DEFENCE

• MoD initiates reforms inAuthority Holding Sealed Particulars(AHSP).
• 8th India-Thailand defence dialogue to be held in Bangkok.
• Raksha Mantri(RM) holds telephonic conversation with Canadian Minister of National Defence.
• Indian Air Force (IAF) participating in exercise INIOCHOS-23.
• DRDO & Indian Navy Conduct Successful Trial of BMD Interceptor.
• 18th round of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting.
• 11th high level meet between Indian and Korea Coast Guards.
• The sixth edition of Cope India-2023 culminated on 24 Apr 2023.
• P8I simulator.
• SCO Defence Ministers.
• 4th India-Mozambique Joint Defence Working Group in New Delhi.
• The latest edition of Army Commanders Conference took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future.
• Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army visit to India from 27 to 29 April 2023.
• 7th edition of joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” between India and the United Kingdom.
• RM holds bilateral meeting with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
• RM meets China’s State Councillor& Minister of National Defence ahead of SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.
• RM& his Russian counterpart hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of SCO.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

• Security forces killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed terror camps in Borno.

Afghanistan

• Taliban killed the IS-KP leader who conspired 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

Pakistan

• At least 12 people were killed in two blasts at the CTD in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
• “Pakistan will target terror hideouts inside Afghanistan,” said Pakistan’s Defence Minister.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• Five Indian Army personnel attained Veergati in a terror attack in Poonch.
• NIA attached properties of HM chief’s sons in Kashmir.
• Terrorists shot at a shopkeeper in Anantnag.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Security forces killed a Maoist in Chhattisgarh.
• 10 Security forces personnel attained Veergati in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

• NIA searched 16 locations in four States in the ‘PFI-linked Bihar Criminal Conspiracy’ case.
• Al-Qa’ida threatened Bharat over Atiq Ahmad’s killing.
• NIA filed a chargesheet against PFI’s national coordinator for arms training.
• Assam Police arrested three ABT operatives from Dhubri district, Assam.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• NIA to investigate pro-Khalistan protests outside Indian High Commission in London.
• Police arrested ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh from Moga.

DEFENCE

MoD initiates reforms in Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP).

RM has approved a proposal for bringing in industry-friendly reform related to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP). The AHSP is the authority which is responsible for generating, maintaining, updating or declaring obsolete the entire history and technical information of defence products. So far, Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) was the AHSP for majority of defence items designed, developed and manufactured by various DPSUs and Private Industries.Under the existing procedure, certain bottlenecks were experienced by the industry to bring timely improvements in their products and technologies in line with changing times. Therefore, the Ministry has decided now to liberalise the AHSP procedures and make it industry-friendly.

The Indian defence companies, which have developed products, systems, subsystems, components on their own indigenous capabilities (except critical stores), will now be allowed to own and account for their final designs and specification as AHSP. In case of any change in the sealed particulars, a simplified mechanism representing all the concerned stakeholders, including the industry, will take a decision. The DGQA will notify the detailed procedure in this regard within two months.

The DGQA has also been asked to examine all AHSPs with them and rationalise the entire list within two months. Click here to read...

8th India-Thailand defence dialogue to be held in Bangkok.

At the invitation of Government of Thailand, Special Secretary, Ministry of Defence Smt Nivedita Shukla Verma paid an official visit to Bangkok from April 20 to 21, 2023. During the visit, the Special Secretary co-chaired the 8th meeting of India-Thailand Defence Dialogue with Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of Ministry of Defence, Thailand General Nuchit Sribunsong on April 20, 2023. Click here to read...

Raksha Mantri (RM) holds telephonic conversation with Canadian Minister of National Defence.

RM held a telephonic conversation with Canadian Minister of National Defence Ms Anita Anand on April 19, 2023. Ms Anita Anand briefed the RM about Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the importance attached to enhancing engagement with India. RM welcomed increased Canadian naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. Both Ministers discussed potential areas of defence cooperation - from UN peacekeeping training to defence industrial cooperation. The RM highlighted that India is an attractive defence manufacturing destination with competitive land and labour costs and two defence industrial corridors. He invited Canadian defence companies to invest in India and carry out co-production. They would also find value in integrating Indian defence companies in their global supply chains. Click here to read...

Indian Air Force (IAF) participating in exercise INIOCHOS-23.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 Apr 2023 to 04 May 2023. The Indian Air Force will be participating with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. Click here to read...

DRDO & Indian Navy Conduct Successful Trial of BMD Interceptor.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal on April 21, 2023. The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralize a hostile ballistic missile threat thereby elevating India into the elite club of Nations having Naval BMD capability. Prior to this, DRDO has successfully demonstrated land-based BMD system with capability to neutralize ballistic missile threats, emerging from adversaries. Click here to read...

18th round of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting.

The 18th round of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on 23rd April 2023.The two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas, which will enable progress in bilateral relations. In line with the guidance provided by the State Leaders and further to the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers in March 2023, they had an exchange of views in an open and candid manner.In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. Click here to read...

11th high level meet between Indian and Korea Coast Guards.

A seven-member delegation of the South Korea Coast Guard had high level meeting with Indian Coast Guard in New Delhi on 25 April, 2023. The delegation of South Korean Coast Guard was led by Commissioner General KIM Jong Wook, while Indian Coast Guard team was headed by ADG Rakesh Pal, Officiating Director General, Indian Coast Guard. Click here to read...

The sixth edition of Cope India-2023 culminated on 24 Apr 2023.

The sixth edition of Cope India-2023, an Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and United States Air Force (USAF), conducted over the last two weeks at Air Force Stations Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra, culminated on 24 Apr 2023. The exercise involved participation of frontline IAF aircraft like Rafale, Tejas, Su-30MKI, Jaguar, C-17 and C-130. The USAF in turn had fielded the F-15 ‘Strike Eagle’ fighter, C-130, MC-130J, C-17 and the B1B, strategic bomber aircraft. Aircrew from the Japanese Air Self Defence Force also participated as observers. This joint exercise provided valuable opportunity for the participants of all countries to exchange ideas and imbibe best practices through interactions, exchanges & combined missions. Click here to read...

P8I simulator

Defence Secretary, inaugurated the state-of-the-art P8I simulator named as ‘Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ (ARTSC) on 25 Apr 23 at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. The ARTSC will allow reduction of on aircraft training, thereby ensuring higher availability of aircraft for operational missions. This facility will aid the aircrew in practising all operational missions and complex military scenarios and it will provide the men and women in the Indian Navy, the requisite training required to operate the P8I. The project, only the fourth of its kind in the world along with US, UK and Australia, is the first in Asia. Click here to read...

SCO Defence Ministers

India as the Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023 hosted the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 28 April 2023 in New Delhi. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting on 28 April 2023. The theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘SECURE-SCO’. Click here to read...

4th India-Mozambique Joint Defence Working Group in New Delhi.

The 4th meeting of India-Mozambique Joint Defence Working Group was held in New Delhi on April 25, 2023. The two sides discussed wide ranging issues, including military training & courses, exercises, medicine and capacity building with a view to deepen defence engagements. The Indian side highlighted the country’s growing capabilities in the field of defence production and discussed ways to further bolster bilateral military ties. The Mozambican side also interacted with the representatives of defence industry separately. Click here to read...

The latest edition of Army Commanders Conference took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future.

The latest edition of Army Commanders Conference which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April 23 saw deliberations over wide-ranging Strategic, Training, Human Resource Development, and Administrative aspects and took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future. The forum reviewed the pan-India, quantified progress on the ongoing transformational initiatives in the key domains of Force Structuring & Optimisation, Modernisation& Technology Infusion, Processes & Functions, Human Resources Management, and Jointness and Integration as part of “Year of Transformation” announced in January 2023.

With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future.In order to augment the capabilities of the forces by absorption of Niche Technologies and equipment, it was decided to nominate Lead Directorates and 'Test Bed' Formations to evolve optimal employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation Pan Army. Click here to read...

Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army visit to India from 27 to 29 April 2023.

General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army arrived on a three-day visit to India from 27 to 29 April 2023. During the visit, he is meeting India’s senior military and civilian leadership where he will discuss avenues for enhancing India-Bangladesh defence relations. He called on Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Marshal AP Singh, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.

He was also briefed on the Indian indigenous defence equipment manufacturing eco-system by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Army Design Bureau. An ‘’Implementing Arrangement’’ for UN Peacekeeping Operations and Training Cooperation between Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), India and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT), Bangladesh was signed between both Armies during the visit.

The visiting Bangladesh Army Chief is the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade at Officers Training Academy, Chennai scheduled on 29 April 2023. He will visit the Officers Training Academy Museum and interact with the cadets of the passing out course. Click here to read...

7th edition of joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” between India and the United Kingdom.

The 7th edition of joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” between India and the United Kingdom is being conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom from 27 April to 11 May 2023. Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR is a biennial training event with the United Kingdom which is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India, the last edition was held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in October 2021.Soldiers of the 2 Royal Gorkha Rifles from the United Kingdom and Indian Army soldiers from the BIHAR Regiment are participating in the exercise. The Indian Army contingent arrived at Brize Norton on 26 April 2023 by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft with indigenous weapons and equipment. Click here to read...

RM holds bilateral meeting with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

RM held a bilateral meeting with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Mohammed Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani in New Delhi on April 27, 2023. The meeting took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both the Ministers reviewed the bilateral defence cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Further, the two Ministers discussed the development of the International North South Transport corridor to ease logistic problems to Afghanistan and other countries in Central Asia.

The Iranian Defence Minister is visiting Delhi at the invitation of the Raksha Mantri to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, to be held on April 28, 2023. Click here to read...

RM meets China’s State Councillor& Minister of National Defence ahead of SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.

RM met State Councillor and Minister of National Defence of China General Li Shangfu in New Delhi on April 27, 2023. The two Ministers had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations.

The RM categorically conveyed that development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders. He added that all issues at the LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments. He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation. Click here to read...

RM & his Russian counterpart hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of SCO.

RM held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Defence of Russia Army General Sergei K Shoigu on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on April 28, 2023. The two Ministers discussed wide-ranging issues of bilateral defence cooperation, including military-to-military ties as well as industrial partnership. They also discussed the Russian defence industry’s participation in the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ways to provide further impetus to it.

The two Ministers also discussed matters on regional peace and security. They expressed satisfaction over the continued trust and mutual respect between the two countries, particularly in defence and reiterated their commitment towards strengthening the partnership. They acknowledged the unique, long-lasting and time-tested relationship between India and Russia. Click here to read...

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

Security forces killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed terror camps in Borno.

In a major ‘clearance operation’ that began on 17 April 2023, Nigerian security forces, including Operation Hadin Kai and 199 Special Forces Unit personnel, have eliminated 35 Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest in Borno State, Nigeria. According to the news sources, the troops successfully cleared terrorists’ hideouts in Garno, Alafa, Alafa D, Garin Doctor, Njumia, Izzah, Farisu, Somalia, Ukuba, Garin Glucose, Garin Ba’aba, and Bula Abu Amir areas in Bama LGA in Borno state. Click here to read...

Afghanistan

Taliban killed the IS-KP leader who conspired 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

Reportedly, during a series of ‘military operations’ against the Islamic State-Khurasan Province (IS-KP) terror group, the Taliban killed the IS-KP mastermind behind the 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport. Taliban made no statement if the slain terrorist was the IS-KP leader and mastermind of the 2021 bombing, but the White House National Security spokesperson— John Kirby, confirmed that the United States was confident about the terrorist’s identity. Click here to read...

Pakistan

At least 12 people were killed in two blasts at the CTD in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

At least 12 people were killed, and over 50 were injured in two explosions at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Kabal in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a police official in Kabal— Sharifullah Khan, the blasts were not an act of terrorism but an incident after explosive material in the CTD building’s basement caught fire. Click here to read...

“Pakistan will target terror hideouts inside Afghanistan,” said Pakistan’s Defence Minister.

In an exclusive interview with Voice of America, Pakistan’s Defence Minister— Khawaja Asif, said Islamabad had warned the Afghan Taliban that it would strike terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan if the de facto rulers in Kabul were unable to act against anti-Pakistan terror groups.

During his late-February 2023 visit to Afghanistan, Minister Asif reminded the Taliban leaders to live up to their cross-border security commitments forbidding terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan, or action will be taken. “If that is not done, at some point we [Pakistan] will have to resort to some measures, which will definitely — wherever [terrorists] are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil — we will have to hit them,” said Pakistan Defence Minister Asif. Click here to read...

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

Five Indian Army personnel attained Veergati in a terror attack in Poonch.

In a terror attack on an army truck on 20 April 2023, at least five soldiers— i) Havildar Mandeep Singh, ii) Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, iii) Lance Naik Kulwant Singh, iv) Sepoy Harkrishan Singh, and v) Sepoy Sewak Singh, of the Indian Army’s 16 Corps, attained Veergati in Poonch district in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The perpetrators took advantage of poor visibility due to heavy rainfall in the area.

“At approximately 1500 hours (3 PM) IST, one army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector, was fired upon by unidentified terrorists while taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists,” read a statement by Jammu-based Defence Spokesperson— Lt Col Devender Anand. Click here to read...

NIA attached properties of HM chief’s sons in Kashmir.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 24 April 2023, attached two properties that belong to the sons of designated terrorist and chief of Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM)— Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah aka Syed Salahudeen. The immovable properties of Shahid Yusuf and Syed Ahmed Shakeel, in Kashmir— in Soibugh Tehsil, Budgam district and Nursing Garh, Mohalla Ram Bagh, have been attached under Section 33(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. Click here to read...

Terrorists shot at a shopkeeper in Anantnag.

Unidentified terrorists, on 24 April 2023, shot at and injured a shopkeeper— Aqib Ahmad Dar, 31 years old, at Marhama in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Aqib was rushed to the hospital, where his condition got stable. Click here to read...

Left-Wing Extremism

Security forces killed a Maoist in Chhattisgarh.

In a gun battle on 18 April 2023, security forces eliminated a Maoist and arrested the other in a forest area of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. After the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a Maoist (male) was recovered from the operation site, and another Maoist (injured in the gun battle) was arrested. Click here to read...

10 Security forces personnel attained Veergati in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh.

On 26 April 2023, ten District Reserve Guards (DRG) personnel attained Veergati, and a civilian driver was killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast on Aranpur Road under the Aranpur Police Station limits in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh. "On inputs of the presence of Maoists of Darbha division, the DRG jawans had gone on an anti-Maoist operation in Aranpur police station area, also a former stronghold of Maoist leader Hidma. As they were returning to the Dantewada Headquarters, the team was targeted by the Maoists," said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) (Bastar) Sundar Raj P.

The DRG personnel have been identified as— i) Joga Sothi, ii) Munnaram Kadti, iii) Santosh Tamo, iv) Dulgo Mandavi, v) Lakhmu Markam, vi) Joga Kawasi, vii) Hariram Mandavi, viii) Rajuram Kartam, ix) Jairam Podiyam, and x) Jagdish Kawasi, and Dhaniram Yadav as the vehicle’s driver. Click here to read...

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA searched 16 locations in four States in the ‘PFI-linked Bihar Criminal Conspiracy’ case.

On 25 April 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched 16 locations in four States in Bihar's 2022 anti-Bharat criminal conspiracy case involving people associated with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

During searches, the NIA seized digital devices and bank details, incriminating documents related to the PFI and ₹ 1,00,000. As a part of the operation, NIA teams searched multiple locations in Siwan, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Katihar, Araria, Purnea, and East Champaran districts of Bihar, South Goa district of Goa, Rampur and Bhadohi districts of Uttar Pradesh, and Ludhiana district in Punjab. Click here to read...

Al-Qa’ida threatened Bharat over Atiq Ahmad’s killing.

al-Qa’ida Central and its branch— al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), on 21 April 2023, issued a message through its media wing— As-Sahab, threatening Bharat over the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmad in Uttar Pradesh. In the message, the terror group called both slain gangsters, Atiq and his brother Arshad as ‘martyrs’ and promised to ‘liberate’ Bharatiya Muslims. Click here to read...

NIA filed a chargesheet against PFI’s national coordinator for arms training.

On 19 April 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Ibrahim Puthanathani, aka Ibrahim M K in NIA’s Special Court in New Delhi. On 18 March, NIA had filed a chargesheet against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI)’s national executive council members and senior cadres.

Ibrahim was a national coordinator and was responsible for PFI’s Arms training camps across various States on behalf of the PFI. Ibrahim has been charged under Sections 120 B, 121 A, 122, 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 13, 18, 18A, 18B, of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. The NIA also invoked additional charges under Sections 38, 39 of the UA(P) Act against the PFI as an organisation. Click here to read...
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Assam Police arrested three ABT operatives from Dhubri district, Assam.

During a search operation on 24 April 2023, Assam police arrested three operatives of the Ansarul-Bangla Team (ABT)— i) Shafiqul Islam, ii) Muzahildul Mondal, and iii) Badshah Sheikh, from Dhubri district in Assam. The preliminary investigation revealed the trio's history of carrying out financial transactions with ABT terrorists. ABT is an affiliation of al-Qa’ida in Bangladesh. In 2022, Assam Police cracked nine modules and arrested 53 terrorists of ABT and al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Click here to read...

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

NIA to investigate pro-Khalistan protests outside Indian High Commission in London.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of pro-Khalistan protests in front of the Indian High Commission in London, the United Kingdom (UK). Earlier, the case was under the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. Also, pro-Khalistan incidents and activities were discussed between the ministries of both Bharat and the UK during the 5th Bharat-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in Delhi. During the dialogue, Bharat conveyed concerns over the misuse of the UK asylum status by pro-Khalistan elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in Bharat. Click here to read...

Police arrested ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh from Moga.

On 23 April 2023, Punjab Police arrested ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh from Moga in Punjab. Amritpal’s arrest was a month after the police launched a massive operation against him and his group. “Amritpal was arrested today (23 April) at around 06:45 AM from Rode village in Moga district, Punjab, following a special operation carried out in the past 35 days. Amritpal has been sent to Dibrugarh, Assam, under the National Security Act (NSA). Rode is the native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the militant killed in 1984,” said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Headquarters— Sukhchain Singh Gill. Click here to read...