Days after TTP ended the ceasefire agreement with the Pakistan government, there has been a steady rise in attacks on security force personnel.

Pakistan: Gunmen kill a policeman

The Saudi government has banned Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni Islamic movement, calling it “one of the gates of terrorism”.

The Saudi Ministry of Islamic affairs said in a tweet that the preachers in the mosque have been directed to allocate the next Friday sermon to warn people about the Tablighi Jamaat.

“Declaration of the misguidance, deviation and danger of this group, and that it is one of the gates of terrorism, even if they claim otherwise; Mention their most prominent mistakes,” it said.

“Mention their danger to society; Statement that affiliation with partisan groups, including (the Tablighi and Da’wah Group) is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the ministry added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Abdullatif?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Abdullatif</a> Al_Alsheikh directed the mosques' preachers and the mosques that held Friday prayer temporary to allocate the next Friday sermon 5/6/1443 H to warn against (the Tablighi and Da’wah group) which is called (Al Ahbab)
— Ministry of Islamic Affairs 🇸🇦 (@Saudi_MoiaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saudi_MoiaEN/status/1467846537418059776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Originated in India in 1926, Tablighi Jamaat (Society for Spreading Faith) is a Sunni Islamic missionary movement that urges Muslims to return to a pure form of Sunni Islam and be religiously observant, especially with respect to dressing, personal behaviour, and rituals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/35-foreign-tablighi-jamaat-attendees-move-sessions-court-against-framing-of-charges-order-325175">35 foreign Tablighi Jamaat attendees move sessions court against framing of charges order</a>

It is estimated to have somewhere between 350 to 400 million members across the globe. They collectively claim that their focus is only on religion and strictly avoid political activities and debates.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-saudi-arabia-says-tablighi-jamaat-is-a-terrorist-organisation-435941/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

United States Institute of Peace has described Tablighi Jamaat as an “Islamic revivalist organization” noting that the group “has appeared on the fringes of several terrorism investigations, leading some to speculate that its apolitical stance simply masks ‘fertile ground for breeding terrorism’ in nations such as UK, France and America.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tablighi-jamaat-case-108-foreigners-69-other-attendees-quarantined-in-west-bengal-291541">Tablighi Jamaat case: 108 foreigners, 69 other attendees quarantined in West Bengal</a>

In India, the group the severely criticised for organisation a mass gathering in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area during the first wave of Covid pandemic for violating lockdown rules last year.

According to Pew Research Centre, Tablighi Jamaat operates roughly in 150 countries around the world, including Western Europe, Africa, and South Asia.

In South Asia, the Tablighi Jamaat has a great following, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Thailand.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Saudi government has banned Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni Islamic movement, calling it “one of the gates of terrorism”. The Saudi Ministry of Islamic affairs said in a tweet that the preachers in the mosque have been directed to allocate the next Friday sermon to warn people about the Tablighi Jamaat.

The Saudi government has banned Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni Islamic movement, calling it “one of the gates of terrorism”. The Saudi Ministry of Islamic affairs said in a tweet that the preachers in the mosque have been directed to allocate the next Friday sermon to warn people about the Tablighi Jamaat. “Declaration of the misguidance, deviation and danger of this group, and that it is one of the gates of terrorism, even if they claim otherwise; Mention their most prominent mistakes,” it said. “Mention their danger to society; Statement that affiliation with partisan groups, including (the Tablighi and Da’wah Group) is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the ministry added. His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr.#Abdullatif Al_Alsheikh directed the mosques' preachers and the mosques that held Friday prayer temporary to allocate the next Friday sermon 5/6/1443 H to warn against (the Tablighi and Da’wah group) which is called (Al Ahbab) — Ministry of Islamic Affairs 🇸🇦 (@Saudi_MoiaEN) December 6, 2021 × Originated in India in 1926, Tablighi Jamaat (Society for Spreading Faith) is a Sunni Islamic missionary movement that urges Muslims to return to a pure form of Sunni Islam and be religiously observant, especially with respect to dressing, personal behaviour, and rituals. Also read | 35 foreign Tablighi Jamaat attendees move sessions court against framing of charges order It is estimated to have somewhere between 350 to 400 million members across the globe. They collectively claim that their focus is only on religion and strictly avoid political activities and debates. Watch United States Institute of Peace has described Tablighi Jamaat as an “Islamic revivalist organization” noting that the group “has appeared on the fringes of several terrorism investigations, leading some to speculate that its apolitical stance simply masks ‘fertile ground for breeding terrorism’ in nations such as UK, France and America. Also read | Tablighi Jamaat case: 108 foreigners, 69 other attendees quarantined in West Bengal In India, the group the severely criticised for organisation a mass gathering in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area during the first wave of Covid pandemic for violating lockdown rules last year. According to Pew Research Centre, Tablighi Jamaat operates roughly in 150 countries around the world, including Western Europe, Africa, and South Asia. In South Asia, the Tablighi Jamaat has a great following, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Thailand. (With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia bans Tablighi Jamaat, calls it ‘one of the gates of terrorism’

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will not extend the month-long ceasefire deal negotiated with the Pakistan government, the militant group has announced, in a major setback to Prime Minister Imran Khan's efforts to secure a peace agreement with the dreaded outfit waging war against the state for decades.

The Pakistani Taliban has been behind many major attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians over the last 14 years, including the attack on an Army school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed over 150 people, mostly children.

A statement issued by the TTP on Thursday accusing the Pakistan government of failing to honour the decisions, including the release of their fighters.

It gave out details of the six-point agreement reached with the government under the aegis of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan"&nbsp;(IEA) on October 25, 2021, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The two sides, according to the agreement, had accepted that the IEA would play the role of a mediator and that both sides would form five-member committees each which, under the supervision of the mediator, would discuss the next course of action and demands of each side.

Both sides, it said, had also agreed to observe a month-long ceasefire from November 1 to November 30, 2021, and that the government would release 102 "imprisoned mujahideen"&nbsp;and hand them over to the TTP through the "IEA and that both sides would issue a joint statement regarding the ceasefire on November 1, 2021", the report said.

According to the statement, the government not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but on the contrary, the security forces conducted raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi and North Waziristan and killed and detained militants.

"Under these circumstances, it is not possible to extend the ceasefire,"&nbsp;the TTP said.

Earlier in an audio message, TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mahsud announced an end to the ceasefire and asked his fighters to resume attacks past 12 am. The ceasefire had come into effect on November 9, the report added.

In the message, Mufti Noor can be heard as saying that since the TTP has not heard back from the mediators or the government, therefore, past midnight, his fighters reserve the right to resume attacks wherever they were.

The TTP decision to end the ceasefire is a big setback to the government's efforts to secure a peace agreement with the militants waging war against the state for decades.

A lot of informal discussions had taken place between the two sides before and during the ceasefire and certain confidence-building steps had been agreed upon to reassure each other, the sources were quoted as saying by the Dawn.

Afghan Taliban are playing the role of principal mediator between Pakistan and the outlawed militant conglomerate comprising several factions.

Under the deal, the government has agreed to release close to one hundred militants being held at "de-radicalisation centers". The first batch of around 12 has already been released. The second batch is expected to be freed in the next few days, to be followed by more in the days and weeks to come, the report said.

Quoting sources, the Dawn reported that during the informal talks, it has been made clear to the TTP that there are certain redlines which are not open to negotiations.

The TTP, however, has set its own conditions which among other things include enforcement of Shariah and restoration of tribal areas to their pre-merger status.

The ceasefire has remained enforced with no major violations. TTP-led militant attacks inside Pakistan which had seen a dramatic spike in the immediate aftermath of the Afghan Taliban's takeover of Kabul in mid-August have seen a steady decline, the report said.

These attacks saw a further decrease of 28 per cent since October, when the ceasefire came into effect, according to official statistics of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

TTP was also behind a 2014 attack on an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed 154 people, mostly school children.&nbsp;

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will not extend the month-long ceasefire deal negotiated with the Pakistan government, the militant group has announced, in a major setback to Prime Minister Imran Khan's efforts to secure a peace agreement with the dreaded outfit waging war against the state for decades.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will not extend the month-long ceasefire deal negotiated with the Pakistan government, the militant group has announced, in a major setback to Prime Minister Imran Khan's efforts to secure a peace agreement with the dreaded outfit waging war against the state for decades. The Pakistani Taliban has been behind many major attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians over the last 14 years, including the attack on an Army school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed over 150 people, mostly children. A statement issued by the TTP on Thursday accusing the Pakistan government of failing to honour the decisions, including the release of their fighters. It gave out details of the six-point agreement reached with the government under the aegis of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" (IEA) on October 25, 2021, the Dawn newspaper reported. The two sides, according to the agreement, had accepted that the IEA would play the role of a mediator and that both sides would form five-member committees each which, under the supervision of the mediator, would discuss the next course of action and demands of each side. Both sides, it said, had also agreed to observe a month-long ceasefire from November 1 to November 30, 2021, and that the government would release 102 "imprisoned mujahideen" and hand them over to the TTP through the "IEA and that both sides would issue a joint statement regarding the ceasefire on November 1, 2021", the report said. According to the statement, the government not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but on the contrary, the security forces conducted raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi and North Waziristan and killed and detained militants. "Under these circumstances, it is not possible to extend the ceasefire," the TTP said. Earlier in an audio message, TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mahsud announced an end to the ceasefire and asked his fighters to resume attacks past 12 am. The ceasefire had come into effect on November 9, the report added. In the message, Mufti Noor can be heard as saying that since the TTP has not heard back from the mediators or the government, therefore, past midnight, his fighters reserve the right to resume attacks wherever they were. The TTP decision to end the ceasefire is a big setback to the government's efforts to secure a peace agreement with the militants waging war against the state for decades. A lot of informal discussions had taken place between the two sides before and during the ceasefire and certain confidence-building steps had been agreed upon to reassure each other, the sources were quoted as saying by the Dawn. Afghan Taliban are playing the role of principal mediator between Pakistan and the outlawed militant conglomerate comprising several factions. Under the deal, the government has agreed to release close to one hundred militants being held at "de-radicalisation centers". The first batch of around 12 has already been released. The second batch is expected to be freed in the next few days, to be followed by more in the days and weeks to come, the report said. Quoting sources, the Dawn reported that during the informal talks, it has been made clear to the TTP that there are certain redlines which are not open to negotiations. The TTP, however, has set its own conditions which among other things include enforcement of Shariah and restoration of tribal areas to their pre-merger status. The ceasefire has remained enforced with no major violations. TTP-led militant attacks inside Pakistan which had seen a dramatic spike in the immediate aftermath of the Afghan Taliban's takeover of Kabul in mid-August have seen a steady decline, the report said. These attacks saw a further decrease of 28 per cent since October, when the ceasefire came into effect, according to official statistics of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. TTP was also behind a 2014 attack on an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed 154 people, mostly school children.

Pakistani Taliban declares end to ceasefire with Pak government; vows to resume attacks

Pakistan's terrorist group 'Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan' ends a month-long ceasefire agreement with the government. It accuses them of not upholding their end of the agreement in freeing the prisoners.

Terrorist group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan ends a month-long ceasefire agreement with the government

A blast took place in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday, according to local news media reports.

The eyewitness said that the blast occurred on Kabul's Fifth Taimani Street, Tolo News reported.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> An Explosion occured in the Taimani 5th street. 
 
It was caused by a magnetic mine at a Land Cruiser of Taliban.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabulblast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabulblast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/2e700rAIHJ">pic.twitter.com/2e700rAIHJ</a>
— The HbK (@The5HbK) <a href="https://twitter.com/The5HbK/status/1467118040059842560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

So far, no casualties have been reported and it is not clear how the blast took place.

Further details are awaited.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-afghanistan-who-has-the-guns-gets-the-land-434095">In Afghanistan, ‘who has the guns gets the land’</a>

The latest explosion comes two weeks after the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) carried out two bomb blasts that left around dozen civilians dead and scores wounded in Kabul.

The first explosion was a car bomb blast that took place in Dasht-e Barchi, a heavily Shi’ite Muslim area of western Kabul.

A second explosion was also reported in the nearby Karte 3 area, local residents said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-and-911-families-fight-for-billions-in-frozen-afghan-funds-432862">Taliban and 9/11 families fight for billions in frozen Afghan funds</a>

The terror group has intensified bombings and other attacks since the Taliban seized power in mid-August.

For months, US military officials have been warning that ISIS-K and al-Qaida are regrouping and re-emerging in strife-torn Afghanistan.

ISIS-K, which has been mostly antagonistic toward the Taliban, recently denounced the militant group's takeover of Afghanistan, saying that the group’s version of Islamic rule was insufficiently hard line.

According to a report from the Washington-based think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies, ISIS-K “disregards international borders and envisions its territory transcending nation-states like Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

The Islamic State announced its expansion to the Khorasan region in 2015, which historically encompasses parts of modern-day Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

A blast took place in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday, according to local news media reports. The eyewitness said that the blast occurred on Kabul's Fifth Taimani Street, Tolo News reported.

A blast took place in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday, according to local news media reports. The eyewitness said that the blast occurred on Kabul's Fifth Taimani Street, Tolo News reported. #BREAKING An Explosion occured in the Taimani 5th street. It was caused by a magnetic mine at a Land Cruiser of Taliban.#BreakingNews #Kabul #Kabulblast #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/2e700rAIHJ — The HbK (@The5HbK) December 4, 2021 × So far, no casualties have been reported and it is not clear how the blast took place. Further details are awaited. Also read | In Afghanistan, ‘who has the guns gets the land’ The latest explosion comes two weeks after the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) carried out two bomb blasts that left around dozen civilians dead and scores wounded in Kabul. The first explosion was a car bomb blast that took place in Dasht-e Barchi, a heavily Shi’ite Muslim area of western Kabul. A second explosion was also reported in the nearby Karte 3 area, local residents said. Also read | Taliban and 9/11 families fight for billions in frozen Afghan funds The terror group has intensified bombings and other attacks since the Taliban seized power in mid-August. For months, US military officials have been warning that ISIS-K and al-Qaida are regrouping and re-emerging in strife-torn Afghanistan. ISIS-K, which has been mostly antagonistic toward the Taliban, recently denounced the militant group's takeover of Afghanistan, saying that the group’s version of Islamic rule was insufficiently hard line. According to a report from the Washington-based think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies, ISIS-K “disregards international borders and envisions its territory transcending nation-states like Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The Islamic State announced its expansion to the Khorasan region in 2015, which historically encompasses parts of modern-day Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. (With inputs from agencies)

Blast rocks Afghanistan’s Kabul, no casualties reported

Finland has recorded a rare case of probable far-right terrorism after the authorities detained five men on the charges of allegedly planning a gun and bomb attack.<o:p></o:p>

The men are being assumed to belong to a group based in the southwestern town of Kankaanpää. Local police officers detained these five men on Tuesday and were presented in front of the Satakunta District Court over the weekend.<o:p></o:p>

These suspects, aged around 25, were being tracked by the local authorities for the past two years. The police have claimed that all suspects have a criminal record.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/killer-dish-chef-jailed-for-serving-deadly-shepherds-pie-434099">Killer dish: Chef jailed for serving deadly shepherd's pie</a></o:p>

Officials obtained raw material which could be used to make explosives such as weapons, fertiliser and ammunition. These materials were seized during the police raid.<o:p></o:p>

"Material has been found in the possession of the persons, which, combined with other preliminary investigation material, strengthens the perception of the radicalization of the suspects and gives reason to suspect them of terrorist offenses," says Investigator Toni Sjöblom from the Southwest Finland Police.<o:p></o:p>

When the investigation had started two years ago, these men were suspected of 'serious firearms crime'. The group was, since then, being closely monitored by the local police officers.

<o:p>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fellow-islander-reunites-woman-with-wedding-ring-lost-50-years-ago-after-three-day-search-434030">Fellow islander reunites woman with wedding ring lost 50 years ago after three-day search</a></o:p>

"The force has since been closely monitored by the police, during which time the police have, among other things, screened and examined the material found in the suspects' IT equipment and found out the significance of the material in the crime," the official statement added.<o:p></o:p>

It is being reported by local media that the group followed the belief that the western governments are corrupt, irreparable and need to be removed through 'divide and rule' policy. Officials are now investigating the men for involvement in terrorism and possession of illegal firearms.<o:p></o:p>

"If you see clear signs of radicalization in your loved ones, you should react as quickly as possible, for example, by telling the authorities about your concerns,"&nbsp;Detective Superintendent Toni Sjoblom said.<o:p></o:p>

Finland has recorded a rare case of probable far-right terrorism after the authorities detained five men on the charges of allegedly planning a gun and bomb attack.

Finland has recorded a rare case of probable far-right terrorism after the authorities detained five men on the charges of allegedly planning a gun and bomb attack. The men are being assumed to belong to a group based in the southwestern town of Kankaanpää. Local police officers detained these five men on Tuesday and were presented in front of the Satakunta District Court over the weekend. These suspects, aged around 25, were being tracked by the local authorities for the past two years. The police have claimed that all suspects have a criminal record. Also read | Killer dish: Chef jailed for serving deadly shepherd's pie Officials obtained raw material which could be used to make explosives such as weapons, fertiliser and ammunition. These materials were seized during the police raid. "Material has been found in the possession of the persons, which, combined with other preliminary investigation material, strengthens the perception of the radicalization of the suspects and gives reason to suspect them of terrorist offenses," says Investigator Toni Sjöblom from the Southwest Finland Police. When the investigation had started two years ago, these men were suspected of 'serious firearms crime'. The group was, since then, being closely monitored by the local police officers. Also read | Fellow islander reunites woman with wedding ring lost 50 years ago after three-day search "The force has since been closely monitored by the police, during which time the police have, among other things, screened and examined the material found in the suspects' IT equipment and found out the significance of the material in the crime," the official statement added. It is being reported by local media that the group followed the belief that the western governments are corrupt, irreparable and need to be removed through 'divide and rule' policy. Officials are now investigating the men for involvement in terrorism and possession of illegal firearms. "If you see clear signs of radicalization in your loved ones, you should react as quickly as possible, for example, by telling the authorities about your concerns," Detective Superintendent Toni Sjoblom said.

Finland records far-right terrorism case after two years of investigation: Reports

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken addresses the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Latvia. Blinken said that NATO remains fully committed to fighting against terrorism worldwide and the US will use all its capability to aid in their fight.

NATO remains fully committed to fighting against terrorism worldwide, says Blinken

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists.

According to reports, a large convoy carrying troops from AMISOM, the African Union force fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group, was passing through the area when the bomb went off.

Somalia police spokesman Abdifatah Adan said in a brief statement that eight civilians were killed, and 17 others wounded, without giving further details.

Anguished parents rushed to the scene of the attack, which severely damaged the school building, with injured students taken to hospitals around the city, according to AFP.

Claiming responsibility for the blast, Al-Shabaab said the bomb was aimed at the “military trainers.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-shabaab-militants-attack-military-base-recapture-somalian-town-from-govt-forces-408112">Al Shabaab militants attack military base, recapture Somalian town from govt forces</a>

The latest attack comes on the back of the killing of a prominent Somali journalist, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled.

Al-Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the bombing, which left a colleague of the journalist seriously wounded.

Guled, the director of government-owned Radio Mogadishu, was a fierce critic of the Islamists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-shabaab-calls-for-attacks-on-us-french-interests-in-djibouti-373888">Al-Shabaab calls for attacks on US, French interests in Djibouti</a>

Al Shabaab, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the country’s fragile government since 2007, said its fighters had long pursued the journalist.

The militants also claimed two attacks in September that killed 17 people.

A car bombing on September 25 near the presidential palace killed eight people, including the prime minister’s adviser for women and human rights, Hibaq Abukar.

Eleven days earlier, nine people, most of them members of Somalia’s security forces, died in a blast near a Mogadishu checkpoint.

Al-Shabaab controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by AMISOM troops, but it still holds territory in the countryside and launches frequent attacks against government and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

(With inputs from agencies)

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists.

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists. According to reports, a large convoy carrying troops from AMISOM, the African Union force fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group, was passing through the area when the bomb went off. Somalia police spokesman Abdifatah Adan said in a brief statement that eight civilians were killed, and 17 others wounded, without giving further details. Anguished parents rushed to the scene of the attack, which severely damaged the school building, with injured students taken to hospitals around the city, according to AFP. Claiming responsibility for the blast, Al-Shabaab said the bomb was aimed at the “military trainers.” Also read | Al Shabaab militants attack military base, recapture Somalian town from govt forces The latest attack comes on the back of the killing of a prominent Somali journalist, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled. Al-Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the bombing, which left a colleague of the journalist seriously wounded. Guled, the director of government-owned Radio Mogadishu, was a fierce critic of the Islamists. Also read | Al-Shabaab calls for attacks on US, French interests in Djibouti Al Shabaab, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the country’s fragile government since 2007, said its fighters had long pursued the journalist. The militants also claimed two attacks in September that killed 17 people. A car bombing on September 25 near the presidential palace killed eight people, including the prime minister’s adviser for women and human rights, Hibaq Abukar. Eleven days earlier, nine people, most of them members of Somalia’s security forces, died in a blast near a Mogadishu checkpoint. Al-Shabaab controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by AMISOM troops, but it still holds territory in the countryside and launches frequent attacks against government and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere. (With inputs from agencies)

8 killed, 17 injured in suicide blast near school in Mogadishu, Al Shabaab claims responsibility

An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced to death 22 Islamist militants, including a former police officer, for terrorist attacks, including the attempted assassination of a former interior minister, according to news reports.

The men were found guilty of committing 54 “terrorist operations” across Egypt, including the murder of a senior police officer as well as trying to kill former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim, a&nbsp;judicial source told AFP.

The convicted men were members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis—a jihadist militant group which pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014.

The Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest appeals court, also upheld prison sentences of 118 others in the same case, ranging from terms of several years to life imprisonment.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis fighters in Sinai were led by Hisham al-Ashmawy, an ex-special forces officer.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-army-says-89-insurgents-killed-in-restive-sinai-402228">Egypt army says 89 insurgents killed in restive Sinai</a>

Ashmawy –- once dubbed Egypt's “most wanted man” —split from the militants after they switched allegiance from Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group.

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has been associated with almost every terrorist attack that hit Egypt after the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood.

For years, Egypt has been fighting a bitter insurgency in North Sinai against the Maqdis fighters that escalated after the army's 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

In February 2018, the army and police launched a nationwide operation against militants focused on North Sinai.

In 2019, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;that Egypt's military was working with Israel to combat ISIS in the Sinai, in an interview with CBS.

(With inputs from agencies)

An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced to death 22 Islamist militants, including a former police officer, for terrorist attacks, including the attempted assassination of a former interior minister, according to news reports.

An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced to death 22 Islamist militants, including a former police officer, for terrorist attacks, including the attempted assassination of a former interior minister, according to news reports. The men were found guilty of committing 54 “terrorist operations” across Egypt, including the murder of a senior police officer as well as trying to kill former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim, a judicial source told AFP. The convicted men were members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis—a jihadist militant group which pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014. The Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest appeals court, also upheld prison sentences of 118 others in the same case, ranging from terms of several years to life imprisonment. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis fighters in Sinai were led by Hisham al-Ashmawy, an ex-special forces officer. Also read | Egypt army says 89 insurgents killed in restive Sinai Ashmawy –- once dubbed Egypt's “most wanted man” —split from the militants after they switched allegiance from Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has been associated with almost every terrorist attack that hit Egypt after the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood. For years, Egypt has been fighting a bitter insurgency in North Sinai against the Maqdis fighters that escalated after the army's 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. In February 2018, the army and police launched a nationwide operation against militants focused on North Sinai. In 2019, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi confirmed that Egypt's military was working with Israel to combat ISIS in the Sinai, in an interview with CBS. (With inputs from agencies)

Egyptian court sentences to death 22 Islamist militants, including ex-cop

Australia on Wednesday classified all of Hezbollah— a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, which also has a militia&nbsp;wing—as a terrorist group.

Apart from that, the government also placed a neo-Nazi group known as The Base in the new terrorist group list.

Home affairs minister Karen Andrews said the Iran-backed Shiite group “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organisations” and poses a “real and credible” threat to Australia.

“There is no&nbsp;place in Australia for their hateful&nbsp;ideologies,” Andrews told reporters.&nbsp;

“We know that there are individuals actively watching what is happening in Australia. There are people here who have the intent and the capability to do us harm,” she added.

Hezbollah, which plays a key role in Lebanese politics, has been accused of fuelling Syria's civil war by sending thousands of fighters across the border to prop up President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-expects-hezbollah-to-fire-2000-rockets-a-day-in-wartime-idf-421642">&nbsp;Israel expects Hezbollah to fire 2,000 rockets a day in wartime: IDF</a>

In 2006, it fought a short yet devastating war against Israel.

Critics have accused the movement of killing former prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, and more recently of blocking investigations into the cataclysmic 2020 Beirut port explosion.

It has also claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on Israel and is the only side that has to date refused to disarm since the country's devastating civil war ended in 1990.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mahathir-hezbollah-secy-general-listed-as-worlds-most-dangerous-extremists-by-us-based-group-355283">Mahathir, Hezbollah secy general listed as world’s ‘most dangerous extremists’ by US-based group</a>

Some countries have sought to distinguish between Hezbollah's political and militant factions, fearing a blanket ban could destabilise Lebanon and hamper contacts with authorities.

The decision by the Australian government comes as Lebanon reels from spiralling political and economic crises.

Nearly 80 per cent of the population is estimated to be living below the poverty line.

Elections are expected in March 2022 and there is growing public anger about nepotism and corruption among Lebanon's ruling class.

(With inputs from agencies)

Australia on Wednesday classified all of Hezbollah— a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, which also has a militia wing—as a terrorist group. Apart from that, the government also placed a neo-Nazi group known as The Base in the new terrorist group list.

Australia on Wednesday classified all of Hezbollah— a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, which also has a militia wing—as a terrorist group. Apart from that, the government also placed a neo-Nazi group known as The Base in the new terrorist group list. Home affairs minister Karen Andrews said the Iran-backed Shiite group “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organisations” and poses a “real and credible” threat to Australia. “There is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies,” Andrews told reporters. “We know that there are individuals actively watching what is happening in Australia. There are people here who have the intent and the capability to do us harm,” she added. Hezbollah, which plays a key role in Lebanese politics, has been accused of fuelling Syria's civil war by sending thousands of fighters across the border to prop up President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Also read | Israel expects Hezbollah to fire 2,000 rockets a day in wartime: IDF In 2006, it fought a short yet devastating war against Israel. Critics have accused the movement of killing former prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, and more recently of blocking investigations into the cataclysmic 2020 Beirut port explosion. It has also claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on Israel and is the only side that has to date refused to disarm since the country's devastating civil war ended in 1990. Also read | Mahathir, Hezbollah secy general listed as world’s ‘most dangerous extremists’ by US-based group Some countries have sought to distinguish between Hezbollah's political and militant factions, fearing a blanket ban could destabilise Lebanon and hamper contacts with authorities. The decision by the Australian government comes as Lebanon reels from spiralling political and economic crises. Nearly 80 per cent of the population is estimated to be living below the poverty line. Elections are expected in March 2022 and there is growing public anger about nepotism and corruption among Lebanon's ruling class. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia names all of Hezbollah, neo-Nazi group as terrorist organisation

The Taliban`s officials in central Daikundi province said that they arrested 11 people who are suspected to be affiliates of ISIS-K, the terror group which recently speeded its attacks in Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of it, reported local media.

The officials said that the suspects are from Helmand, Ghazni, and Urozgan provinces but added that further investigations have been started, said Khaama Press.Weapons of the suspects have been seized by the Taliban.

A few days back, the Taliban arrested ten ISIS-K affiliates and killed three more during large-scale operations in Kandahar province.The four hideouts of the ISIS-K have been eliminated in the province, according to the Taliban`s officials in Kandahar province.

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch is now the only terror group that operates against the Taliban in Afghanistan and inflicts causalities on civilians people mainly the Shia Muslims, according to Khaama Press.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Taliban`s officials in central Daikundi province said that they arrested 11 people who are suspected to be affiliates of ISIS-K, the terror group which recently speeded its attacks in Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of it, reported local media.

The Taliban`s officials in central Daikundi province said that they arrested 11 people who are suspected to be affiliates of ISIS-K, the terror group which recently speeded its attacks in Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of it, reported local media. The officials said that the suspects are from Helmand, Ghazni, and Urozgan provinces but added that further investigations have been started, said Khaama Press.Weapons of the suspects have been seized by the Taliban. A few days back, the Taliban arrested ten ISIS-K affiliates and killed three more during large-scale operations in Kandahar province.The four hideouts of the ISIS-K have been eliminated in the province, according to the Taliban`s officials in Kandahar province. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch is now the only terror group that operates against the Taliban in Afghanistan and inflicts causalities on civilians people mainly the Shia Muslims, according to Khaama Press.

Taliban arrest 11 IS suspects in central Daikundi province

Terrorists enjoy free pass in Pakistan, which has an established history and policy of actively supporting them and holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of militants proscribed by the UN Security Council, India has said, slamming Islamabad at the UN Security Council.

"I'm constrained to take the floor once again to respond to some frivolous remarks made by the representative of Pakistan earlier today," Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Kajal Bhat said in the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

"This is not the first time the representative of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy a free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities are turned upside down,"&nbsp;she said.

India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra had already delivered the national statement at the UNSC open debate on 'Maintenance of International Peace and Security Through Preventive Diplomacy'.

Bhat took the floor to make a second statement in the Council after Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram raked the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his remarks at the open debate.

"India desires normal neighbourly relations with all countries including Pakistan, and is committed to addressing outstanding issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with the Simla agreement and the Lahore declaration.

"However, any meaningful dialogue can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere. Till then India will continue to take firm and decisive steps to respond to cross-border terrorism,"&nbsp;she said.

Bhat, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said in her remarks that UN member states are aware that Pakistan has an "established history and policy"&nbsp;of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists.

"This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council," she said.

Categorically stating India's position, Bhat said the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. "This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan."

India called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.&nbsp;

Terrorists enjoy free pass in Pakistan, which has an established history and policy of actively supporting them and holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of militants proscribed by the UN Security Council, India has said, slamming Islamabad at the UN Security Council.

Terrorists enjoy free pass in Pakistan, which has an established history and policy of actively supporting them and holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of militants proscribed by the UN Security Council, India has said, slamming Islamabad at the UN Security Council. "I'm constrained to take the floor once again to respond to some frivolous remarks made by the representative of Pakistan earlier today," Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Kajal Bhat said in the UN Security Council on Tuesday. "This is not the first time the representative of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy a free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities are turned upside down," she said. India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra had already delivered the national statement at the UNSC open debate on 'Maintenance of International Peace and Security Through Preventive Diplomacy'. Bhat took the floor to make a second statement in the Council after Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram raked the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his remarks at the open debate. "India desires normal neighbourly relations with all countries including Pakistan, and is committed to addressing outstanding issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with the Simla agreement and the Lahore declaration. "However, any meaningful dialogue can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere. Till then India will continue to take firm and decisive steps to respond to cross-border terrorism," she said. Bhat, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said in her remarks that UN member states are aware that Pakistan has an "established history and policy" of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists. "This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council," she said. Categorically stating India's position, Bhat said the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. "This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan." India called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

Terrorists enjoy free pass: India slams Pak at UNSC after Islamabad's envoy rakes up Kashmir issue 

Three suicide bombings killed at least three people in Ugandan capital Kampala on Tuesday. Dozens have been arrested in the bombings in a country that is seen as a stable bulwark against Islamic extremism in Africa.

At least 33 people were being treated in hospital, including five who were in critical condition, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.

The death toll including the three bombers was six, Enanga said.

A diplomat told Reuters two police were among the victims. Enanga confirmed the death toll included police but declined to give further details.

<img alt="Uganda Blast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad7d16aa-8d15-4fde-8478-38df53c7de62" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9RR2XK.jpg" />

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but police cited intelligence indications to say that Islamic State-aligned Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were responsible.

"Our intelligence ... indicates that these are domestic terror groups that are linked to ADF," Enanga said.

The explosions - the first near the central police station and the second very close to parliament - sent bloodied office workers rushing for cover over shards of broken glass as a plume of white smoke rose above the downtown area.

A suicide bomber wearing a backpack carried out the first blast near the checkpoint at the police station, which killed two people, Enanga said. The second attack, involving two suicide bombers on motorbikes, killed one other person.

"A booming sound like that from a big gun went off. The ground shook, my ears nearly went deaf," said Peter Olupot, a 28-year-old bank guard who was near the attack close to parliament.

<img alt="Uganda Blast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="63f3415d-8717-4370-8c06-ae5fba7337d4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9RQ9Q9.jpg" />

"I saw a vehicle on fire and everyone was running and panicking. I saw a boda boda (motorcycle) man - his head was smashed and covered in blood."

Anti-terrorism police caught another person who was preparing to carry out an attack, Enanga said, adding: "We are now pursuing other members of the terror group."

MILITANT GROUPS

The al Qaeda-linked Somali insurgent group al Shabaab has carried out deadly attacks in Uganda in the past, including a 2010 attack that killed 70 people.

Ugandan soldiers are fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of an U.N.-backed African Union peacekeeping force. An al Shabab spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

The ADF is a separate group, founded by Ugandan Muslims but now largely active in the forested mountains of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths.

Last month, Islamic State made its first claim of responsibility for a blast in Uganda - an attack on a police station in Kampala's Kawempe neighbourhood in which no one was killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

Three suicide bombings killed at least three people in Ugandan capital Kampala on Tuesday. Dozens have been arrested in the bombings in a country that is seen as a stable bulwark against Islamic extremism in Africa.

Three suicide bombings killed at least three people in Ugandan capital Kampala on Tuesday. Dozens have been arrested in the bombings in a country that is seen as a stable bulwark against Islamic extremism in Africa. At least 33 people were being treated in hospital, including five who were in critical condition, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said. The death toll including the three bombers was six, Enanga said. A diplomat told Reuters two police were among the victims. Enanga confirmed the death toll included police but declined to give further details. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but police cited intelligence indications to say that Islamic State-aligned Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were responsible. "Our intelligence ... indicates that these are domestic terror groups that are linked to ADF," Enanga said. The explosions - the first near the central police station and the second very close to parliament - sent bloodied office workers rushing for cover over shards of broken glass as a plume of white smoke rose above the downtown area. A suicide bomber wearing a backpack carried out the first blast near the checkpoint at the police station, which killed two people, Enanga said. The second attack, involving two suicide bombers on motorbikes, killed one other person. "A booming sound like that from a big gun went off. The ground shook, my ears nearly went deaf," said Peter Olupot, a 28-year-old bank guard who was near the attack close to parliament. "I saw a vehicle on fire and everyone was running and panicking. I saw a boda boda (motorcycle) man - his head was smashed and covered in blood." Anti-terrorism police caught another person who was preparing to carry out an attack, Enanga said, adding: "We are now pursuing other members of the terror group." MILITANT GROUPS The al Qaeda-linked Somali insurgent group al Shabaab has carried out deadly attacks in Uganda in the past, including a 2010 attack that killed 70 people. Ugandan soldiers are fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of an U.N.-backed African Union peacekeeping force. An al Shabab spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The ADF is a separate group, founded by Ugandan Muslims but now largely active in the forested mountains of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths. Last month, Islamic State made its first claim of responsibility for a blast in Uganda - an attack on a police station in Kampala's Kawempe neighbourhood in which no one was killed. (With inputs from agencies)

Blasts in Uganda: Suicide bombers target capital Kampala, IS links suspected

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence.

The minister's statement comes days after he announced that a complete ceasefire had been&nbsp;reached&nbsp;between Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the proscribed group.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a cabinet meeting today, Chaudhry insisted that the talks with the TTP would strictly be under the purview of the Constitution.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-sc-summons-prime-minister-imran-khan-over-2014-attack-case-428146">&nbsp;Pak SC summons Prime Minister Imran Khan over 2014 attack case</a>

"There are various groups within TTP; there are [some] ideologues, while there are others who joined the organisation under compulsion. The state of Pakistan wants to give its citizens a chance if all of them, some of them or a fraction of them want to come back and show their allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan," the minister said.

TTP is a proscribed terror group responsible for an estimated 70,000 killings. It has been involved in various attacks in Pakistan for more than a decade which killed thousands of people and reportedly been using Afghan soil to plot terrorist attacks in this country.

Also read |&nbsp;‘<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-imran-khan-is-my-boss-not-my-friend-says-pak-army-chief-bajwa-428226">PM Imran Khan is my boss, not my friend,’ says Pak Army chief Bajwa</a>

The same TTP was also involved in the 2014 massacre when it launched an attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, killing over 150 people, mostly students.

The government is now trying to use the influence of the Afghan Taliban over the TTP to reach a peace deal and end violence.

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence.

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence. The minister's statement comes days after he announced that a complete ceasefire had been reached between Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the proscribed group. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a cabinet meeting today, Chaudhry insisted that the talks with the TTP would strictly be under the purview of the Constitution. Also read | Pak SC summons Prime Minister Imran Khan over 2014 attack case "There are various groups within TTP; there are [some] ideologues, while there are others who joined the organisation under compulsion. The state of Pakistan wants to give its citizens a chance if all of them, some of them or a fraction of them want to come back and show their allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan," the minister said. TTP is a proscribed terror group responsible for an estimated 70,000 killings. It has been involved in various attacks in Pakistan for more than a decade which killed thousands of people and reportedly been using Afghan soil to plot terrorist attacks in this country. Also read | ‘PM Imran Khan is my boss, not my friend,’ says Pak Army chief Bajwa The same TTP was also involved in the 2014 massacre when it launched an attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, killing over 150 people, mostly students. The government is now trying to use the influence of the Afghan Taliban over the TTP to reach a peace deal and end violence.

Good terrorists, bad terrorists: Minister Fawad Chaudhry sees both types in Pak Taliban group

The Pakistan government is setting a dangerous precedent in surrendering to terrorists, it is now brokering peace accords with terrorist organisations on its soil by giving in to their demands. Listen in to what a senior Pakistan journalist has to say on this.

Pakistan government gives in to banned terror group TTP, Taliban key facilitator of peace talks

The Pakistan government is setting a dangerous precedent in surrendering to terrorists, it is now brokering peace accords with terrorist organisations on its soil by giving in to their demands.

Pakistan brokers peace with terror outfit TTP, agree on month-long truce

A 29-year old policeman was shot dead by a terrorist in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir outside his residence. The entire area has been cordoned off and a manhunt has been launched to track the attackers. WION's correspondent Idress Lone brings you this report.

Jammu and Kashmir: Policeman shot dead outside residence, manhunt launched to nab terrorists

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have formed a squad to investigate the death of policeman Tawseef Ahmad Wani, 29, on Sunday in Srinagar's Batamaloo neighbourhood.

Wani, a two-year veteran of the police, was killed in the second such targeted attack in the region in less than a month.

In October, a Power Development Department employee was killed in the area.

Security forces searched the area shortly after Wani was killed, two days after an exchange of fire at a hospital a few kilometres from the crime site, according to police.

Since the deaths of 11 civilians last month, Srinagar has been under intense security.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have formed a squad to investigate the death of policeman Tawseef Ahmad Wani, 29, on Sunday in Srinagar's Batamaloo neighbourhood. Wani, a two-year veteran of the police, was killed in the second such targeted attack in the region in less than a month.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have formed a squad to investigate the death of policeman Tawseef Ahmad Wani, 29, on Sunday in Srinagar's Batamaloo neighbourhood. Wani, a two-year veteran of the police, was killed in the second such targeted attack in the region in less than a month. In October, a Power Development Department employee was killed in the area. Security forces searched the area shortly after Wani was killed, two days after an exchange of fire at a hospital a few kilometres from the crime site, according to police. Since the deaths of 11 civilians last month, Srinagar has been under intense security. (With inputs from agencies)

J&K: Constable shot dead by terrorists, Police form team to investigate

Prosecutors volunteered Friday to review hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pages of classified CIA documents in the Sept. 11 case to determine if some material provided to defense lawyers was too heavily redacted.

The acknowledgment that some secrets at the Guantánamo court may no longer be secret came on the fourth day of a hearing in the complex conspiracy case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men who are accused of plotting the hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. The capital case has been in pretrial hearings since 2012, one reason information once considered national security secrets may now be made public.

In a presentation, James G. Connell III, a defense lawyer for Mohammed’s nephew, Ammar al-Baluchi, told the court that he had so far obtained 1,025 pages of once classified cables and other documents from the CIA through the Freedom of Information Act, which included more details than prosecutors and the judge had approved for use at the eventual death-penalty trial. The agency is preparing to release another 2,100 pages of secret documents, Connell said.

Connell offered as an example a May 3, 2003, report from a CIA black site prison on an interrogation of Baluchi, probably in Pakistan, that the agency released through the Freedom of Information Act.

The prosecution version, invoking a national security privilege, covered up the day of the month as part of a routine practice by prosecutors of blurring dates of CIA reports from the black sites; omitted the title “Ammar al Baluchi Interview” and certain tracking information; and redacted parts of sentences showing the source of certain information was Majid Khan, another black site prisoner, who recently said in court that he made up lies while being tortured to satisfy his interrogators.

A lead prosecutor, Clayton G. Trivett Jr., agreed to the review, saying that “there is some reconciliation that needs to be done” by his team. He said prosecutors would compare documents released by the CIA under FOIA to those his team had prepared and given to defense lawyers.

Trivett said that if the CIA has subsequently changed its theories or rules of classification, “it cannot be” that “the public” has access to more complete documents than do defense lawyers and, potentially, ultimately a jury.

Mohammed and the other defendants were captured in Pakistan in 2002 and 2003. The case is mired in hearings on whether admissions they made to FBI agents after their arrival in Guantánamo in 2007 were tainted by their torture.

The new judge, Col. Matthew N. McCall of the Air Force, is hearing dozens of pleadings by defense lawyers who want the court to order the government to search for and turn over information they argue may be missing from the first six or seven years of the accused plotters’ detention.

It was unclear how much time the prosecution’s review would take or whether it would further delay efforts by prosecutors to bring the case to trial. Trivett also did not appear to commit to review all the classified documents in the case.

But the development underscored how the landscape of public information has changed in the nearly 10 years that the case has been in pretrial proceedings, particularly through litigation in other courts and through government leaks.

Just last month, when the Supreme Court wrestled with national security invocations in a civil case involving claims of torture of a Guantánamo prisoner, Abu Zubaydah, at an overseas CIA prison, several justices openly named the country in question as Poland.

“The fact that he was tortured by these contractors in Poland, that’s not a state secret?” Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked in a question that, under current rules at the court at Guantánamo Bay, would have constituted a spill of classified information.

To prevent such information from reaching the public from the Guantánamo proceedings, the Pentagon court has a 40-second delay on audio broadcast into the spectator’s gallery, time for a security officer inside the court to mute what the public hears.

Prosecutors have consistently invoked the national security privilege for the names of every country that hosted a black site in the CIA program, which was established in 2002 and was closed in 2009, because the nations that permitted the United States to run the secret prisons were promised anonymity. Permitting the site to be mentioned, the explanation goes, would harm foreign relations.

Two years ago, prosecutors were forced to revisit their classification decisions in Guantánamo’s other death-penalty case after the Army judge there ruled that their deletions “could fairly be characterized as self-serving and calculated to avoid embarrassment,” and “indicative of a minimalist view” of evidence defense lawyers were entitled to receive.

Trivett, a lead prosecutor in the Sept. 11 case, committed his team to conducting the review soon after Connell’s presentation, rather than wait for the judge’s ruling on the question.

Prosecutors volunteered Friday to review hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pages of classified CIA documents in the Sept. 11 case to determine if some material provided to defense lawyers was too heavily redacted.

Prosecutors volunteered Friday to review hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pages of classified CIA documents in the Sept. 11 case to determine if some material provided to defense lawyers was too heavily redacted. The acknowledgment that some secrets at the Guantánamo court may no longer be secret came on the fourth day of a hearing in the complex conspiracy case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men who are accused of plotting the hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. The capital case has been in pretrial hearings since 2012, one reason information once considered national security secrets may now be made public. In a presentation, James G. Connell III, a defense lawyer for Mohammed’s nephew, Ammar al-Baluchi, told the court that he had so far obtained 1,025 pages of once classified cables and other documents from the CIA through the Freedom of Information Act, which included more details than prosecutors and the judge had approved for use at the eventual death-penalty trial. The agency is preparing to release another 2,100 pages of secret documents, Connell said. Connell offered as an example a May 3, 2003, report from a CIA black site prison on an interrogation of Baluchi, probably in Pakistan, that the agency released through the Freedom of Information Act. The prosecution version, invoking a national security privilege, covered up the day of the month as part of a routine practice by prosecutors of blurring dates of CIA reports from the black sites; omitted the title “Ammar al Baluchi Interview” and certain tracking information; and redacted parts of sentences showing the source of certain information was Majid Khan, another black site prisoner, who recently said in court that he made up lies while being tortured to satisfy his interrogators. A lead prosecutor, Clayton G. Trivett Jr., agreed to the review, saying that “there is some reconciliation that needs to be done” by his team. He said prosecutors would compare documents released by the CIA under FOIA to those his team had prepared and given to defense lawyers. Trivett said that if the CIA has subsequently changed its theories or rules of classification, “it cannot be” that “the public” has access to more complete documents than do defense lawyers and, potentially, ultimately a jury. Mohammed and the other defendants were captured in Pakistan in 2002 and 2003. The case is mired in hearings on whether admissions they made to FBI agents after their arrival in Guantánamo in 2007 were tainted by their torture. The new judge, Col. Matthew N. McCall of the Air Force, is hearing dozens of pleadings by defense lawyers who want the court to order the government to search for and turn over information they argue may be missing from the first six or seven years of the accused plotters’ detention. It was unclear how much time the prosecution’s review would take or whether it would further delay efforts by prosecutors to bring the case to trial. Trivett also did not appear to commit to review all the classified documents in the case. But the development underscored how the landscape of public information has changed in the nearly 10 years that the case has been in pretrial proceedings, particularly through litigation in other courts and through government leaks. Just last month, when the Supreme Court wrestled with national security invocations in a civil case involving claims of torture of a Guantánamo prisoner, Abu Zubaydah, at an overseas CIA prison, several justices openly named the country in question as Poland. “The fact that he was tortured by these contractors in Poland, that’s not a state secret?” Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked in a question that, under current rules at the court at Guantánamo Bay, would have constituted a spill of classified information. To prevent such information from reaching the public from the Guantánamo proceedings, the Pentagon court has a 40-second delay on audio broadcast into the spectator’s gallery, time for a security officer inside the court to mute what the public hears. Prosecutors have consistently invoked the national security privilege for the names of every country that hosted a black site in the CIA program, which was established in 2002 and was closed in 2009, because the nations that permitted the United States to run the secret prisons were promised anonymity. Permitting the site to be mentioned, the explanation goes, would harm foreign relations. Two years ago, prosecutors were forced to revisit their classification decisions in Guantánamo’s other death-penalty case after the Army judge there ruled that their deletions “could fairly be characterized as self-serving and calculated to avoid embarrassment,” and “indicative of a minimalist view” of evidence defense lawyers were entitled to receive. Trivett, a lead prosecutor in the Sept. 11 case, committed his team to conducting the review soon after Connell’s presentation, rather than wait for the judge’s ruling on the question.

Some Sept 11 trial secrets may not be secrets anymore

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (October 29) said&nbsp;India has clearly told Pakistan that action against terrorism will be taken not only on this side of the border but also on their side if needed.&nbsp;

During an event, Singh said, "Modiji [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi] has redesigned and redefined India's approach against terrorism. Remember&nbsp;what a soft attitude was maintained against terrorists during earlier governments."

"If there were terrorist incidents, there was talk of giving 'safe passage' to them, there used to be talk of playing or not playing matches against Pakistan," he said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-asked-by-delhi-high-court-to-remove-objectionable-content-on-hindu-goddess-425032">Twitter asked by Delhi High Court to remove objectionable content on Hindu Goddess</a>

"Now the situation has changed. Our government has said clearly that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand. For the last few years, we have stopped having any talks with Pakistan," the minister mentioned.

"Now we don't talk about playing or not playing (cricket) matches. Instead, we have stated it clearly that action against terrorism will be taken — on this side of the border as well as on the other side of the border if needed," he added.

Rajnath also reflected on the current situation in the Indian union territory Jammu and Kashmir.

"People used to say that if Article 370 is abolished, then the entire Kashmir will burn...All in all, Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful except for a few incidents."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-sanskrit-chants-selfies-as-pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-mahatma-gandhi-meets-indian-diaspora-in-rome-425033">Sanskrit chants, selfies as PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, meets Indian diaspora in Rome</a>

On August 5, 2019, the Indian government had abolished Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

And since June this year, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.&nbsp;

"It is true that our enemy forces are fidgety. I can say with surety that terrorists' confidence has been broken in Kashmir Valley," Singh added.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Indian PM Narendra Modi holds meet with leaders of EU

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-narendra-modi-holds-meet-with-leaders-of-eu-424982/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (October 29) said India has clearly told Pakistan that action against terrorism will be taken not only on this side of the border but also on their side if needed.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (October 29) said India has clearly told Pakistan that action against terrorism will be taken not only on this side of the border but also on their side if needed. During an event, Singh said, "Modiji [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi] has redesigned and redefined India's approach against terrorism. Remember what a soft attitude was maintained against terrorists during earlier governments." "If there were terrorist incidents, there was talk of giving 'safe passage' to them, there used to be talk of playing or not playing matches against Pakistan," he said. ALSO READ | Twitter asked by Delhi High Court to remove objectionable content on Hindu Goddess "Now the situation has changed. Our government has said clearly that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand. For the last few years, we have stopped having any talks with Pakistan," the minister mentioned. "Now we don't talk about playing or not playing (cricket) matches. Instead, we have stated it clearly that action against terrorism will be taken — on this side of the border as well as on the other side of the border if needed," he added. Rajnath also reflected on the current situation in the Indian union territory Jammu and Kashmir. "People used to say that if Article 370 is abolished, then the entire Kashmir will burn...All in all, Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful except for a few incidents." WATCH | Sanskrit chants, selfies as PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, meets Indian diaspora in Rome On August 5, 2019, the Indian government had abolished Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. And since June this year, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters. "It is true that our enemy forces are fidgety. I can say with surety that terrorists' confidence has been broken in Kashmir Valley," Singh added. Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi holds meet with leaders of EU ×

Will act inside Pakistan against terrorists if needed, Indian defence minister warns

Iran is all set to host the second round of foreign ministers' meet in Afghanistan. Foreign ministers from regional neighbours of Afghan including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and China besides hosts Iran and Russia are going to be present at the meeting.

Iran to host second round of foreign ministers' meet on Afghanistan; economy, terrorism on agenda

China has offered to provide US $1 million to help rebuild Afghanistan, apart from additional humanitarian aid worth $5 million, in exchange for co-operation in eliminating terrorist groups, which it says are stoking unrest among its Muslim Uighur population.

Wrapping up the two-day talks in Doha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured help to the Afghan people to overcome their difficulties and asked the Taliban to make a “clean break” with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and other terrorist organisations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-offers-the-taliban-a-warm-welcome-while-urging-peace-talks-401278">China offers the Taliban a warm welcome while urging peace talks</a>

On Tuesday, Wang Yi met Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Afghan interim government, in Doha.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson of the Taliban government Afghanistan, released a video on his Twitter account on Tuesday, which showed Muttaqi presenting a gift to Wang Yi and the two shaking hands.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
د اسلامي امارت د بهرنيو چارو وزیر محترم مولوي اميرخان متقي صاحب لخوا د چين د بهرنيو چارو وزیر وانګ يې ته ځنغوزي په تحفه کې ورکړل شول چې د‌ هغه له هرکلي سره مخ شو. <a href="https://t.co/tVxTGAvAdM">pic.twitter.com/tVxTGAvAdM</a>
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1452899558602780677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The two sides have agreed to set up three separate joint committees to facilitate strengthening of bilateral relations.

According to Mujahid, the first committee will deal with political and diplomatic relations and issues, the second one will be assigned to follow up with bilateral cooperation and making agreements, and the third committee will address economic ties, including the excavation of mines in Afghanistan, Khaama news agency reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-is-our-most-important-partner-says-taliban-spokesperson-zabihullah-mujahid-410510">China is our most important partner, says Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid</a>

“China announced $1 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and announced food ingredients and medicine worth of $5 million,” said Mujahid in an audio clip.

Earlier, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Baradar met with the Chinese FM Wang Yi in the Qatari capital and discussed bilateral political and economic issues.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/we-welcome-this-what-china-stands-to-benefit-from-rise-of-taliban-in-afghanistan-406064">'We welcome this': What China stands to benefit from rise of Taliban in Afghanistan</a>

According to the Islamic Emirate's political office in Doha, Abdul Ghani Baradar assured Beijing that Afghan territory will never be used against any country and the Chinese delegation in return pledged to not interfere in&nbsp;Afghanistan’s affairs.

&nbsp;“Wang emphasised that the ‘East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an international terrorist organisation listed by the UN Security Council, not only poses a real threat to China’s national security and territorial integrity, but also jeopardises the domestic stability and long-term stability in Afghanistan,” Xinhua said.

China blames the ETIM of inciting separatism in Xinjiang province. China's foreign ministry said the talks will "provide an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on Afghanistan’s situation and issues of joint concern."

(With inputs from agencies)

China has offered to provide US $1 million to help rebuild Afghanistan, apart from additional humanitarian aid worth $5 million, in exchange for co-operation in eliminating terrorist groups, which it says are stoking unrest among its Muslim Uighur population.

China has offered to provide US $1 million to help rebuild Afghanistan, apart from additional humanitarian aid worth $5 million, in exchange for co-operation in eliminating terrorist groups, which it says are stoking unrest among its Muslim Uighur population. Wrapping up the two-day talks in Doha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured help to the Afghan people to overcome their difficulties and asked the Taliban to make a “clean break” with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and other terrorist organisations. Also read | China offers the Taliban a warm welcome while urging peace talks On Tuesday, Wang Yi met Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Afghan interim government, in Doha. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson of the Taliban government Afghanistan, released a video on his Twitter account on Tuesday, which showed Muttaqi presenting a gift to Wang Yi and the two shaking hands. د اسلامي امارت د بهرنيو چارو وزیر محترم مولوي اميرخان متقي صاحب لخوا د چين د بهرنيو چارو وزیر وانګ يې ته ځنغوزي په تحفه کې ورکړل شول چې د‌ هغه له هرکلي سره مخ شو. pic.twitter.com/tVxTGAvAdM — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 26, 2021 × The two sides have agreed to set up three separate joint committees to facilitate strengthening of bilateral relations. According to Mujahid, the first committee will deal with political and diplomatic relations and issues, the second one will be assigned to follow up with bilateral cooperation and making agreements, and the third committee will address economic ties, including the excavation of mines in Afghanistan, Khaama news agency reported. Also read | China is our most important partner, says Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid “China announced $1 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and announced food ingredients and medicine worth of $5 million,” said Mujahid in an audio clip. Earlier, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Baradar met with the Chinese FM Wang Yi in the Qatari capital and discussed bilateral political and economic issues. Also read | 'We welcome this': What China stands to benefit from rise of Taliban in Afghanistan According to the Islamic Emirate's political office in Doha, Abdul Ghani Baradar assured Beijing that Afghan territory will never be used against any country and the Chinese delegation in return pledged to not interfere in Afghanistan’s affairs. “Wang emphasised that the ‘East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an international terrorist organisation listed by the UN Security Council, not only poses a real threat to China’s national security and territorial integrity, but also jeopardises the domestic stability and long-term stability in Afghanistan,” Xinhua said. China blames the ETIM of inciting separatism in Xinjiang province. China's foreign ministry said the talks will "provide an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on Afghanistan’s situation and issues of joint concern." (With inputs from agencies)

China meets Taliban in Doha, offers $1mn aid in exchange for cooperation in neutralising terrorists

Israel has outlawed six prominent Palestinian human rights groups by declaring them terrorist organisations. The move has cast a shadow on Prime Minister Bennett's government and the future of the Abraham accord in West Asia.

Israel outlaws six Palestinian human right groups, alleging terrorism

Indian home minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, this comes at a crucial time when terror attacks have increased against the civilians in the valley.

Jammu and Kashmir: Amit Shah to visit CRPF camp in Pulwama

Fifty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams, special sniper units, drones and sharpshooters have been deployed ahead of Indian home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit, to the northern Jammu and Kashmir state, which has witnessed a spate of civilian killings by the terrorists recently.

Notably, this will be the minister’s first visit to the Union Territory since its formation following the scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

Shah will arrive in Srinagar on Saturday accompanied by the other senior officials of the home ministry, heads of most of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Temporary checkpoints and new bunkers have been created in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. For the first time since 1990s, women CRPF personnel have been deployed in the city centre, Lal Chowk, and other areas to frisk women.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorists-involved-in-killing-migrant-workers-in-jk-eliminated-police-422491">Terrorists involved in killing migrant workers in J&amp;K eliminated: Police</a>

The authorities have also suspended mobile internet in some parts of the Valley as a precautionary measure.

The visit comes in the backdrop of heightened terrorism activity in the state. Eleven civilians—most from the minority communities, including migrant labourers from other states—were shot down in targeted killings by the terrorists this month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-13-terrorists-killed-in-9-encounters-after-civilian-killings-421340">J&amp;K: 13 terrorists killed in 9 encounters after civilian killings</a>

The visit also comes amidst ongoing anti-terror operations in Poonch forests, where nine Army personnel were killed, increasing use of drones by Pakistan to ferry weapons and explosives along the Line of Control border, and attacks on security establishments in the region.

As per the itinerary schedule, Shah will hold security review meetings with armed forces and will meet the families of those killed in the recent civilian killings.

Apart from that, Amit Shah will reportedly inaugurate a direct flight between Srinagar and Sharjah on the first day of his visit and lay foundation stones of two medical colleges.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/19-year-old-pakistani-terrorist-ali-babar-patra-surrendered-in-jk-416600">19-year-old Pakistani terrorist, Ali Babar Patra, surrendered in J&amp;K</a>

He is then scheduled to chair a meeting of the Unified Command to review the security situation on the ground.

On Sunday, Amit Shah will travel to Jammu where he will address a public rally.

On Monday, the Union Home Minister is likely to meet sarpanches (village heads) to address their concerns before flying out.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fifty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams, special sniper units, drones and sharpshooters have been deployed ahead of Indian home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit, to the northern Jammu and Kashmir state, which has witnessed a spate of civilian killings by the terrorists recently.

Fifty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams, special sniper units, drones and sharpshooters have been deployed ahead of Indian home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit, to the northern Jammu and Kashmir state, which has witnessed a spate of civilian killings by the terrorists recently. Notably, this will be the minister’s first visit to the Union Territory since its formation following the scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Shah will arrive in Srinagar on Saturday accompanied by the other senior officials of the home ministry, heads of most of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Temporary checkpoints and new bunkers have been created in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. For the first time since 1990s, women CRPF personnel have been deployed in the city centre, Lal Chowk, and other areas to frisk women. Also read | Terrorists involved in killing migrant workers in J&K eliminated: Police The authorities have also suspended mobile internet in some parts of the Valley as a precautionary measure. The visit comes in the backdrop of heightened terrorism activity in the state. Eleven civilians—most from the minority communities, including migrant labourers from other states—were shot down in targeted killings by the terrorists this month. Also read | J&K: 13 terrorists killed in 9 encounters after civilian killings The visit also comes amidst ongoing anti-terror operations in Poonch forests, where nine Army personnel were killed, increasing use of drones by Pakistan to ferry weapons and explosives along the Line of Control border, and attacks on security establishments in the region. As per the itinerary schedule, Shah will hold security review meetings with armed forces and will meet the families of those killed in the recent civilian killings. Apart from that, Amit Shah will reportedly inaugurate a direct flight between Srinagar and Sharjah on the first day of his visit and lay foundation stones of two medical colleges. Also read | 19-year-old Pakistani terrorist, Ali Babar Patra, surrendered in J&K He is then scheduled to chair a meeting of the Unified Command to review the security situation on the ground. On Sunday, Amit Shah will travel to Jammu where he will address a public rally. On Monday, the Union Home Minister is likely to meet sarpanches (village heads) to address their concerns before flying out. (With inputs from agencies)

India’s Jammu and Kashmir turns into fortress ahead of home minister Amit Shah’s 3-day visit

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday.

The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-sours-on-syrians-but-not-in-this-sleepy-town-jolted-awake-422524">Turkey sours on Syrians, but not in this sleepy town, jolted awake</a>

"A US airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," said Central Command spokesman Army Major John Rigsbee in a statement.

There were no known casualties from the strike, he said, adding it was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft.

"The removal of this al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks," he said.

At the end of September the Pentagon killed Salim Abu-Ahmad, another senior Al-Qaeda commander in Syria, in an airstrike near Idlib in the country's northwest.

He had been responsible for "planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks," according to Centcom.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/car-bomb-kills-six-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-419945">Car bomb kills six in Syria's Afrin: Monitor</a>

"Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations," Rigsbee said.

The ongoing war in Syria has created a complex battlefield involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists.&nbsp;

The war has killed around half a million people since starting in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday. The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted.

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday. The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted. Also Read | Turkey sours on Syrians, but not in this sleepy town, jolted awake "A US airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," said Central Command spokesman Army Major John Rigsbee in a statement. There were no known casualties from the strike, he said, adding it was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft. "The removal of this al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks," he said. At the end of September the Pentagon killed Salim Abu-Ahmad, another senior Al-Qaeda commander in Syria, in an airstrike near Idlib in the country's northwest. He had been responsible for "planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks," according to Centcom. Also Read | Car bomb kills six in Syria's Afrin: Monitor "Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations," Rigsbee said. The ongoing war in Syria has created a complex battlefield involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists. The war has killed around half a million people since starting in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

Senior al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike in Syria: Pentagon

India is participating in the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan on 20th October, 2021. The meeting will be attended by the representatives of 10 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in Central Asia and a high-level delegation from Taliban.&nbsp;

This is the first meeting of the Moscow Format being held since the Taliban captured power by force on 15th August this year, and also the first collective interaction between the Taliban and regional players since then. The meeting therefore should provide an important opportunity to convey the expectations of the international community from Taliban and listen to the Taliban’s perspective and if possible lay a road map for the stabilisation of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The invitation to India and India’s acceptance are significant in more than one sense. For the first time India would be face-to-face with Taliban delegation within the Moscow format, and it is second &nbsp;officially &nbsp;acknowledged interaction with Taliban since the formation of an interim government in Kabul.

The first interaction took place when Taliban’s representative Stanekzai met India’s Ambassador to Qatar, at the Indian Embassy in Doha on August 31. The meeting was projected as one with limited objective of the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from Afghanistan and to convey India’s concerns over the presence of anti-India terror outfits in Afghanistan.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/two-months-of-taliban-20-challenges-and-threats-420937">Two months of Taliban 2.0: Challenges and threats</a>

It is noteworthy that India has been invited to participate in a dialogue with Taliban, despite the known fact that India has questioned the legitimacy of the interim government in Kabul, and expressed its serious apprehensions over the possible misuse of the Afghan soil for acts of terrorism in the region and beyond.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/why-is-taliban-interior-minister-haqqanis-face-being-blurred-in-public-photographs-422333">Why is Taliban interior minister Haqqani's face being blurred in public photographs?</a>

The invitation therefore reflects the acknowledgement on the part of other regional players that India can play an important role in the stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan, and it cannot be excluded from any collective processes which aim at handling the situation arising out of the Taliban’s take-over.

From India’s perspective, the participation in Moscow Format is justified for more than one reason.&nbsp;

Firstly, the agenda of the Moscow Format meeting as revealed by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, is in tune with India’s own priorities and also in line with the demands placed on Taliban through the UNSC Resolution 2593 of 30th August.&nbsp;

For instance, Lavrov was reported to have said,"We encourage them (Taliban) &nbsp;to live up to the promises they made when they came to power, including ensuring that the government is inclusive not only along the ethnic lines, but also along the political lines, so that the full range of political beliefs of the society is reflected in the government's composition”. &nbsp;

He further said that the meeting would focus on the developments related to the political and security situation in Afghanistan, and on the consolidation of the efforts by the international community to prevent humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Significantly, Lavrov is also reported to have said that the recognition of the Taliban-led government in Kabul was not on the agenda.

Further, and perhaps more importantly, India remained by and large excluded from the processes which were meant to shape the future road-map of Afghanistan, even though India made a valuable contribution towards the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan by investing over $3bn in nearly 500 big and small infrastructure projects during the tenure of the elected governments in Afghanistan. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-us-military-presence-in-the-middle-east-the-less-the-better-420728">Opinion | US military presence in the Middle East: The less the better</a>

Despite being a strategic partner of the USA, India was not kept informed on certain aspects of the deal which the Trump Administration struck with the Taliban on 29th February, 2020. Being a part of the Moscow Format therefore offers an opportunity to stay in the game and remain relevant in a strategic space where India’s adversaries namely Pakistan and China appear to have an edge at this point of time.

It is abundantly clear that India has no intention to sit on the fence and watch in silence, which can only deprive it of the chance to influence the future course of developments in Afghanistan. It must be underlined in this context that India has reportedly invited the National Security Advisors of the countries in the region including China, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan etc. for a meeting on Afghanistan in November this year.

In short India appears to have taken a right decision to participate in the Moscow Format meeting; it would be erroneous to interpret it as softening of India’s attitude towards Taliban or dilution of its principled stand or as a prelude to its recognition of the Taliban-led government in Kabul. It may, however, not be easy for India to push its point of view in the presence of Pakistan and China. The absence of the USA (which has decided to pull out of the meeting for the time being) would also mean the absence of support from a like-minded partner, though it would not be easy for the adversaries also to sideline India, considering that India can persist on its own and also count on the support from Russia and Iran and some Central Asian countries.

It would be interesting to watch the outcome of the Moscow Format meeting even if it is unlikely to resolve all the issues at hand.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

India is participating in the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan on 20th October, 2021. The meeting will be attended by the representatives of 10 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in Central Asia and a high-level delegation from Taliban.

India is participating in the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan on 20th October, 2021. The meeting will be attended by the representatives of 10 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in Central Asia and a high-level delegation from Taliban. This is the first meeting of the Moscow Format being held since the Taliban captured power by force on 15th August this year, and also the first collective interaction between the Taliban and regional players since then. The meeting therefore should provide an important opportunity to convey the expectations of the international community from Taliban and listen to the Taliban’s perspective and if possible lay a road map for the stabilisation of Afghanistan. The invitation to India and India’s acceptance are significant in more than one sense. For the first time India would be face-to-face with Taliban delegation within the Moscow format, and it is second officially acknowledged interaction with Taliban since the formation of an interim government in Kabul. The first interaction took place when Taliban’s representative Stanekzai met India’s Ambassador to Qatar, at the Indian Embassy in Doha on August 31. The meeting was projected as one with limited objective of the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from Afghanistan and to convey India’s concerns over the presence of anti-India terror outfits in Afghanistan. Also Read | Two months of Taliban 2.0: Challenges and threats It is noteworthy that India has been invited to participate in a dialogue with Taliban, despite the known fact that India has questioned the legitimacy of the interim government in Kabul, and expressed its serious apprehensions over the possible misuse of the Afghan soil for acts of terrorism in the region and beyond. Also Read | Why is Taliban interior minister Haqqani's face being blurred in public photographs? The invitation therefore reflects the acknowledgement on the part of other regional players that India can play an important role in the stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan, and it cannot be excluded from any collective processes which aim at handling the situation arising out of the Taliban’s take-over. From India’s perspective, the participation in Moscow Format is justified for more than one reason. Firstly, the agenda of the Moscow Format meeting as revealed by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, is in tune with India’s own priorities and also in line with the demands placed on Taliban through the UNSC Resolution 2593 of 30th August. For instance, Lavrov was reported to have said,"We encourage them (Taliban) to live up to the promises they made when they came to power, including ensuring that the government is inclusive not only along the ethnic lines, but also along the political lines, so that the full range of political beliefs of the society is reflected in the government's composition”. He further said that the meeting would focus on the developments related to the political and security situation in Afghanistan, and on the consolidation of the efforts by the international community to prevent humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Significantly, Lavrov is also reported to have said that the recognition of the Taliban-led government in Kabul was not on the agenda. Further, and perhaps more importantly, India remained by and large excluded from the processes which were meant to shape the future road-map of Afghanistan, even though India made a valuable contribution towards the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan by investing over $3bn in nearly 500 big and small infrastructure projects during the tenure of the elected governments in Afghanistan. Also Read | Opinion | US military presence in the Middle East: The less the better Despite being a strategic partner of the USA, India was not kept informed on certain aspects of the deal which the Trump Administration struck with the Taliban on 29th February, 2020. Being a part of the Moscow Format therefore offers an opportunity to stay in the game and remain relevant in a strategic space where India’s adversaries namely Pakistan and China appear to have an edge at this point of time. It is abundantly clear that India has no intention to sit on the fence and watch in silence, which can only deprive it of the chance to influence the future course of developments in Afghanistan. It must be underlined in this context that India has reportedly invited the National Security Advisors of the countries in the region including China, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan etc. for a meeting on Afghanistan in November this year. In short India appears to have taken a right decision to participate in the Moscow Format meeting; it would be erroneous to interpret it as softening of India’s attitude towards Taliban or dilution of its principled stand or as a prelude to its recognition of the Taliban-led government in Kabul. It may, however, not be easy for India to push its point of view in the presence of Pakistan and China. The absence of the USA (which has decided to pull out of the meeting for the time being) would also mean the absence of support from a like-minded partner, though it would not be easy for the adversaries also to sideline India, considering that India can persist on its own and also count on the support from Russia and Iran and some Central Asian countries. It would be interesting to watch the outcome of the Moscow Format meeting even if it is unlikely to resolve all the issues at hand. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Moscow talks are a chance for India to influence Afghan situation

Ahead of crucial Moscow format talks involving Taliban on Wednesday, the Indian envoy to Russia DB Venkatesh Varma has said both India and Russia "recognize common threats emanating from Afghanistan probably more than any other set of countries". Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan involves 10 countries, including India, Pakistan, China and will focus on humanitarian crisis emerging in the country and formation of an inclusive government. A joint statement will be adopted after the meeting that is to start around 12 noon local time.

"India and Russia, I believe, may have travelled along different roads - we were not part of the Doha &amp; Troika processes but our destination is common," said the Indian envoy as he spoke to Russia's Kommersant newspaper.

When it comes to the ongoing developments in Afghanistan. Both India and Russia have not recognized the govt announced by Taliban as worries mount over humanitarian crisis emerging in the country with the onset of the winters.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sirajuddin-haqqani-top-taliban-minister-praises-suicide-bombers-422088">Sirajuddin Haqqani, top Taliban minister, praises suicide bombers</a>

Since the fall of Afghan govt led by Ashraf Ghani and Taliban takeover of the country in August, both the countries have had number of conversations on the issues. Russian President Putin spoke to Prime Minister Modi in August following which Secretary of the Russian Security Council General Patrushev visited India and had discussions with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Asked if Taliban will wipe out terrorism from Afghan territory, envoy Varma said, "In the last several months, unfortunately we have seen that Afghanistan is a story of broken promises. Whether the Taliban will stand by their commitments and back words with deeds - we will wait and see."

International concern has been mounting over Afghan territory being used by terror groups. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 passed under India's presidency of the security council in August specially mentioned that the country's territory should not be used to shelter and train terrorists among other things.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/amid-soaring-fuel-prices-and-dwindling-cash-reserves-in-afghanistan-taliban-say-all-is-well-421995">Amid soaring fuel prices and dwindling cash reserves in Afghanistan, Taliban say ‘all is well’</a>

Interestingly, the Indian Envoy pointed out how, "India was not allowed to participate in" in Troika plus talks on Afghanistan involving Russia, US, China, plus Pakistan. It is well known that Islamabad was not keen on New Delhi being present in the talks led by Russia.&nbsp;

He also highlighted while Troika plus talks and Doha process "pursued certain objectives" when it comes to Afghanistan "reality turned out to be quite different from what was originally envisaged", tangentially referring to their failure.

Meanwhile, in first official confirmation by the Indian side, the envoy said, "India will be hosting a high-level meeting of NSAs of regional countries in Afghanistan in November".&nbsp;

India has sent invite to Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and other countries in the region for the talks which is seen as a significant outreach by New Delhi on the issue.

Ahead of crucial Moscow format talks involving Taliban on Wednesday, the Indian envoy to Russia DB Venkatesh Varma has said both India and Russia "recognize common threats emanating from Afghanistan probably more than any other set of countries".

Ahead of crucial Moscow format talks involving Taliban on Wednesday, the Indian envoy to Russia DB Venkatesh Varma has said both India and Russia "recognize common threats emanating from Afghanistan probably more than any other set of countries". Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan involves 10 countries, including India, Pakistan, China and will focus on humanitarian crisis emerging in the country and formation of an inclusive government. A joint statement will be adopted after the meeting that is to start around 12 noon local time. "India and Russia, I believe, may have travelled along different roads - we were not part of the Doha & Troika processes but our destination is common," said the Indian envoy as he spoke to Russia's Kommersant newspaper. When it comes to the ongoing developments in Afghanistan. Both India and Russia have not recognized the govt announced by Taliban as worries mount over humanitarian crisis emerging in the country with the onset of the winters. Also Read | Sirajuddin Haqqani, top Taliban minister, praises suicide bombers Since the fall of Afghan govt led by Ashraf Ghani and Taliban takeover of the country in August, both the countries have had number of conversations on the issues. Russian President Putin spoke to Prime Minister Modi in August following which Secretary of the Russian Security Council General Patrushev visited India and had discussions with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Asked if Taliban will wipe out terrorism from Afghan territory, envoy Varma said, "In the last several months, unfortunately we have seen that Afghanistan is a story of broken promises. Whether the Taliban will stand by their commitments and back words with deeds - we will wait and see." International concern has been mounting over Afghan territory being used by terror groups. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 passed under India's presidency of the security council in August specially mentioned that the country's territory should not be used to shelter and train terrorists among other things. Also Read | Amid soaring fuel prices and dwindling cash reserves in Afghanistan, Taliban say ‘all is well’ Interestingly, the Indian Envoy pointed out how, "India was not allowed to participate in" in Troika plus talks on Afghanistan involving Russia, US, China, plus Pakistan. It is well known that Islamabad was not keen on New Delhi being present in the talks led by Russia. He also highlighted while Troika plus talks and Doha process "pursued certain objectives" when it comes to Afghanistan "reality turned out to be quite different from what was originally envisaged", tangentially referring to their failure. Meanwhile, in first official confirmation by the Indian side, the envoy said, "India will be hosting a high-level meeting of NSAs of regional countries in Afghanistan in November". India has sent invite to Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and other countries in the region for the talks which is seen as a significant outreach by New Delhi on the issue.

India, Russia recognise common threats coming from Afghanistan: Indian envoy to Russia

In yet another terror incident in the Kashmir valley, two civilians were shot dead and one injured by terrorists in Kulgam. The incident comes just a day after 2 civilians were killed in Srinagar and Pulwama raising fears of terror resurgence in the valley.

Jammu & Kashmir: Two civilians shot dead, one injured by terrorists in Kulgam

Jammu & Kashmir: Two civilians shot dead by terrorists in Kulgam

Two civilians shot, one injured in terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam

terrorism

Terrorism, News on Terrorism, stories on Terrorism, articles on Terrorism, Terrorism stories at Wion, Terrorism news, Terrorism latest news