New Delhi: Under pressure from the international community over restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government plans to take a group of foreign diplomats to the state. The fact-checking mission is meant to show them that all is well. Highly placed sources in the government said that several diplomats have already been “sounded out” about the trip, but a final decision is awaited.

Even though the government claims that the situation in J&K is largely normal, there are still several restrictions in many parts of Jammua dn Kashmir. It is learnt that the government is waiting for the situation to become little more conducive to take the diplomats to Kashmir.

Though the world community has mostly backed India on the issue of Kashmir and the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 to strip the state of its special status, there is growing impatience with regard to the prolonged security curbs in the state. On Monday, it’ll be 63 days since, fearing an uprising, government sent more troops to J&K, imposed curfew restricting people’s movement, put political leaders under house arrest, and cut all Internet and mobile phone services, rendering the media severely constrained and unable to report and function.

With most Kashmiri political leaders still under detention, and media unable to function to its capacity due to restrictions on movement and communication lines, the international community has expressed concerns over the human rights situation in J&K.

On Saturday, American Senator Elizabeth Warren, a presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, expressed concerns over the communication blackout and lockdown. “The US-India partnership has always been rooted in our shared democratic values. I’m concerned about recent events in Kashmir, including a continued communications blackout and other restrictions. The rights of the people of Kashmir must be respected,” she tweeted.

Ms Warren is the second US presidential candidate after Bernie Sanders to air such concerns. “When President (Donald) Trump meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, we will hear much about the friendship between the American and Indian peoples, however, there will be a deafening silence on the human rights crisis unfolding right before our eyes — and that is unacceptable,” Mr Sanders had commented on Kashmir situation on September 22.

“We would like to see, as early as possible, lifting of restrictions there (in Kashmir). It has to be done in accordance with the security issues and other issues but there should be no violation of human rights and transgression of any provisions… The Indian government is saying that development in J&K is important. It will be a challenge and all will be watching what changes are happening there,” German ambassador to India, Walter J. Lindner, said recently.

Last month, chief of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Michelle Bachelet, too had raised concerns over restrictions in Kashmir and the detention of political leaders. Similar concerns were also raised by the European Union (EU) as it stressed on the importance to restore the “rights and freedoms” of people in Kashmir.

The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, has been constantly countering allegations of human rights violations alleged by Pakistan and trying to convince the world that the situation in J&K is largely normal, with restrictions in place only in a few areas.

The government has also said that given the terror threats and possibility of disturbances in the area from Pakistan-based groups, lifting of curbs is happening in a planned and staggered manner. The Indian government has also been highlighting the several initiatives it is undertaking for the development of J&K.

The state will officially split into two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir on October 31.

In a recent interview Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said Vietnam is looking for a a civilian project to use the Project Development Fund announced by India which will showcase the friendship between the two counties. Allies of long time India and Vietnam are yet top explore the full potential of their economic partnership. Writes SAWM India member journalist Vineeta Pandey.

New Delhi: Despite being Comprehensive Strategic Partners since 2016, old allies India and Vietnam are yet to exploit full potential in their economic partnership.

While the corpus of Rs 500 crores announced by India to create a Project Development Fund (PDF) for catalysing Indian economic presence in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, is yet to find relevant projects in Vietnam, the $500 million Indian Line of Credit (LoC) for defence also remains unutilised.

In an exclusive interview to this newspaper, Vietnamese ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau conceded that not much has happened on the defence LoC and PDF. “We want to identify a civilian project like construction of a bridge etc to use the PDF which can be symbol of friendship between two countries,” Mr Pham said.

“The LoC is to be used for relevant purchase of defence equipments etc which is work in progress and a lengthy process,” the envoy added. He denied that the defence purchases, including purchase of Aakash and Brahmos missiles, are held up due to fear of antagonising China.

While the ambassador refused to talk about the speculated purchase of Aakash and Brahmos, terming them to be “highly confidential issues,” he asserted that India-Vietnam defence relationship is independent and not targeted at any third country.

“We have no fear of antagonising China when we deal with India on defence matters. We have different cooperation with China and it is certainly not the target of India-Vietnam defence partnership. But even though China is a big neighbour and we are partners in some ways, we have to abide by principles that bind us. China violates these principles,” Mr Phan said, while talking about the Chinese ships entering Vietnamese waters for the third time in last two months and trying to assert their claim on entire South China Sea, including Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

On the trade and investment, both sides need to ramp up engagement. Vietnam is upset over India’s recent move of putting restrictions on import of agarbatti. The restriction was imposed on August 31 to save Indian small and medium industries after high import on agarbatti was reported from Vietnam and China.

“Last year, the trade between two countries was 28% which was $12.8b. The target is $15b by 2020. But with this restriction it will not be easy and now we see some sign of protectionism from India. India’s move on agarbatti has resulted in major crisis in Vietnam. This is a worrying tendency,” said Mr Pham.

He added with India being its only market for agarbattis, Vietnamese companies have invested heavily in the producing the product. Vietnam is also upset with the fact that the move by India was sudden and without giving enough time to Vietnamese farmers to prepare for alternatives. “Now is the festival season in India for which Vietnamese farmers were preparing stock. The move by Indian government is sudden. We have requested Indian government to reconsider its decision,” the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is in talks with companies like Hinduja and Mahindra for investments.

“At present not many companies see conducive atmosphere for investment and joint ventures in Vietnam. We, in Vietnam, have to create and rework our existing laws to enable more investments from foreign countries, including India. For instance, our cap on foreign equity is 30% but Hinduja is asking for 51%. So, we need to find exception to current rules to enable investment,” the envoy said.

He added that Vietnam may soon be a good market for Indian generic drugs. Similarly, Vietnam is looking at buying cotton and yarn from India which at present is procured from China.

This story was originally published in The Asian Age.