Page 529 - War Conflict
Russia condemns Jalalabad terrorist attack
Russia has strongly condemned the Jalalabad blast which killed 19 people and injured 20 others in the eastern province of Nangarhar in Afghanistan on July 1."We were shocked to learn about the death of 19 people, most of them members of the small and peaceful Sikh community, in the July 1 suicide attack near the provincial governor's residence in Jalalabad," said the official statement of Russian Foreign Ministry.Of 19 deceased people, ten are from Afghanistan's Sikh community, as per Afghan's TOLO News. According to several media reports, Hindus are also amongst the deceased.The Afghan branch of the terrorist Islamic State has claimed responsibility for this heinous act."We strongly condemn this terrorist attack. We offer our condolences to the victims' families and wish an early recovery to the injured," said the official statement.This terrorist attack has once again highlighted the importance of resolutely fighting ISIS, which has become more active in Afghanistan over the past ...
Def Ministry sends experts to five countries to scout for rifles, carbines
The Defence Ministry has sent a team of military experts to Australia, the US, South Korea, Israel and United Arab Emirates to look for new assault rifles and battle carbines. Sources said the nine-member delegation of experts will interact with leading manufacturers of assault rifles and close quarter battle carbines which are being procured for the Indian Army. "The empowered committee for procurement of the weapons will hold meetings with leading manufacturers of these weapons and evaluate qualities of their rifles and carbines," said a source. In February, the defence ministry had approved purchase of 7.40 lakh assault rifles to bolster the strength of the armed forces. In June last year, the Army had kick-started the initial process to procure around 44,600 carbines, nearly eight months after a tender for it was retracted. Around half a dozen firms including a few global arms manufacturers had responded to the RFI. In the last few months, the Defence Ministry has fast tracked ...
Guterres condemns Jalalabad attack targeting Sikhs, Hindus
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the suicide attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad that killed 19 people, most of them Sikhs, and called for the protection of minorities, his spokesperson Farhan Haq said.
Naxal killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday in the jungles of Markaguda and Darel in Chhattisgarh.Country made gun with detonators, explosives and daily use items were also recovered from the spot.Around 51 Naxals have been killed by the security forces in five months in Chhattisgarh's Sukma and Bijapur district.This figure is for the period of November 2017 to March 2018.
Sikhs protest against Jalalabad attack near Afghan embassy
Sikh community members today protested near the Afghan embassy in Lutyens' Delhi against the suicide attack claimed by Islamic State in Jalalabad city on Sunday in which 19 people, mostly Sikhs and Hindus, were killed. The protesters included Shiromani Akali Dal MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Prem Singh Chandumajra and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Sikh groups from Punjab and Haryana were also part of the protest. Following the protest, representatives from the Afghan embassy met the protesters and condemned the suicide attack. Manjit Singh GK, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, demanded an inquiry into the attack. "There's never been such an attack targeting Sikhs in the past 30 years in Afghanistan. We need to know who is behind this attack? Is it the Taliban, IS or Pakistan?" he said. Both Indian and Afghanistan governments must give compensation to the families of the victims, Singh said. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak .
MOD approves construction of 17 New Baffle Firing Ranges
Baffle firing ranges are covered shooting practice areas which prevent possible accidents due to stray bullet injuries. The possibility of such mishap has increased many folds in recent times due to growth of civilian population around the cantonments. To prevent such casualties without affecting the training requirements of the Armed Forces, MOD has approved additional baffle ranges.
NYT lambasts 'intimidation' against Sri Lanka reporters
The New York Times sounded alarm today over an "intimidation campaign" being waged against two Sri Lankan reporters who assisted the newspaper's investigation into alleged corruption involving former president Mahinda Rajapakse. The pair have been subjected to intense personal abuse on social media and public criticism by parliamentarians loyal to Rajapakse since the report was published late last month. "It is unacceptable for journalists to be intimidated this way. This action appears intended to silence critics and curb press freedoms, and ultimately deprive Sri Lankans of information in the public interest," the New York Times said in a statement today. "The Times expects the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the safety of journalists working for our - or any - news organisation." Rajapakse's son Namal, a local legislator, said "at no time" did he or his father intimidate the journalists. "Just like the press has a right to criticise politicians, don't we also have the right to ...
Bomb kills 3 oil company employees in southwestern Pakistan
Pakistani police say a bomb detonated by remote control killed three workers doing a survey for a local oil exploration company in the country's southwest. Local police official Mohammad Hussain says today's bombing near the town of Dera Bugti in the Baluchistan province also wounded five surveyors. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but small nationalist groups and separatists have claimed previous such attacks in the province. Islamic militants also have a strong presence in Baluchistan. The latest violence came a day after assailants ambushed a convoy of paramilitary troops, killing six of them in the Awaran district of Baluchistan. No group has claimed that attack either. Baluch separatists have staged attacks for years, demanding a larger share of provincial resources and wealth or complete autonomy from Islamabad.
Three Amarnath Yatra pilgrims die
Three Amarnath Yatra pilgrims died of different causes on Tuesday.
CRPF trooper foils weapon snatching attempt in Srinagar
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper on Tuesday foiled a weapon snatching attempt here, police said.
UN's Jean Pierre Lacroix meets Pak army chief
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix met Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday.General Bajwa has assured Pakistan will continue to play an effective role in United Nation's (UN) peacekeeping missions."[The] COAS affirmed that Pakistan will continue to play its positive role being one of the highest troop-contributing nations for maintaining international peace and security under the United Nations flag," the Express Tribune reported, quoting the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as saying in a statement.In addition to this, the visiting UN official acknowledged Pakistan's contribution in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations."We value the sacrifices of the Pakistani nation. We are extremely grateful to Pakistan for its warm welcome and also for outstanding contribution to UN peacekeeping, Geo TV reported Lacroix, as saying to General Bajwa."This visit
Afghan official: Bomb targeting NATO tanks kills 2 civilians
An Afghan official says a suicide car bombing that targeted a NATO convoy has killed two civilians in eastern Logar province. Shah Poor Ahmadzai, spokesman for the province's police chief, said the bomb attack in the provincial capital yesterday evening killed a woman and a child and wounded three other women. Ahmadzai said the NATO armored tanks were damaged in the blast. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone interview with AP and said five US soldiers were killed. The police spokesman, however, said there were no casualties in the NATO convoy.
UN chief condemns Jalalabad terror attack on Sikhs, Hindus
UN chief Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the suicide attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city that killed 19 people, mostly Sikhs and Hindus, asserting that any attack targeting civilians is "unjustifiable" and in clear violation of international law. The UN Secretary General expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and urged all parties to uphold their obligation to protect civilians, including minority communities. "The majority of victims belong to Afghanistan's small Sikh and Hindu community. The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured," the UN chief said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. "The Secretary-General urges all parties to uphold their obligation to protect civilians, including minority communities, and cease targeting civilians and civilian facilities," he said. An ISIS suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Sikhs and Hindus on their way to meet the Afghan ..
Iranian forces vow to give 'crushing response' to US
Iran's armed forces "are fully prepared to give a firm and crushing response to the enemies' threats of any kind," a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said here on Monday.
Pakistan Army chief approves death of 12 militants
Pakistan Army chief on approved death sentence of 12 hardcore militants involved in separate incidents of terrorism in the country, official reports said on Monday.
Senior US official in Pak to discuss Afghan peace
A senior US official arrived in Pakistan today for crucial talks to explore possibility of resuming the Afghan reconciliation process. United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells is expected to meet senior officials at the Foreign Office during her visit. She is also expected to meet army officials. Pakistan is confident that the Taliban could be brought to the negotiating table after the successful ceasefire observed by the Afghan government and insurgents on Eid, The Express Tribune said. Sources familiar with the efforts to bring the Taliban back to the negotiating table said both Afghanistan and the US wanted to reach some kind of deal with the insurgents before the parliamentary elections due later this year, it said. During several rounds of discussions between Pakistani and Afghan officials, both sides discussed and worked out a roadmap how to invite the Taliban to join the political process, it added.
FBI foils US independence day attack by Qaeda sympathiser
The FBI announced today the arrest of a professed supporter of Al-Qaeda who was planning to target members of the US military and their families with a bomb attack on a July 4 parade in Cleveland, Ohio. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, who also used the name Abdur Raheem Rafeeq, told an undercover agent that he wanted to load up a vehicle with explosives and blow it up during the US national day celebrations on Wednesday. "His desire: to kill military personnel and their families," said FBI special agent Steve Anthony. FBI and Justice Department officials said Pitts, a US native with "an extensive criminal history" was arrested Sunday after discussing how to carry out the attack with the undercover agent. They had been watching him for months after he made statements in support of Al-Qaeda and expressed "violent intentions" against groups including the US armed forces, Anthony said. The posts called for Muslims to train in hand-to-hand combat and in .
Modi condemns Jalalabad attack, Sushma meets victims' kin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday "strongly" condemned the terror attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city that killed at least 19, including many Sikhs on Sunday, and offered India's assistance to Kabul.
Swaraj meets relatives of Afghanistan terror attack victims
External Affairs Minster Sushma Swaraj today met the relatives of some of the victims of the Afghanistan terror attack in which at least 19 people, including Sikhs, were killed. The minister condemned the suicide attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad yesterday that killed 13 members from the Afghan Sikh community, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj expressed sincere condolences during her meeting with a delegation of representatives of SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee), Sikh community from Afghanistan and relatives of the victims," Kumar tweeted after the meeting which took place in the evening at JN Bhavan here. The bomber targeted a minority communities delegation as it was travelling to the governor's residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad for a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani. Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community, was among those killed. Another 20 people were wounded. The Islamic State group has
Pak Army chief confirms death sentences to 12 'hardcore terrorists'
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today confirmed the death sentences awarded to 12 "hardcore terrorists" who were involved in the killing of civilians, Shia minorities and security personnel. These terrorists include those who planned and executed an attack on Markazi Imam Bargah Parachinar, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army's media wing, said in a statement. "On the whole, they were involved in killing of 34 persons including 26 civilians, 8 Armed Forces/Frontier Constabulary personnel and injuring 133 others. Arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession," it said. Four terrorists - Ashiq Khan, Rasheed, Meraj and Muhammad Rasool - of a banned extremist group were involved in the attack on Markazi Imam Bargah Parachinar that killed 22 members of minority Shia community and wounded 130 others last year, the ISPR said. These convicts admitted their offences before the magistrate and the trial court awarded them death sentence, it ...