Page 772 - War Conflict

Sitharaman visits forward posts in Ladakh

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday visited the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and interacted with soldiers guarding the border with China, a defence statement said.

Pak suicide attack kills 3 officers

A suicide attack on a sports unit belonging to the Pakistan Army in the restive northwest province today killed three officials and injured seven others, the military said. The incident occurred in Swat district's Kabal Tehsil in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Three security officials were killed while 7 were wounded in the blast, it said. The forces have cordoned off the area and started a search operation, it added. The injured persons were taken to Saidu Teaching Hospital in Mingora in Swat. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, 'The Express Tribune' reported. The report said that the outfit noted that it was the second attack this month with more to follow. Swat valley has witnessed many attacks and was briefly controlled by the Taliban between 2007 and 2009. At least two militants were killed during a search operation in December last year. In ...

3 soldiers killed in Pakistan suicide blast

At least three army officers were killed and seven others injured in a suicide blast inside an army unit in Pakistan's northwest Swat district on Saturday, officials said.

UN chief urges Maldives government to respect court ruling

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres today called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement released overnight that the UN chief believes the Maldives' "political stalemate" can be resolved through "all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate." "He also calls on all to exercise restraint," Dujarric added. The court ruled Thursday that the convictions of senior Maldivian opposition figures were "questionable" and "politically motivated," overturned these rulings, and ordered new trials. It also reinstated 12 legislators who were expelled for defecting from President Abdulla Yameen's party. The Supreme Court intervention represents a major setback for Yameen, and paves the way for the return of his rival Mohamed Nasheed -- whom he controversially defeated in 2013. Exiled former president Nasheed ...

Afghan, Pakistan officials meet in Kabul to talk differences

Pakistani and Afghan officials have met for a second round of talks about allegations levelled against Islamabad in the wake of recent deadly militant attacks in Kabul that have killed over 200 people. A joint statement after the day-long meeting in the Afghan capital said the two sides promised to keep talking. After the recent attacks, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government has insisted Pakistan's failure to rout Taliban militants from safe havens on its soil is spurring the insurgency inside Afghanistan. Kabul also accused Islamabad of harboring the Taliban, who are allegedly being trained in Islamic seminaries in southwestern Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charges. Islamabad says today's meeting was part of a larger dialogue while the Afghans billed it as a response to their accusations against Islamabad.

47 militants killed in Afghan anti-terror operations

At least 47 militants have been killed in the eastern and northern regions of Afghanistan over the past 24 hours as the government forces stepped up anti-terror operations in the war-battered country, officials said on Saturday.

One policeman injured in naxal attack in C'garh

One policeman was seriously injured as naxals opened fire on a police team in the forest area of Tippapuram village in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh this afternoon, police said. Police suspect that the retaliatory attack launched by them, left some naxals either dead of injured. The village where the incident took place is located near Telangana border. A composite squad of security personnel, including the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), district police, was out on patrol when the ultras opened fire, police said. The policeman, identified as constable Arvind Salaam, sustained serious injuries in the attack. "After the naxal firing, police launched a retaliatory attack. The exchange of fire lasted for around one-and-a-half hour following which the naxals fled from the spot," police said. There is a possibility that some naxals died in the police firing, they said. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, naxals set on fire 10 vehicles near Bhattiguda

Sri Lankan navy apprehends 2 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended at least two Indian fishermen for allegedly trying to smuggle a large amount of heroin worth Rs 1 crore near Sri Lanka's Mannar Island Lighthouse on Friday evening.Acting on a tip-off, the navy seized 425-gm heroin and 100 bundles of beedi leaves from them. The fishermen, who hailed from Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, have been handed over to the Mannar Police for legal action.Fishermen from both the countries are apprehended on a regular basis for violating each other's territorial waters or doing suspicious activities.Last Saturday, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 12 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu island in Palk Strait in northern Sri Lanka.

Rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria heavily bombed

A Syrian monitoring group and the media arm of al-Qaida-linked militants are reporting intense airstrikes on a rebel-held stronghold in Syria's northwest. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported more than 35 airstrikes on Saraqeb since late yesterday, adding that many of its residents are fleeing. The Ibaa News Agency of the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee, said Russian and Syrian warplanes and helicopter gunships have been pounding Saraqeb and Tel Mardeekh village in Idlib province since the early hours of today. Syrian government forces and their allies pushed into Idlib, an opposition stronghold, inching closer to a key highway that connects Syria's two largest cities, Damascus and Aleppo. The UN says more than 270,000 have been displaced in Idlib because of the government onslaught since December 15.

China values India ties but firm on 'sovereign rights', interests: Wang Yi

China will firmly uphold the existing international system with the UN at the core, and protect and expand the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Shopian killings: Lawyers take out march in Srinagar

A group of lawyers today took out a march in protest against the recent killings of three civilians allegedly in firing by security forces in Shopian district, police said. The lawyers assembled outside the court complex here and took out the march, a police official said. A spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association expressed concern over the killings in Shopian last week and the "war-like situation" along the border. "The Bar Association, while condemning the killings, demands immediate arrest of the guilty Army officials," the spokesman said.

RJD MLA seeks security after firing at residence

A day after unidentified armed men opened fire at his residence, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Upendra Paswan on Saturday wrote a letter to Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) requesting him to increase his security.Paswan has also asked the DGP to provide him with a police escort party.Some unidentified miscreants opened fire at the house of the RJD MLA in Bihar's Begusarai on January 2.RJD MLA from Bakhri, however, escaped unhurt while Middle school's headmaster Naval Kishore Mukhiya suffered injuries.

Maratha Light Infantry to celebrate 250 years tomorrow

The Maratha Light Infantry will celebrate 250 years of its existence by organising a programme at the Manekshaw Centre here on Sunday.The chief guest of the programme will be graced by Union Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Bhamre. The Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat will be present as well.Also, the Republic Day parade contingent of the Maratha Light Infantry would be present. The families of the light infantry soldiers, who are posted in Delhi will also grace the occasion.February 4 is celebrated as "Maratha Light Infantry Day" across the regiment throughout the country.The date holds a historic significance as on this day, in 1670, Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji conquered the famous Kondana Fort, which is now known as Sinhgad today in Maharashtra.The first battalion of the regiment was raised as the 'Second Battalion Bombay Sepoys' in 1768 which was later known as 'Jangi Paltan 3'.The Maratha Light Infantry was bestowed with the rare honour of winning two ...

Year-long celebration to mark Maratha LI's 250 years

The Maratha Light Infantry, one of the oldest regiments of the Army and the recipient of 56 battle honours, has entered its 250th year and a host of events have been planned to celebrate its legacy, a senior Army official said. The celebrations will open with a function tomorrow at the Manekshaw Centre where a coffee-table book on the infantry, 'Victory and Valour', is slated to be released. "We are one of the largest and one of the oldest regiments of the Army, with a track record of 250 years. So, from February 4, 2018, to February 4, 2019, we will organise a host of events to mark the occasion," said Lt Gen PJS Pannu, Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry (LI). He said the Maratha LI was the first infantry to be designated as a light infantry during the British Raj, for being "swift-footed". "Our regimental icon is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and our motto is 'Duty. Honour. Courage'. We draw our inspiration from the legacy of Maratha warriors, who were adept in ...

Two Pakistan-trained LeT militants arrested at Wagah-Attari crossing

Two Pakistan-trained LeT militants from Jammu and Kashmir were arrested soon after they returned to India via the Wagah-Attari border crossing in Punjab with valid passports and visas, police said on Friday.

Two Pak-trained LeT militants arrested in Kashmir: Police

Security forces have arrested two Pakistan-trained Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said today. The militants, who had gone to Pakistan on valid Pakistani visa to obtain arms training to undertake terrorist activities in the Valley, were arrested during a joint operation by the police, Army and the CRPF, a police spokesman said here. He said the militants had obtained their passports specifically for the said purpose. "These militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba were nabbed immediately after returning via the Wagah-Attari border before they could formally join the militant ranks here in Kashmir," he said, identifying the arrested as Abdul Majeed Bhat, resident of Kreeri, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, from Pattan. On questioning, the duo revealed "they underwent training in Pakistan along with a large number of Pakistani boys, most of whom were from Balochistan and as young as 10," the spokesperson said. "The said terrorist training camps ...

Two killed in Kolkata accident, clashes erupt

Two college students were killed when a bus hit them after ignoring a traffic signal here on Saturday, leading to clashes between locals and police.

Maratha Light Infantry: 250-year-old regiment that draws inspiration from Shivaji (February 4 is the Regimental Day of Maratha Light Infantry)

With a war cry hailing Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj, and drawing inspiration from the king's army known in history for its guerrilla warfare, the Maratha Light Infantry, which completes 250 years in 2018, is the only regiment of the Indian Army from which two units of Special Forces have been drawn.

Gadchiroli: Cops exchange fire with naxals, 3 rifles recovered

Police have recovered three rifles and Maoist literature following an exchange of fire with naxals in Kumadpar forest area in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, an official said today. The encounter took place yesterday morning, they said. "An anti-naxal operation was conducted at Kumadpar jungle by C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli police, during which unidentified people started firing at the police team around 8.45 am on Friday," a statement issued by Gadchiroli police said. "There was an exchange of fire between the police and the naxalites. Under heavy firing from the police, the naxals ran away into the jungle," it said. During an inspection of the area after the exchange of fire, police recovered one .303 rifle, two 12-bore rifles and other naxal material from the spot, the statement added.

Russia developing undersea nuclear torpedo: Report

A Pentagon report for the first time has acknowledged that Russia is building and developing an "undersea" nuclear torpedo.According to a report from the US Defense Department, which assesses the arms advancements being made in other countries, Russia is "developing" a "new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo which is known in English as the Status-6 system, reported CNN.Some analysts have branded it a "doomsday weapon."According to the US officials, the Russian programme includes a drone-type device fired underwater with the potential of travelling thousands of miles and the capability of striking U.S. targets along the coast, including military bases and cities. If activated, the intent would be widespread radioactive contamination.The Defense Department, in its Nuclear Posture Review, noted that "Russia considers the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to be the principal threats to its contemporary geopolitical .