As we are trying to collectively build a stronger India, one thing that comes to mind is the safety of citizens. In today’s world, Indian citizens are exposed to ‘level 2.0’ of safety threats that include drones, cyber threats and terror. Empirical examples from around the world show that terrorists are effectively using technology and social media to spread propaganda and access confidential information. And India, having some of the fastest-growing cities in the world, act as a perfect ground for a terrorist to penetrate. Therefore, as New India aspires to build smart cities and develop infrastructure, it is as necessary to simultaneously work on safety measures. This must be done in three areas, namely -&nbsp;intelligence, the internet and social media.&nbsp;

Intelligence&nbsp;

One thing that became evident after 26/11 was that there was that India’s intelligence needed to vastly improve, especially when it came to communicating information to the relevant body in a timely manner. Easier said than done. During 9/11 in the USA, the CIA did have information about hijackers being present in the country but this was not communicated to the FBI. So what needs to be done? One good thing that came out of 26/11 was that the Centre immediately took steps to improve intelligence gathering and coordination between security agencies. Statistically, this has reduced the number of terror attacks in urban areas. Additionally, multi-agency coordination centres (MACCs) and subsidiary multi-agency coordination centres have been established. More needs to be done. Inter-communication in security agencies must improve using secure technology. This will in turn speed up coordination and action.&nbsp;

Internet&nbsp;

Terrorism has turned digital. The most recent national elections saw the spread of propaganda, as well as the introduction of fake news sparking panic and digital disruption in infrastructure. While Digital India and cashless transactions bring in transparency, accountability and increased access, there are certain things that need to be taken care of. The biggest item is individual information. The central government has already started enacting cyber legislations and has established cybersecurity bodies including creating a division for Cyber and Information Security as part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This is just a start. India needs to build effective systems to counter cyberthreats and keep individual information secure at the earliest. The nation is also in dire need of cybersecurity policy for the public sector, the private sector, the government and for the individual. This policy should include the most effective ways of cyber-resilience and managing cyber threats. Cyber-capabilities must increase in every state. Along with that, higher education should include cyber-security awareness and training. Young minds educated in cyber-security can help build upon and/or innovate robust systems with the newest technology.&nbsp;

Social Media

With the exponential usage in smartphones, individual digital footprints are without a doubt in existence. The danger to this? Social media platforms are now being used by terrorists to widen their reach, recruit followers and spread radical information. Terrorist group Al-Qaeda’s website contains information on how to build bombs. Communication using fake profiles is relatively easy as well on social media platforms. The impact of terrorism using social media could plainly be seen with radicalisation amongst youth. It is up to India’s security agencies to be robust with monitoring these platforms and publishing counter-narratives in such cases. Additionally, improved monitoring technology should be used to locate terrorist posts. In this case, hard power should be used to infiltrate and punish those that are caught.&nbsp;

Conclusion

When planning the development of cities, collaboration between the government and citizens is absolutely integral to ensure the safety of India’s people and organisations. More dialogue should be held between decision-makers and qualified professionals. Innovation in security technology should be encouraged and financed. Education and awareness on protection from cyberthreat should be spread consistently on that individuals are aware and conscious.&nbsp;

A major hurdle that also needs to be taken care of is the transportation of security personnel. Government investment on mass transit systems is a great step in the right direction to tackle this problem. And speaking of investments, more is needed to enhance security agency capabilities in India. We need to start using the best technology to catch and tackle cyberthreat. Legislation must pass that contains both awareness and strategy against threat. More and more people will be living in urban areas as the country continues to grow. Therefore, security preparedness is essential to developing a city holistically if India aims to become a developed country in the near future.&nbsp; 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

As we are trying to collectively build a stronger India, one thing that comes to mind is the safety of citizens. In today’s world, Indian citizens are exposed to ‘level 2.

As we are trying to collectively build a stronger India, one thing that comes to mind is the safety of citizens. In today’s world, Indian citizens are exposed to ‘level 2.0’ of safety threats that include drones, cyber threats and terror. Empirical examples from around the world show that terrorists are effectively using technology and social media to spread propaganda and access confidential information. And India, having some of the fastest-growing cities in the world, act as a perfect ground for a terrorist to penetrate. Therefore, as New India aspires to build smart cities and develop infrastructure, it is as necessary to simultaneously work on safety measures. This must be done in three areas, namely - intelligence, the internet and social media. Intelligence One thing that became evident after 26/11 was that there was that India’s intelligence needed to vastly improve, especially when it came to communicating information to the relevant body in a timely manner. Easier said than done. During 9/11 in the USA, the CIA did have information about hijackers being present in the country but this was not communicated to the FBI. So what needs to be done? One good thing that came out of 26/11 was that the Centre immediately took steps to improve intelligence gathering and coordination between security agencies. Statistically, this has reduced the number of terror attacks in urban areas. Additionally, multi-agency coordination centres (MACCs) and subsidiary multi-agency coordination centres have been established. More needs to be done. Inter-communication in security agencies must improve using secure technology. This will in turn speed up coordination and action. Internet Terrorism has turned digital. The most recent national elections saw the spread of propaganda, as well as the introduction of fake news sparking panic and digital disruption in infrastructure. While Digital India and cashless transactions bring in transparency, accountability and increased access, there are certain things that need to be taken care of. The biggest item is individual information. The central government has already started enacting cyber legislations and has established cybersecurity bodies including creating a division for Cyber and Information Security as part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This is just a start. India needs to build effective systems to counter cyberthreats and keep individual information secure at the earliest. The nation is also in dire need of cybersecurity policy for the public sector, the private sector, the government and for the individual. This policy should include the most effective ways of cyber-resilience and managing cyber threats. Cyber-capabilities must increase in every state. Along with that, higher education should include cyber-security awareness and training. Young minds educated in cyber-security can help build upon and/or innovate robust systems with the newest technology. Social Media With the exponential usage in smartphones, individual digital footprints are without a doubt in existence. The danger to this? Social media platforms are now being used by terrorists to widen their reach, recruit followers and spread radical information. Terrorist group Al-Qaeda’s website contains information on how to build bombs. Communication using fake profiles is relatively easy as well on social media platforms. The impact of terrorism using social media could plainly be seen with radicalisation amongst youth. It is up to India’s security agencies to be robust with monitoring these platforms and publishing counter-narratives in such cases. Additionally, improved monitoring technology should be used to locate terrorist posts. In this case, hard power should be used to infiltrate and punish those that are caught. Conclusion When planning the development of cities, collaboration between the government and citizens is absolutely integral to ensure the safety of India’s people and organisations. More dialogue should be held between decision-makers and qualified professionals. Innovation in security technology should be encouraged and financed. Education and awareness on protection from cyberthreat should be spread consistently on that individuals are aware and conscious. A major hurdle that also needs to be taken care of is the transportation of security personnel. Government investment on mass transit systems is a great step in the right direction to tackle this problem. And speaking of investments, more is needed to enhance security agency capabilities in India. We need to start using the best technology to catch and tackle cyberthreat. Legislation must pass that contains both awareness and strategy against threat. More and more people will be living in urban areas as the country continues to grow. Therefore, security preparedness is essential to developing a city holistically if India aims to become a developed country in the near future. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Security preparedness: Ensuring safety in cities

At least 10 civilians were killed in a roadside blast in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/eight-including-newborn-killed-in-airstrike-in-afghanistans-khost-province-265602">Khost</a> province on Tuesday morning, Pajhowk Afghan News reported.

In another incident, five traffic police personnel and 12 civilians suffered injuries in a blast in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/afghanistan/after-building-cricket-stadiums-in-kandahar-mazar-e-sharif-india-to-build-football-ground-in-afghanistans-ghor-province-221705">Mazar-i-sharif</a> city of Balkh province.

No group has so far taken the responsibility of the attack.

At least 10 civilians were killed in a roadside blast in Khost province on Tuesday morning, Pajhowk Afghan News reported. In another incident, five traffic police personnel and 12 civilians suffered injuries in a blast in Mazar-i-sharif city of Balkh province.

At least 10 civilians were killed in a roadside blast in Khost province on Tuesday morning, Pajhowk Afghan News reported. In another incident, five traffic police personnel and 12 civilians suffered injuries in a blast in Mazar-i-sharif city of Balkh province. No group has so far taken the responsibility of the attack.

Afghanistan: 10 killed, 17 injured in two separate blasts

The Home Ministry on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that 22,557 terrorists have been killed in terror incidents since 1990. 
 
"Since 1990.. 22,557 militants have been neutralised in incidents of terrorist violence by security forces till 1st December 2019," G Kishan Reddy, MoS for Home Affairs, in a written reply told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. 
 
From 2005 till October 31 this year, nearly 1000 terrorists have been killed while trying to cross over into India through Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, while 2,253 were pushed back due to vigil by security forces, the Lower House was informed. 
 
"During attempts of infiltration from across Line of Control from 2005 till 31st October, 2019, 1011 militants have been killed, 42 militants apprehended and 2253 militants pushed back/returned due to efficient vigil of security forces," Reddy added. 
 
The minister, speaking about the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict, stated that the central government is duty-bound to act as per the directions and orders of the top court, within a stipulated time frame. 
 
"Directions of Supreme Court in its judgement on Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid matter include formulation of a scheme by Centre with necessary provisions for setting up of a Trust with a Board of Trustees or any other appropriate body, the functioning of the Trust, the powers of the Trustees, transfer of land to the Trust and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters," he said. 
 
Reddy also said that the government of Jammu and Kashmir had reported that "in order to prevent committing of offences involving a breach of peace, activities prejudicial to the security of State and maintenance of public order", stone pelters, overground workers, separatists, were taken into preventive custody under statutory provisions. 
 
Such preventive detentions are being regularly reviewed by relevant statutory authorities.

The Home Ministry on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that 22,557 terrorists have been killed in terror incidents since 1990. "Since 1990.. 22,557 militants have been neutralised in incidents of terrorist violence by security forces till 1st December 2019," G Kishan Reddy, MoS for Home Affairs, in a written reply told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The Home Ministry on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that 22,557 terrorists have been killed in terror incidents since 1990. "Since 1990.. 22,557 militants have been neutralised in incidents of terrorist violence by security forces till 1st December 2019," G Kishan Reddy, MoS for Home Affairs, in a written reply told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. From 2005 till October 31 this year, nearly 1000 terrorists have been killed while trying to cross over into India through Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, while 2,253 were pushed back due to vigil by security forces, the Lower House was informed. "During attempts of infiltration from across Line of Control from 2005 till 31st October, 2019, 1011 militants have been killed, 42 militants apprehended and 2253 militants pushed back/returned due to efficient vigil of security forces," Reddy added. The minister, speaking about the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict, stated that the central government is duty-bound to act as per the directions and orders of the top court, within a stipulated time frame. "Directions of Supreme Court in its judgement on Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid matter include formulation of a scheme by Centre with necessary provisions for setting up of a Trust with a Board of Trustees or any other appropriate body, the functioning of the Trust, the powers of the Trustees, transfer of land to the Trust and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters," he said. Reddy also said that the government of Jammu and Kashmir had reported that "in order to prevent committing of offences involving a breach of peace, activities prejudicial to the security of State and maintenance of public order", stone pelters, overground workers, separatists, were taken into preventive custody under statutory provisions. Such preventive detentions are being regularly reviewed by relevant statutory authorities.

22,557 terrorists neutralised since 1990: Home Ministry

Facing the risk of being placed on the FATF blacklist with Iran and North Korea, Pakistan has submitted its compliance report to the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) showing its efforts to change anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws. 
 
Pakistan has submitted the compliance report before the joint group of FATF to show its efforts to change anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws. There will be a response from them and then (there will be) face-to-face meeting, The News International quoted Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar as saying on Tuesday. 
 
Azhar is also heading the Pakistani team to the FATF. 
 
Islamabad is hoping that the watchdog extends the current deadline of complying to FATF's 27 action plans from February to June 2020 in its upcoming plenary review meeting as the current deadline is too short. 
 
The FATF had already granted an extension till February 2020 in a meeting in October this year. The task force kept the country on its grey list for an extended period up to February 2020 and warned that Islamabad would be put on the blacklist if it did not comply with the remaining 22 out of 27 points related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. 
 
The first formal response from the FATF is awaited till this month-end. 
 
"The face to face meeting is expected to be held in Sydney in early January 2020 where Pakistani delegation will be given an opportunity to defend its submitted compliance report," a source was quoted as saying. 
 
Later, FATF's plenary review meeting is scheduled to take place in February 2020 in Paris to decide the fate of the country. 
 
Pakistan managed to escape falling into the blacklist due to the diplomatic support from China, Turkey, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Middle East countries. 
 
However, academicians and South Asia experts have raised concerns over the growth of terror groups and jihadi outfits in Pakistan. 
 
In its mutual evaluation report (MER) released in October, the Asia Pacific Group (APG)-- a sub-group of the FATF, warned that Pakistan may remain on the FATF grey list for a protracted period, as it may be handed over another action plan for implementation for one to three years more.

Facing the risk of being placed on the FATF blacklist with Iran and North Korea, Pakistan has submitted its compliance report to the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) showing its efforts to change anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws.

Facing the risk of being placed on the FATF blacklist with Iran and North Korea, Pakistan has submitted its compliance report to the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) showing its efforts to change anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws. Pakistan has submitted the compliance report before the joint group of FATF to show its efforts to change anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws. There will be a response from them and then (there will be) face-to-face meeting, The News International quoted Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar as saying on Tuesday. Azhar is also heading the Pakistani team to the FATF. Islamabad is hoping that the watchdog extends the current deadline of complying to FATF's 27 action plans from February to June 2020 in its upcoming plenary review meeting as the current deadline is too short. The FATF had already granted an extension till February 2020 in a meeting in October this year. The task force kept the country on its grey list for an extended period up to February 2020 and warned that Islamabad would be put on the blacklist if it did not comply with the remaining 22 out of 27 points related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. The first formal response from the FATF is awaited till this month-end. "The face to face meeting is expected to be held in Sydney in early January 2020 where Pakistani delegation will be given an opportunity to defend its submitted compliance report," a source was quoted as saying. Later, FATF's plenary review meeting is scheduled to take place in February 2020 in Paris to decide the fate of the country. Pakistan managed to escape falling into the blacklist due to the diplomatic support from China, Turkey, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Middle East countries. However, academicians and South Asia experts have raised concerns over the growth of terror groups and jihadi outfits in Pakistan. In its mutual evaluation report (MER) released in October, the Asia Pacific Group (APG)-- a sub-group of the FATF, warned that Pakistan may remain on the FATF grey list for a protracted period, as it may be handed over another action plan for implementation for one to three years more.

Pakistan submits compliance report to FATF

Five Afghans were killed and a Japanese aid worker wounded Wednesday in an attack in Jalalabad city in the eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said.

The attack comes as humanitarian groups remain on high alert just days after an American aid worker for the UN was killed in a bombing in Kabul.

Tetsu Nakamura, a doctor who heads Peace Japan Medical Services, known as Peshawar Kai in Japanese, was targeted by gunmen while in a vehicle in Jalalabad.

"Dr Nakamura was wounded and his three security guards, a driver and another colleague were killed," Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for Nangarhar's governor, told AFP.

Nakamura is well known in Japan for his aid work, which dates back decades.

The Peshawar Kai website states that Nakamura began aid work in Peshawar in northwest Pakistan in 1984, going on to open a clinic in a remote Nangarhar village in 1991.

The organisation in 1998 established a hospital in Peshawar to serve as the group's permanent base for medical programmes in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Jalalabad resident Auzubillah, who only uses one name, told AFP that he heard shooting at about 8:00 am (0330 GMT).

"I saw there were gunmen attacking a Japanese and his security guards," he said. "Then the gunmen left the area through a small street."

Photos from the scene showed a white pickup truck with a large cabin. Its side windows appeared to have been shot out, and at least three bullet holes could be seen in the windscreen.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

According to Zahir Adil, a spokesman for Nangarhar's public health department, Nakamura was taken to a regional hospital.&nbsp;

The bodies of the five others, all Afghan, were also taken to the hospital.

Aid agencies and non-governmental groups are sometimes targeted in Afghanistan's war.&nbsp;

On November 24, Anil Raj, an American who worked for the UN Development Programme in Afghanistan, was killed when his vehicle was targeted in a bombing in Kabul.&nbsp;

Also in the capital, the Taliban in May targeted Counterpart International, a US-funded non-profit group working with marginalised people. Nine people were killed in that attack.

Five Afghans were killed and a Japanese aid worker wounded Wednesday in an attack in Jalalabad city in the eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said. The attack comes as humanitarian groups remain on high alert just days after an American aid worker for the UN was killed in a bombing in Kabul.

Five Afghans were killed and a Japanese aid worker wounded Wednesday in an attack in Jalalabad city in the eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said. The attack comes as humanitarian groups remain on high alert just days after an American aid worker for the UN was killed in a bombing in Kabul. Tetsu Nakamura, a doctor who heads Peace Japan Medical Services, known as Peshawar Kai in Japanese, was targeted by gunmen while in a vehicle in Jalalabad. "Dr Nakamura was wounded and his three security guards, a driver and another colleague were killed," Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for Nangarhar's governor, told AFP. Nakamura is well known in Japan for his aid work, which dates back decades. The Peshawar Kai website states that Nakamura began aid work in Peshawar in northwest Pakistan in 1984, going on to open a clinic in a remote Nangarhar village in 1991. The organisation in 1998 established a hospital in Peshawar to serve as the group's permanent base for medical programmes in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Jalalabad resident Auzubillah, who only uses one name, told AFP that he heard shooting at about 8:00 am (0330 GMT). "I saw there were gunmen attacking a Japanese and his security guards," he said. "Then the gunmen left the area through a small street." Photos from the scene showed a white pickup truck with a large cabin. Its side windows appeared to have been shot out, and at least three bullet holes could be seen in the windscreen. No group immediately claimed responsibility. According to Zahir Adil, a spokesman for Nangarhar's public health department, Nakamura was taken to a regional hospital. The bodies of the five others, all Afghan, were also taken to the hospital. Aid agencies and non-governmental groups are sometimes targeted in Afghanistan's war. On November 24, Anil Raj, an American who worked for the UN Development Programme in Afghanistan, was killed when his vehicle was targeted in a bombing in Kabul. Also in the capital, the Taliban in May targeted Counterpart International, a US-funded non-profit group working with marginalised people. Nine people were killed in that attack.

Five Afghans killed in Jalalabad attack, Japanese doctor wounded

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-reforges-us-ties-as-political-alliances-redrawn-264972">Bolivia's interim government</a> on Tuesday unveiled a new anti-terrorism police force it said was aimed at dismantling&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;groups&nbsp;"threatening" the troubled South American country.

"This anti-terrorist group has a mission of dismantling absolutely all the terrorist cells that are&nbsp;threatening&nbsp;our homeland," Interior Minister Arturo Murillo said during an official ceremony to present the 60-strong force.

Murillo reviewed the ranks of masked, black-clad troops that make up the new force, called the GAT, at the ceremony in La Paz.&nbsp;

The minister said the state had to act to "free&nbsp;Bolivia&nbsp;from these narcoterrorists who have settled in the country in the last 14 years",&nbsp;a pointed reference to ex-president Evo Morales' term in office.

Morales resigned on November 10 amid swelling protests over what political opponents said was his rigging of October 20 elections.

Watch: Bolivians go hungry as protests snarl cities

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/were-desperate-to-buy-anything-bolivians-go-hungry-as-protests-snarl-cities-263385/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He fled to Mexico the following day after losing the support of the military and police, claiming to be the victim of a coup.

Morales wrote on Twitter that "the coup plotters who attacked power in&nbsp;Bolivia&nbsp;are now inventing incredible stories to blame others for the terror that they themselves are imposing from the state."

"The only terrorist plan they are carrying out is theirs, with blood and fire against all Bolivians."

The new interim government of right-wing president Jeanine Anez has denounced&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;influence in the country since taking power, naming Colombians, Peruvians, Cubans and Venezuelans at different times.

Her government has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-returns-to-normal-as-protests-quell-264496">blamed foreigners</a> for provoking violent clashes during more than a month of post-election violence in&nbsp;Bolivia&nbsp;that has left dozens of people dead.

Police say an Argentine national arrested and held in the eastern city of Santa Cruz is a former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla who they say stoked violence there.

Bolivia's interim government on Tuesday unveiled a new anti-terrorism police force it said was aimed at dismantling foreign groups "threatening" the troubled South American country.

Bolivia's interim government on Tuesday unveiled a new anti-terrorism police force it said was aimed at dismantling foreign groups "threatening" the troubled South American country. "This anti-terrorist group has a mission of dismantling absolutely all the terrorist cells that are threatening our homeland," Interior Minister Arturo Murillo said during an official ceremony to present the 60-strong force. Murillo reviewed the ranks of masked, black-clad troops that make up the new force, called the GAT, at the ceremony in La Paz. The minister said the state had to act to "free Bolivia from these narcoterrorists who have settled in the country in the last 14 years", a pointed reference to ex-president Evo Morales' term in office. Morales resigned on November 10 amid swelling protests over what political opponents said was his rigging of October 20 elections. Watch: Bolivians go hungry as protests snarl cities He fled to Mexico the following day after losing the support of the military and police, claiming to be the victim of a coup. Morales wrote on Twitter that "the coup plotters who attacked power in Bolivia are now inventing incredible stories to blame others for the terror that they themselves are imposing from the state." "The only terrorist plan they are carrying out is theirs, with blood and fire against all Bolivians." The new interim government of right-wing president Jeanine Anez has denounced foreign influence in the country since taking power, naming Colombians, Peruvians, Cubans and Venezuelans at different times. Her government has blamed foreigners for provoking violent clashes during more than a month of post-election violence in Bolivia that has left dozens of people dead. Police say an Argentine national arrested and held in the eastern city of Santa Cruz is a former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla who they say stoked violence there.

Bolivia launches anti-terror unit in bid to fight 'threatening foreign groups'

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday he had ordered the security services to step up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, prompting accusations that he was exploiting the London Bridge attack for political gain less than two weeks before elections.

The prime minister revealed officials were scrutinising around 74 people with terrorist convictions who had been released early from prison-like Usman Khan, who left jail last December and went on to stab two people to death in Friday's rampage.

"They are being properly invigilated to make sure there is no threat," Johnson said.

"We've taken a lot of action as you can imagine in the last 48 hours."

Under the review of released terror convicts, police in the West Midlands said they had arrested a 34-year-old man "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts".

British media said he was a former associate of the London Bridge attacker and had been jailed alongside Khan in 2012 over a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange.

Police said, however, there was no information to suggest a link to Friday's attack.

Khan, 28, was shot dead wearing a fake explosives vest by police on London Bridge after a stabbing spree launched in a nearby hall hosting an ex-offenders' event that also left three people injured.

Police on Sunday formally named the two victims killed as Jack Merritt, 25, from Cambridgeshire in eastern England, and 23-year-old Saskia Jones of Warwickshire in the West Midlands.

PM vows to stiffen sentences

Johnson blamed the previous Labour government for changing the law in 2008 to allow for the early release of prisoners and vowed to introduce minimum 14-year sentences if he regains power in the December 12 vote.

He penned an article setting out the new stance in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, under the headline: "Give me a majority and I'll keep you safe from terror".

Critics hit out at him for appearing to politicise Friday's attack -- including the family of victim Jack Merritt, who said he died "doing what he loved".

While Johnson has vowed to stiffen sentences following the attack, Merritt's family said their son "believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge" and that "he always took the side of the underdog".

"We know Jack would not want this terrible, isolated incident to be used as a pretext by the government for introducing even more draconian sentences on prisoners, or for detaining people in prison for longer than necessary," they said in a statement.

Merritt was a course coordinator at Cambridge University's criminology institute, which was hosting its event by London Bridge to mark five years of its prisoner rehabilitation programme.

Khan, a participant in the initiative during his imprisonment, attended the event armed with two knives, stabbing five people there.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said one of the injured had returned home, while the two others remained hospitalised in a stable condition.

Members of the public have been hailed as heroes for preventing even greater loss of life by tackling Khan -- one armed with a five-foot (1.5-metre) narwhal tusk and another with a fire extinguisher.

The incident came two years after Islamist extremists in a van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking people at random with knives, killing eight people and wounding 48.

'Knee-jerk reactions'

After searching on Saturday two properties in central England believed to be linked to Khan, police have said they believe he was acting alone and were not seeking anybody else.

But the Islamic State group has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

Khan, a British national, had been handed an indeterminate sentence for the protection of the public in 2012 of at least eight years in prison.

He was part of an eight-man network inspired by Al-Qaeda which had plotted to bomb targets including the London Stock Exchange, and planned to take part in "terrorist training" in Pakistan.

But his sentence was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2013 and he received a new 21-year term, comprising a custodial sentence of 16 years and five years on conditional release.

He was then conditionally released from jail around a year ago under so-called licensing conditions after serving about half of his jail term.

Responding to the political furore around the attack, Merritt's father David said: "We don't need knee-jerk reactions."

"It's not lenient policies that are to blame, it's the destruction of the probation service that is supposed to monitor and supervise prisoners after release, &amp; rehabilitation services," he said on Twitter.

That is also the view of the main opposition Labour Party, which noted that the Conservatives have been in power for nearly a decade but had chosen not to tighten the laws around terrorism sentencing.

"I think there has to be an examination of how our prison services work and crucially what happens to them on release from prison," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News.

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday he had ordered the security services to step up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, prompting accusations that he was exploiting the London Bridge attack for political gain less than two weeks before elections.

Britain's Boris Johnson said Sunday he had ordered the security services to step up monitoring of convicted terrorists released early from prison, prompting accusations that he was exploiting the London Bridge attack for political gain less than two weeks before elections. The prime minister revealed officials were scrutinising around 74 people with terrorist convictions who had been released early from prison-like Usman Khan, who left jail last December and went on to stab two people to death in Friday's rampage. "They are being properly invigilated to make sure there is no threat," Johnson said. "We've taken a lot of action as you can imagine in the last 48 hours." Under the review of released terror convicts, police in the West Midlands said they had arrested a 34-year-old man "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts". British media said he was a former associate of the London Bridge attacker and had been jailed alongside Khan in 2012 over a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange. Police said, however, there was no information to suggest a link to Friday's attack. Khan, 28, was shot dead wearing a fake explosives vest by police on London Bridge after a stabbing spree launched in a nearby hall hosting an ex-offenders' event that also left three people injured. Police on Sunday formally named the two victims killed as Jack Merritt, 25, from Cambridgeshire in eastern England, and 23-year-old Saskia Jones of Warwickshire in the West Midlands. PM vows to stiffen sentences Johnson blamed the previous Labour government for changing the law in 2008 to allow for the early release of prisoners and vowed to introduce minimum 14-year sentences if he regains power in the December 12 vote. He penned an article setting out the new stance in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, under the headline: "Give me a majority and I'll keep you safe from terror". Critics hit out at him for appearing to politicise Friday's attack -- including the family of victim Jack Merritt, who said he died "doing what he loved". While Johnson has vowed to stiffen sentences following the attack, Merritt's family said their son "believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge" and that "he always took the side of the underdog". "We know Jack would not want this terrible, isolated incident to be used as a pretext by the government for introducing even more draconian sentences on prisoners, or for detaining people in prison for longer than necessary," they said in a statement. Merritt was a course coordinator at Cambridge University's criminology institute, which was hosting its event by London Bridge to mark five years of its prisoner rehabilitation programme. Khan, a participant in the initiative during his imprisonment, attended the event armed with two knives, stabbing five people there. Meanwhile, hospital officials said one of the injured had returned home, while the two others remained hospitalised in a stable condition. Members of the public have been hailed as heroes for preventing even greater loss of life by tackling Khan -- one armed with a five-foot (1.5-metre) narwhal tusk and another with a fire extinguisher. The incident came two years after Islamist extremists in a van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking people at random with knives, killing eight people and wounding 48. 'Knee-jerk reactions' After searching on Saturday two properties in central England believed to be linked to Khan, police have said they believe he was acting alone and were not seeking anybody else. But the Islamic State group has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Khan, a British national, had been handed an indeterminate sentence for the protection of the public in 2012 of at least eight years in prison. He was part of an eight-man network inspired by Al-Qaeda which had plotted to bomb targets including the London Stock Exchange, and planned to take part in "terrorist training" in Pakistan. But his sentence was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2013 and he received a new 21-year term, comprising a custodial sentence of 16 years and five years on conditional release. He was then conditionally released from jail around a year ago under so-called licensing conditions after serving about half of his jail term. Responding to the political furore around the attack, Merritt's father David said: "We don't need knee-jerk reactions." "It's not lenient policies that are to blame, it's the destruction of the probation service that is supposed to monitor and supervise prisoners after release, & rehabilitation services," he said on Twitter. That is also the view of the main opposition Labour Party, which noted that the Conservatives have been in power for nearly a decade but had chosen not to tighten the laws around terrorism sentencing. "I think there has to be an examination of how our prison services work and crucially what happens to them on release from prison," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News.

Terror checks intensify as London attack enters election fray

Regime forces and armed groups were locked in heavy clashes Monday on the edge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-70-dead-in-syria-regime-clashes-with-idlib-terrorists-265594">Syria's last opposition bastion</a>, with 96 fighters killed over two days, a war monitor said.

The battles since Saturday on the edge of the jihadist-dominated Idlib region are the most deadly since a Russia-brokered ceasefire went into effect in late August, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights said.

"Fighting raged at dawn Monday on several axes in the southeastern Idlib countryside," the Britain-based monitoring group said.

Fifty-one regime fighters had been killed over 48 hours, while 45 of their opponents including 31 jihadists had also lost their lives, the Observatory said.

The Syrian government does not usually divulge casualty figures.

Watch: Nearly 700 children killed in Syria since the beginning of 2019 - UNICEF

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nearly-700-children-killed-in-syria-since-beginning-of-2019-unicef-263952/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Idlib region, home to around three million people including many displaced by Syria's eight-year civil war, is largely under the control of a group dominated by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

It is one of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/syria-military-presence-risks-us-credibility-with-world-community-264856">last holdouts of opposition</a> to forces backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The president has long repeated that his government would eventually reimpose its control over the northwestern region on the border with Turkey.

The late August ceasefire had brought about relative calm, months into a devastating Russia-backed regime offensive that killed around 1,000 civilians and ousted hundreds of thousands from their homes.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-about-100000-syrians-left-istanbul-since-early-july-263412">war in Syria</a> has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Regime forces and armed groups were locked in heavy clashes Monday on the edge of Syria's last opposition bastion, with 96 fighters killed over two days, a war monitor said.

Regime forces and armed groups were locked in heavy clashes Monday on the edge of Syria's last opposition bastion, with 96 fighters killed over two days, a war monitor said. The battles since Saturday on the edge of the jihadist-dominated Idlib region are the most deadly since a Russia-brokered ceasefire went into effect in late August, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights said. "Fighting raged at dawn Monday on several axes in the southeastern Idlib countryside," the Britain-based monitoring group said. Fifty-one regime fighters had been killed over 48 hours, while 45 of their opponents including 31 jihadists had also lost their lives, the Observatory said. The Syrian government does not usually divulge casualty figures. Watch: Nearly 700 children killed in Syria since the beginning of 2019 - UNICEF The Idlib region, home to around three million people including many displaced by Syria's eight-year civil war, is largely under the control of a group dominated by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. It is one of the last holdouts of opposition to forces backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The president has long repeated that his government would eventually reimpose its control over the northwestern region on the border with Turkey. The late August ceasefire had brought about relative calm, months into a devastating Russia-backed regime offensive that killed around 1,000 civilians and ousted hundreds of thousands from their homes. The war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Death toll in Syria's Idlib touches 100: Sources

By Greg Barton

Can prison rehabilitation programmes work, and is it sensible to try and rehabilitate seriously radicalised individuals convicted on terrorism charges?

These are questions not just for Great Britain, in the wake of the second London Bridge attack over the weekend, but for the entire world, including Australia and its near neighbours.

There are no easy answers and no simple options. As the numbers of people detained and eventually released on terrorism charges mount up around the world, so too does the question of what to do with them. Politicians find it easy to speak in terms of “lock them up and throw away the key”. But our legal systems don’t allow this and the results, even if allowed, would almost certainly be worse.

Some answers, and some difficult questions, can be found in the lives of four participants in Saturday’s tragic drama in London: Jack Merritt, Saskia Jones, Marc Conway and James Ford.

All four were participating in an event organised to reflect on the first five years of the University of Cambridge’s Learning Together programme. Merritt was a young graduate who was helping coordinate the program. Jones was a volunteer in the programme. Tragically, their idealism and desire to give back to society saw them lose their lives to a man whom they thought they had been able to help.

Merritt’s father told the media, "Jack lived his principles; he believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge, and he always took the side of the underdog.

In her tribute to her murdered daughter, Jones’s mother said, " Saskia had a great passion for providing invaluable support to victims of criminal injustice, which led her to the point of recently applying for the police graduate recruitment programme, wishing to specialise in victim support."

Jones, 23, and Merritt, 25, were both Cambridge University graduates working at the Learning Together programme. They lost their lives to a knife-wielding terrorist murderer who does not deserve to have his name remembered. Their 28-year-old assailant had been released from prison 12 months earlier, having served but eight years of a 16 year sentence.

In a catastrophic system-failure, his automatic release was processed without his case ever being reviewed by a parole board, despite the sentencing judge identifying him as a serious risk who should only ever be released after careful review. He had gamed the system, presenting himself as repentant and reformed.

In fact, he had never undergone a rehabilitation program in prison and only had cursory processing on his release. Systemic mistakes and the lack of resources to fund sufficient and appropriate rehabilitation programs meant he was one of many whose risk was never adequately assessed.

Conway had formerly served time at a London prison and is now working as a policy officer at the Prison Reform Trust. He witnessed the fatal attack and rushed directly towards the attacker, joining others who sought to pin him down.

Another man participating in the offender rehabilitation event was James Ford. He too saw the attack unfolding and immediately confronted the assailant.

In a deeply tragic irony, the two victims who lost their lives to a man who made a mockery of their idealism were assisted by two others who appear to have genuinely benefited from prison rehabilitation programs. But even here, the complexities and ambiguities of this sort of difficult endeavour were played out as clearly as any playwright could ever conceive of scripting.

Ford was a convicted murderer attending the Learning Together conference on day-release. He had brutally killed 21-year-old Amanda Campion, a young women who was particularly vulnerable because of her intellectual disability. In the eyes of Campion’s family, Ford is no hero.

However, Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University David Wilson, who chairs the Friends of Grendon Prison program, says that Ford underwent extensive rehabilitation initiatives, including an intensive period of psychotherapy.

On this occasion, the convicted murderer did the right thing. Even though this doesn’t make him a hero, it does give some reason for hope. For Wilson, the murderous terrorist and the convicted murderer who rushed to contain him represent a tale of two prisoners:

I know through my work that people do change and they change as a consequence of innovative but challenging regimes such as the one at HMP Grendon.

In the wake of the attack, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the cases of 74 people released early after being jailed for terror offences will be reviewed. This is certainly sensible and necessary, but much more is required. Indefinite detention is not an option in the majority of cases, and the UK is dealing with hundreds of people convicted of terrorism offences either currently in prison or recently released.&nbsp;

The numbers in Australia are only a fraction of this but still run into the high dozens and are growing every year. For Australia’s near neighbours, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, the numbers, including projected returnees from the Middle East, run into the thousands.

Professor Ian Acheson, who has advised the government on how to handle extremist prisoners, told the BBC it was not “a question of an arms race on sentencing toughness”, but about what is done when offenders are in custody.

Acheson said his panel’s recommendations had been agreed to but not implemented due to “the merry-go-round of political replacements of secretaries of state”, and the “fairly recalcitrant and unwilling bureaucracy”. He also cited “crazy failed and ideological austerity cuts” to the police, prison and probation services. 
 
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47225797 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/02/criminals-going-unpunished-because-of-cuts-says-police-chief https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/28/britains-police-chiefs-leader-sara-thornton-says-she-wants-end-to-blame-culture

Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were not naïve idealists. They had studied the problem closely and believed rehabilitation programmes could make a difference. Their tragic deaths speak to the challenges involved. To give up and do nothing is not merely cynical, but self-defeating. Without adequate resourcing and reforms the problem everywhere will only become much worse.

 
(Greg Barton is Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the<a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-on-terrorism-and-rehabilitation-from-the-london-bridge-attack-128108"> original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Greg Barton Can prison rehabilitation programmes work, and is it sensible to try and rehabilitate seriously radicalised individuals convicted on terrorism charges?

By Greg Barton Can prison rehabilitation programmes work, and is it sensible to try and rehabilitate seriously radicalised individuals convicted on terrorism charges? These are questions not just for Great Britain, in the wake of the second London Bridge attack over the weekend, but for the entire world, including Australia and its near neighbours. There are no easy answers and no simple options. As the numbers of people detained and eventually released on terrorism charges mount up around the world, so too does the question of what to do with them. Politicians find it easy to speak in terms of “lock them up and throw away the key”. But our legal systems don’t allow this and the results, even if allowed, would almost certainly be worse. Some answers, and some difficult questions, can be found in the lives of four participants in Saturday’s tragic drama in London: Jack Merritt, Saskia Jones, Marc Conway and James Ford. All four were participating in an event organised to reflect on the first five years of the University of Cambridge’s Learning Together programme. Merritt was a young graduate who was helping coordinate the program. Jones was a volunteer in the programme. Tragically, their idealism and desire to give back to society saw them lose their lives to a man whom they thought they had been able to help. Merritt’s father told the media, "Jack lived his principles; he believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge, and he always took the side of the underdog. In her tribute to her murdered daughter, Jones’s mother said, " Saskia had a great passion for providing invaluable support to victims of criminal injustice, which led her to the point of recently applying for the police graduate recruitment programme, wishing to specialise in victim support." Jones, 23, and Merritt, 25, were both Cambridge University graduates working at the Learning Together programme. They lost their lives to a knife-wielding terrorist murderer who does not deserve to have his name remembered. Their 28-year-old assailant had been released from prison 12 months earlier, having served but eight years of a 16 year sentence. In a catastrophic system-failure, his automatic release was processed without his case ever being reviewed by a parole board, despite the sentencing judge identifying him as a serious risk who should only ever be released after careful review. He had gamed the system, presenting himself as repentant and reformed. In fact, he had never undergone a rehabilitation program in prison and only had cursory processing on his release. Systemic mistakes and the lack of resources to fund sufficient and appropriate rehabilitation programs meant he was one of many whose risk was never adequately assessed. Conway had formerly served time at a London prison and is now working as a policy officer at the Prison Reform Trust. He witnessed the fatal attack and rushed directly towards the attacker, joining others who sought to pin him down. Another man participating in the offender rehabilitation event was James Ford. He too saw the attack unfolding and immediately confronted the assailant. In a deeply tragic irony, the two victims who lost their lives to a man who made a mockery of their idealism were assisted by two others who appear to have genuinely benefited from prison rehabilitation programs. But even here, the complexities and ambiguities of this sort of difficult endeavour were played out as clearly as any playwright could ever conceive of scripting. Ford was a convicted murderer attending the Learning Together conference on day-release. He had brutally killed 21-year-old Amanda Campion, a young women who was particularly vulnerable because of her intellectual disability. In the eyes of Campion’s family, Ford is no hero. However, Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University David Wilson, who chairs the Friends of Grendon Prison program, says that Ford underwent extensive rehabilitation initiatives, including an intensive period of psychotherapy. On this occasion, the convicted murderer did the right thing. Even though this doesn’t make him a hero, it does give some reason for hope. For Wilson, the murderous terrorist and the convicted murderer who rushed to contain him represent a tale of two prisoners: I know through my work that people do change and they change as a consequence of innovative but challenging regimes such as the one at HMP Grendon. In the wake of the attack, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the cases of 74 people released early after being jailed for terror offences will be reviewed. This is certainly sensible and necessary, but much more is required. Indefinite detention is not an option in the majority of cases, and the UK is dealing with hundreds of people convicted of terrorism offences either currently in prison or recently released. The numbers in Australia are only a fraction of this but still run into the high dozens and are growing every year. For Australia’s near neighbours, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, the numbers, including projected returnees from the Middle East, run into the thousands. Professor Ian Acheson, who has advised the government on how to handle extremist prisoners, told the BBC it was not “a question of an arms race on sentencing toughness”, but about what is done when offenders are in custody. Acheson said his panel’s recommendations had been agreed to but not implemented due to “the merry-go-round of political replacements of secretaries of state”, and the “fairly recalcitrant and unwilling bureaucracy”. He also cited “crazy failed and ideological austerity cuts” to the police, prison and probation services. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47225797 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/02/criminals-going-unpunished-because-of-cuts-says-police-chief https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/28/britains-police-chiefs-leader-sara-thornton-says-she-wants-end-to-blame-culture Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were not naïve idealists. They had studied the problem closely and believed rehabilitation programmes could make a difference. Their tragic deaths speak to the challenges involved. To give up and do nothing is not merely cynical, but self-defeating. Without adequate resourcing and reforms the problem everywhere will only become much worse. (Greg Barton is Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Lessons on terrorism and rehabilitation from the London Bridge attack

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-phase-of-trump-impeachment-hearings-set-for-december-4-264748">Donald Trump</a> said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups.

The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire.

"Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" asked Bill O'Reilly, a conservative media personality in an online interview on "The O'Reilly Update."

"I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump answered.

He added: "I will be designating the cartels... absolutely. I have been working on that for the last 90 days.

"Designation is not that easy, you have to go through a process and we are well into that process."

Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign ministry saying that it has contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of what the US president had said.

Mexico would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear US concerns and present Mexico's views,&nbsp;which include stemming the flow of weapons bought in the United States and smuggled south of the border, the statement read.

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire.

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire. "Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" asked Bill O'Reilly, a conservative media personality in an online interview on "The O'Reilly Update." "I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump answered. He added: "I will be designating the cartels... absolutely. I have been working on that for the last 90 days. "Designation is not that easy, you have to go through a process and we are well into that process." Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign ministry saying that it has contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of what the US president had said. Mexico would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear US concerns and present Mexico's views, which include stemming the flow of weapons bought in the United States and smuggled south of the border, the statement read.

Will designate Mexican cartels as 'terror groups': Donald Trump

A terrorist was killed in a joint operation by security forces in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/kashmir-issue-the-labour-party-of-uk-offends-india-yet-again-264345">Jammu and Kashmir</a>'s Shopian district on Monday, Northern Command of the Indian Army said.

The joint operation is still underway, Northern Command said in a tweet.

More details are awaited.

This comes after a terrorist, identified as Irfan Ahmed, was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces at Tachwara village in Pulwama today, police said. Ahmed was a listed and a wanted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-hizbul-mujahideen-terrorists-killed-in-pulwama-264547">Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist</a>.

A terrorist was killed in a joint operation by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday, Northern Command of the Indian Army said. The joint operation is still underway, Northern Command said in a tweet.

A terrorist was killed in a joint operation by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday, Northern Command of the Indian Army said. The joint operation is still underway, Northern Command said in a tweet. More details are awaited. This comes after a terrorist, identified as Irfan Ahmed, was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces at Tachwara village in Pulwama today, police said. Ahmed was a listed and a wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist.

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorist killed by security forces in Shopian

Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Monday evening in Kashmir's Pulwama. 
 
One of the terrorists, identified as Irfan Naira, active since 2016, was a category 'A' terrorist. He was a close associate of Riyaz Naikoo. 
 
Another terrorist Irfan Rather was active since 2017. 
 
The two HM terrorists had attacked Army, CRPF and JKP patrol parties earlier.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Monday evening in Kashmir's Pulwama. One of the terrorists, identified as Irfan Naira, active since 2016, was a category 'A' terrorist.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Monday evening in Kashmir's Pulwama. One of the terrorists, identified as Irfan Naira, active since 2016, was a category 'A' terrorist. He was a close associate of Riyaz Naikoo. Another terrorist Irfan Rather was active since 2017. The two HM terrorists had attacked Army, CRPF and JKP patrol parties earlier.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed in Pulwama

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday paid tribute to victims of 26/11 terror attacks on the 11th anniversary of the ghastly attacks. 
 
The two leaders remembered the sacrifice of the victims and paid floral tributes at the Police Memorial at the Marine Drive. 
 
Mumbai had come to a standstill on this day 11 years ago when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city. 
 
Attacks took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Hotel and Tower and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel. 
 
As many as 166 people lost their lives while over 300 suffered injuries in the attacks.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday paid tribute to victims of 26/11 terror attacks on the 11th anniversary of the ghastly attacks.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday paid tribute to victims of 26/11 terror attacks on the 11th anniversary of the ghastly attacks. The two leaders remembered the sacrifice of the victims and paid floral tributes at the Police Memorial at the Marine Drive. Mumbai had come to a standstill on this day 11 years ago when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city. Attacks took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Hotel and Tower and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel. As many as 166 people lost their lives while over 300 suffered injuries in the attacks.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis and governor pay tribute to 26/11 victims at memorial

Tributes are pouring in since&nbsp;as the country&nbsp;remembers the victims who had lost their lives, eleven years ago in the Mumbai terror attacks which began on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lack-of-response-to-2611-different-from-uri-and-balakot-operations-s-jaishankar-262170">November 26, 2008</a>. 
 
The ghastly attacks lasted for four days killing 166 people and injuring over 300. 
 
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday paid tribute to the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and offered his salutations to the bravery and devotion of security personnel. 
 
"My tributes to all those who lost their lives in the dastardly Mumbai terror attack of 2008. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. I salute the bravery and devotion of our security personnel who laid down their lives to protect the motherland," Naidu said. 
&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
My tributes to all those who lost their lives in the dastardly Mumbai terror attack of 2008. We stand in&nbsp;solidarity with the bereaved families.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiTerrorAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiTerrorAttack</a>
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPSecretariat/status/1199140346770255873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus took to Twitter saying 11 years ago, "a cowardly act of terrorism" took the lives of 166 people, including six US citizens. 
 
"Today we remember the victims of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack, and stand with their families in demanding that those responsible for this heinous event face justice," she added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Eleven years ago, a cowardly act of terrorism took the lives of 166 people, including six U.S. citizens. Today we remember the victims of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiTerrorAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiTerrorAttack</a>, and stand with their families in demanding that those responsible for this heinous event face justice.
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) <a href="https://twitter.com/statedeptspox/status/1199145748702482432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-has-vowed-to-ensure-2611-like-incident-are-not-repeated-defence-minister-257510">Twenty-Six Eleven</a>, as these attacks are often referred as, saw ten&nbsp;Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan and carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city. 
 
After sailing to the city under the cover of darkness, the terrorists targeted major landmarks of Mumbai with the first attack taking place at the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station. 
 
Ajmal Amir Kasab and Ismail Khan carried out the attack at this station, killing as many as 58 people and injuring over 100. 
 
Kasab and Khan later entered to attack Cama Hospital, but the same was thwarted with the alertness of the hospital staff. They, however, killed 6 police officials, including city's Anti-Terrorism Squad Hemant Karkare in an ambush after leaving the hospital. 
 
The second site of the attack was Nariman House business and residential complex where a Rabbi, his wife, and six others, including five Israeli citizens, were killed by the terrorists who first held them as a hostage. 
 
The two-year-old child of the Rabbi couple, Moshe, survived in the attack. Then 'Baby Moshe' became a face of the innocent victims of ruthless terrorism. 
In July 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe during his visit to Israel. Later, in January 2018 the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on also met the survivor of 26/11, Moshe Holtzberg at Nariman House in Mumbai. 
 
The third site to come under attack on 26/11 was the Leopold Cafe followed by Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower. Four terrorists carried out the attack at the famous cafe before entering the iconic Taj hotel, where they killed as many as 31 people after laying a three-day siege at the hotel. 
 
The other site to come under attack during the 26/11 was Oberoi-Trident hotel where another group of two terrorists entered at almost the same time, as other four had entered Taj. At Oberoi-Trident hotel the siege officially ended on the evening of November 28 with as many as 30 being killed in the horrific attack. 
 
The attack and seize finally culminated on the morning of November 29, 2008, after the National Security Guards (NSG) secured the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. 
 
By the time commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG) gunned down the last terrorists who had been holed up in south Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace hotel, over 160 people were killed and hundreds were left injured. 
 
After the attack, it was established that the ten&nbsp;terrorists had sailed to Mumbai from Pakistan's port city, Karachi. Their voyage to Mumbai involved hijacking fishing dingy and killing four of the five men crew, leaving one occupant to ferry them to Mumbai coast. 
 
In these gruesome attacks, nine&nbsp;terrorists were killed and the lone survivor, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was caught and was sentenced to death at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune in 2012. 
 
The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), whose mastermind was Hafiz Saeed, was believed to have plotted the 26/11 attacks. 
New Delhi has, time and again, protested against Islamabad for harbouring Saeed, who is wanted for allegedly plotting the 2008 attack. India's stand on Hafiz has been supported by many International personalities including a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director and former Afghanistan President. 
 
Former CIA Director David Howell Petraeus in January 2018, said that there is substantial evidence against Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and UN-designated global terrorist Hafiz Saeed for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. 
 
A day after in the same month, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai also remarked that there is plenty of evidence against Saeed for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and everyone knows about it. 
 
In May 2018, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also asserted that terrorists sent by Pakistan were responsible for the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed over 160 lives. 
 
"Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial?" Nawaz noted in an interview to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper in a reference to the Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court. 
 
Days after Nawaj's not so subtle confessions about Pakistan's involvement in Mumbai attacks, the United States State Department said that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind is a tremendous concern to Washington. 
 
"We are concerned about the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. And he's a Lashkar-e-Taiba guy who was being held in Pakistan, and he was eventually let out on house arrest, and we have a reward out for," said spokesperson Heather Nauert while responding to Sharif's remark. 
 
Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri and Pulwama terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016 and February, 2019 respectively, in which many soldiers lost their lives. 
 
After combating the attack several policy decisions were taken to strengthen nations anti-terrorism framework. One of the immediate decisions the then government took after the attacks were to deploy the NSG commandos in few metropolitan cities. Later on, several NSG hubs were set up for faster response to terror attacks.

(With inputs from ANI)

Tributes are pouring in since as the country remembers the victims who had lost their lives, eleven years ago in the Mumbai terror attacks which began on November 26, 2008.

Tributes are pouring in since as the country remembers the victims who had lost their lives, eleven years ago in the Mumbai terror attacks which began on November 26, 2008. The ghastly attacks lasted for four days killing 166 people and injuring over 300. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday paid tribute to the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and offered his salutations to the bravery and devotion of security personnel. "My tributes to all those who lost their lives in the dastardly Mumbai terror attack of 2008. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. I salute the bravery and devotion of our security personnel who laid down their lives to protect the motherland," Naidu said. My tributes to all those who lost their lives in the dastardly Mumbai terror attack of 2008. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families.#MumbaiTerrorAttack — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) November 26, 2019 US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus took to Twitter saying 11 years ago, "a cowardly act of terrorism" took the lives of 166 people, including six US citizens. "Today we remember the victims of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack, and stand with their families in demanding that those responsible for this heinous event face justice," she added. Eleven years ago, a cowardly act of terrorism took the lives of 166 people, including six U.S. citizens. Today we remember the victims of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack, and stand with their families in demanding that those responsible for this heinous event face justice. — Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) November 26, 2019 Twenty-Six Eleven, as these attacks are often referred as, saw ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan and carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city. After sailing to the city under the cover of darkness, the terrorists targeted major landmarks of Mumbai with the first attack taking place at the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station. Ajmal Amir Kasab and Ismail Khan carried out the attack at this station, killing as many as 58 people and injuring over 100. Kasab and Khan later entered to attack Cama Hospital, but the same was thwarted with the alertness of the hospital staff. They, however, killed 6 police officials, including city's Anti-Terrorism Squad Hemant Karkare in an ambush after leaving the hospital. The second site of the attack was Nariman House business and residential complex where a Rabbi, his wife, and six others, including five Israeli citizens, were killed by the terrorists who first held them as a hostage. The two-year-old child of the Rabbi couple, Moshe, survived in the attack. Then 'Baby Moshe' became a face of the innocent victims of ruthless terrorism. In July 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe during his visit to Israel. Later, in January 2018 the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on also met the survivor of 26/11, Moshe Holtzberg at Nariman House in Mumbai. The third site to come under attack on 26/11 was the Leopold Cafe followed by Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower. Four terrorists carried out the attack at the famous cafe before entering the iconic Taj hotel, where they killed as many as 31 people after laying a three-day siege at the hotel. The other site to come under attack during the 26/11 was Oberoi-Trident hotel where another group of two terrorists entered at almost the same time, as other four had entered Taj. At Oberoi-Trident hotel the siege officially ended on the evening of November 28 with as many as 30 being killed in the horrific attack. The attack and seize finally culminated on the morning of November 29, 2008, after the National Security Guards (NSG) secured the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. By the time commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG) gunned down the last terrorists who had been holed up in south Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace hotel, over 160 people were killed and hundreds were left injured. After the attack, it was established that the ten terrorists had sailed to Mumbai from Pakistan's port city, Karachi. Their voyage to Mumbai involved hijacking fishing dingy and killing four of the five men crew, leaving one occupant to ferry them to Mumbai coast. In these gruesome attacks, nine terrorists were killed and the lone survivor, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was caught and was sentenced to death at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune in 2012. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), whose mastermind was Hafiz Saeed, was believed to have plotted the 26/11 attacks. New Delhi has, time and again, protested against Islamabad for harbouring Saeed, who is wanted for allegedly plotting the 2008 attack. India's stand on Hafiz has been supported by many International personalities including a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director and former Afghanistan President. Former CIA Director David Howell Petraeus in January 2018, said that there is substantial evidence against Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and UN-designated global terrorist Hafiz Saeed for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. A day after in the same month, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai also remarked that there is plenty of evidence against Saeed for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and everyone knows about it. In May 2018, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also asserted that terrorists sent by Pakistan were responsible for the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed over 160 lives. "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial?" Nawaz noted in an interview to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper in a reference to the Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court. Days after Nawaj's not so subtle confessions about Pakistan's involvement in Mumbai attacks, the United States State Department said that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind is a tremendous concern to Washington. "We are concerned about the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. And he's a Lashkar-e-Taiba guy who was being held in Pakistan, and he was eventually let out on house arrest, and we have a reward out for," said spokesperson Heather Nauert while responding to Sharif's remark. Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri and Pulwama terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016 and February, 2019 respectively, in which many soldiers lost their lives. After combating the attack several policy decisions were taken to strengthen nations anti-terrorism framework. One of the immediate decisions the then government took after the attacks were to deploy the NSG commandos in few metropolitan cities. Later on, several NSG hubs were set up for faster response to terror attacks. (With inputs from ANI)

Eleven years since 26/11: Tributes pour in for victims of terrorist attack in Mumbai

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali killed in helicopter crash

A total of 657 children have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the year, UNICEF said on Thursday (November 21), making 2019 another bleak year for Syrian children after more 8 years of conflict.

Nearly 700 children killed in Syria since beginning of 2019 - UNICEF

A special tribunal will&nbsp;soon deliver its verdict in the case pertaining to the Holey Artisan Cafe attack that left 22 people, including 17 foreigners, dead in 2016. It will be delivered in Dhaka on November 27.

The accused eight terrorists are currently in jail and appeared before the court yesterday. According to the Daily Star, Judge Md Majibur Rahman who belongs to the anti-terrorism tribunal of Dhaka set the date.&nbsp;

The prosecution, at the end of the hearing, told the tribunal that the charges against the accused could be proven and demanded capital punishment for all of them.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the defence sought acquittals for their clients saying that the charges were brought based on confessional statements of six accused which could not be trusted.

Earlier, the tribunal had recorded statements of 113 prosecution witnesses. 
 
During the trial, several eyewitnesses, including the wife of Hasnat Reza Karim who was a teacher of North South University, owner of the Holey Artisan restaurant, and top police officials narrated her experiences of the incident. 
 
Hasnat was first arrested in the case but was later relieved of the charges following a probe in 2018 that found no evidence of his involvement. 
 
On July 1, 2016, armed terrorists&nbsp;stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery at the diplomatic zone in Dhaka's Gulshan area. Two police officers were also killed during the 12-hour standoff that followed the attack.

The Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit pressed charges against eight suspects on July 23 last year, whom they accused of destabilising the country by initiating the worst-ever terror incident. 
 
The tribunal, on November 26 the same year, had framed charges against the eight accused in the case.

(With inputs from ANI)

A special tribunal will soon deliver its verdict in the case pertaining to the Holey Artisan Cafe attack that left 22 people, including 17 foreigners, dead in 2016.

A special tribunal will soon deliver its verdict in the case pertaining to the Holey Artisan Cafe attack that left 22 people, including 17 foreigners, dead in 2016. It will be delivered in Dhaka on November 27. The accused eight terrorists are currently in jail and appeared before the court yesterday. According to the Daily Star, Judge Md Majibur Rahman who belongs to the anti-terrorism tribunal of Dhaka set the date. The prosecution, at the end of the hearing, told the tribunal that the charges against the accused could be proven and demanded capital punishment for all of them. Meanwhile, the defence sought acquittals for their clients saying that the charges were brought based on confessional statements of six accused which could not be trusted. Earlier, the tribunal had recorded statements of 113 prosecution witnesses. During the trial, several eyewitnesses, including the wife of Hasnat Reza Karim who was a teacher of North South University, owner of the Holey Artisan restaurant, and top police officials narrated her experiences of the incident. Hasnat was first arrested in the case but was later relieved of the charges following a probe in 2018 that found no evidence of his involvement. On July 1, 2016, armed terrorists stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery at the diplomatic zone in Dhaka's Gulshan area. Two police officers were also killed during the 12-hour standoff that followed the attack. The Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit pressed charges against eight suspects on July 23 last year, whom they accused of destabilising the country by initiating the worst-ever terror incident. The tribunal, on November 26 the same year, had framed charges against the eight accused in the case. (With inputs from ANI)

Bangladesh: Court to announce verdict on 2016 Dhaka cafe terrorist attack

Four soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were injured in a suicide bomb blast outside a military centre in Kabul, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, Nusrat Rahimi, told Sputnik on Monday. 
 
The attack occurred in Kabul's 19th police district, on the Jalalabad-Kabul highway, beside a recruitment centre and near an educational centre where the ANA conducts military exercises. 
 
A suicide bomber allegedly blew himself up near a military training centre. 
 
Pajhwok Afghan News reports two explosions and noted&nbsp;that a road near the incident is blocked.

(With inputs from Sputnik and ANI)

&nbsp;

Four soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were injured in a suicide bomb blast outside a military centre in Kabul, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, Nusrat Rahimi, told Sputnik on Monday.

Four soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were injured in a suicide bomb blast outside a military centre in Kabul, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, Nusrat Rahimi, told Sputnik on Monday. The attack occurred in Kabul's 19th police district, on the Jalalabad-Kabul highway, beside a recruitment centre and near an educational centre where the ANA conducts military exercises. A suicide bomber allegedly blew himself up near a military training centre. Pajhwok Afghan News reports two explosions and noted that a road near the incident is blocked. (With inputs from Sputnik and ANI)

Suicide bomber outside military centre injures four in Kabul

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-says-sc-decision-on-rafale-befitting-reply-to-those-relying-on-malicious-campaigns-seeks-congress-apology-262119">Union Home Minister Amit Shah</a> on Friday reviewed the functioning of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at its headquarters and met the top officials of the paramilitary force. 
 
The Home Minister directed the CRPF to carry out an effective and decisive campaign against Left Wing Extremism in the next six months. 
 
He also directed that effective action should be taken against the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and law and order should be maintained. 
 
The Home Minister was given a detailed presentation by CRPF Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar. High ranking officials of the Ministry, as well as CRPF, were present on the occasion. 
 
This was the first visit of Amit Shah to any force headquarter after he took charge of the Home Ministry. 
 
An official release said the minister spent about two hours with the senior officers of the force before leaving. 
 
The Home Minister was apprised of the organisational structure of the CRPF and its special forces. 
 
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF's requirements of infrastructure and equipment were discussed. 
 
"The Home Minister directed that effective action should be taken against the terrorists and law and order be maintained," the release said. 
 
He also directed that the civic action programmes be carried out, besides organising sports and tours. 
 
The CRPF should also reach out to the villagers and assist them in obtaining the benefits of many central schemes which are applicable to them, he said. 
 
The minister said proper winter provisioning for the forces should be done and their welfare looked after. He also appreciated the performance of the CRPF in that theatre. 
 
The situation in the Maoist affected states and measures being taken for improving the infrastructure of the camps and measures against improvised explosive devices were also discussed. 
 
"The Home Minister directed the CRPF to carry out an effective and decisive campaign against Left Wing Extremism in the next six months," the release said. 
 
He said action needs to be taken against the urban Naxals and their facilitators. 
 
The Home Minister emphasised that the road connectivity and medical infrastructure in LWE areas should be upgraded. 
 
He also directed that the health of the jawans and their families should be well looked after. 
 
Digital health-cards should be made and there should be periodical health checks also for their families. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/opposition-is-creating-meaningless-ruckus-over-presidents-rule-in-maharashtra-amit-shah-261911">The Home Minister</a> directed that senior officers should visit the families of martyrs and spend time with them understanding their requirements so that their problems are resolved. 
 
"A database should also be made of the martyrs' families and their basic issues and grievances should be systematically addressed'', Shah said. 
 
He expressed concern about the hard and long deployment of jawans in difficult theatres and discussed various measures for giving them relief and an opportunity to stay with their families. 
 
The minister directed that the infrastructure of CRPF and their residential quarters should be improved and more quarters at different duty locations should be constructed. 
 
Noting that cutting edge technologies and the state-of-art equipment should be identified which are required for operational purposes, he emphasised the Make-in-India effort and also asked the forces to use Khadi and indigenously made products. 
 
He directed the senior officers to reach out to their juniors and jawans so as to able to appreciate their issues.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the functioning of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at its headquarters and met the top officials of the paramilitary force.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the functioning of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at its headquarters and met the top officials of the paramilitary force. The Home Minister directed the CRPF to carry out an effective and decisive campaign against Left Wing Extremism in the next six months. He also directed that effective action should be taken against the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and law and order should be maintained. The Home Minister was given a detailed presentation by CRPF Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar. High ranking officials of the Ministry, as well as CRPF, were present on the occasion. This was the first visit of Amit Shah to any force headquarter after he took charge of the Home Ministry. An official release said the minister spent about two hours with the senior officers of the force before leaving. The Home Minister was apprised of the organisational structure of the CRPF and its special forces. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF's requirements of infrastructure and equipment were discussed. "The Home Minister directed that effective action should be taken against the terrorists and law and order be maintained," the release said. He also directed that the civic action programmes be carried out, besides organising sports and tours. The CRPF should also reach out to the villagers and assist them in obtaining the benefits of many central schemes which are applicable to them, he said. The minister said proper winter provisioning for the forces should be done and their welfare looked after. He also appreciated the performance of the CRPF in that theatre. The situation in the Maoist affected states and measures being taken for improving the infrastructure of the camps and measures against improvised explosive devices were also discussed. "The Home Minister directed the CRPF to carry out an effective and decisive campaign against Left Wing Extremism in the next six months," the release said. He said action needs to be taken against the urban Naxals and their facilitators. The Home Minister emphasised that the road connectivity and medical infrastructure in LWE areas should be upgraded. He also directed that the health of the jawans and their families should be well looked after. Digital health-cards should be made and there should be periodical health checks also for their families. The Home Minister directed that senior officers should visit the families of martyrs and spend time with them understanding their requirements so that their problems are resolved. "A database should also be made of the martyrs' families and their basic issues and grievances should be systematically addressed'', Shah said. He expressed concern about the hard and long deployment of jawans in difficult theatres and discussed various measures for giving them relief and an opportunity to stay with their families. The minister directed that the infrastructure of CRPF and their residential quarters should be improved and more quarters at different duty locations should be constructed. Noting that cutting edge technologies and the state-of-art equipment should be identified which are required for operational purposes, he emphasised the Make-in-India effort and also asked the forces to use Khadi and indigenously made products. He directed the senior officers to reach out to their juniors and jawans so as to able to appreciate their issues.

Amit Shah reviews functioning of CRPF, calls for action against Maoists

PM Modi at BRICS: Terrorism is the biggest threat. Watch video to know more.

PM Modi at BRICS: Terrorism is the biggest threat

The United States on Thursday pressured members of a global coalition fighting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-leader-baghdadi-better-captured-alive-uk-labours-corbyn-261912">Islamic State</a> to allow foreign fighters to be repatriated but despite consensus on the gravity of the problem, disagreements on whether and how to send people back persisted.

Foreign ministers from the global coalition against Islamic State convened in Washington to discuss the next step against the jihadi group after Turkey's October&nbsp;9 incursion into northeast Turkey and the US&nbsp;decision to reduce its presence there.

While Islamic State has lost nearly all its territory in Syria and US&nbsp;forces killed its former leader last month, it is still seen as a global threat.

Dealing with some 10,000 Islamic State fighters detained in northeast Syria, as well as their families, is among the coalition's top concerns.

"No one should expect the United States or anyone else to solve this problem for them," Nathan Sales, US&nbsp;coordinator for counterterrorism, told a briefing at the State Department.

Washington wants fighters sent back to their home nations and either prosecuted or rehabilitated there. Europe does not want to try its Islamic State nationals at home, citing the difficulty in collecting evidence as well as concerns about a public backlash and the risk of fresh attacks on European soil.

"Our view is that it is not a feasible option ... to ask other countries in the region to import another country's foreign fighters and pursue prosecution and incarceration there," Sales said.

He also said the relatively stable situation regarding foreign fighters in Syria, who are held in prisons guarded by America's SDF Syrian Kurdish allies, might not last.

"It's Syria - we all know that things can change in the blink of an eye."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian repeated the French stance that fighters "should be brought to justice as close (as possible) to the crimes they committed" - code for not bringing them home.

Syria landscape changed

Following on his campaign promise of withdrawing US&nbsp;troops from foreign conflicts, President Donald Trump shocked US&nbsp;allies last December by saying Washington was pulling out all its troops from Syria.

Since then, Trump has changed his mind several times and last month decided to keep a residual force in the northeastern part of the country, focusing on preventing Islamic State from staging a comeback and attacking the oilfields there. Washington is also keeping control of the air space.

On Wednesday, US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Mark Esper said once the partial US&nbsp;withdrawal was finished, the US&nbsp;military would still have roughly around 600 troops in Syria, down from about 1,000 before Trump's withdrawal order last month.

"The United States has decided to maintain military assets in northeastern Syria to continue the fight <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-detains-three-islamic-state-suspects-over-attack-plan-261601">against Islamic State</a> and to support our local partners. This is good news," Le Drian said, saying France would also maintain its presence.

Still, the US&nbsp;decision to reduce its footprint has left some of its Western and Arab allies, in addition to Kurdish forces in the region, feeling burned.

"The landscape of Syria has changed," a foreign diplomat told reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Thursday's meeting. "The players who are shaping the future of Syria ... (are) mainly Russia, Iran and Turkey."

The Turkish incursion, which Trump opposed but facilitated by withdrawing a handful of US&nbsp;troops in Ankara's way, has upended the region.

The US&nbsp;withdrawal and Trump's reluctance to spend US&nbsp;blood and treasure to secure the Middle East underscored a wider trend of waning US&nbsp;influence and the need for nations to draw to powers such as Russia and China, the diplomat said.

Earlier, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also urged members of the coalition fighting Islamic State to step up their funding to help restore infrastructure in Iraq and northeastern Syria, parts of which were severely damaged by conflict.

The United States on Thursday pressured members of a global coalition fighting Islamic State to allow foreign fighters to be repatriated but despite consensus on the gravity of the problem, disagreements on whether and how to send people back persisted.

The United States on Thursday pressured members of a global coalition fighting Islamic State to allow foreign fighters to be repatriated but despite consensus on the gravity of the problem, disagreements on whether and how to send people back persisted. Foreign ministers from the global coalition against Islamic State convened in Washington to discuss the next step against the jihadi group after Turkey's October 9 incursion into northeast Turkey and the US decision to reduce its presence there. While Islamic State has lost nearly all its territory in Syria and US forces killed its former leader last month, it is still seen as a global threat. Dealing with some 10,000 Islamic State fighters detained in northeast Syria, as well as their families, is among the coalition's top concerns. "No one should expect the United States or anyone else to solve this problem for them," Nathan Sales, US coordinator for counterterrorism, told a briefing at the State Department. Washington wants fighters sent back to their home nations and either prosecuted or rehabilitated there. Europe does not want to try its Islamic State nationals at home, citing the difficulty in collecting evidence as well as concerns about a public backlash and the risk of fresh attacks on European soil. "Our view is that it is not a feasible option ... to ask other countries in the region to import another country's foreign fighters and pursue prosecution and incarceration there," Sales said. He also said the relatively stable situation regarding foreign fighters in Syria, who are held in prisons guarded by America's SDF Syrian Kurdish allies, might not last. "It's Syria - we all know that things can change in the blink of an eye." Speaking to reporters after the meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian repeated the French stance that fighters "should be brought to justice as close (as possible) to the crimes they committed" - code for not bringing them home. Syria landscape changed Following on his campaign promise of withdrawing US troops from foreign conflicts, President Donald Trump shocked US allies last December by saying Washington was pulling out all its troops from Syria. Since then, Trump has changed his mind several times and last month decided to keep a residual force in the northeastern part of the country, focusing on preventing Islamic State from staging a comeback and attacking the oilfields there. Washington is also keeping control of the air space. On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said once the partial US withdrawal was finished, the US military would still have roughly around 600 troops in Syria, down from about 1,000 before Trump's withdrawal order last month. "The United States has decided to maintain military assets in northeastern Syria to continue the fight against Islamic State and to support our local partners. This is good news," Le Drian said, saying France would also maintain its presence. Still, the US decision to reduce its footprint has left some of its Western and Arab allies, in addition to Kurdish forces in the region, feeling burned. "The landscape of Syria has changed," a foreign diplomat told reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Thursday's meeting. "The players who are shaping the future of Syria ... (are) mainly Russia, Iran and Turkey." The Turkish incursion, which Trump opposed but facilitated by withdrawing a handful of US troops in Ankara's way, has upended the region. The US withdrawal and Trump's reluctance to spend US blood and treasure to secure the Middle East underscored a wider trend of waning US influence and the need for nations to draw to powers such as Russia and China, the diplomat said. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also urged members of the coalition fighting Islamic State to step up their funding to help restore infrastructure in Iraq and northeastern Syria, parts of which were severely damaged by conflict.

Coalition against Islamic State at odds on repatriation of jihadi detainees

Wion's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay In An Exclusive Conversation With Israel's Ambassador To India Ron Malka

WION Exclusive: Israel's Ambassador to India on Surveillance, Terrorism and Bilateral Ties

Former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../kulbushan-jadhav-case-pakistan-wont-amend- army-act-261924">Pakistan</a> president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Kashmiris were trained in Pakistan to fight against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india.../one-terrorist-killed-in-encounter-with- security-forces-in-jammu-kashmir-261498">Indian Army in Kashmir</a> and touted as 'heroes'.

Musharraf said that terrorist like Osama bin Laden and Jalaluddin Haqqani used to be "Pakistani heroes".

In an undated interview clip shared by Pakistan politician Farhatullah Babar on Wednesday on Twitter, Musharraf can be heard saying, "...In 1979, we had introduced religious militancy in Afghanistan to benefit Pakistan and to push Soviet out of the country. We brought Mujahideen from all over the world, we trained them, supplied weapons. They were our heroes. Haqqani was our hero. Osama bin Laden was our hero. Then the environment was different but now it is different. Heroes have turned to villains."

While talking about unrest in Kashmir, the self-exiled dictator said, "... Kashmiris who came to Pakistan received hero reception here. We used to train them and support them. We considered them as Mujahideen who will fight with the Indian Army then various terrorist organisations like Lashkar e Tayyiba rose in this period. they were our heroes."

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Gen Musharraf blurts that militants were nurtured and touted as 'heroes' to fight in Kashmir. If it resulted in destruction of two generations of Pashtuns it didn't matter. Is it wrong to demand Truth Commission to find who devised self serving policies that destroyed Pashtuns? <a href="https://t.co/5Q2LOvl3yb">https://t.co/5Q2LOvl3yb</a>
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) <a href="https://twitter.com/FarhatullahB/status/1194479837634859008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The revelation by Musharraf is nothing but proof that Pakistan, which claims to have no interference in Kashmir, has been using terrorists to fuel tensions in the region.

India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of using its soil to perpetrate terror in neighbouring countries. Islamabad has been asked by the international community to take actions against terrorist groups operating in the country.

Former Pakistan president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Kashmiris were trained in Pakistan to fight against Indian Army in Kashmir and touted as 'heroes'.

Former Pakistan president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Kashmiris were trained in Pakistan to fight against Indian Army in Kashmir and touted as 'heroes'. Musharraf said that terrorist like Osama bin Laden and Jalaluddin Haqqani used to be "Pakistani heroes". In an undated interview clip shared by Pakistan politician Farhatullah Babar on Wednesday on Twitter, Musharraf can be heard saying, "...In 1979, we had introduced religious militancy in Afghanistan to benefit Pakistan and to push Soviet out of the country. We brought Mujahideen from all over the world, we trained them, supplied weapons. They were our heroes. Haqqani was our hero. Osama bin Laden was our hero. Then the environment was different but now it is different. Heroes have turned to villains." While talking about unrest in Kashmir, the self-exiled dictator said, "... Kashmiris who came to Pakistan received hero reception here. We used to train them and support them. We considered them as Mujahideen who will fight with the Indian Army then various terrorist organisations like Lashkar e Tayyiba rose in this period. they were our heroes." Gen Musharraf blurts that militants were nurtured and touted as 'heroes' to fight in Kashmir. If it resulted in destruction of two generations of Pashtuns it didn't matter. Is it wrong to demand Truth Commission to find who devised self serving policies that destroyed Pashtuns? https://t.co/5Q2LOvl3yb — Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) November 13, 2019 × The revelation by Musharraf is nothing but proof that Pakistan, which claims to have no interference in Kashmir, has been using terrorists to fuel tensions in the region. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of using its soil to perpetrate terror in neighbouring countries. Islamabad has been asked by the international community to take actions against terrorist groups operating in the country.

Kashmiris were trained in Pakistan to fight against the Indian Army: General Pervez Musharraf

Expressing concern over threats posed from cyberspace, India on Tuesday called for coordinated efforts to prevent forces of terrorism and extremism from building their presence in the digital domain.

Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum on issues pertaining to the governance of cyberspace, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi "strongly supports" the Christchurch Call to eliminate rich and violent extremist content online.

Named after New Zealand city where a deadly terrorist attack took place on May 15, the non-binding agreement Christchurch Call has been signed by 18 leaders from around the globe to encourage tech companies and countries to curb extremism online.

"We are excited about the opportunity (given by digital transformation), we are concerned naturally about the threats from cyberspace because there are actors, both state and non-state, whose actions pose a clear threat to national, regional and global security one of the examples of that is the relatively unimpeded growth of terrorism-related activities including extremist propaganda terrorist financing illicit trafficking and radicalisation," said Jaishankar.

"That is the reason we very strongly support Christchurch Call to eliminate rich and violent extremist content online and we are pleased to work with like-minded countries ... We need to get the balance right between the less a fair approach and authoritarian approach and the sense of responsibility becomes very important so," said he.

He also urged the countries to build "national capacities" to secure the cyber world.

"We need a very clear role and responsibility from states and government to strengthen the respective national capacities when it comes to cybersecurity. States must protect data privacy and make sure data security for all citizens and they maintain openness ta the same time," said Jaishankar. The second annual forum was hosted by France.&nbsp; 
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Expressing concern over threats posed from cyberspace, India on Tuesday called for coordinated efforts to prevent forces of terrorism and extremism from building their presence in the digital domain.

Expressing concern over threats posed from cyberspace, India on Tuesday called for coordinated efforts to prevent forces of terrorism and extremism from building their presence in the digital domain. Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum on issues pertaining to the governance of cyberspace, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi "strongly supports" the Christchurch Call to eliminate rich and violent extremist content online. Named after New Zealand city where a deadly terrorist attack took place on May 15, the non-binding agreement Christchurch Call has been signed by 18 leaders from around the globe to encourage tech companies and countries to curb extremism online. "We are excited about the opportunity (given by digital transformation), we are concerned naturally about the threats from cyberspace because there are actors, both state and non-state, whose actions pose a clear threat to national, regional and global security one of the examples of that is the relatively unimpeded growth of terrorism-related activities including extremist propaganda terrorist financing illicit trafficking and radicalisation," said Jaishankar. "That is the reason we very strongly support Christchurch Call to eliminate rich and violent extremist content online and we are pleased to work with like-minded countries ... We need to get the balance right between the less a fair approach and authoritarian approach and the sense of responsibility becomes very important so," said he. He also urged the countries to build "national capacities" to secure the cyber world. "We need a very clear role and responsibility from states and government to strengthen the respective national capacities when it comes to cybersecurity. States must protect data privacy and make sure data security for all citizens and they maintain openness ta the same time," said Jaishankar. The second annual forum was hosted by France.

Must prevent terrorism, extremism from building digital presence: S Jaishankar

Exploring Israel's Direct & Ruthless Approach In Countering Terrorism

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WION Edit: Is Israel's counter-terrorism template applicable to India?

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/saudi-arabia-kick-starts-ipo-of-worlds-largest-oil-company-259638">Saudi Arabian</a> court has convicted 38 people of terrorism-related crimes, state-run Al Ekhbariya television reported on Tuesday.

The TV channel said they were charged with financing terrorism and with takfir,&nbsp;the Islamist militant practice of labelling followers of other schools of Islam unbelievers. It said one of them "set up a terrorist organisation in prison".

Ekhbariya did not provide the nationalities or names of those convicted, details about when they were arrested or put on trial, nor what sentences were issued by the specialist criminal court in Riyadh, which was set up to try terrorism cases.

Riyadh has come under mounting international scrutiny over its human rights record since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 and the detention of women's rights activists who are still on trial.

In April, the Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom beheaded 37 men for terrorism crimes. The U.N. human rights chief said most of them were Shi'ites who may not have had fair trials and at least three were minors when sentenced.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia launched a crackdown on dissent, arresting scores of clerics, intellectuals and activists. Some of them have been put on trial for terrorism-related charges.

The kingdom is an absolute monarchy where public protests and political parties are banned.

The Gulf Arab state faced a militant insurgency from 2003 to 2006 in which al Qaeda members staged attacks on residential compounds and government facilities.

The kingdom responded by arresting thousands of suspected militants and launching a media campaign to discredit their ideology.

A Saudi Arabian court has convicted 38 people of terrorism-related crimes, state-run Al Ekhbariya television reported on Tuesday. The TV channel said they were charged with financing terrorism and with takfir, the Islamist militant practice of labelling followers of other schools of Islam unbelievers.

A Saudi Arabian court has convicted 38 people of terrorism-related crimes, state-run Al Ekhbariya television reported on Tuesday. The TV channel said they were charged with financing terrorism and with takfir, the Islamist militant practice of labelling followers of other schools of Islam unbelievers. It said one of them "set up a terrorist organisation in prison". Ekhbariya did not provide the nationalities or names of those convicted, details about when they were arrested or put on trial, nor what sentences were issued by the specialist criminal court in Riyadh, which was set up to try terrorism cases. Riyadh has come under mounting international scrutiny over its human rights record since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 and the detention of women's rights activists who are still on trial. In April, the Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom beheaded 37 men for terrorism crimes. The U.N. human rights chief said most of them were Shi'ites who may not have had fair trials and at least three were minors when sentenced. In 2017, Saudi Arabia launched a crackdown on dissent, arresting scores of clerics, intellectuals and activists. Some of them have been put on trial for terrorism-related charges. The kingdom is an absolute monarchy where public protests and political parties are banned. The Gulf Arab state faced a militant insurgency from 2003 to 2006 in which al Qaeda members staged attacks on residential compounds and government facilities. The kingdom responded by arresting thousands of suspected militants and launching a media campaign to discredit their ideology.

Saudi court convicts 38 people on terrorism-related charges

Three simultaneous bombings killed at least six civilians in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/500-troops-to-remain-in-syria-united-states-military-official-261225">Kurdish-majority city</a> of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Monday, a Kurdish security source and a Britain-based monitor said.

There was no immediate claim for the bombings, but they occurred shortly after the Islamic State group said it was responsible for the killing the same day as a priest from the same city.

In Qamishli, an AFP correspondent saw charred cars and smoke rise from the site of the blasts.

Firefighters tried to put out the flames caused by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-britain-france-germany-to-hold-syria-summit-260882">explosions</a>, as rescue workers carried away the victims.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria, said two car bombs and an explosives-rigged motorcycle blew up in a market and near a school in the city.

More than 20 people were wounded in the simultaneous attacks, said the Britain-based monitor said.

Watch: What's the reality on-ground in Syria?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/whats-the-reality-on-ground-in-syria-258283/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The blasts come after IS claimed to have killed an Armenian Catholic priest from Qamishli.

The Observatory said the priest and his father were killed by gunfire as they made their way to the eastern province of Deir Ezzor to inspect the restoration of a church there.

Kurdish fighters have led the US-backed battle against IS in Syria, expelling the extremists from the last scrap of their proto-state in March.

But the jihadists have continued to claim deadly attacks in northeastern and eastern Syria ever since.

In July, IS said it was responsible for a massive truck bomb that killed at least 44 people in Qamishli.

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-killed-in-bombing-in-turkish-controlled-northeast-syria-261218">Turkish cross-border attack</a> against Kurdish fighters on October 9 heightened fears that IS fighters could break out in mass from Kurdish jails.

But a fragile Turkish-Russian ceasefire deal has more or less halted that offensive, and seen Kurdish forces withdraw from areas along the Turkish border, except Qamishli.

Three simultaneous bombings killed at least six civilians in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Monday, a Kurdish security source and a Britain-based monitor said.

Three simultaneous bombings killed at least six civilians in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Monday, a Kurdish security source and a Britain-based monitor said. There was no immediate claim for the bombings, but they occurred shortly after the Islamic State group said it was responsible for the killing the same day as a priest from the same city. In Qamishli, an AFP correspondent saw charred cars and smoke rise from the site of the blasts. Firefighters tried to put out the flames caused by the explosions, as rescue workers carried away the victims. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria, said two car bombs and an explosives-rigged motorcycle blew up in a market and near a school in the city. More than 20 people were wounded in the simultaneous attacks, said the Britain-based monitor said. Watch: What's the reality on-ground in Syria? The blasts come after IS claimed to have killed an Armenian Catholic priest from Qamishli. The Observatory said the priest and his father were killed by gunfire as they made their way to the eastern province of Deir Ezzor to inspect the restoration of a church there. Kurdish fighters have led the US-backed battle against IS in Syria, expelling the extremists from the last scrap of their proto-state in March. But the jihadists have continued to claim deadly attacks in northeastern and eastern Syria ever since. In July, IS said it was responsible for a massive truck bomb that killed at least 44 people in Qamishli. A Turkish cross-border attack against Kurdish fighters on October 9 heightened fears that IS fighters could break out in mass from Kurdish jails. But a fragile Turkish-Russian ceasefire deal has more or less halted that offensive, and seen Kurdish forces withdraw from areas along the Turkish border, except Qamishli.

Bombings kill 6 civilians in main Kurdish city in Syria

&nbsp;One of the terrorists who was gunned down by security forces during an encounter in Bandipora, has been identified as a Pakistani national and commander of terror outfit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../first-jatha-to-take-part-in-inaugural-of-kartarpur -in-pakistan-india-asks-for-highest-level-of-security-260583">Lashkar-e-Taiba</a> (LeT).

The terrorist has been identified as Talha.

Kashmir Zone Police said, "One of the terrorists has been identified as Pakistani named Talha. He was operating as commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Incriminating materials including goods bearing Pakistani marks recovered. He was involved in terror crimes."

Two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora on Monday. 
 
Arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.&nbsp;

One of the terrorists who was gunned down by security forces during an encounter in Bandipora, has been identified as a Pakistani national and commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

One of the terrorists who was gunned down by security forces during an encounter in Bandipora, has been identified as a Pakistani national and commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The terrorist has been identified as Talha. Kashmir Zone Police said, "One of the terrorists has been identified as Pakistani named Talha. He was operating as commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Incriminating materials including goods bearing Pakistani marks recovered. He was involved in terror crimes." Two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora on Monday. Arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

Jammu and Kashmir: LeT commander killed in Bandipora

Five terrorists were killed and three others sustained injuries after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off prematurely in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz, the country's military said on Monday. 
 
The incident occurred at around 8 pm on Sunday when terrorists were planting a home-made IED in Haji Mehrab locality of Ali Abad district to target security forces, Afghan Army's 217 Pamir Corps said in a statement, as cited by Xinhua news agency. 
 
No civilians have been reported dead or injured in the incident.

Five terrorists were killed and three others sustained injuries after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off prematurely in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz, the country's military said on Monday.

Five terrorists were killed and three others sustained injuries after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off prematurely in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz, the country's military said on Monday. The incident occurred at around 8 pm on Sunday when terrorists were planting a home-made IED in Haji Mehrab locality of Ali Abad district to target security forces, Afghan Army's 217 Pamir Corps said in a statement, as cited by Xinhua news agency. No civilians have been reported dead or injured in the incident.

Afghanistan: Five terrorists killed as IED explodes prematurely

Turkey has deported an American foreign fighter and will soon deport another seven Germans, a spokesman for the interior ministry was quoted as saying on Monday after state media said Ankara began repatriation of captured Islamic State militants.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had warned last week that Ankara would begin to send back Islamic State militants to their home countries on Monday even if their citizenships have been revoked.

"One American foreign terrorist fighter whose proceedings are completed has been deported," ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli was quoted as saying by state-run Anadolu news agency.

"Travel plans for seven foreign terrorist fighters of German origin at deportation centres have been completed, they will be deported on Nov. 14," he added.

Broadcaster NTV quoted Catakli as saying that "three more Islamic State militants at deportation centres will be sent back today."

Turkey aims to repatriate around 2,500 militants, the majority of whom will be sent to European Union nations, state broadcaster TRT Haber said, adding there were currently 813 jihadists at 12 deportation centres in the country.

Turkey launched an offensive into northeastern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia last month following a decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from the region.

The YPG, the main element of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and a US&nbsp;ally against Islamic State, has kept thousands of jihadists in jails across northeast Syria.

The Turkish offensive prompted widespread concern over the fate of the prisoners, with Turkey's Western allies and the SDF warning it could hinder the fight against Islamic State and aid its resurgence.

Turkey, which views the YPG as a terrorist group linked with insurgent Kurdish militants on its own soil, has rejected those concerns and vowed to combat Islamic State with its allies.

It has repeatedly called on European countries, including France, to take back their citizens fighting for the jihadists.

Europeans comprise a fifth of the around 10,000 Islamic State fighters held captive in Syria by Kurdish militias. Denmark, Germany and Britain have so far revoked some citizenships.

Last week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was cited as saying that there are 1,201 Islamic State prisoners in Turkish jails, while Turkey had captured 287 militants in Syria.

The United States said last month that it had killed Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria. Last week, Erdogan said Turkey had captured 13 people from Baghdadi's close circle, adding that they were being interrogated.

Islamic State has vowed revenge against the United States.

Turkey has deported an American foreign fighter and will soon deport another seven Germans, a spokesman for the interior ministry was quoted as saying on Monday after state media said Ankara began repatriation of captured Islamic State militants.

Turkey has deported an American foreign fighter and will soon deport another seven Germans, a spokesman for the interior ministry was quoted as saying on Monday after state media said Ankara began repatriation of captured Islamic State militants. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had warned last week that Ankara would begin to send back Islamic State militants to their home countries on Monday even if their citizenships have been revoked. "One American foreign terrorist fighter whose proceedings are completed has been deported," ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli was quoted as saying by state-run Anadolu news agency. "Travel plans for seven foreign terrorist fighters of German origin at deportation centres have been completed, they will be deported on Nov. 14," he added. Broadcaster NTV quoted Catakli as saying that "three more Islamic State militants at deportation centres will be sent back today." Turkey aims to repatriate around 2,500 militants, the majority of whom will be sent to European Union nations, state broadcaster TRT Haber said, adding there were currently 813 jihadists at 12 deportation centres in the country. Turkey launched an offensive into northeastern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia last month following a decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from the region. The YPG, the main element of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and a US ally against Islamic State, has kept thousands of jihadists in jails across northeast Syria. The Turkish offensive prompted widespread concern over the fate of the prisoners, with Turkey's Western allies and the SDF warning it could hinder the fight against Islamic State and aid its resurgence. Turkey, which views the YPG as a terrorist group linked with insurgent Kurdish militants on its own soil, has rejected those concerns and vowed to combat Islamic State with its allies. It has repeatedly called on European countries, including France, to take back their citizens fighting for the jihadists. Europeans comprise a fifth of the around 10,000 Islamic State fighters held captive in Syria by Kurdish militias. Denmark, Germany and Britain have so far revoked some citizenships. Last week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was cited as saying that there are 1,201 Islamic State prisoners in Turkish jails, while Turkey had captured 287 militants in Syria. The United States said last month that it had killed Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria. Last week, Erdogan said Turkey had captured 13 people from Baghdadi's close circle, adding that they were being interrogated. Islamic State has vowed revenge against the United States.

Turkey starts repatriation of captured Islamic State militants: Report

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