Page 15 - Terrorism

52 dead in Balochistan blast; here's a look at recent terror attacks in Pak

Pakistan has witnessed several severe terrorist attacks in the recent past. The presence of al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists constitutes an existential threat to Pakistan's stability

FIR against SFJ's Pannun for threatening to turn WC to World Terror Cup

The Gujarat police have registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for threatening to turn the Cricket World Cup, starting on October 5 at Narendra Modi stadium here, into World Terror Cup, an official said on Friday. In the first information report (FIR), the cyber crime branch of the Ahmedabad police said that people from across the country have received Pannun's threat via a pre-recorded voice message sent from a foreign number. The complaint filed by sub-inspector H N Prajapati of the cyber crime branch said that it has come to their notice that many people received a pre-recorded threat voice message from the phone number +447418343648. Many recipients of the threat message reported it to the police through various mediums, the FIR said. The pre-recorded message said that October 5 would not be the start of the Cricket World Cup but the beginning of World Terror Cup". Shikhs for Justice is going to storm Ahmedabad wit

India makes progress in Global Terrorism Index, efforts can save $159 bn

India has made good progress in strengthening security measures in the past few years but scaling it further would save USD 159 billion from laundering through illicit trade, a report said. According to a Ficci CASCADE report, India has a GTI score of 7.43 and a crime index score of 44.7, reflecting fewer terror and crime incidents compared to the levels observed in 2016. Illicit trade undermines national security, risks legitimate manufacturing, leaks government revenue, jeopardises public health and safety, and erodes the trust of consumers and investors alike," it said. Tackling this issue is fundamental for safeguarding India's economic stability, ensuring fair competition, and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable growth and ease of doing business, it said. Tax authorities play a crucial role in the fight against illicit trade in its entirety, it said. Anil Rajput, Chairman of Ficci CASCADE, highlighted the steps taken by the government to choke terror funding and

'Global legal framework' needed to combat terrorism, says PM Modi

He emphasised on bringing in a global legal framework to prevent cyber terrorism, money laundering or artificial intelligence misuse

India calls Pakistan patron to largest no of proscribed terrorist at UNGA

India has strongly hit out at Pakistan after its caretaker leader raked up Kashmir in his address to the UN General Assembly, with Delhi saying the home and patron to the largest number of proscribed terrorist entities in the world should take credible action against perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks instead of engaging in technical sophistry. First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Petal Gahlot exercised India's Right of Reply in the UNGA after Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar raised the Kashmir issue in his address at the General Debate during the high-level 78th session of UNGA on Friday. Pakistan has been the home and patron to the largest number of internationally proscribed terrorist entities and individuals in the world. Instead of engaging in technical sophistry, we call upon Pakistan to take credible and verifiable action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, whose victims await justice even after 15 years, Gahlot

Brics condemn terrorism in all forms; commend India's G20 presidency

The Ministers expressed their firm view that the G20 should continue to function in a productive manner and also commended the successful hosting of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi

Pakistan recruiting mercenaries to pursue its political agenda: UNGA told

Plaid said when the international community applies pressure, Pakistan has a history of "choosing subterfuge over sincerity"

'9 separatist outfits have bases in Canada, deportation requests ignored'

At least nine separatist organisations supporting terror groups have their bases in Canada and despite multiple deportation requests Ottawa has taken no action against those involved in heinous crimes including the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, officials here said on Tuesday. They said that pro-Khalistani outfits such as the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) working at the behest of Pakistan have been allegedly operating freely form the Canadian soil. They said allegations levelled against India by the Canadian authorities and politicians in relation to the murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, are incorrect and based on unsubstantiated assumptions. The issue of deportations of wanted terrorists and gangsters have been raised by Indian authorities at multiple diplomatic and security talks but the Canadian authorities remained non-committal a

3 terrorists killed in J&K, Pak gave cover fire to infiltrators: Officials

The Pakistan Army gave cover fire to infiltrating terrorists and targeted quadcopters of the Indian Army during a bid to cross the Line of Control in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday that was foiled with the killing of three militants, officials said. Addressing a press conference in north Kashmir's Uri, Brigadier P M S Dhillon said the operation at Hathlanga in the Uri sector along the LoC was launched early Saturday following specific inputs about infiltration attempts by Pakistan-based outfits. "We had been receiving intelligence inputs that Pakistani outfits were trying to infiltrate into Uri to destabilise peace in Jammu and Kashmir. So, we strengthened our counter-infiltration and surveillance grid," he said. "At 6.40 am this morning, despite bad weather, an ambush noticed three to four terrorists trying to cross the LoC in the Hathlanga area. Immediately contact was established and the firefight continued for two hours," he added. The officer said the army

PFI aiming to resurrect itself, launch new outfit through SDPI: Report

The new outfit could be lined up for launch by the SDPI in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections next year

MoS blames Farooq Abdullah's politics for scourge of terrorism in Kashmir

Reacting to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah's statement that "there are encounters daily" in Jammu and Kashmir and thereby questioning the claim of the Centre of normalcy in the Union territory, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday said that the politics of Abdullah and his family has been responsible for the scourge of terrorism in the Valley. "Farooq Abdullah and his family have ruled, misruled and misgoverned Jammu and Kashmir for many many years. Their politics have primarily been responsible for decades of deprivation and J & K people's suffering from lack of rights, economic opportunities and the scourge of terrorism," Chandrasekhar said while talking to ANI."So I think that he is the least appropriate person to comment on what is right and wrong for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the Union Minister added. While questioning the claims of normalcy in the Union Territory Farooq Abdullah also pitched for peace talks.Speaking to the media in Budgam, ...

'Afghanistan headed to civil war with Taliban splitting into factions'

Two years after the US forces abruptly left Kabul, Afghanistan is headed towards a civil war, the Taliban is now riddled with factionalism, and the country is fast becoming a safe haven for foreign terrorists, a former Afghan commander has said. I believe that the situation in Afghanistan is very critical and dangerous and it's going in a dangerous direction, which could be a civil war again, or which could be a split to Afghanistan because you see that in last two years Afghanistan has been controlled by the terrorists and it has fallen into terrorist hands, Lt. Gen. Haibatullah Alizai, who was chief of staff for the army at the time the capital city of Kabul fell to Taliban in August 2021, told PTI in an interview. Alizai currently lives in the US and has recently launched an initiative to unite Afghans outside the country. Expressing his deep dissatisfaction over the current situation in Afghanistan, the former Afghan commander blames the Biden administration for abruptly leaving

Blocking listing proposals for terrorists smacks of doublespeak: India

India has told the UN Security Council that blocking evidence-based proposals for blacklisting globally sanctioned terrorists without giving justifications is uncalled for and "smacks of doublespeak", a thinly-veiled reference to China and Pakistan. The working methods of the UNSC Sanctions Committees continue to dent the credibility of the UN Security Council, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said here on Tuesday. Speaking in the Security Council's open debate on Working Methods, Kamboj said "genuine, evidence-based listing proposals for globally sanctioned terrorists to be blocked without giving any due justification is uncalled for and smacks of doublespeak when it comes to Council's commitment in tackling the challenge of terrorism. She stressed that the working methods of Sanctions Committees must emphasise transparency, and objectivity in listing and delisting and should not be based on political considerations. Kamboj's remarks were a veil

3 TTP terrorists killed by Pakistan's security forces in shootout

Three terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed by security forces on Friday during an operation in a restive tribal district in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. According to sources, the security forces exchanged fire with the terrorists after they fired at them in the South Waziristan tribal district. In the shootout, three terrorists were killed and the remaining fled. The security forces launched a massive combing operation after the gunbattle to arrest the perpetrators. Earlier this week, six Pakistani soldiers and four terrorists were killed when the TTP militants attacked a convoy of security forces in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The outfit, which is believed to be close to Al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

UN remembers victims, survivors of terrorism: Secy General Antonio Guterres

Guterres said the theme of this year's International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is "Legacy, Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future"

Terrorism is borderless: 26/11 survivor calls for action to combat scourge

Terrorism is borderless and the United Nations, as well as the international community, need to put their weight behind ending the scourge, a survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Karambir Singh Kang said as the UN paid tributes to terror victims globally. The UN General Assembly has established August 21 as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The day honours, remembers and pays tribute to all victims and survivors of terrorism across the world, highlighting the importance of global solidarity and ensuring their stories and experiences are not forgotten. This year, the day focused on the theme Legacy: Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future'. Terrorism is borderless. It can happen anywhere, anytime. United Nations needs to pull its weight on some of these matters which globally affect all of us, Kang said at a special virtual event organised by the UN Monday to mark the 6th commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance

761 terror attacks, 174 civilian deaths in J&K in last 5 yrs: Home Ministry

The hinterlands of the country have witnessed five terrorist incidents in the last five years with more than half of them in 2022 alone

No indication that Afghan refugees in Pak guilty of terrorism: White House

There is no indication that the Afghan refugees in Pakistan or those living along the border with Afghanistan are guilty of acts of terrorism, the White House has said after Islamabad accused them of creating instability. The remarks by White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby came two days after Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that allowing Afghan refugees to settle in Pakistan was a grave mistake amid a spike in terrorist attacks on the country. The current situation has raised significant concerns about the facilities provided to the Afghan refugees, Asif said, adding Pakistan has suffered the consequences of sheltering and hosting the Afghan refugees. He also accused Afghan nationals involved in terrorist activities. "(We are) Seeing no indication that Afghan refugees in Pakistan or along that border are guilty of acts of terrorism," Kirby told reporters at a news conference here on Monday. Kirby said the US is grateful to Pakistan for the incredible

Caller warns of 26/11-like terror attack if Seema Haider didn't return home

The traffic control room of Mumbai Police has received a call from an unidentified person warning of a 26/11-like terror attack if Pakistani woman Seema Haider did not return to her country, an official said on Thursday. The call was received on Wednesday, he said. The caller, who spoke in Urdu, said there would be a terror attack like the November 26, 2008 attack on Mumbai and the Uttar Pradesh government will be responsible for it, the police official said. Mumbai Police is investigating the threat call and a crime branch team has also been roped in, he said. The call was made through an app, and the police were trying to track down the IP address of the caller, the official said. Seema Haider, a Pakistani national, recently entered India illegally to marry her lover Sachin Meena, a resident of Greater Noida. The two had become friends while playing online game PUBG. Police arrested Haider for entering India illegally without a visa through Nepal.

SCO resolves to tackle spread of terrorism, disrupt terror financing

The top leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday resolved to check spread of terrorism and disrupt terror financing while coming down hard on states using terrorist and extremist groups to advance their political and geopolitical goals. A declaration issued at the conclusion of the virtual SCO Summit hosted by India said the member states will eliminate "sleeper cells" and terrorist safe havens, and counter the radicalisation of youth and dissemination of terrorist ideology. The SCO states, subject to their national laws, also agreed to develop common principles and approaches to form a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the member nations of the grouping, it added. The declaration said the SCO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful settlement of disagreements and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultations. The leaders also came out with a separa