SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW

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Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the South Asia Terrorism Portal. Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya on March 6, 2018, stated that the Naga ‘political issue’ would be resolved within six months. He further asserted that if Nagaland and the Northeast were to progress, then the Naga issue should be brought to a conclusion and the welfare of the Nagas should be on the agenda. On March 3, 2018, the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared the results of the Nagaland Assembly Elections held on February 27, 2018. The Naga People’s Front (NPF), leading constituent of the erstwhile ruling coalition, 



the Democratic Association of Nagaland (DAN), emerged as the leading party with 26 seats, followed by the newly formed National Democratic People's Party (NDPP), with 18 seats; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 12 seats; National People’s Party (NPP), two seats; Janata Dal-United (JD-U), one seat; and one seat to an independent candidate. The State Assembly has 60 seats. Former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of National Democratic Progressive Party was declared winner from the Northern Angami-II Assembly seat, uncontested.

Governor P.B. Acharya swore-in the Neiphiu Rio-led Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) Government on March 8, 2018, at Khuochiezie in Kohima District. The PDA alliance has the support of 32 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs): National Democratic People's Party (NDPP), 18 MLAs; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 12 MLAs; Janata Dal-United (JD-U), one MLA and one independent MLA, Tongpang Ozukum. The State unit of the National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew its support to the coalition on March 7, 2018 [a day after it had supported the alliance], saying they were yet to obtain an endorsement from party President Conrad Sangma.

Crucially, the elections were peaceful. No incident of violence was reported during the entire period of electioneering, that is, between the date of notification of the elections (January 31, 2018) and election date (February 27, 2018).

Subsequent to the announcement of elections on January 18, 2018, however, the State went through a small phase of political uncertainty. The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organizations (CCNTHCO), a conglomerate of Naga civil-society organizations and traditional institutions, through a joint declaration on January 29, demanded postponement of the elections till a final agreement on the vexed ‘Naga issue’ had been signed. CCNTHCO was supported by all the political parties, including the BJP, in the State. However, BJP backed out on January 30, 2018, stating that the final call on the election issue would be taken by its central leaders. Significantly, a word of assurance from the Union Government’s interlocutor for the Naga Talks, Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) Chairman R.N. Ravi, that the elections would not come in the way of any final accord signed with the Naga outfits, helped salvage the situation. It was clarified, further, that fresh elections could be held after the finalization of the Naga Accord.

Meanwhile, insurgency in the State remained under check through 2017. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal(SATP), the State accounted for a total of eight insurgency-linked fatalities, including four civilians, one Security Force (SF) trooper and three militants in 2017; as against six fatalities, including four civilians and two militants, recorded in 2016. One fatality has been recorded in the current year so far (data till March 11, 2018). On February 2, 2018, unidentified militants killed Dichungbe Nriame, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) ‘Deputy Kilonser and Central Administrative Officer (CAO)' at Jalukie town in Peren District. Nriame was the 'CAO' of NSCN-IM's 'Zeliangrong' region.

At the peak of the insurgency, Nagaland accounted for a total of 360 fatalities (104 civilians, 38 SF personnel, and 218 militants) in 1997. The highest civilian fatalities, 144, were recorded in 1996. The maximum number of SFs, 48, were also killed in 1996.

In 2017, fatalities were recorded from three Districts – Mon (5), Dimapur (2) and Kohima (1). In 2016, killings had been reported from three Districts –Dimapur (3), Tuensung (2) and Wokha (1). Nagaland has a total of 12 Districts. In 2012, fatalities were reported from nine Districts - Zunheboto (13), Dimapur (11), Kohima (8), Kiphere (8), Peren (6), Mon (4), Phek (4), Tuensung (2), and Wokha (2).

One major incident (involving at least three fatalities) was reported from the State through 2017. On June 6, 2017, a Major of the Territorial Army, identified as David Manlun, and a civilian, identified as Rajendra Gupta, and three United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) militants, were killed in an encounter at a place in between Lapa Lempong and Oting villages near the Tizit Subdivision of Mon District. Three militants of the United Liberation Front of Assom – Independent (ULFA-I), who were killed in the encounter, were identified as ‘second lieutenant’ Phanindra Asom (35), Bipul Asom (32) and Dikom Konwar (35). Though no major incident was reported in 2016, at least 24 fatalities, including three civilians, eight SF personnel, and 13 militants, were recorded in four major incidents in 2015.

Two incidents of explosion were recorded through 2017 (leading to the death of one civilian and injuries to four others). In 2016 as well, two such incidents were recorded (six civilians were injured, no fatality recorded).

Further, the State recorded four incidents of abduction in which five persons were seized through 2017, as against six such incidents registered in 2016, in which six persons were abducted. Additionally, 13 reported incidents of extortion were recorded in 2017, down from 31 such incidence in 2016 (both abduction and extortion tend to be grossly under-reported; actual incidence may be significantly higher). On October 13, 2017, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested four State Government officers — three serving and one retired — on charges of extortion and unlawful “tax collection” of behalf of the NSCN-K. The arrested individuals were identified as Purakhu Angami, former director of tourism; V.Aza, Additional Director of Agriculture; Hutoi Sema, Joint Director of Irrigation; and Kekhriesatuo Tep, superintendent-cum-cashier of the fisheries department.

Out of eight fatalities (four civilians, one SF personal, and three militants) recorded in the State through 2017, five (one civilian, one SF personnel, and three militants) were linked to ULFA-I, one civilian fatality each was linked to NSCN-K and NSCN-R (the Reformation faction of NSCN). One civilian fatality remained ‘unattributed’. In 2016, out of the six total fatalities, one militant fatality each was linked to NSCN-K and NSCN-Unification (NSCN-U). Four civilian fatalities remained ‘unattributed’.

No internecine clashes between Naga outfits were recorded in 2017, both within and beyond the territorial limits of the State. The last such incident within the State dated back to July 2, 2015, when the body of an ex-NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) militant who had joined NSCN-R, identified as Mannyei Konyak, was recovered from Sheanghah Wamsa in Mon District. The last such incident, outside Nagaland, was reported on September 12, 2016, when a Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militant, Pouguanglung, was killed in a shootout with suspected cadres of NSCN-IM at Khoupum Taodaijang village in the Tamenglong District of Manipur.

Meanwhile, SFs arrested 148 militants in 82 incidents through 2017, in addition to 142 such arrests in 86 incidents through 2016. Those arrested in 2017 include 51 NSCN-IM militants, 46 NSCN-K militants, 15 militants of the Non-Accordist faction of the Naga National Council (NNC-NA), 14 of NSCN-R; three militants each from the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) and the I.K. Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS), and one militant each from the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) and Naga National Council (NNC).

While the security situation has been well managed, the Governments – State and Union – regrettably failed to ensure further and noticeable developments on the Framework Agreement through 2017. An attempt was made to further widen the talks, with the Government reaching out to groups beyond NSCN-IM. Three rounds of talks were held between the Government of India (GoI) and the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), a grouping of six armed Naga militant formations, in 2017: September 27, 2017; October 23, 2017; and November 1-3, 2017.

The Government of India (GoI) and NSCN-IM signed a Framework Agreement in 2015; there was a mutual reiteration via a communiqué in 2016. Though the details of the agreement are not in the public domain, in a statement titled “Indo-Naga Political talks is nearing its logical conclusions” released on May 10, 2017, NSCN-IM’s ‘Ministry of Information and Publicity’ observed,

As of now, the Nagas have agreed to co-exist together under shared sovereignty. The ongoing Indo-Naga political talks are progressing smoothly. The Framework Agreement, which will ensure peaceful coexistence between the Nagas and India with shared sovereignty, will surely usher in peace and a brighter political era for the Nagas."

Clarifying the Government’s position, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju stated, on March 2, 2018,

Let me make it clear. We had signed the Framework Agreement in 2015 and the Framework Agreement is nothing detailed it is just a confidence building step. And the framework on the basis of which the talk was to progress. Because the talk has to progress on basis of certain understanding like there were demands for sovereign nation for Nagas and all. These are totally unconstitutional with regards to our position and of course position of India, so there are certain parameters which were required to (be) clear(ed) up before we clear up the talk. So it was a Framework agreement. But when and as we move you know we move ahead for final settlement that will be known as the accord the final Naga Accord. While we are in final stage of the peace talk, it will not be proper for me to divulge the details because I am also the concerned relevant Minister in the process. Consensus is very much possible and nearing the final solution.

Earlier, on November 27, 2017, Union Government’s interlocutor for Naga talks, R.N. Ravi had told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs that “no deadline” could be fixed for the Naga peace agreement. Ravi also informed the Standing Committee that NSCN-IM had been insisting that, since it was the “legitimate Naga group”, negotiations should take place only with the group, but that was not the stand of the Union Government.

Meanwhile, there are indications that NSCN-K also wants to rejoin the peace talks. “There have been certain indicators that NSCN-K would want to be part of a ceasefire agreement like other factions of the group. That is the reason they did not attempt any strike in the run up to elections,” a report dated February 28, 2018, quoting an unnamed official, claimed. According to a February 13, 2018, report, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs did not anticipate any major problem during the Assembly Elections as both Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) and NNPG had given a commitment not to interfere in the electoral process. These projections were borne out by the peaceful conduct of the polls.

The issue of the ‘solution’ to the Naga conflict continued to linger through 2017 and remains a top priority. Indeed, during the election campaign, the now newly sworn-in Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had promised the electorate, “The Naga issue is a political issue and my party will ensure that it is resolved at the earliest”.

The problem of insecurity along the international border remains. A 215 kilometers-long unfenced section of the Indo-Myanmar border remains a n area of difficulty and the ‘last remaining hub’ of militancy in the region. In a worrying development, according to a March 4, 2018, report, Myanmar has indefinitely deferred the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to streamline the free movement of people within a 16 kilometers area along the border, citing “domestic compulsions”.

Meanwhile, SFs are concentrating their efforts to manage the challenges along the border. In the early hours of September 27, 2017, the Indian Army’s Para Regiment commandos, inflicted ‘heavy casualties’ (numbers not reveled) on the NSCN-K in an operation at an unidentified location near Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding District and Nagaland’s Mon District, close to Langkhu village in Myanmar, along the India-Myanmar international border. News reports also indicate that GoI is attempting to nudge the Myanmarese Government to launch a ‘flush out operation’ against Northeast Indian militant formations.

A final accord signed with the all the Naga outfits, taking on board various stakeholders, will bring lasting peace to Nagaland. Further, close counter terror cooperation between India and Myanmar could help resolve the problem of cross border ‘safe heavens’, and help establish and sustain a durable solution to the protracted Naga conflict.

Deepak Kumar Nayak 

Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

At least 10 cadres of the ‘Telangana State Committee (TSC)’ of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were killed in an encounter near the Pujari Kanker Forest under the Pamed Police Station limits in the Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, on March 1, 2018. According to reports, acting on tip-off about a ‘big meeting’ of CPI-Maoists in the area, personnel from the Greyhounds[the elite anti-Maoist force of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Police] and Chhattisgarh Police started a combing operation. The combing team came across an estimated 50 to 100 CPI-Maoist cadres and asked them to surrender, but the Maoists opened fire. In the retaliatory fire, Security Forces (SFs) killed 10 Maoists, while the remaining rebel force managed to escape. B. Susheel Kumar, a Greyhounds commando, also lost his life in the encounter.

The dead Maoists include member of the North Telangana Special Zonal Committee (NTSZC) and ‘action team commander’, Dadaboina Swamy aka Prabhakar (53) of Ramapeta village under Kazipet Mandal (administrative sub-division) of Warangal District (Telangana); member of the ‘Central Regional Committee (CRC) Doctor’s team’ and ‘Area Committee Member (ACM)’, Rame aka Pande of Gollapalli in Karimnagar District (Telangana); member of the ‘CRC Doctor’s team’ and ‘A-Section Commander’, Mallesh aka Baman of Dunga Indravati in Bhairamgarh, Bijapur District (Chhattisgarh); ‘CRC Dalam (armed squad) member’ Kosi of Rangaigudem in Dornapal, Dantewada District (Chhattisgarh); and Dalammembers – Ithu of Thippapuram in Jayashankar, Bhupalpally District (Telangana); Kamala of West Bastar (Chhattisgarh); Pedda Budri of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh); Ratna of Bijapur District (Chhattisgarh); Sukki of Gangloor, Dantewada District (Chhattisgarh); and Somidi of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh). The Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one SLR (Self-Loading Rifle), two single bore rifles, five INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles, one .303 rifle, one pistol, three claymore mines, two solar plates, seven kit bags, a Sony radio, empty cartridges, live ammunition of different calibres, Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature and cash amounting to INR 41,000 from the encounter site.

The Telangana Maoists had suffered similarly when at least eight cadres of the Venkatapuram ‘area committee’ of the CPI-Maoist, which operates in the Bhadrachalam area of Khammam District in Telangana, were killed in a similar encounter with SF personnel along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border on March 1, 2016. The Telangana Greyhounds had launched the operation after receiving information about the presence of Maoist leaders in the region, resulting in the encounter, which took place in the Sakler area of Sukma District in Chhattisgarh State. Along with the bodies of the eight slain militants, SF personnel also had recovered an AK-47 rifle, three SLRs, several .303 rifles and ammunition, from the encounter spot.

While these two incidents of major losses for the Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)] in Telangana took place in Chhattisgarh’s territory, along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh Border, the biggest loss to the Naxalites inside Telangana occurred on December 14, 2017, when nine cadres of the Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction of the Communist Party of India–Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction) were killed in an encounter with the Police in the Mellamadugu Forest area under the Tekulapally Mandal in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Police recovered one SLR, three other rifles, two guns, and some other materials.

According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), through 2017, SFs killed at least 11 Naxalites. This included two cadres of the New Democracy faction of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML-New Democracy) who were killed in an encounter with the Police in the Sidharam forest area of Tekulapalli Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District on September 21, 2017.

In 2016, SFs killed one Naxalite in Telangana. On August 8, 2016, Naxal ‘renegade’ Mohammed Nayeemuddin aka Nayeem aka Balanna, was killed in an exchange of fire with the Police in Shadnagar Town of Mahbubnagar District.

Since, the formation of Telangana on June 2, 2014, the State has recorded a total of 15 Naxalite deaths: none in 2018 (data till March 11), 11 in 2017, one in 2016, two in 2015, and one in 2014.

SFs have not suffered a single fatality during this period.

Moreover, SFs have arrested 156 Naxalites since the formation of the State: 17 in 2018, 75 in 2017, 24 in 2016, 33 in 2015, and seven in 2014. Some of the prominent cadres arrested in 2018 include: CPI-ML-New Democracy’s Mahabubabad Division ‘secretary’ Bandaru Ilaiah akaVeeranna (50), in Mahabubabad District on February 8, 2018; ‘squad commander’ of the Chandranna faction of the CPI-ML-New Democracy, Mora Ravi (35), at Reddygudem village in Palvancha Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District on Febrauary1, 2018; and Madivi Pande akaSusheela aka Laxmi, working as protection ‘platoon commander’ of the CPI-Maoist’s ‘central committee (CC) member’ Katakam Sudharshan akaAnand aka Duladadha, at Venkatapuram in the Jayashankar-Bhupalpally District, on January 5, 2018.

Mounting SF pressure has resulted in the surrender of 60 Naxalites since the formation of the State: two in 2018, 23 in 2017, 11 in 2016, 13 in 2015, and 11 in 2014. Most recently, Ubba Mohan aka Sunil, CPI-Maoist’s ‘Sabari Area Local Organising Squad (LOS) commander' surrendered to the Police in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District on January 30, 2018.

Not surprisingly, Naxal (LWE)-linked violence has remained under check right since the formation of the State. Telangana has recorded seven civilian deaths till date: two each in 2014, 2015 and 2017; and one fatality in the current year. No such fatality was recorded through 2016. Most recently, on January 27, 2018, CPI-Maoist cadres killed P. Jogaiah, a former Maoist cadre, suspecting him of being a 'Police informer', in Veerapuram village of Bhadradri Kothagudem District.

Other parameters of violence also indicate a progressive weakening of the LWE movement. Overall Naxal-linked violence has been declining. According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), Telangana accounted for five incidents in 2017 as against seven in 2016, 11 in 2015, and 14 in 2014. Only one incident of arson was recorded in 2017, as against two such incidents reported in 2016

Moreover, while the Maoists called for bandhs (general shutdowns) on five occasions in 2016, they issued just one such call in 2017. According to SATP data, LWE-related incidents of violence were reported from five Districts (Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Khammam, Mahabubabad, and Suryapet) in 2017. In 2016, violent incidents were reported from nine Districts (Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Khammam, Mehboobnagar, Nalgonda, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla and Warangal).

Some worries, nevertheless, persist. A March 22, 2017, report indicated that the CPI-Maoist leadership, while taking stock of losses suffered in encounters along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, planned to recruit new cadres and couriers, offering huge amounts, and had started recruitment near the border region. The Maoists were focusing particularly on Guttikoyas (a scheduled tribal community hailing from Chhattisgarh, who had escaped from the conflict zone in Chhattisgarh and settled in the border villages of the Khammam and Warangal Districts in Telangana), as well as unemployed tribals.

Citing intelligence inputs on possible Maoist attacks on three irrigation projects in Telangana, the UMHA deployed three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for their protection; one at the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project at Medigadda in Karimnagar District; a second at the Tupakulagudem Barrage; and the third ready for deployment in the Adilabad or Khammam District, depending on emerging requirements.

A July 31, 2017, report disclosed further that the ‘Telangana State Committee (TSC)’ of the CPI-Maoist party, with the Adilabad District Committee, Khammam District Committee, Khammam-Karimnagar-Warangal Divisional Committee, a Special Guerrilla Squad and 92 cadres (18 are from the State and the remaining 74 from Chhattisgarh), had been tasked to intensify activities in the Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) region as well.

Eight Districts of Telangana (Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Medak, Mehboobnagar, Nalgonda, Warangal, and Nizamabad) are included in a list of 106 Maoist-affected Districts from 10 States across India, released by the UMHA on July 18, 2017. Of these 106 Districts, 35 from seven States were categorized as ‘worst LWE affected Districts’. Khammam in Telangana is among these ‘worst’ Districts. Telangana has a total of 31 Districts.

The State’s successes against the Maoists notwithstanding, significant problems remain at the policy level. At least 16,044 Police posts were vacant in the State as on January 1, 2017, against a sanctioned strength of 63,064, a deficit of 25.44 per cent, according to the latest data provided by the Bureau of Police Research and Development [BPR&D]. Moreover, against the sanctioned strength of the apex Indian Police Service (IPS) Officers in the State at 139, just 97 officers were in position, considerably weakening decision-making in the Force. The police-population ratio (Policemen per hundred thousand population) in the State was 130.71 per 100,000, even lower than the appallingly low national average of 137.11 [over 220 Policemen per 100,000 population are considered necessary even for ‘peacetime policing’], according to BPR&D, as on January 1, 2016 [Disaggregated data of population/area for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana not available for 2017].

Anxious efforts by the Maoists to engineer a revival in their erstwhile areas of dominance in Telangana, the worst affected region at one time in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, have failed abysmally. However, their residual capacities cannot be simply ignored. With significant areas of Maoist dominance in neighbouring areas of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, vulnerabilities persist, and there is urgent need to address existing lacunae.

Civilians 

Security Force Personnel 

Terrorists/Insurgents 

Total

BANGLADESH 

Islamist 

1 

0 

0 

1

INDIA 

Assam 

0 

0 

1 

1

Jammu and Kashmir 

0 

0 

3 

3

Left-Wing Extremism 

Chhattisgarh 

1 

2 

0 

3

Odisha 

1 

0 

0 

1

INDIA (Total) 

2 

2 

4 

8

PAKISTAN 

Balochistan 

0 

0 

8 

8

PAKISTAN (Total) 

0 

0 

8 

8

Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.

AFGHANISTAN

99 militants killed, 38 others injured and 15 arrested in operations across Afghanistan in last 24 hours, says MoD Afghanistan: Ministry of Defence (MoD) Afghanistan said on March 9 that 99 militants (affiliation not specified) were killed, 38 injured and 15 arrested in operations in the last 24 hours in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kapisa, Ghazni, Paktika, Paktia, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Badghis, Farah, Takhar, Kunduz and Helmand Provinces. 40 militants were killed in Kandahar’s Maiwand and Spin Boldak Districts, 14 in Helmand’s Kajaki, Nawa, Nad Ali and Sangin Districts. Pajhwok, March 10, 2018

Afghan Government should not overload its package of peace offer to the Taliban, says Former Jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf: Former Jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf said on March 9 that the Afghan Government should not overload its package of peace offer to the Taliban “You (Government) should have offer, but should not overload them. Tell them to come to their country and we will give you ministry, you can live in anywhere and can form political party and so on. But for the sake of Allah, do not give them overloaded offer from the part of the people. Do not tell them that come and we will give you that province, will hand safe are to you. Once you (Government) hand that area as safe area to them (Taliban), then it will not become a secure region, but will become a region of chaos,” stated Sayyaf. Tolonews, March 10, 2018.

Ashraf Ghani finalises plan for New Year’s military operations: President Ashraf Ghani finalised a new solar year’s (Afghan New Year Starts from March 21) plan for military operations on March 8. He asked Defense Officials to evaluate this year’s operation ‘Operation Khalid’ and to implement ‘Operation Nusrat’. Tolonews, March 9, 2018.

INDIA

No measures have been taken to contain the rise in FICN, says the Parliamentary Panel to the Government: he Parliamentary Panel—headed by the senior Congress Leader P. Chidambaram on March 7, claimed that the Panel is concerned over the rise in the Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) cases even after the demonetisation. No measures have been taken by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) to replace the existing FICN detection machines to detect the cross-border smuggling FICN or to make it compatible for detecting FICNs with new denomination notes, says the Parliamentary Panel. Outlook, March 11, 2018.

1,261 stone pelting incidents in J&K in 2017, Pulwama records maximum FIRs, says report: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 1,261 incidents of stone-pelting in 2017, with the native town of slain Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist Burhan Wani--Pulwama recording the maximum number of cases against stone pelters followed by Hurriyat leader Syed Geelani's bastion of Sopore. A total of 91 cases were registered against stone pelters in Pulwama in 2017, while 71 such cases were registered in Sopore, a document accessed by the State Home Department said. In 2016, Sopore had recorded nearly 500 incidents of stone pelting, the highest during the Kashmir unrest following the killing of Burhan Wani that year. Times of India, March 10, 2018.

“I do not support Khalistan anymore, Canada is my home and India is my homeland”, says former Khalistani militant Jaspal Atwal: Over his controversial appearance with Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Trudeau at an event organised during Canadian PM’s visit to India, the former Khalistani militant Jaspal Atwal talked to the media through his lawyer’s office in Canada and apologised and stated that he does not support the demand of an independent Sikh nation—commonly known as ‘Khalistan’, anymore. Over his appearance at the event, several questions were raised about his connection with PM Trudeau and security lapses on how he was invited at the event. Newsx, March 10, 2018.

Meghalaya to be made insurgent free in five years, states Meghalaya Home Minister: Meghalaya State Home Minister James P.K. Sangma on March 8 stated that Meghalaya would be made insurgency free within five years. He also added that the new government would work towards ensuring an insurgency-free state but talks with any militant organisation would follow only after laying down of arms. He also stated that ‘Operations will continue. We need a safe and secure environment throughout the state’. The Telegraph, March 9, 2018.

Terrorism is a fundamental violation of Human Rights, says India’s representative in UN: Replying to Pakistan’s allegation, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Raj Kumar Chander on March 8, highlighted the human rights violations conducted by Pakistan during an official meeting at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). There is a reference to the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) but there is none related to the cross-border terrorist activities. Terrorism is a fundamental violation of all Human Rights and we overlook its immediate threat, said Chander. Zee News, March 9, 2018.

94 terrorists killed in 777 incidents of infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, says Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju:There were 777 incidents of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir in which 94 terrorists were killed by Security Forces (SFs) in past two years, the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) was informed on March 7. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said there were 406 cases of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 in which 59 terrorists were killed. In 2016, there were 371 incidents of infiltration into the State in which 35 militants were killed and three were arrested, he said. Daily Excelsior, March 8, 2018.

There were 4,799 stone-pelting incidents and 872 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in past three years, says Central Government: The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on March 7 informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) that there were 4,799 stone-pelting incidents and 872 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in past three years. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said 730 incidents of stone pelting were reported in 2015. In 2016, he said, 2,808 such incidents were reported, and in 2017, the incidents numbered 1,261. Daily Excelsior, March 8, 2018.

Ahle Hadith proposed to issue fatwa against Islamic State, says report: In an Islamic Conference schedule to be held on March 9-10, the Chief of Ahle Hadith—a large Sunni sect, on March 7 has proposed to declare Islamic State’s (IS) “terror tactics” as un-Islamic through a fatwa. The fatwa has been endorsed by 40 senior scholars associated with the New Delhi-based Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadees Hind, the main body representing the sect, said the appointed leader of the group Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mahadi Salafi. It is India’s Constitution, the Judiciary system, and the involvement of civil society which are great avenues of justice. Hindustan Times, March 8, 2018.

Myanmar puts off Border pact with India: Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement of people within 16 kilometers of Indo-Myanmar border. Myanmar sighted ‘domestic compulsions’ for deferring to sign the agreement and asked more time before the agreement is sealed. A senior government official stated that ‘Myanmar has been dragging its feet on the agreement. They have asked for more time and are reluctant due to domestic compulsions. They fear that if they sign the pact, the international agreement will have to be adhered to’. The Hindu, March 7, 2018.

Troops alive to challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, says Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: The armed forces are retaliating appropriately to ceasefire violations by Pakistan army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, besides effectively dealing with terrorists in the State, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on March 5. She also said that the Government has issued broad guidelines to ramp up security at defence establishments, besides strengthening and streamlining the response mechanism in the event of any terror attack. Daily Excelsior, March 6, 2018.

PAKISTAN

US not supporting Baloch ‘insurgency’, says Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells: The US Government on March 11 said it firmly supports the territorial integrity of Pakistan and does not support Baloch insurgency or any group that threatens the country. “We firmly support Pakistan’s territorial integrity,” Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at State Department, told a talk titled ‘Signs of Hope for Afghan Peace Talks’ at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. She said that the message of the Trump administration is that any group or any terrorist group threatening any country in the region has to be opposed. Daily Times, March 12, 2018.

US announces five million dollars bounty for TTP chief Maulana Fazlullah: The United States (US) on March 9 announced a USD 5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Maulana Fazlullah, the chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The announcement by the State Department came a day after Fazlullah’s son was reported killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan. Under its rewards for justice programme, the US also announced a USD 3 million reward for information each on Abdul Wali of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) leader Mangal Bagh. Indian Express, March 10, 2018.

Pakistan's anti-terror operations reduce terrorism, says US Intelligence chief Lieutenant General Robert P Ashley: The Director of United States (US) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lieutenant General Robert P Ashley on March 7 said that Pakistan's counter-insurgency operations and border management efforts have reduced the menace of terrorism in the country. Lieutenant General Robert P Ashley was addressing at the US Senate Armed Services Committee on the Worldwide Threat Assessment hearing at Capitol Hill. The News, March 7, 2018.

No ‘decisive change’ in behaviour even after Pakistan aid freeze, says US: The United States (US) has not seen a ‘decisive and sustained’ change in the behaviour of Pakistan even after the Trump Administration announced to freeze USD Two billion security assistance to Islamabad nearly two months ago, said Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. “We’ve not seen decisive and sustained changes yet in Pakistan’s behavior … but certainly we are continuing to engage with Pakistan over areas where we think they can play a helpful role in changing the calculus of the Taliban,” said Alice Wells. Daily Times, March 7, 2018.

Hafiz Saeed, other JuD leaders still freely using group's offices despite ban in Pakistan: Hafiz Saeed and other leaders of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) are still freely using the banned groups' offices despite Pakistan's claims that all the assets of the two outfits have been seized and their bank accounts frozen, an unnamed Punjab Government official said. The Government in February had taken over the JuD's famous Muridke Markaz and Lahore's headquarters of Masjid Al Qadsia in Chauburji. But on ground neither Saeed nor his supporters left the JuD's Chauburji headquarters or that of Muridke and other offices of JuD and the FIF in the country. Times of India, March 7, 2018.

SRI LANKA

President declares a state of emergency after communal clashes erupt in central hills in Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on March 6 declared an island wide state of emergency for a period of week after communal clashes between majority Buddhists and members of the minority Muslim community in the central hills escalated. On March 6-afternoon, acting in terms of section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance, President Maithripala Sirisena promulgated a state of emergency for a limited period of one week by bringing into force section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance. Colombo Page, March 7, 2018.