September 2022 - Page 25 of 52 - Lokmarg

PM Launches National Logistics Policy, Wants Better Speed

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the National Logistics Policy in the national capital which, he said, was an important step towards the “making of a developed India”, while adding that the policy has come with a “new energy for every sector”.

In his address, PM Modi said, “In the Amrit Kaal, the country has taken an important step towards the making of a developed India. The echo of Make in India and India becoming self-reliant is everywhere. India is setting big export targets and is also fulfilling them. India is emerging as a manufacturing hub. In such a situation, the National Logistics Policy has brought new energy for all sectors.”

“India is emerging as a manufacturing hub. The world has accepted India as a leader in manufacturing. The National Logistics Policy has helped the manufacturing sector,” he added.

The Prime Minister called the policy a solution for many problems and said that it would lead to improvements of “all our systems”.

“There has been a constant effort to find solutions for fast last-mile delivery, resolution of transportation-related challenges, for saving time and money of our manufacturers and industries, all these subjects. The national logistics policy is a form of its solution. I believe that for the improvement of all our systems, there will be coordination between various units of the government working in these fields with a holistic approach. It will result in the delivery of the speed that we want to achieve,” he said.

The logistics policy is aimed at bringing down the logistic costs and improving the competitiveness of domestic goods in the global market.

India spends around 13 to 14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on logistics costs. While countries like Germany and Japan, which are known for their developed logistics infrastructure and systems, spend just around eight to nine per cent of the GDP on logistics costs.

The logistic sector has more than 20 government agencies, 40 Partner Government Agencies (PGA), 37 export promotion councils, 500 certifications, over 10,000 commodities and a $160-billion market.

According to the World Bank Logistics Index of 2018, India is ranked 44th in logistics costs, far behind countries like the United States and China which are at the 14th and 26th positions, respectively. (ANI)

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President Murmu Leaves For UK To Attend Queen’s Funeral

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

President Droupadi Murmu left for London on Saturday to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of India.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will also attend the funeral.

All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday’s state funeral and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House.

However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter.

People of the UK will relive the glorious life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral on Monday.

For the funeral, many guests from political heads of countries to distinct royal family members and dignitaries from across the globe will fly to the UK.

Although the official guest list hasn’t been released yet, New York Post has shared the names of a few countries that didn’t make the cut. They are – Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria and Venezuela.

According to the online publication, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished King Charles III on his accession recently, however, the country was still snubbed by the UK as they reportedly didn’t get an invite for the funeral.

It’s also interesting to note here that North Korea, Iran, and Nicaragua were sent invites however those were only sent out to their ambassadorial representatives and not the head of state.

Another news that recently made rounds was that former US President Donald Trump would also be in attendance however, the UK government, according to New York Post, has squashed the rumour saying that only the sitting US President and his wife will be attending.

New York Post further reports that 750,000 people will be present at the funeral.

More than USD 7 million (around INR 59 crores) will be shelled to beef up the security for the Queen’s funeral on September 19.

According to New York Post, protecting Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be the most expensive single-day operation in UK history, costing over USD 7.5 million.

To secure the unprecedented number of foreign leaders, who are expected at the funeral on Monday, the British Mi5 and Mi6 intelligence agencies, London’s Metropolitan Police, and the Secret Service will work together.

“This is the biggest policing operation that the United Kingdom policing has ever undertaken,” New York Post quoted Simon Morgan, a former Royal security officer, as saying. (ANI)

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UP Govt Launches Drive To Boost Rural Tourism In 18 Districts

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

In a bid to familiarise the nation’s youth with the village culture, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath has launched a phase-wise campaign to boost rural tourism on September 17.

In the first phase of the campaign 18 districts have been selected where rural tourism will be promoted. From each of these districts, the government will pick two villages to boost tourism.

“Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of villages in the country and has enormous potential in the agricultural tourism sector”, said Mukesh Meshram, the principal secretary of the Department of Tourism.

The campaign will be the start of a process of promoting the rich historical and cultural heritage of the villages in the state.

“In addition to encouraging better agricultural practices, cow husbandry, craftsmanship, handloom, handicrafts, unique pure foods, biological and agricultural diversity, etc., we are beginning the process of promoting our rich historical, religious, and cultural heritage in the villages”, Meshram remarked.

The advisory organisations for 18 districts across the state have already been selected in the first phase, according to the principal secretary.

“On behalf of these institutions, a survey will be conducted to identify two villages in each district where tourism will be promoted. A plan will also be chalked out to educate the younger generation about villages and their unique specialties in order to promote rural tourism,” he said.

The representatives of the chosen institutions will contact the district magistrates of the selected districts and also speak with other stakeholders involved in tourism-related activities about issues pertaining to rural tourism.

“After the discussion, an action plan will be prepared on behalf of the chosen institutions by conducting a survey based on the primary issues. The Tourism department will continue to work to give agriculture tourism a fresh focus in the coming years”, the official said.

Earlier in the day, praising the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi said that for eight years the PM has spent working to advance Uttar Pradesh’s development have been quite motivating, the CM remarked, “When we look at India’s current development trajectory, we can see how ‘Avinashi Kashi’ (Kashi-The eternal city) marked the beginning of this trajectory”.

The CM went on to say, “Under the supervision of the PM for the past eight years, the dream of great men about the sort of India they envisaged at the time of Independence, is being realised,” noting that the Prime Minister represents UP in the parliament as a well-liked MP of Kashi. (ANI)

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Large Cache Of Arms Seized From Uri In Jammu-Kashmir

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

A huge cache of arms was recovered in a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, said officials on Saturday.

The searches were made based on a specific intelligence input by agencies regarding the presence of a cache of arms/ ammunition in the area of Hathlanga, Uri.
“Joint parties of Baramulla Police and Army 3 Rajput today launched a search operation in wee hours near Hathlanga area of Uri sector including Hathlanga nallah which led to the recovery of arms/ ammunition,” said a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The officials recovered 1 AK -47 Rifle, 1 AK Magazine and 28 rounds of AK 47 Ammunition.

A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered in the Uri Police Station.

Further investigations are underway.

Earlier the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a hybrid terrorist, who was in touch with Pakistani handlers, from Reasi and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession on September 15.

Police received information that a person namely Zaffer Iqbal, a resident of Angralla tehsil under Mahore police station in Reasi district was in touch with terrorist handlers in Pakistan.

According to Police, Zaffer’s brother namely Mohd Ishaq was a terrorist of outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and got killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajouri and reportedly one of his relatives namely Abdul Rashid, a resident of Reasi is in Pakistan and is also working with terror groups.

On this information, Jammu and Kashmir Police registered a case under sections 120-B, 121, 121-A, 122, 123, 124 IPC and teams of Reasi Police raided and arrested Zaffar Iqbal from Plaasu Nallah and put him under sustained interrogation. During interrogation, Zaffar confessed his intimacy with terror organizations and about the commission of the offence.

On this, a joint operation of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was launched in Angrala forest and arms, ammunitions, as well as explosives, were recovered from a hideout in the area.

Forces recovered two pistols, four magazines, 22 9 mm live rounds and a grenade.

During further disclosure, terror fund Rs 1.81 lakh which was to be used for terror-related activities was also recovered.

Terming the arrest and recovery a big success, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Reasi Amit Gupta said that Zaffar was in touch with Terror groups and a major terror strike has been averted with his arrest.

SSP further added that Pakistani handlers are in constant effort for the revival of terrorism in the upper reaches of district Reasi and people like Zaffar are working for them. He appealed that peace-loving citizens of Reasi disowned terrorism in past also and no such attempt will be successful in this area. (ANI)

I Joined Bharat Jodo Yatra For A Plural, Secular India

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

Based in Thiruvanantapuram, Kerala, Sridhar Radhakrishnan, 54, an eminent environmentalist, engineer and writer, walked with Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. His views

I think we were all waiting for long for somebody with a national stature, or the stature of Rahul Gandhi, to actually stand up and say that we need a pluralistic, secular, democratic society and nation, which is not torn apart by divisive politics and the selling-out of the nation. I was looking for plurality, for deep concern for environment, agriculture and farmers, and against the politics of polarization and divisiveness. I have been talking and writing about it, in my circles, in Kerala and across India.

Bharat Jodo Yatra is a moment in history. This is a political movement. I believe everybody who is deeply concerned about these issues stalking contemporary India should join the Yatra. As I walked with Rahulji, I highlighted three things.

One, as India celebrates the Amrit Mahotsav of 75 years of Indian Independence, is there an Amrit Kaal for the environment as well? Needless to say, the situation in India now is terrible. I spoke to him about the state of Indian environment under various governments since the British times: Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, and now. It’s indeed a terrible situation. I also told him that I believe that during Indira Gandhi’s time, it was really a Green Decade!

***Sridhar (inset and circled alongside Rahul Gandhi) felt it was his responsibility as an Indian to join Bharat Jodo Yatra***

In the legendary Stockholm Conference on Environment held in 1972, only two global leaders were invited, Indira Gandhi and her friend Oloof Palme, the prime minister of Sweden. That speech of Indira Gandhi is perhaps one of the most wonderful speeches I have heard, and its text should be prescribed reading for all concerned citizens. Does the Congress now continue to believe in those principles of sustainability and environmental protection for the future? Rahulji agreed with me, and made a commitment that he would follow these principles in the days to come with sincerity and earnestness.

Second, I discussed with him the agricultural paradigm and the farmers’ struggle. While I appreciated the support of Rahulji and the Congress party to the farmers’ struggle against the farm bills — and that it was very good you stood up and opposed it — I suggested that Rahulji and his party should rethink about the agricultural policies in India. We discussed about agriculture in Europe and China as well. He agreed during most of our discussion.

Third, I reaffirmed and resurrected the concept of the Nyaya Scheme floated by Rahul Gandhi in the last Lok Sabha elections. To my mind, it is an excellent scheme and should be again reasserted as a game-changing project in the next elections in 2024. I stated that this is the next step after NREGA, and this should include the farmers as well. Rahulji insisted that this should exclusively focus on the vast majority of the Below Poverty Line population only. We agreed.

I don’t belong to the Congress party. I joined the movement. This is my responsibility.

As told to Amit Sengupta

Modi Releases Eight Cheetahs At MP Kuno National Park

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released eight cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.

PM Modi released two cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, from the second enclosure released another cheetah.

The cheetahs were declared extinct from India in 1952 but today 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa’s Namibia as part of ‘Project Cheetah’ and the government’s efforts to revitalise and diversify the country’s wildlife and habitat.

The eight cheetahs were brought in a cargo aircraft in Gwalior as part of an inter-continental cheetah translocation project. Later, the Indian Air Force choppers carried the cheetahs to Kuno National Park from Gwalior Air Force Station.

Radio collars have been installed in all the cheetahs to be monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there is a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah who will be monitoring their location for 24 hours.

Cheetahs have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year.

Cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India and will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation.

Earlier, SP Yadav, Project Cheetah chief, “Cheetah is said to be the fastest animal. It runs at a speed of 100-120 km per hour. The habitat that has been selected in Kuno is very beautiful and ideal, where there are large grasslands, small hills, and forests and it is very suitable for cheetahs. Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kuno National Park. Arrangements have been done to prevent poaching activities.”

Under the ambitious Project Cheetah of the Indian government, the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah was undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures ‘Project Tiger’, which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also of the entire ecosystem.

In continuation of this, the reintroduction of cheetahs is one step ahead and a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in India. (ANI)

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China Blocks Bid To Designate 26/11 Mastermind As Global Terrorist

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

China on Friday (local time) once again put a hold on a proposal moved at the United Nations by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Sajid Mir as a “global terrorist.”

He is India’s most wanted terrorist and was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US moved the proposal and co-designated by India to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as a global terrorist.

It is the third time that China has blocked an India-US proposal in recent months after Abdul Rehman Makki, LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader as well as Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar was protected by Beijing.

Abdul Rehman Makki is a LeT Deputy Commander and brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the LeT. The UN Committee has also declared JuD, the political branch of the LeT, a terrorist front group.

Resolution 1267 provides for sanctions against individuals and entities that support or finance the acts or activities of ISIL, Al-Qaida, associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.

Sajid Mir is a top Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) Commander and is in charge of the “India Setup” of LeT.

Sajid Mir is one of the masterminds of the Mumbai Terror Attack (November 26, 2008). He was responsible for the largest ever overseas LeT terror attack resulting in the death of nationals of several countries including India and Western countries.

During the attack, 175 people were killed (18 Police personnel, 122 people, 26 Foreigners and 9 terrorists) and 291 were injured ( 25 Police personnel, 243 people, 22 foreigners and one terrorist Ajmal Kasab).

Mir was LeT Project Manager for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He, through satellite phone, instructed the terrorists involved in the attacks for executing hostages during the operation.

He is also actively involved in the launching of LeT operatives into India.

He looked after the security of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (LeT Operations Chief), responsible for anti-India terror operations.

Sajid Mir was involved in overseas recruitment/training activities for LeT and travelled to UAE, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Saudi Arabia in Connection with operational work.

In 2003 a LeT module controlled by him was busted in Australia. Sajid Mir reportedly underwent plastic surgery in 2008.

Two Interpol notices RCN A-6269/10-2010 and A-2032/2-2019 are issued against him. India has listed him as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 1967, as amended in 2019 in October 2020.

Pakistan arrested Sajid Mir in 2022 and sentenced him in May 2022 to 15 years on terrorist financing charges related to a charity set up by LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

Mir was indicted in the US District Court, Northern District of Illinois on April 21, 2011, and was charged with conspiracy to injure the property of a foreign government; providing material support to terrorists; killing a citizen outside of the US, aiding and abetting; and the bombing of places of public use. An arrest warrant was issued on April 22, 2011. Then Mir was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in August 2012.

US Department of States in November 2018 announced a reward of upto USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mir. Federal Bureau of Investigation, in March 2019, included Mir in its most wanted terrorist list. (ANI)

Iran’s Chabahar Port Crucial For Landlocked Afghanistan Trade

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

Landlocked Afghanistan faces many issues related to trade as it has to cross Iran or Pakistan to reach water ports as the seaports accelerate the rate of international trade and act as an inhibitor in trade cost.

Mirza Ahmad Ebrahimi, a PhD research scholar writing in Khaama Press in an op-ed page analysed Afghanistan’s two options, Chabahar or Karachi seaport.

Chabahar seaport via Iran was found to be the utmost sustainable one as a trade route. To connect Afghanistan with Iran’s Zabul province for smoothing and accelerating goods movement, the Delaram-Zaranj Highway with a 218 km roadway in the Nimruz province was designed and constructed by the government of India at the request of Afghanistan and cost USD 175 million.

Zabul province in Iran is well-connected by road to the Port of Chabahar. It is one of the busiest roads in Afghanistan and provides an important trade route between Afghanistan, Iran, and the rest of Asia, said Ebrahimi.

Chabahar road is much shorter and more stable than any of the routes in Pakistan, making it perhaps the most efficient means that Afghan traders can reach the final destination for their exports, where 80 per cent of Afghanistan’s cargo traffic now lies.

Furthermore, the Chabahar route paves the opportunity to access two countries’ markets with a population of 1.4 billion rather than one country with a population of 200 million people.

Since the port begin its functioning, Afghanistan’s dependency on Pakistan decreased significantly, and the trade with Pakistan fell to USD 500 million in 2018 compared to USD 2.5 billion, reported Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, Chabahar Port, located in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, is the lifeline Afghanistan needs to reinvigorate its trade potential. In the meantime, such trade opportunity cuts costs and leads to greater revenue for economic empowerment and international integration which help in the county’s prosperity and stability, said Ebrahimi.

Iran and India constructed a multimodal system, and overall, the routes provide a 60 per cent reduction in shipping costs and a 50 per cent reduction in shipment time between Afghanistan-India and other Central Asian countries.

Afghan traders have responded with enthusiasm to Chabahar’s reliable trade and transit offerings. Iran and India have provided as lucrative a deal as possible to Afghan traders and at the initial stage provided a 30 per cent discount in customs tariffs, 50 acres of land for Afghan investment, and free cooling storage facilities reported Khaama Press.

The Chabahar port is intended to have a nominal capacity of 86 million tons by 2024, and Afghanistan intends to have a considerable stake in these operations. Afghanistan’s strongest prospect for a brighter future is greater trade through the Chabahar port.

Moreover, Afghanistan’s main export items are agricultural products which India is the largest market for it, especially, since the market potential is high in Mumbai and Gujarat where Chabahar has direct shipping to these states. (ANI)

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Waqf Corruption Case: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Arrested

By LokMarg 16th September 2022

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board corruption case on the basis of the recovery of incriminating material and evidence against him during the searches conducted on Friday.

Searches were conducted on four locations related to the AAP MLA and his business partner. A weapon was found at one of the locations. It is learnt that he could not show any license of the recovered arms (Breta Pistol).

The searches were also conducted at the location of his partner Hamid Ali Khan Masood Usman at Gafoor Nagar. Cash worth Rs 12 lakhs were also recovered, according to the ACB.

Earlier today, the ACB had summoned Khan in connection with the case which pertains to financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi Waqf Board.

According to the officials, a total of Rs 24 lakh in cash was recovered along with two illegal weapons.

“In Delhi Waqf Board corruption case, Anti-Corruption Branch conducted raids at various places related to Delhi AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan&his business partners. A total of Rs 24 lakh in cash,2 illegal arms and ammunition were recovered from two of his associates, earlier today,” said the ACB officials.

According to an official statement, Khan while working as Chairman of Delhi Waqf Board illegally recruited 32 persons violating all norms and Government guidelines and with allegations of corruption and favouritism.

“The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal recruitment. Further, it is alleged that as Chairman of Delhi Waqf Board Amanatullah Khan has rented out a number of properties of Delhi Waqf Board illegally with allegations of corruption and favouritism. Further, it has been alleged that he has misappropriated the funds of the Delhi Waqf Board comprising grants in aid from Delhi Government,” it said.

The statement further said that four locations were searched based on the inputs received while questioning and on the basis of information developed by the Anti-Corruption Branch.

“From these locations, around Rs 24 Lakhs cash has been recovered and 2 illegal and unlicensed weapons and cartridges and ammunition were also recovered. Also, at one of the locations i.e. outside the residence of Amanatullah Khan, the search team consisting of an ACP was attacked by the relatives and other known persons of Amanatullah Khan and they also caused obstruction in the discharge of Govt. duty to ACB officers,” it said.

Accordingly, two FIRs have been registered by Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi in South-East District pertaining to the recovery of illegal weapons and one FIR relating to manhandling of the Police party by relatives of Amanatullah Khan.

“From the questioning of Amanatullah Khan and on the basis of incriminating material and evidence against him and from the recovery during the searches conducted today i.e. on September 16, Amanatullah Khan has been arrested in the case,” it added.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

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Putin to Modi On Ukraine Conflict: ‘We Want All This To End’

By LokMarg 16th September 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit here that he knows about India’s position on the Ukraine conflict and “we want all of this to end as soon as possible”.

“I know about your position on Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible,” Putin said.

“But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed… that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there,” he added.

Putin said that relations between Russia and India are in the nature of privileged strategic partnership and they continue to develop very rapidly.

“We are actively engaging at international platforms. We are in discussion on international issues. Sometimes these issues are something that is not very good news…,” he said.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “today’s era is not of war”.

“Today’s era is not of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we will get the opportunity to talk about how we can progress on the path of peace. India, Russia have stayed together with each other for several decades,” PM Modi said.

“We spoke several times on the phone about India-Russia bilateral relations and various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia and Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine,” he added.

Russia had launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February this year.

Uzbekistan is the current chair of SCO 2022 whereas India will be the next chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have congratulated India for the SCO Presidency in 2023 during the meeting of the expanded circle of the Heads of SCO.

This is the first in-person SCO Summit after the Covid pandemic hit the world. The last in-person SCO Heads of State Summit was held in Bishkek in June 2019.

The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia) and six “Dialogue Partners” (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey).

The Shanghai Five, formed in 1996, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001 with the inclusion of Uzbekistan. With India and Pakistan entering the grouping in 2017 and the decision to admit Tehran as a full member in 2021, SCO became one of the largest multilateral organisations, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population. (ANI)