12:01 After IAF pilot’s return, 3 civilians killed in shelling by Pak along LoC:
Three members of a family were killed and two others injured as Pakistani forces heavily shelled areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.
Pakistani forces targeted civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy guns, including Howitzer 105 mm, they said, adding that Indian forces retaliated effectively.
In the heavy shelling, three members of a family were killed and another was injured in Salotri in Poonch district, where shells hit several houses, they said.
Twenty-four-year-old Rubana Kosar and her son Fazan (5) and nine-month-old daughter Shabnam were killed in the shelling. Rubana’s husband Mohd Yunis was injured, they said.
In violation of the ceasefire agreement with India, Pakistani forces have been shelling areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts for eight consecutive days.
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.
— PTI
11:38 UN chief welcomes IAF pilot’s return to India from Pak captivity:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the return of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthman from captivity in Pakistan and called on the two countries to sustain the “positive momentum” and engage in further constructive dialogue.
“UN chief Guterres welcomes the news of the release of the Indian pilot by Pakistani authorities,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said when asked about the Secretary-General’s response to the development.
“The Secretary-General calls on both parties to sustain this positive momentum and engage in further constructive dialogue. His good offices remain available should both sides agree,” Dujarric said.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s release was being watched with bated breath across India as the IAF pilot was accorded a hero’s welcome as he crossed onto India through the Wagah Border.
The IAF pilot’s release was seen as a major step towards defusing a near-war situation triggered by India’s retaliation over Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism.
— PTI
11:16 Chanda Kochhar, Videocon chief called for questioning in loan case today:
The Enforcement Directorate today summoned former ICICI Bank chief executive Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon managing director Venugopal Dhoot for questioning in a loan case. The probe agency said it has asked them to come for questioning around noon in Mumbai.
The summons were sent a day after the homes and offices of the Kochhars Mr Dhoot were searched by the Enforcement Directorate. The search Ms Kochhar’s premises went on till 8 pm on Friday, sources said. She was also taken to the ED’s office in Mumbai and questioned till 4:30 pm, they said. Venugopal Dhoot was questioned till 11 pm yesterday.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has already issued a look-out circular against Kochhar and has revived ones against her husband Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot. Look-out circulars are notices sent to transit points like airports to restrict the movement of people under investigation by probe agencies.
The case is related to a loan given by ICICI Bank to Videocon when Chanda Kochhar was heading it, and the business ties between Venugopal Dhoot and her husband.
Dhoot allegedly invested Rs 64 crore in NuPower Renewables, a company founded by Kochhar’s husband, a day after Videocon group was granted a loan of Rs 200 crore by ICICI Bank.
10:33 UNSC blacklists Osama bin Laden’s son:
The United Nations Security Council has designated Hamza bin Laden, the son of slain Al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, under its sanctions list, subjecting him to a travel ban, assets freeze and an arms embargo as it described him as being seen as the “most probable successor” of the group’s current leader Aiman al-Zawahiri.
The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIS and Al Qaida Sanctions Committee listed 29-year old Hamza bin Laden on Thursday, the day the US announced a reward of up to one million dollars for information about him.
Saudi Arabia also announced Friday it had revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden via a royal decree in November.
A Security Council press release said al-Zawahiri has announced that the Saudi Arabia-born Hamza bin Laden is an official member of Al Qaida. Hamza bin Laden has called for followers of Al-Qaida to commit terror attacks. Is seen as the most probable successor of al-Zawahiri, the powerful 15-member Council said.
An assets freeze under the Sanctions Committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The travel ban entails preventing the entry into or transit by all states through their territories by designated individuals.
Under the arms embargo, all states are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities.
Just hours before the UNSC Sanctions Committee designated Hamza bin Laden, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program announced a reward for up to USD 1 million for information leading to his identification or location in any country, saying he is emerging as a leader in the Al Qaida franchise.
“Since at least August 2015, he has released audio and video messages on the Internet calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies, and he has threatened attacks against the United States in revenge for the May 2011 killing of his father by U.S. service members, the State Department said.
In January 2017, the State Department had listed Hamza bin Laden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, freezing all of his assets based in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons. The designation also prohibited US persons from engaging in transactions with him. — PTI
10:08 Imran was in Lahore to ensure ‘smooth’ handing over of Indian pilot: Sources:
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was present in Lahore to oversee the ‘smooth’ handing over captured Indian Air Force pilot to India at the Wagah border on Friday, official sources said.
Khan arrived in Lahore on Friday afternoon, a couple of hours before IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was brought to the Wagah border from Islamabad, amid high security.
“PM Khan’s main purpose of being in the town was to oversee the ‘smooth’ handing over of the captured Indian pilot to the Border Security Force,” an official source told PTI.
He said during his stay Khan held a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, who praised the premier for ordering the release of the Indian pilot.
They said this gesture would establish that Pakistan was a peace loving country and wanted peace with its neighbouring countries especially India.
Buzdar said: “This move will help de-escalte tensions between India and Pakistan.”
“The prime minister stayed in the city till the time the Indian pilot was handed over to his country. Later, he left for Islamabad,” the source added.
Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement issued after handing over of the Indian pilot to India said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan who announced his (Varthaman’s) return as a ‘goodwill gesture’ aimed at de-escalating rising tensions with India.”
Wing Commander Varthaman was arrested when his MIG-21 crashed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after being shot down by Pakistan Air Force for what Islamabad said “violating Pakistani airspace” on February 27. —PTI
09:27 Air India to not accept passengers with cancelled tickets of Jet Airways:
As Jet Airways continue to face severe financial problems, Air India said Friday it would not accept any passengers that have got cancelled tickets of the former airline.
Generally, when an airline cancels a flight due to some exigencies, other airlines accommodate the former’s passengers in their flights. The airline, which has got its flight cancelled, has to pay other airlines for passengers accommodated.
“With immediate effect and till further notice, Jet Airways (India) Limited and Jet Lite Limited documents (including FIM and endorsed/involuntary rerouted/rebooked/exchanged/reissuedocuments) are not to be accepted for travel on Air India flights,” said an order of Air India dated March 1. FIM stands for Flight Interruption Manifest.
Around 15 aircraft of Jet Airways have been grounded by the lessors due to non-payment.
Jet is trying to raise funds for its operations as it has a debt of around Rs 8,200 crore currently.
Moreover, its pilots have been threatening action as there have been delays in salary payment.– PTI
09:23 Chiefs of Air and Naval staffs to get Z-plus security:
The chiefs of the Indian Air Force and Navy will get Z-plus security cover after a fresh assessment of their threat perception by the security agencies, officials said.
The decision was taken after a thorough review of the threat perception of IAF chief Air Marshal B S Dhanoa and chief of Naval staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in the wake of heightened tension with Pakistan.
The chiefs of Air Staff and Naval Staff will be given the Z-plus security, a government official said.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat has already been given the Z-plus security.
The official, however, said close proximity security of the chiefs of Air Staff and Naval Staff will continue to be given by the commandos of the respective forces, and the peripheral security will be given by the central and state security agencies.
Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a JeM suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.
Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. — PTI
08:24 Russia offered to mediate, provide venue to India, Pak to hold talks: FO:
Russia on Friday offered to mediate and provide venue to Pakistan and India for the talks to resolve their current differences, Pakistan foreign office said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi over telephone and discussed the situation in the region following escalation of tensions between the two neighbours, it said.
“Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated his country’s offer of mediation and provision of venue for the talks between India and Pakistan,” the FO added.
Qureshi appreciated Russia’s balanced and constructive role in de-escalation of tensions in the region.
He welcomed the Russian offer and said that he had acknowledged Moscow’s constructive role in Parliament while addressing the joint session earlier in the day, which was well received.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue consultations for promotion of peace and stability in the region, according to the foreign office. — PTI
01:12 Abhinandan lands in Delhi:
Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman landed in Delhi on Friday night, hours after he was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days.
A group of people gave a rousing welcome to him at the Palam airport, from where he would be taken to a medical facility for examination.
He was handed over to Indian authorities at Attari-Wagah border on Friday evening.
Wing Commander Varthaman, who was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfight between the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down, returned home from his nearly three-day captivity, a major step towards defusing a near-war situation triggered by India’s retaliation over Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism.
He finally emerged at 9.10 p.m(IST) at the Wagah checkpost on the Pakistani side, accompanied by Pakistani rangers, the Indian air attache posted in the High Commission in Islamabad. — PTI
Photograph: PTI Photo
Source: Rediff