The Press Roundup

 

The Press Roundup

Curated Summary

February 4, 2024 (Sunday)

Kashmir solidarity day – a time for introspection and action in support of Kashmiris (Yeni Şafak)

• Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on February 5th by Pakistanis and Kashmiris worldwide to express support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination.
• The predominantly Muslim population of Kashmir faced religious oppression and heavy taxation under Sikh and Maharaja rule.
• India forcefully occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, violating the Pakistan-India partition plan, UN Security Council Resolutions, and bilateral agreements.
• Despite over a dozen UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite, India has consistently denied Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
• The BJP government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked Article 370, granting special status to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), resulting in human rights violations.
• The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the revocation of autonomy and special status, highlighting the degradation of Kashmiris' rights under international law.
• The Indian government's policies reflect a form of demographic apartheid, characterized by settler colonialism and discriminatory practices.

The significant role of National Cadet Corps in ascending the international relations of India (Modern Diplomacy)

• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) of India is a youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces that emphasizes discipline and honor. It has been instrumental in instilling leadership qualities in the youth from different parts of the nation.
• NCC is a Tri-services organization consisting of the Air force, Army, and Navy, providing military training to school and college students. It was formed in 1948 but can be traced back to the "University Corps" established under the Indian Defence Act of 1917.
• The main goal of the NCC is to bring more citizens into the armed forces, and it currently has over 1.2 million cadets.
• NCC has been considered as a podium by sending its cadets or corps as ambassadors of unity and harmony through its “Youth Exchange Programmes” to many countries, thus, harnessing international relations for several decades

The Royal Navy is facing an aircraft carrier crisis (The National Interest)

• The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) considered deploying one of its two conventionally-powered aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales, to the Middle East to possibly replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, there have been concerns about whether the Royal Navy's carriers are up to the task, as they have a smaller airwing compared to the US Navy's carrier.
• HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently unable to participate in a major NATO operation due to a mechanical fault. As a result, the recently repaired HMS Prince of Wales will be sent to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise in Europe since the Cold War.

America turns the tables on Iran (The Algemeiner)

• The US has initiated targeted airstrikes against Iran-backed terrorist proxies in Iraq and Syria, signaling a shift in US foreign policy.
• The strikes are part of a broader campaign against Iran's terror network in the Middle East.
• The recent drone strike by Shiite proxies in Jordan, resulting in the loss of three American service members, prompted the US response.
• President Joe Biden honored the fallen in a ceremony in Jordan, demonstrating resolve and sending a clear message that the US will no longer stand idly by.
• The strikes target the Islamic Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and its military and training facilities, aiming to curb further terrorist activities without sparking a full-scale conflict.
• The need to dismantle the IRGC's terrorist network is crucial to prevent its malign influence from extending beyond the Middle East and endangering global peace and stability.

Analysis: North Korean ballistic missiles fired against Ukraine (Kyiv Post)

• The United States has information that North Korea has supplied its ballistic missiles to Russia, which Russia is already using against Ukraine.
• The first attack using North Korean ballistic missiles took place on Dec. 29, 2023, in the Zaporizhzhia region, and later on Jan. 2, 2024, in Kharkiv.
• Ukrainian experts are studying and comparing the fragments of the missiles used in the attacks. Preliminary results indicate that these missiles are not Russian 9M723 missiles, but they have structural similarities to the Iskander missile with a few differences.