Page 142 - War Conflict
4 Haqqani militants killed in Afghan airstrike
At least four Haqqani militants were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's Paktia province on Friday, officials said.
CRPF trooper injured in petrol bomb attack
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was injured on Friday in a petrol bomb attack here.
ICC judges turn down request for Afghanistan war crimes probe
Judges at the International Criminal Court Friday turned down a request to open a war crimes probe in Afghanistan, a week after Washington revoked the court's chief prosecutor's visa over the case. "The judges decided that an investigation into the situation in Afghanistan at this stage would not serve the interests of justice," the Hague-based court said in a statement. Fatou Bensouda's US visa was revoked over a possible probe involving American soldiers' actions since 2003 in the bloody Afghan conflict. Bensouda in late 2017 asked judges to give her permission to probe alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan committed by the Taliban, Afghan government forces and international forces including US troops. The US has never joined the ICC and does not recognise its authority over American citizens, saying it poses a threat to national sovereignty. Washington also argues that it has its own robust procedures in place to deal with US troops who engage in ...
Pak launches guidelines to implement UNSC 1267 Sanctions in country
Amidst intense global pressure to rein in terror outfits, Pakistan on Friday launched guidelines for implementing the UNSC 1267 Sanctions targeting UN-proscribed individuals and entities in the country. The guidelines will help meet international obligations against people and groups targeted by the UN, the Foreign Office (FO) said. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Pakistan had to be mindful of fulfilling its international legal obligations, including the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Sanctions. She expressed hope that the guidelines would assist all stakeholders in better discharging their responsibilities for the effective implementation of the UN Sanctions. The guidelines were prepared by the National Committee for overseeing implementation of Sanctions against individuals and entities designated by the UN Security Council 1267 Al Qaida/Da'esh Sanctions regime and Security Council 1988 (Taliban Sanctions regime), the FO said. The guidelines have been ...
Toll rises to 20 in Quetta blast, 48 injured
Toll in the suicide bomb blast that took place at a vegetable market in Hazar Gunji area of Quetta on Friday rose to 20, provincial authorities have said.Quoting DIG, Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema, Express Tribune has reported that the blast that occurred around 7:35 am was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden among vegetables in the market."The IED was concealed in a sack of potatoes," the DIG was quoted as saying.At least 48 others, including three security personnel, were injured in the blast, the DIG added.The wounded have been shifted to Bolan Medical Complex and Civil Hospital, while the site of the blast was cordoned off by the security forces, he said.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to condemn the blast. He has asked for a report on the blast."Deeply saddened and have strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Hazarganji market area of Quetta targeting our innocent people. I have asked for an immediate inquiry and increased security for the .
Taliban declare start of spring offensive amid talks with US
The Taliban announced Friday the start of their spring offensive despite talking peace with the United States and ahead of a significant gathering of Afghans meant to discuss resolutions to the protracted war and an eventual withdrawal of American troops from the country. The insurgents released a lengthy missive in five languages, including English, saying the fighting would continue while foreign forces remain in Afghanistan. The announcement is something the militant group does every year, even though Taliban attacks never really ceased during the harsh winter months. The insurgents carry out daily attacks targeting Afghan security forces and NATO troops, and inflicting staggering casualties, including among civilians. Most recently, a Taliban attack near the main U.S. air base in Afghanistan killed three Marines on Monday. The Taliban now hold sway over half the country after a relentless 17-year war, America's longest. Friday's announcement instructs the Taliban mujahedeen, or ...
CPI (Maoist) claims responsibility for Dantewada attack
The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has claimed the responsibility for Tuesday's attack in Dantewada district, wherein a BJP MLA and four police personnel were killed. The banned outfit also accused the Central government of looting the natural resources of Bastar to benefit corporate houses and selling it to them at throwaway prices. "Our PLGA (Peoples' Liberation Guerilla Army) had executed the attack (on April 9) and killed Bheema Mandavi and his four security guards. We have also recovered four weapons," said a purported statement issued by Maoists and being circulated on the social media on Friday. Police had earlier said that three weapons, including two rifles, of the security personnel were missing after the attack. The two-page statement was issued in the name of Sainath, secretary of Darbha division committee of Dandakaranya Special Zone of Maoists, which had been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks in south Bastar, including the deadly Jhiram valley attack
Military veterans seek prez's intervention in protecting apolitical nature of armed forces
Expressing outrage over the "use" of the armed forces for "political purposes", over 150 military veterans have written to President Ram Nath Kovind to seek his intervention in preserving the apolitical character of the services. The letter, dated April 11, carries the names of eight former service chiefs but two of them -- former Army chief General (retd) S F Rodrigues and Air Chief Marshal (retd) N C Suri -- said they have not signed it. Former Army vice chief Lt Gen (retd) M L Naidu also said his consent was not taken before listing his name as one of the signatories. When contacted, several veterans, including former Army chiefs Gen (retd) Deepak Kapoor and Gen (retd) Shankar Roy Chowdhury, acknowledged writing the letter. Chowdhury said the letter was written expressing sentiments of the military veterans on an important issue. The veterans said they chose to write to the president as he is the custodian of the Constitution as well as the supreme commander of the armed ...
Turkey slams French decision to mark Armenian genocide
Turkey's foreign minister has criticized a French decision to mark April 24 as a day of commemoration of the Armenian genocide, saying France should "look at its own dark history." Mevlut Cavusoglu made the comments Friday during a tense exchange of words with a French parliamentarian at a NATO meeting in Turkey, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron's decision was inscribed in France's official journal. Many historians regard the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire a century ago the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey rejects the term genocide, contending that those who died were victims of civil war. Cavusoglu said: "France is the last country to teach Turkey a lesson on genocide and history. We haven't forgotten what happened in Rwanda and Algeria.
Germany indicts suspected rebel over Sri Lanka war crimes
German authorities have indicted a Sri Lankan man suspected of involvement in killing 15 captured government soldiers while fighting for the Tamil Tigers rebel group. Federal prosecutors said Friday that 37-year-old Sivatheeban B. is accused of membership in a foreign terrorist organization, war crimes, two cases of manslaughter and 11 cases of attempted manslaughter. The man, whose surname wasn't released due to German privacy rules, was arrested in August. Prosecutors allege that in 2008 the suspect guarded 15 captured soldiers as they were driven to a site where they were executed, and later helped burn their bodies. In a separate incident a year later, he fired on 13 soldiers, two of whom died. The rebel group, which fought for a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, was defeated in 2009.
Three civilians injured in Pak shelling along LoC in J-K's Pooch
Three civilians, including two women, were injured Friday when Pakistani troops targeted forward posts and civilian areas with mortars and small arms firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, drawing strong retaliation from the Indian Army. With Pakistan using heavy weaponry and 120 mm mortar bombs targeting civilian areas, people have been advised to stay indoors, officials said. "At about 0830 hours, Pakistani Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Swajian sector of Poonch," PRO defence said. The Indian Army is effectively retaliating, he said. Three persons, including two women, identified as Tasveer Akhtar, 19, and Shabina Akhtar, 18, of Chapprian village, were injured in the Pakistani shelling and they have been hospitalised, officials said. A house of one Gani Mir suffered damages in Chapprian-Sawjian forward belt, they said. As Pakistani army often targets civilian ..
Setback to peace talks in Afghanistan, Taliban launches annual spring offensive
In a major setback to US-led peace talks in Afghanistan, Taliban on Friday announced its annual spring offensive, with an aim of "eradicating occupation" and "cleansing Muslim homeland from invasion and corruption".According to Al Jazeera, the annual spring offensive marks the beginning of the so-called fighting season.Taliban, in a statement, said: "Operation Fath, which means victory in Arabic, will be conducted across Afghanistan with the aim of eradicating occupation and cleansing our Muslim homeland from invasion and corruption."However, the government has called the Taliban's spring offensive as "mere propaganda"."The Taliban will not reach their vicious goals and their operations will be defeated like previous years," Qais Mangal, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence.The announcement comes despite the US efforts to end two decades of war in Afghanistan. Several rounds of negotiations were conducted by the US in Doha, Qatar's capital city.In December last year, US ...
Rajapaksa's brother returns to Lanka, keen to contest presidential polls
Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Friday returned to the island nation and said he has taken necessary steps to denounce his US citizenship to be able to contest the presidential polls later this year. Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya is being promoted as the main candidate from the Rajapaksa camp to face the next presidential election later this year as Rajapaksa cannot constitutionally run for a third term. Gotabhaya, who is a dual-citizen of Sri Lanka and the US, returned to the country after a private visit to the US and said that during his stay in America he has taken the necessary steps to denounce the US citizenship. I have taken all necessary steps Rajapaksa said, addressing reporters upon his return from the US. Gotabhaya, who under his brother's decade-old rule between 2005 and 2015 spearheaded the military onslaught against the LTTE, will have to renounce his dual citizenship to be able to contest the presidential election to .
Several senior armed forces veterans deny writing letter to President over alleged politicisation of services
Several senior armed forces veterans on Friday denied writing a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind over alleged politicisation of the services with former Army Chief General Sunith Francis Rodrigues calling it "a classic manifestation of fake news".Meanwhile, a Rashtrapati Bhavan source said that the President has not received any letter purportedly written by a group of former officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force."I do not know what it is all about. All my life, we have been apolitical. After 42 years as an officer, it is a little late to change. We have always put India first. I do not know who these people are and it (the letter with names of officers) is a classic manifestation of fake news," General Rodrigues said.The purported letter, which went viral on social media, named eight former services chiefs including General Rodrigues and Ex-Air Chief Nirmal Chandra Suri.Air Chief Marshal Suri said, "This is not Admiral Ramdas' letter and it has been done by some Major ...
20 die in Pakistan blast targeting Hazaras (2nd Lead)
At least 20 people were killed and 48 others injured in a blast that targeted members of the ethnic Hazara community at a market in Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday, police said.
Taliban announces spring offensive in Afghanistan
The Taliban announced their annual spring offensive in Afghanistan on Friday with a special focus on capturing urban areas.
'Scared' Muslims avoid Christchurch mosques a month after attacks
Four weeks on from the New Zealand mosques massacre, the Christchurch Muslim community was struggling to get worshippers to overcome their fears and return to Friday prayers. "They are still very scared," Linwood mosque Imam Ibrahim Abdelhalim told AFP. "Normally we would expect around 100, but now it's about 30." A 28-year-old Australian, Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed white supremacist, has been charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder after opening fire at the Linwood and Al Noor mosques on March 15. The Muslim community was further shaken this week when a 33-year-old man, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the name of US President Donald Trump, shouted abuse at worshippers at the Al Noor mosque. Daniel Nicholas Tuapawa, who pleaded guilty in court Friday to acting in a manner "likely to cause violence," said he did not realise what he had done until police showed him a video of him yelling abusive comments including "all Muslims are terrorists". "I can't believe .
Police use batons to quell protests by students in Karnal
The Haryana Police Friday used batons and tear gas to disperse a group of students in Karnal, who allegedly indulged in stone-pelting to protest the death of a student after coming under the wheels of a state-run bus. Police said the students were protesting the death of a 20-year-old student of an Industrial Training Institute, who came under the wheels of a bus at ITI Chowk in Karnal on Thursday when he was trying to board it. Students charged that state transport bus drivers do not stop buses at designated stops forcing them to chase buses. They claimed the student was hit by the bus but the driver did not immediately bring the vehicle to a halt as a result of which the student was crushed to death. The protesting students pelted stones at the police on Friday morning. leaving few policemen injured, police said. Police used batons and tear gas to quell the protests. Karnal's Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria, who was present at the spot, said the situation was now ...
16 killed in Pakistan blast targeting Hazaras
At least 16 people were killed and over two dozen others injured in a blast that targeted members of the ethnic Hazara community in Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday, police said.
Taliban announce spring offensive amid Afghan peace push
The Taliban on Friday announced their annual spring offensive, which comes as the US and Afghan politicians try to negotiate for a peace settlement with the Islamist militants. Operation Fath -- which means "victory" in Arabic -- will be conducted across Afghanistan with the aim of "eradicating occupation" and "cleansing our Muslim homeland from invasion and corruption", the Taliban said in a statement. The annual spring offensive traditionally marks the start of the so-called fighting season, though the announcement is largely symbolic as in recent winters the Taliban have continued fighting Afghan and US forces. "Our Jihadi obligation has not yet ended," the Taliban said. "Even as large parts of our homeland have been freed from the enemy, yet the foreign occupying forces continue exercising military and political influence in our Islamic country." Qais Mangal, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence, said the Taliban's spring offensive is "mere propaganda." "The Taliban will