Pak has taken initial steps on anti-India groups: US Defence Secy nominee

Mark Esper said he would advocate for the Department of Defense to maintain the right set of tools and authorities to maintain decision space and flexibility in America’s policy approach

U S Defence Secretary nominee Mark Esper has said Pakistan had taken initial and promising steps against anti-Indian groups, adding that he would use all possible tools to promote a change in Islamabad’s strategic approach to the region.

Esper said the president’s South Asia Strategy recognises Pakistan as a key partner in advancing US interests in the region, including developing a political settlement in Afghanistan, defeating the Al-Qaeda and the ISIS-K, providing logistical access and enhancing regional stability.

“We have seen Pakistan take some constructive steps on Afghan reconciliation. Pakistan has also taken initial, promising steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which threaten regional stability,” Esper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

“It is difficult to assess whether the security assistance suspension itself has driven these constructive actions, or whether progress on Afghan reconciliation and the escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack have also influenced Pakistan’s calculations,” Esper noted in a written response to questions submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing.

Esper said he would advocate for the Department of Defense to maintain the right set of tools and authorities to maintain decision space and flexibility in America’s policy approach, in order to maintain a “bridge back” for Pakistan. “If confirmed, I would aim to make use of all of the tools at our disposal to promote a change in Pakistan’s strategic approach to the region,” he said…

Modi didn’t invite Imran to swearing-in due to internal politics: Pakistan

New Delhi on Monday announced that it has invited leaders from BIMSTEC countries to Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration

Pakistan has done whatever it takes not to welcome Imran Khan for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in on Thursday, saying the Indian Prime Minister’s “inside governmental issues” does not allow him to stretch out a solicitation to his Pakistani partner. The administration on Monday declared in New Delhi that it has welcomed pioneers from BIMSTEC nations to Prime Minister Modi’s introduction, forgetting Pakistan, which isn’t an individual from the territorial gathering.

The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. Responding to reports that India has not welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Khan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s initiation, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a gathering for exchange to discover an answer for the Kashmir issue, just as Siachen and Sir Creek debates, would have been a huge measure as opposed to going to the swearing-in service.

“His (Prime Minister Modi’s) whole center (amid the decision battle) was on Pakistan-slamming. It was rash to expect that he can dispose of this account (soon),” Qureshi was cited as saying before sun-up news. “India’s inward governmental issues did not allow him to broaden a welcome,” he said.

In 2014, at that point Pakistan head Nawaz Sharif had gone to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in hung on May 26 in New Delhi when the pioneers of SAARC nations were welcomed. Addressing Geo News on Monday, Qureshi said Modi had praised Khan after he won the general decision a year ago and composed a letter also.

Pak military takes foreign media, diplomats on tour of Balakot seminary

According to reports, the group was flown from Islamabad in a helicopter to Jabba in Balakot

International News: Pakistan military on Wednesday took a group of international media personnel and foreign diplomats on a tour of the seminary and its surrounding areas in Balakot, where India carried out a counter-terror operation on JeM’s biggest training camp 43 days ago. Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.

Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. According to BBC Urdu, the group was flown from Islamabad in a helicopter to Jabba in Balakot. They visitors trekked for about one-and-a-half hour to reach the madrassa on the top of a mountain surrounded by lush green trees.

The group, while going up, also saw a ditch on a hillside where India jets dropped its payload, according to Pakistan military. About 150 students, aged 12-13, were present inside the seminary building and were being taught Quran when the group reached inside the madrassa, they said. The visit by the group lasted for about 20 minutes and the participants were allowed to take pictures and even some of them spoke to the teachers present there. Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor held formal and informal chat with the reporters.

“This is an old madrassah and has always been like this,” he said, indicating that Indian claim of hitting it was not true. This was the first formal visit of foreign media and diplomats to the place about which India claimed that its strike killed scores of militants..

CSK to donate proceeds from first IPL home match to Pulwama martyrs’ kin

Tickets to the much-awaited game were sold out within hours of the opening day sale.

Chennai Super Kings will donate proceeds from their first IPL home game to the families of the CRPF personnel martyred in the Pulwama terrorist attack, with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni presenting the cheque.

The 12th Indian Premier League will begin with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore and ticket proceeds of the game, scheduled to be heal at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, will go to the kin of the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the February 14 terror attack, said CSK’s director Rakesh Singh.

“ChennaiIPL first home match ticket proceeds will go towards the families of the victims of Pulwama Attack. Captain MS Dhoni, who is honorary Lt. Colonel of the Indian territorial army, will present the cheque!” Singh said on the team’s twitter handle. Tickets to the much-awaited game were sold out within hours of the opening day sale.

More than 40 jawans lost their lives in the attack perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in South Kashmir’s Pulwama. A convoy of 78 buses, in which around 2,500 CRPF personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, came under attack on February 14. As a mark of respect for the personnel who lost their lives, Indian cricketers recently sported special army caps during the third ODI against Australia and donated their match fee to the National Defence Fund…

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Will JeM’s Azhar be designated as global terrorist? UNSC to decide today

The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, UK and the US on February 27

The fate of the proposal to designate Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council will be known in less than 24 hours when the deadline to raise objections to the bid expires.

The proposal to designate Masood Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, UK and the US on February 27.It was under the no-objection period and Committee members had a period of 10 working days to raise any objections to the proposal.  The no-objection period deadline ends 3 pm Wednesday (12:30am IST). The Committee makes its decisions by consensus of its members. All eyes are on China, which has in the past blocked India’s bids to get Azhar listed as a UN-designated global terrorist.

According to the listing rules of the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, if no objection is received by the end of the no-objection period, the decision will be deemed adopted, meaning that Azhar will become a UN-designated global terrorist. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist.

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Pulwama attack mastermind killed in encounter in Kashmir’s Tral: Officials

Mudasir Ahmed Khan was one of the two militants killed in the encounter in Tral’s Pinglish area

Current Affairs: The mastermind of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, has been killed in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Tral area, officials said on Monday. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Mudasir Ahmed Khan was one of the two militants killed in the encounter in Tral’s Pinglish area that started Sunday evening and went on till the early hours of Monday, they said.

The body of the second militant has not be identified yet, said the officials, who had earlier claimed he was Sajjad Bhat, a JeM operative whose car was used in the Pulwama attack. Bhat’s brother refused to take the body, saying it was charred beyond recognition. Khan’s body has been taken by his family members, the officials said.

Khan was the “main conspirator” of the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama, Lt General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, General Officer Commanding, XV Corps, said at a hurriedly called joint press conference by the Army, state police and the paramilitary force.

CRPF Inspector General (Operations) in Jammu and Kashmir, Zulfiqar Hasan, said,”Mudasir Ahmed Khan alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ was among the two militants killed in the encounter in Tral’s Pinglish area in Pulwama district.” He, however, refused to term this as avenging the deaths in the February 14 terror strike.”We are peace keepers and we ensure that no one raises a gun against the country,” Hasan said….

Army confirms Pakistan hand in Pulwama, says attack avenged within 100 hrs

On Monday, three JeM terrorists were killed in a 16-hour encounter in Pinglan in Pulwama district, about 12 km from the site of the February 14 attack

Latest News: The Pulwama suicide bombing was masterminded by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Pakistan’s ISI, a senior Army officer said on Tuesday, five days after 40 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the Valley.

Corps Commander Lt Gen K J S Dhillon of the Chinar Corps said this in a joint press conference by IG Kashmir S P Pani and IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hasan. He also said he requested mothers of Kashmiri militants to persuade their sons to surrender.’

“Anyone who picks up the gun will be eliminated,” the officer said. According to Dhillon, security forces had been tracking the top leadership of the JeM since the February 14 bombing in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“We have eliminated the top commander who carried out the Pulwama attack,” Dhillon said. On Monday, three JeM terrorists were killed in a 16-hour encounter in Pinglan in Pulwama district, about 12 km from the site of the February 14 attack. An Army major and five others were also killed.

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Pulwama attack: Imran speaking Jaish-e-Mohammad’s language, says Congress

Khan assured India that he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack if New Delhi shares “actionable intelligence”

Current Affairs: The Congress on Tuesday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement on the Pulwama terror attack in which the cricketer-turned-politician warned against any “revenge” retaliatory action, saying he was speaking the “Jaish-e-Mohammad’s language”.

Khan on Tuesday assured India that he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack if New Delhi shares “actionable intelligence”, but warned against any “revenge” retaliatory action. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed when a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.

Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav was a ‘spy’, Pak responds to India’s arguments at ICJ

In a video message to the nation, Khan responded to the Indian allegations on Pakistan’s involvement in the attack in Kashmir last Thursday. “Regrettable and shameful — Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is still speaking Jaish-e-Mohammad’s language,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

“Do not forget that Mrs. Indira Gandhi and the Army in 1971 had broken Pakistan into two and liberated Bangladesh, as well as 91,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered to the Indian Army in Dhaka,” he tweeted.

Pulwama attack: Indian-Americans across US mourn soldiers’ death

Participants urged the Indian government “to take steps to severely punish” the JeM and other terrorist organisations

Current Affairs: Hundreds of Indian-Americans gathered in various US cities to mourn the killing of over 40 Indian soldiers in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

At least 41 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14 in a suicide attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group. The attack has heightened bilateral tensions with both New Delhi and Islamabad calling back their envoys.

Also Read: Pulwama attack: Indian-Americans across US mourn soldiers’ death

Expressing their outrage, hundreds of Indian-Americans gathered at the 9/11 memorial on the outskirts of Chicago on Sunday and urged that all nations need to stand together with India and the US in their fight against those carrying out such “heinous crimes”.

In a joint resolution read out on the occasion, the participants held peaceful candle light protest in Naperville, Illinois and called upon Pakistan to “end immediately” support to all terrorist groups operating from its soil.”We mourn the loss of 40 Indian security personnel at the hands of terrorists. This was an act of terror, an act of pure evil. We must be firm in the face of evil and terror,” said Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in his address…

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Pulwama attack: India’s 200% duty is as good as a ban on Pakistani imports

The duty hike came a day after India withdrew the ‘most-favoured nation’ status it had granted to Pakistan

Latest News: India on Saturday hiked the customs duty on all goods imported from Pakistan to 200 per cent, in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel.

What does this mean?

In effect, according to agency reports, slapping 200 per cent import duty means almost banning imports from Pakistan. That is because such a big hike in the customs duty will drastically increase the prices of Pakistani goods coming to India, thereby making them far less competitive against other imported goods.

What are the products most likely to be hit?

The top ten products Pakistan exports to India include fresh fruits, cement, petroleum products, minerals and leather, according to agency reports. Further, processed minerals, inorganic chemicals, raw cotton, cotton fabrics, and glass and glassware are also among items that account for 95 per cent of the total shipments from Pakistan to India. 

The two main items imported from Pakistan are fruits and cement, which attracted customs duty of 30-50 % and 7.5%, respectively. Domestic importers who have already placed their orders from Pakistan may face issues after this decision. They may have to pay the 200% duty or undertake lot of paperwork to get their consignment.

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Kashmiri students held on sedition charges for celebrating Pulwama attack

The students were booked under IPC sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act

Latest News: Four female paramedical students of Kashmiri-origin have been slapped with sedition charges after being suspended from a private institute here for allegedly celebrating the Pulwama terror attack by posting “anti-national” messages on an instant messaging app, officials said Sunday.

The second-year students of the National Institute of Medical Science (NIMS), Talveen Manzoor, Iqra, Zohra Nazir and Uzma Nazir, were suspended for posting on WhatsApp a picture in which they were purportedly seen celebrating the terrorist attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The picture soon went viral, prompting the university administration to take action.

Also Read: Pulwama terror attack: Like you, fire raging in my heart too, says PM Modi

In the suspension order, the NIMS registrar said,”You have posted an anti-national message on your WhatsApp for celebrating killing of Pulwama terrorist attack martyrs. The university will not tolerate and strictly condemns such activities. The act is grave and serious in nature.”

Later, a case was registered against the four students following a complaint by the university administration, a police official said. The students were booked under IPC sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Senior officials are investigating the matter and appropriate action will be taken thereafter, SP (Rural) Harendra Kumar said. The Aligarh Muslim University has also suspended an undergraduate Kashmiri student for his alleged objectionable tweet in connection with the Pulwama attack.

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Pulwama terror attack: Like you, fire raging in my heart too, says PM Modi

=The security cover of six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was withdrawn on Sunday

Current Affairs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he shared the grief and outrage with the people of the nation in the wake of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The prime minister, who was in this north Bihar town to launch a slew of projects, began his speech with a few lines in the local dialect Angika and paid tributes to two jawans from the state who died in the Pulwama attack.

“I salute and pay my tributes to Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Ratan Kumar Thakur. To the people who have gathered here, I would like to say the fire that is raging in your bosoms, is in my heart too,” Modi said, evoking a thunderous response from the crowds.

Also Read: Pulwama encounter : 3 soldiers, 1 Major killed; 3 terrorists trapped

J&K withdraws security cover of six separatist leaders: The security cover of six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was withdrawn Sunday, a decision that comes in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, officials said. Besides Mirwaiz, the security cover of Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah has been withdrawn, they said. While there was no categorisation of security for these leaders, the state government in consultation with the Centre had provided them ad hoc security, keeping in mind the threat to their lives from some militant groups.

Militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had killed Umar’s father, Mirwaiz Farooq, in 1990 and Abdul Gani Lone in 2002. According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists.

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Pulwama terror attack: 23 people with suspected links to JeM detained

India has demanded Pakistan close down the Jaish and other Islamist militant groups that operate from its soil, while Islamabad has rejected suggestions it was linked to the attack

Current Affairs: Forces have detained 23 men suspected of links to the Pakistan-based militant group that masterminded the bombing of a CRPF convoy that killed 44 paramilitary police, a top police official said on Sunday. The 23 men included members and sympathizers of Jaish-e-Mohammad, the militant group which has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack, the deadliest on Indian security forces in decades.

The attack has fuelled tensions between India and Pakistan. India has demanded Pakistan close down the Jaish and other Islamist militant groups that operate from its soil, while Islamabad has rejected suggestions it was linked to the attack.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region at the heart of decades of hostility, is claimed in its entirety by India and Pakistan, but is ruled in part by both south Asian countries. Representatives of India’s National Investigating Agency (NIA) questioned the suspects about the bombing on Sunday, two security officials said.

“They are trying to reach out to the top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, including its Kashmir Chief,” one of the sources said. Mohammed Umair, the commander of the Jaish in Kashmir who is believed to have plotted the attack, is suspected to be hiding in the region where the attacks took place, the officials said.

The officials say Umair had “radicalized and motivated” the Kashmiri school dropout who rammed a car laden with explosives into the convoy on Thursday. Umair is thought to have entered Indian Kashmir from Pakistan in September to head the Jaish in the region. Security forces suspect he is in hiding in southern Kashmir, according to the officials, who could not be named as a matter of policy…

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Islamabad condemns Pulwama attack, rejects charge that Pakistan is involved

At least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir

Current affairs: Pakistan has condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district and said it is a matter of grave concern even as it rejected India pointing out Islamabad’s link to the incident without investigations. At least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office, after keeping quiet for hours, issued a statement after midnight. The attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir “is a matter of grave concern,” it said. “We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley,” the FO said. Pakistan also rejected that it was in any way involved in the attack. “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations,” the FO added.

Also Read: Pulwama: Amit Shah urges rivals to rise above politics on national security

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and asked the neighbouring country to stop supporting terrorists and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

India also strongly reiterated its appeal to all members of the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan. The White House asked Pakistan to immediately end “support” and “safe haven” to all terror groups as it strongly condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack…

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39 CRPF personnel killed in J&K’s Pulwama as Jaish militants attack convoy

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora

Current affairs: At least 39 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded, officials said.

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir around 3.15 pm.

ALSO READ: Pulwama attack: Blast heard 10 km away, bodies scattered on highway

The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack that took place about 20 km from Srinagar, officials said. Police identified the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmed, who officials said joined the Jaish in 2018. He was driving a vehicle packed with over 100 kg of explosives on the wrong side of the road and hit the bus, in which 39-44 personnel were travelling, head-on, an official at the spot said.

“There are no survivors from the bus,” he said, adding that they were yet to ascertain exactly how many people were on the bus.The powerful explosion, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron, was heard many kilometres away, including in some parts of Srinagar adjoining Pulwama district. Body parts could be seen strewn around the area. Officials said 42 CRPF personnel have lost their lives and some others are critical. They refused to give an exact number for those injured.

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