DEFENCE

• 4th edition of joint military exercisebetween India and Japan.
• Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships made port call at Kochi.
• 4th edition of joint military exercise between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army.
• Indian Naval Ship to participate in NAVDEX 23 and IDEX 23 in UAE.
• Operation Dost.
• Raksha Mantri telephonic conversation with UK Secretary of State for Defence to discusses ways to enhance defence industrial cooperation.
• IFC-IOR signed a MoU on 21 Feb 2023 with Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC), Seychelles.
• 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.
• 7th Annual Defence Dialogue between India and Sri Lanka was held in New Delhi.
• Indian Air Force participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE.
• Indian Air Force contingent participating in Exercise Cobra Warrior with the Royal Air Force in United Kingdom.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Afghanistan

• Taliban “disapproved” Russia’s terror charges against Afghanistan.

Pakistan

• Security forces foiled an attack in Baluchistan and eliminated eight terrorists.
• CTD killed six TTP terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• Govt of India bans JKGF as a terrorist group under the UA (P) Act.
• Police arrested three HM terrorists from Kulgam.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Two policemen attained Veergati in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh.
• Police arrested two Maoists, involved in several incidents, from Hyderabad.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

• NIA Special Court, Delhi, convicted a terrorist in the espionage case.
• NIA Special Court, Rajasthan, convicted a terrorist in the “IS Jaipur” case.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• “Cannot stop movement,” said pro-Khalistan propagator Amritpal Singh.
• NIA busted the Khalistan-gangster network and arrested six people across the eight States.
• Govt of India banned KTF as a terrorist organisation under the UA (P) Act.

DEFENCE

4th edition of joint military exercise between India and Japan.

The 4th edition of joint military exercise, “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN”, between India and Japan is being conducted at Camp Imazu in Shiga province, Japan from 17 February to 02 March 2023. The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi urban/urban terrain. Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and an Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution.

The joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN Mandate, in addition to developing inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
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Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships made port call at Kochi.

Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Awaji made port call at Kochi from 14 -16 Feb 23. The ship’s crew visited professional training schools and ship of Southern Naval Command. During the visit, they were familiarised with various training facilities and activities undertaken at the Training Command of the Indian Navy. Presently, the ship is on her passage to Bahrain.
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4th edition of joint military exercise between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army.

The 4th edition of joint military exercise ‘DUSTLIK’ between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army commenced today in Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand). 45 Soldiers each from Uzbekistan and Indian Army are participating in this exercise which is aimed at promoting positive relations between both the armies. The Indian Army contingent comprises of troops from an Infantry Battalion from the Garhwal Rifles Regiment. The first edition of the exercise was held at Uzbekistan in November 2019. The 14 days long joint exercise would focus on joint counter-terrorist operations in mountainous and semi-urban scenario under UN mandate and will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and culminate with a validation exercise.
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Indian Naval Ship to participate in NAVDEX 23 and IDEX 23 in UAE.

Indian Naval Ship Sumedha arrived at Abu Dhabi, UAE on 20 Feb 2023 to participate in NAVDEX 23 (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX 23 (International Defence Exhibition), scheduled from 20 to 24 Feb 2023. The ship’s participation in two leading regional naval and defence exhibitions will showcase the strengths of India’s indigenous ship building.
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Operation Dost

The Indian disaster relief team, comprising 99 personnel of Indian Army Field Hospital and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) returned back on February 20 2023 after putting in a stupendous effort to provide medical relief to disaster victims in Hatya Province of Turkey hit by earthquake. The Indian Army Field Hospital has treated 3604 casualties, providing emergency medical care and performing 04 x major surgeries, 63 x minor surgeries, 343 minor procedures including 87 x POP applications for fixing fractures.

The Indian Army Field Hospital comprising of various Specialist Medical Officers and Paramedics, established their Hospital at Iskenderun, Hatay Province, Turkey on 08 Feb 2023, which included a fully functional OT and Trauma Care Centre. The Specialists include Medical Specialist, Surgical Specialists, Anaesthetists, Orthopaedicians, Maxillofacial Surgeon and Community Medicine Specialist for rendering medical assistance to earthquake victims. Beside this, a Lady Medical Officer has also been sent for rendering medical care to female patients/casualties. In addition, the Indian Army Field Hospital provided dental treatment to 242 patients, carrying out 283 precautionary X-rays on trauma victims. 14 x patients were admitted and 97 x patients detained and treated. 1159 Lab investigations were carried out on the cases reported for treatment. Replenishment to the Field Hospital has been provided by Indian Army in the form of Medical and Surgical bricks as well as Orthopaedic equipment.
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Raksha Mantri (RM) telephonic conversation with UK Secretary of State for Defence to discusses ways to enhance defence industrial cooperation.

The RM held a telephonic conversation with UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr Ben Wallace on February 21, 2023. The conversation was cordial, positive and focused on future growth of the bilateral defence relationship. Both Ministers discussed a wide range of defence and security issues, including regional developments and the Indo-Pacific.

The Ministers briefly reviewed their ongoing defence cooperation and expressed satisfaction at their bilateral military-to-military engagements. They also discussed ways to enhance defence industrial cooperation and identified a few potential areas of cooperation. The Raksha Mantri suggested that UK companies should become part of India’s growth story and participate in co-development and co-production in India.
Reference: Click here to read…

IFC-IOR signed a MoU on 21 Feb 2023 with Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC), Seychelles.

In order to further the existing cooperation in the realm of maritime safety and security, IFC-IOR signed a MoU on 21 Feb 2023 with Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC), Seychelles. The MoU signed aims to promote collaboration between the two Centres towards enhancing maritime domain awareness, information sharing and expertise development.
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26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.

The 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 22 February 2023 in person in Beijing. This was the first WMCC meeting since the 14th meeting held in July 2019, to be held in person. Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western Sector and create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations. To achieve this objective in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (18th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date. The two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels.
For more information:
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7th Annual Defence Dialogue between India and Sri Lanka was held in New Delhi.

7th Annual Defence Dialogue between India and Sri Lanka was held in New Delhi on February 23, 2023. It was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and his Sri Lankan counterpart General Kamal Gunaratne. During the meeting, the ongoing defence cooperation activities between the two countries were reviewed, with both sides agreeing to increase the complexity of bilateral exercises. In the context of training, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to avail maximum benefits from each other’s experience and capacities.
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Indian Air Force participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE.

An Indian Air Force contingent comprising of 110 Air Warriors has arrived at Al Dhafra airbase of United Arab Emirates for participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII. The IAF would be participating with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. This is the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India.
Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA would also be participating. The exercise is scheduled from 27 Feb 23 to 17 Mar 23. The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
Reference: Click here to read…

Indian Air Force contingent participating in Exercise Cobra Warrior with the Royal Air Force in United Kingdom.

An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors departed Air Force Station Jamnagar today for participating in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force in United Kingdom. The exercise is scheduled from 06 Mar 23 to 24 Mar 23.

The Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore would also be participating alongside Royal Air Force and IAF. The IAF is participating in the exercise this year with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft. The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
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INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Afghanistan

Taliban “disapproved” Russia’s terror charges against Afghanistan.

On 15 February 2023, Taliban’s Foreign Minister (FM)— Amir Khan Muttaqi questioned Russia’s ‘baseless’ allegations that thousands of Islamic State (IS) terrorists have gathered in northern Afghanistan and threatening the stability of the Central Asian Region (CAR). In a televised speech in Kabul, Taliban’s FM Muttaqi said, “How come thousands of such people (referring to IS) are concentrated in one place and still no one can see them or is aware of them? Everyone is welcome here, see the situation with their own eyes and discuss with us if they have any concerns to share. But levelling baseless allegations to malign and add to the sufferings of this nation reeling from decades of war must come to an end.”

Taliban’s response to the statement made by Russia’s Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO)— Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, regarding extremist groups gaining a foothold in Afghanistan, turning to be the biggest threat to stability in the region. “Wilayat Khurasan or Islamic State-Khurasan Province (IS-KP) is the Afghan branch of the IS and has some 6,500 strength— up to 4,000 of whom are gathered in the [Afghan] provinces of Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Takhar along Tajikistan’s southern border,” Russia’s official media quoted Sidorov.
For more information: Click here to read…

Pakistan

Security forces foiled an attack in Baluchistan and eliminated eight terrorists.

Pakistan’s security forces, on 22 February 2023, eliminated eight terrorists and foiled an attack on a security forces’ convoy in Kech in Baluchistan. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the alerted troops foiled the attack without losing soldiers’ life and also hunted fleeting terrorists using ground and aviation resources. On 23 February, security forces identified a suspected hideout of terrorists in Mazaaband range and launched a counter-terrorism (CT) operation. In a gun-battle with terrorists, security forces eliminated eight terrorists and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.
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CTD killed six TTP terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On 23 February 2023, the counter-terrorism department (CTD) killed six Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in a joint operation with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lakki Marwat police. According to the statement released by Lakki Marwat police, intelligence inputs revealed that terrorists were planning to attack the Abbas police check post, which led to a gun-battle. In the gun battle with terrorists, security forces eliminated six TTP terrorists.
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DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

Govt of India bans JKGF as a terrorist group under the UA (P) Act.

On 17 February 2023, the Govt of India (GoI) proscribed Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA (P)A]. “JKGF has been found involved in infiltration attempts, drug-weapon trafficking, and carrying out terror attacks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The JKGF operatives are drawn from other Islamic terrorist organisations such as, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HuJI)”, read the statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). With this declaration, there are 44 terrorist organisations under the I Schedule of the Act.
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Police arrested three HM terrorists from Kulgam.

In a joint operation on 17 February 2023, police forces from PS Hatipora and PS Behibagh arrested three Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists from Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Acting on specific inputs, the joint team operated and established a Naka at Dadekoot in Alamganj crossing. Upon the arrival at the Naka, police teams arrested all three terrorists and recovered a pistol, two pistol magazines, and 13 live pistol rounds from their possession.
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Left-Wing Extremism

Two policemen attained Veergati in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh.

On 20 February 2023, Maoists attacked and killed two Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) policemen in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. The incident took place within the limits of Bortalab police station near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border.
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Police arrested two Maoists, involved in several incidents, from Hyderabad.

On 20 February 2023, Gadchiroli police arrested two Maoists— Madhukar Chinanna Kodape and his wife— Jamani Mangalu Punam, involved in various violent activities, from Hyderabad. The duo, reportedly left the CPI (Maoist) cadre in 2006 and, since then been evading arrest.
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Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA Special Court, Delhi, convicted a terrorist in an espionage case.

On 23 February 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Delhi, convicted Mohammad Parvez under Sections 120B, 420, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA (P)A].

The case— RC-21/2017/NIA/DLI pertains to the conspiracy hatched by foreign intelligence agencies to obtain information from defence personnel posted in sensitive border areas of Bharat.
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NIA Special Court, Rajasthan, convicted a terrorist in “IS Jaipur” case.
On 20 February 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Rajasthan, convicted Mohammed Sirajuddin under Sections 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 13, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] for 07 years of Rigorous Imprisonment with fine.

The case— RC-5/2016/NIA/DLI pertains to disseminating Islamic State (IS) ideology and luring others over social media platforms to join the proscribed terror organisation for carrying out terror activities in Bharat.
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Khalistan-inspired Extremism

“Cannot stop movement,” said pro-Khalistan propagator Amritpal Singh.

On 20 February 2023, the self-styled pro-Khalistan propagator Amritpal Singh said that the “Khalistan movement could not be stopped from flourishing and if Home Minister desired to stop it, let him fulfil his desire.” Earlier, in a TV interview, Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that a close watch was being maintained on Khalistan activities and that the Government of India would not let it flourish.

Amritpal Singh also lead a group— “Waris Panjab De”- set up by late actor-activist—Deep Sidhu. Deep Sidhu died in a road accident in February 2022. On several platforms, Amritpal Singh has been advocating secession and separatism, along with the establishment of Khalistan. Click here to read…

NIA busted Khalistan-gangster network and arrested six people across the eight States.

In nationwide search operations, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) busted Khalistan-gangster network and arrested six people, including associates of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and Goldy Brar. The raids were carried out in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Delhi/National Capital Region (NCR), Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh (MP).

One of the associates— Khokhar was arrested from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He was in direct contact with Arsh Dala in Canada, looked after the recruitment, and received funds from him for carrying out terror-related activities. The NIA investigations have so far revealed that many criminals, who were leading gangsters in Bharat, had fled to countries like Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia and were planning their terror and criminal acts from there, in association with criminals lodged in jails in different states. These gangs were carrying out targeted killings and earning cash for their nefarious activities through smuggling drugs, weapons, hawala and extortions.
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Govt of India banned KTF as a terrorist organisation under the UA (P) Act.

On 17 February 2023, the Government of India (GoI) proscribed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA (P)A], and also notified Khalistani terrorist— Harwinder Singh Sandhu aka “Rinda” as a terrorist.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification, Rinda has been associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is presently based in Pakistan. With this announcement, there are 54 designated terrorists under the IV Schedule of the UA (P) Act.
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