The Indian Panorama

Tag: ISRAEL

  • Israel advances settlement plans despite Donald Trump’s plea

    JERUSALEM (TIP): Israel has advanced plans for more than 3,000 homes in West Bank settlements this week, despite US President Donald Trump’s call to hold back on such projects as he seeks ways to restart peace efforts.

    Israel pushed forward with the plans as it also marked 50 years since the Six-Day War, fought from June 5-10, 1967 and which began its continuing occupation of the West Bank. A total of 3,178 housing units were advanced in a number of different settlements, the Peace Now NGO that tracks settlement growth told AFP on Thursday.

    They are the first new settlement announcements since Trump’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories last month, when he tried to encourage both sides back to the negotiating table. Trump has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold back on settlement building for now, but the rightwing Israeli leader has been under intense pressure from settler leaders. The powerful settler movement wields heavy influence in Netanyahu’s right-wing governing coalition.

    On Tuesday, a defence ministry planning committee advanced 1,500 units, while more than 900 more were added on Wednesday, Peace Now said. In a separate process, 688 homes were advanced by the committee late on Wednesday and will now go out for a 60-day public comment period during which objections can be filed.

    The plans are at various stages in the process and the units are in a number of settlements across the West Bank. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas condemned the plan for the new housing units. Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    More than 600,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, including in annexed east Jerusalem. They live alongside some three million Palestinians. Settlements are considered illegal under international law and are seen as a major obstacle to peace and the so-called two state solution — the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Israel blames Palestinian incitement and intransigence for the ongoing conflict.

    While the majority of the planned homes are in pre-existing settlements, some will be built in the first new official settlement in some 25 years, Peace Now said. Last month, Trump visited Israel and the Palestinian territories, meeting both Netanyahu and Abbas as he seeks what he has called the “ultimate deal”.

    However, Trump has given no details about how he plans to restart talks, and there is deep scepticism over whether such an effort would have any chance of success. Netanyahu has said he still supports a two state solution, but peace advocates say his actions show otherwise.

    On Tuesday, the premier told settlers he would keep building across the West Bank. “Netanyahu has been trying to hold back but he has been under very strong pressure from the settlement movement,” Ofer Zalzberg of the International Crisis Group think tank said. “In the last two weeks there has been an allout war and he caved in.”

    Abbas’s spokesman called Netanyahu’s statements a “challenge” to Trump and the international community. “It is a challenge to Trump’s efforts to create an appropriate atmosphere for a serious political process, and a blatant challenge to the international community as a whole,” a statement said. (AFP)

  • Israel disappointed at Trump’s decision not to move US embassy

    Israel disappointed at Trump’s decision not to move US embassy

    JERUSALEM (TIP): Israel on June 1 expressed disappointment at the decision of US President Donald Trump to sign a waiver to delay relocating the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv but said it hoped a move could take place later.

    “Though Israel is disappointed that the embassy will not move at this time, we appreciate today’s expression of President Trump’s friendship to Israel and his commitment to moving the embassy in the future,” part of a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

    It added that: “Israel’s consistent position is that the American embassy, like the embassies of all countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, should be in Jerusalem, our eternal capital.” (AP)

  • Donald Trump meets Pope Francis at Vatican

    Donald Trump meets Pope Francis at Vatican

    VATICAN CITY (TIP): US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 24 in a keenly anticipated first face-to-face encounter between two world leaders who have clashed repeatedly on several issues.

    The private audience with the pontiff was preceded by a cordial handshake for the cameras and was expected to last around 20 minutes.

    It came on the third leg of Trump’s first overseas trip as president, which has already taken him to Saudi Arabia and to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

    The two men had never met before Wednesday morning but they have significant history having clashed publicly over subjects ranging from migration to unbridled capitalism and climate change.They also disagree on issues like the death penalty and the arms trade but share a fervent opposition to abortion.

    Trump was accompanied for the audience by his wife Melania and daughter Ivanka, both dressed all in black, in keeping with traditional protocol that is no longer always observed by all female dignitaries visiting the Vatican.

    (AFP)

  • Iran votes for reform

    Iran votes for reform

    “Mr. Rouhani’s decisive victory is a shot in the arm for the moderates coming after the elections in February last year for the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts where the moderates and the reformists had registered significant gains”, says the author.
    By Rakesh Sood

    After a difficult campaign, President Hassan Rouhani won a crucial second term in Iran’s presidential elections held on May 19. A high turnout of 73% helped him score a convincing victory over his principal challenger Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative cleric, in the first round itself, winning 57% of the votes compared to Mr. Raisi’s 38.5%. More than two-thirds of Iran’s voters are in urban areas and most of them are Rouhani supporters; therefore, as voting hours got extended to midnight indicating a high turnout, the mood in the Rouhani camp turned jubilant.

    A DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN:

    In 2013, Mr. Rouhani had campaigned and won on a platform that focused on bringing sanctions to an end,which he was able to achieve in July 2015 with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement concluded with the P-5 + 1. The sanctions relief has had a positive impact on the economy with oil exports up and GDP growth hitting 6% last year though expectations were higher. In a TV debate in the run-up to the election, Mr. Raisi described the JCPOA as ‘a check that Rouhani had failed to cash’. Opinion polls had favored Mr. Rouhani, because Mr. Raisi, though close to the Supreme Leader,Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was considered a relative newcomer to politics. However, concern grew when Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) pilot and the Mayor of Tehran since 2005, withdrew from the race in support of Mr. Raisi, who had spent most of his life in the judiciary before being appointed custodian of the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad last year. He also controls Astan-e-Quds Razavi, one of the wealthiest foundations, and is seen a possible successor to the present Supreme Leader who is 77 and in poor health.

    Therefore Mr. Rouhani’s decisive victory is a shot in the arm for the moderates coming after the elections in February last year for the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts where the moderates and the reformists had registered significant gains.

    ROUHANI’S CONSTRAINTS:

    However, given Iran’s complex governance structures, President Rouhani will have to tread carefully as his powers and those of the directly elected 290- member Parliament are constrained by the non-elected authorities. The key power center is the Supreme Leader who is appointed by the Assembly of Experts and in turn appoints the heads of radio and TV, the armed forces and the IRGC, the Supreme National Security Council, the 51-member Expediency Council and the higher judiciary. He also chooses six members of the powerful Guardian Council, with the other six nominated by the judiciary. The Guardian Council in turn vets candidates for all elections, presidential, parliamentary and the 88-member Assembly of Experts. It cleared only six candidates out of the more than 1,600 who filed nominations for the presidential contest; rejections included former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nomination. In addition, it approves all legislation passed by Parliament to ensure its consistency with Islamic jurisprudence. A dispute between Parliament and the Council is resolved by the Expediency Council. The Assembly of Experts is directly elected and its primary role is to appoint the Supreme Leader, critical during Mr. Rouhani’s second term.

    Mr. Rouhani’s principal challenge will be to sustain economic growth and nudge the reform process forward in order to tackle unemployment, currently running at over 12%, and higher among the youth. He has promised to expand individual and political rights, enlarge women’s role and ensure greater accountability.

    Some of these will be challenged. While his victory margin is a clear endorsement for reform, the Supreme Leader will play a critical balancing role. It is interesting that, in his immediate remarks, he praised the Iranian people for the impressive turnout, but did not congratulate the winner.

    In foreign policy, Mr. Rouhani will present the image of a moderate and more outward-oriented Iran. He is no stranger to Iran’s complex politics. From 1989 to 2005, he was Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, reporting to the Supreme Leader, and handled the nuclear negotiations during 2003-05.

    During this period, he also served a term each as Deputy Speaker of Parliament and as member of the Expediency Council. Following Mr. Ahmadinejad’s election in 2005, he quit. After being elected in 2013, he persuaded the Supreme Leader to shift responsibility for the nuclear negotiations to the Foreign Ministry and let Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif take the lead.

    In addition to managing his home front, the other challenge for Mr. Rouhani will be keep the JCPOA going in the face of the U.S. Congress’s and now President Donald Trump’s declared hostility.

    DEALING WITH TRUMP:

    During the election campaign, Mr. Trump had called it the ‘worst deal ever’ and threatened to tear it up as soon as he was elected! Subsequently, he seems to have modified his position, realizing perhaps that it is not just a bilateral agreement with Iran but also includes Russia, China, the U.K., France, Germany and the European Union. In April, the Trump administration certified that Iran was abiding by its obligations but Secretary of State Rex Tillerson added that a 90- day policy review would be undertaken in view of ‘Iran’s alarming ongoing provocations’.

    More recently, on May 17, the Trump administration continued the sanctions waiver (under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act 2012), needed every 120 days even while imposing sanctions on seven Iranian and Chinese individuals and entities on account of missile proliferation activities.

    In April, a slew of human rights related sanctions were imposed. In mid- June another waiver, this time under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, will need to be renewed if the JCPOA is to be sustained. These are necessary because in 2015, the Republican-dominated Congress rejected the JCPOA and U.S.

    President Barack Obama used executive authority to waive U.S. sanctions but these waivers need to be renewed periodically. The JCPOA was the outcome of protracted negotiations over more than a decade, during which Iran had steadily built up its nuclear capabilities, especially in the enrichment domain, and in 2015 was estimated to be only months away from acquiring enough Highly Enriched Uranium to produce one device (approximately 25 kg) though Iran consistently maintained that its program was exclusively for peaceful purposes. Given deep suspicions however, the JCPOA with its extensive inspection and reporting obligations was the best way to prevent Iran from developing a military nuclear capability for the next 10-15 years.

    Opponents say that while cheating is unlikely, they fear that Iran will retain its nuclear appetite after abstaining during the 10-15 year period and resume its activity once the inspection obligations expire.

    THE SAUDI FACTOR:

    Perhaps the most troubling problem is the new embrace of Saudi Arabia that was in evidence during Mr. Trump’s visit. It raises the prospects of greater U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen and can push relations with Iran into a confrontation. In 2016, there were 19 ‘incidents at sea’ between U.S. and Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf. The most serious was in January 2016 when the IRGC held two U.S. vessels and 10 servicemen, accused of trespassing in Iranian waters. The crisis was resolved within hours, thanks to some quick phone conversations between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Mr. Zarif. That link is missing today.

    It is all the more ironic because Iran is the one country that is opposed to the Islamic State. Yet the U.S. is keener to bless the Saudi-created Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism, a grouping of 41 Sunni nations, under the command of former Pakistani Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif. It remains unclear what the role of this coalition is, to fight the IS or Iran or in Yemen, or to secure the Gulf monarchies!

    For the last quarter century, the U.S. practiced dual containment of Iran and Iraq, a policy that suited both Israel and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Obama’s push for the JCPOA was driven by a desire to extricate U.S. policy from this stranglehold and expand options. If a return to the Saudi embrace creates additional tensions and a collapse of the JCPOA, it could push Iran to cross the nuclear threshold with much wider regional implications.Mr. Rouhani’s challenges are just beginning.

    (The author is a former diplomat and currently Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. He can be reached at rakeshsood2001@yahoo.com)

  • Trump announces trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Vatican

    Trump announces trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Vatican

    WASHINGTON (TIP): President Donald Trump says his first foreign trip as president will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican, where he will meet with Pope Francis. Then he’ll move on for visits to NATO and a summit in Italy.

    Trump said Thursday in a White House ceremony with faith leaders that his first trip will start in Saudi Arabia and include meetings with leaders across the Muslim world. He says they will seek new cooperation to “combat extremism, terrorism and violence” and promote a more hopeful future for young Muslims.

    The announcement follows Trump’s meeting on Wednesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD’ ah-BAHS’) and Trump’s pledge to mediate peace efforts. He also met Thursday with Roman Catholic cardinals. The White House said previously that Trump would travel to Belgium and Italy for the G7 summit before Memorial Day (AP).

  • Israel shows off F-35 stealth fighters for first time

    Israel shows off F-35 stealth fighters for first time

    TEL AVIV (TIP): Israel on May 1 showed off its new F-35 stealth fighter jets recently delivered from the United States as part of an air show marking its annual Independence Day celebrations.

    Three of Israel’s five stealth fighters took to the skies along the Mediterranean coast off Tel Aviv as thousands of people gathered at the waterfront to watch.

    The F-35s, made by US-based Lockheed Martin, were the highlight of the show, which marked 69 years of Israeli independence.

    Israel has received the initial five jets since December with the aim of allowing it to maintain its military superiority in the turbulent Middle East, particularly regarding its arch-foe Iran.

    It plans to purchase a total of 50 F-35s. Its first jets are to be operational this year.

    While other countries have ordered the planes, Israel – which receives more than USD 3 billion a year in US defence aid – says it will be the first outside the United States with an operational F-35 squadron. Among its main features are advanced stealth capabilities to help pilots evade sophisticated missile systems. The pilot’s ultra-high-tech helmet, at a cost of about $400,000 each, includes its own operating system, with data that appears on the visor and is also shared elsewhere.

    Thermal and night vision as well as 360-degree views are possible with cameras mounted on the plane. (AFP)

  • India, Israel ink defence deals worth over $2 bn

    India, Israel ink defence deals worth over $2 bn

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India and Israel on Thursday inked mega defence deals worth over $2 billion for advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, which are designed to destroy hostile aircraft, missiles and drones at a range of 70-km, to further tighten the bilateral strategic partnership ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s impending visit to Tel Aviv in July.

    Defence sources said the major deal was for the joint project between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Barak-8 medium-range SAM systems to initially include one regiment of 16 launchers and 560 missiles for the Indian Army.

    The second deal to be inked was for a similar SAM system to be fitted on board the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant being built at the Cochin Shipyard.

    The Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in February had cleared the MR-SAM project for the Army at an overall cost of Rs 16,830 crore, which will now include a first instalment of Rs 1,500 crore.

    This project follows the two similar DRDO-IAI programmes already underway for the next-generation SAMs for Indian warships at an initial cost of Rs 2,606 crore and nine air defence squadrons for the IAF for Rs 10,076 crore.

    These Barak-8 systems, with their MF-STARs (multi-function surveillance and threat alert radars) as well as weapon control systems with data links, can detect and track hostile aerial threats at a range of 100-km and destroy them at 70-km. Consequently, they will help in plugging the existing holes in India’s air defence coverage.

    But questions have been raised about these SAM systems, which are to be produced in bulk by defence PSU Bharat Dynamics, both in terms of their exorbitant costs as well as long delays in their delivery schedules.

    The naval SAM project, for instance, was sanctioned by the CCS in December 2005, while the IAF one for nine squadrons was cleared in February 2009. As per the latest revised timeline, the naval project’s completion date is now slated for December 2017 instead of the original May 2011 deadline.

    The naval SAM system, tested for the first time in November 2014, meanwhile, has been fitted on the three new Kolkata-class destroyers. Each new SAM system is projected to cost around Rs 1,200 crore for the 12 under-construction warships in Indian shipyards, including NS Vikrant, four guided-missile destroyers and seven stealth frigates.

    Though the expansive bilateral defence ties are kept largely under wraps due to international and domestic political sensitivities, Israel is among the top three defence suppliers to India.

    Having already inked deals and projects worth around $10 billion over the last 15 years, Israel has bagged seven Indian arms contracts in the last two years.

    There are also several more big-ticket deals in the pipeline. These include two more Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), which are to be mounted on Russian IL-76 military aircraft, and four more Aerostat radars at a cost upwards of $1.5 billion.

    Moreover, India is set to soon acquire 10 Heron-TP armed drones for around$400 million. While the Indian armed forces have inducted over 100 Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles, which include the surveillance Searcher and Heron as well as the kamikaze Harop drones, this will be the first time it will acquire missile-armed drones capable of undertaking bombing missions like fighter jets.

  • Hamas execute 3 Palestinians over Israel ties

    Hamas execute 3 Palestinians over Israel ties

    GAZA CITY (TIP): The Islamic militant Hamas group ruling the Gaza Strip says it has executed three Palestinians accused of `collaborating’ with Israel.

    Hamas says they were hanged at a police compound on Thursday morning as dozens of Hamas leaders and officials watched.

    Hamas has launched a local media campaign against those it suspects of spying for Israel after a militant, Mazen Faqha, was found dead in Gaza last month.

    Israel had sentenced him to nine life sentences for directing suicide bombings. He was freed along with more than 1,000 other Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single Israeli soldier in 2011.

    Israel had sentenced him to nine life sentences for directing suicide bombings. He was freed along with more than 1,000 other Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single Israeli soldier in 2011. (PTI)

     

  • India’s NSA Ajit Doval meets Israeli PM ahead of Modi’s visit

    India’s NSA Ajit Doval meets Israeli PM ahead of Modi’s visit

    TEL AVIV (TIP): National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has held talks with Israel’s top leadership here as part of preparations for PM Narendra Modi’s muchawaited visit, the first by an Indian premier to the Jewish country. Modi is expected to visit Israel by the middle of this year.

    Doval met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his Jerusalem office. Doval also met his counterpart, Israel’s acting National Security Adviser and Head of the National Security Council, Brig. Gen. (retd) Jacob Nagel.

    India’s relations with Israel have made steady progress since the two countries established diplomatic relations 25 years ago, in January 1992, irrespective of the party in power in New Delhi, but a prime ministerial visit to Israel has been long-awaited

    President Pranav Mukherjee visited Israel in October, 2015, in what was the first such visit by an Indian Head of State to the Jewish country. The only visit of an Israeli PM to India happened in 2003 when Ariel Sharon visited New Delhi

  • In shift, Donald Trump warns Israel against new settlements

    In shift, Donald Trump warns Israel against new settlements

    WASHINGTON (TIP): President Donald Trump on Feb 2 warned Israel that constructing new settlements “may not be helpful” to Middle East peace efforts, striking a tougher line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

    Trump has been perceived as sympathetic to the settlements, which are considered illegal by most of the international community. Shortly before taking office, he vigorously criticized the Obama administration for not vetoing a United Nations Security Council measure condemning settlements.

    But in a statement Thursday, the White House said, “While we don’t believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal.”

    The White House said the administration “has not taken an official position on settlement activity” and the president would discuss the issue with Netanyahu when he travels to Washington later this month. The two leaders are scheduled to meet at the White House on Feb. 15.

    The US statement came hours after Netanyahu vowed to establish the first new West Bank settlement in over two decades “as soon as possible,” promising to make up for the court-ordered demolition of an illegal settler outpost. It was his latest step to expand Israeli settlement construction in the wake of Trump’s inauguration.

    Netanyahu repeatedly clashed with President Barack Obama during the Democrat’s eight years in office, and Trump has vowed to be a better partner for Israel. Following the U.N. vote, Trump tweeted, “Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!” _ referring to the date of his inauguration.

    Trump has already appeared to slow his promises to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – a promise often made by presidential candidates, but never carried out in office because of fears the move would inflame tensions in the region.

    Newly sworn-in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke by phone Thursday with Netanyahu.

    The prime minister’s vow to establish new West Bank settlements came as Israeli security forces were completing the evacuation of Amona, where they broke into a synagogue to remove dozens of Israeli protesters who had barricaded themselves inside. Netanyahu’s pro-settler government had unsuccessfully tried to block the evacuation of Amona, but Israel’s Supreme Court rejected all appeals after determining the outpost was built illegally two decades ago on private Palestinian land.

    Speaking at a ceremony in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, Netanyahu expressed “great pain” over the removal of Amona. (AP)

  • ISRAEL’S FLYING CAR PASSENGER DRONE MOVES CLOSER TO DELIVERY

    ISRAEL’S FLYING CAR PASSENGER DRONE MOVES CLOSER TO DELIVERY

    The Cormorant, billed as a flying car, is capable of transporting 500kg (around half a tonne) of weight and travelling at 185 km (115 miles) per hour. It completed its first automated solo flight over terrain in November. Its total price is estimated at $14 million. (Reuters)

    After 15 years of development, an Israeli tech firm is optimistic it will finally get its 1,500 kg (1.5 tonne) passenger carrying drone off the ground and into the market by 2020.

    The Cormorant, billed as a flying car, is capable of transporting 500kg (around half a tonne) of weight and travelling at 185 km (115 miles) per hour. It completed its first automated solo flight over terrain in November. Its total price is estimated at $14 million.

    Developers Urban Aeronautics believe the dark green drone, which uses internal rotors rather than helicopter propellers, could evacuate people from hostile environments and/or allow military forces safe access.

    “Just imagine a dirty bomb in a city and chemical substance of something else and this vehicle can come in robotically, remotely piloted, come into a street and decontaminate an area,” Urban Aeronautics founder and CEO Rafi Yoeli told Reuters.

    Yoeli set up the company, based in a large hanger in Yavne, central Israel, in 2001 to create the drone, which he says is safer than a helicopter as it can fly in between buildings and below power lines without the risk of blade strikes.

    There is still plenty of work required before the autonomous vehicle hits the market.

    The Cormorant, about the size of a family car and previously called the ‘Air Mule’, is yet to meet all Federal Aviation Administration standards and a test in November saw small issues with conflicting data sent by on board sensors.

    With 39 patents registered to create the vehicle, Yoeli has little concern about competitors usurping him.

    One industry experts said the technology could save lives.

    “It could revolutionise several aspects of warfare, including medical evacuation of soldiers on the battlefield,” said Tal Inbar, head of the UAV research centre at Israel’s Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

    Source: Reuters

     

     

     

  • India test-fires new surface-to-air missile co-developed with Israelis

    India test-fires new surface-to-air missile co-developed with Israelis

    BALASORE (TIP): India on Thursday successfully test fired a new surface-to-air missile, developed jointly with Israel, from a defence base off Odisha coast.

    The medium range missile (MR-SAM), a product of joint venture between India and Israel, was successfully test launched from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur at around 08.15 hours, a DRDO official said.

    “The test launch was a grand success and it met all the targets,” he said.

    The missile positioned at launch pad-3 of the ITR swung in to action after getting signal from the radars to intercept a moving aerial target supported by an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) ‘Banshee’ over the Bay of Bengal, officials said.

    Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile, they said.

    “The missile along with MF-STAR will provide the users with the capability to neutralise any aerial threats,” said a Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist.

    Indian Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), a laboratory of DRDO based at Hyderabad, has jointly developed this missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), he said.

    A new production facility to deliver 100 missiles a year has been established for such type of long rang and medium range surface-to-air missiles at M/s Bharat Dynamics Limited, India.

    The missile, which was initially proposed to be tested yesterday, was deferred in the last moment for today.

    Earlier, Indian Navy had successfully test launched the long range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM). The test was undertaken on the Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata on December 30, 2015, officials said.

    Such type of medium range surface-to-air missiles (SR-SAM), having striking ranges from 50 to 70 km, can fill the gap of existing missiles that India has in its armory at present, they said. These missiles would be inducted in all three services after user’s trial is completed.

    As a safety measure, Balasore district administration in consultation with the defence officials had temporarily shifted 3652 civilians residing within 2.5 km radius of the launch pad No.3 of the ITR at Chandipur to nearby shelter centres this morning to ensure a safe launch of the missile, said a district revenue official.

  • Palestinian kills teenage girl in Israeli settlement

    Palestinian kills teenage girl in Israeli settlement

    JERUSALEM (TIP): A Palestinian fatally stabbed a 13-year-old girl inside her home in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank on June 30, before guards shot him dead, the military and hospital officials said.

    A member of the response team that killed the assailant was also wounded in the incident, said an official from the Kiryat Arba settlement, near the city of Hebron.

    Over the past eight months, Palestinians have killed 33 Israelis and two visiting US citizens in a wave of street attacks, mostly stabbings. Israeli forces have shot dead at least 198 Palestinians, 134 of whom Israel has said were assailants. Others were killed in clashes and protests.

    An Israeli military spokesman said the girl was attacked in her bedroom. Hospital officials in Jerusalem said she died of her wounds, giving her age as 13. Israeli media reports identified the suspected attacker as a 17-year-old Palestinian from a village near Kiryat Arba.

    Malachi Levinger, chairman of Kiryat Arba’s government council, said on Army Radio that a Palestinian climbed a security fence and entered a family home where he attacked the girl. “Two members of a response team exchanged fire with him. One of them was wounded and the terrorist was killed,” Levinger said.

  • Supporting India’s Entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group

    Supporting India’s Entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group

    The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a 48-nation exclusive export control regime dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation while promoting safe international nuclear commerce for civil nuclear energy. After receiving a country-specific waiver for the India-United States Civil Nuclear Agreement from the NSG in 2008, most western nations advocated for India’s inclusion into the NSG, even Russia has expressed unconditional support for India. The sole outlier for the major powers remains China, though China could benefit from supporting India’s membership.

    Instead, China has spearheaded a diplomatic campaign to thwart India’s entry into the NSG. Doubling down on efforts to link India with China’s all-weather friend Pakistan, China has grasped at rationales to prevent India’s NSG membership.

    China has articulated three main pseudo-arguments against India’s entry into the NSG. The first is that India is not a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT) of 1968 and allowing India to join does not comport with the greater non-proliferation agenda. Also, India’s entry might disturb the strategic balance in the Indian sub-continent, further encouraging Pakistan to take more desperate measures to seek strategic parity with India. Lastly, China argues that the NSG should be based on specific criteria, rather than selectively choosing suitable nations for entry.

    On all three counts, China is using clever sophistry to block India’s long overdue entry into the NSG. Whereas the roots of China’s obstructionist view stems from China’s strategic insecurity and fears of another rising Asian nation in the international geo-political theatre.

    Let us discuss China’s pseudo-arguments point by point. France’s NSG membership, in 1975, despite not being a signatory of the NPT until 1992, thus creating precedence for a non-signatory of NPT becoming a member of the NSG. China’s second argument, again fallacious, attempting to adjoin Pakistan’s nuclear program with that of India. Pakistan’s aggressive assertions regarding the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons against India, is a vast departure from India’s peaceful and defensive nuclear posture. Particularly considering India’s need for nuclear energy to support a burgeoning economy and population, and to minimize the use of fossil fuels to support current climate change initiatives.

    In addition to France, there are only four countries that are non-signatories to the NPT: India, Israel, Pakistan and South Sudan. North Korea, having withdrawn from NPT is obviously not a candidate for NSG. Israel and South Sudan are not seeking NSG membership, leaving just India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have starkly contrasting non-proliferation records. Pakistan and China’s nuclear cooperation lacks a great deal of transparency, and is obviously a mix of civilian AND military applications, which should be cause for alarm.

    China worried about growing India-U.S. strategic cooperation, sees Pakistan as a mechanism to contain India in a perpetual regional conflict. China provided Pakistan with 50 kg of free weapons grade HEU and allowed Pakistan to test its first nuclear weapon of Chinese design in 1990 at China’s own Lop Nor nuclear test range.

    Essentially, China is a rising hegemon that can not countenance a rising India, systematically placing roadblocks to India’s entry into the diplomatic world, commensurate with India’s size and economic maturity. The time has come for the 5th generation leadership of communist to do the prudent thing by diplomatically supporting India’s entry into the NSG. China should remember that India had supported communist China’s entry into the UNSC as a permanent member in 1971 despite having bilateral border issues. Diplomatic hegemony by China cannot arrest a rising India’s entry to NSG, UNSC, APEC or any other international body. Continued attempts to limit India’s participation in the international community will actually cause China harm rather than goodwill

    China was a brotherly country to India until the occupation, and eventual annexation, of Tibet. The following attack on India in 1962 is still ingrained in the minds of the international community. India’s industrial base and growing economy is on pace to rival that of both the United States and China. If China wants the 21st century to be remembered as an Asian century, China must learn to recognize and accept India’s vital role.

    China as a nation must do some self-introspection regarding its hegemonic behavior and expansionist policies since 1949. China has no allies worth naming on the twin issues of its imperialistic behavior in the East and South China Seas. Peoples’ Republic of China can gain immense goodwill from a peaceful and rising India if it stops obstructing India’s entry into the NSG on June 24th 2016 in Seoul, South Korea.

    (The author is the President of the Council for Strategic Affairs, New Delhi, India)

  • ISIS has a ‘kill list’ with 8,318 assassination targets, report says

    ISIS has a ‘kill list’ with 8,318 assassination targets, report says

    LONDON (TIP): A pro-ISIS “hacking” group calling itself the United Cyber Caliphate distributed its latest “kill” list this week. The group claims the list includes names, addresses, and email addresses belonging to 8,318 people, making it one of the longest target lists ISIS-affiliated groups have distributed.

    The “kill list” includes names of Canadians, Australians and Europeans, a British media report said on June 9.

    It urged its supporters to “follow” those listed — and “kill them strongly to take revenge for Muslims”, Daily Mirror reported.

    It is one of the longest kill lists any ISIS-affiliated group has distributed to date and reportedly includes the names of 7,848 Americans, 312 Canadians, 39 Britons and 69 Australians.

    The rest of the targets listed are reported to be from a variety of nations including Belgium, Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, South Korea and Sweden.

    They are mostly military or government workers or people in the public eye, like royalty or celebrities.

    The list, written in both English and Arabic, was uncovered by the media group Vocativ , which specializes in investigating the hidden side of the web.

    It discovered it on a messaging app service called Telegram earlier this week.

    (PTI)

  • Consul General meets with SUNY JFEW Students

    Consul General meets with SUNY JFEW Students

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Class of 2017 comprising all-women-students from International Relations and Global Affairs Program of the State University of New York had an audience with the Consul General on June 6, 2016 as part of their summer program of meeting influential lady officers in New York. This program was supported by The Jewish Foundation for Education of Women (JFEW). The significance of the event is that it is the first time the Consulate had such a ‘Mentoring Session’ where the Consul General (Mrs.) Riva Ganguly Das spoke about India and shared her experiences as a woman diplomat in the foreign service.

    The JFEW SUNY International Relations and Global Affairs Program aims to prepare female SUNY students for careers in the international relations and global affairs fields. The Program also prepares the students to become leaders through mentoring opportunities and peer networks.

    Speaking on the occasion, Consul General introduced India to the students as a young nation but an old civilization. Even in current times, India is a unique country where civilization, heritage and modernization co-exist in society. She informed the students about the various programs that the Government has initiated to boost economy and growth of the nation and how women enjoy equal rights in all fields including the amendment in India’s constitution to reserve seats for women in local government. Touching on the subject of Jewish integration in Indian society, Consul General Das informed the students that India enjoys the distinction as being the only country that never discriminated against Jewish community and mentioned Government’s every effort to protect many of the synagogues even after mass migration of Jews to Israel. She spoke about her postings outside India and what her role as Consul General in New York entails.

    This was followed by a short film on making of ‘Saree’ – its significance as traditional clothing for women since time immemorial and how it provides jobs to many people thus keeping the handicraft industry thriving. A Q & A session followed.

  • Former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja’s daughter weds

    Former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja’s daughter weds

    Pavneet, the beautiful daughter of a former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja and his wife Dimpy Taneja was married to handsome Sahil, son of Parvesh and Homa Mehra. The marriage ceremony on May 21 was performed according to Sikh traditions in Gurdwara Glen Cove. A large number of relations, friends and politicians attended the wedding ceremony.

    Two of the more notable politicians, who also spoke on the occasion, included Tom Suozzi, former Nassau County Executive and Jon Kaiman, former Town of North Hempstead Supervisor, both contenders for the retiring Rep. Steve Israel’s Third District seat. Incidentally, Mohinder Taneja has worked with both of them. They spoke highly of Taneja and his family who they said, is well known to them. They extended their good wishes to the newlyweds and their families.

     

  • India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Supersonic Prithvi II missile

    India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Supersonic Prithvi II missile

    In its effort to have a full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile, capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile, from a test range off Odisha coast.

    Notably, Prithvi is India’s first indigenously-built ballistic missile. It is one of the five missiles being developed under the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

    With a strike range of 350 km, the surface-to-surface Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines.

    The success of Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile test now strengthens India’s position in the very exclusive Ballistic Missile Defence club of the US, Russia and Israel.

  • Queens Borough President Melinda Katz Installs Clinton Democratic Club’s 2016-2017 Officers

    Queens Borough President Melinda Katz Installs Clinton Democratic Club’s 2016-2017 Officers

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): The Clinton Democratic Club introduced its members to the 2016-2017 Executive Board and Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 6 at Trattoria 35 in Bayside, Queens. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz conducted the swearing-in ceremony and congratulated the newly elected officers who are: Executive Board: President -Chuck Apelian; Vice President – Marsha Kahn; Secretary – Christine Coniglio; Treasurer – Michael Serao; Media & Public Relations and Recording Secretary – Breeana Mulligan; Membership Chair – Malini Shah; Sergeant at Arms – Greg Farren; Board of Directors: Roxane Carrabis; Mary Conaty; Lauren Cornea; Joe Femenia; Laura Femenia; Gary Jacobowitz; Mackey Kahn; Bernie Karoff; Carolyn Karoff; Debra Markell; Lionel Morales; Richard Rapp; Warren Schreiber ;Vito Tautonico; Past Presidents: John Dorsa; Council Member Paul Vallone; District Leader and Executive Member: Mary Ann Dorsa.

    In addition to hosting the swearing-in, Borough President Katz updated members on the happenings of Queens and urged members to contact her office if they experience any troubles. The Borough President also discussed her great working partnership with Council Member Vallone and how their work together shows if elected officials unite, great work can be done for their shared constituency.

    Council Member Vallone thanked Borough President Katz for the kind words and for her leadership in Queens. The Council Member added a good example of government working together when the two stood together last Tuesday with the New York City Police Department as the NYPD officially unveiled the much anticipated neighborhood based policing program, which the 109th will expand as they increase the influx the number of officers to keep Northeast Queens even safer. Council Member Vallone also detailed the success of year two of participatory budgeting as his office received over 4,500 votes; he told all members to stay tuned for the results later in the month.

    The Clinton Democratic Club also welcomed candidates for outgoing Congressman Steve Israel’s seat -Councilwoman Anna Kaplan of North Hempstead and Legislator Steve Stern of Suffolk County. Both candidates detailed their respective priorities of their campaigns and hoped to preserve Congressman Israel’s legacy by continuing issues important to his constituents such as issues concerning veterans and seniors. President Chuck Apelian and Council Member Vallone urged members to vote for any of the qualified candidates in this June’s primary to keep this seat blue.

    The Clinton Democratic Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, May 4th at Vivaldi Ristorante (201-10 Cross Island Pkwy, Bayside, NY 11360). Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski will be updating members on all summer events and ongoing capital projects in Northeast Queens and the newly created neighborhood community officers from the 109th Precinct will be explaining their new roles in the community.

  • A Pluralist’s Republic Day Message to Indian Americans

    A Pluralist’s Republic Day Message to Indian Americans

    I am proud of the pluralistic ethos of my motherland, India and my homeland, America. It is a pleasure to call both the nations, “God’s own countries.” Let me explain why, and make a few suggestions that you can act upon as an individual to sustain the pluralistic ethos of India. Let’s do our bit in restoring dharma, the righteous living.

    Our nations, Democratic Republic of India and the United States of America are microcosmic representations of the universe we inhabit. We are blessed geographically with a range of topography from deserts to fertile lands, from mountains to the shining sea and the flat lands to valleys. Seasons wise, we enjoy all the four full seasons – winter, spring, summer and the fall. Indeed, we are blessed to be represented by every race, ethnicity and religion.

    Pluralistic ethos

    My interest as a social scientist is in sustaining the pluralistic ethos of India and America, which are threatened by a few short-sighted, but powerful rabble rousers among us.

    Pluralistic ethos simply means, living our life and letting others live theirs. It is accepting the God given uniqueness to each one of us. No matter what language we speak, how we look, what we eat, drink, wear, or how we worship the creator, we will accept each other’s uniqueness as legitimate, and then respect the otherness of others. You are who you are, and I am who I am.

    Hinduism talks about Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, an idea that we are all part of one family despite our differences. Islam, Judaism and Christianity talk about having a common father and mother; Adam and Eve and we are an extended family. Sikhism blends us all under Wahe Guru and the Baha’i faith wraps all of us as many paths but one source, similarly Jainism, Buddhism, Tribalism and other traditions have richly contributed to the idea of cohesive societies.

    Cohesive Societies are communities where people mind their own business, live their own lives and let others live theirs, but yet, work together as one composite unit.

    As an example of cohesiveness, look at our own bodies, we are made up of several items like heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, liver, anus, mouth, nose, ears etc. No part can claim that his role is the most important one. Indeed, there was a battle once when the organs were arguing about their role in normal functioning of human body. The Anus claimed that he was the most important organ in the body, the other organs laughed and ridiculed him, and to show them, he decided to assert his claim and shuts down for two days causing unbelievable misery and havoc! Frustrated with the pain, the other organs acknowledged his importance, and rightfully called him an ass hole but begged him to start functioning, so others can function normally. A cohesive society is when all of us function together for common good.

    Every Indian and American has a need to feel that he or she is a part of the society, rejection will certainly create problems.

    Prime Minister Modi had surprised the nation with his inclusionary statement made on November 1, 2014. As a Pluralist, I whole heartedly welcomed that statement and congratulated him for taking that step. He said, “The BJP should be like a bouquet so that every Indian felt there was a flower in it that he or she could identify with. “And, “A poor and illiterate person living in a slum should think, ‘Yes, there is a flower for me in this bouquet’.

    At this precise juncture in our history, the Dalits do not feel like a flower in the bouquet. I do invoke the Prime Minister to act on his talk, and create an environment of inclusion. Unless he gets his party men to believe in what he has said, his leadership will remain a mere talk. A few rogue elements from his party are hell bent on throwing his bouquet into gutter; and his legacy is on the line.

    Modi can finish his term as another promiser and talker, or become the doer. The choice is clearly his, and he alone is the driver of his legacy. All he has to do is give a 3-minute speech on each major incident like Rape, farmers Suicide, Dalit Suicide, homicide of writers, and witch-hunting for beef and murder of Akhlaq, to assure the people that he does believe in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, and that he will not tolerate any Indian making the life of another Indian miserable. That is all it takes for Ram’s sake. We are losing the ideal of live and let live, and PM Modi can restore it far more effectively than any one in India at this time.

    As Indian Americans, most of us have cherished the values of America and have become Americanized. Being American is respecting and believing in the rights of others, and being American is to value others life liberty and pursuit of their happiness; being American is letting each faith member practice his or her faith, and build his or her place of worship; and being American is NOT drawing sadistic pleasure by denying others rights. Unfortunately, we have a few in both nations who have not imbued the great values of these nations, and it is our duty, and responsibility of each one of us to the be pracharaks of American values.

    The idea of Liberty is I don’t agree with you, but I’ll fight for your rights. Yes, if we the Indian Americans can truly call ourselves Americans, we have to speak up.

    Suggested actions for the organizations and individuals

    We have to have the following actions in building a cohesive India, where no Indian has to live in apprehension or fear of the other, and feel included in every sphere of life.

    1. Today, on this Republic Day, let India’s flag be hoisted together with fellow Indians who are Adivasis, Atheists, Bahá’ís, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Sikhs, Tribal, Zoroastrians and every Indian representation. Let no Indian representation be left out. Reach out and bring them together at the Red Fort, and let them all proudly hoist our Tiranga, then go ahead and give them a hug, it will speak million words of our good intentions. It will generate the spirit of sab ka saath on a social basis.

    2. The Indian American Organizations can do the same, invite Indians of all hues to come together, and celebrate the Republic Day in the spirit of India. If your heart is dirty and a sewer runs through it, the people can see through you, and not come, clean it up, they will come. I will be happy to make the calls to those who are unwilling for the sake of India.

    3. Acknowledge that we see God as one, none and many; and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names, and as Indians, we should not be biased towards any one.

    4. Today, proclaim that India is God’s own country, and is represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. Announce that we are Adivasis, Native Americans, Atheists, Baha’is, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, and Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Pagans, Shinto, Sikhs, , Wicca, Zoroastrians and every possible grouping out there on God’s earth. We are Brown, Black, White, and Yellow and come in all the colors nature has produced us.

    5. Aspire for an India that the world can emulate; and not the other way around. India is a pluralistic democracy where everyone can eat, drink, wear or believe whatever he or she wants to in his or her pursuit of happiness.

    6. Announce that from this day forward, every Indian will have equal access to education, employment, housing, business loans, and entrepreneurial opportunities and if anyone is denied that opportunity, you will step up and stand up against the violators.

    7. Every Indian wants justice and demands a fair treatment of every one of the 1.31 billion Indians; rich or poor, connected or not, we must come to grips with the social and community life to create an exemplary India that will become a model nation in the world. Create an Equal Opportunity Commission based on US Model. Ask not what others will do, ask yourselves, are you capable of being a good Samaritan?

    Pledge to One India

    You can institute a pledge that every public office holder from the Peon to the President of India and everyone in between must take and live by it. Violation should disqualify him or her from holding the public office. Let it be monitored publicly.

    As Indians we can that pledge to both India and America on the Republic Day:

    1. I pledge allegiance to India, one nation that stands for liberty and justice for all.
    2. I pledge that I honor and treat every Indian with “full” dignity.
    3. I pledge that all individuals would be treated on par.
    4. I pledge that I will treat all religions with equal respect, equal access and equal treatment.
    5. I pledge that I will oppose any act that treats any Indian less than me.
    6. I Pledge that I will work for an India, where every individual can live with security and aspire for prosperity.
    7. I pledge that I will protect, preserve and value every inch of India and every human soul in India

    This would be the first step towards ensuring a just, peaceful and prosperous India that can sustain its progress and peace. If you can do it, then you can expect others to do it.

    I love my India.

    Jai Hind.
    Mike GhouseMike Ghouse – The author is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy.

  • Indian American political Star : Reverse Swing: Nikki of America

    Indian American political Star : Reverse Swing: Nikki of America

    Nikki Haley is a breath of fresh air; she is a moderate Republican representing the mainstream GOP values, that none of the current front line GOP candidates are able to articulate. I have used the word moderate because the right leaning Republicans do not value any one supporting immigration, religious freedom, liberty and freedom.
    They are usually anti-immigrants, anti-gays, bomb-every-country, and anti-anyone-who-is-not-a-Christian. They are war mongers and have destroyed America during the Bush years, the Indians may not have felt the pinch, but nearly 43 Million Americans lost their jobs, businesses were shut down, anti-Indian (job taken away) sentiment grew, homes were foreclosed… divorces were on rise. War is an enterprise of evil men.

    I sincerely hope, she gets to be nominated as VP, she will change the course of the dialogue and bring some sense on the campaign trail, to set herself up for 2020. The Hannity’s and other conservative talk show hosts like her – for only one reason – she went against Obama in relocating Boeing to her state. Once they hear “whole” of her, they may not like her as much. If you recall, Chris Christie was a star, just because, simply because he welcomed Obama to help his state during the devastating floods, he was cursed by the Republicans. Rush Limbaugh calls a good Republican is one who hates Obama.

    Way back when she was in Dallas to inaugurate Mahatma Gandhi statue, I wrote, ” Nikki Haley must be a moderate Republican like me, even though she is billed as a conservative Republican. She sounds like Obama with inclusiveness, a trait missing among the conservative Republicans and acutely deficit with regular Republicans.”

    Well, I am not a Republican anymore after 30 years of being one, but chose to go independent, because I want to support the candidates who are good for America and my loyalty is to America and American values and not any party. At one time independents were less than 10%, now it has grown to be a clear third.

    The article says, “Desis have a “Bobby and Nikki problem”, and it goes beyond the peculiar Indian-American rejection of conservatism. Their hatred of Jindal stems largely from his public statements that he is “American”, not “Indian-American”. Thin-skinned Indians misinterpret this as a rejection by Jindal of his Indian-ness, as opposed to seeing it as a pitch for an America that’s free of ethnic pigeonholes.”

    Tunku has opened a new window for Indians to consider, that is, “seeing it (Jindal’s approach) as a pitch for an America that’s free of ethnic pigeonholes.” Most of us did not see it that way, but glad to look at it in that manner. However, I am still trying to understand Jindal, here we are, proud of him as a fellow Indian and he does not want the Indian in his American descriptor and that is disappointing. He should proudly say, which most of us say, that no one can take the Indian out of me.

    Wonder if the BJP members of Indian Americans are fond of the Republican Party? As both of them have similar attitudes towards society, and those who differ with them. They are conformists and not free thinkers.

    Ms Haley is Indian-American, and Christian, and a political star.

    The article concludes, “But let’s remember that Nikki Haley is American and lives in America, and has the right to convert to any faith she fancies. It is no one else’s business but hers. Those who argue otherwise are primitive bigots who need to get a life.”

    Yes, every human should be free to believe whatever the hell he or she wants to believe, and eat, drink and wear what pleases him or her.

    Mike GhouseMike Ghouse : The author is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy.

  • PANIC GRIPS GURDASPUR AS FORCES PLAN TO TAKE ON 2 SUSPECTED MILITANTS

    PANIC GRIPS GURDASPUR AS FORCES PLAN TO TAKE ON 2 SUSPECTED MILITANTS

    Security personnel including an Israel-trained SWAT team spilled into the fields and byways of Punjab’s Pandher village on Thursday to flush out two suspected terrorists, with the authorities fearing an attack on a key military facility days after a terror siege at the nearby Pathankot airbase.

    Police sources confirmed that government forces were prepared for an offensive a day after locals reported seeing two men in military fatigues acting suspiciously near the army cantonment in Gurdaspur district. When confronted, the men took cover in a sugarcane field, witnesses said.

    When contacted, Punjab Police deputy inspector general (border range) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said: “We are not taking any chances. We are not ruling out anything. Aerial surveillance and troop movement is on.”

    “A drone helped locate their location and by Thursday afternoon, the army and police teams took position,” a police source said.

    Soldiers concealed themselves on rooftops, behind trees and at a brick kiln as armoured vehicles and mortar guns rolled into the village in the afternoon. A helicopter had conducted surveillance sorties earlier in the day.

    By Thursday night, the sugarcane field spread over 30 acres was lit up by searchlights by the army and police personnel. Villagers said the drone had been hovering over the fields for thermal images

    Pandher village is nearly 20km off the India-Pakistan border and about a stone’s throw from the Tibri military cantonment.

    The facility is not far from the Pathankot air force station that saw a four-day long counter-terror operation in which six jihadists and seven security personnel were killed.

    All roads leading to Tibri have been cordoned off and a high alert sounded in the area.

    “We couldn’t get any sleep last night. Many villagers left to stay the night with their relatives though some returned this morning,” said a local resident who did not wish to be named.

    Gurdaspur was also targeted by Pakistani terrorists in July last year when they stormed a police station.

    By night, several houses at Bhule Chakk village located opposite Pandher across the road were also evacuated.

  • Netanyahu, Abbas may visit India in 2016

    Netanyahu, Abbas may visit India in 2016

    India’s relation with the West Asian region is expected to be in focus during the first few months of 2016 as South Block appears set to host top Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

    Sushma_swaraj_MEA_PTI_360x270Diplomatic sources told The Hindu on Tuesday that both Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, have been invited by India and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during her January 16 to 19 trip to Israel-Palestine to firm up the dates for the visits.

    Diplomatic sources also informed that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moalem is expected to visit New Delhi soon. The Hindu had earlier reported that Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Moalem had invited each other during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

    The high power political engagement plan for West Asia by the South Block will be in line with Ms. Swaraj’s May 31 annual press conference when she had announced a first ever visit to Israel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A visit by Mr Modi will be symbolically significant as Israel has not been visited by Indian Prime Ministers since both sides established full and normal diplomatic ties in January 1992. Analysts say that a visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu will also be symbolically significant as the last Israeli Prime Minister to visit India was Ariel Sharon in 2003.

    Ms. Swaraj had earlier cancelled her January visit plan for Israel due to Israeli election season. Subsequently, President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel and Palestine in October re-starting the chain of high level engagements. “As a result of President Mukherjee’s visit to Israel, it is now the turn of Israel to reciprocate suitably,” a source told The Hindu.

    There is also a possibility that Israel might send President Reuven Rivlin to India later during 2016 as President Mukherjee had extended invitation to President Rivlin to visit Delhi. However, the diplomatic season will be kick-started a few days before Ms. Swaraj’s arrival in Israel by her colleague Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh who will hold discussion with his counterpart for greater Israeli scientific support for meeting Indian agricultural production goals.

    Preparation is also on to welcome Ms. Swaraj in Ramallah where her counterpart Riyad Al Maliki has been interacting with Indian diplomats to finalise commercial, educational and regional diplomatic plans for Ms. Swaraj. Ms. Swaraj had earlier told the media that Palestinians had been helpful in getting information about the 39 Indians kidnapped in Iraq.

  • India’s membership in NSG will impact regional peace & stability: Pakistan

    India’s membership in NSG will impact regional peace & stability: Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today said that creating exception to grant India membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would adversely impact the non-proliferation regime and regional peace and stability, as it demanded an equitable, non-discriminatory approach for admitting new members.

    Addressing the weekly press briefing here, Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that grant of exclusive NSG membership to India as an exception, on account of political and commercial considerations, would adversely affect the credibility of non-proliferation regime.

    “It would also bear negative implications for regional peace and security,” he said.

    If successful, India would be the only member of the suppliers’ group that has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a 189-nation treaty set up four decades ago to prevent nation states from acquiring nuclear weapons.

    Pakistan had demanded that NSG should follow an objective, equitable and non-discriminatory approach for admitting new members.

    The spokesman said that Pakistan welcomes the recent remarks made by the NSG chair, ambassador Rafael Grossi, widely reported in India during his visit last month, wherein he ruled out a tailor made India-specific solution for NSG membership.

    This means that countries such as Israel and Pakistan, who too haven’t signed the NPT, could also apply for its membership.

    The spokesman said that Pakistan has briefed the 48-member NSG about its strong credentials for the membership.

    In this regard, the NSG Chair has circulated a document amongst all NSG members elaborating Pakistan’s point of view, he said.

    Besides, a high-level Pakistani delegation also held a constructive meeting with NSG in Vienna and Pakistan will continue to call for the adoption of a non-discriminatory and objective criteria-based approach on expansion of NSG membership for non-NPT countries, he added.

    Talking about resumption of peace talks with India, he said Pakistan wanted talks on all issues but without any pre-conditions.

    “Our position on dialogue with India is very clear. Let me reiterate that we remain ready to discuss all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir, if no pre-conditions are attached by India,” he said.

  • Five dead in alleged Palestinian attacks in Tel Aviv and West Bank

    Five dead in alleged Palestinian attacks in Tel Aviv and West Bank

    JERUSALEM (TIP): A Palestinian fatally stabbed two people in a Tel Aviv office building and three other people were killed in an attack in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Israeli police and the army said.

    In the latest attack near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the West Bank, a police commander said a Palestinian drove along the shoulder of the main road and shot at crawling traffic, killing three people and wounding others.Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the attacker’s car stopped when it hit another vehicle and the driver was seized. He said an American citizen was one of three people killed. The others were a Palestinian and an Israeli.

    At least seven other people were wounded, a medical source said. The attack brought to 18 the number of Israelis and others who have died, along with 80 Palestinians, in a wave of violence over the past seven weeks.

    The American was identified as Ezra Schwartz, 18, who was studying in Israel, according to a Facebook post by the American Jewish Committee. CBS’s Boston affiliate said Schwartz was from Sharon, Massachusetts.In the Tel Aviv attack, a police spokeswoman said the assailant who had attacked worshippers gathered for afternoon prayers in a shop that sells Jewish religious items in the building was apprehended and a third person was wounded.Police say 49 of the 80 Palestinians killed in recent weeks died at the scene of attacks on Israelis and most of the rest died in violent protests in the occupied West Bank and near the Gaza border.

    Palestinian allegations that Israel was trying to alter the religious status quo at a Jerusalem holy site, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, where al-Aqsa mosque stands, and to Jews as Temple Mount, have partly fueled the violence.

    Non-Muslim prayer is banned around al-Aqsa and Israel has said it will not change that. But more visits in recent years by Jewish religious activists and ultra-nationalist Israeli politicians to the complex, where two biblical temples once stood, have done little to convince the Palestinians.

    Earlier on Thursday, three 15-year-old Palestinian girls attempted to infiltrate an Israeli military post in the West Bank, the military said.

    Soldiers apprehended them, and the military said three knives were found in their possession. (Source: Reuters)