An Israeli army battalion, Netzah Yehuda, may, among other things, be excluded from receiving US financial support. The US has never imposed sanctions on the Israeli army before. Numerous media outlets are reporting that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to announce sanctions against a battalion of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The unit, known as Netzah Yehuda (Judea Forever), has been accused of human rights violations against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to the Associated Press news agency, the US has been investigating five army units for serious human rights violations. These sanctions, however, would only apply to this unit, imposing two restrictions: Firstly, no US military aid would go to Netzah Yehuda; secondly, its participation in training programs financed by the US would be limited. The Israeli government has already declared that it will oppose the sanctions. What is Netzah Yehuda? The Netzah Yehuda battalion was established in the late 1990s as a special religious unit, with specific conditions to facilitate military service for ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim). The men are given time for prayer and religious studies, their food is kosher, and contact with female soldiers is very limited. The battalion is part of the Kfir Infantry Brigade, which says it numbers around 1,000 soldiers in total. The majority of the ultra-orthodox community opposes compulsory military service, making this a contentious issue. Many of the soldiers in the battalion joined voluntarily because Haredim have always been exempt from military service in Israel. Those who attended a yeshiva (a religious school) up to a certain age, for instance, cannot be called up into the IDF. However, more and more politicians are calling for the rule to be changed. Israel's Supreme Court ruled back in 1998 that it was discriminatory. And since October 2023, with the start of the war in Gaza against the militant group Hamas — which the US, EU, and others designate a terrorist group — thousands of Haredim have volunteered for military service. Rallying point for radical settlers? The unit is made up of both ultra-orthodox and religious-nationalist Israelis. These include radical settlers from the occupied West Bank who have close ties to the parties of right-wing extremist government ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. According to the US news website Axios, more and more of the so-called "Hilltop Youth" have joined the battalion over the years. This group consists of young, radical, sometimes violent settlers. Just last week, the EU sanctioned the Hilltop Youth for their attacks on Palestinians. Netzah Yehuda was originally stationed in the occupied West Bank, but it was relocated to northern Israel at the end of 2022. The battalion has now also been deployed in the war in the Gaza Strip. What exactly is the battalion accused of? The Times of Israel reports that Netzah Yehuda has been linked to right-wing extremism and violence against Palestinians. According to the Axios website, the battalion first came to the attention of the US government in 2022, with incidents of violence against Palestinian civilians. Members of the battalion are said to have detained an almost 80-year-old man, Omar Assad, and kept him bound and gagged for hours. Assad, a Palestinian-American, died a few hours later of a stress-induced heart attack. As reported by the Washington Post and other outlets, an autopsy found that this was likely brought on by his being manhandled. The IDF condemned the incident at the time, describing it as a "moral failure," and a poor decision on the part of those responsible. Two officers were dismissed and a third was reprimanded, but no criminal charges were brought. The incident attracted attention because of the man's dual nationality, his advanced age, and because the US called for an investigation. However, human rights activists can cite numerous other cases of alleged mistreatment and torture of Palestinians. How has Israel reacted? The Israeli government has expressed outrage at reports of impending sanctions. On Saturday evening, President Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Sanctions must not be imposed on the Israel Defense Forces!" and declaring that his government was working to prevent any such measures. His post continued: "At a time when our soldiers are fighting the monsters of terror, the intention to impose sanctions on an IDF unit is the height of absurdity and a moral low." The Israeli military has stated that it is not aware of any sanctions against any of its units, and said: "If a decision is made on the matter, it will be reviewed." Is the US considering further sanctions? Sanctions against the Israeli army are a new development, but the US has previously imposed sanctions against Israel, such as recently against extremist settlers, and against the right-wing extremist Bentzi Gopstein, an ally of Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right minister for national security. The US also put on its sanctions list two organizations that provide financial support for sanctioned extremist settlers. Their assets in the US have been blocked. US citizens and others in the US are also forbidden from engaging in any transactions with sanctioned organizations and individuals.

The preliminary election results show no political party has achieved a simple majority in parliament, and any indications of support from the country's powerful military are being closely monitored. Pakistan needs "stable hands" and must move on from the politics of "anarchy and polarization," the Chief of Army Staff said Saturday. General Syed Asim Munir's statement came after no party was able to gain a simple majority in parliament in Thursday's general election. "The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarization," Munir said.  Pakistan's powerful military wields massive political influence, with generals having run the country for nearly half its history.   Votes still being counted Independent candidates linked to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won most seats. The PTI's main rival three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-M), took the second-highest number of seats. Both declared victory victory on Friday. Munir said elections were "not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing."  Complicating matters, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), headed by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has outperformed expectations by securing enough seats to play kingmaker.  With most votes counted on Saturday independents had won at least 99 seats, 88 of them loyal to Khan. Sharif's PML-N took 71 and the PPP snapped up 53. Only 15 of the elected 266-seat National Assembly were still to be announced. On Saturday, the Army chief said he "wishes that these elections bring in political and economic stability and prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for our beloved Pakistan."   Parties begin coalition talks Khan was barred from contesting the election after being handed several lengthy prison sentences in the days leading up to the vote. He was ousted from government in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote that Khan said the military had orchestrated. The United States, Britain, and the European Union expressed concerns about the vote, urging a probe into reported irregularities. However, Pakistan's foreign office said on Saturday that international comments on the nation's elections ignore the "undeniable fact" that Pakistan had conducted elections successfully. Coalition talks between Sharif's party and other groups were reportedly underway.  "We don't have enough of a majority to form a government without the support of others, and we invite allies to join the coalition so we can make joint efforts to pull Pakistan out of its problems," Sharif told supporters. Khan's party chief, Gohar Ali Khan, meanwhile said the PTI would try to form a government. He also said if complete results were not released by Saturday night, the party would hold a peaceful protest on Sunday.  

Army will be deployed in 62 districts from January 3 to 10 for peaceful holding of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections slated for January 7. A release issued by the Defence Ministry stated that the armed forces members will perform duties jointly with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in the 47 bordering upazilas. Apart from their sole deployment in 45 upazilas, the BGB members will also be accompanied by the Coast Guards in four coastal upazilas. Bangladesh Navy will perform duties in a total of 19 upazilas including the coastal districts of Bhola and Barguna.  Bangladesh Air Force is also set to provide necessary helicopter assistance to polling stations in remote hilly areas along with electoral assistance in case of emergencies, the release added. Special cells have been set up jointly by representatives of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies across the country, which will remain operational till January 10, 2024.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to deploy the armed forces countrywide for 13 days from December 29 to January 10 to assist the civil administration in holding the January 7 polls. Members of the armed forces member will be stationed at different "nodal points" and convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan area, an EC letter said today (Dec 18). The letter said that armed forces members will be deployed in coordination with returning officers. The commission sent the letter to the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division. An executive magistrate will accompany the armed forces, the letter said.  

President of the Baloch Voice Association Munir Mengal has said that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir should be questioned in the US about enforced disappearances, military operations, extrajudicial killings and systematic abuse of rights in Balochistan. He said Pakistan should be asked to end its occupation of Balochistan. “Pakistani Army Chief should be questioned in America about #enforceddisappearances , #militaryoperations, #extrajudicialkillings and systematic abuse of rights in #Balochistan. #Pakistan should be asked to end occupation of #Balochistan,” the Baloch Voice Association President wrote on ‘X’.   The Baloch Voice Association is an NGO registered in France. This comes as Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is currently on a visit to the US. The Pakistan Army Chief on Wednesday (US local time) met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. A brief statement was issued by the Pentagon after the meeting, saying: “Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the Pentagon today, where the two officials discussed recent regional security developments and potential areas for bilateral defence cooperation.” General Munir left Islamabad on Sunday, reached the US capital on Tuesday afternoon after spending two days in Britain. Details of his engagements in the UK have not been made public, as it was apparently a private visit, according to Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper. The army chief’s visit was also discussed at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, where a journalist reminded press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would have his first face-to-face meeting with Pakistan’s new army chief and asked what the US defence chief was looking for in this meeting. “Will they be talking about the deportation of Afghans from Pakistan or potentially buying munitions to go to Ukraine?” the journalist asked. General Ryder replied, “I don’t have any meetings to read out from the podium. Certainly, as you know, when the secretary meets with foreign counterparts and leaders, we provide a readout. So if we have a readout to put out, we’ll certainly do that.” Another journalist asked, “How would you assess US-Pakistan military relations at this point?” “Pakistan continues to be an important partner in the region. And so obviously, through Centcom, we continue to stay in close contact with them, particularly when it comes to issues like counter-terrorism,” General Ryder said, as per Dawn. As per Dawn, during his visit, General Munir is also expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. He may also meet senior members of the US House and the Senate.  Source: ANI  

The recent Gallup survey extolling Pakistan Army’s public approval is misleading and erroneous. There are many reasons for such a conclusion. The foremost being another finding of the survey–that the most popular political leader was former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan is the bete noir of the army.  The army wants to keep Khan firmly locked up behind bars at least till the elections are over. So the people who voted Khan as the most popular leader cannot, in the same breath, hail the army as the most popular institution. It is difficult to believe unless the survey was manipulated. A large number of respondents at the same time also lamented the economic misery. At least 77 per cent of them expressed great dissatisfaction with the country’s current direction, while 47 per cent described the economic situation as “very bad”. How can the same set of respondents then approve the army as the most popular institution knowing fully well that the army itself was largely responsible for this collapse. It was part of the hybrid regime. Another important reason is the timing of the survey. The survey was conducted between June 10 and June 30,2023 in all provinces of Pakistan. This was the time when the army was locking up people in hordes after the May 9 incident.  The public dissolution and anger, and fear, was at its peak. So for people to hail the army as a popular institution is difficult to believe. And that too alongside making Imran Khan the most popular political leader. This was also the time when the army itself was a divided house. The Lahore Corps Commander had invited the mob to enter his house, ransack the military property while refusing to order a crackdown. The commander was naturally a sympathiser of Imran Khan and had refused to obey the command of his superiors.  He currently faces court martial for his act of insubordination and indiscipline. He was not the only officer to cock a snook at Rawalpindi. There were others, middle-ranking and from lower ranks, who refused to follow the army’s orders on May 9. The number of soldiers involved in insubordination could run into double digits. At a time when the army itself was a hothouse of rumours and conspiracy theories, it is incredulous to believe that Gallup managed to get people to vote for the army. The survey reeks of management if not outright manipulation. There cannot be any doubt that the Gallup Survey published widely in newspapers and other media sources was certainly timed to project the army in a good light when it was battling a public scrutiny of its political engineering, its failure to thwart terrorist attacks and its desperate attempt to corner whatever business prospect a poor and impoverished country could offer in times of crisis. The army has not only managed to browbeat the political leadership through arrests, charges and military trials but is also in the process of utilising vast public resources to augment its own profit and influence.  Dissenters are being rounded up. Political enemies are languishing behind bars. Even as terrorists are carrying out successful guerilla war against the army, the army itself is more interested in punishing local communities in Balochistan and Sindh and the tribal areas. The present survey reminded of the 2023 Gallup Survey and 2014 Pew Global Research findings which claimed that people believed the country was headed in the right direction in the Musharraf years. The Gallup Pakistan survey in August 2013 showed that 59% of Pakistanis have a positive view of President Musharraf which, later events proved to be completely erroneous.  General Musharraf perhaps became one of the most hated Generals in the later years. Is this the fate that awaits General Asim Munir too? Source: thepakmilitarymonitor.com

Due to Heavy rains and water coming down from hills in Matamuhuri river have caused flooding to several areas in Chattaogram division. On August 8, Water-logged disrupted the connection between CTG-Cox's Bazar Highway.  Members of Bangladesh Army have been deployed to deal with flood and landslides situation in Chattogram and Bandarban. Apart from this, internal roads are submerged under several feet of water. Government and private offices, educational institutions have become waterlogged. People of the area are facing severe shortage of food and clean water. Meteorological Office has recorded 216.4 mm of rainfall in Patenga in the previous 24 hours. At this time Meteorological Office recorded 208.4 millimeters of rainfall Ambagan.

Soldiers of Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are participating in the ongoing Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2023 in Mongolia.  Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) informed about the troops participation in the exercise in a tweet.  Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army)  tweeted, "Exercise #NomadicElephant 2023 Achieving Synergy & Interoperability. Troops of both the Nations in action during the Joint Exercise at #Mongolia." On July 16, Indian Army contingent comprising of 43 personnel reached Ulaanbaater  by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. The exercise, which began on July 17, is being conducted at Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar. The exercise Nomadic Elephant-23 is due to end on July 31.  The exercise is an annual training event with Mongolia which is conducted alternatively in Mongolia and India. The last edition of Nomadic Elephant-23 was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh in October 2019. The scope of this exercise involves platoon level field training exercise (FTX).  Ministry of Defence in the press release said, "The aim of this exercise is to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.  The primary theme of the exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate." During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will engage in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities. These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training. Soldiers from India and Mongolia will learn from each other’s operational experience.  According to press release, India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. The exercise will be yet another significant milestone in the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army which will further foster bilateral ties between the two nations.

On July 26, India will mark the 24th anniversary of its victory over Pakistan forces on the heights of Kargil. The day commemorated as Vijay Diwas is a solemn occasion to remember the brave hearts in uniform who sacrificed their lives for their nation. Indian Army is organising a two-day event, which began Tuesday at the Kargil War Memorial. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will join the Indian Army personnel for the celebrations on Wednesday. General (Retd) Ved Prakash Malik who was the Army Chief during the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistan recalls the victory of his troops with a sense of pride. Speaking to ANI at the Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh today, General Malik said “This place is unforgettable for me. I feel proud of the armed forces particularly the Indian Army which I was heading at the time. The manner in which they recaptured ground in the most challenging of circumstances showed the true nature of our forces. I feel very honoured to amongst the kin of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation." The war, which was fought in the most challenging terrain under harsh weather conditions led to the defeat of the enemy in Dras, Kargil and Batalik Sectors. The Indian Army recaptured the strategic peaks of Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Point 4875, among others in the war.  One of the heroes of that conflict Lt Gen YK Joshi (Retd.) who as a Lieutenant Colonel led the 13th JAK rifles in recapturing Point 4875 was awarded Vir Chakra for his service. “We fought this war which had huge challenges, the terrain is so challenging, sub-zero temperatures and a lack of oxygen and doing all that with packs of ammunition is even tougher. The enemy also had the advantage of being on top of the mountain, but we attacked and recaptured all those features,” Lt Gen Joshi said.  One of the officers who sacrificed his life in that attack was Captain Vikram Batra better known as Shershah. His twin Vishal Batra recalled with pride his brother’s sacrifice, “I feel it is like yesterday, it was a tough time for many of us specially those mothers who lost their sons. It is a hard memory to live with, but I feel proud because so many Army officers tell me that he is their inspiration and they joined the forces only because of him." The Indian Army conducted a briefing today at Lamochen in Dras. The event commenced with an audio-visual narration of the battles which showcased the Kargil War as it unfolded.  The vivid narrations, in the backdrop of the very mountains where the fierce battles were fought, recreated scenes of each battle and the venue reverberated with tales of bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers. The narrations of battle followed by reminiscences of actions by the war heroes themselves, brought to life the bravery, indomitable spirit and everlasting zeal of the country's braves. Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande interacted with veterans during the programme. Several former top Army officers also laid wreaths at the War Memorial in Kargil today. The Defence Minister will pay his respect to those who made the supreme sacrifice for the victory of India by laying a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial tomorrow. Floral tributes will also be paid to the fallen soldiers by serving and former Army officers

Pakistan’s Army Chief Syed Asim Munir underlined the need to make the country self-reliant to end the dependency on foreign loans, which the cash-strapped nation recently secured with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Geo News reported.  While addressing the opening ceremony of Khanewal Model Agriculture Farm on Monday, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan said, “Pakistanis are a proud, zealous and talented nation. All Pakistanis must throw out the beggar’s bowl.” Notably, Pakistan is set to receive another loan from China. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said that Pakistan has received a rollover of an additional USD 600 million loan from its all-weather ally China to help shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves on the back of an IMF deal. In July, the Pakistan government’s debt swelled to USD 2.44 billion, including USD 2.07 billion in non-guaranteed debt owed to China, as per Geo News. The army chief also said that Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with all blessings and no power in the world can stop the country’s progress. General Munir said a state is like a mother and the relationship between the people and the state is of love and respect. He said security and the economy are interlinked and indispensable to each other. COAS also stated that the Pakistan Army is proud to serve its nation, adding that the military drew its strength from the people and vice-versa. Speaking about the model farm, the COAS asserted that the country will witness the agricultural revolution, reported Geo News. He added that model farms will be established across the country in line with modern standards to benefit small farmers and spread the scope of green initiatives.