Page 95 - War Conflict
Pakistan Foreign Minister's SL visit cancelled
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's scheduled visit to Sri Lanka has been cancelled due to the security situation in the island nation in the wake of the deadly Easter Sunday suicide bombings, the media reported on Thursday.
Afghans call for ceasefire as huge peace summit wraps up
Afghan officials called for a ceasefire Thursday as a huge peace summit wound down in Kabul after thousands of delegates spent days discussing possible conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban. This week's "loya jirga", or grand assembly, saw more than 3,000 religious and tribal leaders, politicians and representatives from across the country gather under tight security to discuss the possibility of peace. The Taliban, who were not at the talks, are this week separately meeting in Doha with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in a bid to make a deal with Washington that could see the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. While the full results of the summit may not be announced until Friday, several committee leaders said they wanted to see an immediate pause in violence, which has continued apace across Afghanistan even with various peace summits taking place. "Every day, Afghans are being killed without any reason. An unconditional ceasefire must be announced," said ...
BSF apprehends Pakistani national near Gujarat Intl border
The Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended a Pakistani national from near the international border (IB) here on Thursday."The 35 to 40-year old alleged intruder was apprehended by the patrol party at border post-1123 by 79th battalion," officials said.During searches, nothing suspicious was recovered from him. However, the identification of the person is yet to be established.Further investigation in the matter is underway.
All members should abide by UN sanctions committee's decision on Azhar: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed hope that all member states will abide by the decision of the sanctions committee of the world body which imposed an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar. The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda on Wednesday announced the designation of Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaeda. The JeM has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers and led to a spike in military tensions between India and Pakistan. In response to a question on Guterres' reaction, his spokesman said: "This is the work of a well-established mechanism through the Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. It is a big part of the United Nations work in the fight against terrorism". "It's always good when all member states of the security council agree on something. We would of course hope that all member states abide by those decisions," .
One shot dead, at least 27 hurt in Venezuela May Day clashes
A woman was shot dead and more than two dozen people were injured during May Day clashes between opposition supporters and Venezuela's armed forces in Caracas on Wednesday, with opposition leader Juan Guaido attempting to rally demonstrators against President Nicolas Maduro. Jurubith Rausseo, 27, died at a clinic after being hit by a "bullet in the head during (a) demonstration," the non-governmental Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict said on Twitter. It condemned her "murder," after health services earlier reported at least 27 people injured in Wednesday's clashes, including one person with a gunshot wound. Tensions in Venezuela have soared since Guaido, who heads the National Assembly legislature, invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president on January 23, claiming Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate. National Guard troops fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters attempting to block a highway close to the air base in eastern Caracas where Guaido
Ghaziabad school teacher found dead
A government school teacher, who was missing since Monday, has been found dead in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said. The deceased, Aslam, who was a teacher in a government primary school in Ghaziabad district, had gone to pay Rs 2 lakh to an agency for buying a tractor, according to a complaint by his family. Police suspect that Aslam was kidnapped by miscreants and, after looting the cash, he was killed and the body dumped on the Ganga Canal road near Buwarada village in Khatauli area, a police officer said. The body, which was found on Wednesday, has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is on, the officer added.
New mass protests in Venezuela after Guaido's call
Venezuelan opposition supporters have been holding mass protests, a day after violent clashes with government forces.
'UN terrorism sanctions panel preserved its credibility'
The Security Council's terrorism sanctions committee has preserved its credibility by finally declaring Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar an international terrorist, according to Dian Triansyah Djani, the Indonesian diplomat who chairs the panel.
Ugandan ADF overspill attack blamed for 6 DR Congo deaths
An attack which killed six in DR Congo's north-eastern Ituri province Wednesday was the work of an notorious militia based near the Ugandan border, their first known incursion in the area, military sources said. The attack left one soldier and five militiamen dead while two doctors were abducted, the sources in the region said. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) -- forced out of Uganda in the mid 1990s -- are regularly accused by DRC authorities of attacking army positions in the neighbouring province of North Kivu. To date, attacks in Ituri have tended to be blamed on the Lord's Resistance Army, but the latest assault is being seen as the ADF extending its sphere of influence. "For their first attack in the province of Ituri, the ADF came in force. We killed five and captured one. One soldier has succumbed to his injuries," army spokesman lieutenant Jules Ngongo told AFP. "These ADF who came from North Kivu targeted Tchadi village, in the territory of Irumu, bordering the ...
Ugandan ADF overspill attack blamed for 6 DR Congo deaths
An attack which killed six in DR Congo's north-eastern Ituri province Wednesday was the work of an notorious militia based near the Ugandan border, their first known incursion in the area, military sources said. The attack left one soldier and five militiamen dead while two doctors were abducted, the sources in the region said. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) -- forced out of Uganda in the mid 1990s -- are regularly accused by DRC authorities of attacking army positions in the neighbouring province of North Kivu. To date, attacks in Ituri have tended to be blamed on the Lord's Resistance Army, but the latest assault is being seen as the ADF extending its sphere of influence. "For their first attack in the province of Ituri, the ADF came in force. We killed five and captured one. One soldier has succumbed to his injuries," army spokesman lieutenant Jules Ngongo told AFP. "These ADF who came from North Kivu targeted Tchadi village, in the territory of Irumu, bordering the ...
NSCN-IM vacates unauthorised camps in Manipur
The NSCN-IM has vacated an "unauthorised camp" which it had set up in Ukhrul district of Manipur by committing a serious violation of ceasefire ground rules, Indian Army sources have said.
Clashes in Paris as tens of thousands mark May Day
Paris riot police fired teargas as they squared off against hardline demonstrators among tens of thousands of May Day protesters, who flooded parts of the city Wednesday in a test for France's zero-tolerance policy on street violence. Tensions were palpable as a mix of labour unionists, "yellow vest" demonstrators and anti-capitalists gathered in the French capital, putting security forces on high alert. More than 7,400 police were out on the streets with orders from President Emmanuel Macron to take an "extremely firm stance" if faced with violence. The clashes kicked off as crowds gathered on Montparnasse Boulevard, with hundreds of black-clad anarchists weaving their way to the front as thousands of unionists and yellow vests were quietly munching their lunch in the sun. Suddenly they pounced, hurling bottles and chunks of broken paving stones at the security forces, shouting: "Everyone hates the police!" Clouds of teargas wafted into the air as the police hit back immediately, ...
Maha govt will root out Maoists from state: state minister
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar said Wednesday the Maoist attack in Gadchiroli is very unfortunate and the state government will completely root out the insurgency. Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Kesarkar said it was a very unfortunate incident. "We all are very sad. I think that our words won't be enough to console the relatives of jawans who have sacrificed their lives. And we will have to give a befitting reply. "I think this will be the last fight against naxals in Maharashtra. We will completely remove naxalism from Maharashtra in this fight," said Kesarkar.
Police head constable visiting home on leave shot by militants in Srinagar; critical
A police head constable visiting home on leave was shot and critically wounded by suspected militants in Srinagar on Wednesday night, officials said. Illiyas Ahmed was posted with the special branch of the district police in Handwara of north Kashmir. Suspected militants barged into his house in Khanyar and shot him, the officials said. He had come home on leave, they added. A senior police officer earlier said Ahmed had died. However, a police spokesman later clarified he was critically injured and has been admitted to SKIMS hospital where his condition is critical.
Shiv Sena clarifies its 'ban on burqa' remark
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday issued a clarification over demanding a 'ban on burqa' in India in its mouthpiece 'Saamna', stating it may be the personal opinion of the editor."Every policy decision is discussed in the leader's meeting or announced by Uddhav Thackeray," said Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe in a statement."Today's editorial has neither been discussed in leaders' meeting nor announced by Uddhav and thus it may be the personal opinion of editor on the current affairs in Sri Lanka but is not endorsed by the party president or party," Shiv Sena issued a statement on the editorial.Citing a ban on the burqa in Sri Lanka after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' demanded the imposition of a similar ban in India.The Sena's proposal, however, was rejected by another NDA ally, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India, who said that burqa should not be banned as it forms part of the country's tradition.The Shiv Sena editorial ...
Indian Army's 20th Rashtriya Rifles celebrates silver jubilee
Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles (DOGRA) on Wednesday celebrated the silver jubilee of 20th Battalion at the Unit Memorial here in the presence of Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command of the Indian Army, Colonel of the DOGRA Regiment and DOGRA Scouts.To commemorate the 25 Glorious Years a 'First Day Cover' was also released by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.Addressing the officers, JCOs, veterans, and families of the unit on the occasion, Gen Ranbir Singh said, "I salute and pay homage to the Martyrs for having made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in service of the Unit, Regiment, Indian Army and the Nation."The contribution of 20 Rashtriya Rifles (DOGRA) was acknowledged by presenting a 'Silver Jubilee' trophy to the Battalion on behalf of the DOGRA Regiment.On the occasion, the Army Commander highlighted the connection with the soldiers. He appreciated their tenacity by awarding two commendations to 'Jawans' and also ...
IS planning new strategy to target smaller countries, claims Sri Lankan Prez Sirisena
It is quite possible that the Islamic States (IS) has launched a "new strategy" by beginning to target smaller countries, says Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.IS had claimed the responsibility for the Easter Sunday bombings last month, which killed over 250 people in Sri Lanka.In an interview with the Sky News, Sirisena said the authorities are aware of "a small group" of Sri Lankans, who have travelled abroad to receive training from the IS over the past decade.He said the analysis of the explosives and devices taken into custody suggested that the bombs used in the coordinated terror attacks on April 21, which rattled several churches and high-end hotels across the country, were made locally.More than 250 people were killed and several hundred suffered injuries in the eight coordinated explosions that jolted Sri Lankan cities of Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikede and Batticaloa as the Christian community celebrated Easter.Meanwhile, the US has warned Sri Lanka against "more ...
Policeman shot at home in Srinagar, critically injured
A policeman was critically injured when militants shot him in his house here on Wednesday, police sources said.
Pak 'mischievously' attempting to divert narrative: Official sources on Azhar listing
India's objective of getting JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist has been achieved, official sources said Wednesday, asserting that Pakistan is "mischievously" attempting to divert the narrative and salvage something out of this diplomatic setback. The assertion came after Pakistan on Wednesday said it agreed to Azhar's listing after all "political references", including attempts to link him to the Pulwama attack, were removed from the proposal. Sources here said Pakistan is "mischievously" attempting to salvage something out of this huge diplomatic setback for them by diverting the narrative. In a huge diplomatic victory for India, the UN Sanctions Committee on Wednesday designated Azhar as a global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to ban him. Pulwama happened to be the latest act of terror, however the designation was not based on a specific incident but on the basis of evidence shared with members of the 1267 Sanctions Committee linking Azhar .
US 'destructive influence' in Venezuela violates international law: Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday told his US counterpart Mike Pompeo the "destructive influence" of the United States in Venezuela was a violation of international law. In a US-led telephone conversation, Lavrov said "Washington's interference in Venezuelan affairs is a flagrant violation of international law" and that "this destructive influence has nothing to do with democracy", the Russian Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying in a statement. Pompeo said earlier Wednesday President Donald Trump was prepared to take military action to quell the crisis in Venezuela. "The pursual of these aggressive steps is fraught with consequences," Lavrov said, adding that "only the Venezuelan people have the right to decide their destiny". Venezuelan was bracing Wednesday for anti-government protests called by opposition leader Juan Guaido in a bid to pile pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. Pro-Maduro rallies were also expected, a day after violent clashes erupted in the ...