Page 277 - War Conflict
PM greets soldiers on Army Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday greeted soldiers on the occasion of Army Day, saying the nation is proud of their grit and determination. "I bow to their courage and bravery," he tweeted. He said the countrymen are proud of the grit and determination of the soldiers. Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to mark the taking over as commander-in-chief of the Indian Army by then Lt Gen K M Carriappa in 1949 from GeneralFrancis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India. Carriappa later became a Field Marshal.
Taliban claim Kabul truck bomb attack, warn more to follow
The Taliban on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a powerful truck bomb attack in Kabul that ripped through surrounding neighbourhoods, killing at least four people and wounding more than 100, in the latest assault on the Afghan capital. In a grim message, the militants also vowed to carry out more attacks in the city in direct response to the recent appointment of former spymaster and anti-Taliban veteran Amrullah Saleh as interior minister. Monday evening's explosion near a heavily fortified foreign compound shook Kabul and comes as diplomats ramp up efforts to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan, which by some estimates was the world's deadliest conflict in 2018. The force of the blast was felt across the sprawling city, initially causing confusion about the exact location of the attack. It shattered windows of surrounding houses and shops. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told journalists on WhatsApp that four attackers blew up an explosives-packed truck before entering Green ...
4 killed, 90 injured in Kabul blast
Four people have been confirmed dead and 90 others including 23 children sustained injuries in a powerful blast that rocked Afghan capital Kabul on Monday evening, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish has confirmed.
Four Killed, 40 Injured in Kabul Car Bomb Attack
A car bomb attack in a wealthy neighbourhood of the capital of Afghanistan on Monday has killed at least four people and left another 40 people injured, official sources told EFE.
Myanmar delays UN refugee chief's visit
Myanmar has postponed a planned visit by the UN refugee chief to Rakhine state following renewed fighting between security forces and insurgents, a spokesman said Monday. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi was due to visit last week but Myanmar authorities scrapped the trip to Rakhine, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were driven out in a military crackdown that started in 2017. Fighting has flared after 13 police officers were killed on January 4 in an attack by Rohingya militants on border posts near the frontier with Bangladesh. "Based on assessment of Myanmar authorities of the security situation in Rakhine, the visit has been postponed," said UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic. Britain is expected to raise the issue at the UN Security Council later this week, according to diplomats. The decision to delay Grandi's trip and uncertainty surrounding a separate planned visit by the UN envoy Christine Schraner Burgener to Myanmar is fueling concerns that ...
India's nuclear doctrine based on policy of minimum credible deterrence: FS
India's nuclear doctrine is based on a policy of minimum credible deterrence with a posture of no-first-use and non-use of atomic weapons against non-nuclear weapon states, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Monday. Gokhale, in his keynote address at the 1st Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship organised by the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry, also said that India has an impeccable record of non-proliferation of advanced WMD technologies which has been acknowledged globally. "It is important to know that India was among the earliest advocates for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. We continue to attach the highest priority to the goal of universal nuclear disarmament," Gokhale said. In fact, pending the elimination of nuclear weapons, India has put forward several proposals in a Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament in 2006, he pointed out. "As a responsible nuclear power, our nuclear doctrine is based on a policy of minimum credible deterrence ...
Armed forces Veterans day observed on Monday
On the occasion of the armed forces Veterans Day, several soldiers and officers assembled at the Mathura war memorial Monday to pay their homage to the slain heroes. The purpose is to acknowledge and convey our gratitude to all the veterans for their contribution towards nation building, Col GS (IW) Vinod Pillai said. Major General U Suresh Kumar, the Chief of Staff of Head Quarters 1 Corps, laid a wreath at the war memorial following which an informal interaction took place between the serving soldiers and the retired service persons, he said.
4 killed, 44 wounded in Kabul car bomb attack: officials
A car bomb exploded near a heavily fortified foreign compound in Kabul on Monday, killing at least four people and wounding 44, officials said, in the latest attack to rock the Afghan capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the huge blast, which shook the city, but it comes as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war with the Taliban gather pace. Militants targeted Green Village, located near a busy road in the east of the city and where some foreign workers are based, said interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish. At least 10 children were among the wounded, he added. Until recently some United Nations' staff had lived and worked at the highly secure compound, but Danish said the area was now largely empty and "only a number of guards" were left. "Residential houses nearby have sustained heavy damage," Danish said. "Special police forces' units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers." The explosion happened in the early evening when ..
Police nabs five gangsters who looted petrol pump in Rajasthan
Police nabbed five people fleeing away in a car after looting a petrol pump and seized a pistol with live cartridges and cash worth Rs 2.10 lakhs in Rajasthan's Sirohi district, police said Monday. All the five accused are suspected to be associated with Jitendra Gogi, a Delhi-based gangster. Sirohi Superintendent of Police (SP) Jai Yadav said police received information on Sunday that five people have robbed a petrol pump in Bhimana area and fled in a car with Delhi's registration number. "With this information, police traced the car and started chasing it. Seeing the police following them, the car-borne men started firing at the police team and the police then responded with counter firing," Yadav said. Police succeeded in intercepting the car and arrested all the five men. Three of the accused identified as Ravindra Rajput, Vikas Jat alias Vicky and Jatin Jat alias Indrajeet are from Delhi and and the other two Amit Jat alias Meeta and Jaideep Jat alias Mogli belong to ...
Sitharaman inaugurates Married Accommodation Project in Port Blair
On her two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday reviewed the operational preparedness of the outlying units stationed at the Union Territory's capital Port Blair and inaugurated the second phase of Married Accommodation Project.
More than 40 wounded in Kabul car bomb attack: officials
A car bomb exploded near a foreign compound in the east of Kabul on Monday, wounding more than 40 people, officials said, in the latest attack to rock the Afghan capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the blast had targeted Green Village, where some foreign workers are based. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said on Twitter that "more than 40 people are wounded". Until recently some UN staff lived and worked at the compound, but Danish said the area was now largely empty and "only a number of guards" were left. "Residential houses nearby have sustained heavy damages," Danish said. "Special police forces' units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers." The latest attack comes as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad visits the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the war in Afghanistan, which by some estimates was the world's deadliest conflict zone in 2018.
Huge explosion rocks Kabul: officials
A car bomb exploded near a foreign compound in the east of Kabul on Monday, officials said, in the latest attack to rock the Afghan capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the blast had targeted Green Village, where some foreign workers are based.
Chemical arms group agrees to ban Salisbury attack poison: diplomats
The world's chemical weapons agency on Monday agreed to add Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, used in last year's Salisbury attack against a former Russian agent, to its list of banned substances, diplomats said Monday. A joint proposal by Canada, the Netherlands and the United States was adopted by the 41-member executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, they said. London blamed Moscow for the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the city of Salisbury, and said Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, was used. The OPCW executive council agreed to add two families of highly toxic chemicals, including the agent used in Salisbury, to the Chemical Weapons Convention, tweeted Sabine Nolke, Canada's envoy to the OPCW. "Russia dissociated itself from consensus but did not break. Thanks to all states who supported!" she said. Member states now have 90 days to object ...
China has 'Underground Seel Great Wall" to protect nuclear weapons from potential attacks
China has built an "Underground Steel Great Wall" below the mountains to hide its nuclear weapons from the potential attacks, said a top Chinese defence scientist who recently received the country's highest defence award from President Xi Jinping. Qian Qihu, 82, said China's "underground steel Great Wall" could "guarantee the security of the country's strategic arsenal" against potential attacks, including those from future hypersonic weapons, state-run Global Times reported on Sunday. Qian, an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told the daily that the "Underground Steel Great Wall" is a series of defence facilities located deep under mountains. While the mountain rock is thick enough to resist enemy attacks, entrances and exits of these facilities are often vulnerable and Qian's work was to provide extra protection for these parts, the daily said. China's nuclear strategy follows the principle of "no first use" and requires the
Defence Minister reviews operational preparedness of Andaman and Nicobar Command
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today reviewed the operational readiness of the Andaman and Nicobar Command in an exercise involving 10 warships, six aircraft and 700 troops including Navy and Army commandos."The Defence Minister witnessed all four components working jointly in unison during an amphibious demonstration. The exercise, conducted near Campbell Bay included 10 ships, 6 aircraft and 700 troops of the Command," a defence release said.The Marine Commando (MARCO) unit of Indian Navy and specialist platoon (GHATAK) of Indian Army displayed their operational capabilities by carrying out helocasting, and beach assault at the Campbell Bay Island."While returning from Campbell Bay, the minister visited the southernmost part of India, Indira Point. After arriving at Port Blair, the Defence Minister was given a demonstration on jungle survival skills at Military Station, Birchgunj," the release said.Later, she inaugurated the phase 2 of Married Accommodation Project (MAP) that ..
Sitharaman in Port Blair to inaugurate Married Accommodation Project
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is on a two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review the operational preparedness of the outlying units stationed at the Union Territory's capital Port Blair, and inaugurate the second phase of Married Accommodation Project (MAP).
Bangladesh garment workers reject wage hike, walk off job
Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers downed tools and walked out of clothing factories Monday, refusing to end a week-long strike over wages and rejecting government efforts to end the standoff. Police said thousands of labourers marched off factory floors for an eighth consecutive day, disrupting Bangladesh's USD 30-billion-a-year industry spinning clothes for major western brands. Unlike previous days, there were no reports of violence. One worker was killed last week after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at some 5,000 protesters. In Ashulia, near the capital Dhaka, armoured personnel carriers and hundreds of police guarded factories in the country's largest garment hub. A message broadcast over loudspeakers urged protesters to return to work: "A list is being prepared of those who are roaming around. No violence will be tolerated." As the strike entered a second week Sunday, the government brokered a deal between unions and manufacturers to end the dispute, agreeing to
First Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship Programme inaugurated in Delhi
First Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship Programme was inaugurated here by the United Nations Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, and Indian Foreign Secretary, Vijay Keshav Gokhale.According to a press release of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), young diplomats from as many as 27 countries are participating in the Fellowship Programme, which is being held at the Foreign Services Institute from January 14 to February 1.The programme, which is organised by Ministry of External Affairs, covers a range of issues relevant to disarmament and international security such as global security environment, weapons of mass destruction, certain conventional weapons, space security, maritime cooperation, security of cyberspace, export controls, emerging technologies, etc."The Fellowship Programme aims at equipping participants with knowledge and perspectives on various contemporary disarmament, non-proliferation, arms
Sitharaman at amphibious military drill by armed forces in Andaman and Nicobar
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Monday watched a joint amphibious exercise off the Campbell Bay coast, the southern-most island of the nation, which saw participation of the three armed forces. Andaman and Nicobar is an Integrated Services Command. "Smt @nsitharaman inspects Joint Amphibious Exercise by Integrated Service Command, ANC off the Campbell Bay coast, the southern most island of the nation," the defence minister's official twitter handle tweeted. Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is straddled strategically near the mouth of the Malacca Straits. The Malacca Straits is also an important sea lane of communication and is used by navies of several countries, including China which has been stepping up its military infrastructure in the Indian Ocean region. Sitharaman also reviewed the presentation made by senior officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Seven armed criminals held in Muzaffarpur
Seven criminals were arrested from Ahiyapur police station area of Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said Monday. Two country made pistols, three cartridges, three motorcycles and Rs 48,000 in cash they had looted were also seized from them. Acting on a tip off, policemen raided Vijay Chapra village and arrested seven criminals while seven others managed to escape, City Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said. The Rs 48,000 in cash seized from them was a portion of money looted from various businessmen in the past couple of days, Kumar said.