VIF Information Alerts - 17th May 2019

Isil branches out into Pakistan as it bids to rebuild collapsed caliphate
Published: The Telegraph
17 May 2019

The Islamic State group has disclosed the creation of a new regional chapter in Pakistan, as the group tries to rebrand and rebuild after the destruction of its caliphate. The organisational reshuffle came five days after the announcement of a similar new outfit in India.

Pakistani operations had until this week been attributed to the group's Khorasan Province which encompassed Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of central Asia.Click here to read... [2]

APG raises questions over efforts against terror financing
Published: The Dawn
17 May 2019

Pakistan faced harsh questioning on effectiveness of its efforts against money laundering and terror financing at the “face-to-face meeting” of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) on money laundering, a regional affiliate of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

A 10-member delegation led by Finance Secretary Mohammad Younas Dagha represented Pakistan at the two-day APG meeting in Guangzhou, China. It briefed the group about the country’s updated actions against currency smuggling, proscribed organisations and tightening of financial and corporate sector systems and operational effectiveness.Click here to read... [3]

Centre names officers for tri-service divisions
Published: The Hindu
16 May 2019

Giving shape to the country’s specialised tri-service divisions — special operations, cyber and space — the government has named two-star officers from the three services to oversee the setting up of the organisations.

While each division will draw personnel from all the three services, the Special Operations Division will be headed by the Army, the Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) by the Navy and the Defence Space Agency by the Air Force. All three divisions will function under the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).Click here to read... [4]

India delivers two Mi-24 attack choppers to Afghanistan
Published: Hindustan Times
16 May 2019

India on Thursday delivered two Mi-24 attack helicopters to Afghanistan to strengthen its air force and support Kabul’s fight against the Taliban, officials said. The choppers will boost the capability of the Afghan air force and enhance its effectiveness in combating terrorism, the Indian embassy in Kabul said in a statement. India is expected to deliver two more Mi-24s to Afghanistan later this year.Click here to read... [5]

India set to export first batch of missiles to South East Asian, Gulf countries: Official
Published: The Economic Times
15 May 2019

India will export its first batch of missiles this year to the South East Asian and the Gulf countries after receiving "increasing interests" from them, a top defence official said here Wednesday. Speaking at the IMDEX Asia 2019 exhibition, Commodore S K Iyer, Chief General Manager for HR at BrahMos Aerospace, said the first missile export contract awaits a government to government approval. Click here to read... [6]