Page 34 - Pakistan

Watch: Moment Baloch separatists hijacked Jaffar Express in Pakistan

Pakistan train hijack: Pakistani security forces have successfully rescued over 150 passengers so far

Pakistan train hijack: 27 separatists killed, 155 passengers rescued

The Jaffar Express, carrying 400 passengers, was enroute from Quetta to Peshawar when Balochistan Liberation Army militants intercepted it in a tunnel near the terrains of Gudalar and Piru Kunri

UN chief condemns Pakistan train hijacking, calls for release of hostages

UN Secretary-General Antonio has strongly condemned the hijacking of a train in Pakistan's Balochistan province and voiced concern about persons taken hostage, calling for their immediate release. The UN Chief stressed that attacks against civilians are unacceptable. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the hijacking of a train in Pakistan's Balochistan province, a statement issued by his spokesman Stphane Dujarric said. Guterres is deeply concerned about the persons taken hostage and calls for their immediate release, the statement added. Suspected Baloch gunmen opened fire at a passenger train in Pakistan's restive Balochistan on Tuesday. Jaffar Express, with around 500 passengers on board in nine coaches, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa when it was fired upon between Gudalaar and Piru Koneri, according to officials. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed it seized control of the train by derailing it. The group said it had killed six secu

16 terrorists killed, 104 passengers rescued in Pakistan train attack

At least 13 terrorists were killed and 80 passengers rescued by security forces after suspected Baloch militants hijacked a train in a tunnel in Pakistan's restive Balochistan's province on Tuesday, security officials said. The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 500 passengers in nine bogies, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when armed men intercepted it in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri on Tuesday morning. Security officials said so far they have killed 13 terrorists and rescued 80 passengers. The rescue operation is underway, they said. Earlier, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said, The security forces have managed to rescue 80 passengers -- 43 men, 26 women and 11 children -- from a bogie." However, around 400 passengers remained on the train, still trapped inside the tunnel as security forces engaged in a gun battle with the militants, he said. Rind said rescue teams have been dispatched amid reports of intense firing

Pakistan train hijack: BLA kills 6, takes 100+ security personnel hostage

The group claimed that all civilian passengers (out of the total 450) - including women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens - were released unharmed and provided with a safe passage

PM Modi, Ranya Rao, Airtel-Starlink, US recession fears, Pakistan train hijak & more

PM Modi arrived in Mauritius today for a two-day state visit. He will be the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day celebrations on March 12.

Passenger train in Pakistan 'hijacked' by Baloch separatists, many injured

While the local government acknowledged the attack on the Jaffar Express, a Baloch separatist group claimed that it had hijacked the train and taken 120 passengers hostage

Pakistan shows commitment to selling PIA by July as part of IMF agreement

Pakistan has assured the IMF of selling the Pakistan International Airlines by July after a botched attempt to sell the national flag carrier last year, according to a media report on Tuesday. The PIA has been running into losses and as part of reforms urged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government was putting on the block its stake, ranging from 51 to 100 per cent. However, no serious buyer made the bid when the effort was made in October last year. The only offer of Pakistani Rs 10 billion by a local real estate developing company was rejected by the government. An IMF team is in Pakistan to review the $7 billion loan program approved last year. Pakistan would get the second tranche of about $1 billion if it convinced the IMF team. One of the concerns of the lender was the loss-making entities and a commitment by the Pakistan government to sell such organisations, but no headway has been made, apparently due to the dire economic situation, which has kept away the

Pakistan's top diplomat denied entry into US, deported over visa issues

KK Ahsan Wagan, Pakistan's envoy to Turkmenistan, was traveling to Los Angeles for a vacation when US immigration authorities stopped him at the airport

Pakistani scholar Mufti Shah Mir shot dead by gunmen in Balochistan

Mufti Shah Mir, a prominent Pakistani scholar, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Balochistan province, according to a media report. Mir was targeted in the Turbat town of Kech on Friday when he was leaving a mosque after night prayers, the Dawn newspaper said. Armed men riding motorcycles opened fire on Mufti Shah Mir, leaving him seriously injured, the paper quoted police as saying. He was immediately shifted to Turbat hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The deceased received multiple bullet injuries that caused his death. Mufti Shah Mir was close to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F). He previously survived two attempts on his life. The attack came days after two leaders of JUI-F were shot dead in Khuzdar.

US issues travel advisory for areas near India-Pak border, Balochistan

The US has issued an advisory cautioning against travel to the immediate vicinity of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict and to the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The US State Department issued the travel advisory on Friday. The advisory states that people should reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict". The travel advisory asks Americans to not travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which include the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism. It also cautions against travel to the immediate vicinity of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. Violent extremist groups continue to plot attacks in Pakistan. Terrorist attacks are frequent in Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which include the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have .

China extends repayment period of $2 billion loan to Pakistan by one year

China extended the repayment period of Pakistan's USD 2 billion loan by one year, easing pressure of the International Monetary Fund on the dollar-deficit country. The loan was originally due for repayment on March 24, but China has agreed to extend the deadline, providing Pakistan with crucial financial relief. Geo News quoted the Ministry of Finance as confirming the roll over by China, adding that this extension comes as Pakistan faces economic challenges, including pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Around 92 per cent of Pakistan's external debt is owed by three major sources, including multilateral and bilateral creditors as well as through international bonds. Among the bilateral creditors, China is on the top keeping in view the total external debt and liabilities. Meanwhile, the cash-strapped country is seeking a fresh loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the Washington-based lender's team currently in Pakistan for negotiations. Islamabad secur

Pakistan orders Afghan nationals to leave by March 31 or face deportation

The Pakistan government has asked Afghan nationals living in Pakistan to leave the country by March 31, ARY News reported.According to ARY News, Pakistan's Ministry of Interior has asked Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country themselves otherwise, they will be deported from April 1,The Afghan nationals will be deported from April 1st, the ministry said in a statement.Earlier, reports of Pakistan planning to evict Afghans had emerge,d but this is the first the Interior Ministry has officially confirmed the development, ARY News reported"Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) is being implemented since November 1, 2023. In continuation of the government's decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, national leadership has now decided to also repatriate ACC holders," the interior ministry said in an official handout."All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence ..

Pak water authority asks farmers to brace for up to 35% water shortage

Pakistan's leading water regulator has warned that up to 35 per cent less water would be available for crops this season due to water shortage in the country's two main reservoirs. The warning comes as the staple food crop of wheat approaches its prime when it needs more water to bring more produce. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Friday warned Punjab and Sindh the two major bread baskets to brace for up to 35 per cent water shortages in the last leg of the current crop season, with the Tarbela and Mangla dams rapidly approaching their dead levels. According to the Dawn newspaper, in a letter to irrigation secretaries, Isra told the four provinces that both reservoirs were close to their dead levels. There is the likelihood that provinces of Punjab and Sindh may face a shortfall of 30-35pc while operating the reservoirs on run-of-the-river mode at or around dead levels, wrote Irsa's Director of Regulation Khalid Idrees Rana. According to Irsa's latest data, Tarbela Da

Pakistan sets March 31 as deadline for Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave

The Pakistan government has set March 31 as the deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACCs) holders to leave Pakistan voluntarily as part of a plan to repatriate all illegal foreigners, according to an official document. The document, purportedly leaked to the media on Friday night, indicated that the ACC holders staying in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be moved out and sent back to Afghanistan as part of a multiphase relocation plan for Afghan migrants, including those awaiting resettlement in third countries. The decision comes amidst deteriorating ties between Islamabad and Kabul over the issue of terrorism and it may impact over 800,000 documented Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards and are included in the category of documented refugees, contrary to hundreds and thousands of undocumented ones. It stated that the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP) has been implemented since November 1, 2023 and in continuation to the government's decision to repatriate all ..

'Kashmir issue will be solved when stolen part under Pak occupation returns to India': Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Kashmir issue will be solved once the "stolen part of Kashmir" returns to the Indian fold. He was speaking at the Chatham House

Pakistan vacating PoK will solve Kashmir issue, says S Jaishankar

S Jaishankar said revoking Article 370, boosting growth, ensuring social justice, and holding high-turnout elections were key steps, but Kashmir issue will be solved only when PoK is vacated

Four killed, five injured in market blast in Pakistan's Balochistan

At least four people were killed and five others injured on Wednesday in an explosion in a market in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, officials said. An improvised explosive device (IED) was attached to a motorbike which was parked in the Naal Bazaar of Khuzdar, according to police. Naal police Station House Officer (SHO) Bahawal Khan Pindrani in a media interaction confirmed the casualties, saying that the condition of one of the injured was serious. Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of Police Javed Zehri said that some vehicles were also destroyed in the blast. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the blast in a statement, adding that orders were issued to provide the injured with the best medical care available. Terrorism will be eradicated in all its forms, Bugti was quoted as saying. Elements hostile to peace will fail in their nefarious objectives and those involved in this incident will be brought to justice. Balochistan has been braving viol

Donald Trump thanks Pakistan during address to US Congress: Here's why

Trump announced the arrest and imminent extradition of the suspect, Sharifullah, who was involved in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing

Suicide attack on cantonment kills 12 in Pakistan, 6 terrorists neutralised

The suicide bombers hit the wall of Bannu Cantonment, about 200 kms south-west of Peshawar, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the evening around sunset time