Page 709 - War Conflict
2 terrorists killed after failed weapon-snatching bid in J-K
At least two militants have been killed in an encounter with security forces which broke out after a failed bid to snatch the weapon of the personal security guard (PSO) of a BJP leader. The terrorists yesterday tried to snatch the service rifle of constable Bilal Ahmad, who is the PSO of BJP leader Anwar Khan, at Balhama in Pulwama district. The police personnel accompanying Khan foiled the attempt, during which Ahmad received a bullet injury. "Bodies of two militants have been recovered so far. Their identities are being ascertained," a police spokesman said. "Incriminating materials, which include weapon and ammunition, have been recovered as well," he said. Searches are going on at the encounter site as there were reports of third militant as well at the time of weapon snatching attempt.
US military helicopter crashes in western Iraq
A US military helicopter has crashed in western Iraq with seven service members on board, US officials said today. The officials said that so far there is no indication that the Pave Hawk helicopter was shot down. The helicopter is used by the Air Force for combat search and rescue, and was in transit from one location to another when it went down yesterday near the town of Qaim in Anbar Province Officials said that rescuers were responding to the location, but other details were not yet available. It's not clear if there were any survivors. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the crash before it was made public. In a short statement, US Central Command said that "rescue teams are responding to the scene of the downed aircraft at this time," adding that an investigation will be started to determine the cause of the incident. The US-led coalition battling Islamic State insurgents in Iraq and Syria have an outpost in Qaim, which is located near the Syrian
UNSC welcomes offer to engage Taliban in peace talks
The UN Security Council has welcomed the Afghan government's offer to engage the Taliban in direct peace talks and called on the Taliban to accept it without preconditions.
'Pakistan providing covert support to Taliban'
Despite the United States pressuring Pakistan, the Islamabad Government is still supporting the Taliban terrorist group in the border region with Afghanistan, revealed United State Army General Joseph L. Votel.According to the Washington Times, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, when asked about the continued Pakistani support to Taliban, Gen. Votel noted, "I cannot tell you that we have seen decisive changes in the areas in which we're working, but I remain very well-engaged with my partner to ensure that we are moving forward on this."On recent increase in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Votel said, "Having sanctuary in Pakistan or having support from other actors in the region certainly is an aspect of the Taliban's success here."The Washington Times report further quoted an intelligence source close to the Afghan border region as saying that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is continuing its covert support for the Taliban in the border ..
Britain to build new chemical weapons defence centre
Britain's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced plans to build a new $67 million Chemical Weapons Defence Centre.
Two militants killed, three policemen injured in Srinagar gunfight
Two militants were killed and three policemen including an SHO injured on Thursday in a gunfight that broke out on the outskirts of the city after a BJP leader was attacked, said police.
India will not entertain infiltration: Nirmala Sitharaman
Hours after three militants, who attacked a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on the outskirts of Srinagar, were gunned down, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday that the security forces were on alert and would not entertain infiltration.The militants, earlier today, attacked BJP leader Anwar Khan at Khanmoh area in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir as they fired upon the latter's personal security officers (PSOs).However, soon they took a refuge in a residential home in the area, after they were fired upon by the PSOs.The minister also said it was up to Pakistan to prove to the world community that whether they have been taking action against terrorist."It is for Pakistan to prove that they are responding to containing terror and Pakistani soil not being used by terrorists. They have to be clear and concrete in proving it. We are remaining alert, we will not entertain infiltration," Sitharaman said while addressing a gathering at a book launch.One policeman got
Western powers condemn nerve agent attack on former spy in Britain
The alleged poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain which has been pinned on Russia was the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II and there is "no plausible alternative explanation" than Russian culpability, said the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and the US in a joint statement on Thursday.
Protest at UN against anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka demands minorities' protection
Sri Lankan Muslims and supporters have demanded that the world organisation act to ensure that minorities are protected in the island nation and those behind the recent violence against their community are brought to justice.
Thousands flee Syria's Eastern Ghouta as Army advances
Thousands of civilians fled a town in the besieged rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region outside the Syrian capital as government forces advanced.
UK, US, France, Germany 'abhor' nerve agent attack on Russian ex-spy
Britain, France, Germany and the US today "abhorred" a nerve agent attack on former Russian spy and his daughter, saying it is an assault on the UK's sovereignty and threatens the security of all nations. In a rare joint statement, the four countries condemned the "first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War" and called on Russia to address all questions related to the attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. "We, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, abhor the attack that took place against Sergei and Yulia Skripal," they said. The UK government has linked the attack to Soviet-designed nerve agents known as Novichok. Novichok refers to a group of deadly chemical compounds reportedly developed by the Soviet government in the 1970s and 1980s, some of which were adopted by the Soviet army in 1990. "Russia should, in particular, provide full and ...
Chief of Army Staff visits Defence Services Staff college
The Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat today visited the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in nearby Wellington and interacted with the student-officers. Rawat addressed student-officers of 73 staff course and complimented them for their high standards of training achieved, an official release said here. He spoke to the students about "their roles and responsibilities and motivated them towards achieving joint operational efficiency," the release said. The Chief of Army Staff acknowledged the fact that DSSC is a fountainhead of knowledge and professional wisdom and has successfully been producing excellent staff officers for command and staff functions in the armed forces, it said. He also interacted with DSSC Commandant Lt Gen Amrik Singh. DSSC is an inter-service institution of the Ministry of Defence and trains officers of all three Indian Armed Forces and officers from friendly foreign countries for command and staff appointments.
Report: China ramps up security presence in Tajikistan
An independent think tank says China's military is ramping up its security presence in Tajikistan with troop deployments amid fears that militants based in nearby Afghanistan could strike at western China. The International Crisis Group said in a report yesterday that China has deployed soldiers and built a "counter-terrorism center" in Tajikistan near the three-way border of Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan. China has repeatedly warned about ethnic Uighur militants who have left their homeland in western China to join extremist groups such as the Turkistan Islamic Party, a predominantly Uighur group that has bases in Syria and Afghanistan and is allied with al-Qaida and the Taliban. The Chinese defense ministry did not immediately respond to a fax seeking comment.
Nine S.African cops in court over Marikana killings
Nine police officers appeared in a South African court today over the deaths of three miners in the days before the 2012 Marikana massacre, when 34 striking workers were shot dead. They are the first officers to be in court over the traumatic events of nearly six years ago, when police broke up a wildcat strike that had turned violent at the Marikana platinum mine northwest of Johannesburg. The officers, who were granted bail by the court in Rustenburg, face charges of murder, attempted murder and subverting the course of justice. The charges arise from killings on August 13 2012, three days before police opened fire on a group of workers shooting the 34 miners. In documents read out in court Thursday, the prosecution said police fired tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of striking miners that was trying to prevent other workers from reporting for duty. "Pandemonium ensued, resulting in the violent confrontation between the police and miners," prosecutors said. Three miners and ..
Terrorists holed up in Pulwama house after failed weapon-snatching bid: JK Police
Three terrorists were believed to be holed up in a house in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, after a failed bid to snatch the weapon of the personal security officer (PSO) of a BJP leader, the police said. The terrorists tried to snatch the service rifle of constable Bilal Ahmad, who is the PSO of BJP leader Anwar Khan, at Balhama in Pulwama district, a police official said. He added that the police personnel accompanying Khan foiled the attempt, during which Ahmad received a bullet injury. State Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid confirmed the incident, saying an operation was going on to flush out the terrorists. "Three terrorists are trapped in an undisclosed location and engaged in an exchange of fire after an unsuccessful attempt of weapon-snatching from the PSO of a protected person," he said. Ahmad was rushed to a hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable, a police official said. Another police personnel was reportedly injured in the exchange of ..
3 militants arrested with arms and ammunition in J-K
Security forces today arrested three militants and seized arms and ammunition from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, police said today. They had come to Budgam with the intention to carry out some attack, the police said. Acting on an intelligence input, the police and the Army conducted a joint raid and arrested three militants after recovering incriminating material including arms and ammunition from their possession, the police said. The recoveries included three pistols, four magazines and twelve rounds, the official said, adding the accused were identified as Faizan ul Zaman Bhat, Sajad Ahmad Dar and Miaser Ahmad Dar. Police has also seized the vehicle used by the three militants, he added. "The arrested people hail from Bijbehara (Bhat) and Pulwama (Dars). They are being questioned," the official said.
Last batch of GNLA cadres surrender in Meghalaya
The remaining cadres of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) surrendered before the Meghalaya government on Thursday.This is being seen as a major step towards ending militancy in Meghalaya and the North East.Concerted efforts by both the Centre and the state government, the rebel groups, community leaders, coupled with policy changes at various levels, including the strengthening of the law with a zero-tolerance policy towards militancy, brought the militants to the negotiating table, which is finally beginning to show positive results."The surrender of the last batch of GNLA militants, just when a new government has assumed office means we are beginning on a positive note, which is good news for everyone", said James Sangma, Meghalaya Home Minister.The home minister thanked the people of the Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills and South-West Khasi Hills, the church leaders, civil society organisations, the police and government departments who worked hard and in harmony to bring peace .
Egypt's president ready to join fight against militants
With less than two weeks before elections, Egypt's president said today he was prepared to personally join the army and police battling Islamic militants in Sinai, vowing he and his security forces would prosecute the fight until the end. "I swear by God that I am ready to don combat fatigues and fight side by side" with the security forces, said Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a general-turned-president. "We either live together, or die together." The outcome of the March 26-28 election is a foregone conclusion, with el-Sissi running virtually unopposed. His only challenger is a little-known politician who supports him. With a landslide win beyond doubt, he and his supporters are urging voters to come out and cast their ballots since a high turnout will accord the vote legitimacy. El-Sissi also said he would rather win a third of the vote if the turnout is good than every vote with a low turnout. A good turnout, he said in comments made Wednesday, would contribute to the reinforcement of ...
UK says to invest 48m in chemical weapons defence after spy poisoning
Britain will invest 48 million in a new chemical weapons defence centre and vaccinate thousands of British soldiers against anthrax, the defence minister said today after the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. "We are investing 48 million (54 million euros, $67 million) in a new Chemical Weapons Defence Centre to maintain our cutting edge in chemical analysis and defence," Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said in a speech. Williamson said the centre would be based at the existing Porton Down facility, a secretive British army base which analysed the nerve gas used to poison former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain has accused Russia of being "culpable" for the attack. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory -- its official name -- employs 3,000 scientists across a sprawling rural site, and has an annual budget of 500 million. It was founded in 1916 to counter German gas attacks in World War I,
Russia will expel British diplomats soon: Lavrov
Russia will also expel UK diplomats "soon", Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday, in response to the expulsion of 23 Russian envoys by Britain.