India asked Pakistan to end support to cross-border terror and reminded it how it has hosted terrorists including Osama Bin Laden.&nbsp;

In a sharply-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Pakistani leaders have never hidden the fact that it has become a factory for producing terrorists. India is not the only neighbour to be targeted as underlined by the statements of countries similarly targeted. Distant parts of the world have seen the terror trail lead back to Pakistan."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistani-troops-used-heavy-artillery-during-fridays-shelling-in-jammu-and-kashmir-bsf-officer-343303">Pakistani troops used heavy artillery during Friday's shelling in Jammu and Kashmir: BSF officer</a>

Highlighting the role Pakistan has played in supporting terrorism, New Delhi recalled, how Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has called Osama bin laden a ‘martyr’ in Pakistani parliament and admitted the presence of 40,000 terrorists in his country.&nbsp;

New Delhi also pointed out how recently Pakistani Science and Technology Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain "proudly claimed involvement and success of Pakistan, led by its Prime Minister" in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Indian soldiers died.&nbsp;

The MEA reaction comes after the Pakistani govt claimed that India and Afghanistan have been involved in many incidents in the country.&nbsp;

Dismissing the "futile anti-India propaganda exercise", MEA said, "the so-called claims of ‘proof’ against India enjoy no credibility, are fabricated and represent figments of imagination."

Adding, "This desperate attempt will find few takers as the international community is aware of Pakistan’s tactics and &nbsp;proof of its terror sponsorship has been admitted by none other than its own leadership."

Interestingly, Pakistan's allegations come even as the country increased it ceasefire violations at the line of control. 
&nbsp; 
Earlier in the day Afghanistan also dismissed Pakistani claims. The Afghan foreign ministry "strongly" rejected the "allegations of the spokesman of the Pakistani Army claiming the use of Afghan territory against that country."&nbsp;

It reminded Islamabad that the "most important foreign policy priority" of the Afghan government is that "Afghanistan playing the role of a center of regional and international cooperation based on common interests, especially in the fight against terrorism".

India asked Pakistan to end support to cross-border terror and reminded it how it has hosted terrorists including Osama Bin Laden. In a sharply-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Pakistani leaders have never hidden the fact that it has become a factory for producing terrorists.

India asked Pakistan to end support to cross-border terror and reminded it how it has hosted terrorists including Osama Bin Laden. In a sharply-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Pakistani leaders have never hidden the fact that it has become a factory for producing terrorists. India is not the only neighbour to be targeted as underlined by the statements of countries similarly targeted. Distant parts of the world have seen the terror trail lead back to Pakistan." Also read | Pakistani troops used heavy artillery during Friday's shelling in Jammu and Kashmir: BSF officer Highlighting the role Pakistan has played in supporting terrorism, New Delhi recalled, how Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has called Osama bin laden a ‘martyr’ in Pakistani parliament and admitted the presence of 40,000 terrorists in his country. New Delhi also pointed out how recently Pakistani Science and Technology Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain "proudly claimed involvement and success of Pakistan, led by its Prime Minister" in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Indian soldiers died. The MEA reaction comes after the Pakistani govt claimed that India and Afghanistan have been involved in many incidents in the country. Dismissing the "futile anti-India propaganda exercise", MEA said, "the so-called claims of ‘proof’ against India enjoy no credibility, are fabricated and represent figments of imagination." Adding, "This desperate attempt will find few takers as the international community is aware of Pakistan’s tactics and proof of its terror sponsorship has been admitted by none other than its own leadership." Interestingly, Pakistan's allegations come even as the country increased it ceasefire violations at the line of control. Earlier in the day Afghanistan also dismissed Pakistani claims. The Afghan foreign ministry "strongly" rejected the "allegations of the spokesman of the Pakistani Army claiming the use of Afghan territory against that country." It reminded Islamabad that the "most important foreign policy priority" of the Afghan government is that "Afghanistan playing the role of a center of regional and international cooperation based on common interests, especially in the fight against terrorism".

End support to cross-border terror: India tells Pakistan

Afghanistan on Saturday "strongly" rejected Islamabad's claims that its territory was used to carry out terror activities against Pakistan.&nbsp;

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan strongly rejects the allegations of the spokesperson of the Pakistani Army claiming the use of Afghan territory against that country," a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-troops-are-still-leaving-but-afghans-hope-biden-will-help-342948">US troops are still leaving, but Afghans hope Biden will help</a>

It further said that its territory has been a "major victim" of terrorism and therefore it is committed to combating all forms of terrorism "without discrimination" and would not let its territory "used for destructive activities against other countries".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-give-befitting-reply-if-provoked-indian-pm-modi-at-longewala-post-343136">India will give befitting reply if provoked: Indian PM Modi at Longewala Post</a>

This comes a day after Pakistan accused India of using Afghanistan to carry out terrorist activities against Pakistan at a joint press conference led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and army spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikhar.&nbsp;

Weeks ago, Pakistan failed to convince the United Nations Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to strike off its name from the terror-financing grey list.&nbsp;

FATF, a global terror financing watchdog, has said in its latest meeting that Pakistan has made little progress to establish the mechanism to tackle terror financing and money laundering. &nbsp;

Afghanistan on Saturday "strongly" rejected Islamabad's claims that its territory was used to carry out terror activities against Pakistan. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan strongly rejects the allegations of the spokesperson of the Pakistani Army claiming the use of Afghan territory against that country," a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Afghanistan on Saturday "strongly" rejected Islamabad's claims that its territory was used to carry out terror activities against Pakistan. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan strongly rejects the allegations of the spokesperson of the Pakistani Army claiming the use of Afghan territory against that country," a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Also read | US troops are still leaving, but Afghans hope Biden will help It further said that its territory has been a "major victim" of terrorism and therefore it is committed to combating all forms of terrorism "without discrimination" and would not let its territory "used for destructive activities against other countries". Also read | India will give befitting reply if provoked: Indian PM Modi at Longewala Post This comes a day after Pakistan accused India of using Afghanistan to carry out terrorist activities against Pakistan at a joint press conference led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and army spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikhar. Weeks ago, Pakistan failed to convince the United Nations Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to strike off its name from the terror-financing grey list. FATF, a global terror financing watchdog, has said in its latest meeting that Pakistan has made little progress to establish the mechanism to tackle terror financing and money laundering.

Afghanistan 'strongly' rejects claims of its territory being used for terror acts against Pakistan

From France to Austria, European Nations are proposing laws to fight political Islam and counter the terror threat, but is Europe missing the root cause of the problem? Why is it not cracking down on terror exporters like Pakistan? WION's Palki Sharma makes a case.

Gravitas: Austria proposes sweeping laws against Radical Islam

From Austria to Germany and even in Italy - major European powers have made laws and taken measures to tackle the threat of radical Islam. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the demand from leaders for sweeping powers may be justified in the fight against terrorism.

Gravitas: Why European countries have specific laws to tackle radical Islam

On October 29, France was attacked. It is now passing a bill to regulate Islam. Now, on November 02, Vienna was attacked. It is now proposing anti-terrorism measures.

Both the European countries are looking at regulating imams, and both the laws will be tabled next month.

However, whether or not these were necessary is still a debate as there would have been no need for these laws if Europe had not waited for terror to strike.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-group-claims-responsibility-for-saudi-cemetery-attack-342740">Islamic State group claims responsibility for Saudi cemetery attack</a>

These are not "preventive measures", but reactions instead. The fight against terrorism cannot be a reflex action. What countries need to do is to get to the root of the problem and understand where the problem stems from.

Governments that use terror as a state policy tool, such as Pakistan, need to be called out and the world needs to cut ties from such countries. It is here that the world needs to apply maximum pressure and put the machinery we have to use, i.e., the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and the UN Security Council.

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The state sponsors of terror are sitting on crucial panels of world bodies and being&nbsp;re-elected for new terms.

In 2018, 33,000 people lost their lives to terrorism. The total&nbsp;number of terror attacks have been nearly 8,000. Two years later,&nbsp;the world re-elected the biggest terror exporter to the UN Human Rights Council: Pakistan;&nbsp;169 countries voted for it.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-countries-are-tackling-islamic-extremism-with-the-help-of-laws-342752" hreflang="en">How countries are tackling Islamic extremism with the help of laws</a>

Terror knows no boundaries, and&nbsp;India made this very clear to Europe during the Foreign Secretary, Harshvardhan Shringla's visit to Germany earlier this month. Countries exporting terror must be held accountable, and those supporting such countries need to be pulled up such as Turkey and China. This list should include&nbsp;the--terror apologists too such as Mahathir Mohammad, Imran khan and&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The terror attacks such as 26/11 and 9/11 cannot happen with the backing of terror groups by Riyadh and Pakistan. This month, we will have completed 12 years since the Mumbai attacks, but the world has failed to punish Pakistan for that.

So when the leaders of Europe meet on Friday, here's something they should note.&nbsp;Austria will not be able to shut out terror just by closing some mosques. It needs to close the door on the states funding the radical infrastructure. The&nbsp;same applies to France.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-village-beheadings-islamic-state-intensifies-attacks-in-mozambique-342615" hreflang="en">With village beheadings, Islamic State intensifies attacks in Mozambique</a>

Between December 2016 and August 2018, France shut down 20 mosques that&nbsp;were suspected of preaching a radical interpretation of Islam. However, that has not prevented terror attacks on French soil.&nbsp;France saw nearly 30 attacks between 2016 and 2020.

Fighting terrorism is not all that simple.&nbsp;No register on Imams and&nbsp;no&nbsp;lock on prayer houses will be able to solve the problem completely.

There were three commonalities between the three young men who recently attacked France: all&nbsp;of them were young, isolated and self-radicalised. It was not just the work of radical imams in mosques. It happened on the internet. The world needs to account for the changing nature of terror and look out for states that are radicalising the youth through social media and the states that create an environment of hate in the name of religion.

A French magazine republished some cartoons. The Pakistani Prime Minister gave hateful speeches. Next thing we know, there were terror attacks in Paris. One of the terrorists, Zaher Hassan Mahmood was a Pakistani immigrant. He had watched videos of protesters brandishing knives in response to the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. So, he&nbsp;went to buy a butcher knife and went on a stabbing spree.

If after all this, the European leaders continue to look inwards, then they can go on legislating for as long as they want. If they don't get to the root of the problem or don't curb terror funding and&nbsp;don't strike at states that sponsor terrorism, they will fail to make much headway in fighting Islamism.

On October 29, France was attacked. It is now passing a bill to regulate Islam. Now, on November 02, Vienna was attacked. It is now proposing anti-terrorism measures.

On October 29, France was attacked. It is now passing a bill to regulate Islam. Now, on November 02, Vienna was attacked. It is now proposing anti-terrorism measures. Both the European countries are looking at regulating imams, and both the laws will be tabled next month. However, whether or not these were necessary is still a debate as there would have been no need for these laws if Europe had not waited for terror to strike. Also read| Islamic State group claims responsibility for Saudi cemetery attack These are not "preventive measures", but reactions instead. The fight against terrorism cannot be a reflex action. What countries need to do is to get to the root of the problem and understand where the problem stems from. Governments that use terror as a state policy tool, such as Pakistan, need to be called out and the world needs to cut ties from such countries. It is here that the world needs to apply maximum pressure and put the machinery we have to use, i.e., the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and the UN Security Council. × The state sponsors of terror are sitting on crucial panels of world bodies and being re-elected for new terms. In 2018, 33,000 people lost their lives to terrorism. The total number of terror attacks have been nearly 8,000. Two years later, the world re-elected the biggest terror exporter to the UN Human Rights Council: Pakistan; 169 countries voted for it. Also read| How countries are tackling Islamic extremism with the help of laws Terror knows no boundaries, and India made this very clear to Europe during the Foreign Secretary, Harshvardhan Shringla's visit to Germany earlier this month. Countries exporting terror must be held accountable, and those supporting such countries need to be pulled up such as Turkey and China. This list should include the--terror apologists too such as Mahathir Mohammad, Imran khan and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The terror attacks such as 26/11 and 9/11 cannot happen with the backing of terror groups by Riyadh and Pakistan. This month, we will have completed 12 years since the Mumbai attacks, but the world has failed to punish Pakistan for that. So when the leaders of Europe meet on Friday, here's something they should note. Austria will not be able to shut out terror just by closing some mosques. It needs to close the door on the states funding the radical infrastructure. The same applies to France. Also read| With village beheadings, Islamic State intensifies attacks in Mozambique Between December 2016 and August 2018, France shut down 20 mosques that were suspected of preaching a radical interpretation of Islam. However, that has not prevented terror attacks on French soil. France saw nearly 30 attacks between 2016 and 2020. Fighting terrorism is not all that simple. No register on Imams and no lock on prayer houses will be able to solve the problem completely. There were three commonalities between the three young men who recently attacked France: all of them were young, isolated and self-radicalised. It was not just the work of radical imams in mosques. It happened on the internet. The world needs to account for the changing nature of terror and look out for states that are radicalising the youth through social media and the states that create an environment of hate in the name of religion. A French magazine republished some cartoons. The Pakistani Prime Minister gave hateful speeches. Next thing we know, there were terror attacks in Paris. One of the terrorists, Zaher Hassan Mahmood was a Pakistani immigrant. He had watched videos of protesters brandishing knives in response to the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. So, he went to buy a butcher knife and went on a stabbing spree. If after all this, the European leaders continue to look inwards, then they can go on legislating for as long as they want. If they don't get to the root of the problem or don't curb terror funding and don't strike at states that sponsor terrorism, they will fail to make much headway in fighting Islamism.

As Europe proposes anti-terrorism measures, who will control state-funded terrorism?

Austria is not alone in initiating a crackdown on terrorism. Across Europe, governments have woken up to the threat of Islamism and are working on a common draft to control radicals. 
&nbsp; 
Since the beheading in Paris, the EU leadership has been talking tough and now they have begun to act.&nbsp;Europe's crackdown has begun, the endgame is to root out Islamist terrorism with an&nbsp;audacious goal, but one that the leadership is confident of achieving.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-countries-are-tackling-islamic-extremism-with-the-help-of-laws-342752" hreflang="en">How countries are tackling Islamic extremism with the help of laws</a>

Part one of the plan is to regulate borders. Both France and Germany have called for tighter control. One way of doing this is the entry/exit system, replacing passports with automatic monitoring.

"I want to mention the entry-exit system or exit-entry system in the Schengen area that should be ready by 2022. This is vitally necessary to know who comes in and who leaves the Schengen area. And we also need this information about countries with whom we have visa-free travel agreements,"&nbsp;said German chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Asylum is the other big issue. During the war against ISIS, thousands of refugees sought asylum in Europe and many were granted. Half a decade later, Europe is reeling under extremism and the French President&nbsp;believes there is a link.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-europe-proposes-anti-terrorism-measures-who-will-control-state-funded-terrorism-342758" hreflang="en">As Europe proposes anti-terrorism measures, who will control state-funded terrorism?</a>

"In all our countries, we are witnessing a misuse of the right to asylum, the right of asylum is made for peace fighters, those who take a risk for their political choice in their country. And today we see more and more people asking for asylum in Europe and coming from countries that are not at war,"&nbsp;said the French President Emmanuel Macron.

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That's one part of the plan, which is to limit entry into the European Union. However, what about extremist elements who are already inside? Most countries in Europe are preparing a terror watchlist. It includes people who are at risk of radicalisation. France has at least 8,000 people on its watchlist.

The crackdown also extends to the internet. It has become fertile ground for radicalisation and the EU wants tech giants to do more.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-group-claims-responsibility-for-saudi-cemetery-attack-342740">Islamic State group claims responsibility for Saudi cemetery attack</a>

"It is clear that the large platforms can't keep an eye on all their content at once but the moment they are given evidence that there is something on their sites that is criminal or damaging they have to react straight away and quickly," said EU Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen.

In other words, they&nbsp;want access to encrypted messages such as WhatsApp. This plan is borderline unconstitutional and it cuts at the root of privacy and freedom. So, you can expect a lot of backlash from tech giants and also ordinary EU citizens.

The&nbsp;European ministers are meeting on Friday with their proposals. The French president wants to suspend free movement during security alerts, and getting 27 countries to agree to these proposals will not be easy, but&nbsp;Europe does not have a choice. The bloc is so well integrated that the only way they can fight this threat is together.

Austria is not alone in initiating a crackdown on terrorism. Across Europe, governments have woken up to the threat of Islamism and are working on a common draft to control radicals.

Austria is not alone in initiating a crackdown on terrorism. Across Europe, governments have woken up to the threat of Islamism and are working on a common draft to control radicals. Since the beheading in Paris, the EU leadership has been talking tough and now they have begun to act. Europe's crackdown has begun, the endgame is to root out Islamist terrorism with an audacious goal, but one that the leadership is confident of achieving. Also read| How countries are tackling Islamic extremism with the help of laws Part one of the plan is to regulate borders. Both France and Germany have called for tighter control. One way of doing this is the entry/exit system, replacing passports with automatic monitoring. "I want to mention the entry-exit system or exit-entry system in the Schengen area that should be ready by 2022. This is vitally necessary to know who comes in and who leaves the Schengen area. And we also need this information about countries with whom we have visa-free travel agreements," said German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Asylum is the other big issue. During the war against ISIS, thousands of refugees sought asylum in Europe and many were granted. Half a decade later, Europe is reeling under extremism and the French President believes there is a link. Also read| As Europe proposes anti-terrorism measures, who will control state-funded terrorism? "In all our countries, we are witnessing a misuse of the right to asylum, the right of asylum is made for peace fighters, those who take a risk for their political choice in their country. And today we see more and more people asking for asylum in Europe and coming from countries that are not at war," said the French President Emmanuel Macron. × That's one part of the plan, which is to limit entry into the European Union. However, what about extremist elements who are already inside? Most countries in Europe are preparing a terror watchlist. It includes people who are at risk of radicalisation. France has at least 8,000 people on its watchlist. The crackdown also extends to the internet. It has become fertile ground for radicalisation and the EU wants tech giants to do more. Also read| Islamic State group claims responsibility for Saudi cemetery attack "It is clear that the large platforms can't keep an eye on all their content at once but the moment they are given evidence that there is something on their sites that is criminal or damaging they have to react straight away and quickly," said EU Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen. In other words, they want access to encrypted messages such as WhatsApp. This plan is borderline unconstitutional and it cuts at the root of privacy and freedom. So, you can expect a lot of backlash from tech giants and also ordinary EU citizens. The European ministers are meeting on Friday with their proposals. The French president wants to suspend free movement during security alerts, and getting 27 countries to agree to these proposals will not be easy, but Europe does not have a choice. The bloc is so well integrated that the only way they can fight this threat is together.

Europe wakes up to threat of terrorism, but do they have the right approach?

After lecturing the world on secularism, E.U. is now rushing to regulate Islam. What took Europe so long to realise there's a difference between secularism and appeasement? WION's Palki Sharma makes a case.

Gravitas: Europe moves to curb terror

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top leaders of the SCO member-states are set to deliberate on a plethora of pressing issues, including ways to deal with adverse economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and rising threat of terrorism, at a virtual summit of the bloc on Tuesday.

This is for the first time Modi and Xi are expected to come face-to-face, albeit virtually, since the border standoff between India and China began in eastern Ladakh in early May.

Government sources said, the summit is expected to focus on countering the spread of terrorism including use of the internet for spreading radicalisation, as also issues relating to trade and economic activities.

Beijing-headquartered Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

The annual summit of SCO council of heads of state deals with all the key areas of the activities of the powerful bloc including political, security, trade, economic and cultural.

Prime Minister Modi has led the Indian delegation at the annual SCO summit since India became a full member in 2017.

However, India's association with the organisation dates back to 2005 when it became an Observer State of the grouping. Since then, India has played a positive and constructive role in all areas of SCO activities with a special emphasis on cooperation in trade and economy, officials said.

Russia is the current chair of the SCO and President Vladimir Putin will be chairing the summit meeting which is being held for the first time in virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The summit will culminate with the release of a Moscow declaration which will reflect the broad agenda of the bloc for the next one year.

Apart from the Moscow declaration, the summit may issue separate documents on digital economy, COVID-19, countering the spread of terrorism.

Apart from India, China and Russia, the summit is scheduled to be attended by heads all other member states -- Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The heads of four Observer States of SCO ? Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia will also participate.

In the summit held in Bishkek last year, Prime Minister Modi had given his vision for the SCO with the acronym HEALTH with H for health care cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternative energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism free society and H for humanitarian cooperation.

India also participated in two in-person meetings of the SCO defence ministers and council of foreign ministers in Moscow in September.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top leaders of the SCO member-states are set to deliberate on a plethora of pressing issues, including ways to deal with adverse economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and rising threat of terrorism, at a virtual summit of the bloc on Tuesday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top leaders of the SCO member-states are set to deliberate on a plethora of pressing issues, including ways to deal with adverse economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and rising threat of terrorism, at a virtual summit of the bloc on Tuesday. This is for the first time Modi and Xi are expected to come face-to-face, albeit virtually, since the border standoff between India and China began in eastern Ladakh in early May. Government sources said, the summit is expected to focus on countering the spread of terrorism including use of the internet for spreading radicalisation, as also issues relating to trade and economic activities. Beijing-headquartered Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. The annual summit of SCO council of heads of state deals with all the key areas of the activities of the powerful bloc including political, security, trade, economic and cultural. Prime Minister Modi has led the Indian delegation at the annual SCO summit since India became a full member in 2017. However, India's association with the organisation dates back to 2005 when it became an Observer State of the grouping. Since then, India has played a positive and constructive role in all areas of SCO activities with a special emphasis on cooperation in trade and economy, officials said. Russia is the current chair of the SCO and President Vladimir Putin will be chairing the summit meeting which is being held for the first time in virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic. The summit will culminate with the release of a Moscow declaration which will reflect the broad agenda of the bloc for the next one year. Apart from the Moscow declaration, the summit may issue separate documents on digital economy, COVID-19, countering the spread of terrorism. Apart from India, China and Russia, the summit is scheduled to be attended by heads all other member states -- Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The heads of four Observer States of SCO ? Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia will also participate. In the summit held in Bishkek last year, Prime Minister Modi had given his vision for the SCO with the acronym HEALTH with H for health care cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternative energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism free society and H for humanitarian cooperation. India also participated in two in-person meetings of the SCO defence ministers and council of foreign ministers in Moscow in September.

SCO summit to be held on Tuesday; Covid pandemic, terrorism to be discussed

Security forces in the Kashmir valley have said that they had input about an infiltration bid by terrorists 15 days prior to the attempt which resulted in the killings of three terrorists and four forces personnel including a Capitan rank officer in Machil sector along the Line of Control in north Kashmir.&nbsp;

Border Security forces today paid tribute to the slain Constable in Budgam and laid a wreath while remembering the sacrifice made by him while fighting terrorists. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-terrorists-woman-killed-crpf-officer-injured-in-srinagar-encounter-328064">Three terrorists, woman killed, CRPF officer injured in Srinagar encounter</a>&nbsp;

Speaking to media after the wreath-laying ceremony of the slain BSF constable who was killed during the initial exchange of fire with the terrorists, Additional Director General of BSF Surinder Pawar said "a patrolling party spotted three shadows after which an exchange of fire took place. Constable Sudhir Kumar was leading from the front and got injured while facing the terrorist."

ADG said that then army reinforcement was called in and a hunt for the other two terrorists was launched. "In the exchange of fire with the terrorists, Captain Ashutosh Kumar and two other army men were martyred."

When asked about the status of infiltration this year, he said only 25 to 30 terrorists managed to enter the valley compared to 135 to 140 last year. &nbsp;"The operation is still on and we are sanitizing the area," he said adding that the troops are alert and ready to foil any more attempts.&nbsp;

Security forces in the Kashmir valley have said that they had input about an infiltration bid by terrorists 15 days prior to the attempt which resulted in the killings of three terrorists and four forces personnel including a Capitan rank officer in Machil sector along the Line of Control in north Kashmir.

Security forces in the Kashmir valley have said that they had input about an infiltration bid by terrorists 15 days prior to the attempt which resulted in the killings of three terrorists and four forces personnel including a Capitan rank officer in Machil sector along the Line of Control in north Kashmir. Border Security forces today paid tribute to the slain Constable in Budgam and laid a wreath while remembering the sacrifice made by him while fighting terrorists. Also read | Three terrorists, woman killed, CRPF officer injured in Srinagar encounter Speaking to media after the wreath-laying ceremony of the slain BSF constable who was killed during the initial exchange of fire with the terrorists, Additional Director General of BSF Surinder Pawar said "a patrolling party spotted three shadows after which an exchange of fire took place. Constable Sudhir Kumar was leading from the front and got injured while facing the terrorist." ADG said that then army reinforcement was called in and a hunt for the other two terrorists was launched. "In the exchange of fire with the terrorists, Captain Ashutosh Kumar and two other army men were martyred." When asked about the status of infiltration this year, he said only 25 to 30 terrorists managed to enter the valley compared to 135 to 140 last year. "The operation is still on and we are sanitizing the area," he said adding that the troops are alert and ready to foil any more attempts.

Operation on LoC in Machil sector still on, forces had inputs 15 days back: ADG BSF

Former Afghan television presenter Yama Siawash was killed in bomb attack on Saturday in Kabul. He was killed as a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near his home. Two other civilians were killed in the blast. Siawash used to be prominent political and current affairs presenter with Tolo News and was known for hard hitting style of interviewing. Tolo News is Afghanistan's biggest private TV channel.

Afghanistan's interior ministry has blamed Haqqani network, a group linked to the Taliban. It did not claim responsibility for the blast in the immediate aftermath.

"Such targeted attacks and explosions of sticky bombs is the continuation of crimes by Haqqani network and the Taliban," Tariq Arian, spokesman for the ministry, told reporters.

Haqqani network has been designated by the US as a terrorist group.

Siawash's death drew immediate condemnation from senior Afghan officials and foreign diplomats.

"I am shocked at the killing of former Tolo News anchor Yama Siawash," Ross Wilson, US charge d'affaires in Kabul, said on Twitter.

"This attack is an assault on freedom of the press, one of Afghanistan's core democratic principles." 
Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the country's overall peace and reconciliation process, also said Siawash's murder targeted freedom of expression in Afghanistan.

"This is an unforgivable and unforgettable crime," he said in a statement.

Targetted killings

The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a panel set up by media networks to oversee security for journalists in the country, called for "identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators" of the attack.

President Ashraf Ghani ordered an investigation into the murders, the presidential palace said.

Targeted killings of prominent figures, including journalists, clerics, politicians and rights activists, have become more common in recent months amid growing violence in the country.

On Thursday, the father of Zarifa Ghafari, one of Afghanistan's first female mayors, was gunned down in front of his house in Kabul.

His assassination was condemned by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had awarded Ghafari with the International Women of Courage award earlier this year.

US watchdog Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a report this week that violent attacks in the country had surged by 50 per cent during three months to September when compared to the previous quarter.

Dozens of people were killed in less than two weeks in Kabul in brutal attacks that also left scores wounded. 
On Monday, a deadly raid by militants on Kabul University left 22 people dead, many of them students.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack but the government blamed the Haqqani network.

The attack on the university came just days after a suicide bombing near an educational centre killed 24 people. That attack was also claimed by IS.

(With AFP inputs)

Former Afghan television presenter Yama Siawash was killed in bomb attack on Saturday in Kabul. He was killed as a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near his home.

Former Afghan television presenter Yama Siawash was killed in bomb attack on Saturday in Kabul. He was killed as a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near his home. Two other civilians were killed in the blast. Siawash used to be prominent political and current affairs presenter with Tolo News and was known for hard hitting style of interviewing. Tolo News is Afghanistan's biggest private TV channel. Afghanistan's interior ministry has blamed Haqqani network, a group linked to the Taliban. It did not claim responsibility for the blast in the immediate aftermath. "Such targeted attacks and explosions of sticky bombs is the continuation of crimes by Haqqani network and the Taliban," Tariq Arian, spokesman for the ministry, told reporters. Haqqani network has been designated by the US as a terrorist group. Siawash's death drew immediate condemnation from senior Afghan officials and foreign diplomats. "I am shocked at the killing of former Tolo News anchor Yama Siawash," Ross Wilson, US charge d'affaires in Kabul, said on Twitter. "This attack is an assault on freedom of the press, one of Afghanistan's core democratic principles." Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the country's overall peace and reconciliation process, also said Siawash's murder targeted freedom of expression in Afghanistan. "This is an unforgivable and unforgettable crime," he said in a statement. Targetted killings The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a panel set up by media networks to oversee security for journalists in the country, called for "identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators" of the attack. President Ashraf Ghani ordered an investigation into the murders, the presidential palace said. Targeted killings of prominent figures, including journalists, clerics, politicians and rights activists, have become more common in recent months amid growing violence in the country. On Thursday, the father of Zarifa Ghafari, one of Afghanistan's first female mayors, was gunned down in front of his house in Kabul. His assassination was condemned by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had awarded Ghafari with the International Women of Courage award earlier this year. US watchdog Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a report this week that violent attacks in the country had surged by 50 per cent during three months to September when compared to the previous quarter. Dozens of people were killed in less than two weeks in Kabul in brutal attacks that also left scores wounded. On Monday, a deadly raid by militants on Kabul University left 22 people dead, many of them students. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack but the government blamed the Haqqani network. The attack on the university came just days after a suicide bombing near an educational centre killed 24 people. That attack was also claimed by IS. (With AFP inputs)

Afghanistan: Former TV presenter killed in bomb attack

Austria's Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has admitted that a warning from Slovakia last summer about a gunman.

Austria admits failing to act on warning on gunman

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe. And European leaders are waking up to the threat posed by political Islam. On Monday, France struck back.

More than 50 Jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda were killed in an airstrike in Mali. France has been fighting a long-drawn battle against extremism in this region&nbsp;

In&nbsp;return, Macron now has a target on his head. Al Qaeda is threatening to attack the French President. It said that killing anyone who insults the Prophet is the right of every Muslim. Islamist extremism has become Europe's reality. 
&nbsp; 
With words 'Islam is a religion in crisis' Emmanuel Macron painted a target on his back. What followed was a major backlash from the Muslim world. Protesters took to the streets.

The Islamic world may have rejected Macron's message but European leaders must take it as a wake-up call. It's a continent that is struggling with growing radicalism.

In 2019, there were 119 attempted attacks in Europe. Out of these, 21 were linked to Jihadist terrorism.

In 2020, the attacks in France and Austria mark a resurgence of terrorism in Europe.&nbsp;

The challenge is collective. The response isn't.

Different European countries are trying to deal with terror threats with their own unique measures. Austria banned foreign funding for the Islamic group in 2015.

Germany made a push to train Imams locally. Italy punished radical Imams. By 2018, it has expelled 16 Imams. Sweden axed government funding to two Muslim organisations. This included a Muslim brotherhood youth group.

Sweden said that the group didn't fulfil the 'democracy requirement' needed for government aid.

Clearly, these limited measures were not enough. Europe needs a united front to challenge Islamism. A front, that can collaborate with international partners.

During his visit to Germany, India Foreign Secretary highlighted the need for greater co-operation against terror networks.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
While raising the issue of growing radicalism in Europe he said, "The terrorists are united in purpose and action while we, the victims, are yet to be so" 
&nbsp; 
This is a pivotal moment for Europe. Leaders who pushed for open borders and sat in judgment of other countries that implemented tough measures are learning it the hard way.

They need decisive action and a comprehensive approach.

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe.

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe. And European leaders are waking up to the threat posed by political Islam. On Monday, France struck back. More than 50 Jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda were killed in an airstrike in Mali. France has been fighting a long-drawn battle against extremism in this region In return, Macron now has a target on his head. Al Qaeda is threatening to attack the French President. It said that killing anyone who insults the Prophet is the right of every Muslim. Islamist extremism has become Europe's reality. With words 'Islam is a religion in crisis' Emmanuel Macron painted a target on his back. What followed was a major backlash from the Muslim world. Protesters took to the streets. The Islamic world may have rejected Macron's message but European leaders must take it as a wake-up call. It's a continent that is struggling with growing radicalism. In 2019, there were 119 attempted attacks in Europe. Out of these, 21 were linked to Jihadist terrorism. In 2020, the attacks in France and Austria mark a resurgence of terrorism in Europe. The challenge is collective. The response isn't. Different European countries are trying to deal with terror threats with their own unique measures. Austria banned foreign funding for the Islamic group in 2015. Germany made a push to train Imams locally. Italy punished radical Imams. By 2018, it has expelled 16 Imams. Sweden axed government funding to two Muslim organisations. This included a Muslim brotherhood youth group. Sweden said that the group didn't fulfil the 'democracy requirement' needed for government aid. Clearly, these limited measures were not enough. Europe needs a united front to challenge Islamism. A front, that can collaborate with international partners. During his visit to Germany, India Foreign Secretary highlighted the need for greater co-operation against terror networks. While raising the issue of growing radicalism in Europe he said, "The terrorists are united in purpose and action while we, the victims, are yet to be so" This is a pivotal moment for Europe. Leaders who pushed for open borders and sat in judgment of other countries that implemented tough measures are learning it the hard way. They need decisive action and a comprehensive approach.

With radicalism growing, Europe witnesses resurgence of terrorism

In a big revelation, Austria's interior minister said on Wednesday that Austria's domestic intelligence service had received warning that the Islamic State sympathiser wanted to procure ammunition. The man later went on to carry out a deadly shooting in Vienna. Austria's interior minister said that the Austrian domestic intelligence had received the warning from neighbouring Slovakia.

"In the last few hours information has come to light that some time prior to the terror attack, Slovakian intelligence informed (Austria's domestic intelligence service) the BVT about the attacker. The information was that he wanted to get ammunition," Karl Nehammer told a press conference.

Four people were killed when Kujtim Fejzulai, described as a 20-year-old IS sympathiser who had spent time in prison, opened fire with a Kalashnikov in a busy area of the Austrian capital the day before the country went into a new coronavirus lockdown.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/austria-thanks-india-for-standing-in-difficult-times-says-will-defend-our-open-societies-340064">Austria thanks India for standing in difficult times; says will defend our open societies</a>

Police shot the gunman dead on Monday and later swooped on 18 different addresses and made 14 arrests as they looked for possible accomplices and sought to determine if he had acted alone.&nbsp;

The Vienna terror attack has been claimed by Islamic State (IS). It said on Tuesday that "soldier of the caliphate" was responsible for the carnage, according to its propaganda agency. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for a European response to "political Islam".

(With AFP inputs)

In a big revelation, Austria's interior minister said on Wednesday that Austria's domestic intelligence service had received warning that the Islamic State sympathiser wanted to procure ammunition.

In a big revelation, Austria's interior minister said on Wednesday that Austria's domestic intelligence service had received warning that the Islamic State sympathiser wanted to procure ammunition. The man later went on to carry out a deadly shooting in Vienna. Austria's interior minister said that the Austrian domestic intelligence had received the warning from neighbouring Slovakia. "In the last few hours information has come to light that some time prior to the terror attack, Slovakian intelligence informed (Austria's domestic intelligence service) the BVT about the attacker. The information was that he wanted to get ammunition," Karl Nehammer told a press conference. Four people were killed when Kujtim Fejzulai, described as a 20-year-old IS sympathiser who had spent time in prison, opened fire with a Kalashnikov in a busy area of the Austrian capital the day before the country went into a new coronavirus lockdown. Also Read | Austria thanks India for standing in difficult times; says will defend our open societies Police shot the gunman dead on Monday and later swooped on 18 different addresses and made 14 arrests as they looked for possible accomplices and sought to determine if he had acted alone. The Vienna terror attack has been claimed by Islamic State (IS). It said on Tuesday that "soldier of the caliphate" was responsible for the carnage, according to its propaganda agency. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for a European response to "political Islam". (With AFP inputs)

Vienna terror attack: Austria was warned about the attacker, says minister

French President Macron is currently facing backlash from leaders of the Islamic world. Supporters of French President Macron have been facing violence in Bangladesh, and homes have been burned over a Facebook post.

People are protesting in most countries with a large Muslim population, even when their governments have condemned the attacks in France.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/i-hear-your-anger-but-wont-accept-violence-macron-to-the-muslim-community-339320" hreflang="en">'I hear your anger, but won't accept violence': Macron to the Muslim community</a></div>

Posters and effigies of Emmanuel Macron have been subjected to the wrath of these protesters.&nbsp;In Dhaka, they attacked with shoes and brooms. In Jakarta, they tried a mock beheading. Indonesia has the highest muslim population in the world. The anger against France and its leader is palpable.

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In Gaza, they burnt an effigy of Macron. What began with Erdogan's insults, Imran Khan's insinuations, and Mahathir Mohamad's defence of violence has now become a global protest.

The second wave of coronavirus hasn't stopped the islamists from taking to the streets. Over the last week, they have broken every social distancing rule to protest against France and its president.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/understand-people-could-be-shocked-by-caricatures-but-i-will-never-accept-violence-macron-339295" hreflang="en">Understand people could be shocked by caricatures, but I will never accept violence: Macron</a>

Hardliners in Pakistan have been relentless in their campaign. Over the weekend, they took to the streets in Karachi, and brunt an effigy of Emmanuel Macron, and also tried to stage a&nbsp; protest near the French consulate.

Protesters tried to break through barricades outside the french embassy in Islamabad. Undeterred by the protests, the French government has refused to end its campaign against extremists.

Security has been heightened across French embassies worldwide. Paris fears that its diplomatic missions could become the target of an attack. Three islamic leaders started this campaign against Macron and his government.

With insults and boycott calls, their provocations whipped up the anger of Muslims.

French President Macron is currently facing backlash from leaders of the Islamic world. Supporters of French President Macron have been facing violence in Bangladesh, and homes have been burned over a Facebook post.

French President Macron is currently facing backlash from leaders of the Islamic world. Supporters of French President Macron have been facing violence in Bangladesh, and homes have been burned over a Facebook post. People are protesting in most countries with a large Muslim population, even when their governments have condemned the attacks in France. Also read: 'I hear your anger, but won't accept violence': Macron to the Muslim community Posters and effigies of Emmanuel Macron have been subjected to the wrath of these protesters. In Dhaka, they attacked with shoes and brooms. In Jakarta, they tried a mock beheading. Indonesia has the highest muslim population in the world. The anger against France and its leader is palpable. In Gaza, they burnt an effigy of Macron. What began with Erdogan's insults, Imran Khan's insinuations, and Mahathir Mohamad's defence of violence has now become a global protest. The second wave of coronavirus hasn't stopped the islamists from taking to the streets. Over the last week, they have broken every social distancing rule to protest against France and its president. Also read: Understand people could be shocked by caricatures, but I will never accept violence: Macron Hardliners in Pakistan have been relentless in their campaign. Over the weekend, they took to the streets in Karachi, and brunt an effigy of Emmanuel Macron, and also tried to stage a protest near the French consulate. Protesters tried to break through barricades outside the french embassy in Islamabad. Undeterred by the protests, the French government has refused to end its campaign against extremists. Security has been heightened across French embassies worldwide. Paris fears that its diplomatic missions could become the target of an attack. Three islamic leaders started this campaign against Macron and his government. With insults and boycott calls, their provocations whipped up the anger of Muslims.

The global backlash against French President Emmanuel Macron

Catholics in France on Sunday celebrated the All Saints religious festival under tight security. The tension over the latest terrorist attacks in France did not deter people from going to church in Nice. The authorities allowed exemption during coronavirus lockdown. However, the recent stabbings had had some effect on people.

"I was apprehensive, I was scared of coming," said Claudia, 49, as she went to church, reassured by the presence of heavily armed soldiers. 
"We need to show that we are not scared and we are here," she said, following several other worshippers into the church.

A group of Muslim imams and their families attended a mass on Sunday at the Saint-Esprit de Bagatelle church in Toulouse to create mutual understanding.&nbsp;

"These people, without mind or reason, want to make another (Koran) interpretation," Lahouary Siali from the Al-Rahma mosque said, referring to violent extremists. "We strongly reject it."

He then read a prayer in Arabic in front of the congregation.

Meanwhile the police have made two new arrests in connection with Nice attack.

'Came to kill'

In Nice, authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to suspected attacker Brahim Issaoui, 21.&nbsp;

The latest people to be detained, aged 25 and 63, were arrested Saturday at the residence of an individual detained earlier in the day, a judicial source told AFP, asking not to be named.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/magazine-like-charlie-hebdo-could-not-exist-in-russia-says-kremlin-339429">Magazine like Charlie Hebdo 'could not exist' in Russia, says Kremlin</a>

Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody, with the probe focusing on two telephones seized from the attacker.

Issaoui was shot by police multiple times and is currently in a serious condition in hospital. Investigators have been unable to question him and sources close to the probe have said his precise motivations remain unclear.

But Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that Issaoui "had clearly gone there (to Nice) to kill".

"Otherwise how can we explain why he armed himself with several knifes having only just arrived?... He clearly did not come just to get his papers," Darmanin told the Voix du Nord newspaper.

Investigators believe Issaoui travelled illegally to Europe via Italy's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20.&nbsp;

He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack.

Understand 'shock'

France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which was followed by an attack outside its former offices, the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice.

On Saturday, an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon.

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&nbsp;

Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52, was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital, said a police source who asked not to be named.

The attacker fled the scene but Lyon's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear.

Macron had vowed after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty -- who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet -- that France would never renounce the right to caricature.

This comment prompted a storm of anger in the Muslim world and on Saturday the president gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television saying he understood that people could be "shocked" by the cartoons.

But Macron added he would always defend freedom of speech and lashed out at "lies" -- sometimes spread by political leaders -- that the French state was behind the cartoons.

Charlie Hebdo had republished the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of suspected accomplices in the 2015 massacre of its staff by Islamist gunmen. The trial has been suspended until Wednesday after the primary suspect tested positive for coronavirus.

(With AFP inputs)

Catholics in France on Sunday celebrated the All Saints religious festival under tight security. The tension over the latest terrorist attacks in France did not deter people from going to church in Nice.

Catholics in France on Sunday celebrated the All Saints religious festival under tight security. The tension over the latest terrorist attacks in France did not deter people from going to church in Nice. The authorities allowed exemption during coronavirus lockdown. However, the recent stabbings had had some effect on people. "I was apprehensive, I was scared of coming," said Claudia, 49, as she went to church, reassured by the presence of heavily armed soldiers. "We need to show that we are not scared and we are here," she said, following several other worshippers into the church. A group of Muslim imams and their families attended a mass on Sunday at the Saint-Esprit de Bagatelle church in Toulouse to create mutual understanding. "These people, without mind or reason, want to make another (Koran) interpretation," Lahouary Siali from the Al-Rahma mosque said, referring to violent extremists. "We strongly reject it." He then read a prayer in Arabic in front of the congregation. Meanwhile the police have made two new arrests in connection with Nice attack. 'Came to kill' In Nice, authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to suspected attacker Brahim Issaoui, 21. The latest people to be detained, aged 25 and 63, were arrested Saturday at the residence of an individual detained earlier in the day, a judicial source told AFP, asking not to be named. Also Read | Magazine like Charlie Hebdo 'could not exist' in Russia, says Kremlin Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody, with the probe focusing on two telephones seized from the attacker. Issaoui was shot by police multiple times and is currently in a serious condition in hospital. Investigators have been unable to question him and sources close to the probe have said his precise motivations remain unclear. But Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that Issaoui "had clearly gone there (to Nice) to kill". "Otherwise how can we explain why he armed himself with several knifes having only just arrived?... He clearly did not come just to get his papers," Darmanin told the Voix du Nord newspaper. Investigators believe Issaoui travelled illegally to Europe via Italy's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20. He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack. Understand 'shock' France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which was followed by an attack outside its former offices, the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice. On Saturday, an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon. × Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52, was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital, said a police source who asked not to be named. The attacker fled the scene but Lyon's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear. Macron had vowed after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty -- who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet -- that France would never renounce the right to caricature. This comment prompted a storm of anger in the Muslim world and on Saturday the president gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television saying he understood that people could be "shocked" by the cartoons. But Macron added he would always defend freedom of speech and lashed out at "lies" -- sometimes spread by political leaders -- that the French state was behind the cartoons. Charlie Hebdo had republished the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of suspected accomplices in the 2015 massacre of its staff by Islamist gunmen. The trial has been suspended until Wednesday after the primary suspect tested positive for coronavirus. (With AFP inputs)

French Catholics pray under heavy security on All Saints festival

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce uniform civil code in France though he hasn't explicitly used the term. But he has laid out the details. He wants the French constitution to be above religion. He wants all French citizens to be equal before the law.

In December this year, Macron's government wants to table a bill. They want to strengthen an old law. A law made in the year 1905. The law officially separated the Church and the state in France. The law established state secularism in France. They call it Laicite. It was based on two principles&nbsp;

One, the neutrality of the state. And two, the freedom of religious practice. What Macron plans is to amen the second principle. He says people have the right to belong to any faith, but they should not have the right to display religious affiliation in schools or public service. 
&nbsp; 
What will the new law do?

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It will increase scrutiny of religious communities, their sources of funding and their association. Simply put, Macron wants to scrutinise Islamic activities in France, and rescue them from radicalism.

"It is this path that we are going to open together, that is to say, we are going to try together to build an organisation that will allow us, I hope &amp; I believe, to build an Islam of Enlightenment in our country, that is to say, an Islam that can be at peace with the French Republic. One which respects all the rules of separation and allows all voices to be pacified. It is not the job of the State to structure Islam, but we must allow &amp; accompany this emergence. Starting by freeing Islam in France from foreign influences," said Macron.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-national-named-victim-of-nice-attack-339070">Brazilian national named victim of Nice attack</a> 
 
The message is clear. France will not tolerate foreign funding from Islamic institutes. It will not allow foreign Islamic preachers to influence French Muslims anymore.

Why does France&nbsp;need these new rules?

Because there are fears that a section of French Muslims is being exposed to radical Islam. The dangerous brand of Islam is being imported and financed from abroad. Right now, France is said to have 300 'detached Imams' from abroad. They have no link to the French Republic. They are recruited by French mosques. These are foreigners filling vacancies in France. At least half of them, 150 Imams are said to be from Turkey. They may or may not understand French secularism.

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&nbsp;Macron government wants to keep a check on what they are preaching. They should explain why the Turkish President is making so much noise. 
&nbsp; 
The implications of the new French law are not limited to Turkey. They extend to the whole world. Because secular democracies world over are witnessing this clash. The clash between religious law and the constitution. So if France can make the constitution prevail over religion, it sets a precedent. Something that other countries can refer to and follow.

Countries like India. In India, the government is committed to introducing a uniform civil code. One law for all religions. Equal status to all citizens. If a liberal, centrist western leader like Macron can justify a uniform civil code of sorts, so can India. So can countries like Norway and Sweden. They have both sheltered and given citizenship to Muslim immigrants. Now they are struggling.

They are witnessing a cultural conflict, a clash of local laws with religious laws.

Last month, we saw riots after members of a far-right group set a copy of the Quran on Fire. This truly is a clash between Islamophobia and Islamofascism. Can France strike the balance? Can in rein in radicalism without giving in to Xenophobia?

Emmanuel Macron's approach may be unconventional, even uncomfortable for some. But there seems to be no other way to deal with asymmetric assualts and repeated terror attacks. It is time the world acknowledged this, supported Macron instead of playing politics over his law. 
&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce uniform civil code in France though he hasn't explicitly used the term. But he has laid out the details. He wants the French constitution to be above religion.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce uniform civil code in France though he hasn't explicitly used the term. But he has laid out the details. He wants the French constitution to be above religion. He wants all French citizens to be equal before the law. In December this year, Macron's government wants to table a bill. They want to strengthen an old law. A law made in the year 1905. The law officially separated the Church and the state in France. The law established state secularism in France. They call it Laicite. It was based on two principles One, the neutrality of the state. And two, the freedom of religious practice. What Macron plans is to amen the second principle. He says people have the right to belong to any faith, but they should not have the right to display religious affiliation in schools or public service. What will the new law do? × It will increase scrutiny of religious communities, their sources of funding and their association. Simply put, Macron wants to scrutinise Islamic activities in France, and rescue them from radicalism. "It is this path that we are going to open together, that is to say, we are going to try together to build an organisation that will allow us, I hope & I believe, to build an Islam of Enlightenment in our country, that is to say, an Islam that can be at peace with the French Republic. One which respects all the rules of separation and allows all voices to be pacified. It is not the job of the State to structure Islam, but we must allow & accompany this emergence. Starting by freeing Islam in France from foreign influences," said Macron. Also Read | Brazilian national named victim of Nice attack The message is clear. France will not tolerate foreign funding from Islamic institutes. It will not allow foreign Islamic preachers to influence French Muslims anymore. Why does France need these new rules? Because there are fears that a section of French Muslims is being exposed to radical Islam. The dangerous brand of Islam is being imported and financed from abroad. Right now, France is said to have 300 'detached Imams' from abroad. They have no link to the French Republic. They are recruited by French mosques. These are foreigners filling vacancies in France. At least half of them, 150 Imams are said to be from Turkey. They may or may not understand French secularism. × Macron government wants to keep a check on what they are preaching. They should explain why the Turkish President is making so much noise. The implications of the new French law are not limited to Turkey. They extend to the whole world. Because secular democracies world over are witnessing this clash. The clash between religious law and the constitution. So if France can make the constitution prevail over religion, it sets a precedent. Something that other countries can refer to and follow. Countries like India. In India, the government is committed to introducing a uniform civil code. One law for all religions. Equal status to all citizens. If a liberal, centrist western leader like Macron can justify a uniform civil code of sorts, so can India. So can countries like Norway and Sweden. They have both sheltered and given citizenship to Muslim immigrants. Now they are struggling. They are witnessing a cultural conflict, a clash of local laws with religious laws. Last month, we saw riots after members of a far-right group set a copy of the Quran on Fire. This truly is a clash between Islamophobia and Islamofascism. Can France strike the balance? Can in rein in radicalism without giving in to Xenophobia? Emmanuel Macron's approach may be unconventional, even uncomfortable for some. But there seems to be no other way to deal with asymmetric assualts and repeated terror attacks. It is time the world acknowledged this, supported Macron instead of playing politics over his law.

It's time the world supported Macron on his new law

India has extended unprecedented support to Emmanuel Macron in his war on terrorism. What explains the support? Is it public opinion or strategic interest? Why are Islamic leaders still provoking? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: India supports Emmanuel Macron

Tens of thousands of Muslims protested in Bangladesh after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to stand firm to guard French values following knife attack in the city of Nice. The protesters marched through streets of Dhaka and called fora boycott on French products. The crowd carried banners calling Macron "the world's biggest terrorist.

"Macron is leading Islamophobia," said demonstrator Akramul Haq. "He doesn't know the power of Islam. The Muslim world will not let this go in vain. We'll rise and stand in solidarity against him.""

French products are already being boycotted in some countries in the Middle East/ West Asia.

France raised its security alert to the highest level on Thursday after a knife-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) beheaded an elderly woman in a church in Nice and killed two more people before being shot and taken away by police.

"We will not give any ground," Macron said outside the church in the French Riviera city of Nice, promising to deploy thousands more soldiers to guard sites such as places of worship and schools.

France had been attacked "over our values, for our taste for freedom, for the ability on our soil to have freedom of belief", he added.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-stood-with-france-four-times-in-last-two-days-339024">India stood with France four times in last two days</a>

The violence has come at a time of growing Muslim anger over France's defence of the right to publish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad, and protesters have denounced France in street rallies in several Muslim-majority countries.

French investigators said the man suspected of carrying out the Nice attack was a Tunisian born in 1999 who had arrived in Europe on Sept. 20 on Lampedusa, an Italian island off Tunisia that is a main landing point for migrants from Africa.

France gets support across the globe

Several countries have stood beside France on the issue.

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"It is just the most callous and cowardly and vicious act of barbarism by terrorists and should be condemned in the strongest possible way," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Morrison had expressed his support to Macron, he told media on Friday. "We share values. We stand for the same things."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his support to France as well.

&nbsp;I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France, including today's heinous attack in Nice inside a church. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France. India stands with France in the fight against terrorism," he tweeted on Thursday.

On Thursday, former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad made bizarre assertions in a long series of tweets. One of his tweets said that Muslims had right to be angry and "kill millions of French people". The tweet was removed by Twitter saying that it violated its guidelines.

(With Reuters inputs)

Tens of thousands of Muslims protested in Bangladesh after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to stand firm to guard French values following knife attack in the city of Nice.

Tens of thousands of Muslims protested in Bangladesh after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to stand firm to guard French values following knife attack in the city of Nice. The protesters marched through streets of Dhaka and called fora boycott on French products. The crowd carried banners calling Macron "the world's biggest terrorist. "Macron is leading Islamophobia," said demonstrator Akramul Haq. "He doesn't know the power of Islam. The Muslim world will not let this go in vain. We'll rise and stand in solidarity against him."" French products are already being boycotted in some countries in the Middle East/ West Asia. France raised its security alert to the highest level on Thursday after a knife-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) beheaded an elderly woman in a church in Nice and killed two more people before being shot and taken away by police. "We will not give any ground," Macron said outside the church in the French Riviera city of Nice, promising to deploy thousands more soldiers to guard sites such as places of worship and schools. France had been attacked "over our values, for our taste for freedom, for the ability on our soil to have freedom of belief", he added. Also Read | India stood with France four times in last two days The violence has come at a time of growing Muslim anger over France's defence of the right to publish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad, and protesters have denounced France in street rallies in several Muslim-majority countries. French investigators said the man suspected of carrying out the Nice attack was a Tunisian born in 1999 who had arrived in Europe on Sept. 20 on Lampedusa, an Italian island off Tunisia that is a main landing point for migrants from Africa. France gets support across the globe Several countries have stood beside France on the issue. × "It is just the most callous and cowardly and vicious act of barbarism by terrorists and should be condemned in the strongest possible way," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Morrison had expressed his support to Macron, he told media on Friday. "We share values. We stand for the same things." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his support to France as well. I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France, including today's heinous attack in Nice inside a church. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France. India stands with France in the fight against terrorism," he tweeted on Thursday. On Thursday, former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad made bizarre assertions in a long series of tweets. One of his tweets said that Muslims had right to be angry and "kill millions of French people". The tweet was removed by Twitter saying that it violated its guidelines. (With Reuters inputs)

Bangladesh: Huge crowd holds protest against France President Emmanuel Macron

Even as France and French President face a barrage of negative comments from countries like Turkey, Pakistan among others, New Delhi stood by Paris four times in the last 2 days. India is the first 'Non-Western' country to support Macron publicly. So far, Italy, Germany, Canada, Netherlands have come in full public support for the French leader.

Thursday saw the Indian Prime Minister condemning the terror attacks in France. He tweeted," I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France, including today's heinous attack in Nice inside a church. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France. India stands with France in the fight against terrorism."

Thursday saw 2 knife attack in France, one in Nice in which 3 people died in a Knife attack at a Church, another in Avignon, in which the attacker was killed. On the same day, a guard at the French consulate at the Saudi city of Jeddah was attacked.&nbsp;

While Indian PM tweeted, India's foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla is on a weeklong European tour, with his visit starting from Paris. During his meeting with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic advisor to French President Macron, India's foreign secretary extended Indian government's condolences on the terror attack in France and conveyed PM Modi's message that India stands with France in the fight against terrorism.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-in-a-war-french-minister-says-country-must-brace-itself-for-attacks-fueled-by-islamist-ideology-339015">'We are in a war': French minister says country must brace itself for attacks fueled by 'Islamist ideology'</a> 
 
He also reiterated the support during his address at a French Think Tank-- Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI).&nbsp;

Shringla said, "It was horrifying to hear about the two recent terrorist incidents in France, one of which, as is very often the case, had its origins in our western neighbourhood – Pakistan. For the past three decades, we have experienced what unbridled radicalism can wreak – and what malevolent violent forces it can unleash."

The first public support came on Wednesday evening in a statement by India's Ministry of External Affairs. In a clear statement extending Delhi's backing of Paris, MEA said, "We strongly deplore the personal attacks in unacceptable language on President Emmanuel Macron in violation of the most basic standards of international discourse."

Remember Turkish President has been making personal remarks on Macron, including saying he needs "mental treatment".

India also condemned the "brutal terrorist attack that took the life of a French teacher in a gruesome manner that has shocked the world. We offer our condolences to his family and the people of France. There is no justification for terrorism for any reason or under any circumstance."

The current focus on extremism in France started in the country after a 47-year-old French teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded in a knife attack. After the incident the French president said, his country will stand by its secular values.

Interestingly, while the Indian Govt has backed the French govt, it is the virtual world that also saw a lot of support. #IstandWithFrance has been trending on India twitter, something French outlets have said started from India and then took to other parts of the virtual world.

Even as France and French President face a barrage of negative comments from countries like Turkey, Pakistan among others, New Delhi stood by Paris four times in the last 2 days.

Even as France and French President face a barrage of negative comments from countries like Turkey, Pakistan among others, New Delhi stood by Paris four times in the last 2 days. India is the first 'Non-Western' country to support Macron publicly. So far, Italy, Germany, Canada, Netherlands have come in full public support for the French leader. Thursday saw the Indian Prime Minister condemning the terror attacks in France. He tweeted," I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France, including today's heinous attack in Nice inside a church. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France. India stands with France in the fight against terrorism." Thursday saw 2 knife attack in France, one in Nice in which 3 people died in a Knife attack at a Church, another in Avignon, in which the attacker was killed. On the same day, a guard at the French consulate at the Saudi city of Jeddah was attacked. While Indian PM tweeted, India's foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla is on a weeklong European tour, with his visit starting from Paris. During his meeting with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic advisor to French President Macron, India's foreign secretary extended Indian government's condolences on the terror attack in France and conveyed PM Modi's message that India stands with France in the fight against terrorism. Also Read | 'We are in a war': French minister says country must brace itself for attacks fueled by 'Islamist ideology' He also reiterated the support during his address at a French Think Tank-- Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI). Shringla said, "It was horrifying to hear about the two recent terrorist incidents in France, one of which, as is very often the case, had its origins in our western neighbourhood – Pakistan. For the past three decades, we have experienced what unbridled radicalism can wreak – and what malevolent violent forces it can unleash." The first public support came on Wednesday evening in a statement by India's Ministry of External Affairs. In a clear statement extending Delhi's backing of Paris, MEA said, "We strongly deplore the personal attacks in unacceptable language on President Emmanuel Macron in violation of the most basic standards of international discourse." Remember Turkish President has been making personal remarks on Macron, including saying he needs "mental treatment". India also condemned the "brutal terrorist attack that took the life of a French teacher in a gruesome manner that has shocked the world. We offer our condolences to his family and the people of France. There is no justification for terrorism for any reason or under any circumstance." The current focus on extremism in France started in the country after a 47-year-old French teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded in a knife attack. After the incident the French president said, his country will stand by its secular values. Interestingly, while the Indian Govt has backed the French govt, it is the virtual world that also saw a lot of support. #IstandWithFrance has been trending on India twitter, something French outlets have said started from India and then took to other parts of the virtual world.

India stood with France four times in last two days

United Nations said on Monday that more than 1280 Afghan civilians were killed in first six months of the year as fighting raged in Afghanistan in spite of a pact between the US and Taliban.&nbsp;

United Nations said on Monday that more than 1280 Afghan civilians were killed in first six months of the year as fighting raged in Afghanistan in spite of a pact between the US and Taliban. A) said in a report.

“The reality remains that Afghanistan continues to be one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians,” it said in the mid-year report.

In spite of a drop of 13 per cent in casualties from the corresponding period of the last year, the UN said that Taliban continued to cause majority of civilian casualties. The Taliban were responsible for 43 per cent of civilian casualties and government forces caused 23 per cent.

In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha, laying out plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the militants.

However, fighting has spiked in recent weeks, prompted by differences over an exchange of prisoners between the Taliban and Afghan government, as Kabul proved reluctant to free hundreds of jailed militants.

The Doha deal provided for the government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Afghan troops, the main plank in starting peace negotiations between the two sides in the effort to end the 18-year-old war.

While the Afghan government has released more than 4,000 Taliban prisoners, it has refused to release another 600, saying they were involved in murder, illicit drug trafficking and major attacks.

United Nations said on Monday that more than 1280 Afghan civilians were killed in first six months of the year as fighting raged in Afghanistan in spite of a pact between the US and Taliban.

United Nations said on Monday that more than 1280 Afghan civilians were killed in first six months of the year as fighting raged in Afghanistan in spite of a pact between the US and Taliban. United Nations said on Monday that more than 1280 Afghan civilians were killed in first six months of the year as fighting raged in Afghanistan in spite of a pact between the US and Taliban. A) said in a report. “The reality remains that Afghanistan continues to be one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians,” it said in the mid-year report. In spite of a drop of 13 per cent in casualties from the corresponding period of the last year, the UN said that Taliban continued to cause majority of civilian casualties. The Taliban were responsible for 43 per cent of civilian casualties and government forces caused 23 per cent. In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha, laying out plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the militants. However, fighting has spiked in recent weeks, prompted by differences over an exchange of prisoners between the Taliban and Afghan government, as Kabul proved reluctant to free hundreds of jailed militants. The Doha deal provided for the government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Afghan troops, the main plank in starting peace negotiations between the two sides in the effort to end the 18-year-old war. While the Afghan government has released more than 4,000 Taliban prisoners, it has refused to release another 600, saying they were involved in murder, illicit drug trafficking and major attacks.

Nearly 3500 Afghans killed or hurt in first half of 2020: UN

What drives people to terrorism? What sustains terrorists? The world's deadliest terror outfits are operating like business enterprises. Where is the money coming from? What will it take to cut the pipelines? Watch Gravitas Plus with Palki Sharma Upadhyay.

Gravitas Plus: How do terror outfits make money?

When FBI Special Agent Richard Trask took the witness stand in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last week to detail a plot to kidnap the governors of Michigan and Virginia, the prosecutor first asked him what the men involved had in common.

They were all from “multiple militias from different states,” replied Trask, who is a domestic terrorism expert for the Detroit field office.

Nils Kessler, the prosecutor, paused on the word “militia,” noting that it meant different things to different people. “These are groups that call themselves militias?” he asked. “But they are not under any government authority or anything like that?”

“That’s correct,” Trask responded.

For decades, federal authorities and academics have described private paramilitary organizations — armed groups who train together on military tactics and techniques — as “militias” or as part of the “militia movement.” But the term has taken on new meaning as makeshift vigilante groups have popped up with increasing frequency in the months leading up to a contentious election.

Once limited to the far-right fringe, the term militia now encompasses a far wider spectrum, representing everything from armed-to-the-teeth neighborhood watch organizations to an all-Black paramilitary group that marches to protest police violence.

The rising visibility of such groups has put a spotlight on the word “militia” itself, with many critics demanding it be replaced. They contend that the term has fundamentally lost its meaning as more groups use it to camouflage threats of violence.

Historically, militias have referred to an auxiliary force raised from the civilian population to bolster the Army. The issue in the United States, experts said, is that private paramilitary groups have long cloaked their activities in the vocabulary of the American Revolution and the Constitution, creating an aura of legality that does not exist.

“The use of the word militia anytime you are talking about anything other than a state militia like the National Guard, it is just wrong,” said Mary McCord, a former Justice Department official now running an institute that specializes in constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center. “Using that term without putting ‘unlawful’ in front of it suggests that there is some legitimacy or even constitutional authority for their existence, which there isn’t.”

One such group in Michigan, called the Wolverine Watchmen, was at the center of the suspected plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other planned violence. Federal and state authorities announced the arrest this month of 14 men linked to the group.

That drew even more attention to the term, escalating demands to label such groups “terrorists.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter, “Genuine question for the media/law enforcement: why are you calling these armed neo-Nazi groups breaking the law ‘militias’ instead of ‘gangs’ or ‘domestic terrorist groups?’”

Last spring, various anti-government groups condemned the coronavirus lockdown measures as a form of “tyranny” and organized some of the first protests against them. More groups turned out in force during demonstrations against police brutality. Scuffles between protesters and members of armed groups have led to deaths in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; and Denver.

There are currently about 181 active anti-government paramilitary groups in the United States, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks them. Some claim thousands of members, but more often their numbers are far smaller, experts said.

American schoolchildren are often taught that Revolutionary War militiamen were heroes. “Patriots formed militia groups to defend the colonies against the British,” reads a brief passage in a fifth grade textbook used in Hillsboro, Oregon, “Some militiamen called themselves minutemen because they could be ready at a moment’s notice.”

In addition, the Second Amendment says, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Many groups cite that language to justify their use of the term. But experts note that “well-regulated,” implies state control and not freelance efforts by all comers.

The name “militia” suggests the idea of citizen soldiers and patriotism, plus it lends such groups “the color of the law,” said Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow with the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism.

Underneath that veneer lies a fundamental contradiction, experts noted, with members of the current movement advocating an armed resistance against the very state that the original militias were formed to protect.

It is difficult to pinpoint which group first resurrected the name “militia.” Some historians consider the Ku Klux Klan a militia, and over the past century various militant groups drew on the Revolution for their names.

In the 1970s, far-right activists, alarmed by civil rights legislation as well as new environmental laws, pushed to reassert local control. The Posse Comitatus movement, rooted in white Christian fundamentalism, developed the concept of citizen posses.

Its manual stated that any official who disobeyed the Constitution should “be removed by the Posse to a populated intersection of the streets in the township and at high noon be hung there by the neck, the body remaining until sundown as an example to those who would subvert the law,” according to Daniel Levitas, author of “The Terrorist Next Door,” a history of extremist groups.

“Unorganized militia,” a 19th century legal term, was considered obsolete after the Militia Act of 1903, when federal law began incorporating all legal militias into the National Guard, controlled by state governors. Although the wording differs, all 50 states ban private paramilitary groups that further “civil disorder.”

Fast forward to the early 1990s, when the term gained new life after the violent sieges by federal law enforcement agents against the cabin of Randy Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992, and the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993.

Those on the far-right, already dedicated to the idea of a “leaderless resistance,” concluded that they needed to organize into paramilitary groups to protect themselves from government “tyranny.” Pamphlets appeared with titles like “The Field Manual of the Free Militia” that explained how to establish one.

Using the word “militia” and other historical vocabulary was a deliberate attempt to attract a broader membership by veiling the often racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant and homophobic origins of such groups, experts said.

“Right-wing extremist organizations try to cloak themselves in heroic garb,” said David Neiwert, author of “Alt-America,” who has tracked such groups for decades. “That is the basis of a lot of the appeal; this is your chance to be a hero.”

Paramilitary organizations mushroomed in the 1990s, with some 370 formed by the middle of the decade. Then came the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, sprouting from the same ideology if not directly connected to a militia, that left 168 people dead. Scores of paramilitary organizations collapsed as their appeal dimmed.

But political fights over the Second Amendment kept the movement alive; plus, conspiracy theories about a looming foreign invasion never faded entirely. In recent years, the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 marked the first high-profile appearance of such armed groups at protests.

Experts who continue to use the word “militia” said it helped to define a distinct category among adherents of various fringe ideologies or criminal organizations including white supremacists, prison gangs, the tax protest movement, anti-vaxxers, skinheads, survivalists and others.

“Terrorist” was the most popular substitute that circulated on social media, but the legal definition of terrorism refers to organized attacks meant to intimidate or coerce in an attempt to influence government policy. Many experts consider that too broad. The majority of militia members “will never be involved with a terrorist act,” said Pitcavage.

The term gangs is also considered a poor fit since law enforcement agencies tend to use that to describe violent criminal enterprises. Some experts said they felt like they were under siege by “language police” over a word they have used for decades.

In Michigan, federal authorities said the plotters discussed putting the governor on trial as a “tyrant” before Election Day. The case has become an election issue as President Donald Trump has cast doubts on the plot and continued to vilify Whitmer.

The possibility that armed groups might try to intimidate voters at the polls prompted the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law to publish a legal guide to confront such groups for all 50 states.

“It has all been whitewashed and made safe for broader public consumption by wrapping it in the flag,” said Neiwert. “They call themselves patriots, although you have never met a more seditious bunch.” 
&nbsp;

When FBI Special Agent Richard Trask took the witness stand in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last week to detail a plot to kidnap the governors of Michigan and Virginia, the prosecutor first asked him what the men involved had in common.

When FBI Special Agent Richard Trask took the witness stand in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last week to detail a plot to kidnap the governors of Michigan and Virginia, the prosecutor first asked him what the men involved had in common. They were all from “multiple militias from different states,” replied Trask, who is a domestic terrorism expert for the Detroit field office. Nils Kessler, the prosecutor, paused on the word “militia,” noting that it meant different things to different people. “These are groups that call themselves militias?” he asked. “But they are not under any government authority or anything like that?” “That’s correct,” Trask responded. For decades, federal authorities and academics have described private paramilitary organizations — armed groups who train together on military tactics and techniques — as “militias” or as part of the “militia movement.” But the term has taken on new meaning as makeshift vigilante groups have popped up with increasing frequency in the months leading up to a contentious election. Once limited to the far-right fringe, the term militia now encompasses a far wider spectrum, representing everything from armed-to-the-teeth neighborhood watch organizations to an all-Black paramilitary group that marches to protest police violence. The rising visibility of such groups has put a spotlight on the word “militia” itself, with many critics demanding it be replaced. They contend that the term has fundamentally lost its meaning as more groups use it to camouflage threats of violence. Historically, militias have referred to an auxiliary force raised from the civilian population to bolster the Army. The issue in the United States, experts said, is that private paramilitary groups have long cloaked their activities in the vocabulary of the American Revolution and the Constitution, creating an aura of legality that does not exist. “The use of the word militia anytime you are talking about anything other than a state militia like the National Guard, it is just wrong,” said Mary McCord, a former Justice Department official now running an institute that specializes in constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center. “Using that term without putting ‘unlawful’ in front of it suggests that there is some legitimacy or even constitutional authority for their existence, which there isn’t.” One such group in Michigan, called the Wolverine Watchmen, was at the center of the suspected plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other planned violence. Federal and state authorities announced the arrest this month of 14 men linked to the group. That drew even more attention to the term, escalating demands to label such groups “terrorists.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter, “Genuine question for the media/law enforcement: why are you calling these armed neo-Nazi groups breaking the law ‘militias’ instead of ‘gangs’ or ‘domestic terrorist groups?’” Last spring, various anti-government groups condemned the coronavirus lockdown measures as a form of “tyranny” and organized some of the first protests against them. More groups turned out in force during demonstrations against police brutality. Scuffles between protesters and members of armed groups have led to deaths in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; and Denver. There are currently about 181 active anti-government paramilitary groups in the United States, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks them. Some claim thousands of members, but more often their numbers are far smaller, experts said. American schoolchildren are often taught that Revolutionary War militiamen were heroes. “Patriots formed militia groups to defend the colonies against the British,” reads a brief passage in a fifth grade textbook used in Hillsboro, Oregon, “Some militiamen called themselves minutemen because they could be ready at a moment’s notice.” In addition, the Second Amendment says, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Many groups cite that language to justify their use of the term. But experts note that “well-regulated,” implies state control and not freelance efforts by all comers. The name “militia” suggests the idea of citizen soldiers and patriotism, plus it lends such groups “the color of the law,” said Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow with the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism. Underneath that veneer lies a fundamental contradiction, experts noted, with members of the current movement advocating an armed resistance against the very state that the original militias were formed to protect. It is difficult to pinpoint which group first resurrected the name “militia.” Some historians consider the Ku Klux Klan a militia, and over the past century various militant groups drew on the Revolution for their names. In the 1970s, far-right activists, alarmed by civil rights legislation as well as new environmental laws, pushed to reassert local control. The Posse Comitatus movement, rooted in white Christian fundamentalism, developed the concept of citizen posses. Its manual stated that any official who disobeyed the Constitution should “be removed by the Posse to a populated intersection of the streets in the township and at high noon be hung there by the neck, the body remaining until sundown as an example to those who would subvert the law,” according to Daniel Levitas, author of “The Terrorist Next Door,” a history of extremist groups. “Unorganized militia,” a 19th century legal term, was considered obsolete after the Militia Act of 1903, when federal law began incorporating all legal militias into the National Guard, controlled by state governors. Although the wording differs, all 50 states ban private paramilitary groups that further “civil disorder.” Fast forward to the early 1990s, when the term gained new life after the violent sieges by federal law enforcement agents against the cabin of Randy Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992, and the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993. Those on the far-right, already dedicated to the idea of a “leaderless resistance,” concluded that they needed to organize into paramilitary groups to protect themselves from government “tyranny.” Pamphlets appeared with titles like “The Field Manual of the Free Militia” that explained how to establish one. Using the word “militia” and other historical vocabulary was a deliberate attempt to attract a broader membership by veiling the often racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant and homophobic origins of such groups, experts said. “Right-wing extremist organizations try to cloak themselves in heroic garb,” said David Neiwert, author of “Alt-America,” who has tracked such groups for decades. “That is the basis of a lot of the appeal; this is your chance to be a hero.” Paramilitary organizations mushroomed in the 1990s, with some 370 formed by the middle of the decade. Then came the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, sprouting from the same ideology if not directly connected to a militia, that left 168 people dead. Scores of paramilitary organizations collapsed as their appeal dimmed. But political fights over the Second Amendment kept the movement alive; plus, conspiracy theories about a looming foreign invasion never faded entirely. In recent years, the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 marked the first high-profile appearance of such armed groups at protests. Experts who continue to use the word “militia” said it helped to define a distinct category among adherents of various fringe ideologies or criminal organizations including white supremacists, prison gangs, the tax protest movement, anti-vaxxers, skinheads, survivalists and others. “Terrorist” was the most popular substitute that circulated on social media, but the legal definition of terrorism refers to organized attacks meant to intimidate or coerce in an attempt to influence government policy. Many experts consider that too broad. The majority of militia members “will never be involved with a terrorist act,” said Pitcavage. The term gangs is also considered a poor fit since law enforcement agencies tend to use that to describe violent criminal enterprises. Some experts said they felt like they were under siege by “language police” over a word they have used for decades. In Michigan, federal authorities said the plotters discussed putting the governor on trial as a “tyrant” before Election Day. The case has become an election issue as President Donald Trump has cast doubts on the plot and continued to vilify Whitmer. The possibility that armed groups might try to intimidate voters at the polls prompted the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law to publish a legal guide to confront such groups for all 50 states. “It has all been whitewashed and made safe for broader public consumption by wrapping it in the flag,” said Neiwert. “They call themselves patriots, although you have never met a more seditious bunch.”

What is a militia? And why is the word so controversial these days?

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against terror financing and money laundering is holding its plenary session from October 21. During the session, FATF will take a decision about putting Pakistan in blacklist. Pakistan is already in the grey list. Inclusion in black list will invite great economic sanctions on its already battered economy.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) needs to take a hard and objective look at Pakistan`s attempts to leverage "nuisance value" to ensure that the country fully complies with terror financing and money laundering obligations before it can be de-listed, Global Watch Analysis reported.

Early this month, the FATF`s Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering has kept Pakistan on "Enhanced Follow-up List" for its slow progress on the technical recommendations of the FATF to fight terror financing.&nbsp;

Pakistan`s progress has remained unchanged -- non-compliant on four counts.According to a report by Roland Jacquard, Chairman of Roland Jacquard Global Security Consulting (RJGSC), published in Global Watch Analysis, the APG`s latest report of September 2020, based on the evaluation conducted after a year, Pakistan`s report card remained more or less unchanged with the country being able to move one of its partially compliant parameters to fully compliant.

"The APG has a stringent set of monitoring processes while evaluating a country`s compliance with AML/CFT measures. It has a scale of 40 parameters based on which it prepares its evaluation report on any country. These parameters range from the presence of effective laws and supervision to prevent terror financing or money laundering to identifying non-profit organisations that act as fronts for terror groups," he said.&nbsp;

"In Pakistan`s case, the APG, in its Mutual Evaluation Report in October 2019 had found the country compliant on 1, non-compliant on 4, partially compliant on 26 and largely compliant on 9 of these 40 parameters. In the APG`s latest report of September 2020, based on the evaluation conducted after a year, Pakistan`s report card remained more or less unchanged with the country being able to move 1 of its partially compliant parameters to fully compliant," he added.

Jacquard said that the APG is a non-political body and its opinion is not binding on the final decision of the FATF, adding that the FATF`s Joint Group Progress Report of October 2020 has taken a more "lenient stance" on Pakistan.Pakistan is in the FATF`s grey list since June 2018 and the government was given a final warning in February to complete the remaining action points by June 2020.&nbsp;

Another review meeting will be held later this month.The FATF extended the June deadline to September due to the spread of coronavirus that disrupted the FATF plenary meetings.The country is facing the difficult task of clearing its name from the FATF grey list.&nbsp;

As things stand, Islamabad is finding it difficult to shield terror perpetrators and implement the FATF action plan at the same time.In recent weeks, Pakistan has been trying to paint a picture that it has started the reforms, including the passing of some Bills in order to prevent blacklisting by the FATF.

In late July, Pakistan Financial Monitoring Unit Director-general Lubna Farooq told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance that the country is yet to comply with 13 conditions out of the 27-point Action Plan of the FATF, including curbing terror financing, enforcement of the laws against the proscribed organisations and improving the legal systems.&nbsp;

Jacquard said the reason for the FATF leniency is Trump administration`s hurry to leave Afghanistan and therefore its dependence on Pakistan to convince the Taliban for an honourable exit.

"However, since the APG is a non-political body, its opinion is not binding on the final decision of the FATF. As a result, despite APG`s recent evaluation, the FATF`s Joint Group Progress Report of October 2020 has taken a more lenient stance on Pakistan," he writes.

"As per this group`s assessment, Pakistan has fully complied with 21 of the 27 action points and more or less complied with the remaining 6, thereby indicating that it was more or less on the path of being de-listed. The reasons for this tempered position on Pakistan can only be speculated. The most obvious reason is the Trump administration`s hurry to leave Afghanistan and therefore its dependence on Pakistan to convince the Taliban for an honourable exit," he adds.

Jacquard said that the important institutions like the FATF should not be allowed to be pressured into taking a decision based on political considerations.

"Whatever may be the case, important institutions like the FATF should not be allowed to be pressured into taking a decision based on political considerations, especially when the ground situation in Pakistan tells an alarming story," he noted.

A closer look at the Pakistan-based social media accounts conveys a different tale of UN proscribed Pakistani terrorist groups like the Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and their leaders being allowed freedom of movement and activity in the country, Jacquard highlighted.

While these groups openly collect fund in the name of jihad, the Pakistan government tries to convince the FATF that its recently passed Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism laws were evidence of its commitment to act against terror groups, he said.&nbsp;

"The FATF, therefore, needs to take a hard and objective look at Pakistan`s attempts to leverage its nuisance value, in the larger interest of preserving its credibility as a global financial watchdog and ensure that Islamabad fully complies with terror financing and money laundering obligations before it can be de-listed In this connection, one is reminded of the case of Iceland that was `greylisted` for lesser infractions and took more than a year to get delisted," he concludes.

(With ANI inputs)

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against terror financing and money laundering is holding its plenary session from October 21. During the session, FATF will take a decision about putting Pakistan in blacklist.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against terror financing and money laundering is holding its plenary session from October 21. During the session, FATF will take a decision about putting Pakistan in blacklist. Pakistan is already in the grey list. Inclusion in black list will invite great economic sanctions on its already battered economy. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) needs to take a hard and objective look at Pakistan`s attempts to leverage "nuisance value" to ensure that the country fully complies with terror financing and money laundering obligations before it can be de-listed, Global Watch Analysis reported. Early this month, the FATF`s Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering has kept Pakistan on "Enhanced Follow-up List" for its slow progress on the technical recommendations of the FATF to fight terror financing. Pakistan`s progress has remained unchanged -- non-compliant on four counts.According to a report by Roland Jacquard, Chairman of Roland Jacquard Global Security Consulting (RJGSC), published in Global Watch Analysis, the APG`s latest report of September 2020, based on the evaluation conducted after a year, Pakistan`s report card remained more or less unchanged with the country being able to move one of its partially compliant parameters to fully compliant. "The APG has a stringent set of monitoring processes while evaluating a country`s compliance with AML/CFT measures. It has a scale of 40 parameters based on which it prepares its evaluation report on any country. These parameters range from the presence of effective laws and supervision to prevent terror financing or money laundering to identifying non-profit organisations that act as fronts for terror groups," he said. "In Pakistan`s case, the APG, in its Mutual Evaluation Report in October 2019 had found the country compliant on 1, non-compliant on 4, partially compliant on 26 and largely compliant on 9 of these 40 parameters. In the APG`s latest report of September 2020, based on the evaluation conducted after a year, Pakistan`s report card remained more or less unchanged with the country being able to move 1 of its partially compliant parameters to fully compliant," he added. Jacquard said that the APG is a non-political body and its opinion is not binding on the final decision of the FATF, adding that the FATF`s Joint Group Progress Report of October 2020 has taken a more "lenient stance" on Pakistan.Pakistan is in the FATF`s grey list since June 2018 and the government was given a final warning in February to complete the remaining action points by June 2020. Another review meeting will be held later this month.The FATF extended the June deadline to September due to the spread of coronavirus that disrupted the FATF plenary meetings.The country is facing the difficult task of clearing its name from the FATF grey list. As things stand, Islamabad is finding it difficult to shield terror perpetrators and implement the FATF action plan at the same time.In recent weeks, Pakistan has been trying to paint a picture that it has started the reforms, including the passing of some Bills in order to prevent blacklisting by the FATF. In late July, Pakistan Financial Monitoring Unit Director-general Lubna Farooq told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance that the country is yet to comply with 13 conditions out of the 27-point Action Plan of the FATF, including curbing terror financing, enforcement of the laws against the proscribed organisations and improving the legal systems. Jacquard said the reason for the FATF leniency is Trump administration`s hurry to leave Afghanistan and therefore its dependence on Pakistan to convince the Taliban for an honourable exit. "However, since the APG is a non-political body, its opinion is not binding on the final decision of the FATF. As a result, despite APG`s recent evaluation, the FATF`s Joint Group Progress Report of October 2020 has taken a more lenient stance on Pakistan," he writes. "As per this group`s assessment, Pakistan has fully complied with 21 of the 27 action points and more or less complied with the remaining 6, thereby indicating that it was more or less on the path of being de-listed. The reasons for this tempered position on Pakistan can only be speculated. The most obvious reason is the Trump administration`s hurry to leave Afghanistan and therefore its dependence on Pakistan to convince the Taliban for an honourable exit," he adds. Jacquard said that the important institutions like the FATF should not be allowed to be pressured into taking a decision based on political considerations. "Whatever may be the case, important institutions like the FATF should not be allowed to be pressured into taking a decision based on political considerations, especially when the ground situation in Pakistan tells an alarming story," he noted. A closer look at the Pakistan-based social media accounts conveys a different tale of UN proscribed Pakistani terrorist groups like the Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and their leaders being allowed freedom of movement and activity in the country, Jacquard highlighted. While these groups openly collect fund in the name of jihad, the Pakistan government tries to convince the FATF that its recently passed Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism laws were evidence of its commitment to act against terror groups, he said. "The FATF, therefore, needs to take a hard and objective look at Pakistan`s attempts to leverage its nuisance value, in the larger interest of preserving its credibility as a global financial watchdog and ensure that Islamabad fully complies with terror financing and money laundering obligations before it can be de-listed In this connection, one is reminded of the case of Iceland that was `greylisted` for lesser infractions and took more than a year to get delisted," he concludes. (With ANI inputs)

Pakistan in crosshairs as FATF begins plenary today

At least 25 Afghan security force personnel were killed in an ambush considered to be carried out by Taliban. The attack took place in the northeastern part of Afghanistan. Although Taliban was believed to be behind the attack, it did not accept responsibility in the immediate aftermath.

"Fighting is still continuing and the Taliban have also suffered heavy casualties," Jawad Hejri, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar province was quoted by AFP as saying.

Takhar provincial health director Abdul Qayoum confirmed the incident but said 34 security personnel had been killed -- including the deputy police chief of the province.

"These security forces were on their way for an operation in the district when they were attacked by the Taliban," said Hejri.

"The Taliban had taken positions in the houses around the area. They ambushed our forces who were there for an operation against the enemy."

The Taliban have so far not commented on the attack.

It comes as spiraling violence across Afghanistan imperils ongoing peace talks between the hardline group and the government in Qatar.

(With AFP inputs)

At least 25 Afghan security force personnel were killed in an ambush considered to be carried out by Taliban. The attack took place in the northeastern part of Afghanistan.

At least 25 Afghan security force personnel were killed in an ambush considered to be carried out by Taliban. The attack took place in the northeastern part of Afghanistan. Although Taliban was believed to be behind the attack, it did not accept responsibility in the immediate aftermath. "Fighting is still continuing and the Taliban have also suffered heavy casualties," Jawad Hejri, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar province was quoted by AFP as saying. Takhar provincial health director Abdul Qayoum confirmed the incident but said 34 security personnel had been killed -- including the deputy police chief of the province. "These security forces were on their way for an operation in the district when they were attacked by the Taliban," said Hejri. "The Taliban had taken positions in the houses around the area. They ambushed our forces who were there for an operation against the enemy." The Taliban have so far not commented on the attack. It comes as spiraling violence across Afghanistan imperils ongoing peace talks between the hardline group and the government in Qatar. (With AFP inputs)

Taliban ambush kills 25 Afghan security persons

France ordered the temporary closure of a mosque outside Paris on Tuesday, part of a crackdown on Muslims who incite hatred after the decapitation of a teacher who showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.

The Grand Mosque of Pantin, a low-income suburb on the capital's northeastern outskirts, had shared a video on its Facebook page before the attack that vented hatred against history teacher Samuel Paty.

Police plastered notices of the closure order outside the mosque as the authorities promised a tough response against the disseminators of hate messages, preachers of radicalised sermons and foreigners believed to pose a security threat to France.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/paris-teacher-attack-beheaded-samuel-paty-will-get-frances-highest-honour-336629" hreflang="en">Paris teacher attack: Beheaded Samuel Paty will get France's highest honour</a>

The six-month order was "for the sole purpose of preventing acts of terrorism", the notice issued by the head of the Seine-Saint-Denis department read.

The beheading of a public servant by a suspected Islamist for his use of religious satire to explore with students the debate surrounding freedom of expression, a deeply cherished tenet of democracy in secular France, has convulsed the country and shocked the world.

President Emmanuel Macron is increasingly concerned by what he calls Islamist separatism: the attempt by hostile elements within France's large Muslim community to impose conservative Islamic beliefs over the traditional values of the French Republic in some communities.

"ENEMY WITHIN"

Interior Minister Gerald Darmain said this week France was confronted by an "enemy within".

The rector of the Grand Mosque of Panin, M'hammed Henniche, this weekend expressed regret over sharing the video on social media, after it emerged Paty had become the victim of a vicious online campaign of intimidation even before he was killed.

In the video, the Muslim father of one of Paty's students said the history teacher had singled out Muslim students and asked them to leave his class before showing the cartoons. He called Paty a thug and said he wanted the teacher removed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/231-radicalised-foreign-nationals-will-be-expelled-from-the-country-france-336399" hreflang="en">231 'radicalised' foreign nationals will be expelled from the country: France</a>

Henniche told Agence France Presse he had shared the video, filmed by the father of a student at Paty's school, not to endorse the complaint but out of concern for Muslim children.

The student's father is now in police custody.

Calls by Reuters to the mosque on Tuesday went unanswered.

"There's no room for violence in our religion", the mosque said in a statement published on Facebook on Monday. "We strongly condemn this savagery."

One Pantin resident, who gave her name as Maya and said her husband prayed at the mosque, called the closure "sad for our community".

France ordered the temporary closure of a mosque outside Paris on Tuesday, part of a crackdown on Muslims who incite hatred after the decapitation of a teacher who showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.

France ordered the temporary closure of a mosque outside Paris on Tuesday, part of a crackdown on Muslims who incite hatred after the decapitation of a teacher who showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. The Grand Mosque of Pantin, a low-income suburb on the capital's northeastern outskirts, had shared a video on its Facebook page before the attack that vented hatred against history teacher Samuel Paty. Police plastered notices of the closure order outside the mosque as the authorities promised a tough response against the disseminators of hate messages, preachers of radicalised sermons and foreigners believed to pose a security threat to France. Also read: Paris teacher attack: Beheaded Samuel Paty will get France's highest honour The six-month order was "for the sole purpose of preventing acts of terrorism", the notice issued by the head of the Seine-Saint-Denis department read. The beheading of a public servant by a suspected Islamist for his use of religious satire to explore with students the debate surrounding freedom of expression, a deeply cherished tenet of democracy in secular France, has convulsed the country and shocked the world. President Emmanuel Macron is increasingly concerned by what he calls Islamist separatism: the attempt by hostile elements within France's large Muslim community to impose conservative Islamic beliefs over the traditional values of the French Republic in some communities. "ENEMY WITHIN" Interior Minister Gerald Darmain said this week France was confronted by an "enemy within". The rector of the Grand Mosque of Panin, M'hammed Henniche, this weekend expressed regret over sharing the video on social media, after it emerged Paty had become the victim of a vicious online campaign of intimidation even before he was killed. In the video, the Muslim father of one of Paty's students said the history teacher had singled out Muslim students and asked them to leave his class before showing the cartoons. He called Paty a thug and said he wanted the teacher removed. Also read: 231 'radicalised' foreign nationals will be expelled from the country: France Henniche told Agence France Presse he had shared the video, filmed by the father of a student at Paty's school, not to endorse the complaint but out of concern for Muslim children. The student's father is now in police custody. Calls by Reuters to the mosque on Tuesday went unanswered. "There's no room for violence in our religion", the mosque said in a statement published on Facebook on Monday. "We strongly condemn this savagery." One Pantin resident, who gave her name as Maya and said her husband prayed at the mosque, called the closure "sad for our community".

France shuts Paris mosque in crackdown after teacher's beheading

An encounter began between security forces and terrorists in Chakura area of south Kashmir`s Shopian district on Wednesday, officials said.

The gunfight started after the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in, terrorists hiding in the area filed on them. "The encounter has started in Chakura area of Shopian. Police and other security forces are on the job," police said.

An encounter began between security forces and terrorists in Chakura area of south Kashmir`s Shopian district on Wednesday, officials said. The gunfight started after the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists.

An encounter began between security forces and terrorists in Chakura area of south Kashmir`s Shopian district on Wednesday, officials said. The gunfight started after the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in, terrorists hiding in the area filed on them. "The encounter has started in Chakura area of Shopian. Police and other security forces are on the job," police said.

Gunfight between security forces, terrorists on in Kashmir''s Shopian

Two security force personnel, including a jawan of the SSB, have gone missing along with some weapons and ammunition from Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said here on Wednesday.

A special police officer, identified as Altaf Hussain, was reported missing from the camp of a special operations group at Chadoora, the officials said.

Two AK rifles and three magazines have also gone missing from the camp, the officials said, adding the matter is being investigated.

In another incident, a constable of the SSB -- also named Altaf Hussain -- has gone missing from the camp at Nagam area, near Chadoora.

One magazine of INSAS rifle and 20 rounds have been reported missing from the SSB camp, the officials said.

While the SPO is a local from Chadoora area, the SSB constable hails from Koteranka area of Rajouri district.

Two security force personnel, including a jawan of the SSB, have gone missing along with some weapons and ammunition from Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said here on Wednesday.

Two security force personnel, including a jawan of the SSB, have gone missing along with some weapons and ammunition from Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said here on Wednesday. A special police officer, identified as Altaf Hussain, was reported missing from the camp of a special operations group at Chadoora, the officials said. Two AK rifles and three magazines have also gone missing from the camp, the officials said, adding the matter is being investigated. In another incident, a constable of the SSB -- also named Altaf Hussain -- has gone missing from the camp at Nagam area, near Chadoora. One magazine of INSAS rifle and 20 rounds have been reported missing from the SSB camp, the officials said. While the SPO is a local from Chadoora area, the SSB constable hails from Koteranka area of Rajouri district.

Two security personnel go missing in Jammu and Kashmir

Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban insurgents who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

The fighting in the province, where US&nbsp;and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar.

In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/us-military-startled-with-trumps-announcement-of-complete-troop-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-333767" hreflang="en">US military startled with Trump's announcement of complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan</a>

Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US&nbsp;air strikes.

The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides.

They declined to say how many.

The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted.

The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining U.S. troops by Christmas.

Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced.

One seven-month pregnant eighteen-year-old, who declined to be identified, was shot in the stomach when caught in cross-fire in Gereshk district this week.

She lost the baby.

"I hadn't even chosen a name for him," she told Reuters by telephone from hospital.

"My innocent child, gone forever."

Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban insurgents who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban insurgents who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days. The fighting in the province, where US and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar. In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Also read: US military startled with Trump's announcement of complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US air strikes. The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides. They declined to say how many. The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted. The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining U.S. troops by Christmas. Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced. One seven-month pregnant eighteen-year-old, who declined to be identified, was shot in the stomach when caught in cross-fire in Gereshk district this week. She lost the baby. "I hadn't even chosen a name for him," she told Reuters by telephone from hospital. "My innocent child, gone forever."

Afghan defence minister flies to embattled Helmand after Taliban gains

Pakistan has hired an American lobbying firm to push a pro-Islamabad line and wriggle out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list

Pakistan hires US lobbying firm to move out of FATF grey list: Reports

Six men arrested on suspicion of taking part in a plot by armed extremists to kidnap Michigan's governor have been arraigned on domestic terrorism and weapons charges.

A seventh accused awaits extradition from South Carolina, authorities said on Friday. All seven were described by prosecutors as members or associates of an anti-government militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen.

They were taken into custody late on Wednesday as part of a joint state-federal investigation.

They are accused of conspiring to abduct Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has clashed sharply with Republican US&nbsp;President Donald Trump over her COVID-19 public health orders.

Prosecutors say the men also sought to single out law enforcement officers for intimidation, made threats of violence to incite civil unrest, and trained for an operation to storm the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing and take government officials hostage.

Each of the seven men named in criminal complaints filed is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony - both punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Two of them - Pete Musico, 46, and Joseph Morrison, 26 - were additionally charged with belonging to a criminal gang and with committing a threat of terrorism. At their arraignment on Thursday, Musico and Morrison were each ordered to remain jailed on a $10 million cash bond, the attorney general's office said in a statement.

Bond for each of the four others was set at $250,000. Michigan prosecutors are working to extradite the seventh defendant from South Carolina, where he was arrested, the statement said. He, too, is charged with gang membership.

Various additional pretrial court proceedings were set for later this month, but no mention was made of any pleas being entered.

In addition to the seven suspects held on state charges, six men were arrested on federal charges of conspiring to kidnap the governor, for which they could face life in prison if convicted.

Michigan, a key swing state in the 2020 presidential race, became a focus of agitation earlier this year by Trump and his supporters, including various militia groups, who opposed strict stay-at-home orders imposed by Whitmer to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

At least three of the defendants charged by the state were among hundreds of protesters, many carrying weapons, who entered the Michigan capitol on April 30 as state lawmakers debated Whitmer's request to extend her emergency public health authority. Photos show all three men were armed.

Whitmer accused Trump of inflammatory rhetoric that they said has fostered a climate of racism and political extremism. Trump lashed back by calling Whitmer the "lockdown queen" while denying he was encouraging violence or racism.

(with inputs)

Six men arrested on suspicion of taking part in a plot by armed extremists to kidnap Michigan's governor have been arraigned on domestic terrorism and weapons charges.

Six men arrested on suspicion of taking part in a plot by armed extremists to kidnap Michigan's governor have been arraigned on domestic terrorism and weapons charges. A seventh accused awaits extradition from South Carolina, authorities said on Friday. All seven were described by prosecutors as members or associates of an anti-government militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen. They were taken into custody late on Wednesday as part of a joint state-federal investigation. They are accused of conspiring to abduct Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has clashed sharply with Republican US President Donald Trump over her COVID-19 public health orders. Prosecutors say the men also sought to single out law enforcement officers for intimidation, made threats of violence to incite civil unrest, and trained for an operation to storm the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing and take government officials hostage. Each of the seven men named in criminal complaints filed is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony - both punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Two of them - Pete Musico, 46, and Joseph Morrison, 26 - were additionally charged with belonging to a criminal gang and with committing a threat of terrorism. At their arraignment on Thursday, Musico and Morrison were each ordered to remain jailed on a $10 million cash bond, the attorney general's office said in a statement. Bond for each of the four others was set at $250,000. Michigan prosecutors are working to extradite the seventh defendant from South Carolina, where he was arrested, the statement said. He, too, is charged with gang membership. Various additional pretrial court proceedings were set for later this month, but no mention was made of any pleas being entered. In addition to the seven suspects held on state charges, six men were arrested on federal charges of conspiring to kidnap the governor, for which they could face life in prison if convicted. Michigan, a key swing state in the 2020 presidential race, became a focus of agitation earlier this year by Trump and his supporters, including various militia groups, who opposed strict stay-at-home orders imposed by Whitmer to curb the spread of the coronavirus. At least three of the defendants charged by the state were among hundreds of protesters, many carrying weapons, who entered the Michigan capitol on April 30 as state lawmakers debated Whitmer's request to extend her emergency public health authority. Photos show all three men were armed. Whitmer accused Trump of inflammatory rhetoric that they said has fostered a climate of racism and political extremism. Trump lashed back by calling Whitmer the "lockdown queen" while denying he was encouraging violence or racism. (with inputs)

Accused militia members arraigned on domestic terrorism charges in Michigan

Taking a strong punch at Pakistan at the United Nation, India has called for strong action against stated who support terrorism and how the international community has to speak in one voice on the scourge.

India's first secretary at United Nations in New York, Yedla Umasankar said," We believe that our fight against terrorism should not only seek to eliminate terrorists and disrupt terror organizations/networks but should also identify/hold accountable and take strong measures against States that encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups."

He was speaking on "measures to eliminate international terrorism” at United Nations. India pointed out that "international community cannot and should not be selective in dealing with the terrorist groups or in dismantling terror infrastructure."

New Delhi also "strongly condemned direct or indirect financial assistance provided" by some States, which obviously means Pakistan.

The statement by India comes just days before the crucial FATF meeting that could decide the further listing of Pakistan on the blacklist. The country is currently on greylist since 2018, which deter investors to come to Pakistan as the money might be used in the funding of terrorism.&nbsp;

At various global platforms, India has raised the issue of cross border terrorism, and this is something that other countries in the region like Afghanistan has also done.

The statement said, "India has been and continues to be a victim of terrorism sponsored across our borders" and "no cause whatsoever or grievance can justify terrorism, including State-sponsored cross-border terrorism."

From Pulwama terror attack to Pathankot to 26/11 attack of 2008, Islamabad has been slow on acting on perpetrators responsible for the attacks, based on its territory.

India at the UN highlighted that it is committed to counter-terrorism by "exchanging information, capacity building for effective border controls, preventing misuse of modern technologies, monitoring and curbing illicit financial flows....".

Taking a strong punch at Pakistan at the United Nation, India has called for strong action against stated who support terrorism and how the international community has to speak in one voice on the scourge.

Taking a strong punch at Pakistan at the United Nation, India has called for strong action against stated who support terrorism and how the international community has to speak in one voice on the scourge. India's first secretary at United Nations in New York, Yedla Umasankar said," We believe that our fight against terrorism should not only seek to eliminate terrorists and disrupt terror organizations/networks but should also identify/hold accountable and take strong measures against States that encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups." He was speaking on "measures to eliminate international terrorism” at United Nations. India pointed out that "international community cannot and should not be selective in dealing with the terrorist groups or in dismantling terror infrastructure." New Delhi also "strongly condemned direct or indirect financial assistance provided" by some States, which obviously means Pakistan. The statement by India comes just days before the crucial FATF meeting that could decide the further listing of Pakistan on the blacklist. The country is currently on greylist since 2018, which deter investors to come to Pakistan as the money might be used in the funding of terrorism. At various global platforms, India has raised the issue of cross border terrorism, and this is something that other countries in the region like Afghanistan has also done. The statement said, "India has been and continues to be a victim of terrorism sponsored across our borders" and "no cause whatsoever or grievance can justify terrorism, including State-sponsored cross-border terrorism." From Pulwama terror attack to Pathankot to 26/11 attack of 2008, Islamabad has been slow on acting on perpetrators responsible for the attacks, based on its territory. India at the UN highlighted that it is committed to counter-terrorism by "exchanging information, capacity building for effective border controls, preventing misuse of modern technologies, monitoring and curbing illicit financial flows....".

At UN, India takes a strong punch at Pakistan, calls for strong action against those supporting terrorism

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