News Story: Militant captured near foreign forces' base in Afghan province

KABUL, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's police detained a militant overnight in Bagram district of eastern Parwan province, which is located near foreign forces' base, the country's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Last night, one suspected militant was arrested with 35 kg of explosives and two pistols following a security operation in Nasrat village, Bagram district, Parwan province," the ministry said on a statement.

The Bagram Airfield, some 50 km north of Kabul, has been serving as a main U.S. and NATO military base in Afghanistan over the past 16 years.

The arrest of the targeted militant would further improve the public security in the provinces, the statement added.

Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants, as Afghans have been witnessing a surge in attacks by Taliban and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US to donate more planes, weapons to Phl

Surveillance Cessna-208B (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Christina Mendez

MANILA, Philippines -  A day after turning over two reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft to the Philippine Air Force, the United States said it is set to donate more equipment with similar capabilities in the near future.

“In the coming months, the US will be transferring more intelligence and surveillance equipment to the Philippine Air Force,” US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina posted on her Twitter account. The PAF on Thursday officially received two Cessna-208B planes from the US at the Villamor Air Base.

The US has also begun delivery of 200 pieces of 500-pounder bombs and almost 1,000 pieces of 2.75-inch rockets to PAF.

The Air Force is heavily involved in the raging battle to liberate Marawi from Maute militants. Continued air strikes on enemy positions have significantly depleted the PAF’s arsenal.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Rody to soldiers - Die rather than surrender

By Christina Mendez

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte ordered soldiers to be ready to die fighting enemies of the state rather than surrender as he led the turnover of 3,000 .45-caliber pistols to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Malacañang yesterday.

“Ang ayaw ko doon, patayin nila yung tao walang kalaban-laban. Sabi ko hindi puwede ito,”

Duterte said, stressing he does not want soldiers to be killed without a fight, and neither should they surrender but die holding their guns. “Wag kayo mag surrender ng buhay, makuha man yang baril niyo, patay na kayo (Don’t surrender, if they get your gun, you’re dead).”

Each soldier will get a .45-caliber pistol with two extra magazines, the President said.

Duterte lamented how soldiers were sidelined by a past order that banned members of the military from carrying their firearms outside their camps.  

“I do not mind losing the gun to the enemy. But do not give it to them alive, especially in Jolo and Zamboanga area. Don’t let the enemies behead you,” he said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: (Philippines) Gov’t, Reds commit to stop offensives

New People’s Army (NPA) rebels

By Jennifer Rendon

MANILA, Philippines -  The government will suspend offensives against communist rebels to pave the way for the resumption of formal peace talks, the chief negotiator announced yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the move was meant to reciprocate a declaration of communist negotiators last Saturday that the New People’s Army (NPA) would stop attacks to allow the military to focus on the fight against Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi. He did not say when the cessation of offensives would start.

Bello made the announcement hours after NPA rebels raided a police station in Iloilo’s Maasin town yesterday, seizing guns and robbing the police of personal belongings including cash, jewelry and laptops.

Last Saturday, the military killed three NPA members in Davao Oriental and two others in Compostela Valley.

“The Philippine government hereby correspondingly reciprocates with the same declaration of not undertaking offensive operations against the (NPA),” Bello declared.

In Maasin, officials said about 50 raiders arrived on a tarpaulin-covered truck, passing the town proper teeming with the usual Sunday crowd before stopping in front of the police station along Taft Street.

Initial reports said two women from the 50 heavily armed band entered the police station and pretended to file a blotter complaint. They surprised the nine policemen on duty at the precinct before announcing the attack.

Police reported no casualties, but the rebels took the weapons and personal belongings of the police including cash and laptops.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: India Plans Purchasing Weapons to Protect Air Force Bases Across Country

India's Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) from arms manufacturers, aiming to beef up the Garud Commando Force, a special unit of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Suppliers will have to respond to the IAF by July 8. The RFIs suggest the IAF will recruit 8,000-10,000 more people for the Garud force to protect 54 IAF base stations. The terror attack on Pathankot air base last year forced India to provide advanced weapons and equipment to the IAF commandos.

The request points to likely acquisition of 50-60 armored vehicles along with military equipment to protect its personnel during operations. The IAF needs a 5-meter-long vehicle with a crew capacity of six for its special forces. Among other specifications, the IAF has demanded a minimum 350-kilometer operating range with a speed of 100 kmph on a level highway. The vehicles will be designed in such a way that the Garud forces would be able to mount and fire a 5.56mm light machine gun.

The IAF will also equip its commandos with 600 7.62mm rifles with sights and accessories and 200 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher compatible with it.

Garud Commando Force will also receive approximate 1,800 sub-machine guns and 2,000 9mm pistols, according to the RFI issued by the Indian Air Force.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

Industry: GLOCK Asia Pacific Wins Philippine National Police Solicitation

Image: Wiki Commons

NIOA congratulates Glock Asia on their win to supply Philippine National police. NIOA is the Australian distributor for Glock Pistols.

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​​SMYRNA, GA. – Jun 7th, 2017 The Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management of the Republic of the Philippines has declared the GLOCK 17 Gen4 as the winner of its solicitations to buy new service pistols for the Philippine National Police.  GLOCK won this solicitation against competition from Sig Sauer and a local manufacturer.

“The Bids and Awards Committee of the Procurement Service set a global standard for transparency and professionalism through the manner in which the testing was performed pursuant to this solicitation,” said GLOCK Asia Pacific’s Managing Director Sven De Souter. The endurance tests performed were some of the toughest in the world: 20,000 rounds of ammunition had to be successfully fired through a single pistol, without any failures or stoppages, and without having to change any parts. The GLOCK 17 Gen4 successfully passed this testing twice, with two different pistols. In the interest of full transparency of the entire solicitation process, all tests were performed in public. The PNP will not only have the most reliable pistol on the market, but will also be the benefactor of extremely low pistol maintenance costs. 

NIOA

News Story: US to turn over counterterror equipment to Philippine Marines

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines - The United States government is handing over military equipment in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s counter terror campaign.

The equipment, which will be turned over to the Philippine Marines on Monday, include 300 M4 Carbines, 200 Glock 21 pistols, 25 units combat rubber raiding craft, 100 M203 rail-mounted grenade launchers, 30 outboard motors and four M134D Gatling-style machine guns.

“These counter terrorism equipment will further enhance the capabilities of the Philippine Marine Corps to counter terrorism and address threats posed by various groups,” Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, Marine spokesman, said yesterday.

Battalions of Marines, Army and Air Force troops are currently battling Maute terrorists and their Islamic State cohorts in Marawi City.

The turnover of equipment will be held at the Marine headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Lacuesta said.

The US support comes as the Philippine government is pivoting toward Russia and China.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Daesh Key Commander in Eastern Afghanistan Surrenders to Authorities

Daesh commander, known as Wafadar, Surrendered to Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province, according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A key commander of the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group, outlawed in many countries, including Russia, Surrendered to Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province, local media reported Thursday.

According to Khaama news agency, the Daesh commander, known as Wafadar, was in charge of a group of at least 15 militants, and was involved in terror activities in Chaparhar, Haska Mina and Kot districts. Before joining the Daesh jihadists, he was involved in the activities of the Taliban radical movement, banned in Russia.

He reportedly handed over a pistol, two hand grenades and a communications device to the government authorities.

Afghanistan has long been suffering from unstable political, social and security situation due to the activity of the Daesh terrorists and the Taliban. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are currently conducting joint offensive operations to combat terrorism across the country.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: Kabul Police Arrest Suicide Attacker Preparing Terror Act

A "Suicide Bomb Vest" (File Photo)

The suicide attacker carrying three hand grenades, a pistol, and a suicide bombing vest with him was arrested by Afghan police in Kabul, according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Afghan police arrested a would-be suicide attacker possessing a Pakistani passport in the capital city of Kabul, local media reported Thursday, citing the police commandment.

The suicide attacker was arrested late on Tuesday carrying three hand grenades, a pistol, and a suicide bombing vest with him, the Khaama news agency reported.

Earlier in May, local media reported that Afghanistan's security forces foiled three explosion plots by militants in Kabul in less than a week.

Afghanistan has been facing instability for many years, with government troops fighting against Islamic extremists and terror organizations, in particular the Taliban radical movement and the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group, both banned in Russia.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Duterte tells AFP - Wipe out Sayyaf

By Edith Regalado

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – President Duterte yesterday ordered the military to finish off the Abu Sayyaf.

During his visit at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo late Thursday, Duterte stressed before the troops the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and the war against illegal drugs should go full force.

“We will not let up on the war against the Abu Sayyaf and drugs. They would not honor their word. If they like to kill, then we will go ahead and kill them up to the last man,” he said.

The President said government will deal with the Abu Sayyaf using the full force of the law.

The Abu Sayyaf has remained one of the leading threat groups in the country.

The militant group has reportedly divided their 19 remaining hostages into five groups in order to elude pursuing government forces.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 18 Taliban militants surrender in eastern Afghan province

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen members of Taliban renounced violence and surrendered to the government in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, said the provincial government on Monday.

"Following efforts by National Directorate of Security, or national intelligence agency, to convince a group of Taliban to join peace process, the 18-member group renounced the violence and joined national reconciliation process," it said in a statement.

Among them, who handed over their weapons to security authorities during a ceremony hold in provincial capital Jalalabad city, was their commander named Bakhto Khan, according to the statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Daesh's Khorasan Unit Starts Terror in India, Police Kill Suspected Attacker

Indian police say the Khorasan unit of Daesh triggered a low intensity train blast in the country, marking its debut here. In February, the terrorists killed over 90 people in an attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — After 12 hours of high intensity firing, Indian police killed a suspected terrorist of the Khorasan module of Daesh, also known as ISIS, in a case related to a low intensity train blast on Tuesday, making it the first Khorasan attack in India.

"The slain terror suspect belongs to the Khorasan module of the ISIS (Daesh) and was an active member. But, whether he has been indoctrinated or not is a matter of investigation," said Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Aseem Arun.

Police officials are looking for two more suspects. The encounter took place in Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, which is in the process of electing a new government.

News Report: Indian Commando Across Pakistan Border to Receive Lethal Weapon

Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle (Image: Wiki Commons)

Despite the lack of latest arms and equipment, India’s Special Forces have conducted two successful surgical strikes in Pakistan and Myanmar. India now wants to make them more lethal.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India's Special Forces will be getting more teeth as the Defense Acquisition Council's (DAC) December 23 meeting may approve the purchase of the latest assault rifles and lightweight long range machine guns equipped with night sights. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) is India's highest decision making body for defense purchases and is headed by the Minister of Defense. The DAC may also approve the purchase of more M4 automatic rifles from the US.

The new equipment will be earmarked for the Special Forces that carried out `surgical strikes' across the Line of Control (the de facto border between India and Pakistan). According to the proposal, Special Forces will be equipped with sniper rifles and automatic general purpose machine guns along with approximately 1,000 personal automatic rifles. Apart from this, the purchase plan includes two dozen lightweight rocket launchers and 500 pistols. 

According to sources, the Special Forces will be equipped with latest version of Carl Gustaf rocket launchers that are much lighter than the current version. New launchers will have intelligent-sighting system and programmable ammunition. Rocket launchers will be made in the Indian Ordnance factory and delivery may start next year.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.