India-EU Free Trade Agreement feasible by end of 2025: Jaishankar
During a conversation with The Financial Times Brussels Bureau Chief Henry Foy at the German Marshall Fund (GMF) Forum, the external affairs minister expressed confidence that the year-end timeline set for the completion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) seems 'feasible' following his in-depth talks with EU officials this week.
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Economic Times
42 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Hyphenating US-Pak: Doing business with gunmen
Howdy, phenomenal pardners! Michael Kurilla (left) & Asif Munir, Florida, 2023 The Trump regime's reported invitation to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir to attend the 250th US Army Day celebrations in Washington tomorrow has stirred various vectors of speculation. Chief among them: Potential reset in US-Pakistan relations. Pakistan's prospective utility within an emergent Trump doctrine that views bilateral ties primarily through an economic lens. Revival of a counterterrorism partnership between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Washington. Implications of such a warming of US-Pakistan ties on US-India relations. In New Delhi, this apparent shift in Washington's posture has come as a surprise. What is even more startling is the timing - coming on the heels of India's retaliation against Pakistan for its involvement in the Pahalgam terrorist attacks on civilians. A significant part of Trump's appeal among Indians, both in India and the diaspora, stemmed from his tough stance on terrorism. During Trump 1.0, he publicly called out Pakistan's duplicity in his very first tweet of 2018, accusing it of 'lies and deceit' while receiving billions in US aid. He subsequently cut $300 mn in aid to Pakistan, a move that built on the Obama administration's earlier decision to withhold one-third of all military assistance to the country. During Trump 2.0, consistent with his recalibrated approach toward various global actors, the US president has markedly diverged from his earlier stance, Pakistan being no exception. In February, the Trump regime departed from its broader aid-cutting policy to authorise $397 mn in security assistance to Pakistan. This was specifically aimed at supporting a US-backed programme for maintenance and technical support of Pakistan's F-16 fighter the assistance explicitly stated that it was not to be used for operations against India, reopening of funding channels to Pakistan signalled a broader trend of policy reversal. In March, Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for its assistance in the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, a suspect linked to multiple terrorist attacks, including the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in recently, Trump's consistent attempts to place Pakistan on equal footing with India, particularly following the India-Pak military escalation in May, appear driven by strategic reinforcing this shift, US Centcom chief Michael Kurilla referred to Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counterterrorism efforts. Similarly, Paul Kapur, Trump's incoming assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, affirmed that the US would 'pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to US interests while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment'. Together, these moves reflect a deliberate and coordinated strategy for renewed strategic engagement with apparent rapprochement between the US and Pakistan may be driven largely by Trump's personal inclinations, and a possible desire to secure future economic deals. For Pakistan, warming ties with Washington represent a strategic gain, however temporary. Any signs of improving relations between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Washington stand in sharp political contrast to the stance of former PM Imran Khan and his supporters in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).Khan had accused the US of orchestrating the fall of his government, and maintained that he would never have agreed to American demands for military bases in his country. If PTI continues to remain a significant political force, any future US requests for enhanced military presence - even under the guise of counterterrorism - are likely to face resistance. Conversely, if Trump intensifies efforts to strike an economic deal with Pakistan, the resulting political reverberations within the country could become even more tough posture during his first term - marked by launching a trade war with China, pursuing a 'maximum pressure' strategy against Iran culminating in the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and publicly calling out countries like Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism - is now giving way to a policy of modus vivendi, driven by an outsized prioritisation of US interests, particularly economic US-China economic deal reportedly 'finalised' on June 11 underscores this clear shift in US diplomacy - one that increasingly sidelines concerns of Washington's allies, partners and friends. While this approach may serve immediate US interests, especially in economic terms, it risks prompting a strategic recalibration by other nations in how they engage with the the shadow of recent military escalation between India and Pakistan, Pakistan's detente with the US may present an opportunity for Trump. But the strain this reset places on India-US relations could prove detrimental to both countries in the long run. The divergence between New Delhi and Washington is now most pronounced on the issue of Pakistan and, more broadly, on India has strongly reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against terrorism following the Pahalgam attack, the Trump regime appears increasingly willing to engage Pakistan as a counterterrorism partner. In doing so, Trump seems to be prioritising unilateral US interests over shared strategic concerns that have long underpinned the India-US partnership. Unlike his first term, when Trump's South Asia policy broadly aligned with the US-India strategic convergence, his bilateral bets in his second gig risk further destabilising an already fragile region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. How a nudge from Cyrus Mistry helped TCS unlock a USD1 billion opportunity Explainer: The RBI's LAF corridor and its role in rate transmission Is Zomato under siege? Quick commerce may be the next telecom Operation Sindoor, Turkey, Bangladesh played out as India hosted global airlines after 42 years Coal on one hand and green on the other; this company balances both Stock Radar: Bandhan Bank stocks break out from 1-month consolidation; what should traders do? Check target & stop loss Combination of strong brand & higher margins equals long-term investment: 5 stocks with an upside potential of up to 23% Two Trades for Today: A PSU energy major for 7.5% rise, a large-cap refinery stock for close to 6% upmove These mid-cap stocks with 'Strong Buy' & 'Buy' recos can rally over 25%, according to analysts
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Donald Trump to set unilateral tariff rates for trading partners within two weeks, ‘Can take it or leave it'
United States President Donald Trump on June 11 said he intends to send letters to trading partners within the next week or two setting unilateral tariff rates, according to a Bloomberg report. The move will come ahead of a July 9 deadline to reimpose higher duties on severeal countries, it added. Speaking to reporters, Donald Trump said, 'At a certain point, we're just going to send letters out. And I think you understand that, saying this is the deal, you can take it or leave it.' When reporters questioned if countries would get more time to make trade deals before the higher tariffs start, the US president said he would be open to it, but 'But I don't think we're gonna have that necessity'. While Donald Trump had initially said he would engage in talks with each country, the US strategy has since moved towards prioritising key economic partners with the administration acknowledging that it lacks the capacity to negotiate dozens of individual deals, the report said. While deals with China and the United Kingdom have had extensive discussions and 'near' completion, Trump's team is working to secure bilateral deals with India, Japan, South Korea and the European Union. Also speaking to reporters on June 11, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that a deal with the EU is likely to be among the last to be completed, expressing frustration with conducting talks with a 27-nation bloc. At present it is unclear if Donald Trump will follow through with his intent as he has often set two-week deadlines only for dates to be postponed or for the matter to be dropped, the report noted. Notably, on May 29, a reporter invited Donald Trump ire by asking his opinion on Wall Street dubbing his tariffs plan as TACO i.e. Trump Always Chickens Out — mocking the US president's frequent tariff impositions and subsequent reductions, followed by waivers. A visibly offended Donald Trump went on a defensive rant: 'Don't ever say what you said. To me, that's the nastiest question.' In April, the US president announced higher tariffs for dozens of trading partners, and then paused action for 90 days. Then, on May 16, Donald Trump said he would be setting tariff rates for US trading partners 'over the next two to three weeks'. Till date (June 11 last), the only trade framework the US has reached is with the UK, along with a shaky tariff truce with China. First coined by The Financial Times' Robert Armstrong, the term 'TACO' has been picked up for use by Wall Street traders, who see large sell-offs each time Donald Trump's tariffs are announced, followed by recovery when the demand is cut down or removed. (With inputs from Bloomberg)
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Anti-India, Anti-Modi Canada Protests Driven By ISI-Backed SFJ, Other Groups: Sources
Last Updated: The Khalistani presence in Canada is a complex issue, raising concerns about radicalisation, terrorism, and diplomatic tensions between India and Canada Anti-India and anti-Modi protests in Canada are being driven by the ISI-backed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other radical groups, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. Funds from drug and illegal weapons supplies fuel these protests, they said. Divisions have emerged within gurdwaras following the previous Justin Trudeau government's stance on the Khalistan issue, they added. Most Sikhs oppose unnecessary community conflict under ISI influence, said the sources. 'The G7 countries are keen to engage with India on business and trade, but Pakistani terror groups create obstacles. Former Trudeau government ministers, such as Sukh Dhaliwal, have been sidelined due to past activities. Canada has become a haven for gangsters and Pakistan-backed Khalistani groups, sheltering banned terror groups from India and showing no cooperation in investigating Khalistani crimes," a source said. Khalistani groups in Canada 1. International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) 2. Babbar Khalsa 3. Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) 4. Sikh For Justice (SFJ) 5. Dal Khalsa Terrorists in Canada 1. Hardeep Singh Nijjar (deceased) Radicalisation hubs 1. Surrey, British Columbia 2. Brampton, Ontario 3. Toronto, Ontario 4. Montreal, Quebec Indian concerns referred to Canadian government 1. Terrorist financing 2. Radicalisation of youth 3. Hate speech and incitement 4. Violence and intimidation Numerous letters rogatory (LRs) and deportation requests remain pending with Canadian authorities, without response, the sources said. On June 4, 2023, a tableau depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded through Brampton, Canada. It was organised by Khalistani groups to mark the thirty-ninth anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The Indian government strongly condemned this display, labelling it vote bank politics. Khalistani elements in Canada are not confined to protests; they also engage in physical assaults and violence, with many cases awaiting investigation by Indian federal agencies. Accused individuals linked to the Khalistan movement allegedly orchestrate killings and terror activities in Punjab and other parts of India, collaborating with gangsters in Delhi and Punjab jails. Several extradition and deportation requests from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terrorists and pro-Khalistan elements remain pending with the Canadian government. These accused are wanted for terrorism, murder, and other offences. Key requests include Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, alias Landa, with a Rs 15 lakh reward for information leading to his capture. Landa's associate was arrested for a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Punjab police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in May 2022. Landa's aide, Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, based in Canada and linked to the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was designated an individual terrorist by the ministry of home affairs on January 9, 2023. In February, the NIA arrested six individuals connected to the terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, including Dalla's associate, Lucky Khokhar, who provided arms to Dalla's men in Punjab for a killing in Jagraon in January. Another wanted individual is Canada-based Satwinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, accused of killing Pradeep Kumar, a Dera Sacha Sauda follower, in Faridkot in November 2022. He is also implicated in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who had returned to India for the Punjab state elections. 'No action is being taken against individuals like SFJ's US-based chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who incites communal disharmony on social media. He was booked by the NIA in December 2020, along with Nijjar and Paramjit Singh Pamma, who resides in the UK," a source said. 'The Canadian government is providing a platform for extremists, separatists, and those advocating violence. It must recognise its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, both domestically and internationally, and take the threat of Khalistani extremism seriously through concrete action." Multiple attacks on Indian temples have occurred, but Canada's commitment to Hindus remains unclear, said sources. The Khalistani presence in Canada is a complex issue, raising concerns about radicalisation, terrorism, and diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: June 13, 2025, 02:15 IST
