VIF Information Alerts - 1st May 2019

Iran designates all US troops in Middle East as terrorists
Published: The Indian Express

01 May 2019

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signed a bill into law on Tuesday declaring all US forces in the Middle East terrorists and calling the US government a sponsor of terrorism. The bill was passed by parliament last week in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s decision this month to designate Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist organisation. It was not clear what the impact of the new Iranian law might have on US forces or their Middle East operations.Click here to read... [2]

ISIS names new emir in 'Bengal', issues threat to carry out attacks
Published: The Times of India

01 May 2019

Naming one Abu Muhammed al-Bengali as its new emir in 'Bengal', an Islamic State affiliate group on Tuesday issued a direct threat to carry out strikes in India and Bangladesh.

“If you think you have silenced the soldiers of the Khilafa in Bengal and Hind and you are certain about that then listen we men are never to be silenced.. And are thirst for revenge is never to be faded away (sic),” the IS poster released in Bengali, English and Hindi reads.Click here to read... [3]

US finds 'no evidence' of India using Afghan soil against Pakistan: Alice Wells
Published: The Express Tribune

30 Apr 2019

ISLAMABAD: Declaring terrorists attacking Pakistan as its enemies, the United States on Wednesday said it does not have the ‘evidence’ suggesting that India is using the Afghan soil to perpetrate terrorism in Pakistan.

“I don’t have the evidence what you’re referring to, but our policy is clear that no country should support non-state actors,” a senior visiting State Department official said in response to a question while interacting with a group of journalists here at the US Embassy.Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan: President Ghani seeks to restore his legitimacy with a Loya Jirga
Published: Deutsche Welle

29 Apr 2019

On Monday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani opened a Loya Jirga, a grand assembly of tribal elders, to discuss the ongoing peace talks between the Taliban and the United States. The four-day grand consultative assembly is being attended by 3,200 trial elders and community and religious leaders from all 34 Afghan provinces. Milad Sikanderi, a spokesperson for the Loya Jirga, told DW that the participants include members of parliament, civil society organizations, Afghan media, and members of Afghan refugee organizations. "This covers the whole of Afghanistan," he said.Click here to read... [5]

Nepal Signs Seven Major Deals with China
Published: Nepali Sansar

29 Apr 2019

In the latest update on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Nepal and China have signed seven different agreements, after an official meeting between Bhandari and the Chinese PM Xi Jinping on April 29, 2019. Among the seven agreements, the Protocol on Implementing Agreement on Transit Transport is the most important one. The said protocol gives Nepal access to sea without passing the Indian territory.Click here to read... [6]