ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have strongly condemned the attack in North Waziristan that claimed the lives of three Pakistan Army officers and a soldier on Friday.
A military vehicle was targeted by terrorists through an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) planted on road in the Kharkamar area of North Waziristan resulting in the death of three officers and a soldier while injuring another four, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a statement.
President Alvi said the nation is “united against the miscreants who are opposed to restoration of peace in the area.” He prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.
The prime minister, for his part, said that he was “deeply saddened” over the news of military personnel killed in the “terrorist-planted IED blast in Kharkamar, N. Waziristan.”
“I salute the sacrifices & bravery of our soldiers in keeping us safe,” said Khan. “The whole nation stands behind them.”
He also offered condolences to the families of the slain officers and soldier and prayed for the early recovery of injured.
Khan said that “some hostile elements are using the brave people of the tribal areas but the state will never allow anyone to interrupt peace.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also strongly condemned the attack and said, “Such dastardly acts of anti-state elements cannot demoralize us.”
He said that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and for restoration of peace goes on unhindered. “The entire nation stands beside the Pakistan armed forces in this fight against terror,” said Qureshi.
Pakistan’s tribal district of N. Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan’s Khost and Paktika provinces, has seen a troubled past with a full-fledge military offensive against Taliban militants and other miscreant elements. Pakistan Army is heavily engaged in the area to consolidate the gains after flushing out terrorist and rehabilitation of the local populace.
The military identified the slain officers as Lt. Col. Karim Baig, Maj. Moeez Maqsood and Capt. Arif Ullah, who were traveling in the area of Kharkamar.
“This is the same area where [security] forces had conducted search operation and arrested few [terrorist] facilitators,” according to the statement by the ISPR.
Ethnic tensions erupted in Kharkamar on May 26 when a mob of local Pashtuns tried to rescue the suspects.
Authorities accuse two Pashtun lawmakers of leading the mob attack on the security check post which resulted in a shootout that left five soldiers wounded and several assailants killed.
The lawmakers are currently under custody and face trial for inciting violence against state.
President, prime minister condemn North Waziristan attack
President, prime minister condemn North Waziristan attack
- Three officers and a soldier of Pakistan Army were killed in Friday's terror attack
- The military has incurred 10 casualties with 35 injured during last one month, says ISPR
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
