India and the United States of America signed several pacts during the recent visit of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper. The two senior American officials met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The key aspect of the discussions is the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). This agreement will give India access to data available with the US military.
BECA assumes strategic importance due to the simmering tensions with China. US President Donald Trump has stayed the course of his run for re-election on the Chinese virus. Given the Democrats have Indian-American Kamala Harris on the bill, Trump has a winner on his hand by tying up with India against China. US politics aside, India has quite a bit to gain.
New equation
Brigadier (Rtd) Vinod Dutta told APN that in the new geopolitical equation, this initiative is going to give good dividends when both countries are looking for peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. Moreover, it is a clear-cut signal to China’s abusive behaviour and its expansionist designs.
“Two big democracies, 2 real powers and 2 good friends are coming together. Barring Turkey and some odd countries, the entire world has moved towards India, which is seen as a reasonable, formidable regional power,” Dutta said.
Moreover, in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US polls are focused, as noted above, on the Chinese virus with most Chinese products rotting at the ports, he said.
In a similar vein, Japan has already given a $2.2 billion economic stimulus to help manufacturers uproot production from China and relocate else, Dutta noted.
Equal partners, not master-slave
Ambassador (Rtd) Deepak Vohra, the special adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, countered the criticism of India’s American friendship from several quarters. “It is being said that through BECA, India has fallen into the lap of the US. This is not true. This is a partnership between equals and both have fallen into the lap of each other,” he said.
The Indian Army is more than a match to any military in the world, the US has the world’s most awesome technology and when these two powers combine, no one can dare India, Vohra added. Through geospatial intelligence, India will be in a position to see movements of elephants and ants in real time, he said.
The 9/11 effect
Listing the long Indo-US diplomatic journey, Vohra said 9/11 was a watershed moment after which America’s view of India changed. “This got polished with India’s spectacular progress in information technology and military resilience demonstrated in 1999,” Vohra said.
Perhaps, India is being seen by the US as a factor for stability in the arc of Islamic instability stretching from Nigeria to Indonesia. So what we are seeing in Indo-US defence relations in the last two decades is the convergence of security perception and world vision, he added.
Defence ties between India and USA
The world’s oldest and largest democracies have been evolving a defence deal with each other in the recent past. In 2016, the US gave India major defence partner status putting it at par with other major allies. In 2017, the US Congress passed the National Defence Authorisation Act cementing India’s major defence partner status, Vohra said.
Since then the two countries have inked two major agreements, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and now the BECA, he said.
This indicates the level of trust and comfort in the relations of two countries and a strong message to the world. With the US-India coming together, there is fear and frustration in Beijing and Islamabad, Vohra said.
Amid uncertainties on who will win the US polls, the signing of the BECA deal indicates growing bipartisan support for New Delhi as a bulwark against Beijing despite what occurred in Ladakh.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot and killed an individual attempting to cross the India-Pakistan border in the Ganganagar district of Rajasthan late on Tuesday, according to police.
Jitendra Kumar, the station house officer at Kesrisinghpur police station, stated that the man was trying to breach the barbed wire fence when he was spotted by BSF personnel. “They advised him to leave the area, but when he continued to advance, the BSF personnel shot him,” said the SHO.
Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the suspect was allegedly trying to enter Indian territory around midnight on December 24, 2024. Despite warnings from the BSF soldiers, he did not heed their calls, which resulted in the shooting.
The incident occurred near a village in the Kesarisinghpur area. Items recovered from the intruder included Pakistani currency notes, a cigarette packet, an identity card, and other belongings. Authorities are currently gathering more information about him.
Ongoing discussions are taking place between the armed forces and police officers regarding the incident. An FIR has been filed that includes charges of trespassing and violations of the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act, according to Kumar. “We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.
This incident is one of several similar occurrences along the border. In August, the BSF apprehended an intruder named Jagsi Kohli, who had entered about 15 kilometers into Indian territory in Barmer after locals alerted authorities that he was asking for directions to Tharparkar, a district in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
In March of this year, another person attempting to cross the border in Ganganagar was shot by BSF personnel. There have been additional incidents reported in October 2022 and twice in March 2021, all resulting in fatalities among the intruders.
Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Chandrababu Naidu among leaders at NDA meet in Delhi amid Ambedkar row
The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among leaders of the NDA met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss different issues including Shah’s comment on BR Ambedkar days ago in Rajya Sabha.
In attendance, apart from Shah, Nadda and Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy were present.
Also present were Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Bihar’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.
While the specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, sources indicated that discussions revolved around good governance and various political issues—principles that were central to Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.
Following the meeting, Nadda shared on X, “Attended the NDA leaders’ meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower. The NDA government remains committed to realizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”
Sanjay Nishad, chief of the NISHAD Party in Uttar Pradesh, described the meeting as “informal” and focused on Vajpayee’s legacy. He emphasised the importance of unity among all alliance members heading into future elections, mentioning that they congratulated the BJP leaders for their electoral victories in Haryana and Maharashtra.
Nishad further outlined that the meeting addressed coalition strategies to ensure that Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives effectively reach the populace and that electoral promises are fulfilled. He raised the topic of providing reservations for the fishing community, stating, “I presented evidence on this issue, as it was a poll promise. They will follow up with us next week to discuss it.”
Responding to inquiries about whether Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Ambedkar were discussed, Nishad said, “We are here for the welfare of the people. Our energy should focus on achieving success in that area, rather than engaging with negativity from opposition parties.”
The NDA meeting underscores the alliance’s commitment to the proposed simultaneous elections, with all members backing the initiative. A Joint Committee of Parliament, established to review two bills related to simultaneous polls, is set to convene on January 8.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday emphasised the urgent need for peace in the state, which has faced ethnic violence since May of last year, and called on two communities to reach a mutual understanding.
Speaking at the Good Governance Day event held at the state BJP headquarters, Singh expressed confidence that the BJP could restore stability to the northeastern state, highlighting the party’s commitment to coexisting harmoniously.
“What is happening in Manipur today has multiple causes. Those who seek to divide the state are now questioning the government’s actions… they are driven by a desire for power,” Singh remarked.
He mentioned several initiatives, such as ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ (People’s Day), designed to foster closer relationships between officials and the public. “We do not oppose any specific community. The BJP’s position is clear: we advocate for the idea of living together and have initiated efforts to strengthen ties between the police and the community,” he stated.
Singh added that the state government is diligently addressing the needs of internally displaced persons by establishing committees throughout the administrative framework. He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.
“We have not made any mistakes. Our goal is to ensure the well-being of future generations. It is essential for both communities to remain calm. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should concentrate on the upcoming NRC process, capturing biometrics, and using 1961 as the foundation year for the Inner Line Permit,” Singh said.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to acting within a democratic and constitutional framework, noting that achieving these goals will take time. “What we require now is immediate peace and a resolution of misunderstandings between the two communities,” he concluded.
The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 250 individuals and left thousands homeless due to clashes between the Meitei community and Kuki-Zo groups since last May.
“Only the BJP can save Manipur. BJP leaders possess strong values of nationalism and social justice, practicing reality-based politics in the nation’s interest. If I am not nominated for a ticket by the BJP, I will remain loyal to the party,” Mr. Singh added.
He also highlighted several unity-focused projects initiated by the BJP government, mentioning that a Unity Mall featuring stalls from all ethnic groups in the state will be constructed with an investment exceeding ₹140 crores.
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