DW Asia | Can India mediate the conflict between Russia and the West?

In this edition: Coming off what has been considered a successful G20 summit, India is building on its position as a neutral partner to countries with competing interests.

Plus: Analysts expect North Korea to offer artillery rounds in exchange for advanced Russian technology used for missiles, nuclear weapons and submarines. However, the details are likely to be kept secret.

On the ground in Karachi: Fatal clashes last week near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border between troops and militants have resulted in a renewed crackdown on Afghan refugees.

DW on YouTube: Every week we feature a long-form, Asia-focused video from DW’s YouTube channels. This week, check out “Mongolia: Rise and fall of an empire” from DW Documentary.

These stories and more in today’s DW Asia newsletter.

– DW Asia team

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Read Julian Ryall’s report

Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of a summit that many governments and analysts fear will conclude with agreements on exchanges of weapons and military technology.

Last week, the US said Russia was in the process of purchasing “millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine.”

However, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby later added that there were “no indications” that the purchase had been completed, and no sign yet of any North Korean weapons being used in Ukraine.

Any weapons deal between North Korea and Russia would be in breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, ironically including resolutions that had previously been supported by Moscow.  

Earlier this year, the US reported that North Korea already provided artillery rounds to a Russian military that is running low on stocks as it continues its war in Ukraine.

“There have been many reports that Russia cannot produce enough munitions for its troops in Ukraine and we also know that North Korea has lots in stock, so Pyongyang providing its artillery rounds, and potentially artillery pieces as well, then that is designed to worry Ukraine and its allies,” he told DW.

There has been no immediate confirmation of the contents of the two leaders’ talks or on what agreements have been reached, with analysts suggesting the details may not be announced at all to further muddy the waters over the burgeoning military alliance.  

Read the rest of Julian’s report

Read Zia Ur Rehman’s report

Pakistani law enforcement agencies have launched a renewed crackdown on Afghan refugees, with the aim of exerting pressure on the Taliban administration in Kabul to curb the activities of the militant network Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The intensification of the crackdown on refugees comes in response to the TTP’s attacks last week on Pakistani security forces in Chitral, a border region.

Pakistan’s army said 12 militants and four soldiers were killed during a gun battle in Chitral, which borders Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, on September 6, with ongoing clashes between Pakistani forces and TTP militants prompting tourist evacuations.

The incident prompted Pakistan to issue a “strong protest over the incident” to the Afghan charge d’affaires in Islamabad.

How does Pakistan handle Afghan refugees?

Although Pakistan has previously detained Afghan refugees and sporadically deported them in small numbers, recent events suggest a significant escalation in these measures by Pakistani law enforcement agencies since Sunday, a day after the Chitral attack. 

Karachi, Pakistan’s bustling port city, has become a focal point of the intensified crackdown. 

Read the rest of Zia’s report

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