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
Kazakhstan president to explore trade, connectivity cooperation in first state visit to Pakistan tomorrow
- Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Pakistan from Feb. 3-4 with high-level delegation, says Pakistan’s foreign office
- Kazakh president to meet Pakistani counterpart, hold talks with PM Shehbaz Sharif and address Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum
ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will explore bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in trade, regional connectivity, logistics and other sectors when he undertakes his first state visit to the country this week, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Monday.
Tokayev will arrive in Pakistan leading a high-level delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials from Feb. 3-4, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
Tokayev is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart President Asif Ali Zardari, hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum during the visit, the foreign office said.
“The visit will provide the two sides an important and timely opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, discuss new avenues for broadening cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and explore collaboration at regional and international forums,” the statement said.
The foreign office said Tokayev’s visit reflects the strengthening bonds between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, their mutual commitment to transforming historic and cultural affinities into robust cooperation, as well as their common desire for peace and progress in the region.
Relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan are rooted in shared Islamic heritage and a growing strategic partnership, with Pakistan offering landlocked Central Asian republics access to southern seaports for global trade. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan when it gained independence in December 1991 and formally established diplomatic relations with it on Feb. 24, 1992.
The two countries have held regular interactions over the past couple of years on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meetings and other international events. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtleu visited
Pakistan in September 2025 to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Islamabad.
Islamabad and Astana engage with each other to promote business and political ties via three forums mainly, which are: Bilateral Political Consultations, the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, and the Joint Business Council.
According to the government of Kazakhstan, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $53.7 million in 2024. Pakistan’s main exports to Kazakhstan include citrus fruits, pharmaceutical products, garments, soap, sports equipment and gear and others.
Kazakhstan’s exports to Pakistan primarily include onions and garlic, dried leguminous vegetables, oats, buckwheat and other cereal grains, seeds and fruits of other oil-bearing crops, among others.
