VIF News Digest: National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, 01-15 November 2020

DEFENCE

  • Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya visiting.
  • MALABAR-20,Phase-1.
  • Mission Sagar-II.
  • National Defence College (NDC) Diamond Jubilee.
  • Enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket System successfully Flight Tested.
  • Raksha Mantri outlines broad principles for national security at a Webinar of National Defence College.
  • 8th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting.
  • Top ULFA (I) Surrenders to Indian Army.
  • QRSAM Missile System Achieves Major Milestone

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa
  • Nigeria
    • Security forces killed 75 Boko Haram terrorists in a month Borno State.
  • Mozambique
    • IS-linked group beheaded 50 people in Cado Delgado province.
  • Kenya
    • Al-Shabaab destroys telecommunication tower after attack in Kenyan border region.
  • Somalia
    • Security forces arrested seven al-Shabaab terrorists in Mudug region
  • Mali
    • French airstrikes eliminated 50 al-Qaeda terrorists in Burkina Faso and Niger border areas.
Afghanistan
  • Senior AQIS leader killed in an operation in Farah province.
  • Four people were killed in suicide bombing in Kandahar province.
Pakistan/
  • CTD killed two al-Qaeda terrorists in Punjab province.

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir
  • “Pakistan is desperate to push LeT and JeM terrorists into India”, said J&K DGP.
  • HM’s (Kashmir) chief Saifullah Mir eliminated in Srinagar.
Left-Wing Extremism
  • Five Maoists surrendered in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Police arrested a Maoist commander in Telangana.
  • Five Maoist couriers arrested in Telangana.
Islamist Extremism in India
  • An AuK operative arrested from Kerala.
Cyber, Information Warfare & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)
  • US hospitals facing ‘imminent’ cyber-attacks threat, warned FBI.

Defence

Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya visiting.

General Robert Kibochi, Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya was visiting India from 02 - 06 Nov 2020 on the invitation by the Ministry of Defence. India was the first country that the CDF Kenya is visiting outside of Africa, after he assumed Command in May earlier this year. During his week-long visit he was scheduled to meet the Raksha Mantri, the National Security Adviser, the Service Chiefs and senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs at New Delhi. The General Officer would be visiting Agra, Mhow and Bengaluru, incidentally this is not the first time the CDF is visiting India as he did his Signal Officers Degree Telecommunications Engineering Course in India at the Military College of Telecommunications Engineering Mhow from 1984-1987, as a young officer.

The General Officer’s visit comes at a time when the bilateral relationship between India and Kenya is poised for deeper engagement. Post visit of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi to Kenya in 2016 and a reciprocal visit by H. E. President Kenyatta in 2017, the relationship has grown from strength to strength. Ongoing areas of defence cooperation include Capacity & Capability building, Counter Terrorism, UN Peace Keeping Operations, Medical health care and Cyber security.

MALABAR-20, Phase-1.

The 24th edition of the MALABAR naval exercise was scheduled in two phases in November 2020. Phase 1 of the Exercise MALABAR 20 involving participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was held at Visakhapatnam in Bay of Bengal from 03 to 06 November 2020.Phase-1 of MALABAR 20 participation of United States Ship (USS) John S McCain (Guided-missile destroyer), Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Ballarat (long range frigates) with integral MH-60 helicopter, and Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) Onami (Destroyer) with integral SH-60 helicopter. The IN participated with destroyer Ranvijay, frigate Shivalik, Off Shore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, Fleet Support Ship Shakti and submarine Sindhuraj. In addition, Advanced Jet Trainer Hawk, long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, Dornier maritime patrol aircraft also took part.

Mission Sagar-II.

As part of ‘Mission Sagar-II’, Indian Naval Ship Airavat reached Sudan on 02 Nov, Eritrea on 06 Nov and Port of Djibouti, Djibouti on 10 November 2020. The Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic and towards the same INS Airavat is carrying a consignment of 100 Tonnes of food aid. As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.

National Defence College (NDC) Diamond Jubilee.

The National Defence College (NDC), as part its Diamond Jubilee celebrations organised a two day Webinar on 05-06 Nov 20 with the theme ‘India’s National Security- a Decade Ahead’. The keynote address was by Raksha Mantri, some of the key speakers were, Mr. Peter Varghese, Chancellor Queensland University, Mr. C Rajamohan, Director, South Asian University, Chief of Defence Staff, Foreign Secretary and Chiefs of the Armed Forces.

To cater to continuous demand for more seats from other countries, Ministry of Defence has decided to increase capacity of NDC from 100 to 110 in 2021 and to 120 in 2022 providing additional seats to Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh apart from new seats to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan Philippines, Indonesia and Maldives. In the Diamond Jubilee Year NDC has 100 participants; 75 from India and 25 from friendly countries. A number of illustrious alumni from NDC have held significant appointments which include the present CDS, two Governors, present National Security Advisor, two Election Commissioners, 30 Indian Service Chiefs, over 20 Ambassadors, 4 Defence Secretaries and 5 Foreign Secretaries besides a number of others. A number of foreign alumni have also achieved significant positions in their respective countries which include 74 Service Chiefs of their Armed Forces. The following very prominent alumni were Heads of States:

  1. His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan
  2. Lt Gen Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Former President, Bangladesh
  3. Lt Gen Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo, Former Head of State, Ghana
Enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket System successfully Flight Tested.

Enhanced PINAKA rocket, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully flight tested on 04 November 2020. Development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to earlier design with reduced length. The design and development has been carried out by Pune based DRDO laboratories, namely Armament Research and Development Establishment, ARDE and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, HEMRL. Rockets tested have been manufactured by M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur, to whom the technology has been transferred.

Raksha Mantri outlines broad principles for national security at a Webinar of National Defence College.

Raksha Mantri (RM) outlined four broad principles that are likely to guide India’s quest for national security in the future. “The first is the ability to secure India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty from external threats and internal challenges. Second, the ability to create secure and stable conditions that can facilitate India’s economic growth, thereby, creating the resources for nation building and to meet individual aspirations. Third, we remain steadfast in the desire to protect our interests beyond the borders in areas where our people reside and our security interests converge. And finally, we also believe that in a globalised and interconnected world, a country’s security interests are interlinked by shared and secure commons.”

The RM emphasised that India has proved that countries that employ terrorism as an instrument of national policy can also be deterred through options that were considered un-implementable in the past. He said “Pakistan continues to remain adamant in the use of terrorism as state policy. However, we have achieved substantial success in working with progressive and like-minded countries to not only expose Pakistan’s regressive policies but also make it increasingly difficult to continue with its previous business as usual approach.”

Raksha Mantri outlined India’s close relationships and partnerships with like-minded friends to further the common interests of countries in the region and beyond. “Our strategic partnership with the U.S. is stronger than ever before.” India’s friendship has also grown tremendously with Japan, Australia and Russia. India has also forged a very special partnership with reliable friends like France and Israel, he added. One of the most important elements of India’s foreign and security policy is characterised by the “Neighbourhood First” initiative, he said.

RM further said Prime Minster took special interest in reaching out to our partner countries in West Asia, South East and East Asia. “It is a result of this initiative that we have enhanced the scope and quality of our relations with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman in the West and with Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea in the East. I see this trend further being enhanced over the next decade.”
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8th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting.

On November 6th, the 8th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held in Chushul. The two sides had a candid, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas. Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, ensure their frontline troops to exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation. Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and, taking forward the discussions at this meeting, push for the settlement of other outstanding issues, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. They also agreed to have another round of meeting soon.

Top ULFA(I) Surrenders to Indian Army.

In a well-planned operation by the Indian Army Intelligence Agencies at Meghalaya-Assam- Bangladesh Border, dreaded hardcore ULFA (I) leader, SS Col Drishti Rajkhowa along with four accomplices SS Corporal Vedanta, Yasin Asom, Ropjyoti Asom and Mithun Asom, surrendered, with a huge quantity of arms. Drishti Rajkhowa has long been in the wanted list of the ULFA insurgents responsible for their activities in lower Assam. His surrender is a major blow to the underground organization.

QRSAM Missile System Achieves Major Milestone.

Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) System has achieved a major milestone by a direct hit on to a Banshee Pilotless target aircraft at medium range & medium altitude. The missile is propelled by a single stage solid propellant rocket motor and uses all indigenous subsystems. The Missile is canisterised for transportation and launch using a mobile launcher capable of carrying 6 canisterised missiles. All QRSAM weapon system elements like Battery Multifunction Radar, Battery Surveillance Radar, Battery Command Post Vehicle and Mobile Launcher were deployed in the flight test. The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging target with short halts. The system is designed to give air defence coverage against strike columns of Indian Army.

The weapon system elements have been realized through Defence PSUs BEL, BDL and private industry L&T. The missile system is fully indigenous with active RF Seekers, Electro Mechanical Actuation (EMA) systems sourced from various industries. The Radar is four walled Active Phased Array Radar.
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International Terrorism

Africa
Nigeria
Security forces killed 75 Boko Haram terrorists in a month in Borno State

Between 28 September and 31 October, Nigerian security forces carried out counter-terrorism (CT) operations against Boko Haram and eliminated at least 75 terrorists in different areas of Borno State. In the CT operation, shelters and hideouts were also destroyed and four armoured vehicles of the terror group were also seized.
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Mozambique
IS-linked group beheaded 50 people in Cado Delgado province

On 06 November, Islamic State (IS)-linked group—claimed to be al-Shabaab has raided Muatide village and beheaded more than 50 men, including boys on a football ground in the Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique. The terror group kidnapped the women and children from the same village. However, al-Shabaab did not release any statement claiming the attack. “State forces and suspected spies have been captured and beheaded by the jihadist group to send a warning message, said David Otto—counter-terrorism and organised crime expert.
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Kenya
Al-Shabaab destroys telecommunication tower after attack in Kenyan border region

On 04 November, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked and destroyed telecommunication towers at Karo area in Mandera city in North-East Kenyan border region. Usually al-Shabaab terrorists disrupt police response and communication in the area before attack. The affected area is near to Somalia border and terrorists use this as advantage to attack and escaping back to their cross-border bases.
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Somalia
Security forces arrested seven al-Shabaab terrorists in Mudug region

On 10 November, Somalia’s regional Puntland State police force arrested seven al-Shabaab terrorists, including two commanders, in a counter-terrorism (CT) operation in Galkayo town in Mudug region in Central Somalia. The security forces shall intensify the CT operations against al-Shabaab in the region to maintain law & order and peace in the city, said Puntland State police Commander—Mumin Abdi Shire.
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Mali
French airstrikes eliminated 50 al-Qaeda terrorists in Burkina Faso and Niger border areas

In the last week of October, as a part of “Operation Barkhane”, France and allied forces [G5 Sahel, Estonia] carried out airstrikes and eliminated over 50 al-Qaeda terrorists near the border areas of Burkina Faso and Niger. In another operation, with a total of 3,000 soldiers, was also underway targeting the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. The operation was launched about a month ago, said French military spokesperson Colonel Frederic Barbry.
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Afghanistan
Senior AQIS leader killed in an operation in Farah province

In a tweet dated 10 November, Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) announced the killing of senior leader of al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and veteran Pakistani jihadist—Mohammad Hanif, during a counter-terrorism (CT) operation in Bakwa district in Farah province. The exact date of the operation was not disclosed. Hanif was a close aid of former deputy leader of AQIS—Asim Umar, before he was killed in Helmand province in December 2019.
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Four people were killed in suicide bombing in Kandahar province

Four people were killed, and 40 others were injured in a suicide bombing attack on 08 November, at a police base in Maiwand district in Kandahar province. No group claimed responsibility of the attack, however, government suspect Taliban behind this attack. Despite peace talk, violence has surged in Afghanistan.
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Pakistan
CTD killed two AQIS terrorists in Punjab province

On 07 November, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed two al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terrorists—Imran and Shakeel in Dera Ghazi (DG) Khan district in Punjab province. The CTD received intelligence inputs that AQIS terrorists are conspiring attacks on law-enforcement agencies in DG Khan District. A SMG (Sub-Machine Gun), a 30-bore pistol, and four live hand-grenades were recovered from the operation site.
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Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir
“Pakistan is desperate to push LeT and JeM terrorists into India”, said J&K DGP

At an event “Run for Unity and Run against Drugs” organised by the Kathua police on 07 November, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Director-General of Police (DGP)—Dilbagh Singh has said that Pakistan is making desperate attempts to push Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists into India through Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB). “With support from Pakistani agencies, terrorists have dug several cross-border tunnels for the infiltration, but our security forces are capable to thwart all ill-designs of Pakistan”, said DGP Singh.
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HM’s (Kashmir) chief Saifullah Mir eliminated in Srinagar

On 01 November, security forces killed Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM)’s Kashmir chief—Saifullah Mir aka Ghazi Haider in a counter-terrorism (CT) operation in Rangreth area in Srinagar. Saifullah was the last-surviving terrorist from the “Burhan Wani group”. He was appointed as chief of HM-Kashmir after RiyazNaikoo was killed in 2020.
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Left-Wing Extremism
Five Maoists surrendered in Andhra Pradesh

On 11 November, five Maoists from Pedapadu Vyunthapali village in G K Veedhimandal surrendered in Chintapalle village in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh. The surrendered Maoists were identified as K Lakshmana Rao, T Tilusu, T Bangarraju, K Robin, and P Lakshmana Rao.
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Police arrested a Maoist commander in Telangana

On 09 November, police arrested a Maoist commander (identity undisclosed) during vehicle checking in Aswapuram in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana. Acting upon intelligence input, police managed to arrest the Maoist while he was on his way to kill police personnel and damage public property. Police recovered gelatine sticks, detonators, electric wire, batteries and tiffin box from his possession.
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Five Maoist couriers arrested in Telangana

In a joint operation by police and the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) on 03 November, five Maoist couriers from Charla town in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district in Telangana and seized “olive green” uniform from them. The arrested Maoist couriers had procured 20 metres of the olive green uniform cloth in Bhadrachalam town at the behest of the Maoist leaders of Jegurugonda area committee, said police official (on the basis of anonymity).
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Islamist Extremism in India
An AuK operative arrested from Kerala

On 28 October, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Siddique ul-Aslam—an Ansarul-Khilafah (AuK)-Kerala operative upon his arrival at the New Delhi airport after he was deported from Saudi Arabia due to Interpol’s Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him. On the following day, Siddique was produced before the Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court and was sent to Kakkanad district jail. According to the charge-sheet filed by the NIA, Siddique, along with Manseed, ShajeerMangalassery, Swalih Muhammad, Rashid Ali, Ramshad, Mohammad Fayas, Safvan, Jassim N K, Moinudheen and Mujeeb Rahman, formed the Ansarul-Khilafah Kerala terror group during August-September 2016. While Shajeer was killed in Afghanistan, six of the accused were convicted by the NIA court in November 2019.

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Cyber, Information Warfare & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

US hospitals facing ‘imminent’ cyber-attacks threat, warned FBI

In a joint alert released on 28 October, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and two other federal agencies warned that on the basis of credible information there is an increased and imminent threat of cyber-attacks targeting the United States (US) hospitals and healthcare systems. The malicious groups are targeting the healthcare sector for data theft and disruption of healthcare services, amid coronavirus pandemic. According to independent cyber-security experts, Ransomware involved cyber-attacks has already targeted five US hospitals in the end-week of October, and could potentially affect hundreds more.
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