ISIS Now Possesses Anti-Aircraft Missiles; Can Reach Europe
New Age Islam News Bureau
13 March 2016
Photo: An Islamic-State fighter with a shoulder-held missile. (Photo: Islamic-State video screenshot)
• ISIL Enraged after Suffering Heavy Losses to Hezbollah in East Lebanon
• Gulbuddin’s Hezb-e-Islami Says Prepared for Peace Talks with Afghan Govt
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Europe
• ISIS Now Possesses Anti-Aircraft Missiles; Can Reach Europe
• 'No Concessions' To Turkey on Rights, Visas in Migrant Deal: France
• EU-Turkey Deal ‘May Break Migrant Trafficking Chain In 10 Days’
• Bulgaria pushes to be part of EU-Turkey migrant deal
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Arab World
• ISIL Enraged after Suffering Heavy Losses to Hezbollah in East Lebanon
• Chemical Attacks Kill Child, Wound 600; Iraqi Officials Blame IS
• Syria: Hundreds of Militants Encircled by Army Northeast of Lattakia
• Over 190 Terrorists Killed in Battles with Syrian Army in Recent Days
• Syrian Armed Forces Repel Terrorists' Offensives in Hama Province
• Signs of hope five years after start of Syria’s war
• Syrian Army Captures One More Strategic Height at Lattakia-Idlib Border
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South Asia
• Gulbuddin’s Hezb-e-Islami Says Prepared for Peace Talks with Afghan Govt
• 26 Militants Killed In Afghan Forces Air and Ground Operations: MoD
• 24 IS Militants Killed In Afghanistan
• Bomb blast kills child in Helmand
• Obama backs Ghani in dispute with Abdullah
• Ghazni’s police chief threatens to quit in case of no reinforcement
• UNESCO to launch 6 key cultural projects in Bamyan province
• All Unquiet On the Tajik-Afghan Frontier
• Noor says Afghan forces confronted ISIS loyalists in Balkh operations
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Mideast
• Top Court Ruling on Journalists Was Against the Nation: President
• Iran Disbands 5 Terror Cells Plotting to Disturb Elections
• Rockets from Syria hit Turkish border city
• Turkish presidential spokesman slams former US envoys' article
• Turkey’s reform program one of broadest in G-20: Economy tsar
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India
• Chinese Army Spotted Along Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Say Sources
• Man records statement against son accused of Islamic State links
• Modi, Sharif may meet in Washington: Sartaj Aziz
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Pakistan
• Rangers Tortured Jailed MQM Workers, Farooq Sattar Claims
• Bahrain-Based Pak National Denied Visa Because Of His Name
• Pakistani commentator gets visa for Delhi, Mumbai!
• Balochistan braces for three-day anti-polio drive amid tight security
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North America
• NATO Begins Periodic Surveillance of Turkish Airspace
• CAIR: No Terror Orgs in US
• U.S., allies conduct 17 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
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Africa
• Libya's Presidential Council Calls for Transfer Of Power To Unity Government
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Southeast Asia
• Can Indonesia Ban Israeli Products?
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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ISIS Now Possesses Anti-Aircraft Missiles; Can Reach Europe
March 13, 2016
The U.S. and U.N. have confirmed the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Libya now possesses shoulder-held missiles capable of downing civilian or military aircraft.
The admission puts planes in North and West Africa as well as all of Europe in danger.
The Islamic State’s stock of MANPADs (man portable air defense systems) originated from the stockpiles of weapons looted after Libya’s dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by rebels in 2011.
Gaddafi was believed to have possessed 20,000 MANPADs (Russian-made SA-7 and SA-16 models) by the time of his demise. An American team, acting in Libya after the coup, managed to locate and destroy 5,000 of the missiles.
The team leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Independent, “There’s a large number still there in Libya, where some of the larger militia groups still maintain the stocks that they originally took control of back in 2011.” He acknowledged that others have been smuggled to extremist groups fighting in the Sinai, Syria, Nigeria and Mali.
“We might never know where they went,” he added.
After the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, which also housed a secret CIA post, intelligence sources -- crucial to tracking these weapons – were lost. Two years later, the team pulled out of Libya entirely, as the deteriorating security situation turned into a full-fledged civil war and made operating there too dangerous.
Analysts question why the weapons, which are clearly in the hands of terrorists have not been used to date, save for one confirmed instance in January 2014, when (according to Egyptian and Israeli officials) Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis used the weapon to shoot down an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai, killing five soldiers.
However, in February, the Islamic State in Libya claimed to have shot down a Libyan government MiG-23 fighter jet west of Benghazi while it was bombing an Islamist militia. While the Libyan government claims the plane went down due to "technical problems," an analysis of a subsequent ISIS video of the incident by U.S. intelligence officials proved the Islamic State’s claim was most likely correct. The Islamic State also claims to have downed two other planes that the Libyan government said crashed since January because of technical problems.
In Libya, other warring factions each have good reason not to use the weapon, which would certainly stop flights in and out of the country and mean lack of supplies for each side. Arms smugglers also have reason to want the airports left open, with each missile selling for $12,000 on the black market.
But the real wildcat in this conflict is the Islamic State, which now controls a 150-mile swath of territory on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, including the city of Sirte, a perfect place for the terror organization to regroup if defeated in Syria and Iraq and a base from which to expand into Europe, North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
clarionproject.org/news/confirmed-isis-now-possesses-anti-aircraft-missiles
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ISIL Enraged after Suffering Heavy Losses to Hezbollah in East Lebanon
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL terrorist group has posted a video on the Internet, promising to avenge their losses at the hands of Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces in the Baalbek Highlands this weekend.
According to the video footage released by ISIL, the terrorist group stated that sooner or later they will get their revenge against the Lebanese Armed Forces, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese political elite that are attempting to eliminate their presence in Lebanon, Al-Masdar reported.
The two ISIL militants that appeared in the video had a Lebanese Arabic accent; however, their identities could not be determined.
Hezbollah overpowered the ISIL militants at the village of Beit Ali Al-Agha on Saturday, killing several terrorist combatants while also clearing large swathes of territory in the process.
ISIL’s losses on Friday and Saturday marked their highest number of casualties in east Lebanon this year.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941223000204
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Gulbuddin’s Hezb-e-Islami says prepared for peace talks with Afghan govt
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
The Hezb-e-Islami party led by the notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has announced the group is prepared to sit-in for peace talks with the Afghan government.
The group has released a statement saying they are prepared to participate in the peace talks in a bid to show to the nation that Hezb-e-Islami wants peace.
The party also condemned the inclusion of the group’s two members in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) by the United States, saying the move by the US government comes amid calls by the Afghan government to start reconciliation process.
The US Department of State announced Friday “The Department of State has designated Abdullah Nowbahar and Abdul Saboor as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons that have committed, or pose a serious risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”
A statement by the State Department said the two Hezb-e-Islami group members, Abdullah Nowbahar and Abdul Saboor, are explosive experts for Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG).
The statement further added that both Nowbahar and Saboor participated in the September 18, 2012 attack on a bus carrying foreign employees of Kabul International Airport that killed 12 people.
Meanwhile, the announcement by Hezb-e-Islami to participate in the peace talks comes as the Taliban group has rejected to sit-in for peace talks, insisting on group’s pre-conditions to hold talks.
The Afghan government was expecting to start face to face talks with the Taliban group at the first week of this month following the conclusion of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting last month where calls were made for direct talks.
khaama.com/gulbuddins-hezb-e-islami-says-prepared-for-peace-talks-with-afghan-govt-0322
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Europe
ISIS Now Possesses Anti-Aircraft Missiles; Can Reach Europe
March 13, 2016
The U.S. and U.N. have confirmed the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Libya now possesses shoulder-held missiles capable of downing civilian or military aircraft.
The admission puts planes in North and West Africa as well as all of Europe in danger.
The Islamic State’s stock of MANPADs (man portable air defense systems) originated from the stockpiles of weapons looted after Libya’s dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by rebels in 2011.
Gaddafi was believed to have possessed 20,000 MANPADs (Russian-made SA-7 and SA-16 models) by the time of his demise. An American team, acting in Libya after the coup, managed to locate and destroy 5,000 of the missiles.
The team leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Independent, “There’s a large number still there in Libya, where some of the larger militia groups still maintain the stocks that they originally took control of back in 2011.” He acknowledged that others have been smuggled to extremist groups fighting in the Sinai, Syria, Nigeria and Mali.
“We might never know where they went,” he added.
After the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, which also housed a secret CIA post, intelligence sources -- crucial to tracking these weapons – were lost. Two years later, the team pulled out of Libya entirely, as the deteriorating security situation turned into a full-fledged civil war and made operating there too dangerous.
Analysts question why the weapons, which are clearly in the hands of terrorists have not been used to date, save for one confirmed instance in January 2014, when (according to Egyptian and Israeli officials) Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis used the weapon to shoot down an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai, killing five soldiers.
However, in February, the Islamic State in Libya claimed to have shot down a Libyan government MiG-23 fighter jet west of Benghazi while it was bombing an Islamist militia. While the Libyan government claims the plane went down due to "technical problems," an analysis of a subsequent ISIS video of the incident by U.S. intelligence officials proved the Islamic State’s claim was most likely correct. The Islamic State also claims to have downed two other planes that the Libyan government said crashed since January because of technical problems.
In Libya, other warring factions each have good reason not to use the weapon, which would certainly stop flights in and out of the country and mean lack of supplies for each side. Arms smugglers also have reason to want the airports left open, with each missile selling for $12,000 on the black market.
But the real wildcat in this conflict is the Islamic State, which now controls a 150-mile swath of territory on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, including the city of Sirte, a perfect place for the terror organization to regroup if defeated in Syria and Iraq and a base from which to expand into Europe, North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
clarionproject.org/news/confirmed-isis-now-possesses-anti-aircraft-missiles
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'No concessions' to Turkey on rights, visas in migrant deal: France
March 13, 2016
French President Francois Hollande said March 12 that the EU must not grant Turkey any concessions on human rights or visas in exchange for guarantees to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.
"There cannot be any concessions on the matter of human rights or the criteria for visa liberalization," Hollande told reporters ahead of the resumption next week of tough negotiations between Turkey and the EU in Brussels.
Under a controversial draft agreement reached this week, Turkey would take back all migrants landing illegally in Greece in a bid to reduce their incentive to pay people smugglers for dangerous boat crossings to the Greek islands.
In return for every Syrian sent back from Greece, the EU would resettle one Syrian refugee from camps in Turkey -- which is hosting about 2.7 million people who have fled the conflict across the border.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/no-concessions-to-turkey-on-rights-visas-in-migrant-deal-france-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96364&NewsCatID=351
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EU-Turkey deal ‘may break migrant trafficking chain in 10 days’
March 13, 2016
The migrant trafficking chain into the EU between Turkey and Greece could be broken within “10 days at most” if a final deal can be reached between Ankara and Brussels, a ranking government official told the Hürriyet Daily News on March 11.
The official, who is closely involved in the issue but asked not to be named, said that once the political framework is settled with the EU it would be possible for the Turkish and Greek government to establish a “legal framework” that could “break the chain of migrant trafficking” in a short period of time.
Underlining that the Turkey-EU meeting in Brussels scheduled for March 18 was of key importance, the official described the possible mechanism between Turkey and Greece to stop the illegal migrant flow across the Aegean Sea as follows:
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-turkey-deal-may-break-migrant-trafficking-chain-in-10-days.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96341&NewsCatID=409
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Bulgaria pushes to be part of EU-Turkey migrant deal
March 13, 2016
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov pressed on March 12 to have his country's borders protected as part of a proposed EU-Turkey deal aimed to stop the flow of migrants to Europe.
Bulgaria has so far remained on the sidelines of the EU's worst migration crisis since WWII after it built a 30-kilometre razor wire fence in 2014 and sent 2,000 border police to guard its 260-kilometre (160-mile) border with Turkey.
But the EU member fears that it could become a major transit hub after countries along the main western Balkan migrant trail shut their borders this week.
"All countries on the frontline should be able to rely on support from the EU for protection of the EU's external borders," Borisov told visiting Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil in Sofia.
Borisov said he had sent a letter to that effect to EU President Donald Tusk on March 11.
"Bulgaria insists that the talks between the EU and Turkey for solving the migration problem should also include Bulgaria's land borders with Turkey and Greece as well as the Black Sea border between the EU and Turkey," the letter read.
Under the agreement due to be finalized at an EU summit on March 17-18, Ankara would take back all illegal migrants currently stranded in Greece.
For each Syrian returned to Turkey, the EU would resettle one Syrian refugee from Turkish camps, in a bid to reduce the incentive for people to undertake the perilous journey to Europe.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/bulgaria-pushes-to-be-part-of-eu-turkey-migrant-deal--.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96365&NewsCatID=351
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Arab World
ISIL Enraged after Suffering Heavy Losses to Hezbollah in East Lebanon
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL terrorist group has posted a video on the Internet, promising to avenge their losses at the hands of Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces in the Baalbek Highlands this weekend.
According to the video footage released by ISIL, the terrorist group stated that sooner or later they will get their revenge against the Lebanese Armed Forces, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese political elite that are attempting to eliminate their presence in Lebanon, Al-Masdar reported.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941223000204
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Chemical attacks kill child, wound 600; Iraqi officials blame IS
March 13th, 2016
BAGHDAD: The militant Islamic State (IS) group has launched two chemical attacks near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, killing a three-year-old girl, wounding some 600 people and causing hundreds more to flee, Iraqi officials said on Saturday.
Security and hospital officials said the latest attack took place early on Saturday in the small town of Taza, which was also struck by a barrage of rockets carrying chemicals three days earlier.
“There is fear and panic among the women and children,” said Adel Hussein, a local official in Taza.
“They’re calling for the central government to save them.” Hussein said a German and an American forensics team arrived in the area to test for the presence of chemical agents.
The wounded are suffering from infected burns, suffocation and dehydration, said Helmi Hamdi, a nurse at the Taza hospital. He said eight people were transferred to Baghdad for treatment.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1245324/chemical-attacks-kill-child-wound-600-iraqi-officials-blame-is
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Syria: Hundreds of Militants Encircled by Army Northeast of Lattakia
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army advanced in the Northeastern part of Lattakia province and encircled a large number of terrorists in the key town of Kabani, leaving them with only one way out.
The Syrian soldiers backed by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Syrian Marines imposed full control over Hill 1154 at the Southwestern perimeter of Kabani after a violent battle with al-Nusra Front, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army’s “1st Coastal Brigade” and “Al-Ghaab Hawks Brigade”.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941223000239
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Over 190 Terrorists Killed in Battles with Syrian Army in Recent Days
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army and its allies' anti-terrorism operations in the Northeastern, Northern and Northwestern battlefields of the country have claimed the lives of 192 terrorists and wounded many more in the last few days.
At least 52 terrorists of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Turkistan Islamic Party were killed in several battles with the Syrian army and allies in the Northern part of the coastal province of Lattakia.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941223000207
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Syrian Armed Forces Repel Terrorists' Offensives in Hama Province
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL heavy offensives on the government forces' centers in the Northwestern part of Hama were repulsed by the Syrian Ground and Air Forces.
The Syrian Army troops, backed up by the Syrian fighter jets, fended of the ISIL attempts to prevail over the government forces' defense lines in al-Mughir, Bridj, Tal al-Sakhr and Hamamiyat, which not only left tens of terrorists dead or wounded but also destroyed their military hardware in large scale.
On Saturday, the Syrian air force jets, in a series of intensive attacks, pounded the ISIL militants' positions in Hama province's Eastern regions, eliminating nearly two dozen terrorists and injuring many more.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941223000185
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Signs of hope five years after start of Syria’s war
Anne Barnard, MAHER SAMAAN & DEREK WATKINS | NYT News Service | Mar 13, 2016
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The United Nations mediator, Staffan de Mistura, was satisfied enough with the results to convene a new round of indirect peace talks starting Monday, which opposition groups have agreed to attend. That is the day before the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, which morphed into civil war and then a regional and global proxy war.
The deal, brokered by Washington and Moscow, is in many ways flawed and problematic, and dozens of airstrikes and bombardments still occur daily. But the death toll, and the level of fear, have sharply decreased, and Mr. de Mistura said last week that the cease-fire, originally planned for two weeks, could continue indefinitely.
Deliveries of humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians living under siege have increased, though there is nowhere near the continuous, unimpeded access that is required under international law and called for by United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Signs-of-hope-five-years-after-start-of-Syrias-war/articleshow/51378211.cms
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Syrian Army Captures One More Strategic Height at Lattakia-Idlib Border
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The terrorist groups continued to withdraw forces from more positions in the Northeastern part of the costal province of Lattakia near the border with Idlib province after a large-scale offensive of the Syrian Army and allies in the region.
The Syrian government forces stormed the militant strongholds in the Mount 1154 near Kabani and seized full control over the mount in a rapid battle with the terrorists.
A heavy fighting is currently underway between the army men and the militants.
Reports said this morning that the Syrian army and its popular allies have launched massive operations Northeast of Lattakia bordering the Southern part of Idlib province to wipe out the last positions of the terrorist groups in the coastal province.
"The Syrian army and the National Defense Forces have stormed the Takfiri terrorist groups fortified positions near the small but strategic town of Kabani," the sources said, adding, "The Syrian government forces preferred to hit the militant groups' line of defense from the overlooking heights of Jabal al-Zweiqat in the Southern side of Kabani."
"The militant groups' strongholds, mainly those of al-Nusra Front in the Southern side of Kabani, have been heavily bombed in the recent days by the Syrian and Russian fighter jets to weaken their defense abilities," the sources added.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941222000645
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South Asia
Gulbuddin’s Hezb-e-Islami says prepared for peace talks with Afghan govt
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
The Hezb-e-Islami party led by the notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has announced the group is prepared to sit-in for peace talks with the Afghan government.
The group has released a statement saying they are prepared to participate in the peace talks in a bid to show to the nation that Hezb-e-Islami wants peace.
The party also condemned the inclusion of the group’s two members in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) by the United States, saying the move by the US government comes amid calls by the Afghan government to start reconciliation process.
The US Department of State announced Friday “The Department of State has designated Abdullah Nowbahar and Abdul Saboor as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons that have committed, or pose a serious risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”
Full report at: khaama.com/gulbuddins-hezb-e-islami-says-prepared-for-peace-talks-with-afghan-govt-0322
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26 militants killed in Afghan forces air and ground operations: MoD
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
An Afghan Air Force aerial gunner communicates with the pilot of an Mi-17, owned and operated by the Kandahar Air Wing, before an engine run-up at Kandahar Airfield, March 2, 2016. Members of the AAF work closely with Train Advise Assist Command – Air, a U.S.-run functional command, that assists our Afghan partners to develop a professional, capable and sustainable force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)
At least 26 anti-government armed militants were killed in the air and ground operations of the Afghan national security forces in the past 24 hours.
Full report at: khaama.com/26-militants-killed-in-afghan-forces-air-and-ground-operations-mod-0324
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24 IS militants killed in Afghanistan
IANS | Mar 13, 2016
KABUL: At least 24 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in military operations in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, an official statement said on Sunday.
The operation, which still continues, was launched in Achin district a few weeks ago, Tolo news agency reported.
"Most parts of Achin have been cleared of insurgents but the operation is ongoing," read the statement from Afghan army officials.
However, the statement did not say anything about casualties among the security forces.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/24-IS-militants-killed-in-Afghanistan/articleshow/51380508.cms
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Bomb blast kills child in Helmand
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
A child has lost life and three others sustained injuries in a bomb blast in southern Helmand province, an official said on Sunday.
Omar Zwak, spokesperson for the governor told Azadi Radio that the incident took place in Khanashin district late yesterday.
He said two of the three children wounded in the blast are in critical condition.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, the bomb had been planted by armed opponents for security forces but it went off on civilians.
When Helmand officials say armed opponents they usually mean Taliban.
However, the group’s spokesperson has not yet commented on the report.
Taliban group has a strong presence in Helmand province and currently there are heavy clashes between them and security forces in part of this restive province.
khaama.com/bomb-blast-kills-child-in-helmand-4734
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Obama backs Ghani in dispute with Abdullah
March 13th, 2016
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama supports President Ashraf Ghani in a reported dispute between the Afghan leader and Abdullah Abdullah, his chief executive, the US media reported on Saturday.
The reported dispute also figured at a State Department news briefing on Friday afternoon when a journalist asked for comments on a recent videoconference between President Obama and Afghan leaders.
The journalist quoted media reports as claiming that President Obama asked Afghan CEO Abdullah not to interfere with the Afghan president’s constitutional powers.
“We have to protect sensitive information,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby while explaining to the journalist why he could not disclose details of this conversation.
“The president regularly speaks with President Ghani and with Chief Executive Abdullah to discuss security, governance, other bilateral and regional issues,” he said.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1245326/obama-backs-ghani-in-dispute-with-abdullah
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Ghazni’s police chief threatens to quit in case of no reinforcement
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
General Aminullah Amarkhil, police chief of central Ghazni province says several districts of his province are under severe threat which may fall if central government does not take necessary measures to suppress militants.
Gen. Amarkhil added that security situation in Ghazni province has been tense and that Kabul has been informed about it.
Full report at: khaama.com/ghaznis-police-chief-threatens-to-quit-in-case-of-no-reinforcement-4735
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UNESCO to launch 6 key cultural projects in Bamyan province
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will launch six key cultural projects in the central Bamyan province of Afghanistan.
The provincial government media office said the projects will be launched in the next Afghan calendar year which includes construction of a cultural center, reconstruction of the historic Gholghola city, strengthening the porches for Buddhas located in the west, awareness regarding Hajigak iron ore exploration and its effects on historic monuments, research on local tradition and public awareness regarding the historic monuments.
According to the local officials, UNESCO’s cultural chief in Afghanistan Mr. Masanori Nagaoka informed regarding the launch of the projects during a meeting with the provincial governor Mr. Tahir Zahir.
Full report at: khaama.com/unesco-to-launch-6-key-cultural-projects-in-bamyan-province-0325
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All Unquiet On The Tajik-Afghan Frontier
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
A murky security operation on Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan on March 5 brought attention briefly back to an area that for nearly 25 years has rarely seen an entire week pass without some sort of incident taking place, Radio Liberty reports.
The reported firefight between Tajikistan’s security forces and an armed group from Afghanistan that left a Tajik border guard and one of the Afghan combatants dead comes as the situation on both sides of the frontier is changing — and as warmer spring weather heralds the likely start of increased hostilities in areas of northeastern Afghanistan that border Tajikistan.
There is a lot in play at the moment along Tajikistan’s frontier with Afghanistan’s border provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, and Kunduz.
Some of the processes underway might lead to a further deterioration in the security situation along this almost perpetually unquiet border. However, the Afghan government’s renewed attention might help government forces gain better control over the area.
This week, RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, assembled a Majlis, or discussion panel, to assess what happened along the Tajik-Afghan frontier on March 5 and, more importantly, to talk about what is changing along either side of the border.
Azatlyk director Muhammad Tahir moderated the panel. Participating from Dushanbe was Rashid Ghani Adbullo, an independent political analyst, while Amin Mudaqiq, the director of RFE/RL’s Pakistani service, known locally as Mashaal, joined in from a studio in Prague where I was also in attendance. Although I wanted to hear what our guests said, I threw in a few comments of my own as well.
Full report at: khaama.com/all-unquiet-on-the-tajik-afghan-frontier-4736
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Noor says Afghan forces confronted ISIS loyalists in Balkh operations
By Khaama Press - Sun Mar 13 2016
The acting provincial governor of northern Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor has confirmed that the Afghan forces confronted the loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group during clearance operations in this province.
Following the conclusion of clearance operations in Koshindih and Zareh districts, Noor said the militants cleared during the operations were connected both the Taliban and ISIS terrorist group.
Noor further added that the Afghan forces recovered both Taliban and ISIS flags during the operations which led to the clearance of the two districts.
He said at least 7 militants were killed, around 10 others were wounded and at least 20 others were arrested by the security forces during the operations.
According to Noor, the militants were looking to destabilize Balkh and infiltrate into northern Sar-e-Pul and Samangan provinces.
Full report at: khaama.com/noor-says-afghan-forces-confronted-isis-loyalists-in-balkh-operations-0321
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Mideast
Top court ruling on journalists was against the nation: President
Mar 13 2016
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has heightened the tone of his criticism against the country’s Constitutional Court by saying the top court’s verdict which caused the release of two journalists from prison was “against the nation.”
“The Constitutional Court has to be one of the institutions that should be the most sensitive about the interests and rights of the state and the people. But this institution and its president [Zühtü Arslan] have not hesitated to rule against the country and its people on one of the most concrete examples of a massive attack towards Turkey in recent times,” Erdoğan said at a rally in Burdur, a Western town, on March 11.
Two prominent journalists from daily Cumhuriyet, its editor-in-chief, Can Dündar, and Ankara bureau chief, Erdem Gül, were set free after 92 days of imprisonment as a result of a Constitutional Court decision which said their rights had been violated. Dündar and Gül had been arrested by a lower Istanbul court on charges of espionage and terrorism after they reported about claims that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) was allegedly shipping weapons to rebels in Syria.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/top-court-ruling-on-journalists-was-against-the-nation-president--.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96338&NewsCatID=338
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Iran Disbands 5 Terror Cells Plotting to Disturb Elections
Mar 13 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs Hossein Zolfaqari said the country has disbanded 5 terrorist groups that were planning to foment insecurity during the February 26 vote.
"They had planned terrorist attacks during the elections. They confessed to this during their interrogation," Zolfaqari said in Tehran on Saturday.
"We managed to disband all of them just in time in the Eastern, Southern and Southwestern parts of the country," he added, but did not reveal any further details.
In relevant remarks last February, Zolfaqari said security forces disbanded a terrorist cell in Western Iran.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941222000763
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Rockets from Syria hit Turkish border city
Mar 13 2016
A rocket fired from Syria hit the garden of a gendarmerie dormitory in Turkey's Kilis on March 12 as another hit a spot near a court building in the southeastern border province, Anadolu Agency has reported.
The rocket that fell to the garden did not explode but caused damage on a building.
Security forces launched inspections and took measures at the scene.
No casualties were reported.
Two people were killed, including a toddler, while two others have been wounded as eight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) rocket projectiles hit Kilis on March 8. The military fired back at ISIL targets within the rules of engagement.
hurriyetdailynews.com/rockets-from-syria-hit-turkish-border-city.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96360&NewsCatID=341
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Turkish presidential spokesman slams former US envoys' article
Mar 13 2016
Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın slammed on March 11 a newspaper column by two former U.S. ambassadors to Turkey criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"Two former U.S. ambassadors, who suppose themselves to be 'colonial masters’, wrote: 'Erdoğan should resign.' The days when you gave instructions to Turkey are over, gentlemen," Kalın said on his official Twitter account following publication of the column, "Turkey’s Erdogan must reform or resign," in The Washington Post.
"If Erdoğan still wants to deliver a brighter future for his country, he has to reform or resign," said former ambassadors Morton Abramowitz and Eric Edelman in the guest op-ed.
hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-presidential-spokesman-slams-former-us-envoys-article.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96358&NewsCatID=510
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Turkey’s reform program one of broadest in G-20: Economy tsar
Mar 13 2016
Turkey has one of the most comprehensive structural reform agendas in the G-20, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek said late March 12.
Speaking at a meeting of a Turkish-British forum in Bath, southwest England, Şimşek said the relationship between Turkey and the U.K. was “better than ever” and pointed to the U.K.’s support for Turkey’s EU membership bid.
“Our EU accession is not an obsession with joining a club,” he said.
“It is actually about reforms because the EU accession process entails economic, social and political transformation on a wholesale basis.”
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-reform-program-one-of-broadest-in-g-20-economy-tsar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96367&NewsCatID=344
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India
Chinese army spotted along Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, say sources
PTI | Mar 13, 2016
SRINAGAR: After frequent incursions in Ladakh area, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops have been spotted at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistani side of Kashmir, ringing alarm bells in the security grid.
The army spotted presence of senior PLA officials at the forward posts opposite Nowgam sector in North Kashmir after which some intercepts of Pakistani army officers suggested that the Chinese troops have come to create some infrastructure along the LoC, sources said on Sunday.
Though the army has officially maintained complete silence on the issue, they have been constantly updating various intelligence agencies about the presence of PLA troops along the Line of Control, sources said.
Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chinese-army-spotted-along-Line-of-Control-in-Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir-say-sources/articleshow/51380359.cms
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Man records statement against son accused of Islamic State links
Written by Sagnik Chowdhury | New Delhi | Updated: March 6, 2016
In what could be a first for a terror probe in the country, the father of a youth arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) has given a statement before a magistrate corroborating how his son was drawn to jihadist ideology. The statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be used as evidence against the son.
Sources told The Sunday Express that after Mohammed Naseer, a 23-year-old computer engineer from Tamil Nadu, was deported to India from Sudan on December 10 last year, his father flew down from Dubai and met NIA officials. He later gave a Section 164 CrPC statement about how he was concerned when his son began displaying “odd and suspicious” behaviour, sources said. A statement under Section 164 can be used as evidence in court.
Full report at: indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/man-records-statement-against-son-accused-of-is-links/99/print/
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Modi, Sharif may meet in Washington: Sartaj Aziz
Mar 12, 2016
WASHINGTON: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this month on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit, a top aide to Pakistan Premier said.
"There are chances of meeting between the two (Prime Ministers)," Sartaj Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to Sharif, told PTI.
"There are possibilities, when they are here (in Washington DC). They would interact with each other. Whether there would be a structured meeting I do not know. Depends on...Chances are there (for a meeting)," Aziz said.
The top Pakistani diplomat is in Washington to attend the sixth US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue which he co-chaired with secretary of state John Kerry yesterday.
Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-Sharif-may-meet-in-Washington-Sartaj-Aziz/articleshow/51371962.cms?
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Pakistan
Rangers tortured jailed MQM workers, Farooq Sattar claims
Mar 13, 2016
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Coordination Committee member Dr Farooq Sattar on Sunday accused the Rangers of torturing party workers imprisoned at the Karachi Central Jail.
He said he had received reports that a heavy contingent of Rangers on Friday evening “conducted an operation” at the Karachi prison – in barracks 18, 19, 24 and 25 – and took away 40 under-trial ‘MQM prisoners whose cases are pending hearing.’
“We heard they were tortured and intimidated,” he said, adding that jail administration cooperated with the Rangers.
Sattar alleged the jail’s superintendent and other officials were also present when the paramilitary personnel conducted the ‘raid.’
‘Loyalties being forcibly converted’
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1245421/rangers-tortured-jailed-mqm-workers-farooq-sattar-claims
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Bahrain-based Pak national denied visa because of his name
Debayan Tewari | TNN | Mar 13, 2016
CHENNAI: Abdul Razzaq cursed his name as he spoke over the phone from Bahrain. The Pakistani national who is a jewellery designer based in Muharraq could not accompany his critically ill son to Chennai and be with him during his last moments since he was denied a visa to India.
Razzaq's 20-year-old son Abu Baker died of multi-organ failure at a private hospital here on Friday following a complicated heart surgery.
Razzaq said officials at the Indian embassy in Manama told him that his name was similar to that of a terror suspect and hence the ministry of home affairs did not clear his application. "I made three applications on January 5. While those of my wife and son were processed, mine wasn't," he said.
Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bahrain-based-Pak-national-denied-visa-because-of-his-name/articleshow/51377868.cms
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Pakistani commentator gets visa for Delhi, Mumbai!
March 13th, 2016
LAHORE: Prominent cricket commentator Mohammad Idrees is puzzled after receiving the Indian visa for Delhi and Mumbai where no Pakistan matches in the World T20 are scheduled.
According to Idrees, he is set to leave for India to cover the World T20 matches as a radio commentator but the Indian High Commission in Islamabad issued him the visa of only Delhi and Mumbai, the cities where no match involving Pakistan will be held.
Pakistan are scheduled to play their first-round matches in Kolkata and Mohali. Shahid Afridi-led side open their World T20 campaign with the match against a qualifier on March 16 and then face arch-rivals India, both games to be staged in Kolkata. The green-shirts will then face Australia and New Zealand in Mohali.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1245294/pakistani-commentator-gets-visa-for-delhi-mumbai
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Balochistan braces for three-day anti-polio drive amid tight security
Mar 13 2016
QUETTA: Over 2.3 million children below the age of five will be administered anti-polio drops during a three-day vaccination campaign set to begin in Balochistan Monday (tomorrow) as provincial authorities have taken strict security measures.
Dr. Syed Saifur Rehman, coordinator of the Emergency Polio Cell said over 6,000 mobile teams, 820 fixed and 334 transit points have been established across the province to administer vaccines.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1245420/balochistan-braces-for-three-day-anti-polio-drive-amid-tight-security
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North America
NATO begins periodic surveillance of Turkish airspace
Mar 13 2016
The Turkish General Staff has announced that a NATO Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft has begun surveillance in Turkish airspace as part of assurance measures for Turkey, while noting that NATO’s mission would be conducted “periodically” in the coming months.
“In line with the Syria crisis and developments taking place in the region and within the content of reassurance measures for Turkey, a NATO AWACS plane has begun conducting [surveillance] duty in Turkish airspace from March 12 to March 15,” the General Staff said in a written statement posted on its official website late on March 12.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-begins-periodic-surveillance-of-turkish-airspace.aspx?pageID=238&nID=96366&NewsCatID=510
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CAIR: No Terror Orgs in US
BY RYAN MAURO Fri, March 11, 2016
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)'s downplaying of Islamist extremism has reached a new low. In a contentious segment on Newsmax TV with Clarion Project's Ryan Mauro, a CAIR-FL representative made the outrageous claim that no terrorist organizations have existed in the U.S. since 2001.
The segment on DML Unfiltered (Watch the segment below), hosted by Dennis Michael Lynch, was centered on Jamaat ul-Fuqra (now known as Muslims of the Americas), an extremist group with a history of terrorism that claims to have 22 "Islamic villages."
Mauro showed exclusively-obtained photos from a law enforcement raid on one such "village" in Colorado in 1992, where authorities discovered hidden stockpiles of arms, including in underground tunnels. The group was also in the process of building a satellite communications system. Many of the group's other "villages" continue to operate.
Mauro then mentioned that CAIR is now intertwined with MOA/Fuqra. CAIR-FL's Full report at: clarionproject.org/analysis/cair-no-terror-orgs-us
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U.S., allies conduct 17 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
Reuters: 13 03 16
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies on Friday targeted Islamic State militants in Iraq with nine strikes and eight in Syria, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
Five of the strikes in Iraq were near Ramadi, hitting three separate Islamic State tactical units and an Islamic State fighting position.
In Syria, four of the strikes were near Mar'a, hitting 10 Islamic State fighting positions and two weapons caches.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Sandra Maler)
news.yahoo.com/u-allies-conduct-17-strikes-against-islamic-state-194719545.html
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Africa
Libya's Presidential Council calls for transfer of power to unity government
Reuters | Mar 13, 2016
TUNIS: Libya's U.N.-backed Presidential Council called on Saturday on the country's institutions to begin a transfer of authority to a unity government, and appealed to the international community to stop dealing with any rival powers.
The Presidential Council is tasked with guiding through a transition to end the political chaos and armed conflict that has plagued Libya since the fall of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Its statement suggests it will seek to take power despite continuing opposition from hardliners in both of Libya's competing parliaments - the eastern House of Representatives (HOR) and the rival General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli.
Western nations hope a unity government can help tackle a growing threat from Islamic State, which has used a security vacuum and political divisions in Libya to establish a foothold in the north African country.
The Tunis-based Presidential Council nominated a unity government last month, but recognition of the proposed cabinet has been held up by the failure of the HOR to vote to approve it.
Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Libyas-Presidential-Council-calls-for-transfer-of-power-to-unity-government/articleshow/51377900.cms
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Southeast Asia
Can Indonesia ban Israeli products?
Mar 13 2016
A call for the banning of Israeli products produced in the occupied territories conveyed during the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in Jakarta last week has raised a question about whether OIC member countries, especially Indonesia, can really implement the recommendation.
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy chairman for trade, Benny Soetrisno, said banning Israeli products was technically possible because the state of origin of imports must be reported in the imported goods documents.
“The country of origin is determined by looking at the percentage of local contents of products imported from a country. A country of origin status is declared by the World Trade Organization [WTO],” Benny told thejakartatapost.com.
“Technically, the mandatory declaration of the country of origin in every imported goods document has made it is possible for Indonesia to ban Israeli products. However, it is also possible for Israel to do the same thing to Indonesian products,” he said.
Trade Ministry data reveals that Indonesia and Israel have trade relations despite an absence of diplomatic ties. The total value of trade between Indonesia and Israel, mostly in the non-oil and gas sectors, reached US$194.43 million in 2015, or only 0.44 percent of Indonesia’s trade with China, which reached $44.45 billion in the same period, according to the ministry.
Full report at: thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/13/can-indonesia-ban-israeli-products.html#sthash.Y3I2YL3q.dpuf
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