'Blistering Cross-Border Attacks" Between India-Pakistan: 'Tens Of Thousands Of Soldiers Face Off'

Pakistan returns captured Indian pilot, but shelling continues

Pakistan handed over a captured Indian pilot Friday while blistering cross-border attacks across the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir continued for a fourth straight day, even as the two nuclear-armed neighbors seek to defuse their most serious confrontation in two decades.

Tens of thousands of Indian and Pakistani soldiers face off along the Kashmir boundary known as the Line of Control, in one of the world's most volatile regions.

On the Indian side of Pakistan's border crossing at Wagah, turbaned Indian policemen lined the road Friday before the pilot's handover. A group of cheering Indians waved their country's national flag and held up a huge garland of flowers to welcome him back.

Since the escalation, world leaders have scrambled to head off an all-out war on the Asian subcontinent. President Donald trump in Hanoi on Thursday said he had been involved in seeking to de-escalate the conflict.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told lawmakers Thursday, "We are releasing the Indian pilot as a goodwill gesture tomorrow."

But India made it clear that the latest escalation has changed its strategy and that going forward, it will strike, including inside Pakistan, if it gets information of an attack in the planning. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier Thursday warned "India's enemies are conspiring to create instability in the country through terror attacks."

Khan also said he had feared Wednesday night that India might launch a missile attack, but the situation was later defused. He did not elaborate.

"Pakistan wants peace, but it should not be treated as our weakness," Khan said. "The region will prosper if there is peace and stability. It is good for both sides."

Residents of the Pakistani border town of Chikhoti reported heavy shelling overnight and Friday morning.

Kashmir has been divided but is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan. They have fought three wars, two directly over the disputed region.

This week's violence marked the most serious escalation of the long-simmering conflict since 1999, when Pakistan's military sent a ground force into Indian-controlled Kashmir at Kargil. That year also saw an Indian fighter jet shoot down a Pakistani naval aircraft, killing all 16 on board

Beginnings Of War? Heavy Shelling By Pakistan - Indian Army 'Retaliating Strongly'

Jammu and kashmir: Heavy shelling by Pakistan in areas along LoC in Rajouri, Poonch

 Pakistan on Friday heavily shelled areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts leaving a woman injured, the eighth consecutive day that it has violated the ceasefire.

Officials said Pakistan troops used heavy guns including Howitzer 105 mm to target civilian areas in Poonch.

"Pakistani troops resorted to firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Krishnagati sector and it ended around 0130 hour," an official said.

The firing and mortar shelling continued overnight in several sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts, the official said adding the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.

A woman identified as Naseem Akhtar was injured in the firing in Mankote area of Poonch, officials said.

"About 1615 hours Friday, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Nowshera sector," the defence public relations officer said.

On Thursday, a woman was killed and a jawan was injured when Pakistani Army heavily shelled civilian areas and forward posts in six sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army.

The Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire for over 60 times during the last one week by targeting over 70 civilian and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, in which one woman was killed and 9 persons were injured.

In view of the prevailing situation, authorities have ordered temporary closure of educational institutions in a 5-km radius along the the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.

They have asked all border dwellers to remain inside their homes. Amid high tension along the LoC, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh accompanied by the White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh visited forward posts in Rajouri Sector to review the operational preparedness on Thursday.

The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violation, numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops, in the last 15 years.

Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides.

Western Railway alert in Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP warns of terror attack

Western Railway (WR) sounded an overall alert and beefed up security at all its stations in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh after intelligence inputs from Gujarat on the possibility of a deadly terror attack. The inspector general’s (Railway Protection Force) office told security agencies at all WR stations to keep a close watch on long-distance trains, particularly those plying to and from Jammu.

A letter was sent by the IG’s (RPF) office in Churchgate to heads of RPF in Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Rajkot and Bhavnagar on February 22. The letter stated that after the Pulwama attack, intelligence inputs were communicated by state railway police from Gujarat on the possibility of multiple blasts in public places, including railway stations, temples and the iconic Statue of Unity. The inputs stated that the attack would be helmed by a person from Hyderabad, also involved in the Pulwama attack, with allegiance to the Pakistani outfit Jaish-e-Muhammed.

RPF personnel have been instructed to coordinate with other state and local security agencies to maintain tight bandobast. Senior officers said a list of sensitive stations had been circulated to all security agencies.

“In view of the security alert, Western Railway RPF had a co-ordination meeting with Mumbai GRP officers on February 27 and with the GRP commissioner on February 28 to discuss coordinated action required on trains and railway premises. All posts have been alerted and directed to take preventive measures in co-ordination with GRP and city police,” said chief PRO Ravindra Bhakar, WR (RPF).

“Random frisking of commuters and baggage checks are jointly being conducted by RPF and GRP. Personnel have been mobilised in large numbers and are involved in creating awareness and sensitising passengers on Mumbai’s suburban section,” Bhakar added.

Powerful 7.1 Earthquake Hits Peru, Tremors Felt In Bolivia

M7.0 earthquake strikes Peru. Tremors felt in Bolivia - tsunami alarm in Chile

A 7.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE has struck just north of Juliaca, Peru, about 100 miles NW of Arequipa on March 1, 2019. As of now there are no reports of injuries or damage.

The deep powerful earthquake hit at a depth of 260 kilometers and was felt in the regions of Cusco, Apurímac, Tacna, Arequipa and Moquegua in Peru, Bolivia and the northern part of Chile – Tarapaca, Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota. The epicenter was situated about 8 kilometers from the Peruvian city of Azángaro.

The National Emergency Office of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (ONEMI) prompted a “preventive evacuation” due to the threat of a tsunami in the Arica and Parinacota region in Chile. It was canceled shortly after as the earthquake was too deep to generate a tsunami on the coasts of Chile.

Peru earthquake: Powerful 7.1-magnitude quake strikes near Juliaca

An earthquake measuring 7.1 has struck Peru. 

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said it hit in the early hours of Friday morning around 40 miles north of the southern city of Juliaca at a depth of 150 miles. 

Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

After the earthquake struck in the early hours of Friday morning, authorities in neighbouring Chile, where the earthquake was also felt, initially put people on standby to evacuate, but later rescinded the order. 

No casualties have been reported in either country. 

Peru was struck less than a week after neighbouring Ecuador, was hit by 7.5-magnitude earthquake near their borders. There were no reported casualties. 

Shortly afterwards Ecuador’s president Lenin Moreno the earthquakes “were felt all over the country” but there was no "major damage”.

EU Violent Crime Increasing

Germany: Stabbings and Knife Crimes at Record High

• Police reported more than 4,100 knife-related crimes in 2018, compared to around 3,800 reported during 2017 — and only 400 in 2008. Overall, during the past ten years, knife-related crimes in Germany have increased by more than 900% — from one a day to more than ten a day.
  
  
• German media do not report most knife-related violence. Crimes that are reported are often dismissed as "isolated incidents" that are unrelated to mass immigration. Moreover, many crime reports, including those in police blotters, omit references to the nationalities of the perpetrators and victims — apparently to avoid inflaming anti-immigration sentiments.... Many Germans have the sense that danger lurks everywhere, but the lack of official statistics seemingly allows German authorities to pretend that the problem is imaginary.
  
  
• Germany's knife-crime epidemic has continued nonstop into 2019. During the first 45 days of 2019, police reported more than 500 knife crimes — an average of 11 a day.
  
  

Mourtala Madou, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Niger, has been sentenced to life in prison for stabbing to death his 34-year-old German ex-girlfriend and decapitating their 21-month-old daughter at a subway station in Hamburg.

The grisly crime has drawn renewed attention to Germany's spiraling epidemic of stabbings and knife violence, which has raged since Chancellor Angela Merkel allowed into the country more than a million mostly male migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The double murder in Hamburg occurred the morning of April 12, 2018, one day after a family judge denied Madou (also known as Mado Bido M. or Mourtala M.) joint custody of his daughter. Madou followed the mother, Sandra P., and their toddler, Mariam, into the Jungfernstieg station in downtown Hamburg. In front of many passers-by, he opened his backpack, pulled out a knife and stabbed his stroller-bound daughter in the abdomen. He then slashed her neck and severed her head. Madou subsequently plunged the knife into Sandra P.'s back and cut through her vital organs. She died less than an hour later at a nearby hospital.

During interrogation by police, Madou explained: "This is my child. This is my blood. The mother separates me from the child. Then I separate the child from her."

A review by Gatestone Institute of German police blotters found that 2018 was a record year for stabbings and knife crimes in Germany: Police reported more than 4,100 knife-related crimes in 2018, compared to around 3,800 reported during 2017 — and only 400 in 2008. Overall, during the past ten years, knife-related crimes in Germany have increased by more than 900% — from one a day to more than ten a day. The data shows a notable increase in knife crimes since 2015, when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened German borders to hundreds of thousands of migrants.

German media do not report most knife-related violence. Crimes that are reported are often dismissed as "isolated incidents" that are unrelated to mass immigration. Moreover, many crime reports, including those in police blotters, omit references to the nationalities of the perpetrators and victims — apparently to avoid inflaming anti-immigration sentiments.

Knives, axes and machetes have become weapons of choice for criminals in Germany, which has some of the strictest gun laws in Europe. People armed with knives, axes and machetes have brought devastation to all of Germany's 16 federal states. Knives have been used not only not only to carry out jihadist attacks, but also to commit homicides, robberies, home invasions, sexual assaults, honor killings and many other types of violent crime.

Knife-related crimes have occurred in amusement parks, bicycle trails, hotels, parking lots, parks, public squares, public transportation, restaurants, schools, supermarkets and train stations. Many Germans have the sense that danger lurks everywhere, but the lack of official statistics seemingly allows German authorities to pretend that the problem is imaginary.

Rather Than Hold Elections, PA And Hamas Choose Totalitarianism

Palestinians: Marching Backwards as Israel Prepares for Elections

• Instead of marching Palestinians towards democracy, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas have chosen the model of totalitarianism as a way of governing their people. The pro-Abbas demonstrations organized by Fatah in the West Bank are reminiscent of dictatorships in the Arab world that send their loyalists to the streets to voice support for the ruler. The Hamas-sponsored anti-Abbas demonstrations in the Gaza Strip will not solve any of the crises facing the Palestinians there. These protests are Hamas's way of distracting attention from its failure to improve the living conditions of the people living under its repressive regime.
  
  
• The only way for the Palestinians to move forward is by protesting against their failed leaders in the PA and Hamas. Many Palestinians, however, are afraid to speak out against their rulers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Why would any Palestinian speak out against Abbas when the PA arrests and harasses those who even dare to post critical remarks on Facebook? Why would any Palestinian in the Gaza Strip criticize Hamas when he or she knows that this would endanger their lives?
  
  
• On April 9, Israelis will again celebrate democracy by voting in a free and democratic election. The Palestinians, meanwhile, will mark another year of dictatorship and failed leadership, and will continue to dream about heading to any ballot box at all.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Israelis are scheduled to head to the ballot boxes on April 9 to vote for a new parliament (Knesset). This will be the fifth general election in Israel since 2006.

The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on the other hand, have, since 2006, failed to hold a single election for their parliament, known as the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

Since its inception in 1994, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has held only two legislative elections: the first in 1996 and the second in 2006. The PLC is elected for four years only, but political rivalries among Palestinian factions have blocked any agreement on holding the vote on time.

What is mainly blocking the Palestinians from holding presidential and parliamentary elections is the continued dispute between Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas. ّّIt does not appear that the falling-out/disagreement has run its course. Repeated attempts in the past 13 years by several Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to reach "reconciliation agreements" between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have thus far fallen flat.

In recent weeks, the rivalry between Fatah and Hamas has intensified to a point where they have begun waging street- and online campaigns to discredit each other.

Let the world take note: the two-state solution has been realized in the Middle East. The Palestinians have ended up with two separate mini-states of their own. These mini-states have been at war with each other since 2007. The leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas cannot agree on anything, not even on daylight savings time. If the PA says that daylight savings time ends on a specific day, Hamas rejects the decision and chooses another day, creating two different time zones for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

For now, it appears that neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas is interested in holding presidential and legislative elections. The two parties feel comfortable with the status quo; the PA and Abbas are the unchallenged rulers of parts of the West Bank and they see no reason why they should risk holding an election that could result in a Hamas victory. Hamas, for its part, is comfortable with its exclusive control of the two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and sees no reason why it should allow Palestinians to practice their right to elect new leaders.

Instead of marching Palestinians towards democracy, the PA and Hamas have chosen the model of totalitarianism as a way of governing their people.