Af/Pak & Other News (4/20/2021)

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Afghanistan’s war and US stake in it won’t end when troops leave

https://warisboring.com/afghanistans-war-and-us-stake-in-it-wont-end-when-troops-leave/



Can Afghan Forces Hold Back The Taliban Without U.S., NATO Troops?

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/can-afghan-forces-hold-back-the-taliban-without-american-nato-troops-/31211995.html



What happens in Afghanistan doesn’t stay in Afghanistan

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/04/ep-48-what-happens-in-afghanistan-doesnt-stay-in-afghanistan.php



Afghans Haven’t Forgotten Taliban Atrocities

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/19/afghanistan-biden-taliban-withdrawal-ghani-shomali-plain/



Pakistan opens talks with outlawed Islamists behind violent anti-France protests

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pakistan-negotiates-with-islamist-group-behind-anti-france-protests-11-police-2021-04-19/









Indian Navy commissions first squadron of Dhruv ALH Mk III helicopters

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indian-navy-commissions-first-squadron-of-dhruv-alh-mk-iii-helicopters



U.S. Naval Intrusion Exposes India’s Political Weakness

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/20/us_naval_intrusion_exposes_indias_political_weakness_773525.html



India to retire first Kilo-class submarine this year

https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/india-to-retire-first-kilo-class-submarine-this-year-1793193-2021-04-20









Iran’s missiles, drone arsenal a growing 'destabilizing threat' - report

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/irans-missiles-drone-arsenal-a-growing-destabilizing-threat-report-665763



Iran Rattled as Israel Repeatedly Strikes Key Targets

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/world/middleeast/iran-israeli-attacks.html



After nuclear talks, Iran's president says deal could be reached soon

https://www.axios.com/iran-president-rouhani-nuclear-deal-reached-soon-11e85b5e-890c-4f55-842b-597d0b815eed.html



Top Iran official says power restored, enrichment resumes at Natanz nuclear site

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-april-20-2021/



‘Iran’s economy is closer than ever to collapse,’ says expert

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/irans-economy-is-closer-than-ever-to-collapse-says-expert-665675









Iraq: That is Something New

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iraq/articles/20210420.aspx









Yemen the topic of secret talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/yemen-conflict-saudi-arabia-iran-b1833852.html



Saudi-led coalition says it intercepts Houthi drone

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/20/saudi-led-coalition-says-it-intercepts-houthi-drone



Battle for Yemen's Marib Scrambles U.S. Push for Truce

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-20/battle-for-yemens-marib-scrambles-us-push-for-truce









Russia says its airstrike in Syria killed 200 militants

https://apnews.com/article/syria-islamic-state-group-russia-bashar-assad-507859f34d79939c12bba8ded1cb2184



Syria Chemical-Attack Deniers Admit Links to WikiLeaks and Russia

https://www.thedailybeast.com/syria-chemical-attack-deniers-admit-links-to-wikileaks-and-russia



Victims of Syrian gov’t chemical attacks file case in Sweden

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/20/victims-of-syrian-govt-chemical-attacks-file-case-in-sweden









Suspected ISWAP Jihadists Storm Army Base in Nigeria’s Borno State

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/20/jihadists-storm-nigeria-base-borno/




Military says that Chad’s president killed on battlefield

https://apnews.com/article/chad-president-idriss-deby-itno-dead-ffd9afdc23e7331ca32765ff693db6d6









The Pentagon says more and more Russian troops are amassing near Ukraine, and it is not convinced this is just a training exercise

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-pentagon-says-more-and-more-russian-troops-are-amassing-near-ukraine-and-it-is-not-convinced-this-is-just-a-training-exercise/ar-BB1fR6Hw



Why Putin Threatens Ukraine

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/why-putin-threatens-ukraine/



EU Warns Russian Military Buildup Could 'Spark' Conflict As Ukraine Talks Yield Few Results

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-france-germany-russia-discuss-leaders-summit/31210897.html



Photos show Russia's military buildup near Ukraine as Putin claims dominion over more of the region's sea and air

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-war-photos-military-buildup-crimea-putin-black-sea-airspace/



Russia seems to be preparing to invade Ukraine but it's not clear whether Putin will go through with it

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-seems-to-be-preparing-to-invade-ukraine-but-it-s-not-clear-whether-putin-will-go-through-with-it/ar-BB1fRgfx



Russia Plans ‘Flying Minefield’ To Counter Drone Attacks

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/04/20/russia-plans-flying-minefield-to-counter-drone-attacks/



Russian Navy Tests Latest ‘All-Seeing’ SWIR Camera in Arctic

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/19/russian-navy-swir-camera-arctic/



Russia’s latest Yasen-M subs to get the capability to salvo-launch cruise missiles

https://navalpost.com/russia-yasen-m-project-885m-submarine/



Russia plans its own space station in 2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56812294



Russia expels two Bulgarian diplomats in spy row

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-expels-two-bulgarian-diplomats-spy-row-2021-04-20/



Two Russian agents have been linked to a high-profile poisoning and a deadly explosion, but there's little Europe can do

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/europe/salisbury-suspects-czech-republic-intl/index.html



Russia's mystery duo back in the spotlight accused of black ops

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210419-russia-s-mystery-duo-back-in-the-spotlight-accused-of-black-ops



Unit 29155, the Russian spies specialising in ‘sabotage and assassinations’

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210420-unit-29155-the-russian-spies-specialising-in-sabotage-and-assassinations



Why Russia's GRU military intelligence service is so feared

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56798001



The war against Russia's spies just cost Putin billions from a cancelled nuclear contract

https://www.businessinsider.com/czechia-diplomat-expulsions-putin-russia-nuclear-contract-2021-4



Alexei Navalny Being Held in 'Concentration Camp,' Former Inmates Say

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-alexei-navalny-kremlin-prison-concentration-camp-1584912



Russia detains Navalny allies, raids offices on eve of protest

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-detains-navalny-allies-raids-offices-eve-protest-2021-04-20/



Navalny’s doctors prevented from seeing him at prison clinic

https://apnews.com/article/prisons-europe-59aa09b02c641fa211f2a5a579b7c981




Belarus increases military activity across the country

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/belarus-increases-military-activity-across-the-country.html




Romanian Air Force MiG-21 Lancer Crashes In Mureș, Pilot Injured

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/romanian-air-force-mig-21-lancer-crashes-in-mures-pilot-injured/25718/




USAF Deploys Major Fighter Component to Poland

https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/20/usaf-deploys-poland/




Czechs urge allies to expel Russian intelligence officers in act of solidarity

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/czechs-urge-allies-to-expel-russian-intelligence-officers-in-act-of-solidarity/ar-BB1fR90X




British patrol ships monitor 7 Russian vessels

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-patrol-ships-monitor-7-russian-vessels/



‘The OSINT Bunker’ – Episode 5 released

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-osint-bunker-episode-5-released/









Cuba has a new leader and it’s not a Castro

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/19/cuba-has-a-new-leader-and-its-not-a-castro









China's ‘push for global power' poses greatest security threat to US, says US intelligence community

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinas-push-for-global-power-poses-greatest-security-threat-to-us-says-us-intelligence-community



China’s Military Has a Hidden Weakness

https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/chinas-military-has-a-hidden-weakness/



Patrol By Chinese Carrier Reveals Beijing’s Modern Surface Fleet

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2021/04/20/patrol-by-chinese-carrier-reveals-beijings-modern-surface-fleet/



China’s J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighters set to get purpose-built engines ‘within next two years’

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3130340/chinas-j-20-mighty-dragon-fighters-set-get-purpose-built



Chinese J-20 Jet Engines could get 2D Thrust Vectoring Nozzles

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29392/Chinese_J_20_Jet_Engines_could_get_2D_Thrust_Vectoring_Nozzles



China unveils another stealthy UCAV

http://alert5.com/2021/04/20/china-unveils-another-stealthy-ucav/



China-linked hackers used Pulse Secure flaw to target U.S. defense industry - researchers

https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-linked-hackers-used-pulse-secure-flaw-target-us-defense-industry-2021-04-20/



Beijing won total control over Hong Kong. Now, the ‘brainwashing’ begins.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/beijing-won-total-control-over-hong-kong-now-the-brainwashing-begins/ar-BB1fQz9l



Beijing’s Military-Heavy Approach to Taiwan Locks the US and China in a Security Dilemma

https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/beijings-military-heavy-approach-to-taiwan-locks-the-us-and-china-in-a-security-dilemma/





Taiwan to Raise 'Temple Militia' of Holy Villagers to Fight off China Invasion

https://www.newsweek.com/taiwan-raise-temple-militia-holy-villagers-fight-off-china-invasion-1585020



Taiwan might build second PAVE PAWS system

http://alert5.com/2021/04/20/taiwan-might-build-second-pave-paws-system/



Taiwan seeking to buy AGM-158 JASSM for its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/taiwan-seeking-to-buy-agm-158-jassm-for-its-f-16-fighting-falcon-fighter-aircraft/



Taiwan To Begin 24/7 Simulation of Chinese Invasion

https://www.newsweek.com/taiwan-begin-24-7-simulation-chinese-invasion-1584984







Japan says Chinese military likely behind cyberattacks

https://apnews.com/article/world-news-technology-business-tokyo-japan-f35854b6acb5ebd27a1a54d2417d2929





Manila’s Images Are Revealing the Secrets of China’s Maritime Militia

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/19/manilas-images-are-revealing-the-secrets-of-chinas-maritime-militia/



Philippines’ Duterte Prepared to Deploy Navy Over South China Sea Claim

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/20/philippines-prepared-to-deploy-navy-south-china-sea/





Increasingly lethal response likely to quell Myanmar protests

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/increasingly-lethal-response-likely-to-quell-myanmar-protests





Australia's Collins-class Submarine Program by Sub Brief

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/04/austraalias-collins-clas-submarine.html










Senators questioned about photos, video of UFOs above Navy warships

https://kfor.com/mystery-wire/senators-questioned-about-photos-video-of-ufos-above-navy-warships/



The Pentagon Was Interested in Hawaiian UFO Sighting, Documents Reveal

https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7bwqz/the-pentagon-was-interested-in-hawaiian-ufo-sighting-documents-reveal



Researcher who sold trade secrets to China gets 33 months

https://apnews.com/article/health-china-li-chen-columbus-ohio-06be1ec6f12448ca9bd91f03985b9592



Former US Vice President Walter Mondale dies at 93

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210420-former-us-vice-president-walter-mondale-dies-at-93



Better late than never: US military ramps up cyber operations

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/better-late-than-never-us-military-ramps-up-cyber-operations/



White House outlines 100-day plan to upgrade U.S. cyberdefenses

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/04/20/joe-biden-cyber-security-plan/2841618924551/



The U.S. Strategic Command Just Casually Tweeted About Nuclear War

https://www.newsweek.com/us-strategic-command-tweet-nuclear-war-1584909



US bombers could go back on alert if ICBMs are curtailed, top general says

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/04/20/us-bombers-could-go-back-on-alert-if-icbms-are-curtailed-top-general-says/



DARPA Nuke Sat To Target Cislunar Monitoring Mission

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/darpa-nuke-sat-to-target-cislunar-monitoring-mission/



Startup taps radio frequency data, AWS tools to search the seas for pirates

https://www.zdnet.com/article/startup-taps-radio-frequency-data-aws-tools-to-search-the-seas-for-pirates/



For decades, US special-operations units copied the British, but now the tables are turning

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/for-decades-us-special-operations-units-copied-the-british-but-now-the-tables-are-turning/ar-BB1fR5Rf



AeroVironment Awarded $45 Million Option for Switchblade Tactical Missile Systems Under U.S. Army Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems Contract

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210420005401/en/AeroVironment-Awarded-45-Million-Option-for-Switchblade-Tactical-Missile-Systems-Under-U.S.-Army-Lethal-Miniature-Aerial-Missile-Systems-Contract



Is the Army’s Strategic Long-Range Cannon Project a No-Go?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/army%E2%80%99s-strategic-long-range-cannon-project-no-go-183183



Report to Congress on Army Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle Program

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/20/report-to-congress-on-army-optionally-manned-fighting-vehicle-program



The M1014 – Inside The USMC’s Combat Shotgun

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-m1014-inside-the-usmcs-combat-shotgun/



Japan-Based USAF F-16s Flew South China Sea Mission Fully Loaded With Live Air-To-Air Missiles

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40242/japan-based-usaf-f-16s-flew-south-china-sea-mission-fully-loaded-with-live-air-to-air-missiles



And Then It Was Just There

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20210420.aspx



SR-72 Blackbird: The Mach 6 Spy Plane No One Can Confirm Is Real

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/sr-72-blackbird-the-mach-6-spy-plane-no-one-can-confirm-is-real/



We Talk F-15EX’s New Radar With The Woman Who Runs The Program Behind It

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40098/we-talk-f-15exs-new-radar-with-the-woman-who-runs-the-program-behind-it



Navy Kicks Off First Fleet Exercise Focused On Role of Unmanned Systems

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/19/navy-kicks-off-first-fleet-exercise-focused-on-role-of-unmanned-systems