Page 383 - War Conflict
Two Koreas agree to withdraw some border guard posts
The two Koreas on Friday agreed to remove 11 guard posts along the heavily-fortified border next month with a goal to possibly remove all of them in the future, senior military officials said. The agreement made between generals from the two sides came as diplomatic thaw between the former wartime foes gathered pace. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un previously agreed on a broad plan to ease tensions along the border during their third summit in Pyongyang last month. During Friday's talks aimed at fleshing out details, the two sides agreed to withdraw all troops and weaponry from the 11 guard posts along the border and destroy them by the end of November, according to a joint statement released by Seoul's military. "The two sides also agreed to hold working-level talks to remove all remaining GPs based on the progress of the test removal of 11 GPs," it said after the talks held at the border truce village of Panmunjom. Panmunjom -- or the Joint ...
2 Koreas to destroy 11 front-line guard posts by November
The North and South Korean militaries agreed Friday to completely destroy 11 front-line guard posts by the end of November as they discussed their next steps in implementing a wide-ranging military agreement signed last month to reduce tensions. They also agreed to conduct a joint survey early next month of a 70-km-long waterway near their western border where civilian vessels from both countries eventually will be allowed to pass freely, according to a statement released after the general-level talks at the border village of Panmunjom. The plans to remove the guard posts and jointly use the Han River estuary were among the commitments spelled out in the military agreement reached last month on the sidelines of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Friday's talks came a day after the Koreas and the US-led UN Command completed removing firearms and troops from a jointly controlled area at the border village. The Koreas have also been ..
Over 50,000 militants from 21 groups are in Afghanistan: Defence Ministry
More than 50,000 militants from 21 terrorist organisations are currently operating in Afghanistan, the country's deputy Defence Minister, Hilaluddin Helal, said on Friday. Out of these 70 per cent are Pakistanis."Currently, 21 terrorist organisations are operating in the country. The total number of militants stands at 50,200," Helal said at the eight Beijing Xiangshan Forum on defence, which opened on Thursday.The minister added that Afghanistan had become "a central battlefield" for members of various terrorist organizations that are "fighting for influence in the region.""[The number of militants active in Afghanistan] includes 8,023 international terrorists," Helal stressed, noting that Taliban is the biggest group operating in the country and is comprised of about 38,000 people.The Islamic State terrorist group now has over 2,000 members in Afghanistan, he underlined."As much as 70 per cent of IS [members] are Pakistanis, 6 per cent are Uzbeks, 4 per cent are Chechens, 3 per cent
Sopore encounter: 2 terrorists neutralized, 1 soldier killed
A soldier was killed in action and two terrorists were neutralized after an encounter broke out in Sopore town of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.The encounter is underway.Further details in the matter are awaited.On Thursday, four terrorists were gunned down in an encounter in Bijbehara's Arwani area of Anantnag district.The encounter broke out after police and security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Khar Mohalla area of district Anantnag.
Two militants, jawan killed in encounter in Baramulla
Two militants and an Army jawan were killed during an encounter between ultras and security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir Friday, officials said. "Two terrorists have been killed in the Sopore operation," Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain ultras is being ascertained. The defence spokesman said a soldier also lost his life in the gunbattle. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pazalpora village of Dangiwacha Sopore in the north Kashmir district this morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the search party of the forces, who retaliated. The operation is in progress, Col Kalia said, adding further details were awaited.
Women still being excluded from peace talks: UN
The UN has denounced that women were still being excluded from peace negotiations, despite the fact that their participation has proven to be key in conflict resolution around the world.
Armed men take dairy owner hostage, take away 18 buffaloes in UP
Nearly 25 armed men stormed a dairy in a village in Muzaffarnagar district and took away 18 buffaloes worth Rs 20 lakh after taking the owner hostage, a police official said Friday. The incident happened in Ratanpuri village Thursday, the police official said. The men entered the dairy forcibly and pointed a gun on its owner Naresh Kumar and his son Mohit. They took away the buffaloes in two vehicles, the official said. He said a bike and two mobiles phones were also snatched. Villagers angry over the incident blocked the road outside the area police station. They ended their protest after senior police officers visited the area and pacified the protesters. A case has been registered against unidentified people and a search has been launched, the police official said.
Encounter breaks out between security forces, militants in Sopore
An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir Friday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pazalpora village of Dangiwacha town in the north Kashmir district this morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired on the search party of the forces, who retaliated. The gunfight is going on, the official said, adding further details were awaited.
Soldier injured in J&K gunfight
An army soldier was injured in a gunfight on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.
Darbar move: Police direct SHOs to have database of floating population to foil terror design
Ahead of this year's darbar move from Srinagar to Jammu winter capital city, a top police officer Thursday directed all SHOs to prepare a database of the floating populations and foreign nationals, including Rohingyas, living in the city to foil any terror design. Due to the darbar move, when operations of all government offices including the Raj Bhawan and the Police headquarter, are shifted from Srinagar summer capital to Jammu winter capital in November, a large floating Kashmiri population shifts to Jammu. The civil secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, will close here on October 26. The winter capital Jammu will open on November 5 as part of the biannual 'Darbar Move', a practice started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872. Jammu Zone Inspector General of Police S D Singh Jamwal has directed SSP (Jammu) to ensure that all the SHOs have database of the floating population and foreign nationals (Rohangyas) living in their jurisdiction, a Police spokesman said. "All ...
Pakistan frees Taliban leader after US talks with militants
A top Taliban commander held in Pakistani detention for more than eight years has been freed, sources said Thursday, in an apparent move to aid tentative talks between the United States and the militant group. The release of Abdul Ghani Baradar -- the former right-hand man of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, who died in 2013 -- came less than two weeks after US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with the group's representatives in Qatar to discuss ending the Afghan conflict. Baradar was among several senior Taliban leaders freed this week, after the Taliban demanded their release in direct talks with Khalilzad on October 12, a senior Taliban leader told AFP on the condition of anonymity. "We believe that they were released at the US's request," the leader said. He said Baradar would likely stay in Pakistan and shuttle between the Taliban's Doha office, Kabul and Islamabad. "It was important for confidence building and all three will participate in the next round of talks with the US in Qatar," he
UK military to open up all roles to women
Women will soon be able to apply for any role in the British military, including in previously off-limits elite units like the famed SAS, the government announced on Thursday. Calling the move "historic", Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said women already serving in the army would be able to transfer immediately into now-available infantry roles. Meanwhile new recruits can apply from December for the roles, covering branches such as the Royal Marines, with basic training beginning in April next year. Once trained, servicewomen could then try to join elite units such as the Special Air Service (SAS). Britain lifted a ban on women serving in so-called close combat units in 2016, and has been opening up roles in phases. "From today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender," Williamson said at an army demonstration on Salisbury Plain in southwest England. "Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed ...
Militants carry out sniper attack on Army camp; jawan killed
An Army jawan was killed in sniper fire by militants in Tral area of south Kashmir Thursday, in second such incident within a week, officials said. The militants using sniper rifle carried out the attack on 42 RR camp in Luragam at around 9.00 PM, killing sepoy Ngamsiamliana, who was on the guard duty, they said. He received the fatal shot in his head, another jawan Thake Dhoniy received minor injuries, the officials said. This is the second such incident within four days in which militants have used sniper rifle to carry out attack on security establishments. An SSB jawan was killed inside a CRPF camp on October 21 by militants who used sniper rifles, possibly armed with night-vision devices, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Two Army jawans injured in militant attack
Two Army jawans were injured Thursday after militants attacked their camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said. The militants opened fire at the Army camp at Lurgam in Tral area of the district, an Army official said. The Army retaliated, following which the militants fled the spot, the official said. He said two soldiers were injured in the attack.
J-K BJP chief visits wife, newborn child of soldier killed in gunfight with Pak infiltrators
Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina Thursday reached out to the wife of Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh, who delivered a baby hours before the mortal remains of the slain jawan were consigned to flames in Ramban district. The soldier was among three personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry who fell to the bullets of Pakistani intruders along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Sunday. Two heavily-armed Pakistani infiltrators, believed to be members of the border action team, were also killed in the gunfight. Raina, accompanied by former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta and Ramban MLA Neelam Langeh, visited the soldier's widow, Shimu Devi, who delivered a baby hours after the jawan laid down his life for the nation, BJP leaders said. The state BJP chief directed the hospital staff to take care of her and provide her every medicine required from the hospital itself. The couple had waited for 10 years for the birth of their first child. Singh ...
Six militants killed in two encounters in J-K
Six militants were Thursday killed in two gun battles with security forces in Baramulla and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. "Four militants were killed in Arwani operation in Anantnag district while two ultras were eliminated in an encounterat Kreeri in Baramulla," a senior police official said. Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Kreeri area in the early hours following information about presence of militants there, the official said, adding the militants opened fire on the security forces triggering an encounter. The identity of the two slain militants, affiliated to Lashkar-e-Toiba, was being ascertained, he added. In the second operation in Arwani area of Anantnag district, four militants were killed after intense exchange of fire. He said the identity of the slain militants was being ascertained. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from both the encounter sites, police said. The security forces put up printed banners at several .
Changes in security apparatus don't undermine Defence Ministry's authority: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday the authority of her ministry and of the armed forces have not been undermined by recent changes in the country's security establishment apparatus. She also said the National Security Adviser (NSA) plays an important role in inter-ministerial coordination for security-related matters. At an event here, the defence minister was replying to a question on "changes in the shape of security establishment" and its criticism in some quarters after the NDA government recently reconstituted the Strategic Policy Group, with NSA Ajit Doval as its chairman, to assist the National Security Council. "Now if you are looking at security and strategy council, looking at national security council or NSA, now because it is going to have (to) bring in other ministries, other departments (for security-related matters)... that does not undermine the Raksha Mantralay (defence ministry)," the minister said. "It does not take away the powers of the three ...
Six militants killed in two gunfights in Kashmir Valley (Intro Roundup)
Six militants were killed on Thursday in two separate gunfights with security forces in the Kashmir Valley, police said. While two were killed in Baramulla, four died in Anantnag.
Four militants killed in two gunfights in Valley (Roundup)
Four militants were killed on Thursday in two separate gunfights with security forces in the Kashmir Valley.
US sanctions Singapore companies over North Korea dealings
The United States has imposed sanctions on the Singaporean-based director of a commodities company accused of laundering money for North Korea through the US financial system. The Department of Justice has also unsealed criminal charges against the person, Tan Wee Beng. Officials say he is also managing director of a marine fuels company involved in illicit economic activity with North Korea. That's according to a Treasury Department statement on Thursday announcing the latest round of US actions against foreign companies and individuals said to have helped North Korea evade UN-mandated sanctions on its nuclear weapons program. The blacklisting covers Tan himself and the two companies, Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd., and WT Marine Pte. Ltd. The action blocks any assets they may have in the U.S.