VIF Information Alerts - 19th November 2018

19 strategic roads, 29 buildings to come up on Chinese front in Arunachal, Sikkim

Published: The Economic Times
19 Nov 2018

India will go ahead with the construction of much-required strategic roads and permanent integrated buildings along the Indo-China border in Arunanchal Pradesh and Sikkim as part of a critical infrastructure project worth Rs 25,000 crore. The crucial decision, approved by the High Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is slated to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) shortly, along with other border-related projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.Click here to read.... [2]

N Korea’s new ‘tactical’ weapon test highlights military modernisation

Published: The Tribune
19 Nov 2018

North Korea’s claim last week that it had tested an unidentified “ultramodern tactical weapon” highlighted its desire to upgrade its conventional arms and reassure its military even as talks are under way to end its nuclear programme, analysts said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un witnessed the test of a newly developed tactical weapon that could serve as a “steel wall”, state media reported on Friday, without giving details of the weapon.Click here to read.... [3]

PoK activists allege China, Pakistan trade corridor a pro-military project

Published: The Asian Age
18 Nov 2018

Activists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have come out in protest against the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor's over the actual intention of the trade project, which they alleged was pro-military. The United Kashmir People's National Party or UKPNP led the protests, news agency ANI reported.

The UKPNP with "regional political powers and regional governments are also demanding that they should use their influence to stop Pakistan from creating such a hostile environment after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not a pro-people project," said Jamil Maqsood, UKPNP's former central secretary of foreign affairs. "We are of the view that the project is pro-military and it has a strategic interest. It is not directed towards developing local people..."Click here to read.... [4]

Pune police may question Digvijaya Singh in Maoist probe

Published: The Indian Express
19 Nov 2018

The Pune police are likely to question senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh in connection with their investigation into the activities of the banned CPI(Maoist), which has already seen the arrest of some high-profile activists. Singh’s cellphone number was reportedly mentioned in one of the letters the Pune police claimed to have seized from the arrested activists.

In the letter, dated September 25, 2017, one ‘Com Prakash’ purportedly tells one ‘Com Surendra’ that Congress leaders were “very much willing to assist” in their efforts to “intensify nationwide protests using students”. The letter allegedly mentions a cellphone number that ‘Com Surendra’ can contact “in this regard”. This is reportedly Singh’s cellphone number.Click here to read.... [5]

Taliban hold talks with US envoy in Qatar

Published: The Economic Times
18 Nov 2018

The Taliban have held three days of talks with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Gulf state of Qatar, where the Afghan insurgent group has a political office, a Taliban official and another individual close to the group said Sunday. The talks are aimed at renewing the Afghan peace process and eventually winding down America's longest war.Click here to read.... [6]

On-camera executions, the new fear factor in Shopian

Published: The Tribune
18 Nov 2018

In another spell of violence this week, Shopian in south Kashmir saw kidnappings, militant killings and slaughter of civilians. A dangerous dimension to the sordid saga was on-camera recording of executions, released on social media platforms. Two videos showed the execution of two youths, one of them dubbed by militants as an Army informer.Click here to read.... [7]