ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s federal capital announced on Wednesday they managed to avert a “major disaster” after recovering detonators and other equipment used to make suicide jackets in an intelligence-based operation on the outskirts of Islamabad.
The operation was conducted ahead of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala where the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a revered figure in Shia Islam, was martyred.
Muharram also witnesses religious processions across Pakistan, prompting relevant authorities to devise elaborate security measures to prevent any disturbances.
“Islamabad police averted a major disaster in the federal capital,” the police announced in a social media post. “During an intelligence-based operation, hand grenades, detonators and suicide jacket materials were recovered from the Sangjani police station area.”
“In view of security during Muharram, intelligence-based operations are being conducted daily in Islamabad,” the post added.
Sharing further details, the police said some suspects opened fire and fled upon seeing the police team arriving in their area.
The law enforcement officials cordoned off the place and began a search with additional reinforcements.
“From the scene, the police took possession of Kalashnikovs, hand grenades, detonators, wires and suicide jacket materials,” the social media post on X said. “The bomb disposal squad was called, and the explosives were defused.”
It added that a first information report of the incident had been registered by the counter-terrorism department (CTD).
The authorities have also formed teams to search for the suspects, and the operation is ongoing.
“Further investigation is underway,” the social media post added.
Pakistan’s federal capital has witnessed deadly suicide bombings in the past, though such incidents have not been recorded in recent years.
The country has witnessed a surge in militant violence since November 2022 when an armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, called off a fragile ceasefire with the government and resumed targeting civilians and security forces.
Police thwart ‘major disaster’ in Pakistan’s capital, seize detonators for suicide vest after firefight
https://arab.news/vu6rr
Police thwart ‘major disaster’ in Pakistan’s capital, seize detonators for suicide vest after firefight
- Police say the explosives found during the intelligence-based operation were defused by the bomb disposal squad
- The suspects in possession of the equipment fled after firefight, with police officials saying the operation is ongoing
Pakistan, China call for more ‘visible, verifiable’ actions to dismantle ‘terrorist’ groups in Afghanistan
- Foreign ministers of China, Pakistan co-chair seventh round of strategic dialogue in Beijing to review bilateral cooperation, regional situation
- Pakistan accuses Kabul of facilitating attacks launched by militant outfits from Afghanistan’s soil, a charge Kabul has repeatedly denied
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday urged Afghanistan to take more visible actions to dismantle “terrorist organizations” based in its country, vowing to work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt moderate policies and integrate into the international community.
Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain strained as Islamabad alleges militant outfits, mainly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, uses Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of facilitating these attacks against Pakistan, charges Kabul have repeatedly denied.
The joint statement by China and Pakistan was released after a meeting of both countries’ foreign ministers, Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi, in Beijing. Dar and his Chinese counterpart co-chaired the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Jan. 4 where they reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, economic sectors, counterterrorism, defense and regional matters.
“The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security, and prevent terrorist organizations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country,” the statement read.
The joint statement said the two countries will work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt an inclusive political framework, moderate policies, and pursue good neighborliness.
On bilateral cooperation, China and Pakistan said they had agreed to focus on industry, agriculture and mining, and also promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan.
“The two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges,” the statement said.
“The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including extending mutual support at regional and international multilateral financial forums. Pakistan appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors.”
The joint statement said China commended Pakistan’s “comprehensive measures” to combat “terrorism” and protect Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in the country.
“The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with zero tolerance, and agreed to further deepen all-round cooperation on counter-terrorism and security, and make concerted efforts to ensure that the China-Pakistan Belt and Road cooperation advance in a secure and smooth manner,” the statement said.
Pakistan and China expressed their willingness to conduct a transboundary water resources cooperation, stressing the importance of fulfilling international legal obligations. The statement comes as Pakistan frequently accuses India of violating a water-sharing agreement between the two neighbors, claiming New Delhi purposefully diverts the flow of water away from its territory.
Islamabad has warned that any move by New Delhi to stop or divert the flow of Indus rivers to Pakistan will be considered an “act of war.”
Pakistan and China also demanded an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in their joint statement, reaffirming their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank, and urged the need for urgently addressing it,” the statement said.
