West Asia News and Discussions (YEMEN, gulf)

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 03 Apr 2016 00:24

All else aside, he does get around, and not to Rose Gardens and Palaces but right to the people who do the work. Inspiring!!

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 03 Apr 2016 03:17

Other than to get Indians out of saudi when shit hits the fan and the soothis are run into oblivion, what purpose does this trip serve?

BajKhedawal · Post by **BajKhedawal** » 03 Apr 2016 05:30

Bheeshma wrote:Other than to get Indians out of saudi when shit hits the fan and the soothis are run into oblivion, what purpose does this trip serve?

Your comment reminds me of character "George" from Akshay Kumars hindi flick "Airlift".

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 03 Apr 2016 05:53

Narendra Modi having a meal with Indian workers in Saudi Arabia today, "Your sweat & toil is the pride of India".

Fabulous.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 03 Apr 2016 12:23

Vikas Swarup ‏@MEAIndia 49m49 minutes ago
When technology and business spur progress - PM @narendramodi with TCS executives, Saudi officials and employee
Reaching out to the future.
PM @narendramodi interacts with the employees at the All Women TCS IT Centre
Hijab meets HTML: Scenes from the All Women TCS' IT Centre in Riyadh
Acting globally, committed locally. At the TCS Centre 1000 women work in BPO Oper'ns, 85% of whom r Saudi Nationals.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 03 Apr 2016 18:07

sanjaykumar wrote:Narendra Modi having a meal with Indian workers in Saudi Arabia today, "Your sweat & toil is the pride of India".

Fabulous.

Simply wonderful. This is the first time that any Indian PM showed such a gesture. I hope that blue-collar workers had been invited in larger numbers. That would also send a message to the Saudis that it is no longer possible for them to be arrogant towards them.

Secondly, I was dumbstruck by the Saudi women who took selfies with our PM at the TCS facility because of two things - photography and that too with a non-mahram man !

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 03 Apr 2016 18:20

SSridhar wrote:
sanjaykumar wrote:Narendra Modi having a meal with Indian workers in Saudi Arabia today, "Your sweat & toil is the pride of India".

Fabulous.
Simply wonderful. This is the first time that any Indian PM showed such a gesture. I hope that blue-collar workers had been invited in larger numbers. That would also send a message to the Saudis that it is no longer possible for them to be arrogant towards them.

Secondly, I was dumbstruck by the Saudi women who took selfies with our PM at the TCS facility because of two things - photography and that too with a non-mahram man !

That is women's dress code in Saudi and hence all women are burka clad. They may be Indian girls in Saud for TCS.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 03 Apr 2016 18:34

SSridhar wrote: Secondly, I was dumbstruck by the Saudi women who took selfies with our PM at the TCS facility because of two things - photography and that too with a non-mahram man !

I doubt that the women with face and head uncovered were really Saudi. They are likely Indians on deputation there. You could see some with head and/or face covered and they are likely to be Saudi nationals. Just my guess.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 03 Apr 2016 20:45

Haraam! HaraaM!

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 03 Apr 2016 23:59

PM Modi in Riyadh: India, Saudi Arabia sign agreements to counter threat of cross-border terrorism

N

EW DELHI: Eyeing to elevate strategic partnership to effectively counter threat of cross-border terror India and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed five agreements, including a key pact on terror financing and money laundering during PM Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the biggest and most powerful Gulf State. The agreements were signed after wide-ranging talks that lasted for over two-hours between Modi and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the financial intelligence units of the two countries on cooperation in the exchange of intelligence related to money laundering, terrorism financing and related crimes amid the spread of Islamic State and threats from groups in Af-Pak region. It is also significant to note that the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing and capacity-building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforceme .. Modi and Salman also directed their relevant agencies to coordinate efforts to counter radicalization and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism for pursuing political aims.
"The two leaders expressed strong condemnation of the phenomenon of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of who the perpetrators were and of their motivations," according to the Joint Statement issued after the Dialogue. Without naming Pakistan the two leaders called on all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries; dismantle terrorism infrastructures where they happen to exist and to cut off any kind of support and financing to the terrorists operating and perpetrating terrorism from their territories against other states; and bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice. "The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, both at the bilateral le .. ithin the multilateral system of the UN. The two leaders called upon the international community to strengthen multilateral regimes to effectively address the challenges posed by terrorism," noted the Joint Statement. Earlier in an interview with Arab News Modi said there was a need to "delink" religion from it and asserted that "segmented and partial" approaches to counter the menace will not be effective. Away from the public glare Delhi and Riyadh have been expanding their their counter-terror cooperation notwithstanding warm ties between Saudi-Pakistan. Just ahead of Modi's visit Saudi Arabia joined USA to clamp down on Pak-based LeT much to India's comfort. This February Riyadh handed over yet another terror suspect to India and earlier in 2012 Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari aka Abu Hamza aka Abu Jundal, one of the 26/11 attack accused, was handed over to India by Saudi Arabia. Delhi and Riyadh also agreed on the need to intensify bilateral defence cooperation,through exchange of visits by military personnel and experts, conduct of joint military exercises, exchange of visits of ships and aircrafts and supply of arms and ammunition and their joint development. Meanwhile, eyeing Saudi funds for India's infra sector Invest India and Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SABIA) signed a framework agreement on investment promotion cooperation. The Saudi side expressed its interest in investing in infrastructure development in India, especia

..
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/art ... aign=cppst ..

habal · Post by **habal** » 04 Apr 2016 22:07

watch it unravel .. enjoy !!!!

Former Saudi Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz criticized Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs sabotage in political dialogues between the Syrian government and his dissidents.

According to this report, Muqrin stated if he was still the crown prince he would have so far concluded these negotiations and would have made clear the task of Syria with all the heavy costs it has had for Saudi up to now.

He also described Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Aljubeir as a weak person with no experience whose unstable character led to disunity among Syrian opposition and called for his replacement.

It is worth noting that Middle East experts had predicted before that appointing an individual from outside the Saudi ruling family can absolve them from the responsibility for Saudi failure in the region to the people of this country.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/04/03 ... nst-syria/

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 04 Apr 2016 22:20

schinnas wrote:
SSridhar wrote: Secondly, I was dumbstruck by the Saudi women who took selfies with our PM at the TCS facility because of two things - photography and that too with a non-mahram man !
I doubt that the women with face and head uncovered were really Saudi. They are likely Indians on deputation there. You could see some with head and/or face covered and they are likely to be Saudi nationals. Just my guess.

I don't understand you non-sequitor comment.

Obviously the uncovered head gear are Indian women. Is SS talking about them?

He talked about the other women.

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 04 Apr 2016 22:46

Given the very high rates of unemployment among young Saudis and the overwhelming dependency for employment on the Saudi Government for Saudi nationals, it is not surprising that the Saudi Government is encouraging BPO operations such as the TCS-GE joint venture which Modi visited. From a religious strictures standpoint, it is probably one of the easiest to manage for the Saudis. Apparently 85% of the 1000 employees are Saudi women.

Here is how TCS bridged the Gulf with an all-women BPO

MUMBAI: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will wrap up his latest international tour of Belgium, United States and Saudi Arabia by visiting a BPO outfit run by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest IT services company. It's not your run-of-the mill BPO unit. For one, the centre is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — a city not exactly known for its IT services industry.

What makes things even more interesting is that each one of the 1,000-odd employees at the centre are women — in a country where women aren't allowed to drive.

This centre is proof of our intent and ability to partner in the kingdom's transformation journey by establishing a new industry in the country and by tapping into the talent pool of qualified Saudi women," TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran told ET.

The centre which was inaugurated as a joint venture between TCS and GE in 2014 - and with GE and Saudi Aramco as anchor clients - was probably among the first BPOs to set up shop in Saudi Arabia. It was the first BPO in the region to employ only women.

Over the last five years, female participation in Saudi's workforce has increased, as the ruling monarchy has actively eased restrictions. A recent Bloomberg report cited that the number of female workers has surged by 48% since 2010. The kingdom, in recent years, has allowed women to vote for local elections, work in retail and hospitality sectors. The first female Saudi lawyer got her licence in 2013.

Having said that, growth for TCS hasn't been without challenges. Finding a qualified workforce of women was not one of them. "65% of all graduates in Saudi are women," says Neeraj Srivastava, regional director, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, TCS. One third of all Saudi graduates studying abroad are women. However, women constitute only 16% of the kingdom's workforce, largely because of the restrictive laws there.

Saudi law, for example, forbids women from travelling, conducting official business or even undergoing a surgery without the consent of their male guardians - husbands, brothers or fathers. Often, that consent is hard to come by for TCS. "People simply did not know what a BPO was and there were very unfavorable associations with call centres," recalls Dinanath Kholkar, global head of BPS at Tata Consultancy Services.

To overcome these perceptions, TCS invited not just potential hires for interviews but also their male guardians. "Initially, to get families on board, we invited fathers, brothers and husbands and other family members to accompany the women for interviews. We would follow that up with a quick tour of the campus to put them at ease and demonstrate our commitment to keep the centre an all-women workplace," says Srivastava.

Ensuring that an all-women workplace stayed that way was another matter. "We had to think of the minutest of details like what happens if a faucet bursts or we need an electrician or for that matter a global executive of TCS visits the campus," says a TCS executive, who was involved in brainstorming the operational issues for the campus. Today, even the janitors and support staff at the campus are women. "In cases where services of a man are required, announcements are made, so that women employees can put on their abayas and niqabs - or leave the room," adds the executive.

Visiting executives - be it men or women - from TCS or GE, are also trained extensively on a "list of dos and don'ts." Visiting women executives, for instance, are told not to sit in front of a car, alongside the driver.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges TCS faced was that most of the workforce was inexperienced. Some of them had never worked in an office before. That led to some hiccups, initially. During the festive season ofRamadan, in the first year of operations, a majority of employees went on leave en masse without informing the company, recalls an executive.

The company has since put a back-up plan in place. "We had to inculcate a culture of responsibility - that office wasn't about coming in at 9 am and leaving at 5 pm," says Srivastava. In all, TCS has conducted over 6,10,000 cumulative hours of intensive training sessions for its employees in Saudi Arabia.

In June 2015, TCS hired Amal Fatani - a distinguished academic and a promoter of women empowerment in the kingdom - as its centre head. Fatani says she is encouraged by the progress achieved in the centre - "the first all-women, private sector" outfit - and is confident that the centre will grow to 3,000 employees in a couple of years.

TCS says that the Riyadh centre is now "an integral part" of its global delivery network and is no longer just a BPO delivery centre. "We started off as a BPO unit lead by a team of expats. Today, we do coding, app development, testing ... potentially everything else that TCS campuses elsewhere can do," says Srivastava.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Apr 2016 02:37

I don't see what they are claiming credit for?

Saudi women are not allowed to work in mixed workplace.

So it has to be an all women work place!!!!

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 06 Apr 2016 22:45

more saudi women have higher education than saudi men and the trend is increasing... somethings gonna change...

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 06 Apr 2016 23:55

Lalmohan wrote:more saudi women have higher education than saudi men and the trend is increasing... somethings gonna change...

That is where rule of gun comes to the rescue. Do Afghan women enjoy the high levels of education they had access to prior to 1980s? I have a feeling that IS is a fight back against non-Islamic invasion (globalization, information, etc.) under the guise of anti-Monarchy/Dictatorship/etc.

johneeG · Post by **johneeG** » 07 Apr 2016 00:13

Having meal with Indian workers in Saudi was a nice gesture by Modiji. I hope he sends a message to middle east, not to exploit Indian workers.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Apr 2016 02:41

Lalmohan wrote:more saudi women have higher education than saudi men and the trend is increasing... somethings gonna change...

KSA and Gelf attitude as I hear is that books, research, ejjikashun all for wimmen. Real Men make $$B and take up AK-47 and bugger camels.

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 07 Apr 2016 06:29

Narendra Modi having a meal with Indian workers in Saudi Arabia today, "Your sweat & toil is the pride of India".

Wow..from a security POV, watching modiji all alone and so close (inches away) to green sepoys was unnerving.

member_29172 · Post by **member_29172** » 07 Apr 2016 07:32

Bheeshma wrote:Other than to get Indians out of saudi when shit hits the fan and the soothis are run into oblivion, what purpose does this trip serve?

That isn't important enough for you?

member_29172 · Post by **member_29172** » 07 Apr 2016 07:46

Wahabi funding of madrassa from gulf countries needs to be addressed, that's of main importance here.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 07 Apr 2016 10:13

Saudi offers ceasefire to the Houthis after humiliating defeat in Midi

The Saudi Royal Army and the Arab Coalition suffered their most embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Houthi forces last week, losing over 500 military personnel during their assault on the Midi District in the Hajjah Governorate.

As a result of their losses and failed advance, the Saudi regime was forced to offer a ceasefire deal with the Houthi forces in order to save face after over-hyping this large offensive in northwestern Yemen.

Both sides ultimately agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the Midi District, despite the ongoing battles in southwestern Yemen and the nearby Al-Jawf Governorate.

In addition to the ceasefire at Midi, the Saudis also agreed to back off the Yemeni Army controlled city of Rabuah after failing to advance over the weekend.

As part of the ceasefire agreements in Midi and Rabuah, both sides will exchange prisoners and the enemy casualties.

One good aspect of Desert oil is, it made Arabs as lazy, escapist, coward and pampered lot. Arabia, which gave birth a desert cult will see an erosion first in their own Desert lands. We may call it Karma or poetic justice.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 07 Apr 2016 18:16

with saudi in financial trouble, we need to make sure that the wahabbi madrasah funding tap is welded shut and the tap master's hands are cut off
(they seem to like that sort of justice in them thar lands...)

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Apr 2016 20:38

losing over 500 military personnel during their assault

Tennyson's Charge of The Light Brigade:

And then they came back..
But not, NOT the abdul 600

Do u get the feeling that ppl with experience from the other side there, have been giving hints to the Houthis? May be more than just hints? This war has turned sharply in the past 3 months - sort-of like what happened in Syria but with no fanfare.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2016 21:36

Perhaps Iran.is like McKinsey. Quds force consultants are everywhere.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 07 Apr 2016 22:28

with the amount of military competence the saudi's have and the complexity of the kit they own (and are unable to operate or function as an integrated army never mind combined forces) it does not surprise me that a half decent guerrilla army that is light on its feet is ripping them a new musharraf
frankly it couldn't happen to 'nicer people'
/schadenfreude

habal · Post by **habal** » 08 Apr 2016 07:32

saudi humiliation continues

Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabaka military base is now in control of the Yemeni army and popular forces. Al-Shabaka military base overlooks Bab al-Mandeb Strait which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950118000722

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 08 Apr 2016 08:01

This is truly Omen-ous, pun intended. It is being openly revealed that Saudi Arabia's army has been routed, losing hundreds of men every day/week, and even their military bases, that are not being blasted by ballistic missiles, are simply taken over by the Houthis in their sandals. That such reports are coming out in the bheshtern media, not the RT/ Twitter that we rely on means that things are about to explode.

So u know what's coming next: 1) Humiliation in War 2) Herrows return from the front. 3) Night of the Long Knives in Riyadh.

Things are only beginning to get interesting. I think India needs to gear up the C-17s and the Antonovs for an airlift of mind-boggling scale.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Apr 2016 08:02

old marshal kutuzov would be proud of what the houthi partisans are doing...putting flames on the haunches of the mighty grand armee...

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Apr 2016 18:25

i notice that unkil is not stepping in to save the al-saud-mush directly...

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 08 Apr 2016 20:37

putting flames on the haunches of the mighty grand armee...

More than that - they have captured a Saudi Air Base!!!

kit · Post by **kit** » 08 Apr 2016 20:46

Wonder what the Saudis got for the hundreds of billions they spend on US arms .. on paper that looks easily the most potent in the middle east .. and now they are whacked around by almost a ragtag army !! .. don't even want to compare with what the Russians did with a fraction of those forces !

kit · Post by **kit** » 08 Apr 2016 20:49

Moral of the story build your own weapons and develop techniques based on your requirements . .. and no one will do it for you

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 09 Apr 2016 03:29

UlanBatori wrote:So u know what's coming next: 1) Humiliation in War 2) Herrows return from the front. 3) Night of the Long Knives in Riyadh. Things are only beginning to get interesting. I think India needs to gear up the C-17s and the Antonovs for an airlift of mind-boggling scale.

To save Face , Arabs have already made known the blame on Paki who betrayed them in the hour of need. C-17 and rest might be flying for other purpose , full of military personels. The frequent presence of friendly Shaikhs carrying Sheckels in Dilli becoming normal daily routine.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 Apr 2016 05:44

Shekels or gold coins in rice-measuring bushels, I HOPE old pregnant-islamic-wimmendisemboweler doesn't fall for all that and send in BissKeeping Fauj.

Technical pooch: Note that Gen. Vodkov put up S-400 and stationed SAMs and SF and paratroopers all round their airbases to keep out the carnation gifts etc. How come the Saudis with all their Patriots and UAVs and all can't stop SCUDs coming sailing into their airbases, and taking out 300 at a time? Their base commanders are such absolute baboons? They don't have enough oil to keep a couple of F-15s on patrol to watch for missile launches? Helicopters on patrol to hit any wandering infiltrators? Even Pathankot had yindoo copters with thermal imaging, hain?

I mean, the Saudi losses must have reached absolute rout levels to force such a genuflexion. I can only imagine the consternation in Riyadh - and the absolute rage of the fauj returning in tatters from the front.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Apr 2016 06:41

Patriots have shot some Yemeni missiles but not all. And are not there is captured airbases in Yemen but only in major Saudi bases North

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 Apr 2016 21:28

Look at the number of solar panels on the building roof Very interesting!

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 09 Apr 2016 22:02

IS attacks against Saudi security forces accelerating.

3rd April: An explosion next to a police station south of Riyadh that killed one person and damaged police vehicles.
5th April: A Saudi police colonel, the director of internal security in the al-Quwayiyah region was shot dead in a drive-by shooting. The incident happened in the outskirts of Riyadh, and the video is now out in the internet.

Link - http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/mi ... -ISIS.html

Note: Please look at the picture in the link, only if the IS and Houthis are this dumb, the Saudi Martial race can win.

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 09 Apr 2016 22:10

And the Saudi nightmare continues in Yemen.

20 Allied soldiers killed by the Sunni AlQ, and nearly 20 killed by the Shia Houthis. Despite all the talks of ceasefire, the Houthis know that they have an advantage and they want to drive it home.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/ar ... ource.html

Armed members of Al-Qaeda ambushed a group of young soldiers travelling in three civilian vehicles in the province of Abyan, killing at least 20 of them," said the source, who requested anonymity.
The assailants ordered the soldiers to get out of the vehicles and gunned them down early in the morning in the town of Ahwar, the source told AFP.
The soldiers were young recruits who were being deployed as part of the internationally recognised government's efforts to restore security to areas under its control.
They had been travelling to a military camp in Hadramawt, the neighbouring province whose capital has been held by Al-Qaeda since April last year.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known as Ansar al-Sharia, in an online statement denied it was involved in the attack.

- Doubts over ceasefire -

Jihadist attacks on symbols of the state have increased in southern Yemen, in an apparent attempt to hamper the government's efforts to rebuild the army and security forces.
In mid-February, a suicide bomb attack claimed by IS reportedly killed at least 14 soldiers at a military camp in Aden, where young recruits had been undergoing training.
Elsewhere on Saturday, loyalist forces clashed with Shiite Huthi fighters in Marib province for a second consecutive day, according to military sources.
The clashes in the Sarwah region have so far killed 21 people, 13 of them loyalists and eight rebel fighters, the sources said.
The Saudi-led coalition carried out two air strikes to stop the advance of Huthis seeking to take back a military base that pro-government forces had recaptured in late 2015.
The developments come before a UN-announced ceasefire that is due to take effect on Sunday night, ahead of peace talks that are scheduled to be held in Kuwait on April 18.
One loyalist fighter, Ahmed al-Shalafi, said he doubted the rebels would respect the truce.
"How will they observe a ceasefire while they continue to attack us," he said, adding that the two sides had sent in reinforcements to the front line in Sarwah.
Meanwhile, in the region of Nahm, northeast of Sanaa, clashes on Saturday killed three loyalists and four rebel fighters, said another military source.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 Apr 2016 23:32

Shanu wrote:IS attacks against Saudi security forces accelerating.
A Saudi police colonel, the director of internal security

That sounds like no Houthi/ISIS - may be the start of the Night Of The Long Knives.

Note: Please look at the picture in the link

I thought the Houthis don't wear boots when they kick the Sultan in the musharraf?