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US defence analyst Sarah Chayes explains how Pakistan’s ISI ran a sophisticated campaign for reinstalling the Taliban in power

OpIndia Staff
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US defence analyst Sarah Chayes explains how Pakistan’s ISI ran a sophisticated campaign for reinstalling the Taliban in power

In wake of the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan, US Defence Analyst Sarah Chayes shared her wisdom on the ongoing crisis and the reasons that led to the resurgence of the extremist group in the country.

In an interview with CNN on September 1, 2021, a fortnight after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in a swift and lightning offensive, Sarah attributed the terror outfit’s resurrection to the emotional and military support it received from Pakistan’s notorious intelligence agency ISI.

When asked if the Taliban had cleverly utilised the 20 years time to build its capability and stake its claim to power, Chayes said it wasn’t the terror group but Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI that used its resources cleverly to help topple the US-backed Ashraf Ghani government in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan’s ISI propped up the Taliban against the Soviet forces in the early 90s. Then they repurposed them to establish their control over Afghanistan. Since 2003, I started seeing that the ISI was reconstituting the Taliban. At that time, the Taliban was at its nadir. They could not have stayed inside Afghanistan. Maybe, they would run in one attack and then run back across the border,” Chayes said while revealing Pakistan’s role in helping the Taliban survive the NATO onslaught.

“As time went on, I saw quite a sophisticated campaign plan developed that responded well to where NATO forces had positioned themselves,” said Chayes, adding that contrary to US and NATO officers’ assessment, the Taliban was not a disorganised group of terrorists acting randomly against the western forces.

The US Defence Analyst, who had closely studied Pakistan’s role in keeping Afghanistan on tenterhooks, also shared her opinion on why the Pakistan government and the ISI are bent on bringing the Taliban back into power in their neighbourhood.

“In the current context. Look at them. The simultaneous defeat and surrender of Afghan government forces and the civilian government leaders all around the country, all at the same time. Look at the focus on the north first and then the south. Look at the people who flooded across the border from Pakistan into the border town of Spin Boldak. And I would say do we really believe this ragtag militia as we have been told the Taliban were. Did they have the capacity to conduct such an effective campaign with an obvious plan?” Chayes wondered.

Chayes is not the only one who has chalked up the resurgence of the Taliban to Pakistan. Her assessment of Pakistan’s complicity in the crisis that has roiled Afghanistan concurs with others, who also believe that Islamabad is pulling the strings of the Talibani government in Kabul. Over the years, several journalists, from across the globe, have arrived at the same conclusion that Pakistan has been in thick with the Islamic terrorists while portraying itself to be an ally of the western countries in their fight against Islamic terrorism.

2012 documentary reveals Pakistan’s support to the Taliban against NATO forces

Back in 2012, almost a decade before the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, a documentary was released by the Frontline, shedding light on the double-dealing of Pakistan that identified itself as an ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism but was covertly working to undermine its mission in Afghanistan. Titled ‘The Secret War’, the documentary revealed how the United States was fighting a losing battle in Afghanistan all these years.

During the investigation, Smith and Grey, the two journalists associated with the Frontline, found that the American soldiers stationed along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border were unhappy with the latter, for their covert support to the insurgency and terrorism targeted against the United States. One of the US troops, who wished to remain anonymous, confided to the reporters that the ground soldiers manning the border reportedly complained to the seniors about the Pakistani complicity in helping the Talibani and Al Qaeda terrorists cross the border and infiltrate into Afghanistan. 

“It could be turning a blind eye as the insurgents launched rockets from Pakistan to the US bases located across the border. It could also be allowing passage to the terrorists, right under their noses, to safely cross the border into Afghanistan. It could be providing insurgents with vital information such as details of our patrol or the Afghan army’s patrol along the border. It was complicity on their part, said Maj Michael Waltz, US Army Forces Reserves, while speaking about Pakistan’s treachery in propping up Al Qaeda and the Taliban terrorists against the United States. 

The documentary showed that the Taliban leaders, who had fled Afghanistan in the aftermath of the US invasion, moved freely inside Pakistan. The two journalists met a Taliban commander in the outskirts of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The commander told them how dependent the Taliban was for a sanctuary in Pakistan to continue their war across the border.

Rahul Gandhi’s bizarre claims continue, now alleges BJP and RSS have reduced the powers of Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi’s bizarre claims continue, now alleges BJP and RSS have reduced the powers of Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati

The dynast Rahul Gandhi who carries controversy as his close company has once again triggered a controversy of the lowest level after he invoked the triumvirate of Sanatan dharma — Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga — to hit the RSS and the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi was on a two-day visit to Jammu where he alleged that due to the RSS and the BJP, the power of Goddess Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati has reduced in the country. The BJP has now accused him of demeaning the Hindu Goddess.

In Jammu, Rahul Gandhi was addressing a meeting of party workers where he said that the policies of the Narendra Modi government like demonetization and GST has rendered Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, powerless. Earlier Rahul Gandhi had referred GST as ‘Gabbar Singh Tax‘.

Before his supporters could understand the unusual and uncalled-for analogy drawn by their leader, Rahul Gandhi further claimed that the new agricultural laws have also reduced the power of Goddess Durga.

“The new agricultural law has hurt Goddess Durga, it harmed her,” he said. It is notable that although the new farm laws have been passed by the parliament, their implementation has been stayed by the Supreme Court. Therefore, it is not known how can the laws that are yet to be implemented reduce the power of Goddes Durga, who is generally not associated with agriculture.

Therefore, only Rahul Gandhi and his zealous supporters can explain how farmers and farming law are connected with the Goddess Durga. Foodgrains are always associated with the Goddess Lakshmi and Annapurna and there is tradition to offer a bunch of paddy to please Goddess Lakshmi.

The nation has seen gory and diabolical images of the so-called farmers’ protest scripted by the Congress party in cahoots with others.

But Rahul Gandhi didn’t stop with dragging Lakshmi and Durga in his politics, the next target was Goddess Saraswati for him to target. “When a RSS man is appointed in every school, college and educational institution, the power of Goddess Saraswati diminishes,” he claimed.

To the likes of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress-Left ecosystem, a person can be treated as an academician only if he /she has the proper Congress-Left tag. However, in the past, Rahul Gandhi and his party either remained silent or were part of the controversy of the insult of Goddess Saraswati right from the JNU to others.

During the Jammu visit, he visited the Vaishno Devi temple and he started his speech with ‘Jai Mata Di’ in a bid to play the card of soft Hinduism. He also accused the BJP of destroying the composite culture of Jammu & Kashmir.

Responding to the absurd comment of Rahul Gandhi, BJP’s Sambit Patra said that Rahul and maturity can never coexist. Patra further added that Rahul Gandhi should get a good sense and apologize to everyone. He accused Rahul Gandhi of playing with emotions of Hindus, adding that due to his petty politics Rahul Gandhi has not even spared the deities. He reminded Rahul Gandhi that his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru was actually responsible for the mess in Jammu & Kashmir.

Teen Vogue columnist calls 9/11 an ‘attack on heteropatriarchal capitalistic systems’ that ‘many White Americans fight to protect’

OpIndia Staff
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Teen Vogue columnist calls 9/11 an ‘attack on heteropatriarchal capitalistic systems’ that ‘many White Americans fight to protect’

Jenn M. Jackson, columnist for Teen Vogue, caused outrage on social media after making an extremely controversial comment on the 9/11 terror attack. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Islamic terror attack that claimed the lives of thousands of Americans.

On the solemn occasion, Jackson claimed that 9/11 “was an attack on the heteropatriarchal capitalistic systems that America relies upon to wrangle other countries into passivity”. She proceeded to add, “It was an attack on the systems many white Americans fight to protect.”

Source: Twitter

The tweet was part of a thread where the Teen Vogue columnist claimed that she is “really disturbed by how many white pundits and correspondents talk about it”. She said, “White Americans might not have really felt true fear before 9/11 because they never felt what it meant to be accessible, vulnerable, and on the receiving side of military violence at home. But, white Americans’ experiences are not a stand-in for “America.””

“Plenty of us Americans know what it’s like to experience fear and we knew before 9/11. For a lot of us, we know fear because of other Americans,” Jackson added. Her comments, along expected lines, caused an outrage on the platform, with many accusing her of endorsing the terror attack.

Others mocked the ‘woke politics’ of Jackson.

People lamented the fact that she is a PhD holder.

The terror attack, committed by Al Qaeda terrorists led by Osama bin Laden, marked the dawn of a new era in American history as it embarked upon a series of regime change wars in the name of ‘War on Terror’.

It is also the first 9/11 anniversary after the USA concluded its 20-year war in Afghanistan.

Twitter suspends popular political satire handle for questioning Rana Ayyub: Here is the satirist’s statement on the issue

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter suspends popular political satire handle for questioning Rana Ayyub: Here is the satirist’s statement on the issue

Popular Twitter account ‘Princess Woke Liberal (@workingboxwali)’ was censored and suspended by the micro-blogging site for questioning the promotion of Islamist Rana Ayyub on the Elle Magazine.

In an audio clip posted by the account ‘Eminent Intellectual (total_woke_), the satirist could be heard as saying, “Namaste everyone, this is Princess Woke Liberal. If you are listening to this, I’m already dead on Twitter. Sadly I got suspended, no email, no warning, just suspended. I have appealed it, but we all know that’s the same as appealing to Taliban for casual Friday. Not happening! What’s interesting is that I knew this was coming two days ago.”

She emphasised, “I made a tweet about Rana Ayyub’s promotion by Elle magazine over many years, and exposing that her brother Arif Ayyub is the publisher of the magazine. Interestingly, the tweet didn’t get published. Yes, you heard that right. Only I could see it. After an hour of figuring out what was happening, I deleted it. “

“As I am aware the Totalwoke account had also got suspended (in the past) after Rana Ayyub had targeted it. I knew I had committed Twitter blasphemy and my account deserved baas ek hi saza (only one punishment)… You know what that is! Anyway, I and Totalwoke are looking at ways to keep in touch with our friends here. You will hear from me after a few days and I’m sure we will get your support as always. Till then, follow total.woke on Instagram and stay safe. Jai Shri Ram,” ‘Princess Woke Liberal’ concluded.

FIR registered against Rana Ayyub alleging money laundering

On September 7, an FIR was filed against Rana Ayyub at Indrapuram police station in Ghaziabad in UP in response to a complaint filed by Vikas Sakrityayan of the Hindu IT cell. The complaint accused Rana Ayyub of Money Laundering, Cheating, Dishonest Misappropriation of Property, Criminal Breach of Trust by illegally acquiring money from the general public in the name of charity.

It stated that Rana Ayyub was a journalist by profession and received foreign money without any kind of approval certificate/registration from the government, which is required as per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010. Hence, she was for violating the provisions of FCRA, the complaint had stated. Based on this complaint, the FIR was registered under sections 403, 406, 418, 420 or the Indian Penal Code (IPC), section 66D of the IT Act and section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The case relates to three fundraising campaigns Rana Ayyub had conducted on Ketto, Funds for slum dwellers and farmers, Relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra, and Help for Covid-19 impacted people in India. However, doubts were raised on the campaigns since the beginning, as the journalist was accepting foreign donations without the mandatory FCRA approval.

From killing civilians to allying with militias accused of raping women and young boys: How USA committed untold atrocities in Afghanistan

OpIndia Staff
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From killing civilians to allying with militias accused of raping women and young boys: How USA committed untold atrocities in Afghanistan

The US and Coalition forces were involved in the killing of Afghan men and inflicting war crimes during the 20 year war with Afghanistan.

According to a report published on The New Yorker, after the US had quickly removed Taliban following its invasion in 2001 and placed Hamid Karzai as the head of government in Afghanistan, the Mujahideen commander Dado became the Intelligence chief of the Helmand Province. The first year of the US rule was reportedly peaceful. As the story of an Afghan girl named Shakira unfolded in the report, the US allies and partnership with the Ninety-third Division and Dado, whom the US had rescued from exile was found to be unusual.

Dado was a wealthy fruit vendor who turned into a Mujahideen commander, and had the reputation of committing violence against civilians and killing while Ninety-third division also had a similar reputation and stories of their men being involved in robbery, killing and raping women and young boys were widespread.

USA allies with militias accused of raping and killing women and young boys

But the US had supposedly revived the Ninety Third Division and befriended it. The Division however, began raiding and attacking the villagers, but mainly focused on collecting bounties from the US government for providing Taliban soldiers. According to a British officer, Mike Martin, these Division men were paid 200 dollars for each Taliban Commander captured.

The Ninety Third Division men in the meantime started to use the opportunity to their advantage. Because there were not many Taliban leaders and commanders around, they began targeting whomever they wanted and labelled them as terrorist. The writer Anand Gopal wrote in his report, “A lieutenant colonel with U.S. Special Forces, Stuart Farris, who was deployed to the area at that time, told a U.S. Army historian, ‘There was virtually no resistance on this rotation.’ So militias like the Ninety-third Division began accusing innocent people.”

In February, 2003, they branded Hajji Bismillah—the Karzai government’s transportation director for Gereshk, responsible for collecting tolls in the city—a terrorist, prompting the Americans to ship him to Guantánamo. With Bismillah out of the way, the Ninety-third Division monopolized the toll revenue. In March 2003, a similar incident happened when the US convoy was attacked, and Dado played the US government into believing an ex-Taliban recruit named Mullah Jalil was the culprit. Though, suspicions exist that US government had Jalil to Guantamo despite having knowledge that Dado’s men were responsible.

Reportedly, the Helmandis continued to be taken away by the US troops or the North Division men. Mohammed Nasim, a farmer was captured and sent to the Guantamo according to classified information. A man named Abdul Wahid died because of injuries suffered during an attack by the Ninety Third Division’s forces. He died in a cage in US custody.

US forces killed many, many civilians in Afghanistan

Muhammad, a fifteen year old, allegedly had died in a drone attack. A man called Muhammad Wali was shot when he had came out to get water. Khan Muhammad, a seven year old was killed in a bomb explosion. Bor Agha, a 12 year old was fired from an Afghan national Base before being warned not to get too close to the base.

The author mentions one incident when an uncle of Shakira’s husband was killed. He wrote, “After the fighting ended, he (uncle) visited a mosque to offer prayers. A few Taliban were there, too. A coalition air strike killed almost everyone inside. The next day, mourners gathered for funerals; a second strike killed a dozen more people. Among the bodies returned to Pan Killay were those of Abdul Salam, his cousin, and his three nephews, aged six to fifteen.”

Stories of such atrocities abound. In 2019, while the US government engaged in talks with the Taliban, the US troops worked with the Afghan government and launched the most horrific attack on Sangin Valley, killing villagers and children. People were bombed at funerals in the the days that followed including a child who was killed in one of these attacks at an Islamic school.

Ahmed Noor Mohammad, a villager, who had lost his family in the US bombing of the Sangin Valley, reported the massacres to the United Nations and to the Afghan Government. He joined the Taliban later when he found no response.

British officers stationed in Afghanistan were concerned that the US forces were killing too many Civilians and tried to have the American Special Forces removed from the scene. While the coalition forces wanted to show that the locals there wanted liberation from Taliban, a classified intelligence report revealed that the locals warned of vacating their areas if the coalition forces are not withdrawn.

Such atrocities provide a glimpse into the manner in which the USA botched its war in Afghanistan. Due to the multitude of atrocities the US and their allies committed, Taliban gained sympathy among significant sections of the population. Even two days prior to completing the process of withdrawal from the country, a US drone strike wiped out 10 members of a single family, at least 6 of whom were children.

The US claimed that it was a ‘defensive airstrike’ against terrorists associated with the Islamic State of Khorasan Province but their main target turned out to be an aid worker, an ally of the United States.

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra fulfils his parents’ wish of travelling on a flight: Here is what he said

OpIndia Staff
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Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra fulfils his parents’ wish of travelling on a flight: Here is what he said

On Saturday (September 11) morning, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra took to Twitter to inform that he was successful in fulfilling a ‘small wish’ of his parents. “A small dream of mine came true today as I was able to take my parents on their first flight,” he tweeted. Furthermore, he added,”Sabhi ke dua aur Ashirwad ke liya humesha aabhari rahunga. (I will always be grateful for the prayers and blessings of everyone.)”

Screengrab of the tweet by Neeraj Chopra

Netizens applaud Neeraj Chopra for his heart-warming gesture

His story resounded with the aspirations of the Indian middle-class family, which tends to find happiness in such simple events in life. Jan ki Baat founder, Pradeep Bhandari, tweeted, “Wow. This is real India. You are the icon of New India”

“None is bigger/important than our parents. We are proud of you. Let God give you more success. You are an inspiration to the new young generation for not just being an excellent sportsperson but also upholding family values. Thank you,” wrote one Twitter user.

One Rajat Bajaj applauded, “Parents’ debt of life can’t be repaid ever. Their blessings are the biggest power with us. Hats off NeerajChopra”

Popular Twitter user Meghna Girish wrote, “First flight for parents of our champion…. may God bless every small wish and dream of theirs… today and ever after.”

Neeraj Chopra scripted history at the Tokyo Olympics

On August 7 this year, Neeraj Chopra had created history by winning the first athletic medal for India in a century. He had won the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the Javelin Throw event on August 7 this year. Neeraj Chopra had topped the qualifying round with an 86.59-metre throw, which he registered in his first attempt. During the finals, Chopra scored a whopping 87.03 metres in the first throw and 87.58 metres in the second. His second throw was enough to win him the Olympic Gold. With Chopra’s medal, India has registered its highest medal tally in the Olympics ever. 

Malini Awasthi on how she was stopped from singing a bhajan on Doordarshan under UPA because it said Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya

OpIndia Staff
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Malini Awasthi on how she was stopped from singing a bhajan on Doordarshan under UPA because it said Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya

Ever since India achieved independence in 1947, the Congress party has studiously followed political policies that have run counter to the interests of the Hindu majority community. From Jawaharlal Nehru’s staunch refusal to restore the hallowed Somnath Temple to its past glory to its unabashed practice of minority appeasement, to questioning the existence of Lord Rama and concocting the imaginary construct of “Saffron Terror”, Congress has a storied history of undermining Hindus and relegating them to the secondary status.

In yet another display of Congress’ treachery against the Hindus, renowned folk singer Malini Awasthi recently revealed in a news show that she was stopped from singing a religious bhajan on public broadcaster Doordarshan in 2005 because it said Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya.

Speaking about how the then UPA government in power stopped her from singing a composition dedicated to Lord Rama, Padmashree Awardee Malini Awasthi said, “There was a time when I was appointed to sing for public broadcaster Doordarshan…I offered them to sing a hymn on Lord Rama’s birth. Initially, they agreed to it but when I started, it included a stanza that mentioned Lord Rama’s birth in Ayodhya. Suddenly, they came and told me this cannot go on air and asked me to sing another hymn.”

“Since I am inquisitive by nature, I asked them what’s the problem with this composition. They said it refers to Lord Rama’s birth in Ayodhya. Being a follower of Sanathan Dharma, this was unacceptable to me. We have celebrated Lord Rama’s birth in Ayodhya for years. I told them I cannot record any other hymn if you are seeking to deny the truth.” Awasthi recounted during a programme on News Nation.

It is worth noting that Congress has long been accused of using state broadcasters to set their agenda and share a particular narrative, which has almost always worked against the interests of Hindus. It forced artists to toe a particular line that jibed with its larger political discourse, with insubordination resulting in ouster and ostracisation. One of the foremost musicians in India’s history, Pandit Hridaynath was sacked from the All India Radio during Congress years for singing a poem penned by freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.

All India Radio under Congress rule sacked Pandit Hridaynath for composing tunes based on poems written by Veer Savarkar

Hridaynath and his sisters, Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Mangeshkar, were known for composing tunes based on poems written by Veer Savarkar. However, this did not sit well with the Congress party, which had assiduously created a narrative that villainised the freedom fighter. As a consequence, the All India Radio under the Congress rule fired Hridaynath Mangeshkar for his musical composition on Veer Savarkar’s poems.

Years later, in an interview with ABP Majha, Hridaynath Mangeshkar admitted how he was fired from All India Radio because he chose to compose a poem written by Veer Savarkar. About 53 minutes into the interview, Mangeshkar shared the anecdote when he was canned from his job at the All India Radio, only because he had dared to create a musical rendition of Veer Savarkar’s iconic poem wherein he extolled the sea to take him back to the motherland, referring to Savarkar’s time in jail in the Andamans.

Congress’s penchant for dehumanising Hindus

Congress has a chequered history of dehumanising Hindus. It had moved heaven and earth to concoct the “Saffron Terror” narrative by falsely implicating Sadhvi Pragya and even Lt Col Purohit. It was Congress that wanted to pass the Communal Violence Bill which basically ensured that only Hindus would be considered perpetrators and never a Muslim, should there be any communal violence. The bill was formed by people who were associated with various foreign-funded NGOs. It was Rahul Gandhi who deemed mythical “saffron terror” more dangerous than LeT. It was P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde who called Hindus terrorists with no proof or reason. It was Manmohan Singh who said Muslims have the first right on our country’s resources.

It was Congress that divided Hindus by giving Lingayats the separate religion tag. It was Congress’ stand that was supported by Hafiz Saeed. It was Congress that ran a ‘Modi hatao desh bachao’ Facebook campaign in Pakistan and it was Congress whose leaders went to Pakistan and derided India. The list of Congress’ treachery with respect to Hindus is rather endless and the above-mentioned instances are just a few examples to highlight Congress’ anti-Hindu leanings.

Two FIRs filed against Asaduddin Owaisi on charges of attempting to disturb communal harmony and disrespecting the national flag

OpIndia Staff
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Two FIRs filed against Asaduddin Owaisi on charges of attempting to disturb communal harmony and disrespecting the national flag

The Uttar Pradesh police have registered two FIRs against the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in connection with his public meeting in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki on Thursday, September 9. The Hyderabad MP has been booked on charges of attempting to disturb communal harmony, flouting Covid norms and disrespecting the national flag.

The FIR against Owaisi and organisers of the public meeting has been registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity on the ground of religion, race, etc.), 188 (disregarding the order of a public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Epidemic Act, confirmed superintendent of police (Barabanki) Yamuna Prasad.

Owaisi provokes Muslims by making false references to the razing of an ancient mosque

Owaisi, who is eyeing to make inroads in Uttar Pradesh by wooing the Muslim vote bank, had delivered a communal speech in which he, despite clarifications from authorities of the Mosque being an illegal structure, tried to provoke the Muslims by making references to the razing of a mosque in the Ram Snehi Ghat tehsil in May this year. 

“In his speech, the AIMIM chief made statements for vitiating communal harmony and said the 100-year-old Ram Sanehi Ghat mosque was razed by the administration and its debris was also removed. This is contrary to the fact,” the SP said.

The mosque Owaisi was referring to was close to the tehsil’s premises and directly across from the SDM’s apartment. On the instructions of a Barabanki SDM court, it was dismantled on May 17. The structure was illegal, according to Barabanki District Magistrate Adarsh Singh, and the tehsil government took control on March 18.

SP Yamuna Prasad added that Owais had also made indecent and baseless remarks against the PM and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. He further said that the Hyderabad MP was in violation of COVID-19 norms as his rally saw huge crowds at Katra Chandana on Thursday, September 9.

It may be noted that the AIMIM leader had targeted the BJP government in his speech in Barabanki, for the enactment of the law against the contentious triple talaq law and for introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Owaisi had further tried to demonise the BJP government by claiming that ever since BJP has risen to power in 2014, only Muslims have been lynched across the country. Police in Uttar Pradesh arrest those who commit crimes against Muslims, but they are released after 24 hours. The oppressors are well aware that the BJP government is on their side. They’ll save them, Owaisi said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi insulted the Indian flag by wrapping it around a pole

Another FIR was filed later that night against the AIMIM chief and the meeting’s organisers for allegedly insulting the national flag by wrapping it around a pole at the dais instead of unfurling it.

Asaduddin Owaisi was on a three-day visit to Uttar Pradesh which concluded on Thursday. He had held public meetings at Ayodhya, Sultanpur and Barabanki in a bid to bolster support for his party in the upcoming UP Assembly polls. 

US killed aid worker working for US in drone strike, claimed that he was an ISKP terrorist: Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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US killed aid worker working for US in drone strike, claimed that he was an ISKP terrorist: Here is what we know so far

Following the death of more than 100 people (including 13 US troops) in bomb blasts inside Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul, the US army conducted a drone strike to avenge the Islamic State’s regional terror group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). The United States had claimed to target a vehicle within a residential area, supposedly carrying ‘multiple’ ISKP suicide bombers.

However, an exclusive investigation by the New York Times (NYT) has now revealed that the drone attack killed an aid worker and his family instead of an ISKP terrorist. The deceased aid worker has been identified as 43-year-old Zemari Ahmadi. NYT reported that on August 29, the US drone strike killed Ahmadi and 9 of his family members (including 7 children) by ‘mistaking’ him for an ISKP terrorist. At that time, he was driving his 1996 Toyota Corolla car carrying water jugs, which the Pentagon apparently mistook for explosives.

The United States had maintained that only 3 civilians were killed in the drone attack, although the victim’s family had been burning the death of their 10 relatives. The strike was specifically targeted in the neighbourhood where Zemari Ahmadi lived with 3 of his brothers and their families. NYT found that Ahmadi used to work for a US aid group named Nutrition and Education International (NEI) and would bring filled water jugs in the car for his family.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/ New York Times)

While speaking about the matter, the deceased’s brother Emal told NYT, “All of them were innocent. You say he was ISIS, but he worked for the Americans.” Emal had also lost his 2-year-old daughter Malaka Ahmadi in the strike. He told the BBC that the family was being instructed by a US personnel about airport evacuation when the drone strike took place. On the fateful day of August 29, Zemari Ahmadi came under the surveillance of US officials after he left his home at around 9 am. He was tracked the whole day using an MQ-9 reaper drone.

Events leading upto the drone strike

The deceased aid worker had picked up 2 people in his 1996 Toyota Corolla car and had collected a laptop from the residence of the country director of Nutrition and Education International (NEI). The Pentagon claimed that it tracked Ahmadi leaving an ISKP safehouse. The New York Times visited the house of the director, who clarified that he had nothing to do with the ISKP. He conceded that he had his own refugee resettlement case pending in the US. Ahmadi had visited the office of NEI at 9:35 am and then visited a Taliban-controlled police station for permission to distribute food among displaced refugees.

After returning to the office around 2 pm, the deceased aid worker began filling up water jugs as the water supply was discontinued/cut off from his residential area. The office guard, an eyewitness to the event told the NYT that he helped Ahmadi fill up the jugs and load them in the trunk of the latter’s car. The two passengers, who had boarded Ahmadi’s car, turned out to be two of his co-workers. Unlike other times, the deceased did not play music or radio due to the fear of the Talibs. On returning home, Zemari Ahmadi was greeted by his children, nephews and nieces in the gated courtyard.

At this point, the operator of the MQ-9 reaper drone scanned the area quickly and somehow found only Ahmadi in vicinity of the car. Based on his assessment that there were no women or children, a drone strike was conducted on the victim’s car. NYT reported that the US drone strike not only killed 43-year-old Zemari Ahmadi but also his 3 children, namely, Farzad (10), Faisal (16) and Zamir (20). Besides, his cousin Naser (30), nephews Hayat (2), Benyamin (6), Arwin (7), Malika (3) and Somaya (3) were also killed.

Pentagon justifies drone strike, makes unfounded claims of ‘second blast’

The brother of the deceased aid worker, Romal and his wife, were inside the house at that point in time. Shocked by the sudden blast, they thought that the Talibs had attacked their house. It was only then that they discovered dismembered bodies of her family. However, the Pentagon justified the attack claiming it to be based on an intelligence assessment. According to Pentagon officials, a second blast took place after the drone strike.

They alleged that it was caused due to explosives in the car of Ahmadi. New York Times analysed the pictures from the scene and found no evidence of a second bomb blast. Had there been a second explosion, experts told NYT that the walls would have collapsed. However, there was only one minor dent on the security gate, implying only one shock wave. British Army veteran Chris Cobb Smith said, “It seriously questions the credibility of the intelligence or technology utilized to determine this was a legitimate target.”

Taliban had claimed that US drone strike targetted terrorists

Last month, CNN reported that a relative of the deceased told a local journalist that 9 civilians were killed from one single family. The Associated Press had also reported that a local Afghan official had said that three children had died. Hours after the reports of the rocket attack, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that a US airstrike targeted a terrorist who was going to attack the Kabul airport. The Taliban said that a drone strike by US forces targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle who wanted to attack the Kabul international airport on Sunday. In a message to journalists, the Taliban spokesperson said that the vehicle was laden with explosives, but didn’t give any other detail.

Actor Yami Gautam calls out sexism by India Today, asks why movie reviews should leave out the names of female actors

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Yami Gautam calls out sexism by India Today, asks why movie reviews should leave out the names of female actors

The horror-comedy ‘Bhoot Police’ premiered on Disney+Hotstar on Friday, September 10. Actors Arjun Kapoor, Yami Gautam, Saif Ali Khan, and Jacqueline Fernandez play key roles in the film. While the movie has been garnering positive reviews, Yami Gautam is not particularly happy with India Today for its sexist film review.

The actor took to Twitter on September 10 to call out the media house for dropping the names of female actors from the headline of the review of ‘Bhoot Police’. 

“Thank you for the feedback but it’s high time for media portals to start acknowledging the fact that a film belongs to the female counterparts as well & to be respectfully mindful while penning their headlines !”, Tweeted actor Yami Gautam, in response to India Today’s movie review.

Yami Gautam’s tweet, in which she chastised India Today for its patriarchal mindset, has yet to receive a response.

Yami Gautam is the same actress whom the ‘woke’ individuals had recently ‘cancelled’ after realizing she married Aditya Dhar, the director of the film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike.’ Upset over Yami receiving appreciation over her photographs in Hindu attire, liberals ‘stalked’ her husband in an attempt to cancel the duo altogether.

Yami Gautam was also mocked by actor Vikrant Massey for her wedding look where she was seen draped in a beautiful red Banarsi silk saree. Vikrant Massey on Yami Gautam’s Instagram post commented that she was looking “pure & pious like Radhe Maa.”

Speaking of India Today, it is a media house, that has not once but many times been called out for its shoddy journalism. Besides overly dramatising events to sensationalise incidents, India Today is also accused of being a fake news purveyor on more occasions than one. The India Today star journalist, propagandist-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai has almost mastered the art of peddling lies and sensationalizing news. Be it from peddling lies about cremation ground for Covid-19 victims in Almora in Uttarakhand or the Republic Day insurrection or the Sohrabuddin Encounter Case or his propaganda regarding CAA, Rajdeep has not left a single opportunity to spread lies and fearmonger.

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