Defence:

• Defence Budget 2019-20;
• Curtain Raiser: Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise 11-12 February 2019 ;
• INS Trikand participates in exercise Cutlass Express 2019;
• Successful Flight Test of SFDR ;
• Chief of the Air Staff Visits Bangladesh;
• Visit of Raksha Mantri to Germany.

International Terrorism:

Afghanistan

• NDS forces arrested two JeM operatives in Nangarhar;
• 23 Taliban militants killed in an airstrike in Uruzgan.

Pakistan

• Nine security forces personnel killed in a suicide attack in Balochistan.

Africa

• Somalia- 13 al-Shabab fighters killed in Gandarshe;
  Bomb blast in Mogadishu claimed 11 lives.
• Nigeria- Boko Haram militants killed eight people in Maiduguri.

Domestic Terrorism:

Jammu and Kashmir

• NIA arrests JeM OGW from Pulwama District;
• MHA banned TuM under UA(P) Act;
• Grenade attack in Srinagar; JeM claimed responsibility;
• Five militants of LeT and HM killed in CT operation in Kulgam;
• Two HM militants killed in CT operation in Budgam;
• ‘Wanted’ HM militant killed by security forces in Pulwama;
• 40 CRPF personnel martyred in a ‘fidayeen’ attack in Pulwama.

Islamist Extremism in India (including Islamic State)

• 26/11 case: Non-bailable warrants issued against Pakistan Army officials;
• Arrested IS suspects confessed to poison ‘Mahaprasad’ at temple in Mumbai;
• JMB militant arrested in West Bengal;
• Jharkhand re-instated the ban on PFI.

Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)

• Telangana- ‘top’ Maoist leader surrendered to police.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• Three youth awarded life-imprisonment for supporting ‘Khalistan’.

Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective):

• Australian Parliament’s servers faced cyber-attack.

DEFENCE

Defence Budget 2019-20

Union Budget for the financial year 2019-20, presented by the Finance Minister in the Parliament envisaged a total outlay of Rs. 27,84,200 crore. Out of this Rs. 3,18,931.22 crore has been earmarked for Defence (excluding Defence Pension). For Defence Pension, an amount of Rs. 1,12,079.57 crore has been provided in BE 2019-20. Total Defence Allocation, including Defence Pension, accounts for 15.48% of the total Central Government expenditure for the year 2019-20. The allocation of Rs. 3,18,931.22 crore represents a growth of 7.93% over Budget Estimates (2,95,511.41 crore) and 6.87% over Revised Estimates (Rs. 2,98,418.72 crore), respectively for the financial year 2018-19.
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Curtain Raiser: Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise, 11-12 February 2019

Disaster Risk Reduction has a pivotal role in supporting adaptation to climate change as well as sustained development. Jaipur based Sapta Shakti Command conducted Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise EXERCISE RAHAT on behalf of Indian Army over a period of two days on 11th and 12th February 2019. The Joint exercise in coordination with NDMA is conducted to synergise efforts for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Representatives from Armed Forces, National Disaster Management Response Mechanism (NDMRM), SDMA Rajasthan and DLMAs will be participating in the exercise.
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INS Trikand participates in exercise Cutlass Express 2019

INS Trikand, a front-line warship of the Indian Navy, participated in a multinational training exercise ‘CUTLASS EXPRESS – 19’ held from 27 Jan to 06 Feb 19. The aim of the exercise was to improve law enforcement capacity, promote regional security and progress inter-operability between the armed forces of the participating nations for the purpose of interdicting illegal maritime activity in the Western Indian Ocean. During the exercise, Naval, Coast Guard and Marine Police personnel from a number of East African countries were jointly trained by mentors from USA, India, and Netherlands, with support of international organisations like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Combined Maritime Force (CMF) and European Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR). The Indian Navy played a significant role in ‘CUTLASS EXPRESS – 19’, being involved in planning, coordination and execution. Through INS Trikand, the IN provided a platform for live Visit Board Search Seizure (VBSS) drills, which proved to be of immense training value to the participating nations.
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Successful Flight Test of SFDR

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the second indigenously developed ‘Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)’ propulsion based missile system from ITR, Chandipur, Odisha. Ground booster, separation of ground booster and Nozzle-less-booster performance were found satisfactory. Missile was guided to high altitude to simulate aircraft release conditions and subsequently nozzle-less-booster was ignited. SFDR based missile accelerated to achieve ramjet Mach number successfully. The trajectory was tracked by telemetry and radar stations till touchdown. All the mission objectives have been met.
The success of SFDR propulsion technology is a significant milestone and will pave the way for development of long range air-to-air missiles in the country.
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Chief of the Air Staff Visits Bangladesh

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force embarked on a four day official visit to Bangladesh from 11 to 14 February 2019. This is a bilateral goodwill visit to a SAARC nation wherein the CAS is scheduled to visit operational and training units of Bangladesh Air Force.

CAS will also meet the Chiefs of the three Defence Services and the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The visit would provide further impetus towards increasing defence cooperation and pave the way for greater interaction. This would also strengthen relationships and enable engagement in productive exchanges between the two Air Forces.
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Visit of Raksha Mantri to Germany

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman concluded an official bilateral visit (12-13 February 2019) to Germany, at the invitation of her counterpart, Federal Minister of Defence of Germany, Dr Ursula von der Leyen. During the visit, the two Ministers comprehensively reviewed the gamut of bilateral defence cooperation which is emerging as an important facet of India-Germany Strategic Partnership. They noted with satisfaction the steady growth in bilateral defence ties. The two Ministers signed an Implementing Arrangement on Enhanced Defence and Defence Industry Cooperation which would further strengthen military to military engagement as well as defence industry and R & D linkages. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
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INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Afghanistan

NDS forces arrested two JeM operatives from Nangarhar

According to a statement released by Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) on 12 February, Afghan intelligence forces arrested two operatives of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Eastern Nangarhar province. Both operatives - Sediq Akbar and Ataullah - are residents of Pakistan. In their confession, the arrested JeM operatives said that they were working in Karachi and Lahore and were trained in military camps of the JeM based in Balakot area of Mansehra. According to the statement of NDS, both terrorists were in Afghanistan to carryout suicide attack.
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23 Taliban militants killed in an airstrike in Uruzgan

On 16 February, Afghan forces carried out airstrike at a Taliban hideout located on the outskirts of Tarinkot city of Uruzgan province. 23 Taliban militants, including a key commander, Mullah Hamdullah, were killed in the airstrike.
For more information: Click here to read... https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/key-taliban-commander-killed-uruzgan-airstrike

Pakistan

Nine security forces personnel killed in a suicide attack in Balochistan

On 17 February, nine Pakistani security forces personnel were killed and 11 others were injured in a suicide attack on Pakistan Army convoy on the CPEC route between Panjgur and Turbat city in Balochistan. According to media report, the Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS) have claimed responsibility of the attack. BRAS is an alliance of three Baloch pro-freedom organisations—Baloch Liberation Army (BRA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Republican Guard (BRG).
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Africa

Somalia

13 al-Shabaab fighters killed in Gandarshe

According to a statement released by the US Africom, at least 13 al-Shabaab fighters were killed in an air raid on 01 February. Supporting the Somalia’s Federal Government, the US Africa Command conducted air strikes targeting area of Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region in Somalia. Since the beginning of the year, this is the 10th such attack by the US forces against al-Shabaab. According to The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, more than 330 al-Shabaab fighters were killed in 48 attacks in Somalia in 2018.
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Bomb blast in Mogadishu claimed 11 lives

In Mogadishu, a car bomb explosion on 04 February claimed 11 lives and nine people were injured. The explosion occurred near a shopping mall close to the local government offices in the capital city. Few hours earlier, militants shot dead a senior manager at the Port of Bossaso in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility of both incidents.
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Nigeria

Boko Haram militants killed eight people in Maiduguri

On 15 January, two Boko Haram suicide bombers blew themselves up and killed eight people in Maiduguri’s Jiddari Polo area. Following the attack, Nigeria’s Election Commission announced the postponing of the Presidential elections by a week. The elections were schedule for 16 January. On 14 January, Boko Haram militants rammed into the convoy of the governor of northeast Nigeria’s Borno State, resulting in death of four people.
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DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

40 CRPF personnel martyred in a ‘fidayeen’ attack in Pulwama

In one of the worst attacks on the security forces on 14 February 2019, a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist rammed his explosive laden vehicle into the convoy of 78 vehicles having over 2500 CRPF personnel on-board. According to a media report, 40 CRPF personnel martyred and many injured in this attack. Injured were moved to the Army Base Hospital in Srinagar. Later, Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, JeM claimed the responsibility of the attack. The attack was carried out by JeM terrorist, Adil Ahmad Dar aka Waqas commando, who joined JeM in 2018. Reacting to the attack, the Government of India has urged the international community to support the proposal which lists JeM chief Masood Azhar as a ‘global designated’ terrorist under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s 1267 Sanctions Committee. The CRPF bus which was hit by the IED-borne vehicle had bullet marks indicated that more terrorists, hiding away from the location, must have fired on the bus.
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NIA arrests JeM OGW from Pulwama District

On 04 January, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Fayaz Ahmad Magray, an ‘Over Ground Worker’ of JeM, from Pulwama district. According to a statement released by the NIA, Fayaz was involved in conspiring the 2017 attack on CRPF group centre in Lethpora by providing logistic support to the terrorists and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF camp.
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MHA banned TuM under UA(P) Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has imposed ban on the Jammu and Kashmir based terrorist organisation, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. So far, 41 terrorist/insurgent organisations have been banned under the UA(P) Act. According to MHA notification, TuM was involved in various terrorist activities in India and lending support to other terrorist organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in terms of logistics and finance in the past.
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Grenade attack in Srinagar; JeM claimed responsibility

On 10 February, the militants of (JeM’s Afzal Guru squad carried out a grenade attack in which seven security force personnel and four civilians were injured, in Srinagar. The JeM militants hurled a hand grenade on the patrolling party near Paladium in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, resulted in injuries to three personnel of CRPF, four policemen, and four civilians. Later, JeM informed the local media claiming responsibility for the attack.
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Five militants of LeT and HM killed in CT operation in Kulgam

In a joint counter-terrorism (CT) operation on 10 February, Army, Police and CRPF personnel cordoned Kellam village in Kulgam district, where five militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and HM were hiding in a house. Rejecting the call of surrender, the militants opened fire on the security forces. In counter operation that lasted over eight hours, security forces killed all the five militants. Forces also seized arms and ammunitions from the operation site. According to the police, this group of militants was involved in grenade attacks in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
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Two HM militants killed in CT operation in Budgam

In a CT operation by the security forces on 13 February, two militants of HM, Hilal Ahmed Wani and Shoaib Mohammad Lone, were killed in Chadoora area of Budgam district. Both militants were involved in various incidents of attack on civilian and security establishments.
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‘Wanted’ HM militant killed by security forces in Pulwama

In another CT operation on 12 February, security forces killed a ‘wanted’ militant of HM, Hilal Ahmad Rather, in Ratnipora area of Pulwama district. During the operation, one soldier [identity undisclosed] was also martyred. Security forces seized arms and ammunition from the operation site. Hilal Ahmad Rather was involved in a February 2018 terrorist attack at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar.
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Islamist Extremism in India (including Islamic State)

26/11 case: Non-bailable warrants issued against Pakistan Army officials

In the trial proceedings of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the Mumbai Session Court has issued non-bailable warrants against two Pakistan Army officials, Major Abdul Rehman Pasha, and Major Iqbal. On the basis of information disclosed by an approver in the case and LeT operative David Headley, the prosecution believes that although Major Pasha is retired; Major Iqbal is still a serving officer in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to the special public prosecutor of the case Ujjwal Nikam, “David Headley’s testimony has vindicated the stand of India that the terror attacks of November 26, 2008 were not only sponsored by militant groups of Pakistan but were, in fact, actively supported by Pakistan Army officials.”
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Arrested IS suspects confessed to poisoning ‘Maha-prasad’ at temple in Mumbai

On 28 January, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), along with an arrested Islamic State (IS) accused, Tala Potrik, visited ‘Shree Mumbreshwar Mandir Trust’ in Thane’s Mumbra, to discover the terrorists’ conspiracy to poison the ‘Maha-prasad’ (sacred food) during a religious event organised in 2018. Upon unsuccessful attempt of the poisoning, Potrik planned to execute ‘poisoning attack’ on the eve of ‘Maha Shivratri’ on 04 March, this year. The investigation revealed another conspiracy to attack on Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run hospital in Nagpada in South Mumbai. The ATS has obtained details of social media conversation between a group - ‘Ummat-e-Mohammadia’ (UeM) and Jainam Kuttepadi.

As per the media report, Jainam Kuttepadi was a pharmacist at BMC-run hospital and was allegedly in contact with an IS operative. Kuttepadi confessed to the ATS officials about his plans to poison the medicines at the hospital to affect several patients and caused fatalities at mass level. On 24 December 2018, all arrested IS suspects had meeting at Aurangabad to plan a lone wolf attack along with mass-poisoning attack.
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JMB militant arrested in West Bengal

On 16 February, the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata police arrested Ariful Islam, a militant of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), from Kolkata. Ariful was arrested for planning the escape of Kausar, a key accused of 2014 Burdwan’s Khagragarh blast case. Apart from Kausar, Ariful was in contact with the key senior members of the JMB terror outfit. Reportedly, Ariful Islam was directly involved in the 2018 Bodh Gaya blast in Bihar. According to a police officer [identity undisclosed], Ariful, along with other members of JMB did recce, planted explosives at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya district in Bihar.
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Jharkhand re-instated the ban on PFI

Jharkhand State government has re-instated the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) on 12 February, for the alleged involvement of its members in anti-national activities. A notification issued by the State Home Department has declared PFI as an illegal organisation under Section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment. The notification also linked PFI with other terrorist organisations, including Islamic State (IS or ISIS), to radicalise the people in the State through their ideology.

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LEFT-WING EXTREMISM (LWE)

Telangana

Two ‘top’ Maoist leader surrendered to police

On 11 February, a top Maoist leader, B. Sudhakar along with his wife Madhavi, surrendered, before the Telangana police. Madhavi herself is also a ‘top-ranking’ Maoist leader. Sudhakar known to be one of the central committee and politburo members of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and used to have several districts of Jharkhand, including Palamu, Garhwa, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Simdega, under his control. Sudhakar’s wife Madhavi was the member of Bihar-Jharkhand special area committee and was responsible to look after the financial accounts of the party.
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KHALISTAN-INSPIRED EXTREMISM

Three youth awarded life-imprisonment for supporting ‘Khalistan’

On 05 February, a Court in Nawanshahr sentenced three youth, Arwinder Singh (29 years-old), Surjit Singh (27 years-old) and Ranjit Singh (29 years-old), to life imprisonment and fined under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for “waging or attempting to wage war against the State”. The accused were charged for propagating the agenda of Khalistan through literature, pamphlets and inciting other people to join the same cause. This case is possibly one of the first of this kind, where the accused were sentenced on possession of “incriminating” literature.
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CYBER & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Security Perspective)

Australian Parliament’s computer network faced cyber attack

In a joint statement on 08 February, Australian Parliament’s presiding officers, Tony Smith, and Scott Ryan, informed that unknown hackers tried to breach into the Australian Parliament’s computer network which consists politicians’ e-mail archives. However, there are no indications of any theft of data stored on the computer network. All politicians and users have been advised to change their accounts’ passwords. The security agencies are investigating the incident and suspects China’s involvement behind this attack, because of the recent attempts of China to influence the Australian politics. Australia is preparing for its national elections likely to be held in May 2019.
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