Digest for 03 October, 2025
India and China to Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus
India and China will resume direct flights on October 26 for the first time since services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions. The move is seen as a significant step towards normalizing bilateral relations. Indian airline IndiGo will operate the first flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou. The decision follows technical discussions between aviation authorities and a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, aiming to facilitate people-to-people contact and trade.
Putin Warns US Over Ukraine Aid, Seeks to Address India Trade Imbalance
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that supplying long-range missiles like Tomahawks to Ukraine would represent a "qualitatively new stage of escalation" and seriously damage US-Russia relations. Speaking at the Valdai forum, Putin also addressed the trade imbalance with India, driven by heavy crude oil imports, and ordered his government to devise corrective measures. He praised India's strategic autonomy and referred to Prime Minister Modi as a "wise leader," reaffirming the strong bilateral partnership ahead of a planned visit.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Petitions Supreme Court for His Release
The wife of Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk was detained on September 26 following violent protests in Leh demanding statehood for Ladakh. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, is seeking his immediate release, stating she has not received a copy of the detention order or had any contact with him since he was moved to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Taliban's Foreign Minister to Make First High-Level Visit to India
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, is scheduled to visit India next week, marking the first high-level trip from Kabul since the group seized power in 2021. The visit, focused on developmental assistance, was made possible by a temporary travel ban exemption from the UN Security Council. While India has not officially recognised the Taliban regime, it maintains a "technical team" in Kabul and has provided humanitarian aid, signaling a gradual engagement with the new authorities.
Defence Minister Warns Pakistan of 'Decisive Response' in Sir Creek
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan against any "misadventure" in the disputed Sir Creek maritime region along the Gujarat border. Speaking to troops in Bhuj, Singh stated that any hostile act would be met with a decisive response that could "change both history and geography." He cited Pakistan's recent military infrastructure expansion as a sign of ill intent and reaffirmed India's commitment to countering terrorism, referencing the success of the recent Operation Sindoor.