India's 'Red Lines' Have To Be Respected: S Jaishankar On Trade Deal With US

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Any trade deal between India and the US has to respect New Delhi's "red lines" and efforts are underway to find a "landing ground", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday amid strain in ties between the two countries over Washington's policy on tariffs.

In an interactive session at an event, Jaishankar acknowledged having issues between India and the US and that many of them are linked to the inability to firm up the proposed trade deal.

The external affairs minister said an understanding on trade between the two sides was necessary as the US is the world's largest market, but at the same time noted that India's red lines should be respected.

"We have today issues with the United States. A big part of it is the fact that we have not arrived at a landing ground for our trade discussions, and the inability so far to reach there has led to a certain tariff being levied on India," he said.

Jaishankar was speaking at the discussion on the theme 'Shaping Foreign Policy in Turbulent Times' at the Kautilya Economic Enclave.

"In addition, there is a second tariff which we have publicly said we regard as very unfair, which has picked on us for sourcing energy from Russia when there are other countries that have done so, including countries that right now have a far more antagonistic relationship with Russia than we do," he said.

The relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duty for India's purchase of Russian crude oil.

India described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

"Whatever happens at the end of the day, there has got to be a trade understanding with the US...because it is the world's largest market but also because much of the world has reached those understandings," Jaishankar said.

"But it has to be an understanding where our bottom lines, our red lines, are respected. In any agreement, there are things you can negotiate and there are things you can't," he said.

Jaishankar said India is pretty clear about its approach.

"I think we are pretty clear about that. We have to find that landing ground, and that's been the conversation which has been going on since March," he said.

India and the US have recently resumed negotiations for the proposed trade deal after a brief hiatus of a few weeks.

The external affairs minister also suggested that the strain in the relations has not been impacting every dimension of the engagement.

"There are problems, there are issues, nobody is in denial of it. Those issues need to be negotiated and discussed, and resolved, which is exactly what we are trying to do," he said.

At the same time, he added, "I would really hesitate to read very much more into it than the issues themselves. I think I also want to say a large part of the relationship is actually continuing either as business as usual or, in fact, in some cases even doing more than it was doing before."

Defiant Netanyahu Vows To Disarm Hamas Amid Talks To Free Gaza Hostages

JERUSALEM, Oct 5: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to "disarm" Hamas either the "easy or the hard way" - a day after the Palestinian group accepted parts of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, including to free all hostages.

According to Netanyahu, the demilitarisation of Hamas would be achieved either through Trump's proposal or Israeli military action.

He also signalled that there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - something Hamas has long demanded.

"Israel's military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and Hamas will be disarmed in the plan's second phase, diplomatically, or through a military path by us. You heard Trump, he will not accept additional delay. In the second phase, Hamas will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarised. This will happen either diplomatically through Trump's plan or militarily by us. This will happen either the easy way or the hard way," Netanyahu said in a video message in Hebrew.

The Israeli Prime Minister said that he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza "in the coming days," as Israel and Hamas prepare for talks in Egypt on Monday.

"My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, we are on the verge of a very great achievement. This is still not final. We are working on it diligently, and I hope that in the coming days, still during the holiday of Sukkot, I will be able to announce to you the return of all our hostages, the living and the dead. At the same time, the IDF remains in the depths of the Gaza Strip and in the areas controlling it," he said.

Amid PoK protests, India says Pakistan must be held accountable for horrific human rights violations

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: India on Friday said the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are the result of Islamabad’s “oppressive approach and systemic plundering of resources”.

In his weekly briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the violent crackdown on demonstrators, calling on Pakistan to be held accountable for “horrific human rights violations.”

“We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and its systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation. Pakistan must be held accountable for its horrific human rights violations,” Jaiswal said.

At least nine people, including three policemen, have been killed in protests in PoK over the past few days. The protesters, led by Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group of students, businessmen, and professionals, have a list of 38 demands, ranging from the economic to the political.

From September 29, the JAAC had called for a shutdown to press for its demands. Police action on the protesters worsened the matter.

Ukraine’s gas production sites ‘critically damaged’ in Russia's largest attack on Naftogaz

KYIV, Oct 3: A massive Russian air assault struck some of Ukraine's main gas production facilities, officials said on Friday, in some cases causing critical damage as Ukraine prepares for a new heating season.

Russia fired 35 missiles and 60 drones at facilities of state gas and oil company Naftogaz in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions overnight, said CEO Sergii Koretskyi, adding the attack was the biggest of the war on Naftogaz sites.

"As a result of this attack, a significant portion of our facilities has been damaged. Some of the destruction is critical," he added on Facebook.

"There was no military purpose or rationale. It was yet another display of Russian malice, aimed solely at disrupting the heating season and depriving Ukrainians of the ability to heat their homes this winter," he said.

The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed its forces had carried out massive overnight strikes on Ukraine's gas and energy infrastructure, saying it had also attacked military-industrial facilities.

Ukraine has boosted gas imports, fearing disruption of domestic supplies, and intends to stockpile 13.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage facilities by mid-October. This will include some 4.6 bcm of imported gas.

Russian strikes on Ukraine's gas infrastructure earlier this year cut domestic output by 40%.

Ukraine's top private energy provider DTEK said it had suspended operations at several gas facilities in the Poltava region after the overnight attack.

Over 8,000 consumers were left without power, the regional governor said.

According to Ukraine's air force, the massive Russian strike on 6 out of 24 regions included a total of 381 drones and 35 missiles.

Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine's energy sector as the fourth winter of war approaches, and they have already triggered prolonged blackouts in several regions.

A drone attack on the northern Kyiv and Chernihiv regions on Wednesday knocked out power to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant for three hours, including the new containment vessel erected in 2016 to keep radiation from leaking.

Seeking retaliation, Kyiv's troops have also stepped up deep strikes on oil refineries deep in Russia in recent months, prompting fuel shortages in some regions.

On Friday, Ukrainian drones hit Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in the Russian city of Orsk near the border with Kazakhstan, causing fires.

Taliban's Foreign Minister To Visit India In Historic Diplomatic Breakthrough

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: In a landmark development that could reshape regional geopolitics, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Taliban government is all set to visit India on October 9. This will be the first high-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, marking a new chapter in India-Taliban engagement.

The United Nations Security Council has confirmed that Muttaqi has been granted a temporary exemption from international travel restrictions, allowing him to visit New Delhi between October 9 and 16. The exemption underlines the significance attached to the visit, both by the Taliban administration and by regional powers seeking to recalibrate ties.

Indian diplomatic circles have been preparing for this moment for months. Since January, Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior IFS officer J.P. Singh, have held multiple rounds of dialogue with Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders, often meeting in neutral venues like Dubai.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai, where discussions centred on New Delhi's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, particularly in strengthening the health sector and supporting refugee rehabilitation.

The turning point came on May 15 immediately after India's successful Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Muttaqi – the first ministerial-level contact since 2021. During that discussion, Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the Taliban's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed India's "traditional friendship with the Afghan people".

Earlier in April, the Taliban had condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in India's Kashmir during a high-level meeting with Indian officials in Kabul, where India shared specific details of the terror attack. This significant statement indicated how India and Afghanistan were on the same page on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region.

India has since expanded direct humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, providing food grains, medical supplies, and development assistance. Sources say the Taliban administration has also formally conveyed several requirements to India, ranging from energy support to infrastructure cooperation.

Following the devastating earthquake in September, India emerged as one of the first responders, swiftly dispatching 1,000 family tents and 15 tonnes of food supplies to the worst-affected provinces. This was soon followed by an additional 21 tonnes of relief material, including essential medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, and generators, underscoring India's commitment to aiding the Afghan people in times of crisis.

Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, India has supplied Afghanistan with nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat, more than 330 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, and 40,000 litres of pesticides, along with a range of other essential items. These sustained efforts have provided critical help to millions of Afghans grappling with food insecurity, health challenges, and humanitarian distress.

The visit is being widely interpreted as a setback for Pakistan, which has long sought to maintain influence over Kabul. Islamabad's decision earlier this year to repatriate more than 80,000 Afghan refugees strained ties with the Taliban, opening diplomatic space for India to step in more assertively. Analysts note that Muttaqi's presence in New Delhi signals Kabul's willingness to diversify its foreign relations and reduce dependency on Pakistan.

For India, the visit is a delicate but strategic gamble. Engaging directly with the Taliban government allows New Delhi to secure its long-term interests in Afghanistan, prevent terror threats emanating from the region, and counterbalance Chinese and Pakistani influence.

The October 10 bilateral meeting during Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi's visit could mark a turning point, setting India and Afghanistan on a new trajectory of cautious cooperation – one that could redraw power equations across South Asia.

Kremlin On Alert As US Considers Tomahawks, Wider Intel For Kyiv: Reports

MOSCOW, Oct 2: The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States and the NATO alliance were already supplying intelligence to Ukraine on a regular basis, in response to reports that Washington would provide intelligence on Russian energy targets to Kyiv.

The Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported that the US would provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy infrastructure targets inside Russia as it also weighs whether to send missiles to Kyiv that could be used in such strikes.

"The United States of America transmits intelligence to Ukraine on a regular basis online," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"The supply and use of the entire infrastructure of NATO and the United States to collect and transfer intelligence to Ukrainians is obvious."

Washington has long been sharing intelligence with Kyiv but has not openly declared its participation in striking Russian energy installations before and the U.S. has been wary of becoming directly involved in attacks on Russia.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the reports, which come amid a hardening of U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric toward Russia less than two months after he hosted Russian leader Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska.

Trump has expressed deep frustration with Putin's refusal to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine, while some European leaders have complained of regular incursions by Russian drones into their airspace. Moscow denies intentionally violating NATO airspace.

Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian refineries over the past two months, disrupting processing and prompting a sharp increase in crude exports from Russia, which is already the world's second-largest oil exporter.

The Wall Street Journal said the reported U.S. move on intelligence sharing would make it easier for Ukraine to hit infrastructure such as refineries, pipelines and power plants with the aim of depriving the Kremlin of revenue and oil.

The U.S. is also currently weighing a Ukrainian request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles) - easily enough to hit Moscow and most of European Russia if fired from Ukraine.

After Ukraine fired U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia last year, Putin ordered a hypersonic missile be fired at Ukraine.

At the time he said Russia reserves the right to strike at military installations in countries that let Ukraine use their missiles to hit Russia. He also said Moscow could deploy its own missiles within striking distance of Western states if Russia is hit.

Israel threatens all staying in Gaza City, kills at least 53 in enclave

GAZA, Oct 2: At least 53 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since dawn across Gaza as Israel threatened tens of thousands remaining in Gaza City with a forced order to leave, saying it was their “last opportunity” to flee or face the “full force” of Israel’s assault.

Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Wednesday that anyone who stayed would be considered “terrorists and terror supporters”.

The continuous bombardment of Gaza City has razed the territory’s largest urban centre, killing dozens of people daily, destroying numerous residential buildings and schools, and forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee to an unknown fate to the south, often targeted on the way.

At Least 12 Civilians Killed In Firing, Clashes Amid Huge PoK Protests

MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 1: The number of civilians killed rose to 12 after a third consecutive day of violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir against the Pakistani government. At least four people were killed in Dhirkot in Bagh district, while at least two others died in Muzaffarabad and two in Mirpur, while over 200 civilians have been injured.

Three policemen have also died in the clashes, and at least nine have been injured.

PoK has been wracked by massive protests - led by the Joint Awami Action Committee over the 'denial of fundamental rights' - in the past 72 hours, including a complete shutdown of markets, shops, and local businesses, as well as a halt on transport services.

Protestors threw stones and large shipping containers - strategically placed on bridges to block their march on Muzaffarabad - were tossed into the river below.

Visuals showed dozens of protesters uniting to push them off the bridge.

Sources said the JAAC has blamed the Muzaffarabad deaths on Pak Rangers opening fire, and the others on heavy shelling by Pak security forces, including the Army, on civilians.

The protesters - whose 'long march' on Muzaffarabad continues despite the crackdown - have 38 demands, which include abolition of 12 seats in the PoK Assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. Locals argue this undermines representative governance.

"Our campaign is for fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years... either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people," JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir said.

Sources also said a few caravans of protesters had broken through blockades to reach Muzaffarabad; visuals of large crowds gathered emerged on social media this morning.

Mir also delivered an ominous warning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's administration.

He said the strike was 'plan A' - a message that the people's patience has run out and the authorities were now on notice. The JAAC has back-up plans and a severe 'plan D'.

Regarding the Muzaffarabad firing, the JAAC has said the Muslim Conference - reportedly backed by Pak's intel agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence - be labelled a terrorist group. The AAC also wants financial compensation and a government job for the families of those killed.

This amount, they have insisted, must equal the amount paid to the families of two police officers who were killed during these protests. The committee's seven-point list of demands over the PoK unrest includes the release from prison of protesters arrested in Kashmir and Pakistan.

Modi Welcomes Trump's Plan To End Gaza War

NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended support to US President Donald Trump's new plan to end the Gaza conflict. The Prime Minister said Trump's 'Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict' provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace for both Palestinian and Israeli people.

"We welcome President Donald J. Trump's announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security, and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region," Modi said in a post on X.

"We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump's initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace."