Page 844 - War Conflict
US VP makes surprise visit to Afghanistan
United States Vice President Mike Pence has made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan leaders and visit US troops ahead of the Christmas holiday.Pence, who landed at Bagram Airfield under heavy security, told the troops that the United States is "making real progress" and they have "put the Taliban on the offensive.""I believe victory is closer than ever before. I believe with all my heart that Afghanistan will be free," Fox News reported, citing Pence, as saying.Pence also met Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Dr. Adbullah Abdullah.His surprise visit comes four months after Trump outlined a new strategy to break the stalemate in America's longest war.
Putin, Merkel discuss situation in eastern Ukraine
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to explain Russia's decision to withdraw its military observers from a joint group monitoring the truce in eastern Ukraine. Putin said the Russian move announced earlier this week had been prompted by "restrictions and provocations" by Ukrainian authorities that made it hard for Russian officers to perform their duties. Ukraine has criticised Moscow's decision, saying it could fuel hostilities. The Kremlin said Putin and Merkel agreed Thursday to consider possible steps to ensure the Russian monitors' return. It added that they also spoke in support of a planned prisoners' exchange and a truce for the holiday season. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 10,000 since April 2014.
Italy's Defence Minister hails Niger peacekeeping mission
Rome, Dec 21 (IANS/AKI) Italy's nascent peacekeeping mission in Africa's Niger will soon be presented to parliament and will "contribute to creating a pillar of security in the Sahel region", Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said on Thursday.
India allows Lankan pilgrims to travel via ferry for festival
India has agreed to facilitate the travel of Sri Lankan pilgrims to Chennai on a ferry to participate in the 'Aarudraa Dharshana Festival' in Tamil Nadu, the External Affairs Ministry said today. According to the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, India was approached by Lord Shiva devotees in northern Sri Lanka, who had expressed a desire to visit the Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram to participate in the 'Maarkazhi Thiruvaathirai' (Aarudraa Dharshana Festival). The festival starts from December 24January 3, 2018. In response to the request, India has agreed to facilitate the travel of pilgrims on a ferry from Kankesanturai (near Jaffna) to Chennai. "We expect this will permit a large number of Sri Lankan Tamil pilgrims to undertake this important and auspicious pilgrimage," Kumar said. This is a major festival at a particularly sacred temple for both Indians and Sri Lankans.
Govt to facilitate Sri Lankan pilgrims by ferry for TN temple visit
The Central Government on Thursday has agreed to facilitate the travel of Sri Lankan pilgrims, through a ferry from Kankesanturai, near Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka to Chennai.The pilgrims, who are devotees of Lord Shiva, have expressed their desire to visit the Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram town in Tamil Nadu. They will participate in the 'Maarkazhi Thiruvaathirai' (Aarudraa Dharshana Festival), which will be held from December 24, 2017, to January 3, 2018.A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official said: "In response to their request, we expect this will permit a large number of Sri Lankan Tamil pilgrims to undertake this important and auspicious pilgrimage."The temple festival is celebrated and also considered sacred by both Indians and Sri Lankans.
Afghanistan: 3 dead, 6 injured in explosion in Herat
Three people were killed and six others were wounded in an explosion in Herat province on Thursday evening, local officials confirmed.Herat Police spokesman Abdul Ahad Wali said that the blast took place in Jebraeel area in Herat City at around 5:30 pm.The explosives were hidden in a three-wheel motorbike and were detonated in a crowded place in front of a shop, Afghanistan's Tolo News Agency reported.Mohammad Rafiq Shirzai, a spokesman for Herat Zonal Hospital, said that the injured were taken to the hospital, following the explosion.No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
Girri seeks more personnel for Delhi Police in Parliament
BJP MP Maheish Girri raised the issue of inadequate strength of Delhi Police in Parliament today, and said an increase in the number of its personnel would help minimise crimes in the national capital. The East Delhi MP also lauded Delhi Police for its "excellent performance", said a statement from Girri's office. "It has been brought to our knowledge through media that the numbers of Delhi Police is inadequate. The crimes would be effectively brought under control if the number is raised," it said. Girri also expressed concern over "more crimes in East Delhi as compared to other parts of the city" and claimed that the strength of police force was "lesser" there. "East Delhi has a large population and the crimes are high due to less number of police personnel," the statement claimed.
Over 60 IS suspects arrested in Turkey
Over 60 people on Thursday were arrested for their suspected links with the Islamic State (IS) group, during the counterterrorism operations across Turkey.A police source said that anti-terror squads were formed and had conducted simultaneous operations at 12 locations in seven districts of Istanbul.During the operations, the police apprehended 45 people of different nationalities, who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks across the country, Anadolu News Agency reported.The police also seized a number of documents and digital tools from the suspects.Also, ten suspects were caught in western Izmir province, during simultaneous operations in the city.The arrests came after Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects.Elsewhere, security forces arrested two Syrian nationals in western Bursa province and three Syrian and two Iraqi nationals in southern Kahramanmaras province.Turkey has been embroiled in a state of emergency since last year, as the .
Cameroon frees journalist who appealed prison sentence
A military appeals court in Cameroon has acquitted and freed a correspondent for Radio France International's Hausa service who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for not denouncing acts of terrorism and laundering proceeds of terrorist acts. Ahmed Abba was arrested in northern Cameroon in July 2015 while investigating Boko Haram. He denied accusations of acting as an accomplice and failing to warn authorities of activities by the Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group. Abba's lawyers appealed his April conviction. Cameroon faced international pressure over the conviction. Amnesty International described it as a travesty of justice after an unfair trial and said Abba was held in inhumane conditions in overcrowded prisons.
US drone strike kills Qaeda propaganda chief in Yemen
The propaganda chief of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was among six jihadists killed in two separate US drone strikes in Yemen, tribal sources said today. The yesterday evening strikes came as Washington revealed that US forces have carried out more than 120 air strikes against jihadists in Yemen this year as part of a long-running campaign that has intensified since President Donald Trump took office. Saudi-born Abu Hajar al-Makki and three other AQAP militants were killed when a drone blew up their vehicle in the Wadi Obeida district of Marib province, east of the capital Sanaa, tribal sources said. A separate strike on a second vehicle killed two other AQAP militants in the same area, they added. Washington says its strikes have killed a number of senior AQAP figures in recent months, including Mujahid al- Adani, who was killed on November 20. It considers AQAP to be the worldwide jihadist network's most dangerous branch. The Sunni extremist group has thrived in ...
China, Pak, Afghan FMs to hold first meeting on Afghanistan
The first trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan - a Beijing's initiative to reduce friction between Islamabad and Kabul over terrorist attacks - will be held here next week. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who conducted shuttle diplomacy earlier to forge peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan over Kabul's allegation of increasing attacks from Taliban militants from across the border, will attend the meeting along with his Afghanistan and Pakistan counterparts Salahuddin Rabbani and Khawaja Muhammad Asif respectively. "As a neighbour and friend of Pakistan and Afghanistan we always support friendship between the two countries and their common development," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters while announcing that the meeting will take place in Beijing on December 26. The Foreign Ministers' trilateral mechanism was formed after Wang's visit to the two countries in June. "This is the first dialogue of its ..
Two Naxals killed in encounters in Chhattisgarh, say police
Two Naxals died in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bastar division today, police said. "While one Naxal was killed in a forest under the limits of Bhejji police station in Sukma district, another died in the limits of Gangaloor police station in neighbouring Bijapur district," a senior police official told PTI. A joint team of police's special task force, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, had launched an operation in the interiors of Bhejji, around 500 km from the state capital Raipur, he said. There was an exchange of fire between the patrolling team and ultras in the Dabbakonta village forest. However, the rebels soon escaped from the spot, and during the subsequent search, the body of a Naxal, in uniform, was found, he said. A .12 bore gun and some other material were also recovered from the spot, he said. The Naxal was identified .
Six injured in clash over land dispute in UP
At least six people were injured in a clash between two groups of the same community over a land dispute at Jalalpur village in Shamli district, police said today. According to station house officer Umesh Rorea, the incident occurred yesterday when a former gram pradhan and a man had an argument over a piece of land which soon turned violent. The injured were shifted to a hospital, he said.
AR crackdown on NSCN groups
In a crackdown on extortion activities by underground groups in south Arunachal Pradesh, security forces have apprehended four ultras of NSCN groups since Wednesday, Defece sources said today. In operations launched by the Longding and Khonsa battalions of Assam Rifles, three cadres of a NSCN group were apprehended on Wednesday evening, while that of another group was arrested on December 17, Fefence spokesman Col Chiranjeet Konwer informed. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, columns of Longding battalion of the Assam Rifles set a trap and apprehended a self-styled 'private' and a 'lance corporal' besides another ultra from Sonari town in Sibsagar district of Assam. Two pistols with live ammunition, opium, extortion notes, multiple mobile phones and other documents were seized from them. In another operation launched in Khonsa town by the Khonsa Battalion of AR, self-styled 'private' was apprehended on December 17 and a pistol, live ammunition, opium and extortion
France closes probe into 1994 attack on Rwanda president
French anti-terror judges have ended an investigation into the missile attack on a plane that killed former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, sparking Rwanda's 1994 genocide, legal sources said today. The long-running probe has been a major source of tension between the two countries following accusations that a Tutsi militia headed by current Rwandan President Paul Kagame was responsible for the attack on the plane in April 1994. The missile strike near Kigali's airport sparked 100 days of slaughter of the Tutsi ethnic minority by members of Habyarimana's Hutu ethnic group, leaving an estimated 800,000 people dead. Kigali has long accused France of complicity in the genocide by supporting the Hutu regime, training the soldiers and militiamen who carried out the killings. Ties had been on the mend until 2014 when Kagame repeated accusations that French soldiers had been involved in the bloodbath. The relationship took an even worse turn when the French judiciary ...
Film on child 'terrorists' to release on February 16
"Billu Ustaad", billed as India's first feature film which discusses how innocent children are lured and misused for terror activities, will release in India on February 16 next year, said its director Suvahhdan Angre.
Afghan forces kill 17 Taliban militants in Helmand province
At least 17 militants belonging to the Taliban insurgent group were killed in a joint operation by the Afghan air forces and ground forces in southern Helmand province.The Tolo News quoted the local officials, as saying on Thursday, that the operation was carried out a day before in which 17 Taliban insurgents were killed and five others were injured.Provincial governor spokesperson Omar Zwak said, "The forces have also seized weapons during the operation."Taliban has not commented on the incident so far.Last week, at least 14 policemen were killed in a Taliban attack on two security check posts in the province.
Traders owe Maha govt sales tax of Rs 2,860 crore: Minister
Traders owe the Maharashtra government about Rs 2,860.18 crore in dues related to sales tax, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said in the Assembly today. In a written reply, the minister said that some traders are missing and the dues with the GST department (sales tax) stood at Rs 2,860.18 crore. "Some traders have changed their locations. We have identified traders with dues of more than Rs 5 lakh and efforts to trace them has been initiated with the help of banks, police and the company registrar," he said.
India-Lanka ties improved in 2017 despite port lease to China
India and Sri Lanka managed to keep their relationship warm in 2017 with high-level exchanges and signing of pacts despite New Delhi's concerns over China's forays in the island nation, including its acquisition of the strategic port of Hambantota. Though issues over a proposed economic and technology pact, poaching by fishermen in each other's territorial waters and China's influence in the island nation remained, President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have kept the relationship warm by persisting with top-level engagements. Historically, India-Sri Lanka ties have witnessed ups and downs. In the 1980s, the Tamil question dominated relations and more recently differences have sometimes erupted over poaching by fishermen and Sri Lanka's increasing dependence on China for investment. But the ties have showed signs of maturity, breaking away from the past towards an era of synergy and understanding. "We have had another good year of excellent
One suspected NSCN IM injured in encounter, another arrested
One suspected cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah faction (NSCN-IM) was injured in an encounter with Assam Rifles troops in Noney district, police said today. The encounter took place yesterday evening in between Sibilong and Sinam Village of Noney district, said a senior police officer. One militant has been apprehended by the troops after the encounter. Additional forces have been rushed in to conduct further operations in the area, about 137 kilometre from the state capital, said the officer.