VIF Information Alerts - 05 Jan 2018

US freezes $1 billion in security aid to Pakistan over no ‘decisive action’ against terrorist groups
Published – Hindustan Times
5 Jan, 2018

The US said on Thursday it was suspending at least $1.15 billion security-related assistance to Pakistan until it showed tangible evidence of decisive action in combating terrorists, chiefly the Haqqani network, operating from its soil.

The United States did not specify the actions Pakistan is required to undertake to earn back the assistance, which is mostly extended to enable Islamabad to bolster its counterterrorism capability with, if needed, military hardware purchases from the US with its funding. Click here to read... [2]

Misunderstandings between US and Pakistan will affect peace efforts in Afghanistan: ISPR chief
Published – DAWN
3 Jan, 2018

The chief of military's media wing, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, on Wednesday said Washington should realise that the misunderstandings between Pakistan and United States could negatively affect the security situation in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, while talking to GeoNews, said that Pakistan will never compromise on its prestige and integrity. He, however, stressed that the US and Pakistan were allies. Click here to read... [3]

India spikes Rs 3,200-cr deal with Israel to buy missiles
Published – The Tribune
4 Jan, 2018

A top Israeli arms firm has confirmed that India cancelled a USD 500 million (around Rs 3,200 crore) deal to develop Spike anti-tank guided missiles and expressed “regret” over the decision just ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first visit to the country. Click here to read... [4]

China to launch satellites for SL, other countries in 2018
Published – Daily Mirror
5 Jan, 2018

China will launch over 35 satellites this year including satellites for Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well as for commercial companies, GB times reported on Wednesday.

It said a number of satellites for ocean observation, weather, remote sensing and/or reconnaissance, earth observation and telecommunications satellite series will be launched. Click here to read... [5]

13 financiers accused of financing the LTTE to stand trial before a Swiss Court
Published – Sunday Times
5 Jan, 2018

Thirteen financiers accused of funnelling more than $15.3 million to the separatist group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) will stand trial before a Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Monday, foreign media reported.

According to a report in Swissinfo the accused are from Switzerland, Germany and Sri Lanka. Some are former members of the World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC), which represented the LTTE in Switzerland until 2009, and include its founder, his deputy and the person in charge of finances. Click here to read... [6]

China to invest $1bn in mega Lanka project
Published – The Times of India
4 Jan, 2018

China will invest $1 billion in the construction of three 60-storey buildings at a mega-project near Sri Lanka's main port, Colombo said on Wednesday, as Beijing aims to boost its influence in the Indian Ocean. The deal follows an earlier Chinese investment of $1.4 billion to carry out reclamation work for the wider Colombo International Financial City development, strategically located next to Sri Lanka's harbour, the only deep sea container port in the region. Click here to read... [7]