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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 16 February 2015

BJP, PDP propose phased withdrawal of AFSPA

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will have a lot of explaining to do to their respective constituencies if they tie up. The task is harder for the BJP and difficult to pull off, unless Prime Minister Narendra Modi throws his weight fully behind it.
During the talks the point came up that while the Army has in practice already diluted the impunity of troops under the AFSPA, its continuing application in the entire State is bringing a bad name to New Delhi. Both parties are working towards a scheme to roll back the law in a phased manner.
While the BJP has been open to engaging the separatists and Pakistan and to address the concerns regarding the AFSPA, the most difficult of all issues is formulating a position acceptable to both parties on the State’s special status. The proposal on the table is for the CMP to keep all contentious issues in suspension for discussion in a future mechanism, a “roundtable.”
Two other questions on the BJP agenda that are sensitive in the Valley are delimitation of constituencies in the State, and the status of those who crossed over to Jammu from what became Pakistan in 1947. These issues also will have to be suspended, for the CMP to take shape.

China has opened a new embassy in Pakistan, its “largest overseas” diplomatic mission, which Foreign Minister Wang Yi described as a symbol of friendship between the “all weather” allies.
“As China’s largest overseas embassy, it is a symbol of friendship between China and Pakistan,” state-run China Daily quoted Mr. Wang as saying. It however did not provide the details of the new embassy. An opening ceremony was held on February 13, during Mr. Wang’s visit to Islamabad.