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Showing posts from May 8, 2022

Scandinavian countries are `guesthouses` for terrorist organisations: Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO

  ANKARA/HELSINKI:  President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday it was not possible for NATO-member Turkey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact given that the Nordic countries were "home to many terrorist organisations". COMMERCIAL BREAK SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING Though Turkey has officially supported NATO enlargement since it joined the U.S.-led alliance 70 years ago, its  opposition could pose a problem for Sweden and Finland given new members need unanimous agreement . Turkey has repeatedly slammed Sweden and other Western European countries for its handling of organisations deemed terrorist by Ankara, including the Kurdish militant groups PKK and YPG, and the followers of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. Ankara says Gulenists carried out a coup attempt in 2016. Gulen and his supporters deny the accusation. Finland`s plan to apply for NATO membership , announced Thursday, and the expectation that Sweden will follow, would bring about the expansion

NIA is Investigating Malware Planted by Pak's ISI in Phones, Computers of Indian Defence Personnel

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly launched an investigation into a fake Facebook account set up by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI to steal defence data. But it is yet unknown what kind of data was obtained through the malware. © Provided by News18  NIA is Investigating Malware Planted by Pak's ISI in Phones, Computers of Indian Defence Personnel The purpose behind making this fake account was reportedly to remotely inject malware into computers, phones, and other devices of defence personnel, staff working in the defence sector and related departments in order to steal sensitive national security information. It was also said that the account, identified as fb.com/shaanti.patel.89737, which appears in the name of Shanti Patel, contaminated the systems to gain unauthorised access to restricted data. In June 2020, the Andhra Pradesh police had initiated an investigation into the incident based on source information and that was when the issue first appeared not only i

Erdogan vows to send 1 million refugees back to Syria

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Last Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a reversal of his previous policy, declared that his government was working on a project for “the voluntary and honourable return of 1 million Syrian refugees” back to their homeland. Erdogan claimed that some 500,000 Syrians have already returned to the safe regions in Syria. However, the UN put the figure at 130,000. © Provided by The Statesman  Erdogan vows to send 1 million refugees back to Syria Turkey is currently hosting the largest number of refugees in the world: about 3.7 million from Syria granted temporary protection status, and over 400,000 refugees and migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. With increased intensity and frequency in the past few years, Turkish opposition parties have been complaining that the influx of refugees poses a threat to the structure and culture of Turkish society and demand that they are sent back to their country. For his part, Erdogan had been accusing his opponents of showi

Book Review: Negotiating Survival: Civilian-Insurgent Relations in Afghanistan by Ashley Jackson

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In  Negotiating Survival: Civilian-Insurgent Relations in Afghanistan ,  Ashley Jackson  provides fascinating insight into the relationship civilians have with both insurgencies and governments, focusing particularly on the experiences of civilians in Afghanistan. This engaging book makes a vital contribution to reimagining civilian-insurgent relations, writes  Christopher Featherstone . Negotiating Survival: Civilian-Insurgent Relations in Afghanistan . Ashley Jackson. Hurst. 2021.  In this timely book, Ashley Jackson provides fascinating insight into the relations that civilians have with insurgents and governments, using the conflict in Afghanistan to demonstrate the negotiations that characterise these relationships. Jackson gives the reader an in-depth overview of the experiences of civilians in Afghanistan, taking a bottom-up approach to paint a rich picture of those navigating life in the conflict between the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan government. Written before the chaot

IOM: 114 deaths and 436 losses among migrants crossing Med from Libya to Europe in 4 months

  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced Wednesday the death of 114 migrants and the loss of 436 others, while trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to European shores, during the period from January 1 to April 30. The organization indicated that 4,461 migrants were returned to Libya during the same period, according to a statistic published by the organization’s office in Libya on its official Facebook page. The migrants included 3,876 men and 126 women, IOM said. 246 immigrants were returned to the country in just six days, from 24 to 30 April, it added. The organization indicated that 32,425 migrants were returned to Libya during the past year, while 662 people died, and 891 others went missing. Source:  IOM: 114 deaths and 436 losses among migrants crossing Med from Libya to Europe in 4 months – Libya Update News

Banned Sikh Group's Leader Charged Over 'Khalistan' Flags At Himachal

Shimla: The leader of banned organisation Sikhs for Justice has been named as the main accused in connection with the appearance of 'Khalistan' banners and graffiti on the walls of Himachal Pradesh Assembly in Dharamshala yesterday. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been charged under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His organisation, Sikhs for Justice, was banned by the centre in 2019 for anti-India activities. Himachal Police have stepped up security in the state after Sikhs for Justice gave a call for holding a 'Khalistan' referendum on June 6. Inter-state borders have been sealed and security stepped at key government buildings. " Keeping in view the incidents of Khalistani elements in neighboring States and also incident of tying a Khalistani banner took place in Una district on 11.04.2022 and recent incident of hoisting banners & graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala as well as the threat p

Exclusive: 'Kashmiris have understood the agenda of conflict entrepreneurs'

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  On May 9, Lieutenant General   Devendra Pratap Pandey   will assume the charge of the Army War College commandant at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. His previous assignment -- in charge of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps (XV Corps) -- saw him evolve strategies to contain terror activities in the valley.  Lt Gen DP Pandey, who hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur, is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in December 1985 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, has been credited with bringing over 200 youths back from the brink of becoming terrorists to the mainstream.  Asianet Newsable  spoke to him on his last day as Chinar Corps (XV Corps) commander. You were the Corps Commander for over a year in the Valley. How was your experience? What kind of challenges did you have to face in the region? In this last year of my tenure here, the security situation in the hinterland and on the Line of Control has shown significant improvem

Afghanistan: Taliban Sends 4 Helicopters To Panjshir Valley To Eliminate Hideouts Of NRFA

Nearly nine months into the fall of Kabul, the Panjshir province continues to uphold its resistance and counter the Taliban onslaught. As the alliance led by Ahmad Massoud and acting Vice-President Amrullah Saleh poses a tough fight to the Taliban, the militant group has now sent four helicopters to Panjshir province to eliminate the hideouts of the National Resistance of Afghanistan. According to sources, in recent face-offs, the Taliban has lost dozens of its fighters and a dozen others have been injured at the hands of the National Resistance. Sources from the Taliban reveal that most of their injured men have been taken to the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital in Kabul, which is the biggest military hospital in Afghanistan. In the meantime, the National Resistance forces have begun their war in the Qasan valley of Andarab and at least 60 Taliban fighters have been killed and injured in the fresh attacks. Falling to the strength of the resistance, 100 Humvee tanks of the

Arab countries, GCC condemn terrorist attack on Suez Canal

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Several Arab countries, in the strongest terms, condemned the attack on a water lifting station, east of the Suez Canal in the Arab Republic of Egypt, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of soldiers. At least  eleven Egyptian troops were killed  and five others wounded in clashes. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia condemned the terrorist attack, and the Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s full support for Egypt towards all that threatens its security and stability. IT also appreciated the role of the Egyptian armed forces in confronting such terrorist and sabotage acts. The ministry expressed Saudi Arabia’s condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the people of Egypt, and the government, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. #Statement  | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of  #Saudi  Arabia's strong condemnation of the terrorist attack that targeted one of the water lifting points west of  #Sinai  in  #Egypt , which led to

More attacks follow forces’ capture of terrorists after three-day manhunt

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Israeli security forces on Sunday caught the two terrorists who killed three civilians in Elad last Thursday. “The two terrorists who murdered three Israeli civilians in the  deadly attack in the city of Elad  have been caught,” the IDF, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police said in a joint statement. Soldiers, police officers and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agents caught the  two suspects  – As’sad al-Rifai, 19, and Emad Subhi Abu Shqeir, 20, both from Rummama, near Jenin – in a forested area close to Elad and Nahshonim Park. They were located after a massive manhunt by security forces, including special forces from IDF commando units, and using advanced technologies, intelligence, canine units, drones and helicopters. A force consisting of Shin Bet agents and soldiers from the IDF’s Maglan commando unit and Mirol reserve unit identified suspicious objects and bloodstains in the area on Saturday, which led security forces to concentrate around a quarry. They return