SOURCE: ANI

Following arrests of three Indian nationals over their alleged links to the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and assertive remarks made by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on the issue, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has expressed his disapproval, saying, the EAM is “entitled to his opinion”.

Responding to a reporter’s query on Jaishankar’s remarks on these arrests, Minister Miller said, “We’re not lax. And the Indian foreign minister is entitled to his opinion. I’m going to let him speak his mind. It’s just not accurate,” as broadcast on Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), a Canadian speciality television channel.

SOURCE: AFP

The Maldives has said India withdrew more than half of its troops deployed in its territory ahead of a Friday deadline, as the strategically located archipelago strengthens ties with China.

The Maldives, known as a luxury tourist destination with its white sand beaches, also straddles key east-west international shipping routes. Pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu’s election win last year hinged in large part on a pledge to reduce India’s political clout in the atoll nation.

SOURCE: ANI

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, on Monday emphasised that there are no plans to increase ‘Quad’ membership, adding that it is “very important” for the countries to frame their relations with China. Addressing an interactive event “Diplomat Diaries”, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in the national capital, Green emphasised the need to have clarity on Quad membership.

“I think we need to be really clear that the Quad is the quad, four members. There are no plans that I know to increase the membership,” he said. He further said that it is “very important” for the Quad member countries to choose to frame their relations with China. “In my talk, I use the term sovereignty a lot. And for us, it’s very important that states in our region have the opportunity to make sovereign choices about their own destinies in ways that are uncoerced and without undue influence on others,” Green added.

SOURCE: PIB

A three member Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) training delegation led by Cdr Hazem I Maitah visited Southern Naval Command, Kochi and Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala from 29 Apr to 04 May 24. The maiden visit was aimed at military training exchanges as decided during the second consultative meeting on defence cooperation between the two countries in Mar 23. The delegation visited various training facilities in the professional training schools of SNC, Kochi.

Salient aspects included familiarisation with simulators, professional interactions and demonstration of VBSS & Diving Ops. A guided tour of the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and ship repair facilities at Cochin Shipyard Ltd was also conducted. The delegation interacted with Cmde Sritanu Guru, Cmde Training, Southern Naval Command on avenues of engagement in Naval training and professional courses between the Indian Navy & Jordan Armed Forces.

SOURCE: ANI

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope on Monday that both the governments of India and Pakistan will create such an environment to start the process of dialogue.

He also said there is still a long way to go to control militancy in the Union Territory. “The BJP should answer the terror attack on an IAF convoy in Poonch. I have been saying that militancy has enveloped a few areas that were becoming militancy-free as long as I was the Chief Minister. Like Srinagar and areas adjacent to it and Rajouri-Poonch,” Omar said while addressing a public gathering in Kupwara’s Langate.

SOURCE: PTI

 Three Indian Naval Ships have arrived in Singapore as part of the operational deployment of the Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, underscoring the strong linkages between both navies.

Led by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankha, Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan reached the city-state on Monday, the Indian Navy spokesperson said in a post on X. The visit is part of the “Op Deployment of #IndianNavy’s @IN_EasternFleet to the #SouthChinaSea,” it said, amidst China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea.

SOURCE: PTI

Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said here on Tuesday. The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Kulgam’s Redwani village late on Monday night following information about the presence of terrorists in the area, they said.

However, the search operation turned into an encounter, which was on till last reports came in, the officials said. The house in which the terrorists were hiding caught fire on Tuesday morning during the exchange of fire between the two sides, they said.