Page 149 - War Conflict

Convoy targeted at US base in Afghanistan: Afghan officials

A bomber targeted a convoy carrying foreign troops outside Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on Monday, two Afghan officials said, after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide blast. According to Bagram district governor Abdul Shakoor Quddusi, a car bomber attacked an armoured vehicle carrying foreign forces close to a gate to the base. "The area is closed down by foreign forces and we don't have any information of any possible casualties," Quddusi told AFP. The US-led NATO mission in Kabul did not immediately confirm whether any such explosion had taken place. A spokesperson for the Parwan governor said a suicide bomber had targeted a convoy of coalition forces at Bagram. "The area is cordoned off by the coalition forces. We will release further details later," the official said. Earlier, the Taliban claimed to have conducted an attack with a car bomb, saying "multiple invaders" had been killed. Bagram Airfield, America's largest air base in Afghanistan, is located about 50 .

Air strike halts Tripoli flights as thousands flee Libya clashes

Fighting raged around Tripoli and an air strike closed its only functioning airport Monday, as Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar defied international calls to halt his advance on the capital. Thousands were also reported by the United Nations to be fleeing the capital city in face of Haftar's surprise assault which has left dozens dead. The EU's foreign policy chief on Monday added her voice to those urging the eastern strongman to stop his offensive, in the wake of calls for restraint by the UN Security Council and the United States. "I make a very strong appeal to Libyan leaders and in particular to Haftar to stop all military activities... and to return to the negotiation table", Federica Mogherini said after talks with EU foreign ministers. Dozens of people have been killed and thousands displaced in the fighting since Haftar's forces launched their onslaught against Tripoli and its unity government on Thursday. A security source at Mitiga airport, east of the capital, said no side .

34 Naxals surrender in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

Thirty-four Naxals, including three women, Monday surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said. They were low rung functionaries of the proscribed outfit and were involved in cases of loot, attempt to murder in areas like Manikonta, Gaganpalli, Kongdam, Mettaguda and Maraiguda villages of Errabor area, about 500 kilometres from here, a police official said. Seventeen of them had permanent arrest warrants against their names, the official added. They laid down their arms before Sukma Superintendent of Police D S Maravi at Errabor police station, he said. "Among those who surrendered, Madvi Hinga was heading the Maoists' so-called revolutionary people's committee. He handed over his muzzle-loading gun to the police," he said. He termed the surrender of such a large group of Naxals as a big success in the region, especially against the backdrop of the ultras Lok Sabha poll boycott call. The region, which is part of Bastar Lok Sabha seat, will go to polls on ...

Karambir Singh's appointment to Naval Chief arbitrary, says Vice Admiral Bimal Verma in petition

Vice Admiral Bimal Verma on Monday moved the Armed Forces Tribunal stating that the government had in an "arbitrary and whimsical" manner ignored the recommendation of the Chief of Naval Staff and appointed his junior Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next chief of the Indian Navy.The Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command in his petition has sought to know why he was overlooked as the next Navy chief despite being the senior most in terms of the length of service.In a letter dated March 23, he stated that the government has "illegally" and in a "wrongful" manner appointed his junior Karambir Singh as the next Navy chief.Verma will be represented by his daughter Rhea Verma at the Armed Forces Tribunal."The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, Eastern Naval Commander as the next Chief of Naval Staff in place of Admiral Sunil Lanba who vacates the office on 31 May 2019," Defence Ministry spokesperson Col Aman Anand said earlier on Monday.Vice Admiral ...

Air strikes, NRC in other parts of country figure in BJP manifesto

With the BJP making nationalism a central theme of its poll campaign, its manifesto released on Monday asserted that the security doctrine will be guided by national interest only, mentioning surgical strike and air strike against terrorists as examples of its stand, and promised NRC exercise in other parts of India. The party said it will firmly continue with its policy of giving a free hand to security forces in combating terrorism. Talking tough on infiltration, the party has said it will implement National Register of Citizens, which is currently underway in Assam to identify illegal immigrants, in a phased manner in other parts of the country, as they cause "huge change" in the cultural and linguistic identity of the areas they live. "The decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fundamentally altered the national security paradigm of India in the last five years," the manifesto released by top party leaders, including Modi and its president Amit Shah, said. If vote

Libya clashes resume with 35 dead, thousands displaced

Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar pushed on with his assault on Tripoli Monday, defying international calls for a ceasefire days into a battle that has left dozens dead. At least 35 people have been killed in fighting since Haftar's forces launched their assault Thursday, Libya's unity government said, while the UN says thousands have been displaced. Oil-rich Libya has been rocked by violent power struggles between an array of armed groups since the NATO-backed overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Haftar, a former Kadhafi military chief, has emerged as a major player, his self-styled Libyan National Army backing an administration in the country's east in opposition to the UN-backed unity government based in Tripoli. Having seized control of much of eastern Libya and buoyed by a series of victories in the desert south, Haftar turned his sights on Tripoli this month, vowing to "cleanse" it of "terrorists and mercenaries". After a pause overnight, fighting resumed Monday .

Vice Admiral Bimal Verma moves tribunal for being overlooked as next navy chief

Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command Vice Admiral Bimal Verma has approached an armed forces tribunal seeking to know why he was overlooked as the next navy chief despite being the senior-most in the line of command, official sources said Monday. The government last month named Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as next chief of the naval staff, succeeding Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires on May 30. The government made the selection following a merit-based approach and did not go with the tradition of appointing the senior-most eligible officer to the post. Vice Admiral Verma is senior to Singh and was among the contenders for the top post. Sources said Vice Admiral Verma has approached an armed forces tribunal in the national capital to know why the government ignored his seniority. His petition is likely to be taken up Tuesday, they said Besides Verma, the other contenders for the Navy Chief post included Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, FOC-in-C of ...

Vice Admiral Verma moves tribunal for being overlooked as next navy chief

He approached the court seeking why was he overlooked as next navy chief despite being the senior-most in line of command

India, Sri Lanka agree for greater defence cooperation

India and Sri Lanka Monday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including training Sri Lankan military personnel, as foreign secretary Sanjay Mitra called on President Maithripala Sirisena. Mitra arrived on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday during which he will participate in several high level defence cooperation meetings. He will also meet his counterpart Hemasiri Fernando and chief of defense staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, besides visiting the central town of Kandy and the north central town of Anuradhapura. India and Sri Lanka have agreed for enhanced cooperation in the areas of security and defence including regional security, said a statement from the president Sirisena's office. The statement came after Sirisena's meeting with Mitra here this morning, it said. India has agreed to train Sri Lankan defence personnel, it added. Training of Sri Lankan defense personnel in India became an explosive issue during former Tamil Nadu chief minister ..

99 militants killed in Afghan battle

At least 99 Taliban militants and 12 government security personnel have been killed in a fierce and lengthy battle in Afghanistans Badghis province, officials said on Monday.

V-Mart Retail expands its retail presence

This takes the total number of stores to 216 Stores in 171 Cities across 17 states and total tally of Jammu & Kashmir is 6 stores and Bihar is 42 stores.

99 militants, 12 troopers killed in Afghanistan

At least 99 Taliban fighters and 12 troopers have been killed in a fierce battle in Afghanistans Badghis province, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

US pulls troops out of Libya amid violence

The US has pulled a contingent of its troops from Libya amid rising violence in the capital city of Tripoli, America's top commander for Africa said.

Taliban kill 12 Afghan security forces in western Afghanistan

Taliban fighters have killed 12 security forces in the last 48 hours in clashes in Afghanistan's western province of Badghis, the defence ministry said Monday. In the latest assault on Afghan forces -- who have faced devastating losses in recent years -- Taliban fighters last week smashed through government lines near the city of Bala Murghab, seizing several checkpoints. "It is with great sadness we announce that during these operations, eight Afghan National Army and four police who fought with bravery and courage accepted martyrdom," the defence ministry said in a statement. Another 10 soldiers and 24 police were wounded in the operation that killed "99 Taliban terrorists," it added. Clearance operations continue in the district, officials said, and security forces helped Red Cross workers evacuate the bodies of Taliban fighters that had been left on battlefields, officials said. The defence ministry last week said Afghan forces had made a "tactical retreat" from a number of ...

Libya clashes death toll rises to 32: UN-backed government

At least 32 people have been killed and around 50 wounded in fighting with strongman Khalifa Haftar's troops near Tripoli, the UN-backed government said. Health minister A'hmid Omar gave the updated death toll in an interview with Libya's Al-Ahrar television station late Sunday. Haftar's forces have so far said 14 of their fighters have died. Fierce clashes raged on Sunday near Tripoli between pro-Haftar fighters and troops loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The two sides also exchanged air strikes days after Haftar -- who backs an administration in eastern Libya opposed to the GNA -- launched an offensive Thursday to seize the capital. The clashes came despite calls by the United Nations and the United States for an urgent ceasefire. Pro-GNA forces on Sunday announced a counteroffensive named "Volcano of Anger". Spokesman Colonel Mohamed Gnounou said the operation was aimed at "purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces", .

Jalalabad: IED blast kills 2, 5 injured

Two people were killed and five others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jalalabad city on Monday morning.Tolo News confirmed that the IED was embedded in a military vehicle, after quoting provincial police spokesman, Farid Khan.The police said that the people who suffered injuries were shifted to nearby hospitals.However, no terror group has claimed responsibility for the blast.The blast comes after three people were killed and 19 others wounded in two back-to-back roadside bombings in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday.

Afghanistan to hold peace talks with Taliban in Qatar

In a landmark decision, Afghanistan on Sunday (local time) announced that it will send an official delegation to Qatar later this month for peace talks with the Taliban."An inclusive official delegation will attend the Qatar meeting representing Afghanistan," Anadolu News Agency quoted Mohammad Umer Daudzai, special presidential envoy, as saying.The Taliban is yet to respond to the development. The group has so far refused to participate in the peace talks initiated by the Afghan government.The announcement comes in the midst of US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad's multi-nation tour on Afghanistan's peace process and to give a renewed push for stalled negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban.It also comes after several rounds of negotiations between the US and Taliban in Doha, Qatar's capital city. These negotiations are aimed at ending the nearly two-decades-old conflict in Afghanistan.No dates have been announced yet for the next round of ...

Fighting near Libyan capital leaves 21 dead

Libya's UN-backed government says 21 people have been killed and 27 wounded in fighting near the capital, Tripoli.

Russia blocks UN Libya statement singling out Haftar's forces

Russia on Sunday blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have called on forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to halt their advance on Tripoli, diplomats said. Moscow insisted that the formal statement urge all Libyan forces to stop fighting, but the proposed change was opposed by the United States, council diplomats said. After a closed-door meeting on Friday, the council called on Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army to "halt its military activity" in an agreed statement to the press. Britain then proposed a more formal text for approval to the 15-member council that was opposed by Russia. All council statements are agreed by consensus. The proposed statement would have called on Haftar's forces to halt all military activity and for all forces to de-escalate, according to the text seen by AFP. The draft also would have "called for those who undermine Libya's peace and security to be held to account" and renewed support for a national conference to be ...

US withdraws forces from Libya amid clashes near Tripoli

The US pulled out a contingent of its troops from Libya on Sunday (local time) amid deteriorating security situation near the capital city of Tripoli as fighting by warring parties escalate in the strife-torn North African nation."The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable. Even with an adjustment of the force, we will continue to remain agile in support of existing US strategy," Marine Corps General Thomas Waldhauser, head of US Africa Command, said in a statement.The US forces, who provides military support for anti-terror activities, diplomatic missions and enhancing regional security were temporarily relocated from Libya due to the "increased unrest", CNN reported.India also evacuated its entire contingent of peacekeeping forces comprising of 15 CRPF personnel from Tripoli after the situation in Libya "suddenly worsened"."The situation in Libya has suddenly worsened. There is fighting in Tripoli. Indian Embassy in Tunisia ...