South Asia Terrorism Portal
Northeast: Criminal Nexus M.A. Athul Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 23, 2018, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) recovered nine missing pistols from the residence of United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) ‘chief’ Soson Haokip in Manipur. UKLF is one of the 25 Kuki-Chin-Mizo militant groups which has signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with the Government. A statement issued by the NIA noted, "Investigation established that some of the pistols were handed over to one Soson Haokip, ‘chief’ of UKLF. Accordingly… searches were conducted at his residential premises at Mantri Pukhuri, Imphal, and at his farmhouse in Palell and nine 9mm pistols were recovered from his residence. The pistols are believed to be from the same lot that went missing from the police armoury at Imphal. The search is continuing."
On August 24, 2018, the ‘chairman’ of Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), David Hangshing, was arrested from Imphal East District of Manipur by NIA in connection with the Manipur missing arms case. 56 pistols and 58 magazines had disappeared from the Manipur Police armoury. On August 25, following Hangshing’s disclosures, authorities recovered another six missing 9 mm pistols from a location about 20 kilometres from Imphal, under the jurisdiction of the Imphal East District Police.
Earlier, on July 30, 2018, NIA had raided the house of Yamthong Haokip, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Saikhul, at Mantripukhri in Imphal West District, and he was subsequently arrested on August 24. In a Press Release, NIA stated, “During the course of investigation by NIA, one of the missing pistol bearing no. 18506735 was recovered at Mantripukhri, Imphal on 30.07.2018, during the search at the residence of Yamgthung Haokip MLA, Saikul Assembly Constituency, besides other incriminating articles.” According to an official, three missing pistols were recovered from members of various militant groups. At least 19 of the 56 missing pistols have now been recovered by the authorities.
Further, on August 3, 2018, NIA raided the residence of former Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Ngamthang Haokip, who is also a sitting MLA. According to NIA several consignments of the stolen 9 mm pistols were delivered to the former Congress Minister and to KRA ‘chairman’ David Hangshing, Haokip’s son-in-law. KRA is also under a SoO Agreement with the Government of India (GoI). Despite the raid the sitting MLA has not been arrested.
The case of missing arms was discovered on March 30, 2018, after P. Manjit, Commandant of the 2nd Manipur Rifles examined the current holdings of arms and ammunitions of both the unit and of the Police Headquarters (PHQ) Pool. The missing pistols were reportedly part of consignment of 570 pistols purchased on September 11, 2014, by the Manipur Government for State Security Forces (SFs). On April 1, 2018, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh stated,
According to the Chief Minister, the weapons were stolen between September 2014 and March 29, 2018. As on August 30, 2018, at least 11 persons have been arrested in connection with the case. The arrested individuals include MLA Yamthong Haokip, Thokchom Diamond, Laishram Anil Kumar, Laishram Damudor aka Thembung, Haobam Brojendro, Ngamboi Haokip aka Raju, Paonam Shantikumar, Mathurabashimayum Hiranjoy Sharma aka Ngoubi, Narayan Chhetry, and Nellikattil Podiyan Damodaran.
Meanwhile, four Police officers, including an IPS officer have been suspended: F. Gomlin, Kamjong District Superintendent of Police (SP); Th. Vikramjit Singh, Commandant-in-Charge of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB); Ajith Kumar Sharma, Additional SP of Jiribam District; and H Basulal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) at Mayang in Imphal.
Separately, on July 2, 2018, NIA had carried out a raid at the house of Mutum Shyamo Singh, the ex-Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal West District and recovered INR four million and other incriminating documents. The accused was arrested in New Delhi on July 6. According to an NIA Press Release, the accused/suspects were actively associated with the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and also involved in raising of terror funds, supply of arms, ammunitions and explosives for KCP. Later on, August 30, 2018, NIA recovered INR 4.8 million from the wife of arrested the JNIMS ex-director. NIA recovered the money from an individual identified as K. Pramodini, an employee of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). NIA disclosed, further, ''This amount belongs to one N. Sobita Devi, wife of accused Dr. Mutum Shyamo Singh, who was arrested by NIA on July 6 for his involvement and supporting the proscribed organisation KCP.''
The nexus between insurgents and State actors is not a recent phenomenon, nor is the funnelling of Government arms to insurgents. Indeed, in a significant incident highlighting the pan-regional character of the problem, NIA and Assam Rifles (AR) in a joint operation on January 23, 2018, arrested three militants including one identified as ‘brigadier’ Aheto H. Chophy, wanted for acquiring weapons and ammunition belonging to Nagaland Police for National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). According to a supplementary charge sheet filed by NIA, 75 firearms, 62 magazines and 26,098 rounds of ammunitions had been pilfered by the arrested militants.
The acquisition of weapons by NSCN-IM from state forces came to light after SFs conducted a raid at the residence of Head Constable (HC) Enyimi Chakesang in Sukhovi in Dimapur District on April 20, 2012. SFs recovered 3,700 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 38 SLR magazines, one .303 magazine, 100 empty cases of 7.62 rounds, seven ammunition containers and two rifle boxes. Three persons besides Chakesang, identified as Tsuyenla Yimchunger, Zungkum Yimchunger and Laniku Yimchunger were arrested. According to the NIA charge sheet, the accused were able to pilfer Government ammunition by fudging the records of ammunition expended for general training purposes.
Another high-profile incident of senior Government functionaries hand in glove with militants came to light in a NIA case registered on August 1, 2016, for extortion and illegal collection of money by insurgent groups. On April 26, 2017 arrested three officers, Tulula Pongen, Joint Director/DDO, Department of Social Welfare, Kohima; Alienba Pangjung Jamir, Joint Director/DDO, Department of Land Resources; and K. Lashito Sheqi, UDA/Cashier, Department of Land Resources, in connection with the case, for siphoning substantial amounts of money to militant groups, including NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K), from 2012 to 2016. The facts were discovered during the scrutiny of official documents, demand letters and payment receipts of militant groups seized during a search operation carried out by NIA in 13 Government offices on January 18, 2017. Two NSCN-K militants, S. Khetoshe Sumi, the ‘finance-in-charge’ of Kohima and Dimapur area (arrested on July 31, 2016) and Victo Swu (arrested on September 28, 2017) were earlier arrested in this case.
Later at least seven other Government officials have also been arrested. The arrested individuals were identified as Vilepral Aja, Additional Director attached to Directorate of Agriculture, K. Hutoi Sema, executive engineer, irrigation and Flood Control Department, Purakhu Angami, Retired Director, Department of Tourism, and Kekhriesatuo Tep, Superintendent of fisheries were arrested on October 13, 2017. G. Ikuto Zhimomi, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Sangtemchuba, Divisional Accounts officer, Directorate of Urban Development and Ketouzo Peseyie, Executive Engineer, Directorate of Rural Development, Kohima were arrested on March 25, 2018. All the 10 officials were booked under Sections 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Furthermore, T.R Zeliang the ex-Chief Minister of Nagaland appeared before the NIA for being questioned on March 30, 2018. Earlier on February 13, NIA had summoned the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to T.R Zeliang, identified as Ruokuovizo Chupuo and two of his office staff for questioning in connection with a case of alleged terror funding. The involvement of political actors, including Chief Ministers, is not a new or isolated phenomenon.
The NIA probe revealed that militant groups in Nagaland were reportedly getting money from 14 State Government Departments: the Directorate of Information Technology; the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation; the Directorate of Irrigation; the Directorate of Rural Development; the Directorate of Urban Development; Public Works Department (PWD); Roads and Buildings Department; and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations. An NIA officer stated: “We have found documents that show that at least 14 Government Departments made regular payments to Naga groups, including NSCN-IM… We have seized receipts that show payments of INR 20 million.”
Despite the decrease in insurgent violence, the nexus of militants with Government officials and politicians feeds an underground economy of violence and prevents any final resolution of the multiple conflicts in India’s Northeast. More worryingly the nexus has sustained and prolonged the insurgency in the region. The NIA has uncovered the tip of a vast iceberg that has reinforced violent movements, when these insurgencies were raging across the Northeast and now, in their dying flickers.
SRE: Paying Dividends Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 7, 2018, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) that the geographical spread of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-linked violence had shrunk considerably. He stated,
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) reportedly undertook a “comprehensive exercise in consultation with the States to review the affected Districts in order to ensure that the deployment of resources is in sync with the changed ground reality.” As a result, 44 Districts were excluded and eight new Districts [Malappuram, Palakkad and Wayanad of Kerala; West Godavari of Andhra Pradesh; Kabirdham of Chhattisgarh; Mandla of Madhya Pradesh; and Angul and Boudh of Odisha] were added to the list of SRE Districts.
Significantly, on April 16, 2018, UMHA had stated that 126 Districts in 10 States were covered under the Ministry’s SRE Scheme. The Ministry noted that, over the past few years, a number of Districts had been carved into smaller Districts, as a result of which the geographical area of the 106 SRE Districts was redistributed over 126 Districts.
SRE is a non-plan scheme under implementation since April 1, 1996, to supplement the efforts of the States to deal with the LWE problem effectively [the SRE scheme also reimburses certain heads of security related expenditure in the North Eastern States and Jammu and Kashmir]. The total number of Districts covered under LWE SRE scheme in 1996 was 55 in nine States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. According to the UMHA’s Annual Report 2004-05, 76 Districts in nine States (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) were covered under the scheme. `
The Scheme was revised comprehensively in February 2005, increasing the rates of reimbursement from 50 per cent to 100 per cent and also covering a larger number of Districts as well as an expanded list of items for reimbursement. According to the revised scheme, the items eligible for reimbursement include:
In 2009, six Districts were added to the SRE scheme (Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jajpur, Kandhamal and Nayagarh in Odisha; and Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh) taking the number up to 82 Districts, with another one added later. Informing Parliament, the then Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Gurudas Kamat, stated in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), on March 9, 2011,
Another 20 Districts were added in 2012 [Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Vaishali, Banka, Lakhisarai, Begusarai and Khagaria of Bihar; Dhamtari, Gariyabandh, Balod and Mahasamund of Chhattisgarh; Dumka, Deoghar and Pakur of Jharkhand; Aheri of Maharashtra and Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh and Bolangir of Odisha; and Birbhum District in West Bengal], raising the total number covered under SRE to 103. Another three from Chhattisgarh (Sukma, Kondagaon and Balrampur) were added in 2013, taking the number up to 106 in nine States.
On June 2, 2014, with the creation of the Telangana State, the list was upgraded to 106 Districts in 10 States.
The criteria that MHA follows for inclusion of States under the SRE Scheme are;
The provision of budgets under the SRE Scheme is made according to the Annual Work Plan of the Scheme, finalized on the basis of proposals received from State Governments of LWE-affected States. MHA gives ‘in-principle’ approval to the Annual Work Plan of the LWE-affected States for the purpose of reimbursing the expenditure incurred by the State Governments on counter-LWE operations. However, the reimbursement of the State Governments’ claims under the Scheme is done on the basis of actual expenditure incurred in accordance with Scheme guidelines.
State-wise details of Funds released under SRE Scheme
for LWE affected States 2010-18
(Figures in INR Lakhs)
State
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Andhra Pradesh
2818.84
1072.77
1512.82
1798.02
1202.21
1254.50
1305.99
NA
Bihar
2941.19
1364.91
786.83
1710.89
1898.79
1799.40
1386.81
Chhattisgarh
8774.35
4237.08
5074.01
4214.41
4179.51
7310.92
4995.51
Jharkhand
5940.65
7535.95
6754.94
4778.74
4801.23
5933.16
6195.95
Madhya Pradesh
155.41
27.50
65.05
55.75
140.07
150.82
0.00
Maharashtra
1367.17
762.91
460.44
738.51
1758.21
1885.97
2180.25
Odisha
5661.61
2156.62
1531.34
4813.30
4624.69
5035.27
1656.10
Telangana*
509.56
743.04
960.73
Uttar Pradesh
356.14
200.01
550.11
533.28
316.02
395.91
495.90
West Bengal
1891.08
1390.68
1330.70
2065.10
1277.71
1356.01
1822.76
Total
29906.44
18748.43
18066.24
20708.00
25865.00
21000.00
44500.00
*Telangana formed on June 2, 2014.
Note: Under the SRE Scheme for LWE affected States, expenditure incurred by the State Governments on counter-LWE operations, inter-alia, including expenditure incurred on rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres, are reimbursed as per the extant guidelines in this regard.
Significantly, a large number of LWE surrenders has been recorded over the past years. According to UMHA data, at least 685 Naxalites surrender through 2017 in addition to 1,442 surrenders in 2016. During the current year, as on May 15, 2018, the number of surrenders was 284. Since May 16, 2018, another 87 Naxalites have surrendered (data till September 16, 2018), according to South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) data.
On March 21, 2018, replying to a question in Lok Sabha, regarding the actual disbursement of funds under the SRE scheme, Minister of State (independent charge) for the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Rao Inderjit Singh, disclosed that the SRE Scheme disbursed INR 5.7522 billion between 2011-14; INR 6.7573 billion between 2014-17; and INR 4.45 billion in 2017-18, towards assistance to the LWE affected Districts for recurring expenditure relating to operational and training needs of SFs, including the expenditure incurred by the States for the rehabilitation of the surrendered LWE cadres etc. However, no specific number of beneficiaries list under the SRE scheme is available.
Surrender of Left-wing Extremists: 2005-2018* (MHA)
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
No of Surrender
2131
1281
390
400
150
265
394
445
282
676
570
1442
685
284
9295
Source: MHA; *Data till May 15, 2018
On April 29, 2018, the UMHA the first-time allowed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed for operations in LWE-affected areas, to directly utilise SRE Scheme funds for building infrastructure facilities for its troops. According to the order, a Central Paramilitary Force (CPMF) is authorised to directly draw from the SRE funds for the creation of camps, barracks and other living facilities in its main operational theatres, after seeking approval from respective States to whom this money is made available by the Union Government.
In 2015, the total number of LWE-affected Districts was 106. It rose to 126 in 2017 following bifurcation of States and Districts, and the expansion of Maoists activities. Of the 106 Districts, 36 accounted for 80 to 90 per cent of the country-wide LWE violence, and were categorized as “Worst Affected Districts” in 2015. The UMHA on April 16, 2018, noted that 44 of the 126 Districts reported negligible violence and were removed from the list. Eight new Districts which registered significant Maoist activity were added to the SRE list. Currently, 30 of the worst affected Districts account for 90 per cent of LWE violence.
According to a statement by the UMHA on April 16, 2018,
The SRE scheme has helped in the fight against the Maoists. UMHA had, for instance, sanctioned the fortification/ upgradation of 400 Police Stations in 10 LWE affected States on June 2010, of which 393 of Police Stations have been completed, significantly enhancing both defensive and offensive capabilities of the local Police.
Deficiencies, nevertheless, persist. According to the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), as on January 1, 2017, there were at least 126 Police Stations in Chhattisgarh, the worst Naxalism-affected State, which did not have a vehicle. Similarly, the second worst affected State, Jharkhand, had 23 such Police stations. The number of Police Stations without telephones in these two States was 23 and 64, respectively.
While the numbers of surrendered Maoists augments rapidly, implementation of the reward and rehabilitation scheme has tended to be tardy. In an interview, on September 4, 2017, Inspector General, anti-Naxal Operations, and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson Ashish Batra, disclosed that, due to technical delays, benefits under the surrender Policy do not reach intended beneficiaries:
Separately, the fund released for modernizing State Police Forces (in 10 Maoist-affected States) under the Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme has declined considerably over the past four Financial Years (FY) from INR 6376.4 million in 2014-15; to INR 3147.8 million in 2015-16; INR 2020.1 million in 2016-17; and INR 1453 in 2017-18. LWE affected States covered under this program include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The Naxalites, are certainly losing influence across the country, but they remain a significant threat. Persisting deficits in governance and the potential for a revival of conflict need sustained attention. The SRE scheme is an attempt to supplement the efforts of the affected States to deal with the LWE menace, and its implementation has paid dividends. The scheme needs to be maintained even in regions that have been recovered from Maoist disruption, as the potential for future disorders is yet to be neutralized. The continuation of the scheme is, consequently, as necessary to contain the Maoist insurgency, as it is for stabilization and the comprehensive development of Maoist-affected areas.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia September 10-16, 2018
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
Terrorists/Insurgents
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Telangana
INDIA (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
PAKISTAN (Total)
Certain regional elements are attempting to cut the relations of Afghanistan with the world, says President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that certain regional elements are attempting to cut the relations of Afghanistan with the world. He added that the situation is better to achieve peace more than any other time and that the nature of war has changed. Defending the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with United States (US) he said that “The US strategy for Afghanistan and the South Asia strategy is a thing for which the people of Afghanistan were waiting for forty years”. Khaama Press, Tolonews, September 14, 2018.
Members of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga vote for reviews of the BSA between US and Afghanistan: Members of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on September 12 voted for the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between the United States (US) and Afghanistan to be reviewed. From among 150 members present at the session, 146 voted in favour of the move. The Bilateral Security Agreement set out numerous conditions including the troop strength and conditions for the Resolute Support mission in the country. In accordance with the BSA, the US also pays the salaries of all Afghan National Defence and Security Force members. Tolonews, September 13, 2018.
Will not hesitate to go back to jungles, states KNO ‘commander in chief’: On September 13, ‘president’ of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and ‘commander-in-chief’ of the Kuki National Army (KNA), PS Haokip stated that the group will not hesitate to go back to the jungles if the right of the Kukis to govern themselves is not respected. Speaking at the concluding day of the three-day Kuki black day observance held at Kuki Inpi Complex in Tuibong in Churachandpur District, Haokip said, “KNO is in a political dialogue with the central government where we have consistently been saying that Kukis will feel safe only when our right to govern ourselves in our land is given recognition. We cannot settle for any less. The KNO is ready to stand with Kuki people till this right of ours is respected, and no attempt to trample over our land and rights will be tolerated”. Northeast Today, September 15, 2018.
ENPO demand creation of separate state: Public rally held at Tuensang on September 14 by Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) unanimously resolved to stand by the August 24, 2012 resolution demanding creation of a separate State- ‘Frontier Nagaland’. The rally at Tuensang Public Ground was attended by six federating tribal bodies, village council associations, GB associations, frontal organisations, ENPO executives, advisers, team members, senior citizens concerned and thousands of other people. Northeast Today, September 15, 2018.
North-east India witnessed lowest number of insurgency related incidents in 2017, states UMHA report: Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) report had stated that 2017 witnessed the "lowest" number of insurgency incidents since 1997. It also noted that the number of insurgency-related incidents in the region decreased by more than 36 per cent compared to 2016 (484 cases in 2016 and 308 in 2017). The counter- insurgency operations led to the death of 57 militants, arrest of 995 and recovery of 432 weapons in 2017 in the region. The number of kidnapping/abduction-related incidents also declined by 40 per cent (168 in 2016, 102 in 2017). The Telegraph, September 14, 2018.
There will be only one talk and one solution, states NSCN-IM: National Socialist Council of Nagaland-isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) kilo kilonser (‘home minister’) Hukavi Yepthomi on September 13 stated that there will be only one talk and one solution. He said this during consultative meeting with the Medziphema Gaon Bura (GB, village elders) union West Villages GBs Union and Sakhipheto Area GBs Union held at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur. Nagaland Post , September 14, 2018.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urges SFs share intelligence and coordinate: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday urged the security forces in north-eastern states to have a seamless coordination and intelligence sharing to ensure security of the region. The Minister was addressing the delegates at the 25th Conference of Director General of Police (DGPs), Inspector General of Police (IGPs) and Heads of the Central Police Organisations (CPO) of the north-eastern region which got underway in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh. The Morung Express, September 13, 2018.
North East Police Chiefs meeting to discuss formation of strategy to deal with emerging threat in the region: The scheduled meeting of the Police chiefs of the North East is likely to deliberate upon consolidating the Police and Security Forces (SFs) over the improving law and order situation and formulating strategies to deal with new challenges including Jihadi threats. The meeting is to be held from September 13-14 in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh. Highly placed SFs stated that though the overall law and order situation in the region has improved, the Police and SFs cannot lower their guards and there is need for coordinated efforts to consolidate the position. Assam Tribune , September 11, 2018.
MPS warns of ‘dangerous acts’ during Election days, says report: The Maldives Police Service (MPS) warned on September 10 that some unidentified people are conspiring ‘dangerous acts’ on forthcoming Presidential Election Day to highlight that polls are neither fair or free, to the international community. It is believed that such acts are being done to create questions about the freedom and fairness of the election, and acts that disrupt the peace and security of this country. Maldives Independent, September 12, 2018.
“I am responsible for the disqualification of 13 Members of Parliament”, says President Yameen: In a campaigning trip to Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaal Atoll, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has said that he is responsible for the disqualification of 13 [unnamed] Members of Parliament (MP)s over floor crossing. Though the efforts were taken place to the most for the disqualification of these MPs but the Supreme Court is yet to accept the appeal case which was filed over a year ago by the unseated MPs. The Edition, September 11, 2018.
Nepal’s peace process is exemplary, says Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun: During a meeting with a delegation led by Deputy Chair of Afghanistan High Peace Council Habiba Sarabi, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun said Nepal’s peace process is exemplary. “The countries in conflict can learn a lot from Nepal’s peace process. I am very pleased to learn about the beginning of peace process in Afghanistan. A lot of things can be learnt from Nepal. Both sides should seek a meeting point. Peace process can advance only when the conflicting parties ascertain a meeting point. There can be no meeting point if conflicting parties stick to their stances. You can learn something from Nepal, we are ready to extend our support, if needed,” Pun told the Afghan delegation wishing for the success of the peace process in Afghanistan. The Himalayan Times, September 11, 2018.
Extremist elements want to destabilise Nepal, says Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa: Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa on September 9 said some extremist elements wanted to destabilise the country and turn it into a failed state. “These elements are working against national interest, albeit their activities are being closely monitored. The state is doing all it can to resolve this problem,” Thapa told Army officers at the Nepali Army Headquarters. The Himalayan Times, September 11, 2018.
Freedom of press on the decline in Pakistan, says Committee to Protect Journalists: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on September 12 said that the climate for press freedom in Pakistan has been deteriorating, even as overall violence against and murders of journalists decline. In a special report compiled after recording testimonies in various cities of the country, the CJP said journalists, including freelancers, had "painted a picture of a media under siege". "The military has quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting: from barring access to regions ... to encouraging self-censorship through direct and indirect methods of intimidation, including calling editors to complain about coverage and even allegedly instigating violence against reporters," alleged the CJP, an independent organisation working to promote press freedom worldwide. Dawn, September 13, 2018.
CPEC is future of Pakistan, says CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa: Yao Jing, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, called on Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ Rawalpindi on September 11. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said during the meeting, the COAS reiterated that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the economic future of Pakistan and its security shall never be compromised. While matters of mutual interest, including regional security issues, were also discussed during the meeting. The News, September 12, 2018.
No rollback of CPEC, Pakistan assures China: Pakistan and China on September 10 reacted angrily to a report in the London-based Financial Times (FT)newspaper that quoted some cabinet ministers as saying that Islamabad is considering renegotiating some agreements signed with Beijing under the multibillion-dollar One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. “The previous government did a bad job negotiating with China on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — they did not do their homework correctly and did not negotiate correctly so they gave away a lot,” Abdul Razak Dawood, the adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) on commerce and textile, was quoted as saying by FT in an interview. A nine-member committee formed by the PM will “think through CPEC – its benefits and liabilities”, he added, according to FT. The Express Tribune, September 11, 2018.
Cabinet endorses Counter-Terrorism Bill to repeal PTA: The Cabinet on September 11 endorsed the Counter-Terrorism Bill to be enacted by Parliament repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) applied during the wartime in dealing with the activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe proposed amendments to be incorporated into the Bill during the committee stage of the debate later in Parliament. In the present draft, only life imprisonment is stipulated for murder. Daily Mirror, September 12, 2018.
The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South As
ian region.
SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal
To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe. Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) To A Friend