Page 513 - War Conflict

Peru declares 60-day state of emergency

Peru declared a 60-day state of emergency on its Colombian border to ensure security from the menace of drug trafficking in a region.As per a report published in the Voice of America, Peru President Martin Vizcarra said the decision was taken due to the "security problems" created by Colombian citizens crossing the border and it is was important to "reestablish the state's presence."The state of emergency has been declared in Peru's Amazonian province of Putumayo, which is separated from Colombia by the river of the same name.The president informed the first patrol was carried out by the Peru police and armed forces in coordination with their Colombian counterparts.Five helicopters and three planes were used in the first joint operation and 50 people were arrested."More than 50 people were arrested, most of them Colombians involved in illicit drug trafficking," he asserted."We're firm, we're clear, we're going to defend our sovereignty and our territory," added Vizcarra.

2,201 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra

A batch of 2,201 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu on Tuesday for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said.

Peru declares state of emergency on Colombian border

Peru has declared a 60-day state of emergency on its border with Colombia in order to guarantee security in a region rife with drug trafficking. President Martin Vizcarra yesterday said the measure was "because there are security problems" created by Colombian citizens crossing the border and there was a need to "reestablish the state's presence." Police and armed forces used five helicopters and three planes in joint operations with their Colombian counterparts in the first patrol in the area, Vizcarra said. "More than 50 people were arrested, most of them Colombians involved in illicit drug trafficking," he said. The region in which the state of emergency has been declared is the Amazon basin province of Putumayo, separated from Colombia by the river of the same name, a tributary of the Amazon. "We're firm, we're clear, we're going to defend our sovereignty and our territory," added Vizcarra.

US not ready to negotiate directly with Taliban: NATO

NATO's Afghanistan mission has denied reports that its commander has said America is ready to join direct talks with the Taliban. US General John Nicholson spoke with Afghan officials in Kandahar, where he reportedly said the US was "ready" to talk to the Taliban -- a shift from the long-held position of Kabul needing to lead any peace process. In a statement, Nicholson said his comments had been mischaracterized and that he was merely reaffirming remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in June said the US is prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in eventual peace talks. "The United States is not a substitute for the Afghan people or the Afghan government," Nicholson said in the statement released by NATO's Resolute Support mission. Resolute Support spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell added that the US is exploring "all avenues" to advance a peace process. "But this remains an Afghan-led process," O'Donnell said. The New York Times on Sunday reported ...

Mali Gunmen attack village, kill 12 in northeastern Mali

A Tuareg leader says that gunmen have killed at least 12 civilians in an attack on Mali's northeastern village of Injagalane near the country's border with Niger. Fahad Ag Al Mahmoud, secretary-general of a Tuareg defense group known by its French acronym GATIA, said today that yesterday's attack was likely carried out by suspected armed bandits associated with a criminal network operating along the Mali and Niger border. Mahmoud said men with his force have been sent to the area to help the victims. A coalition of armed Tuareg rebel groups have been operating against jihadist groups active in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but there is significant communal violence in the area where fighters allied to the Islamic State group are also present.

Police arrest 3 members of JeM module

Police today claimed to have smashed a module of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit in Sopore area of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir by arresting three members of the outfit. "Police busted a JeM module by arresting three hardcore active members of the terror organization during naka checking at Haritar and Yarbugh Rafiabad areas today," a police spokesman said. He said acting on a credible input, a joint team of security forces ste up a check post at Haritar area. "During checking, a suspicious person was apprehended and during preliminary questioning, he revealed his identity as Bilal Ahmad Kaloo. He is an active member of proscribed terror outfit JeM and two grenades, a matrix sheet of JeM outfit were recovered from his possession," the spokesman said. He said two more active members of JeM outfit were apprehended by police with the assistance of security forces during checking at Yarbugh in Rafiabad. "They were identified as Asif Sheikh and Abdul Majeed Mir," he ...

BEL enters pact with Saab for marketing air-surveillance radar

Defence electronicscompany Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedishaerospace and defence firm for jointly marketing an air surveillance radar developed by the two companies. In a press release, BEL said it has joined hands with Saab to market the long range air surveillance radar for early detection and tracking of air and surface targets. The radar would be offered in both ship-borne and land-basedconfigurations, the release said, adding that the system incorporates the latest signal processing techniques. BEL designs, manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art radars like weapon-locating radar and battlefield surveillance radar, naval systems, electronic warfare systems, missile systems, night vision devices and other electro-optic for the armed forces, the release said.

NC leader escapes miliant attack, guard killed, weapons looted

Former National Conference legislator Gulam Mohiuddin Mir escaped miraculously after militants attacked his vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday, killing one of his guards and decamping with two weapons, police said.

Iraqis demand change as protests run into second week

Protests in Iraq continued into their second week today following days of clashes that left six people dead, with demonstrators rallying to put social problems in the spotlight. Months after Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group, attention has turned from the military battle to the fight for jobs and public services. Thousands of people rallied in fresh protests today in the eastern province of Diyala and the southern city of Nasiriyah, according to AFP correspondents. Iraqis already made their dissatisfaction with their leaders known through massive abstentions in May's national elections, and now citizens are taking to the streets to demand they see benefits from the country's vast oil reserves. "These oil fields belong to us, yet we get nothing," said Hussein Ghazi, a 34-year-old protester in the port city of Basra. The oil sector accounts for 89 per cent of the state budget and 99 per cent of Iraq's export revenues, but only one per cent of jobs, as the majority of ...

Reuters journalist takes stand as Myanmar trial begins

One of two Reuters journalists charged in Myanmar with breaking a state secrets law while reporting on the Rohingya crisis protested his innocence today on the first day of a trial that has provoked global condemnation. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December and accused of possessing documents linked to security operations against Rohingya militants in Rakhine state. More than 7,00,000 of the stateless Muslim minority have fled the western state in response to a campaign that the US and the UN have described as ethnic cleansing. The reporters have spent seven months behind bars during pre-trial hearings but were informed last week that the case would go ahead. If convicted, they face up to 14 years in jail. Wa Lone, the first to testify, told the court that he had followed standard reporting procedures and not broken any laws. "I reported the news as I saw the facts and I reported right," he said. At the time of their arrest, the journalists had .

Cop killed, another hurt in attack by militants on former legislator

A policeman was killed and another injured today as militants attacked the vehicle of a former legislator in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Militants fired upon ex-MLA Mohiudin Mir's vehicle near Murran in south Kashmir, a police official said. National Conference (NC) leader Mir, a former MLA from Rajpora, was on his way to Pulwama from Srinagar, the official said. A constable, Mudassir Ahmed, was killed and another injured in the attack, he added. The two constables were deployed on the politician's personal security, the official said.

Afghan police gun down would-be suicide bomber

Police in the Afghan capital Kabul shot dead a would-be suicide attacker before he could reach his target, obviously a peace rally here on Monday, police said.

Death toll in Mastung suicide attack in Pak rises to 149

The death toll in a suicide attack targeting an election rally in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province has risen to 149, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history, officials said. Militants targeted a gathering of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Siraj Raisani in the Mastung area in the troubled province on Friday. According to an official communique issued by the deputy commissioner Mastung yesterday, 149 people including nine minors were killed and 186 others injured in the attack. Raisani, a candidate from PB-35 (Mastung), was among those killed in the attack, claimed by the Islamic State terror group. Many of the injured remain in critical condition at hospitals in Mastung, the provincial capital of Quetta and in the southern city of Karachi. Officials expect the death toll to rise. Pakistan's top counter-terrorism body has warned that there were serious security threats to political leaders of all major parties and suicide bombers could be used to ...

J&K ex-MLA's guard killed as militants attack, loot weapons

The personal security officer of a former Jammu and Kashmir legislator was killed as a group of militants attacked the guard post at his residence and decamped with two service rifles of the guards there on Monday, police said.

Taliban-IS fighting claims 10 lives in Afghanistan

At least 10 militants including six Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash with Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Monday, police said.

Nepalese women set to join Gurkha regiment of British Army from 2020

For more than 200 years a male bastion, the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army will now induct Nepalese women, with the first female recruits set to join the elite regiment in 2020. The rigourous process of recruitment will begin in Pokhara in central Nepal next year and the successful applicants will be flown to Catterick, North Yorkshire, for a 10-week training programme. The Nepalese regiment has been part of the British Army for more than 200 years, dating back to the British Raj, and has so far been the preserve of men. Now, female cadets clearing rigorous physical tests such as racing 5km uphill carrying 25 kgs of sand in a wicker basket will be able to fight alongside the men. The Gurkhas are renowned as one of the best fighting forces in the world with a proud history of serving Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II), and it is right that women have the opportunity to serve in this elite group, said UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Lt Gen Nick Pope, Deputy Chief of the ...

Casualties feared after Boko Haram attack military base

Dozens of soldiers were feared dead after a Boko Haram attack on a military base in remote northeast Nigeria, security sources said today. Islamist militants overran the base in Jilli village, in the Geidam area of Yobe state, on Saturday evening, a day after a separate attack on troops in neighbouring Borno state. There has been no official comment about Saturday's attack but one military source told AFP: "So far we have lost 31 soldiers, including three officers. "Two vigilantes were also killed in the attack," he said, adding that 24 soldiers were injured and being treated in hospital. A civilian militia source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, added: "I don't have an exact toll of those killed. "But yesterday the dead casualties were brought in three trucks to Maimalari military barracks here in Maiduguri. This means the casualty toll is high." The militia member said Boko Haram fighters in military uniform and driving vehicles in army colours were allowed into the base. "The

Senior ANP leader survives assassination attempt in Pak's Quetta

A senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) today survived an assassination attempt when heavily-armed militants opened fire on him during a meeting with his party workers in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, a police officer said. Daud Achakzai is the second ANP leader to be targeted ahead of the July 25 elections after another senior leader, Haroon Bilour, and 12 others were killed in a suicide attack at an election rally in northwestern Peshawar city on July 10. The militants attacked Achakzai when he was meeting with his party workers at a guesthouse in the Qilla Abdullah area of the province. Achakzai, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack, was rushed to a hospital in Quetta. "He has received bullets on his right arm but is out of danger," the police officer said. Pakistan's top counter-terrorism body has warned that there were serious security threats to political leaders of all major parties and suicide bombers could be used to target them. ANP leaders ...

Senior ANP leader injured in terror attack in Pak's Quetta

Unidentified gunmen today opened fire at a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, but the former senator survived the attack, a police officer said. Heavily-armed terrorists attacked ANP leader Daud Achakzai when he was meeting with his party workers ahead of the July 25 general elections at a guesthouse in the Qilla Abdullah area of the province. Achakzai, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack, was rushed to a hospital in Quetta. "He has received bullets on his right arm but is out of danger," the police officer said. Achakzai is the second ANP leader to be targeted ahead of the elections after another senior leader, Haroon Bilour, and 12 others were killed in a suicide attack at an election rally in northwestern Peshawar city. Pakistan's top counter-terrorism body has warned that there were serious security threats to political leaders of all major parties and suicide bombers could be used to target them. A NP leaders ...

Saudi Arabia says 3 wounded in projectile attack from Yemen

Saudi Arabia says three civilians, including a 10-year old child, were wounded when a projectile fired by Yemen's Shiite rebels struck the kingdom's southwest border region of Jizan. Saudi civil defense spokesman, Lt. Col. Yahia al-Kahtani said today that the attack by the Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis, took place late last night and targeted the city of al-Aridha. Al-Kahtani did not identify the type of projectile used. He says the wounded were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. In Yemen, the Houthis had no immediate comment. A Saudi-led coalition allied with Yemen's internationally recognised government has been at war with Iran-backed Houthis since March 2015. The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of Yemen's north. The war had pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.