Page 521 - War Conflict
TTP claims responsibility for Peshawar blast
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack in Peshawar, which claimed 14 lives.A Pakistani reporter shared a tweet which read, "The beginning of revenge," that was said by TTP (Pakistani Taliban) spokesman Mohammad Khurasani.Iftikar Firdous, Bureau Head for The Express Tribune, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa posted on Twitter, "The TTP's spokesperson calls the suicide attack a 'revenge for the previous government of ANP' while claiming credit for the attack. Identifies the suicide bomber as Mujahid Abdul Karim. #Peshawar"The bombing targeted a political rally of the Awami National Party (ANP), killing Haroon Bilour, a leader of the party.Bilour was the ANP's candidate for a provincial seat (PK-78) in the upcoming general elections on July 25.The explosion occurred in YakaToot neighbourhood on Tuesday night, moments after Bilour arrived at the venue to address supporters at the meeting.Condemning the incident, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ..
A batch of 4,956 pilgrims left for Amarnath
A batch of 4,956 pilgrims left Jammu on Wednesday to perform the Amarnath Yatra, police said.
Political leader among 14 killed in Pakistan suicide blast
At least 14 people, including a political leader, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up late on Tuesday in Peshawar in Pakistan, police said.
Trump continues to criticise European allies ahead of NATO summit
US President Donald Trump continued to criticise European allies ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Brussels.
2 Naxals gunned down in Sukma encounter
Two Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.The encounter took place near Minpa village when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on anti-Naxal operation last night.The security personnel during search operation also recovered weapons, explosives and other camping materials.A security personnel, Madkam Hura was also injured in the encounter, and is currently being treated at Central Reserve Police Force field hospital in Chintagufa.
Gang-rapes, lynchings: UN tallies latest South Sudan abuses
South Sudan government troops and allied fighters killed at least 232 civilians in a five-week period this year, hanging some people from trees and burning others alive, according to a United Nations report. The report released yesterday is the latest snapshot of the widespread atrocities committed in the world's youngest nation over its five-year civil war. It says the "deliberate, ruthless" attacks may amount to war crimes. Human rights monitors for the UN found that at least 120 women and girls were raped or gang-raped between April 16 and May 24. The rape victims included children as young as 4, and some sexual assault targets were shot dead for resisting, the UN monitors reported. "One 20-year-old woman was still bleeding from childbirth when she was raped," the report states. Other findings from the five-week tally were: At least 132 women and girls were abducted for suspected sex slavery or servitude. Some elderly, sick and disabled people who could not flee were burned ...
Ahead of NATO summit, Trump takes on EU over trade spending
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with trade between the U.S. and the European Union (EU), stating the latter makes it difficult for USA's farmers and workers to do business in Europe.The President, while on his way to Belgium for NATO summit, tweeted, "The European Union makes it impossible for our farmers and workers and companies to do business in Europe (the U.S. has a $151 Billion trade deficit), and then they want us to happily defend them through NATO, and nicely pay for it. Just doesn't work!"As per The Hill, President Trump has attacked EU ahead of the summit, while alleging that the Europeans have taken advantage of the U.S. on trade issues while failing to invest enough into their own defense for years.President Trump is scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Brussels on (July 11 and 12/ today and tomorrow).Earlier, President Trump suggested the NATO allies should reimburse the U.S for defense costs.In 2014, NATO members had pledged ..
ANP leader Haroon Bilour among 12 killed in blast at Pak poll rally
At least 12 people, including Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour, were killed and 35 others injured in a suicide blast at an election gathering in Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city tonight. The blast took place when Bilour along with ANP workers gathered for a party meeting. City police Chief Peshawar Qazi Jameel said 12 people including Bilour, the ANP candidate from PK 78 constituency in Peshawar city, died in the suicide blast at a corner election meeting and while 35 others were injured. Initial reports said more than a dozen people had been injured in the explosion in the Yakatoot area. Fireworks were being burst as Bilour arrived on the stage when the suicide bomber blew himself up. Bilour suffered serious injuries and was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds, reports said. Bomb disposal squad chief Shafqat Malik said 8 kilos of TNT explosive was used in the blast. Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies have reached the site of the blast and ..
C'garh: Two naxals killed in Sukma encounter
Two naxals were killed while a security personnel was injured today in an encounter in a forest in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said. The skirmish took place this evening near Minpa village when ateam of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-naxal operation, a senior police official told PTI. When the patrolling team was cordoning off forests near Minpa, located around 500 kms away from the state capital, naxals triggered an IED blast and opened fire at security forces, he said. After a brief exchange of fire between both the sides, ultras fled into dense forest taking the advantage of darkness, he said. "A DRG jawan, identified as Madkam Hura, sustained injuries in the face off," the official said. During the search of the spot, security personnel found bodies of two ultras besides weapons, explosives and other Maoist-related materials, he said. Soon after getting informed, reinforcement was rushed to the spot and the injured jawan was .
Postpone Amarnath yatra to 2019; Sri sri Ravi shankar to
Spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today requested pilgrims to postpone their Amarnath Yatra to 2019 in view of recent natural tragedies. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar made the request in his capacity as a member of the Amarnath Shrine Board. He said heavy rains and landslides have disrupted both the routes to the holy cave, which has marred the Yatra. The holy cave shrine of Amarnath is in South Kashmir Himalayas. Sri Sri Ravishankar said that despite the best efforts of the chairman of Amarnath Shrine Board, Governor N N Vora, the Army and Border Security Force, it was unlikely that the roads would become suitable for travel in the near future. "Pilgrims already there were facing extreme difficulties and so it was advisable that those planning for the Yatra reconsider their travel plans and invoke Bholenath through meditation and prayer from where they are," he said in a release.
Suicide car bomb kills 8 fighters in south Syria: monitor
A suspected jihadist suicide car bomb attack in southern Syria today killed at least eight fighters, including government and rebel forces, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The explosion hit Zaizun, a village in the western countryside of Daraa province which rebels agreed in recent days to hand over to regime control. "Eight regime and opposition fighters who recently reconciled were killed in a suicide car bomb attack targeting a military position in Zaizun," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Observatory. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the village lies near a sliver of southern territory controlled by a faction linked to the Islamic State group. Abdel Rahman said it was "likely" that the IS branch, known as Jaish Khaled bin Walid, was responsible. "This is the first suicide attack targeting regime forces since the beginning of their operations in Daraa," he told AFP. Backed by Russia, Syrian troops began a bombing blitz
Two Naxals nabbed after encounter in MP's Balaghat district
An alleged Naxal who was carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head and his associate were captured after an encounter between the rebels and police in the district. Both men were from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, said district Superintendent of Police Jaidevan A. A group of 15-odd Naxals opened fire on a police team in a forest under Lanji police station limits, 60 km from the district headquarters, last evening, the SP said. While the other Naxals managed to flee when the police retaliated, Munnalal Varkade (42) and Indal were caught as they were trying to escape by climbing a hill. While the Chhattisgarh police had announced a bounty of Rs 3 lakh for Varkade, the Madhya Pradesh police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, the SP said. Indal carried a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head, announced by the Chhattisgarh police. Both hailed from Bhava in Rajnandgaon district. Varkade was allegedly involved in Naxal activities for the last ten years. Balaghat, a ...
Saudi-based Islamic organization hosts Afghan conference
The Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation is hosting a two-day conference to encourage peace talks to end Afghanistan's nearly 17-year war. The OIC, a 57-nation organization based in Jiddah, began the summit today. The gathering includes senior religious scholars who will "discuss ways of contributing to the efforts of achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan," the organisation said. Shah Hussain Murtazavi, a deputy spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, welcomed the conference. The Taliban, meanwhile, criticized the event and said they expect it will take the side of the American "invaders." A statement from the insurgent group pledged to continue jihad, or holy war, against US and other foreign troops in Afghanistan, saying that the fight "is a must". Ghani has pushed for peace talks with the Taliban. The insurgents say they want to negotiate directly with the US, which invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple Kabul's Taliban government that harbored al-Qaida leader
Believing his militant son trapped in encounter, father dies of cardiac arrest
A father of a militant today died of cardiac arrest after hearing rumours that his son was among the ultras trapped in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Mohammad Ishaq Naikoo reportedly suffered a massive heart attack after being told that his son Zeenat Naikoo was among the militants trapped in the cordon of security forces at Kudullan in Shopian this morning, a police official said. Naikoo senior, a resident of Meemandar in Shopian, was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, the official said. Zeenat, who has reportedly joined militant ranks two months ago, was not among the two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani national, killed in the encounter. The slain terrorists were identified as Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, a local, and Babar from Pakistan, police said.
J&K: Two JeM terrorists killed in Shopian
Two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani national, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kundallan area in Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.Some civilians who were injured in the cross-firing were later evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.One of the injured persons later succumbed to his injuries, while others are stated to be stable now, according to a police press release.The terrorists killed were identified as Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, a local, and Babar from Pakistan.Following a credible lead regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint patrol of the security forces was launched in the area in the wee hours today.As the search operation was on, terrorists hiding inside a house fired upon the search party leading to an encounter.Soon some of the civilians in the nearby houses were quickly evacuated by the security forces.The terrorists were eliminated during the encounter by the joint patrol of the security ...
Northern Army Commander reviews Amarnath Yatra security arrangements
Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir Singh today visited army formations and units deployed for security of ongoing Amarnath yatra and took stock of the arrangements. "Continuing with his visit to the Valley, the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh accompanied by the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt visited the Army formations and units deployed for the Amarnath Yatra and took stock of the security and administrative arrangements for the ongoing Yatra," an army official said. The Army commander stressed upon the need for close coordination with civil administration to ensure a smooth and efficient conduct of the Yatra. He appreciated the synergy being maintained amongst all security agencies for conduct of the Amarnath Yatra. Lt Gen Singh also visited forward posts in the frontier district of Baramulla where he was briefed by the officers on ground regarding the operational and logistics preparedness. Commending the exemplary professionalism and high morale of the
Railways to launch Shri Ramayana Express
The Railways will run a unique pilgrim train, Shri Ramayana Express, from November 14 on the Ramayana circuit to cover the major destinations related to the Hindu epic, the Railway Ministry announced on Tuesday.
Rebels kill 27 regime fighters in northwest Syria: Monitor
Rebels and Islamist forces killed more than two dozen pro-government fighters in a joint attack in a northwestern stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a monitor said today. In retaliation, the government and its ally Russia pounded rebel-held areas in the coastal province of Latakia and neighbouring Idlib today, killing four civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It was the bloodiest opposition assault on the area in three years, according to the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside the country. The surprise offensive late yesterday targeted a pair of villages and observation points in Latakia, near the Turkish border. "At least 27 regime forces and allied fighters, including eight officers, were killed in fierce clashes and shelling in the village of Al-Ateira," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "They took Al-Ateira and kicked out regime forces from several observation points after killing or wounding ...
Pak Army says 'no direct role' in election, to deploy 3,71,000 troops for July 25 polls
The Pakistan Army said today it will have "no direct role" in the electoral process, as it announced to deploy more than 3,71,000 troops to polling stations across the country to ensure free, fair and transparent general elections on July 25. "The armed forces are not directly involved in conducting the election," Army spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor told reporters, apparently rejecting allegations it is pressuring media and the government in a bid to manipulate the polls. He said the armed forces will "only support the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the tasks they have sought our help with". "We have to help the ECP in a non-political, non-partisan manner," Maj Gen Ghafoor was quoted as saying by the Geo TV. The powerful army, which enjoys considerable influence over policy decisions in Pakistan, has ruled the country for much of its life since it gained independence 70 years ago. "I am constantly asked whether elections will be held or not but Pakistan is headed towards the
At least 2 police killed in flashpoint Cameroon city of Buea
At least two police officers were killed yesterday in Buea, a city in western Cameroon that has become the centre of a campaign for independence by English-speaking separatists, a local source said today. A separate hospital source however said five police, as well as one civilian, had died. The deaths mark a fresh escalation in violence between the security forces and armed separatists who want two English-speaking regions to become independent from the rest of the French-speaking country.