International Relations (March-April-May) 2020 Set 4

Table of Contents

Topics to discuss

INDO-NEPAL TERRITORIAL DISPUTE

On May 8, India’s defenceminister virtually inaugurated a new 80 km-long road in the Himalayas, connecting to the border with China, at the Lipulekhpass.
The Nepal protested against the construction of road and unveiled a new political map that claimed Kalapani, Limpiyadhuraand Lipulekhof Uttarakhandas part of its sovereign territory.

More about the News

India and Nepal share an approximately an 1,800-kilometrelong open border running along West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim.
The disagreements between India and Nepal over the border dispute is over the regions which includes Kalapani, Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura(all three in Uttarakhand) and Susta(Bihar).
Kalapaniarea is the largest territorial dispute between Nepal and India consisting of at least 37,000 hectares of land in the High Himalayas.
It is a tri-junctionbetween India, China and Nepal.

Nepal View

Nepal considers the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli(signed between Gurkha rulers of Kathmandu and the East India Company) as the only authentic documenton boundary delineation.
Under the provisions of the SugauliTreaty, Nepal lost Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal and Western Terai (Flat) area.
River Mechibecame the eastern border with India while the river Kali (called Mahakaliin Nepal) was demarcated as the northwestern border.
Nepal considers the source of Kali river near Limpiyadhura, which is higher in altitude than the rest of the river’s flow.
Thus, all the three areas Limpiyadhura, Lipulekhand Kalapaniare considered to the east of the river Kali.

India View

India on the other hand says the border begins at Kalapaniwhich India says is where the river begins.
Kali originates in springs well below the Lipulekhpass, and the Sugaulitreaty does not demarcate the area north of these streams.
Administrative and revenue records going back to the nineteenth century show that Kalapaniwas on the Indian side, and counted as part of Pithoragarh district, now in Uttarakhand.
China in 2015 statement also recognisedIndia’s sovereignty over the area by agreeing to expand trade through the Lipulekhpass.

OPCW Report on Syria

Organisationfor the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the first time explicitly blamed Syria for toxic attacks.
OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) in its report said that Syrian Arab Air Force used the nerve gas sarin and chlorine three times in Ltamenah, Syria in 2017.

SARIN and Chlorine Gas

Sarin is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in its pure form. However, sarin can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and spread into the environment.
It is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent.
Nerve agents cause their toxic effects by preventing the proper operation of an enzyme that acts as the body’s “off switch” for glands and muscles.
Chlorine: It appears to be yellow-green in color. It does sink and displace breathable air, so it can asphyxiate people.

About OPCW

It is the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC).
Headquarters: Hague, Netherlands
OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons
CWC was signed and ratified by 193 countries, including India.
Israelhas signed but not ratified the Convention.
Non-signatory states are: Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan

Q) Which of the countries are the members of Indian Ocean commission

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a)1, 2, 3 and 5 only

b)2, 3, and 5 only

c)1 and 4 only

d)1,2, 3, 4 and 5

Indian Ocean Commission

India has become observer of Indian Ocean Commission.
The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is an intergovernmental organization created by the Port-Louis Declaration in 1982.

Indian Ocean Commission

The IOC was institutionalized in Seychelles in 1984by the General Agreement for Cooperation, better known as the Victoria Agreement.
Composition-IOC is the only regional organization in Africa composed exclusively of islands, which brings together five-member states
The Union of the Comoros
Réunion (French overseas territory)
Madagascar
Mauritius
Seychelles
Observer members-China, European Union, Malta, International organization of Francophonie, Japan, United Nations and India.
Mandate-To strengthen the ties and to support its member states in the path towards sustainable development.

Gilgit Baltistan Issue

India protested against the Pakistan Supreme Court’s order last week allowing elections to be held in Gilgit Baltistan, by asserting that Pakistani institutions have “no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it

More about the news

In line with the diplomatic protocol forced by guidelines on social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic, a “strong protest” was registered by serving a démarche to the acting head of the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi through a phone call.
Reason of the protest: On April 30, Pakistan’s apex court allowed the federal government’s application to amend the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, to set up a caretaker government and conduct provincial assembly elections.
Along with this, China and Pakistan signed an accord to construct Diamer-BashaDam in Gilgit Baltistan region on river Indus that furthered the tensions

Gilgit Baltistan

The region was a part of erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
It has been under Pakistan’s control since November 4, 1947, following invasion of Kashmir by tribal militias and Pakistan army.
It was renamed as ‘Northern Areas of Pakistan’ and put under direct control of Pakistan federal government through Karachi Agreement, 1949.
After GB Empowerment and Self-Governance Order in 2009, ‘Northern Areas’ came to be known as Gilgit-Baltistan. It provided for a legislative assembly and a council.
2009 order was replaced by Gilgit Baltistan Order, 2018.

2018 order is aimed at incorporating GB as its fifth province and to integrate GB with rest of federal structure of Pakistan by legislative, judicial and administrative measures.
Baluchistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindhbeing other fourprovincesof Pakistan. However, 2018 order grants only limited fundamental rights to people of GB and does not grant any constitutional status to GB region.
India maintains that entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are “integral part of India”.
China–Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through GB.