FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘Westminster’s time is coming to an end’ In position to form govt in 9 out of 10 MCs in Raj: BJP Page 5 Page 9 China scales down PLA deployment along LAC PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 14 September C hina significantly reduced the deployment of its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces along India’s northern borders during 2025, even as the Indian Army maintained a “robust” posture across all sectors of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while Pakistan continued to pose a major security challenge through terrorism, infiltration and ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report 2025-26. The report said there was a “significant reduction in deployment of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Forces opposite Northern Borders”, with forces equivalent to about 10 Combined Arms Brigades deployed in areas along the LAC and traditional training areas. Despite the drawdown, the Indian Army remained “robust, well poised and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency”, underscoring that the reduction in Chinese deployment has not led New Delhi to lower its operational preparedness. The report said sustained political, diplomatic and military engagements with China during the year facilitated “positive developments along the Northern Borders, leading to stability”. The 33rd and 34th meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Zverev beats Shelton to win his first US Open NATION Wholesale Inflation hits 9.92 per cent in August Page 10 Tuesday, 15 September 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Coordination were held in March and July 2025, while talks between the Special Representatives on the boundary question resumed, with rounds held in December 2024 and August 2025. The easing of tensions was also reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin in August 2025 and the 23rd Corps Commander Level Meeting in Eastern Ladakh on October 25-26. Border Personnel Meetings with the PLA also continued in a “cordial and friendly environment”, the report said. The northern border situation has remained among India’s most sensitive security theatres since the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which triggered sustained troop deployments and a major build-up of military infrastructure on both sides. The latest assessment indicates that while the immediate military posture has eased, the Indian Army continues to maintain substantial preparedness against any renewed contingency along the LAC. On the western front, however, the Army’s assessment remains considerably more pointed, directly identifying Pakistan as a key driver of the continuing security challenge in Jammu and Kashmir. The report said 19 terrorists were neutralised in counter-terror operations in J&K during 2025, including eight Pakistani terrorists, accounting for around 40 per cent of the total. “The figure clearly indicates role of Pakistan in waging proxy war in the UT of J&K,” the report said, explicitly linking the presence of Pakistani terrorists to Islamabad’s continuing proxy campaign. The Pakistani role was further evident along the Line of Control, where the Army recorded six infiltration attempts during 2025 and neutralised 12 Pakistani terrorists attempting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir. While infiltration attempts declined from previous years, the report said the threat was evolving, with terrorist activities increasingly shifting towards the International Border and involving narcotics and “war like stores”. Pakistan’s military pressure along the LoC also increased sharply during 2025. The Army recorded 163 ceasefire violations, compared with just two in 2024. As many as 124 violations occurred during Operation Sindoor, launched following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed tourists. The situation along the LoC stabilised considerably following DGMO-level talks between India and Pakistan on May 10 and 12. However, the annual report cautioned that the apparent calm should not be mistaken for an end to the threat, stating that “unpredictability continues”. At the same time, the Army’s assessment points to a significant erosion of Pakistan’s ability to sustain a local support base for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Only one local youth joined terrorist ranks in 2025, with the report saying that young people had “abandoned the path of violence” and were increasingly benefiting from government schemes and policies, thereby “discrediting Pakistan’s narrative of home-grown terrorism”. “The awaam (public) has chosen to follow the path of development and has been actively participating in large numbers in all government and IA run initiatives,” the report said. This, according to the Army, has resulted in reduced violence, scaled-down protests and “zero incidents of stone pelting”. The assessment presents a stark contrast between the declining local support for militancy and the continuing external threat. While the local population is increasingly moving away from violence, Pakistan-backed networks continue to attempt infiltration and sustain terrorist activity, suggesting that the external push behind the proxy war remains intact. Page 12 CBI FIR names Uddhav, Aaditya Thackeray in Disha Salian murder case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mumbai, 14 September The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR on Monday in connection with the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, naming former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray among others in the case. Disha Salian died on 8 June, 2020 after purportedly falling from a residential building in the Malad area here. The Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in the case, claiming that her death was a suicide. Six days after Salian’s death, actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020, triggering widespread speculation about a possible link, although the cases were investigated separately. The CBI registered an FIR a couple of weeks after the Bombay High Court ordered it to take over the case from the Mumbai Police. The case has been registered under sections pertaining to murder, gang rape, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence as well as providing false information. The CBI investigation has political ramifications and is expected to benefit the Fadnavis government. The CBI FIR also named former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, several police officers associated with the Malvani Police Station in Malad, doctors and staff involved in the post-mortem conducted on Disha Salian, officials of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina, security guards of the Regent Galaxy Building where the incident took place, members of the Mumbai police Special Investigation Team (SIT) and other unidentified persons. The FIR accuses Uddhav Thackeray of playing a role in the cover-up of the case. “The then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, father of Aaditya Thackeray, and others played a significant role in the conspiracy and subsequent cover-up. The concerned public servants and police officers are also liable to be investigated for destruction or suppression of case papers, files and other public records, fabrication of official records, and misuse of public funds, manpower and police machinery for unlawful purposes and for shielding the offenders,” the CBI FIR states. It also mentions that Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty, the doctors, and the staff concerned with the delayed post-mortem are among “people whose roles require investigation”. Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian recorded his statement before the CBI last week accusing several individuals, including former Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Aaditya Thackeray among others of playing a significant role in an alleged conspiracy and subsequent cover-up. The Bombay High Court's September 2 order for CBI probe came after a petition was filed by Disha Salian's father alleging serious lapses by Mumbai Police in the investigation into his daughter's death in June 2020. Rajasthan: BJP wins 4 of 10 municipal corporations ‘Vietnam key to India’s Act East, MAHASAGAR vision’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday asserted that Vietnam is a key partner for India in its Act East policy and its vision of MAHASAGAR in the Indo-Pacific. He was speaking at his meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Affairs Minister Le Hoai Trung. Jaishankar highlighted Vietnam's role in India's regional outreach, saying, "Vietnam, for us, is a key partner in India's Act East policy in our vision of MAHASAGAR of the Indo-Pacific." "Vietnam is an equally important partner in the framework of our comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN," he added. Jaipur, 14 September The ruling BJP in Rajasthan has secured an absolute majority in four of the 10 municipal corporations — Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur and Bhilwara — that went to polls last week. The Congress won more than half the seats in Bikaner Municipal Corporation, while Independents emerged as the largest group in Bharatpur, capturing 38 seats in the 65-member House, five above the majority mark. In the 100-member Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, the BJP and Congress finished in a tie with 44 seats each, while the result of one seat is yet to be declared. Independents secured 11 seats. The municipal polls were held on September 9 and 11 for reconstituting Houses in 309 civic bodies, including 10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils and 252 municipal committees.Of the 47 municipal councils, the BJP emerged ahead of the Congress in 21, while the Congress had an edge in 17 and Independents in nine. The BJP was also the largest party in 144 of the 252 municipal committees, followed by the Congress with 92 and Independents or others with 16. In Jaipur, the BJP won 78 of 150 seats, Congress 53 and Independents 15. Results for four seats have been withheld due to repolling. In Kota, BJP won 55 of 100 seats, crossing the majority mark of 51, while Congress got 39 and Independents four. In Udaipur, BJP secured 53 of 80 seats, with Congress 23 and Independents four.In Bikaner, Congress won 42 of 80 seats, BJP 27 and Independents 11. In Bhilwara, BJP got 45, Congress 10 and Independents 15. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma termed the BJP's performance a big win and a clear mandate. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra termed the outcome a people's mandate against the BJP government. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 14 September The External Affairs Minister mentioned that India-Vietnam bilateral ties have "progressed significantly" since the previous meeting of the Joint Commission, highlighting the upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. "I'm very glad to note that our bilateral ties have progressed significantly since the previous meeting of the Joint Commission, which was held three years ago. We have had two important state visits from Vietnam, most notably, most recently, the state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam. During this visit, our leaders made this an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership," Jaishankar stated. "This 19th J.C.M. therefore offers us a very valuable opportunity to review the presentation of the commitments which have been made and to translate the political momentum at the highest level into concrete, tangible outcomes for our people," he said. The External Affairs Minister also thanked Prime Minister Hung for his participation in the 18th BRICS Summit, saying, "We thank Prime Minister Hung for his productive participation in the 18th BRICS Summit that was held yesterday. I look forward to having a fruitful and productive discussion with you today." Earlier on Saturday, Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Minister Le Hoai Trung arrived in the national capital amid the BRICS Summit. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Prime Minister of Vietnam, Le Minh Hung, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi and reviewed the progress in bilateral ties, according to an official Ministry of External Affairs press release. During the meeting, PM Modi welcomed Vietnam's participation in the BRICS Summit as a 'Partner Country'. The two leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties, which were elevated to an 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' during the state visit of Vietnamese General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam to India in May, the MEA said. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual importance and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-Vietnam partnership, according to the MEA press release. India and Vietnam share a time-tested friendship rooted in shared civilizational heritage, mutual trust and understanding, the MEA said. Vietnam is a key pillar of 'India's Act East Policy' and an important partner in India's broader engagement with Southeast Asia, it added. Pak’s smokescreen attempt to escape FATF grey list, names Masood Azhar in list of wanted terrorists STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 14 September Pakistan’s latest Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Red Book of most-wanted terrorists has raised fresh questions over Islamabad’s handling of terror operatives, with the inclusion of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and several suspects linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks coming under scrutiny. The FIA has listed Azhar as a fugitive and announced a PKR 70 lakh reward for information leading directly to his arrest or conviction. The amount represents an increase of PKR 20 lakh over the PKR 50 lakh bounty that figured in the agency’s earlier listing. An FIA wanted notice for Azhar identifies him as the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed and describes him as “armed and extremely dangerous.” The notice identifies him as Maulana Masood Azhar, son of Khuda Baksh, gives his address as Kousar Colony, B Model Town, Bahawalpur, and records his affiliation with JeM. The notice also lists three terrorism-related cases against Azhar. These include FIR-17/20 registered at CTD Gujranwala on December 3, 2020; FIR-8/20 registered at CTD Multan on March 9, 2020; and FIR-4/21 registered at CTD Lahore on March 29, 2021, under provisions of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act. The latest development is particularly significant because Pakistan has maintained since 2021 that Azhar is no longer in the country and had crossed into Afghanistan. Indian intelligence assessments, however, indicate that Azhar continues to operate from Pakistan and is currently believed to be hiding in Nawabshah in Sindh, according to sources. The timing of the revised Red Book is also being closely watched in the context of Pakistan’s international counter-terror financing commitments and the forthcoming FATF plenary in October. Indian security sources view the renewed public identification of long-standing terror suspects as an attempt to demonstrate action against extremist networks, while questioning whether such listings are being followed by meaningful arrests and prosecutions. The Red Book has also brought renewed attention to Pakistan’s handling of the perpetrators and facilitators of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks. The updated document contains 19 names linked to the attack, including individuals accused of arranging logistics and providing financial support. The overall size of the FIA’s Red Book further underlines the scale of the challenge. The number of individuals listed as Pakistan’s most-wanted terrorists has risen from 1,330 in the 2021 edition to 1,804 in the latest list, an increase of around 35 per cent.