Page 383 - War Conflict

Ongoing genocide' against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims: UN

A genocide against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims is still continuing, UN investigators said Wednesday as they presented a report to the Security Council, calling for the issue to be referred to an international tribunal. Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said that beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracization of the population, prevention of births, and widespread displacement in camps. "It is an ongoing genocide," he told a press conference. "We consider the genocide intent can be reasonably inferred," he said as he presented the team's report to a United Nations Security Council meeting. The 444-page report, first made public last month, called on the council to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, or to create an ad hoc tribunal, as was done with the former Yugoslavia. The explosive report said that Myanmar's top generals, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, must be investigated and prosecuted ..

Afghanistan- A long hard winter

New Delhi [India], Oct 25 (ANI): Reports in January this year were that the Taliban claimed that they controlled 70% of Afghanistan where for nearly 17 years the United States (US) had poured in billions to eliminate the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Even though the Taliban were in full control in only about 4% of the territory at the end of 2017, they had a presence in almost all districts to varying degrees. The Afghan government on the other hand had full control of only 30% of the territory. This is not a lot of territory for a government supposedly running an entire country and a poor advertisement for its ability to control Taliban.Later on October 18, after a year of continued violence and killings, the Taliban exhibited their control and ability in Kandahar when they shot dead General Abdul Raziq, the strongman of southern Afghanistan. This was done on the day when General Austin Miller, commander of the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces was visiting the police .

Gunfight on in J&K

A gunfight started on Thursday between holed up militants and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

Koreas remove guns from Cold War truce village

The two Koreas were removing the last remaining firearms and guard posts on Thursday from a Cold War era truce village where armed soldiers have stared each other down for decades, Seoul's defence ministry said. The Joint Security Area -- also known as the truce village of Panmunjom -- has historically been both a flashpoint and a key location for diplomacy between the two Koreas ever since their split in 1953. It is the only spot along the tense, 250-kilometre (155-mile) frontier where soldiers from North Korea and the US-led United Nations Command stand face to face. By Friday, all guards will be disarmed, ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said, part of a recent diplomatic thaw between the two foes that has gathered pace. "I am aware that it is going according to plan," Choi told reporters. Panmunjom was where the armistice that ended the bitter Korean War was signed. It was a designated neutral zone until the "axe murder incident" in 1976, when North Korean soldiers attacked a ...

North Korean general says country seeking 'stable peace'

A top North Korean general says his country seeks a "stable peace" and wants to turn the Korean Peninsula into "the cradle of peace and prosperity." Vice Minister of the People's Armed Forces, Col General Kim Hyong Ryong, told a defence forum in Beijing on Thursday that Pyongyang wanted to "contribute to the security of Asia and the globe." Kim said North Korea was following through on agreements reached with South Korea and the US, including the consensus reached with President Donald Trump at their June summit in Singapore. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has this year taken some steps to ease tensions, including dismantling a nuclear testing site. However, the United States and its allies are reluctant to ease sanctions pressure unless the country takes significant disarmament steps.

South Korea finds likely war remains during border demining

South Korea has discovered what could be Korean War remains at a front-line area where it's jointly clearing mines with North Korea, Seoul officials said Thursday. The two Koreas began removing mines from one of the heaviest Korean War battle sites at their border on October 1 before starting their first joint searches for war remains. The joint searches were among a package of agreements the Koreas' defence ministers struck on the sidelines of their leaders' summit last month. Earlier this week, South Korean troops found what it believes are two sets of human remains during the demining work. A bayonet, bullets and a South Korean army identification tag with the name "Pak Je Kwon" were also found along with the bones, Seoul's Defence Ministry said in a release. The ministry said military records show Pak was a sergeant first class who died in a battle there in 1953 in the final weeks of the 1950-53 Korean War. Pak has two surviving sisters and authorities will take their DNA samples .

Violence mars Argentine budget session

Violent incidents marred the Argentine budget session here with lawmakers clashing inside the Congress and demonstrators taking on police outside the building.

50 killed in Somalia inter-clan clashes

At least 50 people have been killed and about 100 others injured in fierce fighting in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland in the past two days, local officials said on Wednesday.

Qureshi urges UNHRC to probe human rights abuses in Kashmir

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday urged the UN Human Rights Council to constitute a commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir. He made the remarks while addressing a ceremony to mark the 73rd anniversary of the United Nations which was jointly organised by the Foreign Office and the UN country team at the Foreign Office. During his speech, Qureshi outlined Pakistan's priorities with a particular focus on social and economic development, poverty alleviation, job creation and institutional reforms. Acknowledging the role and contribution of the United Nations in these endeavours, the Foreign Minister expressed Pakistan's willingness to further build on this partnership. Qureshi appreciated Pakistani troops and police personnel for their contribution to the UN peacekeeping and paid tribute to the 156 peacekeepers who died for the world peace.

Amnesty India calls for 'impartial investigation' in civilian deaths in Kulgam

The Amnesty India Wednesday said there should be an "independent and impartial" investigation into the death recently of seven civilians in a blast at Kulgam district in South Kashmir and those responsible for it should be brought to justice. Seven civilians were killed on October 21 when explosives left unused by three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, gunned down in an encounter, went off in Kulgam district of South Kashmir. "In case of any direct or indirect violence between security forces and armed groups, extra caution should be exercised to ensure that civilians in the area do not become collateral damage. "Safety of the civilian population should be of paramount importance," said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty India. Authorities should conduct "effective, independent and impartial" investigations into the killings and bring those responsible to justice, he said. The incident took place at Laroo village in Kulgam district, one of the worst hit by militancy in South Kashmir,

NIA files charge sheet against Pak terrorist who infiltrated from J-K LoC

The NIA Wednesday said it has filed a charge sheet against a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist who was nabbed by security forces earlier this year, a fortnight after his group infiltrated into India from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged Zabiullah alias Hamza (20) under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Arms Act and few others. The agency said Zabiullah hailed from Multan in Pakistan and his group was intercepted by security forces on the intervening night of March 20-12 in the forests of Chak Fatah Khan in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. While five terrorists of this LeT terrorists' group were killed in the encounter, Zabiullah managed to escape. He was injured during the encounter, but managed to escape and was apprehended a fortnight later from the same district, it said. Three army personnel and two policemen were killed, while four other troops were injured during this ...

Somali clan clashes kill more than 40 in two days: officials

Clashes between rival clans have killed more than 40 people in two days in a disputed region of northern Somalia, one of the worst such confrontations seen in the area, local officials and elders said. The clashes began early Tuesday and continued on Wednesday around remote villages in the Sool region between militias from rival Darod sub-clans. "We are calling for a ceasefire from the brotherly clans, this is a serious situation we have more than 40 people killed since yesterday and nearly 100 others are wounded," Ismail Yasin, a traditional elder from the region, said Wednesday. Mohamed Abdulahi, a security official in the regional capital Galkayo said the "death toll is nearly 50, this is the deadliest conflict in the area". Most of the casualties were reported in the village of Dhumay. Local elders said the fighting between Dhulbahante militias in the Sool region was still ongoing, with the use of heavy weaponry. The region has long been disputed between the breakaway state of ...

Ph.D scholar killed in Srinagar, tension brews in Kulgam, Anantnag (Third Lead)

Clashes broke out in Anantnag on Wednesday after reports of a Ph.D scholar being killed in a shootout even as the authorities continued to face separatist protests against Sunday's civilian deaths in Kulgam for the second consecutive day.

2 militants killed in Kashmir

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including an reportedly M.Phil degree holder, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of the city on Wednesday. The slain militants have been identified as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi and Asif Ahmad, an official said. According to media reports, Sofi was pursuing PhD in Botany from Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi, and had joined the militant ranks in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. However, Jamia Millia Islamia, in a statement, denied Sofi was a former research student of its university. "No such student by the name of Sabzar Ahmad Sofi has ever been on the roll of the university or registered as research student. Moreover, we do not have any Botany department in the University," the statement said. Sofia, in his early 30's, is the third highly educated person to have been killed this year after joining militancy. Earlier this month, AMU scholar turned militant Manaan Bashir Wani was ...

SIM box, hundreds of mobile SIM cards recovered in Jharkhand

Ranchi police on Wednesday seized a SIM box and more than 300 mobile SIM cards from an apartment.

Egypt security forces say 11 militants killed south of Cairo

Egyptian officials say security forces have killed 11 men armed with assault rifles in a firefight that began during a dawn raid on a desert cave south of Cairo. The officials say the men killed Wednesday had been in possession of weapons and ammunition, including explosives, in the Western Desert near the Farafra depression, and had planned "hostile operations." The area is near the city of Assiut, some 320 kilometers, or 200 miles, from Cairo. The officials were not identified in their statement but spoke anonymously under government regulations. Egypt launched a nationwide operation against militants in February. It has struggled to combat a long-running insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula that is now affiliated with the Islamic State group, and which has also carried out attacks on the mainland.

2 militants including M.Phil degree holder killed in Kashmir

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including an M.Phil degree holder, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of the city on Wednesday, police said. The slain militants have been identified as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi, a PhD scholar who had joined the militant ranks, and Asif Ahmad, the official said. Sofi, who was pursuing PhD in Botany from Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi, had joined the militant ranks in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. He is third highly educated person to have been killed this year after joining militancy. The 33-year old Sofi also held MSC and B.Ed degrees. Earlier this month, AMU scholar turned militant Manaan Bashir Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir Kupwara district while an assistant professor from Kashmir University Mohammad Rafi Bhat was killed in a gunfight in Shopian district two days after joining the militant ranks in May this year. There has been an ...

Turkey detains Swedish citizen over alleged PKK links: state media

Turkey has detained a Swedish man over suspected links to Kurdish militants in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, state media reported. The 46-year-old man is accused of being a regional leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Sweden, state-run news agency Anadolu said late Tuesday. The agency said the man, identified only by the initials H B, had also taken a photograph in front of an image of PKK's jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence on an island off Istanbul. The Swedish citizen was detained as part of an operation coordinated by the Diyarbakir prosecutor working with the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) and security forces after he had allegedly come to Turkey for secret meetings with PKK-linked individuals. The PKK has been waging an insurgency in Turkey since 1984. Fighting intensified in 2015 after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire. The PKK is also blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Ankara and its Western ...

Two militants killed in J&K

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of the city on Wednesday, police said. Acting on a tip off about presence of militants in Suthu Kothair locality of Nowgam, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the early hours, a police official said. He said the militants opened fire on security forces during the search operation, triggering a gunbattle in which two ultras were killed. The slain militants have been identified as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi, a PhD scholar who had joined the militant ranks, and Asif Ahmad, the official said. "The standard operating procedures were followed during the operation and there was no collateral damage during the encounter," he added. The official said incriminating material besides arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. Clashes broke out between protestors and security forces soon after the encounter ended, he said, adding the law ...

Ph.D scholar killed in Srinagar, tension brews in Kulgam, Anantnag

As reports of a Ph.D scholar killed in a shootout here reached his hometown Anantnag on Wednesday clashes broke out, even as the authorities continued to face a separatist standoff protesting Sunday's civilian deaths in Kulgam for the second consecutive day.