At least five people, including four labourers and a policeman, were killed in a terror attack on a police station in the Nasirabad area of Balochistan's Turbat in Pakistan, reported Geo News. Authorities said that some unidentified assailants attacked the police station. According to an official, the labourers hailed from Punjab and were identified as Mohammad Uzair, Baqar Ali, Shehbaz Ahmed and Shehzad Ahmed, Geo News reported. The bodies of the victims were shifted to Teaching Hospital Turbat. Moreover, one labourer also suffered injuries during the fight, reported Geo News. Pakistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai confirmed that the firing was a terrorist incident, and condemned the attack on unarmed labourers. Meanwhile, interim Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki summoned a report from the Ministry of Home and Tribal Affairs. According to Geo News, he further vowed to hold the culprits of the attack accountable. Reportedly, this is the second incident that has occurred in Turbat this month, where particularly labourers from Punjab were targeted. Earlier this month, at least six labourers were killed while sleeping and two were wounded after gunmen targeted them in an overnight attack in Turbat city, reported Geo News. The police further said that the unidentified gunmen attacked the labourers who were sleeping in an under-construction house. Moreover, earlier this year, a police official was killed and two others were injured when a police van was targeted in a bomb blast at Chakar Azam Chowk by a female suicide attacker, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Kech Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Baloch said that the suicide attack happened in Balochistan's Turbat and one of the injured police officers was a female. Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, Balochistan's then Chief Minister condemned the blast and expressed regret at the news of the dead and injured police officials. He also extended his condolences to their families, as per Dawn. 

The German-Israeli citizen Shani Louk was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas militants during the October 7 attacks on Israel. Now, her family and Israeli authorities have confirmed her death. The mother of Shani Louk, a German citizen believed to have been taken hostage by the Hamas militant group, says she has received information from the Israeli military that her daughter is dead. "Unfortunately, we received the news yesterday that my daughter is no longer alive," Ricarda Louk told German broadcaster RTL/ntv. Her sister Adi also confirmed the death of Shani in a post on Instagram. "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of my sister, Shani Nicole Z.L. [may her memory be a blessing], who was on October 7, 2023, at the party massacre in Re'im." In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said they were "devastated to share that the death of Shani Louk was confirmed." There has been no official confirmation from the German Foreign Ministry. Shani Louk went missing after Hamas terror attacks Shani Louk went missing while attending the Supernova music festival in southern Israel that came under attack from Hamas militants on October 7.  In the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks, pictures and videos shared online showed a young woman, believed to be Shani, lying face down in a pick-up truck driven by militants. It was unclear from the footage whether she was alive. Her family said at the time that they had information she had been critically injured but was receiving treatment in a hospital in the Gaza Strip.  Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people during their assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border. They also took more than 220 people hostage, including several Germans. Dozens of others are unaccounted for, according to the Israeli military. Shani Louk had German and Israeli citizenship. She had never lived in Germany, according to German media, but she regularly visited the country to stay with relatives. Her mother Ricarda, who has roots in southern Germany, had emigrated to Israel after converting from Catholicism to Judaism.  Shani’s grandparents are reportedly based in the southern German city of Ravensburg.

Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for killing an army officer in an area close to the Afghan border. Four soldiers were killed in northwestern Pakistan, the military said on Thursday. The incident comes amid a surge in terrorist attacks in the country. What happened in the attacks on Pakistani soldiers? Three soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing in North Waziristan, a region that long served as a base for Islamic militants linked to al-Qaida. "The suicide bomber intended to target the security forces' post. However, timely interception of the suicide bomber on suspicion by on-duty soldiers prevented a major catastrophe," the military's media wing ISPR said. In a separate incident, militants killed a Pakistani army officer on Thursday in the course of a gun battle in a tribal district close to the Afghan border, the army said.  The 33-year old army officer was leading an operation in the Khyber region where he was shot dead in an exchange of fire.  Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a local militant umbrella organisation of Sunni Islamists and sectarian groups, claimed responsibility for killing Shah. No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing yet. Increase in terror attacks in Pakistan The killings happened amid an alarming and steady surge in terror attacks in the country.  According to a statistical report released by the independent think tank in Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, there has been a 79% increase in militant attacks during the first six months of 2023.  The report noted a total of 271 militant attacks during this period, killing 389 people.  For the same six-month period in 2022, the country witnessed 151 attacks that left 293 dead, according to the report. It is said that around 80,000 Pakistanis have been killed in years of violence by the Taliban. 

On July 1, the 7th memorial day for all the victims of the tragic terrorist incident, Ambassador IWAMA Kiminori laid a wreath at the site of the Holey Artisan Bakery Attack, the Italy Ambassador’s Residence and the monument to the police officers who devoted their lives to the duty respectively.  Representatives of JICA Bangladesh Office, Oriental Consultants Global in Dhaka, Japanese Association in Dhaka, Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka, Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined the ceremony. At the ceremony, Ambassador Iwama expressed his condolences for the victims who lost lives in the tragedy.  Ambassador also stressed the importance of remembering of their contribution to the development of Bangladesh and reconfirmed, together with the Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh and others, the will to advance the support for the development of Bangladesh taking the maximum safety and security measures. Ambassador IWAMA mentioned “I would like to express my deepest condolences to all the departed souls on the 1st day of July.  7 years have passed since the terrorist attack had taken place, and my heart is still shocked with grief at the thought of bereaved families who lost their beloved ones, and I feel a strong sense of outrage at the terror that took away their dreams and aspirations in an instant.  I would like to pay attention to the fact that the seven Japanese victims came to Bangladesh to prepare for the MRT.  Today, I report them at the site of the attack that the construction efforts of MRT is under way and thanks to the tireless efforts of two countries the Line 6 was inaugurated last December and that the further construction has begun and will begin this year.  The wishes of those seven people who devoted themselves to the better future of Bangladesh will be passed to the next generation as the MRT further expands and develops. I, as an Ambassador to this country, will make utmost efforts to carry on the legacy of the deceased and to further deepen the friendly relations between two countries."

A massive crackdown launched by investigating agencies against the terror supporters in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution, has broken the back of separatists and terrorists sponsored by Pakistan. There is no space left for terrorists and their supporters in 'Naya Jammu and Kashmir' which is scaling new heights and marching ahead on the path of peace and prosperity. Terrorist supporters have been held accountable for their misdeeds. Their properties have been seized and the anti-national government employees have been sacked. After August 5, 2019, when the Centre announced its decision to scrap the so-called special status of J-K and bifurcate it into two Union Territories, the security agencies launched an "Operation All Out '' to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the Himalayan region. Steps taken by security agencies have paid dividends. Over-ground workers (OGWs), who used to provide logistics and other support to the terrorists have been identified and nailed. Separatist organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and others have been banned. Their funding channels have been choked. In a nutshell, the noose has been tightened around the elements that supported terrorist activities in the region. The tough action taken by law enforcement agencies has allowed the common man to heave a sigh of relief. Ones who used to threaten and intimidate the residents have been cut to size and shown their right place. Separatists, who used to enforce shutdowns, orchestrate street protests and stone-pelting are either behind bars or have turned silent. People are performing their daily chores without any disruptions as violence has declined and terrorists stand corners. Tourists arriving in hordes in J-K stand testament to the fact that in the past three years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led regime has established a rule of law in the strife-torn region, which witnessed Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for 30-long years. To date, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has seized 57 properties of Jamaat-e-Islami. The action has hit terror funding and has proven to be a major step in restoring the rule of law and a society without fear. According to the officials, the SIA has identified 188 JeI properties worth crores across J-K which have either been notified or are under the process of being notified for further legal action. Jammu and Kashmir Jamaat-e-Islami were banned on February 28, 2019, by the Union Home Ministry for its involvement in subversive activities in the region. The ministry stated the organization has close links with secessionists and terrorist groups and contests the merger of J-K into the Union of India. Seized Jamaat properties across Kashmir include business establishments, shopping complexes, schools, residential houses and land. Investigating agencies while probing different cases unearthed a pattern of terror funding wherein ancestral immovable properties of terrorists belonging to J-K who are based and operating from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were sold and sale proceeds were utilized to fund various terror outfits in the Union Territory. This modus operandi of terror funding remained in vogue for many years and emerged as a substantial source of terror funding in J-K. Thorough investigations revealed that the money obtained in the sales of properties of terrorists, both land and built-up structures, located in J&K were given to terror outfits operating here and an equivalent amount in Pakistani currency was provided by representatives of these terror outfits to the J&K native terrorists based and operating from Pakistan and POK. Pertinently, till 2019 separatist organizations funded by Pakistan had established their offices in almost every district of Kashmir. The henchmen of the secessionist leaders on the instructions of their bosses used to plan the street protests and other anti-national activities in these offices. As of date all the offices of these organizations stand closed in Kashmir and the people who used to run these are either behind bars or are doing some petty jobs to make ends meet. Not a single bullet or a pellet has been fired by the security forces during the past three years as Kashmir hasn't witnessed any street protests or a shutdown. Stone pelting has become history as the ones who used to foment trouble have lost their addresses. The closure of schools run by the Jamaat-e-Islami has helped in ending the radicalization in educational institutions. It has defeated the very idea of the secessionist elements to pollute the young minds in Kashmir. During the past three years, dozens of properties were identified that were illegally sold and mutated in the last decade, the exercise is continuing to identify more such properties for subsequent seizure and attachment. The government has imposed a ban on the sale and transfer of any such immovable property in which the J-K native terrorists based in Pakistan have any share or belong to them. It has also been proposed that all such previous sales and transfers be declared null and void. After J-K's reorganization in 2019 stringent laws were put in place to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory. Seizure of immovable properties of the terrorists operating from Pakistan and PoK, and assets of radical organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami, have blocked the major source of terror funding within Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces cracking the whip on the OGWs has led to the terrorists losing their capability to carry out any major attacks. People who willfully harboured the terrorists have been identified and booked. Their properties stand sealed. After the abrogation of Article 370, the government has driven home a point that anyone providing any kind of support to terrorists will be treated as a terrorist and he/she would have to face the law of the land. During the past three years, security forces have succeeded in eliminating top terrorist commanders. As of date, the number of active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir has declined to an all-time low with just around 50 terrorists being active in the Himalayan region. The local recruitment in terror ranks has fallen to zero.

With the arrest of 4 smugglers, Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed on Saturday to have busted an interstate terror module. The police informed further that 8 kilograms of Heroin were seized during a joint operation with the Army in the Tregam area of Kupwara district. Speaking to journalists, senior superintendent of police, (SSP), Kupwara, Youghal Manhas said, "It was an interstate terror module. We arrested 4 smugglers and about 8 kilograms of heroin and Rs 5 lakhs in cash were recovered during the joint operation with the Army. More arrests are likely in this connection in the coming days. Further details will be shared in due course of time." Kupwara Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the narcotic consignment had been sent by terrorist handlers from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) -- Manzoor Ahmad Mir and Asad Mir. They added that the handlers, who hail from Jumagund in Kupwara, crossed over into Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in the early 1990s to join terrorist ranks. "Both Manzoor and Asad, over a period of time, become terrorist handlers of LeT, acting as launching commanders besides pushing narcotics and weapons to sustain terrorist activities in J&K," the police added in its statement. The accused were identified as Yousuf Bokra from Rashanpora, Kralpora, Showkat Ahmad Khatana from Meliyal, Kupwara; Maroof Ahmad Mir from Jumagad, Kupwara and Laba Masih from Awaan Ramdas Ajnala, Punjab, Kupwara police said. Acting on a tip-off, a joint search operation was launched by Kupwara Police along with a local army unit at Zurhama in the Trehgam police station area. A case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and UA(P) Act has been registered in the matter at Trehgam police station.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is all set to host a working group meeting of tourism delegates from the G20 nations in ten-day time. The Summit is set to usher in a new positive phase in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT). The citizens of Jammu and Kashmir are upbeat and are extending full support to the Jammu and Kashmir Administration to make the program a grand success, believing that the event is going to be historical in showcasing Jammu and Kashmir's potential as a tourism destination, not just for India, but also for the entire world. It's for the first time in the past 70 years that J & K would be hosting an international event like G-20, and the occasion offers UT a chance to rise to the occasion of exhibiting its market prospects, and ecotourism ventures. "G20 Summit in Kashmir is set to boost tourism, providing a platform for the region to showcase its beauty to the world. It is a proud moment for every Kashmiri and a significant milestone for the tourism sector," said Mukhtar Ahmad, a hotelier in Srinagar. "Entire Valley is excited for the grand G-20. This is the first time such a grant venue is happening in the valley. Earlier no such event has taken place in this paradise. Our handicrafts and tourism destinations will be highlighted on the global platform," he said. Kashmir, popularly known as the paradise on earth, is surrounded by ranges of the Himalayas. The valley is also famous for its hospitality. The general public of Jammu and Kashmir, including students, are widely participating in various events in the run-up to the main meet. An official said that the people have understood that Kashmir is gearing up to host an important summit that would transform UT into a tourist centre of global importance. "People of Kashmir want development at a fast pace. It is due to the people's will that peace is prevailing in the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir UT. It is an exciting prospect that our youth is eagerly anticipating the speech of Prime Minister Modi. People here in Kashmir believe this event will be a milestone in the history of the region and will pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity," he said. He said that there are no shutdowns being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir against the visits of foreign dignitaries or any important persons. "Srinagar has always held a special place in my heart, I've been closely following developments across the UT. You won't believe, I, as a citizen was delighted to hear the news last year that our Srinagar City will be hosting a G20 Conference," said, Zubair Ahmad, a local resident of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Adding that G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar will be a significant occasion that will highlight the region's potential as a tourism destination. "The authorities have been successful in giving a makeover to the valley. Kashmir is transforming into a Brand new UT. And it's heartening to see the international community recognizing the potential of our Jammu and Kashmir UT and the efforts of the government to develop our UT," he said. Official sources said the Union Territory (UT) administration is expecting to host over a 100 non-ministerial members representing the G-20 nations. "It's a tourism stakeholders' meeting and will give a boost to J-K's tourism prospects too," a senior official said. Dignitaries from 20 different countries will attend the meeting and discuss tourism, unemployment, and socioeconomic development in different regions. The three-day second Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) meeting, under India's G20 presidency, is scheduled to begin in Srinagar from May 22 to 24. Elegant arrangements have been made beforehand to make this event special and memorable. In many places, walls are being painted brilliantly with colorful designs and colors to showcase our culture during the G-20 journey. Streets, roads, and parks are revamped and designed to openly welcome special guests. In Srinagar, preparations are in their final stages. A security plan has been worked out for the event, with multi-tier security arrangements and traffic diversions, officials said. The main venue, Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, is getting a Rs 7.5-crore makeover, which includes upgrading the digital infrastructure and refurbishing the exteriors and interiors. In addition to glossy G20 logos installed at multiple places, the visitors will be greeted by rows of lampposts illuminated in the green, white and orange of the national flag. The UT administration is planning to take delegates, scheduled to stay in Kashmir for four days, on sightseeing trips to Gulmarg, Baramulla, and the Dachigam National Park, known for the Kashmir stag. Official sources also said that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure the smooth passage of the event. "Administration is of the belief that G-20 is a great opportunity to showcase the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir at the global platform, so elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth passage of the event," the official said. Adding that everything is on the right track and there will be no curbs anywhere while educational institutions and the markets will remain open. Tourism is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy and the maximum share of the Union territory's GDP comes from tourism, with this tourism players are hopeful that the summit would provide further opportunities for growth to the sector. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir (CCIK) president Tariq Ghani Bedaba said that they are hopeful that it would provide opportunities for growth to the tourism sector here. "G-20 tourism meeting in Srinagar is the best thing happening in Kashmir. It will send a strong message that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination and people should visit the picturesque place to enjoy its natural beauty and hospitality of locals," he said. Like CCIK chief, Ali Mohammad too is hopeful that the G-20 meeting would prove helpful in showcasing Jammu and Kashmir's potential as a tourism destination He said Kashmir will witness an increase in footfall of foreign tourists. "This meeting will ensure foreign tourists visit Kashmir in large numbers as used to be the case before 1990s," Ali said. The upcoming G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar will be important for showcasing Jammu and Kashmir's potential as a tourism destination, not just for India, but also for the entire world. The diplomats and other officials are said to have prepared a comprehensive plan to use this conclave for boosting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir UT. An official aware of the preparations for the conclave said, "While Kashmir is already popular as a tourist hotspot for the whole country, the government is working on a robust and effective plan under 'tourism diplomacy' to increase tourist influx from abroad to Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, the idea is to generate more employment opportunities for the youth." Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha earlier on May 04 had described G20 summits as a matter of pride for the country and impressed upon the officials to make concerted efforts to ensure the successful conduct of one of the meetings in Srinagar. "G20 is a matter of pride for the country. We should make concerted efforts to ensure the successful conduct of the G20 meeting in Srinagar," Sinha said. The LG asked the departments to contribute enthusiastically to make the historic occasion a memorable one. India assumed the Presidency of the powerful grouping G20 from Indonesia on December 1 and is hosting about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country. The third G20 tourism working group meeting will be held in Srinagar between May 22-24. The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union (EU). Pertinently, this year Rs 447 crore has been allocated to the tourism sector to develop J & K as a modern and smart tourist destination. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said under 'Tourism Mission' initiative, 75 new destinations, 75 Sufi/religious sites, 75 new cultural, and heritage sites, and 75 new tracks are being developed in the UT to open up new economic avenues for fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "Investigate whether BNP-Jamaat are behind the recent fire to sabotage the economy." She said, "It should be investigated whether they, the BNP-Jamaat, are taking a different path by causing incidents like fire." Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing as the chief guest at the Awami League Local Government Nomination Board meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban on Saturday, April 15. She asked to investigate whether the recent fire incident in the New Super market was a conspiracy or part of sabotage. She asked to strengthen surveillance in important markets of the country. The Prime Minister said, "Everyone should be more aware. Each must arrange to guard (their business establishments) on their own initiative. All efforts of the government will continue."

After failing to send infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir due to heightened vigil along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan is using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to drop weapons and narcotics into Indian territory. Data collected by the various security agencies have revealed that there has been a threefold increase in drone sighting incidents along the India-Pakistan border. Of 492 UAVs or drones observed on the India-Pakistan border from January 1, 2020, to December 23, 2022, 311 were sighted this year. In 2021, 104 drones were sighted and 77 were seen in 2020. The UAVs have emerged as a major source of smuggling arms and ammunition, as well as drugs into India. The drones were sighted in different areas in Punjab and were within a range of 2-10 km of the International Border. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot down over 22 such drones and seized nearly 45 kg of heroin and a cache of arms and ammunition, including seven grenades, two magazines, 60 ammunition, and other firearms. In June 2021, two explosions rocked the high-security technical area of Indian Air Force (IAF) Station Jammu. Low-flying drones were used to drop two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). It was the first drone attack on any defence establishment in the country. One blast caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area. There was no damage to any equipment. After the drone attack on the Jammu Air Force Station, the security agencies went into a huddle and the anti-drone technology was put in place around the sensitive locations within no time. As of date, all the important security installations have been provided with the latest equipment to counter any misadventure by Pakistan and the terrorist handlers operating from the neighbouring country. In 2022, the Border Security Force shot down 16 drones as the anti-drone system and in-depth patrolling to tackle the menace helped the force to neutralize the threat posed by the UAVs. The anti-drone systems that have been installed at some specific locations along the India-Pakistan border and Line of Control (LoC) are also coming in handy in detecting and neutralising the drone threat. More such systems are being put in place to defeat the machinations of the terror bosses sitting across the border. The BSF has also started three-four km of in-depth patrolling so that the person trying to pick up the items dropped by these drones can be caught. Soldiers who shoot down these drones are being provided with special incentives. The steps that have been taken to counter drone terrorism are proving effective to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists. Women BSF personnel shot down a Hexacopter drone weighing nearly 18 kgs at Chaharpur village in Amritsar Punjab while it was entering Indian territory from Pakistan. The drone was carrying 3.110 kg of narcotics. Several cases have been reported where drones coming from Pakistan side dropped consignments of drugs, guns and money in J-K and Punjab. In November this year, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a consignment of weapons and Indian currency that were dropped by a Pakistani drone in Jammu's Samba district. The recoveries included one steel Improvised Explosive Device (IED), two pistols, 4 magazines, several batteries, and a watch. Police also recovered around Rs 5 lakh cash from the package. The movement of a drone was spotted in the Vijayapur area, which lies opposite the Sialkot-Pakistan border. Pakistan Army and other agencies are facilitating the entry of UAVs into Indian territory. Promoting terrorism through UAVs is allegedly a nefarious ploy of the deep state in the neighbouring country and the terrorist bosses. Security agencies are analysing the chips of the drones that were shot down in the recent past. Analyzing the chips would help experts are ascertain the details of the routes taken by the drones and their flying zone, as well as their origin. The Army has deployed trained kites to prey on enemy drones. They are pressed into service along with trained dogs for military operations. Such capability can help the security forces tackle the menace of drones coming from across the border. The dog alerts soldiers after hearing the sound of a drone while the kites help locate the enemy drone. A new technology is also being used to detect these drones. Police in frontier states like Punjab and J&K are being roped in to track the local contacts of the terrorists, who collect the consignments and act as conduits. Drone terrorism is emerging as yet another challenge for the security forces as Pakistan-sponsored terrorists are using the machines to prolong the 32-year-long proxy war, which till the abrogation of J-K's special status on August 5, 2019, was fought through militants, who were provided arms training and were pushed into Jammu and Kashmir. However, during the past three years, the situation has changed. The government has broken the back of terrorism by blocking its Hawala funding channels and by setting up a robust counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control and the International Border. The steps that have been taken have pushed the terrorists, their handlers and supporters on the back foot. Alert soldiers along the LoC are not allowing the terrorists to sneak into J-K, while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency (SIA) are ensuring that terror sympathisers and supporters are identified and taken to task. Terror sponsors have realised that they can no longer fight the proxy war through humans and are, hence, using drones as their best bet. However, in 2022, security forces shot down many UAVs and surveillance has been heightened. The adversary is not being provided with any opportunity to push terror into the Valley again. Source: ANI

The European Parliament looks ready to designate Russia a "state sponsor" of terror for its actions in Ukraine. It would be a first for the European Union as a whole, but it is unclear what the label would mean. EU lawmakers look set to declare Russia a "state sponsor of terrorism" in line with pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.   "Russia is directing attacks against the civilian population and targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, medical facilities and schools," a document prepared by the European Parliament's research service states.   If passed as a resolution in a vote on Wednesday, the designation would be a largely symbolic condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine and beyond. The US government has so far resisted the label for Russia, citing potential unintended consequences under its legal system.  What does the 'state sponsor' designation mean?  That depends on the jurisdiction. In the United States, there is a specific legal instrument listing states that have "repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism."  At present, only Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria are on it.   Inclusion means restrictions on foreign aid, a ban on defense exports to such governments, controls on exports of technology with potential military use and financial constraints. Crucially, it also has implications for Russia's sovereign immunity in US courts.  Canada also has a similar instrument condemning "state supporters of terrorism."   By contrast, the European Union currently has no centralized list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and no equivalent tool, as the European Parliament motion for a resolution published last week acknowledged. In essence, there would be no hard and fast legal consequences. The European Parliament has limited clout in foreign policy, which remains under the control of the 27 member states.  Has any country called Russia a 'state sponsor'?   A number of US legislators have pushed the Biden administration for such a listing, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. In a statement in September, Graham said lifting Russia's immunity would allow "civil claims from the families of victims of its state-sponsored terrorism."   But other US officials say the designation is not the best way to hold the Kremlin accountable. Listing Russia could undermine humanitarian initiatives, as well as the US's ability to help Kyiv at the negotiation table down the line, President Joe Biden's spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, said last month. In the US, the designation has implications for third countries that interact with listed states.   So far, parliaments in several of Ukraine's most ardent EU backers — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — have declared that they consider Russia under President Vladimir Putin to be a state sponsor of terrorism. These resolutions were nonbinding. The Kremlin has accused Latvian lawmakers of xenophobia. The lower house of the Czech Parliament has also made such a declaration.   The parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe called last month on its 46 member states to declare Russia under its current government a terrorist regime.   State sponsors of terrorism vs. terrorist states  Under US law, countries designated as state sponsors are accused of supporting international terrorism. For example the US accuses Iran of supporting "proxies and partner groups in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, including Hezbollah and Hamas."   Graham said Putin had "engaged in state-sponsored assassinations, the Wagner group supported by Russia terrorizes the world, and the war crimes being committed in Ukraine on a daily basis shock the conscious."  There is no widely accepted definition for the term "terrorist state," said Lisa Musiol, an EU analyst from the nongovernmental organization Crisis Group. It implies that a country uses violence against its own citizens or other states, but its usage is highly political, she said.   When it comes to the European Parliament's resolution on Russia, the labels seem to be used fairly interchangeably, Musiol said. Neither really has legal consequences in the European Union, she added.    The motion for a resolution focuses largely on Ukraine, but also mentions the Wagner Group. Last year, the EU slapped sanctions on the Russia-based private military entity, which is linked to activity in Libya, Syria, Ukraine and the Central African Republic.   If it's all symbolic, why bother?   Zelenskyy has been calling allies, primarily the US, to dub Moscow either a terrorist state or a sponsor of terrorism since shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in February. But Musiol said it wasn't necessarily a major priority for Kyiv compared with other, more concrete assistance.  In an email, a spokesperson for the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the right-wing parliamentary group that tabled the motion, said a vote by the Parliament to describe Russia's actions as terrorism would send "a strong signal." ECR lawmakers expect the resolution to pass on Wednesday, the spokesperson added. "The symbolic value of such resolution cannot be underrated," the spokesperson said.   The motion for a resolution invites the member states to consider adopting the label and also suggests setting up a system that could pave the way for prosecution.   But Crisis Group analysts have opposed using the US's existing available measures against Russia, as well, sharing the concerns of the Biden administration. In an article published in August, two analysts cautioned that the designation tends to lead to more friction, for example in the case of Cuba, which was added in the final days of President Donald Trump's presidency in 2021 "on the basis of questionable links to terrorism."  Musiol said it made more sense for the European Union to focus on initiatives that have real consequences, such as further sanctions on Russia, and weapons deliveries, economic aid and military training for Ukraine. Even as a symbolic gesture, offering the country EU accession candidate status was far more meaningful, Musiol said.