Page 11 - War Conflict
Terrorists attacking Afghan cannot be allowed to negotiate from 'place of advantage': India tells UN
India has told the UN that militant groups enjoying "support and safe havens" to carry out terrorist activities in Afghanistan from across the borders cannot be allowed to negotiate from a "place of advantage" as the US and the Taliban are planning to meet for the next round of crucial peace talks in Qatar. Calling for a need to end the activities of Pakistan-based terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said that the "sanctuaries and safe havens" provided to terror networks have to be addressed for a genuine and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. "As the way forward is chalked out, we cannot ignore that groups enjoying support and safe havens carry out violent and terrorist activities from across borders. They cannot be allowed to negotiate from a place of advantage," he said during an open debate here on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday. The terrorist activities of the Taliban, .
WB's Bhatpara on boil; 1 killed, three injured in clashes
One person was shot dead and three others were seriously injured in Bhatpara area of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district as clashes broke out between two groups on Thursday, a police officer said. The deceased has been identified as Rambabu Shaw, while the details of those injured in the incident were yet to be ascertained, he said. According to reports, bombs were hurled and several rounds of bullets fired in the air by the members of the two warring groups near a newly constructed police station, which was scheduled for inauguration on Thursday. A team of police officers along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel has been deployed in the area, with shops, market places and business establishments seen downing shutters following the unrest. Bhatpara has witnessed a series of clashes since May 19, when bypoll was held in the Assembly constituency.
India supports Afghan-led inclusive peace process: Syed Akbaruddin
While Afghanistan gears up to have its fourth Presidential elections in September this year, India has reiterated its support for an "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled" inclusive peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn country.India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin speaking at an open debate on the situation in Afghanistan at United Nations Security Council said on Wednesday that India stands committed to support the peace process, which promotes and protects unity, sovereignty, democracy, inclusiveness and prosperity of the country.Akbaruddin said that while the country may be perceived as a "threat of transnational terrorism," it is the people of Afghanistan who have long been its victims."While there may be perceptions of threats of transnational terrorism from Afghanistan, in reality, it is the Afghan people who have been, for long, victims of transnational terrorism," said Akbaruddin.Afghanistan is suffering from an unstable ...
Syrian refugee in US arrested for plotting church attack
A Syrian refugee in the US was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of planning an attack against a Pennsylvania church in the name of the Islamic State group, the Justice Department said. Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 21, who arrived in the country as a refugee from Syria in August 2016, intended to target a church in the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, assistant attorney general John Demers and Pittsburgh federal prosecutor Scott Brady said in a statement. "Court documents show Mustafa Alowemer planned to attack a church in the name of ISIS, which could have killed or injured many people," Michael McGarrity, of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, said in the statement. "The FBI takes threats to churches and other religious institutions extremely seriously and will use all our resources to stop potential terrorist attacks against them," he said. The suspect allegedly passed on documents about the construction and the use of explosives to a man he believed to be an IS group ...
New Zealand opens gun buyback after mosque killings
New Zealand opened a gun buyback scheme Thursday aimed at ridding the country of semi-automatic weapons similar to those used in the Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 51 Muslim worshippers. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed in the hours after the March 15 killings that New Zealand's gun laws would be tightened and her government has expedited the change in just three months. "The buyback and amnesty has one objective -- to remove the most dangerous weapons from circulation following the loss of life at Al Noor and Linwood mosques," Police Minister Stuart Nash said. The Australian man accused of the killings, Brenton Tarrant, is alleged to have used an arsenal of five weapons, including two military style semi-automatic rifles (MSSAs), in the attacks on two Christchurch mosques. Lawmakers voted to outlaw MSSAs, which allow the rapid fire of high-calibre bullets, by a margin of 119-1 in the wake of the worst massacre in modern New Zealand history. Licenced firearms owners will ..
Regime attacks kill 28 in Syria's Idlib: monitor
Regime attacks killed 17 civilians and 11 combatants in Syria's jihadist-run northwest on Wednesday, a war monitor said, the latest violence to rattle a region housing three million people. Twelve civilians were killed in regime air strikes on a village in the Jabal al-Zawiya region of southeastern Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The bombardment destroyed shops and ripped apart bodies, according to an AFP photographer, who found human remains more than a hundred metres away from the site of the strike. Rescue workers were seen pulling bodies from under the rubble. Four other civilians were killed in air raids on nearby towns and villages in southern Idlib, while one civilian died in air strikes on the edges of Idlib's eponymous provincial capital, the Britain-based Observatory said. In the north of nearby Hama province, regime rocket fire killed 11 jihadists, a day after fierce clashes in the area left at least 55 combatants dead, including 14 regime ...
Jihadists kill 17 civilians in north Burkina Faso: minister
Jihadist fighters killed 17 civilians in a nighttime raid on a village in the troubled north of Burkina Faso, Defence Minister Cheriff Sy said Wednesday. "An armed terrorist group carried out an attack against the civil population in the village of Belehede" overnight Tuesday, Sy said. "The attack caused 17 deaths," he added in a statement. A "massive" military operation is underway to find the attackers and secure the area, Sy added, calling on the population to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Burkina Faso has suffered from increasingly frequent and deadly attacks attributed to a number of jihadist groups, including the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. The raids began in 2015 in the north before targeting the capital Ouagadougou and other regions, notably in the east. In April, 62 people were killed in jihadist attacks and ensuing ethnic clashes, and four people travelling by car were ambushed and killed. More ...
Chattisgarh: 2 CAF jawans shot dead by colleague in Bijapur
Two Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) jawans were shot dead by their colleague at CAF camp in Mingachal here, police said on Wednesday.Speaking to ANI, Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P said, "Two Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) jawans were shot dead by their colleague at CAF camp in Mingachal, Bijapur. Police have arrested the accused jawan Sanjay Nishad and the investigation is underway. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem.""Naxals have killed a Samajwadi Party leader Santosh Punem who had contested in the state assembly polls of 2018 as SP candidate from here. Punem had contributions in road construction work. Not yet ascertained why he was killed by Naxals," he added."Two Maoists have been arrested by Sukma police. The police are questioning them and an investigation is underway," he added.
Maoist killed in encounter in Jharkhand
A Maoist was killed in an encounter with the CRPF and district police personnel in Simdega district on Wednesday, a police officer said. Additional Director General of Police (Operation) Murari Lal Meena said that an AK-47 was recovered from the spot of the encounter at Urmi forest under Bano block of the district. The security forces received a tip-off about the presence of Naxalites in the area and a search operation was launched, he said. Upon facing gun-fire, the security forces personnel retaliated in which the Maoist was killed, he said.
Notices to 12 Mumbai cops who obtained transfer to ATS:
Transfer of 12 officers of Mumbai Police to the elite Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has led to a piquant situation within the force, with the city police authorities issuing them show-cause notices. Sources said Wednesday that notices were issued a few days ago to the 12 officials, asking why their increments should not be withheld as a disciplinary action, and seeking replies within ten days. A Mumbai police spokesperson, however, denied that any such notices have been issued. Twelve officials had applied to the Director General of Maharashtra Police seeking transfer to the ATS without intimating city police commissioner Sanjay Barve, sources said. The officials, their ranks ranging from assistant police inspector to senior police inspector, were granted transfer to the ATS. But city police authorities were peeved as they did not keep the police commissioner in the loop, sources added. IPS officer Deven Bharti, who has had a long stint in the city police, was recently ...
Army reviews security situation in run-up to Aarnath Yatra
Days before the start of Amarnath Yatra, the Army's Northern Command's top brass Wednesday reviewed security arrangements to ensure a safe and secure annual pilgrimage. General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh also reviewed the Army's operational readiness at various forward posts in Akhnoor and Reasi sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, said a Defence spokesperson. He visited the forward posts and hinterlands bases in the two sectors along with White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, the spokesperson added. During his visit to forward posts, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was also briefed about various measures initiated to monitor the intrusion and infiltration bids from across the Line of Control, he said. The Army commanders also visited the hinterland bases, during which they were apprised of the formation's preparation for the upcoming pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, he added. They were briefed about the ...
Chhattisgarh: constable kills two colleagues at CAF camp
A constable of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) allegedly shot dead two of his colleagues in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh Wednesday, police said. The CAF is a unit of the state police. The incident took place at its camp at Mingachal under Naimed police station area around 4 pm, a senior police official said. Constable Sanjay Nishad allegedly opened fire with a Light Machine Gun on fellow constables Sanjay Bhaskar and Surendra Sahu, killing both on the spot, the officer said. Bhaskar hailed from Kawardha district and Sahu from Janjgir-Champa district. The three had returned from patrolling duty just before the incident. Nishad, a native of Kabirdham district, reportedly had a spat with the other two over some issue after which he shot them, the official said. The bodies were taken to Bijapur town for autopsy. Nishad was apprehended by other CAF personnel in the camp. He was being interrogated, the officer said.
Army planning Integrated Battle Groups along western border
The Indian Army is planning to raise Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) along the borders with Pakistan that will help it carry out swift strikes in case of war, sources said. The IBG, which aims to integrate different components of the Army into the new formation, will include artillery guns, tanks, air defence and logistical elements. This is expected to make it a complete battle-ready unit. The move comes amid efforts to bring better synergy among the three armed forces. The Army also tested the new fighting concept of IGBs, whose role is expected to be offensive in nature. Following positive results, the Army gave green signal to form the specialised units. At least three such units are likely to come up by the end of this year. The IBGs are likely to be headed by Major General-rank officers and could have troops numbering 5,000. Gradually, the number of IGBs can be increased along the western front. The issue of IBGs came up for discussion during the Army Commanders' Conference in ..
Ukraine urges Russia to admit responsibility over MH17 downing
Kiev on Wednesday urged Russia to admit responsibility over the 2014 downing of passenger flight MH17 over rebel-held eastern Ukraine that left 298 people dead, after charges were laid by international investigators. "We call on the Russian Federation to acknowledge its responsibility for supplying arms" to Kremlin-backed rebels in the region, Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement. It urged Moscow "to cooperate with the probe", referring to international investigators who earlier issued arrest warrants for four suspects, three of them Russian nationals.
Libya air raid destroys warehouse, wounds three: oil firm
Libya's National Oil Company deplored an air raid that on Tuesday evening destroyed a warehouse operated by a subsidiary and wounded three personnel near Tripoli. "A warehouse owned by subsidiary Mellitah Oil & Gas Company (MOG) was destroyed by aerial bombardment," the NOC said in a statement on its website. "The attack and resulting fire destroyed valuable equipment and materials in addition to the warehouse itself," it said, adding that three MOG employees had been lightly wounded and taken to hospital. Tripoli is controlled by forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), but strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive against the capital in early April. Images published by the NOC show a building devastated by fire, which was extinguished by fire fighters. "This is another tragic loss caused by this unnecessary conflict," said NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla. "NOC infrastructure is being destroyed .
MH17 suspect denies Ukraine rebels behind attack
One of the main suspects named in the shooting down of passenger flight MH17 over Ukraine denied Wednesday that pro-Russian separatists were behind the missile attack that left 298 people dead. "I can only say that rebels did not shoot down the Boeing," Igor Strelkov, who is also known as Igor Girkin, told Russia's Interfax news agency. On Wednesday, international investigators said they were issuing arrest warrants for Girkin and three other suspects over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane in July, 2014 when it was shot out of the sky by a BUK missile. The Dutch-led probe said it was going to prosecute Russian nationals Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, adding they would be placed on national and international wanted lists. Dutch prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said the four men "will be held accountable for bringing the deadly weapon, the BUK Telar, into eastern Ukraine". Relatives of the victims earlier said they had been told the ..
Militants carrying out odd attacks as they've lost the battle: J&K guv
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Wednesday militants were carrying out odd attacks on the security forces at the behest of their handlers across the border as they have lost the battle. "These attacks are nothing new in this place, but we have subdued it over the past six months. I believe 100 per cent that they (militants) are under pressure from across (the border) to do something," Malik said in an apparent reference to the Pakistan-based militant handlers. "They (militant handlers) feel that they have lost as the terror infrastructure they had raised in last 10 years has been dismantled," he said on the sidelines of a function here. "That's why they carry out an odd attack. In such cases, the initiative obviously lies with the attacker, but still we assure you that we will uproot this menace very soon." The governor asserted that the recruitment of new militants had stopped, while stone-pelting incidents after Friday prayers had also ended. "People have realised .
SSDF hods rally to condemn security personnel's killings in terror attacks
The Shiv Sena Dogra Front activists Wednesday held a demonstration to condemn recent killings of security personnel in terror attacks in the Valley and demanded stern measures to wipe out the menace from the state. The SSDF activists, carrying tricolour and photographs of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and shouting slogans like 'aur kitne shaheed honge, jawab do jawab do' and 'aar karo ya par karo', took out a rally at Rani Park here in the city. Ten security personnel including Major Ketan Sharma, Inspector Arshad Khan and two CRPF assistant sub-inspectors were killed and several others injured in a series of attacks and encounters in the Valley over the last week. "The terror activities in the Valley are on the rise and need to be curbed with iron hand," said SSDF chief Ashok Gupta, while leading the protest. He said there is a need for final assault on the terrorism to root it out from the state.
US interests come under repeated fire in Iraq: officials
US assets in Iraq have been targeted at least five times in as many days, officials said Wednesday, amid a tense standoff between Baghdad's key allies, Washingon and Tehran. The attacks follow a series of operations against tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters which the US has blamed on Iran, raising fears of a regional war. In Baghdad, officials have voiced fears that a proxy conflict between the bitter enemies could play out in Iraq, where political and armed groups routinely accuse each other of being agents for foreign states. On Wednesday at dawn, "a Katyusha rocket fell on an Iraqi drilling company in the Burjesiya area near Basra, wounding three people according to an initial assessment," Iraqi military command said in a statement. Oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told AFP that those wounded were all Iraqis. Burjesiya is a complex near southern Iraq's main city, in a key oil-producing region hosting various Iraqi and foreign companies including US major Exxon Mobil. The ...
Pompeo cancels visit to Lanka
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday cancelled his trip to Sri Lanka, still recovering from the Easter Sunday bombings, due to "unavoidable scheduling conflicts" during his visit to the Indo-Pacific region next week. Pompeo's trip to Colombo was aimed at expressing America's solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as they stand united against the despicable April 21 suicide attacks. New Delhi would be Pompeo's first stop and South Korea his last during the nearly week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region, beginning June 24, that was also scheduled to take him to Sri Lanka and Japan. His trip is aimed at deepening US partnerships in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The US Embassy in Colombo in a statement said Pompeo will not be visiting Sri Lanka due to "unavoidable scheduling conflicts" during his visit to the Indo-Pacific region that includes accompanying President Donald Trump to the G20 Summit in Japan. "Pompeo regrets that he is no longer able to visit Colombo at this ..
