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Showing posts from May 30, 2010

Shahzad a 'Hybrid Terrorist', who worked alone but got inspiration from Pak Taliban

Source: ANI Washington, Jun.2 (ANI): As the US agencies continue their investigations to probe the failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad's links with Pakistani extremist groups, indications are that he is a "hybrid terrorist", who worked alone but derived inspiration from the Pakistan Taliban. According to the CBS News, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is struggling with numerous leads into the botched May 1 terror plot, the probe until now clearly indicates that Shahzad primarily plotted the terror attack on his own and only took some help from others in its execution. In one sense, Shahzad was a 'lone wolf,' with evidence suggesting that he alone bought, assembled, and delivered his botched IED. But, sources say it's also clear that he had some help, drawing inspiration, financial support and bomb training from the Pakistani Taliban, the CBS report said. Both the Pakistani and US authorities have detained several persons f

Afghan opposition leader to boycott 'peace jirga', says its a PR exercise

Source: ANI London, June 2 (ANI): Former Afghan Foreign Minister and now Leader of the Opposition in the Afghan Parliament, Absullah Absullah has said he will boycott the much-hyped "peace jirga" of over 1600 tribal chieftains. Abdullah dismissed the event as a mere 'PR Exercise' and has vowed not to attend it. Massive funds have gone into organising the jirga aimed at showcasing the government's ambitious plans, including the provision of jobs for reformed Taliban foot-soldiers. It is set to take place at the same location as the previous Loya Jirga in 2002. The new proposals are not likely to stir up much controversy, but the real bone of contention would be the negotiations with the Taliban militia and settlements with the insurgent chiefs. The Taliban who have not been invited, described the meeting is a "phoney jirga" being organised to please foreign parties. According to The Guardian, foreign officials say a broad national cons

Sri Lanka slams UN Human Rights chief's call for war crime inquest

Source: ANI London, June 2 (ANI): Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris has severely censured UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay, for persistently raking up the issue of an international inquest into alleged war-crimes committed by both the security forces and the LTTE during their confrontation that saw the demise of the insurgent group. Pillay has stood firm on her demand for an international inquiry into the allegations despite the Sri Lankan government's reassurances that it will carry out a fair and thorough probe. "We think that this course of action is unfair. It is even oppressive. It is as though some people will not rest until they are successful in harassing Sri Lanka," the BBC quoted Peiris, as saying. He added that the manner in which the UN was relentlessly "pursuing Sri Lanka" was not only unfair but also "repugnant to the basic values and principles that are enshrined in the UN system". He declared that foreign interven

Ethnic and Religious Divide deepen in PoK

Source: ANI Muzaffarabad, June 01:The identity factor has marked the political history of pakistan in the last sixty years.Much like the early colonizers, Islamabad continues to exploit the religious differences to oppress and rule occupied Kashmir and its people.

Global arms spending hits record despite downturn

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Enlarge Photo South Korean Hawk surface-to-air missiles are seen at the Korean War Memorial Museum in Seoul... Source: reuters Worldwide military spending surged to a record $1.5 trillion last year, defying an economic downturn caused by the global financial crisis, a leading think tank said on Wednesday. Military spending last year rose 5.9 percent in real terms compared to 2008 with the United States accounting for more than half of that increase, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in its annual report on arms spending. "The far-reaching effects of the global financial crisis and economic recession appear to have had little impact on world military expenditure," the think tank said. "Although the USA led the rise, it was not alone. Of those countries for which data was available, 65 percent increased their military spending in real terms in 2009." Global gross domestic product (GDP) suffered a rare contraction l

Will Maoists apologise again?

Source: HT Jhargram, May 30 -- Grief turned to frustration and then to anger, with people searching for relatives who had been travelling on the ill-fated Gyaneshwari Express that derailed on Friday unable to find them. Many of them, who flocked to West Midnapore village where the crash occurred, lashed out at the government's offer of compensation. "We don't want Rs 3 lakh compensation," said Lalit Maheshwari, from Salt Lake, Kolkata. "We will give the government Rs 5 lakh provided they find us the bodies of our loved ones. " Preliminary investigations confirmed Maoists had sabotaged the tracks leading to the derailment and deaths. A week earlier, in Chhattisgarh, their South Bastar unit chief Ramanna had apologised for blowing up a private bus that killed 15 civilians. Though the toll in the train tragedy touched 124 - all civilians - on Saturday, there was no apology from the Maoists this time. Kuldip Kaur of Bengal's Raniganj town spe

Why are the Maoists winning?

Source: HT New Delhi, May 29 -- Last Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed a press conference in Delhi to mark the completion of one year of his second United Progressive Alliance government. Among the questions put to the PM was one on Maoism. Had the government underestimated the threat? "I have always been saying that Naxalism is the biggest security challenge. So it is not correct to say that we have underestimated the magnitude of the problem," Singh replied. Four days later, 110 people died in a train crash in West Bengal. Although the Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee later changed her stance saying that there was was 'a political conspiracy' behind the disaster, she and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee had both described the crash as a Maoist attack. The biggest internal security challenge had struck again. The latest incident followed the killings of 44 people in a blast in Chhattisgarh on May 17 and the massacre of 75 C

Illegal arms manufacturing factory unearthed, one arrested

Source: PTI  Bulandshahr (UP), June 2 (PTI) An illegal arms manufacturing factory was today unearthed by the police at Narayanpur village in Chattari and one person was arrested. Cartridges of AK-47 assault rifle, . 315 bore guns and sixteen country made pistols were recovered from the factory, Superintendent of Police (SP), Rural, Babu Ram said. The factory was being run in the area for the last three months and the manufactured arms were being allegedly supplied to the neighbouring districts of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Aligarh, police said. The raiding party has also seized the machinery which was being used to manufacture the illegal arms. Police has also claimed to have arrested one person in the case.

ANALYSIS - Afghanistan's neighbours stir a witches brew

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Source:  reuters Tue Jun 1, 2010 12:43pm IST Afghan delegates register to attend the upcoming peace ''Jirga'' assembly in Kabul May 30, 2010. With the U.S. endgame in sight, Afghanistan's direct and near neighbours have stepped up efforts to undercut each other, advance strategic interests and exert influence on a negotiated settlement of the nine-year conflict. Credit: Reuters/Ahmad Masood/Files By Sanjeev Miglani World KABUL (Reuters) - When Afghan elders gather under a giant tent in Kabul for a peace jirga this week, they will have to be protected not just from militants trying to bomb the meeting from the hills above, but also insulated from a half dozen neighbours all battling for influence. With the U.S. endgame in sight, Afghanistan's direct and near neighbours have stepped up efforts to un

Lahore hospital attack reveals lack of security

Source: HT Heavily armed terrorists dressed in police uniforms stormed a hospital in this Pakistan city late Monday to "rescue or kill" their comrade wounded in the attacks on two mosques last week. At least five people died in the attack, which revealed the lack of security at the facility, media reports on Tuesday said. Dawn and The News said five people, including three policemen, died in the attack at the Jinnah Hospital, while the Edhi rescue service put the toll at eight. Javed Akram, the hospital's medical superintendent, said 12 people had died. Some 10 Ahmadis and a terrorist identified as Moaz alias Amir Moavia, who were injured in the Friday attack on two mosques, were being treated in the hospital when Monday night's terror strike took place at around 11.45 pm. Inspector General of Police Saleem Dogar told reporters at the hospital that the four attackers intended to "either rescue or kill" Moaz. Three police officers had died

Al-Qaida's third in command believed killed

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Source: Drone strike took out co-founder who handled finances AP Mustafa Abu al-Yazid is seen in an undated interview.   View related photos Video     Top al-Qaida commander believed dead    June 1: Sheik Sa'id al-Masri, a co-founder of the terror network and third in command, is said to have been killed. Today show NBC, msnbc.com and news services updated 7:55 a.m. ET June 1, 2010 Al-Qaida's number three — a co-founder of the terror network — has been killed in Pakistan's border area with Afghanistan, according to a statement attributed to the group that was posted on Islamist websites Monday. The statement did not say how Egyptian-born Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who was also known as Sheik Sa'id al-Masri, was killed nor did it identify a successor. Al-Yazid was al-Qaida's financial director and ran its operations in Afghanistan. It was al-Yazid who shortly before the September 11 attacks transferred several thousand dollars to M

Egypt opens crossing with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid

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Source: The Hindu   An activist holds an Egyptian flag and a picture of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser while chanting anti-Israeli slogans demanding the closure of the Israeli embassy and the expulsion of the ambassador during a protest in front of the foreign ministry in Cairo on Monday. Photo: AP.  Egpyt on Thursdsay ordered the opening of its border with the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian and medical aid into the blockaded enclave, after Israel attacked a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza. It will also receive injured and ill Palestinians who require to pass into Egypt for medical help. The decision to open the border, made in an order from President Hosni Mubarak, comes after Israel lethally stormed the “Freedom Flotilla” that was carrying aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. On Monday, Egypt summoned the Israeli ambassador in Cairo to express their condemnation of the attack that left at least 10 people killed. Egypt closed the Gaza Strip’s borders after Hamas

NIA team may interrogate Headley this week

Source: The hindu   Vinay Kumar NEW DELHI: Eight months after his arrest in the U.S., prospects look bright for Indian investigators to get access to David Coleman Headley (49), an American citizen of partial Pakistani descent who allegedly helped the Lashkar-e-Taiba plan and carry out the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. A team of four investigators is likely to leave for the U.S. soon to question David Headley, official sources said. The Chicago-bound team will have three officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a law officer. It could get a chance to quiz David Headley next week. Sources said that some paper work of a legal nature was yet to be completed. The sources said the team was being sent following a communication from the U.S. Justice Department that all officials concerned an

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says no to tight security

Source: DNA Bangalore: The founder of Art of Living is very clear he does not want to compromise on his freedom to mingle with ashram devotees. When talk of the need for tighter security for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar came up on Monday following a firing incident at the ashram on Sunday evening, in what has been perceived to be an attack on the Guru, he was clear that he wants no more security “I don’t want any security. That will become like an obstacle between me and the people. The little time that I spend in India, I would like to mingle with people. That is why I don’t need any form of increased security,” he said while addressing the media at the ashram on Monday morning. While no drastic or visible measures were taken to enhance security a few hours after the shooting incident at the ashram on Sunday, workers did report that the security personnel were more alert than usual. Labourers who worked on the lawns and gardens of the ashram said their belongings —plastic ba

500 policemen are protecting 50 swamis in Karnataka

Source: DNA Bangalore: Nearly 50 swamis in the state are provided police protection, it has been learnt. As many as 500 police personnel are assigned to protect the spiritual leaders, including Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Karnataka is perhaps the only state in the country to have so many swamis requiring police protection. “We have a long list of seers and swamijis having police security cover. The list is maintained by the VIP security section of the intelligence department, who extends police personnel as personal security officers,” director-general of police Ajai Kumar Singh said on Monday. “Karnataka has a bigger problem or may be a complicated issue. Almost every community has several religious centres and educational institutions. It is possible that unscrupulous elements may target religious heads to create social tension,” an intelligence official said Meanwhile, several police officers said Sunday’s incident at the AoL ashram in Kanakapura e

One bullet, many theories, no breakthrough

Source: TOI BANGALORE: A single gunshot fired by an unknown assailant for reasons unknown within the Art of Living campus, 30 km from Bangalore, on Sunday night, has left behind it a gigantic, unsolved muddle. While the police downplayed the firing as an 'incident', ashram inmates and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar himself said it could be the handiwork of Naxals. Union home minister P Chidambaram took the police line, saying it did not look like an attempt on the life of the guru; rather, it seemed a feud between two of his devotees. Ravi Shankar did not sound very satisfied that an act of violence was dismissed by the police as an incident, or even that the police thought he wasn't the target. "What's the difference between an attack and an incident? There may be a communication gap between the police and the injured devotee. But the IGP was not here when the incident took place. And we were here. One can't shirk responsibility by saying such things. The

SOS from Manipur

Source: IE If the Northeast has occupied the farthest nook of mainland India’s consciousness, the state of Manipur has been given the tiniest toehold on that nook. That is why the rest of the nation, as a rule, doesn’t think of the eight states (including Sikkim) beyond the chicken’s neck, except for news of death and gore. But gory news is largely and thankfully past, and tales from the Northeast, except about Chinese eyes on Arunachal, hardly arrest our attention. Imagine then Manipur, compromised by geography and demographics, located literally at the farthest end of the Union and fractured by ethnic divisions. Imagine this state, covering the last stretches of two national highways — the NH 39 and NH 53 — and those two blockaded, with the population deprived of everyday essentials. (The third, NH 150, is so roundabout that nobody ever wants to use it for supplies.) The trouble had begun with the state government’s decision to hold district council polls,

US tries to show India it cares

 Source: AP By FOSTER KLUG (AP) – 4 hours ago WASHINGTON — Terrorism and climate change will top discussions at high-level U.S.-India meetings this week. But the real diplomatic test will be whether the United States can ease India's hurt feelings. Nearly a year and a half into Barack Obama's presidency, Indians still worry their country is taking a back seat to rivals China and Pakistan in U.S. foreign policy priorities. The United States cares about New Delhi's feelings because India is an important player in many of the global issues the United States wants solved. The nuclear-armed country is seen as crucial to the U.S.-led fight against extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as a counterweight to powerful China and as a big part of settling world trade and climate change deals. And so, in the latest in a string of attempts to show India it cares, the Obama administration will hold the inaugural U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue from Tuesday through Frid