KARACHI: The government in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province kicked off an evacuation drive in coastal villages and islands as a storm off India’s west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit parts of India and Pakistan this week.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is projected to pass between Keti Bandar in Pakistan’s Sindh province and the Indian Gujarat coast on the afternoon of Thursday, June 15.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm (ESCS) has continued to drift toward the Pakistani coastline in Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces, putting multiple key ports and cities at risk.
“The deputy commissioners of the coastal belt have been issued instructions to evacuate around 50,000 people, which amounts to 9,000 families, by tomorrow evening,” Syed Salman Shah, Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh, told Arab News.
“Currently, several thousand people from the areas around Keti Bandar and nearby islands have been evacuated. The deputy commissioners of Thatta and Sujawal districts have been instructed regarding the 100 percent evacuation of the coastal areas that may be submerged by water.”
Separately, heavy rains swept through Pakistan’s northwest on the weekend, causing several houses to collapse and leaving at least 27 people dead and 145 injured.
Last year, monsoon rains and flooding devastated Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people, affecting around 33 million people and displacing nearly 8 million.
Evacuations begin in Pakistani coastal towns, islands as severe cyclone inches closer
https://arab.news/net6m
Evacuations begin in Pakistani coastal towns, islands as severe cyclone inches closer
- Storm off India’s west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone
- Could hit India’s western state of Gujarat, southern parts of Pakistan this week
Pakistan air chief highlights modernization as PAF marks seven years since India aerial clash
- Swift Retort was launched in 2019 after India attempted airstrikes following a Kashmir suicide bombing
- Air chief’s remarks come amid fierce clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan over cross-border militancy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s air chief said on Friday the country’s air force had undertaken “comprehensive modernization and indigenization” in recent years, as he addressed a ceremony at Air Headquarters to mark seven years since an aerial confrontation with India.
Operation Swift Retort was launched on Feb. 27, 2019, a day after India attempted airstrikes inside Pakistan following a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary troops.
Pakistan responded with aerial strikes across the Line of Control and shot down an Indian fighter jet in a subsequent dogfight, capturing one pilot who was later returned in what Islamabad called a gesture of de-escalation.
“PAF has pursued comprehensive modernization and indigenization to transition into a Next Generation Air Force,” Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said, according to a statement circulated by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations.
He added that the force had recalibrated its operational doctrine and rapidly inducted advanced combat and support capabilities, including indigenously developed unmanned systems, electronic warfare, space and cyber assets, establishing what he described as a “home-grown multi-domain kill chain.”
Sidhu said Pakistan remained committed to peace but would respond decisively to violations of its sovereignty.
“Pakistan is a responsible country which desires peace with honor,” he continued.
The remarks come amid renewed security tensions on Pakistan’s western frontier.
Islamabad earlier this week launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it described as hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militants. Afghan authorities condemned the strikes and subsequently launched their own military response that led to fierce clashes between the two sides overnight.
Pakistan has frequently accused Kabul of allowing militant groups to use Afghan territory to carry out cross-border attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces, an allegation denied by Afghan officials.
Pakistani authorities said earlier in the day small drones launched from the Afghan side were intercepted and brought down by the country’s air defense systems.
Sidhu said the PAF would continue to maintain a vigilant yet responsible defense posture to safeguard national sovereignty.
