Gaganauts of Geopolitics

🇦🇫 The lost coastline: Afghanistan’s forgotten gateway to sea Afghanistan was once NOT landlocked. It had direct access to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea in the early 19th century. 👉 Afghanistan lost its coastal access due to the British Empire & the Qajar Dynasty of Iran. These powers cut off Afghanistan’s maritime routes, reshaping its geostrategic position. The British Empire established the Durand Line in 1893, claiming a portion of Afghanistan, while Iran expanded into Sistan and Balochistan. Today, these historically Afghan regions are controlled by: 🇮🇷 Iran: Sistan and Balochistan Province (Chabahar Port) 🇵🇰 Pakistan: Balochistan Province (Kalat Division from Lasbila to Gwadar Port) Imagine how different Afghanistan’s geopolitical role could be if it still had that coastline! Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

🇷🇺 RUSSIA CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS Illegal migrants in Russia will not be able to:👇 ▪️marry or dissolve marriages ▪️drive a car & use banking services ▪️register their children in kindergartens and schools ▪️register property Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

⚡️🇺🇸U.S. threatens stricter sanctions against 🇮🇳India & other nations for maintaining beneficial ties with 🇷🇺Russia

🗣"China is the most egregious violator of our [US] sanctions regime in this regard, but India, Turkey, the UAE, and other countries as well... I think we're getting closer to a point where we can discuss a much stricter sanctions regime," said Biden's Deputy National Security Advisor, Daleep Singh.

🛢 Western countries have attempted to pressure India into cutting its oil imports from Russia. However, India has refused to comply with the West’s demands, prioritizing the interests of its own people first. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

Pakistan joins strategic corridor linking Russia to 🇮🇳Indian Ocean ports 🛣 The multimodal corridor connects 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan, 🇦🇫 Afghanistan, and recently, 🇵🇰 Pakistan, with the ports of the Indian Ocean. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

❗️🇮🇳 India made a 'political decision' not to supply ammunition to Israel – media 🇮🇱 Israel requested 155 mm and 105 mm caliber artillery shells from India in the early days of its offensive operation "Swords of Iron" in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, according to sources cited by The Hindu. ▪️On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented rocket attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israel Defense Forces initiated Operation "Swords of Iron", which involved strikes on civilian targets in the Gaza Strip. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

❗️Chabahar is India's Response to Gwadar 🇮🇳🇨🇳 India has expressed concern over China's is "string of pearls" strategy and Gwadar Port being one such initiative. ⚠️ Gwadar, backed by China, poses a threat to India’s naval security in the Arabian Sea, affecting energy imports through the Gulf of Oman. 📈 It could also encourage insurgency and terrorism, and increase security threats due to its proximity to Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India’s answer? ◾️ Chabahar Port, just 76 nautical miles from Gwadar; ◾️ This port strengthens India’s trade links with Russia, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, while helping secure the region. ◾️ India is also investing in the Chabahar-Hajigak corridor to boost its iron and steel projects in Afghanistan. 👉 While Gwadar is a military-strategic project, Chabahar focuses on business and trade, making both projects a crucial part of regional influence. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

🇵🇰PAKISTAN SWITCHES FROM 🇺🇸U.S. TO 🇨🇳CHINA Pakistani officials have become increasingly frantic in their efforts to repair relations with China, including, as the documents reveal, by granting China approval for a military base at the port of Gwadar — a major and longstanding strategic demand of Beijing. Gwadar, a crucial part of China's Belt-and-Road Initiative, links China's economy westward and reduces its reliance on South China Sea shipping routes. 📝 The documents reveal that Pakistan has also authorized joint military operations with China inside its borders. In return for granting China strategic use of Gwadar, Pakistan has asked for substantial economic and military aid to shield itself from the anticipated backlash from the U.S. talks that have taken place under the "Consultation on Strategic Defence and Security Cooperation" or "2+2 dialogue." A 2023 classified document confirms that Pakistan has given "highest level positive assurances" for China's strategic use of Gwadar, standing by this commitment as crucial to bilateral ties. Additionally, Pakistan is considering China’s request to create joint security companies, especially after a series of deadly attacks on Chinese engineers in Pakistan. 👉 While past rounds of the 2+2 Dialogue saw Pakistan resisting China's pressure for a military base at Gwadar due to concerns over sovereignty, the latest round in January 2023 saw a weakened Pakistan, grappling with political and economic instability, acquiescing to China's demands, agreeing to allow future deployment of Chinese military assets at the port. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka secures $12.5 Billion debt deal before presidential elections 💰 Just days before the presidential election, Sri Lanka finalised a $12.5 billion debt restructuring agreement with creditors and the IMF. This deal comes after the nation's 2022 default, which led to a heavy debt burden and dwindling foreign reserves.

🗣 "Sri Lanka now expects to receive formal confirmation from IMF staff that the Agreement in Principle and the Local Option, taken together, are fully consistent with the parameters of Sri Lanka's IMF-supported Program," the Sri Lankan government said in a statement.

Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

VIRAL: 🇵🇰Pakistani soldiers surrender to the 🇮🇳Indian Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War What caused the 1971 war? ◾️ Deprivation: Despite having a larger population, East Pakistan was financially neglected, while the western part of the country was prioritised in receiving national budget. ◾️ Ideological divide: Bengali Muslims in the East leaned towards democracy and socialism, while the West supported the creation of an Islamic state. ◾️ Political crisis: In December 1970, the Awami League (AL), led by Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory with 167 seats out of 313 in the National Assembly elections. However, power was not transferred, as President Yahya Khan opposed the East Pakistani party’s leadership. ◾️ Operation Searchlight: On 25 March 1971, the Pakistani Army launched a brutal crackdown in Dhaka, targeting supporters of Bangladesh’s independence. Gowher Rizvi, a former international affairs adviser to the recently deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, later described the operation as ‘acts of wanton genocide’. ◾️ Silencing the AL: On 26 March 1971, Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and became the country’s first president despite being imprisoned. ◾️ India’s role: Backed by the Soviet Union, India played a decisive role in Bangladesh's liberation, providing full military support by sending air and naval forces and opening its borders to millions of refugees. ◾️ Victory: On 16 December 1971, Pakistani forces surrendered, marking the end of the conflict and the birth of an independent Bangladesh. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel

Is 🇧🇩Bangladesh turning into another 🇵🇰Pakistan? Last night, the Bangladeshi government granted magistracy powers to commissioned army officers for 60 days to improve law and order across the country. Bangladeshi army officer can now arrest and detain people as well as open fire if deemed necessary.

🗣"We are witnessing subversive acts and disrupted stability in several places, especially in industrial areas across the country. Given the situation, army personnel have been granted magistracy power," explained Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, justifying the move.

💬 Indian social media users have drawn parallels between this move and Pakistan's military rule, pointing out that Bangladesh, given the recent surge in anti-Hindu violence, could be heading toward full military control in the country. Subscribe to @geo_gaganauts | GG Movies Channel