ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Taliban said Monday they have called off a shaky cease-fire agreed with the government in June and ordered fighters to stage attacks across the country.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate entity from the Taliban in Afghanistan but sharing a similar Islamist ideology, have been responsible for hundreds of attacks and thousands of deaths since emerging in 2007.
They agreed to a truce earlier this year after Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers took a prominent role in brokering peace talks, but negotiations made little progress and there were frequent breaches.
“We... have shown our continued patience so that the negotiation process is not sabotaged,” the TTP said in a statement.
“But the army and intelligence agencies do not stop and continue the attacks, so now our retaliatory attacks will also start across the country.”
Less than two weeks ago the TTP claimed an ambush that killed six policemen in northwest Pakistan, claiming they were plotting a “raid” on their base in the area.
Since Friday the military has been patrolling the area in an attempt to root out militants, with helicopter gunships shelling their hideouts.
The TTP was founded in 2007 by Pakistani jihadists who fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan in the 1990s before opposing Islamabad’s support for American intervention there after 9/11.
For a time they held vast tracts of Pakistan’s rugged tribal belt, imposing radical Islamic law and patrolling territory just 140 kilometers (85 miles) from the Pakistan capital.
The Pakistani military came down hard after 2014 when militants raided a school for children of army personnel and killed nearly 150 people, most of them pupils.
Its fighters were largely routed into neighboring Afghanistan, but Islamabad claims the Taliban in Kabul are now giving the TTP a foothold to stage assaults across the border.
In the year since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Pakistan has seen a 50 percent surge in militant attacks, according to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).
Lawmakers and business owners in northwest Pakistan have also told AFP that instances of TTP blackmail in the area have increased.
The presence of militants in the area is a deeply sensitive topic for Islamabad, which has long struggled to establish a writ there.
Analyst Saad Khan, a Peshawar-based retired brigadier, played down the significance of the TTP statement saying the cease-fire was barely observed anyway.
“The Afghan Taliban have assured the whole world that they will not allow their territory to be used against any other country,” he told AFP.
“It is important to initiate serious negotiations with the Afghan Taliban on this issue and make them aware of the seriousness of the matter.”
Pakistan Taliban end cease-fire, order nationwide attacks
https://arab.news/vg77c
Pakistan Taliban end cease-fire, order nationwide attacks
- TTP agreed to a cease-fire with the Pakistan government in June
- Both sides have repeatedly claimed the truce was ignored by the other
Punjab Police defends chief minister after controversy over wearing police uniform
- Sharif donned police uniform to attend passing out parade on Thursday
- Move widely criticized by political opponents and social media users
ISLAMABAD: Police in the Pakistani province of Punjab have said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s act of wearing a police uniform to a passing out parade this week was a “commendable show of solidarity” after widespread criticism by opposition politicians and social media users.
On Thursday, Sharif, who is the first woman chief minister in Pakistan’s history, wore a police uniform while attending a passing out parade of woman constables and traffic assistants at the Police Training College in Chung.
Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, and other opposition politicians like Yasmin Rashid, Moonis Elahi and Shahbaz Gill all criticized Nawaz’s decision to don the police uniform. The issue also remained a top trend on social media, with many users questioning the logic behind the move.
But the Punjab Police force came out in the chief minister’s defense in an X post.
“As per the ‘Punjab Police Dress Regulations’, the CM of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is entitled to wear the police uniform,” it said in a statement.
“This has been widely celebrated by the police personnel, who view it as a commendable show of solidarity.”
The statement said the Central Police Office had received hundreds of messages by police personnel who had “lauded” Sharif’s act of wearing the uniform and women police officers in particular were celebrating the gesture.
Punjab police also shared a copy of rules that govern how governors and chief ministers can dress on formal occasions.
As per the amended Punjab Police Dress Regulations, “chief minister may wear uniform on formal occasions like review of parades, while addressing police darbars, visiting police establishments or any such occasion as specified, for encouraging the police personnel and troops.”
Separately, a citizen named Waqar Ali filed a plea at a local court against Sharif, arguing that a civilian cannot wear the uniform of an institution and calling for a case to be registered against the Punjab chief minister.
No tension with Pakistan, US says after sanctioning firms for ‘aiding’ ballistic missile program
- US announced sanctions against three Chinese companies, one Belarus-based firm
- Washington says the firms were supplying items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program
ISLAMABAD: The US State Department said on Thursday there were no tensions with Pakistan following Washington’s move to impose sanctions on four international firms for supplying to the South Asian nation’s ballistic missile program.
In a press release issued last Friday, the US State Department announced sanctions against three Chinese companies and one Belarus-based firm on charges they supplied items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Pakistan has said it rejects the “political use of export controls.”
“Absolutely not … Pakistan continues to be one of our most important partners in the region,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in response to a question about tensions between Washington and Islamabad following the sanctions.
“There continues to be a lot of cooperation that we have with the Government of Pakistan, especially in the security space, especially in the trade sector … This is a robust relationship and we’ll look to continue strengthening it.”
The companies listed by the US for sanctions are the China-based Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd, Granpect Company Limited and Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.
The sanctions mean all property and interests in property of the companies in the US or in possession or control of American citizens are blocked and must be reported to the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), according to the State Department.
They also mean that all transactions by American citizens, or those within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of the companies, are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.
Officials from global container logistics company in Pakistan for talks on developing ports
- Maersk is integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries
- Company delegation meets Pakistani finance and maritime affairs ministers
ISLAMABAD: A delegation from a leading logistics company, A.P. Moller-Maersk (APM) Terminals, met Pakistani officials in Islamabad this week for talks on developing and modernizing the South Asian nation’s ports, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Maersk is an integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries. APM Terminals has been developing and operating advanced ports and container terminals for over half a century and has 60 strategically located ports and container terminals around the globe and several more in development.
On Thursday, a delegation from the company led by its CEO Keith Svendsen separately met Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.
“Pakistan is keen to explore future projects and investments with APM especially in the maritime sector,” Aurangzeb was quoted as telling the APM delegation in a report by Radio Pakistan. “The government is fully committed to facilitate an environment conducive to business and investments.”
Radio Pakistan quoted Svendsen as telling Aurangzeb APM was “pleased” to engage with Pakistan and saw “great potential” in the Pakistani market.
“Affirming confidence in the country’s growth prospects and development agenda, he expressed commitment to enhance its investment and operations to support the country’s trade,” the report said.
Svendsen and his delegation also met the maritime affairs minister and discussed investment prospects in Pakistan’s ports and terminals sector.
“The delegation head highlighted Moller-Maersk’s prominent global position and its robust relationship with Pakistan, which reflects a market share of approximately 20 percent in containerized import-export activities,” Radio Pakistan said.
“Recognizing the immense growth potential, Keith Svendsen proposed investments to enhance integrated supply chain solutions, including the upgrading of ports and logistics infrastructure. The delegation pledged support for the advancement of maritime affairs in Pakistan and for nurturing a skilled workforce in this sector.”
On Monday, Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials performed the groundbreaking of a $175 million Bulk and General Cargo terminal as part of a new 25-year concession agreement signed between AD Ports Group and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in Feb. 2024 to outsource operations of the terminal.
Under the terms of the agreement, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), a joint venture between AD Ports Group, as a majority shareholder, and Kaheel Terminals, a UAE-based company, will develop, operate and manage the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal, berths 11 to 17 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf.
Pakistani PM to attend Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia on May 4
- Palestine, Islamophobia, climate change on agenda of meeting arranged by OIC
- Summit to be attended by concerned heads of state such as PMs, presidents, emirs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference organized by the OIC on May 4-5 in the Gambian capital of Banjul to discuss a variety of regional and global issues, including Palestine, Islamophobia, climate change and the status of minorities, state-run APP reported.
The session will be held under the slogan “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” according to a press release issued by the OIC General Secretariat.
The Islamic Summit Conference attended by Sharif will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of senior officials on April 30 and May 1, who will discuss the documents of the session and submit a report to a preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
“The preparatory CFM meeting will be held on May 1-2 to consider the results of the senior officials meeting and in turn, submit its report to the Summit,” the OIC said.
Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar will attend the CFM meeting.
“Leaders of the member states will discuss the political issues of the Islamic world, most notably the Palestinian cause, and the economic, humanitarian, social and cultural issues, in addition to the issues of youth, women, family, science and technology, information, Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC member states, and legal matters,” the OIC said.
The Summit will also tackle issues related to hate speech and Islamophobia, the promotion of dialogue, climate change and food security.
“The 15th session will issue a final communique that includes the OIC positions on the issues submitted to the Summit, a resolution on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Banjul Declaration,” the OIC added.
The Islamic Summit is a principal organ of the OIC focused on the formulation, development, and implementation of decisions made by 57 member states. The Summit is attended by concerned heads of state such as prime ministers, presidents, emirs and other equivalent heads.
Hit repeatedly by floods in northwest Pakistan, 70-year-old to rebuild house for 10th time
- Mian Awal Khan lives in Charsadda district, prone to floods after heavy rains
- 65 killed, 80 injured in heavy rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since Apr. 12
CHARSADDA, Pakistan: Mian Awal Khan stared at the remains of his house, destroyed by flooding in the River Khyali earlier this month, and cried quietly into his sleeve.
This is the 10th time the 70-year-old would have to rebuild his house in Charsadda, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province prone to floods after heavy rains.
At least 65 people have been killed and 80 injured in downpours and subsequent flooding in KP since Apr. 12. Charsadda district is one of the worst hit, with three rivers, Jindi, Khyali and Kabul, meeting downstream at the Shahbara village.
Unfortunately for Khan, his house initially stood on the banks of the River Kyali and was first washed away by floods in 2010. He built a new house 500 meters away from that spot after the river carved out a path for itself on his land.
Flooding would destroy his house many times again.
“This will be the tenth time I will rebuild my house,” an emotional Khan told Arab News, seated on the concrete remains of his three-room house.
“My house was washed away by the floods six times when it was over there [initial spot] and four times when it was here.”
Khan’s 35-year-old son, Mian Fawadullah, said the family was unable to save any belongings on the day of the flooding.
“When we were busy rescuing our children and women, this [destruction] happened to our house,” he told Arab News. “We didn’t take any household items as our life was in danger. We left everything just as it was in its place.”
The flood had cost the family Rs1.5-1.6 million [$5,385-$5,744], Fawadullah said, and also destroyed 108,900 square feet of fields as well as washed away livestock and filled the fields with mud at a critical time for farming.
“Farming has also vanished now,” he lamented. “The wheat and the sugarcane have rotten in the water. This is a real mess. We do labor, prepare the field and the river washes it away [every single time].”
“EATEN MY YOUTH”
Flood survivors say they want the government to build protection walls and put in place preventative mechanisms in a country consistently ranked among the most affected by climate change impacts.
Unprecedented rains in 2022 triggered flash floods that killed over 1,700 people and caused damages worth $33 million.
Ihsan Dawar, a public relations officer at the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority, said the government was carrying out relief works, particularly to rebuild around 3,500 houses partially or fully damaged in the recent floods.
“Up until this time, about Rs200 million [$718,096] have been distributed among the victims of the fresh spell of rain incidents,” Dawar told Arab News.
But Khan has little hope floods won’t wreak havoc on his life again.
“The river is not going to spare it [my house] here also,” he said, adding that it was cutting at the edges of the land like a “butcher cutting meat.”
When asked what he would do now, he broke down and cried quietly.
“This is too difficult,” he said about having to rebuild his house yet again. “It has eaten all my youth.”
