A top American general has asked Islamabad to use its influence over Taliban to bring them to the negotiations table and stop cross border movement of their leaders, a day-after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left US after holding meetings with top Trump Administration officials.

"As we often talk with the military leadership in Pakistan, we need them to continue to stay engaged in this. We need them to help lower the violence in Afghanistan," US Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel told reporters during a Pentagon news conference.

Pakistan, he said, need to do that by making absolutely sure there are instructions, direction, other things coming from Taliban leadership, which remains in Pakistan, to their fighters on the ground.

"They need to ensure that they continue to ensure there can be no movement back and forth and that fighters can't come back into Pakistan to get aid or medical care or other things with that. They have to help us lower the violence in Afghanistan," Votel said.

"And they need to use their influence with the Taliban to force the Taliban leadership to come to the table. And they can do this, they can put pressure on them to do this," Votel said when asked about Qureshi's remarks a day earlier in which he claimed that Pakistan has taken appropriate measures against terrorist groups.&nbsp;

"Those are the two things that we have continued to emphasize with Pakistan that they need to do. So I do acknowledge that they have done a lot in their own country, but there is more to do and it is those specific areas right there where we are seeking their closest assistance," Votel said.

On Tuesday, Qureshi met the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the National Security Advisor John Bolton.&nbsp;

Wrapping up his 10-day US trip, Qureshi in his remarks at the US Institute of Peace had challenged that US military and members of Congress to come into Pakistan, and travel anywhere inside the country and see for themselves that there are no safe havens any longer.&nbsp;

There is no doubt, Votel Acknowledged that Pakistan has conducted operations in their country to root out terrorist organisations "in certain areas," particularly areas up along the border with Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"But we do assess there still is a presence in Pakistan and we need them to continue to do that,? the general said.

A top American general has asked Islamabad to use its influence over Taliban to bring them to the negotiations table and stop cross border movement of their leaders, a day-after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left US after holding meetings with top Trump Administration officials.

A top American general has asked Islamabad to use its influence over Taliban to bring them to the negotiations table and stop cross border movement of their leaders, a day-after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left US after holding meetings with top Trump Administration officials. "As we often talk with the military leadership in Pakistan, we need them to continue to stay engaged in this. We need them to help lower the violence in Afghanistan," US Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel told reporters during a Pentagon news conference. Pakistan, he said, need to do that by making absolutely sure there are instructions, direction, other things coming from Taliban leadership, which remains in Pakistan, to their fighters on the ground. "They need to ensure that they continue to ensure there can be no movement back and forth and that fighters can't come back into Pakistan to get aid or medical care or other things with that. They have to help us lower the violence in Afghanistan," Votel said. "And they need to use their influence with the Taliban to force the Taliban leadership to come to the table. And they can do this, they can put pressure on them to do this," Votel said when asked about Qureshi's remarks a day earlier in which he claimed that Pakistan has taken appropriate measures against terrorist groups. "Those are the two things that we have continued to emphasize with Pakistan that they need to do. So I do acknowledge that they have done a lot in their own country, but there is more to do and it is those specific areas right there where we are seeking their closest assistance," Votel said. On Tuesday, Qureshi met the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the National Security Advisor John Bolton. Wrapping up his 10-day US trip, Qureshi in his remarks at the US Institute of Peace had challenged that US military and members of Congress to come into Pakistan, and travel anywhere inside the country and see for themselves that there are no safe havens any longer. There is no doubt, Votel Acknowledged that Pakistan has conducted operations in their country to root out terrorist organisations "in certain areas," particularly areas up along the border with Afghanistan. "But we do assess there still is a presence in Pakistan and we need them to continue to do that,? the general said.

Pentagon asks Pakistan to use influence over Taliban, stop cross border movement 

Poison mail sent to White House, Pentagon

The US&nbsp;military is increasing spending on a secret research effort to use artificial intelligence to help anticipate the launch of a nuclear-capable missile, as well as track and target mobile launchers in North Korea and elsewhere.

The effort has gone largely unreported, and the few publicly available details about it are buried under a layer of near impenetrable jargon in the latest Pentagon budget. But US&nbsp;officials familiar with the research told Reuters there are multiple classified programs now under way to explore how to develop AI-driven systems to better protect the United States against a potential nuclear missile strike.

If the research is successful, such computer systems would be able to think for themselves, scouring huge amounts of data, including satellite imagery, with a speed and accuracy beyond the capability of humans, to look for signs of preparations for a missile launch, according to more than half a dozen sources. The sources included US&nbsp;officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the research is classified.

Forewarned, the US&nbsp;government would be able to pursue diplomatic options or, in the case of an imminent attack, the military would have more time to try to destroy the missiles before they were launched, or try to intercept them.

"We should be doing everything in our power to find that missile before they launch it and make it increasingly harder to get it off (the ground)," one of the officials said.

The Trump administration has proposed more than tripling funding in next year's budget to $83 million for just one of the AI-driven missile programs, according to several US&nbsp;officials and budget documents. The boost in funding has not been previously reported.

While the amount is still relatively small, it is one indicator of the growing importance of the research on AI-powered anti-missile systems at a time when the United States faces a more militarily assertive Russia and a significant nuclear weapons threat from long-time foe North Korea.

"What AI and machine learning allows you to do is find the needle in the haystack," said Bob Work, a champion of AI technology who was deputy defense secretary until last July, without referring to any individual projects.

One person familiar with the programs said it includes a pilot project focused on North Korea. Washington is increasingly concerned about Pyongyang's development of mobile missiles that can be hidden in tunnels, forests and caves. The existence of a North Korea-focused project has not been previously reported.

While that project has been kept secret, the military has been clear about its interest in AI. The Pentagon, for example, has disclosed it is using AI to identify objects from video gathered in its drone program, as part of a publicly touted effort launched last year called "Project Maven."

Still, some US&nbsp;officials say AI spending overall on military programs remains woefully inadequate.

The Pentagon is in a race against China and Russia to infuse more AI into its war machine, to create more sophisticated autonomous systems that are able to learn by themselves to carry out specific tasks. The Pentagon research on using AI to identify potential missile threats and track mobile launchers is in its infancy and is just one part of that overall effort.

There are scant details on the AI missile research, but one US&nbsp;official told Reuters that an early prototype of a system to track mobile missile launchers was already being tested within the US&nbsp;military.

This project involves military and private researchers in the Washington DC&nbsp;area. It is pivoting off technological advances developed by commercial firms financed by In-Q-Tel, the intelligence community's venture capital fund, officials said.

In order to carry out the research, the project is tapping into the intelligence community's commercial cloud service, searching for patterns and anomalies in data, including from sophisticated radar that can see through storms and penetrate foliage.

Budget documents reviewed by Reuters noted plans to expand the focus of the mobile missile launcher program to "the remainder of the (Pentagon) 4+1 problem sets." The Pentagon typically uses the 4+1 terminology to refer to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and terrorist groups.

Both supporters and critics of using AI to hunt missiles agree that it carries major risks. It could accelerate decision-making in a nuclear crisis. It could increase the chances of computer-generated errors. It might also provoke an AI arms race with Russia and China that could upset the global nuclear balance.

US&nbsp;Air Force General John Hyten, the top commander of US&nbsp;nuclear forces, said once AI-driven systems become fully operational, the Pentagon will need to think about creating safeguards to ensure humans - not machines - control the pace of nuclear decision-making, the "escalation ladder" in Pentagon speak.

"(Artificial intelligence) could force you onto that ladder if you don't put the safeguards in," Hyten, head of the US&nbsp;Strategic Command, said in an interview. "Once you're on it, then everything starts moving."

Experts at the Rand Corporation, a public policy research body, and elsewhere say there is a high probability that countries like China and Russia could try to trick an AI missile-hunting system, learning to hide their missiles from identification.

There is some evidence to suggest they could be successful.

An experiment by M.I.T. students showed how easy it was to dupe an advanced Google image classifier, in which a computer identifies objects. In that case, students fooled the system into concluding a plastic turtle was actually a rifle.

Dr&nbsp;Steven Walker, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a pioneer in AI that initially funded what became the Internet, said the Pentagon still needs humans to review AI systems’ conclusions.

"Because these systems can be fooled," Walker said in an interview.&nbsp; &nbsp;

DARPA is working on a project to make AI-driven systems capable of better explaining themselves to human analysts, something the agency believes will be critical for high stakes national security programs

Among those working to improve the effectiveness of AI is William "Buzz" Roberts, director for automation, AI and augmentation at the National Geospatial Agency. Roberts works on the front lines of the US&nbsp;government's efforts to develop AI to help analyze satellite imagery, a crucial source of data for missile hunters.

Last year, NGA said it used AI to scan and analyze 12 million images. So far, Roberts said, NGA researchers have made progress in getting AI to help identify the presence or absence of a target of interest, although he declined to discuss individual programs.

In trying to assess potential national security threats, the NGA researchers work under a different kind of pressure from their counterparts in the private sector.

"We can't be wrong ... A lot of the commercial advancements in AI, machine learning, computer vision - If they're half right, they're good," said Roberts.

Although some officials believe elements of the AI missile program could become viable in the early 2020s, others in the US government and the US&nbsp;Congress fear research efforts are too limited.

"The Russians and the Chinese are definitely pursuing these sorts of things," Representative Mac Thornberry, the House Armed Services Committee's chairman, told Reuters. "Probably with greater effort in some ways than we have."

The US military is increasing spending on a secret research effort to use artificial intelligence to help anticipate the launch of a nuclear-capable missile, as well as track and target mobile launchers in North Korea and elsewhere

The US military is increasing spending on a secret research effort to use artificial intelligence to help anticipate the launch of a nuclear-capable missile, as well as track and target mobile launchers in North Korea and elsewhere. The effort has gone largely unreported, and the few publicly available details about it are buried under a layer of near impenetrable jargon in the latest Pentagon budget. But US officials familiar with the research told Reuters there are multiple classified programs now under way to explore how to develop AI-driven systems to better protect the United States against a potential nuclear missile strike. If the research is successful, such computer systems would be able to think for themselves, scouring huge amounts of data, including satellite imagery, with a speed and accuracy beyond the capability of humans, to look for signs of preparations for a missile launch, according to more than half a dozen sources. The sources included US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the research is classified. Forewarned, the US government would be able to pursue diplomatic options or, in the case of an imminent attack, the military would have more time to try to destroy the missiles before they were launched, or try to intercept them. "We should be doing everything in our power to find that missile before they launch it and make it increasingly harder to get it off (the ground)," one of the officials said. The Trump administration has proposed more than tripling funding in next year's budget to $83 million for just one of the AI-driven missile programs, according to several US officials and budget documents. The boost in funding has not been previously reported. While the amount is still relatively small, it is one indicator of the growing importance of the research on AI-powered anti-missile systems at a time when the United States faces a more militarily assertive Russia and a significant nuclear weapons threat from long-time foe North Korea. "What AI and machine learning allows you to do is find the needle in the haystack," said Bob Work, a champion of AI technology who was deputy defense secretary until last July, without referring to any individual projects. One person familiar with the programs said it includes a pilot project focused on North Korea. Washington is increasingly concerned about Pyongyang's development of mobile missiles that can be hidden in tunnels, forests and caves. The existence of a North Korea-focused project has not been previously reported. While that project has been kept secret, the military has been clear about its interest in AI. The Pentagon, for example, has disclosed it is using AI to identify objects from video gathered in its drone program, as part of a publicly touted effort launched last year called "Project Maven." Still, some US officials say AI spending overall on military programs remains woefully inadequate. The Pentagon is in a race against China and Russia to infuse more AI into its war machine, to create more sophisticated autonomous systems that are able to learn by themselves to carry out specific tasks. The Pentagon research on using AI to identify potential missile threats and track mobile launchers is in its infancy and is just one part of that overall effort. There are scant details on the AI missile research, but one US official told Reuters that an early prototype of a system to track mobile missile launchers was already being tested within the US military. This project involves military and private researchers in the Washington DC area. It is pivoting off technological advances developed by commercial firms financed by In-Q-Tel, the intelligence community's venture capital fund, officials said. In order to carry out the research, the project is tapping into the intelligence community's commercial cloud service, searching for patterns and anomalies in data, including from sophisticated radar that can see through storms and penetrate foliage. Budget documents reviewed by Reuters noted plans to expand the focus of the mobile missile launcher program to "the remainder of the (Pentagon) 4+1 problem sets." The Pentagon typically uses the 4+1 terminology to refer to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and terrorist groups. Both supporters and critics of using AI to hunt missiles agree that it carries major risks. It could accelerate decision-making in a nuclear crisis. It could increase the chances of computer-generated errors. It might also provoke an AI arms race with Russia and China that could upset the global nuclear balance. US Air Force General John Hyten, the top commander of US nuclear forces, said once AI-driven systems become fully operational, the Pentagon will need to think about creating safeguards to ensure humans - not machines - control the pace of nuclear decision-making, the "escalation ladder" in Pentagon speak. "(Artificial intelligence) could force you onto that ladder if you don't put the safeguards in," Hyten, head of the US Strategic Command, said in an interview. "Once you're on it, then everything starts moving." Experts at the Rand Corporation, a public policy research body, and elsewhere say there is a high probability that countries like China and Russia could try to trick an AI missile-hunting system, learning to hide their missiles from identification. There is some evidence to suggest they could be successful. An experiment by M.I.T. students showed how easy it was to dupe an advanced Google image classifier, in which a computer identifies objects. In that case, students fooled the system into concluding a plastic turtle was actually a rifle. Dr Steven Walker, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a pioneer in AI that initially funded what became the Internet, said the Pentagon still needs humans to review AI systems’ conclusions. "Because these systems can be fooled," Walker said in an interview. DARPA is working on a project to make AI-driven systems capable of better explaining themselves to human analysts, something the agency believes will be critical for high stakes national security programs Among those working to improve the effectiveness of AI is William "Buzz" Roberts, director for automation, AI and augmentation at the National Geospatial Agency. Roberts works on the front lines of the US government's efforts to develop AI to help analyze satellite imagery, a crucial source of data for missile hunters. Last year, NGA said it used AI to scan and analyze 12 million images. So far, Roberts said, NGA researchers have made progress in getting AI to help identify the presence or absence of a target of interest, although he declined to discuss individual programs. In trying to assess potential national security threats, the NGA researchers work under a different kind of pressure from their counterparts in the private sector. "We can't be wrong ... A lot of the commercial advancements in AI, machine learning, computer vision - If they're half right, they're good," said Roberts. Although some officials believe elements of the AI missile program could become viable in the early 2020s, others in the US government and the US Congress fear research efforts are too limited. "The Russians and the Chinese are definitely pursuing these sorts of things," Representative Mac Thornberry, the House Armed Services Committee's chairman, told Reuters. "Probably with greater effort in some ways than we have."

How will the US stop a nuclear strike? AI

US military operations around the world claimed the lives of 500 civilians in 2017, according to a Pentagon report released on Friday.

According to the report, the civilians were killed in a total of six countries which included Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

In the report, it has been pointed out that Pentagon had no credible reports of civilian casualties from Libya and Somalia. Also, the Pentagon is yet to assess 450 civilian-casualty reports in Iraq and Syria, due to the paucity of resources, thereby indicating a possibility for the final tally to be higher.

It was the first time ever Pentagon released figures for civilian casualties caused by US&nbsp;military operations.&nbsp;

The Pentagon said about 499 civilians were killed and about 169 civilians injured, without providing a breakdown of deaths and injuries per country or further details about the victims.

It also said it had yet to assess 450 civilian-casualty reports in Iraq and Syria, due to limited resources, indicating the final tally could be higher.

According to the report, the civilians were killed in a total of six countries which included Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen

US military operations around the world claimed the lives of 500 civilians in 2017, according to a Pentagon report released on Friday. According to the report, the civilians were killed in a total of six countries which included Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. In the report, it has been pointed out that Pentagon had no credible reports of civilian casualties from Libya and Somalia. Also, the Pentagon is yet to assess 450 civilian-casualty reports in Iraq and Syria, due to the paucity of resources, thereby indicating a possibility for the final tally to be higher. It was the first time ever Pentagon released figures for civilian casualties caused by US military operations. The Pentagon said about 499 civilians were killed and about 169 civilians injured, without providing a breakdown of deaths and injuries per country or further details about the victims. It also said it had yet to assess 450 civilian-casualty reports in Iraq and Syria, due to limited resources, indicating the final tally could be higher.

US military operations killed 500 civilians globally in 2017: Pentagon

US forces killed over 50 Taliban leaders in a series of strikes against those behind a recent attack in the Helmand provincial capital of Farah, US military and NATO commander General John Nicholson said&nbsp;Wednesday.

After pushing out fighters in Farah, Afghan and US forces continued to pursue them, Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon via video link.

Under surveillance by the Marines, the Taliban fighters returned to their Helmand stronghold, a&nbsp;center&nbsp;for poppy cultivation.

On May 24, they were spotted in a known Taliban command&nbsp;center&nbsp;in Musa Qala.

"What it looks like is it was a group of commanders, meeting in part to discuss the operation in Farah that many of them had just participated in," said General Nicholson.&nbsp;

"And they obviously thought they were meeting in relative safety in Musa Qala, but our intelligence was able to identify the group and effectively conduct the strike."

The group was involved in drug trafficking, Nicholson added.

"I would not call it strategic significance, but it definitely has a significant local significance in terms of the fight in Southern Afghanistan," he said.

In a statement, the US command in Afghanistan said the strike resulted in "more than 50 casualties," among them the number two Taliban leader in Helmand, Abdul Manan, and several district governors and local leaders in Kandahar, Kunduz, Herat, Farah, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces.

Under surveillance by the Marines, the Taliban fighters returned to their Helmand stronghold, a centre for poppy cultivation

US forces killed over 50 Taliban leaders in a series of strikes against those behind a recent attack in the Helmand provincial capital of Farah, US military and NATO commander General John Nicholson said Wednesday. After pushing out fighters in Farah, Afghan and US forces continued to pursue them, Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon via video link. Under surveillance by the Marines, the Taliban fighters returned to their Helmand stronghold, a center for poppy cultivation. On May 24, they were spotted in a known Taliban command center in Musa Qala. "What it looks like is it was a group of commanders, meeting in part to discuss the operation in Farah that many of them had just participated in," said General Nicholson. "And they obviously thought they were meeting in relative safety in Musa Qala, but our intelligence was able to identify the group and effectively conduct the strike." The group was involved in drug trafficking, Nicholson added. "I would not call it strategic significance, but it definitely has a significant local significance in terms of the fight in Southern Afghanistan," he said. In a statement, the US command in Afghanistan said the strike resulted in "more than 50 casualties," among them the number two Taliban leader in Helmand, Abdul Manan, and several district governors and local leaders in Kandahar, Kunduz, Herat, Farah, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces.

Afghanistan: Over 50 Taliban leaders killed in US operation

As per a Pentagon memo released on Tuesday, the US Department of Defense has introduced a new policy that sets more restrictions on cell phone usage in designated areas inside the Pentagon.

According to reports, cellphones and other electronic devices will not be used in areas where processing and handling are carried out or where classified information is discussed. However, cell phones can still be used in common areas and other Pentagon offices if classified information is not present.

After a month-long review, it was decided that the Pentagon will continue to allow cellphones to be brought into the building.

The new rules will take effect immediately and will be fully implemented within six months. The new regulation will be applicable to the Defense Department's personnel, contractors and visitors. Electronic devices like laptops, tablets, cellular phones, smart watches, among other portable devices are covered under the rule including any other device that can wirelessly transmit information and have a self-contained power source.&nbsp

The policy will not be applicable to mobile devices with minimal storage and transmission capabilities. Fitness trackers without a camera, microphone, cellular, or Wi-Fi technology will be exempted from the rule while medical devices with cellular technology must be approved on a situational basis.

The memo also enumerates several exceptions, including the use of government-issued cellphones by senior officials in secure spaces in case the camera, microphone and wireless capabilities are turned off.

A review on the use of cellphones was launched by the Pentagon in January after GPS reporting company Strava published a global heat map based on user exercise routes. The map exhibited running routes of soldiers on remote and classified US military bases.

The memo also enumerates several exceptions, including the use of government-issued cellphones by senior officials in secure spaces

As per a Pentagon memo released on Tuesday, the US Department of Defense has introduced a new policy that sets more restrictions on cell phone usage in designated areas inside the Pentagon. According to reports, cellphones and other electronic devices will not be used in areas where processing and handling are carried out or where classified information is discussed. However, cell phones can still be used in common areas and other Pentagon offices if classified information is not present. After a month-long review, it was decided that the Pentagon will continue to allow cellphones to be brought into the building. The new rules will take effect immediately and will be fully implemented within six months. The new regulation will be applicable to the Defense Department's personnel, contractors and visitors. Electronic devices like laptops, tablets, cellular phones, smart watches, among other portable devices are covered under the rule including any other device that can wirelessly transmit information and have a self-contained power source. The policy will not be applicable to mobile devices with minimal storage and transmission capabilities. Fitness trackers without a camera, microphone, cellular, or Wi-Fi technology will be exempted from the rule while medical devices with cellular technology must be approved on a situational basis. The memo also enumerates several exceptions, including the use of government-issued cellphones by senior officials in secure spaces in case the camera, microphone and wireless capabilities are turned off. A review on the use of cellphones was launched by the Pentagon in January after GPS reporting company Strava published a global heat map based on user exercise routes. The map exhibited running routes of soldiers on remote and classified US military bases.

United States: Pentagon issues new restrictions on cellphone use

Beijing hit back at allegations it was "militarising" the South China Sea on Monday after landing bombers at an airbase in the contested waters, instead accusing Washington of increasing tensions with its own military footprint.

China on Friday for the first time landed several combat aircraft -- including the long-range, nuclear strike-capable H-6K -- at an island airfield in the sea, triggering international concern.

The move prompted immediate criticism from the US, with a Pentagon spokesman condemning China's "continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea".

But China was quick to dismiss concerns that the deployment had raised tensions in a region home to vital global shipping routes.

"The South China Sea islands are Chinese territories," foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular briefing.

Lu said the movement of the bombers into the area was "part of the normal training for the Chinese military", and that the US "sending its own warships and planes to the region... poses a danger to other countries".&nbsp

Friday's takeoff and landing drills took place on Woody Island, according to Washington think-tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.&nbsp

Woody Island is home to China's largest base in the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.&nbsp

Territorial disputes over the South China Sea have been brewing for years and the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia have also made competing claims to waters believed to have significant oil and natural gas deposits.

The Philippines on Monday said it was taking "appropriate diplomatic action".

China has built a string of artificial islands in contested areas of the South China Sea since 2013, and installed an array of airbases, radar systems and naval facilities that will allow it to project power over hundreds of kilometres of ocean where the US Navy’s dominance previously faced few serious challenges.&nbsp

China on Friday for the first time landed several combat aircraft -- including the long-range, nuclear strike-capable H-6K -- at an island airfield in the sea, triggering international concern

Beijing hit back at allegations it was "militarising" the South China Sea on Monday after landing bombers at an airbase in the contested waters, instead accusing Washington of increasing tensions with its own military footprint. China on Friday for the first time landed several combat aircraft -- including the long-range, nuclear strike-capable H-6K -- at an island airfield in the sea, triggering international concern. The move prompted immediate criticism from the US, with a Pentagon spokesman condemning China's "continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea". But China was quick to dismiss concerns that the deployment had raised tensions in a region home to vital global shipping routes. "The South China Sea islands are Chinese territories," foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular briefing. Lu said the movement of the bombers into the area was "part of the normal training for the Chinese military", and that the US "sending its own warships and planes to the region... poses a danger to other countries". Friday's takeoff and landing drills took place on Woody Island, according to Washington think-tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Woody Island is home to China's largest base in the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. Territorial disputes over the South China Sea have been brewing for years and the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia have also made competing claims to waters believed to have significant oil and natural gas deposits. The Philippines on Monday said it was taking "appropriate diplomatic action". China has built a string of artificial islands in contested areas of the South China Sea since 2013, and installed an array of airbases, radar systems and naval facilities that will allow it to project power over hundreds of kilometres of ocean where the US Navy’s dominance previously faced few serious challenges.

Beijing denies 'militarisation' of South China Sea

In what appeared as the United States' (US) dissatisfaction over Pakistan's efforts to maintain regional security, Washington">Washington has highlighted that the country can do more in terms of it.

"We believe that Pakistan can certainly do more with respect to regional security. It can certainly do more with respect to security within Afghanistan, and we would look to them and hope that they would both [Pakistan and Afghanistan] help, because they are both victims of terrorism and they've also sponsored terrorism," Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White remarked while addressing a media briefing on Thursday.

"So we look to Pakistan to create more opportunities to secure the region," White added.

The Pentagon Spokesperson also dwelled upon Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statement on 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying, "Again, this is an inflection point for Pakistan. Pakistan has decisions to make, and we hope that they will be a partner in safeguarding the region."

Pentagon's briefing came a few days after the briefing of the US State Department, wherein its spokesperson Heather Nauert had addressed a similar query on Sharif's Mumbai comments, saying that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saaed is a tremendous concern to Washington">Washington.

"We are concerned about the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. And he's a Lashkar-e-Taiba guy who was being held in Pakistan, and he was eventually let out on house arrest, and we have a reward out for. I believe it's for his arrest, not information leading to his arrest, but his arrest. I don't recall off the top of my head the award amount, but that person out in the open is a tremendous concern to the United States," Nauert had said then.

There is an ongoing diplomatic rift between Pakistan and the US as the latter imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats which have been reciprocated by the former, according to the reports.

There is an ongoing diplomatic rift between Pakistan and the US as the latter imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats which have been reciprocated by the former, according to the reports

In what appeared as the United States' (US) dissatisfaction over Pakistan's efforts to maintain regional security, Washington">Washington has highlighted that the country can do more in terms of it. "We believe that Pakistan can certainly do more with respect to regional security. It can certainly do more with respect to security within Afghanistan, and we would look to them and hope that they would both [Pakistan and Afghanistan] help, because they are both victims of terrorism and they've also sponsored terrorism," Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White remarked while addressing a media briefing on Thursday. "So we look to Pakistan to create more opportunities to secure the region," White added. The Pentagon Spokesperson also dwelled upon Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statement on 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying, "Again, this is an inflection point for Pakistan. Pakistan has decisions to make, and we hope that they will be a partner in safeguarding the region." Pentagon's briefing came a few days after the briefing of the US State Department, wherein its spokesperson Heather Nauert had addressed a similar query on Sharif's Mumbai comments, saying that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saaed is a tremendous concern to Washington">Washington. "We are concerned about the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. And he's a Lashkar-e-Taiba guy who was being held in Pakistan, and he was eventually let out on house arrest, and we have a reward out for. I believe it's for his arrest, not information leading to his arrest, but his arrest. I don't recall off the top of my head the award amount, but that person out in the open is a tremendous concern to the United States," Nauert had said then. There is an ongoing diplomatic rift between Pakistan and the US as the latter imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats which have been reciprocated by the former, according to the reports.

Pakistan can do more with respect to regional security: Pentagon

Google's Artificial Intelligence programme for the Pentagon has met with severe opposition from its employees. Nearly 4000 Google employees have signed a petition to roll back the project more than dozens have already quit.

Google's ambitious AI programme, Project Maven, aims to work with the US military and facilitate easy and faster analysis of footage captured by military drones.

Through machine learning, Google's AI assistance would help the military distinguish people, object and spot targets easily. However, employees at Google have questioned the project on ethical grounds.&nbsp;

The internal petition, that seeks Google to rollback the project, involves nearly 4000 employees who want Google to stay out of the "business of war". Some petitioners have called for a treaty against autonomous weapons systems.&nbsp;

Google, for now, continues with the project explaining that the technology used in Maven is open source and that the US military can access it with or without Google's direct involvement.

Time and again, Google has maintained that it will not apply AI for combat operations.&nbsp;

Time and again, Google has maintained that it will not apply AI for combat operations

Google's Artificial Intelligence programme for the Pentagon has met with severe opposition from its employees. Nearly 4000 Google employees have signed a petition to roll back the project more than dozens have already quit. Google's ambitious AI programme, Project Maven, aims to work with the US military and facilitate easy and faster analysis of footage captured by military drones. Through machine learning, Google's AI assistance would help the military distinguish people, object and spot targets easily. However, employees at Google have questioned the project on ethical grounds. The internal petition, that seeks Google to rollback the project, involves nearly 4000 employees who want Google to stay out of the "business of war". Some petitioners have called for a treaty against autonomous weapons systems. Google, for now, continues with the project explaining that the technology used in Maven is open source and that the US military can access it with or without Google's direct involvement. Time and again, Google has maintained that it will not apply AI for combat operations.

Watch: Row over Google's US military AI project 'Maven', several employees quit

President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of US&nbsptroops in South Korea, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing several people briefed on the deliberations.

Reduced US&nbsptroop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Trump's planned summit in late May or early June with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, the Times said.

The officials said, however, that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 23,500 US&nbspsoldiers currently stationed on the peninsula, the newspaper said.

A full withdrawal of US&nbsptroops was unlikely, the officials said, according to the paper.

But a US&nbspNational Security Council official told a visiting South Korean official in Washington via telephone the report was false, the South Korean presidential office said in a statement.

The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump has said the United States should consider reducing the number of troops in South Korea unless South Korea shoulders more of the cost.

Then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo, before taking office as US&nbspsecretary of state, met Kim last month and reported the North Korean leader was not demanding the withdrawal of all US&nbspforces as a precondition for a summit with Trump.

South Korea said on Wednesday the issue of US&nbsptroops stationed in the South was unrelated to any future peace treaty with North Korea and that American forces should stay even if such an agreement is signed.

Trump has said the United States should consider reducing the number of troops in South Korea unless South Korea shoulders more of the cost

President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of US&nbsptroops in South Korea, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing several people briefed on the deliberations. Reduced US&nbsptroop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Trump's planned summit in late May or early June with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, the Times said. The officials said, however, that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 23,500 US&nbspsoldiers currently stationed on the peninsula, the newspaper said. A full withdrawal of US&nbsptroops was unlikely, the officials said, according to the paper. But a US&nbspNational Security Council official told a visiting South Korean official in Washington via telephone the report was false, the South Korean presidential office said in a statement. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has said the United States should consider reducing the number of troops in South Korea unless South Korea shoulders more of the cost. Then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo, before taking office as US&nbspsecretary of state, met Kim last month and reported the North Korean leader was not demanding the withdrawal of all US&nbspforces as a precondition for a summit with Trump. South Korea said on Wednesday the issue of US&nbsptroops stationed in the South was unrelated to any future peace treaty with North Korea and that American forces should stay even if such an agreement is signed.

Trump orders Pentagon to consider reducing US troops in South Korea

The US Department of Defense has stopped selling mobile phones and modems made by the Chinese technology companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp (000063.SZ) in stores on its military bases, citing potential security risks.

As of April 25, the Pentagon ordered that these and related products be removed from its stores worldwide, according to Pentagon spokesman Major Dave Eastburn.

“These devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the department’s personnel, and mission,” Eastburn said.

The action followed a series of US moves aimed at stopping or reducing access by Huawei and ZTE to the US economy amid allegations the companies could be using their technology to spy on Americans.

Representative of Huawei and ZTE could not be reached immediately for comment, though both have denied allegations that their products are used to spy.&nbsp

The Pentagon noted in its comments to Reuters that in February 2018, the Director of National Intelligence, the heads of the FBI, CIA, and National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Glossarial Intelligence Agency testified before the US Senate that Huawei products pose a potential security risk to users.

The US Department of Defense has stopped selling mobile phones and modems made by the Chinese technology companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp (000063.SZ) in stores on its military bases, citing potential security risks

The US Department of Defense has stopped selling mobile phones and modems made by the Chinese technology companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp (000063.SZ) in stores on its military bases, citing potential security risks. As of April 25, the Pentagon ordered that these and related products be removed from its stores worldwide, according to Pentagon spokesman Major Dave Eastburn. “These devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the department’s personnel, and mission,” Eastburn said. The action followed a series of US moves aimed at stopping or reducing access by Huawei and ZTE to the US economy amid allegations the companies could be using their technology to spy on Americans. Representative of Huawei and ZTE could not be reached immediately for comment, though both have denied allegations that their products are used to spy. The Pentagon noted in its comments to Reuters that in February 2018, the Director of National Intelligence, the heads of the FBI, CIA, and National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Glossarial Intelligence Agency testified before the US Senate that Huawei products pose a potential security risk to users.

Pentagon stops selling Huawei, ZTE phones in its bases, cites security

Reacting to the Monday's Kabul twin blasts, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said that militants who attacked media are weakened and just trying to get more media coverage in order to undermine the electoral process ahead of the upcoming elections.

While interacting with the media on Monday, Mattis was asked about the attack, to which he responded by saying, "This is the normal stuff by people who cannot win at the ballot box, so they turn to bombs," AFP reported.

"They need an international media to basically broadcast this going on, so they can undercut through those kinds of attacks, what is what has obviously set them on their back foot diplomatically and militarily," Mattis added.

Number of journalist and students were killed on Monday after twin explosion that took place in Kabul, Afghanistan.

At least 29 people were killed and over 40 were wounded. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-twin-blast-afghan-media-reports-7-journalists-killed-133730">Among the deads 9 were journalists.</a>

The first explosion took place in the Shashdarak area near Afghanistan's spy agency's office. Another explosion followed outside the headquarters of the ministry of urban development and housing.

One of the AFP's chief photographer was also among the journalists lost their lives in the attack.

The responsibility of the attack was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explosion-heard-in-afghan-capital-kabul-report-133698">claimed by Islamic State</a> later in the day.

&nbsp;

While interacting with the media on Monday, Mattis was asked about the attack, to which he responded by saying, 'This is the normal stuff by people who cannot win at the ballot box, so they turn to bombs'

Reacting to the Monday's Kabul twin blasts, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said that militants who attacked media are weakened and just trying to get more media coverage in order to undermine the electoral process ahead of the upcoming elections. While interacting with the media on Monday, Mattis was asked about the attack, to which he responded by saying, "This is the normal stuff by people who cannot win at the ballot box, so they turn to bombs," AFP reported. "They need an international media to basically broadcast this going on, so they can undercut through those kinds of attacks, what is what has obviously set them on their back foot diplomatically and militarily," Mattis added. Number of journalist and students were killed on Monday after twin explosion that took place in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 29 people were killed and over 40 were wounded. Among the deads 9 were journalists. The first explosion took place in the Shashdarak area near Afghanistan's spy agency's office. Another explosion followed outside the headquarters of the ministry of urban development and housing. One of the AFP's chief photographer was also among the journalists lost their lives in the attack. The responsibility of the attack was claimed by Islamic State later in the day.

Kabul twin blasts: Militants attacking media shows they are 'weakened', says Pentagon chief Jim Mattis

The Pentagon said there were no reports of US&nbsp;military activity, after reports from Syrian television that Syrian air defences responded to a missile attack over Homs which targeted Shayrat air base late Monday night.

"There is no US&nbsp;military activity in that area at this time," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. "We do not have additional details to provide."

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking to arm up to 65,000 members of a "US-partnered force" in Syria, including the terror group PYD/PKK, according to its 2019 fiscal year budget proposal.

In the proposal submitted to the US&nbsp;Congress for approval in February, Pentagon requested $300 million to arm and equip its partners in Syria for the fight against Daesh.

Also, $250 million was also requested for building “border security” in Syria.

According to the proposal, the Pentagon plans to allocate $162.6 million of the $300 million on weapons, equipment, and vehicles, $8 million on base life support which provides basic humanitarian needs, $28 million on transportation and staging costs, and $101.5 million for operational sustainment.

Among the weapons being planned to be sent include 25,000 AK-47 automatic rifles, 1,500 light machine guns, 500 heavy machine guns, 400 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 95 sniper rifles, 20 60mm mortars and 60 120mm mortars.

Along with its total of $47 million cost, Pentagon also requested additional $24 million for ammunition of these weapons.

'There is no US military activity in that area at this time,' Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. 'We do not have additional details to provide.'

The Pentagon said there were no reports of US military activity, after reports from Syrian television that Syrian air defences responded to a missile attack over Homs which targeted Shayrat air base late Monday night. "There is no US military activity in that area at this time," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. "We do not have additional details to provide." Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking to arm up to 65,000 members of a "US-partnered force" in Syria, including the terror group PYD/PKK, according to its 2019 fiscal year budget proposal. In the proposal submitted to the US Congress for approval in February, Pentagon requested $300 million to arm and equip its partners in Syria for the fight against Daesh. Also, $250 million was also requested for building “border security” in Syria. According to the proposal, the Pentagon plans to allocate $162.6 million of the $300 million on weapons, equipment, and vehicles, $8 million on base life support which provides basic humanitarian needs, $28 million on transportation and staging costs, and $101.5 million for operational sustainment. Among the weapons being planned to be sent include 25,000 AK-47 automatic rifles, 1,500 light machine guns, 500 heavy machine guns, 400 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 95 sniper rifles, 20 60mm mortars and 60 120mm mortars. Along with its total of $47 million cost, Pentagon also requested additional $24 million for ammunition of these weapons.

No US military activity in Syria's Homs at this time, says Pentagon

The United States said on Saturday it overwhelmed and evaded Syrian air defences overnight to strike every target at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons program, in a multi-pronged attack from the air and sea alongside British and French allies.

Although the operation was secretly unfolding for hours before the first impact, it only took minutes from the first to the last detonation from 105 precision-guided missile strikes on three Syrian chemical weapons targets, officials said.

Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, rejected assertions from Russia and Syria that scores of the Western missiles were shot down.&nbsp;

He said Russian air defences did not fire, while Syrian air defences were completely ineffective against an attack from multiple directions involving not just US, British and French aircraft but also US&nbsp;naval destroyers, a cruiser and French frigate and even a US&nbsp;submarine.&nbsp;

The Syrian air defences not only missed the incoming missiles but they kept firing even after the last US, British and French strikes were complete. Some of those more than 40 Syrian missile interceptors, he suggested, might have hit civilian targets.

"When you shoot iron into the sky without guidance, it will inevitably fall to earth," McKenzie told reporters.

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack.

"The Russian disinformation campaign has already begun. There has been a 2,000 percent increase in Russian trolls in the last 24 hours," White said.

The prime target of the operation was the Barza Research and Development Center in the greater Damascus area, which McKenzie noted was "one of the most heavily defended aerospace areas in the world."

Barza took the brunt of the fire, with 57 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 19 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off missiles.&nbsp;

Though some of Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure was still left, "I think we`ve dealt them a severe blow," McKenzie said, adding it would set the program back for years.

Despite severely damaging the infrastructure with the strikes, McKenzie said the Pentagon would not rule out that the Assad government still had the capability to use such weapons again.

"There's still a residual element of the Syrian program that`s out there," he said.&nbsp;

"I'm not going to say that they're going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they'll think long and hard about it."

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack

The United States said on Saturday it overwhelmed and evaded Syrian air defences overnight to strike every target at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons program, in a multi-pronged attack from the air and sea alongside British and French allies. Although the operation was secretly unfolding for hours before the first impact, it only took minutes from the first to the last detonation from 105 precision-guided missile strikes on three Syrian chemical weapons targets, officials said. Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, rejected assertions from Russia and Syria that scores of the Western missiles were shot down. He said Russian air defences did not fire, while Syrian air defences were completely ineffective against an attack from multiple directions involving not just US, British and French aircraft but also US naval destroyers, a cruiser and French frigate and even a US submarine. The Syrian air defences not only missed the incoming missiles but they kept firing even after the last US, British and French strikes were complete. Some of those more than 40 Syrian missile interceptors, he suggested, might have hit civilian targets. "When you shoot iron into the sky without guidance, it will inevitably fall to earth," McKenzie told reporters. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack. "The Russian disinformation campaign has already begun. There has been a 2,000 percent increase in Russian trolls in the last 24 hours," White said. The prime target of the operation was the Barza Research and Development Center in the greater Damascus area, which McKenzie noted was "one of the most heavily defended aerospace areas in the world." Barza took the brunt of the fire, with 57 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 19 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off missiles. Though some of Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure was still left, "I think we`ve dealt them a severe blow," McKenzie said, adding it would set the program back for years. Despite severely damaging the infrastructure with the strikes, McKenzie said the Pentagon would not rule out that the Assad government still had the capability to use such weapons again. "There's still a residual element of the Syrian program that`s out there," he said. "I'm not going to say that they're going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they'll think long and hard about it."

US strikes crippled Syria's chemical weapons ability: Pentagon

More than 3,000 Google employees have sent a letter to chief executive officer Sundar Pichai, protesting against a Maven project for the US military.

The letter has asked to put a stop on company's Maven project for the Pentagon.

The letter which has been obtained by US daily, The New York Times reportedly reads "we believe that Google should not be in the business of war."

The letter further emphasis that working for a warfare could put off other workers that too in a time in which company is already struggling for people's trust.

The letter further argues that firms like Microsoft and Amazon who are also working for the military doesn't make this any less risky for the company and it is also against the Google's motto of 'don't be evil'.

The project issue was also raised in the companywide meeting by employees during which the Diane Greene leader of Google's cloud infrastructure business defenced the deal.

She further sought a cooperation from the employees and reassure concerned employees, The New York Times reported. &nbsp;

The tech giant&nbsp;is working on Maven project for Pentagon which uses artificial intelligence to analyse video imagery. The project reportedly will help in improving the precision of military drone strikes.

The video imagery will help in better identifying targetted people to avoid any innocent casualty.

According to news reports, the letter has also asked to promise that the company will never build warfare technology.

So far the letter has received 3,100 signatures including dozens of senior engineers of the company. The Google has workforce about 70,000 people.

However, the company subsequently has defended the project 'non-defensive' in nature.

Both Pentagon and Google have assured that the company will not create an autonomous weapons systems that could be used without a human operator.

&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Google is working on Maven project for Pentagon which uses artificial intelligence to analyse video imagery

More than 3,000 Google employees have sent a letter to chief executive officer Sundar Pichai, protesting against a Maven project for the US military. The letter has asked to put a stop on company's Maven project for the Pentagon. The letter which has been obtained by US daily, The New York Times reportedly reads "we believe that Google should not be in the business of war." The letter further emphasis that working for a warfare could put off other workers that too in a time in which company is already struggling for people's trust. The letter further argues that firms like Microsoft and Amazon who are also working for the military doesn't make this any less risky for the company and it is also against the Google's motto of 'don't be evil'. The project issue was also raised in the companywide meeting by employees during which the Diane Greene leader of Google's cloud infrastructure business defenced the deal. She further sought a cooperation from the employees and reassure concerned employees, The New York Times reported. The tech giant is working on Maven project for Pentagon which uses artificial intelligence to analyse video imagery. The project reportedly will help in improving the precision of military drone strikes. The video imagery will help in better identifying targetted people to avoid any innocent casualty. According to news reports, the letter has also asked to promise that the company will never build warfare technology. So far the letter has received 3,100 signatures including dozens of senior engineers of the company. The Google has workforce about 70,000 people. However, the company subsequently has defended the project 'non-defensive' in nature. Both Pentagon and Google have assured that the company will not create an autonomous weapons systems that could be used without a human operator.

Over 3,000 Google employees sign a letter asking to stop Maven project for Pentagon

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon on Saturday said it was a cause of concern for the US.

Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" India-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern.

"The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in the Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told PTI in an interview.

"It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in the Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasises some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said.&nbsp

He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost.

Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order.

"If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said.

Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted.

"We believe the interests of all states - large and small - are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said.&nbsp

During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India.

China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.

Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order.

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon on Saturday said it was a cause of concern for the US. Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" India-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern. "The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in the Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told PTI in an interview. "It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in the Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasises some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said. He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost. Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order. "If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said. Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted. "We believe the interests of all states - large and small - are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said. During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India. China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.

China’s increasing new developments in Maldives a cause of threat: Pentagon

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants the US military to create a new &quot;space force,&quot; adding to the Pentagon&#39;s current ground, navy and air forces.

Trump told troops at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station near San Diego that the new group would be able to encapsulate the &quot;tremendous amount&quot; of work the military and government are doing in space-related defense.

&quot;My new national strategy for space recognizes that space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air and sea,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;We may even have a space force... We have the air force, we&#39;ll have the space force, we&#39;ll have the army, the navy.&nbsp;

&quot;Maybe we&#39;ll have to do that. That could happen,&quot; he said.

Since taking office, Trump has frequently touted his support for the US military and placed high-ranking generals in top White House and cabinet posts.

Last year some legislators pushed a bill in Congress that included a provision to establish a new branch of the military dubbed the Space Corps.

But the military itself has resisted, saying it does not need to create another force and its attendant bureaucracy.

&quot;At a time when we are trying to integrate the department&#39;s joint warfighting functions, I do not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations,&quot; Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congressman Michael Turner in a letter last July.

It would be &quot;premature to add additional organizational and administrative tail to the department at a time I am trying to reduce overhead,&quot; he added.

The idea was finally dropped from the Pentagon&#39;s funding bill by the end of last year, but it retains some support in Congress, where advocates say the US is facing significant strategic vulnerabilities in the face of Russian and Chinese pushes into space warfare.

Republican Representative Mike Rogers told a February 28 conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that a separate space corps could be carved out from the air force within &quot;three to five years&quot;.

He said China and Russia have become &quot;near peers&quot; to the US in space capabilities, and the US is not pushing hard enough to stay ahead.

&quot;That&#39;s unacceptable that we have allowed that to happen, particularly in a day and age when it is essential to have those space capabilities to fight and win wars,&quot; he said.

'My new national strategy for space recognizes that space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea,' Trump said

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants the US military to create a new "space force," adding to the Pentagon's current ground, navy and air forces. Trump told troops at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station near San Diego that the new group would be able to encapsulate the "tremendous amount" of work the military and government are doing in space-related defense. "My new national strategy for space recognizes that space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air and sea," Trump said. "We may even have a space force... We have the air force, we'll have the space force, we'll have the army, the navy. "Maybe we'll have to do that. That could happen," he said. Since taking office, Trump has frequently touted his support for the US military and placed high-ranking generals in top White House and cabinet posts. Last year some legislators pushed a bill in Congress that included a provision to establish a new branch of the military dubbed the Space Corps. But the military itself has resisted, saying it does not need to create another force and its attendant bureaucracy. "At a time when we are trying to integrate the department's joint warfighting functions, I do not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congressman Michael Turner in a letter last July. It would be "premature to add additional organizational and administrative tail to the department at a time I am trying to reduce overhead," he added. The idea was finally dropped from the Pentagon's funding bill by the end of last year, but it retains some support in Congress, where advocates say the US is facing significant strategic vulnerabilities in the face of Russian and Chinese pushes into space warfare. Republican Representative Mike Rogers told a February 28 conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that a separate space corps could be carved out from the air force within "three to five years". He said China and Russia have become "near peers" to the US in space capabilities, and the US is not pushing hard enough to stay ahead. "That's unacceptable that we have allowed that to happen, particularly in a day and age when it is essential to have those space capabilities to fight and win wars," he said.

Trump pushes for new 'space force'

The Pentagon on Sunday reminded Pakistan that the war on terrorism in the South Asian region reached an &quot;inflection point&quot; and that the country should take the opportunity to tackle and defeat terrorists, as the United States and Pakistan aim&nbsp;to improve their souring ties.

&quot;With respect to Pakistan, we believe that Pakistan can do more to combat terrorism,&quot; Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White said at a weekend news briefing in Washington D.C.

&quot;This is an inflection point and this is an opportunity and Pakistan has an opportunity to do more. They&#39;ve been victims of terrorism. So, we&#39;ll look forward to continuing to work with them to see where there are opportunities,&quot; she added.

The Pentagon chief spokesperson also welcomed Pakistan&#39;s support of Afghanistan&#39;s latest peace offer to the Taliban in the Kabul Process Conference in Kabul last week.

Giving a stern warning to the Taliban, White said that the militant group had to abandon the path of terrorism and violence and support the Afghan peace offer.

She also noted that the United States continues to consult New Delhi, not only about &quot;India&#39;s very important role&quot; in Afghanistan but also on other issues that go beyond the South Asian region, The Dawn reported.

The briefing comes after Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua&#39;s will start her two-day visit to Washington D.C. from Tuesday, which is aimed at defusing the tensions between the US and Pakistan and finding a &quot;common ground&quot;.

On Sunday, official sources confirmed that Janjua will have a series of meetings at the White House and the US State Department and will also address think-tank experts at the US Institute of Peace during her visit.

At the White House, Janjua is likely to meet with Lisa Curtis, the US National Security Council&#39;s senior director for South and Central Asia.

Curtis arrived in Islamabad last week and held talks with Janjua and Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on overall ties between the two countries.

Both sides called for the developing of sustainable peace in Afghanistan and stressed on measures needed to stop human trafficking in the region.

Curtis also visited Islamabad in October last year and met with various Pakistani officials. Both sides had agreed to the common objective of eliminating terrorism.

She held meetings with Janjua and Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.&nbsp;

The statement came as the US and Pakistan aim to improve their souring ties

The Pentagon on Sunday reminded Pakistan that the war on terrorism in the South Asian region reached an "inflection point" and that the country should take the opportunity to tackle and defeat terrorists, as the United States and Pakistan aim to improve their souring ties. "With respect to Pakistan, we believe that Pakistan can do more to combat terrorism," Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White said at a weekend news briefing in Washington D.C. "This is an inflection point and this is an opportunity and Pakistan has an opportunity to do more. They've been victims of terrorism. So, we'll look forward to continuing to work with them to see where there are opportunities," she added. The Pentagon chief spokesperson also welcomed Pakistan's support of Afghanistan's latest peace offer to the Taliban in the Kabul Process Conference in Kabul last week. Giving a stern warning to the Taliban, White said that the militant group had to abandon the path of terrorism and violence and support the Afghan peace offer. She also noted that the United States continues to consult New Delhi, not only about "India's very important role" in Afghanistan but also on other issues that go beyond the South Asian region, The Dawn reported. The briefing comes after Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua's will start her two-day visit to Washington D.C. from Tuesday, which is aimed at defusing the tensions between the US and Pakistan and finding a "common ground". On Sunday, official sources confirmed that Janjua will have a series of meetings at the White House and the US State Department and will also address think-tank experts at the US Institute of Peace during her visit. At the White House, Janjua is likely to meet with Lisa Curtis, the US National Security Council's senior director for South and Central Asia. Curtis arrived in Islamabad last week and held talks with Janjua and Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on overall ties between the two countries. Both sides called for the developing of sustainable peace in Afghanistan and stressed on measures needed to stop human trafficking in the region. Curtis also visited Islamabad in October last year and met with various Pakistani officials. Both sides had agreed to the common objective of eliminating terrorism. She held meetings with Janjua and Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Pentagon reminds Pak on terrorism, urges to tackle it

A propaganda video released by the Islamic State group showing the deadly ambush of US troops in Niger raised fresh questions Monday as to the nature of the mission and why the soldiers had been left so vulnerable.&nbsp;

The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera.&nbsp;

It shows the chaos of the attack, including the solider wearing the camera being shot dead, with apparent IS fighters stalking past his body.

The Defense Department &#39;&#39;is aware of alleged photos and IS propaganda video from the October 4, 2017 terrorist attack in Niger. The release of these materials demonstrates the depravity of the enemy we are fighting,&quot; the Pentagon said in a statement.

The nine-minute video, set to Islamic chanting, includes an image of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and footage of pick-up trucks rolling through a desert landscape.&nbsp;

One of the vehicles is flying an IS flag and other trucks are packed with what appear to be fighters.

The October 4 attack occurred as a unit of 12 American special forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops returned from the village of Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali.

They were attacked by a group of some 50 IS-affiliated fighters equipped with small arms, grenades and trucks mounted with guns.

Ill-equipped

The mission was supposed to be a low-risk patrol and the soldiers were clearly ill-equipped for the scale of the attack.&nbsp;

Footage shows the US troops wearing only light body armor, desperately seeking cover behind an unarmored SUV while coming under heavy fire.&nbsp;

In a frantic bid to find some sort of concealment, the troops deployed red smoke grenades but the parched landscape of scrub and dirt provided no effective cover.

At one point in the video, a US soldier is shot and a comrade attempts to pull him to cover behind the SUV.&nbsp;

As their position is about overrun, they have no choice but to try to run away, but there is nowhere to hide.

Four American soldiers were killed along with at least five Nigerien troops. The body of one US soldier, Sergeant La David Johnson, was not recovered until the following day.

&quot;Knowing that they were asked to try and complete and execute this type of mission with that type of equipment, I just could not believe it,&quot; Republican Congressman Marc Veasey told CBS news.&nbsp;

Questions remain about what intelligence failures may have occurred that allowed such a large attack, and why the soldiers did not get immediate back up or air support.&nbsp;

The Americans had been on a joint patrol with Nigerien counterparts they were training when they were ambushed by motorcycle-riding and car-driving gunmen in the Tillaberi region in the Niger&#39;s southwest.

The Pentagon is set to release the findings of an investigation into the incident in the coming days.&nbsp;

The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera

A propaganda video released by the Islamic State group showing the deadly ambush of US troops in Niger raised fresh questions Monday as to the nature of the mission and why the soldiers had been left so vulnerable. The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera. It shows the chaos of the attack, including the solider wearing the camera being shot dead, with apparent IS fighters stalking past his body. The Defense Department ''is aware of alleged photos and IS propaganda video from the October 4, 2017 terrorist attack in Niger. The release of these materials demonstrates the depravity of the enemy we are fighting," the Pentagon said in a statement. The nine-minute video, set to Islamic chanting, includes an image of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and footage of pick-up trucks rolling through a desert landscape. One of the vehicles is flying an IS flag and other trucks are packed with what appear to be fighters. The October 4 attack occurred as a unit of 12 American special forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops returned from the village of Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali. They were attacked by a group of some 50 IS-affiliated fighters equipped with small arms, grenades and trucks mounted with guns. Ill-equipped The mission was supposed to be a low-risk patrol and the soldiers were clearly ill-equipped for the scale of the attack. Footage shows the US troops wearing only light body armor, desperately seeking cover behind an unarmored SUV while coming under heavy fire. In a frantic bid to find some sort of concealment, the troops deployed red smoke grenades but the parched landscape of scrub and dirt provided no effective cover. At one point in the video, a US soldier is shot and a comrade attempts to pull him to cover behind the SUV. As their position is about overrun, they have no choice but to try to run away, but there is nowhere to hide. Four American soldiers were killed along with at least five Nigerien troops. The body of one US soldier, Sergeant La David Johnson, was not recovered until the following day. "Knowing that they were asked to try and complete and execute this type of mission with that type of equipment, I just could not believe it," Republican Congressman Marc Veasey told CBS news. Questions remain about what intelligence failures may have occurred that allowed such a large attack, and why the soldiers did not get immediate back up or air support. The Americans had been on a joint patrol with Nigerien counterparts they were training when they were ambushed by motorcycle-riding and car-driving gunmen in the Tillaberi region in the Niger's southwest. The Pentagon is set to release the findings of an investigation into the incident in the coming days.

Islamic State video of Niger attack highlights US troops' vulnerability

US President Donald Trump is &ldquo;not satisfied&rdquo; with the progress made by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, the White House said on Friday.

The White House also said that for the first time, the US is holding Pakistan accountable for its actions.

&ldquo;I know that we have restored some clarity in our relationship with Pakistan. For the first time we&rsquo;re holding Pakistan accountable for its actions,&rdquo; White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah told reporters during a press conference.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen modest progress in terms of Pakistan&rsquo;s actual acknowledgement of these concerns, but the President is not satisfied with progress when it comes to Pakistan,&rdquo; Shah said.

He was responding to a question on the progress made in President&rsquo;s (Trump&rsquo;s) South Asia Policy which was announced in August last year.

&ldquo;The US is working closely with our partners in Afghanistan. We&rsquo;ve made significant progress against ISIS, reducing their presence and eliminating hundreds of fighters. We&rsquo;ve eliminated their top leaders, and we&rsquo;re working relentlessly to target their leadership and bases wherever they emerge,&rdquo; Shah said.

In another news conference, the Pentagon said that the South Asia policy offers an opportunity to Pakistan.

&ldquo;The (Defence) secretary believes that Pakistan has an opportunity to do more with respect to regional security, and that it&rsquo;s in its interests to do more with respect to regional security. It&rsquo;s an opportunity, and we would welcome Pakistan&rsquo;s involvement,&rdquo; Pentagon chief press spokesperson Dana White said.

The White House also said that for the first time, the US is holding Pakistan accountable for its actions

US President Donald Trump is “not satisfied” with the progress made by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, the White House said on Friday. The White House also said that for the first time, the US is holding Pakistan accountable for its actions. “I know that we have restored some clarity in our relationship with Pakistan. For the first time we’re holding Pakistan accountable for its actions,” White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah told reporters during a press conference. “We’ve seen modest progress in terms of Pakistan’s actual acknowledgement of these concerns, but the President is not satisfied with progress when it comes to Pakistan,” Shah said. He was responding to a question on the progress made in President’s (Trump’s) South Asia Policy which was announced in August last year. “The US is working closely with our partners in Afghanistan. We’ve made significant progress against ISIS, reducing their presence and eliminating hundreds of fighters. We’ve eliminated their top leaders, and we’re working relentlessly to target their leadership and bases wherever they emerge,” Shah said. In another news conference, the Pentagon said that the South Asia policy offers an opportunity to Pakistan. “The (Defence) secretary believes that Pakistan has an opportunity to do more with respect to regional security, and that it’s in its interests to do more with respect to regional security. It’s an opportunity, and we would welcome Pakistan’s involvement,” Pentagon chief press spokesperson Dana White said.

Donald Trump not satisfied with progress in Pakistan: White House

India is willing to help the US with aviation maintenance in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon also praised India&#39;s developmental role in the war-torn country.

&quot;India has been very supportive, and they&#39;ve pledged additional developmental aid in Afghanistan. They&#39;ve been willing to help with aviation maintenance,&quot; Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White told reporters.

&quot;All of that is very helpful in ensuring, again, that this regional approach works. India is an important part of that,&quot; she said.

Responding to another question, White said that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis believes that Pakistan has an opportunity to do more with respect to the regional security and that it&#39;s in its interests to do more with respect to regional security.

&quot;It&#39;s an opportunity, and we would welcome Pakistan&#39;s involvement,&quot; White said.

The Pentagon also praised India's developmental role in the war-torn country

India is willing to help the US with aviation maintenance in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said. The Pentagon also praised India's developmental role in the war-torn country. "India has been very supportive, and they've pledged additional developmental aid in Afghanistan. They've been willing to help with aviation maintenance," Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White told reporters. "All of that is very helpful in ensuring, again, that this regional approach works. India is an important part of that," she said. Responding to another question, White said that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis believes that Pakistan has an opportunity to do more with respect to the regional security and that it's in its interests to do more with respect to regional security. "It's an opportunity, and we would welcome Pakistan's involvement," White said.

India willing to help US with aviation maintenance in Afghanistan: Pentagon

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for the fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year.

Trump administration today released their proposal for the fiscal year 2019 budget. Fiscal years are different from calendar years. The budgetary proposal covers October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019.

&quot;China is leveraging military modernisation, influence operations and predatory economics to coerce neighbouring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to their advantage,&quot; the Pentagon said in its annual defence budget for the fiscal 2019.

As China continues its economic and military ascendance, asserting power through an all-of-nation long-term strategy, it will continue to pursue a military modernisation programme that seeks Indo-Pacific regional hegemony in the near-term and displacement of the US to achieve global preeminence in the future, it said.

The most far-reaching objective of this defence strategy is to set the military relationship between the US and China on a path of transparency and non-aggression, it said.

According to the Pentagon, the central challenge to the US prosperity and security is the reemergence of long term, strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers.

&quot;It is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model&nbsp;gaining veto authority over other nations&#39; economic, diplomatic and security decisions,&quot; it said.

The Pentagon said Russia seeks veto authority over nations on its periphery in terms of its governmental, economic and diplomatic decisions to shatter the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to change European and Middle East security and economic structures to its favour.

The use of emerging technologies to discredit and subvert democratic processes in Georgia, Crimea and eastern Ukraine is concern enough, but when coupled with its expanding and modernising nuclear arsenal the challenge is clear.

&quot;Rogue regimes such as North Korea and Iran are destabilising their regions by pursuing nuclear weapons or sponsoring terrorism,&quot; the Pentagon said.

North Korea seeks to guarantee regime survival and increased leverage through a mixture of nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional and unconventional weapons and a growing ballistic missile capability to gain coercive influence over South Korea, Japan and the US.

In the Middle East, Iran is competing with its neighbours, asserting an arc of influence and instability while vying for regional hegemony, using state-sponsored terrorist activities, a growing network of proxies and its missile programme to achieve its objectives, the Pentagon said.

According to the budgetary proposals, competitor states, especially China and Russia have narrowed Department of Defence&#39;s military technological advantages, demanding the US find new and innovative ways to fight in the future.

&quot;China is now a strategic competitor, using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea. Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations, and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic and security decisions of its neighbours,&quot; it said.

Concurrently, North Korea&#39;s actions and rhetoric continue despite the United Nation&#39;s censure and sanctions.

Iran continues to sow violence and remains the most significant challenge to the Middle East stability.

Despite the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria&#39;s (ISIS) physical caliphate, threats to stability remain as terrorist groups with long reach continue to murder innocent people and threaten peace, the Pentagon added.

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for the fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year. Trump administration today released their proposal for the fiscal year 2019 budget. Fiscal years are different from calendar years. The budgetary proposal covers October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. "China is leveraging military modernisation, influence operations and predatory economics to coerce neighbouring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to their advantage," the Pentagon said in its annual defence budget for the fiscal 2019. As China continues its economic and military ascendance, asserting power through an all-of-nation long-term strategy, it will continue to pursue a military modernisation programme that seeks Indo-Pacific regional hegemony in the near-term and displacement of the US to achieve global preeminence in the future, it said. The most far-reaching objective of this defence strategy is to set the military relationship between the US and China on a path of transparency and non-aggression, it said. According to the Pentagon, the central challenge to the US prosperity and security is the reemergence of long term, strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers. "It is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model gaining veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic and security decisions," it said. The Pentagon said Russia seeks veto authority over nations on its periphery in terms of its governmental, economic and diplomatic decisions to shatter the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to change European and Middle East security and economic structures to its favour. The use of emerging technologies to discredit and subvert democratic processes in Georgia, Crimea and eastern Ukraine is concern enough, but when coupled with its expanding and modernising nuclear arsenal the challenge is clear. "Rogue regimes such as North Korea and Iran are destabilising their regions by pursuing nuclear weapons or sponsoring terrorism," the Pentagon said. North Korea seeks to guarantee regime survival and increased leverage through a mixture of nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional and unconventional weapons and a growing ballistic missile capability to gain coercive influence over South Korea, Japan and the US. In the Middle East, Iran is competing with its neighbours, asserting an arc of influence and instability while vying for regional hegemony, using state-sponsored terrorist activities, a growing network of proxies and its missile programme to achieve its objectives, the Pentagon said. According to the budgetary proposals, competitor states, especially China and Russia have narrowed Department of Defence's military technological advantages, demanding the US find new and innovative ways to fight in the future. "China is now a strategic competitor, using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea. Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations, and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic and security decisions of its neighbours," it said. Concurrently, North Korea's actions and rhetoric continue despite the United Nation's censure and sanctions. Iran continues to sow violence and remains the most significant challenge to the Middle East stability. Despite the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) physical caliphate, threats to stability remain as terrorist groups with long reach continue to murder innocent people and threaten peace, the Pentagon added.

China coercing neighbours to reorder Indo-Pacific region: Pentagon

The US&nbsp;military has put countering China and Russia at the centre of a new national defence strategy unveiled on Friday, the latest sign of shifting priorities after more than a decade and a half of focussing on the fight against Islamist militants.

In presenting the new strategy, which will set priorities for the Pentagon for years to come, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called China and Russia &quot;revisionist powers&quot; that &quot;seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models.&quot;

The &quot;National Defense Strategy&quot; represents the latest sign of hardening resolve by President Donald Trump&#39;s administration to address challenges from Russia and China, at the same time he is pushing for improved ties with Moscow and Beijing to rein in a nuclear North Korea.

&quot;We will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we are engaged in today, but great power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of US&nbsp;national security,&quot; Mattis said in a speech presenting the strategy document, the first of its kind since at least 2014.

It sets priorities for the US&nbsp;Defense Department that are expected to be reflected in future defence spending requests. The Pentagon on Friday released an unclassified, 11-page version of the document, which did not provide details on how the shift towards countering China and Russia would be carried out.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking through an interpreter at a news conference at the United Nations, said the United States was using a confrontational approach.

&quot;It is regrettable that instead of having a normal dialogue, instead of using the basis of international law, the US&nbsp;is striving to prove their leadership through such confrontational strategies and concepts,&quot; Lavrov said.

&quot;We&#39;re open for dialogue, we&#39;re prepared to discuss military doctrines,&rdquo; he added.

There was no immediate response from China.

Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development, said at a briefing with reporters that Russia was far more brazen than China in its use of military power.

Russia annexed Ukraine&#39;s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and intervened militarily in Syria to support its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Still, Moscow was limited by its economic resources, Colby said.

China, on the other hand, was described as economically and militarily ascendant. China has embarked on a far-reaching military modernization that Colby said was in &quot;deep contravention to our interests.&quot;

Experts praised the document&#39;s targeting of the largest national security threats rather than the longer lists of risks in some previous strategies. But without knowing the budget commitments, it was difficult to assess if it was a sound strategy.

&quot;If we don&#39;t actually see where the money is, you know, there is the danger that it could become all words,&quot; said Mara Karlin, a fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank and a senior defence official in the Obama administration.

The document also listed North Korea among the Pentagon&#39;s priorities, citing the need to focus US&nbsp;missile defences against the threat from Pyongyang, which beyond its nuclear weapons has also amassed an arsenal of biological, chemical, and conventional arms.

The document said that international alliances would be critical for the US&nbsp;military, by far the world&#39;s best-resourced. But it also stressed a need for burden-sharing, an apparent nod to Trump&#39;s public criticism of allies who he says unfairly take advantage of US&nbsp;security guarantees.

Trump has called the NATO alliance &quot;obsolete&quot;, but Mattis said the United States would strengthen its traditional alliances while building new partnerships and listening more to other nations&#39; ideas.

&quot;We will be willing to be persuaded by them, recognising that not all good ideas come from the country with the most aircraft carriers,&quot; Mattis said.

The Pentagon is also working on a policy document on the country&#39;s nuclear arsenal. While Mattis did not specifically address that review, he said the priority is deterrence.

&quot;How do we maintain a safe and effective nuclear deterrence so those weapons are never used? It is a nuclear deterrent, it is not a war fighting capability unless it is the worst day in our nation or the world&#39;s history,&quot; Mattis said.

Mattis had harsh words for the US&nbsp;Congress and its inability to reach agreement on budgets.

The US&nbsp;military&#39;s competitive edge has eroded &quot;in every domain of warfare&quot; he said, partly because of inconsistent funding. A bill to fund the government only through Feb. 16, approved on Thursday night by the House of Representatives, appeared on the verge of collapse in the Senate.

&quot;As hard as the last 16 years of war have been, no enemy in the field has done more to harm the readiness of the U.S. military than the combined impact&quot; of spending caps and short-term funding.

In sheer spending terms, the United States&#39; military outlay per year is still far more than China and Russia. The United States is spending $587.8 billion per year on its military, China $161.7 billion and Russia $44.6 billion.

In presenting the new strategy, which will set priorities for the Pentagon for years to come, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called China and Russia 'revisionist powers' that 'seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models'

The US military has put countering China and Russia at the centre of a new national defence strategy unveiled on Friday, the latest sign of shifting priorities after more than a decade and a half of focussing on the fight against Islamist militants. In presenting the new strategy, which will set priorities for the Pentagon for years to come, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called China and Russia "revisionist powers" that "seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models." The "National Defense Strategy" represents the latest sign of hardening resolve by President Donald Trump's administration to address challenges from Russia and China, at the same time he is pushing for improved ties with Moscow and Beijing to rein in a nuclear North Korea. "We will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we are engaged in today, but great power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of US national security," Mattis said in a speech presenting the strategy document, the first of its kind since at least 2014. It sets priorities for the US Defense Department that are expected to be reflected in future defence spending requests. The Pentagon on Friday released an unclassified, 11-page version of the document, which did not provide details on how the shift towards countering China and Russia would be carried out. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking through an interpreter at a news conference at the United Nations, said the United States was using a confrontational approach. "It is regrettable that instead of having a normal dialogue, instead of using the basis of international law, the US is striving to prove their leadership through such confrontational strategies and concepts," Lavrov said. "We're open for dialogue, we're prepared to discuss military doctrines,” he added. There was no immediate response from China. Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development, said at a briefing with reporters that Russia was far more brazen than China in its use of military power. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and intervened militarily in Syria to support its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Still, Moscow was limited by its economic resources, Colby said. China, on the other hand, was described as economically and militarily ascendant. China has embarked on a far-reaching military modernization that Colby said was in "deep contravention to our interests." Experts praised the document's targeting of the largest national security threats rather than the longer lists of risks in some previous strategies. But without knowing the budget commitments, it was difficult to assess if it was a sound strategy. "If we don't actually see where the money is, you know, there is the danger that it could become all words," said Mara Karlin, a fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank and a senior defence official in the Obama administration. The document also listed North Korea among the Pentagon's priorities, citing the need to focus US missile defences against the threat from Pyongyang, which beyond its nuclear weapons has also amassed an arsenal of biological, chemical, and conventional arms. The document said that international alliances would be critical for the US military, by far the world's best-resourced. But it also stressed a need for burden-sharing, an apparent nod to Trump's public criticism of allies who he says unfairly take advantage of US security guarantees. Trump has called the NATO alliance "obsolete", but Mattis said the United States would strengthen its traditional alliances while building new partnerships and listening more to other nations' ideas. "We will be willing to be persuaded by them, recognising that not all good ideas come from the country with the most aircraft carriers," Mattis said. The Pentagon is also working on a policy document on the country's nuclear arsenal. While Mattis did not specifically address that review, he said the priority is deterrence. "How do we maintain a safe and effective nuclear deterrence so those weapons are never used? It is a nuclear deterrent, it is not a war fighting capability unless it is the worst day in our nation or the world's history," Mattis said. Mattis had harsh words for the US Congress and its inability to reach agreement on budgets. The US military's competitive edge has eroded "in every domain of warfare" he said, partly because of inconsistent funding. A bill to fund the government only through Feb. 16, approved on Thursday night by the House of Representatives, appeared on the verge of collapse in the Senate. "As hard as the last 16 years of war have been, no enemy in the field has done more to harm the readiness of the U.S. military than the combined impact" of spending caps and short-term funding. In sheer spending terms, the United States' military outlay per year is still far more than China and Russia. The United States is spending $587.8 billion per year on its military, China $161.7 billion and Russia $44.6 billion.

US military puts China, Russia at centre of new national defence strategy

The US military funded Afghan police and security units even though American officials knew members were implicated in gross human rights violations, according to a watchdog report released Tuesday.

The previously secret report, first provided to Congress in June but now declassified, lays bare the cultural rifts that can exist when America works with local partners.&nbsp;

According to the report by the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the Pentagon repeatedly granted exemptions from US rules that bar assistance to a foreign nation&#39;s security forces if credible information exists of rights violations.

For instance, the Pentagon approved waivers to these so-called Leahy Laws to continue funding for 12 Afghan security force units implicated in 14 gross human rights violations in 2013.&nbsp;

The same workaround, known as the &quot;notwithstanding clause,&quot; was used for eight of nine additional units implicated in 2014.

Although the Defense Department and State Department have &quot;confirmed that some units of the Afghan security forces have committed gross violations of human rights, the secretary of defense has used the notwithstanding clause&quot; to some implicated units, the report states.

The exemptions were made under then-secretaries Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter.

In a response to the report, the Pentagon said the document &quot;does not reflect an understanding of the challenges faced by US forces in Afghanistan in developing and sustaining the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.&quot;

Jedidiah Royal, a Pentagon official, wrote that removing the &quot;not withstanding clause&quot; would remove the defense secretary&#39;s ability to balance the Leahy Laws with &quot;national security objectives and the protection of US forces.&quot;

The report states that as of June 12, 2016 officials were tracking 75 reported gross violation of human rights incidents, including seven involving child sexual assault.&nbsp;

Afghanistan has an entrenched custom of what is known as &quot;bacha bazi&quot; -- or the sexual abuse of boys -- and critics have long accused the United States of not doing enough to counter it.&nbsp;

In one instance outlined in the report, a US soldier heard Afghan men screaming &quot;in what sounded like sex&quot; but did not take action to report it, SIGAR states.

&quot;The full extent of child sexual assault committed by Afghan security forces may never be known,&quot; the report says.

In addition to the child sex assault incidents, officials were also tracking extrajudicial killings and the torture of detainees.

Members of Congress requested the review in 2015 after The New York Times reported on &quot;rampant&quot; child sex abuse in the Afghan security services and said that US personnel had been told not to intervene.

The previously secret report, first provided to Congress in June but now declassified, lays bare the cultural rifts that can exist when America works with local partners

The US military funded Afghan police and security units even though American officials knew members were implicated in gross human rights violations, according to a watchdog report released Tuesday. The previously secret report, first provided to Congress in June but now declassified, lays bare the cultural rifts that can exist when America works with local partners. According to the report by the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the Pentagon repeatedly granted exemptions from US rules that bar assistance to a foreign nation's security forces if credible information exists of rights violations. For instance, the Pentagon approved waivers to these so-called Leahy Laws to continue funding for 12 Afghan security force units implicated in 14 gross human rights violations in 2013. The same workaround, known as the "notwithstanding clause," was used for eight of nine additional units implicated in 2014. Although the Defense Department and State Department have "confirmed that some units of the Afghan security forces have committed gross violations of human rights, the secretary of defense has used the notwithstanding clause" to some implicated units, the report states. The exemptions were made under then-secretaries Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter. In a response to the report, the Pentagon said the document "does not reflect an understanding of the challenges faced by US forces in Afghanistan in developing and sustaining the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces." Jedidiah Royal, a Pentagon official, wrote that removing the "not withstanding clause" would remove the defense secretary's ability to balance the Leahy Laws with "national security objectives and the protection of US forces." The report states that as of June 12, 2016 officials were tracking 75 reported gross violation of human rights incidents, including seven involving child sexual assault. Afghanistan has an entrenched custom of what is known as "bacha bazi" -- or the sexual abuse of boys -- and critics have long accused the United States of not doing enough to counter it. In one instance outlined in the report, a US soldier heard Afghan men screaming "in what sounded like sex" but did not take action to report it, SIGAR states. "The full extent of child sexual assault committed by Afghan security forces may never be known," the report says. In addition to the child sex assault incidents, officials were also tracking extrajudicial killings and the torture of detainees. Members of Congress requested the review in 2015 after The New York Times reported on "rampant" child sex abuse in the Afghan security services and said that US personnel had been told not to intervene.

Pentagon funded Afghan units accused of rights abuses: Report

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