom, in which, God willing, this fake and fascist system that is already on shaky grounds, will be defeated.
During this authoritarian era, the breach of personal freedoms, violation of fundamental legal rights, and destruction of institutions have not only disrupted the country’s social and political systems but also its legal and economic frameworks. The absurd manner in which Khalid Khurshid was sentenced to 34 years in prison demonstrates that there is no rule of law in our country any more, and a terrible undeclared dictatorship prevails. Even in Musharraf’s era, we criticized military interference but never faced such oppression and fascism. We strongly criticized the military’s political interventions before the lawyers’ movement, but back then, no agency would abduct citizens in such a manner.
The establishment of a constitutional court has destroyed the entire judicial system. The remnants of Qazi Faez Isa’s group have taken control of the judiciary, ensuring that verdicts align with GHQ directives.
Four illegal verdicts were given against me last year. I expect a similar outcome on Monday in the Al-Qadir case. Such lawless rulings tarnish Pakistan’s image globally. Verdicts (against civilians) by military courts have done away with the rule of law in Pakistan. No country can attract investment without the rule of law. Pakistan’s growth rate remains zero. Without economic growth, we can neither be debt-free nor eliminate unemployment.
My stance has always been clear that Pakistan’s decisions should be made within Pakistan. However, when it comes to basic human rights, voices will naturally rise globally. Institutions like the United Nations exist for this purpose. Enlightened people all over the world raise their voices against violation of basic rights. Aristotle had said that it is every citizen’s duty to speak out against human rights violations. Only two types of people remain silent: the selfish and the cowardly.
I expect Trump to remain neutral, unlike Biden who, as the world knows, influenced by General Bajwa, played a role in ousting our government through a vote of no confidence, which was blatant interference.
Our negotiation committee is engaging with the government. Our demands are legitimate: Formation of a judicial commission on November 26th (2024) and May 9th (2023)
Release of political prisoners
I have full confidence in Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who is the spokesperson for our negotiations committee.
Statements by DG ISPR about the events of May 9th are blatantly untrue. The straightforward principle is that whoever stole the CCTV footage orchestrated the May 9th events. Verdicts in these cases were obtained from military courts because no one was going to demand the CCTV footage there. Our people were directly shot at and martyred on November 26th. The entire truth will be revealed when transparent investigations of these two incidents are conducted.
We have given the government a deadline of January 31st. Our campaign to boycott remittances continues alongside negotiations. The boycott campaign can be reconsidered if the government shows that they are serious about addressing our demands.
I have been indirectly approached with an offer to transfer me to my Bani Gala residence. My stance is clear: release my detained workers and leaders first. Only then will I consider discussing my personal situation. I was also offered the opportunity of a three-year exile while I was in Attock Jail, but I will live and die in Pakistan. I will fight for my country’s freedom until my last breath, and I expect my nation to do the same."
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[1/2/2025 6:12 AM, 75.2K followers, 34 retweets, 176 likes]
Pakistan to host 50 delegates, around 30ministers of OIC member states for the International Conference on "Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities," scheduled to be held from 11–12 January 2025. #Pakistan
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[1/2/2025 1:14 PM, 75.2K followers, 78 retweets, 343 likes]
Watch, Pakistan’s Flag placed at the United Nations Security Council — Flag placed by Pakistan’s Additional PR at the UN @Asimiahmad proudly — Pakistan was elected by an overwhelming 182 out of 185 votes for the 2025-2026 term. #PakistanAtUNSC India
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/3/2025 1:01 AM, 104.5M followers, 1.6K retweets, 7.2K likes]
Empowering the people of Delhi with better opportunities and quality of life remains our unwavering commitment, reflecting in the projects being inaugurated today! https://x.com/i/status/1875059908837777469
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 1.9K retweets, 9.5K likes]
Today is an important day for Delhi’s development. At a programme in Ashok Vihar, will be inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for a wide range of development works which will boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Delhi. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2089463®=3&lang=1
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 191 retweets, 388 likes]
A home is where dreams take root, and we are committed to ensuring proper housing for every Indian. During today’s programme, 1,675 newly constructed flats under the In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project will be inaugurated. This will ensure better and healthier living for several people. I look forward to handing over the keys of their homes to some of the beneficiaries as well.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 209 retweets, 491 likes]
Key infrastructure projects which will be inaugurated include the World Trade Centre (WTC) at Nauroji Nagar and the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Type-II Quarters at Sarojini Nagar. The Quarters at Sarojini Nagar will benefit our hardworking Government employees, whose relentless dedication is a great contribution to national progress.Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 182 retweets, 373 likes]
Delhi has made a mark as a hub for education, drawing students from all over India. During today’s programme, will lay the foundation stone for three transformative projects worth over Rs. 600 crore. These initiatives aim to strengthen the academic infrastructure and provide world-class learning environments for students.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 474 retweets, 1.1K likes]
The projects include a cutting-edge academic block at the Eastern Campus in Surajmal Vihar, East Delhi, and another at the Western Campus in Dwarka. Additionally, the foundation will be laid for the Veer Savarkar College in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, designed to embody excellence in education with state-of-the-art facilities.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/2/2025 10:14 PM, 104.5M followers, 408 retweets, 958 likes]
These endeavours reflect our unwavering commitment to nurturing future generations by empowering them with knowledge, innovation and opportunities in an environment that inspires growth and learning.
President of India@rashtrapatibhvn
[1/3/2025 2:17 AM, 26.2M followers, 137 retweets, 660 likes]
LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu’s address at the commemoration of the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) at Bengaluru https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1ypKdpEXPdRKW
Dr. S. Jaishankar@DrSJaishankar
[1/3/2025 2:47 AM, 3.3M followers, 60 retweets, 457 likes]
My opening remarks at the meeting with FM @abkhaleel of Maldives in New Delhi.
Ashok Swain@ashoswai
[1/2/2025 6:28 PM, 620.5K followers, 28 likes]
The total length of the India-Myanmar border is 1,643 kilometres. Indian media claims that Modi has fenced the 9 kilometres of the border, so it will bring an end to the Manipur conflict.
Ashok Swain@ashoswai
[1/2/2025 5:23 PM, 620.5K followers, 34 retweets, 112 likes]
India’s Hindutva gang is getting it back from Bangladesh: In Dhaka, people protesting against two hotels, that were not serving beef to appease Hindutva tourists from India.
Ashok Swain@ashoswai
[1/2/2025 5:17 PM, 620.5K followers, 63 retweets, 150 likes]
What Amit Shah does for Modi in many Indian state elections, Modi was using RAW to do the same in the Maldives but failed - RAW was bribing opposition MPs in the Maldives to overthrow recently elected President Muizzu. NSB
Sabria Chowdhury Balland@sabriaballand
[1/2/2025 5:46 PM, 7.7K followers]
A court in #Bangladesh has again denied bail to an outspoken Hindu leader advocating for the protection of minority groups in the country. There are allegations also that Chinmoy has also been involved in child abuse. The official charge against him however is sedition.
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[1/3/2025 3:16 AM, 261K followers, 1 retweet, 14 likes]
Hon. Foreign Minster Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba signed a condolence book on the demise of the former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner His Excellency Jimmy Carter at the U.S. Embassy today. @Arzuranadeuba @amritrai555
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[1/3/2025 3:16 AM, 261K followers, 2 likes]
While extending deep condolences to the government and people of the United States as well as bereaved family members, Hon. Foreign Minister highlighted Mr. Carter’s legacies of peace, democracy and philanthropy.
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[1/3/2025 3:16 AM, 261K followers, 1 like]
She also recalled his visits to Nepal and appreciated his keen interest towards Nepal and Nepal’s peace process. The Minister further expressed that Mr. Carter was a true friend and well-wisher of Nepal.
K P Sharma Oli@kpsharmaoli
[1/2/2025 9:12 AM, 863K followers, 12 retweets, 76 likes]
Saddened by the demise of Nepal’s first female ambassador, Bindeshwari Shah. Heartfelt tribute to her and deepest condolences to Anil Keshari Shah and the family in this moment of loss. Central Asia
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