Sanjha Morcha

J&K Cops get hi-tech arms for counter-terror operations

J&K Cops get hi-tech arms for counter-terror operations

PTI

Jammu, February 17

The J&K Police have for the first time inducted three state-of-the-art weapon systems, including Made-in-India Zen ShootEdge cornershot pistol, to strengthen its arsenal as it counters various security and counter-terror challenges in the UT. Policemen are undergoing training with the newly inducted Tavor X-95 and MP-5 rifles and the Zen ShootEdge pistol, officials said, adding the cornershot pistol facilitates shooting around corners and over the top of walls without exposing the user.

Safe for user

Having high-resolution low-light infrared camera, the cornershot pistol facilitates shooting around corners and over the top of walls without exposing the user.

The cornershot weapon is mounted with a high-resolution low-light infrared camera, infrared illumination, a red dot laser and a tactical torch. “There was a dearth of such weapons in the force,” SSP Kulbir Singh said. He said it was necessary to modernise the force’s arsenal to meet and combat greater security and counter-terrorism challenges.

“With these weapons… the efficiency and accuracy is very high and pinpoint. You can achieve your target within a few shots (in anti-terror operations),” the SSP said. The cornershot weapon will protect members of anti-terror operation parties from coming in line of direct fire from terrorists in close-combat situations, which mostly take place in congested and populated areas of Kashmir, he said.

The officials said training on these weapon systems have started for police personnel in some districts and weapons are being provided to the force in all districts and battalions. “These will be provided to all districts of the force,” the SSP said.


Devender case: NIA impounds 3 cars used for terror acts in Kashmir Valley

Devender case: NIA impounds 3 cars used for terror acts in Kashmir Valley

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 18

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has impounded three vehicles in case relating to the recovery and seizure of arms and ammunition from Devender Singh, former Deputy SP of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, in January 2020.

The NIA, in an official statement, said the case was registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on January 11, 2020, and was re-registered by the agency on January 17, 2020.

A Hyundai i20 car, Maruti 800 car and a Hyundai i20 Sportz car were used by the accused persons for the furtherance of terror activities in the Kashmir valley, the NIA said.

The anti-terror federal probe agency impounded these vehicles on February 15 under Section 25 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA said the case pertained to the arrest of four accused persons, including two terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen, who were travelling out of J&K in a car in order to commit terror acts.

Based on the information, it said, the car was intercepted at the Al-Stop naka on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, near the Mir Bazaar police post in Kulgam district on January 11, 2020. During search, an AK-47 rifle, three pistols, hand grenade, ammunition and other incriminating material were recovered and seized, it said.

“Investigations have revealed that the Hyundai i20 owned and used by accused Irfan Shafi Mir, Maruti 800 registered in the name of Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and used by his son, an accused, Syed Naveed Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, and Hyundai i20 Sportz registered and used by Tanveer Ahmad Wani were used for terror activities in the Valley,” the NIA said in the statement.


Producer, partner, importer, exporter: India as key player in global defence equipment market

Producer, partner, importer, exporter: India as key player in global defence equipment market

Ajay Banerjee

STRADDLING the international defence equipment market, India has projected itself as a producer of ‘rightly-priced’ weapons for smaller countries even while being a ‘partner’ with developed countries for niche technologies. It has positioned itself as an exporter with $1.5 billion trade this fiscal, while the import of weapons is still a harsh reality, though it’s slowing down.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlines the government policy at Manthan start-up event at Aero India 2023. MoD

The 14th edition of Aero India at Bengaluru witnessed participation by more than 80 countries, along with 700 exhibitors from India and abroad, including domestic industry, start-ups and global companies.

Besides the usual business-to-business (B2B) deals that totalled nearly Rs 80,000 crore, the events had multiple messages.

One, India was determined to do the ‘steep climb’ of technology. Two, India’s widening industrial base allows it to speak from a position of ‘strength’. Three, well-attended meetings with visiting defence ministers and air forces’ officers conveyed a widening of ‘area of strategic interest and influence’. Fourth, foreign suppliers know that a ‘make in India’ component is a must to do business in India.

“How many countries have produced a sea-going aircraft carrier, fighter jets and a nuclear submarine — all being benchmarks of engineering?” asked a serving officer to explain the interest in the Indian military equipment market.

Parallel streams’ approach

Being a producer of weapons, yet looking for international partners for technologies, sounds dichotomous. But it is not so. These are parallel streams addressing separate economies and needs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at Aero India, made a fine distinction: “India is emerging as an important partner for those countries looking for a reliable partner. Our technology is cost-effective.”

He was clearly referring to the 75 countries to which India has exported $1.5 billion (approximately Rs 13,000 crore) worth of equipment in the ongoing fiscal. Exports include radars, artillery guns, BrahMos missile, off-shore patrol vessels, helicopters, besides small parts, among others.

Riding on these successes, India is pitching the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) with Argentina and Egypt, besides the BrahMos missile, artillery guns and warships with other ‘friendly countries’.

The growth of public and private industry has allowed New Delhi to get a toe-hold in the global market. “We are ready for a partnership with those countries which are far ahead in the defence sector,” Modi added.

India is looking for joint production in engines, transport planes and cutting-edge technologies. General Electric, which supplies engines for the Tejas jets and for the carrier INS Vikrant, is set to open a plant in India to produce the GE 414, 98 kilonewton thrust engine. It will power the LCA Mark 2, the advanced medium combat aircraft, and the Navy’s deck-based fighter jet — collectively, some 350 are slated to be produced.

Among the existing partnerships are L&T’s contract to service US Navy warships. Cabins of the Boeing’s Apache helicopters are made in India at a TATA-Boeing facility, while components of the TATA-Lockheed Martin facility at Hyderabad are part of the global supply chain.

Airbus is setting up a facility to make some 70 of the C-295 transport planes in India. Dassault of France has set up one at Nagpur to make parts of its business jets. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Hensoldt — a German company — are collaborating. HAL will get full design and transfer of technology allowing helicopter pilots to get a real-time picture in the mountains, preventing accidents.

Buyer and seller

Every year in March, the Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) releases its annual report on global arms purchases. Last March, SIPRI in its assessment for the five-year period (2017-2021) said India was the world’s largest importer of weapons and military equipment, accounting for 11 per cent of all such international imports.

It had a bit of good news. Comparing two five-year blocks — between 2012-16 and 2017-21 — the report said Indian arms imports decreased by 21 per cent.

Imports have been declining for the first time in many years. The financial year 2021-22 — ending March 31, 2022 — saw imports of weapons worth Rs 40,839 crore, Parliament was informed in the first leg of this budget session. Imports now form about 36 per cent of the total acquisition; it was around 48 per cent in 2017-28.

Exports are rising. In the last fiscal (2021-22), India exported military equipment and technology worth Rs 13,000 crore and has a target of Rs 18,000 crore for this fiscal. The government has a target of touching $5 billion in exports annually by 2025. Private sector companies dominate the exports market with a share of almost 90 per cent.

The SIPRI report also listed India at the 23rd spot among the top 25 exporters of weapons, with Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Armenia being its top customers.

‘Make in India’ confidence

The policy goals are clear. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spelt them out when meeting CEOs of 70 local and global companies. “India does not want to remain just an assembly workshop.” The targets are to design, develop and manufacture cutting-edge critical technologies within the country.

The Indian Army is looking at 110 issues and has asked Indian start-ups to provide solutions for design, development and manufacturing ecosystem for armament, surveillance, artificial intelligence, Metaverse, robotics, quantum technology, cyber, smart ammunition, among others.

The IAF, expecting short supplies of spares from Russia, on February 10 asked the Indian industry to provide solutions for servicing engines of the Russian origin MiG-29 jet fleet and servicing of the AN-32 transport plane. Going a step ahead, the IAF wants solutions for tools and ground equipment for the French-origin Mirage 2000 jet and the latest Rafale. The list goes on.

Some 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget has been earmarked for the domestic industry in the forthcoming financial year, 2023-24. This is up from 68 per cent in the present fiscal.

Private companies Mahindra and Godrej have multiple tie-ups. At Aero India, HAL and French Safran, which have a joint venture for making engines for helicopters up to 5 tonnes, announced to make an engine for the 13-tonne class indigenous helicopter.

HAL also signed a contract with the Argentinian Air Force for the supply of spares and engine repair of helicopters.

Airbus and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, signed an MoU to expand access to aerospace education and research. Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), a subsidiary of Bharat Forge, signed an MoU with Rolls-Royce Marine for the development of naval engines for the Indian market.

Ukraine sends minister

Defence Ministers of 27 countries, including the Ukrainian Defence Minister, were present at a meeting where India offered cooperation for all to grow together and have joint ventures, co-development, co-production and provisioning of defence equipment, besides training and maritime security.

The focus was clearly Africa and South America, with a majority of participants being from these two continents. India made it clear that nations that are richer or militarily and technologically more advanced cannot dictate solutions, clearly hinting at China’s ingress in smaller countries.

India also balanced the equation between the US and Russia. While the US flew in the latest F35 fifth generation fighter jets, the Russians reminded that they were the first to ‘make in India’ and did it decades ago with the Sukhoi 30MKI jet being 60 per cent localised.

Private participation

  • Space as dual-use domain is the fourth dimension in war with its abilities of disruption. The MoD has invited the private sector to join in on 75 different projects.
  • One of the projects entails having 24×7 visibility through satellite imagery of the borders and areas of interests.
  • A concept paper on space technology parks was released on how to handhold the private sector.
  • Some 200 small companies are working with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
  • India has a 2 per cent share in the global space system market.

Heroic deeds of Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri will inspire youth for selfless service of nation: Bhagwant Mann

Heroic deeds of Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri will inspire youth for selfless service of nation: Bhagwant Mann

PTI

Chandpur Rurki (SBS Nagar), February 17

No dearth of funds for development: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the heroic deeds of Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri to safeguard the unity and integrity of the country will ever inspire youth for selfless service to country.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after unveiling the statue of Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, said the war hero of 1971 Indo-Pak war had played a vanguard role in scripting the victory of the country against Pakistan. He said that Punjabis had played a major role by making supreme sacrifices during the national freedom struggle. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said the Punjabis are also on forefront for making countless sacrifices to preserve the freedom of the country.

No photo description available.

The Chief Minister said the brave hearts perform their duty despite scorching heat and spine chilling cold to ensure that people can sleep peacefully in their homes. He recalled that in 1971, Pakistan had considered Longewala as a soft target to intrude in India as Brigadier Chandpuri was having a company of only 120 soldiers with him. Mann said that though the situation was not in favour of India but despite all odds Brig Chandpuri led the country to path of victory through his heroism and valour.

The Chief Minister said the state government is committed for carving out a society as envisioned by these great martyrs and will ensure that pristine glory of the state in restored by taking path breaking initiatives.

The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption. He said that those who have plundered the public money will be made accountable for their sins. Bhagwant Mann said that already several corrupt leaders have been put behind the bars and anyone indulging in such heinous crime will not be spared.

The Chief Minister also announced that Kandi canal will be soon made operational to facilitate the farmers of the region. Bhagwant Mann said that he had already examined the irrigation system in Telangana yesterday which can be beneficial for the state. He said that the state government is exploring feasibility to implement this system in state especially in the Kandi region. On the demand of villagers, the Chief Minister announced to widen the road of Dalewal to Chandpur Rurki up to 18 feet.

The Chief Minister also felicitated prominent personalities on the occasion. He also paid obeisance at historical Gudwara Baba Gurditta ji.

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During the visit, the Chief Minister inaugurated a park dedicated to Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and visited museum depicting gallantry deeds shown during the Battle of Longewala and rare pictures of Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri.

Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, Cabinet Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Rouri.

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Now, passport verification in just 5 days; Centre launches ‘mPassport Police App’ to fast track process

Now, passport verification in just 5 days; Centre launches ‘mPassport Police App’ to fast track process

IANS

New Delhi, February 17

The Central government has launched the ‘mPassport Police App’ to fast track the passport verification process.

The move will not only streamline the passport verification process but will also help for timely updation and issuance of the passports as all verifications will take five days now.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday announced that it has introduced an ‘mPassport Police App’ to further streamline and expedite the passport issuance system.

“Police verification is an integral part of the passport issuance system. Various steps have been taken to streamline and expedite the process. To further expedite the process, the Ministry of External Affairs has introduced mPassport Police App,” the Regional Passport Office in Delhi said.

On the occasion of Delhi Police Raising Day on Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dedicated 350 mobile tablets to personnel of the Delhi Police Special Branch.

This will result in the entire process of police verification and submission report digital and paperless.

Officials said that verification using tablets will reduce the verification time from 15 days to five days, effectively reducing the passport issuance timeline by 10 days.

The Regional Passport Office has said it was committed to efficient service delivery and ‘Digital India’.


Many firsts as Rose Festival kicks off in Chandigarh

After muted celebrations over the past two years owing to the Covid pandemic, hundreds of visitors thronged the Rose Garden as the 51st Rose Festival kicked off amid pomp and show here today.

A stall of flower arrangements.

The three-day festival was formally inaugurated by UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit in the presence of MP Kirron Kher and Mayor Anup Gupta. This year’s event has several firsts to its credit, including a food court inside the garden, a light and sound show, LED screens for display of roses and adherence to zero-waste policy.

A foreigner dances along with folk artistes.

Results of folk dance competition

Schools

1. GMSSS, Sector 21

2. Guru Harkrishan School, Sector 40

3. GMSSS, Sector 47

Colleges

1. Post-Graduate College, Sector 11

2. Govt College for Girls, Sector 42

3. Govt BEd College, Sector 20

New to the show

Food court inside garden

Light and sound show

LED screens for display of roses

Zero-waste event

The Administrator appreciated the efforts put in by the Municipal Corporation employees and officers in organising the festival. He said people from all walks of life could enjoy an array of flower arrangements and cultural items.

Girls don caps decorated with roses.

The three-day event was a mega celebration of nature and a way to pay tribute to the magnificence of roses. What made it unique was high level of participation by local public, he said. “I am happy citizens can enjoy a variety of engaging events, especially the light and sound show, being organised by the MC for the very first time,” said Purohit.

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher inaugurate the three-day festival.

MP Kher said competitions for all age groups such as ‘Rose Prince & Princess’, ‘Mr Rose & Miss Rose’ and ‘Rose King & Rose Queen’ (for senior citizens) would be organised over three days.

Visitors check out vintage cars at the 51st Rose Festival in Chandigarh on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR

The Mayor said to make the festival lively, new cultural activities had been introduced at the venue to cater to the tastes of all categories of visitors. As many as 831 varieties of roses amid decorative landscaping, floral displays, innovative new designs and exotic exhibits were on offer, he said.

Kathak exponents Nandita Puri and Gauri Sharma Tripathi perform at the Rose Garden. TRIBUNE PHOTO: Vicky

A brass and pipe band competition, photography exhibition, Bollywood (junior) artistes’ show, cultural evening and light and sound show would be key attractions at the event. LED screens had been put up inside the garden for display of roses. Asserting that it was a zero-waste event, the Mayor said the MC had this time allocated space for a food court allowing general public and visitors to savour delicacies within the garden itself.

Artistes from various parts of the country performed Rajasthani dance, Bean Jogi, Himachali Nati, Ghoomar, Bhavai, etc. throughout the day. In the evening, a folk dance competition was organised in which teams of young artists from different colleges of Chandigarh performed various items. Also, rush was witnessed at the weapons display arranged by the ITBP in the open ground.

Awareness on energy conservation

The UT Administration organised an awareness programme to promote energy conservation at the Sector 16-17 underpass as part of Rose Festival. The aim was to raise awareness among masses about benefits of energy conservation, use of energy-efficient appliances and electric vehicles. The programme was presided over by CB Ojha, Chief Engineer, UT.

Teacher duo steals show

Vandana and Sangeeta Saini, teachers of The Gurukul, Panchkula, stole the show by pocketing nearly all prizes in all categories of flower arrangements, making of garlands, bouquets and rangolis. The teachers swept away the first and second individual prizes in fresh arrangement with roses, fresh arrangement without roses, fresh foliage, dry arrangement, arrangement on advent of spring, garland making, making of bouquets and rangoli with environmentally friendly material categories.

Scholarship mela

Aryans Group of Colleges and Aryans Overseas inaugurated ‘Aryans Scholarship Mela’ at the festival. Hargunjit Kaur, Secretary Tourism, was the chief guest and Rohit Gupta, Director Tourism, the guest of honour. Dr Anshu Kataria, chairman, said eligible students would get 10% to 100% scholarship on merit-cum-means basis. — TNS


10 sensitive installations in 6 states, 1 UT declared out of bounds for general public: MHA

10 sensitive installations in 6 states, 1 UT declared out of bounds for general public: MHA

PTI

New Delhi, February 17

Ten sensitive installations in six states and a Union territory have been declared out of bounds for the general public, with the Centre saying that any information with respect to certain activities carried out on these premises may be useful to India’s enemies.

Invoking the Official Secrets Act, the Union Home Ministry said in a notification that the sensitive installations are situated in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“…the central government is satisfied that the information with respect to certain activities carried on in the places specified…shall be useful to an enemy. And, whereas, the central government considers it expedient that special precautions shall be taken to prevent access of unauthorised persons to such places.

“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by…the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), the central government hereby declares the places specified…a prohibited place for the purpose of the said Act,” the notification said.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have two such installations each, while Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have one each. 


Centre bans terror groups Khalistan Tiger Force, J-K Ghaznavi Force; declares Harwinder Rinda as terrorist

Centre bans terror groups Khalistan Tiger Force, J-K Ghaznavi Force; declares Harwinder Rinda as terrorist

PTI

New Delhi, February 17

The Centre on Friday banned two groups and declared an individual a terrorist for their subversive and anti-India activities.

The two groups are the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), which has been formed with cadres from terrorist organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed; and the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), which aims to revive terrorism in Punjab.

In a separate notification, the home ministry said Punjab-resident Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, who was one of the masterminds behind an attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police in 2021, was declared a terrorist.

The JKGF has been involved in infiltration bids, narcotics and weapon smuggling, terror attacks in the Union Territory, and issuing threats to security forces.

The JKGF draws its cadres from various proscribed terrorist organisations, such as the Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami and others, the home ministry said.

The KTF came into existence in 2011 as an offshoot of the Babbar Khalsa International, a proscribed terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The KTF is a militant outfit and it aims reviving terrorism in Punjab with a view to achieve its agenda of formation of a separate state of Khalistan, and thereby challenges the territorial integrity, unity, national security and sovereignty of India, the home ministry said.

The KTF promotes acts of terrorism, it said, adding investigation agencies have found involvement of its cadres in various terrorist cases, including targeted killings.

Its members in India are receiving financial and logistics support including sophisticated weaponry from their foreign-based handlers, it said.

Sandhu alias Rinda, who is currently based in Lahore and associated with the banned group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has been declared a terrorist.

Sandhu is alleged to be one of the masterminds behind an attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police in 2021.

A Red Corner Notice was also issued against him by the Interpol.

The home ministry said the JKGF has been using various social media platforms to incite the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join terrorist outfits against India.

The terror group is detrimental to national security and the sovereignty of India and is involved in terrorism. It has committed and participated in various acts of terrorism in the country, the ministry said.

In exercise of powers conferred by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the JKGF and KTF have been designated as terror groups, the notification stated.

The JKGF is the 43rd and KTF 44th terror group to be declared outlawed under the anti-terror law.

The home ministry further said Harwinder Singh Sandhu has direct links with Pakistan-based terrorist groups and is also involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, ammunition and militant hardware, besides drugs on a large scale.

He was involved in various criminal offences like murder, attempt to murder, contract killing, robbery and extortion in Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the ministry said.

Singh is now the 54th individual to be designated as a terrorist by the government.

Last month, the central government had banned two proxy organisations of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad and declared four individuals as terrorists.  


Afghanistan main source of terror threat for Central, South Asia: UN

Afghanistan main source of terror threat for Central, South Asia: UN

PTI

United Nations, February 15

Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia, with groups such as ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan enjoying greater freedom of movement in the country owing to the absence of an effective Taliban security strategy, a UN report has said.

The 31st report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (ISIL, Al-Qaida), was issued here.

Militant outfits ‘enjoying’ greater freedom

  • Groups such as ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan enjoying greater freedom, UN report says
  • Attack last year on the Russian Embassy was first against a diplomatic presence
  • Threat of similar attacks against Chinese, Indian and Iranian embassies, according to the report
  • Between 1,000 and 3,000 ISIL-K fighters present in the region, the report estimates

The report said that Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia.

“It originates from groups including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan (ISIL-K), Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, as well as ETIM/TIP (Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement/Turkistan Islamic Party), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Islamic Jihad Group, Khatiba Imam al-Bukhari, Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Jamaat Ansarullah and others. These groups enjoy greater freedom of movement in Afghanistan owing to the absence of an effective Taliban security strategy,” the report said.

It said that ISIL-K portrays itself as the “primary rival” to the Taliban de facto administration, with its strategic focus on Afghanistan and beyond in the historical Khorasan region.

“Its main goal is to portray the Taliban as incapable of providing security in the country. By targeting diplomatic missions, ISIL-K seeks to undermine the relationship between the Taliban and neighbouring countries,” it said.

The report noted that the September 5 attack last year on the Russian Embassy in Kabul was the first against a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control; in December, ISIL-K claimed attacks against the Pakistan Embassy and a hotel that accommodated Chinese nationals.

“It also threatened to launch terrorist attacks against Chinese, Indian and Iranian embassies in Afghanistan. Apart from high-profile attacks, ISIL-K conducts low-level attacks nearly daily, causing fear in local communities, targeting Shia minorities to undermine Taliban Pashtun authority and challenging nascent security agencies,” the report said.

In June last year, India resumed its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a technical team in its embassy in the Afghan capital, over 10 months after it pulled out its officials from the mission following the Taliban’s capture of power.

The report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team added that regional Member States estimated current ISIL-K strength at between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters, of whom approximately 200 were of Central Asian origin, but other Member States believed that number could be as much as 6,000.