Conflict Archives - Page 38 of 40

2Nov

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Soldiers without ranks

Young Muslims trained in arms and light ammunition are sought after pawns in the markets of conflict and turmoil. Wearing the masks of Islam, they are out to create mayhem and massacre. In most cases, theses forces are out to challenge the State and its well-structured armies and police forces. In old times, such confrontations were a part of the game between rulers and their opponents.However, in modern times, the rules of the game have changed. Generally, the confrontations take place according to rules of war, as well as according to the international law approved by international community. But in this case, the engagement and employment of pawns is either overlooked or ignored. This strategic game was being played in pre-colonial and even colonial era as a state craft.The rulers who u...

Law enforcement preps for potential election-related unrest

2Nov

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Law enforcement preps for potential election-related unrest

WASHINGTON - Federal and state law enforcement officials have begun expanded preparations for the possibility of widespread unrest at the polls on Election Day, a response to extraordinarily high tensions among voters and anxieties about safety stoked in part by President Donald Trump. FBI and local officials in several states have been conducting drills, running through worse-case scenarios, setting up command centres to improve co-ordination on reports of violence and voter intimidation, and issuing public warnings that any crime that threatens the sanctity of a Nov. 3 vote will not be tolerated. The efforts are broader and more public-facing than in past years as fears grow over the potential for violent clashes in cities across the United States. Law enforcement officials say they ar...

3 politicians from India’s ruling party killed in Kashmir

31Oct

By Desk TeamNo Comments

3 politicians from India’s ruling party killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India - Assailants shot and killed three politicians from India’s ruling party in Kashmir late Thursday, police said, blaming militants fighting against Indian rule in the disputed region. Militants fired at the three members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, in southern Kulgam district, police said in a statement. The three were taken to a hospital, where they died, it said. The party says they were members of the BJP’s youth wing and one was general secretary of the party’s Kulgam district. In a tweet, the BJP condemned the killings, calling them a “barbaric terror attack.” “Those who are responsible for this will not be spared,” it said. Government forces launched a search for the shooters, police said. Officials did not immediately reveal o

Xi’s ability to intimidate runs dry as China fails to subdue Indian troops at LAC

27Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Xi’s ability to intimidate runs dry as China fails to subdue Indian troops at LAC

Gordon G Chang, a lawyer and commentator said that it is clear that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ability to intimidate anyone has significantly reduced after Beijing’s failure to tackle Indian troops on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).In an opinion article, Chang said, “the Chinese President has risked his future with the failed high-profile incursions of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into more areas of the LAC, the border between India and China”.“Xi is the architect of these aggressive moves into India and the Chinese troops have unexpectedly flopped. The failures of the Chinese Army at the LAC will have consequences and will give Xi an excuse to pick up the pace of replacing adversaries in the armed forces with loyal elements,” Chang said.However, these failures motivate Xi, who

India should take a stand on Tibet policy amid CCP’s aggression on the border: Experts

26Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

India should take a stand on Tibet policy amid CCP’s aggression on the border: Experts

The Indian government must review the One China Policy and take a stand on Tibet as India’s future and values is intertwined with Tibet’s independence amid China’s aggressive actions on the border, said experts on the issue.On the eve of October 1st, when China was celebrating its National day, commemorating 71years of Communist Party rule, Indian security and strategic affairs think tank Usanas Foundation had organized a Webinar to bring the global attention to the forgotten Tibetan cause.The focus of the webinar was on the 'Tibet Policy and Support Act of 2019', its impact on the future course of the United States of America's policy directives towards Tibet, and the possible spillover effect on New Delhi's 'One China policy' and the Tibetan resistance movement.The U.S Bill will certainl

Madrassah education: A wrong reverse gear

25Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Madrassah education: A wrong reverse gear

The knowledge imparted in Madrassah has been an important constituent of Islamic Education all over the world. This education has equally been a target of censure and critical appraisal from time to time. It has been argued that this type of education is structured to take the young minds back to more than 1500 years. The objective, according to strategic experts, is to land them back psychologically and emotionally in those very social and cultural settings that existed at that time.It is an interesting psychological, emotional and political game. The case studies reveal that terror tactics tethered with this type of education have produced radicalized cadres and their allies to either be engaged directly with the state in the armed conflicts or get involved with low key proxy wars. The e...

‘Chairman Xi’ seeks only to purge and subjugate. That is his weakness

1Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

‘Chairman Xi’ seeks only to purge and subjugate. That is his weakness

It’s often said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely – but does it also induce leaders to act in foolhardy, headstrong and ultimately self-destructive ways? Chinese history, is full of examples of omnipotent rulers whose unchecked behaviour led to disaster. Xi Jinping, China’s comrade-emperor, is a modern-day case in point. Xi seems to think he can do no wrong. As a result, not much is going right.Xi’s authoritarian, expansionist policies, pursued with increasing vehemence since he became communist party chief and president in 2012-13, have enveloped China in a ring of fire. Its borderlands are ablaze with conflict and confrontation from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet and the Himalayas in the north and west to Hong Kong, the South China Sea and Taiwan to the east.Ho

China Provoked India in latest clash: U.S. Intelligence

29Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China Provoked India in latest clash: U.S. Intelligence

A United States intelligence assessment has said it has reason to believe that China deliberately provoked India with the latest incursion into the Indian territory at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh towards the end of August.On the intervening night of 29 and 30 August, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops tried to occupy a strategic height at the southern region of the Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh. However, the Indian Army pre-empted the Chinese move and mobilised its forces to capture the heights near the area where Chinese troops are camped.The US believes that after the failure of the Chinese attempt to capture the territory, Beijing remains enraged that its local commander withdrew forces when a physical conflict appeared imminent.The recent face-off comes month...

Is China losing faith in its own troops?

18Sep

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Is China losing faith in its own troops?

In August, a rather strange visit took place in the shadow of the Himalayas. Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister visited Tibet Military District and surrounding areas on August 14, and met with the top Communist Party official in Tibet, Wu Yingjie, as well as the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government, Qizhala.Before commenting on the nature and implications of the visit, it is important to understand briefly the major reasons why politicians visit any province. Even in China which abhors conventional democratic politics, the mechanics of politics that equate to grabbing, and holding on to power, are the same.There are three major reasons why a politician may visit an area: if it is a campaign season, a home province or to motivate the local population during times of disas

India confident in standing solo against China in any border dispute: EFSAS

15Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

India confident in standing solo against China in any border dispute: EFSAS

A Europe-based think tank that India, post the June 15 Galwan valley clash, has shown the confidence of standing solo against China in any future border dispute.Several negotiations have taken place between India and China since the clashes in Eastern Ladakh. Though they have yielded some results as troops of both countries started pulling back, Chinese troops are still present in the Depsang Plains region, Gogra, and the Fingers region along the Pangong Tso.The European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) said: "In the initial phase of disengagement at Pangong Tso, the Chinese moved back from Finger 4 to Finger 5, but continued with their deployment on the ridge line. India is insisting that China move back from Finger 5 to its old position on the Finger 8 spur. In the face of repe...