Initiatives to broker peace between warring Chin armed groups continue
2
3
4
Aizawl: The Advocacy Group for Peace in Chinland, a Aizawl-based team constituted under the aegis of
Mizoram
CM Lalduhoma, is yet making a breakthrough to bring peace between the warring Chin armed groups as both sides failed to reach a compromise to end the armed internecine conflict in western Chin state, a member of the advocacy team said on Monday, reports HC Vanlalruata.
The member, speaking to TOI on the condition of anonymity, said the group has reached out to both the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) - Hualngoram as well as the Chin National Front (CNF) and its armed wing the Chin National Army (CNA) a number of times. "The main impediment is that the groups, when they are cornered, want peace but refuse to accept our peace overtures whenever they gain upper hand," he said.
The National Unity Government (NUG), a parallel Myanmar govt in exile, also has urged the Chin armed groups to stop fighting among themselves. Other bodies, including National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), an advisory body of the NUG, and several religious denominations of the Chins as well as civil societies in Mizoram have also been calling for peace and unity among the Chin armed groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
16 minutes ago
- India.com
Iran-Israel war: How did Iranian missiles Iron Dome, Arrow-3 penetrate Israel's powerful air defense during the war, Explained
Iran-Israel war: How did Iranian missiles Iron Dome, Arrow-3 penetrate Israel's powerful air defense during the war, Explained Iran surprised the whole world with its missile capability during last month's fierce military confrontation with Israel. The way Iran succeeded in penetrating Israel's air defenses by improving its performance during the 12-day war has forced defense analysts to think afresh. Missile defense analysts have now explained how Iran penetrated Israel's three-tier air defense system. Israeli and Washington-based think tanks believe that as the war progressed, the success rate of Iran's missiles increased. The Wall Street Journal report quoted experts as saying that Tehran began firing more advanced, long-range missiles from wider locations in Iran's interior. Iran timed its attacks better and spread its targets in Israel. Despite the fact that most missiles and drones were intercepted, a considerable number of Iranian missiles were successful in hitting Israeli targets. Systems like Israeli Iron Dome and Arrow-3 also proved inadequate. How many missiles fell in Israel in second week of war? The report said that only 8 percent of Iranian missiles hit Israeli air defenses in the first six days of the war, but that rate doubled to 16 percent by the second half of the conflict, according to the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security (JINSA). Mora Deitch, head of data analysis at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said these figures do not include failed launches and interceptions outside Israeli airspace. How Iran carried out the most successful attack? According to JINSA's analysis, Iran 's most successful attack was on June 22, two days before the ceasefire, when 10 of the 27 missiles fired hit targets in Israel. 'The data show that Iran successfully chose 'how, when and what' to fire,' said Ari Sicurel, JINSA's associate director for foreign policy. Israel's air defense systems, developed in conjunction with the US, are among the world's most advanced, but even the best air defense systems are not impenetrable, the Wall Street Journal reported. During the war, the IDF reported intercepting 90-95 percent of its missiles. Data after the ceasefire showed an overall rate of 86 percent.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
Syria vs Druze: How did Israel get involved?
On Wednesday (July 17), Israel escalated its attacks on Syria, striking the headquarters of the Syrian army in Damascus, in support of the Druze minority in the country. As the strikes brought the region to the brink of conflict, the newly formed Syrian government and the Druze authorities called for a ceasefire. The question is — will Jerusalem abide by it? read more Soldiers inspect the damaged Syrian Defence Ministry building allegedly hit by several Israeli airstrikes, in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday, July 16. AP It began as a local conflict in southern Syria between local Druze and Bedouin communities. However, it escalated into Israel bombing Syria's Ministry of Defence and other targets, forcing foreign intervention from the United States. Now, the Syrian army has announced that it is withdrawing from violence-hit Sweida shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X, 'We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what exactly happened in Syria? Why did Israel bomb its neighbouring country? We unpack the complex situation unfolding in that part of the world. What led to new violence between Syria and Israel? According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, the recent violence began in Sweida after members of a Bedouin tribe set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a Druze man over the weekend, leading to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings between the tribes and Druze armed groups. For those unaware, the Druze are a religious sect that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Members of the Druze minority and their supporters protest outside the US Embassy in Jerusalem, amid the clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. AP This led to government security forces being deployed in the area. However, they were seen as siding with the Bedouin tribes. The Syrian observatory reported that around 300 people have died in the clashes, with 27 of them being 'summarily executed'. In fact, videos and reports have emerged that show government forces burning and looting houses and humiliating Druze men by forcibly shaving their moustaches. Then, how did Israel get involved in the conflict? On July 15, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Jewish nation is 'committed to preventing harm to the Druze due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria.' Shortly later, Israel launched aerial strikes at Syria, bombing several Syrian military positions in Sweida. 'We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria,' said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, adding his country will 'not stand idly by'. But critics note that Israel is engaging in the 'divide and rule' policy in Syria with the aim of weakening the new government. Moreover, it's trying to create a buffer zone to protect the border with the Golan Heights — originally Syrian territory that it has occupied and annexed for almost half a century. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad last December, Israel has been carrying out hundreds of strikes against military sites in Syria, claiming its goal was to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of the new government. What happened next? Since Monday (July 14), Israel has been targeting Syria — the Israeli military struck Syrian tanks on Monday and has continued to conduct dozens of drone strikes on troops, killing some soldiers. Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on Syria's defence ministry in Damascus. Reuters But on Wednesday, it escalated its attacks, striking twice. The Jewish nation struck the headquarters of the Syrian army in Damascus, a compound that also houses the defence ministry. Witnesses told AFP that they heard an explosion in the area of the presidential palace, where the Israeli military said it had struck a 'military target'. In one video on social media, a television reporter can be seen running for cover as strikes hit the buildings behind her, while warplanes can be heard swooping low over the capital. Footage shows the moment of the Israeli airstrike in Damascus a short while ago. — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 16, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Katz later added troops would 'operate forcefully in Sweida to eliminate the forces that attacked the Druze until their full withdrawal'. The Israeli defence minister said that 'the signals to Damascus are over — now come the painful blows', sharing Syrian television footage of an explosion in Damascus on his X account. Has a truce been declared? Will Israel abide by it? On Wednesday, amid Israel's heavy bombing, Syrian government officials and the Druze announced a renewed ceasefire. The Syrian army 'has begun withdrawing from the city of Sweida in implementation of the terms of the adopted agreement, after the end of the sweep of the city for outlaw groups,' a defence ministry statement said. Announcing the new ceasefire on Wednesday, Syria's interior ministry said there would be a 'total and immediate halt to all military operations', as well as the formation of a committee comprising government representatives and Druze spiritual leaders to supervise its implementation. People gather, near the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, amid the ongoing conflict in the Druze areas in Syria, in Majdal Shams. Reuters Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on X that all sides had 'agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end'. 'This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made and this is what we fully expect them to do,' he wrote, without elaborating on the nature of the agreement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Israel has not yet commented on the ceasefire bid. In fact, Israeli strikes continued even after the ceasefire announcement. After the ceasefire announcement, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a televised address said that protecting the Druze citizens and their rights is 'our priority'. In a veiled dig at Israel, he added, 'We are not among those who fear the war. We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrians before chaos and destruction. He further expanded, saying that the Syrian people are not afraid of war and are ready to fight if their dignity is threatened. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
A look at Eritrea's role as new Tigray war looms in Ethiopia
AI- Representative Image Reports of troop movements and sporadic clashes in northern Ethiopia have emerged in recent months, feeding concern that a fragile calm could soon collapse. The region is still reeling from the brutal two-year civil war between the tigray people's liberation front (TPLF) and federal government forces — a conflict that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives before it ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. "We can't plan anything at the moment," a woman in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, told DW. "We're just trying to survive. A new war could break out tomorrow." She described a climate of fear that has gripped many residents. "Life has become incredibly expensive. We need a peaceful solution so we can return to work and rebuild our lives." During that war, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed's campaign against the TPLF. But critics warned at the time that peace would remain fragile without Eritrea at the negotiating table. President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea for decades, was notably absent from the talks in the South African's administrative capital, Pretoria. Now, growing fears of renewed violence point towards Eritrea's involvement. Internal division in Tigray Another destabilizing factor is the political turmoil within Tigray itself. The once-dominant TPLF has fractured after internal power struggles — a vulnerability Eritrea could potentially exploit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Following the split, General Tadesse Werede, former commander of the defeated Tigrayd Defence forces (TDF), was appointed head of the Tigray interim government in Mekelle. He has urged caution against misinformation and vowed, "There will be no war and no provocation from Tigray's side." On the other side of the divide is TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael. His faction has been accused of cooperating with Eritrea — a claim it strongly denies. Debretsion has called for a political resolution grounded in the Pretoria agreement: "We urge the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government, its agents, and allies to refrain from preparing for war." Despite these reassurances, fear is spreading among civilians. "People are withdrawing their money from banks and stockpiling essentials like oil and teff [an Ethiopian cereal]," a resident of Mekele told DW. He called on both TPLF factions "to step aside — or to use their influence to work with the central government to resolve the crisis and prevent war." Eritrea's interest in a fragmented Ethiopia A full-scale inter-state war may be unlikely, but proxy conflicts are a real possibility, said Gerrit Kurtz, Horn of Africa expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a Berlin-based think tank. "Eritrea benefits when Ethiopia is weakened — when it's internally fragmented and beset by local conflicts," Kurtz told DW. "That's why the internal crises we've seen over the past few years — many of which are supported, or at least exploited, by Eritrea — serve its strategic interests." Observers say Eritrea has trained armed groups inside Ethiopia — including, reportedly, the Fano militia in Amhara region. In March, Fano fighters clashed with Ethiopian federal troops in a two-day battle that, according to Addis Ababa, left more than 300 militia members dead. Arms, resources and influence Eritrea has a long and contentious history with Ethiopia. After colonial rule ended, the country was absorbed into a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and later forcibly annexed — a move that sparked a decades-long independence struggle. Eritrea finally broke away in 1993, costing Ethiopia its only direct access to the sea. Since then, Eritrea has become one of the world's most repressive and isolated regimes under Isaias Afwerki. In 2010, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on the country. According to a new report by the US-based watchdog group The Sentry, Eritrea has used its involvement in the Tigray conflict to strengthen its position significantly. "We identified two clear patterns," said Charles Cater, lead investigator for The Sentry, in an interview with DW. "First, the systematic looting of Tigray during the war — factories were dismantled and moved across the border. Everything of value was taken to Eritrea. " The second pattern, he said, was illicit trade: Eritrea profited from smuggling gold, sesame, cultural artifacts, and even people from Tigray. The resulting foreign currency is believed to have helped fund Eritrea's ongoing operations in Ethiopia. Another pivotal moment came in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement, ending years of open hostility. Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the breakthrough — but Afwerki was left out, despite the deal helping to lift the UN arms embargo against Eritrea. The Sentry also documented how Eritrea subsequently bought weapons, including from Russia. In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel dismissed the report as a "fabricated narrative" meant to scapegoat Eritrea. Abiy's calculations and border tensions The Eritrean military is reportedly strengthening its positions near the Tigray border and may have advanced up to 10 kilometres (6 miles) into Ethiopian territory, according to The Sentry. Both sides had previously agreed to a new border alignment during the 2018 thaw in relations. The Pretoria Agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray — including Eritrean troops. It is now up to the Ethiopian government to find a political solution, both with Eritrea and with the divided TPLF, noted SWP's Gerrit Kurtz. "Abiy's strategy is to keep all domestic rivals weak enough that they can't unite against him. That means sometimes aligning with certain factions, while repressing others. But it's a high-stakes game," Kurtz said. Ethiopia is scheduled to hold national elections next year, and analysts warn that Abiy could use the Tigray crisis as political leverage. Since 2023, he has also revived calls for Ethiopia to secure its own access to the sea — a move that has already fuelled diplomatic tensions with Somalia and led some to fear a potential military incursion into Eritrea. For now, Abiy has publicly reiterated his commitment to peace. Survivor recounts Tigray civilian massacres
