India-US relations: News and Discussions III

GShankar · Post by **GShankar** » 02 Jan 2017 06:21

Per paki videos, the pigeon has already visited and met with transition team. Good psy-ops at the minimum.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 02 Jan 2017 06:29

Even this report mentions that AD already met and discussed things with incoming NSA.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 02 Jan 2017 09:53

Sorry f posted earlier.

Really? "Path to" AMCA? A new NGO is taking over the AMCA?

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 02 Jan 2017 10:14

"India’s economic and strategic interests are hugely tied to the Indian Ocean, the 21st century’s theatre of huge rivalries. If Trump translates his rhetoric into reality, a harried China will be a nightmare there."

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinio ... v-4454993/
Written by Ram Madhav
The writer is national general secretary, BJP, and director, India Foundation

....
In the last couple of years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy has included a conscious strategy of de-hyphenation. A spirit of bilateralism, uninfluenced by subjective third country factors, has been the benchmark of our foreign relations recently. Prime Minister Modi has developed close personal and working relations with both President Obama and President Xi Jinping. At the same time, he has further strengthened India’s bilateral relationship with Japan on the one hand and Russia on the other.

However, in a changing scenario, India will not find it too easy to maintain this de-hyphenation policy. There will be expectations and consequent pressures from each side on India. The Chinese media’s recent warning in the state-run Global Times, asking India to “draw some lessons from the recent interactions between Beijing and Trump over Taiwan” is an example. It even called India a “spoilt child”, the provocation for the harsh words being HH Dalai Lama’s meeting with the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

India’s ambition to grow as an “influential and responsible global power” calls for it to manage equilibrium in the region. It is a challenge for India to ensure that its neighbourhood stays less volatile. At the same time, India has had long-term relations with America. The two countries were once described by PM Vajpayee as “natural allies”. In the last two years, PM Modi has taken these relations much farther and deeper. We need them in our pursuit of progress. At the same time, India needs to be watchful about US moves with at least four important countries — Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. These have a greater bearing on India’s interests in the region and beyond.

It is highly unlikely that President Trump would take a hostile stance vis-à-vis India. In our conversations with some members of Trump’s transition team, what emerged prominently was that while no one doubted his pro-India credentials, the relationship is more likely to be “transactional” in nature. In a “transactional” relationship, mere goodwill and a “natural alliance” are not going to be sufficient. There will be expectations of “give and take”. India needs to prepare for this.

India’s diplomatic interests are tilting eastwards towards the Indian Ocean region where the global power axis lies today. India’s trade, economic and strategic interests are hugely tied to the Indian Ocean. In this century, the Indian Ocean is going to be the theatre of great power and huge rivalries. If Trump translates his rhetoric on issues like the South China Sea, the trade imbalance, Taiwan and currency devaluation into reality, it may lead to greater tensions in the region. A much-harried China, with its economic and military might, will be a security nightmare in the region.

India needs to do a tightrope walk in such circumstances. The times pose a challenge, no doubt, but they also provide an opportunity. What we need is some out-of-the-box thinking in our diplomatic objectives and goals. Right now, that is missing. But we can’t afford the lack of it for too long.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 02 Jan 2017 10:33

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... australia/
"With Donald Trump all set to take office as the next US president, David J Rothkopf, CEO and editor of FP Group, which publishes Foreign Policy magazine, and visiting scholar at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, spoke to Nalin Mehta about how the Trump administration is looking to change US policies towards China and the Asian region and what this would mean for India and Pakistan."

(some emphasis added)

What conclusions can you draw about Trump from the appointments he has made?

He doesn’t really value policy or Washington executive branch experience. He has no experience, his chief of staff has no experience. He has three generals in his team but they have military experience – no executive civilian branch experience – and a lot of corporate folks.

He has gone from a White House which was very Oval Office centric and had gotten rid of Homeland Security Council and blended the National Security Council (NSC) and National Economic Council (NEC) together to a White House where he has recreated Homeland Security Council, brought back to life NSC and NEC and a new International Trade Council. So now there are four councils doing what one was doing before.

This suggests he is likely to run the presidency like a loose holding company rather than one strong centrally operated government appropriation.

That suggests two things: he will devolve power down and won’t be involved in day-to-day management of things and he has said as much. Secondly, the gatekeeper to the president is going to have a lot of power: it could be his chief of staff, the NSA, vice-president Mike Pence, his son-in-law Jared Kushner or Steve Bannon. There is going to be a lot of scrambling to be the chief whisperer of this presidency.

What will Trump mean for India and the India-Pakistan equation, especially on Kashmir?

You saw the nature of the phone call he had with Nawaz Sharif. It was just stupid. We can talk about it in terms of niceties but it was just dumb.

This is not a man with strong opinions on this and so the question is: are there more dealmakers around him with stakes in India or more with stakes in Pakistan? He has some ties and interests in India – developers from Pune came to visit him early on and he doesn’t much like China so by default the US-India relationship probably won’t deteriorate too much.

The rise of China is the defining story and no way can you counterbalance that without an Indo-Pacific quad (quadrilateral partnership): US, India, Japan and Australia. You might also put South Korea in that.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Jan 2017 12:19

Here's Karlekar's take on the same in the Pioneer.

TESTING TIMES FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Thursday, 29 December 2016 | Hiranmay Karlekar | in Oped

Questions on the way ahead for India-US relationship in the Trump presidency persist despite the many positive indications. The President-elect has given mixed signals

Will India-United States relations, which have reached the level of a ‘strategic partnership’, continue their upward trajectory? The question looms large as January 20, 2017, when Donald Trump becomes US President, approaches. There are indications, including a bipartisan Democratic and Republican consensus on closer ties, that these will. Relations between the two countries now cover a wide field from trade and investment to defence and security, education, science and technology, civil nuclear energy, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health. India is the biggest buyer of US defence equipment, and Indian investment in the US, which, in turn, is the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment in India, is increasing.

Some of Trump's statements so far suggest that the upswing will continue. At a meeting organised by the Republican Hindu Council at New Jersey on October 16, he had called himself a “big fan of Hindu” and an admirer of Indian Prie Minister Narendra Modi. He has also said, “There won't be any relationship more important to us” than the one with India. He has described India as “a key strategic ally” and praised Prime Minister Modi for his stand on combating terrorism. Questions, however, remain, particularly in respect of Pakistan. Trump's strong stand against Islamist terrorism can affect US ties with Islamabad where critical sections, including the Directorate-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence, support it. He has described Pakistan as “probably the most dangerous country in the world” and India as a means of keeping it in check, saying in response to a question, “You have to get India involved... They seem to be the real check... I think we have to deal very closely with India to deal with (Pakistan”.

There, however, are other indications. One can be sceptical about the accuracy of the Pakistani version which quotes Trump telling Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, when the latter called to felicitate him on his victory, “You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you, Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long”, and describing Pakistan as “a fantastic country, fantastic place” with the most “intelligent” people. But that the exchanges were very cordial is clear from the statement issued by his office saying that the two sides “had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future”. It added, “President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif.”

It is just possible that Trump’s laudatory remarks signified no more than an attempt to begin US-Pakistan relations during his tenure as President on a positive note. Even in that case, New Delhi cannot but be rattled by his expression of readiness to being a “mediator or arbitrator” between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. It has repeatedly made clear that, in keeping with the Shimla Agreement, all India-Pakistan issues have to be settled bilaterally.

Much would depend on how things unfold after Trump assumes office. There are issues other than Pakistan. Given India's commitment to fight climate change and use of clean energy, Trump's negative stand on both may cause tensions, particularly if he draws the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement which India has signed. Again, though Trump has acknowledged the importance of the role of highly skilled Indian professionals for the US information technology sector, a reduction in the issue of H-1B work visas will hit outsourcing Indian behemoths like TCS, Infosys and Wipro hard, as a resort to protectionist policies will undermine growing India-US trade.

Given these uncertainties, Russia’s reiteration in its new foreign policy vision document of its resolve to further strengthen its special “privileged relationship” with India, may lead to developments that will remove the perception that it was tilting toward Pakistan. India should welcome the move. Its ties with Russia/Soviet Union was once the bedrock of its foreign policy and Moscow has stood by it in every crisis it has faced.

(The writer is Consultant Editor, The Pioneer, and an author)

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 02 Jan 2017 15:58

NRao wrote:Sorry f posted earlier.

Really? "Path to" AMCA? A new NGO is taking over the AMCA?

NRao, AFAIK, that is just not a new NGO, just a power point made by Boeing.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 02 Jan 2017 17:52

the path to the AMCA slide is paved on top of 200 F18 MCA though - and we'd need to pay for these first before chote sarkaar will think of providing help on AMCA

GShankar · Post by **GShankar** » 02 Jan 2017 19:45

Do mangoes in massa have a (cultivated) distaste towards china for stealing jobs? or the distaste is only due to h&d?

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 02 Jan 2017 20:23

GShankar wrote:Do mangoes in massa have a (cultivated) distaste towards china for stealing jobs? or the distaste is only due to h&d?

Most massaites have a reverent fear of Cheen and even joke about Cheen being their overlords.

panduranghari · Post by **panduranghari** » 02 Jan 2017 20:27

Singha wrote:almost anything that is manufactured by hand labour now can be automated by robots at current levels of technology.

but for cheap seaonally variant stuff like clothes and shoes and toys may not be worth it to buy such costly robots.

for costly stuff like electronics I think so.

stuff like cars are already made using highly automated processes except relics like enfield motors which proudly wears its handmade status on its sleeves.

GD saar,
Automation is more of a threat to white collar jobs than blue collar jobs.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Algorithm ... +Algorithm

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 02 Jan 2017 20:37

KJo wrote:Most massaites have a reverent fear of Cheen and even joke about Cheen being their overlords.

Like they used to about Japan in the 1980s?

GShankar · Post by **GShankar** » 02 Jan 2017 20:39

I personally haven't encountered this. But interesting. May be a california thing?

Added later: the reason for the question is to understand from brf feedback - whether mangoes here are "more" worried about india or china?

Yesterday encountered a (gora looking) taxi driver in walmart checkout line questioning a desi whether he makes a lot of money. The desi responded that he is a professor in college.

The the taxi driver turned and noticed me right behind. I gave a stern look. He then smiled and went away with a pack of beef jerky. I was thinking to myself that the taxi driver has no chance of becoming neither a professor nor get an IT job.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 02 Jan 2017 23:48

KJo wrote:
GShankar wrote:Do mangoes in massa have a (cultivated) distaste towards china for stealing jobs? or the distaste is only due to h&d?
Most massaites have a reverent fear of Cheen and even joke about Cheen being their overlords.

The ruling/political class could be, may be, concerned.

The leaders (CEOs, etc), are part of this deal. They have designed these trade and off-shoring thoughts. They make ALL the money. They will be against any closing of the borders. Closed borders means distribution of profits, they will make FAR less. They are in cahoots with the foreigners - they really do not care what China does and have no real fear - they have made their money and in the worst case will even more with China "ruling".

The rest have lost a LOT. They are concentrating on making enough to make life better. China ruling is not an event for them to be concerned about, but were it to happen they will spearhead the opposition. They know which side the bread is buttered.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 03 Jan 2017 11:06

Guys, until he organized a rally for Trump in NJ, never heard of this guy Shalabh Kumar. He has donated a significant amount to Trump. I doubt its for any personal favor, he does seem to have India alone in his heart, but his expectations seem unrealistic. For e.g, he claims Trump will declare TSP as the terrorist abomination that it is. He must surely be smoking something potent for that kind of delusion or he is way too naive to understand how US works or any of its foreign policy compulsions, especially in "South Asia"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 306483.cms

His daughter seems to be some super model and actress.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 03 Jan 2017 19:12

http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/ ... GOIrJ.html

There is someone always to write crap in HT. So from DT to DeMo almost everything is discussed here. If someone wish to have a vomit they can read it.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 03 Jan 2017 22:53

CRamS wrote:Guys, until he organized a rally for Trump in NJ, never heard of this guy Shalabh Kumar. He has donated a significant amount to Trump. I doubt its for any personal favor, he does seem to have India alone in his heart, but his expectations seem unrealistic. For e.g, he claims Trump will declare TSP as the terrorist abomination that it is. He must surely be smoking something potent for that kind of delusion or he is way too naive to understand how US works or any of its foreign policy compulsions, especially in "South Asia"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 306483.cms

His daughter seems to be some super model and actress.

CRS why don't you tell how US works?
And will make sure he gets to read it.
Serious.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 04 Jan 2017 04:54

Have there been any more updates regarding Ajit Doval's meeting with Flynn?

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 04 Jan 2017 05:47

Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 04 Jan 2017 05:58

krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum???

Enquiring minds want to know!!!

BO is doing slash and burn all he can and leave unexploded mines everywhere for next administration to clean up.

komal · Post by **komal** » 04 Jan 2017 06:18

ramana wrote:
krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum???

Enquiring minds want to know!!!

BO is doing slash and burn all he can and leave unexploded mines everywhere for next administration to clean up.

TOI quoting DAWN is now taken as truth?

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 04 Jan 2017 06:30

One can not imagine the present NM administration or any future administration accepting Khan role in this dispute. Further, there are no reports from the US on this, and all we have is Dawn writing some rubbish handed over to it by its rulers. While one can not rule out Obomber doing all kind of things like this, no one gives any lift for such ideas in India. Kerry is totally discredited internationally after what he and his boss did in UNSC and denying doing the same when asked. Now the nations like NZ which acted as Obomber chamchas must to s&&ting in their pants what crazy DT and his mad dog team will do to them.

What is going to be more relevant to us is the semi-protectionist policies DT admin may follow. Already there are reports of major US corporations rethinking their strategies.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01 ... icies.html

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Jan 2017 06:41

Defence relationship with India on excellent path and will continue to be so: Pentagon

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 04 Jan 2017 07:04

^^^ Yes it is pretty evident from Kerry's mediation offers to porkis. NRao save this snake oil links for scamburg folks and your porki buddies on Deevan street

komal · Post by **komal** » 04 Jan 2017 07:10

krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???

The Dawn article makes no mention of any mediation effort. Just says USA hopes dispute resolved amicably.

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 04 Jan 2017 07:30

ramana wrote:Enquiring minds want to know!!!BO is doing slash and burn all he can and leave unexploded mines everywhere for next administration to clean up.

Ramana guru, just read past few pages of this thread and see pattern of few members that's all I can say. Btw I posted an article by Russian diplomat Kabulov in India - Russia forum, please read it if you can the interview is gold mine.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Jan 2017 07:50

US-India ties likely to remain strong under Trump, experts say

U.S.-India ties have been growing stronger for years and will likely continue on a positive trend under Trump, said Robert M. Hathaway, a public policy fellow associated with the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

In India, there has been debate over whether the warmer relationship with the U.S. constitutes an alliance, with some concerned the country could be drawn into U.S.-led wars, Hathaway said.

“There is still resistance to working too closely with the U.S., but if you look at it in a historical context, it is a closer relationship than it has ever been,” he said.

Indians will pay keen attention to what happens in Afghanistan next year, he said.

“Trump has shown no interest in Afghanistan. He thinks we need to refocus resources on rebuilding domestically and will be more anxious than (President Barack) Obama to terminate the U.S. military presence,” Hathaway said. “That will lead to regeneration of the Taliban and anxiety in (New) Delhi.”

It’s also unclear how Trump will approach India’s chief rival, China. He has promised to confront the communist nation on economic issues but doesn’t seem interested in defending human rights and democracy in the Far East and expects U.S. friends and allies in the region to do more for themselves, Hathaway said.

“Indians don’t want to be a junior partner in a U.S.-led anti-China group … but they will be happy if Trump stands up to China,” he said.

arun · Post by **arun** » 04 Jan 2017 12:48

krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???

US State Department on the conversation between US Secretary of State Johna Kerry and Mohammadden Terrorist Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar dealing with the Indus Water Treaty.

John Kirby on the very blunt question if the US has offered to "Mediate", politely denies Mediation by saying they "encourage India and Pakistan to work together bilaterally to resolve their differences".

In sum one of the usual fabrications by the Punjabi Military Dominated Deep State of the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

John Kirby
Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
January 3, 2017 ……………………….

QUESTION: Do you know or do you have some readout about Secretary call or talk with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Dar on Indus Water Treaty?

MR KIRBY: I can confirm that he did speak on the 29th of December with Finance Minister Dar. I’m not going to read that out in any great detail. The Indus Waters Treaty has served, I think as you know, as a model for peaceful cooperation between India and Pakistan for now 50 years. We encourage, as we have in the past, India and Pakistan to work together to resolve any differences.

QUESTION: Has the U.S. offered to mediate on this issue between India and Pakistan? As you know, there are some disputes between the two countries on this issue.

MR KIRBY: As I said, we encourage India and Pakistan to work together bilaterally to resolve their differences.

QUESTION: Has he talked to the Indians also on this issue?

MR KIRBY: We’re in regular communication with the Indian and Pakistani governments on a wide range of issues. I just don’t have any more details for you.

QUESTION: But not at his level, right?

MR KIRBY: I don’t have any more detail for you.

QUESTION: Okay, thank you.

From here:

Clicky

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 04 Jan 2017 15:39

Along the same lines:
YAWN reports: US to provide trillion dollars to Pakistan in gratitude for its bravery, starting when Pakistanis fly.

Asked when the aid would start, Sos Kerry said:

When *igs fly.

Q.E.D.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 04 Jan 2017 15:51

krishna_krishna wrote:^^^ Yes it is pretty evident from Kerry's mediation offers to porkis. NRao save this snake oil links for scamburg folks and your porki buddies on Deevan street

krishna-ji, please raise the level of your debate rather than rant at others. the above comment is exactly what you have complained about from others further along

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 04 Jan 2017 17:20

krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???

The highlighted portion is a very unfortunate way of framing the discussion. Folks can certainly be for or against a good relationship with US or they can be for issue based relationship. All of the 3 positions are fine but name calling is not the way to take a discussion forward.

The report that you have quoted has its origin in Bakistan and hence is 400% suspect. Note I did not say 400% wrong. This is not the first instance where Bakis have floated *News* to suit their narrative. That means that it needs to be corroborated by another source, preferably by the other party in question (US) or the impacted party (India). Jumping to conclusion based on such an item is actually playing into the baki hands and is the reason bakis play this game. We need to have the discipline to go beyond the first reading.

GOI does not and should not respond to rumors about a third party. If and when US gov. goes beyond "We expect the two nations to resolve this bilaterally" GOI needs to do it stuff and not before.

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 04 Jan 2017 18:38

^^^ I read the DoS briefing, while it says it encourages India and porkis to work via dialogue. Please see the entire briefing by DoS , they even refuse to answer question if they offered to mediate :

"However, he refused to entertain questions on if the US has offered help to India and Pakistan resolve the issue." Please go through the briefing and it was not a yawn link it was a TOI news report.

If they are not and they are our Strat-e-gic ally, why not deny such reports as they have done in past on selective occasions ?, Regarding dalals comment this was in reference to some members peddling ideas as massa rakshak forum like we are chuddi buddies and not bharat rakshak forum which this forum intends to look at things from India's national interest. I stand by that comment.

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 04 Jan 2017 19:53

US sanctions seven Pakistani entities

ANWAR IQBAL

WASHINGTON: The US government has announced sanctions against seven Pakistani entities allegedly associated with the country’s missile programme, says an official notification.

The notification by the US Department of Commerce said that the entities added to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) list “have been determined by the US government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States”.

All seven have been placed on the entity list under the destination of Pakistan. They are identified as:

(1) Ahad International Suite 5-6, 2nd Floor, Empress Tower, Empress Road, Lahore, and 2nd Floor, Nomro Centre, Badami Bagh, Lahore.

(2) Air Weapons Complex (AWC) AWC: E-5, Officers Colony, Wah Cantonment.

(3) Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 726, G-11/2, Ibne-Sina Road, Islamabad.

(4) Maritime Technology Complex (MTC) Plot 94, Karachi, and MTC System Division, PN Dockyard, Karachi.

(5) National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) NESCOM Headquarter, Plot 94, Sector H-11/4, Islamabad.

(6) New Auto Engineering (NAE) NAE: 72, Industrial Area, Peshawar Road, Rawalpindi.

(7) Universal Tooling Services, a.k.a., the following three aliases: Forward Design and Manufacturing, MSM Enterprises and Technopak Engineering Deen Plaza, 68/62, Adamjee Road, Saddar P.O. Box 1640, GPO Rawalpindi; G-7, Nimra Centre 7, Badami Bagh, Lahore; 31/B Faisal Town, Lahore, Punjab; and Model Town, HMC Road, Taxila.

Pakistan has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with its nuclear or missile programme, and Dawn was unable to verify if the names and addresses given were correct or in any way linked to the country’s missile programme.

According to the notification, the US government determined that there was reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that these “government, parastatal, and private entities in Pakistan are determined to be involved in activities that are contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy of the United States”.

The conduct of these seven entities “raises sufficient concern that prior review of exports, re-exports or transfers (in-country) of items subject to the EAR involving these persons, and the possible imposition of licence conditions or licence denials on shipments to the persons, will enhance (the department’s) ability to prevent violations of the EAR”.

The placement on the list imposes a licence requirement for all items subject to the EAR and a licence review policy of presumption of denial.

The licence requirements apply to any transaction in which items are to be exported, re-exported, or transferred (in-country) to any of the entities or in which such entities act as purchaser, intermediate consignee, ultimate consignee, or end-user.

In addition, no licence exceptions are available for exports, re-exports, or transfers (in-country) to the persons being added to the entity list in this rule. The restrictions will also apply to acronym used by these entities to help exporters, re-exporters and transferors.

The notification does not specify the violations these entities are supposed to have committed and does not give details of the items they are supposed to have exported, imported or re-exported.

Published in Dawn December 31st, 2016

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 04 Jan 2017 19:57

From the US Federal Register

Pursuant to § 744.11(b) of the EAR, the ERC determined that seven persons, located in the destination of Pakistan, be added to the Entity List for actions contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The ERC determined that there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that Ahad International; Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM); three NESCOM subsidiaries: Air Weapons Complex (AWC), Maritime Technology Complex (MTC) and New Auto Engineering (NAE); and Universal Tooling Services, have been involved in actions contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These government, parastatal, and private entities in Pakistan are determined to be involved in activities that are contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy of the United States.

Pursuant to § 744.11(b) of the EAR, the ERC determined that the conduct of these seven persons raises sufficient concern that prior review of exports, reexports or transfers (in-country) of items subject to the EAR involving these persons, and the possible imposition of license conditions or license denials on shipments to the persons, will enhance BIS's ability to prevent violations of the EAR. Therefore, these seven persons are being added to the Entity List.

BIS - Bureau of Industry and Security (Dept. of Commerce)
EAR - Export Administration Regulations
ERC - End-use Review Committee

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 04 Jan 2017 22:20

krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???

I am no maasa pasan Dalal from an India US relations PoV, but I do think that masa does hold the magic wand to moderate both India & TSP to varying degrees to suit his interests. And broadly, nothing has changed on 70+ years on masa's policy of India TSP equal equal except for empty theatrics (which we saw under Clinton, Bush, and Obama), and will continue under Trump also: expect those a few quarter-brained wannabes showing up at his inauguration and DDM going berserk.

On this Indus water treaty, masa for sure is monitoring all the maneuvering between India and TSP through his peeping Tom toys and Humint. Any attempt by India to weaken TSP beyond a point, and masa will come down with a ton of bricks, ModiJi/DovalJi doctrine notwithstanding (the poor chaps have the right instincts but are constrained by certain power limits). A little bit of firing across LoC and taking out a few pigLeTs, masa might support India because that doesn't really alter the strategic balance between India and TSP. And in any case, TSP has enough pigLeTs to keep the pot boiling and box India which suits masa just fine. Something else that suits masa just fine is Chincoms openly protecting TSP pigLeTs.

I said this many posts ago, I will see US discard its India TSP equal equal policy only if there is some cataclysmic change in the goe-political scenario. I thought 9/11 was one such, but it turned out to be a cruel joke in that a terrorist abomination like TSP which should have been reformed was in fact resurrected and strengthened to balance India.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Jan 2017 23:22

CRamS wrote:
krishna_krishna wrote:Outgoing administration showing it true colors, setting up new administration to follow up on mediation route wrt India -pak, wtf I hope indian government responds like Israeli PM that we would not tolerate any third party mediation :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 322438.cms

So Called start -e - gic ally we have. What does massa passand dalals have to say to this on this forum ???
I am no maasa pasan Dalal from an India US relations PoV, but I do think that masa does hold the magic wand to moderate both India & TSP to varying degrees to suit his interests. And broadly, nothing has changed on 70+ years on masa's policy of India TSP equal equal except for empty theatrics (which we saw under Clinton, Bush, and Obama), and will continue under Trump also: expect those a few quarter-brained wannabes showing up at his inauguration and DDM going berserk.

On this Indus water treaty, masa for sure is monitoring all the maneuvering between India and TSP through his peeping Tom toys and Humint. Any attempt by India to weaken TSP beyond a point, and masa will come down with a ton of bricks, ModiJi/DovalJi doctrine notwithstanding (the poor chaps have the right instincts but are constrained by certain power limits). A little bit of firing across LoC and taking out a few pigLeTs, masa might support India because that doesn't really alter the strategic balance between India and TSP. And in any case, TSP has enough pigLeTs to keep the pot boiling and box India which suits masa just fine. Something else that suits masa just fine is Chincoms openly protecting TSP pigLeTs.

I said this many posts ago, I will see US discard its India TSP equal equal policy only if there is some cataclysmic change in the goe-political scenario. I thought 9/11 was one such, but it turned out to be a cruel joke in that a terrorist abomination like TSP which should have been reformed was in fact resurrected and strengthened to balance India.

Seems like I am missing some fun because of people on my ignore list.

Anyways, if I may add to this. On the flip side, most have badly misunderstood the word "strategic" in the context of the Indo-US relation. Due to this misunderstanding, it is being misused.

It applies to a very smaller sliver within the technology dimension. And the use is far more geared towards China and specifically to the SCS region. And within that it is to make the IN - specifically - better.

Disappointment is pretty much guaranteed if that word is used in relation to pretty much anything else.

Finally, "US" has no singular front. Just because Carter was so friendly it never meant anyone else in the administration supported Carter. Kerry is a pro-TSP person - has been since day one, what else can one expect from him? (Same goes with Carter - he is pro-India and so he says and does things that are far more pro-India than Kerry does.) Check out the response between the SD and DD in Syria. Not even close.

All this is par for the course. Nothing new. Not worth the rise in BP.

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 05 Jan 2017 05:21

CRamS wrote:
I am no maasa pasan Dalal from an India US relations PoV, but I do think that masa does hold the magic wand to moderate both India & TSP to varying degrees to suit his interests. And broadly, nothing has changed on 70+ years on masa's policy of India TSP equal equal except for empty theatrics (which we saw under Clinton, Bush, and Obama), and will continue under Trump also: expect those a few quarter-brained wannabes showing up at his inauguration and DDM going berserk.

On this Indus water treaty, masa for sure is monitoring all the maneuvering between India and TSP through his peeping Tom toys and Humint. Any attempt by India to weaken TSP beyond a point, and masa will come down with a ton of bricks, ModiJi/DovalJi doctrine notwithstanding (the poor chaps have the right instincts but are constrained by certain power limits). A little bit of firing across LoC and taking out a few pigLeTs, masa might support India because that doesn't really alter the strategic balance between India and TSP. And in any case, TSP has enough pigLeTs to keep the pot boiling and box India which suits masa just fine. Something else that suits masa just fine is Chincoms openly protecting TSP pigLeTs.

I said this many posts ago, I will see US discard its India TSP equal equal policy only if there is some cataclysmic change in the goe-political scenario. I thought 9/11 was one such, but it turned out to be a cruel joke in that a terrorist abomination like TSP which should have been reformed was in fact resurrected and strengthened to balance India.

+100 CRamS for calling a spade a spade. You may call it "Start-e-gic", "Especial", "Privi-e-lig -ed" all in real world wrt to massa translates to TRANSACTIONAL RELATIONSHIP only. That's the best way from india's interest point of view,being another munna or another briturd is not in India's DNA or will serve us ever. I am no way saying not to have any business with them or we cannot be friends, even though it is a receding power it is still nonetheless a world power. Porkis for however crappy they are it is worth learning from them atleast is they know how to use massa royally.

Here is another link this time from Hindustan times on itch World Bank is getting to mediate in IWT on behalf of massas, :
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... iCjFO.html

komal · Post by **komal** » 05 Jan 2017 05:45

So an official of the World Bank calling on India and Pakistan over the IWT is somehow proof positive of the USA mediating between the two nations over Kashmir?

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 05 Jan 2017 05:58

^^^ Komal, there are many ways of conveying the same thing. The wording clearly shows that US is not dismissing TSP outright which it ought to do because this terrorist abomination is always on high octane to pick some grouse or the other with India in a perpetual state of conflict. A "strategic ally" of India would not give any credence to TSP and allow it to punch above its weight.

komal · Post by **komal** » 05 Jan 2017 06:24

The USA of the 21st century is not the USA of 1945 or even 1971. Any nation with an ounce of self-respect would have leveled Pakistan and installed a puppet government in Islamabad after 9/11. China would not countenance such an attack on their client.

Instead the USA chose to pay tribute to Pakistan to prevent attacks on US soil.

When the history of the USA is written in the 22nd century, the failure to erase Pakistan will be seen as the beginning of the end of the USA as a superpower.