Af/Pak & Other News (4/18/2021)

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Afghanistan withdrawal will likely dismantle a CIA intelligence network built up over 20 years

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/18/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-cia-intelligence-network/index.html



Afghanistan’s war — and America’s stakes in it — won’t end when the troops leave

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-04-18/afghanistans-war-and-our-stakes-in-it-wont-end-when-u-s-troops-leave



After troops leave Afghanistan, U.S. will face challenges maintaining counterterrorism capability

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/after-troops-leave-afghanistan-u-s-will-face-challenges-maintaining-counterterrorism-capability/ar-BB1fL4JF



‘Why are you leaving now?’ — A rookie Afghan policeman, a combat veteran, and a shared loss of naivety

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-veteran-reflects-war-in-afghanistan/



Deadly clashes after Islamists take police hostage in Pakistan's Lahore

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/deadly-clashes-after-islamists-take-police-hostage-pakistans-lahore-2021-04-18/









India-China Standoff: Chinese PLA Starts Recruiting Tibetan Soldiers To Counter Indian Army At The Disputed Border

https://eurasiantimes.com/india-china-standoff-chinese-pla-start-recruiting-tibetan-soldiers-to-counter-indian-army-at-the-disputed-border/









Iran says Quds Force deputy chief dead of a heart attack

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-quds-force-deputy-chief-dead-of-a-heart-attack/



Iran shows off dozens of drones in military parade

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/iran-shows-off-dozens-of-drones-in-military-parade-665482



Iran asks Interpol to arrest Natanz 'sabotage' suspect: media

https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_asks_Interpol_to_arrest_Natanz_sabotage_suspect_media_999.html



‘Eye for an eye’: Iran editorial urges retaliatory attack on Dimona reactor

https://www.timesofisrael.com/eye-for-an-eye-iran-editorial-urges-retaliatory-attack-on-dimona-reactor/









Five wounded in rocket attack on Iraq base hosting Americans

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210418-five-wounded-in-rocket-attack-on-iraq-base-hosting-americans



Iranian-backed units may have targeted Turkish base in Iraq

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iranian-backed-units-may-have-targeted-turkish-base-in-iraq-665483









Saudi and Iran held secret talks over Yemen conflict: report

https://www.dw.com/en/saudi-and-iran-held-secret-talks-over-yemen-conflict-report/a-57243546









Israel and Greece sign record defence deal

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-greece-sign-record-defence-deal-2021-04-18/









U.S. says Chad rebels heading towards capital from north

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-says-chad-rebels-heading-towards-capital-north-2021-04-18/



Chad army claims it has stopped rebel drive toward capital

https://apnews.com/article/ndjamena-embassies-libya-chad-africa-3265229b626a2e85dcac0b58e9db15bc









Ukrainian president warns Russian build-up 'threatens entire democratic order'

https://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-ukrainian-president-warns-russian-135420491.html



Russia Ukraine conflict: Fact-checking Russian TV's Ukraine claims

https://www.bbc.com/news/56772297



Russia deploys A-50 airborne early warning aircraft on western border

https://defence-blog.com/news/russia-deploys-a-50-airborne-early-warning-aircraft-on-western-border.html



The story of a Soviet gun that kept destroying its own aircraft

https://www.aerotime.aero/27711-Story-of-Soviet-gun-that-kept-destroying-its-own-aircraft



Advisor to Russian Defense Minister Warns of ‘Mental War’: Who Is Waging It and Against Whom?

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/17/advisor_to_russian_defense_minister_warns_of_mental_war_who_is_waging_it_and_against_whom_773187.html



Russian fighter jet again intercept U.S. Air Force RC-135 spy plane

https://defence-blog.com/news/russian-fighter-jet-again-intercept-u-s-air-force-rc-135-spy-plane.html



Moscow Expels 20 Czechs In Tit-For-Tat Move Over Alleged Russian Links To Deadly 2014 Depot Blast

https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-republic-expels-russians-depot-blast-skripal/31209614.html



Factbox-Who are the Skripal poisoning suspects allegedly behind deadly Czech blast?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-russia-suspects-factbox/factbox-who-are-the-skripal-poisoning-suspects-allegedly-behind-deadly-czech-blast-idUSKBN2C50KK



Protests planned across Russia to 'save Navalny's life' as West warns Putin

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/daughter-jailed-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalny-says-he-needs-doctor-2021-04-18/




First Danish F-35 jet debuts

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/first-danish-f-35-jet-debuts/




The New Flight Training Center in Greece to Following the Israeli Model

https://defense-update.com/20210418_kalamata.html




German Eurofighter gets Meteor air-to-air missile

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/04/german-eurofighter-gets-meteor-missile.html









China Refuses to Leave Hot Springs and Gogra, Steps up Drive to Recruit Tibetans: Reports

https://www.news18.com/news/india/china-refuses-to-leave-hot-springs-and-gogra-steps-up-drive-to-recruit-tibetans-reports-3651374.html



Explained: Where are Hot Springs and Gogra Post? What are their strategic significance?

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-hot-springs-gogra-post-india-china-ladakh-strategic-significance-7279037/



China sends yet another aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ: defense ministry

https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202104170015





North Korea: No Shortage Of Paranoia

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20210418.aspx





Why Doesn't Australia Build Nuclear Submarines?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/why-doesnt-australia-build-nuclear-submarines-183023










U.S. has new intel that Manafort friend Kilimnik gave Trump campaign data to Russia

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/u-s-has-new-intel-manafort-friend-kilimnik-gave-trump-n1264371



US Sanctions on Russia Rewrite Cyberespionage's Rules

https://www.wired.com/story/us-russia-sanctions-solarwinds-svr/



Attack of the drones: the mystery of disappearing swarms in the US midwest

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/18/attack-of-the-drones-the-mystery-of-disappearing-swarms-in-the-us-midwest



First multi-node quantum network paves the way for the quantum internet

https://www.zdnet.com/article/first-multi-node-quantum-network-pavis-the-way-for-the-quantum-internet/



The Story of how US Navy F-14 Tomcat crews learned to score simulated Gun Kills against the lethal 9G capable F-16N (Captured in a Beautiful Artwork)

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-how-us-navy-f-14-tomcat-crews-learned-to-score-simulated-gun-kills-against-the-lethal-9g-capable-f-16n-captured-in-a-beautiful-artwork/



U.S. Focus Shifting to China From Afghanistan, Blinken Says

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-18/afghan-pullout-fits-with-u-s-shift-to-china-focus-blinken-says



New Tactical ISR Satellites Provide Global, Persistent Support for Warfighters

https://www.defencetalk.com/new-tactical-isr-satellites-provide-global-persistent-support-for-warfighters-76944/



Retired American Navy admiral calls on US to deploy Iron Dome

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/49383



U.S. Air Force awards mysterious contract to Lockheed Martin for high altitude platforms

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-air-force-awards-mysterious-contract-to-lockheed-martin-for-high-altitude-platforms.html