Indian Military to Allow Women in Combat Roles; Final Phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb Begins in North Waziristan; Afghanistan Receives 10,000 AK-47s from Russia

Event Notice: Future of War Conference: Where will the innovation that shapes the future military come from? Wednesday, March 10 (Presented by New America and Arizona State University, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C.) 

India

Bonus Read: “Why Does the World Bank Say Pakistanis Sent $5 billion to India Last Year?” by Eric Bellman (WSJ)

Indian military to allow women in combat roles

In an address to India’s parliament on Thursday, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee announced that all three branches of the Indian military will open combat roles for women (Time/Reuters, Guardian). Women were allowed to join the military in India in 1992 but still only make up 2.5 percent of Indian Army personnel, mostly in medical or administrative roles. The army has largely resisted a move to induct women into combat roles, expressing concerns over their ability to handle the high physical strain and vulnerability in case of capture. However, in October, the government approved a proposal by the air force to train female fighter pilots by mid-2017.

Mumbai declares 16 “no-selfie zones” across the city

Police in Mumbai declared 16 “no-selfie zones” across the city, many near the coastline areas with no protective railings or barriers (NYT, Guardian, FirstPost). Officials are warning people against taking unnecessary risks for taking these pictures as India has seen more deaths while taking a selfie than any other country in the world. Since 2014, 19 citizens in India died while taking a selfie while the global total is estimated at 49. According to the police announcement, any citizen venturing into off-limits areas, even if they take no photos, risks a fine of 1,200 rupees (USD $18).

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt released from prison

Indian Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt was released from prison on Thursday after serving the remainder of a five-year sentence for acquiring illegal guns from the men convicted for the 1993 Mumbai bombings (Reuters, NYT/AP). In 2007, Dutt was convicted of illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle after being cleared of charges related to helping orchestrate the 1993 bombings in Mumbai that killed more than 250 people. After spending a year and a half in jail, he was released on bail but in 2013 the Supreme Court ordered him back in jail to complete his sentence.  Twelve people were sentenced to death for the 1993 bombings and Indian authorities claim that the main perpetrators of the attacks are still in Pakistan.

Pakistan

Bonus Read: “Will Pakistan Draw Closer to Saudi Arabia to balance Iran?” by Sameer Lalwani (War on the Rocks)

Final phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb begins in North Waziristan

On Wednesday, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif announced the final phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, targeting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in the Shawal Valley in North Waziristan (DefenseNews, The Nation). Zarb-e-Azb, part of Pakistan’s National Action Plan to root out terrorism throughout the country, has ousted TTP members from North Waziristan, located in Pakistan’s FATA region, since June 2014. The final phase, while expected to be this year, began unexpectedly early. “Considering the climate, it’s pretty smart to do it now, as the militants will find it very difficult to move around and to find alternative base areas with access to food,” said former Australian defense attaché to Islamabad Brian Cloughley. Speaking about Gen. Sharif’s briefing of the operation, Inter Service Public Relations Director General Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said in a series of tweets, “…the deeply forested ravines of Shawal Valley and the areas ahead of Data Khel (which) have been frequent infiltration routes of terrorists between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and are now the last bastion of terrorists left in North Waziristan.”

Pakistani cricket team gets go-ahead to play in India

The Pakistani government announced on Thursday its decision to allow the country’s cricket team to play in the World T20 tournament in India (Dawn, ET, SkySports). The decision, weeks in the making, was contentious due to persistent Pakistan-specific threats made by Hindu activists in India. An alternative proposal was put forward to allow the teams to play each other on neutral sites, should the Pakistani government not allow their team to play in India. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, speaking after the approval of the team’s participation in tournament, said, “As a duty of care, we have asked ICC (International Cricket Council) to put in place special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team while in India.”

Afghanistan

Book Review: “Reimagining Afghanistan’s Future, One Pupil at A Time,” by Candace Rondeaux (FP)

Afghanistan receives 10,000 AK-47s from Russia

On Wednesday, Afghanistan National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar took receipt of 10,000 automatic rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition from Russia (Reuters, NBC, RFE/RL). “This important donation is from an important friend of Afghanistan in a crucial time for Afghanistan and the region,” Atmar said. Russia will also provide Afghanistan with helicopters and large arms, National Security Council spokesman Tawab Ghurzang told NBC News. The arms shipment marks Russia’s first direct military aid to Afghanistan since the end of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Ghani nominates new interior minister and attorney general

President Ghani announced on Wednesday his nominees for the posts of interior minister and attorney general (Reuters, TOLO News). Major General Taj Mohammed Jahid, currently the commander of the Afghan army’s 207th Corps in western Afghanistan, was selected to succeed Noor-ul-Haq Olomi, who was nominated to become the ambassador to the Netherlands. A former member of the Human Rights Commission, Mohammed Farid Hamidi, is the attorney general nominee. The National Unity Government (NUG) cabinet remains without a defense minister, as the Afghan parliament has blocked all of Ghani’s nominees to date. Parliament’s relationship with the NUG remains tense. The legislative body moved to launch a vote of no confidence in November against then Interior Minister Olomi, who was nominated by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and served in the position since Jan. 27, 2015. Additionally, the head of the National Directorate of Security, Rahmatullah Nabil, also resigned in December over disagreements with Ghani about rapprochement with Pakistan. The position still remains vacant.

–Albert Ford and Shuja Malik

Edited by Peter Bergen

PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images