NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
17 Feb. 2019: 11 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11,
No:130
INDIA: PULWAMA AFTERMATH
Security withdrawn over Pulwama attacks,
separatist leaders say ‘don’t need it’
Srinagar:J&K administration has withdrawn
the security of five separatist leaders including Hurriyat Conference chief
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.The orders come 3 days after the Pulwama attack.Apart from
Mirwaiz, J&K has also removed the security cover of Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal
Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah.Reacting to the withdrawal of security
from the separatist leaders, Mirwaiz-led All Parties Hurriyat Conference
spokesperson said, that the separatist leaders had never asked for security and
that they had repeatedly said that the govt can withdraw it.According to the
order issued by the administration, security cover and vehicles that have been
provided to the five separatist leaders will be withdrawn by today evening.The
order said that no security forces or cover should be provided, under any
pretext, to them or any other separatists.“If they have any other facilities
provided by Govt, they are to be withdrawn forthwith,” the order states.The
order further states that the police headquarters will review if there are any
other separatists who have been provided government facilities and security and
these shall be withdrawn immediately.The order comes two days after Union home
minister Rajnath Singh visited Kashmir after the Pulwama attack.After reviewing
the security situation in Kashmir, Rajnath had said that security given to
people being funded by Pakistan and ISI should be reviewed. A statement issued
by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) that “with or
without the security nothing had changed” and that everything “remains the
same”.“The government and its propagandist anti-Kashmir media had repeatedly
been raking up the issue of police personnel provided to resistance leadership
to politicise, knowing fully well it has no bearing nor can it in any way
change the reality of the lingering Kashmir dispute or the situation on ground
or our principled stand and outlook regarding its resolution. With or without
these police personnel at Hurriyat residence all remains the same,”statement
said. He said the Hurriyat leaders had never asked for it. “In fact, it was the
government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on what they said was
their assessment of threat perception,”he said.”Separatist leader Abdul Ghani
Bhat also said,“Security was provided by state govt,I don’t need it.My security
is Kashmiri people.There are chances of war between Pak and India. Let them
address the war issue first.” HT
Normal life affected after bandh call against
attacks on Kashmiris
Srinagar :Normal life was affected in Kashmir
on Sunday due to a valley-wide bandh called by trade bodies here against alleged
harassment and attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and outside the state, officials
said. Kashmir bandh call was supported by major trade bodies like the Kashmir
Economic Alliance and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation as well as
transporters’ associations. Shops, fuel stations and other business
establishments were shut here in Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, the
officials said.They said public transport was off the roads and cabs and
auto-rickshaws also largely stayed away, they added. The bandh also affected
the weekly flea market as no vendor put up a stall on the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo
axis through the city centre Lal Chowk, the officials said.PTI
Curfew continues without relaxation in Jammu,
efforts on to restore normalcy
Jammu:Curfew continued without any relaxation
in Jammu for the third consecutive day on Sunday even as Army staged flag march
in sensitive areas, officials said. Senior civil and police officers held a
marathon meeting with prominent citizens as part of efforts to restore normalcy
in the city, they said.PTI
Delhi Minorities Panel says Hindutva groups
using Pulwama to target Muslims, Kashmiris
New Delhi: Gruesome suicide attack in Pulwama has
evoked strong protests across the country. However, in many places reports are
coming in of these protests being used by right wing groups to incite hatred.
Delhi Commission for Minorities raised the issue with the Delhi Police. In a
letter to commissioner Amulya Patnaik, the panel chairperson, Zafarul Islam
Khan charged that there have been “attacks on Kashmiris, even on ordinary
Muslims, in various parts of the country in the aftermath of the terrorist
attack in Pulwama.”Pointing out that “even in Delhi attempts are being made to
vitiate atmosphere and start riots,”Khan referred to the systematic manner in
which these protests are being used to foment trouble.“Hindutva crowds are
taking out rallies in Muslim areas and in front of Muslim homes in mixed
population areas, raising provocative slogans,” he said in a letter to commissioner,
demanding immediate action from the police.Khan cautioned that “unless Delhi
Police is alert and proactive, riots will erupt like those in Jammu city for
instance.” He urged Patnaik to “order all police stations in Delhi to be alert,
proactive and responsive to the need to keep peace and amity at all costs.” Thewire
Violence against Kashmiris: Whose purpose do mobs
serve:Omar Abdullah
Srinagar:Kashmir is not just a piece of land,
it is the people that inhabit it, National Conference vice-president Omar
Abdullah asserted, saying by attacking Kashmiris, they were being told there is
no place for them outside the Valley and no future in the mainland. “Young
Kashmiri students studying outside J&K should have been feted as examples
of people who have stayed away from the politics & conflict in Kashmir,
choosing instead to make a future for themselves. By attacking them,
terrorising them & forcing them to find shelter they are being told there
is no place for them outside the valley & no future in the mainland (sic),”
Abdullah tweeted.Abdullah and whose purpose was being served by “ostracising
Kashmiris”.thehindu
Doubt Jaish’s ability to do this, India needs a scapegoat: Pakistan
minister
New Delhi :Terming the terror attack in Pulwama as an “unfortunate
incident”, Pakistan’s Information and broadcasting minister Fawad Chaudhry on
Saturday said that government is “taken aback” by the incident.In an exclusive
conversation with Indian Express, Chaudhry said that organisations like
Jaish-e-Mohammad are “dead” and seriously doubted their ability to carry out an
attack of this scale.“These organisations are dead, I seriously doubt their
ability to do something like this. They are well under control,” he said.He
also said that this govt in Pakistan and Pak military are “very close to each
other”, and the military is supportive of the govt’s peace process.“This Imran
Khan govt and military are very close to each other, and I have no doubt that
military is supportive of the government’s peace process,” he said.“Even as an
observer, not as a minister, I think this (that Pakistan govt is involved) is
unlikely. Pakistan has nothing to do with it (the terror attack,” he
said.Chaudhry, who’s a close confidant of Imran Khan, started the conversation
by saying, “This is an unfortunate incident, and this has strengthened the
anti-peace lobby in the 2 countries.”“We have concluded a visit of UAE Crown
Prince, we are going to have Saudi Crown Prince’s visit, we are trying to
normalise the relationship with India, we are working towards peace and
reconciliation in Afghanistan…frankly, to cut the long story short — we are
trying to come out of the economic mess,” Chaudhry said.“We couldn’t have
expected a more sad timing for this incident…We are taken aback,” he said,
expressing shock over the incident.“Even before taking oath, Imran Khan had
said that we are ready to take two steps, if India takes one step forward…We
were criticised by the anti-India lobby in Pakistan,but we went all the way…par
tali do haathon se bajti hai (it takes two hands to clap),” he said.“We are not
getting the right kind of response,” he said.“India needs to look inward.
Putting blame outside is the easier way out. A segment of the Indian leadership
is blaming external actors and not looking inward, about what is happening in
Kashmir, so many people are dying,”he said.“And the kind of warmongering that
is happening, we are not ready for it,” he said. “We really wanted that after
the elections, the relationship will get better, but this incident has taken
place,” he said.When asked about Jaish’s involvement, he said that “there are
about 60 Jaish outfits here and all these groups are connected”. “For India,
the issue is to find a scapegoat…Toh Masood Azhar ko pakad lo…(so catch Masood
Azhar).These organisations are dead, I seriously doubt their ability to do
something like this, they are well under control.”“We understand that the
environment in Pak gets hostile, when blasts happen, people are angry,
especially with Afghanistan and there is overreaction here as well. But the
political leadership needs to act calmly. But for political leaders, elections
are very important,”he says, alluding to India’s polls. indianexpress
Pulwama attack: Pak not aware of India’s decision to withdraw MFN
status, says top trade official
Islamabad :A day after India initiated strong economic action against
Pakistan in the wake of the deadly Pulwama terror attack, a senior official
from the neighbouring country on Sunday claimed that there was no official word
about the withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to it from
India.Speaking to GEO News, Adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Commerce
Abdul Razak Dawood said, “We are looking into the withdrawal of the MFN status
by India. We can speak to India about this issue”.Dawood added that Pakistan
can raise the issue at various forums, including the World Trade Organisation
as both countries are members of the global trade body. Two days ago, Dawood
had told PTI that they won’t make any “emotional decision” and will respond to
the move after due deliberation. “India has removed us from the list of MFN
nations but we will not make any emotional decision and will issue a response
after making due thinking,” he had said.PTI
India hikes customs duty to 200 per cent on all goods imported from
Pakistan:ET
India on Saturday hiked the customs duty on all goods imported from
Pakistan to 200% with immediate effect, a day after it revoked the most
favoured nation (MFN) status that it had given its neighbour in 1996.“Upon
withdrawal, basic customs duty on all goods exported from Pakistan to India has
been raised to 200% with immediate effect. #Pulwama,” finance minister Arun
Jaitley tweeted on Saturday.The move is likely to hit Pakistan’s exports to
India which were $381 million in the April-Nov period compared with $489
million in all of FY18. India’s major imports are fruits and nuts, gypsum,
sulphur, finished leather, ores, mineral oils and cement.
Pakistan Army, foreign ministry website
hacked; attack ‘originated from India’
New Delhi:The official website of Pakistan’s
Foreign Ministry and the Army were hacked on Saturday night and were
inaccessible for users outside the country. The cyber attack is believed to
have originated from India, Dawn quoted officials as saying. Even though the
Foreign Ministry website was functioning without any hassles in Pakistan,
spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said users from Netherlands, Australia, Britain
and Saudi Arabia are unable to access it. “IT team is currently occupied in
thwarting the hackers’ onslaught,” Dawn quoted Faisal as saying. indianexpress
Punjab: ‘Threatened by radical groups’,
students head to shelter home
Mohali:2 days after Pulwama attack, several
Kashmiri students who were allegedly harassed and threatened by radical groups
in Dehradun left for Landran in Punjab’s Mohali. J&K Students Organisation
(JKSO) prepared a shelter home (a cluster of rented flats where Kashmiri
students live) in Landran to accommodate students from Uttarakhand and other
regions. JKSO chief Khwaja Itrat said, “We received information from Kashmiri
students studying in Dehradun that some radical outfits had threatened them. A
few of them wanted to come back to a safe and secure environment. We have
enough accommodation for 70 to 80 students. Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson of JKSO,
said, “Around 40 students have left for Chandigarh by road. They shall be
staying with members of our organisation in Landran. Kashmiri students in
Dehradun are in a state of fear following threats by some radical
groups.”indianexpress
Pulwama attack fallout: Kashmiri students in
Delhi fear for their security
New Delhi:Several Kashmiri students here said
they were in a state of fear after reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiris
following the Pulwama attack, even as police asserted that security had been
enhanced in the national capital and they would ensure the safety of all
citizens.A Kashmiri student from Jamia Millia Islamia, who did not wish to be
identified, said, “Just the fact that one is a Kashmiri, irrespective of his
ideology or leanings, is enough to put one’s life to risk. It is happening
across the country.”JNU activist Shehla Rashid, who hails from Kashmir, said,
“Throughout India, mobs are attacking Kashmiri students, verbally abusing them,
asking for them to be expelled and filing false cases against them.”Anis Ahmed,
a Kashmiri student at Delhi University, said, “We are not at all reacting on
social media to any abuses which are being hurled at us even if we are being
labelled as terrorists. Students who are staying on rented accommodations
rather than hostels are even more scared about their safety”.PTI
Action against Valley students in many cities
for ‘anti-national’ posts
New Delhi:Action was initiated against
students from Kashmir in different institutions across the country for
allegedly putting up anti-national posts on social media in the aftermath of
the attack in Pulwama.NIMS University in Jaipur suspended 4 Kashmiri students
for allegedly posting ‘anti national’ messages on WhatsApp related to the
terror attack.In Bengaluru, Tahir Latief, 22, a student of Reva University in
the city, was detained on Saturday morning in connection with a Facebook post
where he allegedly uploaded video of the suicide bomber involved in the Pulwama
attack and praised him for the attack.In Dehradun, a 19-year-old student from
Kashmir was suspended from Alpine Institute of Management and Technology for
allegedly posting a phot of a militant associated with Hizbul Mujahideen who
was killed in an encounter with forces on Wednesday.In UP, 4 people were
arrested in separate incidents from districts for allegedly raising pro-Pak
slogans and posting social media comments in support of the Pulwama attack.In
Ahmedabad, pharmaceutical firm Zydus Healthcare suspended its marketing
executive of Srinagar for a Facebook post in which he allegedly called attack
as the “real surgical strike”. indianexpress
Karnataka: Teacher held for hailing Pak over attack
Bengaluru:A woman teacher of a private school
in Karnataka has been arrested for allegedly hailing Pakistan in the backdrop
of the terror attack in J&K that, police said Sunday.Jilekha Bi of the
school at Shivapura in Belagavi was arrested Saturday night after she posted a
message on social media saying “Pakistan Ki Jay Ho”, they said. She is the
second person to be arrested in the state over similar comments on Pulwama attack. PTI
Guwahati college suspends teacher for remark on Pulwama attack
Guwahati:A private commerce college in Guwahati has suspended an
assistant professor of English for posting “objectionable remarks” on Facebook
regarding the attack in Pulwama.The college authorities said they suspended
Papri Banerjee with immediate effect on Saturday after her social media post
invited criticism and an FIR was lodged against her.In her Facebook post on
Friday, Ms. Banerjee said that the killing of CRPF men was a cowardly act that
would “break the heart of any Indian”. But she indicated that the armed forces
invited retaliation for maiming children, raping women and slaughtering their
husbands. "Terrorism maybe Islamic but Karma is a very Indic
concept,"she wrote.thehindu
Pulwama attack: AMU cautions Kashmiri students
against moving out of campus
AMU has issued an advisory to Kashmiri
students asking them “not to move out of campus” in the wake of protests in the
city following the Pulwama attack, PTI reported on Sunday.On Saturday, Kashmiri
students at the university, Dehradun and Haryana had complained of being
harassed and threatened following the terror attack in South Kashmir.“The
university authorities are maintaining constant vigil on law and order
situation on the campus, especially in the wake of highly inflammatory social
media posts emanating from the city,” AMU Proctor Mohsin Khan told
PTI.scroll.in
Malegaon ex-MLA Mufti Ismail wants Muslim
regiment in Army to take on Pakistan
Mumbai:Muslim cleric and former Malegaon MLA
Mufti Ismail has called for a setting up of a special Muslim regiment in the
Army to take on Pakistan. He also said that if the government accepts his
demand, he will raise a force of 25,000 Muslim men who can be absorbed in this
regiment.Ismail said: “What Pakistan has done is heinous and anti-Islamic. If
this violence is being done in the name of Islam and Muslims, I would request
the Indian government to help raise a Muslim regiment that will fight this
battle against Pakistan.I personally will help in ensuring the recruitment of
25,000 Muslim men from Malegaon alone in this regiment.”Ismail had organised a
protest in Malegaon on Friday to protest against the Pulwama attack. The
cleric-turned-politician had shot into the limelight after the 2006 Malegaon
blasts.
Will not let Assam become another Kashmir:
Amit Shah on NRC
New Delhi :In the light of the deadly attack
on a CRPF convoy in J&K, BJP chief Amit Shah while addressing a rally in
Lakhimpur on Sunday raked up the issue of NRC,
and said that the Centre “will not allow Assam to become another
Kashmir”.“We will not allow Assam to become another Kashmir. That is why we have
brought NRC. We will deport each and every infiltrator with the help of NRC. We
are committed to that,” he said.Promising that the sacrifices of the of the
jawans would not go in vain, Shah firmly stated that the BJP-led NDA government
is not ready to compromise on the security issue unlike its predecessor
Congress.indianexpress
Pontiff defers Ayodhya march ‘in national
interest’ after Pulwama attack
Prayagraj:Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami
Swaroopanand Saraswati on Sunday called off his proposed march to Ayodhya ‘in
national interest’ in view of the mood in the country following the terror
attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, convener of the proposed march Swami
Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said.94-year-old pontiff had announced his plans
on January 21 to march from his Kumbh Mela camp in Prayagraj to Ayodhya to
perform foundation-laying ceremony for the construction of a Ram temple.Two
days ago, the pontiff had moved to Varanasi from Prayagraj for treatment at
BHU’s Sir Sunderlal Hospital after he complained of breathing trouble.HT
NDTV journalist faces harassment by right-wing
supporters in London
An NDTV journalist on Sunday took to Twitter
to allege how a group of Indians protesting against the Pulwama terror attack
had harassed her in London. Radhika Iyer alleged that she was ‘hooted’ for
working for NDTV.Her tweet read, “I was at a protest march by some Indians in
London against the terror attack in J&K. I was interviewing some people,
when the crowd cornered me. Hooted me for being associated with NDTV. A lady
said ‘you cannot be here’. One man said ‘ if you are an Indian, say bharat mata
Ki jai‘.”Her subsequent tweet read, “This was a protest by Indians and people
of Indian origin in London. Against terrorism. When suddenly in the middle of
it, the focus was on me and the media channel I am associated with. I felt
cornered, vulnerable and isolated amidst so many of my own fellow
Indians!”jantakareporter
OTHERS
Prince Salman’s visit to India a historic
opportunity to strengthen ties: Saudi envoy
New Delhi:Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman’s visit to India presents a “historic opportunity” to expand
collaboration in all sectors, Gulf country’s envoy here said on Sunday.Prince
Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, will arrive in India on
February 19 on his first official visit. Counter-terrorism and energy security
are expected to top the agenda for discussions during the trip.Besides holding
talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will also meet President Ram Nath
Kovind and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu during his two-day visit.“Saudi
Arabia and India share age-old ties of friendship that are deepening with each
passing day. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to India is highly
anticipated and presents a historic opportunity to expand collaboration between
our two friendly countries in all fields,” Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia to India Saud Mohammad Al Sati said.PTI
Minority Coordination Committee Gujarat demand
allocation of 5,900 cr for minorities ahead of interim budget
Minority Coordination Committee (MCC),
Gujarat, has demanded that the state government should allocate ₹5,940 crore
for the development of minorities, regretting, unlike Govt of India, Gujarat
has no separate budget for them.In a letter sent to Gujarat chief minister
Vijay Rupani ahead of the interim budget session of the state assembly, MCC
convener Mujahid Nafees said, this situation is there despite the fact that
Gujarat has 11% population of minorities, of which 9.7% are Muslims, and total
budget for 2018-19 was ₹1,825,000 crore.Insisting that the minorities are
"very backward" and need "protection", Nafees said, a new
department of minority affairs on lines of Centre should be created and it
should be allocated ₹1,000 crore.nationalheraldindia
Hyderabad: Construction of Minority
Residential School begins on waqf land; Board stalls process
Shamsabad: Illegal construction has begun on
the land of Dargah Hazrat Syed Shahabuddin Soharwardi. The locals met Waqf
Board Chairman Mohammed Saleem Mohammed Saleem and requested him to stop the
construction and protect the Waqf land.Mohammed Saleem by taking immediate
action directed executive officer Mohammed Shareef Khan and Saber Husain in
charge and IA to inspect the site and stop the illegal construction.Both the
officers visited the site and took stock of the situation. They learnt that
building of Minority Residential School is being constructed on the waqf land.
A water tank was also constructed under Mission Bhagirata in 2016 and now the
land is being cleaned to construct the school building.The officers stalled the
construction. A wall has been constructed at the place of foundation
plaque.siasat
Bodh Gaya blast suspect arrested in Kolkata
Kolkata
police has arrested Ariful Islam, a suspect in last year's Bodh Gaya
blast.Islam, 22, a resident of Panpara village in Assam's Barpeta, was
apparently plotting a conspiracy for securing the escape of Kausar - one of the
key accused in Burdwan's Khagragarh blast case of 2014 - from the Presidency
Correctional Home (as jails are called in West Bengal).He was taken into
custody from central Kolkata's Babughat area. Islam, who worked as a helper
with truck drivers, came in touch with Jahidul Islam alias Kausar and Abdul
Majid, who invited him to join the outfit.IANS
Mob smashes TMC MLA's vehicle, legislator
seeks refuge in police station
Labhpur(WB) :Tension gripped Labhpur area in
West Bengal's Birbhum district on Saturday as a mob smashed local TMC MLA
Manirul Islam's vehicle and chased him, forcing him to take refuge in the local
police station, police said.The incident comes days after the daughter of BJP
leader Suprabhat Batyabyal was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint here.Girl's
mother lodged a complaint at Labhpur police station after the alleged
kidnapping on Thursday.Protesting against the incident and demanding immediate
rescue of the girl, an angry mob resorted to vandalism in and around the area
as she remained untraceable.At around 3 pm, the mob gheraoed Islam's vehicle at
Indus village and pelted stones at it. MLA was rushed to safety by his security
guards, the police said."When he reached the Labhpur police station, there
too a mob started pelting stones," a police officer said.Later, Islam
visited the girl's house and spoke to her family."I talked to the family
members and assured that police are trying to find their daughter. We have
already told police to act fast," he told PTI.PTI
Goa: Dressed as Muslim woman in burkha,
35-year-old man booked for entering ladies toilet
New Delhi :A 35-year-old state government
employee was booked by police in Goa on Saturday, for dressing as a Muslim
woman in a burkha. The accused had entered a ladies toilet at the central bus
stand in Panaji. Identified as Virgil Fernandes, the accused was caught by the
commuters, while exiting a ladies toilet at the bus stand, wearing a burkha and
black head gear.Goa Police spokesperson said, "The accused has been booked
under Section 419 (impersonation) for trying to impersonate a Muslim woman, in
order to enter a ladies toilet at the Panaji bus stand." indiatv news
Tamil actor Simbu's brother Kuralarasan
converts to Islam
Kuralarasan, the younger son of T Rajendar and
brother of Tamil actor Silambarasan, has converted to Islam. A video of
Kuralarasan embracing Islam in the presence of his dad T Rajendar and mom Usha
has gone viral on social media. Kuralarasan acted in films like Alai and
Sonaalthan Kadhala. He also turned composer for Pandiraj's film with Simbu
called Idhu Namma Aalu.The conversion ceremony happened in a mosque in Anna
Salai, Chennai.When asked about his son's decision, T Rajendar said,
"'Tolerant of all religions' is my policy. So, I respect my son's
decision."India Today
Bhopal: Ex-chairman, 2 others booked for causing
loss of Rs 40 lakhs to board
Bhopal: A case of breach of trustagainst ex
Chairman of MP Waqf Board Shaukat Mohammed Khan with the Shahjahanabad police.
Two others posted at senior positions in Waqf Board have also been booked.SHO
Shahjahanabad Shailendra Singh said that the accused had allegedly extended
illegal favour in renting Waqf property at price below collector rate. It had
led to loss of around 40 lakhs rupees to Waqf Board.In his complaint, Mohammad
Ahmed Khan of Idgah Hills who is now the new CEO of Waqf Board stated that ex
Chairman of MP Waqf Board Shaukat Mohammed Khan. freepressjournal
WORLD
Saudi crown prince arrives in Pakistan
Islamabad: Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,
Mohammad bin Salman arrived in Islamabad today on a two-day official visit to
Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.Prime Minister Imran
Khan, along with his Cabinet members, arrived at Noor Khan airbase to receive
the Saudi crown prince. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa also reached
the air base to extend warm welcome.Upon arrival, a historic welcome is to be
given to the Saudi crown prince, widely known as "MbS", who is
accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including members of Saudi Royal
family, key ministers and leading businesspersons.Sources said that a
19-member, high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia reached Islamabad earlier
today amid tight security.During his visit, Mohammad bin Salman will meet
President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff
General Qamar Javed Bajwa.Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to sign a record
investment package with Pakistan, including a $10 billion refinery and oil
complex for the strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea..geo.tv
Israel PM’s office leaks Saudi minister’s
anti-Iran speech
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190216-israel-pms-office-leaks-saudi-ministers-anti-iran-speech/
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu yesterday leaked a video of a speech made by Saudi Foreign Minister
Adel al-Jubeir behind closed doors during this week’s Warsaw Conference.During
video – which was likely taken by a mobile camera – Al-Jubeir said that the
“destabilising activities of Iran makes it difficult to organise the region,”New
Khalij reported. In the video, which was posted on Netanyahu’s YouTube channel
before being quickly deleted, Al-Jubeir said: “Iranian regime has no morals
because it targets diplomats and detonates embassies.” He continued by
pondering who is supporting Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and
then answered: “Iran destabilises the situation in a number of Arab countries.”The
Saudi official said that Iran’s handover of ballistic missiles to “terrorist
groups is unacceptable,” noting that the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen
had launched more than 200 missiles towards Saudi Arabia.middleeastmonitor
Rouhani unveils Iran's cruise missile-equipped
Fateh submarine
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has unveiled
a "state-of-the-art" domestically produced submarine, which the
defence ministry said is capable of firing cruise missiles.Rouhani is in the
southern province of Hormozgan on Sunday to introduce the latest addition of
the naval fleet.Dubbed the Fateh, or Conqueror, it is the country's first
semi-heavy submarine, according to Mehr news agency.In his speech to thousands
of supporters at the port city of Bandar Lengeh before the submarine launch,
Rouhani warned against division in the country, saying that is the goal of
Iran's enemies.aljazeera
Iranian FM Zarif says Israel 'looking for war'
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
has accused Israel of "looking for war" and warned that its behaviour
and that of the United States were increasing the chances of a clash in the
Middle East."The risk [of war] is great. The risk will be even greater if
you continue to turn a blind eye to severe violations of international
law," Zarif said in an address at the Munich Security Conference on
Sunday.Zarif appeared to be referring to Israeli air attacks against Iranian targets
in Syria.aljazeera
Iran summons Pakistan envoy after attack kills
27 security personnel near border
Iran on Sunday summoned the ambassador to
Pakistan after a suicide bombing killed 27 of its Revolutionary Guards near the
country’s border this week, Reuters reported. On Saturday, Iran had warned that
Pakistan would pay “a heavy price” for allegedly harbouring the attackers who
planned the incident.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief Major General Mohammad
Ali Jafari also accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of supporting militant
factions that attack Iranian forces. Sunni group Jaish al Adl (Army of
Justice), which claims to seek more rights and better living conditions for the
ethnic minority Baluchis, claimed responsibility for the attack on Iran
forces.“We will avenge the blood of our martyrs from the Saudi and UAE
governments and ask the President (Hassan Rouhani) ... to leave our hands free
more than ever for reprisal operations,” Reuters quoted Jafari as saying at the
funeral of a soldier who was killed.Reuters
Hamas’ Haniyeh to conduct international tour
Senior Hamas leader Mohammad Nazzal has
revealed that his movement is preparing for an international tour for its chief
Ismail Haniyeh.Nazzal pointed to arrangements with Egypt to facilitate this,
Al-Ray News Agency reported yesterday, reiterating that Egypt has pledged not
to close the Rafah Crossing – the only civilian exit point from the besieged
Gaza Strip – because Egypt is keen not to punish the Palestinian people.He also
confirmed previous reports that Hamas is following up on the issue of
Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails, stating that the issue of four
Palestinians kidnapped after while travelling through Rafah Crossing a couple
of years ago is on top of Hamas’ agenda.middleeastmonitor
Take back over 800 ISIS fighters captured in
Syria, Trump tells European allies
Washington: President Donald Trump has
demanded that the European nations take back more than 800 ISIS fighters
captured in Syria and put them on trial, warning that the U.S. otherwise will
be forced to free the jihadists after it pulls out from the war-torn
country.President Trump surprised the world by announcing in December that he was
withdrawing 2,000 American troops from the war-torn Syria.He also warned the
ISIS that America would hit them hard from nearby military bases if the terror
outfit regains momentum.US-backed fighters are set to capture ISIS’s last tiny
stronghold in Syria, bringing an end to its self-declared caliphate.“US is
asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800
ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial. The Caliphate is
ready to fall. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to
release them,” Trump said on
Saturday.President Trump warned that ISIS fighters could “permeate Europe” and
called on European nations to “step up” efforts to put the prisoners on trial
in their countries.PTI
Regime shelling kills 10 civilians in Syria's
Idlib
Idlib:At least ten civilians were killed and
34 others injured by regime artillery shelling on residential areas in the
country's northwestern Idlib province in the past 24 hours, according to the
White Helmets civil defense agency on Sunday.
The shelling targeted 13 populated areas in the towns of Khan Shaykhoun
and Marra al-Numan in Idlib's countryside, the White Helmets said. Three children and four women were among
those killed in the attacks, it added. White Helmets director in Idlib Mustapha
Haj Yousuf warned of a "humanitarian catastrophe" over the ongoing
regime attacks. Anadolu Agency
IS claims
North Sinai attack, says 20 Egyptian troops killed
Islamic state has claimed responsibility for
an attack in North Sinai on Saturday which it said killed 20 Egyptian military
troops, the group's AMAQ news agency said.The Egyptian military said earlier on
Saturday that seven militants had been killed and 15 Egyptian military
personnel killed or wounded in the clash.Reuters
flash: views & NEWS
In Rafale deal, key players were kept out of
the loop: P Chidambaram , indian express
War with Pakistan not an option for India,
focus on Kashmiris:By GK Pillai, ET
Indian express Fact Check: Not CCTV clip of
Pulwama blast, old footage from Iraq being pushed on social media
72 hours since Pulwama attack: All the steps
that Modi govt has taken so far:Sibu Tripathi
Pulwama Aftermath: What’s Best for Modi May
Not Be What’s Best for India:Sushil Aaron
Must journalists be the judge, jury and
prosecutors at the same time?Ashis Ray
Ugly behaviour of divisiveness not good for
India: Frank Islam on violence in AMU provoked by Arnab Goswami’s
representatives
Pulwama Fallout: From Social Media to the
Streets, Calls for Revenge Feed Political Agenda: Ajoy Ashirwad Mahaprashasta
Jamaat-e-Islami Expresses Grief Over Killing
of CRPF Men in Pulwama
Jamaat-e-Islami denounces Pulwama attack:
Indian Awaaz
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:39 PM)
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