The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Turkey

  • Hours After Terror Attack On Defense Firm, Turkey Launches Airstrikes On 30 Targets In Iraq, Syria | world news

    Turkey Terror Attack: Hours after the deadly terror attack on the Turkish government’s aerospace and defense company TUSAS, killing five people and wounding more than a dozen, Ankara has launched a counter-attack on Kurdish militant hideouts in Iraq and Syria. Turkey’s defense ministry confirmed that its fighter jets struck and destroyed more than 30 targets in the aerial offensive.

    The strike follows an attack on Wednesday by suspected Kurdish militants, who detonated explosives and opened fire at Turkey’s state-run aerospace and defense company, TUSAS, killing five people and injuring over a dozen, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The two attackers, a man and a woman, were also killed in the incident.

    Yerlikaya indicated that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is suspected to be behind the attack but emphasized that the process of identifying the assailants is still ongoing. Defense Minister Yasar Guler also blamed the PKK for the attack.

    “We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve every time. But they never come to their senses…We will pursue them until the last terrorist is eliminated,” said Guler.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is attending the BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan, said, “I condemn this heinous terrorist attack.” Russian President Vladimir Putin also offered condolences. A US Embassy statement said Washington strongly condemns the terrorist attack.

    What Is TUSAS?

    TUSAS specializes in the design, production, and assembly of civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other defense and space systems. Its UAVs have played a crucial role in helping Turkey gain a strategic advantage in its operations against Kurdish militants, both within its own borders and in neighboring Iraq.

    How The Attack Unfolded

    According to Turkish media reports, the attackers arrived at the TUSAS complex on Wednesday in a taxi. Armed with assault rifles, they detonated an explosive device near the vehicle, causing chaos and enabling their entry into the facility. One of the victims was identified as Zahide Guclu, a mechanical engineer who had gone to the entrance to pick up flowers sent by her husband, reported the state-run Anadolu Agency.

    The taxi driver was also killed by the assailants, with his body later found in the vehicle’s trunk, according to the agency. Orhan Akdundar, the brother of one of the TUSAS employees, was among the relatives anxiously waiting outside the complex for updates on their loved ones.

    PKK-Turkey Clash Background

    The attack took place a day after the leader of Turkey’s far-right nationalist party, which is aligned with President Erdogan, suggested the possibility of granting parole to the PKK’s imprisoned leader if he renounced violence and dissolved his organization. Abdullah Ocalan’s group has been waging a fight for autonomy in southeastern Turkey, a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s. Both Turkey and its Western allies classify the PKK as a terrorist organization. The country’s pro-Kurdish political party, which also condemned the attack, pointed out that it occurred at a moment when the potential for renewed dialogue to resolve the conflict had surfaced. (With agency inputs)

  • Turkish President Erdogan Calls For Alliance Of Islamic Nations Against Israel | world news

    ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an alliance of Islamic nations to stop “Israeli arrogance, Israeli banditry, and Israeli state terrorism,” Israel-based i24 News reported. Erdogan made the remarks after Palestinian and Turkish officials said that a Turkish-American woman taking part in a protest on Friday against settlement expansion in the West Bank was killed by Israeli troops.

    Speaking at an Islamic schools’ association event near Istanbul, Erdogan said, “The only step that will stop Israeli arrogance, Israeli banditry, and Israeli state terrorism is the alliance of Islamic countries,” i24 News reported. He stated Turkiye’s recent steps to improve relations with Egypt and Syria have been taken at “forming a line of solidarity against the growing threat of expansionism,” which he stressed also threatened Lebanon and Syria, according to i24 News report.

    In response to Erdogan’s calls for an alliance of Islamic nations to stop Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that the Turkish President continues to throw the people of his country into fire of hatred and violence for the “sake of his Hamas friends.” Katz called Erdogan’s claims that Israel wants to conquer countries in the region a “dangerous lie and incitement.” He stated that Israel is defending its borders and citizens from Hamas and the “Shiite axis of evil led by Iran.”

    In a post on Israel wants to conquer countries in the region, including Turkey. This is a dangerous lie and incitement.”

    “Israel is defending its borders and citizens from the murderers and rapists of Hamas, and from the Shiite axis of evil led by Iran. Erdogan and the Muslim Brotherhood alliance have been working for years alongside Iran to undermine moderate Arab regimes in the Middle East. Erdogan should be silent and ashamed,” he added.

    Earlier in August, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the killing of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in an attack in Tehran and offered condolences to the Palestinian people. In a statement released on

    “We express our condolences to the Palestinian people, hundreds of thousands of whom, like Haniyeh, have been martyred in order to live peacefully in their homeland under the roof of their own state,” it added. It accused the Israeli government of lacking intention to achieve peace. It said that the attack was aimed at spreading war in Gaza to a regional level. It further said that Turkey will continue to support the “just cause” of the Palestinian people.

    In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The Netanyahu government’s lack of intention to achieve peace has been demonstrated once again. This attack is also aimed at spreading the war in Gaza to a regional level. If the international community does not act to stop Israel, our region will face an even greater conflict.”

    The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that Ismail Haniyeh had been killed in an attack in Iran’s capital, Tehran, according to Press TV report. The IRGC said that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their house was hit in Tehran.

  • Love-Stricken By Pakistan, Turkey Imposes Secret Ban On Defense Export To India: Reports | world news

    India and Turkey’s relations have never been in sync for the last decade and it appears that Ankara’s close ties with Pakistan are set to prove the final nail in the coffin of its relations with New Delhi. Turkey has imposed this discreet ban in favor of Pakistan, according to reports. A Turkish government official disclosed this information during a closed-door session in the Turkish Parliament.

    According to the minutes of the Foreign Affairs Committee debate on July 10, 2024, Mustafa Murat Seker, deputy chairman of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB), Turkey’s leading arms procurement agency, inadvertently revealed the government’s secret policy regarding India. Virtually, India has been blacklisted by Turkey when it comes to defense export.

    Turkish–Indian relations have deteriorated significantly over the past decade under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration, primarily due to policy decisions, particularly Ankara’s unwavering support for Pakistan in its conflicts with India.

    According to NordicMonitor, President Erdogan’s clandestine paramilitary group SADAT, led by his former chief military aide Adnan Tanriverdi, has been implicated in anti-India activities. The group recruited Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri-born individual who served time in a US federal prison, to gather resources against India.

    Fai’s US-based organization, the Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which received funding from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), collaborated with SADAT’s front organization, the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (Islam Dünyasi Sivil Toplum Kuruluslari Birligi, IDSB ).

    However, Turkey’s ban is not going to affect India. India has already revoked a $2-billion naval deal with a Turkish defense company and canceled defense exports to Ankara. With New Delhi focusing on Make In India in defence, the manufacturing of indigenous arms and ammunition has touched a record high in recent years. The value of defense production in FY 2022-23 was Rs 1,08,684 crore. In the last five years (since 2019-20), the value of defense production has been increasing steadily, and grown by over 60%.

    India’s defense exports have also surged recently. It may be recalled that defense exports touched a record-high of Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore.

  • Dozens Killed As Istanbul Nightclub Catches Fire During Renovation Work | world news

    ISTANBUL: In a tragic incident that shook Istanbul, a major city in Turkey, a devastating fire tore through a nightclub, claiming the lives of at least 29 people, according to reports from CNN citing state media. The blaze, which broke out during daytime renovation work on Tuesday, also left eight individuals injured, with seven in critical condition, as confirmed by the Istanbul Governor’s office.

    Impact Of The Fire At Masquerade Club

    The nightclub, identified as the Masquerade Club, is located in the vibrant Besiktas district on the European side of Istanbul. The fire engulfed a 16-story building on Gonenoglu Street, a bustling part of the Gayrettepe neighbourhood. The club was undergoing renovations at the time of the tragedy, with the fire believed to have originated underground, as reported by Anadolu, the Turkish state news agency.

    Swift Action By Turkish Authorities

    Following the devastating incident, Turkish authorities acted swiftly, detaining eight individuals connected to the nightclub, including the business manager, accountant, partners, and the individual overseeing the renovation’s metal workers, according to TRT News.

    Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc highlighted ongoing efforts to gather evidence at the scene, emphasizing the involvement of experts specializing in occupational safety and fire to determine the cause of the fire.

    Condolences And Mourning

    Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, expressed profound condolences on social media, mourning the loss of life in the tragic fire. “May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives,” he shared.

    Imamoglu, representing the opposition Republic People’s Party (CHP), had recently secured re-election as mayor in local elections, marking a significant electoral setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, as reported by CNN.

  • What Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wants To Achieve By Enhancing Ties With Greece |

    The diplomatic relations between India and Greece were established in May 1950 while India opened its resident Embassy in Athens 28 years later in March 1978. Five years later, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Greece in 1983. But, the bilateral relations between the two nations progressed gradually with no successive Prime Ministers visiting the European nation for the next 40 years until 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the country on his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ invitation. Since then, the two nations have been working to develop closer and stronger ties. To further bolster ties and combat regional challenges, India invited Greece’s PM on a state visit. 

    PM Modi On Greece Ties

    Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is currently on a state visit to India. India and Greece have formed a working group to increase mutual coordination on common challenges like defence, cyber security, counter-terrorism, and maritime security. The joint working group on defence could lead to India’s larger presence in the Mediterranean Sea, thus making India the third key partner in the Sea along with Italy and Egypt. In the words of Prime Minister Modi, “New opportunities for co-production and co-development are being created in defence manufacturing in India, which can be beneficial for both countries. We have agreed to link the defence industries of both countries. India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism. We discussed in detail how to further strengthen our cooperation in this area.”

    Had a productive meeting with PM @kmitsotakis earlier today. Our talks covered key areas like technology, pharmaceuticals, skill development, space and innovation. We also agreed to boost cooperation in areas like shipping, connectivity and defence. pic.twitter.com/cYzj3OtMHQ
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2024

    India A Great Power, Says PM Mitsotakis 

    On the other hand, PM Mitsotakis termed India as a great power on the world stage. He said that India is an important ally in the pursuit of peace and security. “Greece’s geographic and strategic proximity makes it an interlocutor between India and Europe, and between the Global North and the South….Greece presents vast opportunities as a logistics centre and international gateway, facilitating connectivity and trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe,” said PM Mitsotakis. He added that India and Greece must work together to promote peace and stability through projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, which can bring about prosperity for all participating countries.

    Why Does Greece Matter To India?

    India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy and if it wants to maintain the pace of its growth, then foreign trade becomes a crucial factor. With China growing its influence in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Mediterranean Sea, India cannot sit back and watch the developments like a wallflower. 

    Counter To China

    China has extended its influence in the region, notably by fostering connections with Greece. Through its Belt & Road Initiative, China has invested in infrastructure projects such as Greece’s Piraeus port, ranking among the world’s largest ports. Concurrently, India is actively pursuing an increased presence in the area, with reports indicating that companies like Adani are exploring investment opportunities in Greek ports.

    Unpredictable Turkey

    The relationship between India and Greece with Turkey, a regional heavyweight, is marked by complexity. Turkey’s proximity to Pakistan and its opposition to India’s Kashmir policy have acted as obstacles to closer ties between India and Ankara. Similarly, Greece has a historically challenging relationship with Turkey, characterized by conflicts over maritime boundaries and energy resources. The two nations have faced tensions as they contend for control in these strategic areas. These intricate dynamics contribute to the nuanced geopolitical landscape involving India, Greece, and Turkey.

    Growing Trade, Solidifying Presence

    Greece stands as one of the significant maritime forces bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This sea serves as a vital conduit for global trade, linking Europe and America with key economies such as India, China, and Japan. Approximately 12-15% of the world’s maritime traffic traverses the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring its strategic importance. Notably, Russia, the United States, and France uphold robust military presences in this region, contributing to its geopolitical dynamics.

    With India’s growing economy, European markets have gained heightened significance. In response, India is actively progressing with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, establishing a connectivity network linking New Delhi to these regions via a combination of ship and rail routes. In this ambitious project, Greece assumes a pivotal role as a crucial link.

    A shared objective is to double bilateral trade between India and Greece by the year 2030. Additionally, reports indicate that India is seeking Greece’s collaboration in the modernization efforts within its shipping sector, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.