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Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chinese Checkers - India Plans a Road, Port & Fest in East
Come dawn on January 1, 2026, thousands of people — from across Arunachal Pradesh and the rest of India — may greet the new year with Surya Namaskar in a village that sees the first sunrise on Indian soil. This grand gathering — infused with strategic undertones and spiritual symbolism — is set to be a highlight of the proposed Sunrise Festival , to be held at Dong, a remote mountain village near the India-China-Myanmar trijunction. The festival was greenlit on May 13 during a state cabinet meeting that drew attention as it was held in Kibithu, the forward army post that faces the Chinese frontier. The inaugural Sunrise Festival — set against the backdrop of the eastern Himalayas near the border — is slated for December 29, 2025 to January 3, 2026. 'Highlights will include music by local bands, water sports, trekking, and yes, a mass Surya Namaskar by thousands on New Year's Day,' Ranphoa Ngowa, tourism secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, told ET. Lt Gen (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita said, 'Holding a cabinet meeting in Kibithu and proposing a festival in a border village are important for strategic messaging to China.' While New Delhi's recent attention has largely been on the western front, where it engaged Pakistan briefly, a series of seemingly unrelated developments in the East tell a different story. From the approval of a 166-km greenfield highway between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Silchar (Assam) — boosting connectivity to Mizoram and ultimately to Sittwe Port in Myanmar — to the announcement of a border festival in Dong, these moves together reveal a quietly unfolding strategic blueprint for the Northeast. No doubt, this road, the port, and the border festival are part of a calculated effort to secure India's Northeast and counter China's growing influence in the sub-continent. When the Indian army faced off with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Doklam in 2017 — after the PLA brought in equipment to extend a road inside Bhutan — New Delhi's primary concern was Beijing's attempt to inch closer to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken's Neck. This narrow strip of about 22 km in North Bengal is the only land link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India. While India successfully blocked the Chinese advance on the disputed road, it soon began working on a strategic alternative to reduce dependence on the corridor. One key step was sending dredging machines to the Jamuna River (the Brahmaputra's name in Bangladesh), where a 175-km stretch between Sirajganj and Daikhawa was found too shallow for cargo ships — prompting efforts to deepen the channel and open up a new trade route. Sending containerised cargo from Kolkata to Guwahati via river routes in Bangladesh was never smooth sailing though. In November 2019, for example, the cargo vessel MV Beki, carrying coal, ran aground on the Jamuna. Two other vessels, including one operated by the Adani Group, were stranded for days near Sirajganj. Yet, the pro-India government in Dhaka, led by Sheikh Hasina, ensured that New Delhi never lost confidence in the route. That equation changed dramatically in August last year, when Hasina was ousted amid a massive, student-led uprising, altering the political landscape overnight. With an unfriendly interim government now in place in Dhaka, led by Muhammad Yunus, India has been compelled to pursue a Plan C to address the enduring vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor. Heightening the urgency are reports of Chinese support to revive a British-era airbase at Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh — perilously close to the Chicken's Neck — further reinforcing New Delhi's need for strategic alternatives. Just a week before India launched missile strikes on Pakistan, New Delhi approved a major infrastructure push in the Northeast — a four-lane greenfield highway from Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam, with an estimated cost of ₹22,864 crore. Of the proposed 166-km stretch, 144 km will cut through the rugged hills of Meghalaya. On the face of it, planning an access-controlled highway in a region that already has an existing Shillong-Silchar road may seem unusual. But strategically, it holds significant value. The new corridor will strengthen connectivity between Guwahati and Aizawl, and eventually extend down to the India-Myanmar border. The only missing link now is the 110-km Paletwa-Zorinpui (Mizoram) road in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state, currently under the control of Arakanese rebels. Paletwa is already linked to the Indian-built Sittwe Port via an inland waterway. Sittwe, a deep-water port developed with Indian assistance, saw its first cargo vessel — a shipment of cement from Kolkata — dock in May 2023.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Chinese Checkers: India's strategic message to Beijing with a road, port and fest in the east
Come dawn on January 1, 2026, thousands of people — from across Arunachal Pradesh and the rest of India — may greet the new year with Surya Namaskar in a village that sees the first sunrise on Indian soil. This grand gathering — infused with strategic undertones and spiritual symbolism — is set to be a highlight of the proposed Sunrise Festival , to be held at Dong, a remote mountain village near the India-China-Myanmar trijunction. The festival was greenlit on May 13 during a state cabinet meeting that drew attention as it was held in Kibithu, the forward army post that faces the Chinese frontier. The inaugural Sunrise Festival — set against the backdrop of the eastern Himalayas near the border — is slated for December 29, 2025 to January 3, 2026. 'Highlights will include music by local bands, water sports, trekking, and yes, a mass Surya Namaskar by thousands on New Year's Day,' Ranphoa Ngowa, tourism secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, told ET. 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Dapatkan Info Selengkapnya Limfoma Baca Undo ET Bureau Lt Gen (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita said, 'Holding a cabinet meeting in Kibithu and proposing a festival in a border village are important for strategic messaging to China.' While New Delhi's recent attention has largely been on the western front, where it engaged Pakistan briefly, a series of seemingly unrelated developments in the East tell a different story. Live Events New Trade Route From the approval of a 166-km greenfield highway between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Silchar (Assam) — boosting connectivity to Mizoram and ultimately to Sittwe Port in Myanmar — to the announcement of a border festival in Dong, these moves together reveal a quietly unfolding strategic blueprint for the Northeast. No doubt, this road, the port, and the border festival are part of a calculated effort to secure India's Northeast and counter China's growing influence in the sub-continent. When the Indian army faced off with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Doklam in 2017 — after the PLA brought in equipment to extend a road inside Bhutan — New Delhi's primary concern was Beijing's attempt to inch closer to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken's Neck. This narrow strip of about 22 km in North Bengal is the only land link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India. While India successfully blocked the Chinese advance on the disputed road, it soon began working on a strategic alternative to reduce dependence on the corridor. One key step was sending dredging machines to the Jamuna River (the Brahmaputra's name in Bangladesh), where a 175-km stretch between Sirajganj and Daikhawa was found too shallow for cargo ships — prompting efforts to deepen the channel and open up a new trade route. Sending containerised cargo from Kolkata to Guwahati via river routes in Bangladesh was never smooth sailing though. In November 2019, for example, the cargo vessel MV Beki, carrying coal, ran aground on the Jamuna. Two other vessels, including one operated by the Adani Group, were stranded for days near Sirajganj. Yet, the pro-India government in Dhaka, led by Sheikh Hasina, ensured that New Delhi never lost confidence in the route. That equation changed dramatically in August last year, when Hasina was ousted amid a massive, student-led uprising, altering the political landscape overnight. Unfriendly regime in Dhaka With an unfriendly interim government now in place in Dhaka, led by Muhammad Yunus, India has been compelled to pursue a Plan C to address the enduring vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor. Heightening the urgency are reports of Chinese support to revive a British-era airbase at Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh — perilously close to the Chicken's Neck — further reinforcing New Delhi's need for strategic alternatives. Just a week before India launched missile strikes on Pakistan, New Delhi approved a major infrastructure push in the Northeast — a four-lane greenfield highway from Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam, with an estimated cost of ₹22,864 crore. Of the proposed 166-km stretch, 144 km will cut through the rugged hills of Meghalaya. On the face of it, planning an access-controlled highway in a region that already has an existing Shillong-Silchar road may seem unusual. But strategically, it holds significant value. The new corridor will strengthen connectivity between Guwahati and Aizawl, and eventually extend down to the India-Myanmar border. The only missing link now is the 110-km Paletwa-Zorinpui (Mizoram) road in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state, currently under the control of Arakanese rebels. Paletwa is already linked to the Indian-built Sittwe Port via an inland waterway. Sittwe, a deep-water port developed with Indian assistance, saw its first cargo vessel — a shipment of cement from Kolkata — dock in May 2023.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'Don't foresee them getting directly involved': Ex-army commander on China's possible role amid India-Pakistan tension after Pahalgam attack
Security personnel rushed to the spot after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: China is expected to avoid direct intervention in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, given the current geopolitical dynamics and tariff complexities, despite its longstanding alliance with Pakistan, according to former Army commander Lt Gen (retd) Rana Pratap Kalita. "Following the Galwan 2020 incident, after extensive consultations between the two countries, the standoff at the last friction points was resolved," Lt Gen Kalita told PTI. "Since then, bilateral relations have improved, with discussions on direct flights and the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra ." Despite this progress, both India and China are grappling with rising US trade tariffs, which are impacting the global economy. As major manufacturing and consumer markets, both nations are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in tariffs. "Considering the complexities of geopolitics and the current situation, it's difficult to predict whether China will directly intervene in the instability caused by the Pahalgam incident. But for now, I don't foresee them getting directly involved," Kalita stated. He also acknowledged China's strategic interests in the region, highlighting the vulnerability of Pakistan's sea link and the importance of access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan for China. On the Bangladesh border, Kalita pointed to continuing vulnerabilities, particularly after the recent political changes in the country. "With the deposition of the Sheikh Hasina government, there has been a rise in anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, driven by religious fundamentalists," he said. The release of leaders from the terrorist group Ansarul Bangla and other such factions, following the establishment of the caretaker government, has contributed to growing anti-India sentiment in the region. Kalita also noted the influence of senior Pakistani military officials, including the DG of the ISI, who recently met with key figures in Bangladesh, further complicating the security situation. The infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals, aimed at spreading Islamic fundamentalism in India's northeast, remains a significant concern, particularly in Assam and Tripura. The strategic importance of the Siliguri corridor, crucial for northeast connectivity, was also highlighted as a vulnerable point. Additionally, the potential reestablishment of terrorist camps in Bangladesh, previously used by groups like ULFA, presents a continuing security challenge. Despite these concerns, Kalita expressed confidence in India's preparedness. "Periodic threat assessments are carried out regularly, and response mechanisms are in place accordingly. I am confident in the Indian armed forces' readiness to address any situation," he said. The recent tense situation between India-Pakistan comes after the deadly Pahalgam attack in which terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow on April 22, resulting in 26 fatalities, including one Nepali national, while many others sustained injuries. Following this incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a statement to track down the perpetrators "to the ends of the earth," which led to intensified security operations involving demolitions and encounters. Following the attack, the government implemented several measures, including the suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty , reduction in diplomatic relations with Pakistan, and closure of the Attari checkpost. Hostilities further intensified along the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistan Army outposts commenced unprovoked small arms firing during the night of April 26-27. The Indian Army delivered an appropriate retaliatory response.
Economic Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Pahalgam: Former army commander explains why China won't get involved in ongoing India-Pakistan faceoff
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads China is unlikely to get involved in the ongoing faceoff between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, news agency PTI said on April 27 qouting a former Indian army commander. China's actions at this juncture will be majorly influenced by the existing geopolitical dynamics and tariff-related intricacies, Lt Gen (retd) Rana Pratap Kalita told the news agency in an former armyman, however, said that China's alliance with Pakistan is well established. 'After the Galwan incident in 2020, extensive discussions and consultations between the two nations led to the resolution of the stand-off at the remaining friction points,' Kalita noted that a 'process of normalization' has been initiated after addressing the last areas of discord, and that bilateral mechanisms have gained momentum, which includes discussions aimed at launching direct flights and resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. He also highlighted the impact of increased trade tariffs imposed by the US on both India and China, pointing out that this situation affects the global economy as that both nations are significant players in manufacturing and consumption, changes in tariffs will have pronounced effects, he explained.'Considering these complexities alongside the geopolitical developments, it is challenging to forecast whether there will be any direct involvement from China regarding the instability sparked by the Pahalgam incident. However, at this point, I do not foresee their direct engagement,' the former army commander remarked. He also underscored the known vulnerabilities of the sea link with Pakistan, emphasizing the significance of access to the Arabian Sea for the security situation along the Bangladesh border, Kalita expressed concerns, particularly following the recent change in government in Bangladesh. 'The sentiment against India has intensified since the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government, as this has been exacerbated by religious extremists,' he remarked. He pointed out that the release of leaders associated with terrorist groups like Ansarul Bangla after the new caretaker government took office has further contributed to rising anti-India former army commander also noted that visits by senior Pakistani military officials, including the Director General of the ISI, to Bangladesh have heightened vulnerabilities in the region. He expressed concerns about migration from Bangladesh and the infiltration aimed at promoting Islamic fundamentalism in India's northeastern states, particularly in Assam and Tripura, which are demographically identified the narrow Siliguri corridor as another vulnerable point for India, as it is crucial for maintaining strategic connectivity with the northeast. Additionally, he raised alarms about the potential revival of terrorist camps in Bangladesh where groups like ULFA once operated. Nonetheless, he reassured that the Indian armed forces are equipped to handle any situation that may arise.'Regular threat perception assessments are conducted, and response strategies are prepared accordingly. I am confident that our forces in the Eastern sector are ready to address any challenges,' he said.
