#pakistan drone attack Jammu

[timesnew7]

90 Hours And Counting, Here's Why The J&K Encounter Is Dragging On

Ex J&K top cop SP Vaidya said the Anantnag encounter points to the terrorists changing their strategy. New Delhi: Well-trained terrorists, the challenging terrain, dense forests and now inclement weather have all played a role in the encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag stretching into the fourth day on Saturday. Three officers, Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Aashish Dhonchak of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles and Deputy Superintendent Himayun Bhat of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have been killed in action, a soldier is missing and at least two more personnel have been injured. The terrorists are hiding in a cave atop a hill in the Gadul forests of Kokernag, which affords them protection as well as complete visibility of the actions of the joint Army and police team that has surrounded them. The narrow path leading to the cave, which offers no cover and has a sheer drop on one side, is what had cost the three personnel their lives as the team began their first offensive in the early hours of Wednesday. Drones, rocket launchers and mortar shells have all been used, but the forces have not been able to achieve domination of the area yet. Officials say they are confident of neutralising the terrorists at the earliest. What has the establishment worried, however, is that this is one of three encounters in Jammu and Kashmir in five days and comes amid an uptick in terrorist activity in the Pir Panjal region, which covers the Poonch and Rajouri districts. Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaidya said the Anantnag encounter points to yet another change in strategy by terrorists and their backers in Pakistan. Tough Terrain Highly placed sources have told NDTV that the forces first got intelligence about terrorists hiding in the Gadul forests on Tuesday night and, on learning that they were atop a hill, a decision to attack was taken in the early hours of Wednesday. "The path the forces have to take to get to the top of the hill is quite challenging. It is very narrow and there are mountains and a dense forest on one side and a deep ditch on the other. The personnel began the ascent in the night, and the darkness made it worse," said a source. Seeing the forces ascend, the terrorists began firing at the personnel, who found themselves cornered. This is when the three officers were injured, but the limited options for extraction meant that they could not be taken to hospital until morning. Well-Stocked, Well-Trained According to the sources, the terrorists have adequate stocks of arms, ammunition and even food, which is evidenced by the fact that they have managed to hold out for nearly 90 hours. They said the number of terrorists is also likely to be more than the two-three that is being mentioned in most reports. A recent Lashkar-e-Taiba recruit, Uzair Khan, is among the terrorists holed up in the cave. He is believed to know the area very well and the terrorists are benefiting from this. "Ordinary terrorists cannot stretch an encounter for so long. They are very well-trained and have good weapons. It is also possible that an informer may have double-crossed the forces or someone may have leaked their movements," said a source. Rain, And A Fire Bursts of heavy rain since Saturday morning have made the operation more difficult both by reducing visibility and by making it harder for drones to operate. A fire also broke out near the cave where the terrorists are hiding. 'Changing Strategy' Two terrorists were gunned down in a two-day encounter in Rajouri district's Narla area, which began on Tuesday, and three were killed in the Uri sector of Baramulla when they were attempting to cross into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Army said Pakistani forces gave covering fire to help the terrorists cross the Line of Control and the gunfire from the other side also "interfered" with their efforts to retrieve the body of the third terrorist. The Baramulla encounter makes it the forces' third brush with terrorists in just five days. On the encounter in Anantnag, former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaidya told NDTV, "The operation in Anantnag is taking place in a hilly area and there is a 75-80 degree steep climb. There is a dense forest on one side and a ditch on the other. It is very difficult for our forces when the terrorists hide in such a place. The terrorists are at a height and the personnel become vulnerable to attack when they try to ascend." "This seems to be a new strategy. A similar thing was also seen in Rajouri-Poonch recently, where the terrorists chose a hilly and forested area to hide in. For some time now, I have been noticing  that the terrorists have been changing their strategy on the instructions of the Pakistani establishment," he said. Mr Vaidya pointed out that when the Indian security forces began Operation All Out in 2017, thousands of terrorists were killed and they also began facing a shortage of AK-47s. He said there was a change in policy then and the terrorists started using pistols and small arms to target migrants, labourers and panchayat members in Kashmir in a bid to derail development. A spate of such incidents was seen last year. Seeking international attention? "When the forces managed to control that, a new trend is visible now, which was seen in Rajouri-Poonch and now in nearby Anantnag. Unlike in the past, terrorists are avoiding inhabited areas, where they can be easily surrounded, and are now hiding in thick jungles and hilly areas. This helps them draw out the forces and harm them, and the terrain gives them a chance to escape," the former top cop said. "They are trying to drag out encounters for three to four days so that they can get the international media's attention as well. I think there has been a change in the strategy and we will have to be prepared for it," he added. 90 Hours And Counting, Here's Why The J&K Encounter Is Dragging On Read the full article

[filternewsofficial]

चीन ने पाक को सिर्फ ड्रोन नहीं दिये, सामान्य ड्रोनों को फिदायीन ड्रोन में बदलने की ट्रेनिंग भी दी है

चीन ने पाक को सिर्फ ड्रोन नहीं दिये, सामान्य ड्रोनों को फिदायीन ड्रोन में बदलने की ट्रेनिंग भी दी है

सच यह है कि जमीन के रास्ते फिदायीन आतंकियों को इस ओर भेज कर हमले करवाने में आ रही मुश्किलों के चलते अब पाकिस्तान ने जम्मू-कश्मीर में फिदायीन ड्रोनों के माध्यम से कहर बरपाने की पूरी तैयारी कर ली है। उसने अपने यहां चीन से पिज्जा डिलीवरी की आड़ में खरीदे गए सैंकड़ों ड्रोन आतंकी गुटों को दिए हैं जिन्होंने उन्हें फिदायीन ड्रोनों में तब्दील कर दिया है। रक्षा सूत्रों के बकौल, पिछले कुछ अरसे में जम्मू के…

[hummingzone]

"Pak Role Cannot Be Denied": Union Minister On Jammu Drone Attack

“Pak Role Cannot Be Denied”: Union Minister On Jammu Drone Attack

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said investigation is underway into the Jammu drone attack (File). New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home affairs G Kishan Reddy asserted that Pakistan’s role cannot be denied in the Jammu Air Force station attack that was orchestrated through drones at the midnight of June 26. Speaking to ANI, Mr Reddy said, “Pakistan is dropping AK-47s and drugs inside the…

[rudrjobdesk]

Pakistan's Drone : पाकिस्तान की ओर से सीमा पर आया ड्रोन, BSF ने बरसाई गोलियां

Pakistan’s Drone : पाकिस्तान की ओर से सीमा पर आया ड्रोन, BSF ने बरसाई गोलियां

<p>BSF ने एक बार पाकिस्तान की नापाक साजिश को नाकाम किया है. बीएसएफ के जवानों ने अमृतसर स्थित इंटरनेशनल बॉर्डर पर पाकिस्तान की ओर से आ रहे ड्रोन पर फायरिंग कर उसे नीचे गिरा दिया है. ड्रोन से एक बैग बरामद हुआ है, जिसमें &nbsp;करीब 11 किलो हेरोइन होने का संदेह है.</p> Source link

[krazyshoppy]

Pakistan's Drone : पाकिस्तान की ओर से सीमा पर आया ड्रोन, BSF ने बरसाई गोलियां

Pakistan’s Drone : पाकिस्तान की ओर से सीमा पर आया ड्रोन, BSF ने बरसाई गोलियां

<p>BSF ने एक बार पाकिस्तान की नापाक साजिश को नाकाम किया है. बीएसएफ के जवानों ने अमृतसर स्थित इंटरनेशनल बॉर्डर पर पाकिस्तान की ओर से आ रहे ड्रोन पर फायरिंग कर उसे नीचे गिरा दिया है. ड्रोन से एक बैग बरामद हुआ है, जिसमें &nbsp;करीब 11 किलो हेरोइन होने का संदेह है.</p> Source link

[india24h]

Suspected Pakistani drones were spotted hovering over three different locations in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.The flying objects were sighted simultaneously over Bari-Brahmana, Chiladya and Gagwal areas around 8.30 pm on Thursday, the officials said.

[filternewsofficial]

आतंक ने उठाया नया हथियार, जवाबी हमले को हिंद भी तैयार, फ्लाइंग टेरर की तबाही तय, जानें ड्रोन से संबंधित हरेक जानकारी

आतंक ने उठाया नया हथियार, जवाबी हमले को हिंद भी तैयार, फ्लाइंग टेरर की तबाही तय, जानें ड्रोन से संबंधित हरेक जानकारी

14 सितंबर 2019 को सऊदी अरब के अवकैत में कच्चे तेल के प्लांट में भयंकर आग लग गई थी। ये दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा क्रूड ऑयल प्रोसेसिंग प्लांट था। इसमें आग लगने की वजह कोई हादसा नहीं था। हमला ड्रोन से हुआ था। सऊदी अरब से यमन की सीमा लगती है। यमन के हूती विद्रोहियों ने एक दर्जने से ज्यादा ड्रोन एक साथ उड़ाकर तेल के प्लांट पर हमला किया था। इस एक दर्जन ड्रोन के हमले से सऊदी अरब का बड़ा नुकसान हुआ। कई दिनों…

[doonitedin]

Pakistan based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations in India

Pakistan based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations in India

    Jammu: The banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit is suspected to have been behind the sensational drone attack on the Indian Air Force station in Jammu on Sunday (June 27) morning with indication that the unmanned aerial vehicles had come from across the border, a top police official said.   Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh told PTI that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a…

[indiapakistanhottalk]

Pakistan is living in fear of the drone attack on India's Jammu Air Force Station

Pakistan is living in fear of the drone attack on India's Jammu Air Force Station

Pakistan is living in fear of the drone attack on India’s Jammu Air Force Station हेलो दोस्तो कृपया लेटेस्ट पाकिस्तान और भारत के मुद्दों पर डिबेट्स देखने के लिए इस चैनल को सब्सक्राईब करके हमारा हौशला बढ़ाए जिससे आपको ज्यादा से ज्यादा पाक मीडिया की वीडियो देखने को मिले धन्यवाद जय हिंद जय भारत Our News WebSite – https://indiapakistanhottalk.bharat-parv.in Dear Friends, This is the official youtube…

[filternewsofficial]

आतंकवाद का सिर्फ जन्मदाता ही नहीं बल्कि अन्नदाता भी है पाक, इसलिए हाफिज को हुए दर्द पर बिलबिला उठा है

आतंकवाद का सिर्फ जन्मदाता ही नहीं बल्कि अन्नदाता भी है पाक, इसलिए हाफिज को हुए दर्द पर बिलबिला उठा है

हाफिज सईद के समर्थन में अगर पाकिस्तान के राष्ट्रपति को उतरना पड़ा है तो यह एक बार फिर पुष्ट होता है कि आतंकवाद को वहाँ सरकारी समर्थन मिलता है इसीलिए आतंकवादी को दर्द हुआ तो उसे पाक के हुक्मरानों ने भी महसूस किया। पूरी दुनिया जानती है कि आतंकवाद की फैक्ट्री कहाँ है, पूरी दुनिया जानती है कि आतंकवादियों को सबसे अच्छा प्रशिक्षण कहाँ मिलता है, पूरी दुनिया जानती है कि विश्व के अलग-अलग कोनों में…

[mytracknews]

Terrorists Kill SPO With Wife Daughter In Tral after Attacking Jammu Airbase

Terrorists Kill SPO With Wife Daughter In Tral after Attacking Jammu Airbase

Highlights All-party meeting of PM angered Pakistan-funded terrorists Bad intentions intensified after a drone attack on Jammu airbase The entire family including SPO killed in Tral by firing fiercely Pulwama: After the removal of Article 370, Pakistan has been shocked after the all-party meeting of the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir with PM Narendra Modi. In this fury, he has given the freedom…

[tezlivenews]

Jammu Air Force Station Attack: भारत के सैन्य ठिकाने पर पहली बार ड्रोन से हमला- 10 प्वाइंट में जानें अब तक क्या कुछ हुआ

Jammu Air Force Station Attack: भारत के सैन्य ठिकाने पर पहली बार ड्रोन से हमला- 10 प्वाइंट में जानें अब तक क्या कुछ हुआ

घटनास्थल की तस्वीर (फोटो- ANI) Jammu Airport Blast: जम्मू में उच्च सुरक्षा वाले हवाईअड्डे की बिल्डिंग पर शनिवार देर रात दो धमाके सुनाई दिए. इस हमले के पीछे सुरक्षा एजेंसियां ड्रोन हमले का अंदेशा जता रही है. भारत में किसी सैन्य ठिकाने पर अपनी तरह का यह पहला हमला है. आईए जानें हैं इस मामले से जुड़ी 10 खास बातें… नई दिल्ली. जम्मू में उच्च सुरक्षा वाले हवाईअड्डे की बिल्डिंग पर रविवार तड़के (Jammu…

[canadianabroadvery]

What will the upcoming year bring in world affairs? A presidential election looms in America; the wave of leaderless protests from Chile to Lebanon is rolling on; China’s rising belligerence is being felt on the streets of Hong Kong and in the expanses of cyberspace; regional tensions in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and in east Asia all threaten to escalate into wars; Europe’s future remains uncertain. Will 2020 be known for an explosion of conflict and instability, for a reassertion of norms and order, or for some as-yet unanticipated historical shift?

These matters too are uncertain to make firm forecasts possible, but you can try to identity the critical factor in each case. The below is my stab at doing so: a (non-exhaustive) list of big questions about the year ahead with the factors that will decide them and a prediction of how those crucial factors will turn out. I will return to these predictions at the end of the year to see how well I did.

1. Will there be war with Iran?

The issue: At the time of writing America has just killed Qassem Suleimani, leader of Iran’s proxy forces across the Middle East, in a drone strike in Baghdad. Tehran has vowed “severe revenge”. This could accelerate the existing spiral of escalation, pulling in players like Saudi Arabia and Israel, and possibly lead to American air strikes on Iran and outright war.

The decisive factor: The Iranian leadership knows war with America would be catastrophic but believes (seemingly correctly, at least until now) that Donald Trump does not want direct conflict. The question is whether the president might blunder into a different position in the heat of the moment. An election is looming and voters do not want war, but Trump is also thin-skinned, volatile and will be desperate to save face if Iran retaliates spectacularly.

My prediction: Iran will most likely calibrate its response to avoid pushing Trump and American public opinion on to a full war-footing; by targeting American allies and interests rather than directly attacking Americans and by using proxies like Shia militias in Iraq and Hezbollah. More likely than outright American-Iranian war is a proxy war played out the Levant, the Persian Gulf and especially Iraq.

2. Will Donald Trump be reelected?

The issue: On 3 November Donald Trump will go up against a Democrat challenger in America’s presidential election. His approval ratings are below those of previously reelected presidents like Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton, but as in 2016 he does not necessarily need to win the popular vote to secure victory under the electoral college system.

The decisive factor: Trump’s victory relied on a coalition spanning hardline Republicans, moderate Republicans who accepted his theatrics as the price of tax cuts and white working-class voters who defected from the Democrats over cultural issues. That coalition is fairly robust, so the Democrat candidate’s chance of overturning it relies on his or her ability to build a culturally and, crucially, geographically broader coalition taking in states like Wisconsin and Arizona.

My prediction: With the Trump coalition more consolidated than the fragmented Democrat one, the fundamentals point to reelection for the president.

3. Will global carbon emissions peak?

The issue: Under the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rises above pre-industrial levels to the 1.5 to 2.0 degree range (within which the future impacts of climate change rise from moderate to very high), global greenhouse gas emissions need to plateau this year and start falling next year. That requires a step-change in global efforts, as 2019 saw carbon dioxide levels rise to record levels and at almost the same rate as in the previous year.

The decisive factor: This will largely be decided by policy in three places: China, the United States and the EU. Together these three largest emitters generate about half of the world’s greenhouse gases. The good news: the “Green New Deal” - the notion of a radical ecological re-wiring of the economy - will be a major feature of US and European politics this year and China is sticking to its Paris targets. The bad news: America’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will take place over 2020 and, having stabilised for several years, China’s emissions are growing again.

My prediction: With most countries failing to meet their Paris targets and none of the big three (particularly America and China) decarbonising their economies fast enough, emissions will continue to rise in 2020.

4. Will Boris Johnson get an EU trade deal?

The issue: The newly elected prime minister has until the end of June to decide whether to extend the transition period beyond the current deadline of the end of the year. He has pledged not to prolong this “vassalage” but will struggle to negotiate more than a basic trade deal - one most disadvantageous to Britain rather than the EU - with Brussels in that time.

The decisive factor: Any fast deal will probably cover goods (where the EU has a surplus) but not services (where Britain has a surplus). Nor will it cover many matters relating to data, science or security. The question is whether Boris Johnson believes that his 80-seat majority in the Commons is big enough to absorb rebellions when it comes before parliament, whether he believes voters will tolerate the costs of such a deal and whether, on the first of these at least, he is right.

My prediction: Johnson’s self-confidence and the momentum of his electoral win will allow him to push through a bare-bones deal, sowing the seeds of political crisis in 2021.

5. Will China march into Hong Kong?

The issue: Last year’s Hong Kong protests, sparked by plans to allow extradition to the Chinese mainland, have carried on into 2020 with violent clashes on New Year’s Day. With no resolution in sight and Chinese troops massing at the border, the threat of a military intervention to crush the protests, a second Tiananmen, continues to loom.

The decisive factor: The protesters, boosted by supportive results in district council elections in November, are standing by their demands of universal suffrage, an amnesty for arrested protesters and an independent inquiry into police brutality. So the endgame depends on whether the Chinese leadership’s highest priority is to maintain political, economic and diplomatic stability or to make a example of Hong Kongers to discourage anti-Beijing rebellions elsewhere in its neighbourhood or within mainland China. The former militates for patience, the latter for violent intervention.

My prediction: With Hong Kong due to lapse to full Chinese control in 2047 anyway, Beijing can afford to play the long game, continuing to squeeze Hong Kong and vilify the protesters without a full intervention. With its domestic economy slowing, it needs stability. Only if the unrest in Hong Kong threatens to spill over onto the mainland, which currently looks unlikely, will the Chinese army march in.

6. Will the wave of global protests continue?��

The issue: Hong Kong was just one of many places struck by last year’s wave of street protests. Others included Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Russia, France, Spain, Chile and Bolivia. The motives were various but many concerned autocratic or corrupt governments, low living standards or climate change, and most were leaderless movements organised online. Were they a one-off, or part of a longer trend?

The decisive factor: Protests tend to subside when one or more of four conditions are met: grievances are addressed, governments crack down successfully, the means of organisation are curtailed or protest-fatigue sets in. Whether 2019 will be seen as an exception depends on the presence of these factors in the main arenas of protest in 2020.

My prediction: In some cases, like Chile and Lebanon, governments are changing tone or policies in light of protesters’ demands. But even there, protest movements are merely developing into broader more long-term movements. Grievances linger on, most obviously the international intransigence on climate change motivating the Fridays for Future protests. And the opportunities for mobilisation afforded by social media are only growing. Do not expect the protests to go away; instead expect them to evolve.

7. Will the EU become a more serious player?

The issue: Ursula von der Leyen’s presidency of the European Commission gets under way as member states squabble over the next seven-year budget, big challenges like euro-zone reform and migration policy remain parked and relations between Paris and Berlin continue to be at a low ebb. Emmanuel Macron wants to reinvigorate the EU alongside von der Leyen but his proposals, including greater “strategic autonomy” from America and NATO, are divisive.

The decisive factor: Essentially there are two countervailing forces at work. On the one hand Trump, Brexit, the crisis years and shifting geopolitical circumstances are pushing the EU to become a more serious, hard-nosed actor; Angela Merkel’s big EU-China summit in September will be a case in point. On the other this process is exposing new divisions on things like common defence, emissions reductions, the future shape of the union and the relationship with outside powers. The question is whether the centripetal forces (events, threats and other shifts pushing the union together and forward) exceed the centrifugal ones (differences of outlook and interest pulling it apart and holding it back).

My prediction: On balance the EU is more resilient than it looks. But while it may muddle its way forward in 2020, major advances will only take place in the heat of the next crisis.

8. Will there be conflict between India and Pakistan?

The issue: Tensions between India and Pakistan grew in 2019, with tit-for-tat air strikes and diplomatic sanctions. India has revoked the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, its only Muslim-majority state, and further inflamed tensions last month by introducing an anti-Muslim citizenship rule, the latest in Narendra Modi’s increasingly blatant flirtation with Hindu nationalism. Further attacks on Indian forces in Kashmir by Pakistani-linked Jihadis, or another terror attack in India like that in Mumbai in 2008, could easily escalate.

The decisive factor: The region is a tinderbox. Modi and Pakistan’s Imran Khan have ramped up their rhetoric, mass media outlets in both countries are talking up confrontation and both countries face economic problems fuelling political grievances. So the question is whether the mechanisms for deescalation still work. An attempted Modi-Khan reset in 2018 came to little and neither America (distracted) nor China (considered partisan by India) make ideal mediators.

My prediction: Though neither Modi nor Khan want war, the possibility of a runaway escalation between the two nuclear powers is one of the most underpriced global risks of 2020.

9. Where will the unexpected bad news occur?

The issue: Lawless and rogue states, inadequate global governance and climate change are three defining features of our age. With them come risks of state collapse and war, cyber-attacks and terrorism, uncontrollable epidemics and refugee crises and environmental catastrophe. 2020 will doubtless see various as-yet-unpredictable instances of many or all of these.

The decisive factor: Most of the world’s states, especially in the complacent West, are less truly sovereign and more interdependent than they believe themselves to be. It is this delusion that causes them to be caught by surprise when an unexpected crisis occurs, as chaos or risk from one part of the world ripples through the global system. The question is not whether this will occur but how resilient states and international organisations are when it does.

My prediction: Given the risks I expect at least one of each of the following categories of cataclysm. First, an extreme climate event hitting part of the West not used to the levels of climate chaos already felt in the global south (the fires raging in Australia are but a foretaste). Second, an instance of violence or other instability in one of the world’s rogue or war-torn zones (most probably North Korea, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso, Venezuela or eastern Ukraine) causing a crisis in a country far from its own borders. Third, a crisis or calamity specifically caused by a failure of international governance and democracy; that is, by insufficient coordination, information sharing or collective action at the supra-regional or global level.

10. Where will the unexpected good news occur?

The issue: It is customary, in these end-of-year or start-of-year round ups, to nod to how many good things have happened beyond the headlines: poverty rates and infant mortality falling, literacy and immunisation rates rising. But each year also throws up specific causes to rejoice. In September for example Tunisia held what were widely deemed the Arab world’s first TV debates, during its second free election since the Arab Spring. There will be such happy moments in 2020 too.

The decisive factor: China, Latin America and Africa have thrown up plenty of good rising-living-standards stories in recent years. But with authoritarianism on the march in China and Brazil, and Africa’s rise more halting and troubled than some sunny predictions of the past decades suggested, the picture there is more mixed.

My prediction: There will nonetheless be specific and epochally good news from Africa in 2020. It is possible that the Ebola epidemic will be finally vanquished during the year. And Ethiopia goes to the polls in May, with good prospects of victory for the reformist prime minister Abiy Ahmed (winner of 2019’s Nobel Peace Prize). That would put Africa’s second most populous country, its future in the balance, on a positive course. Elsewhere this could be a further year of growth for progressive mobilisations, from the Fridays for Future marches to anti-nationalist movements like Italy’s “Sardines” and emerging digital rights campaigns; I predict that these will trigger at least one major, positive change of national government or international policy during 2020.

[todaynewsguru]

2 jailed terror accused, linked to dropping of weapons via drones, die in Jammu

2 jailed terror accused, linked to dropping of weapons via drones, die in Jammu

Two jailed terror accused, including a Pakistani militant, allegedly linked to the dropping of weapons and cash through drones from Pakistan have died in Jammu since Wednesday, police said. While one accused died after being injured in police firing after he allegedly tried to escape, the other died of a heart attack, police added. Pakistani militant Mohammad Ali Hussain alias Qasim alias…

[businessnewsupdates]

Focus on next Al Qaeda chief as Indian agencies stay alert

 The UN sanctions monitoring team’s latest report in July this year concluded that AQIS reportedly has 180-400 fighters, primarily from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.

Within hours of US President Joe Biden announcing the death of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a precision drone strike, speculation circled around a possible successor, with another Egyptian Al Qaeda figure, Mohammed Salahaldin Zidan, who goes by the assumed name of Saif al-Adel, emerging a likely candidate, according to security officials who monitor the region.

There is no clarity on current whereabouts of Adel, who for long was rumoured to be in Iran.

The people cited above also said that al-Zawahiri’s death will hit morale of the group’s supporters and cadres in India but there is also the concern of disenchanted fighters possibly shifting allegiance to the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP).

An official involved in tracking global terrorism and the activities of international terror groups, on condition of anonymity, said: “Considering the operational capabilities of ISKP to mount spectacular attacks, any possible tilt from Al Qaeda ranks to Islamic State warrants serious attention.”

The Indian intelligence community is keeping a close watch on Al Qaeda’s activities as Adel, a veteran field expert and former lieutenant colonel in the Egyptian special forces, has spearheaded brazen attacks such as the bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Adel also fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s and reportedly trained some of the hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks despite having initially opposed the operation.

There was no official word on Zawahari’s death from the Indian government, which recently re-established a diplomatic presence in Kabul.

Nonetheless, Zawahiri’s death is likely to hamper al-Qaeda’s regional affiliates such as Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansar al-Islam (AAI), the official added.

The UN sanctions monitoring team’s latest report in July this year concluded that AQIS reportedly has 180-400 fighters, primarily from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.

AQIS fighters are also represented among Taliban combat units. The affiliate is led by Osama Mehmood and his deputy Atif Yahya Ghouri, and has a presence in several Afghan provinces.

Intelligence agencies have lately received inputs that Al Qaeda cadres in India were behind propaganda campaigns and efforts to rebuild the organisation, particularly after the controversy over remarks made against Prophet Mohammed by two former BJP spokespersons.

AQIS had threatened in June to carry out attacks at several places, including Delhi, Mumbai, UP and Gujarat, in response to statements by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

One of the last messages issued by al-Zawahiri was a video released in April this year, in which he spoke about the hijab controversy in Karnataka and asked Muslims in the subcontinent to fight the assault on Islam “intellectually, using the media, and with weapons on the battlefield”. He also spoke about Kashmir a few times, including in July 2019, when he asked “mujahideen in Kashmir” to inflict unrelenting blows on the Indian Army and the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year, there were concerns in India that the strength of Al Qaeda would increase and trained fighters could be sent to India since the main fighting arm of the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, was behind several attacks on Indian interests. Another official said, “The extremely close ties between Taliban and Al Qaeda are evident from the fact that al-Zawahiri was stationed in a posh Kabul neighbourhood. This close Al Qaeda-Taliban tie-up is totally against Indian interests, especially in the backdrop of Al Qaeda’s intentions to target India.”

[kimskashmir]

Congress condemns drone intrusion by Pakistan

JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has strongly condemned Pakistan for the drone intrusion today morning in R.S. Pura Sector and termed it very serious issue relating to security of the country. Strongly condemning the repeated drone attacks and intrusions by Pakistan in recent times, KPCC Chief Spokesperson Mr. Ravinder Sharma has termed it as a matter of serious concern with…