News Story: Raziq Says Pakistan Positioning Insurgents Along The Durand Line

Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq (2015)

By Anisa Shahid

Pakistan has big plans for Afghanistan, has established large insurgent training camps on both sides of the Durand Line and have stationed militants along the de facto border, Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq told TOLOnews on Monday. 

Raziq also accused Iran, along with Pakistan, of supporting, equipping and training insurgents and said Pakistan is Afghanistan’s enemy. In line with this he called on the international community to increase pressure on Islamabad.

“They (Pakistan) have positioned terrorists on both sides of the Durand Line; they train them there and want to have control over the southern region and along Afghanistan’s shared borders with Iran and Pakistan. They want to weaken government and are involved in drug smuggling, the control of mines and with the money they earn in this way, they create terrorist centers here and finance them,” said Raziq.

According to him, Pakistan aims to transfer Quetta Council, known us Quetta Shura, to southern Helmand province where Taliban leaders and their families will be based.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: In Myanmar, Conspiracy Theories Hound Rohingya Crisis Coverage

Joe Freeman

YANGON, MYANMAR — Conspiracy theories have hounded media coverage of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, which many view as biased against the largely Buddhist country.

These include allegations that Muslims have undue influence at the BBC and that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is paying foreign journalists to produce the stories they want.

The complaints stem from a genuine concern that the media has focused a disproportionate amount of attention on the more than 400,000 Rohingya who have fled violence in Myanmar and the allegations of extrajudicial killings and massacres that they have brought with them.

Their plight has reached the highest levels of global power, with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday referring to the developments as a "great tragedy unfolding."

By contrast, many here argue, journalists - and then the leaders who read the stories - ignore or fail to mention the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks that sparked the military crackdown, the tens of thousands of non-Muslim civilians who have fled their homes, and the deaths of Buddhists, Hindus and members of ethnic minorities caught up in the conflict.

News Report: Rohingya Crisis May Reduce China's Geopolitical Weight and Unleash Islamism

Beijing is interested in restoring stability in Myanmar, which is currently being engulfed by the Rohingya crisis, experts told Sputnik. China's concerns about the potential upsurge in Islamic extremism in the country have geopolitical grounds as Myanmar serves as an alternative energy route for Beijing.

China is seriously concerned about the possibility of Daesh's penetration into Myanmar and the Chinese province of Yunnan amid the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State, a Chinese expert in international affairs told Sputnik China speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the expert, radical Rohingya and Uighur Muslims may jump at the opportunity to establish contacts with Islamist forces in Southeast Asia. Over recent years, China has been constantly dealing serious blows to extremist Islamist groups inside the country, the source added.

"The crisis in Rakhine continues to escalate," the expert said. "It can lead to the merging of local extremists with terrorist forces in the Middle East. All these pose a huge challenge to Southeast Asia and China, therefore we must take preventive measures."

News Report: US Envoy Criticizes Cambodia Over ‘Absurd’ Plot Claims

The U.S. ambassador to Cambodia on Tuesday described as "baseless" claims from the country’s leader that the United States was involved in an attempt to overthrow the government.

The accusation comes after Cambodian authorities arrested leading opposition politician Kem Sokha September 3 and charged him with treason in connection with an alleged plot to work with the U.S. to depose Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The government in Phnom Penh said the charges against Kem Sokha, of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, were based on comments he made in 2013, in which he claims to have received help from the U.S. to build a pro-democracy movement.

Ambassador William Heidt said in a statement that stories about U.S. plots involving Kem Sokha “have completely, and intentionally, mischaracterized what the United States is doing in Cambodia.”

“Honestly, the whole thing is just absurd,” he said in his statement. Heidt also called for the immediate release of Kem Sokha, adding that his arrest threatened Cambodia's fragile democracy.

Think Tank: More than just about Belt and Road - does China hold territorial ambitions in Central Asia?

Connor Dilleen

During a speech at the National Press Club in August, the political leader of the Tibetan diaspora, Lobsang Sangay, speculated that China may use the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to seize territory in the same way that it used a road project in Tibet as the first step in taking control over the country.

While Sangay’s claim was likely intended to draw attention and sympathy to Tibet, it provides an interesting perspective from which to assess China’s relationship with its Central Asian neighbours and the scale of BRI investments in the region.

As noted by Geremie Barme, a former head of the ANU’s Centre for China in the World, in a rebuttal of Sangay’s comments, for China ‘Tibet was about resources, while it sees most of the rest of the world as markets’. China is investing heavily in BRI projects across Central Asia, and much of that investment is focused on exploiting local resources and developing critical transportation hubs, rather than pursuing domestic markets. Thus, Central Asia potentially fits Barme’s ‘Tibet’ characterisation rather than the ‘market’ model.

But China’s investment in Central Asia carries significant risks, and those risks give rise to questions about China’s risk calculus in Central Asia. Barme’s riposte to Sangay—which contained an interesting point on the extent of China’s imperial ambition and China’s willingness to pay the price associated with such ambition—potentially sheds some light on what China’s risk calculus may be.

News Report: Cambodia Arrests Opposition Leader, Alleges Treason

David Boyle

NEW YORK — Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested early Sunday on an espionage charge, accused of conspiring with a foreign power to harm the country, according to a government statement.

Kem Sokha’s daughter, Kem Monovithya, tweeted: “Kem Sokha and all bodyguards are taken away by 100-200 police without warrant after they raided his home. We don’t know where they take him.”

The Cambodian government statement said Kem Sokha, the leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, had been charged with espionage under Article 443 of Cambodia’s criminal code.

“The Royal Government would like to inform the public that according to a video clip broadcasted by the Cambodian Broadcasting Network, based in Australia, and other evidences collected by the competent authority, it clearly proves the conspiracy between Kem Sokha and the accomplices with foreign power, which harms the Kingdom of Cambodia,” the statement read.

News Story: Cambodian PM says U.S. behind opposition leader Sokha in anti-gov't plot

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Sunday accused the United States of staying behind an anti-government plot made by Cambodian main opposition leader Kem Sokha, government-aligned media Fresh News reported.

Sokha, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was caught red-handed early Sunday at his home in Phnom Penh and sent to Trapaing Thlong Prison in Tboung Khmum province, about 150 km east of Phnom Penh.

"It is the United States. The act of treason by conspiring with foreign country, betraying his own nation, requires immediate arrest," Fresh News quoted the prime minister as saying to more than 4,000 garment workers during a get-together in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen said Sokha's arrest would not affect the national election, which is scheduled on July 29, 2018, and called on the people to keep calm and let the court proceed with the case.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Gen. Raziq Calls For Nationwide Campaign Against Taliban

Kandahar Police Chief Gen. Abdul Raziq (2015)

Kandahar Police Chief Gen. Abdul Raziq has called for a nationwide campaign against the Taliban who he believes are the puppets of other countries.

Talking to TOLOnews, Raziq said that there should be a difference between those who are educated at schools or madrasas, religious schools, and the Taliban group which “kill the people and destroy public infrastructures”.

“They are terrorists,” he said, referring to the Taliban.

“These terrorists are the slaves of Pakistan; they are also the slaves to Russians and Iran, the slave of China and other countries. They are only the killers of the people of Afghanistan. We cannot give them the name of Taliban ( which means learners) on them (Taliban group),” the police chief said. “Again, I repeat that they (Taliban) are the killers of Afghans and they are terrorists; therefore, all Afghans should fight a Jihad (holy war) against the Taliban.”

Raziq said Taliban is trying to tarnish the image of Islam by attacking mosques, schools and other public places.

“Where Islam orders to kill children? But the Taliban are doing this. Who allows them to come to mosques and carry out explosions? But they conduct explosions at mosques, at schools, at cemeteries and at shrines. Even copies of the Holy Quran were burnt by them. These acts have nothing to do with Islam. These acts are conducted to tarnish the image of Islam,” he said.

According to him, the Taliban is not fighting for Islam and instead pursue their political objectives.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: U.S., Southeast Asian navies, coast guards to start maritime exercises

MANILA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Navies and coast guard personnel from the United States and participating Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines will start their annual maritime security exercises on Monday, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Sunday.

PCG spokesman Armand Balilo said in a statement that the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise 2017 will include actual "at-sea exercises" and maritime seminars in the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.

As in the past years, Balilo said SEACAT this year will focus on regional cooperation to address shared maritime security challenges like terrorism, smuggling, piracy and other illicit activities at sea.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: DPRK accuses Japan of planning cyberspace war of aggression

PYONGYANG, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday accused Japan of building a cyberspace attack force in its military under the pretext of self-defense.

The official newspaper Rodong Sinmun said the Japanese Defense Ministry is planning to boost the size and capability of its cyber unit under the excuse of self-defense against hackers.

The members of the cyber unit will be drastically increased and a department for specializing in cyber attack capability will be set up.

"Their cyber unit is not for merely protecting the computer system of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) from hacking, but for attacking the computer systems of its rivals," said the newspaper, adding that once the unit has the capability to attack, the SDF will "completely turn into the force in attack formation."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: DPRK denounces CIA director's threat to remove its supreme leadership

PYONGYANG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday denounced the recent threat made by Mike Pompeo, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to "remove the supreme leadership" of the DPRK.

"It has now become clear that the ultimate aim of the Trump administration's hostile policy towards the DPRK is the 'regime change' in DPRK," the Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry as saying.

The spokesman said Pompeo "mentioned impertinently at a security forum hosted by a civilian organization about 'removal of the supreme leadership' of DPRK."

"What is most dangerous about the North Korean (DPRK) nuclear issue is the character who holds the control over them," Pompeo said Thursday.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: NDS Chief Stanekzai Meets First VP Dostum In Turkey

Afghan First Vice President General Abdul
Rashid Dostum (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Karim Amini

Sources close to First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum confirmed that the National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief Massoom Stanekzai recently met with Dostum in Turkey.

This meeting reportedly took place after the formation of the new tri-party alliance. However, his aides did not give details about the meeting.

Suspicions have been raised following this visit which comes in the wake of the establishment of the new coalition between key Afghan political parties, including Jamiat-e-Islami party, Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami party and Junbish-e-Milli party.

Although Dostum’s aides have confirmed that the meeting took place, they said they were not privy to the details.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: India Leans Towards US in 'Standoff Against China in Asia'

There is a relation between the China-India border conflict and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, experts told Sputnik. Delhi wants to win Washington’s support against China, especially in South Asia.

On June 27, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Indian border guards of crossing into its territory from the state of Sikkim on India’s northeastern border with Tibet.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said Indian guards "obstructed normal activities" by Chinese forces on the border, and called on India to withdraw immediately.

He urged India to respect China’s territorial integrity, adding that such incidents pose a "serious threat" to peace and stability in border areas.

Commentators noted that this was the first incident of the kind since Chinese President Xi Jinping and Modi exchanged visits in 2014 and 2015. After three years of stability, currently there is a new surge in bilateral tensions.

News Report: Ex-South Korean President Park Reportedly Had Plot to Bring Down Kim Jong-un

The administration of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye had several scenarios drawn up to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to a report by Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Park, who was succeeded by newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in in May following a corruption scandal and subsequent impeachment, had plans drawn up detailing several scenarios in which the leader of the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) could be brought down.

The scenarios included staged automobile accidents, train derailments and the staging of a coup, according to Asahi Shimbun.

Documents signed in 2015 by the previous South Korean president referred to the plans for an extrajudicial killing of Kim Jong-un as “regime change,” RT reported.

News Report: Not Negotiable - North Korea Sticks to Its Guns on Nuclear Weapons

Pyongyang has reminded Seoul that its nuclear weapons program will continue, regardless of any diplomatic overtures for peace.

Responding to renewed suggestions from South Korea that the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) return to the negotiating table, Pyongyang has warned that its program of nuclear weapons development is not subject to any debate.

In a Sunday editorial published by the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, North Korea promised to continue its development of nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles necessary to deliver them to any target on the planet, regardless of whether bilateral diplomatic negotiation takes place, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.

Stating that Seoul and Washington must stop attempting to get Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program, the editorial took an offensive tone, asserting the increasingly isolated nation's right to defend itself as it pleases.

News Story: DPRK warns Moon of "brain-washing" by U.S. at upcoming summit with Trump

PYONGYANG, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday warned South Korean President Moon Jae-in of potential "brain-washing" efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump during their upcoming summit in Washington.

"The U.S. has buckled down to taming the South Korean authorities in an undisguised manner," said the Korean Central News Agency in a commentary.

The DPRK has criticized Moon for submitting to U.S. pressure and maintaining a hardline policy toward Pyongyang.

"What matters is that the present chief executive of South Korea (Moon), who caught the interest of the public for his remarks that 'he would always say no to the U.S.,' has now gone servile to the U.S.," said the commentary.

The United States has engaged in a "cynical ploy" against moderate governments in Seoul in the past to pressure them into accepting U.S. policy and maintaining an alliance with Washington, it said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: S. Korean residents, peace activists demand complete retreat of THAAD

SEOUL, June 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korean residents and peace activists on Thursday demanded the complete retreat of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interception system from their country.

Dozens of people gathered outside the government complex in central Seoul, just 1-2 km away from the presidential Blue House, to call for the new government to pave the way for the complete retreat of the U.S. missile shield.

The protesters were composed of residents living near the THAAD deployment site and civic group activists who continued to conduct anti-THAAD demonstrations together with the residents.

They told a press conference that the new government must stop all activities relevant to the THAAD deployment, urging it to open the way for the reversal of the THAAD installation by thoroughly investigating and reviewing the deployment process from the starting point.

The demonstrators held posters that read "Look thoroughly into the illegal THAAD that does no good but harm," and "Reverse the THAAD deployment decision."

The protest rally came a day after a senior Blue House official said that the already installed THAAD elements will inevitably remain though the deployment of four more mobile launchers will be halted until a green audit ends.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: DPRK calls U.S. talk of diplomatic settlement of nuclear issue "smoke screen" tactic

PYONGYANG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Tuesday the United States is using talk of diplomatic settlement of Pyongyang's nuclear issue as smoke-screen tactics to disguise its plan for military attack.

"Now the United States is additionally dispatching the Nimitz nuclear carrier taskforce together with Carl Vinson and Ronald Reagan to the waters off the Korean peninsula and thus seeking to deploy three nuclear carrier taskforces in the waters (off the Korean peninsula)," said the official daily newspaper Minju Joson (Democratic Korea).

Read the full story at Xinhua

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PacificSentinel: AGAIN with the disinformation, the US is NOT deploying 3 Aircraft Carriers to the Korean Peninsula, the USS Carl Vinson will be REPLACED in the Pacific Theater by the USS Nimitz, and the Vinson will go home the the US, meanwhile the USS Ronald Reagan will go on patrol.

Story Quote: "all signs show the U.S. military attack on the DPRK is at hand."

PacificSentinel: The North Koreans are looking more & more like Sexually Dysfunctional Squirrel's - FUCKING NUTS!

News Story: NKorea might meet with US; Wants extradition of SK's spy chief

A senior North Korean diplomat said Saturday Pyongyang would be willing to hold talks with the United States if the conditions are right.

Choe Son-Hui, head of the foreign ministry's North America bureau, told reporters at Beijing's international airport that her country "will hold dialogue under right conditions" with President Donald Trump's administration.

She spoke as she was returning home from Oslo, where she met with US academics and former US officials including Thomas Pickering, former US envoy to the UN, and Robert Einhorn, the State Department's former special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, Seoul's Yonhap news agency said.

The meeting took place amid a let-up in military tensions on the Korean peninsula after concerns over a fresh nuclear test by the North aimed to mark high-profile anniversaries in April failed to materialise.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Report: N Korea Vows to Annihilate Those Behind Attempt to Kill Country Leader

North Korean  Dictator Kim Jong-un

A terror group which allegedly was setting up an assassination attempt on Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, has been exposed in North Korea, North Korean Ambassador to Russia Kim Hyun Joong said on Friday.

The terror group was acting on the instruction of intelligence agencies of the US and South Korea, according to Kim Hyun Joong.

"[North Korea] has exposed a criminal group planted by the CIA and the South Korean intelligence service to carry out state-backed terror [plot] by the means of biological and chemical weapons against our leadership," the ambassador said during a press conference in Moscow on Friday.

According to the ambassador, the terrorist group had been active since 2014, with the latest preparations taking place in March and April this year. Kim Hyun Joong stressed that, according to the information at the North Korean government's disposal, the terrorists aimed to "remotely" poison the leadership of the country, planning the attack in a way so that the effect of the poisoning would have shown six months later.