With most of the Western hemisphere on holiday, another crisis appears to be developing on the India–Pakistan border known as the Line of Control (LoC). The incident started on Saturday, where at least four Indian soldiers were killed, in an exchange of fire with the Pakistani Army on the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, ABC News reported.
The two sides reportedly exchanged heavy fire in the Keri sector of the Rajouri district, about 222 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The skirmish started when Pakistani troops used automatic weapons, small arms, and mortars to attack Indian positions in Shahpur area of J&K’s Poonch district. The Indian army said Pakistani soldiers violated the 2003 cease-fire, calling the attack an “unprovoked cease-fire violation.”
Indian media is admitting that Pakistan conducted a surgical strike (Not like their bollywood one) in #Rajouri Occupied Kashmir in retaliation to bombardment of villages of Azad Kashmir on LOC by Indian army. pic.twitter.com/MvVEcYso99— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) December 24, 2017
A local government official said that the "Pakistani army today resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC here, killing three troopers and wounding one" He added that "the slain included an officer of the rank of Major.”
Strength to the families of the four Armymen lost today at LoC Keri, Rajouri sector. An incident that sounds like it was more than just a ceasefire violation. RIP, braves. pic.twitter.com/aMzlQhTaZS— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) December 23, 2017
Following the incident, heavy cross-border firing and shelling was reported at several places in the region.
On Sunday, India launched a retaliatory attack, gunning down a Pakistani solider in J&K’s Jhangar, The Indian Express said. The incident occurred when a Pakistani sniper along the LoC was ‘neutralized’, Army sources reported.
The Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire was going on till reports last came in the evening, sources said. “Firing and shelling exchanges started at 1.30 pm, and were continuing,” the official added.
Meanwhile, ANI reported that gunshots were heard in the militant hotbed of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The sound of firearms were heard from Arem Mohallah Watoo village and the Army and police have launched a joint cordon and search operation.
The Indian Express also said that the ceasefire violation by Pakistan was an attempt to “push in armed terrorists” into India before closure of the mountain passes this winter. Indian security forces have killed over 200 militants this year, including top commanders on the LoC. Meanwhile, hardly de-escalating the already tense situation, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua warned the world of a possible “nuclear war” in South Asia.
A week ago, US Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Nelle told his Marines to be ready for a "big-a** fight" and mentioned Russia and North Korea as potential battlegrounds. While many of us saw the reasoning behind North Korea, few of us understood his reference to Russia; until today.
Trainloads of battle tanks are being unloaded inside Russia just a few miles from the border of Ukraine. It looks like the filthy obsession of U.S. neo-cons with "containing" Russia is about to blow up in all our faces.
Here's a Google Map to give you geographic perspective of where these tanks are bieng unloaded:
First, they surrounded Russia with new NATO bases, then they built missile defense systems in Poland and Romania to first-strike Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Then, under Obama, they spent $5 BILLION to foment revolution inside Ukraine, to overthrow its government and install one favorable to the West.
Next, they outright LIED and blamed Russia for interfering in the US election, and used that LIE as the basis for enacting economic sanctions against Russia worse than those enacted upon Japan in the 1940'2 (which drove Japan to attack us.)
Now, we see the results. . . Clearly Russia is now preparing for war.
The United States announced a $285 million cut in the United Nations' "bloated" budget for next year, negotiated by UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. A statement by the United States Mission to the United Nations reads:
Today, the United Nations agreed on a budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Among a host of other successes, the United States negotiated a reduction of over $285 million off the 2016-2017 final budget. In addition to these significant cost savings, we reduced the UN’s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key U.S. priorities throughout the world, and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system.
Pleased with the cuts, Haley added "you can be sure we’ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN’s efficiency while protecting our interests."
The United States contributes approximately 22 percent of the U.N. budget - or around $3.3 billion, which President Trump asked the State Department to cut by over 50% in March.
U.S. officials in Washington and New York learned during the past week that they will be asked to find ways to cut spending on obligatory and voluntary U.N. programs by 50 to 60 percent from the International Organization Affairs Bureau’s account. State Department officials, for instance, were told that they should try to identify up to $1 billion in cuts in the U.N. peacekeeping budget, according to one source. The United States provides about $2.5 billion per year to fund peacekeepers. -Foreign Policy
Ambassador Haley was clear in her comments after the budget cut, telling the press "We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked," adding "This historic reduction in spending – in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN – is a big step in the right direction.
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