Page 31 - Pakistan

Pak records highest number of militant attacks during Ramadan in a decade

Pakistan saw the highest number of militant attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a decade, a think tank reported Monday. Some militant groups previously paused hostilities for Ramadan, but the country has seen an overall increase in violence in recent years. The Pak Institute for Peace Studies reported at least 84 attacks during Ramadan, which ended Sunday in Pakistan. It reported 26 attacks during last year's Ramadan. The Pakistani Taliban unilaterally ended a ceasefire with the government in November 2022, while the Baloch Liberation Army has developed its capabilities to stage elaborate attacks. Both have contributed to the rise in violence. The outlawed BLA was behind a train hijacking on March 11 in the southwest province of Balochistan that killed at least 25 people. Another think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, recorded 61 attacks in the first three weeks of Ramadan. There were 60 total attacks in the previous Ramadan, it said.

Pak's ex-PM Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for rights advocacy

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for human rights and democracy. Members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) an advocacy group founded last December who also belong to the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum, announced the nomination of Khan, 72. "We are pleased to announce on behalf of Partiet Sentrum that in alliance with somebody with the right to nominate, have nominated Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, to the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with human rights and democracy in Pakistan," Partiet Sentrum said on X on Sunday. In 2019, Khan was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace in South Asia. Every year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee receives hundreds of nominations after which they select the winner through a lengthy eight-month process, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistani-Canadian held for smuggling US tech to Pak military entities

A Pakistani-Canadian national has been arrested for running a years-long scheme to circumvent US export control laws and smuggle millions of dollars' worth of American technology to entities associated with Pakistan's military and weapons programmes. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz (67) was arrested on March 21 in the Western District of Washington while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada. He remains detained, pending transfer to the district of Minnesota. Aziz has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison; and violating the Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment alleges that from 2003 through approximately March 2019, Aziz operated an illicit procurement network through his Canada-based company Diversified Technology Services. The purpose of the network was

World Bank approves $300 mn loan for clean air project in Pakistan's Punjab

The World Bank has approved a USD 300 million loan for Pakistan to combat air pollution in its Punjab province, according to a media report on Sunday. The loan provided under the International Development Association (IDA) for the Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) was approved by the World Bank Group's board of directors on Friday, the Dawn newspaper reported. The PCAP aims to strengthen air quality management and address environmental pollution in the province. It will support the Punjab government's Smog Mitigation Action Plan' (SMAP) in tackling the pressing issue of smog and air pollution with the launch of several comprehensive initiatives aimed at improving air quality and public health across the province. It will cover key sectors such as transport, agriculture, industry, energy, and municipal services, said a press release issued by the World Bank (WB) mission in Islamabad on Saturday. The Punjab Clean Air Programme supports the province's Smog Mitigation Action Plan and

12 terrorists killed in Pakistani drone strikes, civilian deaths reported

As many as 12 terrorists have been killed while some civilians lost their lives in drone attacks by Pakistani security forces on a militant hideout in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country. The "counter-terrorism operation" on Saturday morning targeted hideouts of terrorists in the remote hilltop area of Katlang in the Mardan district, the provincial government said in a press note. It confirmed the civilian casualties and suggested that women and children might be among the victims. Later, official reports said 12 terrorists were killed during the operation. The press note, issued on Saturday, said the operation was based on "credible intelligence" about armed militants using the location as a hideout and transit point. It said "several high-value targets linked to ongoing militant activities in the region" were killed in the operation. "Unfortunately, subsequent reports have confirmed the presence of non-combatants, including women and children, at the periphery

Top Baloch leader, workers survive suicide blast near protest site in Pak

A top Baloch nationalist leader and other workers his party escaped unhurt when a suicide bomber blew himself up near their sit-in protest rally in Balochistan province of Pakistan on Saturday. Sardar Akhtar Mengal has been leading a long march from Wadh to Quetta since Friday to protest the arrests of the leaders and workers of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), whose chief Dr Mahrang Baloch was arrested under anti-terrorism laws. The suicide bomber blew himself up near their sit-in protest rally near Lucky Pass in Mastung, about 50 kilometre south of Quetta, in Balochistan province but Mengal and others escaped unhurt. Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Akram Harifal told the media that Levies personnel had spotted a suspicious individual near the rally and when they went to question him, he tried to escape but blew himself up. The participants of the protest by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) are unhurt and okay, he said. Mahrang Baloch and other BYC members, all arrest

Pak govt finalises arrangements to detain, deport Afghans as deadline nears

Officials in Pakistan said they have completed arrangements to detain and expel a certain category of Afghan citizens after the March 31 deadline for their voluntary return to Afghanistan. A high-level meeting on Friday reviewed the arrangements to repatriate the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders after the March 31 deadline. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired the meeting. The Pakistan government in January asked the ACC holders to leave Pakistan by the end of March or face deportation. Pakistani authorities refused to reset the deadline for their return despite requests by the Afghan government and rights bodies. In Friday's meeting, officials informed that all arrangements have been completed to send ACC holders back to Afghanistan. The officials said that holding centres have been set up to detain Afghan citizens before their deportation, with food and healthcare facilities arranged at the facilities, the Dawn newspaper reported. Naqvi said the federal government was ...

11 terrorists killed in 4 separate operations in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Security forces in Pakistan have killed at least 11 terrorists in four separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 26-27, the military media wing said late on Thursday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in the general area Mir Ali in North Waziristan district. During the operation, our troops effectively targeted the Khwarij [terrorists] location and resultantly, five terrorists were sent to hell, it said. In a second operation conducted in the same area, three militants were neutralised by the troops, the statement added. In another encounter that took place in the general area Miran Shah in North Waziristan district, the troops effectively neutralised two terrorists, the ISPR said. In the fourth operation conducted by the security forces in the general area Daraban in Dera Ismail Khan district, one terrorist was sent to hell, the statement said. Weapons and ammunition were

Pak denies reports about deployment of Chinese military within its borders

Pakistan on Thursday denied reports about the deployment of the Chinese military in the country to protect its citizens after several terrorist attacks in recent months. "I completely deny this. No Chinese forces are being deployed in Pakistan. This is totally false. There is no credibility to these reports, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said when asked about the issue at a press briefing here. He said Pakistan was committed to ensuring the security of Chinese personnel in Pakistan and talks on the issue are part of that arrangement, while he rejected reports about the deployment of Chinese military in Balochistan. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) accuses China and Islamabad of exploitation of the resource-rich province, a charge rejected by the authorities. The group has carried out attacks against Chinese interests in Pakistan. Khan said that a recent UN experts' statement regarding detainees in Balochistan lacked balance and proportionality, and it downplay

Six killed, three abducted by Baloch separatists in Gwadar bus attack

Insurgents shot dead six people and abducted three after stopping a bus in Balochistan, and offloading passengers from Pakistan's Punjab. In another terror attack in the province, three people were killed and 17 injured after a bomb exploded near a police vehicle, officials said. The two attacks come a fortnight after the banned separatist outfit Balochistan Liberation Army laid siege to a train in the Bolan district and killed 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel. The bus attack occurred in the Gwadar district when armed men stopped a Karachi-bound passenger bus near the Kalmat area on the Ormara highway late on Wednesday, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hafeez Baloch. The gunmen offloaded some passengers and shot six people, five of whom were killed instantly while one survivor passed away later in the hospital Thursday morning. Armed men killed six passengers after checking their ID cards and took away three others, he said, adding that all victims belonged to

Indian fisherman in Pakistan's Karachi Jail since 2022 dies by suicide

Indian fishermen are frequently detained in Pakistani waters due to unintentionally crossing maritime boundaries

2 security personnel killed, 3 injured in convoy attack in northwest Pak

According to officials, security forces launched the raid in Hangu's Shanaori area after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants

Pakistani YouTuber faces blasphemy charges over a perfume: Here's why

Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt faces blasphemy charges after launching a perfume named '295,' referencing the country's blasphemy law

4 suspected 'facilitators' of Jaffar Express attack arrested in Pak: Report

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Balochistan police has arrested four suspects who allegedly facilitated the terrorist group involved in hijacking the Jaffar Express and taking over 400 passengers hostage in Pakistan's Bolan district on March 11, according to a media report. Terrorists belonging to the banned separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express carrying 440 passengers. Twenty-six hostages, including 18 security personnel, lost their lives in the attack. The Army eliminated all 33 terrorists the next day and rescued 354 hostages. Since then, multiple attacks have taken place across Balochistan. Sources in CTD, while confirming the arrests, said that a joint team comprising senior officials from various law enforcement agencies is investigating the attack on the Jaffar Express, reported the Dawn newspaper. These four suspects have been taken into custody for interrogation, the sources said, adding that efforts to identify the attackers

Religious minority victimisation soars in Pakistan in 2025: HRFP Report

Report highlighted communal unrest, including protests in Khaliq Nagar, Lahore, on March 20 over sewage flooding and the desecration of a Christian cemetery in Narowal in February for land-grabbing

Pakistan, China in talks to increase security for Chinese nationals

The push came after a bombing at the Karachi airport last October killed two Chinese engineers who were returning there to work at a power plant

'J&K was, is, and will always be part of India': India slams Pakistan at UN | MEA India

Parvathaneni Harish delivered India’s statement at the UN Security Council open debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations.

Who pays Members of Parliament more: India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh?

With significant parliamentary changes occurring, how do these neighbouring countries compare in their compensations to their lawmakers

Pak continues to arrest Baloch leaders as police cracks down on protestors

After their arrests, BYC issued a strongly worded statement where it said that it will not be silenced by Pakistan's crackdown

US bill seeks sanctions on Pak Army chief, demands Imran Khan's release

The bill mandates that within 180 days, the US government identify individuals involved in political persecution in Pakistan and impose penalties