标签： Asia

In a significant diplomatic development, Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in India on Thursday for a week-long visit, marking the highest-level engagement between the Taliban and India since the group seized power in 2021. Muttaqi, accompanied by Afghan trade and foreign ministry officials, is set to hold discussions with India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and other officials, focusing on enhancing diplomatic, trade, and economic ties. This visit underscores a pragmatic shift in India’s Afghan policy, as it seeks to deepen engagement with the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The trip is particularly notable given the historically strained relations between India and the Taliban, as well as the deteriorating ties between the Taliban and Pakistan, their traditional ally. Muttaqi’s visit, facilitated by a temporary exemption from UN sanctions, comes amid growing regional realignments. India, which once supported the Western-backed Afghan government ousted by the Taliban, has cautiously re-engaged with the new regime, re-establishing its diplomatic presence and providing humanitarian aid. Analysts view this visit as a strategic move by both sides to advance their interests, with the Taliban seeking legitimacy and India aiming to counterbalance Pakistan and China’s influence in the region. Despite the cautious optimism, the relationship remains tactical, shaped by past conflicts and domestic considerations.

After two years of intense conflict resulting in the deaths of 68,000 Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, Hamas and the Netanyahu government are poised to sign a Phase 1 ceasefire agreement. This initial step is part of a 20-point plan championed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and backed by key Arab powers in the region. Under this agreement, Israel will halt its military operations in Gaza, while Hamas has committed to releasing the remaining 20 Israeli hostages still held in the territory. The deal marks a significant shift from previous ceasefires, as Hamas is releasing all hostages and recoverable bodies in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. This move effectively relinquishes Hamas’s primary leverage against Israeli military actions and the Netanyahu government’s control over aid to Gaza. However, critical elements of a lasting peace—such as the extent of Israel’s military withdrawal, the resumption of aid, and the establishment of governance in Gaza—remain unresolved. The agreement faces potential obstacles, including Israel’s demand for Hamas’s complete disarmament and the expulsion of certain Hamas officials, which Hamas is likely to reject. The composition of an international oversight board for Gaza is also unclear, with Trump declaring himself its chair and no provision for Palestinian representation. Arab states, particularly Qatar and Egypt, played a crucial role in brokering this deal, despite Israel’s recent airstrike in Qatar. The immediate focus is on the survival of Gaza’s civilians, with the pause in Israeli attacks offering a brief respite. However, the long-term recovery of Gaza, devastated by two years of conflict, will require more than just economic development; it will necessitate a sustainable solution for security and welfare. While the Phase 1 agreement is a step forward, the path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges.

In a significant development, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged on Thursday that Russia’s air defense systems were responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijani jetliner in December 2024, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 38 individuals. This marks Putin’s first explicit admission of culpability, aimed at de-escalating tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan. The incident occurred when Russian air defenses, targeting a Ukrainian drone, mistakenly fired missiles that exploded near the Azerbaijan Airlines plane as it approached Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic. Ukrainian drones have frequently penetrated Russian airspace, prompting heightened defensive measures. Speaking during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where both leaders were attending a summit of former Soviet nations, Putin vowed to hold those responsible accountable and provide compensation to the victims’ families. Azerbaijani officials had previously attributed the crash to accidental Russian fire, which forced the Embraer 190 jet to attempt an emergency landing in western Kazakhstan, where it ultimately crashed. Putin had initially expressed regret for the “tragic incident” but refrained from accepting full responsibility, drawing criticism from Aliyev for Moscow’s perceived attempts to downplay the event. The crash has strained the historically cordial relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, further complicated by recent incidents involving ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia and the arrests of Russians in Azerbaijan. Putin attributed the missile strike to a “technical malfunction,” revealing that the missiles detonated just 10 meters from the passenger jet. He emphasized Russia’s commitment to providing compensation and conducting a legal review of the officials involved. Aliyev expressed gratitude for Putin’s personal oversight of the investigation. The incident has underscored the delicate nature of Russia-Azerbaijan relations, particularly as Azerbaijan’s ally Turkey has become a crucial economic partner for Russia amid Western sanctions. Azerbaijan serves as a vital transport corridor for Russian trade with Iran and the Middle East, while also importing Russian energy resources and exporting its own hydrocarbons to the West. Russia, in turn, is a major market for Azerbaijani agricultural exports and hosts a significant Azerbaijani diaspora. Both leaders signaled their intent to restore and strengthen bilateral ties, with Putin expressing hope for renewed cooperation and Aliyev highlighting a “broad and positive” agenda. During his state visit to Tajikistan, Putin also sought to reinforce Russia’s strategic partnership with Central Asian nations, emphasizing military, economic, and humanitarian collaboration.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a pivotal meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, and technology. This marked Starmer’s first official visit to India since assuming office in July 2024, underscoring the growing importance of India as a global economic hub. The two-day visit, which began on Wednesday, aligns with India’s intensified efforts to attract international investment to fuel its rapidly expanding economy. During the talks, the leaders emphasized advancing a trade agreement initially signed during Modi’s visit to London in July. They also explored collaboration in digital infrastructure, critical minerals, and education. A significant defense deal was inked, enabling Britain to supply India with missiles, launchers, and electric-powered engines for naval ships. Modi highlighted the natural partnership between the two nations, describing it as a cornerstone of global stability and economic progress. He announced agreements on military training cooperation and plans for nine UK universities to establish campuses in India. Starmer, accompanied by a 125-member delegation comprising business, academic, and cultural leaders, emphasized the potential of the trade deal to spur growth and job creation in both countries. The agreement, set to be implemented within a year, will reduce tariffs on key exports such as Scotch whisky, English gin, and Indian spices, potentially boosting bilateral trade by $34 billion and increasing UK exports to India by nearly 60%. The leaders also discussed Indo-Pacific stability, the Ukraine conflict, and developments in Gaza, with Starmer expressing relief over the initial phase of an Israel-Hamas peace plan.