ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces lost two soldiers while carrying out an intelligence-based operation in the country’s northwestern Buner district on Saturday, during which a high-value militant target was killed and two of his accomplices were injured.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in militant violence for well over a year after the banned militant network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), called off a fragile ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Since then, there has been a resurgence of deadly suicide bombings targeting security forces, political rallies and Chinese workers, primarily in the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which are situated adjacent to Afghanistan.
“On 13 April 2024, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Buner District, on reported presence of terrorists,” the military’s media wing, ISPR, announced in a statement.
“During the conduct of operation, after an intense fire exchange, HVT [high-value target] Terrorist ring leader Saleem [alias] Rabbani was [killed], while two other terrorists were injured,” it added.
The ISPR said the targeted militant was involved in several militant activities against the security forces as well as extortion and target killings of civilians.
It continued that he was wanted by the law enforcement agencies and the government had fixed a bounty of Rs5 million on him.
“During the operation, two brave sons of soil, Lance Havildar Mudassar Mehmood (age-36 yrs; resident of district Rawalpindi) and Lance Naik Haseeb Javed (age-27 yrs; resident of district Poonch, AJ&K), having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat [martyrdom],” the ISPR said.
The statement informed the security forces were carrying out sanitization operation in the area to eliminate any other militants found in the area.
Military says two soldiers, militant leader killed in operation in Pakistan’s northwest
https://arab.news/9dcrt
Military says two soldiers, militant leader killed in operation in Pakistan’s northwest
- The operation was conducted after security forces received information on militant presence in Buner district
- The militant killed in the operation was involved in extortion and target killings, with a bounty of Rs5 million
IMF Executive Board to review $1.2 billion loan disbursement for Pakistan today
- Pakistan, IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement in October for second review of $7 billion Extended Fund, climate fund program
- Economists view IMF bailout packages as essential for cash-strapped Pakistan grappling with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis
ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to meet in Washington today to review a $1.2 billion loan disbursement for Pakistan, state media reported on Monday.
Pakistan and the IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) in October for the second review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review of its $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The agreement between the two sides took place after an IMF mission, led by the international lender’s representative Iva Petrova, held discussions with Pakistani authorities during a Sept. 24–Oct. 8 visit to Karachi, Islamabad and Washington D.C.
“The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board is set to meet in Washington today to review and approve $1.2 billion in loan for Pakistan,” state broadcaster Pakistan TV reported.
Pakistan has been grappling with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has drained its financial resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis for the past couple of years. Islamabad, however, has reported some financial gains since 2022, which include recording a surplus in its current account and bringing inflation down considerably.
Economists view the IMF’s bailout packages as crucial for cash-strapped Pakistan, which has relied heavily on financing from bilateral partners such as Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates, as well as multilateral lenders including the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.
Speaking to Arab News last month, Pakistan’s former finance adviser Khaqan Najeeb said the $1.2 billion disbursement will further stabilize Pakistan’s near-term external position and unlock additional official inflows.
“Continued engagement also reinforces macro stability, as reflected in recent improvements in inflation, the current account, and reserve buffers,” Najeeb said.
Pakistan came close to sovereign default in mid-2023, when foreign exchange reserves fell below three weeks of import cover, inflation surged to a record 38% in May, and the country struggled to secure external financing after delays in its IMF program. Fuel shortages, import restrictions, and a rapidly depreciating rupee added to the pressure, while ratings agencies downgraded Pakistan’s debt and warned of heightened default risk.
The crisis eased only after Pakistan reached a last-minute Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in June 2023, unlocking emergency support and preventing an immediate default.
