Page 251 - War Conflict
Iranian TV: Attack on paramilitary base kills 1, wounds 5
Iranian state TV is reporting that an attack on a Basij paramilitary base has left one dead and five others wounded in the southeastern town of Nikshahr. Authorities did not provide details about the nature of Saturday's assault and no group immediately claimed responsibility. The Basij is affiliated with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard. The attack happened during the morning flag raising at the base, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Nikshahr is located in Sistan-Baluchistan province. Last week, a double-bombing attack injured three policemen in Zahedan, the provincial capital. Baluch separatists and drug traffickers have claimed responsibility for past attacks. In December, a suicide car bomber struck a police headquarters in the port city of Chabahar, killing at least two police and wounding 42 others.
Top IS leader arrested in Libya's Sirte
Libyan security forces have arrested a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in the city of Sirte, said an official on conditions of anonymity.
Boko Haram kills 60 in Nigeria
Terrorist group Boko Haram killed at least 60 people in the northeastern town of Rann on Monday in a renewed attack.Al Jazeera quoted Amnesty International Nigeria director Osai Ojigho as saying, "This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crimes, and those responsible must be brought to justice."He further said that the witnesses stated that the Nigerian soldiers had abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the authorities' failure to protect the unarmed citizens.According to Al Jazeera, this was one of the bloodiest attacks in Boko Haram's decade-long conflict. This came two weeks after the militant group had overrun the same town, driving out Nigerian soldiers and marking its re-emergence.Last year, the Nigerian Army had inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram when they had attacked the Garshigar community of Mobar Local Government Area in Borno.Boko Haram is an Islamist militant group operating .
Afghan peace talks result of US' military pressure on Taliban: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that the Afghan peace talks, which is expected to bring a breakthrough in the 18-year conflict, are the result of America's military pressure on the Taliban. Last month, Trump had said regional countries like Russia and India should play a more active role in resolving the Afghan conflict. "We spend USD 50 billion a year in Afghanistan and have hit them so hard that we are now talking peace after 18 long years," Trump tweeted. Reiterating that the wars in Syria and Afghanistan must end, he said, "I inherited a total mess in Syria and Afghanistan, the "Endless Wars" of unlimited spending and death...these wars must finally end." Trump's comments came hours after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad defended his talks with the Taliban and cautioned against a rush to judgment. While Khalilzad said his nearly week-long meeting with Taliban officials yielded "significant progress," Afghan President .
Sisters die in bomb blast
Two teenage sisters were killed and their mother seriously injured in a bomb blast in interior Subunglong forest in Noney hill district, about 145 km from here on Friday, police said. The two, aged 15 and 17 years, had gone with their mother for jhum cultivation, the police said. While the elder sibling died at the spot in the explosion, the other succumbed to her injuries, the police said adding their mother was seriously injured. Police seized three bombs from the area after the incident and an FIR has been registered at Khouphum police station. Investigations into the incident, police added.
BJP can instigate riots, says its ally in UP government
Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, who heads the BJP ally SBSP, Friday claimed that a US agency has warned that the saffron party could instigate riots. The minister was apparently referring to reported remarks by US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on an assessment by intelligence agencies on threats worldwide. According to reports, Coats said there was a possibility of communal violence if the BJP stresses on nationalist themes. But Rajbhar was more direct, claiming, "An American agency, in its secret report, has said that BJP can instigate riots... riots can take place in India. I am telling you not to fight in the name of Hindus and Muslims. It is only the common people who die in riots and not the leaders," he said at a public meeting in Saidpura village of Bansdih area. In an apparent reference to a meeting of seers at the Kumbh Mela recently, he said, "They are in the mood for riots now. They can start riots on February 21. "Remain vigilant as these are ...
Bomb kills two girls in Manipur
A bomb exploded on a mountain in Manipur's Noney district on Friday, killing two teenage tribal sisters, police sources said.
Trump 'serious' about Afghan withdrawal, Taliban says
US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out of Afghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the "Islamic system" comprising "all Afghans" that the group says it hopes to establish under any peace deal. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day after the US said talks with the militants are "on the right path", fuelling speculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict. The US president's apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on the negotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatar last week. "An agreement was reached on a principle framework... which, if implemented, and if the Americans take honest steps and stick to it truthfully, then God willing we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation of Afghanistan," Mujahid said. "It appears that Trump is serious," the Taliban spokesman continued. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also spoke this week of a "draft framework" for a deal, though
CRPF jawan injured in grenade attack by militants
A CRPF jawan was Friday injured in a grenade attack by militants on security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The ultras lobbed a grenade on a security forces' party at Namtehaal in Budgam as they were returning to their camp, a police official said. He said one CRPF jawan sustained minor injuries in the blast. The official said the security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt for the assailants. This is the third grenade attack on security forces in Kashmir in as many days. Ultras hurled a grenade on security forces at Sherbagh in Anantnag on Thursday, resulting in injuries to seven people, including two CRPF jawans. On Wednesday, the militants hurled a grenade at a police station in Kulgam district, injuring three civilians.
Observer Research Foundation named 'highest ranked' Indian think tank
Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has been named the "highest ranked" Indian think tank in the "2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report", the Foundation said in a statement on Friday.
Top French court upholds police use of controversial riot guns
France's top administrative court ruled Friday that police could continue using a rubber bullet launcher blamed for dozens of injuries during the "yellow vest" protests which have roiled the country since November. The CGT labour union and the Human Rights League NGO had filed the complaint seeking a ban on the weapons, which shoot 40-millimeter rubber projectiles that are considered non-lethal. Their representatives argued this week that the rubber bullets had been fired some 9,200 times since the anti-government protests began, causing severe injuries in many cases. The Desarmons-Les (Disarm Them) collective, which campaigns against police violence, claims that 20 protesters have lost an eye from the devices. Such weapons are prohibited for use in riot control in most Western European countries. But the Council of State said that the threat of violence during the yellow vest protests being held on Saturdays in Paris and other cities rendered their use by police necessary. "Contrary .
Afghan women fear cost of peace will be their freedom
It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors -- barred from education and work -- have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power. "If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together. Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power. "We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music -- banned under the Taliban -- plays in the background. After six ..
J-K: Girl shot dead by terrorists in Shopian
A 25-year-old woman was brutally shot dead by unidentified terrorists in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, who also uploaded a video of the killing on social media, police said on Friday.SP Pani, IG Kashmir range said, "A 25-year-old girl was shot dead by terrorist yesterday night at Shopian. She was brutally killed and then it (the killing) was uploaded on social media. It is a terror crime and police is looking into it ..."Adding that such incidents are an attempt by terrorists to deter the peace process, he said, "The terrorists want to terrorise people and these kind of gruesome acts are part of it. It is also an attempt to create an environment where they want to show that they can punish citizen. But security forces and police are working in close coordination and such people who are behind terror crime; they shall be brought before the law."On January 31, four civilians and one CRPF personnel were injured after terrorists lobbed a grenade near Shairbagh police station in ..
2 JeM terrorists killed in J-K encounter
Two terrorists from militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.The encounter ensued when security forces launched a search operation in Rajpora area, after being tipped off from credible sources about the presence of terrorists in the area, according to a police official.SP Pani, IG Kashmir range said, "An operation was launched in Rajpora based on specific input. Two terrorists were killed in this operation and their bodies have been handed over to families after completion of medical examination. As per inputs, they were part of the proscribed terrorist outfit JeM. One of them was active since quite some time and was involved in several terror-related offences."On January 26, security forces had in an encounter gunned down two terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition from them on Saturday in Khonmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar.The encounter on Republic Day ensued while ...
Sri Lanka to get $1 bn Chinese loan, sign free trade pact
Sri Lanka will get a $1 billion loan from China, its biggest lender and might sign a free trade agreement with Beijing, becoming the third country to ink such a pact in India's neighbourhood.
Afghan official: Taliban hit army checkpoint, kill 6 troops
An Afghan official says the Taliban have attacked an army checkpoint in one of the country's northern provinces, killing at least six soldiers. Zabihullah Amani, the provincial governor's spokesman, says seven soldiers were also wounded in the attack on Thursday night in Sozma Qala district in Sari Pul province. Amani says nine Taliban fighters were killed and 13 were wounded in a gunbattled that followed the attack. He added that reinforcements were dispatched to the area and that it is now under control of Afghan forces. The Taliban didn't immediately say they were behind the attack but the insurgents have been carrying out near-daily attacks on Afghan forces. The violence comes despite stepped-up efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war.
US in serious negotiations on Afghanistan for first time: Trump
The US is in serious negotiations with the Taliban for the first time in 19 years to end the war in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump has said as he touted his administration's talks with the militant group. The optimistic tone come hours after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad defended his talks with the Taliban and cautioned against a rush to judgment. While Khalilzad said his nearly week-long meeting with Taliban officials yielded "significant progress," Afghan President Ghani expressed concerns about the US troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. "I can't tell you that this is a guarantee because we are going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan and for the first time, they are talking about settling, they are talking about making an agreement and we bring our people back home if that happens," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We will see what happens but they are in very serious negotiations for the first
Security beefed up in Kashmir for Modi's visit
Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on February 3, officials said here on Friday. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength around the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, the venue for Modi's engagements in the valley, a senior police official said. He said the entire area around the venue is being sanitised and security personnel have been deployed to ensure that militants are not able to carry out any subversive activities. "Besides area domination, the focus is on intelligence gathering to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit of the prime minister," the official said. Mobile checkpoints have been set up at dozens of places within the city and at all entry points of the summer capital of the state, he said. Modi is scheduled to visit all three regions of the state. During his day-long visit, he will inaugurate or lay foundation stones for several development projects. Separatists have called ..
Woman shot dead by militants in JK, video circulated on social media
A 25-year-old woman in Jammu and Kashmir was shot dead at point blank range by militants, who made a video of the incident and circulated it on social media, police said Friday. The victim has been identified as Ishrat Muneer, a resident of Dangerpora in Pulwama district, a police spokesman said. The body of the woman was recovered from Dragad area of Shopian district. "In a gruesome act of terror, terrorists shot dead a 25-year-old girl from a point blank range. The dead body was retrieved by police from Dragad area of Zainapora in Shopian district," he said. "Terrorists while perpetrating this gruesome act, made a video of the incident and circulated it on social media," the spokesman added. The woman in the short video clip can be seen pleading for mercy with folded hands but the gunman shoot her twice, police said. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated investigation. "Pertinently, police investigation is focused on some credible leads and it
Two JeM militants killed in encounter in J&K's Pulwama
Two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Drabgam area of Pulwama following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said a gun battle ensued as the militants opened fire at the security forces. Two militants, identified as Shahid Mushtaq Baba and Inayat Abdullah Zigar -- both residents of Pulwama, were killed in the gun battle, the official said. "The duo was affiliated with Jaish and Baba was wanted by the law for his complicity in several terror crimes," he said. "Inayat was an active supporter of terror activities of JeM for a long time. He had joined the outfit as an active cadre very recently," he said.