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Top US officials to skip Hyderabad Summit with Ivanka Trump-led delegation

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with Ivanka Trump (centre), daughter and senior advisor to US President Donald Trump. Photo credit: Agencies

Frosty ties between US president Donald Trump and Tillerson threaten to take sheen off Ivanka Trump’s first high-profile event outside of America

It appears that the continued frosty relationship between US president Donald Trump and his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, could take much of the sheen off Ivanka Trump’s first high-profile event outside of America – the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) to be hosted by India in Hyderabad between November 28 and 30.

While the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is busy drawing out plans to bowl over the daughter of and senior advisor to US President Donald Trump with its hospitality, reports have emerged regarding Tillerson’s diktat to his top officials in the US State Department to opt out of the high-powered delegation that Ivanka was supposed to lead at the GES, 2017.

If the reports are true, then they do not bode well for the Indian establishment which had hoped to bill the Summit as a major endorsement by the US of Modi’s initiatives on making India a key destination for entrepreneurial investment.

The Indian government had hoped that since Ivanka would herself be leading the US delegation, the attendance of the most influential US government officials at the event was a given.

President Trump’s daughter had been billed by the Indian government as the ‘star attraction’ at the event. However, various departments under the Centre had hoped that top US officials accompanying her to the summit would endorse Modi’s economic agenda and unwittingly deflate the criticism being hurled at the Prime Minister on this front by his opponents domestically.

But the Modi government perhaps did not gauge the machinations within the labyrinthine White House camp politics – especially the ongoing cold war of sorts between US president Donald Trump and Secretary Tillerson – well enough.

According to a report by CNN, the US Secretary of State “isn’t sending a high-level delegation to support her (Ivanka) amid reports of tensions” between him and the White House.

The CNN report claimed that multiple US State Department officials, as well as a source close to the White House, had confirmed Tillerson’s decision to not send senior State Department officials to the GES, 2017. The CNN report added that Tillerson’s decision “is not related to his key project of slashing the Department’s budget” – an order given to him earlier this month by US president Donald Trump – and “is more to do with the fact that Ivanka Trump is leading the US delegation this year.”

The CNN report quoted a senior State Department official as saying: “No one higher than the deputy assistant secretary is allowed to participate. The secretary (Tillerson) and his top staff have insisted on approving all travel – even the most minute details.”

The decision by Tillerson – if true – is being viewed in the American corridors of power as one meant to deflate efforts by President Trump to give her daughter the aura of an important player in the US administration. The Secretary of State’s decision is even being viewed by some observers as politically suicidal since President Trump isn’t likely to take the rather personal slight lightly and could show Tillerson the door from his team, much like he has already done with over half a dozen of his top appointees since assuming office of the President earlier this year.

Meanwhile, it now remains to be seen how Narendra Modi and the Indian establishment will recalibrate their plans according to these latest machinations in White House politics.

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General Asim Munir reaffirms Pakistan’s hardline stance on Kashmir and Balochistan

In a speech abroad, General Asim Munir reignites Indo-Pak tensions by reiterating Pakistan’s claims on Kashmir and dismissing concerns about terrorism and separatist movements.

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In a provocative address to overseas Pakistanis, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has reiterated Islamabad’s uncompromising position on Kashmir, asserting that it remains Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and would never be forgotten. His remarks, delivered while addressing a gathering of Pakistanis abroad, are likely to provoke a strong diplomatic reaction from India.

General Munir described those residing overseas as Pakistan’s “ambassadors” and urged them to uphold what he called a “superior ideology and culture.” He framed his statements within the context of the two-nation theory, which served as the ideological foundation for the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Emphasising civilizational differences, he said, “Our forefathers thought that we are different from the Hindus in every aspect of life… our religions, our customs, traditions, thoughts and ambitions are different.”

The two-nation theory, championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has long been a source of ideological division between India and Pakistan. It directly opposes the vision of a united India based on secular values and shared heritage.

Assertion on Kashmir and national identity

Referring to the ongoing dispute over Kashmir, General Munir said, “It was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it.” He further added, “We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle,” framing the Kashmir issue as central to Pakistan’s national narrative and identity.

In a broader nationalist tone, General Munir urged Pakistanis to keep narrating the country’s creation story to future generations to maintain a strong bond with the nation.

Stance on terrorism and Balochistan separatism

Touching upon concerns related to terrorism and investment, the Pakistan Army chief dismissed doubts about the country’s stability, stating, “The 1.3 million-strong Indian Army, with all its wherewithal, if they cannot intimidate us, do you think these terrorists can subdue the armed forces of Pakistan?”

On the issue of Balochistan, where separatist movements have long challenged the central authority, Munir declared the province to be “Pakistan’s pride” and warned against any illusions of secession. “You won’t be able to take it in 10 generations,” he said, pledging that the military will decisively counter separatist groups.

Implications for India-Pakistan relations

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is yet to issue an official response, but given the sharply worded statements, diplomatic engagement or condemnation is anticipated. General Munir’s comments underscore the enduring friction between the two nations and reinforce the Pakistan Army’s dominant role in shaping Islamabad’s foreign and domestic policies.

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China halts Boeing jet deliveries amid trade war with US

This halt in Boeing deliveries could have significant repercussions for both China’s aviation industry and the American aerospace sector.

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In a significant escalation of trade tensions between China and the United States, Beijing has directed its airlines to stop receiving aircraft from American aerospace manufacturer Boeing, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Additionally, Chinese authorities have ordered their carriers to cease purchasing aircraft-related equipment and components from U.S. companies.

This development, initially reported by Bloomberg News, comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing trade conflict between Washington and Beijing, which began following the introduction of “reciprocal tariffs” under former President Donald Trump.

Since Trump took office in January, the two largest economies in the world have engaged in a reciprocal trade war, with the U.S. imposing tariffs as high as 145 percent on certain Chinese imports.

In retaliation, Beijing has described Washington’s actions as illegal “bullying” and has implemented counter-tariffs of 125 percent on American goods, claiming that further tax increases would be futile.

The recent Chinese government order to suspend Boeing deliveries, affecting both state-owned and private airlines, is interpreted as part of China’s broader strategy to address the U.S. tariffs.

This halt in Boeing deliveries could have significant repercussions for both China’s aviation industry and the American aerospace sector.

On the same day, China emphasized its commitment to forging stronger trade relationships, with the foreign ministry stating its preference for cooperation over conflict. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, remarked during a briefing that China aims to “tear down walls” and foster connections instead of creating barriers.

Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization has cautioned that the intense trade dispute between the two nations could lead to an 80% reduction in goods shipments between them and could severely impact global economic growth.

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Barack Obama backs Harvard University after Trump freezes $2.3 billion funding, says attempt to stifle academic freedom

The demands also called for banning face coverings—viewed as targeting pro-Palestinian protesters—and dismantling the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the government criticized as fostering “simplistic racial stereotypes.”

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Former United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday lauded Harvard University for resisting the Trump administration’s decision to withhold $2.3 billion in federal funding after the institution rejected a series of White House demands. Calling Harvard’s stance a beacon for other colleges, Obama praised its commitment to academic freedom amid intensifying political pressure.

Harvard President Alan Garber firmly rebuffed the administration’s conditions, which included overhauling admissions to prioritize “merit-based” criteria, curbing student activism, auditing diversity initiatives, and derecognizing certain student groups. The demands also called for banning face coverings—viewed as targeting pro-Palestinian protesters—and dismantling the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the government criticized as fostering “simplistic racial stereotypes.”

“Harvard’s rejection of this heavy-handed attempt to undermine academic freedom sets a powerful example for higher education,” Obama wrote on X, commending the university for fostering “intellectual rigor, open debate, and mutual respect.”

The clash escalated after the Department of Education’s antisemitism task force accused Harvard of neglecting civil rights laws and fostering an “entitlement mindset” while failing to protect Jewish students amid campus disruptions.

The White House argued that elite universities, flush with federal funds, have tolerated unrest tied to pro-Palestinian protests since Israel’s war in Gaza began, with some demonstrations accused of endorsing Hamas—a group the US labels a terrorist organization following its October 7 attack on Israel.

Garber, in a defiant open letter, declared, “No government, regardless of party, has the right to dictate what private universities teach, who they admit or hire, or what research they pursue.” Hours later, the Trump administration froze $2.3 billion in funding, marking a dramatic escalation in its campaign to reshape higher education.

Harvard’s stand makes it the first major US university to openly challenge such federal directives, which also urged cooperation with immigration authorities and the withdrawal of support for student groups linked to violence or harassment. The university’s endowment, valued at over $50 billion, may cushion the financial blow, but the standoff signals deeper tensions over campus autonomy.

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